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We are in the midst of the fourth quarter earnings season and it is once again time to review the players in the worldwide medical devices market. The US still holds the leading position with almost one-third of the market share. However, emerging economies like Brazil, Russia, India and China – collectively known as the BRICs – are fast coming up in the medical devices space and are attracting a lot of attention.
These emerging economies are seeing an increasing uptake of medical devices due largely to growing medical awareness and economic prosperity. Expansion in emerging markets, especially those with double-digit annual growth rates, represents one of the best potential avenues for growth in 2013 and beyond.
On the flip side, the MedTech industry is currently plagued by several issues including the 2.3% medical device excise tax, pricing concerns, hospital admission and procedural volume pressures, Medicare reimbursement issues and regulatory overhang. Percutaneous intervention (angioplasty) volumes continue to be relatively flat in the US, Japan and Europe, with improvement not expected anytime soon.
In spite of several uncertainties resulting in constrained capital spending, the past year also witnessed significant M&A deals including acquisitions of Switzerland-based Synthes Inc. by Johnson & Johnson (JNJ - Free Report) for a whopping $19.7 billion, Gen-Probe Inc. by Hologic (HOLX) for $3.8 billion and Agilent Technologies' (A) acquisition of Danish cancer diagnostics company Dako for $2.2 billion.
Another trend that we have been observing of late is the divestment of non-core business segments. For example, in early January, Abbott Laboratories (ABT - Free Report) separated its research-based pharmaceuticals business by creating a new company, AbbVie (ABBV), to allow the two separate entities to perform in a more focused manner.
In January, diagnostic testing company Quest Diagnostics (DGX) divested its OralDNA Labs salivary-diagnostics business to Access Genetics. The sale of the company's HemoCue diagnostic products business is also in the works. This would enable the company to refocus its attention on its core diagnostic information services. Moreover, Johnson & Johnson is currently looking for opportunities to sell or spin off its Ortho Clinical Diagnostics business.
In November last year, Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX) divested its Discovery Labware sub-segment (excluding Advanced Bioprocessing capability) to Corning (GLW) for $730 million. In May, Smith & Nephew (SNN), through an agreement with Essex Woodlands, completed the disposal of its Clinical Therapies business, to the newly formed Bioventus LLC, in which it will retain a 49% investment. Healthcare products maker Covidien (COV) is on track to spin off its pharmaceuticals business into a standalone public company by mid-2013.
Earnings Numbers
Before getting into the core discussion, let us brief some of the significant earnings releases so far. Johnson & Johnson's fourth quarter 2012 earnings came ahead of expectations, though revenues were just shy of the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
Another medical device major St. Jude Medical's (STJ) fourth-quarter earnings and revenue came ahead of expectations. The still-choppy U.S. defibrillator market remains an overhang on St. Jude and we expect the same to affect the performance of its peers Boston Scientific (BSX) and Medtronic (MDT), though Boston Scientific's results earlier today came inline with expectations.
Other major earnings reports by industry players include the earnings and revenue beats by Stryker Corporation (SYK) and positive earnings surprise but a revenue miss from Quest Diagnostics. We believe that the overall soft industry trends leading to low volume growth was a dampener for Quest. We expect this challenging scenario to adversely affect Quest Diagnostics' peer Laboratory Corporation of America (LH) as well, which is scheduled to release its fourth-quarter and fiscal 2012 results on Feb 8, 2013.
A look at the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction – read: Zacks Earnings ESP: A Better Method) in the table below shows that companies like Becton Dickinson and Hologic are likely to beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate this quarter.
M&A Activity
Wary of an uncertain economy, MedTech companies have resorted to the acquisition route to harness their strength and diversify their offerings.
Apart from the massive takeovers by Johnson & Johnson, the other major deals inked in recent times in the MedTech space include six successive acquisitions by Covidien exceeding $1.2 billion. In late December the company again entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Fremont, California-based medical device company, CV Ingenuity.
After strengthening its Cardiac Rhythm Management (CRM) portfolio with the acquisition of Cameron Health, Boston Scientific recently purchased Rhythmia Medical in Massachusetts and Minnesota-based BridgePoint Medical (in October). While the former strengthens the company's foothold in the rapidly growing electrophysiology ablation business, the latter brings in a catheter-based system to treat coronary chronic total occlusion. Moreover, the company currently plans to acquire Vessix Vascular, which has developed the percutaneous radiofrequency balloon catheter technology for the treatment of hypertension.
AngioDynamics (ANGO) continues to expand its base on the back of acquisitions and strategic alliances. The latest in its kitty, the Navilyst acquisition will effectively double the company's existing market share in the vascular access market.
In Nov 2012, the neurovascular division of Stryker acquired Surpass Medical (for $135 million) to expand its Complete Stroke Care portfolio. Surpass' mainstay, the CE-Marked NeuroEndoGraft family of flow diverters is an attractive addition to the company's product line.
In order to expand into the large and lucrative market for drug-coated balloons, C.R. Bard (BCR) purchased Lutonix Inc. in December. The worldwide peripheral vascular market for drug-coated balloons is forecast to hit roughly $1 billion annually over the next ten years. Further, the acquisition of Neomend will allow Bard to expand into another $1 billion market for surgical specialties offerings.
Low global penetration and demand outstripping supply provide a positive long-term thesis for investing in the blood processing and supply chain management industry. With the acquisition of the transfusion medicine business of Pall Corporation (PLL), Haemonetics (HAE) has entered the $1.2 billion whole blood collection market. Haemonetics is also in the process of acquiring Hemerus Medical that develops technologies for the collection of whole blood, and processing and storage of blood components. The acquisition is expected to close in 2014.
Also noteworthy is women's health giant Hologic's acquisition of Gen-Probe in August. In addition, Cooper Companies (COO), a global medical products player acquired Denmark-based Origio to beef up its women's health franchise.
Trends over the recent past reflect focus on the diagnostics space. A prime example is that of Agilent Technologies entering into the Diagnostics and Genomics space through the acquisition of cancer diagnostic company Dako. The acquisition is intended to augment Agilent's portfolio and build a global market share to better fight its major peers, especially Teradyne (TER), Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. (TMO) and Danaher Corp. (DHR) in this space.
In November, Danaher acquired IRIS International, a leading manufacturer of automated in-vitro diagnostics systems and consumables and a provider of high-value personalized medicine solutions.
While Thermo Fisher Scientific strengthened its Specialty Diagnostics business with the acquisition of One Lambda, a leading player in the field of transplant diagnostics, Life Technologies' (LIFE) three recent tuck-in acquisitions -- Compendia Bioscience, Navigenics and Pinpoint Genomics -- will bolster its diagnostics franchise. Moreover, Life Technologies has several agreements with pharmaceutical players such as Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY - Free Report) to shore up its companion diagnostics franchise.
In the light of the discussion above, 2012 has thus been a big year for mergers and acquisitions in the MedTech space. According to the American Council for Capital Formation's (ACCF) report, effective Jan 2013, capital gains tax rate increased to 20% from 15% earlier. The MedTech giants, being fully aware of this expected increase, accelerated their acquisition strategy in 2012.
Despite the bleak prognosis, we do not expect the M&A trend to slacken going forward. We expect a significant pickup in in-licensing activities and collaborations for the development of pipeline candidates. Several MedTech majors struggling in their core businesses are looking to explore potential emerging therapies through collaborations and alliances.
Emerging Markets
Another avenue of growth for the MedTechs is the huge untapped potential of the emerging markets. An aging population, rise in wealth, government focus on healthcare infrastructure and expansion of medical insurance coverage make these markets a happy hunting ground for global medical device players.
The focus on emerging markets is all the more significant given the saturation and uncertain growth in the developed markets of US, Europe and Japan. Companies like Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Life Technologies are all vying to expand their presence in the BRICs and other emerging markets. These companies are also looking to establish their manufacturing facilities abroad.
According to a recent McKinsey & Co. report, health-care spending in China has more than doubled from $156 billion in 2006 to $357 billion in 2011. It is expected to grow to $1 trillion by 2020. China is also setting up proper health insurance coverage that should boost the healthcare sector. It is expected that within the next decade, China will be the biggest healthcare market in the world, outpacing the US.
Among the other BRIC members, Brazil is currently the largest health care market in Latin America, covering almost one-fourth of the population. Though India has one of the largest and fastest growing health-care markets in the world, it is considered to have the least developed health-care infrastructure and spends relatively little on health care. In order to reverse the trend, during the 12th Plan (2012-2017), the Indian government planned to spend 2.5% of its GDP (up from 1.2% earlier) on healthcare and raise it to at least 3% by 2022.
Given the huge potential in these regions, Johnson & Johnson has set up manufacturing and R&D centers in Brazil, China and India. While it has been doing business in China for more than 25 years, it established a new innovation center in the country in 2011. The Guangzhou Bioseal Biotech deal marked the company's first MedTech acquisition in China. The company is expected to expand further in China on the back of the Synthes acquisition.
Medtronic, on the other hand, is targeting 20% of its revenues from emerging markets by fiscal 2015−16. After setting up its Innovation Center in Shanghai, the first outside the US and Europe, last September, the company decided to acquire China Kanghui Holdings for $816 million. The acquisition would strengthen its orthopedic franchise in the country.
Boston Scientific is aiming to increase its below-average market share in the $700 million combined drug-eluting stent market in China and India, which is growing sharply at 20%. The company plans to invest $150 million in China over the next 5 years to build a local manufacturing operation.
Life Technologies expects emerging markets to contribute $1.6 billion to revenues in 2015, up from just $188 million in 2007, representing a CAGR of 30%. In the third quarter of 2012, the company acquired Genewindows, a distributor covering the Invitrogen brand reagent portfolio. In October 2012, the company entered into a strategic partnership with Sino Biological, a Chinese biotechnology company and a license and supply agreement with Singapore based VelaDx.
Thermo Fisher is also expanding its presence in emerging markets. It expects to garner 25% of total revenues from the high-growth Asia-Pacific region and emerging markets by 2016, up from 19% in 2011 and 10% in 2006.
Healthcare Reform: MedTech Tax Woes
The Government-mandated health care reform in the US – the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act (aka "ObamaCare") – has already started impacting the financial results of medical device companies. The reform has led to a less flexible pricing environment for these companies and has increased pricing pressure across the board. As per the mandate, beginning 2013, device makers will have to pay this tax on sales of certain products.
With the first tax installment due by the end of this month, many of the nation's medical devices players are bracing themselves for the impact of this tax. The companies are either trying to relocate outside the US or reduce operations in order to weather the 2.3% tax burden. They are undertaking various restructuring initiatives to counter costs associated with the implementation of the new tax.
Earlier this month, the Medical Device Manufacturers Association (MDMA) released a statement expressing its disappointment with the failure to repeal the medical device tax in the fiscal cliff deal. According to the MDMA, the outlay has already been felt across the country in the form of an adverse impact on R&D investment, job cuts and higher prices for customers impacting the overall quality of patient care.
We continue to have a Neutral outlook on large-cap medical device stocks. While the companies will keep facing challenges like pricing pressures, declines in procedural volume from economic uncertainties and sluggish growth in the CRM business, increased M&A activities, focus on emerging markets and product approvals in latent areas could help reduce the impact. Better pipeline visibility and appropriate utilization of cash should increase confidence in the medical device sector.
Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stocks in the MedTech sector include Johnson & Johnson (JNJ - Free Report) and Edwards Lifesciences (EW) among others. In our universe, we see growth potential in companies dealing with promising technologies. In this respect, both these companies represent a value proposition.
In spite of several core market challenges, the big three medical device players -- Medtronic, Boston Scientific and St. Jude Medical (STJ) -- are striving to gain share in the ICD market through several new product launches. The big three are also exploring new avenues of growth beyond the mature pacemaker and ICD markets. With gradual stability in the ICD market, they should be able to revive their top line.
Beyond the MedTech majors, we are optimistic about the Zacks #2 Ranked orthopedic devices player Zimmer Holdings Inc. (ZMH). The percentage of the population over age 65 in the US, Europe, Japan and other regions is expected to nearly double by the year 2030.
In the US, the oldest baby boomers are now approaching retirement age. We believe the orthopedic giants will stand to benefit from this aging demography.
Among the scientific instrument makers, Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO), a Zacks Rank #2 stock, has been successfully expanding operating margins over the past few quarters on the back of operational efficiency. Its rival Life Technologies (LIFE) has the same rank based on its strong position in the life sciences market and momentum of its Ion Torrent franchise.
We are also positive on Cooper Companies (COO), another Zacks Rank #2 stock, based on factors such as margin expansion, acquisitions, product line expansion and geographical reach as well as share buybacks.
Apart from the medical devices excise tax discussed earlier, the US medical device industry is facing several challenges in the form of depressed volumes, pricing pressure, currency headwinds and a complicated regulatory system.
While the debt crisis in Europe remains unresolved, economies throughout the world are trying to come to terms with myriad challenges. Consequently, procedural volumes in the US have been hit by a high unemployment rate, which has resulted in the expiry of health insurance as well as a decline in enrollment in private health plans.
Governments across several European countries have taken up measures to curb spending on devices, which is taking a toll on utilization. Volume headwind is likely to linger as unemployment continues to influence procedure deferrals.
Players in the medical device space are also experiencing pricing pressure of varying degrees. Companies are witnessing global pricing pressure in the CRM business and in some cases in stents. Adding to the risk is the foreign exchange headwind (stemming from the strengthening of the US dollar) as medical device companies derive a chunk of revenues from overseas markets. Medical device makers are also expected to contend with margin pressure given the sustained pricing headwind.
Last but not least, the highly regulated US medical device industry is hampered by stringent and complex procedures leading to approval delays. This sometimes demotivates companies, deterring them from investing in product development. In fact, according to a report based on a survey of over 200 medical technology companies, the US FDA takes a significantly high time to review compared to its European counterpart.
Coming to the weakest link in the MedTech sector, we recommend avoiding names that offer little growth/opportunity over the near term. These include companies for which estimate revision trends for 2012 and 2013 reflect a bearish sentiment. These are Abbott Laboratories (ABT - Free Report) , Patterson Companies Inc. (PDCO), a distributor of dental, companion-pet veterinarian, and rehabilitation supplies, MGC Diagnostics Corporation (MGCD), a provider of non-invasive cardio respiratory diagnostic systems and Invacare Corporation (IVC), which provides medical equipment and supplies for non-acute care environment. All these companies carry a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). Also, cloud-based services provider athenahealth Inc. (ATHN) currently retains a Zacks Rank #5 as doubts linger around its proposed acquisition of Epocrates Inc. (EPOC).
Further, pricing compressions on hips, knees and spine products, which impaired the performances of several orthopedic companies, remain a key concern, at the macro level. We remain skeptical about companies including Wright Medical Group (WMGI).
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A perfect fit with an exceptional range of adjustments, the Leap office chair delivers full support for various body shapes and sizes.
Leap WorkLounge
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Available with Steelcase and Designtex fabric, leather, or vinyl as well as COM (customer's own material) 3D Knit material available on the chair back with matching fabric seat, or with a seat fabric of your choice
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Stool 46" to 54"
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The Lancaster diploma frame marries traditional and modern design. The sleek frame design and dark accents will set their diploma apart from the rest, while honoring the tradition it displays. The Lancaster is an ideal college diploma frame option for anyone with an eye for, or degree in, visual aesthetics.
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Pizza Corn Dog Snacks
In Camas, Washington, Linda Knopp dresses up frozen corn dogs to create these tasty bite-size treats. Just slice 'em and spread 'em with pizza sauce and other toppings for a fun snack for kids or an easy appetizer for adults.
Total TimePrep/Total Time: 30 min.
Makes30 snacks
- 1 package (16 ounces) frozen corn dogs, thawed
- 1/2 cup pizza sauce
- 3 tablespoons chopped ripe olives
- 1 jar (4-1/2 ounces) sliced mushrooms, drained
- 1/4 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
- Remove stick from each corn dog; cut into 1-in. slices. Place on an ungreased baking sheet. Spread with pizza sauce. Top with olives, mushrooms and cheese.
- Bake at 350° for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and corn dogs are heated through.
Nutrition Facts3 each: 168 calories, 15g fat (6g saturated fat), 28mg cholesterol, 604mg sodium, 3g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 6g protein.
Originally published as Pizza Corn Dog Snacks in Quick Cooking March/April 2002


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28th December 2010, 12:17 PM
Just out of interest...?! Out of our pair one of them always goes in the same place but the other can go anywhere and with the current wet weather it gets really disgusting if we don't pick up at least once a day. What cleaners do u use on your patio areas? Dougal is a rascal for pooping and weeing all over the place and while nobody is using the outdoors at the moment I'm conscious that the dogs might bring in stuff on their paws and also I want to have it clean for summer when we'll have a toddler running Around.
Hope everyone had a great Christmas. :)
Hope everyone had a great Christmas. :)


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Celebrating illustration, design, cartoon and comic art of the mid-20th century.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Roy Doty Draws a Crowd
What you see below might look at this size like a big diagramatic map of Manhattan Island with a grey screen over it... but in fact its one of Roy Doty's most remarkable illustrations: a map composed of hundreds and hundreds of tiny Manhattanites, each one a unique individual, standing shoulder to shoulder in the shape of New York City.
You really need to see the full size version to even begin to appreciate the magnitude of the daunting task Roy Doty accomplished when he accepted this assignment from the editors of Look magazine back in February of 1958.
This coming Sunday (Sept. 9th), nearly 50 years after these illustrations appeared in print, Roy Doty will once again be drawing a crowd as his pals at the Great Lakes Chapter of the National Cartoonists Society surpise their friend with a party to celebrate his 85th birthday.
When my pal, cartoonist extraordinaire Mike Lynch, let me know about the event I thought it would be great to spend this week showcasing Doty's work from the 40's and 50's in anticipation of the happy occassion.
I hope that, whether you've admired Roy Doty's work for years as I have -- or are only now being introduced to it for the first time -- you'll take a moment to leave a comment, greeting, or best wish for Mr. Doty at the end of one of this week's posts.
Mike tells me that they will make Mr. Doty aware of the TI blog after the fact as a sort of bonus birthday surprise. And remember - its a surprise party - so don't tell Roy!
You can see all of these images at full size in my Roy Doty Flickr set - and thanks in advance for helping us celebrate this wonderful, talented artist's illustrious career!
9 comments:
Hi Roy,ReplyDelete
I admire the intricate work and your great style. Congratulations on your birthday... all the best!
Killer stuff, Leif. I'm looking forward to all your great finds.ReplyDelete
arThis is the first time I have become aware of your work, and it is amazing. You are a great conceptualizer. They certainly picked the right guy for such an ambitious project depicted in Leif Peng's Today's Inspiration.ReplyDelete
Happy Birthday from a new admirer,
Tom Watson
retired illustrator... more or less.
Mr. Doty---your work was cool then & it's even cooler now!ReplyDelete
Congrats on a long & productive career--!
Zach Trenholm
I'm a "Worldless Workshop" Fan, a great feature in Popular Science.ReplyDelete
Thank You and Happy Birthday
Tom Johnson
Mr. Doty- Congrats and heartfelt thanks for the inspiration that you have provided. Happy Brithday!ReplyDelete
Oh my gosh,what a timely accident. I stumbled across this entry while looking for something else entirely.ReplyDelete
Mr. Doty, I've been a fan of your work ever since I was a little boy and used to read your "Wordless Workshop" column in my grandfather's Home improvement magazines (the one that later became "Family Handyman".) I've seen your work in numerous other venues since then, all throughout my life, and it's never failed to bring a smile to my face.
One of my prized possessions is the Wordless Workshop collection in book form I found a few years back.
Anyway, I'd never seen your "Manhattan" illustrations before. All I can say is wow.
Wishing you all the best and continued good health and success on your birthday, Mr. Doty. Hope to see more from you in the future!
Happy Birthday from another new admirer! What an incredible body of work. Best wishes to you, Roy! Here's to another 85!ReplyDelete


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Head Quarters, Army of the Miss."
In the field, Resaca, GA., May 12th 1864 )
General Orders
No. 1 )
I Lieut Gen. Polk assumes the command of his troops in the
field, which will be designated as the Army of the Mississippi, and which will
be composed of the Infantry Divisions of Maj. Genl Loniy and French and Brig Genl Carter
and the cavalry brigades of Brigadier Generals Armstrong, Ferguson and Ross under
command of Brig. Gen. W. H. Jackson."
The Lieut. Genl. Command'g announces the following staff for the
Army of the Mississippi,"
Lt. W.D. Galey
Col. H.C. Yeatman
Maj. Frank McNaiig()"
Maj. Douglas West
Lt. Co. T.T. Sevier
Maj. Richard Mason
" J.J. Murphy
Capt. W.J. Morris
Capt. C.F. Vanderford
Surgeon T.W.C. Smith
" D.P. Tucker )
By command of Lt. Gen. Polk
Douglas West
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Smart Growth for Bristol weighs in on town plan
Bristol looks to be buzzing tonight: in Holley Hall at 7:30, residents and members of the Planning Commission will meet for a public hearing on the latest draft of the Bristol Town Plan. And Smart Growth for Bristol wants residents to turn out in force — at least, that's what a new flyer from the group would suggest. The two-sided pamphlet, which includes zoning maps of the town, states: "The new Town Plan would allow mining and heavy industry in zones where not it is discouraged or prohibited ... WHY?" and "Proposed changes to the Town Plan open more of Bristol to mining and heavy industry ... ANYWHERE NEAR YOUR HOME?" The map, as well as a letter addressed to "Dear Neighbors," went out to Bristol residents who live in or near the MIX or RA zones in Bristol. A portion of the letter reads:"Now, there are places in Bristol where we might want heavy industrial development and mining, but there are also places where it is not appropriate. The new plan ought to spell out clearly, with some specifics, where those places are. Without such specifics, we loose a lot of local control over proposals for major industrial projects, and the lawyers and the courts will end up deciding for us."According to planning commission Chair Tom Wells, the commission has made "hundreds" of changes to the town plan draft since the last public hearing, which took place in January. Among the most significantly revised sections are those dealing with energy and conservation, which the commission reviewed in joint meetings with the town's energy and conservation committees.As the Smart Growth for Bristol flyer might suggest, arguably the most heated topic up for conversation is the section of the plan dealing with resource extraction (which includes gravel pits). The commission has also tweaked this section since it's first draft was released last winter, and the latest draft spells out more clearly zoning areas in Bristol where mining would be prohibited. The new draft also includes a disclaimer, though, that this list of zoning districts "should not be considered exhaustive as to areas in which extraction will not be permitted and nothing in the Plan should be considered conclusive as to where extraction will or will not be permitted."So far, the list of zones where resource extraction would be prohibited include core residential areas — HDR and LDR — as well as the downtown BC, NC, ROC, REC, or MUN areas. But as Smart Growth for Bristol says on its flyer, the plan does not in fact explicitly prohibit mining in zoning districts like MIX, RA-1, RA-2, and RA-5.But in addition to working on the latest draft of the town plan, the commission is also developing a draft of new regulations to govern mining and resource extraction operations in the town. These will likely be "conditional use" regulations — meaning that individuals looking to build mining or gravel pit operations in zoning areas that allow such operations would still have to meet a long list of requirements. I spoke with Bristol resident John Moyers, who has been at the forefront of Smart Growth for Bristol for years, and Moyers weighed in with this: "It is not sufficient for the town plan to be vague or to leave decisions about what will and won't be allowed in certain zones to the zoning bylaws. The plan itself needs to be specific. It's not enough to say, 'We'll punt this.'"The new regulations will eventually make up a new zoning ordinance that will head before Bristol voters — ideally, said Wells, at the same time the town plan goes up for a vote. We've covered this here at the Independent, and you can read the latest article about the town plan proceedings, and the draft zoning ordinance on resource extraction, here. And for Bristol residents, consider turning out tonight at 7:30 p.m. for the public hearing. Wells has said that he expects this will be the last public hearing the planning commission conducts — though the selectboard will hold at least two more once the draft plan is handed off to them. If you haven't taken a look at the draft plan itself yet, you can read it online at the Bristol town Web site. Be sure to check out this Thursday's paper for a run-down of the public hearing, and more on Bristol's draft town plan.


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Rebuilding Community Infrastructure
Rebuilding Community Infrastructure (Rebuild) is an initiative of Mayor Jim Kenney to invest $500 million in the city's parks, recreation centers, playgrounds, and libraries over seven years. It's aim is to remake Philadelphia's landscape of civic assets, advancing an equity agenda for neighborhoods by improving public spaces, boosting economic opportunity and civic capacity, and creating social connectivity through capital projects. PlanPhilly was first to report on Rebuild in February 2016 and is reporting on the development and progress of the mayoral initiative.


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Independence Police are investigating the disappearance of 16 year old John J. Scheffler who has not been seen since January 18, 2013. John's mother said he has run away several times but has always been found a short time later with his friends. To date, none of his friends have reported seeing him since January 18th.
John is 5', 8" tall, weighs 165 lbs, and has brown hair and brown eyes. John was last seen wearing a blue flannel hooded jacket and blue jeans.
If anyone has seen John Scheffler or may know of his whereabouts, please call the Independence Police at 816-325-7330 or 816-836-3600.


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Here's a new Zen riddle: What is the sound of money not talking?
Sure, it talks sometimes. We heard it loud and clear at the Republican Convention. But sometimes the sound of money in politics is the sound of silence. It's the sound of crooked bankers being let off the hook, of economies left at risk, of Social Security and Medicare being weakened, of growing inequity being ignored. Wall Street is spending record amounts on this year's election, and sometimes the best response is silence.
They're certainly talking about the economy at the Democratic Convention in Charlotte, which calls itself "the Wall Street of the South." But as of this writing (mid-day on Wednesday), nobody's talked about stronger oversight of Wall Street and other corporations,and nobody's promised to defend Social Security and Medicare from benefit cuts. (See UPDATE, below.)
Big-money interests want weak regulations and cuts to Social Security and Medicare. And they're a siren song to both parties – not only for their campaign contributions, but for the lucrative world of para-political employment that awaits ex-pols if they don't step out of line. (Matt Stoller's been exploring that topic – here, and here.)
If you're campaigning as a liberal and don't want to limit your career opportunities, sometimes the best course is silence.
Good Works
Tonight Bill Clinton will rally the crowd for Barack Obama. But he won't criticize the Wall Street interests that financed his political career and made him wealthy once he left office. It was Clinton who rebuked Obama for using anti-hedge fund rhetoric to attack Mitt Romney, saying Romney had "a sterling business career."
"I don't think that we ought to get into the position," said Clinton, "where we say 'This is bad work. This is good work.'"
But Bain-style predation is bad work. And deregulating Wall Street was bad policy. So was the idea of building an economy around financial speculation rather than jobs-based production.
Last night another ex-President who governed as a "centrist," Jimmy Carter, was limited to a short video appearance. Clinton's star turn is based on his popularity, but Carter's selfless and courageous post-Presidential career may also make ambitious politicians and staffers uncomfortable. Instead they can take heart from the post-political path to riches followed by Clinton and many of his senior aides.
It's no coincidence that Bill Clinton is also one of the most outspoken – and most deceptively cynical – sales reps for that elite piece of austerity hucksterism known as the "Simpson Bowles" plan,which would cut Social Security and Medicare benefits while actually lowering tax rates for corporations and the ultra-wealthy (under the pretense of closing unnamed "loopholes" at an unspecified later date).
"Simpson Bowles," and the propaganda efforts behind it, are also creatures of big money – especially that of billionaire Pete Peterson, a former member of Richard Nixon's cabinet who has been coopting Democrats into his anti-government, anti-middle class agenda for decades. Peterson's had a long and close relationship with Bill Clinton, who appointed him to an "Entitlement and Tax Reform Commission" in 1994.
Peterson acolytes Alan Simpson (R-Wyoming) and Erskine Bowles (D-Morgan Stanley) were appointed to a "deficit commission" by President Obama. Following that commission's failure, they issued a personal proposal cuts Social Security and Medicare, fulfilling Peterson's long-held dream of eviscerating those programs. President Obama's been trying to cut that deal for years.
This year's Democratic platform equivocates on Social Security and Medicare, promising only to prevent Social Security from being privatized (which isn't on the table right now). "We reject approaches that insist that cutting benefits is the only answer," say the Democrats.
Yet, surprisingly, a couple of weeks ago Joe Biden changed the script by offering a "flat guarantee" that there will be no changes to Social Security in a second Obama Administration. What have we heard about that so far this week?
Anybody who was truly concerned about the Federal government's long-term deficits would support this accurate observation in the 2008 Democratic platform: "The real long-run fiscal challenge is rooted in the rising spending on health care …" But our runaway health care costs are driven by for-profit corporations, whose abuses were only lightly addressed in the health reform bill. This 2008 statement was replaced this year with … silence.
With Nancy Pelosi's capitulation to the Simpson Bowles austerity plan, Biden and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid are the only two Democratic leaders in Washington who've said unequivocally that its benefits need not and should not be cut. What did we hear about Social Security in Sen. Reid's convention speech this week?
Headline: big banks defeated
In his speech to the convention, Sen. Reid said this: "Some said (Obama) couldn't take on the big banks that brought our economy to its knees. But President Obama made the tough and right call so taxpayers will never again be on the hook for Wall Street's risky bets." Reid's rhetoric echoed the party's 2012 platform, which reads "We put in place Wall Street reform with smarter, tougher, commonsense rules that will prevent a crisis like that from ever happening again."
But the Dodd/Frank bill was the product of a "negotiation" charade was acted out between Senator (now lobbyist) Christopher Dodd and his GOP counterparts. Their backroom negotiations produced watered-down reform – and still received no Republican votes. And yet, to hear them tell it, the Democrats took on the big banks and won. A lot of people will be surprised to hear that, especially when they find out that the victory was complete and no further work is needed.
No bankers have been tried for their crimes, despite massive evidence. They're still allowed to buy their freedom – and the right to keep pillaging – with other people's money. There's been nothing to show for the latest "this time we really mean it" round of announcements of a task force to investigate mortgage-related fraud. And, contrary to Sen. Reid's assertion, it's almost certain that there will be another crisis.
The Demorats' repeated use of the past tense – "We put in place ….. made the right call … never again on the hook …" – is the most discouraging sign of all. Like their speeches and their platform, it implies that no further reforms are needed. They seem to be telling us they have no intention of fighting for the additional reforms we so urgently need.
I think I liked the silence better.
And now for a word from our sponsor
Today we learned that the party has moved the location of tomorrow night's events, so the President won't be accepting the nomination in Bank of America Stadium as planned. He and his his party won't enter an arena whose entrance is a shrine to one of our largest and most crooked too-big-to-fail banks.
Bank of America: whose bankers committed massive forgery and other crimes to foreclose on American families. Whose CEO was its top lawyer when it committed widespread fraud that led to billion-dollar fines and settlements. Which would have gone bankrupt if not for the taxpayer, and yet has paid out huge bonuses (despite the Democrats' 2008 pledge to "ban executive bonuses for bankrupt companies) –
– and where, despite the fraud and criminality, not a single banker has been indicted.
Enter through those doors? Politically, at least, it wasn't worth the price of admission. It wouldn't have been wise to have the President and his party coming together under the words "Bank of America," even if those words were looking down on the politicians and their party the way that Bank of America and its kind have always done:
In silence.
(UPDATE: It's always a thrill to see the political master at his best. But, as predicted, President Clinton promoted Simpson Bowles and never suggested we might need more Wall Street regulation. Several pundits predicted that he would do a mea culpa on repealing Glass-Steagall; we didn't expect that. Elizabeth Warren's speech was terrific, too, but she was in no position to call for additional Wall Street regulation and did not do so.)


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I often say that change isn't such a bad thing. Change shakes things up a little bit. Change keeps us from holding the line for the status quo. It keeps us on our toes. It makes life ... interesting. I got a taste of that last week.
I came to work Thursday morning and was greeted with a short message from a fellow editor - check your e-mail now. She'd forwarded to me a link to an article that would shape the rest of our day.
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Read A Sample
The New You: A Guide to Better Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Wellness
by Jennifer Henson
Nelson Searcy
Learn More | Meet Jennifer Henson | Meet Nelson Searcy
Whose You Are
Opening Up with God about Your Health
- The reason why many are still troubled, still seeking, still making little forward progress is because they haven't yet come to the end of themselves. We're still trying to give orders, and interfering with God's work within us.
- A. W. Tozer
Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
- 1 Corinthians 6:19–20
As a teenager, I (Nelson) spent some time speaking at young entrepreneur conferences around the country. Thanks to that circuit, I had the privilege of working alongside the late Zig Ziglar. A great Christian businessman and leader, Zig spoke eloquently about matters of vision, change, work, and commitment. One thing Zig used to often say has stuck with me through the years. "Character gets you out of bed; commitment moves you to action . . . and discipline [enables] you to follow through."
Character, commitment, and discipline—the ability to move from where you are in life to where you want to be will flow from these three things. All intentional change is born out of character, anchored in the commitments you make, and achieved through discipline.
Your character drove you to pick up this book. Something inside you is longing to live life at a higher level. Maybe you can feel stress, sickness, or anxiety tugging at your shirtsleeve, and you know it is leading you down a path that should be avoided at all costs.
Discipline will determine how well you follow through with the small steps we suggest—the steps that will help you realign your overall health and wellness with God's best plan for you. You will learn a great deal in the pages ahead about living to your full health potential, but how well you apply what you learn is completely up to you. No one else can change your life for you.
That leaves commitment. The commitments you choose to make in your life shape your path through this world. If you look back over the years, you can probably recognize a handful of commitments that have determined where you are today. Maybe you made a commitment to go to one school over another, and that decision led you to your current life situation. Perhaps you made a commitment to marriage, or you may still be hoping to make that commitment one day. If you have children, you made a commitment to love and raise them well. Each one of these is a life-changing commitment. Stepping out of the status quo and deciding to reclaim your health and vitality is also a life-changing commitment, one we hope you will make.
Three Key Commitments
When you have all areas of your health under control, you are free to live life to the fullest. To get started, choose to embrace the following key commitments that are foundational to becoming the new you:
- surrender your health to God
- stop making excuses
- start taking small steps toward change
These commitments form the basis of your ability to build a life marked by complete health and wholeness. We will look at the first commitment here and the other two in the chapters to follow.
Surrender Your Health to God
Here is a game-changing truth for you to consider: your body wasn't created for your own gratification; it was created for God's glory. But if you are like most people, you treat your body as if it is yours to do with as you please. You are quick to gratify your own tastes, preferences, and whims. But the reality is that your body was made both by God and for God.
First Corinthians 6:13 says, "[Our bodies] were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares about our bodies." You probably intuitively understand that God made your body, but maybe you have never thought of it as being made for him. If your body was made for the Lord, and he cares about your body, doesn't that mean you should care about your body too?
This is an area where most people—Christians in particular—need to flip the lens. Too often, we use God as the ultimate excuse for letting our health slide. We run our bodies down, fill them with disease-causing foods, let them atrophy from lack of movement, and then call it God's will when we get sick. We fill our minds with toxic thoughts, neglect healthy relationships with other people, fail to engage with God regularly, and then blame him when we wind up lonely and anxious.
The truth is that pursuing excellence in every area of our health is a way to honor God. His sovereignty is not an excuse to live any old way we want to live because he is going to work it out in the end; instead, he is the beacon calling us to live in a way that shines his brilliance to others. Keeping ourselves in good health is really an act of stewardship.
Good Health = Good Stewardship
Again, your body is not your own. It has simply been entrusted to you for a period of time. You are called to steward your health in the same way you steward your money, your time, and your relationships. As Rick Warren wrote in The Daniel Plan:
- This life is preparation for our next life, which will last forever in eternity. God is testing you on earth to see what he can trust you with in eternity. He is watching how you use your time, your money, your talents, your opportunities, your mind, and yes, even your body. Are you making the most of what you've been given? God isn't going to evaluate you on the basis of the bodies he gave to other people, but he will judge what you did with what you have been given.
Have you ever thought about having to stand before God and give an account for how you cared for yourself—for how well you ate, how active you were in an effort to stay healthy, how intentional you were about managing your stress and your emotions to avoid negative health consequences? That is a scary notion, isn't it?
Most of us have never thought that deeply about our physical stewardship responsibility. But it is not too late to start. No matter what kind of health you are in this very minute, it is not too late to surrender your body—to surrender every aspect of your physical health and well-being—to God.
- Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. (1 Cor. 6:19–20)
Start by having a conversation with him. Talk to God about your current health. If you haven't been taking care of yourself, repent of that. Ask God to help you be a good steward of the body he has entrusted to you. Only then, working from the foundational understanding that your body is not your own but his, can you forge ahead into the complete health he wants you to have. (For more on talking with God through prayer, flip to chapter 19.)
We will take a look at the second commitment—stop making excuses—in the next chapter.
Search Chapters:Browse More Chapters


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Most homes have coax wired into almost every room, but only newer ones have Ethernet wall ports. D-Link's DXN-221 Ethernet adapter works around this problem and comes with two units, both with a Coax F-Type connector to go into your wall, and an Ethernet adapter to hook up to your networking on either side. The adapter works in the 800-1500MHz range, which supposedly doesn't interfere with your TV signal. All this can be yours in Q3 2008 for $199 for two, and $109 for individual adapters thereafter.
D-Link doesn't have images of this thing, so I made my own interpretation of what it looks like. We've got actual pictures! See my original interpretation below. [D-Link]


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Democrats in Washington, D.C., have taken a lot of shots at Republicans recently for not introducing a "jobs bill." Conservatives, they say, are far too concerned with government spending and not concerned enough with "putting people back to work."
After a few months in Washington, I've gotten used to this sort of finger pointing. But I still think it's important to explain exactly what each side's position is, and also let you know what Congress has been up to so far this year.
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Contact Info
County of San Bernardino
Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector
Welcome to the San Bernardino County Unclaimed
Property Tax Refund Website. You can use this site to search for refunds of
property taxes that have not been claimed. These refunds have been created
due to a reduction in the assessed value of property after the property taxes have
been totally paid.
research and request a duplicate Claim Form, you will need to know either the Assessor's
Parcel Number or the Situs Address of the property. Duplicate claim forms will be
sent to the mailing address on the original bill. Changes in the mailing address
may require further information before processing.
To proceed to search
for Unclaimed Property Tax Refunds, please click the Search
menu link on the left.
More information
regarding property tax bills can be viewed at the San Bernardino County Tax Collector
website at


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Which Shameless Bank Fees Will Get You Next?
Banking is a profitable business. But it is somewhat less profitable than it was a few years ago. A reasonable person might say "Good, a few years ago it was too profitable due to unfair business practices." Reasonable people are not bankers.
The response by the banking industry to recent laws designed to curb outrageous fees by banks has been to institute more, newer, different outrageous fees. Some, like pricey debit card fees, backfired; others, like increased fees on checking accounts, sailed through without provoking much outrage at all.
Bankers are greedy, but not stupid. They learn from every PR mistake. The NYT today says that banks are "under intense pressure to make up an estimated $12 billion a year of income," because of course the prospect of somewhat lower profits in exchange for fairness to consumers is incomprehensible to bank shareholders. And where might they "make up" those billions? New fees, of course. And where might those fees come from? The paper points to this enlightening Pew report from last year, which identified 49(!) separate fees that a consumer could potentially incur on a checking account. Let's list some but not all! How much are you paying?
- Monthly account maintenance fee.
- Minimum account balance fee.
- Non-direct deposit fee.
- Bank ATM fee.
- Non-bank ATM fee.
- Returned check fee.
- Stop payment fee.
- Miscellaneous "service" fees.
- Overdraft fee.
- Extended overdraft penalty fee.
- Lowered account interest.
- Account closing fee.
The account closing fee is our favorite. We see great growth potential for banks in this area! "Oh, you want to close your account to protest Wall Street. Yes sir, here you go, minus our 100% account closing fee."
But uh, don't worry. Money is a lie and whatnot.


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Our Best Match:
What is BURST?
This information can be found at http://fullerton.edu/biology/burst/
The CSUF BURST program, funded by the Office of the Provost, has three overarching goals:
1) to increase the number of students involved in the high-impact practice of faculty-mentored research,
2) to provide opportunities for students to explore and develop their research interests
3) to build a community of student researchers
The program aims to accomplish this through three types of activities:
1) BURST COMMUNICATIONS: The BURST Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/BURSTCSUF) provides students with current information on upcoming events and research and job opportunities, and highlights a different CSUF undergraduate research student each week.
2) BURST EVENTS provide tools to help students get to know potential faculty mentors, get involved in faculty-mentored research, and learn the culture of communicating biology research.
3) The BURST scholar program supports advanced CSUF Biological Science majors as they conduct independent research with a faculty mentor, culminating with at least one significant oral or written presentation.
You May Be Interested In:
- What is your grading policy?
- When are campus break periods (e.g. spring, fall, winter)?
- How long does the whole international application evaluation process take?
- What are the hours of operation on campus?
- How do I get a copy of my transcript?
Didn't Find Your Answer?
Try searching our site or send us a message.
Are You Satisfied With Your Answer?


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Croatia has been selected as host nation of UEFA Futsal Euro 2012.
The Croatian Football Federation (HNS) was appointed to stage the next UEFA European Futsal Championship final tournament at Wednesday's UEFA Executive Committee meeting in Tel Aviv. The other nations who bid were Belgium and FYR Macedonia and qualifying is scheduled for spring 2011.
Two venues are slated to be used for the final tournament, which is currently scheduled for February 2012: the 15,200-capacity Zagreb Arena and the 10,931-seater Spaladium Arena in Split, both opened for the 2009 World Men's Handball Championship. The HNS recently staged the 2009 UEFA Regions' Cup in the Zagreb region.
In hosting the Futsal Euro finals, Croatia follows Hungary, who staged the first expanded 12-team event this January, Portugal (2007), the Czech Republic (2005), Italy (2003), Russia (2001) and Spain (1999). Last week the 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup, to be played in a different season to the UEFA Futsal Euro, was awarded to Thailand.
©UEFA.com 1998-2017. All rights reserved.


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|Bouquets of Chocolate Rose Cake Pops!
15 second video http://flipagram.com/f/RBnlxZKSSA
The Cake Bomb ~ Cake Pops For All Occasions
a burst of flavour in every pop!
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Valentine Rose Cake Pops!
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Xbox Video Controller Cake Pops
|The perfect cake pop for a someone who loves to play video games for his birthday! Happy Birthday Michael! Hope the cake pops were a winner on your special day!
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Women's Day Cake Pops!
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Lightning McQueen Cake Pops
Baby Block Cake Pops
Monday, March 5, 2012
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Spiderman Cake Pops
|Spiderman party theme for my son's 4th birthday!
|Spiderman cake was done by Vanessa Marie Fiorini at Patisserie V. Marie.
|Of course mommy made spiderman cake pops and brownie cupcakes!
|Anthony was so excited that Spiderman came by for a visit at his birthday party!
Owl Cake Pops
Sunday, February 19, 2012
TML Hockey Pucks
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Baby Rattle Cake Pops
|These cake pops were made for a baby shower and were given out to each guest. Another great alternative instead of cutting into a cake. No cutlery needed and no mess but more fun!
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Monkey Cake Pops
Cupcake Cake Pops
Princess Cake Pops
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Sports Theme & Princess Wands Cake Pops
This order was for a wonderful, very busy mom who decided to have one birthday party for all 4 children on one day, since their birthdays are close together. Eldest boy, 7 years old, twins boy and girl, 5 years old and youngest little boy, 4 years old. I wanted to create a theme of something they all enjoyed so I was told I couldn't go wrong with soccer, baseball and hockey since they all play sports. Of course, every little princess would love to eat their own chocolate sprinkled wand as well!
Monday, November 7, 2011
Baptism Cake Pops
A sweet treat for each guest at their table seating.
Cake pops were made with banana cake, dipped in white chocolate and I added a pink chocolate butterfly.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Monkey Cake Pops
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Winner of Best Lollicake at Toronto's Baking and Sweets Show 2011
Words can't explain the feeling I experienced this weekend when three amazing judges for Canada's Baking and Sweets Show 2011, Buddy Valastro from The Cake Boss, Geraldine Randlesome from Creative Cutters and Erin Bolger from The Happy Baker, announced my cake pop as the best in creativity and taste at the Baking and Sweets show of 2011!
The winner cake pops were made into turkeys. I'm so thankful that The Cake Bomb met The Cake Boss! Although, I wish I had said something nicer to Buddy except, "Thanks Buddy, I'm shaking like a turkey right now!" But when your running up stage to accept your prize and thanking the judges, your just concentrating on not tripping on stage. Everything else was a blur! But what an amazing feeling!
Please visit The Cake Bomb by Cathy Alfano on Facebook for more photos.
The winner cake pops were made into turkeys. I'm so thankful that The Cake Bomb met The Cake Boss! Although, I wish I had said something nicer to Buddy except, "Thanks Buddy, I'm shaking like a turkey right now!" But when your running up stage to accept your prize and thanking the judges, your just concentrating on not tripping on stage. Everything else was a blur! But what an amazing feeling!
Please visit The Cake Bomb by Cathy Alfano on Facebook for more photos.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Many thanks!
I really don't know where to begin my thank you list of names of everyone who gave their support in helping me get through this weekend at the Baking and Sweets show. So as tired as I am after rolling over 1000 cake pops for this weekend, I will try.
I like to thank Fedele Naccarato and Paul Uguccioni from the Baking and Sweets show, who convinced me to take part in this show. After much complaining, whining and unsureness, I must admit that they were absolutely right about me doing so well. Being my first exhibit, I was amazed of the great turn out and more so amazed that all cake pops sold in 3 days! You guys are great! I'm so glad we met and even more glad that I was part of this show! Thanks to my Bomb Boys!
I like to thank the best mother-in-law one can ask for who baked many cakes of many flavours!
Chocolate, vanilla, peanut butter, banana, pumpkin, chocolate banana, lemon, orange and apple spice! Along with everything else she helped in taking part in with this show. There's no way I could of done it without her help! Thanks to the Bomb Grandma for helping me put this whole thing together from baking, wrapping, arranging, shopping and reminding of all things that I've forgotten many many times and being with me all 3 days at this show.
I like to thank my cousins Christina and Laura for interacting this weekend with everyone that dropped by the booth to sample and buy cake pops.
Christina, you know your amazing! Thanks for putting together the logo, business cards, brochures, and signs for The Cake Bomb! I'm sure I'm not done with you but your in much needed of a break as I am! I knew the first day we met, 7 years ago, when you wouldn't shut up for a second and your mouth was going 100 miles an hour, that I was going to need you sometime in my life... this was the weekend! You know I heart you!
Laura, I had to forget that you are pregnant and have a bad back at times because I really needed your support this weekend. Even though the 10 phone calls a day, 100 emails and 50 texts messages, everyday leading up to this weekend, checking up on me if I was ok, reminding me that I can do it weren't enough, I'm glad you were there to share this moment with me! It's amazing how many people still mistaken us as sisters and ask if we're twins after all these years! Maybe we will have to add an "s" at the end of The Cake Bomb soon!
Thanks to my Bomb Girls for helping me keep sane this weekend although I'm sure you wanted to smack me a few times or more! lol
I like to thank all my friends and family that came to visit me at the show and those who sent their wishes and support for believing in me and telling me to stick to it! To many to mention but you all know who you are! Thanks for the love!
And of course, my husband, Mike, for not telling to forget this idea and supporting me every step of the way. For all my crack downs, laughter and tears we shared leading up to this weekend. Mike knew from the moment he tasted one of many cake pops, that these would be a great success. My crazy kids, Victoria and Anthony who have been eating plenty of cake pops for breakfast, lunch and dinner and still aren't sick of them! Now mommy needs to figure out a way to add veggies in these cake pops for them!
Thank you everyone! I'm tired.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Shoppers Drug Mart Gala
I was very happy that all cake pops were sold today and that all proceeds went to the Look Good Feel Better Foundation! It meant so much to me to take part in this gala because this foundation helps many women with cancer look good and feel better about themselves, including my mom who went through a year of chemotherapy and radiation. Thanks to my sister Rosie, who asked me to take part in this event and thank you to all that joined us in supporting the Look Good Feel Better foundation.
More photos of this event available on Facebook at The Cake Bomb by Cathy Alfano
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Coffee Table Books Can Be Tough to Sell in the Digital Age
The decline of the traditional bookstore is forcing specialist publishers like Quarto Group Inc. to come up with new ways to attract sales.
Quarto, which is based in London, specializes in niche titles that are often picked up as gifts or by enthusiasts of one kind or another. Among its strong sellers are titles about cake decorating, dog tricks, and the history of firearms.


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If you're anything like us, you're back at work after a long, sun-filled weekend — but not exactly loving it (Is next weekend here yet?). But, one thing we can say for our Monday malaise — it's definitely made us double down on our summer vacation plans. And thanks to By Malene Birger, we know exactly what we'll be wearing as we set out to those distant shores.
Nautical stripes; bright and lively tropical-print dresses; and the perfect, anchor-studded skinny jean — these clothes couldn't yell "vacation" more if they came with a round-trip ticket.
Click on for our 10 favorite By Malene Birger looks — each one perfect for the sophisticated world traveler (or, you know, the Zipcar road tripper) that you are. Bon voyage!


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Rain or shine, fishing is always fine. Well we are approaching the end of 2016 at a fast rate of knots, they seem to go quicker as you get older. So it's time to get the cast net out and brush up on your casting skills, as I have seen a few prawns starting to school. A good sign is when you see the trawlers in the Brisbane and the Logan river working their nets, also you will start to see the prawns skipping on the surface as you or the fish spooks them in the shallow water. Mackerel season is upon us and the schoolies are small and in huge numbers at the moment but they grow quickly and paravanes make light work on them, they have been hanging around south passage bar. Spotties are looking bigger than this time last year and they will only get bigger and more of them so look for any bird action even if it's only one, watch what it's doing and it will tell you, if you see it stay in the one spot and keep dropping to the water it's feeding and if he is just flying but keeps dropping and stops about 2m from the surface then the bait is two meters under the surface and the school of fish is under that, and if he takes off at a hundred miles an hour he has seen his mates having lunch somewhere else so follow him. I'm using samaki boom baits 3"forking jerk ghost bait with a size 1/2 headlock jighead to give you casting distance 4/0 hook is a perfect, match the hatch and Samaki spinners are perfect when the fish are on the surface so look for any sign of possible fish is the best way in finding them or any boats thats on the lookout too. School mackerel are 50cm legal and spotty are 60cm legal. The sand hills, rous channel, hope bank, Harry and rainbow channel have had reports of good catches.
Squid are a good option still as they will like the nights more now as it's getting hotter but you will find them on the whiting grounds all year round day or night and there has been heaps still coming from the jettys and boat ramps on the main land from Redland bay, Victoria point, Wellington point, manly, raby bay and port of Brisbane boat ramp. There also been a lot of bream in all the same areas as the squid with a few Moses perch and trevally as well hanging with the jacks. Mr Jack is hitting potty mullet like a steam train so have good shock leader to help with abrasion resistances as he don't play fair if there's a snag he will find it ,mouth of the Logan, Pimpama,any were small feeder creeks flow in to the main channel is a great place to start they love to eat anything that moves.
There has been a good run of squire and a few snapper, a lot are coming from around the bay island even around the moored boats that are there permanently as they give great cover and structure. There's been a lot from the mouth of the Brisbane river and on the western side of mud island and green island, Harrys & peel are fishing as good. You just have to be in stealth mode if your in shallow they are taking a liking to those boom baits, its good to see what the fish are eating as then you know what bait or lures to use. The grass emperor are coming on the bite with this hot weather, a few blue parrotfish are coming from the eastern side of the bay, the blue hole is a good place to start and in close to the rock wall at amity, legal size male sand crab are the prime bait for these big blues and the grassies like peeled prawns, and squid strips but any bait can do the job.
The winter whiting are running hot at rous channel, the small boat passage down to naval reserve banks and amity banks the paternoster rig with 2 hooks about a foot apart and a small sinker a foot lower on the bottom and you will get a double hook up and the summer whiting are up the mouths of the rivers and creeks around the power lines, Fishermans gutter, slipping sands, tiger mullet channel, tipplers, bed rooms, the mouth of the pimpama near couran cove and there's heaps coming in over 40cm worms or yabbies or small prawns. Flathead are just about everywhere as the hot weather brings them on the bite, they love a drifting pilly with not much sinker like a 2 or 3 ball, they are eating livies meant for jacks, Jew and cod. The jewfish have been at the bigger end of the scale this month, most have been over the metre mark & hanging at Harrys, peel artificial, Potts point wreck, coochie artificial,the boats at Macleay, salt works, Giants grave, marks rock, short island, kalinga bank and the pin. Live mullet or herring is doing the best but if your near the bar and the tailor are there catch a few for live bait over 35 cm of course and hang on as it's not just Jew fish down there, big sharks too. The mudcrabs should start running this week with big tides but sandcrabs are coming on strong heading from mud island to peel. I hope u can get out on the water, from the crew at Victoria Point Bait & Tackle. Like our page on FB https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaPointBaitTackle
Frandon Heseltine
Victoria Point Bait & Tackle
12 Colburn Ave
Victoria Point Q 4165
Report 2/12/16
84 Shipper Dr, Coomera Qld 4209
ph: 07 5502 6200
ph: 07 5502 6200
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Battle Creek shines as nation's first Beacon Community
Local leaders and The Harwood Institute to tackle social ills in new, collaborative ways
Battle Creek, Mich. (February 28, 2013) – Grassroots and community leaders are joining with The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation and United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region on a three-year initiative targeting social issues. This collaboration, funded with a $1.4 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, will make Battle Creek the first-ever Beacon Community – a national model for uniting individuals and organizations in applying Harwood practice principles to address community challenges.
"Tackling the most pressing issues we face, from education to employment to health care, depends on every facet of the community engaging in meaningful ways," said Michael Larson, president and chief executive officer of the United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region (UWBCKR). "In coming together as a Beacon Community, Battle Creek will demonstrate how people can create change on issues that matter."
The process begins March 5-7, when community leaders in Battle Creek gather at the McCamly Plaza Hotel for the Harwood Public Innovators Lab. This three-day immersion in the core elements of the Harwood practice will equip the attending leaders with the tools and approach for identifying and addressing social issues in the next three years.
Participants include leaders from UWBCKR, Kellogg Community College, Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce, City of Battle Creek, BC Pulse, Project 20/20 and many other organizations.
"We chose Battle Creek as the first Beacon Community because of the great partnership potential we've seen here through our work with the community over the past five years," said Rich Harwood, president and founder of The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation. "People working together for the common good is a constant theme in Battle Creek. We believe this approach will achieve more impact, and we want to replicate our innovation with Battle Creek in other communities across the country."
To find out more about Beacon Communities, please visit The Harwood Institute's page.
About The Harwood Institute:
The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that works with individuals and organizations to lead social change in their communities. Founded by Richard C. Harwood, the Institute has leveraged its 25 years of on-the-ground experience and innovation in communities along with its national partnerships to become a leading change organization. The Institute is recognized nationally for its unique approach to breaking down barriers and empowering people to make tangible progress in improving their communities. For more information, please visit www.theharwoodinstitute.org.
About the United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region:
United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region mobilizes the caring power of the community to advance the common good. Created in 2012 through the merger of the Greater Kalamazoo United Way and the United Way of Greater Battle Creek, and now the second largest United Way in Michigan, UWBCKR engages people across the region to address the most pressing needs in education, income and health.
About the W.K. Kellogg Foundation:
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), founded in 1930 as an independent, private foundation by breakfast cereal pioneer, Will Keith Kellogg, is among the largest philanthropic foundations in the United States. Guided by the belief that all children should have an equal opportunity to thrive, WKKF works with communities to create conditions for vulnerable children so they can realize their full potential in school, work and life.
The Kellogg Foundation is based in Battle Creek, Mich., and works throughout the United States and internationally, as well as with sovereign tribes. Special emphasis is paid to priority places where there are high concentrations of poverty and where children face significant barriers to success. WKKF priority places in the U.S. are in Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico and New Orleans; and internationally, are in Mexico and Haiti. For more information, visit www.wkkf.org.
Media Contact:
Jim Cooney - The Harwood Institute - firstname.lastname@example.com - 301.656.3669
Chris Sargent - United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region – email@example.com – 269.441.1723


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Seagate to spin a 12GB 1in HDD in Q3
Perpendicular recording
Seagate yesterday not only pledged to ship a 12GB 1in hard disk drive in Q3, it also promised the drive would ship in a much smaller casing than its current 1in HDD line-up does and consume two-thirds of the power. What's more, the drive incorporates perpendicular recording technology, the company said.
Seagate's 14g ST1.3 is pitched at phones and media players. No wonder, then, it's got a sudden acceleration sensor to detect when the host device is dropped and park the read/write heads to protect the disk from damage. This increases operational shock resistance by up to 33 per cent, Seagate said, allowing the device to survive a 1.5m fall onto a hard concrete surface.
That said, gadget makers unwilling to pay for the security system can buy a version without it, so not all ST1.3-based devices will be created equal, it seems.
The drive unit measures 4 x 3 x 0.5cm, for a footprint that's 23 per cent smaller than Seagate's previous 1in drives, the 4.3 x 3.6 x 0.5cm ST1 series, which already stretches to 8GB. The new drives have an average seek time of 20ms.
Seagate said the two ST1.3 SKUs - one with the drop sensor, the other without - will ship in Q3. It didn't disclose pricing. ®
Seagate's ST1.3 (left) and the previous generation, the ST1


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"This funding will help local and regional organizations as they assist small and emerging businesses," Vilsack said. "The Obama Administration recognizes small businesses as the engines of job creation and essential to strengthening our national economy."
Strengthening the rural economy remains a main focus of USDA, despite budget uncertainties. Qualified intermediary organizations receiving the grants will provide financial and technical assistance to recipients to develop their capacity to undertake housing, community facilities, or community and economic development projects. Recipients will be non-profit organizations, low income rural communities, or federally recognized tribes. Intermediary organizations must provide matching funds at least equal to the RCDI grant. Funds are not directly provided to business recipients by USDA under the program.
The deadline for submitting RCDI applications is November 12, 2013. Applications must be submitted to the USDA Rural Development state office where the applicant's headquarters are located. A list of these offices is available on the USDA Rural Development website. For more information, see the August 14, 2013 Federal Register at www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-08-14/pdf/2013-19773.pdf.
RCDI brings economic opportunity to rural areas. For example, in 2012, NC REAL Enterprises in North Carolina, received a grant for its "Growing Small Businesses in Rural North Carolina" project. NC REAL Enterprises provides entrepreneurship education to a network of more than 300 certified facilitators (teachers and civic leaders) who, in turn, provide courses to individuals seeking to transition to an entrepreneurial small business career. Over a two-year period, RCDI funding is expected to provide business education and training to at least 2,000 individuals participating in this project; help start 40 new businesses; and improve the capacity of 20 existing businesses.
Secretary Vilsack said that today's announcement is another reminder of the importance of USDA programs for rural America. A comprehensive new Food, Farm and Jobs Bill would further expand the rural economy, Vilsack added, saying that's just one reason why Congress must get a comprehensive Bill done as soon as possible.
President Obama's plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President's leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way - strengthening America's economy, small towns and rural communities.
USDA's investments in rural communities support the rural way of life that stands as the backbone of our American values. President Obama and Agriculture Secretary Vilsack are committed to a smarter use of Federal resources to foster sustainable economic prosperity and ensure the government is a strong partner for businesses, entrepreneurs and working families in rural communities.
USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, has a portfolio of programs designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America. USDA has made a concerted effort to deliver results for the American people, even as the Department implements sequestration - the across-the-board budget reductions mandated under terms of the Budget Control Act.
USDA has already undertaken historic efforts since 2009 to save more than $828 million in taxpayer funds through targeted, common-sense budget reductions. These reductions have put USDA in a better position to carry out its mission, while implementing sequester budget reductions in a fair manner that causes as little disruption as possible.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users)


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The news on Christmas Eve that a U.S. Army brigade will begin sending small teams into as many as 35 African nations in 2013 indicates a still-expanding role for an all-volunteer Army that has been stretched nearly to the breaking point in recent years by a nearly nine-year war in Iraq and the ongoing war in Afghanistan now in its 11th year.
According to the Associated Press report, teams from the 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division will "target" countries including Libya, Sudan, Algeria and Niger, where al-Qaeda-linked groups have been active. The mission will also will assist nations such as Kenya and Uganda that have been battling al-Shabaab militants on the front lines in Somalia, the AP reported.
Concerns about terrorist threats in Africa have grown in part from reports of a rise of al-Qaeda-linked groups on the continent, including the Boko Haram in Nigeria. They have also been heightened by this year's September 11 attack by militants on the U.S. diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya that killed Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans. The level of security at the facility and the alleged failures of the U.S. intelligence and military to detect and defend against the attack have been subjects of heated debate in Washington ever since.
The Army mission in Africa will be to conduct a wide array of exercises and training programs among the African nations, whose great diversity of languages and culture is expected to create a considerable challenge for the mission. Col. Matthew McKenna, who will begin training soldiers for the mission at Fort Riley, Kansas in March, described the difficulties that the language barriers alone present.
"In a very short time frame we can only teach basic phrases," he told the AP. "We focus on culture and the cultural impact — how it impacts the African countries' military and their operations." Thomas Dempsey, a professor with the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, spoke of differences in culture and history as well as language among the many nations on the vast continent.
"How do you train for that in a way that would be applicable wherever they go?" asked Dempsey, a retired Army colonel. "The security challenges differ so dramatically that, to be honest, I really don't think it's feasible to have a continental training package."
The emphasis will apparently be on training African forces to defend their nations against insurgencies and terrorist attacks rather than on U.S. military operations, though Army officials noted the ability for American forces to launch attacks. The mission will have what has been described as a small drone, or unmanned bomber, capacity.
"If they want them for [military] operations, the brigade is our first sourcing solution because they're prepared," Gen. David Rodriguez, the head of U.S. Army Forces Command told the AP. "But that has to go back to the secretary of defense to get an execute order."
The 2nd Brigade — known as the "Dagger Brigade" — is receiving its regular combat training first, and then will move on to the more specific instruction needed for the deployments, such as language skills, cultural information, and other data about the African nations. In addition to the Pashtun and Farsi languages used mainly in Afghanistan and Iran, the soldiers are expected to learn French, Swahili, Arabic or other languages, in addition to features of the various local cultures.
"What's really exciting is we get to focus on a different part of the world and maintain our core combat skills," said Col. Jeff Broadwater, the brigade commander. "You see those threats [in Africa] in the news all the time."
The U.S. Africa Command, created with little fanfare in 2007, has thus far not resulted in the creation of American bases or a noticeable exercise of significant U.S. military influence on the continent. In fact, the command is based in Stuttgart, Germany, rather than on the African continent. Yet many African nations are reported to be eager for U.S. training and support as they struggle to build their own military forces to deal with everything form piracy to drug trafficking and insurgent attacks.
The new mission reflects the growing role of a U.S military that already has the world divided into six unified regional commands around the globe and has taken on an expanded security and "peacekeeping" operation in what has often been described as a "new world order." It is a role in sharp contrast with the older American tradition of avoiding regional conflicts and defending against attacks aimed at the United States. Critics of current U.S. foreign policy have argued that taking sides either for or against insurgencies in far-off lands has only increased threats to American security by multiplying the number of enemies of the United States throughout the world. Some have argued that the United States, whose post-World War II network of alliances was established for the stated purpose of containing and deterring the Soviet Union, is now looking for new opportunities to flex its military muscles and expand its influence across the globe.
"The creation of the US African Command (Africom) of course pointed to US involvements in wars on the continent, and indeed the US has since fought a war in Libya, deployed troops of Uganda, and is planning for another war in Mali," wrote Jason Ditz at Antiwar.com. A growing role for the U.S. military on the continent will lead to still more U.S. wars, he predicted. "Since the establishment of Africom, officials seem to figure that with enough troops and enough countries involved, the question of what wars and where can be worked out at their leisure."


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Now is a better time than ever to join SCWC's diverse and growing membership.
SCWC is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, that includes leaders from business, cities, agricultural groups, labor unions, environmental organizations, water agencies, as well as the general public, dedicated to informing Southern Californians about our water needs and our state's water resources.
Strong leadership and the collective expertise of SCWC and our members contribute ideas, resources and viable strategies to statewide issues.
Not sure if you've heard of me, but I'm Lawn Dude - the official water conservation mascot for SCWC. I used to have a major drinking problem. Thanks to that H20 diet that Governor Brown put me on, I'm looking better than ever. I've sprouted a few dry patches from my diligent choice to #LayOffTheSauce, but don't you worry - I'm making the drought look good.
Follow me @Lawn_Dude on Twitter for the latest updates!


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Lisa Davis needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 146 designs submitted by 57 freelance designers.
boutique financial planning firm seeks logo
Business Wealth Management
Business Wealth Management
Desired Color Scheme:
navy blue, chocolate brown -- but open to others
Desired Style:
classy, but not too "slick"
Accepted File Formats:
Standard Web Formats (.jpg, .gif or .png), vector files like .ai or .eps.
High-class financial planning firms seeks logo to use with a term - Business Wealth Management(TM). The logo must include the words "Business Wealth Management" in the logo. This will be used in connection with financial services offered to business owners: executive reward and retention programs, investments, exit and succession planning, growing the value of the company, tax planning, entity structure, business coaching, etc.
Our current colors are navy blue, chocolate brown, beige/off-white, linen with red/brick accents. But I'm open to other colors too. We want something that is classy, but not too "slick" and "glossy". The logo will be used on various marketing pieces, collateral, website, etc.
sister company:Â http://www.LWMG.com
Can't wait to see what you come up with!
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.