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A workflow analysis can be a handy process to start understanding the strengths and opportunities of your coaching plan. There are two ways to do a workflow analysis:
- Direct observation and
- Interviews with key team members
We suggest conducting a workflow analysis with a caveat: keep the process simple. Do not get "analysis paralysis" when initiating this strategy! You can use this process to identify where optimization can occur in the face of a problem you are observing or to periodically innovate your care, but don't reinvent the wheel.
Fitbit Plus typically involves three general workflows that describe how patients move through their Fitbit Plus coaching experience:
Enrollment Workflow describes how patients enter into the Fitbit Plus system. Specific components of enrollment workflows include:
- Marketing and Recruitment
- Assignment of Coaches to Patients
- Initial Patient Contact
- Patient messaging and communication
Coaching and Administrative Workflows describes how clinical providers work together to serve patients in Fitbit Plus. Specific components of Clinical/Administrative Workflows include:
- Internal/external referral management
- Appointment Scheduling
- Clinical Decision Making: What is the process for e-Prescribing, medication changes, communication through Fitbit Plus, and communication through meeting structures?
Depending on whether your coaching team is remote, partially remote, or on-site, how you approach these workflows may be different.
Archival Workflow describes when and how clinical providers should remove patients from Fitbit Plus.
If you have a current workflow, start there. How do you think patients move through your practice from start to finish? When do you observe it and interview your team? What actually happens? Once you have a good understanding of how patients and providers are actually working together, you can better decide on an optimal way for Fitbit Plus to integrate with your practice.


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Whatever happened to Hopenhagen???
Rex Murphy on the nothingness from Copenhagen...
But however doomed the effort, it is worth the strain to re-summon the spectre of the Copenhagen festival. The prelude to the event was a blizzard, a windstorm, a tsunami of worldwide press attention. The myriad and extremely well-orchestrated voices of climate alarmism had warned the world of its importance. Copenhagen was make or break for the planet. It was do or die. Either Copenhagen would prove to be a greater Kyoto, a summit that crafted binding resolutions on the carbon-belching nations of the world, or it would be but a little while that we passed the "tipping point," and poor Mother Gaia and her shielding atmosphere would be sent inexorably on the path to ecological doom. Island states would be deluged, a new tropics would settle over our northern climes, millions would be displaced or worse and rogue mankind would have missed its last best chance to halt the sultry drift into global ruin.
The buildup to the Copenhagen conference had better writers than the Book of Revelations (and certainly better press management). All that was missing from the drum-roll of anticipation for the summit was a walk-on part for The Great Whore of Babylon to add a little lurid colour to its vision of meteorological apocalypse.
And then the summit met. Forty-five thousand of the most professionally worried people on the planet, jetted and limousined their way, with a blissful unconsciousness of the titantic carbon propulsion it took to get them there, into Copenhagen for two weeks. They yammered. They press-released. They fossil-awarded like mad. And they went home. Finis.
That was it.
Three days after the great gloom-bazaar, it was hard to find a sentient human being on this threatened planet who had a word to say, or a thought to waste, on Copenhagen. If I knew the Latin for "What happened?" (and I am for once unwilling to Google-cheat for the knowledge) this is where I'd drop it. After all this splendid fanfare, after so glorious an overture — what happened to the symphony?

subset: commoncrawl


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Sales Representative Opportunity with UnitedHealthcare Medicare Solutions
The Opportunity:
The Boomer generation is the fastest growing market segment in health care. And we are one of the largest businesses in the nation dedicated to serving their unique health and well-being needs. Up for the challenge of a lifetime? Join a team of the best and the brightest to find bold new ways to proactively improve the health and quality of life of these customers. You'll find a wealth of dynamic opportunities to grow and develop as we work together to improve the quality of our health care system.
Today's growing retiree population is the reason you can build your own business. We're putting a team of independent business owners into this community of retirees to help them sort through their choices and decide on the best way to protect their health. The opportunity is huge and training and support are available to help you take advantage of this occasion. Just think, before you know it, you could be an expert in one of the fastest growing market opportunities of our time - teaming up with UnitedHealthcare puts you into business with a world-class partner; the only Medicare Advantage plan that is partnered with AARP®. Run your own business with the tools, purchasing power, and resources of a Fortune 5 company. It may not be what you saw yourself doing, but it could easily be a way to see yourself growing. Find out more about how this can be the perfect start to your life's best work.℠
Primary Responsibilities:
The Independent Career Agent is responsible for educating Medicare beneficiaries in their community, on their healthcare options and helping them make an informed decision on which plan is most appropriate for their individual health needs. An ideal candidate will have:
A passion for helping the aging and disabled community
Confidence to work within your community as a subject matter expert
Ability to quickly learn a new industry with high compliance and ethical standards
Motivation to work in an exceptional sales environment
Sales Representative Opportunity with UnitedHealthcare Medicare Solutions
Required Qualifications:
Motivated professional looking for a long-term career in individual insurance sales
Self-starter able to work within a team environment
Compassionate individual with a passion for helping the Medicare eligible population make challenging healthcare decisions. Ethical behavior and integrity is required.
Dedication to local and national training to become an industry expert abiding by UnitedHealthcare and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) compliance standards
Current state health insurance license or willingness to license within 30 days of contract offer
Preferred Qualifications:
2+ years sales, marketing, teaching, Medicare/Medicaid or other health care experience preferred
Experience in business planning , sales strategy and market analysis
Portfolio sales experience
Experience in networking within the community
Multi lingual individuals are encouraged to apply
Take the next step towards doing your life's best work.℠
related keywords: salesperson, salesman, saleswoman, selling, sales, insurance, independent, selling, insurance agent, insurance sales, opportunity, sales rep, sales representative
Help us improve CareerBuilder by providing feedback about this job: Report this job
Job ID: UHC
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The Medicare population is one of the
fastest growing market segments in health care, and UnitedHealthcare is one of
the largest businesses in the nation dedicated to serving Medicare
beneficiaries' unique health care coverage needs. Join a team dedicated to finding
bold new ways to proactively help improve the health and quality of life of our
Medicare clients. You'll find a wealth of dynamic opportunities to grow and
develop your business.
can be a very challenging system to navigate. That's why we're putting a team
of independent business owners into this growing community of Medicare
beneficiaries to help them sort through their choices and decide on the best
way to protect their health. UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to developing agents
as they become subject matter experts in the Medicare space. Teaming up with
UnitedHealthcare puts you into business with a strong partner and the only
Medicare Advantage plan that carries the AARP name. Run your own business with
the tools, purchasing power and resources of a Fortune 5 company.


text: If you're planning a trip to Bordeaux this summer, do book ahead if you'd like to come and try our wines. We have smartened up the old tasting room next to the winery and the chateau terrace can be a handsome spot at 6pm. Tastings are by reservation only, Monday to Friday, and there's a small fee which is refundable against the purchase of a case at the cellar door or for UK delivery. We're closed 14-24 August. Text or call +33 642329853 or email gavin at bauduc dot com.


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Nature's Wall of Grief/
Nature makes you happy. I don't need to tell you that. Neither does science but it is, studies confirming that time in nature reduce stress levels and cultivate a general sense of wellbeing.
But what is less understood is what happens if you walk a little further down the trail. Lingering longer and oftentimes alone in wild places you may find yourself stumbling into a grove of grief; deep, unexpected and potentially disorientating.
I first discovered the grove during an immersion year of bush living five years ago.
The first few months were pure joy. A lifelong flirtation with nature was finally given the time and space to turn into a full-blown affair. Just like the early throes of love, I wanted nothing more than to spend all my time with this more-than-human lover – to explore every inch of her skin, know all the secrets of her elements, the nuances of both her midday and midnight moods. I steeped myself in nature's embrace, even my dreams filled with wild creatures. She was in my hair, the pores of my skin, under my fingernails. I fell head over heels.
It was during the depths of my winter hermitude when the grief first bubbled up. While some of it I recognised as old personal stuff surfacing, the majority I couldn't account for. It didn't feel like so much like 'mine' but arising through me, a product of this process of slowing down, of listening and observing, of opening my senses. The deeper I reconnected, the more the grief seemed to stir, equal in measure to the continuing joy of the unfolding relationship.
Back living between four walls after the year, the grief was palpable in a recognisable form – the mourning of a lost lover. The ache of losing a mother. It has softened over time but at times arises sharp and cutting, especially when I return to the city from a stint away.
Like with any difficult emotion it was easy to think that I had taken a wrong turn and should try and retrace my steps. But I knew there are no dead ends in nature, only doorways to be stepped through into some new landscape to be explored with curiosity.
I talked to my friend Matt, who, for the last few years had been studying a nature connection program. He too found himself unwittingly set upon by what he described as "ancestral grief" that "started coming up in a massive way."
Luckily there are guides who have navigated the terrain we found ourselves in.
Master tracker and bird language guru Jon Young (who is touring Australia for the first time this month), speaks of hitting a 'wall of grief' almost as a rite-of-passage when in the process of reconnecting to nature.
"As we reawaken empathy with the smallest living things and strengthen our ropes of connection with our neighbors, the pain of generational disconnection from each other and nature arises," he says.
Instead of pushing it away, Young encourages his student to welcome grief as an 'ally' that will help 'awaken our unique gifts'.
"For thousands of years, ancient wisdom traditions have developed practices to tend to the grief and fear that can hold us back from healing ourselves, our relationships with other people and our children, and our relationship with nature," Young says.
"Through these practices, grief becomes an ally."
Activist and scholar Joanna Macy has been guiding people into 'grief' rituals in order to reinvigorate their social change work.
"Our experience of pain for the world springs from our interconnectedness with all beings, from which also arises our powers to act on their behalf."
In her simply named 'Work that Reconnects,' grief is the glue to heal the illusion of separation between us and the rest of web of life.
Francis Weller, author of new release 'Entering the Healing Ground: Grief, Ritual and the Soul of the World' concurs, writing:
"Through our ability to acknowledge the layers of loss, we can truly discover our capacity to respond, to protect and restore what has been damaged."
After finishing the first draft of this article at my usual café in Brunswick, I wander into the wholefoods store. The woman behind the counter recognises my face from an event on Facebook. Without any knowledge of the subject of my thoughts, she proceeds to tell me about the four years she spent living in the desert on an Aboriginal community. "I was heartbroken when I came back – literally," she said, her eyes filling with tears.
We only grieve what we love. And love is what guides us to acts of greatest service.
I now understand the grief to be the earth's reminder, a seed in my pocket, a lover's memento left deliberately in order to keep the thread alive, to not let me forget, to keep me on the trail and sniffing.
When we don't know what is being asked of us, perhaps this is where to start. To do, as Thich Nhat Hanh suggested, when asked what is the most important thing to do for the world, and simply "listen to the sounds of the earth crying."


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text:
>>>>> Steinar Bang <firstname.lastname@example.com>: >>>>> Steinar Bang <email@example.com>: >> I wonder what eg. Word 2000 does? Does it mark everything as R/W, and >> just PUT, and then report a failure? > This link would seem to indicate that a WebFolder Visual Basic(?) > object can return the isWritable status of a WebFolder (which is a > DAV collection...?). Forgot to add the link. Here it is: <http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/officedev/vbafpw10/fpobjWebFolder.htm> > So the question is then: how does it discover the isWritable status.Received on Thursday, 5 July 2001 02:47:21 UTC
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.1 : Wednesday, 7 January 2015 15:01:23 UTC


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3 Memorable Tips For Writing A Chorus
In any song, the chorus is often the part most anticipated by the listener. However, it is also one of the most difficult parts of a song to compose for many songwriters, as it has to sound just right to complement the rest of the song, while at the same time leave a lasting effect on the listener.
Going by common definitions, the chorus is the part of a song that is usually repeated throughout the composition, often contains the hook, and forms the title for most songs. By default, it is often the catchiest part and is sung most often when people try to sing a song from memory. In fact, if a chorus is really good, it can get stuck in the heads of listeners for days, sometimes playing in their minds even while sleeping.
What are good choruses? Some of the best choruses are those that are relatable, have a unique sound or pattern (think "Mmmbop" by Hanson or "Loca Loca" by Shakira), make bold statements ("I'm the World's Greatest" – R. Kelly), express sexual appeal, comical, highly graphic, or emotionally charged ("Miss you Like Crazy" – Natalie Cole).
Whatever approach you take, your main goal is to ensure the chorus stands out from the rest of the song – it should be able to stand on its own if you were to perform just that part to an audience.
Here are three tips for writing topnotch choruses:
1. Set up the chorus with a pre-chorus
Sometimes the hardest part of writing a chorus is transitioning from the verse. Including a pre-chorus may make it easier for you to express an emotion or intensity in the chorus that could otherwise seem forced, if it followed right after the verse. In Bryan Adams' song, "Please Forgive Me," a pre-chorus ("If you're feeling lonely, don't…") is used before the main chorus. Maroon 5 also does this well in several songs, including "Maps" which uses the pre-chorus "I was there for you…" before going to the real deal.
2. Contrast the chorus with the verses
This is probably the most common way to make your chorus stand out. A song that sounds the same throughout will be avoided by listeners; a good way to prevent this is to make the chorus contrasting. Lorde's "Royals" is just one of many examples of songs that do this very well. You can also contrast your choruses within a song, for example, making the last chorus sound different from the first and second chorus.
3. Ask a question
You can automatically cause your chorus to sound different from the rest of your song by making it into a question. In addition to the change of tone and melody, listeners are also intrigued by questions because they arouse the curiosity and make them think about the ramifications of what is being asked. "How Will I Know?" by Whitney Houston is one song that did this very well back in the day. Justin Bieber's recent comeback is also due to several songs which ask questions in their choruses, including "What Do You Mean?" and "Sorry (Is it too late now to say sorry..?").
There is no real formula for writing a good chorus, except that it should be catchy, easy to remember, and sound different from the rest of the song. But, always keep in mind that choruses which get more attention than others are those that leave a lasting impression on the listener.
♪ ♫ Mylène Besançon is the CMO of SongCat LLC, a top-rated online recording studio. We believe that by making professional music production financially accessible to anyone with a dream and a voice, we have the potential to change the musical landscape forever. Visit http://songcat.biz to learn more. ♪ ♫


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Where they can get some data, it shows the diabetes in children makes them die soon after the diagnosis. Either that or they develop overwhelming complications. In these countries, health centers may not be able to test blood glucose and few have enough money to monitor their blood glucose themselves.
Life for a Child Program was created by the International Diabetes Federation in 2000 to supply medications to save lives. This program is partnered with Diabetes Australia-NSW and Hope. Today, it supports diabetes in children numbering to 700 in fifteen countries. Without this help, many of these youngsters will die.
The president of the IDF, Professor Martin Silink, emphasized the point that diabetes care for children is a basic right. He said that where ever they are, the children should be able to participate completely with all the experience every young person enjoys.
These children also have the right to make sure they get help in order to survive. If the health care systems in the developing countries are not able to provide the help for the diabetic children, then organizations like Insulin for Life should step in.
In developed countries, the problem is somewhat different. For instance, there are special challenges for the family members who look after the children with diabetes. How can they help? For one thing, they should learn as much as they can about diabetes care.
In addition, they have to learn to listen without criticizing and show support to all those concerned. They also have to be open to new ways of eating and in spending the extra time. In other words, they have to be flexible. Above all, they should learn to plan for emergencies.
The parents who deal with their children's diabetes will have to talk the child diabetes educator and the care provider. Make an appointment to see these people but make it long enough so they can get the answers to their questions. They will have to learn to test the blood glucose level, give insulin injections and plan healthy meals.
Everything sounds overwhelming but compare this with what the developing countries have to deal with diabetes in children, one will be glad to be in the right side of the world where there is hope for everyone to live a normal life as long as he takes care of himself.
Google +1 Refresh Article 34. Diabetes in Children Showing Problems For Many Are Not Getting Insulin
Return from Article 34. Diabetes in Children Showing Problems For Many Are Not Getting Insulin toSymptoms-of-Diabetes Home Page for the Disclaimer.
Article 35 Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetes In Children
Symptoms of Diabetes in Children
Site Map of free-symptoms-of-diabetes-alert.com for Easy Navigation
Where Do You Want to go Next? You didn't find what you were looking for? Search for it at Google right here:


text:
The list of challenges that inspired this card include:
- Butterfly Challenge: Butterfly + Washi Tape
- QKR Stampede: Washi Tape
- Suzy Bee's Bloomin': Anything Goes with Wings or Feathers
- Crafting with Dragonflies: Card with Butterfly
This looks amazing, Andrea! So glad you used some of your neglected washi tape! Such pretty colours! I love how you wrapped it around the edges to give it a finished look. Your butterfly is beautiful too! This is such a gorgeous, bright and cheery card! So happy you joined the Butterfly Challenge - and thank you for the shout-out too!ReplyDelete
So refreshing. love the colours, spring and summer wrapped into one. Thanks for playing along with us at Crafting with Dragonflies, blessings HildeReplyDelete
Do you find that washi tape procreates in the dark? I was sure I only had a few rolls and then one day I had a big box full! Great idea here for using some of this neglected stash! Love the mix of colours and patterns.ReplyDelete
Love what you did the butterfly - very pretty. Thanks so much for joining us this week at the Suzy Bee's Blooming Challenge, Elizabeth (DT)ReplyDelete
Great use of the washi tape, I don't use it very often either. BUT is is such fun stuff to buy! Looks perfect with the butterfly!ReplyDelete
So pretty, Andrea! Your washi tape may not get out to play often but you made it up for it here with this playful creation! The pretty punched corners coordinate with the pattern on the butterfly perfectly--lovely!ReplyDelete
Me too with the washi! It doesn't seem to hang on well if you trim it to fit, wrapping it around is definitely the way to go. I love the bright colours :)ReplyDelete
Really like the delicate detailing on the card and the colors are so bright and happy! Thanks for sharing.ReplyDelete
I do like all the gingham & smocking patterns on this pretty washi. Lovely hot pink pattern for that butterfly too, Liked the mat that supports all these pretties. Great work on the W challenge. Just became your newest follower and glad that I saw your pretty card over at the Butterfly challenge. TFSReplyDelete
I've never been big on Washi tape, either, and had to buy some just for our QKR challenge. I like the idea of wrapping it over the edges for a finished look. Brilliant! Pretty card all over. Thanks so much for sharing it in our QKR Stampede Washi Tape challenge!ReplyDelete
I love this design, Andrea. I'm new to washi tape, too, and I love how you used it. :-D I'm really glad you completed it and shared it with us at QKR Stampede this week. Good luck.
NanaConnie DT
Beautiful card, Thank you for joining us this week for our Washi Tape Challenge at QKR Stampede. Karal DTReplyDelete
I LOVE to read your comments! Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts. Wishing you a crafty day!!!


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Teachers can provide a list of ideas on a handout, website or through a visual slideshow presentation for 10th grade students in an English class. Ideas may range from working independently on a research paper or narrative piece of writing to a collaborative project that requires students to write a piece of work together or illustrate vocabulary words through a video, dramatic play or collage of photographs.
When providing potential topics for a project, teachers can use the students' experiences to engage them in an English course. For example, the teacher may assign students to write a reflection piece on a current event and then use visual aids or props to present their thoughts and ideas to their peers. Another potential 10th grade project for English students may include providing a group of students with a list of vocabulary words and asking them to create a poem or short story collaboratively using the assigned words. Additional project idea may prompt students to read books to an adult or senior citizen, interview a subject for a biography writing assignment, teach a grammar lesson to peers, present a debate on a particular topic with another student, or research an influential historical figure and compile a posterboard of facts and details to present.


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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2012B-0238
PI: Tracy Beck, Space Telescope Science Institute, email@example.com
Address: 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
CoI: Hiro Takami, ASIAA - Taiwan
CoI: Marc White, Australian National University
CoI: Mei-Yin Chou, ASIAA
CoI: Peter McGregor, Australian National University
CoI: Jennifer Karr, ASIAA
Title: Understanding the Jet Launching Mechanism in Young Star Outflows
Abstract: Understanding the mechanisms of mass accretion and ejection is one of the most important issues of star formation theories. Jets from young stars play a fundamental role in removing excess angular momentum from a disk, allowing mass accretion to occur. Therefore, understanding jets is important for understanding not only star formation, but also initial/ongoing conditions for planet formation in the inner regions of the disks. We propose for time with Gemini+NIFS to reveal the jet launching process by simultaneously studying the dynamic and evolving jet morphology as it relates to the recent accretion history onto the central star. Over the the past two years, optical spectral monitoring of several young stars has shown that we can well sample the large scale time variation of magnetospheric accretion and the inner jet/wind in very close proximity to the driving source. By combining these proposed NIFS and continuing CHFT optical spectral observations, we will be able to investigate time correlation between accretion onto the star and mass ejection in the jet, their physical link, and hence the driving mechanism of the jet.
National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360
NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2012B-0238


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Apparently San Francisco spends enough money on keeping the City's car fleet clean that Mayor Gavin Newsom's efforts to balance San Francisco's gaping budget deficit includes asking departments to cut in half the number of car washes.
That detail is part of a larger plan estimated to save the City $40 million through reductions to office supply purchases, travel costs, energy consumption, management pay and energy bill savings.
Probably the largest share of that reduction, however, will likely come through reduced overtime hours. Newsom says he wants reports on any permitted overtime hours every quarter from city agencies.
The report is slated to include an explanation of why the extra billable hours were approved, and the mayor has threatened to personally review the reports.
And you don't want to make the mayor angry, because he will pointedly ignore you in public if you do.
Jackson West has no car to wash.


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As this goes up (automatically), I should be on a plane for Hawaii, where I have some end-of-year business to conclude. After that, on Saturday, I will fly back home, just in time for the Christmas season to descend in full tempo. This year, though, Christmas cards will have to wait until February (January if I can manage a trip to Korea and card writing). We have no tree -- our cat Intrepid eats all plants, including artificial ones, and nearly died from the latter a few years ago so we have given up on a tree -- therefore I will not be distracted with tree decorating. Some holiday activities will, of course, take place as they should and as we want them to. However, I will be stepping back a bit from my normal kinds of blogging posts and the normal tempo of my blogs.
I have taken some days off from work to do a second edition/sequel of my book, Blest Atheist. Unfortunately, over the past two years, the title has been snagged for a variety of odd things, none of them having to do with the remarkable kindness of God, which is what the book is about at its core. Even a furniture store has taken it, along with an atheist reading group! In fact, although it is a spiritual book, essentially Christian, most bookstores carry it in the atheism section. (I guess no one reads books before categorizing them!) That has caused some angry, even rude, reviews from atheists who got a conversion story, rather than a confirmation of their atheism -- which must have been quite a surprise for them. (Christian readers and believers belonging to other religions generally review the book well.) So, the book needs a new title, which I am working on, and since time has passed and my spiritual experiences have continued on a path of deepening conversion, I plan to revise the book dramatically, as well as include those new conversion experiences.
For publication and marketing purposes, I need to turn in the manuscript no later than December 30, so I will reserve most of my writing effort for the book. Monday Morning Meditations will continue, and I will post excerpts from the book as I go along on Mahlou Musings. So, for the next 15 days, my posts may be sparse in spite of having prepared a few backups in case of situations like this.
I will indeed take time to enjoy the Christmas season. San Ignatio, as you can see from the pictures above and below, goes all out for Christmas. (Note: the placard under each lighted wreath/halo is the story of a saint important to this town: St Francis for it was founded by the Franciscans, St. John the Baptist after whom it was named, the real name of this town being San Juan Bautista -- I used San Ignatio as a pseudonym in my book and so I have continued to use it in this blog.) If this town has a year-round sacred feel to it, at Christmas that feel intensifies, beginning with the lighting of the streets, intensified by the daily performances of La Virgen de Teyepac (Our Lady of Guadalupe) by our local El Teatro Campesino, and concluding with our midnight Mass, which usually really is at or near midnight, depending on how you count the caroling.
So, please forgive my moments away. I will catch you when the book muse takes a recess and will be back on full-time blog duty in January.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
A Few Brief Steps Away
Posted by Elizabeth Mahlou at 12:57 AM
2 comments:
The misunderstanding about the themes in 'Blest Atheist' could be quite useful in some senses... you never know how God will put it to work! After all, not many atheists will pick up the book in a Christian section of the bookstore, but some may just be touched by it unintentionally when reading what they do not seek!ReplyDelete
Ms. McCheddar, I think you are probably quite right! There has been atheist who has really led a charge against the book, thrashing about in anger, which tells me that something hit home!ReplyDelete
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RHP // Michael Santos is the second youngest player on the list, but not by much. The 19-year-old Dominican was born just a single day before the Giants' 2013 first-round pick Christian Arroyo. Santos opened eyes in the Arizona League in 2014, starting 12 games and reaching his five-inning pitch limit 11 times. He also finished fourth in the league in ERA and innings pitched. Putting him on the Mella/Ysla track, he should pitch in Augusta in 2015, where he'll feature a low-90s fastball with tail, a changeup, and his plus curveball. That thing is big.
2014 Stats / VIDEO / ETA: 2018


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Monday, February 22, 2010
Passion 2010 video
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Family night...air borne!!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Tammy a Gobena vounteer at Passion.....her perspective
This is a post from Tammy a volunteer for Passion that worked with Steve and I at the Gobena station at Passion.....its great to see others perspectives
Reflections on Passion 2010 … a month later
Passion was different this year.
I have volunteered before at Passion 2006, Passion 2007, and Passion Atlanta. All three times were busy, exhausting and fulfilling. The perk of serving as I did in those events was that I never missed a general session, had the chance to browse the Go Center, eat lunch with (or at least near) the students, hang out at late nights and actually go somewhere to grab some dinner. Granted, it was often a quick run, but at least there was time to do it. You can read more about the experiences by clicking on the Passion tag at the bottom of the post. I wrote a lot. Links would be cumbersome.
In short, I was able to serve and experience quite a bit of Passion.
What I am about to say next isn't a slam on volunteers who served on other teams. They worked incredibly hard. One of my roommates, for example, was on the intercessory prayer team. She was coming and going all hours of the day and night to be part of the group that was praying over Passion 24/7. The other was in the worship art center every time it was open and often was the last one out at night.
What I am about to say isn't an attempt to bring attention to my own service. It's more about me and my expectations.
This year I learned about serving sacrificially.
If you bought a cup of coffee at the Gobena stand, there was a good chance I was at least working there if I wasn't actually the one who handed you the cup of coffee. The volunteers who worked the stand were often there at 8 a.m. to catch students and volunteers heading out to community groups or to their posts in the arena. They left at or near midnight when the coffee ran out for the night or the Go Center closed, whichever came first. We were open at lunch and straight through dinner. We had huge crowds in the afternoon and as people passed through the Go Center to head into the general sessions in the GWCC. Dinner was whatever was left in the Lenny's box from the lunch you didn't finish.
And that was just us volunteers. Steve and Danae, the couple behind Gobena, were there even earlier most days getting coffee ready for the volunteer headquarters and the hospitality rooms.
I never saw an entire general session. Missed Hillsong United altogether. Fell asleep during Francis Chan's talk. Took a nap on one of the couches in the Go Center using a pillow that who knows who might have touched it or sat on it or … I'd rather not let my mind go too far on that count.
I'm sure there are other volunteers who could say the exact same thing.
Passion, for me, was different this year. I couldn't tell you what anyone sang in the general sessions, but I can tell you that a student from Alabama (Roll Tide!) was a regular at Gobena and was crazy surprised when I told him so. I guess he didn't think I'd remember in that crowd.
I don't know what Beth Moore told the young women who saw her breakout session, but I can tell you about the two students who walked up to Gobena discussing the differences between Calvinism and Arminism and rewarded me with a fist bump when I first giggled a bit then told them it was ironic to be discussing such a topic immediately following John Piper's message.
I haven't the slightest clue what the Hillsong or Crowder set lists were for the late nights, but I can tell you about a group leader who bought two coffees then handed one back to me when she found out I didn't even have time to get one for myself that morning.
Passion was different this year.
And, I wouldn't change it for the world.


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The Nature Defense Foundation grew out of the reorganization of a larger family foundation, the Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation, originally founded by Martha Gerbode in San Francisco. Since the 1960's the Gerbode Foundation generously supported nonprofit organizations for the benefit of the arts, education, environment, health and civil rights.
In 2015 the Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation Board of Directors decided that it was time to pass the torch onto the next generation of family members, six of Martha Gerbode's grandchildren, in order that they may individually steward their grandmother's mission into the future. The Nature Defense Foundation is a product of the Gerbode Foundation's reorganization and it aims to carry Martha's passion for environmental protection into the future.
Sarah Marley Shaw, Founder
Featured Projects
Sarah Shaw & Nature Defense Foundation
Palm oil plantations
Dairy farms exposed.
Growing coral.
Saving wild horses.


text: Share: Comments Print April 2, 2014 at 3:39 PM Seahawks offensive coaches take in UW's Pro Day Posted by Bob Condotta The University of Washington held its annual Pro Day today, which was largely a showcase for QB Keith Price, who was not invited to the NFL Combine. UW's two likely draftees — TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins and RB Bishop Sankey — were each limited in what they did. Seferian-Jenkins did not participate while still rehabbing from a foot injury while Sankey did only some position drills. Roughly 20 NFL teams were represented, including the Seahawks, as coach Pete Carroll, GM John Schneider, offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, RB coach Sherman Smith and QB coach Carl Smith were all in attendance. Offensive line coach Tom Cable was reportedly at Tennessee's Pro Day, while defensive coaches were not at UW. For full coverage of UW's Pro Day, check out Adam Jude's blog. Comments


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This week's quarterback discussion needs to begin with the unfortunate injury to Ben Roethlisberger. He had accumulated 192 yards before enduring an ugly hit to his left knee in St. Louis Now, it appears that the 12th-year signal-caller will be sidelined for at least a month. This radically alters the explosiveness of Pittsburgh's attack, and has also impacted this week's rankings. Given Tom Brady's absence this week (we are about to examine that further), Roethlisberger would have resided at the head of this week's top 25. But now, owners and Steeler fans are left to wait anxiously for his return.
Meanwhile, one of the unwelcome consequences of having the season progress into October, is a reemergence of the always despised bye weeks. Only two teams are impacted this week, but one of them will deliver major ramifications to some owners. Specifically, those of you who have enjoyed stockpiling fantasy points by having Brady as your starter. In his first four games, he has accumulated an NFL best 1,112 yards, and is second among all quarterbacks with nine touchdowns. But if you have reaped the benefits of his exceptional September outings, this is the week that you must now employ your best alternative option. And those of you in deeper leagues who have reached a comfort level with employing Marcus Mariota, will also have to look elsewhere. Other owners are facing their own decisions, and this column is designed to facilitate that process for you. These Week 4 rankings and matchups will also accommodate those of you who stream your quarterbacks, as well as those who play in daily, 2QB or Superflex leagues. Enjoy this week's games, and good luck to everyone.
Week 4 Byes: Tom Brady, Marcus Mariota
Top 25 Rankings
- Aaron Rodgers at 49ers
Rodgers has now supplied his owners with multiple touchdowns in every contest this season, after he dissected the Chiefs for a whopping five on Monday Night. That propelled him into the NFL lead with 10 for the season. He also produced a season high 333 yards, against a Kansas City unit that had been allowing 268 entering their matchup. Another exceptional performance is imminent when he faces the porous San Francisco pass defense on Sunday. In their last two contests, the 49ers have surrendered a mammoth 369 yards to Roethlisberger, and were shredded by Carson Palmer for 300+ in Week 3. Those woeful performances have dropped them to 27th overall against the pass, and Rodgers should continue the ongoing assault against them this week.
- Carson Palmer vs. Rams
He was only the 20th quarterback selected during last summer's draft process, with an ADP of 148. And the fact that he would deliver production that far surpassed his perceived value by potential owners was dealt with in my column during July . But his torrid start has exceeded even the most favorable forecasts. After assembling 311 yards and two touchdowns against the seemingly helpless 49ers, he now has amassed 803 yards and is tied with Brady for second in touchdowns (nine). Palmer will be tested this week by a seventh ranked St. Louis pass defense that will be far less hospitable. And it is crucial that Arizona's offensive line provide him with a spotless pocket, as the Rams have already registered 13 sacks.
- Matt Ryan vs. Texans
After averaging 330.5 YPG during his matchups with the Eagles and Giants, Ryan assembled a respectable 285 in Dallas, which easily exceeded anything that had been accomplished against the Cowboys in their previous contests. Dallas entered the game ranked eighth against the pass, and was allowing 205 YPG. But Ryan's ongoing connections with league-leading receiver Julio Jones, continue to cause nightmares for opposing secondaries. The duo has now combined for 440 yards and four touchdowns, which has propelled Ryan into second overall among all quarterbacks with 946 yards for the season. He will now face a Houston pass defense that ranks 12th (224 YPG), but has already allowed six touchdowns.
- Russell Wilson vs. Lions
Wilson appeared to be receiving the definitive dream matchup in Week 3, when the talent challenged, injury riddled Bears journeyed to Seattle. While his numbers were far from astronomical, he did deliver a respectable 265 total yards, along with a touchdown. It was not surprising that he pinpointed Jimmy Graham with a team high eight targets, as the mammoth mismatch provided the perfect opportunity to appease his tight end. That enabled the tandem to connect on seven of those passes for 83 yards and a touchdown. Wilson will be presented with another favorable matchup on Monday Night, when Seattle meets a second consecutive NFC North opponent. Detroit only ranks 26th against the pass, while allowing 284 YPG.
- Cam Newton at Buccaneers
Cam Newton after being a mainstay among the unquestioned QB1s since his NFL debut, Newton had been residing outside the top 12 in this column rankings in 2015. But despite an alarming lack of weaponry at his disposal, he has managed to rise into QB1 territory once again. Thanks in part to substandard play by his peers, combined with his excellent output in Week 3. Newton dissected NFC South rival New Orleans for 348 total yards and three touchdowns, which included 315 yards through the air. That easily established a new season high, as he was averaging 185 before facing the Saints. He now has an opportunity to deliver another highly productive outing, versus a Buccaneer defense that just surrendered 413 total yards to Houston last Sunday.
- Andrew Luck vs. Jaguars
If you are among the owners who are losing faith in Luck, it is understandable. There is legitimate reason for concern after another less than stellar outing in Tennessee. Even though he eventually accrued 260 yards and two touchdowns, too many of his throws still cross the line between aggressive and risky, which resulted in two interceptions by the Titans. He has now been picked off a league worst seven times this season, which adds to the concerns that already exist regarding his diminished production. He currently ranks 13th among his peers with 753 yards, and is tied for sixth with five touchdowns. However, you should avoid the self-defeating overreaction of jettisoning him from your roster via an unfavorable trade, based upon what remains a small sample size. Luck possesses too much talent for owners to discard, after you made such a significant investment on draft day. Better results should occur this week, versus a 25th ranked Jaguar pass defense that was just shredded by Brady for 358 yards and two touchdowns.
7. Andy Dalton at Chiefs
Dalton owners who wavered while determining whether or not to start him in Week 3 can certainly be forgiven. Based upon his previous history, and considering the potential for his recent positive momentum to arrive at an abrupt conclusion in a road matchup against a desperate AFC North rival. Hopefully, those of you who had the opportunity to use him, did so. Because he delivered an extremely productive 388 yards and three touchdowns. For the season he now has eight touchdowns, which trails only Rodgers, Brady and Palmer. He has also amassed 866 yards which places him sixth overall. Unless you have an elite QB1 on your roster, there is no reason to hesitate in utilizing Dalton this week. He will be facing a Kansas City pass defense that was just ravaged by Rodgers in Week 3.
8. Peyton Manning vs. Vikings
The fantasy community took a brief respite from conversation about Manning's accuracy, offensive line and comfort level, during the 10-day span between Denver's Week 2 and 3 matchups. And in the aftermath of his performance in Detroit, the topic of his immediate and season-long viability might subside for the foreseeable future. Manning accumulated a season high 324 yards, including 179 on 15 receptions by his top two targets, Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders. Manning also generated two touchdowns, which expanded his season total to five. It is unlikely that he will replicate that output this week, versus a far more formidable Viking defense.
9. Philip Rivers vs. Browns
San Diego entered Week 3 with the NFL's sixth ranked passing offense, while Rivers was fifth with 644 passing yards, fourth at 322 YPG, and had thrown a pair of touchdowns in each of the Chargers' first two contests. But Minnesota harassed him throughout their matchup, sacking the 12-year veteran four times, while forcing two fumbles and a pick-six interception. Rivers was also limited to a single touchdown, absorbed a hard, third quarter hit, and was mercifully replaced in the fourth quarter of a blowout. The potential for a Week 4 bounce back is sizable, as Rivers will face a Cleveland defense that failed to record a sack or interception against Oakland in Week 3, while surrendering 314 yards and two touchdowns to Derek Carr. It is very possible that the Chargers could choose to emphasize their ground game with frequency, as the Browns rank dead last in rushing defense (158 YPG).
10. Eli Manning vs. Bills
Manning was forced to operate without a legitimate WR2 to complement Odell Beckham Jr., during the first two weeks of the season. But in Week 3, a stunningly productive Rueben Randle accumulated 116 yards, to supplement the 79 that were manufactured by Beckham. All of which enabled Manning to amass 279 against NFC East rival Washington. He also found both starting wideouts with a touchdown, which expanded his season total to four. The imminent return of Victor Cruz will supply Manning with another critical weapon. Although how effective Cruz can actually be is unknown, until he is running routes on the field. Manning will attempt to maintain his positive momentum in Buffalo this week, versus a sturdy Bills unit that ranks 31st against the pass, but has produced five interceptions and six sacks.
11. Derek Carr at Bears
Those of you who are hesitant to trust Carr and Oakland's passing attack, should ignore the lazy analysis that is decreasing, but still exists among some within the fantasy community. While he is beginning to attain more favorable comments, some observers are still regurgitating outdated observations about the Raiders that should not apply to this season's group. Some prominent analysts compared Carr unfavorably with Teddy Bridgewater throughout the summer, by latching onto Carr's 5.5 YPA in 2014. However, that number was largely a consequence of his highly inferior receiving options last season. The additions of Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree into the Raider lineup has provided Carr with legitimate weapons, and his YPA has elevated to 8.1 as a result. After shredding the Ravens and Browns for a combined 665 yards and five touchdowns in his last two contests, Carr should continue his success during a very appealing matchup this week.
- Drew Brees vs. Cowboys
After missing a game to injury for the first time during his nine year tenure as a Saint, the left clavicle that sidelined Brees in Week 3 could improve sufficiently for him to return this week. This remains an ambiguous situation, and owners already know to diligently monitor his health as game day approaches. Brees barely resides in the top 12 if he does perform this week, and owners are still left with a difficult decision. Not only will he be performing at less than optimal health, but the image of his ineffectiveness during New Orleans' first contests remains fresh. As do the glaring shortcomings of his current receiving weapons. If you need him, and he becomes available, then certainly start him. But protect yourself by also searching elsewhere for alternative starting options this week.
- Sam Bradford at Redskins
- Tyrod Taylor vs. Giants
- Ryan Tannehill vs. Jets
- Joe Flacco vs. Steelers
- Teddy Bridgewater at Broncos
- Michael Vick vs. Ravens
- Blake Bortles vs. Colts
- Brandon Weeden at Saints
- Alex Smith vs. Bengals
- Matthew Stafford at Seahawks
- Ryan Fitzpatrick at Dolphins
- Nick Foles at Cardinals
- Jameis Winston vs. Panthers
Best Matchups
Aaron Rodgers at 49ers
Rodgers ongoing standing among the elite quarterbacks is a major factor in categorizing this as a favorable matchup. But the increasing futility of a substandard 49er defense would present an enticing opportunity for a cornucopia of signal callers at this point of the season. Since a respectable performance in Week 1 against the Vikings, San Francisco has been tortured by Roethlisberger for 369 yards and three touchdowns in Week 2, and was equally helpless against Palmer last Sunday. Mistakes and increasing deficiencies in Colin Kaepernick's execution, coupled with substandard defense and numerous shortcomings throughout the roster, have combined to leave San Francisco perilously close to seizing the dubious distinction of being the league's worst team. Among their many undesirable numbers, is their ranking of 27th against the pass, as the 49ers are yielding 284 YPG. Rodgers should exceed that number, and manufacture multiple touchdowns.
Russell Wilson vs. Lions
Detroit's resume includes a ranking of 27th in total defense, 20th at stopping the run, and 26th versus the pass. Mix in a Monday Night matchup that takes place in Seattle, and you have the recipe for an exceptional outing by Wilson. At a minimum, he should replicate the output that he attained in Week 3, and could nudge his numbers even higher. The Lions have attained that aforementioned ranking against the pass by surrendering 404 yards to Rivers in Week 1, and permitting Peyton Manning to amass his season high 324 in Week 3. The Detroit offense is also struggling mightily, which should allow Wilson and the Seahawk offense sufficient opportunities to generate fantasy points.
Derek Carr at Bears
Carr's ascension from a borderline QB2 to a potential low end QB1 has occurred quickly, after his return to Oakland's lineup in Week 2, and the subsequent high quality production that has resulted since that time. After breaking an 11-game road losing streak last Sunday, the Raiders travel to Chicago, for a matchup with a team that has been devastated by injuries, and has struggled to remain competitive in their last two contests. The Bears' 26th ranked offense has been impacted by the collective absence of Jay Cutler and Alshon Jeffery, and their defense has surrendered 74 points in the past two weeks. That has dropped Chicago to dead last in scoring defense, with a horrendous 35 PPG average. The Bears have also yielded a league worst eight touchdowns through the air, managed just one interception, and present Carr with an opportunity for another excellent outing.
Worst Matchups
Matthew Stafford at Seahawks
He has failed to reach the top 12 in this column for several weeks now, and may not return frequently while Joe Lombardi is Detroit's offensive coordinator. Stafford's efficiency and overall production have certainly declined in multiple areas since Scott Linehan departed in 2013, and the Lion passing attack has degenerated from the top five rankings that they achieved from 2011-2013. Even though the pieces are in place for Detroit's offense to be more effective than they are. Stafford was literally pounded repeatedly by the Vikings in Week 2, then was sacked four times, and produced a trio of turnovers while facing Denver in Week 3. His demanding schedule now continues with a brutal Monday Night matchup in Seattle. The Seahawk defense has been bolstered by team leader Kam Chancellor's return to the lineup, and this unit has risen to a ranking of second versus the pass. They will also be highly motivated while on display for their boisterous fans on Monday Night.
Ryan Tannehill vs. Jets
Those of you who believed that Tannehill could be your starter this season, felt disappointment after his initial outing in Washington. But when his yardage total increased sizably in Week 2, there was growing reason for optimism despite a difficult Week 3 matchup with Buffalo. However, his performance against the Bills should ramp up the level of uneasiness among his owners. Much of his final output - 297 yards and two touchdowns – was manufactured after the Dolphins trailed 27-0. Worse, it occurred after he had tossed three first half interceptions. The ineffectiveness of Miami's 30th ranked rushing attack has forced the Dolphins to rely upon their passing attack with great frequency, and placed more pressure on Tannehill to carry the unit. His numbers will be modest this week, against a fourth ranked Jet defense that is permitting just 192 YPG through the air, and has generated an NFL best 11 turnovers.
Teddy Bridgewater at Broncos
At the onset of the season, Bridgewater appeared to be on track toward steady development into a reliable starter for both the Vikings, and for fantasy owners in deeper leagues. Plus, it seemed feasible that he could even merit consideration as a low-end QB1, given the potential of the weapons with Minnesota's offense. But he has now degenerated into the mid-to-low QB2 range, after managing only 505 yards for the season, which places him 30th overall. His paltry 168 YPG average also trails a whopping 31 other signal callers, and significant improvement is not on the horizon. This will be a very difficult week for Bridgewater, as he must contend with the NFL's premiere pass defense. Denver is allowing a league best 176 YPG, and has yielded just one touchdown pass. The Broncos have also accumulated six interceptions, and amassed 11 sacks. Cornerbacks Chris Harris and Aqib Talib consistently defuse the passing attacks of those who attempt to challenge them, and Bridgewater's numbers will remain extremely low this week.


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Texas Tech entered an academic collaboration agreement with Iraq's Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research to pave the way for students and faculty from Iraq to attend Tech.
The agreement includes incentives for four doctoral students with high qualifications to complete their degree at Tech and return to Iraqi institutions to improve their curricula in science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines. Tech agreed to pay for the four doctoral candidates to get a degree at Tech. These candidates also receive a $20,400 stipend.
The Iraqi government will pay for four-week training workshops for Iraqi professors and for faculty development leave for visiting professors from Iraq to research and teach at Tech.
Iraq will pay to help doctoral students already working on their dissertations with some critical technology or analytical tools unavailable in their country to come to Tech for a one- to six-month period and finish their degrees. The students' faculty advisors will accompany these students.
Tech anticipates Iraqi applications to Tech will begin in spring 2013, and students will start arriving on campus by fall 2013.


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English, PDF, 1,464kb
Evaluation of the Bank Group country strategy and program in Chad (2002–2012)
On the whole, Bank Group assistance performance in Chad over 2002-2012 is deemed moderately satisfactory. Investments made in the area of infrastructure have helped create conditions for the sustained and inclusive growth of the entire economy. However, the Bank's intervention in economic governance and public sector management has not been successful, thereby limiting its positive role in the country's overall economic growth.
English, PDF, 2,695kb
Quality of project results' reporting at the African Development Bank 2008-09
The review was undertaken to provide a synthesis of project evaluations prepared during 2008-09, and highlight the key issues around the Bank's overall approach to project completion reporting, taking account of changes introduced in 2009. The review revealed that greater progress in compliance with project completion reporting (PCR) is evident, but timeliness remains a substantial issue.
English, PDF, 2,028kb
Trust Fund Management at the African Development Bank
Although the AfDB Trust Fund portfolio has grown rapidly, it still represents less than 1 percent of African Development Fund/African Development Bank lending levels. With an equivalent of US$61 million of disbursements it is well below the number of trust funds and disbursement levels of other multilateral development banks. Still, the reputational risks of trust funds to the AfDB are greater than their relative level of resources.
English, PDF, 731kb
Evaluation of local integration
Refugees in Cameroon, Tanzania, and Zambia have experienced considerable success in local integration. In all three countries, economic integration has been reached as defined by refugees achieving self-reliance and a standard of living similar to the host community. The successes have been the result of a combination of factors including host governments providing fertile land, UNHCR and partner governments.
English, PDF, 2,390kb
Partnership for Growth - El Salvador mid-term evaluation
The evaluation analyzes whether the Partnership for Growth (PFG) process demonstrates improvements over pre-PFG assistance approaches. In general, the evaluation team found that PFG has aided in positive movement of policy reforms in El Salvador. The initial PFG planning laid a good foundation for implementing the overall initiative. Additionally, PFG increased leverage for implementing USG development activities in El Salvador.
English, PDF, 1,932kb
Strategizing for the "Africa We Want": Evaluation of the quality at entry of country strategy and regional integration strategy papers
This report presents the findings of the independent evaluation of the quality at entry of country and regional integration strategies. The Bank has made little progress in achieving its target of 100 percent of Country Strategy Papers rated as satisfactory or better (S+)1. However, quality at entry, measured against moderately satisfactory or better (MS+), has improved over the study period.
English, PDF, 3,789kb
Evaluation of the Future Agricultures Consortium (FAC)
The objectives of the evaluation were to assess the relevance of FAC's policy research and communication work to agricultural policy in Africa; document lessons from FAC; make recommendations and assess FAC's performance with respect to the achievement of logframe indicators.
English, PDF, 1,017kb
Evaluation of the Australia-Vietnam country strategy 2010-15
The primary purpose of this evaluation is to assist in the delivery of the remainder of DFAT's existing country strategy in Vietnam (2010-15) and to inform future country strategy development and execution. This is achieved by assessing the effectiveness of DFAT's development and implementation of the country strategy, the indicative results obtained and the legacy of past Australian aid investments.
English, PDF, 2,260kb
Evaluation of development communication and education of the Austrian development policy and development cooperation from 2006-2013
The evaluation provides a thorough analysis of the strength and weaknesses and the theory of change of the area of development communication and education in Austria. Lessons learnt are also drawn out of a benchmarking exercise with Portugal and Ireland. Recommendations for future organizational, administrative and management improvement are outlined at the end of the report.
English, PDF, 2,290kb
Review of the Uganda country strategy 2010-2015
The total bilateral ODA of Austria to Uganda between 1994 and 2012 amounted to 158 million Euro and focused mainly on water, sanitation and rights, justice and peace. The review of the current Uganda country strategy assessed the relevance, impact and effectiveness of its strategic focus and provides important input for the elaboration of Austria's next Uganda Country Strategy.


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My new poetry book–Optimistic Melancholy: A Collection of Poetic Defiance's
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West Coast Craft is a craft and design show featuring carefully selected designers, artists, and craftspeople inspired by the mood and aesthetics of the West Coast lifestyle.
Cool but sunny, laidback yet innovative, they represent the best of West Coast craft.
The next West Coast Craft will take place November 14 & 15, 2015, from 10am to 6pm in the Festival Pavilion at historic Fort Mason Center on the San Francisco waterfront.


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Do you have skills to beat out the world's best fishermen? (Or how about just a bunch of average fishermen on a typical Minnesota lake?) Then join us for RiverLife's first fishing tournament. CONTACT US TO SIGN UP.
This will be a team tournament with a 5 fish weigh-in limit. This means you can catch as many fish as you like, but only the 5 biggest will count. We will also go by length instead of weight. Measure your fish and take a picture showing fish and length.
Each contestant is responsible for their own canoe. No motorized boats allowed.
Time will be 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM. This means you need to get their early enough to get set up and out on the water to start at 7:00 AM.
RULES: The rules are adapted from Twin Cities Hmong Bassers, deleted the ones that weren't relevant for us, and adjusted some to meet our format.
- Two people per canoe.
- Five fish limit, largemouth & smallmouth bass.
- Artificial lures only. No live bait.
- 12" minimum size (or whatever the minimum size is for specific bodies of water). Any fish weighed in under the minimum size will not be counted. You cannot replace short fish during weigh-in.
- Launch Sequence. We should all be in canoes and ready to go before 7:00 AM. At 7:00 AM we will be in the water by boat launch and I will announce the start. You may go wherever from there.
- For tie breakers, biggest fish wins, then number of fish. If both same, then it's a tie.
- Must stay casting distance from another boater. This means if two people in different canoes cast at each other you should be far enough that the lures should not meet or pass each other.
- Weigh-in promptly. Must be back to the boat launch by 12:00 PM. Penalty of 5 inches per 5 minutes late. If more than 15 minutes late, you are disqualified. Please plan appropriately and return early as needed. No excuses of any kind, including boat problems. It is your responsibility to get back to weigh-in promptly. Call director or someone else for help if needed early.
- Abide by all state laws, boating rules, & fishing regulations.
- We will vote on any disputes.


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Selective Strength - Focus Centering on Debt Limit IncreaseGeorge Brooks Follow |
OK, so we got a bounce in commodity prices . After a butt-kicking last week in the stock market, a "technical" bounce is normal. The key is, will highly leveraged traders and newbies to commodity investing bail out when they see last week's huge overnight losses pared by a rebound ?
Most likely, enough will sell along the way to prevent a surge in most commodities to new highs.
Brooksie's Daily Stock Market blog: An edge before the market opens.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011 9:34 am EDT
Nasdaq Comp.: 2843.25
Russell 2000: 842.80
While stock prices stabilized yesterday, we didn't see a rush to buy. Unless BIG money can justify significantly higher prices nine months-to-a-year from now, it will not go on a buying spree.
Odds favor today's initial rally will find resistance later in the day and sell off.
That means a volatile market, one that is attractive for patient investors who wait for pullbacks in targeted stocks to buy, but not averse to clipping a quick profit before prices settle back to where they bought them.
Expect the usual uncertainties, Greece, doubts about our own economy, Mid-East tensions, etc..
But center stage will be occupied by debate in Congress about deficit reduction with a increase in the nation's debt limit held hostage. Technically, the U.S. must increase its debt limit by May 16, but Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has indicated the deadline can be extended until August 2.
Few on Wall Street believe Congress will not vote to increase the debt limit, a process that has been done 66 times in the last 50 years. As a percent of GDP, the Gross Federal Debt began to soar in 1980, slipped back in the 1990s, then took off in 2000.
Obviously, something must be done to stop the spiral.
The press will feast on this, spreading angst throughout the financial community, and that stands to be unsettling for the market. They love this stuff.
Both parties will exchange salvos in a game of brinkmanship that will temp Americans to march on Washington. Good for Tylenol PM and Maalox, but not something that makes investment decisions any easier.
But this is the process – no one gets everything they want.
George Brooks
DISCLOSURE: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors, and do not represent the views of equities.com. Readers should not consider statements made by the author as formal recommendations and should consult their financial advisor before making any investment decisions. To read our full disclosure, please go to: http://www.equities.com/disclaimer.


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Adam McKay is best known for directing some of Will Ferrell's biggest movies — "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy," "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby," and "Step Brothers." With the release of "The Big Short" this weekend, however, McKay has stepped away from Ferrell's large shadow.
Still, he needed his comedy talents to tell the story of one of the largest financial collapses in history.
Based on Michael Lewis' best-selling book of the same name, "The Big Short" looks at the housing bubble during the 2000s. It stars Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, Steve Carell, and Brad Pitt as some the few people in the financial world who identified the housing bubble.
But to connect with moviegoing audiences while tackling such a complex subject, McKay decided to add a little sugar to his medicine. Not to mention brief flashes of pop culture, including interludes featuring celebrities Margot Robbie, Anthony Bourdain, and Selena Gomez explaining financial terminology (which will no doubt rankle Wall Street).
"I feel if you do this movie like, say, ' The Insider' — which I think is a great movie — you wouldn't be doing this story justice," McKay told Business Insider, referring to the more somber Russell Crowe film about a whistle-blower in the tobacco industry. "I wouldn't want to see that movie."
But McKay acknowledges he didn't write the script intending to get laughs. It came from the material in Lewis' book that is so outlandish you can only help but laugh, which McKay did while reading it in one sitting in 2010.
Highlights include Michael Burry (Bale) listening only to heavy metal music and Mark Baum (Carrell), who is so attached to his phone that he takes a call in the middle of asking a question at a major public conference in Las Vegas.
Shooting the film with a handheld, documentary-like atmosphere, and allowing his actors to improvise, McKay shaped a film that would turn out to be very different from how Hollywood had previously looked at the financial collapse ("The Company Men," "Too Big to Fail"). Could audiences still get the underlying message?
"I thought the film was really starting to fit well in rough assembly, which never happens," McKay said. "So we got 300 people and did a screening, for us, not for the studio. This was at a running time of two hours and 20 minutes. It was long, but sitting there, I could feel the energy. The audience understood what we were talking about."
McKay's enthusiasm and proof that "real people" appreciated the movie caused Paramount Pictures to set its release date right in the middle of awards consideration.
The film has become a front-runner of the season, having recently received Golden Globe nominations for best actor in a comedy for both Carell and Bale and best screenplay for McKay and his cowriter Charles Randolph.
But McKay does acknowledge there is one line in the movie that he purposely wrote for a laugh.
"I almost cut it out of the movie," McKay said, "but it's where the Vinny [Jeremy Strong] character says, 'It looks like someone hit a piñata of white guys who suck at golf.' I knew that line would get a laugh."
"The Big Short" opens in theaters everywhere December 23.


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Meet Jack Layton
It is so dreadfully sad about Jack Layton dying on cancer. His death seems to have touched most of Canada, He was a much admired politician and human being. He will lie in State in the Rotunda of the Parliament Buildings with a State Funeral in Toronto on Saturday( a unique honour usually reserved for the Head of State, the Governor General and the Leader of the Government, the Prime Minister. He will also will be available in Toronto for two days so people from his city can pay their respects. I suspect there will be large crowds if the informal memorial site across the country are any indicator.
I thought those who would like to see him, with all his grace and charm, in life , they might enjoy these three video's below when Rick Mercer interviewed him (interviews is too formal a term). I prefer to say interacted with Jack and enjoyed being with him. (Rick Mercer is a Canadian satirist and TV personality)
This first video is a tour of Jack's riding in Toronto, the Danforth. At one time I owned a home in this interesting riding just south of the Danforth where Greek Town is. When I sold this property I made enough money to purchase my present farm property. This riding is an inner city neighbourhood of older homes and a diverse population, a smaller version of the whole of Toronto.
When I first saw this second video I was really impressed. Jack Layton and his wife Olivia Chow live a life that is consistent with their principles. They live in an older house in an inner city neighbourhood, the riding in which Olivia Chow is the member of parliament.. Their house has been retrofitted so that they are virtually energy neutral, even able to feed electricity back into the grid at times. Also, Jack has no car and rides his bicycle around town. He and Olivia occasionally ride a bicycle built for two.
This final video is a sample of the political process, on the road, seeking support for the upcoming election. Jack Layton fed off and contributed to the vitality of these occasions. He alway seemed to love to be with people. His political focus was always to have government meet the needs of people, particularly those who were being marginalized by the system.
I hope you enjoyed this opportunity to see Jack Layton in life in all his charm, affably with people. He will be missed by all those friends, family, constituents and so many others whose lives he touched. His many contributions to the life of Toronto and Canada will long be remembers.