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About the Author: Robert Wood serves as Acting Department Spokesman and Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs.
Welcome to DipNote, the State Department's official blog. DipNote gives context, clarity and other behind the scenes insights on the foreign policy headlines in which you're most interested. The information is provided to you by those actually doing the work.
The term "DipNote" refers to a diplomatic note, one of the many means by which governments formally communicate with one another. Aside from the title, we make every effort to minimize the use of jargon and acronyms. When they're unavoidable, we explain them. We want this blog to be as accessible and user-friendly as possible. This blog represents your opportunity to engage State Department officials, to contribute to the discussion of U.S. foreign policy. We want you to be active participants in a community focused on some of the most important international issues of today.
We live in an age in which there is a greater need for you to be aware of what is happening around the world, and in a time when everyone should be able to contribute to the dialogue. You can join us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and submit your video question on the State Department's YouTube Channel. I encourage you to explore DipNote and these other resources and to provide us your thoughts and feedback. I look forward to hearing from you.
Ian in Texas writes:
Great to see this type of communication from our government. Keep it up!
John in Greece writes:
Great transition "DipNote team" and nice archive organization! I wish you and Mr. Wood, thousands of more successes.
And now "back to our keyboards" for more interesting debates and posts! Good luck to all DipNote staff, simple readers and authors.
Seyed in Maryland writes:
Seems like change has come to Dept. of State too! Keep it up!
Ashley in North Carolina writes:
Patricia in New York writes:
Just found Dipnote -- great resource -- I will visit the site frequently.
Congratulations to Secretary of State Clinton.
Joe in New York writes:
Congratulations and best wishes to Mrs. Clinton, the deputies and the rest of you at the State Department. The world needs your experience, diplomacy, and strength.
Rusty in Belgium writes:
Change has come congratulations to Secretary of State Clinton.
Sabir in Canada writes:
Congratulations from Canada. Wish you all the best ang good luck in your most daunting job ahead. Looking forward a better and peaceful world ahead. God bless all in Obama's Administration. The world is waiting for a just and peaceful settlements in many countries: Pakistan, Palestine, Afganistan, India (Kashmir) and all of Africa.
Joyce in Virginia writes:
Congratulations to Madame Secretary. I was a staunch supporter of hers throughout the primaries, and have been a fan since her days as First Lady. I was unaware of this site before now, I suspect many are still unaware. But with Hillary now as our new Secretary of State, I suspect many more will be visiting. Hillary has over 18 million loyal supporters. We are still here, and we can't wait to see you in action. Thank you for your tireless efforts on behalf of this country, you will always have our undying love, support, and respect.
Lynn in Missouri writes:
This is the first time I've ever bothered to check out Dipnote. The fact that it is simple to find and even easier to use it a tribute to the new administration.
Congratulations to Madame Secretary. I thoroughly enjoyed watching her address the employees in the State Department this morning. As a former "coach", her use of the word, "TEAM" expressed it all.
With the new administration, we are all in this together.
Emjay in Iowa writes:
To all in the State Dept and USAID:
Do you know how lucky you are to have this new leader?
She will be supportive of you and loyal to you, to the end.
Susan in Florida writes:
To the Dipnote staff -- glad to have you back! The new postings are great and your "transition" was seamless, too. Job well done!
Eric in New Mexico writes:
@ Mr. Wood,
My email is down at the moment and I was hoping you could pass on a word of thanks to Ambassador Crocker for his outstanding service and congrats on recieving the medal of freedom.
May he continue to have the most excellent adventures in private life.
I'd be remis not to also invite him to post his thoughts here on what "the right stuff" is, in terms of selection of FSO's and perhaps the ingrediants of proper nation building as well, as it applies to the three "D's" (Democracy, Defense and Development).
With emphasis on the war of ideas and mitigating the 5 D's of methodology of those that seek to;
Distract, Deceive, Discredit, Discourage, and Dismember the effort.
Dipnote is well placed to be on the cutting edge of the debate, and offers a global audience an official invitation to think.
It's been my humble pleasure to contribute my 2 cents worth, for what it may be worth to others. So I hope I'm not out of line for making this request and offering the invitation right back with all due reciprocity...(chuckle).
"No socks required."
Catherine in Georgia writes:
Congratulations to you Secretary Clinton. I do not work in the State Department but I am a concerned retired U.S. senior citizen. Now it is time for this adminstration to get down to serious work. I watched the announcement of Mitchell and Stern to high level Diplomats to negotiate peace in the Middle East. Why is Secretary Clinton not making the initial trip herself to (at least) show strength and start these negotiations? What will her foreign relations responsibilities consist of if she is "not" going to have a face to face with various foreign leaders on their turf? Will she or will she not be traveling to other countries?
Jill D. in Wisconsin writes:
Can't read the writing on the website. It is way too dim.
Kitty M. in Alabama writes:
I would like to know if the State Department, under new leadership, has plans (hopefully) to change our U.S. Embassy designs abroad, to be more environmentally sensitive and sustainable. I would like to suggest that the building designs be more sympathetic to the culture and environment in which they are located. Architectural sensitivity can do a great deal to offer a sense of openness, without loss of security. Thank you for the work you do. I am glad for the change!
Beverley-Ann in South Africa writes:
Congratulations Secretary of State Clinton.
I am so pleased to have found this wonderful up to date website, so that I can continue to follow news about the wonderful work that you do.
I am sorry I cannot congratulate you as President Clinton as I would have preferred to, but I know that this position that you now hold will allow you to achieve greater things ... that being to work towards bringing about Peace, Understanding & Respect to each other ... amongst all Nations.
You are an inspiration to woman around the world ... highlighting by your fine example ... that we as women can achieve so much by contributing positively ... by coming up with solutions to solve many of the serious issues that still plague our modern day life.
Your famous speech in Beijing way back in 1995 ... when you declared that ...
"human rights are women's rights, and women's rights are human rights"
as I said above ... inspired women worldwide and "helped galvanize a global movement for women?s rights."
All the very best with your new position as Secretary of State.
You remain an inspiration ...
Edith in France writes:
End the Boycott of Tourism to Myanmar!
Before deciding to go on our five-week trip to most of the accessible regions of Myanmar in November 2008, we, like the other tourists we met, discussed at length whether it would be right to do so. The trip convinced us all that the boycott against Myanmar is meaningless.
The boycott is supposedly directed against the military government, but the generals dislike tourism anyway and have done little to promote it since the mid-nineties. They loathe tourists running around with cameras and video recorders and it suits them just fine that the population of Myanmar does not have contact with western thought.
Tourism produces distributed income and is one of the few opportunities for a large number of the population to earn much needed money and to have some contact with the outside world, especially outside of Yangon. The junta earns enormous amounts on trade with China (precious stones/gold, teak and more) and even more with Thailand (i.e. natural gas - from fields operated by Total). The junta's income from tourism is relatively modest. To a certain degree tourists can avoid state hotels and travel agencies, limiting the amount of funds falling into the hands of the junta.
People in Myanmar need tourists, both to avoid total isolation and simply to survive economically. This is in particular true of the people who do not belong to the "Bama"=Burmese (65%) ethnicity, but to one of the many other ethnic groups (35% of the population) who mostly live in remote areas that are partly accessible to tourists today. The boycott does not hurt the junta in a significant way; it punishes the people already suffering from the junta?s brutal means of repression and lack of will and/or capability to improve the country's infrastructure and thereby the standard of living.
Aung San Suu Kyi, the Lady, has called for the boycott. She is an admirable person, but one ought not disregard the fact that she is living in a golden cage in Yangon. She admits herself that she does not know the conditions under which the non-Burmese ethnic groups live. She has not had the opportunity to travel in the country and therefore there is serious doubt as to whether she understands the impact the boycott has on ordinary people. The people, on the other hand, do not know that she is the one who has called for it. She is very much admired by the population of Myanmar at large for her courage to confront the junta, but also because she is the daughter of General Aung San, assassinated in 1947. He remains a hero in Myanmar.
In order to improve the situation and to create a basis for real democracy, Myanmar is in desperate need of better infrastructure, communication, education, clean water and hospitals. It is simply not true that the people in Myanmar have access to CNN and BBC. That is only the case for a few locations at certain times in Yangon and also on occasion in a few other bigger cities.
The generals perceive the Army and not Myanmar as their country. It is a State in the State, an imperial power, like the British not too long ago, who consider themselves entitled to exploit the country's resources to their own advantage. The people are also seen as a resource to use and abuse. The generals believe they were put on the throne by the workings of karma. Their underlings are punished for their sins in earlier lives.
The International Community should do more to assure that human rights are respected, that political prisoners are given their liberty and that personal freedom and access to objective information are firmly and widely established. In order to achieve results, eastern countries, like China, Thailand and Singapore, must take part in these efforts. Without them it will not be possible to put real pressure on the Generals.
The boycott of tourism ought to cease immediately as tourism is the only possibility for a large part of the population to improve their living conditions, whereas the boycott has proved completely ineffective with regards to the junta. Rather it plays right into their hands. One can and should only hope that as many tourists as possible will travel there in the future with open and critical eyes. It is such a breathtaking country with wonderful people who most certainly do not deserve to be boycotted for no good reason.
Lyon, January 2009
Edith in France writes:
Mr. Wood,
In view of recent media reports on the terrible situation of prostitutes from Myanmar (Burma) and the inhuman treatment of Rohingya refugees by the Thai Military I send you an appeal I wrote after having visited Myanmar extensively to end the boycott that has become a humanitarian boycott. It has been going on for so long and the situation has gotten just worse politically, socially and economically.
In the light of what President Obama has said about working with Developing Nations and the caring and pragmatic approach of Mrs. Clinton I hope U.S. Policy towards this country where people (not the Junta !) suffer tremendously from the boycott. Myanmar is the country that receives the least aid of all countries in the world.
Lyon, France, January 2009
John in Greece writes:
@ Edith in France -- End the Boycott of Tourism to Myanmar! END QUOTE. Do you think that this country is safe for traveling? I do not!
I wouldn't go there even for a 1M$ prize.
State Department must keep its fundamental "traveling" policy: securing travelers through alerts and warnings. After all, it's the only credible source of info in the world concerning where and how to travel.
Romma in Florida writes:
i know the world is busy and in chaos, but whats happening in east african countries is alarming and scary! american government seems to be slowly packing out of east africa, particularly kenya, citizens of kenya are starving to death due to drought and famine, Government is obviously not helping them out in any way whatsoever, the leaders always making false promises and fattening their wallets while the ones who voted for them are living a miserable life! yet kenyan government is leasing the most fertile lands and areas in kenya to china, sudan, qatar, for monetary kicks and china is actually selling weapons, ammo, tanks etc to sudan, kenya, zimbwabwe. its looking like we are being set for a bigger mess. china is getting payment from kenya for the weapons etc by allowing chinese control and use of our waterways! to me it smells ratty, china has never had any interest in africa up until now. united states of america is abandoning them same as europeans did. kenyan young people are very angry at what is happening while others sleep, play golf etc. we need help getting rid of communist related countries and nazi like mugabe and slave runners in sudan. help help! i dont want to have to go through beijing first to get a visa to go to kenya! and its unacceptable to see kenyans die like ants due to hunger. hello!! anyone looking at this or even aware of it?
Louise in Connecticut writes:
Can State Department, consider making the TPS (Temporary Protected Status) eligible for adjustment for Permanent Residence Status if they have been hear in the U.S.A. for numerous years and paying taxes? I think it would be fair to those hard working individuals to be able to adjust the status especially if they have worked hard for it. There are many U.S. Citizens abusing the laws and not paying their dues to society. Why not allow people with TPS status the same opportunity as us. Thank you for your time.
Eric in New Mexico writes:
To Robert Wood,
Here's a Sit. Rep. that ought to be posted in neon in the briefing room(*).
Pulled this off of Blackfive.net. While I may be taking liberties reposting (unedidted) an already public email by not confirming authenticity directly, I have no doubt the Public affairs dept @ State can do so without much trouble. And when and if you do, please send this citizen's thanks and warmest regards to Gen. Kelly and Marines everywhere.
To the folks at State that helped make this happen, please do continue to anticipate miracles while you enjoy this one. Well done to one and all!
Author: Major General John F. Kelly
I don't suppose this will get much coverage in the States as the news is so good. No, the news is unbelievable.
Something didn't happen in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, today. Once the most violent and most dangerous places on earth, no suicide vest bomber detonated killing dozens of voters. No suicide truck bomber drove into a polling place collapsing the building and killing and injuring over 100. No Marine was in a firefight engaging an Al Qaida terrorist trying to disrupt democracy.
What did happen was Anbar Sunnis came out in their tens of thousands to vote in the first free election of their lives.
With the expectation of all of the above (suicide bombers) they walked miles (we shut down all vehicle traffic with the exception of some shuttle busses for the elderly and infirm) to the polling places. I slept under the stars with some Grunts at Combat Outpost Iba on the far side of Karma, and started driving the 200 miles up the Euphrates River Valley through Karma, Fallujah, Habbiniyah, Ramadi, Hit, Baghdad and back here to Al Asad. I stopped here and there to speak with cops, soldiers, Marines, and most importantly, regular Iraqi men and women along the way. It was the same everywhere. A tension with every finger on a trigger that broke at perhaps 3PM when we all began to think what was almost unthinkable a year ago. We might just pull this off without a bombing. No way. By 4PM it seemed like we'd make it to 5PM when the polls closed. At 4:30 the unbelievable happened: the election was extended an hour to 6PM because of the large crowds! What are they kidding? Tempting fate like that is not nice. Six PM and the polls close without a single act of violence or a single accusation of fraud, and nearly by early reports pretty close to 100% voted. Priceless.
Every Anbari walking towards the polling place had these determined and, frankly, concerned looks on their faces. No children with them (here mothers and grandmothers are NEVER without their children or grandchildren) because of the expectation of death. Husbands voted separately from wives, and mothers separately from fathers for the same reason. In and out quickly to be less of a target for the expected suicide murderer. When they came out after voting they also wore the same expression on their faces, but now one of smiling amazement as they held up and stared at ink stained index fingers.
Norman Rockwell could not have captured this wonderment. Even the ladies voted in large numbers and their husbands didn't insist on going into the booths to tell them who to vote for.
One of the things I've always said was that we came here to "give" them democracy. Even in the dark days my only consolation was that it was about freedom and democracy. After what I saw today, and having forgotten our own history and revolution, this was arrogance. People are not given freedom and democracy -- they take it for themselves. The Anbaris deserve this credit.
Today I step down as the dictator, albeit benevolent, of Anbar Province. Today the Anbaris took it from me. I am ecstatic. It was a privilege to be part of it, to have somehow in a small way to have helped make it happen.
Semper Fi.
(*) Or simply handed to Matt with my best regards, as he's looking like he's about to have a coronary in the middle of your briefing the next time you tell him that policy is under review...(chuckle).
I know you usually would defer him to the Pentagon for such things, but in this case it simply comes through a concerned Dipnote contributor who does his research.
Figured the press would appreciate getting the details.
I know I did.
Kelly S. in Texas writes:
Hi Robert,
We just posted an article, "Top 50 Foreign Policy Blogs" (http://www.mastersincriminaljustice.com/blog/2009/top-50-foreign-policy-...). I thought I'd bring it to your attention in case you think your readers would find it interesting.
I am happy to let you know that your site has been included in this list.
Either way, thanks for your time!
Zharkov in U.S.A. writes:
One suggestion I have is that when a post is to be omitted or censored because it raises embarrassing questions or discloses some inconvenient facts, it would be nice to have that post acknowledged in some manner to show it had been read but rejected.
A simple entry would do, such as,
@ Eric in New Mexico, post rejected as too obsequious for publication.
This way, we can learn the boundaries of our 1st Amendment on the blog.
DipNote Bloggers write:
@ Zharkov in U.S.A. -- We appreciate your participation on the blog. This is an open forum. Please review the blog's comment policy.
Eric in New Mexico writes:
@ Dipnote bloggers: I appreciate you helping Zharkov get with the program. I'd hate to see him booted off site for consistantly being himself, as he offers me seemingly unlimited opportunity to make valid points in debate.
On the other hand,
How obsequious can I get? Let me count the ways...AHA! here's one!
I will certainly be most happy to be of service to the Dipnote bloggers of the world and take Zharkov out back to the woodshed to teach him some manners any time you'all like.
Please can I, Huh? Pretty please? PLEEEEEEEZE say YES,....LOL!
But go ahead if you must. Launch him to the moon, see what I care..,..(chuckle).
Some things are best addressed with mirth.
If you've blogged as long as I have on Foreign Affairs subjects, one becomes perpetually ammused by inane commentary directed on a personal level.
And that's all I have to say about that....
Kirk in Kentucky writes:
Secretary of State Clinton? What a sham. This was totally her prize for dropping out of the presidential race. She wasn't qualified to be president, what would make her such a good leader for directing the entire foreign policy division?
Congratulations anyway, I guess. She shot for the stars and at least got the moon.
Even Rice, despite her collaboration and contribution to such horribly flawed doctrine that led us to the state we're in now, managed to secure a degree of respect by the end. Surely Clinton can do better.
On a further note, let's see more interaction with the posters from the Dept. of State, please. Otherwise it's just another blog of people spouting their rhetoric like anywhere else.
Yoo in South Korea writes:
@ Mr. Robert Wood -- Hello, I am a teacher in South Korea. I found this blog in the state Department site.
Welcome to our Country.( Mrs. Secretary Clinton)
Our people always thanks for U.S.A., because especially America helped us for Korean War. We know that your young people were killed in many battle for protecting our Country from north Korea's invasion. Now U.S.A. have been helping us against broking out war by North Korea. I hope we have nice relations more friendly with Mrs. Secretary Clinton's visiting our Country
I hope Mrs. Secretary Clinton have a nice time for staying in Korea.
D. Yoo
John in Greece writes:
@ Kirk in KY -- I thought like you were interested (you "love" to?) in working for the State Dept: AMERICA! Here is a poor "advice" from an e-friend:
I am not experienced, I do not work for SD, but I felt like answering to you, on the ground that I like the fact that you have plans to apply for a DoS career. Please do not misunderstand me!
Dr. Rice stated (a month ago) that "she is not a partisan". I loved this statement of hers. Same counts for the new Secretary of State. Mrs. Clinton serves U.S.A., Freedom and the People; not her micro-party egoism. And I think that this is fantastic! This is U.S.A.! That's why I do not agree that Mrs. Clinton "shot for the stars and at least got the moon". She's in SPACE too! And space has no real estate values determining if the stars are more important than the moon.
Do you think (if you follow a diplomatic "job" path, as you have stated in the past that you love to do so) you'll ever have the chance to "decide" who the President will be, or the Secretary of State, in order for you to service U.S.A. in a better way? You will have to do it anyway...
And now back to our silly game:
(Al's voice): Then, Kirk, you are a "a NO GO SD officer'! WE do not choose the "upstairs". More experienced people decide if WE are good for "downstairs" or "upstairs". And some day, all of "US" can (maybe) make it to the tops. All of which means: if today you were within SD, would you resign on the ground that you do not "approve" THE 67th SECRETARY of STATE or the PRESIDENT? If you have a "No answer" to this question, then you "remain", but then RESPECT the 67th Secretary of State and the President!
(Al's voice with echo): ONLY UNITED WE STAND! PEOPLE DECIDED! SERVE!
Of course, my comment is just a "game". I wish I helped you a bit...
Terry in Connecticut writes:
@ Secretary Robert Wood, your title says acting state dept. spokesman. Is there a replacement spokesman waiting to be confirmed or will you fill this post for the forseeable future? You do a good job by the way.


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BEIXIAOYING TOWN, China (AP) Rain washed out Thursday's scheduled Olympic canoe-kayak events, including semifinals and the final of women's kayak single and the men's canoe double final.
The schedule was moved to Friday, when no competition was scheduled.
The canoe double semifinals were the only runs completed. The German team of Felix Michel and Sebastian Piersig had a flawless run through the gates in 94.38 seconds. They screamed in celebration as they crossed the finish line and exchanged a soaked high five.
Five other doubles advanced to the final, including brothers Peter and Pavol Hochschorner of Slovakia. They won the last two Olympic gold medals in this whitewater event.
In the women's kayak single, defending Olympic champion Elena Kaliska of Slovakia recorded the best combined time of 186.19 after Wednesday's heats. She'll be among 15 individuals who will compete in Friday's semifinals in hopes of reaching the finals later in the day.
Fans scattered to seats in the upper rows of the stadium where it was covered, and coaches and teammates of the competitors needed umbrellas as they sprinted down the course's sidewalk shouting encouragement. The slalom canoe double started under gloomy skies and heavy rain that could have kept the four water pumps needed to fill the course off.
Rowing also was rained out at Shunyi Rowing-Canoeing Park and the entire schedule was shifted to Friday, which was to be an off-day for the rowers.

subset: commoncrawl


text: There's this idea that if a person uses the word, they are reclaiming it for the greater good. (the greater good, lol.) I don't agree with that in this case. Words are only offensive if we allow them to be. How we react to them. And I guess this is my one word that I find offensive and react badly too.


text:
I mean this with the greatest respect (as my few previous posts hopefully show what a dedicated fan I am), but I feel the time is right for Paul to bow out from these kind of public live events, like the Queen's Jubilee/Olympics etc., as he is no longer doing himself any favours with the casual viewer, for whom he is unfortunately becoming an easy target to ridicule (as I'm seeing a lot of examples of in social media and amongst my own friends). I feel this is harming his legacy with the overall public (though not with fans and critics so much)
It's clear that over the past 2 or 3 years that there has been a marked downturn in Paul's live vocal abilities, which has even extended to his regular speaking voice. I'm not trying to unfairly criticise, he's 70 in less than 2 weeks time so it's absolutely understandable, especially with his continued regular live performances at pushing 3 hours a time, it's bound to have an effect.
I think Bob Dylan and Elton John are two other examples of legends whose prolific live schedule has taken a toll on their voices, so it's not just Paul. Contrast with Tom Jones last night at Buckingham Palace, now I'm not aware of him having a particularly hectic tour schedule over the last few years, and certainly not of 3 hour shows like Paul would pull off, and it shows as his voice is still in great condition. He'll be 72 in a couple of days!
I'd love to see Paul do more work in the studio, where I believe his changing voice is being used in really interesting ways; Kisses On The Bottom sounds great, he sings them with a great "old man" voice (not intended as a criticism!). He's used that same kind of voice on things like "Growing Up Falling Down" and "The End Of The End" and I love it, it's all part of making up a full life times body of work of the greatest popular musician the world has ever produced. I'd love to hear what a 2022 album with an 80 year old Paul would sound like!
I know there were rumours, never publically, that Paul is planning to retire from live performances when he hits 70. I have to say, for his sake, I'm kind of hoping that's the case. I know he still puts on a great show, and if I went to see him in concert now I'd have a great night, I just really feel that if he's not careful he is going to really screw up his voice and have to live with the consequences for the rest of his life.


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Bucs Report: No Foster; Banks on the Mend; Revis Respects Johnson; Tandy Next Man Up
Tampa Bay linebacker Mason Foster did not practice Wednesday. He is still getting tested and being observed for a concussion suffered in Sunday's game against Atlanta. Cornerback Johnthan Banks was limited in practice Wednesday with a shoulder injury. Coach Greg Schiano said it's getting better. By Friday, we should know if Banks will be able to play against Detroit on Sunday. Megatron Visits Revis Island Tampa Bay's game Sunday against Detroit will feature two of the best at their positions… Read More »


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Here's how RW members rated this race in the past (232 votes).
In short: FantasticDate of review: May 1, 2009
In short: The race was very well organised. The course is hard but very picturesque. I will definitely do it next year.Date of review: May 23, 2007
In short: Tremendous frist running of this race.In full: Good organisation (a few teething problems that will be quickly ironed out), fantastic location, good facilities. A valuable addition to the race calendar. Date of review: April 28, 2007
In short: hilly rather than undulating - start and finish need some work- especially time recording as was 58.45 but recorded as 66.03 - otherwise well organised and friendly virgin raceDate of review: April 28, 2007
In short: Atmosphere as bubbly as the fizz to celebrate at the finish. Run pure onwards and upwards and upwards and onwards! Uniquely Balfron!In full: A first for Balfron. It simply can't be the last. Brilliantly executed in its organisation. Great encouraging mix of runners from fast and furious to slow and steady; from serious competitors to fun runners and first timers. Sceptism of out and back route unfounded as high fives and spirits shared between runners kept spirits high and feet going! Support from the bovine residents en route and Balfron community as a whole very spirited and welcomed. Route a fun fair ride rollercoaster - best £12 spent so far this year! Simply loved it! Well done Balfron!Date of review: April 26, 2007
In short: A brilliant but demanding 10K,good humour,well organised, great marshals.In full: Balfron's 1st 10k - wonderful. A fantastic day, great atmosphere, hundreds of enthusiatic locals, of all ages, cheering on the runners. Great goodies at the end - T-shirt, medal, oranges, water and cereal bar! Refreshments and homebaking for the non runners was an excellent and thoughtful idea.Date of review: April 26, 2007
In short: An excellently organised race, well worth supporting.Date of review: April 25, 2007
In short: Fantastic -challenging, hughely enjoyable & a well organised 10k which well and truly puts Balfron on the running circuit In full: A 1st class 10k. A great route, scenic, warm welcome, motivating marshals, sound admin system and a brilliant informative website. Attention to detail paid to runners and spectators alike ensured everyone had an enjoyable day. Well done Balfron. Date of review: April 25, 2007
In short: The "there and back" route was the only thing that spoiled it.... I like races to be one circuit.Date of review: April 25, 2007
In short: very hilly but fabulous location. Very friendy and well organisedDate of review: April 25, 2007
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About the Author: Nancy Carter-Foster serves as Senior Advisor in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.
The Russian Federation hosted the very successful First Ministerial Conference on Global Road Safety, November 19-20 in Moscow. Topped of with a speech by President Medvedev, who cited road safety as a major health threat to his nation, and called for halfing mortality and morbidity from road crashes as a national priority.
Although it was cold outside, inside the hall a fire was lit by the determination of enthusiastic participants calling for greater collaboration and concerted international action to address the full gamut of global road safety issues. In presentation after presentation, Ministers of Transport, Health, Eduation and Directors of Road Safety Programs in nation after nation discussed the current conditions of traffic safety or lack thereof plaguing road users. Although most nations discussed situations posed by increasing numbers of motorcycles and other competing road users, there was also a threat posed by increasing numbers of four-wheel motorized vehicles on roads throughout the developed and developing world. Infrastructure, road design, competing road users and other challenges to road safety were continually cited as major road safety problems along with issues of behavior such as drink driving, speed and lack of seat belt use. Everyone cited road safety as a growing global health challenge, which is being under-estimated and inadequately addressed across-the-board by nations around the world.
Secretary Ray LaHood, who headed the U.S. delegation, also raised the problem of distracted driving, especially texting while driving as an issue which merits greater global attention and action to curb the threat it poses and portends as more cars and cell phones take to the roads competing for drivers' attention while in motion. He called for a report on the issue, which was well-received by the conference attendees.
At the conclusion of the conference the Ministers, government officials, NGO representatives, Youth Group representatives, business leaders and others agreed on a Moscow Declaration which will be subsumed into a General Assembly Resolution for the March session of the UN General Assembly. The Declaration called for support of a call for a Decade of Action from 2011-2020, for greater international collabortion and cooperation in support of increased global road safety and significantly reducing the number of lives lost due to road crashes. The Declaration was adopted by concensus.
Ron in New York writes:
STOP...Yield Right of Way....
If you want to reduce fatal traffic accidents in Moscow:
1- Remove all unsafe vehicles from the road (instead of stopping them for bribes and releasing them to continue as a vehicular threat).
2- Increase alcohol check-points; and enforce no drink-drive laws. (ar there any?)
3- If Russia can make any progress; it can be a model for the world's traffic safety.
Ron in New York writes:
Moscow Traffic: PRAVDA-Boom-Boom!
Absolutely safe, fast and trouble-free if you are riding in Ministry of Interior and INTERPOL vehicles in the Middle Lane. Absolutely scary if you are driving among the alcoholics in the death-traps they call cars. If Russia wants to reduce traffic fatalities; they should take these car (and drivers) off the roads instead of stopping them only to take bribes for their release back onto the highways.
Ole in New York writes:
Dear Madame Secretary! Firstly, I'd like to commend U.S. government on the measures I've read recently about (strangely enough, on the Russian Communist party's website) on furthering cooperation and contacts with Russia's regions. Far from being so delusionate as to take credit for this idea, just wanna mention that I believed all through the 90s in its necessity, and mentioned it early this year in a post in your blog now, on to somewhat more troubling topic, still related to the 'Russian front'. I'd really like to turn some U.S. authority attention, to blatant abuse of freedom of speech, taking place at some Russian music and book stores in Brooklyn. some book items sold there, bear names like 'Russia's revenge', or 'Poland: the West's attack dog'. should be noted that the former is authored by a well-known Russian economist Mikhail Delyagin, and this sort of tone is not rare among Russia's elite, even in its more liberal circles. this sort of openly hostile propaganda against the west and free world in general, and certain particular countries affiliated with it, should not go totally unnoticed. there are also well-known cases of misrepresentation of various subjects, by the TV channel RussiaToday, which does not make any secret of being a propaganda project of Kremlin. I fully understand that this is not a matter falling within State Department direct expertise, yet I hope that these facts be eventually noticed and referred to the right organizations.
Patrick in Maryland writes:
Hello,Everyone Happy Pre-New Years Eve :)
I like the call for a decade of action on road safety. I live near the beltway and we have had a lot of accidents from unsafe driving pratices here.
I hope this "Declaration on Road Safety" helps find new way to prevent accidents from happening in all our countries.
Great idea to cooperate on this Program .
...Cya have a "Happy New Year" :)
Palgye in South Korea writes:
The who knowing and secret intention solves the problem which is personal to as it is to watch only laughing to scorn, does. Maybe there is a method? Is tired personally too and the force holds. There is not a possibility anything of doing. If knows a method. Deliver in me. please.


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University of Florida | Warrington College of Business
Narrow your search by choosing a sector or region:
Or, enter keywords in the Google Search feature to search PURC programs:
Please join us for PURC's 44th Annual Conference. . .
Many people are called upon to provide leadership. Some succeed; many fail. PURC's leadership development programs examine the activities, behaviors,. . .
Since 1997, utility regulators, policy-makers and infrastructure managers around the world have traveled to Gainesville, Florida to participate in th. . .
Avoid the pitfalls that stifle utility regulatory decisions and gain support for difficult issues. Learn how to effectively and rigorously analyze an. . .
How can utilities be benchmarked for efficiency? Which types of comparisons are valid and which are invalid, possibly leading to significant errors? . . .
What are the new policy and regulatory challenges in ICT? How are countries addressing next generation networks (NGN)? What are the appropriate polic. . .
What are the challenges and best practices in energy (electricity and gas) pricing? What are the innovative ideas for addressing efficiency and envir. . .
Warrington College of Business
PO Box 117150
Gainesville, FL 32611-7150
Phone: 352.392.2397
Fax: 352.392.2086


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PowerVR – a division of Imagination Technologies – company mostly known for its tile architecture, KYRO graphics processors, as well as some chips for consoles, arcade machines and mobile applications, has released three new demos to demonstrate the capabilities of yet-unavailable Pixel Shaders and Vertex Shaders 3.0-supporting hardware.
As a graphics processor developer, PowerVR has not released anything new since early 2001 and analysts of the industry rarely take this firm into the account. However, PowerVR constantly reminds the world about itself by releasing some pieces information leading to assume about its new product indirectly.
Earlier this year we were told about a book covering some modern ways of programming realtime 3D graphics in general and using Pixel Shaders 3.0 and Vertex Shaders 3.0 in particular. The authors of the articles covering the Shaders 3.0 were from PowerVR, and web-media around the Web suggested that we would soon see a new product coming from PowerVR. We have not really seen or heard about PowerVR's graphics chips, but this week the company released the demo software that do not work on DirectX 9.0 hardware, such as RADEON 9800 PRO or GeForce FX 5900, but requires some additional features to be supported. Does this mean that the long-awaited PowerVR Series 5 is just around the corner?
PowerVR has had DirectX 8 demos for ages on its Demo Page, but, as we know, has never had any DirectX 8 available hardware. Now that the company has its DirectX 9.0 demos up, it does not necessarily mean they have taped out hardware and ready to ship it. Furthermore, the issued demos cover the very same Pixel Shaders 3.0 and Vertex Shaders 3.0 capabilities, as the company's specialists described in the book.
Desktop graphics market nowadays is seriously rebounding from the calmness in 2001 and 2002 and there are more chances for minor players to enter the business. On the other hand, it looks like the market only needs fully-integrated companies to address both high-end and entry-level segments with the graphics chips. Since it costs too much to develop a competitive product lineup, there are very few companies to be in a position to afford such R&D costs.
Imagination Technologies, the owner of PowerVR, lost roughly $9.4 million on sales of approximately $33.2 million in its fiscal 2003 ended on


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Timanfaya National Park
Camels in the Timanfaya National Park
Camels in the Timanfaya National Park
Volcanic landscape. Timanfaya National Park
Craters. Timanfaya National Park
Volcano crater. Timanfaya National Park
Volcanic landscape. Timanfaya National Park
Volcanic landscape. Timanfaya National Park
Timanfaya National Park
Contact details
Tinajo, Lanzarote
(Canary Islands)
Tel.:+34 928118042
Fax.:+34 928838235
- Autonomous region: Canary Islands
- Province/Island: Lanzarote
A journey to the moon
Because of the spectacular fields of solidified lava that make up the island of Lanzarote, Timanfaya is the land of volcanoes.
Different volcanic eruptions and magmatic activity throughout history turned this land into what we see today. From the natural viewpoint of Montaña Rajada you can observe a vast sea of lava that spreads out to the coast. It is simply impressive: undulations, spectacular shapes formed by lava… Since it was formed, the people living on the island have had to learn how to coexist with this unusual landscape, and they even grow dryland crops such as melons, onions, tomatoes and vineyards in the area of La Geria.
Lanzarote (Canary Islands)
Tinajo, Yaiza
It is situated on the island of Lanzarote (Canary Islands).
- Type of area National park
- Area 5.107 hectares
What you can do
- Educational options
- Routes around the Park
Access and surroundings
Cultural information
The spectacular and breathtaking landscape has conditioned human life in the surrounding area. One of the most interesting cultural features to be discovered, perfectly explained in the Visitor Centres, is the relationship of the people living in the area with the special natural environment throughout history.
Environmental information
The park is divided into two ecosystems: land and sea. In the first, dominated by the lunar landscape, there are many environmental units, such as the volcanic cones, sea of lava, "tabaibal" (ancient areas that are not covered by recent lava, with abundant vegetation), crops, beaches and cliffs. The formations we find in the sea ecosystem are: blowholes and bubbling springs, shallows, black sand beaches and rocky platforms. Many species have adapted to the environment in this unique landscape, so they are the subjects of many studies.
Information for visits
Free access on foot is only allowed on the coast of the National Park, by way of a path that goes round the coast. To visit the rest of the park you need to arrange it with the Visitor Centres. You can find their details on this page. You can travel by bus through the El Fuego Mountains (you will have to pay at the control point in Taro). You can also enjoy a camel ride along the southern slope of the Timanfaya Mountain, in the area called Echadero de los Camellos. The park has a car park, bar-restaurant, shop and public toilets (accessible to disabled people). More access information.
You will find more information about the permits you need at the following links: Termesana Route. Coastal Route. Guided visit to the Mancha Blanca Visitor Centre.
Visitor centres
Mancha Blanca visitor centre
Ctra. LZ-67 Tinajo-Yaiza, km 11,500
35560 Mancha Blanca, Tinajo (Lanzarote)
Contact details
Tel.:: [+34 928118042]
Fax.: [+34 928838235]
- From Monday to Sunday From 09:00 to 16:30


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Debates of April 1st, 2008
House of Commons Hansard #69 of the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was english.
- Question Period
- Interparliamentary Delegations
- Government Response to Petitions
- Food and Drugs Act
- Petitions
- Questions on the Order Paper
- Business of Supply
- Guelph Greenbelt
- Dartmouth Work Activity Society
- Refrigerator Recycling Program
- Victoria Emergency Responders
- Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
- Canadian Coalition Against Terror
- Dextre
- Quebec City, spring of 1918
- Gerard Kennedy
- Immigration
- The Bloc Québécois
- Corporate Social Responsibility
- Arctic Winter Games
- Quebecor World
- Sudan
- Immigration
- The Quebec Nation
- Multiculturalism
- Citizenship and Immigration
- Afghanistan
- Telecommunications
- Seal Hunters
- Ethics
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police
- Space Industry
- Afghanistan
- Seal Hunters
- Foreign Affairs
- Food Safety
- Housing
- Aboriginal Affairs
- The Environment
- Government Flyers
- The Environment
- Tibet
- Presence in Gallery
- Point of Order
- Privilege
- Business of Supply
- Court Challenges Program
Refrigerator Recycling Program
Statements By Members
2 p.m.
Marcel Lussier Brossard—La Prairie, QC
Mr. Speaker, as of yesterday, the people of Quebec have access to the Recyc-Frigo Environnement program, implemented by Hydro-Québec. The program will help to collect and recycle 230,000 energy-consuming appliances, such as refrigerators and freezers, by 2010. This new program will make it possible to save about 180 million kilowatts-heures of energy over the next three years. It is a free collection service for this type of appliance, and owners will receive a $60 incentive for each appliance recycled.
Participants must be Quebec residents. A form is available online and a specialized carrier will pick up the appliance at the resident's home. This is the kind of program that the Conservative government could have implemented with the budget surplus, as the Bloc Québécois suggested.
As a retired Hydro-Québec employee, and as a Bloc Québécois member, I applaud this wonderful initiative.
Victoria Emergency Responders
Statements By Members
2 p.m.
Denise Savoie Victoria, BC
Mr. Speaker, in Victoria, the capital region's emergency telecommunications system, used by police, fire, military and ambulance, needs urgent upgrades and approvals from Industry Canada.
Signal failures have put at risk the lives of emergency responders as well as the lives of the public. Spotty coverage has resulted in a loss of communication at crucial times. Officers must work in pairs because of concerns CREST will fail.
Since 2001, local officials have struggled to get a commitment from Industry Canada for new radio frequencies. Industry Canada is aware of the problem but continues to delay.
When will the minister direct his officials to stop playing with the lives of people in our region and take immediate action to grant the needed frequencies?
Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
Statements By Members
2 p.m.
Gary Schellenberger Perth—Wellington, ON
Mr. Speaker, baseball is a great Canadian pastime. For 25 years, the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in St. Marys, Ontario has been telling the story of great Canadian teams and Canadians in baseball, encouraging the game at all levels in Canada.
I believe that one of the best things we can do for our young people is help them become involved in minor sports. That is why our government has introduced the $500 child fitness tax credit. The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame has been doing its part through its exceptional programs such as the Kids on Deck summer camps.
As 2008 is the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame's 25th regular season, I encourage everyone to head down to St. Marys, Ontario, especially on June 28, when Tony Fernandez, Billy Harris, Gladwyn Scott and Peter Widdrington will be inducted as the hall of fame's class of 2008.
Canadian Coalition Against Terror
Statements By Members
2:05 p.m.
Joe Volpe Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
Mr. Speaker, thanks to the efforts of the Canadian Coalition Against Terror, all parties in this House are ready to support legislation to permit attacking the financial resources of terrorist movements.
Bill S-225 would allow civil suits against states or groups sponsoring terrorist acts that result in the murder of Canadians abroad.
Whether it is the Air-India bombing, the twin towers attack or the massacre at the yeshiva in Jerusalem, such criminal activity targets the innocent, the unsuspecting and the uninvolved.
We can fight the Babbar Khalsa, al-Qaeda, Hezbollah and Hamas by going after the financial resources of their backers. FINTRAC last year reported 41 cases involving $1.8 billion related to terrorist activity or other security threats to Canada.
Bill S-225 proposes financial remedies for families of victims. What is the Conservative government waiting for? It should bring the bill into this House and let us get it passed.
Statements By Members
2:05 p.m.
Colin Carrie Oshawa, ON
Mr. Speaker, on March 14, astronauts at the International Space Station began putting together Dextre, Canada's most advanced robot in space.
The spacewalks were a success, as astronauts installed Dextre's two hands. Dextre will be able to perform delicate precision tasks outside the station, allowing astronauts more time to focus on scientific experiments inside.
Canada is a world renowned leader in space robotics. Our robotic ingenuity and innovation are a source of tremendous pride and a true competitive advantage for our country. Canada's contributions to the International Space Station and our skill and expertise in space robotics have made us a leader in scientific and technological innovation.
We are in an age of discovery that has been made possible through Canadian robotic leadership and international collaboration.
Quebec City, spring of 1918
Statements By Members
2:05 p.m.
Christiane Gagnon Québec, QC
Mr. Speaker, it was 90 years ago today, under a Conservative government, that soldiers from Ontario went to Quebec City and opened fire on a crowd that was protesting conscription. Seventy-five people were injured and four were killed.
After reviewing the events, the coroner's inquest concluded that "the individuals shot on this occasion were innocent victims in no way involved in this riot—and it is the government's duty to pay fair and reasonable compensation to the victims' families". This has yet to be done.
The Bloc Québecois asks that the federal government publicly apologize to the victims' families.
As a reminder, a commemorative work of art was erected at the very location where these tragic events took place in Quebec City's lower town. And on Sunday, at the invitation of the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Québec, we gathered around this monument to commemorate this sad anniversary.
Gerard Kennedy
Statements By Members
2:05 p.m.
Luc Harvey Louis-Hébert, QC
Mr. Speaker, the new Liberal critic for intergovernmental affairs, Mr. Kennedy, chosen by the party leader, is a perfect example of his party's centrist vision. He seems to have bought fully into the Liberal vision according to which Ottawa is always right, and he wants to impose his way of seeing things on the provinces, even in areas under provincial jurisdiction. For example, during the leadership race, Mr. Kennedy said that the federal government should be involved in education and setting provincial standards.
He said that the government should implement a national learning strategy. He also said that the Liberals should make their objectives known, that provincial governments should be viewed as partners, and that areas under provincial jurisdiction should be subject to standards, just like areas under federal jurisdiction.
Is the Liberal leader's new plan to give the federal government a say in areas that fall under provincial jurisdiction?
Statements By Members
2:05 p.m.
Sukh Dhaliwal Newton—North Delta, BC
Mr. Speaker, the government's changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act will set the system back to the 1950s. If these amendments pass, the new powers given to the minister will be very scary.
The Conservatives should be investing more money in hiring more immigration officers, not cutting the amount of people we let in. The backlog of immigration applications has gone up by 100,000 under the Conservative government.
All of this country's population and labour market growth will come from immigration over the next two decades. Immigration represents the key to Canada's future success.
This kind of politics is harmful to our country.
The Bloc Québécois
Statements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Jacques Gourde Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC
Mr. Speaker, the secrecy has lasted long enough. Bloc members are privately admitting that they are experiencing an existential crisis and that it is difficult to remain in perpetual opposition. When will they finally admit it to the Quebec nation? They recognize that they are phantom members walking around always empty-handed, voiceless and unable to do anything after 18 years in Ottawa.
Support for sovereignty is stagnating and the referendum has been postponed indefinitely while Quebec is gaining strength in a unified Canada under the Conservatives who keep their promises.
I encourage the Bloc members to continue their own national conversation and to listen to the PQ supporters in Chaudière—Appalaches who hope that the Bloc will do itself in.
The truth is that more and more Quebeckers are tired of electing armchair critics and want to vote for our Conservative government.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Statements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Alexa McDonough Halifax, NS
Mr. Speaker, why is the government so grotesquely irresponsible when it comes to corporate social responsibility?
More than 1,000 mining companies are listed on Canadian stock exchanges, more than any other country. Canadian based companies conduct 40% of all mineral exploration in the world.
According to the UN, extractive companies are the most frequently cited in complaints of corporate human rights abuses in the developing world.
National round tables in 2006 involving industry leaders and development NGOs called for Canadian standards of corporate social responsibility, an independent ombudsperson to investigate claims of Canadian corporate abuses in developing countries, and withholding public support from the worst offenders.
In April 2007 the parliamentary secretary assured the foreign affairs committee the government would respond rapidly to these recommendations. In July the Prime Minister stated, "Implementation of these recommendations will place Canada among the most active G-8 countries in advancing corporate social responsibility".
A full year later, why is the government still deadly silent on corporate social responsibility?
Arctic Winter Games
Statements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Nancy Karetak-Lindell Nunavut, NU
Mr. Speaker, I am happy to report that Team Nunavut was awarded the prestigious Hodgson Sportsmanship Trophy at the 2008 Arctic Winter Games held in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.
Named after one of the founders of the Arctic Winter Games, Commissioner Stu "Umingmak" Hodgson, the trophy is a stunning example of Inuit artwork. It is awarded to the team whose athletes best express the ideals of fair play and team spirit. Team members receive a distinctive pin in recognition of their accomplishment.
These last games were the 20th anniversary of the Arctic Winter Games, which were first held in 1970 in Yellowknife. They have since grown in size, but the circumpolar countries still celebrate the friendship, cooperation and sharing which are essential to survival in the north.
I want to congratulate Team Nunavut for this great accomplishment and to thank Sport Nunavut for the tremendous strides they have made with the sports programs and development in Nunavut, plus the athletes.
Quebecor World
Statements By Members
April 1st, 2008 / 2:10 p.m.
Christian Ouellet Brome—Missisquoi, QC
Mr. Speaker, it was with a heavy heart that we learned yesterday of the closing of Quebecor World, in Magog, in my riding of Brome—Missisquoi. The loss of these 320 well-paid jobs is another serious blow to a region already scarred by the closure of manufacturing firms.
The obsolescence of its equipment is the main reason for the closure. We have been urging the Conservatives to adopt programs that will improve and modernize Quebec plants. I can assure the men and women who have just lost their jobs that the Bloc Québécois will continue to fight for the establishment of an older worker adjustment program and therefore prevent them from being out on the street.
With these thousands of dollars of our tax money, this plant would have survived and supported another generation. This is a dark day for workers and I deplore the insensitive attitude of the Conservative government towards the manufacturing and forestry sectors.
Statements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Irwin Cotler Mount Royal, QC
Mr. Speaker, today is the third anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1593, referring mass atrocities in Darfur to the International Criminal Court for investigation and prosecution.
One year ago the ICC issued arrest warrants for Sudanese government minister Ahmad Harun and Janjiweed militia leader Ali Kushayb for their planning and perpetration of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.
Sudan refused to hand over the accused and promoted these two perpetrators of genocide to important posts, thus abysmally abdicating their humanitarian and international responsibilities.
The international community must put an end to this appalling culture of impunity through enhanced targeted sanctions, travel bans, asset seizures, arms embargoes, divestment, and the like. It must also pressure China to end its complicity in the vicious cycle that sustains the genocide: China buys Sudan's oil; Sudan buys China's arms; the Chinese arms are then used by the Sudanese government to massacre the people of Darfur.
The murders, displacement and destruction must cease and the Chinese complicity must be stopped.
Statements By Members
2:15 p.m.
Wajid Khan Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
Mr. Speaker, the hypocrisy of the Liberals when it comes to immigration is unbelievable. The fact is it is the Liberals who allowed the backlog to balloon from 50,000 to 800,000 applications. For 13 long years they did nothing.
The Liberals also opposed measures this government took to clean up their mess. They voted against $1.3 billion in new settlement funding for newcomers to Canada. They voted against the foreign credentials referral office. They voted against our cutting the $975 head tax on immigrants.
The deputy leader of the Liberal Party admitted the Liberals did not get it done on immigration and I have to agree with him.
The Conservative government wants families to be reunited faster. We want skilled workers to come here sooner.
The question is, what do the Liberals have against immigrants? With their track record we certainly will not take lessons on immigration from the Liberal Party.
Oral Questions
2:15 p.m.
Stéphane Dion Leader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, let me read--


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hello everyone. i'm new to the forum, so i thought i'd introduce myself. i'm a big tea fan, have been for many many years but i haven't really delved into too much information about it with the exception of what i've picked up along the way when buying teas. right now i'm in a life transition and while figuring out what i wanted to do next, it came to me that i should do something involving tea. so i've been trying to learn as much as possible so that i can open up a tea house.
in general i lean towards white and green teas, though i do branch out. the only teas that i just can't get into are pu-erhs. as much as i wanted to like pu-erh teas i just can't get into them.
now drinking: genmaicha


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Fair ~
High: 55°F ~ Low: 36°F
Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017
Athletics, dummies and criminalsPosted Thursday, May 7, 2009, at 10:25 AM
The NCAA is cracking down on the University of Chattanooga's football team due to poor academic progress.
Up the road in Knoxville, the University of Tennessee has signed a football prospect who was found guilty of helping rape a relative at age 13.
"He will be a great asset to any college," the victim wrote UT officials.
When Phillip Fulmer was UT's coach, at times it seemed as if he needed a full-time team lawyer because of so much trouble among his players.
How far should colleges go as far as who's admitted?
Prospects who are unlikely to graduate shouldn't be there. They're just being "used" to promote the athletic department. Frankly, I'm beginning to lean toward "allowances", or limited pay, for college athletes. Think of how much money skilled athletes brings in to their school from fans wanting to watch them.
I've got mixed emotions about those with criminal backgrounds, especially if several years have passed since the last offense. Those who are signed should be watched closely and thrown out if found guilty again of anything.
Showing comments in chronological order
[Show most recent comments first]
With a little luck this is one of the things that will get cleaned up in UT's program with the new Head Coach. As much as I loved, "fat Phil" it was a problem that needed to be squashed. Discipline in the players is a great place to start. Thanks David.
-- Posted by Cornelia.Marie on Thu, May 7, 2009, at 10:41 AM
This was a crime committed in 2003, when all involved were juveniles (a third older party was convicted as an adult).
Since then Hood paid his own way to a Catholic High School, and was considered by the director of that school as someone he would be willing to put his school's reputation on.
The victim has spoken out in his favor, and if she is willing to turn this page in her and Hood's life, then so should we all.
-- Posted by Runnin' By on Fri, May 8, 2009, at 11:10 AM
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David Melson is a copy editor and staff writer for the Times-Gazette.
Hot topicsPicturing the Past 34: Simon Warner's cafe
(85 ~ 7:20 PM, Jan 4)
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iHerb Customer Reviews
Savings of: $4.24 (30% off)
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Managing Conflicts of Interest
Conflicts of interest can have a chilling effect on the public's perception of an institution. USU has established policies for both individual and institutional conflicts of interest, along with the Office of Compliance Assistance, a unit within the Provost's Office. USU's approach to conflicts of interest rests on four pillars:
- Education of the University community concerning conflicts of interest
- Reporting of conflicts and potential conflicts by employees and the institution
- Management of identified conflicts
- Transparency of the conflict management process
Individual Conflicts of Interest
Both federal regulations and state statutes require USU to report and manage the conflicts of interest of its employees. USU's policy states that a conflict of interest exists whenever "a University employee owes a professional obligation to the University, which is or can be compromised by the pursuit of outside interests."
This definition draws an important distinction between the existence of a conflict of interest and a potential negative outcome. USU does not take the view that a conflict of interest is inherently bad for the University. In fact, employees who are appropriately engaged in outreach to the community, industry and their professions will often have a conflict arise.
The key to USU's Conflict of Interest Policy (USU Policy #307) is to avoid allowing bias caused by any secondary interest to influence the discharge of the employee's university-related duties. This is accomplished by providing for appropriate management of conflicts of interest as they arise. Institutional officials of the University have a duty to work with employees in their areas to provide oversight of conflicts of interest and to ensure that appropriate conflict management plans have been developed and submitted to the Conflict of Interest Committee of the University. USU's federal compliance manager in the Office of Compliance Assistance provides support to USU's administration and faculty as they eliminate or minimize the effects of individual conflicts of interest.
Institutional Conflicts of Interest
Institutional conflicts of interest arise whenever the financial or other interests of the University or of an institutional official acting within his or her authority on behalf of the University, may introduce bias into the decision-making processes of the institution. An example might be choosing a specific vendor for a purchase when the individual making the decision will be financially advantaged because of the transaction. Other institutional conflicts can exist when the University owns equity in start-up companies that are based on its inventions.
When conflicts exist, it is in the interest of both the individual and the institution to separate responsibilities for operations from responsibilities for finances. USU's Institutional Conflict of Interest Policy, No. 310, provides for this separation. Institutional officials are uniquely affected by this policy because of their fiduciary responsibilities at the University - representing the interests of students, employees and the public at large. As with individual conflicts of interest, the University provides for proper disclosure, management and reporting of institutional conflicts of interest. These activities are overseen by the Office of Compliance Assistance.


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Harrison Fireplace TV Console
About this item
$99 Delivery
The Harrison Fireplace Console combines the best of the hearth with a fully-functioning home entertainment center.
The Harrison Fireplace Console provides an inviting alternative to the traditional home theater. The insert features infrared quartz technology which provides the most-effective, and cleanest heat source available today. Controlled by a multi-function remote, you can adjust heat and flame settings from the comfort of your couch.
The console is optimized for home theater set-up with cable management cutaways and removeable back panels that provide easy access to audio/video components. Recessed panel doors and sides and carved accents emphasize all the beauty of well-crafted wood furniture. The piece is finished in a meticulous, multi-step process by hand that enhances and protects the wood.
Left and right-side cabinet doors open to reveal ample storage for accessories and DVD collections. Open compartments along the top of the console are ideal for placement of home theater equipment. The insert plugs into a standard home electrical outlet – no construction or electrical upgrades required.
- Hardwood and wood veneer construction
- Hand-applied, 11-step medium brown finish
- Removable rear panel for easy audio/video setup
- Cable organization cutaways
- Insert heats up to 1,200 sq ft
- Cost-effective infrared quartz heating system
- Realistic flame and glowing ember effects
- Multi-function remote control
- Temperature control: 62-82ºF
- Four flame settings
- Two Large storage cabinets
- Fully assembled and sets up in minutes
Assembled Country
Assembled Size
62"W x 20"D x 41"H
Component Country
USA And Imported


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Here's how RW members rated this race (156 votes).
In short: Another great staggerIn full: I think this was my 5th stagger and although no snow this year, it was probably the muddiest yet - at least ankle deep in places. Really enjoyed it nonetheless. Great marshalls throughout and an excellent turnout of all abilities. Well done SRRC!Date of review: February 4, 2013
In short: Another great StaggerIn full: Another superbly organised Stagger.Easy parking nearby, large meeting/changing area with ample facilities.Marshalls were superb throughout, holding up traffic, and shouting encouragement.Course was a very muddy for long stretches several times, slowing things down a lot, but at least there was no snow this year!Date of review: February 3, 2013
In short: Great, really enjoyed it, tough but fun, hills, steps, mud, snow, sand, ideal first race of the year!Date of review: February 9, 2012
In short: Another great stagger - with the added bonus of snow!In full: Once again, a brilliant stagger organised by Stourbridge RC. Conditions underfoot were 'different' this year, what with the snowfall on saturday night, and I expected a reduced field would turn out - however, these hardy xc/multi-terrain types clearly aren't put off by a light (!) covering of snow. The race was once again exceptianally well organised, with lots of marshalls all along the course, and a great, testing route. Very happy (and surprised) to record a course PB, and another great souvenir awarded to all runners, showing much more thought&consideration than a lot of races. Great stuff - can't speak highly enough about this race.Date of review: February 8, 2012
In short: Mixed terrain, park, road, field + forest path's, trail shoes needed!In full: Course is very narrow for long stretches, can be a problem especially up hills. Certain paths were very rutted so PB is out of the question. Good atmosphere, fine scenery + reasonable cost all big plus points, as is the spread of ability. No matter how slow or fast, you should be running with other folk. Marshals very encouraging (thank you)!!! but was one area in particular (@ about 8 miles) where I could not see a marshal or a marker, I guessed to turn right and luckily there was a marshal round the next corner. I understand two well placed ladies went off course by 1/2 mile, ruining their race. And my most common complaint, why can't results be published on the same day? But all things considered, you won't regret competing in the Stagger. Date of review: February 6, 2012
Date of review: February 6, 2012
In short: Another great stagger despute the snowIn full: This was my 4th Stagger and I wasn't sure if the race was going to go ahead with all the snow we had on Saturday. However, it had started to thaw a bit (there was not much actual ice around) and in the end, I think it only added to what is already a great race. That said, those in normal road shoes did struggle a bit, especially on the hills, and I saw a good few take a tumble around Churchill. Great atmosphere, good marshals (especially at road crossings) and a surprisinlgly good time made it one to remember. I'll be back again next year.Date of review: February 6, 2012
In short: Great race; its tough enough but the snow added something different!. Certainly on the agenda for next year.Date of review: February 6, 2012
In short: How to make a good race great? Just add snow In full: I wes a little apprehensive about the snowy conditions before the start but the snow made the stagger a great run, as ever the marshals were excellent, overall a great race I would do again. Date of review: February 5, 2012
In short: wonderfullly different and friendlyIn full: we entered this quite late and were glad we did so. The organisation was supurb and the marshals very friendly. Absolutely great training run for the Grizzly in a few weeks.Hope the towel next year isn't pink though ;-))Date of review: February 18, 2011
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just wondering the public opinion on whether the toppings should go on top of the cheese or under the cheese thanks
Your question is too general to answer properly. It all depends upon the style of pizza you are baking.For thin crust tomato pies where I want a crisper crust, cheese first, and splashes of sauce on top. I try not to bake it to the point where the cheese bubbles and totally combines with the sauce. I prefer the splotches of sauce to remain intact. For medium crust NY style pies, its sauce first and cheese on top. I bake it until the cheese bubbles, and rises and it all combines together. For toppings such as Sausage & Mushrooms, I bake the pie until the cheese begins to bubble & rise, then I add the S&M and finish the bake. I do this because I prefer the S&M toppings stay on top and not become submerged in the melted cheese.---pete---
If putting pepperoni under the cheese is not a crime, it should be.


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A key function of any database application is the ability to update the data that is stored in the database. In CUBRID ADO.NET, updating data involves using the CUBRIDDataAdapter and DataSet, and CUBRIDCommand objects; and it may also involve using transactions.
Updating Data Sources with Commands
Describes how to use a data provider to execute stored procedures or data definition language (DDL) statements.


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The Red Cube Project
June 7, 2011
In December of 2009, the Art Institute of Chicago placed 500 numbered Red Cubes, each with a URL and unique password, all over Chicago as an experiential marketing program to bring the surprise and delight of art outside of the museum and directly into the hands of Chicagoans. The objectives were to generate buzz about the Art Institute and drive museum attendance.
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You may already be a member. Find out if your company is already an ANA member.


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Yeah the esteemable Calvin murphy of 14 kids by 9 differnt woman weighed in on an ESPN outlet.
"Lebron has to grow up "
At some time our parents all do things which embarrass us .
The rumors about Gloria screwing some of Cavs teamates are true and there;s a third guy involved .
Lebron may take half of next season to recover from the truama .
Blah blah blah
FUCK a CAT .
If True so fuckin what ,
Hit Delonte in his mouth , put his stoopid mammy out , but sheesh why throw everybody and evrything under the bus .
The Broad had him at 16 , , dude had to sleep over at his friends families homes until a patron added stability to his life.
It is what it is , she was a hoe then and a damn fool triflin ass bitch now , but damn man she aint your child and it ain't an excuse for you to lose your effin mind.
Quit with the fantasy Micheal Jackson repaint of history ,
never mind how you want to portray this in public and act like she was there with ya all the way , she wasn't then and she ain't now.


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5 Buy-Rated Bank Stock Takeout Targets From KBW
NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- With narrowing margins and a growing regulatory burden, there are plenty of reasons for community banks to throw in the towel and sell to competitors, but there's one overriding reason: To make money for their shareholders.
The banking industry survivors are still building capital, as they await regulators' final set of rules to implement the Basel III rules. This is the powder for an expected wave of industry consolidation, which has been held back by relatively low stock valuations.
Many small and regional banks' boards of directors facing limited returns on their investments have, or will have, numerous reasons to sell:
Lingering Credit Problems Threatening Capital
In his firm's Bank M&A Weekly report on Monday, KBW analyst Timur Braziler said that while "the overall health of the banking industry continues to improve... there remain 350 banks that have a Texas ratio of greater than 100% with total assets of $191.6 billion."
The Texas ratio is a bank's ratio of Tier 1 capital and loan loss reserves to its nonperforming loans, and considering the drop in collateral values over the past five years, a ratio of more than 100% offers quite an incentive for many banks to look for stronger acquirers.
V. Gerard Comizio -- the chair of the Global Banking practice of Paul Hastings, based in the firm's Washington office -- says that community banks that need additional capital will find it very difficult to remain independent. "Only the biggest of the community and regional banks will have access to private equity and the capital markets," he says.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was formed under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and according to Comizio, "there was a misperception on the part of community banks that they would not be regulated by the CFPB if they had less than $10 billion in total assets. In some ways, they will face an even worse regulatory burden than the larger institutions, because the CFPB's requirements will be enforced by the community banks' everyday regulators, which really have something on the line."
Because the consumer protection aspects of Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency supervision are now under the umbrella of the CFPB, Comizio says it is likely that "you are going to see the primary regulators of the smaller institutions be pretty vigilant in enforcing CFPB regulations."
Lenders large and small will also be affected by the "skin in the game" rules under Dodd-Frank, which send banks "back to the future," according to Comizio, in requiring lenders to retain a significant piece of the risk when they securitize residential mortgage loans or sell commercial loans into syndication or participations.


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Sunday, June 3, 2012
Operator Profile: PHI's Focus on Safety
Your final HeliJeopardy question is: With nearly 11 million hours, this operator is third only to the U.S. military and the former Republic of the Soviet Union in total flight time.
Okay, so the title of this story gave it away—the correct answer is: What is PHI, Inc? While being number three in total flight hours behind the world's two largest air forces is impressive, the truly amazing thing is that PHI has accumulated all those hours in just 63 years of commercial operations. The two military operators have had quite a head start and just a few more aircraft.
The company's nearly 11 million hours all started on Feb. 21, 1949, when Louisiana-based Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. formed to provide aviation support services to the then fledgling oil and gas industry with just three Bell model 47 helicopters, $100,000 in capital and seven employees.
But even as those first few hours on the Bells began to add up, the company's foundation was already established on a strong commitment to safety, quality and reliable customer service. After 63 years of operation around the world, other than having about 247 more aircraft and thousands more employees, not much has changed in that regard—except the name.
As Robert Bouillion, PHI's Director of health, safety, environment and quality explained it, Petroleum Helicopters changed its name to PHI, Inc., in 2006 to better reflect the operation's increasingly diverse business activities.
Today PHI provides safe and reliable transportation of personnel and equipment to offshore platforms for operators engaged in the offshore oil and gas and offshore mining industries, as well as air medical services.
"PHI and its subsidiary, PHI Air Medical, transport more than 1.3 million people each year and that includes more than 30,000 medical patients," Bouillion explained. "We operate an internationally-based fleet of approximately 250 helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft in all kinds of weather and environments. As a result we are considered to have one of the most experienced operational teams in the world."
No pun intended, but PHI's record of safe operations in some of the world's harshest environments and most challenging conditions doesn't happen by accident.
Putting Safety Into Practice
"Safety is considered one of our four core competencies that make us who we are," Bouillion said. "Our safety philosophy is based on the belief that safety must be managed like any other critical aspect of one's business. And that safety philosophy is backed by an integrated safety management system that focuses on accountability at every level of the organization."
Moreover, he continued, "our safety philosophy and practices are not only consistent with that of our customers, but fully embraced and supported by them. In many cases their support and expectations have driven the implementation of certain safety initiatives within PHI."
As he explained it, "Destination Zero" is designed to clearly set expectations regarding incident-free work by empowering PHI employees to take ownership by, "Standing Up, Speaking Out and Taking Action," in order to eliminate exposure to unnecessary risks and, in doing so, transform the safety culture from one of compliance to one committed to incident-free work. Destination Zero is a key element of the company's safety management system (SMS).
"In the development of Safety Leadership, PHI recently teamed with Behavioral Science Technology (BST) to provide behavioral-based safety leadership training to our management team," Bouillion said. "This has helped us provide a clear vision of safety management at each level of the organization and enabled us to strengthen the overall safety management accountability system."
Saying No
The helicopter industry has seen the "mission mentality" and the pressure that often comes along with it leading to instances where pilots have "expanded the envelope" to see their mission through. In many cases the results have been life-threatening situations or accidents.
Bouillion said that PHI has taken great care to dramatically expand its training and expectations of crew understanding and authority, as well as create guidelines and procedures that take the "go/no-go" pressure off of the pilots. This is done to keep good pilots from facing bad situations where they often have to make tough decisions.
PHI "will not ask its employees to accept risks beyond their comfort zone. In the same respect, we clearly communicate that no one is authorized to deviate from established policies to 'get the job done,'" Bouillion added. "Beyond training, accountability established through frequent observations, feedback and recognition is an additional driver to operating within established operating guidelines regardless of the situation."
To give all of its crews an added layer of safety, the company developed an innovative Enhanced Operational Control Program, which is designed to increase managerial oversight and also provide crews with better, more immediate decision-making information for specific situations.
For example, within its Air Medical division, PHI has developed and implemented its Enhanced Operational Control Center (EOCC). Located in Phoenix, Ariz., the facility gives the company's EMS pilots, up-to-the-minute weather information and real-time satellite tracking.
"Prior to any flight, a PHI Risk Assessment Matrix—a practice adopted by the FAA as an industry standard—is completed by the base pilot in conjunction with the Enhanced Operational Control Supervisor," Bouillion said. "The EOCS is able to monitor the flight via our satellite positioning system. Should a concern arise, the EOCS can talk to the pilot en route and assist in vectoring them around any hazardous areas."
Training For Safety
After 63 years of global operations, safety is the core of everything PHI does, and it all starts with training. "Besides the technical skills needed to pilot or maintain the aircraft, safety management skills are necessary to identify and manage risks on a daily basis," Bouillion said. "So we have incorporated safety management system alignment training into all new hire and recurrent training programs."
The training is heavily focused on safety risk management and safety awareness for both offshore and medical pilots and crews, he added. "PHI's initial, recurrent and transitional training curricula make extensive use of flight training devices. To meet the demand, we use both our in-house capabilities at our Training Center located at our Lafayette facility, supplemented through Flight Safety."
Bouillion stated that PHI currently sends more than 200 pilots a year to FSI, which makes them one of the training provider's largest customers. PHI and Flight Safety's relationship has grown so strong that FSI recently completed a new, state-of-the-art training center near PHI's Lafayette headquarters.
Of course, PHI's in-house training center is nothing to sneeze at. The 13,000-square-foot facility includes several flight-training devices, with many unique to the needs of the air medical crews. All totaled, the PHI training center provides the company's 620-plus pilots and flight crews over 31,000 training days a year.
"While the current curriculums and hiring requirements for our helicopter and fixed-wing pilots differ, no matter their level or aircraft, every pilot receives the same level of safety training," Bouillion said. "The training is designed to provide each student with his/her specific role and responsibilities regarding our safety management process, as well as the mandates of Destination Zero."
Safer Flying Through Technology
Fixed or rotary wing, Bouillion stressed that PHI's entire fleet is equipped with the most advanced technology available across the industry. "For example, we have equipped 100 percent of our medical helicopter fleet with Pinnacle ANVIS 9 night vision goggles," or NVGs, he said. "We also are committed to a robust flight data monitoring program. Currently, 30 percent of our fleet is being actively monitored under our Line Activity Monitoring Program or the Aircraft Data Monitoring System."
Bouillion also stated that PHI uses TCAS, ADS-B, Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning Systems (EGPWS) and other technologies to give pilots the best overall awareness available.
To help give its technicians a head-start on spotting performance issues, the company equips its helicopters with health and usage monitoring systems (HUMS), which is especially beneficial in helping keep its fleet in top mechanical condition.
"PHI's maintenance program is based on our operational experience and is continually being enhanced to address newly identified risk or ineffective controls," Bouillion said. "In addition to the FAA and OEM requirements, PHI has incorporated literally thousands of procedures to improve airworthiness, reduce technician exposure to unnecessary risk and improve the efficiency of the entire maintenance program."
PHI's maintainers "have been able to take advantage of the extensive analysis of data collected through the Aircraft Data Monitoring System and use such data to take action on minor symptoms long before any OEM limitations are reached," he added. "Further, PHI's mechanics are empowered and have the authority to remove an aircraft from service at any given time to ensure airworthiness. Their empowerment to do the right thing is fundamental to our success."
Soft Skills of Safety
While training and technology—the "hard" skills—are undeniably critical to safety, recognizing the limitations of established management systems in light of the human interface is not optional. PHI is leading the way to enhancing the human factors or "soft skills" side of piloting and maintaining their fleet.
"In addition to Destination Zero and Behavioral-Based Safety Leadership initiatives, we have begun classifying behavioral factors or 'casual factors' associated with preventable occurrences using a system based on Human Factors Analysis and Classification System," Bouillion said. "By doing this, are working toward a better understanding of the risks and controls that were either absent, ineffective or not complied with. We are convinced this information will benefit our future risk mitigation efforts."
Bouillion continued that although the impact of cultural and human factors have long been known, organizations too often, shy away from meaningful initiatives. Not because they are difficult to implement, but rather due to the lack of immediate gratification or difficulty in measuring and demonstrating success."
PHI's programs "are created to establish both workable and measurable changes to the way we think and act on safety," Bouillion said. "And the willingness to embrace changes in behaviors are what defines leadership. If we, as an industry, do not accept the challenges of managing Human Factors through cultural changes; we will not achieve our objectives."
And, in the end, PHI's comprehensive focus on safety not only makes them a safer provider, but the industry better as a whole.


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Watercolor Stripe Tank
Style: 570074835
Out of Stock
Refreshing watercolor stripe tank has a cool, easy fit and high-low hem dropping lower in the back. We show it over the matching Contrast Waist Pant.
- From our luxuriously soft Live. Lounge. Wear.™ collection of relaxed separates.
- Chic high-low hem is 2" longer in back.
- For a relaxed fit, we recommend ordering one size up.
- Approximate front length: 26.5" from shoulder.
- 60% Cotton, 40% Rayon. Machine wash, cold; tumble dry low. Imported.
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USA Taekwondo would once again like to recognize individuals and clubs who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in many areas. If you feel you know an individual or club who meets the criteria for one of these awards please complete the application form and submit the required documentation by November 30th, 2008. All applications will be processed and tendered to the Awards Committee which will sort through the various applications and make their decisions. Winners will receive an award plaque.
Description of Award Categories & Nomination Form


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Spotted Ivory PJ Pant
Style: 7570057672
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Spotted heading for the covers, our cat-print PJ pants. Designed with pockets and roomy comfort, they're capable of lounging all day. Team with the matching PJ Top, Embraceable™ Cool Nights Ravishing Red Bow Cami and ultra plush slippers.
- From our Embraceable™ collection. The softest, most luxurious in the world.™
- Mid-weight jersey knit.
- Elasticized waist with red charmeuse ties.
- Slant pockets.
- Full-length leg. About 30" inseam.
- 57% Cotton, 38% Modal, 5% Spandex. Machine wash, cold. Imported.
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Health Watch/Brian Rendel, MA, LLP, LPC, NCC
The obesity epidemic in America continues to grow. Michigan is one of the states with the biggest problem. Medical conditions linked to obesity cost Michigan $3 billion dollars a year to treat. In the past 35 years, obesity among children has doubled – not once, but five times.
Three in 10 Michigan children and a quarter of high school students are either obese or overweight. Eight in 10 children with obesity today will be obese as adults. The Centers for Disease Control tell us that poor eating habits and insufficient physical activity pose a greater threat to children today than exposure to tobacco, alcohol or drugs.
The weight loss industry sells us pills, machines, books, therapies and special foods to help us lose weight. Experts tell us the way is to eat better by including more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low fat foods in our diet. They urge us to cut back on empty calories, and foods high in saturated fat. We know daily physical activity is good for us and helps with weight management.
The problem is that even when we do healthy things, we can still become overweight or fail to lose extra pounds we may have.
Some blame foods, or blame the fast food industry for upselling all those supersize meals a few years ago. However, keep in mind that some people who eat healthy and exercise still become overweight, and some people who eat giant portions of food or drink sugary drinks and do not exercise regularly might not have a weight problem.
Fast foods and tricky marketing did not cause our obesity problem. Broccoli can make us overweight if we eat enough of it. What affects our weight more than any other factor is neither complicated, nor is psychology required to understand it. The answer does involve some arithmetic.
A hundred extra calories daily become 10 extra pounds a year. Unused calories get stored in our bodies as fat, and the best way to get rid of it is to burn it. Eat anything you want as long as you use what you eat every day.
Some foods do contain more healthy benefits than others, and the more calories we get from nutritious foods, the better. Daily physical activity is good for us, including increasing the rate we burn calories. To manage weight, though, the easy solution is to count the calories we take in, and use the calories before they become stuck as fat in our storage compartments.
To manage our weight, we seem to pay attention to everything except the one that matters. Instead of hunting for "diet foods" or banning ourselves from "bad food," we only need to pay attention to our calories. Finding the best calories and what we can do with the energy may be topics for another time.
Meanwhile, search online for "MyPlate" to find tips on getting better value from our food choices. If you have a mobile computing device, look for many free or inexpensive apps that make calorie counting easy.
Editor's note: Brian Rendel, MA, LLP, LPC, NCC, is a professional counselor with the?Copper Country Mental Health Institute in Houghton.


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I enjoyed watching you throw, thanks for opening this medium up to us!.
I really like the chawan a few posts up.
Zygote Posted: Jun 2nd '09 11:11 pm Post subject:
Thanks for sharing the video. I enjoyed going back through your videos.
Your new glaze breaking over the rims is beautiful!