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Add an instant shot of chic to any room with stunning over-sized poppies in an ultra-pretty palette of green, cream, black and white. Created with superior attention to detail out of high-density, hand-hooked yarns and hand-carved for additional texture and dimension, this transitional rug delights the senses.
The Fantasy Area Rug 2'6" X 4' by Nourison at Baer's Furniture in the Ft. Lauderdale, Ft. Myers, Orlando, Naples, Miami, Florida area. Product availability may vary. Contact us for the most current availability on this product.
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Trouble-free use of fluid power cylinders and their ability to serve and remain leak-free depends, in large part, on properly mounting the component for the particular application. The designer must determine the loading the cylinder will experience and mount it accordingly.
The National Fluid Power Association, NFPA, has standardized on a number of dimensions for square-headed tie rod cylinders to promote cylinder interchangeability between manufacturers. Part of this standardization program includes cylinder mounting styles, which generally provide:
• straight-line force transfer with fixed mounts that absorb force on the centerline of the cylinder
• straight-line force transfer with fixed mounts that do not absorb force on the centerline of the cylinder, and
• pivot force transfer with pivot mounts that absorb force on the centerline of the cylinder and allow the cylinder to change alignment in one plane.
Straight line — Cylinders with fixed mounts that absorb the force on the centerline of the cylinder are considered the best for straight line force transfer. Tie rods extended, flange, or centerline lug mounts are symmetrical and allow the thrust or tension forces of the piston rod to be distributed uniformly about the cylinder centerline. Mounting bolts are subjected to simple tension or shear without compound forces; when properly installed, cylinder bearing sideloading is minimized.
Cylinder tie rods are designed to withstand maximum rated internal pressure, and can be extended at either end and used to mount the cylinder. When the tie rods extend at both ends of the cylinder, one end can be used for cylinder mounting and the opposite end can support the cylinder or be attached to the machine members.
Flange mounts also are extremely good for straight line force transfer applications. Three standard styles are head (rod)-end rectangular flange, head (rod)-end square flange, and a larger and thicker rectangular head with its own mounting holes; the same three versions are available for the capend of the cylinder. Selection of a flange mount depends partly on whether the major forces applied to the load result in compression or tension on the piston rod.
Cap mounting is recommended for thrust loads, whereas head mounting should be used where major loading loads the piston rod in tension. Centerline lug mounts absorb forces on the centerline and are the least popular fixed mounting style. When used at higher pressures or under shock conditions, the lugs should be dowel pinned to the machine.
Straight line, force not absorbed — Side mounted cylinders do not absorb force along their centerlines. These mounting styles have lugs on the end closures and one style has side-tapped holes for flush mounting. The plane of their mounting surface is not through the centerline of the cylinder; for this reason, side mounted cylinders produce a torque moment as the cylinder moves the load. This moment tends to rotate the cylinder about its mounting bolts. If the cylinder is not well secured to the machine, or the load is not well guided, side loads will be applied to the rod gland and piston bearings.
To avoid this problem, side mounted cylinders should have a stroke length at least as long as the bore size. Shorter stroke, large bore cylinders tend to sway on their mounts with heavy loading especially with side lugs, end lugs, and end angle mounts.
Side mount cylinders depend wholly on the friction of their mounting surfaces in contact with the machine to absorb the forces the cylinder produces. The torque applied to the mounting bolts should equal that of the tie rod torque as recommended by the manufacturer.
For heavy loads or shock conditions, side mounted cylinders should be held in place with a key or pins to prevent shifting. A shear key — consisting of a plate extending from the side of the cylinder — can be supplied with most cylinders. It should be placed at the proper end to absorb the major loading — that is, at the rod end with the load in tension and at the cap end with a thrust load. This method may be used where a keyway can be milled into a machine member. The key takes shear loads and provides accurate alignment of the cylinder.
Side lug mounts are designed to allow dowel pins to pin the cylinder to the machine. When used, pins are installed on both sides of the cylinder but not at both ends.
Pivot force transfer — Cylinders with pivot mounts that absorb force along the centerline should be used when the actuated load travels through an arc. There are two ways to mount a cylinder so it will pivot during the work cycle: clevis mounts or trunnion mounts. Pivot mount cylinders are available with cap fixed clevis; cap detachable clevis; cap spherical bearing; and head, cap, and intermediate fixed trunnion. Special trunnion assemblies are also available, such as gimbal mounting, which allows the rotation of an object about a single axis.
Pivot mount cylinders can be used in tension or thrust applications at full rated pressure, except that long stroke cylinders in thrust applications are limited by piston rod column strength. Clevis or single-ear mounts usually are an integral part of the cylinder cap, although detachable styles are available and provide a single pivot for mounting the cylinder. A pivot pin of appropriate length and diameter to withstand the maximum shear load at rated cylinder operating pressure is included as part of the clevis mount. The fixed clevis mount is the most popular and is used where the piston rod travels a fixed arc in one plane. It can be used vertically or horizontally.
On long-stroke thrust applications, it may be necessary to use a larger diameter piston rod to prevent buckling or use a stop tube to minimize cylinder side loading in its extended position. Fixed clevis mounted cylinders do not function well if the path of rod travel is in more than one plane. Such an application results in misalignment and causes unnecessary side loading on the bearing and piston. For applications where the piston rod will travel a path not more than 3° either side of the true plane of motion, a cap spherical bearing mount and spherical bearing rod eye should be used. Cap detachable clevis mounts are most often used for air or medium-duty hydraulic service.
Trunnion pivot mounts also are used when the piston rod travels an arc in one plane. Trunnion pins are designed for shear loads only and should not be used with bending stresses. The support bearings should be mounted as close as possible to the trunnion shoulder faces.
Head trunnion mounted cylinders usually can be specified with smaller diameter piston rods than cylinders with the pivot point at the cap or at an intermediate position. On head trunnion mounted long stroke cylinders, the designer should consider the over-hanging weight at the cap end of the cylinder. To keep trunnion bearing loads within limits, stroke lengths should be not more than five times bore size.
Proper installation begins with machine layout. Here are some guidelines:
An intermediate fixed trunnion mount is the best. It can be located to balance the weight of the cylinder or anywhere between the head and cap to suit the application. Its location must be specified at time of order because it cannot be easily changed once manufactured.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Earth-Atmosphere Energy Balance
The earth-atmosphere energy balance is the balance between incoming energy from the Sun and outgoing energy from the Earth. Energy released from the Sun is emitted as shortwave light and ultraviolet energy. When it reaches the Earth, some is reflected back to space by clouds, some is absorbed by the atmosphere, and some is absorbed at the Earth's surface.
Learning Lesson: Canned Heat
However, since the Earth is much cooler than the Sun, its radiating energy is much weaker (long wavelength) infrared energy. We can indirectly see this energy radiate into the atmosphere as heat, rising from a hot road, creating shimmers on hot sunny days. The earth-atmosphere energy balance is achieved as the energy received from the Sun balances the energy lost by the Earth back into space. In this way, the Earth maintains a stable average temperature and therefore a stable climate.
The absorption of infrared radiation trying to escape from the Earth back to space is particularly important to the global energy balance. Energy absorption by the atmosphere stores more energy near its surface than it would if there was no atmosphere. The average surface temperature of the moon, which has no atmosphere, is 0°F (-18°C). By contrast, the average surface temperature of the Earth is 59°F (15°C). This heating effect is called the greenhouse effect.
Greenhouse warming is enhanced during nights when the sky is overcast. Heat energy from the earth can be trapped by clouds leading to higher temperatures as compared to nights with clear skies. The air is not allowed to cool as much with overcast skies. Under partly cloudy skies, some heat is allowed to escape and some remains trapped. Clear skies allow for the most cooling to take place.


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You are here
McCrady's chef Sean Brock welcomes friends to a down-home dinner at Thornhill Farm
Ask chef Sean Brock to entertain, and you can count on a farm-to-fork experience. Raising pigs and vegetables on Wadmalaw Island, Sean has turned locavore dining into a reality at McCrady's, fashioning fresh menus from seasonal crops. And recently, he put down roots at Thornhill Farm in McClellanville, working with Our Local Foods director Maria Baldwin to add pigs, pastured beef, and a seed-saving heritage garden to her chickens and organic veggies.
On an ideal fall afternoon, Sean invited friends to Thornhill for an old-fashioned country supper. "When I go out to the farm, I succumb to its rural tempo," he says. "I want my guests to have a relaxed evening, so my menu is unpretentious and just as easy for someone else to recreate in their backyard."
The Challenge
Chef: Sean Brock, McCrady's
Goal: Prepare a four-course supper that celebrates the Lowcountry's autumn bounty
Number of guests: 8
Per Person Budget: $20
Menu: 1. Carolina rice middlins with brown butter crumble and squash 2. Lettuces with balsamic roasted pears, goat cheese, and pecan vinaigrette 3. Pork roast with Sea Island red peas, greens, and onion purée 4. Pumpkin bread pudding and bourbon ice cream
First Course
"Carolina Gold rice can be traced back to colonial Charleston," explains Sean. "It very nearly became extinct, but Glenn Roberts of Anson Mills has dedicated his work to reviving this incredible grain." Rice middlins, or grits, are the small pieces that come from rice grains broken during milling, and it's important to cook them with great care. "Extra starch is released because the delicate pieces react like risotto rice," Sean says, "so middlins are prepared by a similar process. Just don't leave the stove while they're cooking."
The Shopping List
- Yellow onion $1.00
- Rice grits $5.95
- White wine $8.99
- Filtered water $0.89
- Unsalted butter $2.59
- Lemon $0.43
- Parmesan .13 lbs. @ $15.99/lb. $2.08
- Parsley $0.99
- Tarragon $1.99
- Mushrooms 2 lbs. @ $4.99/lb. $9.98
- Thyme $1.99
- Squash 3 lbs. @ $1.79/lb. $5.37
- Anise $5.39
- Milk powder $4.39
Final Cost: $51.90
From the Pantry
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Kosher salt
- Canola oil
- Cinnamon stick
see all recipes below...
Second course
The chef-farmer likes to use a variety of lettuces in this perfect-for-fall salad and suggests shopping for them at a farmers market. "There are more locally raised and just-picked options," Sean advises. He also notes that any type of pear will do, just select whatever is fragrant and ripe. "Growing food has changed my life," he says. "It makes me think about how to highlight the flavors. Let the lettuce be the lettuce, the pears be the pears."
The Shopping List
- Lettuces $6.79
- Heavy cream 1 pint $2.39
- Pecans $2.59
- Goat cheese $3.99
- Pears 2.25 lbs. @ $2.49/lb. $5.60
Final Cost: $21.36
From the Pantry
- Red wine & balsamic vinegars
- Honey
- Kosher salt & black pepper
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Sugar
- Canola oil
see all recipes below...
Third Course
"I didn't have time to wrangle one of my pigs this week," Sean laughs, "so we're having Caw Caw Creek Farms pastured pork." The red peas are of African origin, "another heirloom crop that Anson Mills is bringing back into our cuisine," he notes. "According to Roberts, they 'informed early versions of the dish we know as Hoppin' John in Coastal Carolina.' I like this combination of pork, greens, peas, and onion purée for its textural contrasts, and I cook each simply to showcase its flavor."
The Shopping List
- Pork butt 6 lbs. @ $3.99/lb. $23.94
- Vidalia onions $1.80
- Stock 2 qts. @ $2.59/qt. $5.18
- Red peas $5.95
- Yellow onion $1.00
- Carrots $0.89
- Celery $1.49
- Garlic bulb $1.00
- Greens $2.59
- Shallot $0.65
- Red pepper flakes $1.89
- Lemon $0.43
Final Cost: $46.81
From the Pantry
- Brown sugar
- Kosher salt & black pepper
- Paprika
- Dijon mustard
- Unsalted butter (left over from first course)
- Heavy cream (left over from second course)
- Bay leaf
- Extra-virgin olive oil
see all recipes below...
Fourth Course
"I grew up making pies from fresh pumpkin," says Sean. When shopping for a cooking pumpkin at the farmers market, he advises chatting with purveyors about their favorite varieties. "They probably chose the kind they grow because they enjoy eating it." He also warns to avoid pumpkins that look perfect for jack-o'-lantern carving: "The best-tasting ones are often the ugliest!"
The Shopping List
- Croissants $3.89
- Half-and-half $1.29
- Eggs 2 doz. @ $1.49/doz. $2.98
- Pumpkin pie spice $3.49
- Walnuts $2.29
- Pumpkin $3.00
- Maple syrup $6.59
- Milk $1.99
- Heavy cream 1 quart $3.99 (plus more left over from second course)
- Bourbon $7.95
Final Cost: $37.46
From the Pantry
- White & brown sugars
- Unsalted butter (left over from first course)
- Vanilla
see all recipes below...
The Results: Challenge Met!
McCrady's chef and Thornhill farmer Sean
Brock successfully dished up a down-home four-course dinner on a budget of $160.
Amount Spent: $157.53


text: Her white Golden Globes dress notwithstanding, we're big fans of Jessica Chastain's red carpet style. She seems to approach fashion the way she did movies in 2011: She spent all her time out of the limelight honing her look, so that when people knew who she was she was already sporting gowns that actually worked with her (natural) hair color and complexion and were also age-appropriate. Mostly it's a lot of intricate lace detailing, some big jewelry, and bright colors. And with her new film Coriolanus coming out this Friday, we'll soon be treated to more premiere looks.


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February 5, 2013
Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club member Ali Pougiales lands in the new air bag at the base of Howelsen Hill. The Winter Sports Club's freestyle program is using it as a way to safely train young skiers.
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By fillylou, member
Posted: September 3rd, 2013
This recipe was made with the Recipe Maker to create a customized Thai curry with your choice of curry paste, meats, vegetables, and garnishes. For a complete meal, serve with steamed jasmine rice or rice noodles.Created Using: Thai Curry
Shake the can of coconut milk or stir it well (this creates a consistent thickness, since the fat often solidifies at the top of the can).
In a 3- to 4-quart saucepan or wok over medium heat, simmer 1/2 cup of the coconut milk, stirring occasionally, until reduced by about half, 3 to 5 minutes. It will get very thick and shiny and may or may not separate; either is fine.
Add the curry paste, whisk well, and cook, continuing to whisk, for 1 minute. Whisk in the broth, sugar, fish sauce, and remaining coconut milk. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat.
Add the chicken, carrots, green beans, eggplant, onions, and ginger slices and continue to simmer, adjusting the heat as necessary, until everything is tender and cooked through, about 5 minutes.
Remove the curry from the heat. Season to taste with more sugar and fish sauce, and add the basil and cilantro. Transfer to a serving bowl (or serve right out of the pot). Remove the ginger slices or tell your guests to eat around them. Garnish with the basil, coconut milk, lime wedges, and cilantro.
My Recipe using ingredients on hand


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Here's the scenario.
After a long morning of walking and searching, you find what you think is a brood flock, just over the rise. It's a great opportunity to scatter them, so you rush in and get a good scatter, and finish it off with a good secondary scatter.
You look around and choose a great place to set up and call. You sit down and get comfortable.
Now what?
When do you start calling?
What calls do you use?


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Neighborhood Improvement
In Bellevue, residents are active participants when it comes to neighborhood improvements.
With the Neighborhood Match program, residents contribute labor and in-kind services on projects and the city matches those contributions with up to $10,000 in grants. Residents who want to form neighborhood associations can receive up to $250 from the city through the Little Match program.
Neighborhood Outreach
450 110th Ave. NE
P.O. Box 90012
Bellevue, WA 98009
Phone: 425-452-6836
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com


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By Paul Bedard
Posted: January 20, 2011
Moving aggressively to make good on election promises to slash the federal budget, the House GOP today unveiled an eye-popping plan to eliminate $2.5 trillion in spending over the next 10 years. Gone would be Amtrak subsidies, fat checks to the Legal Services Corporation and National Endowment for the Arts, and some $900 million to run President Obama's healthcare reform program. [See a gallery of political caricatures.]
What's more, the "Spending Reduction Act of 2011" proposed by members of the conservative Republican Study Committee, chaired by Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, would reduce current spending for non-defense, non-homeland security and non-veterans programs to 2008 levels, eliminate federal control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, cut the federal workforce by 15 percent through attrition, and cut some $80 billion by blocking implementation of Obamacare. [See a slide show of the top Congressional travel destinations.]


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Boy, do I feel stupid. As soon as I posted my blog, people pointed out to me that NetBeans 6.0 Beta 2 supports IcedTea out of the box, so all my hackery with NetBeans 5.5 was pointless.
However, NetBeans 6.0 Beta 2 doesn't work for me. It just displays a blank screen. After a little while, I've found out why. I always run all my test programs as X clients on a remote mcahine, with the server running on my desktop machine. It turns out that if you start 6.0 Beta 2 on the same machine as the X server, it displays correctly.
I suppose that NetBeans must be doing some of the same weird stuff that we've seen elsewhere, and trying to bypass part of the X protocol somehow.


text: If you know any Obama fanatics please check on them in the next few days. Symptoms may include extreme giddiness and complete lack of personal responsibility. Other things to look out for: Not mailing in ones house payment, not paying utility bills and driving away from the gas pump without paying. These folks may become delusional at times and should be considered unarmed and only a danger to themselves unless they are walking in traffic. In That case use extreme caution because the will not look both ways before crossing the street. Please let these poor souls know that the new POTUS already said he can not "Change" everything in one day and even God used up the better part of a week.


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Find out who owns, I think, Fargo II...Quote:
Originally Posted by Gerard Rozas
If I send a dog to a Pro and his dogs wins, I'm happy for him. I feel good because I've selected a Pro can get to where I want my dog to go.
If the slightes thought crosses my mind the Pro is providing less than the agreed upon work ethic...it's time to find a new Pro.
Drop Shot Regards,
Joe S.


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A Decade's Struggle Ends in Victory
Global Exchange
May 15, 2005
by Deborah James
In April in Havana, over a thousand people from across the hemisphere, including 70 people from the U.S., gathered to plot the next steps in the movement against corporate globalization. This was the Fourth Hemispheric Conference of the Struggle Against the Free Trade Area of the Americas the Cubans have hosted. During last year's conference, activists mounted a political strategy that was ultimately successful – the deadline of January 1, 2005 passed by without inking the deal. This article looks at the political factors and strategies that led to the defeat of the Bush Administration's primary economic objective in the hemisphere. The second of this series looks at where the hemispheric movement is now – and the seismic shifts that are currently taking place in Latin America. The third focuses in on one country – Venezuela – and highlights how the U.S. government's attempts to isolate President Chávez are failing in the face of Venezuela's leadership in regional integration.
For the last 10 years, the US government's main agenda in Latin America has been the expansion of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between the US, Canada and Mexico to all the countries of the western hemisphere, except Cuba. This proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas would have created the largest 'free trade zone' in the world – comprising 34 countries and over 800 million people. This January 1, 2005 should be remembered in history as the day the social movements of the hemisphere achieved one of our greatest triumphs. The derailment of the FTAA will have greater impact on the future of the hemisphere – as the free trade area that never was.
The proposed FTAA was launched on the footsteps of NAFTA ten years ago. But the world has changed significantly since 1994. But Latin America has changed significantly from ten years ago. There is now a wealth of experience with the impact of the 'free trade' model; the wave of progressive governments in Latin America is growing; and the social movements of the hemisphere have gotten organized and united like never before. At the same time, new challenges and pro-corporate assaults have recently arisen, particularly the degeneration of the FTAA into bilaterals with Central America and the Andean nations.
"Free-trade" Corporate Globalization Model Yields Wretched Results
During the 1980s, most Latin American countries adopted a neoliberal package of reforms aimed at economic growth. These included opening up their markets to increased imports, privatization of social services, selling off key natural resource industries, deregulating their financial sectors, and using exports, rather than production for local consumption, as the main engine for economic growth. The results have been disastrous: two decades of economic near-stagnation. Rising unemployment, devastating economic crises, increased poverty, and the erosion of access to social rights including education and health care have marked the decade operating under the 'free trade' system.
Many Latin American countries had taken out huge loans from the World Bank during the previous decades of dictatorships and wars, the benefits of which had never reached the poor majority. But throughout the 90s, most Latin American countries paid the International Monetary Fund more money in interest on those loans – leaving themselves with larger debt than they started – than they received in loans. IMF-inflicted structural adjustment policies have left citizens of many countries with less social safety net, less access to health care, and more in debt than ever before. Currency crises, precipitated by the casino economy of deregulated financial sectors, devastated the economies of Mexico in 1994, Brazil in 1999, and Argentina and Uruguay in 2000-2002, to name a few. Latin Americans had lost control over their economies, and had very little to show in return. Public sentiment grew weary of Washington's broken record of the hollow economic promises of "free trade."
In addition, the results of NAFTA, the model for the FTAA, have been outrageously miserable – for Canadian health care, American manufacturing, and Mexican corn farmers. Agriculture, jobs, and services in Mexico, the US, and Canada have all suffered heavy assaults from NAFTA so that it is impossible for 'free trade' promoters to try to use the results of NAFTA to ply the FTAA. Over 1.5 million Mexican farmers have lost their livelihoods due to NAFTA; immigration to the U.S. has skyrocketed, tearing apart families. In the United States, over 1.8 million workers qualified for NAFTA Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), a narrow program providing benefits to certain categories of workers who can prove that they lost their jobs due to increased imports or plant relocations – a narrow slice of the reality of jobs lost. In the maquiladora zones along the US-Mexico border, wages are low, union organizing is suppressed, and industrial pollution has dramatically increased cases of hepatitis and birth defects among workers. What's more, the investor-to-state lawsuits – where corporations have the right to sue governments for protecting citizen's health and safety and the environment – have drawn the ire of critics across the political spectrum by eroding local control over environmental and public health laws. Mexico's deep economic integration with the U.S. may have seemed a blessing other governments wanted to share in 1994, but ten years later, it was proven to be a curse.
Geopolitical Changes: Latin America Moves to the Left
While we in the U.S. were unable to uproot our current president in the last election, in Latin America, progressive leadership has taken the region by storm. Increasingly, Latin Americans are electing leaders that are opposing Washington-mandated economic policy while ousting leaders that don't make good on their promises of democracy and economic development.
By far the largest political force in the region, President 'Lula' da Silva of Brazil heads the first Workers Party government in the country's history in 2003. Brazil actually co-chairs the FTAA negotiations with the U.S. – but is far from being a U.S. lackey in the region. Brazil's FTAA position is more influenced by the national interests of agribusiness and industrial exporters than a desire to please Washington. Brazil has long indicated its willingness to negotiate a comprehensive FTAA – based on its desire to gain access to U.S. markets for their sugar, citrus, beef, and soy exports. Their position is directly tied to the history of economic crisis and IMF involvement in the region; the government has pinned its hopes for repaying the gigantic foreign debt back with revenues generated through agribusiness exports to the U.S. and Europe. Agricultural imports to the U.S. are currently limited by the U.S.'s immense agricultural subsidies program, which deny Brazil access to the U.S. agricultural market. Since Washington has refused to reform the subsidies, considering the importance of the agribusiness sector in campaign contributions and lobbying, negotiations of the FTAA have deadlocked for over a year.
But Brazil is not the only economic powerhouse in the region with an anti-neoliberal government. In 2003 in Argentina, President Néstor Kirchner rode into office on a wave of sentiment against the International Monetary Fund's enforcement of privatization and structural adjustment policies during their massive economic collapse, in which several presidents were overthrown. Groups allied with the AutoConvocatoria en Contra el ALCA continue to pressure Kirchner to side with the poor instead of the U.S. by linking their campaigns against militarization, debt and free trade.
In Bolivia, massive resistance to IMF-mandated natural gas and water privatization resulted in the overthrow of pro-business president Sanchez de Lozada in 2003. Strong and strategic social movements linked the privatization battles to the struggle against the FTAA, so that after successfully changing their government, they have achieved positive changes in their country's negotiating position within only a year.
And on October 31, 2004, Uruguayans went to the polls and elected their first leftist President, Tabaré Vazquez, who had made statements against the FTAA during his campaign.
The staunchest opposition to the FTAA at the negotiating table comes from Venezuela, where President Hugo Chávez has become a hero among the country's poor majority. In fact, Chávez's rise to power started with a popular riot in 1989 against IMF-mandated increase in consumer gas prices that led to the overnight doubling of bus fare. Over 400 people were killed, and Venezuelans began to rethink their historically close relationship with U.S.-dominated economic policies. Venezuela's negotiating position in the FTAA is based on their 1999 popularly-approved Constitution, and it most closely resembles the priorities of the hemisphere's social movements. It mirrors several key aspects of civil society critiques, which assert that the negotiating process is undemocratic and non-transparent; that the agreement would give rights to corporations at the expense of sovereignty and democracy; and that the privatization of services is a death knell for poor people across the region. Throughout the negotiations they have maintained a seat at the table, in order to use the forum to critique of the 'free-trade' model, offer alternative visions, and help open up political space for regional unity. Venezuela's staking out of an anti-FTAA political space within the negotiations helped create the political context in which the breakdown of the negotiations became possible.
Social Movements Build Local Power and Unite!
As a result of the massive economic devastation wreaked on the economies of Latin America, social movements have identified the proposed FTAA as the greatest threat to democracy and development in the western hemisphere. Workers, women, Indigenous peoples, farmers, youth, churches, farmers, and environmental and human rights advocates across the region have come together in national coalitions to struggle against the expansion of corporate globalization in the hemisphere. The backbone of these movements in many Latin American countries are the Indigenous peoples and farmers – organized in coalitions like Via Campesina and the Coordinadora Latinoamericana de Organizaciones del Campo (CLOC) – whose entire way of life is threatened by the proposed FTAA. A striking aspect of these coalitional efforts has been the relative unity of the social movements across geographic, ethnic, age, and occupational differences.
These national coalitions, in turn, have united into a Hemispheric Social Alliance – the first of its kind in the globe – that coordinates regular actions, campaigns, and strategy meetings. Together with other regional coalitions like the Convergence of People's Movements of the Americas (COMPA), Grito de los Excluidos, and Friends of the Earth Latin America, they have mobilized a Continental Campaign Against the FTAA. The Campaign has organized popular mobilizations at FTAA negotiation meetings, developed a platform called Alternatives for the Americas, and convened hemispheric strategy meetings to provide a space in which the movements of the hemisphere have developed cohesive plans of action.
In the US, the national coalition is the Alliance for Responsible Trade based in Washington, DC. Its members include the AFL-CIO, American Friends Service Committee, the Center of Concern, Development GAP, Friends of the Earth, Global Exchange, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, Institute for Policy Studies, the Interfaith Network on Trade and Investment, Maryknoll, Mexico Solidarity Network, Rural Coalition, Tennessee Industrial Renewal Network, Witness for Peace, Women's Edge, and many others. And groups like Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch and the Citizen's Trade Campaign have played key roles in mobilizing public education and Congressional opposition to the FTAA.
The Winning Strategy: Educate, Mobilize, Consult, Monitor, Envision Alternatives, and Lobby!
Educate, Educate, Educate
Key to our movement's public education efforts has been exposing the real impacts of 'free trade,' unmasking the myths of corporate globalization, and connecting the process of globalization to local experiences of economic exploitation.
Documenting the impact: Research by organizations such as Public Citizen and Friends of the Earth have played a key role in exposing the real impacts of NAFTA on communities across the US, Mexico and Canada. Ten years of results of the 'model' of the FTAA has convinced many workers, opinion leaders, editors and reporters, and members of Congress that it is not the right model for expanding regional integration. Likewise, testimonies from affecting communities has played a powerful role in public education events, press conferences, and Congressional briefings by deepening our understanding of the negative impact on real people's lives.
Unmasking the Myths: Underpinning these lessons is the key recognition that the global shift towards corporate globalization over other forms of development and regional integration is not inevitable, but a carefully constructed set of rules and regulations deliberately chosen by corporate elites for their empowerment and enrichment yet packaged as universally beneficial, and without any alternative.
Another key assumption is that these debates are about trade. Where we have succeeded in unmasking these alleged trade agreements for the corporate bills of rights - without responsibilities - that they are, most people sit up and take notice. The concept that corporations now have, through NAFTA, rights to profit at the expense of citizens' rights to pass laws for clean air or health and safety regulations, is anathema to 400 years of the global people's struggle for international democracy.
Linking the Global and the Local: In most Latin American countries, connecting the processes of corporate globalization to the local experiences of economic exploitation is easy enough. Corn farmers in Mexico know that their livelihoods are being wiped out from subsidized US corn imports allowed by NAFTA. Bolivians know that the government privatized the water system under orders from the IMF. Coffee farmers in Nicaragua struggling to survive as the global price of coffee drops to half of what it was 5 years ago, know that the US abolished a global commodities agreement that used to stabilize the market. Salvadorean women laboring in multinational maquiladora factories for pennies a day are painfully aware that the GAP is a US-based transnational corporation. Colombian peasants whose villages and fields have been annihilated, are well versed in the billions of USAID monies that protect multinational corporations' oil pipelines. And it would be a challenge indeed to find an Argentine who didn't know that their economic crisis was caused by rotten IMF policies.
In the U.S., efforts have been made to focus local attention on global issues through connecting real-life economic struggles, such as that of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and the Kensington Welfare Rights Union. The AFL-CIO has put significant educational resources into its anti-FTAA campaign, particularly considering that millions of their members have been negatively affected by NAFTA. Jobs With Justice's extensive anti-FTAA education efforts have had great success in linking the issues in the run-up to the mobilization in Miami as well. The local Miami alliance Root Cause struggled to ensure that voices of immigrants and other communities of color played a visible role in the anti-FTAA protests – a welcome shift from past mobilizations. And Global Exchange has organized Speaking Tours of prominent anti-FTAA activists across the U.S., organized Reality Tours of U.S. citizens to build alliances with anti-FTAA organizers in Latin America, and developed an Action Pack of materials local activists can use to educate their communities on how the FTAA would affect workers, the environment, our food, our public services, and our democratic control over our communities.
But in the US, our efforts to link local economic exploitation suffered by poor communities, communities of color, and increasingly by the middle class, has met with mixed success. The movement has neither the resources nor the capacity to reproduce these model local campaigns on a nationwide level. We have much more work to do in the U.S. to build awareness of the connections between the increased cost of our health care, the degradation of our environment, and the erosion of worker's rights to the ongoing process of corporate globalization.
Consult Your People!
Brazilian social movements including the CUT (the national labor federation), the Landless Peasant's Movement and religious groups organized a people's plebiscite on the FTAA in 2001 in which over 10 million citizens voted. More than 98 percent rejected the FTAA.
After the success of the Brazilian model, the HSA adopted the strategy as a continental campaign. Groups across the hemisphere organized petition drives for citizens to "vote" on whether they wanted this proposed FTAA. Overwhelmingly, the strategy proved to be a clever tool for educating the public while pointing out the undemocratic nature of the FTAA, on which citizens don't actually get to vote.
This strategy was less useful in the U.S., where we lack a strong mass-based social movement. In the lead-up to the Miami FTAA Ministerial in November 2003, U.S. groups could only amass about half a million signatures against the FTAA from our collective education efforts.
Monitor the Negotiations
Every few years, an updated draft of the proposed FTAA has broken out from behind closed doors, into the public. But hundreds of pages of trade lawyer jargon must be turned into synthesized reports for Congress, and flyers with information accessible to the public. The HSA monitoring committee, and groups like Public Citizen have played a key role in translating text designed to obfuscate into comprehensible resources for the rest of us. These analyses made it possible for groups across the hemisphere to denounce the proposed FTAA based on actual draft texts rather than just speculation.
In 2003, a page was taken from the playbook of the anti-WTO organizing network, Our World Is Not For Sale (OWINFS), and the HSA network started monitoring the negotiations in real time – and actually producing reports on various committee meetings and country positions as they developed. This exciting opportunity resulted from the desire of the Venezuelan government to share all negotiations information with the social movements, implementing their commitment to transparency and civil society participation, as well as the participation the Brazilian social movements on their national WTO negotiations teams. This tool allows us to plan our strategic pressure more concisely.
Mobilize, Mobilize, Mobilize
Each Summit of the Americas or FTAA Ministerial meeting since the beginning of the FTAA negotiations been met by a growing presence of civil society organizations, starting in Miami, Florida in 1994, Colombia in 1996, Brazil in 1997, and Costa Rica in 1998. During the second Summit of the Americas in Santiago, Chile in 1998, groups organized the first parallel Summit of the Peoples of the Americas, including workshops various themes as well as the plotting beginnings of the continental network. In April 2001 in Quebec, Canada, the HSA organized the second People's Summit, again parallel to the third Summit of the Americas – where 50,000 people demonstrated against the FTAA, amidst tear gas and political persecution. At FTAA Ministerial meetings in Quito, Ecuador in 2002 social movements organized a peaceful resistance to the closed-door negotiations, often receiving the hard end of a billy club or a whiff of tear gas in return. After a year of serious efforts by Jobs with Justice, Florida Fair Trade Coalition, CTC, Alliance for Responsible Trade, AFL-CIO, Global Exchange, United Students Against Sweatshops, Public Citizen, United Steelworkers of America, and others mobilized around 10,000 people to participate in the Miami protests during the FTAA Ministerial in November, 2003.
At each Summit or Trade Ministerial, efforts have been made by civil society organizers to engage with governments and present views critical of the process and the content of the FTAA negotiations. While the FTAA has offered some official channels for civil society views to be presented, it is clear that the negotiations do not take public views into account. And even though our civil society presence may not have directly impacted the negotiations behind closed doors, they do garner important coverage in the media; provide an opportunity for our movement to increase our public outreach and education; and remind negotiators that they are not welcome outside their security fences.
The Alternatives: Building People's Regionalism
Social movements in the hemisphere have also learned that to give people hope for a different future, we must promote our own vision of an alternative to the proposed FTAA. To that end, anti-FTAA organizations, working together through the HSA, have developed the Alternative Agreement for the Americas. The Alternative agreement starts with the premise that the people should have a voice in determining the future of regional integration. It also asserts that the first step towards bringing more equality to the hemisphere would begin with debt reduction. Enforcement of core labor and environmental rights and standards should be at the center of any new agreements. Governments should be encouraged to adopt new local, national and global rules to discourage harmful speculative activity, and to encourage lasting investments in productive and sustainable local economic activities. Access for foreign products and investments should be negotiated with adequate concern for national development plans and priorities. Protection of critical sectors, such as food production, must be the right of each country so as to ensure the rights and well being of all people. This document, collectively endorsed and produced by hundreds of social movements and organizations in the Hemispheric Social Alliance, is available in its entirety at www.art-us.org.
Elect Progressives to Office, and Lobby, Lobby, Lobby
We may not be as good as Latin Americans in electing progressives to office, but we sure know how to hold them accountable on trade issues. In the US, the Citizen's Trade Campaign is a coalition of environmental, labor, faith-based, and consumer organizations that has made an art out of forcing state and local officials' feet to the fire on their positions on trade. The CTC's state coalitions in California, Florida, Maine, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas and Wisconsin have succeeded in building community power on the state level to force elected officials to improve their positions on trade. Through grassroots lobbying efforts, strategically placed OpEds, events highlighting community opposition to 'free trade', and other efforts, these state coalitions are playing an increasingly visible role in the national opposition to free trade. Their power is generated by their ability to put pressure on elected officials where it counts – in their local constituency home base. And they have succeeded importantly in getting the erosion of local and state power to become a touchstone issue of state legislators and governors.
Heroic and successful efforts were also made to get corporate globalization in the Presidential campaigns. Labor unions across the country, CTC state coalitions, and other groups helped make the re-negotiation of the Central American Free Trade Agreement an election issue – and forced the Democrats to improve their position. And there are many who speculate that the less attention a US Administration pays to Latin America the better. In fact, the current Administration's obsession with gaining geopolitical control over the Middle East may have inadvertently contributed to the erosion of their control over Latin America and the victory of the struggle against the FTAA.
The FTAA, or, the Free Trade Area that Never Was
For nearly a decade, negotiations had been moving forward to draft an FTAA almost parallel to NAFTA, the most fundamentalist "free trade" agreement in the history of the world. The proposed FTAA included chapters regulating agriculture, services, investment, intellectual property, dispute settlement, tariffs on goods, subsidies, competition policy, and public procurement. The objective of the FTAA was to universal coverage of all productive and services sectors, and the application of those FTAA rules at all levels of government. The stated goal for the entire decade had been to have the comprehensive pact negotiated and signed by January 1, 2005. But the U.S. government and the corporate interests behind it didn't count on the changes in Latin American governance, nor on the strength of the social movement's opposition.
In November 2003, government trade ministers meeting in Miami barely reached consensus for moving ahead with FTAA talks. This stalemate revealed a clear divide. The "Group of 13" (which includes the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Chile, the Andean nations of Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador, and the Central American countries) favored a comprehensive FTAA. But the other primary regional alliances, Mercosur (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay), Caricom (the 14 members of the Caribbean Community), and the governments of Venezuela and Bolivia, had found the courage to resist negotiating away their interests in the corporate deal. And the U.S. was not about to budge on the most controversial element of the package – scaling back the massive agricultural subsidies, to allow for Brazilian agribusiness exports. The 'comprehensive' FTAA covering all sectors and mimicking all elements of NAFTA had to be scaled down to a mix-and-match model where each country chose its own level of participation based only on a thin, shared minimum. And because the US had played 'pin the blame on Brazil' for the collapse of the WTO talks in September 2003, Brazil actually helped save the Miami talks – for a while.
Negotiations at subsequent meetings in Puebla, Mexico in January 2004 and in Buenos Aires in March ended inconclusively – there haven't been any talks since then. Even the Ministerial meeting planned for November 2004 in Brazil was postponed. Subsequent calls for the Co-Chairs, Brazil and U.S., to meet up have been postponed - indefinitely. That means that the FTAA is currently stalled.
That's why we celebrated the passing of the January 1st, 2005 deadline with no FTAA. After ten years of negotiations, 'free trade' advocates have nothing to show for their efforts.
But since Bush won the elections, there have been rumblings of relaunching. If Brazil and the US can unlock their impasse over allowing access to Brazilian agriculture and manufactured goods, the negotiations could resume. So we must keep vigilant of the negotiations, to prevent a relapse.
And at the same time, corporate interests are looking to other avenues for expanding their global power grab.
2005: Divide and Be Conquered or Unite and Fight?
In response to the defeat of the FTAA, the U.S. has mounted a political counterassault. It has employed divide-and-conquer strategies on several fronts, and used aid and diplomatic pressure with a number of FTAA countries as levers to pry apart the coalition of countries. Most egregiously, the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) – including Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic – was launched during the failed FTAA negotiations in November 2003. CAFTA would bind these nations even more closely to U.S. economic domination, surpassing even NAFTA in its enshrinement of corporate rights over the rights of communities, workers, and the sovereign citizenry. CAFTA was signed by participating countries in May 2004, but the Bush Administration has yet to send it to the U.S. Congress for ratification because a majority of Representatives oppose it. This is due to the incredibly effective campaign US groups have launched, warning Congress of the horrific dangers of expanding the failed NAFTA model to the poor Central American nations.
The U.S. has also launched negotiations with Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru towards the Andean Free Trade Agreement, in an attempt to isolate Venezuela from the rest of the Andean Community, and force Bolivia to 'choose sides.' Negotiating rounds alternative monthly in different countries, and so far indicate another "free trade" NAFTA-style nightmare.
These regional/bilateral agreements represent the most pernicious attempt by the US Trade Representative to divide Latin Americans from each other. Because bilaterals isolate politically weaker and more US-dependent countries from their regional powerhouses, they represent the greatest threat to Latin American regional unity - and opposition to them must be a top priority for US organizations working together with our hemispheric allies.
Consolidate the Victory against the FTAA: Stop CAFTA!
If we are to build the world of peace and justice, democracy and sovereignty we dream of, we must replace the failed FTAA with visionary alternatives for development and regional integration. We must work together with our partners in Latin America and around the world to share information and organizing strategies. We must continue to work to integrate the movements against corporate globalization with domestic struggles for economic justice and community empowerment. We must hold our own elected officials accountable to their voting constituencies rather than their corporate sponsors. We must stop the expansion of the corporate globalization agenda through the WTO. And we must, absolutely, without a doubt, stop CAFTA in Congress this year.


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In this show we discuss Leadership and how leaders are made within the program of the Boy Scouts of America.
Starting in Cub Scouts when the Scout learns the value of obedience, all the way up through adulthood, when the Scout manifests his leadership in his daily life.
We also learn a little about a great Scout and Scouter that, without his leadership and influence, the BSA would not have taken root. Listen in as I introduce you to a Scouter that had an influence on me personally, William "Green Bar Bill" Hillcourt.
This show is sponsored by ClassB.com
Leave me feedback at firstname.lastname@example.com or on the PTCMedia.net forums
Have a Great Scouting Day!
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Things are beginning to take shape for the European Lisp Symposium (May 6-7, Lisbon): I'm glad to say that the review process is over and the preliminary programme is now available. The symposium website has also undergone a facelift: out with the spartan, old-school look, and in with the tasteful and functional; Edgar Gonçalves put the new look and content together in very short order, so thanks to him; thanks also to the event's supporters.
The final organizational details are being sorted out, and registration should be open very soon.


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Storybook: James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl | James and the Giant Peach is a popular children's novel written in 1961 by British author Roald Dahl. The plot centres on a young English orphan boy who enters a gigantic, magical peach, and has a wild and surreal cross-world adventure with six magically-altered garden bugs he meets. Roald Dahl was originally going to write about a giant cherry, but changed it to James and the Giant Peach because a peach is "prettier, bigger and squishier than a cherry."
Richard James Oliver
Born in Pontypridd, Wales in 1975.
Currently Paints and resides in Los Angeles CA.
Solo exhibitions include the Known Gallery, Hollywood, Los Angeles. Museum of Modern Art, Wales. Attic Gallery, Swansea and Rhondda Heritage park permanent Mural.
Mixed Exhibitions Worldwide including London, New York and most recently Los Angeles.
Paintings currently hang in Museums and public display throughout the UK and private clients are worldwide.
Richard J Oliver was born and raised in Wales, United Kingdom, studied Fine Art at the University of the West of England and undertook his Masters at UWIC in Wales. In his time between studies, Oliver built his reputation, beginning in Wales and later gaining recognition throughout the UK. His work has been included in numerous European group shows, which then segued into solo shows, including an exhibition at the prestigious Museum of Modern Art in Wales.
Oliver's early work focused on his homeland, particularly the struggle of its youth trying to find identity in the aftermath of the local mining industry's demise. His work often showcased the skeleton landscapes of mining villages in the Welsh valleys juxtaposed with contemporary youth.
His latest works explore more universal subjects, from environmental issues to humanitarian and social problems that are close to his heart.
Since becoming a parent, Oliver has explored the anxieties of raising a child in an environment on the brink of disaster. The images touch on the tragedy of children forced to survive in an apocalyptic environment and violently fend for themselves. He transforms the natural instincts of fatherhood and family protection into striking visuals. More recently, portraits have crossed into the dark, brooding world of Grimm's fairytales and surrealistic subjects that help convey the emotion and tragedy of our world's children. Oliver works closely with many charities, most recently donating proceeds to Dreamlovecure.org and City of Hope's Department of Paediatrics.
Storybook: The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame | The Wind in the Willows is a children's novel by Kenneth Grahame, first published in 1908. Alternately slow moving and fast paced, it focuses on four anthropomorphised animals in a pastoral version of England. The novel is notable for its mixture of mysticism, adventure, morality, and camaraderie and celebrated for its evocation of the nature of the Thames valley.
Storybook: Stellaluna by Janell Cannon | A mother fruitbat loves her baby called Stellaluna very much and would never let anything happen to her. When the two are attacked by an owl, the predator knocks Stellaluna out of her mother's safe embrace. Soon the baby bat ends up in a bird's nest filled with three baby birds named Pip, Flitter and Flap. The mother bird will let Stellaluna be part of the family only if she eats bugs, does not hang by her feet and sleeps at night.
When all the baby animals grow, they learn to fly. When Stellaluna and the birds are out playing, it gets dark and the birds go home without her because they will not be able to see in the dark. Stellaluna keeps flying, but when Stellaluna's wings hurt, she stops to rest. When she does, she hangs by her thumbs. Soon another bat comes to ask why Stellaluna is hanging by her thumbs. She tells the bat the story of what had happened after she and her mother were attacked by the owl. Another bat interrupts the story. That bat is Stellaluna's mother. Stellaluna and her mother are happily reunited and Stellaluna finally understands why she is so different.
Excited about learning how to be a bat, Stellaluna returns to Pip, Flitter, and Flap in order to share her new experiences. They agree to join Stellaluna and the bats at night, but find they are unsuited to flying at night and nearly crash. Stellaluna rescues them and the four of them decide that while they may be very different, they are still friends and family.
Laurie Lee Brom grew up in the historical town of Charleston, South Carolina, the local ghost stories and folk tales of the swampy Low County, and rich Gullah culture stirring her imagination. She spent untold hours pursuing pixies and tree frogs in the hollow logs and Pluff Mud of her own backyard. Today she still pursues fairy folk along with all manner of curious ghosts and odd characters in her enchanting portraits and paintings.


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text: Well I got my RS Propmaster stunt helmet today. They definitely did not do any cleanup on it. It has more bumps and warts on it than I first thought. Don't think I'm complaining. This thing is a work of art. Its the next best thing to actually owning a screen used helmet. I'll try to post some pics(along with my other recently acquired props) sometime in the near future. This has been the busiest summer I can ever remember.


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By Brandon Speck/NEMS Daily Journal
Ross Smith is stuck in the game – not the game on the field, but the recruiting game.
Booneville's 6-foot-6, 300-pound left tackle has drawn praise from opponents, opposing coaches and college coaches.
Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Southern Miss have all expressed interest. Junior colleges would love to suit Smith up next season but with four-year schools coming by but not yet offering, he isn't sure yet what he'll do.
"I haven't gotten one yet, but hopefully one will pop up and I'll have an early Christmas present," Smith said. "I want to stay in North Mississippi, around here. That's where I grew up. That's where all my family is."
Any of the state's Big Three may yet offer and walking on at any of them is a standing possibility. The junior college route is already offering scholarship aid.
Ole Miss visited Smith on Monday. Mississippi State was there Thursday. He hasn't heard from Southern since Ellis Johnson was fired. Smith grew up a Mississippi State fan.
"When it comes to your college and playing football, it doesn't matter, I just want to play football somewhere," Smith said. "I like Ole Miss. I like the people there. I like the people at State. Whatever place likes me, I like them."
Amory coach Trent Hammond said this week that wide receiver Dario Robinson hadn't yet committed. His offer sheet includes Alcorn State, Illinois, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, South Alabama and Tennessee-Martin.
Robinson led the state in several receiving categories last season. This season, he led Amory with more than 1,000 yards rushing when the Panthers needed a running back. His 52 catches were also a team high.
The SECschools chasing Itawamba AHS running back Ashton Shumpert are chasing him all over.
Vanderbilt coaches paid him a home visit last week. Ole Miss found him at a basketball game on Tuesday and MSU left their visit in Booneville for Fulton on Thursday.
"I plan on waiting until signing day, but I have had thoughts to just knock it down to five or four, three or two maybe," Shumpert said.


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Web Stories
Princeton coaches and athletes to speak, April 13
Posted April 1, 2006; 12:41 p.m.
The head coaches of four Princeton sports teams will discuss their
programs at a luncheon set for noon Thursday, April 13, in the Class of
1956 Lounge, Princeton Stadium.
The speakers will include: Bill Tierney, men's lacrosse; Chris Sailer, women's lacrosse; Maureen Barron, softball; and Curtis Jordan, men's crew. They will be joined by student speakers who will discuss their experiences as varsity athletes.
The event is sponsored by the Princeton Varsity Club with support from the Glenmede Trust Co. Admission is free for club members and $15 for others. For more information, contact Kellie Gale at (609) 258-6696.


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Novel Writing Workshop
Level 4, 10 Credits.
Available Dates:
- Dates:
- Not Presently Available.
Get the latest updates on our courses
Please use our subscription page to register your interest, and we will keep you updated on all relevant information and news about subjects you have chosen.
Guided by a professional author, this is a course for anyone who has a book currently in them that they'd prefer to see sitting in a bookshop. What are the components that make a novel unputdownable? How can you ensure that your readers are enthralled? Looking at all genres of contemporary full-length fiction, this course will take you right through the novel-writing process, as well as offering guidance in the all-important art of attracting an agent and/or publisher. If you are committed to writing that book you have in you, prepare to be challenged and inspired …
Who is this course for?
This course is intended both for beginners and more experienced writers and takes place in a supportive and conducive environment. The course tutor is a highly successful published writer and will offer you plenty of guidance and encouragement.
Learning and Teaching
Learning and teaching are undertaken by means of small group work. This is a 10-credit course, so there will be two-hour meetings once a week (20 contact hours in all) which will include discussions, exercises (optional), craft lectures and workshops. The aim is ensure that the classes are enjoyable and stimulating for all. You will be expected to write in your own private time, with the guidance of your tutor, and to learn about revision, while at the same time becoming familiar with the fundamental concepts of creative writing.
Coursework and Assessment
To award credits we need to have evidence of the knowledge and skills you have gained or improved. Some of this has to be in a form that can be shown to external examiners so that we can be absolutely sure that standards are met across all courses and subjects.
There will be no formal examinations. You will be encouraged to write and read examples of your own work to your fellow class members and to comment on their work in turn, in the process sharpening your critical skills. The form your writing takes is for you to decide but your tutor will offer you advice and, depending at what level you are studying, work out a scheme of study with you which is intended to bring out the best in you. The basis of assessment will be a portfolio of creative writing consisting of your best work produced on this module. This portfolio may consist of several separate creative pieces or one piece of extended writing, by prior agreement with the tutor.
Your work will be assessed by your tutor, who will offer you written reports which we hope you will find constructive. The most important element of assessment is that it should enhance your learning. Our methods are flexible and are designed to increase your confidence and we try very hard to devise ways of assessing you that are enjoyable and suitable for adults with busy lives.
Reading suggestions
The course tutor will suggest titles, as appropriate.
Library and Computing Facilities
As a student on this course you are entitled to join and use the University library and computing facilities. You can find out more about these facilities on our website www.cardiff.ac.uk/learn under Student Information, or by ringing (029) 2087 0000.
Accessibility of Courses
Our aim is access for all. We aim to provide a confidential advice and support service for any student with a long term medical condition, disability or specific learning difficulty. We are able to offer one-to-one advice about disability, pre-enrolment visits, liaison with tutors and co-ordinating lecturers, material in alternative formats, arrangements for accessible courses, assessment arrangements, loan equipment and Dyslexia screening. Please contact the Division on (029) 2087 0000 for more information.


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Log In now to add this Gigapan to a group gallery.
Log In now to add this Gigapan to a gallery.
About This GigapanToggle
- Taken by
- Sophie Wilson
- Explore score
- 88
- Size
- 0.14 Gigapixels
- Views
- 3369
- Date added
- Jun 06, 2010
- Date taken
- Jun 06, 2010
- Categories
- Galleries
- Geology of Great Britain
- Competitions
- Tags
- national, coast, park, pembroke, pembrokeshire, quay
- Description
Stackpole Quay itself - related to Pembrokeshire pictures generally. This shot is focussed better on the closer things - impossible depth of field needed to deal with it, really - so its a bit blurrier than I'd have liked on things like the tea shop/ice cream parlour (top right) where we had Cowpots ice creams after visiting Barafundle bay gigapan.org/gigapans/51265/ . This shot was done from further along and higher up the same outcrop from which the bay to the north gigapan.org/gigapans/51254/ was gigapanned.
Lots of divers around - on the beach, in the boat, in the harbour.
Stitched with Microsoft ICE, Pentax Kx and FA 100 f3.5
Gigapan Comments (3)Toggle Minimize gigapan_comment
Ah, my mistake then. I felt moved to comment because as long-suffering visitors to my gigapan pages will know I have struggled with depth of field myself. BTW kudos for geocoding your gigapans - not every one does this which is a pity because they often look a lot better in Google Earth.
It was shot at f8(!) - its a Pentax FA 100 f3.5 lens set to f8, but I got the hyperfocal distance wrong and this halved my depth of field for this shot: I was too concerned with making the quay itself sharp and I underestimated how far away it was. The f4 mentionned in many of my other gigapans is a Pentax A 200 f4 and its usually set to f8 or f10/f11, similarly the Pentax A 135 f2.8 is usually set to f11, again using hyperfocal techniques. Usually I'm getting this pretty right, but its always a concern.
I notice you often use f/4. I generally use f/8 at least for the improved depth of field. It's not going to solve all your problems of course, but it should help.


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Booth Western Art Museum
Cartersville, GA 30120
Booth Western Art Museum, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is a 120,000-square-foot museum located in Cartersville. Guests are invited to see America's story through contemporary Western artwork, presidential portraits and letters, Civil War art, more than 200 Native American artifacts, and so much more.
Open since August 2003, Booth Museum is the second largest art museum in Georgia and houses the largest permanent exhibition space for Western art in the country. Sagebrush Ranch is an interactive gallery where children of all ages can learn about art and Western America. The museum's special and temporary exhibit galleries host three to five temporary exhibits per year.
Info & Amenities
Hours of Operation
Sunday: 1:00PM - 5:00PM
Tuesday: 10:00AM - 5:00PM
Wednesday: 10:00AM - 5:00PM
Thursday: 10:00AM - 8:00PM
Friday: 10:00AM - 5:00PM
Saturday: 10:00AM - 5:00PM
Admission & Fees
Active Military with ID $0.00
Adults $10.00
Children 12 and under $0.00
Members $0.00
Seniors (65 and over) $8.00
Students $7.00
Group Discount, Military Discount
Facility Amenities
Bus / Motorcoach Parking on Site, Concessions, Free Parking, Gift Shop, Guided Tours / Guide Available, Maps & Brochures Available, Meeting Facilities, Parking on Site, Party Facilities, Restaurant on Site, Self-guided Tours
General Information
Family-friendly, Free Admission , Handicapped Accessible, Open Year 'Round
Group Amenities
Group Rates Available, Group Reservations Required , Group-friendly, Motorcoach-friendly
Near Interstate Highway
Payment Options
American Express, Mastercard, Visa
Special Tags
Civil War Site
Suitable for Ages
All Ages


text: I need to do 35 splits to increase my number of hives. I have 35 queens coming and I plan to simply go through each box, these are Double Deep, and when I find the queen I will then requeen the other box. Problem is, this seems like a lot of work, finding the queen and all, any suggestions.


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Portland Community Education Center (PORT)
Whether you're a two-year associate degree student, transfer student, or lifelong learner, our extension centers are here to serve you - with convenient class times and locations.
Portland Community Education Cen.
1090 Ionia Road
Portland, MI 48875
(517) 647-2987
Student Services
Admissions: Apply now Online
Courses at Portland Community Education Center
LCC Registration Information
Student Resources
Textbooks and Bookstores
LCC Course Syllabus
Student Services Directory
Building Policies
No Smoking: Smoking Policy
Copying: Not available.
Food Options: Not available.
Parking: Ample free parking.


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Monday. New Order's song "Blue Monday" I will dig up later today, the title is apropos.
I am having a really really hard time coming up with anything positive that I did today, so all the more reason to do it since this can be part of what I accomplished postively - just wrote. Yesterday went to the beach with the kids, had a lot of fun. I was feeling really tense in my shoulders and did some stretching exercises. It was nice to walk on the rocks and feel the sand and seaweed beneath my feet along with the feel of the large stones/rocks I walked along.
Not to focus on the negative but I slipped on a rock, fell flat on my ass and banged up my tailbone rather good. This morning it feels a little better, but unfortunately a wave crashed on me right afterwards and trashed my new cell phone from work.
I'm getting my ass kicked in the game of life, literally right now with that event. I'm working on patience, right now. And fortitude, that I won't give up on my hardships but rather carry on and work to resolve them.
Leaether Strip albums have been great to hear the same agony and agression I'm feeling, but let's me get through some of it non destructively. I am working to come out of this intact, I do not want to live a life filled with resentment and anger, so using outlets to express those non-destructively is helpful. I think I will get a punching bag. I think it's time to get some creative juices flowing again, write some music, paint, program, whatever.


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One of the reasons Obama and the democrats want to speed up the passage of this bill is to insure nobody has the opportunity to actually read it and debate it. Now I realize that most democrats who voted for Obama can't read the rest of us can and wouldn't it be nice to know what's in this pig of a bill before we spend more than a trillion dollars on it?
In this bill a new bureacracy is created, the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology. Their goal is to "guide" your doctors decisions and save the health care system money on "unnecessary" and expensive treatments...especially with the elderly. You must go through the government (if you're old) and need expensive surgery.
Dr. Welby meet Dr. Obama and Dr. Daschle.
Maybe they should include an Assisted Suicide provision to this billl. "We're sorry grandma but the government's determined that you're too old for hip-replacement surgery and we've reassigned your case to Dr. Kevorkian"
So with senior healthcare rationing and Nancy Pelosi's condoms and coat-hangers provision (family planning) the democrats (and 3 dirt-bag republicans) got you coming and going. They'll be doing everything they can to help decrease the surplus population.
No need for debate says Obama. This bill is too important to be stalled by Senate protocol.


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A HIGHER CALL: Montoursville native pens "amazing" tale of World War II aviation
One reason book-lovers are hooked on reading is that books can take you through experiences that aren't accessible in any other way.
My chances of flying a World War II bomber, for example, are slender at best; yet in an intoxicating passage of nearly 10 pages, Adam Makos' "Higher Call" makes us feel exactly what it was like to fire up a B-17 and take off on a run over Germany.
That's only one aspect of this sensational book; placed instantly on my list of all-time favorites, it's the kind of book you want to buy for all your friends; I'm surprised it hasn't hit the best-seller lists yet.
Penned by Montoursville native Adam Makos -- co-founder of the beloved "Ghost Wings" magazine for combat aviation buffs -- "A Higher Call" focuses on a real-life incident that simply defies belief.
On Dec. 20, 1943, a lone B-17 was struggling home over hostile territory when it encountered a Messerschmitt fighter.
Piloted by a veteran needing one more victory for the coveted Knight's Cross, the infamous German plane would normally have made fast work of its helpless prey -- particularly since most of the bomber's guns were frozen, the crew shot up and the plane so full of holes it could barely stay aloft.
But German ace Franz Stigler, steeped in the chivalric code of pilots round the world, could not bring himself to fire on the badly damaged B-17; instead, he flew alongside and -- gesturing to the terrified crew -- tried to persuade them to head for safety in Sweden.
When this failed, Stigler made a decision that could have cost him his life.
I'm not revealing more about this encounter because it's the centerpiece of this amazing book, even though it lasts for only one chapter.
I will say, however, that Makos has surrounded the gripping incident with the equally gripping tale of Stigler's storied career as a German fighter pilot -- including these highlights:
Ditching his plane in the Mediterranean with its canopy closed.
Cavorting with his squadron's mascot, a friendly bear named Bobbi with a fondness for swimming pools and German beer.
Flying the world's most advanced aircraft -- the Messerschmitt 262, a jet that could reach 575 miles per hour but was notoriously unstable. (During one sudden dive from 30,000 feet, Stigler finally pulled out so close to the ground that he set the fields on fire.)
A late development by the struggling Nazi war machine, the 262 had a cockpit surrounded by kerosene fuel tanks; after a violent crash, one of Stigler's comrades was so engulfed in flames that his eyelids burned off and his fingers fused together -- yet he survived.
"Higher Call" also recounts -- albeit more briefly -- background on the American bomber crew, particularly its 21-year-old pilot, Charlie Brown.
There's so much packed into this book -- including material about the Third Reich and life under its regime -- that the project took Makos and co-writer Larry Alexander eight years to complete.
Despite its many high points, "Call" manages a peak of emotional power during the climax: In 1990, Brown and Stigler actually tracked each other down -- even though neither had a name or number from the other's plane.
When the men finally embrace, and former enemies discover that they feel more like brothers -- well, they weren't the only ones with tears in their eyes.
In fact, "Call" had me choked up several times -- and other readers said so too; as I write, it has 292 five-star reviews at Amazon.com.
Consider this the 293rd.


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Street-to-snow functionality.
Realizing the need for a multi-use pack that rules the streets and mountains, Burton created the Day Hiker Backpack to cater to your adventure-fueled lifestyle—without sacrificing functionality for the daily grind. Its vertical board carry and hydration-compatible laptop sleeve facilitate easy hiking when you're scouting fresh lines beyond the lifts. Mesh water bottle pockets provide convenient hydration on day hikes and cross-town jaunts, while the front-zippered pocket offers a convenient spot for stashing everyday items, such as your wallet, phone, and keys. Additionally, you'll appreciate the super-comfy ergonomic shoulder straps, with removable waist belt for extra support with heavy loads.
- Vertical board carry
- Padded laptop sleeve (12 x 10.5 x 1.5-inches)
- Hydration reservoir sleeve with tube routing
- Mesh water bottle pockets
- Front storage pocket
- Ergonomic shoulder straps
- Removable waist strap
- Item #BUR00TN
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The bag has 4 pockets, one for lenses (soft lined as well), 2 water bottle holders, and the main pouch. The water bottle holders hold the typical 16 oz, vending machine water bottles, but are probably not big enough for any sizable canisters such as a 32 oz nalgene. The big pouch is big enough for my food, water, and extra clothes, and sits nicely on my back, the waist buckle is easy with mittens on, but the chest buckle is difficult to get with my mittens on (I can do it, it just takes a while because the buckle is kinda small). Overall nothing glaringly wrong with the bag, haven't carried my snowboard in it though so I don't know how it does with that.
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- Familiarity: I gave it as a gift but have feedback to share
I bought this pack as a gift for a friend who took a birthday snowboarding trip to Austria. He's very happy with the quality and style of this backpack. It holds everything he uses for a day on piste and is what you would expect from Burton.
Multipurpose backpack
Lots of storage room without being bulky making this great for day hiking or just traveling back and forth to work. The pockets help keep you organized which I love. I have only used it on a couple of occasions so far, but first impression is that it is very durable. I bought this in the toxin bonded color and the color shown is spot on.


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sE Electronics VR1 Voodoo Ribbon Mic
sE Electronics VR1 Voodoo Ribbon MicDetails
The Voodoo Ribbons from sE mark a new era for Ribbon mic technology - until now the only Ribbon microphone in the world to perform across 20Hz-20KHz was sE's Rupert Neve collaboration, the RNR1, critically acclaimed as the best Ribbon mic in the world.
Product Ref: 17821View Full Description
Full DescriptionView Full Description
This microphone uses state of the art transformers and a Rupert Neve designed circuit board to reveal HF usually absent. The Voodoo mics however achieve full frequency response using a new mechanical device (patent pending), designed by Siwei Zou, the company CEO.
This extraordinary technical achievement allows the traditional Ribbon capsule to develop and capture frequencies from 20Hz to 20KHz like no other Ribbon on the planet. The sound is revolutionary; where the RNR1 is simply a stunning mic in its own class entirely, the Voodoo range brings traditional ribbon sound to the project and commercial studio, but extends it to perform as well as most condensers do.
The result is superbly detailed and wonderfully open and natural sounding recordings of acoustic instruments and guitar cabs. The VR2 is an 'active' version of the VR1, which is the more traditional 'passive' Ribbon design. This microphone?s unique ability to perform, coupled with good looks, is sure to make the VR1 and VR2 classics of their time.
"The VR1 is super-sturdy, it takes EQ really well and I like the fact that it does go down really low - lower than I normally need for the show. There are certain parts in the show where maybe the guitar does a little 'dive-bomb' and I take out the high-pass filter and push it up. It's really fun, the way it just fills the room." - Eddie Mapp, FOH Engineer, Paramore
- Operating Principle: Pressure Gradient
- Diaphragm 2µ: aluminium ribbon
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-18KHz
- Sensitivity: 1.6mV/Pa -56 ± 1.5dB
- Polar Pattern: Figure 8
- Impedance: ≤ 300 Ohms
- Equivalent Noise Level: 17dB(A weighted)
- Max SPL for 0.5 THD@1000Hz: 135dB
- Connector: 3-pin
The product price includes 2 years' warranty and 30 day money back guarantee.
However, the Gear4music extended warranty scheme provides an enhanced service, and is designed to offer a higher level of protection than many 'free' warranties offered by some retailers and manufacturers.
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Please note that this extended warranty is currently only available on products sold within the EU or EEA, and is subject to the terms and conditions as detailed on the extended warranty certificate provided.
For customers in outlying areas of the country, the price of the Extended Warranty may be marginally higher, due to the potential for higher collection and redelivery transport costs.
This enhanced warranty is in addition to the standard Gear4music and manufacturer warranty policies, and the Gear4music terms and conditions of trade. No statement or condition of sale contained within these terms affects or restricts your statutory rights as defined under the Consumer Contracts Regulation 2014.
Once the product is delivered, you have 30 days to decide that you definitely want to keep it. If you decide it is not suitable for any reason, you can return it back to us for replacement or full refund, including standard delivery charges.
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Air Nostrum passenger numbers up 10% - traffic highlights for 2011:
- Passenger numbers: 4.8 million, +9.9% year-on-year;
- Number of flights: 128,509, +3.7%;
- Number of airports: 60, +11.1%;
- Number of routes: 114, +5.6%. [more - original PR]
Air Nostrum passenger numbers up 10% - traffic highlights for 2011:
Vueling's new CEO, Javier Sanchez-Prieto, is leading a programme ('Vueling NEXT') to improve its profitability, both through revenue enhancement and cost efficiency gains. Among other aims this hopes to reduce Vueling's high levels of seasonality, to raise aircraft utilisation and to improve labour productivity. Given ambitious financial targets by IAG – action is needed.
Part 1 of CAPA's analysis of Vueling examined its capacity growth and profitability trends since its acquisition by IAG in 2013. Vueling's operating margin and return on invested capital are on a downward trend, hence the new initiative to reverse these trends.
This second part of CAPA's analysis considers the profit improvement programme. During this programme Vueling's fleet will remain broadly flat to 2018, before resuming growth thereafter. Focus markets for Vueling are domestic Spain and Spain-Europe. It has strengths in these markets but faces growing competition from its lower-cost rival Ryanair, which has also been raising its service quality – closing the gap to Vueling's more premium positioning on the LCC spectrum.
Since the end of 2015 Vueling has slipped from being IAG's best performer on the key financial metric of return on invested capital to its worst performer for the four quarters ended 3Q2016. The group's LCC has suffered more than its sister airlines from disruption in Europe, caused by ATC strikes and terrorist activity.
However, since its acquisition by IAG in 2013 Vueling's revenue growth has not matched its capacity growth and unit costs have grown. The benefits of lower fuel prices have been dissipated by higher ex-fuel unit costs, including lower labour productivity. Vueling's new CEO, Javier Sanchez-Prieto, is now leading a programme ('Vueling NEXT') to improve its profitability.
Part 1 of this CAPA analysis of Vueling examines its capacity growth and profitability trends since becoming part of IAG. It also looks at the development of its RASK and CASK. Part two will highlight the seasonality in Vueling's schedule and look at the profit improvement programme.


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Opinions, Context & Ideas from the TPM Editors TPM Editor's Blog
What Happened to Prop 19
More generally though, I just don't know if I think marijuana should be legalized at all. Maybe it's that I'm getting into my 40s. And maybe I'm a hypocrite. I of course know people who smoke grass. And I don't have any problem with it. Decriminalized? Yes, I think probably so. But that's not the same as legalization. It's very different actually. And let me be clear that I think our drug laws are catastrophic. They create endemic violence first in our major cities and now along the borders and it's led to generations of Americans rotting in prison. The whole war on drugs is an unmitigated disaster. And the fact that people can't use marijuana for clear medical reasons is crazy. But do I think it should be like alcohol? Anyone over 18 or 21 can buy it?
I remember, many years ago, talking to my father about the idea of legalization. And bear in mind, my Dad, God bless him, smoked a decent amount of grass in his day, said he didn't like the idea. One reason is that he was already a bit older by that time. But he had this very contradictory and hard to rationalize position which was that he was fine with people smoking pot but keeping it at least nominally illegal kept public usage in some check. Again, how to rationalize that in traditional civic terms? Not really sure. But frankly, I think I kind of agree.
For what it's worth, of course I've smoked pot. But for purely personal reasons I haven't in more than twenty years.


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by Siemens
Jun 26, 2013
Most IT executives say that some of their organizations' data centers will max out of power, cooling or space by the end of 2014, according to new research from UBM Tech and InformationWeek Marketing Services. The study, conducted in April 2013, takes an in-depth look at how IT decision makers rate the challenges they face as they evolve data centers to handle fast-growing volumes of data. Among the key findings:
Only 17 percent are actively planning or undertaking to build a new data center. However, over the next two years, 29 percent of respondents say they plan to perform a major upgrade on one or more data centers and 20 percent would consolidate data centers into fewer facilities.
As few as 18 percent plan only to maintain their current data centers without significantly upgrading hardware. Rather than investing capital in new buildings, respondents are upgrading equipment, consolidating and refreshing hardware.
More than half of the IT execs are actively considering moving forward with server consolidation, blade deployment, virtualization and outsourcing servers/storage, and installing more energy-efficient equipment.


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Article Archives: New York
New Affordable Supportive Housing in Brooklyn
Brooklyn, N.Y., is gaining more than 200 new supportive housing units and creating new jobs in the process. CAMBA Gardens, a new affordable housing complex, is under construction on the grounds of Kings County Hospital. The complex will provide affordable housing, health care, and social services for tenants. CAMBA Gardens is a partnership of the public hospital, a nonprofit developer, service providers, and various government agencies. The developer, CAMBA Housing Ventures, is a community-based social service agency.
CAMBA Gardens will have 149 units for families with special needs and 63 units for low-income families. Construction began in 2011 and is expected to generate 280 construction jobs and 25 permanent jobs.
The $68 million project relies on a variety of financing. New York State Homes and Community Renewal approved $37.5 million in bonds for the project through the state's New Issue Bond Program. In addition, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development Supportive Housing Loan Program provided $26 million, the New York State Homeless Housing Assistance Program funded $5.2 million, and the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York committed $1.4 million through its Affordable Housing Program. The project also relies on $25.6 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credits.
For more information, visit CAMBA's Web site at www.camba.org.
Help for Cooperatively Owned Businesses
The Cooperative Fund of New England is a Community Development Financial Institution focused on providing financial and technical assistance to community-based, cooperatively owned businesses and nonprofits serving low-income communities throughout New England and parts of eastern New York state.
Founded in 1975 to support food cooperative development, the Cooperative Fund has recently expanded its focus to include other types of cooperatives involved in affordable housing development and job creation. Loans made by the Cooperative Fund can cover such needs as working capital, predevelopment costs, business expansion, and equipment and real estate purchases.
In 2010, the Cooperative Fund made loans that resulted in the creation or retention of 616 jobs and 545 units of affordable housing throughout its service area, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont. Recent loans originated by the Cooperative Fund have supported a variety of activities, including local retail food cooperatives, energy-efficiency service providers, youth services, affordable housing development, and rural and urban food production.
Loans provided to the Cooperative Fund are used exclusively as capital for its revolving loan program. Contributions and grants help the fund to provide technical and educational services that support its lending activities.
To learn more about the Cooperative Fund, including potential investment and lending opportunities, please contact Executive Director Rebecca Dunn at (800) 818-7833, or e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com.
New Upstate New York Housing Tax Credit Fund
The fund specifically targets affordable housing development in the upstate New York region and will accept investments as low as $250,000.
Great Lakes Capital Fund is a nonprofit LIHTC syndicator supporting affordable housing development in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, and now New York through the creation of this new fund.
Since its inception, the company and its affiliates have invested more than $1.5 billion in housing and community development activities supporting 450 developments, 25,000 housing units, and 1 million square feet of commercial and community space.
For more information, e-mail Jim Logue or call (517) 482-8555; or e-mail Dennis Quinn or call (313) 841- 3751.
You can also visit the Great Lakes Capital Fund Web site.
Grameen America Reaches the Microenterprises and Unbanked in New York City
In November 2007, Grameen America opened the first pilot office in the United States in Queens, New York. There are plans to open additional New York locations over the next few years. The types of businesses funded through the Queens location include cosmetology, pet grooming, day care, clothing, jewelry, and food sales.
In the Grameen group model, prospective borrowers form groups comprised of five individuals. To build financial resources, all borrowers are required to save money when they receive loans. The group meets periodically to help educate borrowers on financial issues. This borrower education, combined with the savings requirement, encourages loan repayment.
In 2008, Grameen America provided 380 borrowers with more than $1 million in loans. Loans range from $500 to $3,000 for a term of 6 to 12 months. The interest rate charged is 15 percent, which is less than some alternative financing options that these borrowers previously used because of their lack of credit history.
Initially, Grameen America was funded by grants, private contributions, and loans. Its goal is to become a self-sustaining entity.
For further information, visit Grameen America's Web site.
Small Loans, Big Returns
Headquartered in Milwaukee, WtW makes its loans from 43 offices in 21 states: California, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
WtW offices are located in social service agencies affiliated with the Alliance of Children and Families (ACF). ACF agencies screen and provide financial education to borrowers and service the loans. WtW local offices provide financial education to more than three persons for every individual who receives a loan. Investors in WtW include several national foundations, the Community Development Financial Institution Fund of the U.S. Treasury Department, local United Way offices, and financial institutions. Banks can be involved by investing in the national WtW loan fund, by referring to local WtW offices prospective borrowers who do not meet conventional credit criteria, by participating in local WtW loan committees, and by providing grants and in-kind donations to WtW.
For more information, contact President Jeff Faulkner at (414) 359-1448 ext. 2, e-mail him, or visit his Web site.
New Incentives for Banks to Open Branches in Underserved Communities
For further information, please contact Daniel Delehanty at the NYS Banking Department at (212) 709-3574 or email@example.com.
Investing in Sustainable Forestry
For further information about this and other funds in these rural geographies, contact Coastal Enterprises, Inc, at (207) 882-7552.
Lower Manhattan Gets Affordable Housing
Contact: Lower Manhattan Development Corp. (212) 962-2300.