text:
Continuing with the amazing stuff you can do with the eval() function: You can use it in a user interface binding to enable your form to programmatically control what the user sees.
As an exhibition of this capability, I'll give you the pertinent parts of an XML editor form that dynamically adjusts to XML structure and allows you to edit the content of any leaf nodes while giving you link buttons to allow you to drill deeper into element subtrees as well as a "back" button to go to the parent of any subtree whose leaves you may be editing. It starts with an XForms repeat, like this:
<xforms:repeat nodeset="eval(repeatexpr)" id="XMLEditor">
The repeat expression is computed by the form and is changed by user actions that drill deeper into the XML tree or go back to parent elements. The repeat expression will end with "/*" so that the controls in the repeat will show the children of whatever node the repeat expression selects before the "/*".
For simplicity, I've put the XML data to be edited as the first element of the instance that also manages the calculation of the repeat expression, but you could do this as two separate instances instead. Here's the instance structure I used in this example:
<xforms:instance id="data" xmlns="">
<Order-Details type="sequence">
<Item-Cost type="currency" value="Price * Quantity"/>
<Subtotal type="currency" value="sum(Order-Details/Item/Item-Cost)"/>
<Tax type="currency" value="Subtotal * 0.05"/>
<Total type="currency" value="Subtotal + Tax"/>
The first element could be anything, but I used a "purchase order" data structure, so this form will magically morph into a purchase order editor. Further, it should now be clear why in the last blog I concentrated on data that carried its own formula calculations and data validation rules. If I replace the Purchase-Order element above with the loan calculation data below, then this same form will help calculate your monthly payment on a loan:
<Loan-Application label="ACME Used Car Loan Application">
<Start-Date type="date">*</Start-Date>
<Name required="true">John Q. Public</Name>
<Address required="Name != ''"></Address>
<City required="Name != ''"></City>
<StatProv required="Name != ''" label="State/Province"/>
<PostalCode required="Name != ''"/>
<Employer required="../Principal > 20000"/>
<Principal required="true" constraint="Principal > 0 and Principal <= 50000"></Principal>
<Duration required="true" constraint="Duration > 0 and Duration <= 84"></Duration>
<Interest-Rate constraint1="Interest-Rate > 0"
constraint2="Interest-Rate <= 5+floor(Duration div 12)"></Interest-Rate>
<rate hidden="true" value="Interest-Rate div 1200.0"/>
<Monthly-Payment type="currency"
relevant="Monthly-Payment > 0"
value="choose(rate > 0,
Principal * rate div (1.0 - power(1.0 + rate, -Duration)),
Principal div Duration)"
<Total-Payout type="currency"
relevant="Monthly-Payment > 0"
value="Monthly-Payment * Duration"
Within the repeat, we can use different kinds of form controls to be responsive to the identified types of data and also to the issue of whether something is an input or an output based on whether it has a computed value. Here are two examples at the XFDL+XForms level:
<field sid="INPUT_CURRENCY">
<xforms:input ref="self::node()[not(*) and not(@value) and @type='currency']">
<xforms:label><xforms:output value="choose(./@label, ./@label, concat(translate(local-name(.), '-_', ' '), ': '))"/></xforms:label>
<xforms:hint ref="./@hint"/>
<xforms:alert ref="./@alert"/>
<display compute="xformsenabled"/>
<label sid="VALUE_CURRENCY">
<xforms:output ref="self::*[not(*) and @value and @type='currency']">
<xforms:label><xforms:output value="choose(./@label, ./@label, concat(translate(local-name(.), '-_', ' '), ': '))"/></xforms:label>
<xforms:hint ref="./@hint"/>
<xforms:alert ref="./@alert"/>
<display compute="xformsenabled=='on' and value != 'NaN' ? 'on' : 'off'"/>
In the predicates of the form controls, "not (*)" ensures that these form controls are only relevant if the data node is a leaf that is to be filled with character content. The "value" attribute in the data provides a calculation formula, so that has been used to distinguish when to provide and input versus an output form control. The two examples above make relevant form controls for data elements annotated with a currency type attribute. Other form controls for checkboxes and dates can be created to bind to types like booleans and dates.
Next, let's look at how the repeat expression is computed:
<xforms:bind nodeset="firstelem" calculate="local-name(instance('data')/*[1])" />
<xforms:bind nodeset="path" calculate="concat(../firstelem, ../expr)" />
<xforms:bind nodeset="repeatexpr" calculate="concat(../path, '/*')" />
By design of this particular "magic morphing" (XML editor) form, the first element in the computed XPath expression is the first element of the instance. Then we compute the full path to the element whose children will become editable by the repeat and the form controls within the repeat. This is based on the "expr" data node that will be programatically manipulated. Because expr is initially empty in the instance data above, that means you will initially see the children of the first element of the instance, because the repeatexpr is calculated to the first element plus the initially empty "expr" plus "/*" to get the children.
OK, so how do we adjust what the XForms repeat presents to the user? Basically, we want to either add a child element name to drill down into a subtree or we want to subtract a child element name to go up a level. First, let's cover how to add an element, i.e. add a step to the location "path". Inside the repeat, each child element that is a subtree root (has children) gets an XForms trigger in a link style button. If you activate the trigger (press the button) then you drill down into the corresponding node. Here's what that looks like:
<xforms:trigger ref="self::node()[*]">
<xforms:label><xforms:output value="choose(./@label, concat(./@label, ' >>'), concat(translate(local-name(.), '-_', ' '), choose(*[1]/* or *[1]='', '', concat(' - ', *)), ' >>'))"/></xforms:label>
<xforms:hint ref="./@hint"/>
<xforms:alert ref="./@alert"/>
<xforms:action ev:event="DOMActivate">
<xforms:setvalue ref="instance('data')/expr"
value="concat(., '/', local-name(context()),
choose(count(context()/../*[local-name(.)=local-name(context())]) = 1, '',
concat('[', 1 + count(context()/preceding-sibling::*[local-name(.)=local-name(context())]), ']')
<xforms:setindex repeat="XMLEditor" index="1"/>
<xforms:setfocus control="XMLEditor"/>
The trigger ref binds to a node that has children, as tested by the predicate "[*]". The label shows the name of the child element whose subtree you will drill into if you activate the trigger. The action sequence simply chucks a slash plus that name onto the end of the "expr" as a new step in the location path. This adds to the "path" which adds to the "repeatexpr" which updates the XForms repeat to show the children of that subtree root.
The trigger to go back up to a parent from a child is something that would live outside of the repeat because you only need one "back" button. It's actually a bit trickier because you can't get the last slash in order to lop off the last location step in the path. Fortunately, XPath lets you find the first occurrence of a substring, and XForms actions include a loop. So, the way I did this was to construct a new expression out of all the location steps in the old one, except the last, which was detectable by there being no more slashes. Here's what that looks like:
<xforms:trigger id="GoBack" ref="expr">
<xforms:hint>Go Back</xforms:hint>
<xforms:action ev:event="DOMActivate">
<xforms:setvalue ref="../scratchexpr" value="substring(../expr, 2)"/>
<xforms:setvalue ref="."/>
<xforms:action while="contains(../scratchexpr, '/')">
<xforms:setvalue ref="." value="concat(., '/', substring-before(../scratchexpr, '/'))"/>
<xforms:setvalue ref="../scratchexpr" value="substring-after(., '/')"/>
<xforms:setindex repeat="XMLEditor" index="1"/>
<xforms:setfocus control="XMLEditor"/>
The first setvalue copies the "expr" less the leading slash into the "scratchexpr". Then, we clear out the "expr" so we can build it up anew from the parts of the scratchexpr. Now, we execute while "scratchexpr" still contains a slash, so the loop stops short of copying the last location step from scratchexpr to expr. Once the processing is complete, then once again, the modifications made to expr, reverberate to "path" then to "repeatexpr" due to the XForms binds above, and so the XForms repeat updates to show and allow editing of the content of the parent element.
And that's it! Thanks to eval() used in combination with all other pre-existing features of XForms, you can make a form that edits any XML element data structure.


text:
In 1979 Jim Henson brought the Muppets to the big screen with the aptly titled film "The Muppet Movie." On December 5th, the Muppet Movie came to Netflix. Tonight, you should watch it.
I probably don't have to extol its virtues to most of you, but for the one of you out there who may not have seen it in his or her youth (!), it's a wonderfully wacky film with a cast of characters you know you'll love, great (yet somehow wholesome!) laughs, and some killer tunes. There's also this whole bunch of really bizarre meta-fictive humor involving the Muppets finding the script to the movie they're in which is also the movie they wind up making, kind off. It's great. And now that it's on Netflix, there's no excuse not to go give it (another) watch. At least go watch "Movin' Right Along" on YouTube if nothing else. [Netflix]

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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How to Raffle
How to Raffle
What is a raffle?
A raffle is a lottery or game of chance used as a way of raising funds, subject to certain restrictions. Raffle winners are typically decided through a drawing or some other method based on an element of chance. A raffle does not include a "skill" event, nor can a raffle be determined by the outcome of a publicly exhibited sporting event.
A political committee may conduct a raffle only if it first receives an approved license from the State Board of Elections. Such licenses are free of charge and may be sought by submitting a one-page application available from the Board. Some counties or other local jurisdictions in Illinois may also have additional requirements for conducting raffles – committees should check with local authorities where a raffle is planned.
What are the requirements for obtaining a raffle license?
As already mentioned a political committee must obtain a raffle license before conducting a raffle or selling or issuing chances for a raffle. The
License Application to Conduct a Raffle
requires information about when and where chances will be sold, when and where the winning chances will be determined, what prizes are involved and the names and addresses of the committee officials responsible for the conduct of the raffle. The application must be signed by the Chairman or Treasurer of the committee and the application must be notarized.
An established political committee is eligible to conduct a raffle regardless of how long it has been in existence. However, a committee is not eligible for a raffle license if it:
owes the State Board of Elections any unpaid civil penalty [230 ILCS 15/8.1(c)(3)(vii)],
has any outstanding required campaign disclosure report or document that is more than 10 days overdue [230 ILCS 15/8.1(c)(3)(viii)] , or
is the subject of an unresolved claim for a civil penalty. "Unresolved claim" includes any contested or appealed fine that has not been finally decided by the Board or in some cases by the Courts of Illinois [230 ILCS 15/8.1(c)(3)(vii)].
Additionally, a committee is barred from conducting a raffle if any officer of the committee is a professional gambler or gambling promoter, or if any officer of the committee has been convicted of a felony, an offense identified in Article 10 of the Election code or an offense identified in 5/9-25.1 of the Election Interference Prohibition Act [10 ILCS 5/9-25.1 et seq.]. For a complete list of restrictions and requirements, please see the Illinois Raffles Act [230 ILCS 15/8.1].
How is a raffle license obtained?
License Application to Conduct a Raffle
should be downloaded, completed and mailed to the Board's Springfield or Chicago office, or faxed to 217/782-5959. In the case of an approved application, a signed and date-stamped copy of the application will be returned to the committee. In the case of a denied application, the submitting committee will be notified of the reason for the denial and (if applicable) may re-submit the application if time allows. Please be aware that if information listed on the application (such as the committee officers) does not match the Board's records, the raffle application will be rejected.
Although the Board is allowed 30 days to act on a license application, the process generally takes place the same day the application is received. It is therefore possible for same-day approval of a raffle application for an event taking place that day, but it is recommended that an application be submitted at least several days before the actual date of the proposed raffle. A raffle license cannot be approved retroactively, but can only be approved for raffles occurring subsequent to the date the application is received by the Board. If an application includes sales or drawing dates that are prior to the date the application is received, it will either be denied or approved only from that date forward.
In general, a separate raffle license should be obtained for each raffle to be held by a committee. However, a raffle license may be valid for multiple raffles to be conducted over a period of up to one year. This option is only for committees that intend to conduct regularly scheduled raffles, such as a 50/50 drawing at monthly meetings. In the case of multiple raffles, the application must specify the number of raffles to be held and the dates for those raffles.
What reporting is required for a raffle?
All receipts and expenditures from a raffle must be reported by a committee on its next Semi-Annual Report. Raffle receipts may also need to be included on a Pre-Election Report, if raffle sales occur during a pre-election reporting period. Additionally, a separate Raffle Report must be submitted for each gathering or occasion at which a committee conducts a raffle.
A Raffle Report must include the totals of gross receipts, expenses and net proceeds for a given raffle event. It also must include a detailed listing of the distribution of net proceeds from the raffle. Cash prizes should be itemized by listing the date and amount of the payout, as well as the payee's (raffle winner's) name and address and the purpose of the payment (such as "raffle winner" or "prize"). The section of the Raffle Report labeled "distribution of net proceeds of cash" should also include a listing of the net proceeds retained by the committee conducting the raffle. Non-cash prizes should be itemized by listing the winner's name and address and the date of the distribution, as well as a brief description of the item or prize.
Although a Raffle Report only requires a total figure for expenses related to a raffle, committees must additionally maintain detailed records for all deductions from gross receipts for each raffle. These records should include (1) receipts or other records indicating the amount, (2) a description of the purchased item, service or other reason for the deduction and (3) the recipient.
A Raffle Report must be signed by either the Treasurer or Chairman of the committee and should be filed (upon completion of the raffle) with a committee's next required report – either a Pre-Election, Semi-Annual or Final Report. For committees conducting multiple raffles on one license, a separate Raffle Report should be filed for each raffle event for which separate raffle ticket sales are conducted. Each raffle is considered to be completed once the winning chances have been drawn for each event involving separate ticket sales.
For example, suppose a committee obtains a license to conduct 12 raffles – one at each of their monthly meetings. If tickets will be sold for each individual drawing each month the committee would be required to file 12 Raffle Reports – one for each monthly drawing. On the other hand, if the committee conducted one round of ticket sales covering all 12 monthly drawings, only one Raffle Report would need to be filed and that report would be due following the completion of the last drawing.
There are no provisions at this time for electronic filing of Raffle Reports, so committees that file their other campaign disclosure reports electronically must file Raffle Reports on paper. Raffle reports may be filed at the Board's Springfield or Chicago office, but need not be filed with a County Clerk.
All committee records relating to raffles must be kept for 3 years.
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How to Raffle


text:
A wonderful literary agent in New York City is reading my novel. As I am waiting for good news, I'm working on my next story. The Obsessive Reader will not be blogging in the foreseeable future as she devotes every available moment to her own books to be enjoyed by her fellow obsessive readers. With thanks and appreciation.
All the best!


text:
I was going to work on an essay in response to Ms. Chua's article. I had several pages of notes, and was going to take the two or three hours it took to condense those notes into some type of narrative. Since I have a guest spot on the Strib's blog, I was thinking about posting it there, just because I think alternative perspectives from Asian Americans need to exist – but I was also a bit wary about the energy it would take to endure the hateful comments that were sure to be leveled at me. As a parent, these days I have little time and even less patience for stupidity.
Part of me was trying to talk myself out of it. Plenty of Asian American bloggers have responded, covering such issues as whether or not the controversial Wall Street Journal excerpt really did justice to her book (see Jeff Yang's excellent article on that subject), to whether or not raising a child in this fashion is really a good idea.
So, why should I write anything at all? This is not my fight, I said to myself. Even though there seems to be some conflation of Chinese with Asian American, and you have some Chinese blood in you besides, why throw down and risk a flame war over this? It has nothing to do with you. It's not like Ms. Chua cares what you think – after all, it's clear that people like me are not her target audience.
But then, don't Asian Americans like Ms. Chua, who have a large mass market platform to express themselves, have some power over how the perceptions of me, and my family, are shaped? And if so, shouldn't I use my own platforms to express an alternative perspective?
Damn, it's recycling night though. It just snowed and I still gotta shovel the walk. And tonight is my partner's night to have writing time while I watch baby…
Okay, let's do this.
In this essay, I was going to be careful to point out that my feelings and opinions were not an attack on Ms. Chua, as she has the right to write about whatever she wants. As I have the right not to read her book, a right I fully intend to exercise.
I was going to be careful to say that my critiques had more to do with representation, rather than a debate on parenting. Ms. Chua's reality is her reality – this is not an attack on her authenticity. I am more interested in the reaction, from Asians and non-Asians alike. There seems to be an acceptance that there is some true essential "Chinese" (and "Asian") way to raise your kids and some "Western" way, and by "Western" it seems the author means straight upper middle class white male, and no one seems to be talking about the problematics of such assumptions. That no one is talking about how these assumptions play into very specific consumptions of Asian Americans – culture without politics, as if we live in a vacuum devoid of things like race, class, gender, sexuality. At this point in my essay, I'd take my partner's advice and say that the idea that there is an essential, Western (male) and Eastern (female) way to raise children, and the idea that the melding of the individualist male West and the feminine East as some sort of liberating, uplifting redemption narrative is a colonialist social construct straight out of Said's book Orientalism…
Aw man, I really don't want to write this.
Then I was going to talk about my own upbringing. How my parents literally saved my life, as a baby, as they shielded me from harm in their arms, bombs shaking the shelter we hid in with other Vietnamese families as the Communist Party tried to kill us and prevent our escape. How I grew up in America trying to understand contradiction: that people said this was the greatest country to live in, while as refugees we lived in a neighborhood made up of mostly impoverished and disenfranchised Native Americans, African Americans, Southeast Asians, and Chicano/as. How my parents wanted me to know my culture but lie about my ethnicity and tell everyone I was Chinese because they felt Americans would blame us for the war and hated Vietnamese people.
These struggles that my mom and dad (YES, my dad,
And yes, those dynamics, combined with my parents' own personalities, effected how we were raised. There were days I was scared of my parents, days I felt guilty that I disappointed them, days when I had no idea what they wanted from me, days I tried to run away from home and days I wanted to kill myself.
I'd also write about joy – how my parents would take me to work and I would sit in their break room, drawing pictures and reading books for hours while waiting for their 15 minute break so they could come hang out with me. How my mom would bike around town with me clinging to her, how my dad would sew stuffed animals out of bargain bin fabric for me. I was going to write about the magic of going to a friend's birthday party and playing his Atari, how my dad taught me to ride a bicycle in an empty parking lot, how a Black Panther saw me get bullied on my block and offered to teach me martial arts. And how our poverty led to my love of books and stories, because loaning books from the library was free.
In this essay, I'd own up to my own privilege – both as a male and as the youngest son, and while I went through struggles of race and class, I'll admit that expectations were less for me than for my sisters and my older brothers. I will not dismiss patriarchy or make excuses for it - at the same time I'd assert that patriarchy and male privilege is far from just an Asian problem, it's a problem and has been a problem in many cultures the world over. And the expectations and gender roles for Asian men are also limiting and damaging, albeit in a different way than for women.
I'd also write how, as I got older, I came to understand that a lot of the pressure I felt to pursue a white collar career came from my parents wanting me to escape the life of poverty and violence that they lived through. Around us was gang warfare, drugs, injustice, genocide – and all this to a family who just lost their country to war. I can understand why they would want me to pursue anything that would get me out of there.
I'd write about how my parents have come to understand that I can survive while working at something called a "nonprofit." Though sometimes my dad does suggest to me that it's still not too late for me to go to nursing school.
Then I'd write about my own struggles, and joys, of being a father to an amazing, hilarious daughter. That if Ms. Chua's book, or any book, could contain the answers on being a good parent, I'd have read it 10 times over by now. I would write about how this process has been difficult, challenging, amazing. That I fear how my past, both as a child and as an adult, may have negative consequences on how I parent. And how nothing scares me more than the things I want to protect our child from, in this world. Sure, my partner and I have a say and choices to make, we have a duty to make informed choices about how to raise our child.
But there are some things we can only try to prepare her for. Homophobia, classism, sexism, racism. How can we, as Asian American parents, prepare her adequately for these things? How do we teach her about tragedies like the recent death of young father Jason Yang, and young son Fong Lee, both to police brutality – how can I teach her about these things when I barely know how to deal with them myself, how these things effect me on an emotional level so intense that I want to retreat entirely from the world when I think about them? Jason Yang's kids will never see their father again. Or how it seems trivial to me to think about piano lessons and sleepovers when I try to imagine what it's like to be Fong Lee's parents, dealing with indescribable loss as well as continued systematic injustice. Then I'd apologize for making references to piano lessons.
I was going to stress that I offer these things not as some type of authentic substitute for Ms. Chua's experience, but rather to question if there are certain Asian American stories and voices are privileged and consumed, more than others. If certain perspectives and stories from Asian Americans that carry specific racial, gendered, class-based assumptions keep getting reinforced time and again, within our communities and outside of them.
My story and opinion are not meant to replace Ms. Chua's, but to question perception and consumption of Asian American identity – an identity that we are often powerless to shape ourselves in the mainstream. And my story is not the only one being neglected: what about Asian American Adoptee parents and children, Queer parents, parents who have to deal with deportation of their sons and daughters? And what about those Chinese American families that don't have the same socio-economic leverage that Ms. Chua has? I'm not insinuating it is Ms. Chua's responsibility to tell these stories – I am saying that these stories exist, and it is worth asking whether certain perspectives and stereotypes are constantly being reinforced and consumed.
And in the end, I came to a compromise. It would have taken me hours to write the essay I aimed to write. Instead I wrote this messy, and perhaps poorly written, essay, so that it exists. That my parents exist, that I exist. That many different stories exist.
And I plan on spending the time I saved by hanging out with my baby daughter and my smart, lovely partner. I don't pretend to have the answers and for damn sure I'm not going to write a book about it. But my family and my people are worth fighting for, in the way we raise our child, the way I struggle to maintain my relationship with my parents, and at the very least throw down with some messy words on an essay. Because my family is worth it. They are absolutely worth it.
p.s. I should also probably go visit my parent's house and see how that whole ceiling-falling-down-because-of-ice thing is working out. My parents are worth it, too.


text:
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text:
2013-06-14 • Arizona Heat
Start: 12:04:56
Seventies: Happy Friday! about time! lol Howdy daviss
daviss: lol it was hard getting on this morning howdy back Seventies
Seventies: oh really
daviss: I am convinced that this heat has a lot to do with puter acting up
Seventies: I'm watching another movie on Folkstream, "The Language You Cry In" yea you're supposed to only have it in a place no more than about 115.
daviss: oh really! Is it good well I think its the outside weather
Seventies: that's the story of the connection between Sierra Leone Mende and the Gullah. Its great! It's about an hour long
daviss: especially when the wind is blowing hot air
Seventies: I just can't get over the concept of hot dry air... lol
daviss: lol I hear ya
Seventies: I mean its like having a blowdrying just blowing. Lord!
daviss: hahahaha
Seventies: I hate blowdrying... lol
daviss: dry naturally
Seventies: yes... you know I got good hair! :}
alt: what's up ladies?
daviss: heyyyy alt! How are you today?
Seventies: Howdy dear alt.
daviss: uh oh alt, you are dear today....lol lol
Seventies: Here is a link to the film I'm watching... http://www.folkstreams.net/film,270
alt: oh, oh "dear"
daviss: hahahahaaaa
Seventies: I've been kind of curt lately. Sorry. Its this doggone furlough business.
alt: how many days will you be furloughed & when Seventies?
Seventies: They have $1.5 BILLION dollars to build a new building with Contract workers, BUT can't pay me my money. And I may lose my insurance during the furlough 11 days alt. from July - Sep 30
alt: why would you lose your insurance during furlough?
Seventies: And BTW no budget has been passed for FY 2014 so this will happen yet again. Because, they will not take out the money and once the furlough is over you'd have to pay the past due premiums PLUS interest... and there is no backpay coming.
daviss: hmmmmm
Seventies: And no other branches are furloughing their civilians. The entire thing is just truly a slap in the face.
alt: that's strange Seventies, it would seem like you would just lose 8 hrs. pay for those furloughed days.
Seventies: Well its 16 hours per pay period.
alt: is the furlough only being applied to DOD?
Seventies: No several federal agencies are on the chopping block The big one was the TSA and Air Traffic controllers But all kinds of people will eventually be affected by this failure to pass a budget...
alt: yeah, that's a "stringer" 20% loss of salary for the period of the furloughed days .. 11 days would be over 2-3 months, right?
Seventies: yes... But they will be doing it again come FY 2014 in October.
alt: I used to know all of that Budget Year, Fiscal Year, Apportionment Year stuff.
daviss: I know how you feel Seventies having gone through the same thing once upon a time, and also my kid went through it last year Especially when you have children
Seventies: Its crazy they still haven't passed a budget
daviss: They have a new breed up there seventies
alt: it doesn't seem fair to single out "specific" agencies to NOT be affected.
Seventies: And payroll taxes went wwwaayyy up... look I have a bottom line too.. Its getting to the point where I think they are pretty much saying 'Let them eat cake'
alt: guess you have to look at the bright side for comfort Seventies .. you do have a job with relative peace & security. whatever that is worth.
Seventies: yes, I do. But at the same time, I want my congress people to take a 20% pay cut as well until they can do their job.... Anyway...
alt: I can feel your pain Seventies, as a former Civil Servant, I remember us "Feds" always getting "scre*ed" when it was time to pinch.
Seventies: Yep So what's new in the world of history and genealogy?
alt: genealogy is relatively slow so I'm catching up on Gedmatch & the genetic genealogy 'stuff"
Seventies: I was telling daviss the other night that I have my places to visit list completed for my trip to MS/TX. And while we were talking, I added more places! lol and I'm going to put my children to work helping me with the research... and they're going to LOVE IT! lol lol lol
alt: when will we see you in "beautiful Ohio"? LOL
Seventies: I'm not sure... I would love to go up there as you know I have peoples up there. :}
daviss: Uh, will they really love it or will you be the loved one Seventies?
Seventies: One of the ladies I met here moved back to her home in Cleveland, OH...
daviss: hello vkn!!
alt: hello vkn, how you "be's" ???
Seventies: they will love it... I have interviews to do... :} Hello vkn!
vkn: howdy all everybody seventies alt daviss
daviss: :?
Seventies: I just want to really have this last hurrah with my children you know what I mean? They'll be heading off to the real world this time next year :} Oh yeah, I want to visit out West too... :}
alt: enjoy them while you can Seventies
daviss: The Long, Long Trailer ride
Seventies: did you all enjoy that Texas doc about prison songs?? I loved it! The music reminded me in style of what we used to sing in church.
daviss: I listened to it Seventies
vkn: not yet me
Seventies: check the link posted up above vkn another doc I was watching this morning.
vkn: back to genealogy will hear your link later seventies
Seventies: okay
vkn: I posted the R Nathaniel Dett link Alt
alt: okay vkn .. thanks!!!
daviss: I saw that Dett post also vkn
Seventies: Well I'm not tired yet of my new fav facebook group, But I'm going to give someone else the chance to post.. lol lol
vkn: Having luck with my Slater slave holder suspect
alt: one step at a time vkn... seems as if you're making progress
daviss: good vkn
vkn: amazing
alt: and all from the comfort of your home LOL LOL LOL
daviss: &%^%^*) BRB
vkn: Son and grandsons leaving 2morry morn
alt: translation daviss LOL LOL LOL I hope it has been a great visit vkn.
vkn: wonderful visit
alt: what are the ages of the grandsons?
vkn: 8 and 13
alt: oh my, I know you had a wonderful time with them
vkn: lol yuppers cooking breakfast
alt: at that age they'll eat ... forever!!!!! and all of the time!!!! LOL
vkn: lol
daviss: ok back!!!
Seventies: grits, bacon, biscuits and scrambled eggs??? hold the gravy please.. lol
vkn: boiled eggs
Seventies: boiled eggs?? what kind of southern cook are you?? lol lol lol
vkn: oh well
alt: a good one Seventies
daviss: I went to get a cup of coffee and coffee all over the counter
alt: Oops!!!!
vkn: wupps daviss
daviss: I forgot to put the pot in sheesh!!
alt: oh my!!!
vkn: my my my
daviss: now I don't even want any ......
alt: that would get one out of the mood
vkn: i can see why daviss y'all be good
alt: you too vkn ... careful too LOL
daviss: I guess I will leave too so I can pout some more
alt: and Ms Anita has some things for me to do .. so laters y'all
daviss: bye alt bye seventies
Seventies: What the???


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New Cars+New Gear+New Technology
Flirting With The Dark Side In The Most Powerful Mercedes Yet
* Deep within Daimler-Benz's monolithic enterprise resides an enclave for the Black arts. Conducting their secretive activities as the innocuously named AMG Performance Studio, these masters of arcane technologies are not content to perform such commonplace conjurations as turning lead into gold. Theirs is a greater magic, transforming already marvelous alloys of applied science into machines of extraordinary attributes--as I discovered once again in a day behind the wheel of the Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series.
The third in a hopefully unending series of Black Series specials, the SL65 Black is so far the most exciting, as well as the most terrifying. A cool head and prudent right foot are needed to keep the twin-turbo V12's 661 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque (electronically limited!) from overwhelming the traction aids, good as they are, which strain to retain a modicum of civilized behavior in a car that can roar from zero to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds and gets sideways even more quickly.
My drive from San Francisco to Laguna Seca began innocently enough, as U.S. roads are not built to accommodate the car's 198-mph top end, and my bank account is not built to accommodate several days' stay in the county jail. But once I began lapping Laguna's iconic road circuit, my velocity became limited not by fear of the law but concern for my ass.
You see, I'm not good enough for the Black, at least on the track. Driving on the street requires the self control of a monk. At full throttle it can make babies cry, grown men weep with envy, and little boys trail along after it like the Pied Piper's rats. And it attracts the law too. Be very careful, or you're going to be arrested on suspicion of something they'll figure out sooner or later.
Transforming the 601-hp SL65 AMG into the track-worthy Black required the wave of a huge financial wand (one reason each of the 175 examples coming to America will start around $300,000), but there's no magic wand big enough to grant me the nads necessary to approach the huge Dunlop tires' limits.
To help protect the unskilled driver and society at large, the Black retains all SL65 safety systems and, thus, much of its weight. So directing more than 4,000 pounds through the track's tight corners made my eyes water with concentration, and made me fully appreciate the special tweaks refined in the Performance Studio's labs and machine shops that turned a luxury car into a scary-fast bellowing beast.
Except for the redesigned twin turbochargers, not much was required to achieve the additional 58 hp, as the hand-built 6.0-liter's innards are plenty stout already. The turbos are newly configured with a spiral cross section that's 12 percent larger, which, together with optimized wastegate ducts, enable higher flow rates and increased power across the rev band. Cooling of the intake charge and engine has been improved by 30 percent more-efficient twin intercoolers, a repositioned radiator, high-performance aspirator, and large vents in the hood. A modified intake air duct and new mufflers deliver a distinctive and wondrous acoustic harmony combining turbo whistle and exhaust boom.
Director of vehicle development, Tobias Moers, and crew attacked the weight problem by fitting uniquely carved carbon-fiber panels in place of the steel fenders, quarter-panels, hood, and trunklid, areas crucial to an improved center of gravity. The convertible top and all its mechanisms are gone, replaced by a composite roof, reshaped windows, and an integrated roll bar. The net result is a loss of some 250 pounds. European models get lightweight race buckets, which would shave off about 125 more pounds, but they can't be fitted to U.S. models because of seatbelt and airbag regulations. I found the fixed carbon chairs extremely accommodating, and almost as comfortable in cruise mode as the leather-covered electrically adjustable seats that come on U.S.-spec Blacks. But crucially, the buckets were far more supportive through the tight bends of Laguna Seca. Owners with a hankering for weekend competition should consider finding a way to swap in the Euro seats.
Comfortable seats or not, there's no disguising the chief indicator of the Black's outer limits, a tautly wound suspension obviously tuned for fast laps. Conventional steel springs and shocks replace the heavier air springs and Active Body Control of the SL65, and, in line with previous Black Series, the whole shebang offers adjustable ride height, shock damping, wheel camber, and alignment for those few with the know-how to read a car's behavior at scary speeds. The massive tires are Dunlop Sport Maxx GTs wrapping lightweight forged OZ wheels, with 325/30ZR20s on the end of a 4.8-inch-wider track, and 265/35ZR19s fitted to a 4.9-inch-wider front track. (Those fulsome fenders aren't just for looks.) Peer within the wheel spokes and you'll find 15.4-inch two-piece rotors and six-piston calipers in front and 14.2-inch rears with four-piston calipers. They deliver fade-free stops in everything but hyperactive mode, when the car's weight-induced momentum starts to catch up to the braking power.
Those same physics are the reason why ultimately the SL Black is still a street car and not a race car. It is possible to completely disengage ESP, except during acceleration, when limits are electronically enacted both to save the machinery and to get power to the pavement in the most efficient way. This doesn't work so well on the track, though, stifling throttle-steer and slowing corner exits. And with the controls off, it's very difficult to keep the nose in front of the rear end at racing speeds. I tried it for a lap and a half and decided the Sport mode, which still allows a degree of chassis yaw before intervention, provided both the thrill and the safety net I prefer in incredibly powerful automobiles.
There's so much power on hand that AMG's familiar five-speed Speedshift Plus automatic might as well be a two- or three-speed. I never reached top gear at Laguna, and scarcely used the paddles behind the steering wheel. There are four drive programs: C, S, M1, and M2. Both manual modes retain the chosen gear and will not change up even at full throttle, M2 with a 20 percent quicker response time. The automatic double clutching on downshifts is cool and reduces the effects of load alteration on the chassis, which is especially crucial when braking for a corner on the race circuit or for safer driving in wet and icy conditions.
But that's all detail and, at the end of the day, is rendered meaningless by the brutish beauty of this latest Black. Let there be more!
2010 Mercedes-BenzSL65 AMG Black Series
* Layout
Longitudinal front engine, rear-wheel drive
* Engine
6.0-liter V8, sohc 24-valve, twin turbo
* Transmission
Five-speed automatic
* Suspension
Four-link front, multi-link rear coilover systems; adjustable shock damping, ride height, wheel camber
* Brakes
Six-piston fixed calipers, 15.3-inch perforated rotors (f), four-piston fixed calipers, 14.2-inch perforated rotors (r)
* Dimensions
Length/Width/Height (in.):180.6/77.2/51.6Wheelbase: 100.8 in.Curb Weight: 4,200 lb (est.)
* Performance
Peak Power: 661 hp @ 5400 rpmPeak Torque: 738 lb-ft @ 2200 rpm (limited)0-62 mph: 3.8 sec.Top Speed: 199 mph (limited)
Price Tag
$300,000 (est.)


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A Fencing and Gates company In the Croydon Area, which has been in business for just on 1 year, contacted EC Credit Control and asked if an Area Manager could visit them and outline what is involved in the Debt Collection process. They have a large outstanding debt from one of their customers, together with some smaller ones with 2 other companies and wanted to know the chances of retrieval of all 3 debts. Two of the debts are local to them in Croydon but they were concerned that the other debt was outside of their immediate region and located in Lilydale. I advised them that EC Credit Control can collect debts Nationally and even Internationally so any suburb in Melbourne is no problem and we also specialize in the Croydon and Eastern Suburb regions.
The debtor companies had ignored our client's efforts to collect the outstanding debts. Also, our client didn't have a Terms of Trade document, which they felt was giving their customers the opportunity to ignore their obligations to our client . They had almost given up hope of collecting these debts but had heard about EC Credit Control from one of our other customers.
We immediately began the collection process and also worked with the client to discuss the preparation of a Terms of Trade for their future protection. After EC Credit Control became involved in the debt recovery process, the debtor companies finally paid the debt and we have another happy client.
Our client also now has a fully customized Terms of Trade and have confidence that their future business dealings will be from a much stronger position and they can also minimize any future bad debts.


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Contact Info
1395 Highway 29 E
Bunkie, Louisiana 71322
Bunkie, Louisiana 71322
- Phone 1:
- 318-346-7447
Anglers, escaping city-dwellers and artists can attest to the merits of Grand Isle, a sandy island on the Gulf of Mexico that is within easy reach of New Orleans but still a world apart.
Use our easy Lodging Search to find exactly the type of accommodation you are looking for at the right price.Search Now
Switch to Mobile Browser Mode
We offer a compact version of Go-Louisiana for mobile users, allowing you to access just the information you need on the road. Of course, you can still use the full version of Go-Louisiana on your mobile device just as you can on your desktop.


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Well I have to admit I have learned a lot from doing this blog. I have learned where to shop and where not to shop no doubt. Pricesmart was way over priced, but I kind of knew that, just didn't want to admit it to my self. I am now shopping more at that local Coope. Here are the last few days of the budget.
As you can see we did do a little exploring and really all it cost was lunch one day. The other day because I drove both days they treated us for lunch on the 2nd day. Which was very nice. I still haven't had to fill my gas tank yet. I love my car!!!!! You can see I am $757.73 over budget, but I think you can do it for less. You really can live for under $2k a month and even under $1k a month and it all depends on how you wish to live. Size of the house, employees, etc. So lets look at how we can trim this thing down and what I have leaned from all of this.
If we look at the final summary and see what I have removed. You would have $604.14 left on the $2k budget. Now if we add back an amount for additional food because of the eating home more and not out. I also added back 4 of the cheaper meals so you can eat out once a month. Really you could eat our more on that if you know where to go. As you can see I also added Rent of $700 and I still only failed the challenge by $211.12. Really if I would have shopped more local and not at the expensive places I would have come out of this under budget!
So what are the tings I have really learned? I eat out way to much. The place I eat are way expensive and I will now avoid them, as the food and service isn't any better than the cheaper places. Some of the cheaper places like Dingo's the food was amazing! Yes I know I owe you all a ton of restaurant reviews! I promise I will get to them. I have all my receipts right here to be sure I remember which ones I need to do. 🙂 Dingo's review is in our trip overview for Zarcero. You can find that blog here: Zarcero when I finalize the Cartago trip there will be two reviews in it since we ate out 2x. Now the dinner I did not include in my budget as it was hella expensive and I knew I would take it out and not include it at all in any of my calculations. I have learned I need to be smarter about how I shop and not just look for what I am familiar with. I'm not going to do and full blown budget like this one, but at the end of July I will give you an update on how well I did in July. See where we end up shall we. Did I really learn anything and could I put what I have learned into action and change my habits? Only time will tell. Oh wait I can't do it for July we are going back to the states so that won't be fair. Ok so August.
I think my Goal is going to be in July to find the cheapest and best places to eat in Costa Rica. Yep that is going to be my goal!
Well that wraps it up. I hope you have enjoyed it and have learned a few things. Keep following our blog and we will keep you updated on where we go and the things we do and the bargains we can find in Costa Rica. Have fun today and thanks for reading!!!!
Pura Vida!


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Posts Tagged 'illegal piracy racket'
Bharati Dubey & S Ahmed Ali I TNN (THE TIMES OF INDIA; September 24, 2009)
Mumbai: UTV software and communications, producers of the film What's Your Raashee? has demanded a compensation of Rs 50 crore each from Adlabs Films Limited and UFO moviez for 'abetting piracy and infringement of copyright'. Both the parties have been asked to pay up within 7 days.
The masterprint of Ashutosh Gowariker's yet to be released What's Your Raashee? was stolen from Adlabs on Monday evening. UTV in its notice to Adlabs mentioned that in violation of the agreement, the masterprint of the film had been illegally copied on the Adlabs premises and sold to persons engaged in piracy, causing huge damage. The notice also alleged that the illegal activity was possible because of some highly-placed persons employed by Adlabs who gained access to the prints and made copies of it.
In its notice to UFO moviez, the producers alleged that UFO employee Rajesh Chowdhry arrested in the case has also confessed to piracy of the film Aage Se Right. "It is apparent that the entire illegal piracy racket has been able to continue unchecked on UFO premises and that their security system does not provide adequate protection,'' the notice said. UFO has sacked Chowdhry but officials said that Aage Se Right was not released on the UFO platform.
UTV has also written to all producers and distributors' bodies to send showcause notices to Adlabs and UFO moviez. Also, a film delegation including producer Mahesh Bhatt, senior vice-president of AMPTPP Vikas Mohan, Yash Chopra, Ratan Jain and Mukesh Bhatt will be meeting joint commissioner Rakesh Maria on Thursday.
Meanwhile, two more officials of two private companies, Neerav Shah (30), the manager of Reliance Big Pictures (overseas distributions) and Nagda Kalapi (29), the head of the overseas distribution of Shemaroo pictures, were arrested in the case. Kalapi and Shah get a 'benefit' of Rs 35,000 to 50,000 per film, said senior inspector Ansar Peerzade. A video-piracy racket was busted on Sunday. Ashraf Hussain alias Afsar, Feroz Khan and Aman Tanzeem Sayyed were arrested in the case. Their interrogation helped the police arrest Durgadas Bhakta, manager, business development of Adlabs and Chowdhry.
An Adlabs spokesperson said, "The incident in connection with What's Your Raashee is not attributable to us in any manner. The film prints are recorded under the best possible security measures.'' A UFO spokesperson Charu Sacham said that the company has communicated separately with the producers' fraternity and assured them that their business interests and intellectual property are of paramount importance.


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Schools face potential $1.6M budget deficit as special-needs outplacements mount
A growing number of Fairfield special-needs students -- placed in specialized programs outside town -- has prompted a Board of Education budget freeze in an effort to shrink a potential budget gap of up to $1.6 million this year.
School officials updated the Board of Finance on the budget shortfall Tuesday, explaining they had budgeted for 72 outplacement students in the 2013-14, but between October and December of last year, that number jumped to 89 students, upping the costs they are required to pay $955,609 for those programs, so far.
"This is something very, very unusual in my 18 years in Fairfield," Andrea Leonardi, director of special education and pupil services, said Wednesday. Leonardi said she's found that other school districts in the region are facing the same type of increase.
Asked why it's happening, Leonardi said she can't be certain.
"Last year was the most disruptive year any of us can remember," she said, citing Superstorm Sandy and the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Things like that, Leonardi said, can put more stress on already vulnerable students. For example, students who were displaced from their homes because of damage caused by Superstorm Sandy may have lost that foundation of feeling, "We are safe," she said.
"I think it created an atmosphere where vulnerable children experienced great distress and that is now manifesting itself," Leonardi said, requiring specialized programs not offered in town by the public schools. But, she added, "That's my hypothesis; there's really no way to test it."
Superintendent of Schools David Title expects the spending freeze will bring savings of between $300,000 and $500,000, but the worst-case scenario could be a shortfall of between $1.2 million and $1.6 million in this year's budget.
"Other decisions will have to be made that will be less popular," Board of Education Chairman Philip Dwyer said Wednesday. "You still have to put teachers in each classroom, you still have to pay the electricity and gas bills."
Town officials have pledged to work with the school district in an effort to help bridge that budget gap, finance board Chairman Thomas Flynn said.
Flynn said Wednesday the board has asked school officials to provide more specifics on where they feel savings can be found within this year's budget and the impact those cuts will have. He also asked that the budget issue be monitored on a weekly basis.
"We're going to work with the administration on the town side," Flynn said. "We will look at what our options are for helping them bridge that gap."
He said that several years ago when the town found itself in a financial bind, the Board of Education came to its aid to help fill the deficit gap. "At the end of the day, both sides are working for the taxpayer," he said.
And if the spike in outplacements, particularly because of students with mental-health issues, proves to more than a one-year anomaly, Leonardi said the issue then truly becomes a communitywide concern.
"I'm hopeful this is a blip on the screen," she said. "If not, we may have to go, as a community, back to the drawing board. This isn't just an education issue."
firstname.lastname@example.com; 203-556-2771; http://twitter.com/GreillyPost


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Freedom in the World
You are here
Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda
2012 Scores
Freedom Rating (1 = best, 7 = worst)
Civil Liberties (1 = best, 7 = worst)
Political Rights (1 = best, 7 = worst)
Antigua and Barbuda's economy continued to struggle in 2011 following the collapse of the Stanford Financial Group two years earlier and as a result of an increase in crime affecting the country's tourism industry.
Antigua and Barbuda, a member of the Commonwealth, gained its independence from Britain in 1981. In the 2004 elections, the opposition United Progressive Party (UPP), led by Baldwin Spencer, defeated Prime Minister Lester Bird and the ruling Antigua Labour Party (ALP). The transfer of power ended the rule of the Bird political dynasty, which had governed the country continuously since 1976.
The 2009 parliamentary elections returned Spencer and the UPP to power with 9 seats in the 17-seat lower house; the ALP took 7 seats, while the Barbuda People's Movement (BPM) retained the single seat representing Barbuda. While elections were deemed fair and competitive by the Organization of American States, the voting was preceded by instances of violence, including attacks on ALP offices, and there were accusations of voter registration irregularities. In March 2010, a High Court ruling invalidated the election of Spencer and other members of Parliament due to electoral irregularities, though the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeals overturned the verdict in October.
The collapse in 2009 of the $7 billion Stanford Financial Group, run by U.S. financier R. Allen Stanford, exposed deep ties between Stanford and the government of Antigua and Barbuda. A consortium of defrauded investors sued the government, claiming that top officials had been aware of and benefitted from a Ponzi scheme run by the company. In July 2009, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank—the monetary authority of six independent Caribbean nations, including Antigua and Barbuda—seized control of Stanford's Bank of Antigua. A new financial entity, the Eastern Caribbean Amalgamated Bank—co-owned by the Government of Antigua and several other Eastern Caribbean private financial institutions—took over the Bank of Antigua in October 2010. No Antiguan officials connected to the Stanford fraud scheme have been brought to trial in Antigua and Barbuda. However, Stanford, who was accused of masterminding the massive fraud that led to his financial group losing more than $7 billion dollars, was in custody in the United States. In December 2011, a Texas judge ruled that he was mentally fit to stand trial.
Fallout from the collapse of the Stanford Financial Group, as well as the global economic downturn, continued to wreak havoc on Antigua and Barbuda's economy in 2011. In July, the government and the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank were forced to take over the Antigua and Barbuda Investment Bank, which was established in 1990, to save it from collapse due to liquidity problems.
In addition to the Stanford financial crisis, crime continues to be a roadblock to the country's economic recovery. Antiguan authorities attribute an increasing crime rate to drug trafficking and the deportation of expatriates from North America and Europe. In 2010, a leading cruise line canceled all calls to Antigua following the murder of one of its passengers on the island.
Antigua and Barbuda is an electoral democracy. The 1981 constitution establishes a parliamentary system, with a governor general representing the British monarch as ceremonial head of state. The bicameral Parliament is composed of the 17-seat House of Representatives (16 seats for Antigua, 1 for Barbuda), to which members are elected for five-year terms, and an appointed Senate. Of the senators, 11 are appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister, 4 on the advice of the parliamentary opposition leader, 1 on the advice of the Barbuda Council (an 11-member local government body that runs Barbuda's internal affairs), and 1 at the governor general's discretion. Antigua and Barbuda's prime minister is typically the leader of the majority party or coalition that emerges from the legislative elections. The Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC) was established in 2008 to reform the country's electoral system, including the introduction of voter identification cards. Political parties can organize freely.
The government has overseen the enactment of anticorruption and transparency legislation in recent years, but implementation has been slow. In the wake of the Stanford financial scandal, Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer's government has sought to improve its image by addressing irregularities at the ABEC, including alleged violations of electoral law by its chairman. However, complaints remain that Antigua and Barbuda has not moved quickly to cooperate with U.S. authorities to investigate and extradite officials who have committed criminal activities in connection with bank fraud.
Antigua and Barbuda generally respects freedom of the press, but in practice media outlets are concentrated among a small number of firms affiliated with either the current government or its predecessor. The Bird family continues to control television, cable, and radio outlets. The government owns one of three radio stations and the public television station. There are no restrictions on access to the internet.
The government generally respects religious and academic freedoms.
Nongovernmental organizations are active, but they lack adequate funding and are often influenced by the government. Demonstrators are occasionally subject to police harassment. Labor unions can organize freely. The Industrial Relations Court mediates labor disputes.
The country's legal system is based on English common law. During the Bird years, the ALP government manipulated the nominally independent judicial system, which was powerless to address corruption in the executive branch. However, in recent years, the courts have increasingly asserted independence through controversial decisions against the government.
The police generally respect human rights, though basic police statistics remain confidential. The country's prison is in primitive condition, and the abuse of inmates has been reported, though visits by independent human rights groups are permitted. The government has responded to higher levels of crime in recent years with increased patrols, the reintroduction of roadblocks, and stiffer fines for firearms violations.
The 2005 Equal Opportunity Act bars discrimination on the basis of race, gender, class, political affinity, or place of origin. However, societal discrimination and violence against women remain problems.


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Parker has just enough in tank for Game 3 win
DETROIT -- If A's fans were wondering why manager Bob Melvin yanked starter Jarrod Parker on Monday after only five innings and 73 pitches in Game 3 of their American League Division Series, wonder no more.
Melvin said after Parker earned the 6-3 victory over the Tigers -- and the A's took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series -- that the 24-year-old right-hander was a little sore and it was time to go to the bullpen.View Full Game Coverage
DETROIT -- If A's fans were wondering why manager Bob Melvin yanked starter Jarrod Parker on Monday after only five innings and 73 pitches in Game 3 of their American League Division Series, wonder no more.
Melvin said after Parker earned the 6-3 victory over the Tigers -- and the A's took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series -- that the 24-year-old right-hander was a little sore and it was time to go to the bullpen.View Full Game Coverage
"He just wasn't feeling right," Melvin responded to a quick question before leaving his office at Comerica Park.
That may explain why Parker has had some problems in three of his last four starts, dating back to Sept. 16. It may also explain why Parker said he didn't lobby to remain in the game. Parker had blown a 3-0 lead as the Tigers tied it in the fourth.
The A's came right back in the top of the fifth to make it 6-3 on homers from Brandon Moss and Seth Smith, the latter a two-run job. Parker pitched an incident-free bottom of the fifth and that was it. Melvin went to the bullpen. Dan Otero, Sean Doolittle and Grant Balfour finished the game with four scoreless innings. Really, the Tigers never threatened again.
Was Parker surprised to come out after five innings?
"No, not really," he said. "It was the right move. It was a good time for it. Dan was big and he did a great job. Our 'pen has been doing it all year. It was one of those things that if it works out, it's great."
So, no discussion?
"No discussion," he said. "It was pretty one-sided."
Melvin and the A's baseball people have been pretty deft at arranging the rotation for this series. And Melvin has a great touch when it comes to managing his bullpen.
So far, the A's have been right on the money, getting eight innings of shutout, four-hit ball from rookie Sonny Gray in a 1-0 Game 2 victory in Oakland on Saturday night. On Monday, they were able to get just enough out of Parker, who allowed only one baserunner -- a Miguel Cabrera single -- in the first three innings before running into trouble in the fourth. And Dan Straily is slated to try to lock up the series in Game 4 on Tuesday at 2 p.m. PT on TBS at Comerica Park.
In Monday's fourth inning, an RBI double from Victor Martinez and Jhonny Peralta's two-run single accounted for all the runs.
"We've obviously been pitching really well, our starters keeping us in the game," Melvin said. "In Jarrod's case, maybe he was pitching to the score of the game a little bit today, but the bullpen came in and shut it down."
Parker seemed perplexed by the comment.
"I don't know what he means," Parker said. "You have to ask Bob. You have to ask him."
Parker had a tough first seven weeks. But that morphed into a nine-game winning streak and a 19-start unbeaten streak, the longest in Oakland history and the longest by an A's pitcher since the legendary Lefty Grove had a 21-start streak without a loss for the Philadelphia A's in 1931.
But the season ended much the way it began. The streak was snapped with a 12-1 loss to the Angels at O.co Coliseum on Sept. 16. Heading into Monday's game, Parker was 1-2 in his last three starts, allowing 15 earned runs and 16 hits in 14 2/3 innings. Now, make it 18 runs on 21 hits in his last 19 2/3 innings. Hardly auspicious.
It's a long season. Parker has already survived Tommy John ligament replacement surgery when he was in the D-backs system, and that's one of the reasons Arizona general manager Kevin Towers traded him to the A's in a deal for Trevor Cahill two offseasons ago.
Since then, Parker has made 61 starts, including 32 this year, plus three more in the postseason. All told, he's thrown almost 400 innings. That's a lot of wear and tear. But Monday's fourth inning was just one of those things, he said.
"There was a couple of pitches that could go -- foul ball, four ball, popout," he said. "Instead, they just put them in play. It was just one of those things where you try not to beat yourself up. You've just got to stay positive and know that they were good pitches and you just keep doing it."
The Tigers have only scored in two of the 27 innings in this series. They plated three against Bartolo Colon in the first inning of Game 1 on Friday night and held on for a 3-2 win. A string of 20 consecutive scoreless ended Monday with the three Detroit scored against Parker.
The A's bullpen has been flawless. As a unit, it hasn't allowed a run in eight innings and has been touched for only two hits.
"Parker, that was all you can ask for," said Balfour, who pitched a ninth inning that included a little verbal skirmish with Martinez. "He was solid. For the bullpen, it was all about getting outs. One at a time. Sooner or later, they're going to run out of them."
Parker had enough in his arm to get the first 15. And then Melvin, full well knowing the score, didn't hesitate to pull him out.
Barry M. Bloom is national reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, Boomskie on Baseball. Follow @boomskie on Twitter.


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Majestic Portland homes, beautifully manicured lawns and massive older trees line wide streets in Irvington, just minutes northeast of downtown Portland. This area is rich in history with about 85 percent of the houses and structures constructed between 1890 and 1948. Irvington was named after Captain William Irving, originally from Scotland. This residential district excels in transportation access and is in close proximity to downtown. Nearby neighborhoods include Grant Park, Hollywood and Rose City.
Families, professional couples and singles who enjoy the spaciousness of the homes, convenient location and super-friendly people make up this culturally diverse neighborhood. The tree-lined streets are filled with kids playing in the streets and backyard barbeques and yard sales are frequent during the summer.
Portlanders built substantial houses in styles common to the period: arts & crafts, Craftsman, Dutch Colonial, prairie, plantation and bungalow, many with the creative touch of East Coast architectural properties. Most of the houses were built by top architects and builders and are designated as historically significant. Tours are given each spring, where people gather for an up close and personal look.
Convenient to downtown and the Lloyd Center Mall, the largely residential Irvington/Broadway neighborhood boasts two trendy shopping districts of its own. Stroll along Broadway for an impressive array of fashionable shops, cafés, galleries and fine dining establishments. Near the northern edge of the neighborhood, Fremont Street is home to additional coffee shops, restaurants, a neighborhood bar and more.
Irving Park is located near the northwest corner of Irvington and includes over 16 acres of flowing lawns, ball fields, tennis and basketball courts, an off-leash dog area, free Wi-Fi access, a wading pool, playground and paved picnic areas. Just to the south, the Matt Dishman Community Center provides a basketball court, fitness room, gymnasium, weight room and an indoor swimming pool.
Private mortgage insurance is an insurance policy that a residential mortgage lender requires of the borrower if the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio of the home is greater than 80%. Mortgage insurance protects the lender from the risk that the borrower may default on the loan. Federal law requires lenders to notify borrowers when the loan-to-value ratio drops below 80%. Mortgage insurance premiums vary, but generally range from $1,000 to $5,000 a year for an average priced home.
Assessments are monthly fees such as Home Owners Association(HOA) Fees etc... Results received from this calculator are designed for comparative purposes only, and accuracy is not guaranteed.
Information deemed reliable but subject to change without notice. Qualified buyers only, subject to credit approval. This is not a commitment to lend. Consumer Loan License NMLS-3240, CL-3240.
In association with our #1 preferred local lender, Directors Mortgage, Hasson Company, Realtors® is able to provide a full spectrum of financial services, from online pre-approval to offering a guiding hand throughout the entire home buying process.
Listing Courtesy of
Pounder Realty LLC
The content relating to real estate for sale on this web site comes in part from the IDX program of the RMLS™ of Portland, Oregon. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Hasson Company, Realtors® are marked with the IDX logo, and detailed information about these properties includes the names of the listing brokers. Listing content is copyright © 2015 RMLS™, Portland, Oregon.This property was last updated: July 5, 2018 11:28 AM


text: Liz and Dick, the TV movie that was supposed to relaunch Lindsay Lohan's career may have actually been the final nail in its coffin. What really stood out about her universally-panned performance was her inability to cover up her hoarse, raspy voice. Taylor never sounded like that—not even after seven decades worth of prescription drug addiction, alcoholism, and hard living. Whenever Lohan laughed or gasped, you can hear every late night at Chateau Marmont, every key bump, every trip through the booking process at L.A. County Jail. The damage she's done to her lungs and nasal passages is so apparent that she can't even act like she hasn't led the life she has, so it's no wonder that she couldn't act like anybody else either, let alone a screen legend like Elizabeth Taylor. So here, we present a compilation of Lindsay's death rattle, both literally and figuratively.


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Advanced Search
Online Education | Feature
Florida is leading the nation with its online education initiatives. A new online-only public university program now promises to shake up higher education beyond the state's borders.
While MOOCs have been hogging all the attention, a much bigger story is unfolding in higher education: Online education is gaining traction--and credibility--at incredible speed. Nowhere is this more evident than in Florida. The state's recent decision to launch the country's first stand-alone online-only baccalaureate program from a public research institution may represent a genuine tipping point in bringing online education into the mainstream.
In April, Gov. Rick Scott signed legislation to establish the program through the state-run University of Florida, with $15 million in startup funds for 2014. The goal: nothing less than to "transform education" in the state. The man widely considered a driving force behind the initiative is Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford.
This story appears in the October 2013 digital edition of Campus Technology. Click here for a free subscription to the magazine.
During the run-up to the vote, Weatherford talked about "bold higher education reforms" that would "increase Florida's global competitiveness and ensure our students have meaningful opportunities after high school."
"This change is happening," Weatherford tells Campus Technology. "There are MOOCs out there, flipped classes, different institutions trying out different online models. If the states are the laboratories of democracy, these universities are serving as laboratories of online learning. We could have sat on the sidelines and let other people figure it all out, but we decided instead to get ahead of the curve."
The Sunshine State hasn't spent much time on the sidelines when it comes to online learning. Indeed, it should probably be renamed the Online State. In 1997, the state launched the Florida Virtual School, an online high school/middle school that gives students free access to more than 120 courses. Forty percent of students in the State University System and Florida College System took an online course during the 2010-2011 academic year, compared with a national average of 31 percent. And UF itself currently offers some 65 online graduate degree programs.
"One of the reasons we think Florida is primed and ready for this concept is because we have so many students involved with online learning in our high schools--more than any other state," Weatherford says. "That puts us in a place to take advantage of higher education in online learning."
With this new legislation, Florida has taken the concept of an online college degree to another level, Weatherford says. While many other schools offer online programs, his state is establishing a separate, stand-alone online institution under the auspices of a public research university. UF will be the first Association of American Universities tier-one research school to deliver a four-year online baccalaureate degree intended for "first time in college" students. Although the new institution will accept transfer students and those seeking to finish their degrees, the four-year design has first timers in mind.
And Florida is on deadline. The legislation was signed in April, and the university must be ready to accept students for enrollment in its initial six degree programs by January. The university is then required to increase the number of programs in increments of five or so over the next five years.
The Program's Beginnings
The process began with a study commissioned in 2012 by the board of governors of the State University System. The board hired The Parthenon Group, a Boston-based consultancy, to study the state's existing programs and offer strategies for expansion.
"The board thought that there should be a way to increase access to higher education in the state, given the developments in technology and online learning," explains Andrew McCollough, associate provost and professor of finance at UF. "Parthenon came back with some data and options, and that started the ball rolling."
In their report, the consultants noted four primary objectives for post-secondary online learning for Florida's stakeholders:
Strengthening the link between the labor market and post-secondary education
"This is about providing access and making education affordable," adds Weatherford, "but it's also very much about making our students competitive in the marketplace and providing employers with a qualified workforce."
Importance of Branding
The Parthenon Group gave the board of governors four options for meeting the state's online objectives (see "Charting Florida's Online Strategy," on this page). Ultimately, the importance of branding played a critical role in the board's decision to place the new degree program under the aegis of UF, a leading research institution and the state's oldest university. In fact, the university was singled out in the legislation.
"We decided to partner with a research-based institution that has a great brand globally," explains Weatherford. "We're providing students with a brand associated with their degree that is marketable in the workforce."
Charting Florida's Online Strategy
The Parthenon Group, a consultancy, was tasked in 2012 with identifying ways for Florida to expand access to online higher education. In their recommendations to the board of governors of the State University System (SUS), the consultants offered four potential strategies to achieve this goal:
The Parthenon consultants also advised that "any strategy adopted should exhibit outstanding offerings and best practices for post-secondary online learning, such as best-in-class course and program design, top faculty, highly efficient course scheduling, analytically advanced marketing efforts, and data-driven student supports." In addition, the consultants recommended that "any adopted strategy must include comprehensive tracking of online outcomes. Online learning is an evolving method of delivery--constant evaluation is critical to drive further innovations and improvements; daily, weekly, and monthly monitoring of online students is critical."
The need for a strong brand was also perceived to be necessary to help offset any lingering bias against online education. "That's one of the reasons the state chose the University of Florida," adds McCollough. "If you start with the perception that it's online so it's not as good, but then you add that it's from MIT or Stanford--or in this region, the University of Florida--that perception begins to change."
But protecting the value of the UF brand means that the online programs must be as rigorous as their on-campus equivalents. On that question, there is no debate. According to McCollough, there is an absolute requirement that the new online programs match the academic rigor of their residential equivalents and provide equivalent credentials.
"Our mandate is to provide an affordable education," he notes, "not a watered-down affordable education. We are acutely aware of the potential of a program like this to become a vehicle for reducing quality and rigor. We cannot dilute the value of [the UF degree] in any way. We have thousands of alumni. If they thought that we were going to make their degrees any less valuable because of this venture, we'd have an alumni riot on this campus."
Before they make the cut, all courses proposed for UF Online, as the initiative is tentatively called, will go through the same evaluation by faculty curriculum committees as the school's resident courses, McCollough explains. In most cases, the online courses will have a resident "twin," he says, and the individual faculty and faculty committees will play a critical role in quality assurance. Student learning outcomes will be the same as those for the resident courses, and in most cases assessment vehicles will be the same.
Although the admissions standards for UF Online will be the same as for on-campus admission, the degree programs themselves will be significantly less expensive. Online classes will cost no more than 75 percent of in-state tuition for regular classes at the university--in a state where tuition costs are already among the lowest in the country. Other online courses in the state are typically offered at the same tuition rates as on-campus courses.
To start, the university is going to offer degrees in six fields: biology; business administration; criminology and law; environmental management; health education and behavior; and sport management. "The drivers in terms of programs are the state's workforce needs and student demand," says McCollough. "We must have 150 different on-campus majors, but we are not going to replicate all of those majors online."
Given the incredibly tight launch deadline and the ambitiousness of the program, it's not surprising that the development of UF Online has presented UF with some unexpected challenges. In fact, the school is partnering with third parties to fill some gaps.
"We have been talking to a private partner who can bring to the table expertise and knowledge in various areas where we are neophytes," McCollough says. "Marketing, for example, is not something we've ever really had to do. We have about 30,000 freshman applications every year for about 6,400 spots. We just open the gates and they come. Enrollment-management processes associated with recruiting are another thing we have not had to do. These are things we can learn, certainly, but we need to be able to do them with high quality immediately."
Wider Ramifications
If UF Online succeeds, a ripple effect will likely be felt across higher education. McCollough predicts a proliferation of similar programs in other states, driven mainly by a need to increase accessibility and maintain affordability.
"We may look back on this as a paradigmatic shift," he says, "from what has become almost an elitist model in my opinion--you have to be able to afford it to get it--to one in which we are approaching [Coursera cofounder] Daphne Koller's idea that education should be a right. This is an important social question, and one that we are just now trying to address. What we've done in the past was to fill in the gaps by providing financial aid."
If other states do attempt to replicate the UF Online initiative, it will be interesting to see whether faculty accept the new concept as easily as they appear to have done in Florida. "We have been pushing down the road of online education for a while, so we've already hit many of the faculty speed bumps that everyone does when they go online," says McCollough. "We still don't have all the answers, but faculty has moved in a positive direction."
In Weatherford's view, states have few other options anyway. "I'm sure there are a lot of people who don't like this idea or worry about it, and I understand that," he says. "But there's just not enough money for more brick-and-mortar institutions. The revenue has dried up, but student need hasn't. This is a challenge every state is facing. We're leveraging technology to create opportunities for students in our state, and potentially a market for students from all over the world."
It may be too early, though, to hypothesize about the wider impact of an initiative that is, after all, in its infancy: The program is still in the planning stages, and its website is something of a placeholder. A board of directors has been appointed, however, and in September UF announced that Elizabeth Phillips, strategic architect of Arizona State University's online degree program, will serve as executive director.
"No one knows exactly what this is going to look like," Weatherford concludes. "No one really knows what online learning is going to do to higher education, positively or negatively. But what we do know is that it's going to change everything."
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Driver License, Photo Centers Closed For Independence Day
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced Monday that all driver license and photo centers, including its full-service center in Harrisburg, will be closed Thursday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day.
Customers may still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services online through PennDOT's Driver and Vehicle Services Web site at www.dmv.state.pa.us.
Driver and vehicle online services are available 24- hours-a-day, seven-days-aweek and include driver's license and photo ID renewals; vehicle registration renewals; driver-history services; changes of address; driver license and vehicle registration restoration letters; ability to pay driver license restoration fee or vehicle financial responsibility restoration fee; and exam scheduling. There are no additional fees for using online services.
A listing of PennDOT center closings in 2013 is available on the Web site under "News, Stats and Facts."
PennDOT reminds motorists they can log on to www.511pa.com or call 511 from any phone to check traffic conditions before heading out.


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Friday, July 29, 2011 - Artur and Jan - Raunchy Sex
Latest Sets at WilliamHiggins.com
Artur Lafek and newcomer Jan Pribyla came in for a Raunchy Sex Duo. Artur is a lovely guy, and always gives a great performance, so I was confident that we would have a very good scene, and so it turned out. It starts with Artur, looking faubulous in only a jockstrap, bringing a tied Jan into the room before kissing and feeling him up and then removing his pants and underwear, exposing a very nice set of equipment. Arturn then induces Jan to his knees, whips out his own dick and makes Jan suck on it. Jan's head is pushed down on Artur's hard dick, and his own dick is flapping around as he does it. Artur decides to have some cock himself so he stands Jan up and goes down on him with some relish, making Jan's dick swell to it's maximum extent. Artur slobbers all over the big fat dick until he has had his fill and proceeds to chew on Jan's nipples. Then after some more kissing Artur turns his attention to Jan's ass, rimming it, and lubing it up with some spit, before sliding his fingers into the hole. Not content with just his fingers Artur decides to open the hole further with the aid of a red butt plug which he pushes all the way in and leaves it there while he puts a ball-gag in Jan's mouth. So with Jan's ass and mouth taken care of Arturn turns his attention back to Jan's cock and starts to suck it again. The time is then right for Artur to pleasure his own dick by shoving it deep into Jan's hot ass. He fucks him nice and hard in three different positions, that afford us a great view of Artur's dick ramming into Jan. Jan takes it all very well indeed and is ready when Artur shoots his load over his face he and dutifully sucks him dry. Then Artur unties Jan who is quickly ready to cum and shoots his load over one of Artur's feet, and then proceeds to lick it all up. What a great scene this is. Two definite stars in Artur and Jan.
Mykola Petruskov is 19 years old and hails from Russia. He is in the Czech Republic for work and in his spare time he enjoys playing football. In this erotic video Mykola looks very good indeed. He starts with some gentle caressing of his chest, and rubbing his groin, in his shorts. He then stands and slips his hand inside the shorts to feel his dick, and removes his shirt as he continues to rub his chest, flicking at his hard nipples. Then, turning around, Mykola pulls the shorts down some to reveal his ass and turning back reveals his dick too, before shucking the shorts down even more and bending over for us to see his tight ass. After such a great view it is only right to see the front side againa and Mykola, shows us a great erection, which he wanks for us. Next he decides he needs to piss, and does so into a jug. After the piss he gets hard all over again and shows his dick off to perfection. Also bending over and spreading those cheeks again, and then he goes down on the floor and lifts his legs high in the air to let us see even more of his ass. Finally Mykola delivers a very good cum shot and goes off to the shower. He is a very good looking guy, who put on a great show for us.
Jan Pribyla is from Dacice and is 18 years old. He likes Martial Arts, fitness, sports, cars and Taekwondo. Jan is a lovely guy, I really like him a lot. In this stills shoot he looks wonderful, both in his suit and out of it. He has a beautiful face, and a good body, which he shows off perfectly in this shoot. Jan also makes very good wood and we see the glory of his dick as well as some wonderful views of his ass, with his hole gaping. We have done several shoots with Jan, who is a real star performer, so I look forward to seeing much more of him.


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Oboe & Romance (Oboe)
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Valentine's Day
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For oboe solo. De Haske Play-along Books. Love, Adult Contemporary and Play Along. Difficulty: medium to medium-difficult. Oboe solo book and accompaniment CD. Standard notation. 21 pages. De Haske Publications #991812. Published by De Haske Publications
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BERKELEY — There's something unique about a new home, addition or remodel designed by an architect who transforms the "before" into an "after" that solves problems and pleases aesthetically. And it's no surprise that touring examples of these homes can be educational, inspiring and fun.
Luckily for East Bay residents, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) East Bay Home Tour on Aug. 9 has selected six contemporary homes for a self-directed tour that promises a day full of architectural experiences. Designed by the Bay Area's leading architects, the homes offer a diverse selection that range from modern statements and historic renovations to a contemporary cabin.
The rationale behind the tour is to remind people of the value of using an architect for practical and aesthetic reasons and to benefit the community. AIA believes that having the public tour houses is the best way to put this point across.
"Architects are experts at solving complex, three-dimensional puzzles, know how to use materials wisely and are up on the energy and carbon conserving abilities of different construction methods," said Kurt Lavenson, AIA, co-chair. "Having a well-designed, comfortable and functional home makes a difference and there's also a community aspect that a better built environment benefits everyone."
The homes on this year's tour were selected based partly public feedback from previous tours, where positive responses were given to remodels, additions and small houses.
"I believe the average tourgoer is looking for inspiration of what they can do in their own home and they're interested in the possibilities within a 1,700-square-foot house or 700-square-foot bungalow," said Sidney Sweeney, AIA East Bay executive director.
One of the six homes is in Albany, three in Berkeley, and the other two in Piedmont and in the Oakland hills. Special this year is that four are architect-designer owned and as always, architects are present to discuss their work and answer questions.
In Albany, a Craftsman Addition was bought by Stacy Eisenmann, AIA, with the intention of a quick remodel and resell, but the house and neighborhood soon changed her mind. The result is a contemporary two-story home that combines Eisenmann's minimalist eye and artistic color palette with the traditional Craftsman detailing.
Berkeley's Midcentury Modern, architect-owned by Joanne Koch, AIA, demonstrates how the architect took advantage of the home's steep hillside site to dig underground to double the size and add several modern spaces. During the past 14 years, the home has been transformed in a modernist style while preserving its original design integrity.
Jon Quiter, AIA, took a small artist studio in Berkeley and employed fine craftsmanship and respect for the site to create a Contemporary Cabin that embodies modern simple design and minimalist detailing. By reshaping the studio's footprint and adding a sloping roof, the house now extends upward, capped by windows that reveal Bay views and oak trees.
Berkeley's Gallery House is brand new, commissioned to Regan Bice, AIA, by the owners. The smart, modern, rigorous design appears a as large geometric box, deceptively simple, with a solid base and a very open void-like glassy top that gives the feeling of being in a fortified tree house.
Piedmont's LEED Ranch, designed by Michelle Kaufmann, AIA, is an ultra-sustainable house that remains respectful of the neighborhood and its 1960s California ranch style. The remodel added much needed space to accommodate a large family while seamlessly adding LEED features including rooftop solar collectors, an interior plant wall to clean the air and driveway permeability for water absorption.
Oakland's View House was commissioned 15 years ago, but still looks brand new. The design by David Stark Wilson, AIA, closes off the front of the house to the busy street with plaster, steel and concrete and opens it to the landscape with two stories of glass, artfully integrating the house, landscape and rooftop patio.
The AIA tour exemplifies the idea that there's no substitute for being inside a work of architecture to experience it firsthand.
"The tour allows you to go into a house that has not been staged and see how other people chose to design their home, to be inspired by it and to talk to the architects," Sweeney said. "It's a fun day."
What: 2014 AIA East Bay Home Tours
When: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Aug. 9
Tickets: $50 through Aug. 8, $60 on tour day;
http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e99zyhdqdd0c3982&llr=ornjnwn6, 2014, 10am-4:30pm.
Tour day ticket headquarters: Bica Coffeehouse, 5701 College Ave., Oakland
Information: http://aiaeb.org/events/2014hometours/


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Map of the Northwestern Territories of the United States, Showing the Track pursued by the Expedition under Gov. Cass in 1820
Description: Map of the Great Lakes region showing the track of the expedition under Governor Cass in 1820. Includes place names, rivers and an inset drawing of Upper Red Cedar or Cassina Lake. Some routes are highlighted in red. Scale 1:3,801,600
Date: 1820
Creator: Schoolcraft, Henry Rowe, 1793-1864.
Partner: UNT Libraries Rare Book and Texana Collections


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Guess the answers to these questions, then check the link to see how many you got right.
1. U.S. companies in total pay a smaller percentage of taxes than
2. The high-profit, tax-avoiding tech industry was built on
3. When a quadrillion dollars is traded, it generates how much in tax revenue?
4. For every dollar in securities held in the United States, only a one and half cents is held by
Some Outrageous Facts About Inequality
Views: 353
O, WOW! I'd never seen that video before. That is SO secksy! What is it about blues that makes me just want to dance (when I can't anymore)?
Here's another delight...the bottom line is a little hard to read, but my eyes get wet whenever I see it:
Wow! Love the sign and the sentiments, and what a wonderful tribute to Lennon! I sometimes wonder if he will be noted as one of the great philosophers of the 20th century.
Sadly, I answered them all correctly. But then, I spend a lot of time tracking the economy and that kind of stuff when I could be pulling weeds in my garden or making chocolate chip cookies. Following the different tracks of reasoning about fiscal policy, I have a fairly clear impression of what happens, why, who benefits and who pays.
Thanks for this excellent article Ruth.
Sadly I also got them all correct, inequality and greed appear to be growth industries in the US.
And this is one of my favourite Hitch quotes.
"...you can get away with the most extraordinary offenses to morality and to truth in this country if you'll just get yourself called Reverend." -- Christopher Hitchens
And become bloody wealthy scamming the poor, without having to pay taxes.
Al Capone was in the wrong business.
I missed number 3 - wow that's just unbelievable to me.
I know! I have been tracking this trend since the late 1970s or early 1980s, and it has been getting worse each month. Trying to sound the alarm to others, no one seemed to notice or pay attention ... I think things are getting so bad now, I don't have to keep alerting people any longer, the economy is saying it all.
Incidentally, it is no accident these trends occur, they are caused by changes in policies. Remember when regulations started being taken off banking and financial institutions, when the labor unions lost their support in the courts, and when wages began to lag? Those were the consequences of taking away post-WWII supports for labor.
Born in 1936, I remember the left-overs of the depression, the war, and then the strong political effort to protect wage earners, and then watch it crumble away. Quite an era to be alive.
In 1939 (the year I was born), Robert A. Heinlein made a chart to help him keep track of the stories, characters, and timelines of the stories he was writing. He labelled the last half of the 20th Century and at least the first half of this one "The Crazy Years." He always denied that he was predicting an actual future, but he was highly intelligent, and a voracious reader...he was right more often than Jeanne Dixon and others of that ilk.
There's a book called The Crazy Years, it's a collection of op-ed essays by Spider Robinson written for the Toronto Globe and Mail from about 1995 to 2004. Spider is the closest thing to Heinlein's literary heir, and he loved him as much as he loved his own wife. Try to find a used copy on Half.com...It's worth it!
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