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Or, even our Lord told Peter to put the sword away.
So here is the strange sequence of events in BaylyWorld.
Last Thursday (April 11), Benjamin D. Curell, a deacon at Clearnote Church (where Tim Bayly is pastor), broke into a Planned Parenthood facility, apparently carrying an ax. His action was to protest the abortions conducted at the building.
The congregation responded by disassociating itself from one of its officers:
Yesterday morning the pastors and elders of Clearnote Church learned that Ben Curell, a deacon of the church, had been arrested for vandalizing Planned Parenthood. No one in the church knew about his plans. We are convinced Ben's actions were not justifiable civil disobedience. The elders and pastors have met with Ben and admonished him.
Throughout history faithful Christians have confessed that from conception children bear the image of God. Therefore, we at Clearnote Church have encouraged and will continue to encourage Christians to peacefully and lawfully witness against the great evil of abortion.
We have counseled Ben to repent and submit to the civil authority that God has placed over us for our good. This authority reflects and points to the judgment of God before Whom we all one day must give an account.
Notice that the idea of "encouraging" Christians peacefully and lawfully to witness against abortion is precisely what 2k advocates approve. Such a witness goes on in all sorts of ways that avoids the breast-beating of a blog. But peaceful and lawful witness is not what the Baylys require of their 2k enemies. Typically the Baylys don't encourage but demand, and if they don't see evidence of objecting to abortion they question the faith of someone who is not as publicly outraged as they are:
Under the Third Reich, were the true shepherds silent in the midst of the slaughter of millions of Jews, sodomites, mentally handicapped, gypsies, and Christians? Then, what about us? When the day arrives and the light reveals our work as shepherds, will it be seen that we have been faithful witnesses against the anarchy and bloodshed all around us? Or will it become clear we have built with wood, hay, and straw?
There are many church officers today who are collaborators employing doctrine to justify their silence. Let me be clear: I am not saying these men are unconverted, but rather that they are unfaithful.
Notice as well that Clearnote's statement on Ben Curell adopts an attitude toward civil authorities that comes directly from the 2k playbook — that God has placed even not so great authorities over us, for our good no less. That notion of civil authorities has not been one that you can discern in many Bayly posts. For instance:
Our presidents, governors, and mayors ceaselessly toil at enforcing the worship of their gods and the only thing up in the air is which gods the pinch of incense adores: the Only True God or Molech.
This is these United States today. On every street corner, we have altars to Molech where pagans and Christians alike sacrifice our own offspring to demons–something Scripture tells us is so very evil that it never entered the mind of God (Jeremiah 19:5)–and Christians drive by on our way to our church-house, silencing our consciences by assuring ourselves confessing Christians aren't putting Covenant children in the fire, only pagans do that; that as Christians we have no duty to oppose the fire since the Westminster Divines told us not to meddle in affairs rightly belonging to the jurisdiction of the civil magistrate; that whether the civil magistrate should outlaw the slaughter is a question of public policy not addressed by the general equity of the Law; that pagans have always given their children to the fire, so what's new; that if we speak up against Molech's bloodlust, we'll only alienate the pagans rendering them even more resistant to the pure, unadulaterated, scrupulously clean Gospel message; and on it goes.
But do we hear about any of this incident or Clearnote's statement at the Bayly blog? No. Instead, it is business as usual when it comes to verbally tarring and feathering 2k. On April 15 the Baylys ran a long-winded piece by Darrell Todd Marina against 2k. Here's a flavor of the verbal barrage:
However, the more radical "Two Kingdoms" people believe something much worse, namely, that once a question has become "politicized," Christians ought to avoid preaching on it because it will identify the church with a political party or a political position and drive people away.
The key question ought not to be whether we will offend people and drive them away, but whether we will offend God and be driven by Him out of His presence regardless of how many people fill the pews of our churches. God has strong words to false prophets who seek to please people rather than pleasing God.
What we must ask is whether God has spoken to an issue in His Word. If God has spoken, the church must speak. If God has not spoken, the church must stay silent.
I have engaged Maurina several times before and he still can't fathom the difference between policy and legislation, on the one side, and what the Bible says about a specific matter on the other. Christians may agree on certain moral norms and have completely different understandings of what the state's role in executing such morality involves. It's the same old myopia that afflicted Machen's fundamentalist and modernist critics. Because he did not support the Progressive reform of the 18th Amendment, for instance, his friends and enemies thought he favored drunkenness. And Maurina has the audacity to suggest that 2k stems from ignorance about politics. It is his own ignorance that draws a direct line from biblical teaching — which may require some exegesis — to the law of the land. I oppose lying. Does that mean I advocate an amendment to the Constitution that adopts the ninth commandment? (When was the last time you heard 2k critics, by the way, oppose mendacity? How would they like hearing that their silence on laws opposing lying means they favor falsehoods?)
But the issue here is not Maurina, it is the repeated bellyaching of the Baylys against 2k in a way that misrepresents 2k advocates and that denies the implications of the Bayly's shrill jeremiads, especially when all of their talk about Hitler, martyrs, persecution, and courage may actually encourage men like Ben Curell to pick up an ax, much like Carrie Nation, to uphold God's law. Their rhetoric and logic is irresponsible but may actually be responsible for encouraging folks like Mr. Curell to think they are acting courageously and righteously when they vandalize private property.
Consider the following:
Now then, are the two Bush brothers up to the job? Are they faithful public servants? Will they do what is necessary to save Terri's life? Will our civic fathers face down the cowardly legislators and judges? Will they show themselves men and rescue Terri from her oppressors?
Both men ought to answer 'yes' or 'no.' We, the citizens of these United States deserve a straightforward answer to this question.
It would be easy for both the President and Governor to think their duties have been fulfilled and that no reasonable person could expect more from them. They're wrong. We expect them to be men and stand–now!
If they are determined to abdicate their responsibilities and abandon the citizens under their care and protection, let them say so. Then we the people will have been put under notice that the rule of law is dead and we're on our own.
The civil authority ceases to have authority when he abandons those at the margins of life to their oppressors. Are President and Governor Bush willing to acknowledge that the courts have betrayed their vows to uphold the Constitution? And will they do what is necessary to remedy the courts' betrayals of those duties?
You know, "When in the course of human events" and all that.
Or this:
As it's now against the law for Christians to do anything physical to stop the dismembering of the 1,300,000 unborn children slaughtered each year just down the street from us, soon it will also be illegal for Christians to preach or say anything warning the sexually immoral that their conduct is an abomination to God–and that, unless they repent, they will perish eternally.
Here's a little prognostication: those believers and their pastors who find saying "No" to abortion distasteful and prefer to say "Yes" to crisis pregnancy centers are likely the same Christians and pastors who, as the cost escalates, will also find saying "No" to sexual immorality distasteful, preferring to say "Yes" to the joys of Christian marriage and morality. Those who feel most comfortable witnessing to the Faith in the "God loves you and has a wonderful man for your plan" or "God loves you and has a wonderful wife for your life" sort of way.
God's "No" is already a stench in the eyes of Emergelicals, but soon it will become illegal, too. And those who have been timid in these days of the feminization of discourse and the slothfulness of cheap grace will turn and run for their lives when prison terms are added to the cost of biblical preaching and witness.
Or this:
I say it again: secularism is a religion that is utterly intolerant of true Christian faith. It started by privatizing Christian faith and now it's moved on to removing privacy from our lives and obliterating every mediating institution that could put a check on its totalitariansim.
The day is quickly coming when followers of Christ will be hounded from jobs, business ownership, professorships, the practice of medicine, teaching in the state's religious schools, owning rental property, preaching in public, publishing and selling books, getting letters to the editor published, getting a degree at the state-funded religious colleges and universities, and the list goes on and on. We will be utterly unclean and every effort will be made to bar us from the public square. When a federal judge forbids legislators from praying in Jesus' name to open a legislative session, he's not impeached in disgrace, he's elevated to a higher court. But it won't end there.
Even in the privacy of our homes, we'll be imprisoned by the state. Its religious totalitarianism will seek to control our discipline of our Covenant children, our obedience to God in being fruitful, the way we give birth and die, our practice of church discipline, what's preached in the privacy of our worship in our church-houses, what our children do sexually, whether our minor children are able to murder their unborn children, even the media we do or do not consume in our living rooms. You think I'm alarmist, but just watch–if you live long enough. And it should be a bit of a wake-up call for you to realize a number of the things listed above are already done deals. For instance, your minor daughter can have an abortion without your knowledge, and the religious educators of our secularist taxpaper-funded schools can help them hide the murder from you.
Brothers and sisters, we are citizens of a representative constitutional democracy with heavy privileges and duties that flow from that system of government. We are not under a Roman Emporer. We are under ourselves and we ourselves have the legal duty to guard the commons God has been pleased to bequeath to us from the hard work and shed blood of our faithful Reformed forefathers who created these United States.
If we learn anything from the Early Church under the Roman Empire, it's that empires like Rome and the Secular West must oppress and kill every Christian who believes all authority in Heaven and earth has been given to the Lord Jesus and we must go and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey everything He commanded knowing He is with us to the end of the earth.
Intolleristas are bloodthirsty for exclusivists. It was this way with the Early Church under Rome and it's this way with the Late Church under Western Secularism. Separation of church and state is the death of Christian evangelism and discipleship unless Christian evangelism and discipleship becomes as vapid as the R2K monomaniacs.
Christian life, worship, evangelism, and discipleship are utterly incompatible with Western Secularism's pluralism. Every single time a man under the Lordship of Jesus Christ tries to clothe our naked public squares, he will be shouted down by those convinced they don't have gods and they don't worship and they are as broad-minded and tolerant as can be.
The real wonder is that Mr. Curell or someone like him did not vandalize a seminary or a church where 2k views prevail.
Postscript: it looks like a pattern in the Curell family (and it looks like the Baylys may oppose civil disobedience only when conducted with a weapon — or they don't respect deacons as much as pastors.)


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Alfresco Strengthens Open Source ECM Market Leadership with Record Q4 and 2009
Expanded customer, partner and community base and key product developments drive Alfresco's growth
LONDON – March 30, 2010 – Alfresco Software, the leader in open source ECM, today announced the closing of its 2009 fiscal year ending February 28th with 61 percent year-over-year revenue growth. Driven by record growth in new subscription customers and expansion of its partner network, Alfresco also recorded its best ever quarter in company history in Q4 2009 with significant growth in orders received from Q408 to Q409.
In the fourth quarter, both the Americas and EMEA territories posted record numbers, adding more than 120 new customers and nearly doubling business in the Asia Pacific region compared to a year ago. Alfresco also secured its largest single subscription deal in its history and continued to secure strong renewal rates, demonstrating the enduring value of the Alfresco subscription service.
Tweet This: #Alfresco announces record results for Q4 & 2009, driven by new subscriptions & growing SI network http://bit.ly/alffy09
"Because we continued to invest and grow throughout the worst stages of the recession, we have established a strong base from which to launch an ambitious plan for the financial year ahead. Entering into 2010, our leading indicators of downloads, inbound inquires, Web ranking and cloud-based ECM software trials all point to continued momentum, growth and leadership in open source content services and ECM," said John Powell, CEO of Alfresco Software. "Open source proved itself in the recession as customers turned to more cost-effective software solutions. Now as the economy is picking up, these proven projects are expanding into large-scale rollouts."
Alfresco's key 2009 highlights include:
Corporate Growth
- Added more than 300 enterprise customers from all five continents and more than 40 countries, including Cisco, Forbes, BNP Paribas, Merck, Yell, Pioneer Investments, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and Greenpeace International;
- Surpassed the two million software downloads mark;
- Increased staff by 29 percent and moved headquarters into expanded office space in Maidenhead, UK; and,
- Opened a new Asia Pacific Support Center based in Syndey, Australia and brought Alfresco services to Eastern Europe and Russia through a partnership with VDEL GmbH.
CMIS/Open Source Leadership
- Released the first Content Management Interoperability Specification (CMIS) public review implementation as part of Alfresco Community 3.2;
- CTO and co-founder John Newton named to AIIM Board of Directors, in part due to his role in advancing CMIS; and,
- Contributed Spring Surf, the largest Spring Extension to date, to Spring open source community under Apache 2.0 license.
Partner Expansion
- Added 100 global system integrators (SI) and established more than 20 new original equipment manufacturer (OEM) partnerships;
- Secured key partnerships with IBM, Amazon Web Services and RightScale; and,
- Announced Alfresco Content Services for IBM Lotus in conjunction with IBM, bringing an Alfresco-Lotus integration to IBM Lotus users.
Records Management/Government Momentum
- Launched Alfresco Enterprise 3.2, which introduced the open source Alfresco Records Management module, enabled the deployment of cloud-based Alfresco deployments and streamlined email management and archiving; and,
- Became the first open source Records Management software to gain Department of Defense (DoD) 5015.02 certification.
Cloud Computing Innovation
- Established the Cloud Content Application Developer Program, including an Amazon EC2-ready stack and developer toolkit;
- Began offering free ECM software trials of Alfresco Enterprise in the cloud;
- Opened early access to the Alfresco SMB Edition for Amazon EC2;
- Partnered with RightScale to provide a platform for managing cloud-based enterprise deployments of Alfresco; and,
- Welcomed new cloud OEMs for Alfresco Content Services, including EMN8 and Mindjet.
"As the global economy began to rebound in 2009, our strategy and approach to the market throughout this fiscal year enabled us to continue our record growth, while also laying the foundation for a strong year ahead," said John Newton, Alfresco Software CTO. "By continuing to invest in our core platform, provide strong services and support and enhance the customer experience through CMIS, records management, Web content management and cloud computing capabilities, Alfresco is poised for success in 2010."

subset: commoncrawl


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There are many factors that determine whether or not a game will become a huge success and subsequently remain destined for cult-classic status. Despite being well-regarded by pretty much everyone who played it, the fact that Ys Book: I & II was originally released on the ill-fated TurboGrafx-CD meant that the number of people who would play it was kept at a minimum. Still, in spite of this, the action RPG franchise is widely regarded for its simple combat, epic story, and most of all, its supremely kick-ass soundtrack.
Soon after releasing the first two games in the series on Nintendo's Virtual Console download service, Atlus announced that it was creating a remake for the Nintendo DS. Ars spoke with Sam Mullen, project manager of the game, about the process of bringing a cult hit to a more widespread audience.
This time around, one of the major benefits that Legacy of Ys: Books I & II has is the choice of platform. As opposed to the TurboGrafx, which never achieved mainstream success, the game is being ported to the wildly popular DS handheld. "In Japan, Ys is well known in the PC gaming sphere, but most mainstream and casual gamers are unfamiliar with it," Mullen told Ars. "So, the Nintendo DS was chosen so the mainstream gaming market could have a chance to experience this classic."
But in addition to the platform, the developers have also made a few other changes in an attempt to make the game more palatable to new gamers. This includes an optional control scheme that makes use of the DS' touch screen. "The control scheme has been updated so it's more accessible and in line with modern expectations," explained Mullen. "The Turbografx version has only the 'bump' mechanic and lacks the ability to move diagonally. In this version, you can switch between the bump-based stylus method or the +Control Pad and button-initiated attack style."
This 'bump' mechanic refers to Ys unique battle system, which doesn't involve the random battles and turn-based attacks of most Japanese role-playing games. Instead, if players want to attack an enemy on screen, they simply walk, or 'bump,' into them continuously. And while it sounds pretty simple, the strategy lies in successfully hitting enemies from the back or side in order to inflict maximum damage.
But with these changes, is there any reason for series veterans to pick up the remake?
Well, aside from the beautifully revamped 3D graphics, the DS version will also bring new secrets for long-time fans to explore. "There is an additional area called Vageux-Vardette in Ys I that has never been in any other version of Ys," said Mullen, "as well as some new equipment to find." In addition to that, players no longer have to play through both games in order, as the second title is available from the get-go.
In traditional Atlus fashion, much attention has been paid to the translation, which helps to flesh out the story somewhat. "Compared to some of the previous North American releases, there is a little bit of an expanded front story, and in general the character dialog is much more detailed," Mullen told Ars. "Despite some of the normal translation hurdles we had to jump through, we think the end product is a pretty good localization of the original Japanese script."
The Ys series is also notable for launching the career of legendary game composer Yuzo Koshiro, who went on to create classic soundtracks for games like ActRaiser, Shinobi, Batman Returns, and Etrian Odyssey. Atlus is definitely paying tribute to this fact with updated sound quality and a CD soundtrack included with every copy of the game.
"There's a reason Ys has been around for so long," Mullen explained. "From its timeless story, to the charming characters and epic setting, to the straightforward controls, Ys has stood the test of time and we believe that even modern gamers can appreciate that."
And over two decades after it was originally released, it looks like Ys will finally have the chance to reach that mainstream audience.


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Mike Tyson On Jimmy Kimmel! (Talks About Tattoo On His Face, Biting Holyfield's Ear & More)
Jimmy Kimmel Live - Jimmy interviews Mike Tyson who talks about his new documentary, his tattoo, and being humble
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How did Bob take the eviction? Are you feeling okay?
Before my surgery, my doctor asked me if I'd like to see pictures of Bob. I told her an emphatic YES! Can't wait for my appointment next week. I feel fine, but I'm still sore. Walking and getting up in my van still hurts. Wearing jeans hurts a ton (but gives me an excuse to wear jammie pants to Thanksgiving dinner). My abdomen is all sorts of funky colors too.
I hope you are feeling better and didn't do the yucky thing that shall remain nameless.
I didn't! I didn't get sick at all! It didn't take me a million hours to wake up either! Before surgery, I told my anesthesiologist that I'd dedicate my next book to him if he kept me from throwing up. I don't think he believed me. I put a sea sickness patch on the night before and took a couple pills to lessen stomach acids before surgery. The nurse anesthetist, who was super-nice, gave me a shot to relax me before surgery because I was
So how was making that video? Did you enjoy it? How many of your kids were clapping/heckling you?
It was fun! I had a great time! I didn't bring my kids. In fact, none of my family showed up, but my best friends Julie and Eric each drove over two hours to attend! A lot of great people came out for the event! Thank you!!! If you want to see the video from the event, you can see it HERE.
my friend, Julie
my friend, Eric
Suave generously provided great swag bags of haircare products for attendees!
There were raffle prizes generously provided by Suave, Johnson's Baby, and Sonic!
Last night I was abducted by ninja aliens, tied down and forced to watch a Cake War kinda show on TV and the bakery charged $3,000.00 for a sushi boat cake and can I just say...That cake had NUTHIN' on yours!
First off, ninja aliens??? Really? Ninja aliens made you watch a cake show? Interesting. The last time I was abducted by ninja aliens, I was forced to watch football.
And $3,000?!!! Wow, I'm clearly in the wrong line of work.
Once again, you have made me giggle. My kids attend a Christian school, and pick-up and drop-off tests my Christianity every time. Seriously. Love One Another never gets taken to the limits more than at these moments.
During one of my bible studies, I remember walking into class late and proclaiming, "What Would Jesus Do?! Well, let me tell ya, Jesus never had to deal with traffic and idiot drivers!"
Ok, Dawn. Next mission - the pick up demonstration! It's just as bad. This must start INSIDE the school with our crazy kids who can't figure out how to get from class to front door in under 20 minutes. ugh.
Oh heck no! I won't go within a mile of the Kiss 'N Drive at pick up time! No way, no how, Mister! I would absolutely go postal if I had to do that. It's bad. Idiot parents pull into the staff lot and then tear out of there despite the fact that kids walk across that lot every day. It will take a child getting hit before anything changes.
Now, I'm off to fold laundry, pay a couple bills, make out my grocery list for Thanksgiving, and eat a handful of Tums. (The heartburn was totally worth the chocolate, btw.)


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- Contents - e-ifc No. 26
March 2011
- Editorial
- Research Findings
- Experiments on Fertilization of No-Till Systems in the Brazilian Cerrado. Part I. Potash Fertilization of Cover Crops and its Potential for the Following Soybean Crop
- Assessment of Potassium Nutrition in Soybean for Higher Sustainable Yield in Medium Black Soils of Central India
- Impact of Alluvial Deposits on Soil Fertility during the Floods of 2010 in Punjab, Pakistan
- IPI Events
- International Symposium on 'Role of Potassium in Sustaining the Yield and its Quality'
- International Symposium on 'Management of Potassium in Plant and Soil Systems in China'
- Other Events
- New Publications
- Publications
- K in the Literature
- Clipboard
- Clipboard
- Impressum
If you wish to subscribe to the e-ifc please visit the subscription page.
Experiments on Fertilization of No-Till Systems in the Brazilian Cerrado. Part I. Potash Fertilization of Cover Crops and its Potential for the Following Soybean Crop
Naumov, A.(1), V. de M. Benites(2), M. Betta(3), and G.V. Gomez(3).
print version pdf 1.16 MB
(1)IPI Coordinator for Latin America. Corresponding author.
(2)EMBRAPA National Soils Research Center, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
(3)FESERV, Rio Verde, Goias, Brazil.
Since the 1970s, when Brazilian farmers started to practice no-till in the state of Parana, this form of cultivation has spread rapidly throughout the country. It currently accounts for approximately 26 million ha, or more than 40 percent of the total national area under seasonal crops (FEBRAPDP, 2008). The rapid expansion of no-till across states, which are the main producers of soybean and maize (Parana, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul in the Southern region and Goias, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul in the Central-Western region of the country), has meant that Brazil has become one of the world's leaders in no-till practice, approaching that of the acreage in the United States of America in 2005/2006.
Despite these impressive statistics, official data on no-till area is often criticized by analysts. The critics consider that only 20-30 percent of the 26 million ha are under "real" no-till systems, i.e. without any preparation of soil before planting, with constant rotation of crops and/or with integration of planting and pasturing, and with permanent soil coverage by using crop residues (straw) or growing cover crops. Improving no-till practices, together with the spread of precise technologies for fertilization, herbicides application, and machinery use, has thus become a constant quest for Brazilian farmers and the agronomic scientific community. As Brazil is a country with a vast agricultural area (264 million ha; FAOSTAT, 2008), and with significant geographical differences between regions, improvement of no-till technologies strongly depends on the adaptability of these technologies to local soils and climatic conditions.
Since 2001, in cooperation with the National Soils Research Center of EMBRAPA (Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropequaria, or Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation) and with several other regional units of EMBRAPA, the International Potash Institute (IPI) has been carrying out fertilization experiments (with special focus on potash) of no-till systems in various Brazilian states (see map above). All experiments were established in different parts of the Cerrado (the tropical savanna region), where some 60 million ha have been converted to cropping and pastures during the past three decades. Local farmers (mostly migrants from southern Brazil) initially followed no-till practices from their home states, which were not adapted to the conditions of the Cerrado. One of the crucial problems has been the low efficiency of mineral fertilizer use, which influences the profitability of soybean and other commercial crop production.
Whilst establishing these experiments, the following issues relating to no-till currently practiced in the Cerrado were taken into consideration:
(a) E.g., 02-20-18, typical for the area of Rio Verde, Goias state, described in this paper.
- Most farmers apply unique NPK formulas(a). As soybean and maize export up to 80 kg ha-1 potash K2O in the yields produced, farmers simply supply the soil with this amount of the nutrient, often neglecting to take into account geographical differences in soil characteristics including texture, acidity and soil cation exchange capacity. This creates an unequal balance of potash in soil, some fields receiving more and some less than is required (Naumov and Prado, 2008).
- Potash fertilizers (mostly KCl) are usually applied at the same time as planting commercial crops (soybean or maize) as a basal dressing at row. Soybean planting usually starts in spring (September - October), which is a rainy season, when leaching of potash is a common occurrence. However, if potash, or at least part of that required, is applied in advance when planting the cover crops (a common practice in the Cerrado) it may be steadily released into the soil as the mulch decomposes.
- Because of the "K hunger" phenomenon of soybean which is observed at about 30 DAE (days after emergence), soil should contain a maximum amount of potash by that period of its biological cycle. Possible ways to achieve this are to split potash application (pre-plant and top dressing), or to apply herbicide to desiccate the cover crop nearer to the time of main crop planting to capitalize on the available K in the mulch.
(b) In 2005-2007, farmers' expenditures for mineral fertilizers corresponded to 30% and more of total production costs, and 7-9% for potash fertilizers. In 2008, the share of fertilizers in total production costs grew to 40-50%.
Although it is extremely important to adjust fertilization practices to the "cover crop + main crop" system, in relation to plant cycle and rainfall regime, additionally balancing fertilization according to local geographical conditions guarantees reduction of production costs through increasing efficiency of application of potash and other nutrients(b). It is also important to protect the environment.
This paper is the first of a series of publications in the e-ifc, based on results from IPI-EMBRAPA joint experiments, carried out in the southeast of Goias state, close to the town of Rio Verde, one of the fastest growing centers of Brazilian agri-business. Local farmers mostly plant soybean, maize, cotton, and some have recently started planting sugarcane. Many farmers are members of the Centro Tecnológico da COMIGO (CTC), one of the leading agricultural cooperatives in Brazil. IPIEMBRAPA experiments in the area of Rio Verde were established at CTC and then partially reproduced on the fields of local fazendas (farms) for verification(c).
(c) Scientists from the Federal University of Rio Verde (FESURV), and from the Center for Technical Education (CEFET), were also involved in the experiments.
Below, we report the results of an experiment, carried out during 2005/2006 at CTC, to evaluate the potassium response of various cover crops and to assess their capability as a potassium source for the main crop (e.g. soybean).
Materials and methods
Geographical coordinates of CTC are 17° 45' 49" S and 51° 02' 03" W, at 878 m above sea level. The climate of the region is tropical (Aw by Köppen), with an annual rainfall of 1,500-1,600 mm, a dry winter and wet summer and a typical Cerrado landscape (tropical savanna). Dystrophic latosoils, mostly clayey, predominate on the CTC experimental fields. Chemical analysis and textural composition of the soil is given in Table 1.
|Table 1. Result of chemical analysis and soil texture (0-20 cm) before the experiment was established (average data for 20 soil samples).
|cmolc dm-3
|cmolc dm-3
|cmolc dm-3
|cmolc dm-3
|H + Al
|cmolc dm-3
|g kg-1
|mg kg-1
|mg kg-1
|g kg-1
|g kg-1
|g kg-1
In September 2005, six different cover crops were planted. As Brachiaria is the main cover crop used in the region, various analyses were performed to compare its value. The cover crops were: Niger seed (Guizotia abyssinica), Pearl millet (the local plant name is Milheto; Pennisetum glaucum cv. ADR 500), Lucern (Stylosanthes guianenses cv. Campo Grande), Brachiaria (Braquiaria ruzizienses and Brachiaria Brizantha cv. Marandu) and Finger millet (the local plant name is Capim Pé de galinha; Eleusine coracana). Cover crops were seeded manually, without any fertilization, in experimental plots of 60 m². Potash (as KCl) was applied 15 DAE at four rates of application corresponding to 0, 40, 80 and 120 kg K2O ha-1. All treatments were replicated four times. All cover crops were desiccated 45 days after planting during the last week of October. Before desiccation, soil analysis was performed to assess K removal by the various cover crops. Potassium content in the soil was measured using the Mehlich method (Silva, 1999).
To evaluate above ground biomass of cover crops, plants were cut from an area of 1.00 m² immediately before desiccation. The material was weighed on collection, then reweighed after drying. Concentration of K in the biomass was evaluated according to Silva (1999) and the total amount of K absorbed by the crop per unit area was calculated as the product of the K concentration in the dry plant material and the dry biomass yield. For statistical evaluation of the experiment results, the Tukey test based on Genes software was applied (Cruz, 2006).
(d) Values of dry biomass of Pearl millet and of Braquiaria brizanta were similar to those observed by Torres et al. (2005), when cover crops were planted during decreased rainfall (3.6 and 2.1 mt ha-1). Sodré Filho et al. (2004) obtained even lower values of the dry biomass than in the described experiment (1.89 mt ha-1) because of adverse climatic conditions.
Statistical analysis obtained as result of analysis of variation of the biomass of cover crops and potash absorption showed significant differences between treatments in biomass and absorbed potash (Table 2). Clearly, Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) cv. ADR 500 had the highest fresh and dry biomass yield (Table 3). The reason for the large differences between the cover crops is the relatively short period of planting; most crops were not completely developed before desiccation, in contrast to the fast-growing Pearl millet. Of all the cover crops tested, Pearl millet produced the highest amount of dry biomass during this short period - 4.49 mt ha-1 (Table 3). This value is more than 2.5 fold greater than any of the other five crops. Apart from Pearl millet, the other cover crops did not produce amounts of biomass comparable with the biomass yield reported by other authors(d). The K concentrations in the dried biomass of the six tested crops ranged from 2.93 to 3.97 percent K, this range being much lower than that for biomass production. Thus, although the K concentration in the biomass in Braquiaria brizantha (the main cover crop used in the region) ranked first among six tested cover crops, the quantity of K absorbed per hectare, was only about 52 kg ha-1 as compared with Pearl millet with the highest value of all the crops at 138 kg ha-1. This greater than 2.5 fold difference in K uptake stresses again the importance of the higher biomass production of Pearl millet of the six crops. Pearl millet was the fastest of the six tested crops to develop during the 45 days after planting, at which stage all the crops were simultaneously desiccated. By comparison, Finger millet, according to Boer et al. (2007), can take up substantial amounts of potash in its biomass corresponding to 55.3 kg K ha-1 but only 66 days after being planted, which is still a much lower K uptake than that for Pearl millet.
|Table 2. Statistical analysis (F value) obtained as result of analysis of variation of
biomass of cover crops and potash absorption as a function of different treatments.
|Concentration of
K in biomass
|Total absorbed
K in biomass
|Cover crop (C)
|K doses (D)
|2.06 ns
|2.06 ns
|C x D
|0.88 ns
|0.88 ns
|1.54 ns
|0.97 ns
|Notes: CV - coefficient of variation. *significant at the level of 5%; **significant at
the level of 1%; ns - not significant.
|Table 3. Average values (for all K doses) of biomass and K content in biomass of different cover crops.
|Cover crops
|Fresh biomass yield
|Dry biomass yield
|Concentration of K in biomass
|Total absorbed K in biomass
|mt ha-1
|kg K ha-1
|Brachiaria (Braquiaria brizantha) cv. Marandu
|5.37 bc
|1.13 bc
|3.97 a
|51.64 b
|Brachiaria (Braquiaria ruzizienses)
|9.38 b
|1.82 b
|3.72 ab
|48.88 b
|Finger millet (Eleusine coracana)
|8.13 bc
|1.49 bc
|3.54 abc
|42.14 b
|Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) cv. ADR 500
|25.85 a
|4.49 a
|3.09 bc
|138.00 a
|Niger seed (Guizotia abyssinica)
|12.69 b
|1.67 bc
|3.64 ab
|45.87 b
|Lucerne (Stylosanthes guianenses) cv. Campo Grande
|1.13 c
|0.31 c
|2.93 c
|10.57 c
|Note: The values, matched with the same minor letters do not differ statistically according to the statistical test (Tukey method) at the level of 5% of probability.
In relation to doses of potash fertilizer, there was no effect to increasing doses of potash on the biomass yield of all cover crops, even though there was a significant effect on K concentration in biomass and for the total absorbed K (Table 2). As an example, a linear correlation is shown for K application rate and K concentration and uptake by Brachiaria (Fig. 1).
click to enlarge
Soil tests, made once cover crops are full grown but before desiccation, showed significant differences in K content in the soil as a result of different cover crops, at the depth of 10-20 and 0-40 cm (Table 4). Uptake of K by Pearl millet significantly decreased K in the soil profile (0-40 cm) and reduced available K from 40 to 17 ppm only. In all cover crops, due to their extensive root zone, no significant change in K soil was found at the 0-10 cm layer. The lowest value of K content in the soil was verified for Pearl millet for all doses of potash fertilizer. This can be explained by the highest extraction of soil K resulting from the high biomass produced through its well developed root system. There was no evidence of high accumulation of K in the soil with increased doses of potash fertilizer. Potash absorption from the soil by Lucerne was low, which correlated to the small amount of biomass production. At higher doses of applied potash fertilizer, more potash accumulated in the soil under this crop (data not presented).
|Table 4. Average contents of K in the soil at three depths, for all treatments,
before desiccation of the cover crops.
|K in the soil (cm; mg kg-1)
|Cover crops
|Brachiaria (Braquiaria
brizantha) cv. Marandu
|43.3 a
|23.19 ab
|15.5 a
|24 ab
|Brachiaria (Braquiaria
|32.19 a
|21.63 ab
|13.44 a
|22 ab
|Finger millet (Eleusine
|39.81 a
|27.0 a
|14.56 a
|27 a
|Pearl millet (Pennisetum
glaucum) cv. ADR 500
|22.2 a
|16.88 b
|12.31 a
|17 b
|Niger seed (Guizotia
|40.0 a
|26.25 ab
|15.56 a
|27 a
|Lucerne (Stylosanthes
guianenses) cv. Campo Grande
|34.19 a
|25.69 ab
|14.96 a
|25 ab
|Notes: CV - coefficient of variation; the values, matched with the same minor
letters do not differ statistically, according to the statistical test; *significant at
the level of 5%; **significant at the level of 1%; ns - not significant.
Biomass production to provide vegetative cover for the soil is one of the fundamental elements for no-till systems. These plants, which grow rapidly and produce a high amount of biomass, are essential for sustaining crop rotations in no-till systems. Besides providing organic matter to the system, these plants facilitate recycling of nutrients, often extracted from deep soil layers.
The results of this experiment show that Pearl millet is the best cover crop for local no-till systems, from the viewpoint of its ability to extract large amounts of K from deeper soil layers and to make it available to the following target crop (soybean); for Pearl millet this was 4.49 mt ha-1 with K absorption of 138 kg ha-1 (both values were more than 2.5 fold greater than any of the other five cover crops tested). This conclusion takes into account the short period available for cover crop growth (approx. 60 days).
The increase of K contents in biomass as a function of potash fertilization shows that such plants as Pearl millet and different kinds of Brachiaria are efficient in transferring potash from fertilizer to the biosystem. Once absorbed by the cover crop, potash may be rapidly recycled into the soil, as it is retained almost totally as K ions in cells and tissues. It is also known that the potash turnover rate after cover crops are grown is very fast (Boer et al., 2007). The quantity of potash absorbed and taken up into the biomass of Pearl millet exceeded that needed for soybean. The release of this potash occurs slowly but fast enough to enable its absorption by the main crop (soybean). The use of cover crops as recyclers of potash may be a good strategy to increase the efficiency of the use of potash fertilizers in (geographical) regions, where the precipitation regime allows adoption of this practice. Superficial application of potash fertilizer also reduces the risk of salinization of the root environment, which happens when fertilizer is applied in rows.
In terms of "recycling" K, and other nutrients, from cover crop to target crop, it is also important to take weather conditions (rainfall regime) into consideration. In the case of low rainfall during the cover crop cycle, biomass production of the cover crop (and nutrients contents in mulch) may be low because of dry soil conditions. On the other hand, high rainfall at the end of the cover crop cycle may cause nutrient losses by leaching. Another important aspect to be considered is the presence of diseases and pests. Nematodes are a typical problem which, depending on crop species, could be controlled by the cover crop. In this respect, special attention needs to be given to the selection of crop species used.
Photo by V. Benites.
- Boer, C.A., R.L. de Assis, G.P. Silva, A.J.P. Braz, A.L.L. Barroso, A. Cargneluttii Filho, and F.R. Pires. 2007. Ciclagem de nutrientes por plantas de cobertura na entressafra em um solo de cerrado. Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira, Brasília, 42(9):1269-1276.
- Cruz, C.D. 2006. Programa Genes: versão windows: biometria. Viçosa: UFV. 381 p.
- FEBRAPDP. 2008. Federação Brasileira de Plantio Direto na Palha (Brazilian Federation of Direct Planting); www.febrapdp.org.br.
- FAOSTAT. 2008. http://faostat.fao.org
- Naumov, A., and R.B. Prado. 2008. Mapping Spatial and Temporal Potassium Balances in Brazilian Soils of South-West Goias. e-ifc No. 15. International Potash Institiute (IPI), Horgen, Switzerland. www.ipipotash.org/eifc/2008/15/ 3.
- Muraishi, C.T., A.J.F. Leal, E. Lazarini, L.R. Rodrigues, and F.G. Gomes Junior. 2005. Manejo de espécies vegetais de cobertura de solo e produtividade do milho e da soja em plantio. Acta Sci. Agron. Maringá, 27(2):199-207.
- Oliveira, S.A. de. 2002. Análise foliar. In: Cerrado - Correção do solo e adubação. Editores: SOUSA, D.M.G de; LOBATO, E. Embrapa: Brasília. p. 245-256.
- Paul, E.A., and F.E. Clark. 1989. Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry. San Diego: Academic Press. 275 p.
- Pires, F.R., R.L. Assis, G.P. Silva, A.J.B.P. Braz, S.C. Santos, S.A. Vieira Neto, and J.P.G. Souza. 2007. Desempenho Agronômico de variedades de milheto em razão da fenologia em pré-safra. Bios. J., Uberlândia, 23(3):41-49.
- Torres, J.L., M.G. Pereira, I. Andrioli, J.C. Polidoro, and A.J. Fabian. 2005. Decomposição e liberação de nitrogênio de resíduos culturais de plantas de cobertura em um solo de cerrado. Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo, Viçosa, 29:609-618.
- Sodré Filho J., A.N. Cardoso, R. Carmona, and A.M. Carvalho. 2004. Fitomassa e cobertura do solo de culturas de sucessão ao milho na região do cerrado. Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira, Brasília, 39(4):327-334.
- Teixeira, C.M., G.J. Carvalho, A.E. Furtini Neto, M.J.B. Andrade, and E.L.S. Marques. 2005. Produção de biomassa e teor de macronutrientes do milheto, feijão de porco e guandu-anão em cultivo solteiro e consorciado. Ciência e Agrotecnologia, Lavras, 29(1):93-99.
- Segatelli, C.R. 2004. Produtividade da soja em semeadura direta com antecipação da adubação fosfatada e potássica na cultura de Leusina coracana (L.) Gaertn. (Dissertação de Mestrado). ESALQ. Piracicaba-SP. 72 p.
- Silva, F.C. (eds.). 1999. Manual de Análises Químicas de Solos, Plantas e Fertilizantes. EMBRAPA, Brasília. 370 p.
- Wieder, R.K., and G.E. Lang. 1982. A Critique of the Analytical Methods Used in Examining Decomposition Date Obtained from Litter Bags. Ecology, 63:1636-1642.
- Choose your App


text:
April 17, 2007
Lipscomb's Lady Bisons softball team lost both ends of a non-conference doubleheader Tuesday night against Western Kentucky at Draper Diamond on the Lipscomb campus.
The Lady Bisons lost game one 3-0 and fell 6-4 in the nightcap.
Freshman right-hander Christen Campbell pitched a complete game in the opener, allowing only one earned run on six hits by Western Kentucky. She struck out five and walked one.
Errors proved costly to the Lady Bisons with three miscues in the infield in the fourth inning contributing to two runs by Western Kentucky.
Offensively, the Lady Bisons managed only two hits in game one with Julia Davidson and Kellie Sirus each hitting a single.
Campbell came back in the nightcap and pitched six innings, giving up four runs, all earned on 11 hits. She struck out four and walked one.
Samantha Little relieved in the seventh and gave up two runs on two hits while also walking two in her first pitching appearance of the season.
The Lady Bisons scored two runs in the fourth inning. Davidson reached base with an inning opening walk. Leigh Little singled to left. Davidson then stole third base. She scored on throwing error by the catcher. With two outs Lauren Dortwegt drove home Little with a double to center.
In the seventh Kristie Sirus singled to left field with two outs.. Heather Collins hit a two-run home run to left center with two outs. Kellie Sirus reached base on an fielding error by the left fielder. Campbell flied out to right field to end the game.
The Lady Bisons slipped to 23-22-1 overall. Western Kentucky is 23-23 overall.
Wednesday afternoon at 2 the Lady Bisons will face Tennessee Tech in a non-conference doubleheader at Draper Diamond.


text:
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Pointless Commentary
I'm thinking about only writing about wines from now on. You know, endless reviews of wines I taste with really obscure and annoying descriptions accompanied by a meaningless number. (There was a time in my life when I was involved with mathematics, I nearly graduated with a degree in mathematics, and that's why I'm so offended by numerical scores. A number has meaning to me and is supposed to be arrived at through a rigid formula that gives it credence. Sticking a wine in your nose and mouth and declaring "89!" represents nothing but self-importance.) No more satire, no more lame jokes, no more outrageous opinions. It would sure make sitting down and writing this crap a lot easier. I could write a review in the Gary V. style.
"The Kosta Browne Pinot Noir was amazing! Wow, man, you put your nose in the glass and it's like, hey, you know when you forget to clean your oven for a couple of years and then you have to scrape the charred crap out of there and it smells like roadkill on a Texas blacktop, like an armadillo had an abortion on the road and a semi ran over it and then it was hot for two weeks? Kinda smelled like that but in a good way. And maybe a little bit like the seat cushion after Jancis Robinson left, kinda had a hint of that. Gotta be a 92."
This, of course, is the "future of wine writing." Sort of like Saturn was the future of cars.
It's so damned easy to just review wines and pretend everyone cares about your opinion. I love the Vinography approach. Taste 120 wines and list them in number categories. This is about as helpful as putting phone numbers in numerical order in the phone book. And on a ten-point scale, which actually translates to a four-point scale since wines never get below six. So instead of mining the mysteries of how an 88 point wine differs from an 89 point wine, we behold the marvel of being able to distinguish a 7 point wine from an 8 point wine. Apparently, the 8 point wine went for the 2 point conversion. I wish I'd thought of this system when I was a sommelier. I could have broken down the wine list this simple and effective and informative way.
Pacific Dining Car Wine List
Page 1 "Wine Between 7.5 and 8.0 Points"
Page 2 "Wine Between 8.0 and 9.0 Points"
Page 3 "Wine 9.0 and Above"
Page 4 "Wines I Actually Care About"
I love that wine bloggers express their opinions about wines. I don't read them. Nobody reads them. Only wineries with Google Alert read them, and then just for the sheer comedy. I recently read one that said, speaking of some Tandem Pinot Noirs "...tried about a hundred wines, I don't have notes, though I can remember how wonderful they were..." I'm not making that up, friends. (It's from a blog called "Eat It, Atlanta." Don't go there, whatever you do. The blog, or Atlanta.) Makes you want to run out and stock up on Tandem, doesn't it? Probably tastes really good after thirty or forty wines. And, really, notes are highly overrated. That's for, like, journalists and stuff. Real bloggers don't take notes. To begin with, taking notes involves paying attention as well as literacy! Who can be bothered with both?
So maybe I'll just stick to my usual stuff. Writing about wine, the wine biz, bloggers and anything else that annoys me. There is always something to write about in the world of wine and news about wine. For example, I noticed this interesting little news bulletin:
AP--The group Wine Coopers of America announced today that it is officially changing the name of the plug used to seal a filled barrel of wine from the "bung" to the "Beck," after FOX News analyst Glenn Beck. "Hell, no one can tell the difference between Glenn Beck and a bunghole, so we thought we'd just make it official."
Great news, fair and balanced, indeed.
Statue of Glenn Beck at the Wine Cooper Hall of Fame in Butte, Montana
13 comments:
- Arthur said...
Ron, Ron, Ron, Ron..........
You're being glib. You haven't studied wine rating like I have. You don't know that it's impossible to rate wine objectively or apply any criteria-based methodology to arrive at a wine score. The ONLY way to rate wine is on the basis on how much you enjoy it....
I would say that spontaneous, divine revelation "89" gets pulled out the terminal end of the digestive tract.
- September 16, 2009 at 10:38 PM
Arthur's comment then begs the question: Are wine ratings anatomically correct?
In reading some critics and blogs, it's clear to the Anonymous One that many "don't know their arses from their elbows."
The Hosemaster is quite right in his assessment of the notion of merely listing wines according to the critic's numerical score. As a reader, I cannot possibly glean any sensible information regarding the characteristics of any of the wines listed, apart from the fact they didn't taste like "Janitor in a Drum."
Perhaps the same critic would like to post his/her ratings of "Favorite colors on a Tuesday," "Vegetables in my local grocery stores this weekend," "Assessing Hallmark Gift Wrap" and "Shoes."
If readers know more about the taste of the critic/wacko (might be redundant, might not), that might be helpful.
On a side note: Kosta Browne is amazing ! Getting paid $40-million for that brand is larceny on a grander scale than Napa vintners placing $50 price tags on bottles of plonk.
- September 17, 2009 at 8:35 AM
- Charlie Olken said...
I have always thought that a review of a wine scoring 89 points meant that the reviewer enjoyed it a little more than a wine reviewed at 88 points. I could be wrong about that, but that is how I understand it.
Of course, there are always reviewers who get their understanding of wine out of "the terminal end of the digestive tract". I used to say that those folks did not know shit about wine, but Arthur is right. That is all they know about wine.
- September 17, 2009 at 9:04 AM
- Ron Washam, HMW said...
Hey Puff Daddy,
I am the last guy who wants to stir up the points debate--I think I declared that dead recently. But my mathematical point is not that 89 is better than 88 (or maybe higher is a more appropriate word), that's pretty obvious, but that each number was arrived at in an arbitrary fashion. Sort of the "I know an 89 when I taste it" school, which may have tremendous meaning for the taster but very little meaning for anyone else. The 100 point scale has purpose and is here to stay, but it still puts an objective value on something that is utterly subjective. This is the same tired argument, but it's tired because it's accurate.
Frankly, I've always felt that your Puff system at CGCW was the best system for rating wines. It reflects how we really feel about wine, and your stinginess with giving 3 Puffs has always been admirable. Doesn't it feel false to assign numbers? It does to me. I taste a lot of wine, like you do, and saying that an 89 point wine is simply a little better than an 88 point wine makes sense on the face of it, but which 88 point wine? When several hundred wines have 88 points, which wine is the 89 better than? All of them? On any given day? Really? And it's just not as good as all the hundreds of wines that got 90? Really? Just doesn't sit right with the old HoseMaster--seems false and disingenuous. The system, not the people who are forced to use it.
And, besides, I'm just funning here. And, by the way, when is someone going to rate blogs on the 100 point scale? I might be the guy for that job.
- September 17, 2009 at 9:36 AM
- Charlie Olken said...
Re Anon and critics who score without comment.
Last winter, Alder Yarrow posted scores with comments on three large tastings (UGC, ZAP and Brunello) within a week or so.
I was also at those tastings. I won't say that he accomplished the impossible, but when one averages less than two minutes a wine in a crowded room where you have to wait up to two minutes to get a small pour and there is nowhere to stand, to write, to spit out the wine without extra effort, one does have to wonder what the ratings were worth.
So, I wondered, and I compared his to my 35 wines tasted more critcally (a chosen group for my own purposes).
I came to a number of conclusions. His ratings of similar wines were not half-bad, and while half-bad is not good enough for professional reviewing, he exceeded that standard. I don't
I and most of the folks interested in the Bordeaux offerings understand the winery style, have an inkling of the vintage style, and so there is a certain utility in the ratings to most folks. But, of course, if you don't know Angelus from Lynch-Bages, then the ratings are meaningless.
But, his ratings of the 2004 Brunellos, not half-bad either, become a lot harder to fathom for most of us because Brunello is not exactly Grand Cru Bordeaux in terms of folks' attentions.
And maybe it is just me because I cover CA wines, but I disliked his ZAP ratings because styles seem to shift from year to year and winery to winery. That may help me make a living, but the overripeness factor, the changing vineyard source facter, etc, meant that many of the rated wines did not the kind of easily referenced and understood stylistic patterns that are exhibited by Grand Cru Bordeaux or even by the Brunelli.
And since we are all targets for humorists, the tasting of 100s of wines in rapid pace and printing scores only (believe me, there would have been almost no time for more than the most minimal note taking) makes Yarrow and all who would do things like even more obvious targets.
- September 17, 2009 at 9:50 AM
- Ron Washam, HMW said...
Hey Charlie,
Targeting the obvious, it's what I do.
- September 17, 2009 at 10:21 AM
- Jeff said...
Completely fucking hilarious, and so glib. I love it.
- September 17, 2009 at 10:33 AM
- Samantha Dugan said...
Fuck I hate it when all the smart guys get here first, makes whatever comment I was thinking of posting seem re-tard-it. Gonna go with a classic, "Nice post Ron!"
- September 17, 2009 at 11:21 AM
- Charlie Olken said...
Ron, oh, Ron, do Ron, Ron, Ron.
Oh sorry. My granddaughter was here for dinner and she finds my poetry funny.
Question from you: Saying an 89 point wine is a little better than an 88 point makes sense on the face of it, but which 88 Point wine?
Answer: All 88 point wines at the time I tasted them.
Question from you: Doesn't it feel false to assign numbers?
Answer: No. I write, as you have so kindly praised, rather long descriptions of the wines reviewed in Connoisseurs' Guide. One of the things that always frustrated me is the cusp wine. For some reason, our two-star (some day we will get to the bottom of this puff business, but not now because Puff Daddy is infinitely more fun as a nickname than Star Daddy) ratings became the tipping point at which people got excited. So, when a wine would not reach that level, our recommendation seemed to carry no weight.
Still, we would not have gone to the points system as an adjunct to the star ratings if it were not that points became the currency, the lingua franca of wine review values.
Still, I do find the 100-point system worthwhil. Let's take a cusp wine as an example. We recently rated Merry Edwards Pinots and many of them got two stars but some did not. At some point in the writing process, based on quality against our perceptions and standards, a rating has to get applied. The Coopersmith 2006 came up two stars. The Meredith Estate botting did not.
Two stars versus one star. Big difference in perception regardless of what words we write. 91 points and two stars versus 90 points and one star. Far more accurate portrayal of the differences between the wines in the symbolic notation part of the tasting note.
The only way to avoid the ratings gap perception entirely to assign no ratings at all and to rely on words alone.
With all due respect to you, whose writing I very much enjoy, no writer yet has found a way to portray those small differences across hundreds of reviews.
The brilliance of the 100-point system, even in its current usage of approximately 20 points, give or take a few depending on the publication, is that it does allow the writer to identify small differences in preference.
There are also great imperfections in the system as there are in all systems of symbolic notation. I personally prefer a wide range of ratings accompanied by detailed description.
To that end, I am driven up a wall by Alder Yarrow's use of points and half points without so much as a word of commentary.
And fortunately for my continued employment, the rating of wine is not dead--even if it has killed off a few brain cells over the years.
- September 17, 2009 at 9:58 PM
When Alder Yarrow posts a note proclaiming 2002 Bordeaux, as a vintage, to be superior to 2006, as a vintage, one might discount his "expertise" in the realm of Bordeaux wines.
Tasting and rating Brunello wines is, indeed, a tougher task than Bordeaux. The estates in Bordeaux tend to have some sort of track record and, often, a measure of consistency in terms of style. In Montalcino, there are so many brand new estates with no track record and there are numerous properties that have recently hired consulting winemakers that you don't have a reference point for a particular property. Add to the mix the hugely variable climate...and it's really difficult to peg those wines with clarity.
The "puffs" and points listed in the pages of Connoisseur's Guide are more a signal of the editor's assessment and excitement factor for the wines. I find, in each issue, wines which have (for me) more attractive descriptions and lower scores. This is why simply posting (solely)a number as some sort of scientific measure is relatively useless.
- September 18, 2009 at 12:49 PM
- Charlie Olken said...
Please give Anon 1 a silver dollar. He has it all correct in one try.
- September 18, 2009 at 2:18 PM
- Ron Washam, HMW said...
Hey Puff Daddy, Star Child,
Anon 1 just copied off my homework.
- September 18, 2009 at 2:38 PM
Mr. Puff Daddy: Thanks.
- September 18, 2009 at 6:46 PM


text:
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text:
Rob O'Farrell necesitaba un nuevo diseño de papelería y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 66 diseños de 16 diseñadores freelance.
Perf-Util Consulting Ltd
My Background:
Bachelors Degree in Computational Physics and Chemistry
Masters Degree in Computational Chemistry
Masters Degree in Multimedia Systems
Client-facing Consulting for IBM Global Services
Client-facing Technical/Functional/Solution Architect for Oracle Utilities
Owner of Perf-Util Consulting Ltd
What you should take from the above is that I appreciate creativity, quality and clear, concise questions. Think through your questions. I appreciate clean design work and have a clear idea of what I would like to convey.
Directors, CEOs and key business stakeholders of the world's largest Utilities companies (Electricity, Gas and Water).
These are very busy people who frequently need to make high value, high business impact decisions in a short space of time. These decisions will frequently be made based on the impression of a company rather than fact. I need to convey to these people that Perf-Util is a name they can trust due to the following corporate standards:
High Quality from clear/flexible procedures
High Performance (extremely important for these solutions)
Excellent Architecture (software and hardware)
Reliable Delivery/Execution
(do not use these verbatim - they are only concepts)
Business Purpose:
Performance and Quality for core business systems in Utilities companies (do not use verbatim - this is only a concept)
The software we work on is VERY high value and has clear impacts on business margins/profits.
Please review 99designs Print Guidelines and talk to a printer if you need more info.
Business Cards Design Materials (front and back) - this is first point of contact and should focus on being memorable and expressing the companies purpose. The front and back details do not need to match.
Headed Paper Design Materials (front) - we're already in the door... focus on re-inforcing the corporate image and standards (see target audience section for corporate standards) No background gradients in the body please.
Compliment Slips (front) - could be used for anyone so chief focus should be the same as business cards
Font files for any fonts used
Contact Details:
Please use sample (except for website) contact details including the following:
website (http://www.perf-util.com)
mobile phone number
Please do not include a landline or fax number.
For the business cards, use imagination to account for the possibility of two addresses/mobile phone numbers (I operate out of 2 countries at a time).
If it can included in a useful (but very low profile) manner, a mention of Oracle Utilities Lodestar or simply Lodestar could be helpful. (This is the framework we implement).
Use the existing logo. I have provided the fonts used so far for convenience. This is not a limitation.
Please try to use the same colour palette as the existing logo (I spent a lot of time selecting this palette).


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Contact us 24/7: +1 877 678 9627
3.1 Phillip Lim
The Pashli medium leather trapeze bag
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3.1 Phillip Lim
The Pashli medium leather trapeze bag
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- - This item's measurements are:
- Depth 10.5cm
- Handle Drop 9cm
- Height 24cm
- Max. Strap Length 109cm
- Min. Strap Length 82cm
- Width 32cm
3.1 Phillip Lim updates its beloved 'Pashli' trapeze bag with croc-effect leather and an on-trend blue and black palette. Carry this medium-sized design from the office to the weekend - the expandable front allows enough room for your tablet, wallet and cosmetics case.
Shown here with: Thakoon Addition top, Eddie Borgo bracelet and bracelet, Alexander McQueen bracelet, Chloé shorts, Common Projects shoes.
- - Blue croc-effect and black textured leather (Cow)
- - Two top handles, detachable adjustable shoulder strap
- - Zips to expand at front, silver hardware
- - Internal zipped pocket
- - Fully lined in black satin-twill
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- - Comes with dust bag
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This law and legal reference library provides free access to thousands of legal articles, covering important court cases, historical legal documents, state laws & statutes, and general legal information. Popular articles include Landlord and Tenant Relationship, Health Insurance Law and Employment Law. The legal reference database also covers historically important court cases such as the Ulysses obscenity trial, Plessy vs. Ferguson, Roe vs. Wade and many others.
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One thing I can't help but notice at Chiropractic Natural Health Associates in Southfield, Michigan, is how friendly everyone who works there is! From the greeting at the front desk to the appointment with the practitioner, each person is friendlier than the next.
Everyone there is treated like family – and the three DC's (Doctor of Chiropractic) and the ND (Naturopathic Doctor) at this clinic are, in fact, family! CNHA features Dr. Bruce Born ("Dr. Born"), his son Dr. Bryan Born ("Dr. Bryan"), and Bryan's wife, Dr. Carol Born ("Dr. Carol"). In addition, Mary Born, ND (also a Certified Natural Health Professional and Master of Holistic Healing), is the wife, mother, and mother-in-law of the DC's, respectively. In addition, the clinic features an onsite myomassologist, Kathy Peltier, trained at the renowned Irene's Myomassology Institute (Southfield, MI).
Another thing I can't help but noticing is how comfortable – even enjoyable – the chiropractic adjustment itself is. One of the compelling features of treatment by any of the Borns' is the absence of the "snap, crackle, pop" hands-on methods that characterize many traditional forms of chiropractic care. Instead, the Borns' utilize a number of spiffy handheld devices, which achieve results quickly and painlessly.
Dr. Bruce Born started all this, becoming the first of 5 chiropractors in his family! In addition to being a DC, he earned his BA in Humanities, and in 1972 was certified as an Internist by the American College of Chiropractic Internists (F.A.C.C.I.). He is also a certified acupuncturist, as well as being qualified in Applied Kinesiology (which he uses on all his patients) and Roentgenology. In all my years as a patient at CNHA, I've never seen him anything but smiling, joking, and highly energetic (do they bottle that?).
Dr. Mary Born has been actively acquiring and sharing expertise in natural health care, prevention and maintenance for over 30 years, and her background is too varied and diverse to list here! Among other things, she offers gentle emotional healing using energetic techniques including NET (Neuro Emotional Technique) and the use of flower essences and aromatherapy. She is highly trained and experienced as an herbalist, and offers consultations regarding nutritional deficiencies and supplementation, with the help of a spiffy new computer program which reads each patient and their BioMarkers individually. Her practice is called For The Health Of It, and in addition to meeting one-on-one with patients, she regularly offers classes throughout the metro Detroit area. She is currently offering Webinars (web based classes) on various topics such as Growing Older Gracefully, Healthy Snacking, and Keeping Blood Sugar Regulated. Links to register - as well as previous classes available for downloading - are available on her website at BornForHealth.com.
Drs.' Bryan and Carol met at their alma matter, at Parker College of Chiropractic in Dallas, Texas. They were study partners in senior year, but not until moments after graduation did Dr. Bryan look at her and realize, "that's my future wife." Good thing, because otherwise they'd never have been able to concentrate on their studies! Each pursued a career in chiropractic in large part because of dramatic and positive experiences they each experienced growing up with chiropractic care, as well as out of a genuine desire to make helping people their life's work. Dr. Carol enjoys treating families, and has a special passion for helping pregnant women.
In addition to high quality spinal care, Dr. Bryan Born has expertise on a number of other issues, which he shares with his patients to maximize results and enhance quality of life. For example, did you know that chiropractors receive more training in neurology than any other doctor, second only to actual neurologists? Dr. Bryan is able to detect subtle imbalances in brain function that can be supported and improved by simple exercises patients incorporate into their daily routines, like 60-120 seconds of cross crawls (or variations thereof).
In addition, the underlying culprit for many complaints (i.e. "unexplained" irritability, especially in children; difficulty sleeping; indigestion; ear infections; and fever) is often an open illeocecal valve (ICV) (don't worry; I'd never heard of an ICV before Dr. Bryan either!) This is something that I've never seen or heard of being addressed in any other doctor's office, DC or otherwise, prior to meeting Dr. Bryan. Far better to have an adjustment or two and get the issue resolved than mask it with OTC drugs or other means of masking symptoms without identifying the cause. Fortunately, Dr. Bryan is frequently able to narrow down and address the myriad possible causes for the ICV malfunction in the first place, i.e., emotional stress, physical stress, adrenal stress, a simple subluxation (due to lack of spinal alignment), or a food or environmental sensitivity.
Speaking of food and environmental stressors, Dr. Bryan is trained in Total Body Modification, a chiropractic technique that can help your nervous system to "retrain" and not "over-react" to benign substances (such as particular foods or environmental substances like pet hair or dander, pollens, molds, dust, etc.), as well as to be more resistant to not- so-benign substances like gas fumes, cigarette smoke, or the poisons and heavy metals found in many vaccines. "Sensitivities" can express themselves in many ways, as officially diagnosed "allergies," or symptoms including irritability or negative change of mood, brain fog, hyperactivity, exhaustion, headache, sneezing, sore throat, or hives, rashes, and other inflammatory skin issues. Dr. Bryan added this discipline to his repertoire after experiencing the amazing results himself as a patient, going from once having life-threatening allergies, to "being able to have a good night's sleep with a cat sitting on my head"!
I first learned about Dr. Bryan from my sister (who was referred by a very happy patient of Dr. Bryan's). She had taken her second son as an infant after suffering for months with a baby who (unlike her first) was very irritable, tense, and a fitful sleeper. After a few (quick and painless!) adjustments with Dr. Bryan, he was" like a different child:" easy going, comfortable, and a much better sleeper. It was a clear result of Dr. Bryan's work with him.
Though our entire family has benefited in myriad ways from treatment with Dr. Bryan over the years, I think our most significant experience came after the birth of our daughter. We went straight from the hospital to Dr. Bryan – even before heading home! After a long and difficult labor, I was in terrible pain, was terribly hunched over, and I was unable to walk with a normal gait (i.e., lift my feet while walking). I shuffled into his office… and walked out. My pain decreased dramatically almost immediately, and I stood nearly upright! After just 2 more visits, I was back to normal. Contrast this to the months of pain and physical limitation following the birth of my first child years before – before I knew about Dr. Bryan.
As for my newborn, she had red blotches and bumps all over her face, was very tight and tense, and was often uncomfortable and unhappy. She was having difficulty nursing as well, and seemed to experience distress afterward. After her first adjustment, my parents, husband and I were all amazed at the transformation: she was noticeably more relaxed, as evidenced by open hands (instead of tight fists); her breathing was deep, rhythmic (rather than short and shallow); and she (and I!) enjoyed longer, deeper sleep. Over the course of the next several months and regular visits to Dr. Bryan, her skin improved dramatically, as did her overall disposition, comfort, and contentedness.
Incredibly, Dr. Bryan actually offers a full year of free chiropractic care for all infant children of current patients – and any infant, child of patient or not, will be treated free of charge for the infant's first 3 months! He does this simply because he cares, and wants to do his part in giving them the best possible start in life.
I've written a great deal about Dr. Bryan, since as his patient, most of my CNHA experience is in that capacity. However, you can rest assured that no matter which DC (or other practitioner) you choose at Chiropractic Natural Health Associates, you're sure to have a pleasant, painless and healing experience with a warm, caring, highly trained and experienced professional.
To learn more about CNHA, the practitioners, and their services – and to view some informative and enjoyable videos of Dr. Bryan at work! - visit their website at Painless-Chiropractor.com or call (248) 559-6763.
To learn more about Dr. Mary Born and For The Health Of It, visit her website at BornForHealth.com or call 248-623-2288, or CNHA.


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Matching Tire Size With Wheelbase - The Long & ShortPosted in How To: Wheels Tires on January 27, 2014
Building a 4x4 can seem like a never-ending cycle of trial and error. Just like hundreds of other DIY hobbies, there isn't a definitive rulebook on how to be the ultimate 4x4 enthusiast, or better yet, how to build the perfect four-wheel drive. One of the best aspects of this hobby is the diversity of the vehicles and people who participate. One question we hear a lot is: "What is the ideal tire size for a given rig?"
More often than not, the answer has less to do with the vehicle, and more to do with what the user's intentions are with the rig. Sure, most rigs look badass on 40-inch-tall tires, but if all you do is tow your boat to the river and hit the occasional muddy road to the hunting camp, the 40 doesn't really make a lot of sense. Lift-to-tire ratio charts are a good place to start when matching up tires for your 4x4, but many of the charts come across as vague guidelines, not absolute answers. While a chart offers you an idea of what tire size your 4x4 could cycle, it doesn't always answer the greater questions of what tire will work best for your axles, steering, and wheelbase.
Most stock light-truck and SUV axles can be good for up to a 37-inch-tall tire, but may require aftermarket components to compensate for the taller tires. Items such as higher numerical differential gears, stronger axleshafts, and even axle trusses will need to be factored in before you choose a new tire size. Larger, ¾- and 1-ton trucks tend to have stronger axles and more robust components, so going up to even a 42-inch-tall tire isn't out of the question. Just as important as factoring in the axle's strength, is making sure that your steering and brakes are up to the large-tire challenge. Moving a heavier and larger than stock tire can cause steering components to wear and fail prematurely. This can be compounded with rapid-suspension wear on some of the more frail independent front suspensions. Big brake kits, aftermarket suspension systems, and heavy-duty factory-replacement components can all make your rig handle the larger treads, but will be another investment you will need to factor in.
If there ever was an editorial can of worms, compiling a list of the right tire size and wheelbase is it. No matter how well thought out your formula is, there will be a way to poke a hole in the logic. Despite the lack of a one-size-fits-all solution, we've created four categories of some of the most common trail-friendly wheelbases offered in 4x4s. It should go without saying, but we'll say it anyhow, this is simply a guide. Factors such as the vehicle's lift height, type, and even the terrain it frequents can all play a part in what size rubber will work best for your machine. Have an opinion for which wheelbase and tire size combo you think is best? Be sure to join the conversation online at www.fourwheeler.com.
Wheelbase (in) 80-96
Tire Range (in) 31-37
If you fall into this category, then chances are you are piloting a Jeep Wrangler, CJ-5, CJ-7, Suzuki Samurai, Willys flatfender, or maybe even some oddball wheeler such as a Geo Tracker. Like it or not, your wheelbase is short, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. A shorter-wheelbase 4x4 tends to be extremely maneuverable off-road, which historically has made them great for carving new trails across the nation. Aside from steep ledges, the nemesis of the short wheelbase for many years wasn't so much the wheelbase, as it was the technology and way we used to overlift and overstuff the vehicles.
Nowadays, the low lift and big tire combo has increased the performance, handling, and overall driving characteristics of short wheelbase vehicles tenfold. A smaller/shorter 4x4 can sometimes avoid challenges that larger rigs face. A shorter wheelbase rig, when fixed with, say, a 35-inch tire, can also have an increased breakover angle over a similarly equipped rig with a longer wheelbase, so its propensity for hanging up on obstacles will be lessened.
Maintaining a low center of gravity will often require body modifications and bumpstops to run a larger tire, but the performance off-road will be worth the trouble. We've capped our tire range to 37 inches, as the overall balance and proportions of rigs in this category work best with this is and below.
Wheelbase (in) 108-117
Tire Range (in) 35-40
This wheelbase range is one of the most popular and one of our favorites. It brings in many of the fullsize and mini-trucks, along with the wildly popular Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. In this wheelbase range, the exposure of underbelly components or potential for damage to them is raised, but the maneuverability and stability that this length creates is excellent off-road. Items such as your driveshafts, gas tank, and powertrain oil pans become more exposed, especially in wheeling environments where large rocks and steep climbs are abundant.
Given that the breakover angle can be more complex (and lower) on a longer wheelbase, a 35-inch tire is the lowest we would recommend for more elevated wheeling. For more dedicated wheeling rigs, running 37- to 40-inch tires is extremely common and very effective for even more treacherous wheeling settings.
Wheelbase (in) 97-108
Tire Range (in) 33-38
Many of your midsize SUVs fall into this wheelbase category. Such popular rigs as the Jeep Cherokee XJ, Grand Cherokee, fullsize Chevy Blazer, and Ford Bronco are all part of the fold. As the wheelbase increases, so does the stability of the vehicle in climbing situations off-road. The necessity for a larger tire also becomes more important on the rig due to the distance between the front and rear wheels. The vehicle lift (height) and track width also plays a factor in the wheelbase/tire formula.
On the short side, we prefer at least a 33-inch tall tire. Moving towards the end of the 108 spectrum, we are fans of running up to a 38-inch tall tire. If you have the ability to keep the rig low, a 40-inch tall tire is not out of the question, but for the average 4x4, that's a big investment, both from a financial and build standpoint. A more common, and somewhat happy medium, for this wheelbase is going to stay between 35 to 37 inches.
Wheelbase (in) 118 plus
Tire Range (in) 37 plus
Long wheelbase rigs can work very well on the trail, but they require a good driver and equipment that is up to the task. If you are wheeling anything over 137 inches, you're most likely not squeezing through your average trail, so we're going to leave the land yachts out of the equation. Long works great in expedition-style rigs and daily drivers—even purpose-built hillclimbers are great examples of where long and low work great off-road.
A 37-inch-tall tire is going to be a good start on the lower end of this wheelbase spectrum. The challenges of maneuverability and breakover angle will be increased significantly as the wheelbase lengthens, and this can only be compensated by tire size up to a point. In our Top Truck Challenge competition, we often see rigs well into the 120-inch-and-up range work well. They are often aided by 54-inch tires and rear steer, but those are just tools to get the job done more effectively.


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|Hanna (left) and her sister Rita in the Spring of 1949,
just a few months before her death.
They say that when someone experiences the tragic loss of a very close friend, he or she may be more cautious, whether consciously or subconsciously, about once again forming those very deep bonds which define true friendship. In her childhood and youth, too often my mother stood by the bedside of someone she loved, watching the light of life disappear, knowing that once again she was left behind. From my own experience of such loss, I can now understand my mother's tendency to keep people at arm's length.
The loss of Hanna had a profound effect on my mother. Although Mom rarely spoke of her friend, she did tell me the story of Hanna dying at Lourdes, France. Within the collection of photographs and ephemera which my mother kept, there are brief glimpses of this friend from long ago.
In the summer of 1928, Hanna Mordaunt was born into a family which would grow to include at least two other daughters. She grew up on Cambridge Street in Ringsend, Dublin. Her home was over a bridge, and just a few blocks away, from the home in which my mother lived on Gordon Street. Hanna was three years older than my mom, so I do not know if they knew each at school, or if they met after leaving school.
As the story goes, Hanna was a deeply religious young woman. In 1949 she went to Lourdes on a pilgrimage because she was critically ill. Hanna did not expect to be cured, but wanted to receive a blessing with the holy waters, and wanted to pray for the strength to accept her illness. In the fullness of her faith, Hanna believed the journey would make her feel more at ease with her impending passage into the next world.
Those who travelled to Lourdes with Hanna told of an introspective young woman who seemed content, even happy. They said that on Hanna's last day many persons who were bathed in the waters of the holy grotto said the water felt icy cold; however, when Hanna's turn came, she remarked that the water felt as warm as bath water. Hanna died, they said, within minutes of being removed from the waters. It was 13 August 1949, and Hanna Mordaunt was only twenty-one years old.
Back in Ireland, my mother Mary, then a young woman of eighteen years, waited to receive word from her dear friend, a letter or a postcard, but none ever came. Mom said she did not recall knowing her friend was dying, but if she did know, she did not believe it would come to pass. Either way Mary never again set eyes on her friend Hanna.
A few years later Mom's sister Kathleen travelled to Lourdes. Kate sent her sister Mary a postcard of the Grotto at Lourdes noting, 'You were all remembered here'. Mom recalled feeling pleased by the simple yet stark beauty of the grotto, and said it had been her hope that one day she too would travel to Lourdes to remember Hanna, but a trip to Lourdes never came to pass.
|The In Memoriam Card commemorating the death of Hanna Mordaunt
One of the right hand paragraphs reads:
'God saw in her an angel bright
On earth too good to stay,
He called her to His home above
And Hanna passed away'.
|The postcard from the Grotto at Lourdes, France.
Click on images to view larger versions.


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Wage and Hour Division (WHD)
Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.
Press Releases
Date: Oct. 28, 2013
Contact: Michael D'Aquino or Lindsay Williams
Phone: 404-562-2076 or 404-562-2078
U.S. Department of Labor
Wage and Hour Division
Release Number: 13-1822-ATL (272)
Motel 6 agrees to pay nearly $52,000 in back wages and to comply with the FMLA following US Department of Labor investigation
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Envy27 LLC, doing business as Motel 6 in Knoxville, has agreed to pay employees $51,967 in overtime back wages after an investigation by the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor identified violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act.
"A typical violation in the hotel and motel industry is the failure to pay required overtime premiums," said Nettie Lewis, district director of the Wage and Hour Division's Nashville District Office. "These employees have worked long hours. As a result of our investigation, they are being paid the wages they have earned and now know the benefits and protections of the FMLA. We encourage other hotel and motel employers to learn from this case, review their practices and make a diligent effort to limit future liability by complying with the FLSA and FMLA."
An investigation conducted by the Division's Nashville District Office disclosed that employees regularly worked more than 40 hours a week, but were only paid straight-time wages for all hours worked. The FLSA requires that workers be paid time and one-half their regular rates of pay for all overtime hours worked. The employer failed to post required FMLA posters in an area visible to workers and did not provide information about the FMLA in the company's handbook, in violation of FMLA requirements.
The hotel is a franchise of the Motel 6 brand. Following the investigation, establishment owner Nitinkumar "Nick" Patel agreed to pay all back wages due to the affected employees, pay proper overtime rates when overtime is worked, amend the company handbook to include general notice of the FMLA, display required FMLA posters at all locations, and comply with the FLSA and FMLA going forward.
The Wage and Hour Division has noticed the noncompliance in this industry and is concentrating its resources on investigating and remedying violations, informing workers of their rights and providing compliance assistance to employers. Since 2009, the division has concluded nearly 5,000 cases involving hotel and motel employers, resulting in more than $15.1 million in back wages for more than 28,000 workers nationwide.
The FLSA requires that covered employees be paid at least the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, as well as time and one-half their regular rates of pay for hours worked over 40 per week. In general, hours worked includes all time an employee must be on duty, or on the employer's premises or at any other prescribed place of work, from the beginning of the first principal work activity to the end of the last principal activity of the workday. Additionally, the law requires that accurate records of employee's wages, hours and other conditions of employment be maintained.
The FMLA provides eligible employees up to 12 workweeks of unpaid, job-protected leave with continuation of health care coverage under the same terms and conditions as if the employee had not taken leave. Leave may be taken all at one time or may be taken from time to time. An employer is prohibited from interfering with, restraining or denying the exercise of, or the attempt to exercise, any FMLA right. Prohibited conduct includes refusing to authorize FMLA leave for an eligible employee.
The Wage and Hour Division's Nashville District Office can be reached at 615-781-5344. Information on FLSA, FMLA and other federal labor laws is available by calling the division's toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243) or by visiting http://www.dol.gov/whd.
U.S. Department of Labor releases are accessible on the Internet at www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office upon request. Please specify which news release when placing your request at (202) 693-7828 or TTY (202) 693-7755. The Labor Department is committed to providing America's employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit www.dol.gov/compliance.


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Our Fitness Blog
Kickboxing to Lose Weight
One of the main advantages of a kickboxing fitness routine is being able to quickly tone your body. If you are wanting to lose weight and tone your entire body then kickboxing is the perfect way to reach this goal. By participating in this intense full body workout your main focus is on muscle toning and cardiovascular endurance. There are many kickboxing weight loss programs that incorporate techniques from boxing, martial arts and aerobics. By grouping all three of these techniques together, kickboxing can guarantee you an added boost to your weight loss program.
Major Calorie Burner
Kickboxing is an intense and vigorous fitness routine. You can expect to use a lot of energy during your sessions. The number of calories you actually burn during your routine varies, but it is based on many things, such as your intensity, how long you exercise and the type of exercises you are doing. The average person should expect to burn between six to eight hundred calories per hour. However, you need to remember you can only get out of a fitness routine what you put into it. So, you should always remain focused and motivate yourself to push harder.
The diversity in kickboxing is a major plus for most of us. Since it is derived from many different types of exercises, the routines are always changing. This can help you become less prone to boredom and likely to exercise more. There are so many different movements that you can combine into numerous unique combinations in your routines. The excitement of getting to hit, punch and kick a bag combined with not having to do the same thing day after day can help you stick with your fitness program. It can be advantageous to have a fitness routine that gets you excited compared to a fitness routine that you dread.
Kickboxing is a fun form of physical activity that can help individuals stay fit and healthy. It is an effective way to get a full body workout from just one routine and accomplish your fitness goals. By engaging the participants in their workouts, kickboxing is able to make us push harder and work harder than we normally would. This gives us the results we want and makes kickboxing an effective weight loss program for all of us.


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Hey, what'd you get up to this weekend? We did brunch, watched the Oscars, and tried to give ourselves one of those newfangled Japanese boob jobs with our cellphone.
That's right: Apparently some enterprising young Japanese doctor went and cooked up a ringtone that will grow your bust by three centimeters (or about 1.2 inches) if you listen to it 20 times a day over a 10-day period. How does it work? According to inventor and musician Dr. Tomobechi, buried in the ringtone is the sound of a baby crying, which works subliminally on women to ignite maternal instincts which in turn launch hormones that pump up your bust. Or something.
Watch the video and decide for yourself. Afterall, it was on the Discovery Channel, so it must be legit.


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Consist of: rose 18 pcs., felt wrapping
Flowers Used:
- rose
- Happy Birthday
- New Baby
- Office
- Beloved One
- Women
- Bouquets
Delivered bouquet or a gift may differ slightly from that shown in the image above. Please read the terms and conditions for more details. Contact us for any information on the availability of the product or the delivery of flowers.


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[Intro - Joe Budden - talking]
Uh, uh
Check me out now
[Verse 1 - Joe Budden]
Come along, c-come, come along
But I don't trust niggas, so make sure you come alone
I hand picked you, you think sensibly
They friends with you, don't need 'em to be friends with me
Come along, I'm a take you to some spots that you might like
But bring shades, you gonna need 'em for the bright lights
Grab a drink, invite dykes that like Vic's
We always end up fightin, cause that's my vice
Come along, c-come, come along
And you'll see how it feels when you sittin on the throne
When you so much better but they act like it ain't known
So if somebody else is on it, it's a temporarily loan
Hard to compete when there ain't no competition
If everybody's the best, why I feel like comp' is missin?
Forced to find inspiration when I never had to
So I go against myself, it's a better battle
Now come along, c-come, come along
Turned up the volume on her favorite song (favorite song)
We got so much in common (except)
Except when it comes to rhymin
She feel like lyrics are so intrusive
But I feel about her, the way she feels about music
She's cute
She don't like the words, she just like the beat and I'm thinkin me too (biatch!)
[Hook - Joe Budden] - w/ ad libs
Let it breathe
Come along, c-come, come along
Can we dim the lights? Let me get into my zone
Come along, c-come, come along
But I don't trust a soul, so make sure you come alone
Let it breathe
[Verse 2 - Joe Budden]
Check it, come along, c-come, come along
And watch these niggas that's doin it all wrong (whoa)
Throwback swag, nigga still doin rims (word)
Still doin throwbacks, you still doin Timbs? (word)
Lookin for a way to save, you ain't earnin no cake
Moved back in with moms, she won't turn you away
Then you all on the blogs, showin off a CL
When it's followed by the K, gotta know it's a mistake (baby)
Benefit of the doubt homie, if that ain't your daughter's car
I suggest you stop rappin about a Audemars
Cause in return, I'm a just call a fraud
Every time I hear a bar about the baller you are
Now listen, come along, c-come, come along
She gonna probably drop her drawers, if she step into my home
She gonna probably be on cock
It's big enough to get Lost in without Jack or John Locke (whoa!)
On the water like an island, thinkin she on the dock
So she puttin in work, I'm thinkin she on the clock
Uh, slow down baby girl, what you tryin to prove? (huh?)
When you live like me, it's funny what one night can do (AH!)
[Hook] - w/ ad libs
[Verse 3 - Joe Budden]
Come along, c-come, come along
Is you niggas out your mind? (nigga!)
Is it hard to recognize when you out your prime?
Maybe they can't imagine livin life without that shine
Walk around Hollywood like you so in demand
But when the labels stop backin nigga, so do the fans
Nigga you ain't a superstar, no allure about you
And when you talk about me, it says more about you
Now come along, c-come, come along
Wonder why when I ain't around niggas change they tone
That's the way it looks
Do they really think whatever they say behind my back'll manage to stay put?
We know the same people, go the same places
From the same hood, can only be so evasive
Come along, c-come, come along
When you're from where I'm from, you're gonna probably need the chrome
It ain't just me, it's like that where we all from
Thought some of them niggas just do it out of boredom
Some just preppin for the day they see a war come
Hangin in the wrong place if you never saw one
Now come along, c-come, come along
I don't know who you done dealt with in the past
Better be self sufficient ma, you don't get a pass
Cause your thighs a little thick and you got a little ass
You lookin for a sugar daddy, then go for it
Twenty somethin years old with nothin to show for it (show for it)
Talkin about she was raised different
Well get your own pockets bitch (biatch), so was I (OH!)
Now really, come along, c-come, come along
I don't call them verses, they similar to poems
Similar to scriptures, similar to pictures
You can stick to rap, what we doin's much bigger (so much bigger)
[Hook] - w/ ad libs
[Outro - Joe Budden - talking] (*echo*)
J. Cardim, what up?
New Jerz, what up?
Uh, Slaughterhouse, what up?