text:
Katherine Leigh Mergen and Christopher Charles Barlow married on July 13 at St. Mary Queen of the Universe Church in Salina. The ceremony was officiated by Father Kerry Ninemire.
The bride is a graduate of Fort Hays State University. She is a speech-language pathologist with Marion County Special Education Cooperative and works in Peabody and Goessel. Doug and Susan Mergen of Salina are her parents. Mary Mergen of Topeka and Alvin Witwer of Lenexa are her grandparents.
The groom is a graduate of Fort Hays State University. He is the band teacher and director for Marion schools. Cecilia Barlow Rogers and James Barlow, both of Abilene, are his parents. Kathryn Houlton of Abilene is his grandmother.
Lisa Broberg, friend of the bride, was maid of honor, and Emily Walker, friend of the bride, was matron of honor. Bridesmaids were Kara McAtee Newell, friend of the bride, and Christy Mergen, sister-in-law of the bride. Kaylee Mergen, niece of the bride, was junior bridesmaid.
Dennis Barlow, brother of the groom, was best man. Travis Johnson and Jason Kucerik, friends of the groom, and John Molstad, friend of the couple, were groomsmen. Brodyn Barlow, nephew of the groom, was junior groomsman.
Laykin Walker, goddaughter of the bride, was the flower girl, and Luke Walker, friend of the bride, was ring-bearer. Shelly Bogart, sister of the groom, was candle-lighter. Chris Mergen, brother of the bride, and C.J. Johnson, friend of the groom, were ushers.
The couple made their home in Marion.


text:
They're brightly colored, squishy and bite-size, and may look like candy to young children.
And that's the problem.
Toddlers often can't resist popping the small detergent packets for dishwashers and washing machines into their mouths and are having serious health problems as a result.
Since March, the California Poison Control System has received 429 calls about young people who were exposed to the packets, including 191 who needed to be treated in a hospital emergency department or other health care facility.
Nineteen were hospitalized.
Children who swallow detergent from the packets often have profuse vomiting, wheezing and breathing difficulties and may get very sleepy. Some need to be placed on a ventilator.
Others accidentally squirt liquid detergent into their eyes as they bite into and burst a packet, causing severe eye irritation.
"I've been really concerned about this since I first started to see these calls come in in March," said Dr. Rick Geller, medical director for the California Poison Control System at Children's Hospital Central California in Madera.
"This is a serious problem," he said. "We haven't had a kid die yet, but these are far more dangerous products to children than laundry detergent powder."
The liquid in the packets is concentrated, so toddlers often ingest more of it than they do powder, Geller said. He noted that if children try to eat laundry powder, much of it will slip through their fingers before they get a handful to their mouth.
Children who swallow powdered detergent typically have only a mild upset stomach.
The packets, introduced to the U.S. market in 2010, contain liquid detergent, or a mixture of liquid and powder, in a clear membrane that dissolves as it comes into contact with water.
The packets are designed for a single load and are attractive to consumers because they are so easy to use — people just pop them into a machine, no measuring required.
"This is definitely something parents need to put on the upper shelves," said Dr. Bernard Dannenberg, director of pediatric emergency medicine at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital.
Even that may not be enough for some children who can climb, however, said Ray Ho, a clinical toxicologist for the California Poison Control System in San Francisco. He suggested keeping the packets in a locked area or in a cabinet with child-resistant latches.
Nationwide, 485 exposures to laundry detergent packets were reported to poison control centers from May 17 to June 17 of this year, the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted in a report this month. More than 90 percent of the cases involved children 5 or younger.
In early May, a 20-month-old North Carolina child swallowed detergent from a punctured packet and within 10 minutes began vomiting profusely, the CDC said. He had trouble breathing, became unresponsive and had seizures. After he was placed on a ventilator, he improved and was discharged from the hospital 36 hours later.
Geller is so concerned about the problem that he has contacted the Consumer Product Safety Commission and has talked to detergent manufacturers about making their packaging more difficult for children to open, as companies did several years ago with pill bottles.
"These things are a marketing tool," he said. "They smell good, they're bright colors and it's very attractive to children."
The American Cleaning Institute, which represents manufacturers, has been in contact with safety officials and is cooperating with the Consumer Product Safety Commission as it looks into the issue, the organization said in a statement.
The industry is intensifying initiatives to educate the public about keeping the packets out of reach and out of sight of children, including warnings on packaging, the institute said.
Sandy Kleffman covers health. Contact her at 510-293-2478. Follow her at Twitter.com/skleffman.
Make sure the packets are out of reach by keeping them locked up, high enough that kids cannot climb to them, or in cabinets with child-resistant latches.
Call a poison control center immediately at 800-222-1222 if your child swallows detergent from a packet or gets it in his or her eyes.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
PoliceTraining.net Training Calendar
cloud is the next frontier for integrated communications, and already appears
to be akin to the quantum leap that the Internet and IP networking unlocked
during the 1990s.
computing offers new services, scalability and economy that may make "bricks
and mortar" just about irrelevant. Electronic service delivery is creating new
end-user interest in the capabilities and cost savings offered by the cloud as
an information repository. That, in turn, is driving continued innovation in
cloud computing.
risk, managing costs, and maximizing efficiencies and performance are all part
of the cloud. Experiences with the cloud were described by Capt. Eugene Smith,
Boise, Idaho Police and Laurence Russell, CPP, Vice President, Global Corporate
Security, www.salesforce.com, as they hosted a discussion about cloud computing
for the ISC West Premier Education Series (SM).
admitted that he had never been a "technical" person and, instead, relied on IT
personnel to assist. But as the information needs of patrol officers,
detectives and command personnel grew at the Boise Police Department, and as
the budget underwent cuts, there had to be a move toward learning more about
how the cloud could help computing and the money available to spend.
department could buy hardware and software, Smith said, but that would not
assure that a department was getting the best for the money being spent. The
question of connectivity and its "when" and "where" and ease of "how to access"
had to be assured.
explained that patrol officers produce data and information that needs to be
stored and accessible. Detectives also produce data, but they also use much
data. Command needs the most data and "at the strangest hours." Smith added. The
department could produce, run and store data, but needed better connectivity,
and the IT department sought ways to consolidate data. "Law enforcement and IT
didn't speak the same language." Smith said.
partnership was needed, to develop a process for discussions and
decision-making in the foundation to be created and the practical use of
information. Smith said the partnership looked at IT funding and decided to
"dissect" where the infrastructure was going and how it could be used more
efficiently and effectively. An IT person was designated to work with the
police department and funding was obtained for the steps to begin.
migration process was set in place in which the key stakeholders were
identified, a timeline set, and key milestones plotted. Several patrol officers
were invited to talk to the planners about needs, then detectives,
administrators and command level personnel were also given the same
opportunity. Cloud computing seemed to be the best solution to the needs of the
department. Applications and data sought were "put into the virtual world," and
the process took about a year to complete—even though the department wanted it
"right away," Smith said. IT put in the safety foundation needed for secure
computing and communications.
clouds were needed to house department information and to work in "a virtual access
portal," he said. Expanded capability for smartphones, tablets and laptops was
included. "It was retrievable and that was what we wanted," Smith said of the
security portal and the way data could be accessed. IT personnel were
comfortable with the security.
interact with other agencies, e-mail them, and exchange files, a public cloud
was needed. A "drop box" proved not to be secure, so Smith said access to a
public cloud was useful, but it needed security, too. "We're still walking through
this process," he said. The department continues to explore options, but has
already saved significant amounts of money with cloud computing. There are
still gaps and some security needs, but the process has begun and is proving
workable and thrifty, he felt.
are still many questions out there and we recognize we haven't met the 'end
state,'" Smith said, but the money saved can now be invested into other areas
of the department's needs and there is more money for hardware and software,
computing devices for MDTs, and the structure to support and update communications
via laptops, tablets, smartphones and other devices. The department is not yet
using all the capability cloud computing offers, but it plans to move
Russell said computing has moved from mainframes to mini-computing and cloud
computing is going to dominate the scene for many years. Cloud computing is
high on the list of technical priorities for many public and private entities. "It's
multi-tenant, has automatic upgrades, is pay as you go, and it's in real time,"
he said.
computing can run five times faster and at half the cost, and the
"subscription" to cloud services takes care of any needed updates. "A small
department can do the same as a large department," he said, and cloud computing
is a sustainable, eco-friendly technology that offers what agencies might need.
As to
the cloud's safety and security, Russell said if it is done right, it can be
recommended that when considering cloud computing, look carefully for certified
service and a professionally run data center. If possible, visit the data
center to see its access control, how servers move in and out, and how privacy
and security are maintained. He added that the agency ask how often audits are
done, and what the business' continuity plan is for future service by the
company or its successor in cloud computing.
Stephenie Slahor, Ph.D., J.D., writes
in the fields of law enforcement and security. She can be reached at
Published in Law and Order, Apr 2014
No Comments


text:
Zig Zag Onyx (Italian Knit)
This season's hand made Italian knit ties individually selected by our King & Bay Master Clothiers are phenomenal!
With zig-zag knitted solids and beautiful polka dots, each tie is purely hand knit in Italy. The result is a crisp knit tie that can be paired with any spring/summer look.
This season King & Bay offers a selection of 7 different Italian Knit Tie styles.


text:
Randy Seaver at Genea-Musings has come up with the following challenge this week:
Your mission tonight, should you decide to accept it, is to:
1) List your 16 great-great-grandparents with their birth, death and marriage data (dates and places).
2) Determine the countries (or states) that these ancestors lived in at their birth and at their death.
3) For extra credit, go make a "Heritage Pie" chart for the country of origin (birth place) for these 16 ancestors. [Hint: you could use the chart generator from Kid Zone for this.] [Note: Thank you to Sheri Fenley for the "Heritage Pie" chart idea.]
4) Tell us about it in your own blog post, in a comment to this post, or in a post on Facebook or google+.
Here are the 14 I know (plus the states for the two that I do not know based on the information given by their daughter in the census).
1. Hiram Carroll Brinlee Sr., b. 25 Dec 1808, Tennessee or Kentucky, d. 28 Jul 1885 Collin County, Texas. I am using Tennessee because that appears more often in the censuses for him (and in those for his children when they list parents' states of birth).
2. Elizabeth Ann McKinney, b. 23 Feb 1823 Kentucky, d. 23 Mar 1889 Oklahoma.
3 and 4. The parents of my great brick wall, Susan Elizabeth Smith, whoever they were. According to Lizzie Smith Brinlee's entries on the censuses, they were born in either Tennessee or North Carolina; I am choosing North Carolina because it appeared on two censuses and Tennessee appeared on only one.
5. Joseph Madison Carroll Norman, b. 8 Jun 1833, Alabama, d. 1 Apr 1901, Arkansas. Married 4 Dec 1851 Talladega, Alabama.
6. Rebecca Monk, b. 1837, Alabama, d. bef 1864 Alabama
7. William T. Sisson, b. ca 1826, Georgia, d. 12 Feb 1894, Alabama. Married 13 Jun 1851, Talladega, Alabama.
8. Jerusha Elizabeth Neeley, b. Alabama, d. bef 1858 Alabama.
9. William Spencer Moore, b. 1813, South Carolina, d. 31 Oct 1871, South Carolina
10. Emily Tarrant, b. 1813, South Carolina, d. bef 1873, South Carolina
11. Elisha Berry Lewis, b. 1813, South Carolina, d. 23 Feb 1889, South Carolina. Married 3 Feb 1835 Anderson County, South Carolina.
12. Martha Poole, b. 1815, South Carolina, d. bef 1865, South Carolina
13. George Floyd, b. 29 Sep 1807, Vermont, d. 11 Mar 1880, Texas. Married 13 Nov 1835 Greene County, Illinois.
14. Nancy Finley, b. ca 1816, Illinois, d. 5 Feb 1864, Texas
15. Absalom C. Matlock, b. 21 Mar 1825, Kentucky, d. 1865, Texas. Married 13 Aug 1846 Warren County, Kentucky.
16. Nancy Malvina Harris, b. b. 28 Apr 1827, Kentucky, d. 11 Aug 1862, Texas
Looks like I'm 87.5% Southern Mutt.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Saturday Night Genealogy Fun: Heritage Pie Chart
3 comments:
But then there is Vermont? A long way to Alabama.ReplyDelete
You're right, we do have a lot of states in common. No one on mine from either Vermont or Illinois though.ReplyDelete
Joan - Vermont and Illinois come from the same branch - my great-great grandfather George Floyd went from VT to IL, where he married my great-great grandmother Nancy Finley who was born there, and from IL they went to TX! Kinda breaks the old "no moving more than two agricultural bands" rule.ReplyDelete
Kristin - Yeah, that VT-IL thing is kind of an aberration; as I explained to Joan above, it's just one set of gg-granparents who account for it.
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Woodbridge's boys lacrosse team captured a 17-8 Pacific Coast League victory over Irvine Monday at Mark Daily Field.
Ethan Lynch and Ben Robinson led Woodbridge with three goals each.
Sam Turner had three assists and Sam Barns had nine saves in for Woodbridge (7-4, 3-2).
Irvine (0-6 in league) has been lead by sophomore Wesley Kim, who has scored 26 goals on the season, senior Nick Sims, who has 22 goals, sophomore David Trask, who has 12 goals and sophomore Tucker Page, who has 11 goals.


text:
If you have a positive attitude and a love for learning, you may be interested in joining our team.
TouchPoint Support Services, a member of Compass Group, is dedicated to providing hospitality services in the healthcare & senior living markets.
We provide our customers with food & nutrition services, environmental services, patient transportation, laundry & linen processing, and valet parking.
All of the associates in our organization are bonded together by a commitment to provide our patients, residents, guests, and customers with the very best hospitality experience by serving the needs of others through our brand promise, compassion at every point of human contact.
Full time associates at TouchPoint are offered many fantastic benefits such as :
Summary : Prepares food in accordance with applicable federal, state and corporate standards, guidelines and regulations with established policies and procedures.
Ensures quality food service is provided at all times.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities :
Tastes all prepared food items.
About Compass Group : Achieving leadership in the foodservice industry
Compass Group North America is a diversity growth-oriented organization. Our goal is to improve the quality of work life by using fair and consistent treatment and providing equal growth opportunities for ALL associates.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer that considers applicants without regard to race, sex, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or protected veteran status.
Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation.
Disclaimer : this job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks, or requirements associated with this position.
While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity.
Req ID : 309787


text: I would like to start another, ( not new ) chat for newbies, and anyone else who wishes to join us. The chat would be Monday night at 8:00 pm. The chat would be about Geocaching, and ONLY geocaching. I enjoy our Wednesday night chat, but we very rarely talk about the subject matter of our website. This chat would help anyone new to our sport, answer those big questions to help you when on the hunt. I encourage everyone interested in chatting about geocaching to join me, newbies and seasoned veterans alike.


text:
|Facebook Enters Sophomore Stock Year With Fewer Skeptics
Antoine Gara - The Street DEC 31, 2012 2:55 PM
Facebook loses a skeptic, as BMO more than doubles its share price expectations for the social network.
The obsession of a generation of college freshmen, Facebook
On Monday BMO Capital Markets analyst Daniel Salmon upgraded Facebook to "Outperform" from a previous rating of "Underperform" -- the Wall Street equivalent of sell -- on expectations the company will see an acceleration of ad revenue and continued growth in its newfound focus on mobile ad dollars as users increasingly access the social network on Apple
Notably, Salmon is increasing Facebook's 2013 earnings expectations by just 20%, but sees a more than doubling of Facebook's shares from previous forecasts on a surge in the company's valuation multiples.
"We believe Facebook is experiencing a reacceleration of ad spending from large brands that are returning for mobile 'reach and frequency' and more video ads," writes Salmon, in the Monday upgrade, which more than doubles Facebook's price target to $32 per share from a previous estimate of $15.
"We also believe direct response (DR) advertisers are now armed with a proper set of ad buying tools; while Facebook Exchange receives most of the attention, Custom Audiences is what we hear the best feedback about," adds Salmon.
After reporting better than expected earnings in October that signaled progress on Facebook's efforts to generate mobile ad revenue -- a key uncertainty in the wake of the network's May 18 initial public offering -- it appears chief executive Mark Zuckerberg & Co. are increasingly winning over skeptics on the company's long-term earnings potential.
Previous to Salmon of BMO's Monday upgrade, only three of the 40 analyst covering Facebook held out a "Sell" rating for the company's shares, according to analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg.
In more than doubling his price target of Facebook's shares, Salmon adds that Facebook's recent monetization efforts such as sponsored stories and gifts, in addition to conversations with advertising agencies, are driving the change of heart. Still, Salmon cites lingering risks to the upgrade, which have a been a key reason for Facebook's poor post-IPO performance.
"Top risks include: 1) investor expectations for paid search and ad network businesses remain too high; 2) potential engagement attrition due to over-commercialization, and 3) a 'portfolio of social networks' strategy that is still in its early stages," writes Salmon.
Salmon estimates Facebook's fourth quarter revenue run ahead of Wall Street expectations of $1.7 billion.
The analyst now estimates Facebook will see 30% revenue growth in 2013 and adjusted earnings per share of $0.72. To get to a $32 per share price target, Salmon also is increasing Facebook's price-to-adjusted earnings multiple to 45 times forecast 2013 earnings, a near doubling of the multiple from 25 times earnings previously.
"We believe rising estimates will pull up the multiple and 45x still comfortably falls between GOOG's 15x multiple and LNKD's 100x," writes Salmon.
Facebook shares rose 2% in Monday afternoon trading to $26.43, an over 50% increase share price lows hit in early September. Year-to-date Facebook's shares are off over 30%, even after a late year stock rebound on an improving earnings outlook.


text:
Flagler County deputies said Jason Lambert was intoxicated and fired the handgun after arguing with his wife.
An intoxicated Palm Coast man fired a handgun while arguing with his wife, Flagler County deputies said.
The incident occurred shortly before 8 p.m. Wednesday at a Blare Drive home in Palm Coast, said Flagler County Sheriff's Office Lt. Bob Weber.
The shooting prompted deputies to notify residents to remain inside their homes as deputies established a perimeter, Weber said.
Jason Lambert, 32, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault domestic violence, possession or use of a firearm while under the influence of alcohol and shooting or throwing a deadly missile.
Flagler deputies determined that the discharging of the firearm, which resulted in no injuries, stemmed from a domestic disturbance. Lambert's wife told dispatchers that he was extremely intoxicated and had a firearm in a holster on his hip as well as access to various other firearms within the residence.
The woman reported she and her mother had gone to the home to walk the couple's dogs. While at the residence, Lambert got into a verbal argument with her. Lambert went to his room and retrieved a handgun, Weber said.
Lambert then returned and confronted the two women, raising the firearm over his head in a threatening manner. The women fled the residence and heard Lambert discharge the firearm while driving away, Weber said.
Deputies blocked roads leading into the area and were able to approach the home, where they observed Lambert lying on the floor inside in an apparent intoxicated state. Deputies entered the home and took Lambert into custody, Weber said.
Lambert was booked into the Flagler County Inmate Facility, Weber said. A booking officer said bail was set at $7,500.


text:
70,000: That's the number of skilled electrical workers the United States will need in the next 10 years, says a recent release from the National Electrical Contractors Association and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (NECA-IBEW). This could be a direct result of the major expenditures in construction the United States is preparing to undertake within the same decade. A report by the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America lists that at least 375,000 bridges will have to be replaced as part of a $360 billion bill for roadwork, mass transit will require $72 billion worth of construction, the nation's infrastructure will be in need of $3.3 trillion in construction and related services, and one-in-three schools will require some type of work or renovation totaling $60 billion.
All of these projects have given the construction industry favorable employment projections data, an 11.4 % steady increase between 2004 and 2014, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. So what's leaving electrical contracting firms in the lurch in what may be one of the most prosperous decades for the construction industry? Currently, the average age of most experienced, skilled electrical workers is between 40 and 50. The imminent retirement of these baby boomers will leave a huge gap in the workforce that, at the going rate of recruitment, won't be made up for by younger workers. Younger workers just don't seem interested in careers in construction. So what's an electrical contracting firm to do? Bethesda, Md.-based ELECTRI International Inc., or ELECTRI Council, the research and educational program arm of NECA, recently published a strategy for retaining and recruiting electrical field labor that can be implemented immediately.
An incentive system, a method by which firms can compensate employees above and beyond their current salary for improved productivity, efficiency, and safety, may be the answer. The "Field Incentive Systems for Electrical Contractors" report offers electrical contracting firms a model for an incentive system that they can tailor to their specific needs.
Show them the money. Competition for skilled, experienced field labor will increase as the labor supply decreases. Companies wanting to ensure their projects will be completed in a timely and efficient manner may have to look beyond the wage scale offered by their union agreements. "There's a general feeling that the workers are already well paid," says Russell Walters, PhD., P.E., one of the authors of the report and assistant professor in the Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering program at Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. "So when you start talking about the idea of paying more on top of the union scale, you find a lot of resistance."
While it may be true that a job well done is its own reward, there's something to be said for raising the bar with extra incentives. Plainly stated, offering incentives based on merit should attract better employees and also encourage them to be more productive in the field. In order to compete in the tightening labor market, companies may need to revisit the notion of profitability, especially as it relates to field labor.
Many firms believe that the more money you give to the workers, the less you have within the company — and it's true that many companies operate under tight margins. However, according to the report, by connecting a portion of an employee's yearly bonus to the overall profitability of the projects they work on, field electricians will be encouraged to work more efficiently without additional monitoring. "What I was trying to convince companies with the report is that if you're increasing productivity in the field, that has a pretty large impact on profitability," says Walters. "And there is still a need to improve productivity out there."
When company profitability is tied to individual project profitability — something on which field workers have a direct effect — it will create a team mentality among the workers, and the employees will either weed out or assist those that can't handle their share of work. Furthermore, workers who are behind will be more likely to seek further training, even at their own cost, if they know they will be reimbursed when their improved performance results in increased reward through the incentive program. Increased worker productivity means more overall profit for the company.
Avoiding a "Big Brother" situation. Any field incentive system requires monitoring, but a successful field incentive system should be able to integrate the monitoring with the employee evaluations they currently use. There are three main criteria to monitor: profitability, timeliness of job completion, and safety. Most firms already track these three areas with time cards and safety records, so converting them into the incentive program's point value system can be relatively painless.
The report offers two methods for determining points for the first two criteria. Although the third factor is easier to track, safety must not be considered any less important than the others. In the program, employees are awarded points for attending required safety meetings, as well as those who attend additional safety classes not associated with the company. In addition, employees may be penalized for every lost-time accident has in the program year. "When you start motivating people to work faster, you've got to keep safety in there because you can work faster at the expense of safety," says Walters.
Above and beyond the above-mentioned three, employees may also be evaluated on specific job tasks, such as administrative duties, marketing skills, customer feedback, attire, following company policies, absenteeism, or any other number of discretionary categories.
In some cases, workers may resent being monitored. "Perhaps some people, for bad reasons, don't want to be monitored because they're not the most productive," Walters says. "Even good workers could take some offense to being monitored, as if maybe there is a lack of trust in what they're doing."
That's where communication and an understandable, formal plan come into play. According to the report, workers will soon realize that it's in their own best interest to work toward the company's goals and to trust the incentive program.
Earning trust. Once a company decides to implement the field incentives program, the first step is to spend time explaining the program to the workers. It is crucial that each employee understands how the points for incentives will be tracked and how the incentives are going to be paid. Employees must be assured that this is a reward system; not punishment. "If anything, you should have an open system," says Walters. "There has to be a feeling of justness to this and the overall strategy."
According to Walters, there are general rules for incentives, called the "Justice Theory." This means if there's a feeling that things are being done in a just way, people will accept what possibly could be perceived as an unjust payment. Under the incentive program, some workers will receive higher compensation than others. This is unusual under the union system where companies pay wages according to an existing pay scale. Therefore, more experienced workers can only be rewarded with non-monetary perks or through promotions, such as moving into a foreman position. But, according to Walters, these rewards may seem arbitrary and cause unproductive competition among workers.
Walters warns companies against fostering a "Tournament Theory" type of contest among workers. Under that system, the first place winner receives a large prize, while the other places are given minimal compensation, and sometimes are even dismissed altogether — think of pathetic Jack Lemmon as Shelley Levene as the past-his-prime salesman in the movie "Glengarry Glen Ross" where First prize is a Cadillac Eldorado, second prize is a set of steak knives, and third prize is the pink slip. "Those types of systems promote an unhealthy competition because most people are going to try to get the first prize no matter what they have to do to the others, and that can involve sabotage," says Walters. "What I'm proposing is something where everybody gets something. The people who work harder get more than the people who don't. Maybe the top 50% of performers will get something out of an incentive program to a varying degree, but there's no disincentive."
At the start of the program, it's vital that every worker should feel that it's possible that they will earn something if they put forth the effort. For the system to work, employees must both accept responsibility for the company's goals as well as make a commitment to the incentive system. Buy-in by both owner and employees is vital to the success of the strategy.
For your own copy of the ELECTRI Council's report, "Field Incentive Systems for Electrical Contractors," visit the NECA Store, which can be accessed from NECA's Website at www.necanet.org. In addition, NECA's Management Education Institute offers a one-day course called "Field Incentive Systems." Enrollment is also available through the NECA Web site.
Sidebar: The Eight Basics of Compensation
- Serve all stakeholders
An incentive program must strike a balance between the owner-stakeholders (management) and the employee-stakeholders (field labor). The owner-stakeholders exchange a portion of the profits to achieve the company's goals, while the employees provide the labor to achieve the company's goals in exchange for additional compensation. A successful incentive plan seeks to make the employee-stakeholders accept responsibility for accomplishing the company's goals by including them in the rewards.
- Keep it simple
If the program is straightforward and clear, it will be possible to discuss the plan with employee-stakeholders and eliminate the suspicion that there are hidden agendas or unfair provisions. Also, a plan that can be attached to a company's existing employee evaluation program will save on administrative time and costs.
- Start by identifying compensation needs
A company must know what problems it wishes to solve in order to properly institute an incentive plan. To do this, first, identify a clear and compelling need. Second, the need and solution posed by the incentive plan must have a clear connection, (i.e., the incentive plan must solve the problem). Third, the value of the plan must be greater than the cost, including costs associated with administering the program. A value-to-cost ratio of 4:1 is suggested since cost estimates can be vague.
- Group employees properly
When deciding how to allocate the profit to the various employee-stakeholders, it is useful to create a distribution of the net profit to each group. A company may choose whether to use union designations to determine the groups, group employees by years of service (may work best if trying to retain senior personnel, for example), or to treat all the same.
- Have a proper process for developing compensation programs
Challenges and problems unique to individual companies will require a customized incentive program. Many companies use checklists as a method for developing a program.
- Design program to reflect company culture
The program must be compatible with the existing culture of the company. When developing the incentive program, it is helpful to ask, "Is this program similar to management initiatives that have been produced in the past, and will the employee-stakeholders accept this style or amount of observation?"
- Install a formal program
The program should include standards and application rules that are discussed with and understood by both the owner-stakeholders and the employee-stakeholders.
- Be skilled in the art of managing change
If a problem has slipped past the early tests and what-if scenarios, it is better to change the program to ensure that it will produce the desired results rather than allow it to continue working toward the wrong goal. However, communicating the change to the employee-stakeholders and keeping them involved in the process can alleviate fears and confusion during the fine-tuning phase.


text:
Producing our Organic Grass Fed Beef:
Our organic cattle are Aberdeen Angus and Hereford breeds. They are a traditional cross which is well suited to a grass fed diet.
The cows calve in spring to make the best use of the spring grass and summer sun, the cows graze all year on our parkland and marsh pastures which contain a wide variety of grasses and herbs.
In winter cattle are fed silage made on the farm, in very wet winters they may be housed to avoid damage to the land.
Because they are only grass fed they grow and mature slowly over two and a half years to give excellent quality beef, they are slaughtered at an organic abattoir. We hang our beef for at least 3 weeks before it is expertly butchered on the farm.
Buying Organic Grass Fed Beef Online
We want to make it as easy as possible for you to purchase ethical produce and have it delivered to your door.
When you buy organic grass fed beef online from Swillington it will be fresh and suitable for freezing, individually packed and labelled and delivered to you in a cool box with ice packs.
You can then cook with our organic beef and make your favourite recipe.
See how our organic meat is packaged
Cooking Tips
- Great for frying, or cook on the barbecue or grill
- Handmade with just beef mince and pepper
- Naturally gluten free
- Our grass fed beef is great for a paleo diet
Did you know?
Our cattle spend part of the year on a neighbouring RSPB nature reserve, helping manage the land organically. We have recently expanded our herd to include British White cattle, a rare breed well suited to this rough grazing.


text:
Insurance exchanges will extend coverage to millions
Freddie Allen | 9/30/2013, 12:10 p.m.
WASHINGNTON (NNPA) – In less than a week, health insurance market exchanges will open across the nation and more than 40 million Americans, including 7 million uninsured Blacks, who were previously shut out of the health care system, will finally get access to neeeded care.
"When it comes to health care access, communities of color across this nation are at a critical historical junction," said Sinsi Hernández-Cancio, director of Health Equity at Families USA, a national non-profit group that advocates for high-quality, affordable health care.
Hernández-Cancio said that for as long as this issue has been studied, minority communities have struggled with a greater burden of chronic diseases, both in terms of prevalence and the severity of negative outcomes.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of
Minority Health, Black infants die from complications related to low
birthweight at a rate that is four times higher than White infants. Black infants also die from sudden infant death syndrome at a rate that is twice as high as White infants.
The Office of Minority Health found that Black men were diagnosed with prostate cancer at a rate that was 1.6 times higher than White men and that Black women diagnosed with breast cancer "were almost 40 percent more likely to die from breast cancer" than White women.
Even though Black adults are 40 percent more likely to have hypertension than their White counterparts, they are 10 percent less likely to have their blood pressure in check.
The average life span for Black men is five years shorter than the average life span for White men. For Black women, the average life span is three years shorter than the average life span for White women.
"Not only are we more likely to get sick and get sicker from a slew of chronic diseases, we face multiple obstacles to getting the care we need, not the least of which is lower rates of insurance than non-Hispanic White Americans," Hernández-Cancio said.
According to a recent report by Families USA, "nearly one-quarter (23.4 percent) of African Americans have been diagnosed with a condition that, without health reform, could lead to a denial of coverage."
Hernández-Cancio called the Affordable Care Act a game changer.
"Now, more transparent, reliable and affordable coverage options are going to be available for millions of people along with financial assistance for hard-working families to pay for the coverage that they choose," he said.
Etoy Ridgnal, the national director for African American Engagement for Enroll America, a non-profit group that collaborates with health care stakeholders to maximize the number of people that enroll in health insurance programs, said that the ACA will allow Blacks to gain access to affordable health care plans that will fit the particular needs of their families.
In an effort to increase awareness about the new act and to assist individuals and families in the enrollment process, the Department of Health and Human Services awarded $67 million in grants to community organizations and state and local health care groups.


text:
- Current Locations
- Opening Soon
- Future Opportunity
Explore opening an educational child care franchise in Virginia.
You'll work with our experienced real estate team to help evaluate and select the ideal site for your new business. Your future Kiddie Academy franchise can be developed within a wide range of settings: a ground-up building, retrofitting of an existing building, within a shopping center or an office park setting. You also have the option to lease or own your building.
Families in the area are seeking high quality, educational child care. You can meet those needs by opening a Kiddie Academy franchise. Use our proven systems and extensive support process to develop this market. Speak with one of our Directors of Franchise Development about special incentives for developing the Kiddie Academy brand in a new marketplace.
Contact the Kiddie Academy Franchise Development team by:
- completing the short form on the left of this page,
- completing a confidential questionnaire,
- or by calling 800-554-3343
"That's what Kiddie Academy is all about. It's about family and the support. They are always there for you."Learn More
More Success Stories
Ready to take the next step?
We're here to make opening a franchise simple and straightforward, right from the start. The entire process is designed to keep you informed.


text:
- Home
- News
- Sports
- Opinion
- Obituaries
- Features
- Special Sections
- Classifieds
- Public Notices
LITTLE RIVER, S.C.—Beauty on Saturday night was definitely in the eyes of the beholders—the audience and judges who attended a womanless pageant, that is.
Staged at North Myrtle Beach High School, the first Kayla Marie Bennett Memorial Scholarship Womanless Beauty Pageant drew 22 "lovely" males who gussied up and strutted their stuff for the fundraiser.
If you currently subscribe or have subscribed in the past to the The Brunswick Beacon, then simply find your account number on your mailing label and enter it below.
Click the question mark below to see where your account ID appears on your mailing label.
|ZIP Code:


text:
Sen. Edward Kasemeyer says Maryland should look to the film industry for jobs it has lost in manufacturing.
Kasemeyer, a Democrat who represents Howard and Baltimore counties, urged the House Ways and Means Committee Wednesday to pass his bill aimed at keeping the show "House of Cards" filming in Maryland. The committee will likely vote on the bill later this week.
Kasemeyer wants to raise the cap on tax credits for film production companies to $18.5 million yearly, up from $7.5 million.
He presented the plan as a way of diversifying the economy. He said Maryland doesn't have much future in factory jobs.
Researchers at Towson University say the film tax credit program can support 690 full-time jobs a year, and this number would rise above 1,000 under Kasemeyer's bill.


text:
Champion Archer Joella Bates to Appear at This Year's Sportsman's Expo
Joella Bates, the first woman ever to arrow Africa's "Big 5" and five-time 3-D Archery World Champion, will appear at Sportsman's Expo 2013, held at the Shreveport Convention Center, July 19-21.
According to Joella, archery is a passion that started in her childhood:
Shooting archery and hunting are more than obsessions for me; they are an integral part of my life. I have spent most of my life compiling an impressive list of credentials that include 40 years of hunting and fishing experience and 17 years of archery and bowhunting. I have taken my passion for this outdoors-lifestyle and devoted my life and career to promoting it.
In 2009, the Tennessee native set a record for being the first woman to ever successfully kill with a bow and arrow the "Big 5" of Africa: a lion, elephant, cape buffalo, white rhinoceros and leopard.
You can say hello to Joella all weekend long and show off your own marksmanship in an archery tournament being put on by the Bayou State Bowhunters Association.


text:
During a detox, it's important to have a solid, healthy meal for lunch. Get inspired by these detox-friendly lunch recipes, or feel free to create a meal from any of the "Foods to Include" listed below.
Aim for variety, and take care not to supersize your portions. A lunch salad might include 4 ounces of protein, 1/2 cup of grains, greens, a cup or two of vegetables, a tablespoon of oil, and several herbs and spices.
Our detox guidelines, including which foods to eat and which to avoid, were adapted from "Clean: The Revolutionary Program to Restore the Body's Natural Ability to Heal Itself" (HarperOne; 2009) by Alejandro Junger, M.D.
Foods to Include
- Dairy substitutes: Rice and nut milks such as almond milk and coconut milk
- Non-gluten grains: brown rice, millet, amaranth, teff, tapioca, buckwheat, potato flour, quinoa, gluten-free oats
- Fruits and vegetables: unsweetened fresh or frozen whole fruits, water-packed canned fruits, diluted fruit juices and raw steamed, sauteed, juiced, or roasted vegetables
- Animal protein: fresh or water-packed fish, wild game, lamb, duck, organic chicken, and turkey
- Vegetable protein: split peas, lentils, and legumes
- Nuts and seeds: walnuts; sesame, pumpkin, and sunflower seeds; hazelnuts; pecans; almonds; cashews; nut butters such as almond or tahini
- Oils: cold-pressed olive, flax, safflower, sesame, almond, sunflower, walnut, canola, and pumpkin
- Drinks: filtered or distilled water, decaffeinated herbal teas, seltzer or mineral water
- Sweeteners: brown rice syrup, agave nectar, stevia, fruit sweetener, and blackstrap molasses
- Condiments: vinegar; all spices, including salt, pepper, basil, carob, cinnamon, cumin, dill, garlic, ginger, mustard, oregano, parsley, rosemary, tarragon, thyme, and turmeric
Foods to Exclude
- Dairy and eggs: all
- Butter and mayonnaise: all
- Grains: wheat, corn, barley, spelt, kamut, rye, triticale, most oats (oats are usually contaminated with gluten unless you can find a gluten-free brand)
- Fruits and vegetables: oranges, orange juice, corn, creamed vegetables
- Animal protein: pork, beef, veal, sausage, cold cuts, canned meats, frankfurters, shellfish
- Vegetable protein: soybean products (soy sauce, soybean oil in processed foods, tempeh, tofu, soy milk, soy yogurt, textured vegetable protein)
- Nuts and seeds: peanuts and peanut butter
- Oils: shortening, processed oils, salad dressings, and spreads
- Drinks: alcohol, caffeinated beverages, and soft drinks
- Sweeteners: white and brown refined sugars, honey, maple syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, and evaporated cane juice
- Condiments: chocolate, ketchup, relish, chutney, barbecue sauce, teriyaki
Things to Watch For
- Corn starch is often present in baking powder, beverages, and processed foods.
- Vinegar in ketchup, mayonnaise, and some mustard usually comes from wheat or corn.
- Breads advertised as gluten-free still might contain coats, spelt, kamut, or rye.
- Many amaranth and millet flake cereals contain oat or corn.
- Many canned tunas contain textured vegetable protein, which is from soy; look for low-salt versions, which tend to be pure tuna, with no fillers.
- Multi-grain rice cakes are not just rice. Be sure to purchase plain rice cakes.
Use this shopping list to stock up on everything you need for the Action Plan four-day detox.
Get more Action Plan tools and join the community.


text:
What is Himalayan Dog Chew?
Himalayan Dog Chews were born from an ancient recipe for a hard cheese snack chewed by the people of the Himalayas.
In the mountains surrounding Mt. Everest at more than 15,000 feet, it is made using traditional methods with yak and/or cow milk, and all natural products with no preservatives or binding agents.
They're also gluten-free!
Depending on the size and eating habits of the dog, this can be a very long-lasting dog chew.
Dogs must work the end of the treat for hours, softening it with their mouths before small parts of it can be slowly chewed off.
When you give this treat to your dog, you know that you are providing them with hours of high-quality eating entertainment.
» 100% Natural
» Authentic
» No Additives
» No Preservatives
Key Features
- Does not stain or stink
- Completely Digestible
- A highly nutritious treat
- Lasts 5 to 7 times longer than Bully Sticks
- Lactose-free, gluten-free & grain-free
Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein Min 52.6%. Crude Fat Min 0.9%. Ash Max 6.0%. Moisture Max 10.2%
100% Yak and Cow Milk. Salt and Lime Juice.
Processed & Packaged in the USA
Sold by weight - size and shape may vary)
Why is it so special?
Himalayan Dog Chew is a very hard chew. Although cheese, it is sometimes popularly reffered to as Concrete, Glass, Wood and Metal. Depending on the size and eating habits of the dog, this is a very long lasting dog chew that you can find. Dogs must work the end of the treat for hours, softening it with their mouths before small parts of it can be slowly scraped off.
Himalayan Dog Chew is 100% natural with no preservatives. It is an authentic type of cheese eaten by the people of the Himalayas. When you give this chew to your dog, you know that you are providing them with hours of high quality eating entertainment.
We, here at Himalayan Dog Chew, believe very strongly in the potential for this product to become a household name, and we look forward to sharing our discovery with other dog owners. If this has piqued your interest or you have any further questions about Himalayan Dog Chew, please do not hesitate to contact us.
How to Microwave?
When a small piece is left over after they have enjoyed the treat, place the dry piece in the center of the microwave. On High Power, microwave for about 45 seconds. If the piece does not Puff, microwave for another 30 seconds. Cool the Puff down for at least 2 minutes before feeding.


text:
Check out this video: Hes Just Not That Into You trailer
He's just Not That into You… is a story of a group of women that are struggling with dating and long term relationships. One of them doesn't want to end up being single for the rest of her life, the other one is in a long term relationship that is NOT ending up in marriage, and there are a list of struggles that each of these women go through. I have not seen this movie yet but this post isn't about what is going on in the movie or the plot per say. It is mostly about what Drew Barrymore's character says at the end of this preview.
I guess the point is that Social Media has taken over everything and it isn't just about Twitter. I met the guy that I went out with 2x through Linked In initially as a business contact because he was in Public Relations and I wanted to start in public relations. That then transferred to Twitter somehow, and then I found him on Facebook and he added me there. So what turned out to be a business contact wound up being something more by email on Facebook and then real email.
So basically you need to check your Twitter, then Facebook, I found him on Myspace but haven't added him yet. It is crazy. I have only really talked to him on the phone once. It is a mix of Twitter, email to plan a date, and then text messages in between.
My question is what happened to a phone call? I have only had one? I know it is the sign of the times and I probably should ask him but at the same time.. look at all these mediums there is to avoid communication and talk about confusing because what if you miss one? Is that going to mean its over?
Drew Barrymore's character has a valid point. There are so many portals of communication that you may get rejected by at least seven by the end of the night. That is my point.
You need all these forms to brand yourself. To make yourself someone that gets the position with the company of your dreams. When you are trying to date it gets confusing and time consuming. So rethink about the OLD fashioned phone call… You can probably learn more about someone that way.
He Myspaced her, then after a few days or what not. He called her from work, she called him at work, he emailed her blackberry, she text his cell, and you have to check all these different portals to get rejected by seven different technologies. I love this saying because if it was not so honest than it would not be true.
Turns out that it ended after 2 dates and over a text message. We were in the same room and he couldn't come up to me to say what was needed to be said.


text:
There is no over-under on wins for Greene Central High School�s boys basketball team going into the season.
That number will fluctuate by the game.
SNOW HILL � There is no over-under on wins for Greene Central High School�s boys basketball team going into the season.
That number will fluctuate by the game.
Jim Cole, the Rams� third coach in three years and fourth in five, wants to win them all, as they say, one at a time.
�A lot of coaches will say, �Well, our goal is this,� or, �We want to have this record or that record,� � Cole, a former assistant women�s coach at Appalachian State, said. �And my thought is always: You say you�re going to win 18 games. Well, which games are you planning on losing?�
Greene Central returns a nucleus of largely unproven juniors and seniors from a team that went 6-15 in the one-year tenure of coach Elijah Rouse.
Guards Jalyn Harper, a senior, and Brandon Belcher, a junior, anchor an offense that plans to keep the tempo high. The Rams� game plan will include playing strong defense and pushing the ball up the floor.
�Everything�s going to be fast,� the 6-foot Harper said. �We�ll play a fast-paced game this year. Ain�t nothing going to be slow.�
Cole, who was the boys head coach at Western Harnett for a season before taking last year off to earn a degree in administration, said that getting from one end of the court quickly is one thing; finishing is another.
�Just because we rush up the floor doesn�t mean we need to rush up a shot,� Cole said. �That�s part of the teaching process that we�re going through right now.�
Cole described Harper as an �extremely competitive� leader who adjusts to instruction exceptionally well.
The coach characterized the 5-foot-10 Belcher as a hard-nosed player, adding that he successfully took four charges and tried to draw several others during a recent 20-minute scrimmage.
A left-handed point guard, Belcher expects that type of play to be the Rams� m.o.
�Our defense leads the offense,� Belcher said. �We like playing defense first.�
Greene Central�s girls, meanwhile, are coming off a dismal 0-21 campaign. They�ll look for improvement under first-year coach Meredith Franklin, who did not return multiple calls for this story.
While Cole admits the team he inherited is �pretty long and pretty athletic,� he is wary of his players� collective inexperience. But he believes improvement will come with time.
�I expect us to see a lot of growth throughout the course of the year,� Cole, who came to Greene Central in early September, said. �I don�t know how strong we�re going to look early in the season, but I do expect us to grow a lot during the year just because of the kind of kids that we have.�
David Hall can be reached at (252) 559-1086 or at email@example.com.
2012-13 Rams schedule
Nov. 20�at N. Lenoir
Nov. 21�Ayden-Grifton
Nov. 27�at Ayden-Grifton
Nov. 28�Wilson Fike
Nov. 30�N. Lenoir
Dec. 5�at Jones Senior
Dec. 7�at Wilson Fike
Dec. 12�C.B. Aycock
Dec. 14�at N. Pitt
Dec. 18�at Wilson Beddingfield
Dec. 20�at C.B. Aycock
Dec. 26-28�at Christmas tournament
Jan. 4�Tarboro
Jan. 11�Farmville Central
Jan. 18�at Kinston
Jan. 22�Wilson Beddingfield
Jan. 25�at SW Edgecombe
Jan. 29�N. Pitt
Feb. 1�at Tarboro
Feb. 8�Kinston
Feb. 12�SW Edgecombe
Feb. 15�at Farmville Central
Feb. 18-22�EP2A tournament


text:
I feel like a new man.
This, from the mouth of a shelter-dwelling man who maybe hadn't showered in a week. When I ran upstairs to get some gloves with which to remove some the old bandages from the arm of another man, his odor rose up the stairs with me, like unwanted company.
He brought with him a giant cookie cake from the soup kitchen next store. The friars had baked goods to give away. One man came into the clinic with an ice cream cake. Eat it quickly, we told him, laughing at the rich absurdity of it, even in the chilly weeks approaching the official start of winter. I guess I'd better have a party, he said. You want a piece?
I stashed the cookie cake in a back room though the official policy is to not be responsible for other people's property. Too many people in and out, too many things to keep track of. After he showered and put back on the same clothes, with a new old sweatshirt that came from the supply closet, I gave him back his cookie cake.
I feel like a new man.
I like to talk about the clinic, and I don't. I like to talk about some of the things I see, because they're so outrageously unbelievable and heartbreaking. Even after all the reading that can be done about addiction and homelessness and the underserved. It is still so unbelievable. But I also don't like to give anyone any reason to tell me that I'm doing a good thing.
No. I slide into and out of that world with an ease that is almost unforgivable. I drive in, in a safe car that locks and has heat, and I drive out in the same one, as clinic patrons head back to the streets or a shelter, with new prescriptions or instructions or with tokens or bus fare to head to the ER, because their blood sugar is so high that it doesn't register on the glucometer. It only flashes, "HI," "HI", "HI," and they have ketones in their urine...so they're acidotic and probably need insulin hung.
I feel like a spectator. And I am. Despite the blood pressure cuff I wraps around this man's arm, or the disposable thermometer I put in that woman's mouth, or the flu shot I administer to this man, and this woman. I try not to be a spectator, I pray to not be one, but I am.
The real work, the nuts and bolts, is done by the nurse practitioners who run it. They have formed relationships, know most clients by name, know their stories, which could keep keep the average person up at night. They fill out the forms, follow up, encourage, chide, refer, prescribe. I read their notes when I can, trying to memorize how they document, the way nurses do, their assessments.
I feel like a new man.
I carry this home with me, into a world with the stress of looking for a full-time nursing job, my first one since graduating with a BSN. I can get lost in my own world, some worries petty, some anxieties real. I carry it around like a laptop bag: there are so many compartments into which I can slide this worry or that one. Despite all my perspective, which I've been generally good at recognizing and embracing, I still struggle with it.
I see his smiling face carrying his cookie cake out the door. Adios, he calls.
At home, it's warm inside and my dog jumps on me and my kids call out to me. The kitchen is a mess and normally I'd roll my eyes and sigh.
I feel like a new man.
His words hang over me, like an admonishment or a prayer, I'm not sure which. Like something from the merciful mouth of Christ himself. I can't begin to explain this to my family, so I just sit in the warmth and in the light and in the company of those I love.
Monday, January 13, 2014
New Man
Posted by Kelly at 8:08 AM 0 comments
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


text:
March 18, 2008
By Catherine Manabat
It's early on a rainy Sunday morning and Korn Hall is abuzz with people clad in business attire, drinking coffee, and doing last minute prep work in the breakout rooms. It's just like any other conference at UCLA Anderson School of Management, with one distinct difference: this crowd of businessmen and women are high school students. Though younger than your typical Anderson denizens, they're just as accomplished: the group is full of the leaders, and managers of current and future businesses.
For the fourth year in a row, Project ECHO (Entrepreneurial Concepts Hands-On) and the UCLA Anderson School of Management teamed up to host the Annual High School Business Plan Competition.
Chip and Vicky Goodman founded the program in honor of Chip's father who excelled in the food industry despite having only a high school education. "My father was an entrepreneur," Chip Goodman says. "He never went to college -- he was street smart you know? He helped start [Project ECHO] with me ten years ago." Goodman knows if his father were still alive, he would be honored to see how it's grown.
"These kids have the entrepreneur spirit. It's him, it's our family."
Project ECHO aims to provide a real world experience to non-traditional students where they have complete ownership of their business ventures, while their mentor serves as a guide in writing the proposal and understanding formal concepts of running a business.
The program includes three components: the business plan curriculum, the mentor program, and the competition. Participants are expected to write a business plan, and mentors from UCLA Anderson work with students, coaching them for their presentations. Emily Chan, Project ECHO's Executive Director, works closely with local high school administrators to identify students in vocational programs who would benefit from the experience. Participation in Project ECHO has been steadily increasing. Competitions once consisted of five teams, while this year's competition features a record 20 teams.
Craig Nesbitt and Nancy Hwang, who are on the board of the Challenge for Charity (C4C) chapter at UCLA Anderson, wanted Anderson students to get involved. When the program debuted its mentorship component last year, 13 mentors were involved. This year, 50 mentors from Anderson participated, including Nesbitt and Hwang.
"ECHO is one of the few volunteer opportunities we can promote where business school students honestly feel like they are using their MBA-skills to accomplish social good," they said.
"Anderson students get the satisfaction of seeing their student teams develop real business ideas as well as a real business education, while also getting the emotional fulfillment of knowing they have made that school a better place."
Catherine Gonzalez, a senior from Santa Barbara High, looks at her future differently since joined Project ECHO this past year. "Now, since I've been in the class, I know I can own my own business. Owning a business gives you a chance to think of another opportunity in life," she says.
Even as the judges deliberate, the participants never have a moment when they're not learning something. While a few take a tour of the UCLA campus, a number of teams line up to do interviews for "Kids Talk Radio," which is podcasted on The Personal News Network website. The three bubbly members of Tote-a-lly Awesome-which sells eco-friendly tote bags to benefit the environment-breeze through their questions like pros. Moderator Bob Barboza tells everyone in the room about the opportunities media can bring their businesses: "Without marketing, you go nowhere. You can't be bashful - you are in business."
After lunch, the anxious competitors file into Korn Hall for the Awards Presentation. Guest speaker Ali Kermani ('09) was also a non-traditional student. His mentor, Carlton Calvin of Razor USA, encouraged him to pursue a business degree at Anderson. Kermani highlights the role of mentorship in his life and encourages the students to achieve the greatness of which they are capable. Even the prizes encourage winners to further their business pursuits. The top three winners of each category receive capital for their businesses.
The team from Santa Susana High School won first place in the New Concept Business category for their presentation on Eclectic, a venture that intends to promote global fashion trends. Seflora, from Santa Monica High School, won in the Existing On-Campus Business category. After their first year of existence, they expanded their product choices and offered new services. They also planned solutions for problems they experienced.
The outgoing group representing Tote-a-lly Awesome Tote Bags snagged first place in the New On-Campus Business category. The winning teams squeals with glee and pose with their giant check with smiles from ear-to-ear. Of course, the learning experiences in preparation for the competition will remain with the students long after the program is over.
"This experience really affects my future and what I want to do in the future. I think I'll definitely study business in college or take business classes," says Natalie Juarez, a senior at Venice High School. Her team presented the Venice High Auto Service, which got second place under New On-Campus Business. She gushes about the role mentors play in helping teams prepare for the competition.
"The mentors - they're amazing. I love them all! And I really think we've formed a relationship that will last a long time, even after the competition is over."


text:
About Crafty Jenny
Crafty Jenny Projects
Crafty Jenny Recipes
Free Clip Art
Free Printables
Contact Crafty Jenny
Site Rules and Regs.
Free Clip Art - Fish bowl
Back to more free clip art
Using our clip art images means you have read and understood our
Terms of use
Fish bowl - free download
This zip file contains a JPG, WMF and EPS file.
Start download - click here
Back to more free clip art - click here
A JPG file can be opened up in any simple paint program or picture viewer. It is not transparent and not resizable (without effecting its quality). This is a good option if you would like to print out an image within an A4 sized page, or to use in a website.
A WMF is a file which can be used in programs such as Microsoft Word. It can be resized to any dimensions keeping its original quality, and has a transparent background. It is great to use for making designs for flyers, posters, greeting cards etc.
An EPS can be used in programs such as Photoshop or in vector programs such as Illustrator. When you open it in Photoshop, it will open to the dimensions that you specify, and it will have a transparent background. If you open it in Illustrator, it will be in its original vector format, where you can then continue to size, alter the shape and change its colors.
Follow Us on Twitter
Become a Fan on Facebook
Copyright © All rights reserved.
Reproduction of any material in this website is strictly prohibited.


text:
Replacing plumbing, plumbing fixtures or plumbing accessories isn't usually much fun, but it's a necessity. Every day, we use our plumbing. Plumbing fixtures like new shower heads or faucets are not only required for our daily water use, but new ones can make our days a lot brighter. That's why Sam's Club is ready to meet your needs for plumbing. Plumbing fixtures, accessories and more are all available for you at great prices at Sam's Club right now.
We use our water faucets each and every day, and it's easy to take them for granted until they're not working. Sam's Club offers a wide variety of affordable faucets, including faucets with hot water tanks that provide instant 190 degree water, so there's no waiting around to have hot water for pasta or coffee or tea. We offer faucets that are easy to install and have beautiful design elements, with chrome or nickel finish so that you have beauty and functionality combined with every faucet.
Nothing is more frustrating than an inadequate showerhead. When you take your morning shower, you need a showerhead that works. Sam's Club offers beautiful shower fixtures, including combo showerheads with a hand shower option, so you can get a complete showering experience. You'll also find water saving adapters, different styles of showerheads and a lot more.p>
You'll be able to find the great, affordable shower fixtures and faucets you need at Sam's Club, but you'll also find a lot more, including waste disposal units that will make your kitchen incalculably more efficient. If you're ready to upgrade your plumbing fixtures and accessories and to do it in a way that fits your budget, select your favorites from Sam's Club today.


text:
The information age is breathing life into many old buildings in major cities where finance, entertainment, communications, and health-care offices increasingly cluster downtown.
These big-city offices are in vogue. Downtown offices are quickly being occupied by urbanites desiring fun, neat-looking buildings in the hub of a subway system. Building architects, owners, and occupants all seek the convenience and comfort pre-World World II structures afford.
Ironically, buildings erected at the turn of the century through the 1930s are the best ones for accommodating HVAC, cable trays, and other mechanical and electrical equipment for today's office organizational patterns. Features like a larger floor-to-floor height and windows that open make these buildings more accommodating than contemporary structures.
Office-building renovation no longer means just the "plain vanilla" desk and cubicle renovations of the past 30 years. Increasingly, developers want to make the most of their investments, providing the very best communications and power wiring and in the copious raised floor and ceiling spaces. Warehouse and apartment buildings that are renovated into offices often feature the latest power wiring and datacom equipment.
Big cities offer first-rate telecommunications infrastructure because the geographical concentration of customers allows vendors to invest more in fiber optics and other equipment. New York, for instance, has established the $42.5-million Discovery Fund, which has invested in nine "Silicon Alley" startups and has set up "smart" buildings wired with high-speed communications lines and other digital amenities rare in older New York buildings.
Information America, one of the nation's leading data processing service companies, recently moved to downtown Atlanta from a midtown Atlanta location. "Since we employ very highly skilled technical and creative people, the work environment needs to encourage freedom of expression as well as stimulate interaction among our employees, most of whom are under 30," said company president and founder Buck Goldstein.
Although the concept is new to Atlanta, the idea of creating a special campus environment in an urban setting for high-tech businesses has worked successfully in New York and Boston.
The biggest hurdle for owners and architects doing renovation is finding enough qualified tradespeople and contractors to do the work. If contractors are busy with new construction projects, it's hard to get them to bid on redevelopment-mainly because it is more difficult.
This year's model office To start this difficult work, corporations first call on architects to refashion old downtown factories and warehouses into office space. Architecture can be a powerful transforming agent that helps solve two key problems facing today's businesses: cutting costs and boosting productivity.
Today's architects start an office renovation project by analyzing the business organization and cultures, breaking down work into its component parts, and then planning actual work. The immediate goal is to simply work out the space requirements, but it is much more analogous to management consulting than construction.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pa., have a few ideas-including the use of plug-and-play infrastructures and more employee control over the environment. They're testing them out in an office-of-the-future created atop the campus's historic Fine Arts building. Dubbed the Intelligent Workplace (IW), the 7000-sq-ft space is a $4-million model for improving the workplace. The model works for new construction, but it better resembles space found in old buildings.
The IW emphasizes the importance of the worker, making convenience and worker comfort paramount. The interior emphasizes daylight and natural ventilation. It includes operable windows and large expanses of insulated glass. Bolted together at the site, the steel structure has open-web trusses that can accommodate mechanical ducts, and other components. All workers in the experimental office can control the temperature of their own work space with a Personal Environmental Module (PEM) from Johnson Controls. Floor diffusers can be relocated as needed. Daylighting, the main source of illumination, is controlled through automatically adjusted, motorized, light redirection louvers. Task lights are also used.
A key feature of the IW site is the high degree of flexibility regarding the placement of power, data, and voice circuits. Modular, 19-inch-wide "satellite closets" allow circuits to be easily reconfigured. Installed below the raised floor system, an open cable tray system has divided channels for electric power and data circuits.
Managers are looking at information technologies in terms of where they can take their companies in the long run-either by changing the nature of their business, increasing revenues or limiting costs. Their employees will be plugging into a worldwide hyper linked network, where multiple forms of information from many sources can be quickly accessed, filtered, organized and processed. The telecom infrastructure must provide suitable support. Thus, the structured cabling system that is installed during a renovation has to support long term objectives for data and voice communications.
Voice and data lines The superior bandwidth and low signal loss over distance (attenuation) make optical fiber an attractive choice for supporting an office network. Fiber-optic cable can easily overcome the 100 meter total distance limitation of Category 5 UTP and allow the use of centralized optical fiber electronics. Let's look at a Chicago office site where true accessibility and flexibility are provided. Designers planned the electrical power distribution and the telecom system to meet current and future requirements.
Each workstation cubicle and each private office has eight electrical outlets and four Category 5 unshielded twisted-pair wall jacks (allowing for both modem and future video capability). As a result, any of the enclosed offices can be easily transformed into open, workstation space. Although voice and data lines are located on different wiring distribution frames in the facility's data center, cross-connection allows each distribution frame to borrow capacity from the other. Raceways and cable trays carry circuits under an access floor and deliver them up to spines in the modular furniture system. To limit harmonic disturbance caused by computers and other electronic equipment with switched power supplies, the design has five 20-A branch circuits for each group of six workstations.
Two branch circuits are for computers, two for noncomputer use and the fifth for two laser printers. A cellular phone network is linked to the firm's private branch exchange (PBX) system, allowing visitors to use the firm's 16 portable telephone sets within the office confines.
The office-to-home conversion Developers are also finding that obsolete office buildings are a prime source for creating residential apartments. Rendered "unrentable" by changes in the marketplace, increasing numbers of office buildings in downtown urban areas are being converted from offices to residences. Although these buildings vary in age, they typically have mechanical systems, infrastructures, and floor plates that make them ill-suited for today's needs. However, a number of developers have found that many of the office buildings built near the turn of the century have floor plates that are conducive to residential use. From a space layout standpoint, these buildings typically have widths of 55 ft to 70 ft that make for great double-loaded corridor residential units.
Other key considerations in determining suitability for conversion include suitable window areas, views, and the building's architectural significance. If the building meets these criteria, the developer may start to explore the idea of listing the structure on the National Register of Historic Places. This procedure may make the structure suitable for federal tax credits under the National Register of Historic Places. However, many times federal tax credits-typically 10%-aren't sufficient to support these projects. Local and/or state government must be willing to provide financing or tax abatement. In many cases, without city hall's assistance it's not going to happen.
In Chicago, for example, to spur office-building-to-resident conversions, city officials plan to use $300 million generated by the North Loop tax incremental finance district to provide infrastructure improvements and subsidies needed for redeveloping the East Loop and parts of the Central Loop.
This help can be a real boost for a developer because one of the tougher estimates is determining the demand for rental units. In a many cases it is not possible to measure the demand because the developer is "pioneering." Finding occupants is often complicated by the lack of amenities, such as parking and grocery stores, in office districts. Because a project has to attain a critical mass before retail comes in, a developer looks for consumers whose primary interest is living in the downtown area.


text:
Lakers sign GM Kupchak to contract extension
Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak has agreed to a multiyear contract extension late in one of the worst seasons in franchise history.
Los Angeles announced its new deal for Kupchak late in the fourth quarter of a 145-130 loss to the Houston Rockets.
Kupchak had one year left on his current contract.
The Lakers' latest defeat was their 53rd of the season, matching the franchise record set in 1958. Kupchak has a wholesale rebuilding job in store with the Lakers, who will miss the playoffs for just the third time since 1976.
Kupchak has been in the Lakers' front office since the three-time NBA champion center's playing career ended in 1986. The longtime apprentice to Jerry West largely took charge of the Lakers' basketball operations after West's departure in 2000.


text:
Would Take Worse Terms to Get These Guys
Fund: Panorama Capital
Posted by Anonymous on 2011-05-30
I know, it's a nut title but Panorama is singularly the best VC firm I've ever worked with when it comes to execution and support of portfolio companies. They follow the standard process but they are very sensitive to not wasting company time. The process was efficient, professional, and as close to 'painless' as any rectal exam can be.
The real value comes after close. The rolodex, the full on introductions, the assistance with smart people to help the company is all way above the normal 'we're here to help' nonsense. In particular, Chris Albinson is out of park when it comes to actually helping the company. He is a delight to work with.
The value add Panorama provides to my company easily exceeds any extra pref shares or other that I probably could have negotiated in my favor. I'd do it again in a second.PRIVATE: Members Only


text:
Enjoy an afternoon of music at the museum with the Navy Band Southwest's brass quintet. This hour-long performance in the museum's Atrium will fill the galleries with instrumental melodies and patriotic songs.
Navy Band Southwest is one of the U.S. Navy's finest and oldest continuing musical organizations. Originating in 1923, Navy Band Southwest takes pride in upholding its rich tradition and promoting the pride and professionalism of today's United States Navy. Under the direction of Lieutenant Jane E. Hoffman, the band is located onboard Naval Base San Diego, and serves the military and civilian communities throughout the southwestern United States.
Please note that seating will be limited and on a first-come, first-served basis.
Tea and Tours pulls together favorite works of art, genres, and themes, including those that are the focus of our current special exhibitions. This tour puts an alternative spin on the exhibition Wild Spaces, Open Seasons and includes sassy "insider" stories about the art. As always, we will share the experience over tea and treats in the Lounge.
Free for members; bring a guest for only $5. To reserve you place, please call 817.989.5063 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
A message in a bottle found 76 years after it was thrown into the sea has been reunited with the family of the man who wrote it.The bottle was found on a beach in New Zealand by Geoff Flood in November 2012, but had been set adrift in 1936.
Inside was a note, dated March 17, which said: "At sea. Would the finder of this bottle kindly forward this note, where found, date, to undermentioned address."
Underneath the note was written the name: "H E Hillbrick, 72, Richmond Street, Leederville, Western Australia".
The message had been written on headed paper bearing the mark of the shipping company P&O and the ship's name SS Strathnaver.
Mr Flood had been out for a walk on Ninety Mile Beach at the top end of New Zealand's North Island when he made the discovery.
He told local media he was astonished and quickly decided to find out how the bottle had got there.
He said: "As I picked it up and started looking, I could see it was an old envelope with P&O on it and I thought this might be something special.
"There was a bit of mad panic to carefully extract it. I carefully cut a couple of bits of wire and quietly wound it up with the bits of wire so we didn't damage it.
"[I thought] Who knows where it's been. How many times around the world, you just wouldn't know, would you?"
It took him a couple of months to find the sender, who turned out to be a man called Herbert Ernest Hillbrick.
Sadly, Mr Hillbrick had died in the 1940s, but further investigation led Mr Flood to Herbert's grandson Peter Hillbrick, who was living in Perth, Western Australia.
Peter Hillbrick, who was also amazed by the discovery, said: "For this one to be floating around in the ocean for 76 years and just all of a sudden pop up in New Zealand. Where has it been? What story is it going to tell?"
His only theory was that his grandfather had dropped it into the sea during a P&O cruise. His family still have photos that Herbert and his wife Ethel took on board the ship.
The SS Strathnaver was a British Royal Mail Ship that carried people between England and Australia, but which also travelled between ports Down Under at the time.
He said that because his grandfather had died so many years ago, he had never got to know him so was delighted another link had turned up.
"The only connection I have with Grandfather is now that bottle. That's about all. So, it's a fascinating story," he said.
Mr Hillbrick has decided to donate the bottle to a maritime museum in New Zealand.


text:
Re: Objective: Naboo RPG
Tracyn was eavesdropping on Joslyn and Solu's conversation.
"So what happened to Jag and Tracyn?" he heard Joslyn say.
"Somebody say our names?" Tracyn said walking into the cramped room with Jag. Suddenly, the female doctor came rushing back in.
"What did I say about you two? One of you has to leave now!" she ordered. Tracyn shrugged and lazily drew a WESTAR, levelling it at her chest.
"No, ma'am, you have to leave." She quickly scuttled out of the room, leaving the Mandalorian quartet inside to discuss their next step.