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Wednesday, January 23, 2008
A Lesson To Remember During A Mean Season
Politics is the art of the possible. -- Otto von Bismarck
At a time when the Democratic Party desperately needs an inspirational leader, watching the debate broadcast from South Carolina late Monday couldn't have been more discouraging. I found myself averting my eyes from the schoolyard brawl between Clinton and Obama. Then, Edwards was hovering right outside the fray, waiting opportunistically to capitalize on some gaping weakness, his Carolina drawl sounding a bit juvenile.
I've seen Republicans go at it this season, too, and I saw even less to admire among them.
Monday night's debate didn't make me feel proud to be a Democrat. But I'm still a Democrat, and I'll damned sure be one this November. There's nowhere else to go.
There was a thing I had to bear in mind during the ordeal. Sunday had marked seven years of George W. Bush. Let's think back, to eight years ago, before Bush had the GOP nomination sewed up.
I don't recall the inarticulate Texas governor as one who inspired conservative Republicans in any extraordinary way. He was the ludicrous stiff they ended up with. Once it was inevitably him, they backed him ruthlessly, all the way to the ridiculous "yuppie riot" in Florida and to what was essentially a 5-4 Supreme Court appointment to the presidency.
Bush has never been that charismatic suit-filler who really makes those gonads on the right wing quiver. They've had some odd icons over the generations, some who worked, some who didn't. One inspirational leader, Barry Goldwater, was able to get the GOP nomination, but scared others with the prospect of him actually becoming president. I can't see how Ronald Reagan was less frightening, but he was elected, and then re-elected with around 59% of the vote. But, sans charisma, Bush is beginning his eighth year in office.
To 2008 Democrats: Unless one of the three presidential candidates left standing has astonishing surprises for us, we aren't going to get the inspirational leader we'd hoped for.
Obama impresses as a speaker, but he's not that different from other politicos when you observe him for a while. Hillary has been a trailblazer in many ways, but she reminds me of college women who toyed with Albert Camus, Gitanes and black outfits at 20 when you just knew she would be a dedicated nonsmoking suit in a law firm at 40. I strongly identify with Edwards' hardscrabble origins, but he's somehow coming across more as a Ken doll than as a populist firebrand.
Let us refer back to the opening quotation. Otto von Bismarck was the Prussian politician who professed to believe in the efficacy of "blood and iron," not in the procedures of liberalism. As "Iron Chancellor" of the newly unified Germany, he was identified with chauvinistic, monarchical conservatism. No one ever suspected him of being overly concerned with individual rights or civil liberties.
But, Bismarck is less known for having been something else -- the effective founder of what is now one of the most advanced and humane welfare states in the world. During the 1880s, he implemented a system that was, among European states, almost without precedent. This from Wikipedia:
The 1880s were a period when Germany started on its long road towards the welfare state it is today. The Social Democrat, National Liberal and Center parties were all involved in the beginnings of social legislation, but it was Bismarck who established the first practical aspects of this program. The program of the Social Democrats included all of the programs that Bismarck eventually implemented, but also included programs designed to preempt the programs championed by Karl Marx and Fredrick Engels. Bismarck's idea was to implement the minimum aspects of these programs that were acceptable to the German government without any of the overtly Socialistic aspects.
The description isn't of great empathy from Bismarck and his cronies for the underprivileged, but one of pragmatism -- that the workers would have to be, in essence, bought off. That, at the time, was immense progress. There are times when one must take what one can get. The Health Insurance Bill of 1883, the Accident Insurance Bill of 1884, the Old Age and Disability Insurance Bill of 1889 -- they don't appear to have been that much by today's standards, but they were something. Ron Paul would repeal every goddamned one of them. Bush would cut the appropriations and have them all administered by skeleton crews. Grover Norquist would wait on the other side of the door for the bathtub drowning event.
We are living in a grim time politically. Noam Chomsky has characterized the two major U.S. political parties as the right wing of the Business Party and the left wing of the Business Party. Gore Vidal has characterized pretty much the same thing. Pardon me for quoting CNN xenophobe Lou Dobbs, but I thought he described the aforementioned well: The Republican Party is owned, lock, stock and barrel, by Corporate America; among the Democrats, the corpos are the majority stockholders.
In 2008, the bottom line is, that's what we're left with. At least in a situation where you're up against a shareholder majority, you can raise some hell. Fine, let's do it. The most important thing now is to win something. The name of the game is gains. We've had seven years of Bush, and that has been because our adversaries were willing to do what was necessary to impose their will on the nation.
It's not going to be pretty. But it's our turn now. Storm the Bastille, even if the result isn't ideal. Democrats, support the goddamned nominee.
Manifesto Joe Is An Underground Writer Living In Texas.
6 comments:
- Marc McDonald said...
I agree: we need to support the nominee, no matter who he or she is. But I think we ought to also be prepared to fight tooth and claw if the election is disputed, (which I believe it will be).
Instead of sitting around, politely waiting for the phone to ring (like Al Gore and his supporters did), we need to take strong, decisive action to make it clear to the powers that be that we won't accept another dishonest election.
- January 23, 2008 at 7:28 PM
I'm in!
- January 23, 2008 at 10:31 PM
- Cranky Daze said...
You're right. This is going to be an ugly campaign and the sniping that is currently going on between Clinton and Obama is going to escalate to something really trashy the instant we have our nominee.
One of the reasons I'm supporting Edwards is because (aside from the fact that I think he'd make a good president) he seems less vulnerable to smears than the other two. So far, the neocrums haven't come up with anything about him much worse than that expensive haircut. Of course, so far he hasn't been as much of a threat to them as are both Clinton and Obama.
On the other hand, there's always something for which we can be grateful. At least Guiliani isn't a Democrat.
- January 25, 2008 at 12:40 AM
- Unknown said...
I'm in full agreement with you, Joe. When you're hungry, and there are only two things on the menu, even though you don't like either one, you have to take one.
And thanks for stopping by my place. I don't know why the hyper-link didn't work for you. You should be able to left click on either the On Air graphic, or the button on the sidebar, and it should start playing the latest show. You can also scroll down to the 1/24/2008 show and hit the play button on the site. Here's the url to the site:
I'd be interested in hearing your opinion. We touched on a couple of topics that you just don't hear about on the MSM.
- January 25, 2008 at 11:05 AM
MJ, I know that your heart is in the right place, but I must say this. Why the necessity to make comments like "comes off more like a ken doll," or "reminds me of women who...?" This is highly subjective stuff and unpleasantly reminiscent of all of the trival crap that was thrown at Al Gore by the "mean girl" press during the 2000 campaigns, about his "stiffness" and general dorkiness and earth tones and all that crap. What is more important Joe? What the candidate says or how the candidate says it?
I know in this tv/media age that presentation is important, but I am tired of pundits telling me how to assess a candidate. I may not think that Edwards comes off like a ken doll but if enough pundits say so then enough people will buy it rather than buy their own personal reactions.
Just my two cents, Joe.
- January 27, 2008 at 9:35 AM
- Manifesto Joe said...
Point taken, T. Gray. We live in an age of TV and sound bites. Many great people before this era would be unelectable now, and it's a shame. My point was that we are going to have to accept, and live with, the almost inevitable vulnerabilities of any of these three in order to find an alternative to GOP plutocracy.
I don't think there's much harm in observing certain image problems about candidates, past or present. And, opinions tend toward the subjective, and this is an opinion site.
A problem with these three, though, is that I'm still looking for substance as well. An inspirational candidate finds the way to live in both worlds. I sincerely hope we start to hear more of that soon. Edwards now seems to have little to lose, so I'm really hoping to hear more from him that sounds like somebody "striking out on their own." He's been too careful up to now. Some serious fighting words, of the ideological kind, would make a lot of people forget that pretty-boy rap. Think Dennis Kucinich. In contrast to Edwards, Denny's unelectable in today's milieu, but he talks the blunt talk I haven't been hearing from the front-runners.
Oh, well, just my two cents back. I'm willing to support whomever can lead us out of the Bush era, and any one of these three seems like progress.
- January 28, 2008 at 1:39 AM


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Apparently, scammers hope that taxpayers have a short memory.
The EFTPS scam that was making the rounds last fall is gaining steam again. This time, the email has been tweaked a little bit to make it look more authentic. The email looks something like this:
The plain text version reads like this:
Your Tax payment (ID: 30749894123088), recently from your checking account was canceled by the The Electronic Federal Tax Payment System.
Rejected Tax transferTax Transaction ID: 30749894123088
Reason for rejection See details in the report below
FederalTax Transaction Report tax_report_30749894123088.pdf.exe (self-extracting archive, Adobe PDF)
Internal Revenue Service, Metro Plex 1, 8401 Corporate Drive, Suite 300, Landover, MD 20785
I received three of these emails just on yesterday with subject headings claiming "Federal Tax transaction canceled", "Federal Tax transfer rejected" and "Rejected Federal Tax payment."
The source of the email, however, varies from a Russian, Ukraine and Dutch email accounts, not the IRS, despite the address claiming to be from "irs.gov."
The email contains a link which will, it claim, download as a pdf.
This is a scam. Do not click on the link. You can simply delete the email of you can send it to email@example.com for investigation.
The link likely contains a virus that could infects your computer or direct you to a bogus form or site posing as a genuine IRS form or Web site in order to steal your identity or otherwise access your financial information. A nearly identical scam which was targeting small business accounts last year was linked to the Zeus family. The link actually did take you to the IRS web site but along the way, a version of Zeus (a trojan horse) was installed on your computer in order to intercept your online banking transaction data.
The most current scam appears to target personal tax accounts. The purpose is likely similar: to obtain personal and financial information used by the scammers to commit identity theft. That information can be used to empty bank accounts, run up charges on the credit cards, apply for loans and file fraudulent tax returns in the name of the taxpayer seeking a refund.
The IRS maintains a list of schemes, including phishing efforts tied to the Making Work Pay Credit, on its web site.
Remember that the IRS will never send an unsolicited e-mail about your tax account or tax matters. If you have questions about your tax account, do not reply to an unsolicited e-mail. Rather, contact your tax professional or call the IRS directly at 1.800.829.1040.

subset: commoncrawl


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Area: Lolland
6 beds
3 bedrooms
Lolland offers beautiful sandy beaches and wonderful swimming water in most of the spots. Take trips to Knuthenborg Safari Park. You can drive your own cars into the park and watch wild animals up close. In the beautiful trade town of Maribo, you can travel on the steam train or visit the nature park of Marivosoerne, which is a paradise for lovers of nature, birds and animals. You can listen to the sound of nightingale here. Also visit Lalandia Water Park with several water slides.
TV Satellite TV


text: By krh Posted September 19, 2019 In Video Good Morning2019-09-192019-09-19http://keithhouk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/krhlogo_11_2.pngkrhhttp://keithhouk.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/imelda_2.jpg200px200px 0 http://keithhouk.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/img_0191.mp4 didn't see this coming, Flood, Galveston, get it right, Imelda, Rain, storm, Texas, tropical storm, WTH krh Recommended PostsI went for a walk todayGetting older but not much wiserBees gotta problemLife for the living Leave a Comment Cancel reply Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.


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There are many accounts of the life of Thereus Vineapora, some of them truer than others. The best are Garweal's The Downfall of the Crafters and my father's The Last Deluge, but "all texts have a lacuna," and even the most diligent student of Garweal and my father will be deficient in his understanding of what Thereus did in old ice-covered Nemhir and in our new home of Avazin. To amend this fault, I have collected some additional accounts of Thereus from those who knew him best.
Karidha's tale has circulated for some centuries: there are those who doubt its authenticity, but I am persuaded that it is what it claims to be. Thereus made no comment on it during his sojourn here, but scattered remarks he made agree with Karidha's account. I have translated it into Esu with the help of my mother, who was born in Nemhir. The other accounts here my father or I obtained ourselves.
I doubt there is much need for an introduction to Thereus's life. Many of us knew the man face to face, and all of us know his legend. But the man was close-mouthed in his later years and the legend has grown in the centuries, "a giant from a shadow." So I present these accounts in the hope that they will go some way towards clarifying who this man was who did so much for the islands in the east, our home of old.


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Slovakia - Workers at Volkswagen plant file legal action against management - August 31, 2018
Employees of Volkswagen's plant in Martin are filing a legal action against management, saying that it discriminates against employees at the Martin-based factory by not paying them a monthly 30-euro compensation benefits for transport and accommodation. In contrast, the compensation that is part of the collective agreement is paid at the other Volkswagen's plants in the country. Modern Trade Union Volkswagen has therefore prepared, in collaboration with employees in the Martin factory, the materials necessary to file a mass action against the company management.
Read on: in English …
For more information, please contact the editor Jan Cremers or Sanne van der Gaag, Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Labour Studies (AIAS) firstname.lastname@example.com or the Head of communications at the ETUI, Willy De Backer email@example.com © ETUI


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Total Impact Valuation: Insights from 10 Trailblazers
- Authors:
Publication Date:
August 2019
We asked 10 companies that have gone all in on total impact valuation (AkzoNobel, Argos, BASF, LANXESS, Linde plc, Novartis, SGS, The Crown Estate, The Travel Foundation, and UPM) whether and how the practice was generating value for them. They told us that, used strategically, total impact valuation could potentially unlock business opportunities and uncover risks. But for now, lack of a standard approach is making it difficult to base business decisions on the valuation results.


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If you're looking to become an occupational therapist, you might be wondering if you should pursue a Master's in Occupational Therapy or a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy. The MOT vs OTD debate is a controversial and contentious one, especially with the possible OTD mandate happening in 2027.
Because of this, I wanted to share some of the differences between the two, to help you in deciding which path is right for you. Be sure to also do your own further research via other platforms since it's a big (and expensive) decision.
Check out the How To Get Into OT School Guide! It's the most comprehensive resource that covers everything you need to know.
Some questions to ask yourself:
- Do you want to teach?
- Do you enjoy and want to work in research?
- Are you comfortable with the significantly increased cost of the OTD vs the MOT?
If you answered yes to these, then the OTD may be a good option for you to consider. Another thing to keep in mind is that you can opt for a PhD in another topic instead of the OTD in order to be able to teach.
If you aren't interested in teaching or research, read on:
If you are wanting to be a clinician and stay out of academia (for now), the MOT might be a better option while you can still get it.
With a Master's in Occupational Therapy, you will finish your program on average about a year sooner than if you go straight into the OTD.
In addition, the OTD will, on average, add on another $20,000-$30,000 of debt to your student loans without an increased pay differential when you begin practicing.
If you go the MOT route, even with the OTD mandate, you will be grandfathered in and will still be able to get a job in the clinical setting. There are quite a few OTRs still practicing with their Bachelor's degree and are able to get jobs even with new OTDs coming into the field.
No matter what degree you have, you are required to complete continuing education courses every year so you aren't at a huge disadvantage if you "just" have your Master's degree.
Cost Considerations of the MOT vs OTD:
When you start practicing, many hospitals and clinics start entry-level occupational therapists at the same pay scale, whether you have completed your OTD or have your MOT. The increased student loan payment of the OTD can be painful when you're making the same entry-level pay.
One other thing to consider is that if you decide to go straight through to the OTD from the get-go, you will be in school at least a year longer than if you went for the MOT and got to work making a full-time salary sooner.
That extra year could be a loss of around a $60,000-$70,000 salary from "just" getting your Master's in Occupational Therapy. A question to ask yourself is that is the extra time and debt money worth it if you aren't interested in teaching or research?
Remember to do your due diligence and compare all of the programs you're interested in to do your own homework on the curriculum and tuition differences. These are just a few aspects to consider that I've noticed while working as an occupational therapist (with a Master's degree).
And Remember That You Can Always Get Your OTD In the Future!
I'm certainly not "against" obtaining your OTD if it's something that you're passionate about, and it can be a good idea to look into specialized OTDs when you've been practicing for a few years and know your interests.
That way, you can make the most of your OTD instead of taking mostly research courses (again be sure to check your programs of choice's curriculums).
It also is helpful to consider waiting until you have a few years down of paying your already-expensive student loans to see if you really can take on another $30,000 (or much, much more expensive than that) advanced degree.
Check out the How To Get Into OT School Guide! It's the most comprehensive resource that covers everything you need to know.
What are your thoughts on this? If you opted for the OTD, what was your deciding factor? I'd love to hear your input on this topic in the comments below, whether you went for the MOT or OTD, or you are still trying to decide.


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Sailing with Dogs
Two cousins who've known each other for decades took a therapeutic sail on the York River with a family holding two dogs.
Ellie McCulloch arranged the cruise with Debbie Anderson, whose husband died a month ago. Debbie lives far up the York River, near West Point. She asked for a life preserver and held it.
Ellie is from New Orleans, where she races a 27-foot Cape Dory on Wednesday nights. "It's heavy and slow, but I usually win on points. Different size and class boats show up, and they carry a handicap rating called PRPH. I'm leading the club on points.
"I fly a spinnaker that I just got, so I'm still learning. It's a full symmetrical, requiring a guiding pole. I've been on the foredeck running it. It has no chute, but at least it's folded to come out of the chute."
I explained to Debbie that folding the spinnaker properly is analogous to folding a parachute. Her husband was in the 5th Special Forces Airborne Ranger in Vietnam. "In the Central Highlands," she added. I shuddered to think what mayhem he encountered.
Ellie was a champ on the helm and stayed with it all day as we ventured downriver into 2-foot swells brought across the Bay on an east wind. We tacked and went downwind to get into the lee under the Coleman Bridge, where the winds and waves were lighter. She was game.
That racing club she leads? "We have 70 boats out there every Wednesday in one of the largest regattas on the Gulf." More like an armada than a regatta.
Two Dogs
Gail Opatut of Freehold, New Jersey, brought her husband Sid and grown daughter Genna along with two small dogs. One was a therapy dog and the other a service dog, but I didn't get the distinction between the two. But they were precious.
When Gail went up to lie out on the bow, Martini the therapy dog tried to escape from Jenna's arms but she held him. The dogs were so quiet as to be unnoticeable, and so cute that we couldn't take our eyes off them. One spent the entire cruise tucked in his little carrying bag, peaking out. They're 10 years old and each weigh around 7 lbs.
Debbie took a phone call. "This is from my contractor," she said. "He's finishing off our entire attic as a reformatory."
A reformatory?
She corrected me. "Dormitory—a girls' dormitory for our five grandchildren, all of them girls and two of them identical twins. They range from 16 months to 6 years old. " I asked if she could tell the twins apart and she said yes. Yet neither she nor I could tell the voices apart when our grown children call. "You have to wait for them to give you a clue, usually about the children. Then you know which one it is."
On another day, Michelle and John Siebold of Florida took their tiny Morkie named Emma for her first sailboat ride. "Emma is a Maltese Yorkie mix," Michelle said. She did just fine despite significant heeling in wonderful winds.
Let's Go Sail, with Dogs
Check rates and pick a day for a sailboat charter. See reviews on Trip Advisor.


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Books about moving on after a breakup
CHARITY CELINAThursday, August 22, 2019 10:28:08 PM
- The 7 Best Books for Getting Over a Breakup | HuffPost Life
- Here Are the Best 5 Books to Read When You Feel Heartbroken
- If you are grieving over a recent break up and want to know how to pull yourself through, then this book is for you! Read on your PC, Mac, smart phone, tablet. Only three of the books I recommended to her (and now to you) are "how to get Author, 'Your Next Big Thing: 10 Small Steps to Get Moving and Get Happy'; after they break up, let alone work with him on the school paper.
- So it's over, huh? Here are some books to feed your heart and keep your brain/ hands busy after a breakup. Breakups, man. I know the pain of them well. Two years ago someone reached into my chest, pulled my heart out, and walked out the door.
- A friend recently asked me to recommend some books to help her friend get over a breakup.
- This list of books to read after after a breakup is for all the readers out there looking to bury their noses between Break Ups, Moving On · 0 0 0 0 0. A woman reading one of these books to read after a break up and smiling. And we say that the best books to read after a breakup can help you much more this book of poems will help you let your past go and find courage to move on.
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Was it me who broke up with her?So it's over, huh? Here are some books to feed your heart and keep your brain/ hands busy after a breakup. And we say that the best books to read after a breakup can help you much more this book of poems will help you let your past go and find courage to move on..
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We had a bit of a mixed day across the markets yesterday, with little in the way of fundamental data releases investors watched the news wires closely for the next move in the Trade situation between the US and China. We didn't get any significant changes from either side and the focus now turns to the Boao forum later today where President Xi is due to speak. Debate is rife throughout the market on the next moves from both sides but the general consensus is that any further escalation of the situation will have a negative effect on global growth. China certainly has plenty of ammo on it's side including it's holdings of US debt and it's ability to devalue its currency, any mention of these today should see downside pressure on the global stock markets and risk trades.
Elsewhere in the markets, Russian assets took a big hit as US Sanctions started to bite, the ruble dropped over 4%, the RTS Index finished down 11.4% and Aluminium gained 5% as Rusal shares crashed 50%. Traders will continue to monitor this section of the market closely as today's trading progresses but many feel that this volatility could spread with the expectation of Russian retaliation.
Across the currencies, the majors remained trading in range bound conditions as they look for fresh news on the Trade Situation and further underlying fundamental data to initiate new moves.
Looking ahead to today's trading and it's relatively quiet on the data release front again, here in Australia we have NAB Business Confidence numbers due for release this morning and it's quiet again through the London session. Into the New York session, we have the first tier 1 data out of the US this week in the form of the PPI numbers with expectation for a 0.1% increase in the m/m number and 0.2% in the Core data.
Once again the focus for the market will remain on the news wires and it will react swiftly to any changes in the various on going geo-political issues, including the FBI's raid on President Trumps lawyers office.


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The first wave of Form 501G filings Thursday, October 11th, which included filings from about one-fourth of the pipeline companies required to file the Form 501G by the end of this year. From the first wave, three of the 27 companies received extensions by stating that they were in serious discussions with their shippers to reduce their rates. Of the remaining 24 filers, four filed limited Section 4 rate cases, one filed a proposed settlement agreement and two stated that they were also in settlement discussions with their shippers. As we predicted in Risks From Filing Form 501G – How the Major Pipelines Stack Up, the two key indicators of whether a pipeline would adjust its rates were a post-tax cut ROE in excess of 16% and an Indicated Rate Reduction higher than 8%.
In summary, based on our analysis of all wave 1 filings, shippers awaiting a rate reduction were likely disappointed in the results, with 17 of the 27 pipelines deciding not to adjust their rates. Time will tell whether shippers or FERC initiate a rate investigation, which would likely be driven, in part, by the pipeline's post-tax cut ROE and Indicated Rate Reduction, which we've captured below. On the other hand, investors were probably relieved by that same news, as top-line revenue was generally not impacted. Today, we look at the first wave results, and in an upcoming Insights, we will look forward to wave 2, which are to be filed on November 8.
Those Pipelines Reducing Rates Shared Some Common Characteristics
In Risks From Filing Form 501G – How the Major Pipelines Stack Up, we provided a graph that showed how the major pipelines were arranged along a risk graph based on the calculation of their post-tax cut ROE and their Indicated Rate Reduction under our proforma Form 501Gs that we created for each pipeline. We used two key dividing lines in that graph, a post-tax cut ROE of 16%, and an Indicated Rate Reduction of 8%. We use that same graph below for the 24 pipelines who filed Form 501G in the first wave using their as filed results.
We have added a key feature to this graph to show which option each pipeline picked when it filed its Form 501G. FERC had indicated that the pipelines should choose among the following four options:
- Simultaneously file a limited Section 4 rate case to reduce tariff rates by the Indicated Rate Reduction in Form 501G;
- Agree to file a full Section 4 rate case or an uncontested settlement by December 31;
- Explain why the pipeline's rates should not be adjusted;
- Do none of the above.
Some key lessons can be gleaned from the chart:
- When you include data from the LawIQ proforma Form 501Gs for the three pipelines that began negotiating with their customers to avoid filing their Form 501G, six of the eight pipelines (75%) in our high-risk category filed to adjust their rates.
- None of the pipelines in our low-risk category filed to adjust their rates.
- Of the 13 pipelines that were in our two mixed-risk categories, because they either had an indicated rate reduction of less than 8% or had a post-tax ROE lower than 16%, only four of them (about 30%) filed to reduce their rates.
- The four pipelines in the mixed risk categories that filed to reduce their rates all had a post-tax cut ROE greater than 16%.
Rate Cuts Have Limited Real-World Impact
Five of the companies announced their rate cuts, and a quick look shows that the overall impact from these cuts will be minimal for three of the five companies, for two key reasons — because either the cut itself is small or the extent of the pipeline's revenue to which it applies is small.
Kern River's rate reduction is based on a settlement with its shippers and not a limited Section 4 filing. We would expect the other settlements that are to be filed, for Gas Transmission Northwest, Hardy Storage Company, Equitrans, Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, and White River Hub LLC to be similar in size and impact to the Kern River settlement and less like the limited Section 4 proceedings filed by the other four pipelines in the above table.
For everyone else that was waiting for a rate reduction or trying to gauge the revenue impact from the Form 501G, the remaining filers in this first wave have, at least for now, avoided making any changes. We will need to wait to see whether FERC or one of their shippers will come after them.
We list below each of those other pipeline's post-tax cut ROE and Indicated Rate Reduction, as filed, so that you can make your own assessment of the risk to them of doing nothing at this point.


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Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf & Spa has strengthened its five-star food and beverage offering with the appointment of Claire Tylcoat as Mansion House F&B Manager.
In her role, Claire will oversee the operations of the hotel's 2 AA Rosette Wernher Restaurant, working closely with Head Chef Ruth Hansom, as well as dining in the hotel's beautifully ornate lounges.
Claire joins the team at Luton Hoo from fellow five-star hotel The Grove, where she spent 14 years with roles including restaurant manager of the Stables restaurant, bar and players' lounge, welcoming hundreds of covers a week.
Claire holds the unique accolade of being the only person in the UK hotel industry to have been awarded the prestigious title in tea production, cultivation, tasting and education: The Ronnefeldt TeaMaster® Gold.
In order to achieve the Gold level qualification, Claire spent two years studying, including time spent working in tea plantations and factories in Sri Lanka, as well as sitting a two-hour written exam on cultivation and processing of tea and conducting a bling tea tasting.
Speaking after her appointment, Claire said: "I really love everything about Luton Hoo – especially its tradition and the fantastic stories behind the building and the hotel. My aim is to build on those stories and captivate people through our food and beverage offerings; I'm particularly excited to work with Ruth in the Wernher Restaurant to aim for 3 AA Rosettes and to develop our afternoon tea service. The team has been so welcoming, I'm excited to share my passion for tea with them and look at new initiatives for Luton Hoo, such as tea gastronomy, tea mixology and tea masterclasses."
Matthew Long, General Manager at Luton Hoo, said: "Claire is a fantastic addition to the Luton Hoo team. She has exceptional industry experience, she has a passion for her job that will invigorate her team and drive them to achieve even more, and she will help us take the hotel's guest experience to the next level."
To find out more about current vacancies across the Elite Hotel's Group, please click here.


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The Magpie Salute, featuring three members from The Black Crowes, have shared another song from their upcoming album High Water. Listen to "For The Wind" above, via YouTube.
Beginning with acoustic guitar, the track sets a mellow vibe accompanied by piano and light drumming. At the one-minute mark, the song transforms into a rocker with a heavy groove. Guitarist Rich Robinson spoke about the tune in an interview with Billboard:
That's an old song that I had but could never fit it anywhere... That was the only song that I brought to the table musically that was finished; John (Hogg) wrote the lyrics, but this song was arranged and solid. There were certain things I tweaked over the years, but it never really worked in the other contexts I was in. But I played it for everyone, and they loved it. And just to hear that song come to fruition after years of having it is great.
High Water was produced in Nashville with Robinson at the helm, and is scheduled to be released on August 10, 2018. Pick it up on Amazon. Last month, the band shared the first single "Send Me An Omen."
The Magpie Salute have concerts scheduled later this year with Gov't Mule, the Avett Brothers, and Blackberry Smoke. For concert tickets and more, check out The Magpie Salute's Zumic artist page.


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How To
GS Enzyme - Also known as Meat Glue
Ingredients: sodium chloride, gelatin, trisodium phosphate, maltodextrin, transglutaminase, safflower oil.
GS is a mixture of transglutaminase, maltodextrin, and gelatin, with the addition of polyphosphate salts and oil. The preparation is always combined with water to make a slurry, which is alkaline or basic due to the polyphosphates. Since the TG enzyme is inactive at high pH, the slurry remains stable until it is applied to the meat. At that point, the pH drops, activating the enzymes, and the bonding begins. Unlike other TG preparations, Activa® GS has the advantage that it can be left out on the counter all day without going bad.
GS is always mixed into slurry with 4 parts water. Typical usage is 0.75 1.0% of formula weight.
Note: Unopened packages have a shelf life of about two years, however, Transglutaminase enzymes degrade quickly once exposed to oxygen. To avoid waste, we recommend buying professional packages only if you plan to use a large quantity in a relatively short time Package contains enough enzymen for 12-15 lbs. of productFor More On Trans Glutaminase Click Here


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petsupplies.com > Dog Supplies > Clothes > Dog Boots > Item # 406809
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These sandal shoes are the ideal summertime accessory for your pet. Not only are they waterproof, but they have rubberized soles to help protect paws against hot surfaces like asphalt and concrete. These shoes are easy to get on and are highly supportive, made of from waterproof PVC and faux leather with rubberized soles for traction.
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From Outdated to Next-Gen: 5 Steps to Transforming Commercial Spend
Consumer expectations have drastically evolved. In a world where point-of-sale can be nearly anywhere, consumers today expect personalized offers and promotions tailored to their engagement preferences. They want to be reached where, when, and how it most conveniently fits into their digitally-influenced and fast-paced lives.
Today's sales and marketing leaders and their teams are now more than ever recognizing the need to restructure their internal processes, systems, and resources to develop a holistic, comprehensive consumer engagement strategy that drives growth, identifies opportunities for innovation and improves ROI, but that can be executed with their existing customers' platforms and business models. To achieve this, the right technology strategy and an alignment of sales and marketing functions is imperative.
Where do you start? Do you have the right insights? Join us for this webinar discussion to learn the steps that organizations can take to transform commercial spend, capitalize on the digital path-to-purchase, and drive profitable growth.


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Relished by some mayors and resented by others, the ritual has endured for decades in New York's City Hall: an open and unscripted question-and-answer session between the mayor and the press.
Under Mayor Bill de Blasio, the ritual has turned into a rarity.
The mayoral scrum has increasingly been shunned by Mr. de Blasio, a Democrat, as he confronts drooping poll numbers and a run of rough headlines. Since the end of August, he has held one such session on average per week, according to a review of his schedule, a sharp drop-off from predecessors who entertained queries on a near-daily basis.
While the mayor does hold news conferences, he frequently limits questions to a predetermined topic. The shift has not gone unnoticed: The New York Press Club has publicly objected to it, and reporters have started to ignore the restrictions.
On Friday, amid the growing revolt, Mr. de Blasio convened a lengthy news conference at City Hall during which he declared himself "absolutely comfortable" with the change in practice.
"We don't approach government the way others approached it; it's a blunt truth," Mr. de Blasio said. "There are assumptions that some of my predecessors have that I just don't have, about how we do this work, what our obligations are to the people."
"I have a job to do," he added. "Much more important than giving the answers to the questions is actually doing the work."
Few high-profile politicians face the same expectation of accessibility as the mayor of New York; Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, also a Democrat, takes questions from reporters far less frequently, for instance.
But Mr. de Blasio, who pledged a new era of transparency when he took office last year, has appeared uneasy since taking office with the uncontrolled, and sometimes adversarial, nature of open news conferences.
"Media access to the mayor has become a time-honored tradition that's important to the functioning of democracy in the City of New York," said Representative Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat from Brooklyn. "The approach taken by Mayor de Blasio certainly appears to be a novel one in recent history, and one that perhaps should be re-examined in the best interests of the people that he represents."
Rudolph W. Giuliani relished such sessions and the opportunity for engagement they offered. Michael R. Bloomberg seemed to tolerate them. Until the end of August, when his poll numbers fell, Mr. de Blasio had more or less followed the pattern of past mayors, taking queries from the press corps two or three times a week.
Asked on Friday about the dwindling number of news conferences, the mayor said that in the past, he had been focused on enacting major new policy initiatives; he was now eager to bring his message "to the people."
"There's going to be a lot of information flowing," Mr. de Blasio said, pledging to communicate through a variety of channels, including the brief radio appearances he has done more often of late. (His advisers are aware that those interviews tend to be shorter and breezier than the interrogations Mr. de Blasio can face from the regular City Hall reporters.)
The mayor also pledged on Friday to hold more town hall-style events, although, so far, only one has been convened, and many of the attendees were invited by his allies. "We're going to change this paradigm," Mr. de Blasio said, "because we think there are better ways to communicate and better ways to be connected to the people."
Tensions with the media are nothing new for Mr. de Blasio, and allies say he remains deeply frustrated with the press coverage he has gotten, convinced that some news outlets are set on sinking his mayoralty. He has accused the New York City press corps of treating his predecessor, Mr. Bloomberg, with "kid gloves."
In recent days, Mr. de Blasio has also raised concerns with his aides about leaks, frustrated that details of his private conversations have turned up in news reports, according to several people told of the discussions who requested anonymity to describe private conversations.
The mayor's team is sensitive to accusations that he is less than transparent, particularly after a week that included an on-air altercation between a CBS reporter and Mr. de Blasio's press secretary, and a report in DNAinfo about the administration's sluggishness in responding to Freedom of Information requests.
The mayor convened his news conference on Friday after widespread objections to his lack of accessibility for questions. He fielded queries for more than an hour, addressing topics ranging from homelessness to crime to traffic safety. Afterward, his press office emailed a note to reporters saying that Mr. de Blasio had given "well over 100 interviews" and more than 200 open-ended question-and-answer sessions since taking office.
Mr. de Blasio has tried to make light of reporters' complaints, although his jokes sometimes fall flat. This week, at a news conference in Brooklyn to announce a policy promoting industrial growth, he chastised journalists for not asking more questions about the subject.
"All right now, press corps," Mr. de Blasio said. "We're spending over 100 million new dollars and we're creating 20,000 jobs. Surely that must be of some interest."
When he moved to the so-called off-topic portion of the event — when he fields questions on any subject — Mr. de Blasio gave a lopsided smile upon seeing the journalists' raised hands.
"Aw, look," he said. "Like flowers blooming."


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|December 18, 2017
|Other News
Rep. Manweller removed from leadership roles
As his employer investigates allegations made against him, state Rep. Matt Manweller, R-Ellensburg, has agreed to step down from his role as assistant floor leader for the House Republicans. Manweller also will no longer serve as ranking member of the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee. He will remain serving as a legislator.
"Right now, I plan to focus solely on my district and step away from my leadership roles," Manweller said.
Manweller, a professor at Central Washington University, is being investigated for allegations of sexual harassment. The university placed him on leave last week while investigating the allegations. He has denied any wrongdoing.
The Seattle Times and News Tribune have more.
« Back to Main


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Below you will see the standardized testing that we complete each year. We generally do testing in the fall and spring, with some assessments happening in the winter. Dates for the testing will be included in the Weekly Webster Family Newsletter.
425 5th St. NE. | Minneapolis, MN 55413
Telephone: 612.668.1210
Fax: 612-668-1220


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Shannon Lawrence is DDI Europe's Consulting Manager and is based in London.
Before joining DDI, Shannon's experience included various internal Human Resources positions, in generalist HR and organisation development roles across the financial services, construction, mining, and health care industries. She also has external consulting experience in all aspects of talent management, including selection, development, performance management, and high potential identification.
Shannon's expertise is in developing commercially relevant and integrated talent management solutions.
Shannon Lawrence's responsibilities include:
Follow Shannon Lawrence on social media.
I consent to DDI emailing me, collecting my personal data, and processing that information in the provision of services and for the purposes of marketing and research. I am aware of my rights and the ways in which my data will be used as referenced in DDI's Data Privacy Policy. I am aware I have the right to revoke this consent at any time.
To revoke your consent, please submit a data request form.


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With around 20 years of experience in Staffing Services, Software Development and Business Process Services, Systemart LLC has a stellar record of not only meeting client requirements but also exceeding expectations across diverse domains nationwide. Whether we are strengthening your workforce with Staffing and RPO services, building digital solutions for meaningful consumer experiences, solving complex business challenges through our comprehensive business solutions, we focus on making your life simple!
Our Competitive Advantage
- Unparalleled expertise in industry knowledge
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- Continuously innovating & designing cost-effective business solutions
- Exceptional team of dedicated professionals to match exceptional service portfolio
- Complete reliability and application of state-of-the-art technology


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Athletic Therapy Services are provided free-of-charge to the varsity athletes only.
The Athletic Therapy clinic is located adjacent to the gymnasium facilities within the Welland Campus Athletics and Recreation Centre.
The certified athletic therapist in the clinic uses contemporary rehabilitative techniques, therapeutic modalities, physical reconditioning and supportive wrapping and taping procedures in the assessment, prevention, immediate care and reconditioning of musculoskeletal injuries.
Prevention techniques include:
- musculoskeletal and postural evaluations
- sport specific warm-up activities
- flexibility and strengthening exercises
- application of prophylactic wrapping and taping
The provisions of on-field immediate care of injuries include:
- injury assessment,
- basic emergency life support
- recognition and management of acute traumatic neurological dysfunction
- provision of first aid
- preparation for entrance into appropriate health care delivery systems
- when appropriate, utilization of techniques facilitating a safe return to sport participation
Clinical rehabilitative services offered to the varsity athletes include:
- postural and gait analysis
- acute and chronic injury/condition assessment
- therapeutic flexibility and strengthening exercise prescription
- manual therapeutic techniques
- soft-tissue release techniques
- ultrasound and electoral modalities
- hot and cold hydrotherapy
- concussion return to play protocol
How to Make an Appointment
Athletic Therapy services are provided free-of-charge to the varsity athletes only.
Appointments can only be made online. Click here.
Athletes can also make appointments with a nurse or physician on campus at the Niagara College Health Centre by calling 905-735-2211 ext.7635
Office Hours
Monday to Thursday: 5:00pm to 9:30pm
NOTE: Hours are subject to change
Useful Forms
Varsity Athlete Medical History Form


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The woodland camouflage pattern of the GD120CM models make these watches perfectly suited to today's street fashion scene. A new multi-angle printing technology was applied to create the case and band patterns of these models, as well as the camouflage patterns of their dials. GD120CM-5 is a digital watch with brown and green camouflage pattern.55.0 x 51.2 x 17.4mm
Shock Resistant
200M Water Resistant
Auto Super Illuminator LED
Flash Alert
World Time (31TZ/ 48Cities + UTC)
5 Daily Alarms
1/100th Second Stopwatch (24 Hour)
Multi Home Time 4
1/10th Second Countdown Timer (24 Hour)
12/24 Hour Formats
Mute Function


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First of all, it's massive.
I mean, of course it's massive. It had to carry large things into space like satellites and whole sections of the ISS.
And it's covered in scorch marks and dents from space debris hitting it, which is terrifying and awesome.
It's a pretty good exhibit. There's lots of information on all its missions and a time-lapse video of the trek it made across town from LAX to Exposition Park (here's an abbreviated version). I spent about an hour in the hangar just checking everything out (I think I may be better alone at museums because I could spend days in them when the rest of my party has died of dehydration waiting for me to finish up.) But here's where it could improve. They could let me fly it. Or at the very least, they could let me inside of it. Is it too much to ask to sit in the captain's chair and fiddle with the instruments? While wearing space suit? And a head set so I could talk to Mission Control? I don't think it is. I would pay extra for it. Certainly more than the nothing I paid to get in.
Later I went over to the IMAX theater and watched the 3D movie on the Hubble telescope. And Sweet Land of Liberty! You have to see this movie! It is so awesome!!! I have a wacky astigmatism that makes 3D movies hard to watch but after a while I was just so mesmerized by what I was seeing that I hardly noticed my eyes wigging out.
And finally, I saw a lot of really cool things that day but these early astronaut boots were among the coolest. Double laces, zipper, and silver. Sign me up!


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Q: Do nominees have to be members of Travel Media Association of Canada (TMAC) or can they be anyone?
A: Nominees have to be TMAC members whose membership fees are fully paid for 2020.
Q: Can I nominate myself or does someone else have to nominate me?
A: You can only nominate yourself for entry.
Q: Do my entries have to have been published?
A: The entry article or photo or video must have appeared in a publication or digital posting between January 1, 2019 December 31, 2019.
Q: When will the award ceremony take place?
A: The winners for the awards will be announced during the Awards Ceremony on Friday, June 12, 2020 during the TMAC Annual Conference in Sudbury, ON. Winners will be announced to the entire membership on Monday, June 15, 2020. Submissions will be posted shortly thereafter.
Q: Will the names of the individuals who have entered into the awards be announced publicly?
A: The top five finalists will be announced in May 2020.
Q: How do I submit my entry(ies)?
A: Please use the new online 2019 TMAC Awards Entry Form. All entries must be received by Saturday, February 29, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Q. Can I re-enter a submission that did not win in 2018 but was published within the time period?
Q. Can I submit the same story and/or image in two different categories?
Q. What is the AGM Host Destination Award?
The AGM Host Destination Award allows you to submit your favourite stories based on your travel experiences gained during your attendance at one or both of the past two TMAC conferences (i.e., Victoria and Sault Ste. Marie)
Q. What is the Best Travel Column/Blog?
Although all categories welcome online submissions, we felt it was important to introduce an award that allows you to submit three recent samples of a travel column or blog for which you are the author.
Q. What is the Best Video or Vlog
We recognize that some of our members are producing vlog/video content on a more regular basis and felt that it was important to introduce an award that allows an opportunity for these members to submit in this category.
Q. What is the People's Choice Best Photo Ever
Submit your best photo ever and let your fellow TMAC members decide! Your photos will be featured on line in a slide show format. Members will have access to an electronic ballot to vote.


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I first came to Beijing in 2011, following my husband for his job and leaving my own corporate career behind. We were excited to start a new chapter of our lives in China. He was not sent by an international company with a full expat package, so we needed to figure out many things on our own. And since we didn't live in an Expat area, there were not many people around to ask the typical questions a foreign newcomer to this amazing and enormous city would have.
We learned a lot and gathered a great amount of valuable information from many different sources. Sometimes we had to search hard and deep for it, sometimes we stumbled upon it. We often found ourselves saying "Oh, I wish I had known this earlier. It would have … (insert the following: made life easier/saved some hassle/been fun to do earlier/…)"
We had moved across the world before and traveled extensively in South East Asia but coming to China was very different and more challenging. We learned a lot, about China, the people, the culture, and also about ourselves.
Like so many expat marriages, especially in Asia, our marriage didn't survive China. When it happened and my old life fell apart, I was far away from my friends and family, in a country where I didn't speak the language, understand the culture, had any friends of my own, nor had a job.
Nevertheless, I decided to stay in Beijing. And I'm glad I did. I successfully built a new life here.
My lifestyle changed completely. I moved apartments a few times to different neighborhoods of Beijing, made great new friends, learned the language and culture, kept busy with the Beijing Expat Guide and other projects, and overall enjoyed life in Beijing.
The Beijing Expat Guide became more successful than I ever expected. Besides being top ranked in Google, I was interviewed by a Russian news channel, the US travel show with Emmy-award-winning host Peter Greenberg, and CCTV America. I published three Kindle ebooks. All amazing experiences that would not have been possible without the Beijing Expat Guide.
I have to disclose that I now don't live in China full time anymore. After a few years here on my own I decided it was time to move. But I keep coming back, for weeks or even months at a time to see my friends here and eat myself silly on Chinese food. Beijing does that to people – it keeps pulling them back.
I'm in China right now as I am writing this. And I have big plans for keeping the Beijing Expat Guide going, with up-to-date information, more content and more resources. After all, maintaining and expanding it gives me a good excuse for coming back to the place where I started over. (Luckily, my work also allows for the travel.)
If you haven't already done so, please sign up for my newsletter. You'll receive great tips about getting started directly to your inbox. I look forward to hearing from you.
(Originally published April 2013, updated 2017)


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Personal Injury Lawyer | Serving Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles Personal Injury Law Firm
We understand that sustaining a personal injury due to someone else's negligence can plague you and your family's life. You may have received numerous medical bills, been sent to collections, been forced to take time off work resulting in lost income and received countless calls from the insurance company, all while you are forced to endure the physical and emotional pain of your injury. Fortunately, you have the right to file a claim in an effort to obtain compensation for your damages. Our firm has decades of legal experience and is equipped to maximize your recovery, while you focus on getting your life back on track.
Many people associate hiring an attorney to being involved in a full-blown legal battle. We understand the emotional stress you are already dealing with and will do everything in our power to avoid adding to it. Using decades of legal experience and strategy, we strive to settle your case and obtain maximum compensation prior to filing a lawsuit.
Contact us today if you need legal assistance with any of the following:
Call 844-217-7837 today, we offer a risk-free consultation and unless we are able to recover your damages, we do not charge a fee.
Payam Moradian started his career at a large intellectual property law firm in New York, where he focused on patent prosecution and counseling. Mr. Moradian has since moved to Los Angeles, and was patent counsel for a medical device company, where he managed the worldwide patent portfolio of the company. Mr. Moradian was also a partner at a Los Angeles intellectual property law firm, where he was the head of patent and trademark prosecution department. Mr. Moradian has also participated in several patent litigations. In one litigation, Mr. Moradian's cross-examination of the plaintiff's expert in front of a jury resulted in the jury invalidating several broad claims of the plaintiff's patent.


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How the Research Bazaar (#ResBaz) has grown
6 March 2018 1 Comment
Dejan Jotanovic was one of the founding members of The Research Bazaar, and formerly the Digital Spaces Manager at Research Platforms (ResPlat) Services at The University of Melbourne.
Dejan has spent his last year living in Brooklyn, New York as a freelance writer drinking awful American coffee.
Prior to this he has completed a Master of Public Policy & Management at The University of Melbourne, with key interests in inequality, social and science policy.
In late 2015, I wrote for The Research Whisperer about an exciting and revolutionary way of teaching digital research skills to researchers across the globe.
We called the project The Research Bazaar (ResBaz), a nod to the ancient Istanbul marketplace where crowds would exchange prized items, listen to bards speak folklore, and ultimately, create a rich and diverse community. In place of clothing, jewels and food (though we always made sure to feed our hungry researchers), ResBaz operated as an exchange of ideas and digital methodology.
Birthed at The University of Melbourne, the ResBaz team offered year-round workshops in number of digital tools (like Python, R, MATLAB, data visualisation, archiving, mining, and 3D Printing).
These workshops operated with core pedagogy principles in mind. This translated to:
- What is the most effective, dynamic and efficient way of teaching these skills?
- How do we make researchers retain knowledge in an ever-expanding laboratory or library?
Workshops were designed to be interactive and challenge-based, giving researchers hands-on experience with their digital tool of choice.
Another way to ensure knowledge retention is to build community. All ResBaz workshops were taught by fellow researchers who understand the ins and outs (read: struggles) of the academy. Trainers would organise social events and drop-in sessions outside of the workshop to refresh their newly attained digital skill-sets. This was also key in battling another insidious tenant that plagued our research community: loneliness. Read more of this post


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Genetic Stability of a Genetically-Engineered Chimeric Porcine Circovirus (PCV) Vaccine, PCV1-2
Gillespie, Jennifer Ann
MetadataShow full item record
Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is the primary causative agent of porcine circovirus associated disease (PCVAD), an economically important swine disease that causes wasting in pigs 5-18 weeks of age. There exist two different types of porcine circoviruses: porcine circovirus type 1 (PCV1) was discovered as a contaminant of porcine kidney (PK-15) cells and was determined to be nonpathogenic in swine; whereas porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is pathogenic. A recently released vaccine for PCVAD was generated by inserting the gene encoding the immunogenic capsid protein of PCV2 into the genetic backbone of the non-pathogenic PCV1. This chimeric PCV vaccine, called PCV1-2, was shown to induce protective immunity against PCV2 infection in pigs. The vaccine is currently on the market in a killed form. In order to develop a live version of the vaccine, the genetic stability of the chimeric PCV1-2 vaccine virus was investigated by in vitro and in vivo passaging of the vaccine virus. In vitro passaging of the PCV1-2 vaccine virus was done in a porcine kidney PK-15 cell line. Cells were infected with the PCV1-2 vaccine virus and then serially passaged 11 times. The passaged vaccine viruses recovered from passages 5 and 11 were sequenced, and the sequences were compared to that of the original PCV1-2 vaccine virus. The in vitro serial passage result showed that no mutation occurred during the 11 in vitro passages. The in vivo passaging was done using specific-pathogen-free (SPF) pigs. In in vivo â passage 1â , nine piglets were divided into 3 groups of 3 each: group 1 each inoculated with 200ug of PCV1-2 plasmid, group 2 each with 1Ã 103 TCID50 live PCV1-2 vaccine virus, and group 3 each with 3ml phosphate buffered saline (PBS) buffer as a control. One pig from each group was necropsied at 14, 21, and 28 days post-inoculation (DPI), respectively. A panel of tissue samples including lymph nodes and thymus were collected from each pig. Tissue homogenates from DPI 28 that were positive by PCR for PCV1-2 DNA were used to inoculate new piglets in the in vivo passage 2 experiment. Viruses recovered from passage 2 pigs were subsequently used for inoculation in the in vivo passage 3 experiment. The PCV1-2 vaccine virus DNA from pigs in each passage was amplified and sequenced. The results of the in vivo serial passage experiment showed that, after 3 passages of the PCV1-2 vaccine virus in pigs, there were no new mutations in the viruses recovered from pigs. The PCV1-2 vaccine contained an introduced marker mutation at amino acid position number 79, which is in the capsid region. During the in vivo passaging of the vaccine virus in pigs, this marker mutation quickly reverted back to its original nucleotide. This marker back mutation occurred between DPI 21 and DPI 28 of passage 1 in the PCV1-2 live vaccine virus group, and between DPI 28 of passage 1 and DPI 14 of passage 2 in the PCV1-2 vaccine plasmid group, and remained stable throughout the reminder of the in vivo study. Based upon the results from this study, we conclude that the PCV1-2 chimeric vaccine virus is genetically stable in vitro and in pigs, and thus should serve as a good candidate for a live vaccine against PCV2.
- Masters Theses [19459]


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JIO Superior Granite Coating Die-Casting Aluminium Cookware 24cm Non Stick
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We hope your summer has been fun and you're gearing up for Fourth of July celebrations at home or at the lake house. It's hard to believe school will be starting soon and summer will be a distant memory.
There are some things that we would LOVE to have as distant memories (old boyfriends, gum on our shoe and bad hair days come to mind), but acne and acne scars are probably at the top of most peoples lists. There are so many options available for treating and, eventually, eliminating those pesky pimples and we want to help! Phases™ aestheticians are the most knowledgeable and truly caring about helping you, your teen and your friends with the right information to create a plan to tackle it for good!
Skincare products are the foundation of a good plan. Couple it with a chemical peel and/or BLU-U light and you will be on your way to clearer skin before the first leaves fall of the trees. For some more options, one of our many lasers can work to smooth out what the acne left behind.
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Ethers such as MTBE have been commercially used in petrol for more than 40 years. While alcohols blended into petrol at higher concentrations and under certain conditions may present a compatibility issue with some materials found in the vehicle fuel systems, the ether versions of the same alcohols will usually be much more compatible with the metals and the non metals (elastomers and plastics) that are commonly found in the vehicle fuel systems and fuel distribution systems.
Compatibility with non-metal materials has the potential to become an issue as the concentration of oxygenates (alcohols and ethers) are increased in fuels as a means of reducing the dependency on crude oil for producing transportation fuels. Various elastomers, rubbers and plastics are used by OEM (original equipment manufacturers) for sealing and containing liquid fuels in closed systems such as automotive vehicles, non-automotive small engines, bulk fuel storage and fuel distribution systems. The performance properties of some elastomers may alter when in contact with fuels containing higher volume concentrations of some oxygenates which can then contribute to higher permeation of evaporative VOC emissions (volatile organic compounds) and possibly shorter service life (lower durability).


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Commercial and Industrial Projects
John J Doyle Ltd offers a complete commercial and industrial chimney flue package, including design, supply, installation and maintenance across the UK and Ireland. We undertake projects of all sizes, ranging from schools to some of the largest data centres in Europe.
All of our installations use the highest quality materials including Dinak. John J Doyle Ltd has worked closely with Dinak for over twenty years and together both companies have become a major supplier and installer of flue systems throughout Ireland and the UK. We can confirm that all of Dinak's products have EN 1856-1 approval and the system has been tested by TÜV Munich. We can offer design for modular flues fixed to a support structure or if the preferred option is a wind shield arrangement, then this also can be designed and supplied.
Meet the Team
John Doyle
Roy Tregay
Alan Todd
John Woods
Kyle Moore
Alice Popplestone
We have experienced installation teams working all over the UK, Ireland and Europe.
- Confined Spaces
- CSR Joiner
- CSR General Construction Operative
- CSR Bricklayer
- CSR Plant Operative
- CSR Steel Fabricator
- CSR Building Site Supervisor
- Mobile vertical and mobile boom


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We're about to be treated to a slide show, narrated by Lynch.
Tyler Adetona, WR, Gainesville, Ga.
"A really good kid, and really explosive," Lynch says. "Really physical, maybe more so than what we've been able to bring in."
Larry Black Jr., DT, Wyoming, Ohio
"We feel like we got three big, inside linemen who can stop the run," Lynch says, "and Larry is one of those."
"He's a really solid, anchor type guy."
Shane Covington, RB, Milwaukee, Wis.
"He can really do the whole deal," Lynch says, noting that Covington has played multiple positions on both sides of the ball. "A very versatile guy who can run."
Mark Damisch, OL, Buffalo Grove, Ill.
"He's the type of offensive lineman we've been looking for," Lynch says.
Tandon Doss, WR, Indianapolis
"We'll take good players from anywhere, but we really want to do well in Indianapolis because that's sort of our home base," Lynch says. "He's another kid who has played a lot of places. We really like what he adds. Great kid."
Adam Follett, QB, Caledonia, Mich.
"He's a thrower," Lynch says. "Alma (his high school) was running a spread. We saw him last summer and really liked what we saw."
Alex Hunt, RB, Flowery Branch, Ga.
"Alex is a running back, but we've also seen him play other positions," Lynch says. "He's another really good track guy. . . He's quality and a really good athlete."
Kyle Kozak, DE, Columbus, Ohio
Kozak is already here on campus.
"I was at workouts and saw him a bit," Lynch says. "He moves pretty well and is that type of guy we like coming off the end."
Charles Love III, WR, Memphis
"We didn't know him as well before, but we were sold on him on tape all the way to last spring," Lynch says. "He's got good size."
Will Matte, OL, Wheaton
"Will is one the offensive lineman that's not quite as big," Lynch says. "But he is a football player."
Matte, who is 6-2, is slated to play center.
Mick Mentzer, DL, Fort Wayne
"He's a big athletic kid," Lynch says. "He is 290, and he played linebacker. He was the biggest high school linebacker I ever saw."
Justin Pagan, OL, Chicago
"Another one of those guys who was here at camp, so we had first-hand knowledge of working with him," Lynch says.
Chad Sherer, LB, Arcadia, Ill.
"Man, he's a football player," Lynch says. "He was one of those guys, an outside linebacker who can play outside the box or in the box, which is important with the spread offenses."
Nick Sliger, DT, Fishers, Ind.
"He'll be king of the training table," Lynch says. "He's a really good football player."
Cortez Smith, RB, Detroit
"He's another physical kid," Lynch says. "He's a thick, strong looking kid."
Peter St. Fort, S, Naples, Fla.
"He'll hit you now," Lynch says. "Classy kid and a good football player."
Marquelo Suel, WR, Ft. Wayne
"This guy's an athlete," Lynch says. "This one kid kept jumping out at me and I said, 'Who's that guy?' . . . He's a player."
A.J. Thompson, OL, Lakeland, Fla.
The other player on campus now.
"He's a big, thick kid," Lynch says.
Darius Willis, RB, Franklin Central
"He's the real thing," Lynch says.
Bill Lynch has taken to the microphone to discuss Indiana's 19 new players.
"This is a big day for us," he says. "This is the culmination of a lot of work, a few years of work with some of these guys."
Lynch said there weren't many surprises down the stretch. Indiana had most of its verbal commitments early and they all held.


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3 Healthy Easy Delicious Vegan Recipes
Mushroom-Walnut Pâté
Makes 6 to 8 servings
You can utilize normal white mushrooms in this mouthwatering pâté, but if you desire a deeper mushroom flavor, consider making use of a mix of wild mushrooms. This pâté tastes better the day after it is made, so preferably make it a day ahead of when you need it.
1 tbsp olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, cut
3 garlic cloves, sliced
2 mugs sliced mushrooms, any variety
2 tbsps brandy (optional)
1⁄4 cup tahini (sesame paste)
1 teaspoon dried mouthwatering
1 teaspoon salt
1⁄8 teaspoon ground cayenne
1 cup toasted walnut pieces
2 tbsps sliced fresh parsley
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- Pre-heat the stove to 350 ° F. Lightly oil a 9-inch loaf frying pan and alloted. In a large skillet, warmth the oil over medium warmth. Include the onion and also garlic as well as cover and cook until softened, concerning 5 minutes. Include the mushrooms and chef, exposed, until the mushrooms are soft as well as the liquid has actually evaporated, 5 to 7 minutes. Include the brandy, if utilizing. Stir in the tahini, tasty, salt, and cayenne and chef, stirring for 1 to 2 minutes a lot more. Reserve.
- In a mixer, cut the walnuts. Include the parsley and also flour and also pulse to incorporate. Include the mushroom mixture and also procedure up until incorporated. Taste, readjusting spices if needed, then spoon the blend right into the ready pan. Bake up until company, concerning 40 minutes. Cool the pâté to space temperature level, then refrigerate till chilled. When all set to serve, run a knife along the side of the pan and invert onto a plate. Serve at room temperature.
Mylie's Secret Queso Dip
Makes regarding 21⁄2 mugs
This tacky dip is too great to keep a secret any longer. Adapted from a recipe shown to me by my buddy and vegan queso dip enthusiast Mylie Thompson, it's fantastic for nachos as well as on baked potatoes, prepared veggies, or even soft crackers. Try spooning a little over some vegetable chili.
1 tbsp olive oil
1⁄2 mug minced onion
1⁄4 cup oat flour or finely ground old-fashioned oats
2 tablespoons tahini (sesame paste)
1⁄2 mug dietary yeast
1⁄3 mug bitter soy milk, plus extra if needed
1 tsp pure maple syrup
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained pipes and also carefully sliced
1 (4-ounce) can diced warm or mild eco-friendly chiles, drained pipes
11⁄2 teaspoons chili powder
11⁄2 teaspoons pleasant or smoked paprika
1⁄2 tsp ground cumin
1⁄4 teaspoon ground cayenne
1⁄2 teaspoon salt
11⁄2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- In a large saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Include the onion, cover, as well as cook up until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the flour, tahini, nutritional yeast, soy milk, and also syrup. Stir in the tomatoes and blend well.
- Lower warmth, and also cook, mixing constantly. When the combination begins to bubble, include the chiles, chili powder, paprika, cumin, cayenne, as well as salt. Continue to prepare, stirring for about 10 mins. Stir in the lemon juice. If the mixture is too thick, include a little bit much more soy milk. Taste, changing seasonings if required. Transfer to a medium bowl as well as serve cozy. Otherwise making use of right now, cover and cool. Properly saved, it will keep for up to 4 days.
Personalized Trail Mix
Makes regarding 3 cups
The best part about making your own path mix is that you get to choose what goes in it. Don't like coconut? Leave it out. Desire much more cashews? Place them in. Brimming with nuts as well as fruit, it's additionally a nourishing treat to keep on hand for youngsters.
1⁄2 cup unsweetened flaked coconut
1⁄2 cup unsalted baked cashews
1⁄2 cup slivered blanched almonds
1⁄2 cup vegan semisweet delicious chocolate chips
1⁄2 cup sweetened dried cranberries
1⁄3 mug chopped dried pineapple
1⁄4 mug unsalted roasted sunflower seeds
- In a small skillet, toast the coconut over tool warmth, mixing, up until gently browned, 2 to 3 mins. Set aside to cool.
- In a large bowl, incorporate the cashews, almonds, chocolate chips, cranberries, pineapple, and also sunflower seeds. Mix in the toasted coconut. Trendy completely before offering. This is best when offered on the very same day that it is made.


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First Time Buyer – Top Tips Blog
How much can I borrow? – This is the most frequently asked question that I am asked. It is different for each individual as we all earn different amounts, have different credit profiles and borrowing. The last case I researched had a difference of £60,000 in the amount that could be borrowed depending on the lender selected. A good independent broker will find you the one that best suits your needs.
Affordability is used by lenders to assess your borrowing power. They will take into account, your income and outgoings to determine what they will lend to a borrower. Outgoings include loans, credit cards, car finance and commitments such as childcare or travel costs.
Previously, lenders would multiply your income to calculate how much you can borrow. This was typically 3-4x income. As a rule of thumb, the max borrowing is normally 4-4.5x income but this can vary depending on what your income is made up of.
The size of deposit also affects the amount you can borrow. A bigger deposit will allow you to borrow more.
Your credit report is very important. I will do the next post on this topic.
Every lender has different criteria and different affordability so use an independent broker to guide you through the maze of buying your first property.
#mortgage #firsttimebuyers #mortgage #mortgageadvice #mortgagebroke
Imagine you had loads of money. A lot! And you wanted to buy a house. You don't need a mortgage do you? No! You have loads of cash and can buy it outright.
But is that the best thing to do?
A wealthy client of mine decided to buy another property in Edinburgh. It's a big one and while he could buy it cash, he asked me to arrange a mortgage for him. Why I hear you ask?
There are several reasons why a wealthy client would use a mortgage to leverage a property purchase.
Liquidity – Make your money work for you – if all your cash is tied up in property then it isn't available for other purposes.
For example, you can borrow against funds under investment. This type of finance is called Lombard and is unregulated and can be used for almost any purpose. It is a popular way to borrow for business purposes. And the rates are very low.
ROI – Return On Investment – money in property appreciates at the same rate as that property. Money invested elsewhere could grow faster.
Cost of debt verses ROI – you can typically borrow for about 3% currently, often less. If you invested funds instead of paying for a property in cash then you could get a better return. A client of mine recently was getting 8% yield on his investment portfolio. He wanted to borrow and keep the funds invested. He then made 5% more on the funds.
Leverage – instead of buying one property in cash, leveraging with a mortgage means you can buy many properties. The more you buy the more capital growth and more rental yield you can enjoy. This is the strategy of most landlords.
Risk – a mortgage is low risk, as long as you maintain payments. Also, linking to the last point, if you have multiple properties then it reduces your risk. Eg if you own four rental properties and one is empty then that's only 1/4 of your portfolio, only 1/4 of your income is affected, and the other 3 help to support this.
Tax – if you have funds invested and you realease them to buy a property then you could face capital gains tax. If you have a debt against a property then this reduces your inheritance tax burden.
The flip side to this is your attitude to risk. Some people prefer to own everything and have no debt. And there is nothing wrong with that but are they making their money work efficiently for them? It is a personal choice at the end of the day.
Buy to let is now a specialist mortgage area. Many brokers won't deal with this so it is important to make sure that yours does, and is independent and whole of market to make sure you get the best deal.
The recent tax changes mean that most new buy to let lending is being done via Ltd Companies. For all landlords, especially portfolio landlords, it is important to seek advice from a tax specialist on how these tax changes will impact on you.
In September 2017, the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) introduced new rules for landlords with four or more buy-to-let properties. They now have to satisfy different criteria to secure mortgage borrowing, as they are considered as 'portfolio investors'.
To comply with the new portfolio landlord underwriting standards, lenders are now looking at the total income versus borrowing across all a landlord's properties, to ensure that any new borrowing doesn't adversely affect affordability for other properties within the portfolio.
This means more work for lenders, who will have to investigate each mortgaged property held by the landlord in more detail, then apply an Interest Coverage Ratio (ICR) across the portfolio. This ICR will vary, depending on the individual lender and the number of properties owned with a mortgage.
In addition, in some cases, the lender will also take into account the landlord's individual earned income/salary. This may mean you can borrow more or less if you don't have income to support voids.
The impact of the increased underwriting resource required to implement these measures meant that some smaller building societies withdrew from buy- to-let mortgages for investors with four properties or more. Specialist buy-to-let lenders are continuing to offer mortgages to both portfolio and non-portfolio landlords. Many of these only offer mortgages via mortgage brokers so talk to your broker when you need to look at this.
Most landlords will not be affected by the new portfolio rules. A survey carried out by the Strategic Society Centre in 2013, showed that 72% of private rented sector (PRS) landlords had just one rental property, with 12% owning three or more. A further survey of 1,071 landlords, carried out by YouGov on behalf of Shelter in mid-2015, found 59% had one buy-to-let, with 32% owning between two and four. This survey also revealed 45% of landlords owned their property/ies outright, with no mortgage borrowing, and a further 40% had a loan to value of 50% or less. As such, it's unlikely that the buy-to-let sector will experience much disruption as a result of the new rules.
For those who own four or more properties, as well as those who currently have three and plan to buy a fourth, the change is likely to mean a more limited choice of lenders and products when they come to purchase or remortgage. But, realistically, only those who have highly-leveraged properties and are not seeing much cash flow need to be at all concerned.
What do the new rules mean for landlords:
If you already fall into the category of 'portfolio investor' or are planning to add to your portfolio and will therefore become one, these are some of the key considerations for you:
1. The application process takes longer – This means planning well ahead and making sure you allow three months or more for lenders to make the checks they need.
2. You may not be able to stay with your current lender when you refinance – Some smaller lenders, particularly building societies, have decided not to continue offering buy-to-let mortgages to portfolio investors in light of the extra work required to satisfy the new rules.
3. Most deals are only available via brokers so use an independent, whole of market broker.
If you have four or more properties, you may wish to contact your broker to find out:
• Where you stand with your current mortgage deals
• What steps you will need to take when you refinance
You will need to provide any new lender with much more detailed information than previously. This includes the following:
• A portfolio overview with details of all properties
• A Business Plan
• An Assets and Liabilities statement
• Personal income
As some of this may take time to secure and could vary slightly from one lender to another, make sure you ask your broker for a complete list of what you will need to provide as early as possible.
So if you have not carried out a buy-to-let portfolio review recently, now is the time to do so. Work with your tax adviser, mortgage adviser and wealth manager, if you have one, to assess your total level of borrowing versus assets and take advice on whether you might need to make any changes in order to reduce the likelihood of running into any difficulties securing mortgage finance in the future.
If you are an 'accidental landlord', for example letting only one property due to a change in circumstances, you won't be affected by the new portfolio legislation, therefore it's a case of continuing as normal for most.
If you are a portfolio landlord and have any concerns about the potential availability of finance for either a new mortgage or a remortgage, please get in touch with us and one of our advisers will be very happy to talk through your options.
What lies ahead for the mortgage market in 2018? Here are some thoughts:
There could be a rate rise later in the year, possibly by summertime. The economy has made a strong start, inflation has fallen and confidence is rising. All point towards a rise.
The home buying process will become more digitalised. Automated Valuation Models (AVM) for property valuations and real-time affordability checks will play a more significant part in buying a home.
Lenders will make further investments in technology to ensure they offer a seamless mortgage application process.
Brokers will continue to play an increasing role as the human touch is important for customers as, for most people, a mortgage is the biggest financial decision that they will ever make. Customers value face-to-face interactions with brokers. People can find a common ground, something computers can never do. Last year approximately 75% of lenders saw an increase in mortgage applications from brokers and the value borrowers place on advice from brokers is growing.
Stamp duty relief will help more first-time buyers get onto the property ladder, but may have a detrimental effect on the private rental sector as more people opt to own rather than rent a home.
April will be an important month for the buy-to-let sector. Landlords may see a greater impact on their net profit as the next stage of the reduction in tax relief is phased in this month. This may also prompt lenders to review their minimum rental cover requirements to ensure landlords can comfortably manage their mortgage payments.
Purchasing new buy-to-let properties through limited companies may become more prevalent amongst landlords serious about either entering the market or building their portfolio.
The landlord market will become increasingly professional as tax changes take effect, new tenancy agreements start to impact, and landlords and letting agents come to terms with the increased regulation of the letting market. The 3% Additional Dwelling Supplement (ADS) will continue to put off opportunistic new landlords but not those serious about this as a business.
Listen in on the Property Rugby Club Podcast as host Alan Nash is joined by our Managing Director and Mortgage and Protection Consultant, Gregor McMeehan, and Edinburgh Rugby's Neil Cochrane as they discuss all things rugby and property. The podcast can be found here. (Contains link to external site)


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The treachery, or rather the despondency, of his worn-out crew, and the criminal folly of one or two leading spirits among them had left him and his little band of men in a terrible situation—helpless in an icy desert, two thousand five hundred miles away from their native land, and without even a ship to shelter them.
However, the courage of Hatteras was still undaunted. The three men which were left him were the
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best on board his brig, and while they remained he might venture to hope.
After the cheerful, manly words of the captain, the Doctor felt the best thing to be done was to look their prospects fairly in the face, and know the exact state of things. Accordingly, leaving his companions, he stole away alone down to the scene of the explosion.
Of the Forward, the brig that had been so carefully built and had become so dear, not a vestige remained. Shapeless blackened fragments, twisted bars of iron,
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cable ends still smouldering, and here and there in the distance spiral wreaths of smoke, met his eye on all sides. His cabin and all his precious treasures were gone, his books, and instruments, and collections reduced to ashes. As he stood thinking mournfully of his irreparable loss, he was joined by Johnson, who grasped his offered hand in speechless sorrow.
"What's to become of us?" asked the Doctor.
"Who can tell!" was the old sailor's reply.
"Anyhow," said Clawbonny, "do not let us despair! Let us be men!"
"Yes, Mr. Clawbonny, you are right. Now is the time to show our mettle. We are in a bad plight, and how to get out of it, that is the question."
"Poor old brig!" exclaimed the Doctor. "I had grown so attached to her. I loved her as one loves a house where he has spent a life-time."
"Ay! it's strange what a hold those planks and beams get on a fellow's heart."
"And the long-boat—is that burnt?" asked the Doctor.
"No, Mr. Clawbonny. Shandon and his gang have carried it off."
"And the pirogue?"
"Shivered into a thousand pieces? Stop. Do you see those bits of sheet-iron? That is all that remains of it."
"Then we have nothing but the Halkett-boat?"
"Yes, we have that still, thanks to your idea of taking it with you."
"That isn't much," said the Doctor.
"Oh, those base traitors!" exclaimed Johnson. "Heaven punish them as they deserve!"
"Johnson," returned the Doctor, gently, "we must not forget how sorely they have been tried. Only the best remain good in the evil day; few can stand trouble. Let us pity our fellow-sufferers, and not curse them."
For the next few minutes both were silent, and then Johnson asked what had become of the sledge.
"We left it about a mile off," was the reply.
"In charge of Simpson?"
"No, Simpson is dead, poor fellow!"
"Simpson dead!"
"Yes, his strength gave way entirely, and he first sank."
"Poor Simpson! And yet who knows if he isn't rather to be envied?"
"But, for the dead man we have left behind, we have brought back a dying one."
"A dying man?"
"Yes, Captain Altamont."
And in a few words he informed Johnson of their discovery.
"An American!" said Johnson, as the recital was ended.
"Yes, everything goes to prove that. But I wonder what the Porpoise was, and what brought her in these seas?"
"She rushed on to her ruin like the rest of foolhardy adventurers; but, tell me, did you find the coal?"
The Doctor shook his head sadly.
"No coal! not a vestige! No, we did not even get as far as the place mentioned by Sir Edward Belcher."
"Then we have no fuel whatever?" said the old sailor.
"And no provisions?"
"And no ship to make our way back to England?"
It required courage indeed to face these gloomy realities, but, after a moment's silence, Johnson said again—
"Well, at any rate we know exactly how we stand. The first thing to be done now is to make a hut, for we can't stay long exposed to this temperature."
"Yes, we'll soon manage that with Bell's help," replied the Doctor. "Then we must go and find the sledge, and bring back the American, and have a consultation with Hatteras."
"Poor captain," said Johnson, always forgetting his own troubles, "how he must feel it!"
Clawbonny and Bell found Hatteras standing motionless, his arms folded in his usual fashion.