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Income inequality threatens our society
VancouverSun.com – business – Berkeley professor Robert Reich kicks offa provincewide conversation concerning B.C.'s economic future with some dire warnings
September 14, 2013. By Stephen Hume, Vancouver Sun
The Great Recession of 2008 erased $50 trillion in wealth and threw more than 50 million people out of work. The world watched nervously as entire national financial systems teetered at the brink of collapse caused by their own failures of due diligence.
Governments responded to an imminent liquidity crisis with immense publicly-funded bailouts for banks and other financial institutions on a scale unprecedented except for times of war threatening national survival.
Financial institutions responded to this largesse by rewarding their top executives, among the highest earning and most privileged of economic classes, with bonuses while a wave of corporate and government layoffs, personal bankruptcies and household foreclosures commenced. This triggered an eruption of grassroots protest over what was perceived as a symbol of arrogant entitlement among greedy, wealthy elites when $11.2 trillion in household wealth had just evaporated in the U.S., the steepest decline in net worth since records began more than 50 years earlier.
NBC News reported in 2011 that five million homes had been lost, with another three million foreclosures in the offing. Bankruptcy was visiting the middle class to a degree equivalent to the Great Depression that followed the stock market crash of 1929.
Coping strategies Officially, the recession ended in June of 2009. But as Robert Reich points out, much of the jobless and financially struggling working middle class in North America and Europe doesn't feel as though it has ended – because for many, it hasn't.
Furthermore, he says, it won't – unless some dramatic amendments in economic and social policy are made by governments. Continuing with old ways of thinking will only condemn us to a continuing series of similar calamities and, ultimately, social conflict and political instability.
Reich is professor of public policy at the University of California, Berkeley, a former secretary of labour with the Clinton administration and one of the genuinely challenging progressive economic thinkers of the current era.
He will be in Vancouver Oct. 3 for Simon Fraser University's Community Summit, a provincewide conversation about B.C.'s economic future. His keynote at the Orpheum Theatre, sponsored by Vancity, wraps up months of community consultations and conversations and addresses income inequality and the perils it poses both for the economy and for society.
The public will participate in the dialogue – both in person and via the Internet – moderated by the CBC's Anna Maria Tremonti, host of the national public affairs radio show The Current.
Reich makes the case that much of the West has entered a new "Gilded Age" – reminiscent of the era of "robber baron" capitalism – in which the rich amass most of the national wealth while the middle class shrinks and ordinary folk struggle.
Evidence of income inequality would have been a lot worse a lot sooner, he suggests, had not the middle class employed three financial coping strategies to maintain living standards: First, women moved into the workforce in vast numbers so that virtually every household became a two-income family.
Second, everyone began working longer hours – even before the recession, the average American family was working 500 hours a year more than it had in 1979.
Third, householders drew down savings and borrowed against the equity in their homes to maintain their living standards until, on average, they owed 138 per cent of their after-tax income to the financial institutions that are mostly owned and operated by the wealthiest 20 per cent of the population. In Canada, there's been recent concern over older citizens accessing home equity and a Bank of Montreal survey found last August that on average we now owe 165 per cent of after-tax income and that one in four of us lives paycheque to paycheque, with nothing to put aside for future emergencies after paying the bills. Of those who do have a rainy-day fund, two-thirds had to dip into it last year.
New solution needed An independent Associated Press poll last summer reported that as the North American economy globalizes, wealth continues to concentrate among the richest while the ranks of the poor increase and fall deeper into poverty. It discovered four out of five Americans – just about everybody outside the wealthiest 20 per cent – has by now experienced joblessness, near poverty or reliance on welfare at some point in their lives.
At the end of August, more than 11 million Americans were still out of work and looking for a job – officially it's 7.9 million jobless but that number conveniently (for politicians) doesn't include the millions of discouraged unemployed who haven't sought work in the last four weeks.
In Canada, more than a million people were jobless. Employment gains at the end of August were mostly among people over 55. Presumably the recently retired are still returning to marginal jobs to eke out pensions and retirement wealth that withered after 2008.
For Canadian workers aged 25-54, employment gains have been minimal. For Canadian youth, our future middle class, the picture is bleak, with job prospects more or less stagnant and unemployment rates that are double those for mature workers.
Reich doesn't think it has to be this way. He argues that the solution is to grow the purchasing power of the middle class again since it's the real engine of economic growth and vitality.
How to do it? Pay higher not lower wages, distribute income more equitably across the board instead of concentrating it at the top, invest heavily in opportunities for the higher education that will drive the 21st-century economy and grow productivity rather than excluding poorer students or burdening all but the wealthy with grinding debt loads on graduation that generate economic drag.
Reich is a favourite bête noir for those who think the answer lies in greater austerity (on the part of everyone but themselves, of course); who argue for balanced budgets through draconian slashing of public services; who demand lower wages and fewer benefits for workers; and, of course, who advocate tax cuts that benefit mostly the rich and yield higher profits for those wealthy enough to own companies and invest in financial instruments.
But Reich argues that it was precisely this kind of self-interest that brought on the calamity of 2008, which he describes in detail in his 2010 book Aftershock: The Next Economy and America's Future.
More of the same medicine will only make the disease worse, he argues.
"The so-called recovery will be anemic," he writes. "A large percentage of Americans will remain jobless, or their wages will drop. American consumers will not be able to spend enough to keep the recovery going. Without sufficient customers, businesses will not invest enough to fuel a sustained period of growth. Foreign markets, especially China, will not buy enough American exports to make up for the shortfall because they will be concerned about their own unemployment; they will have to fuel their own economies. And the U.S. government will not be able to run deficits large or long enough, to keep money cheap enough for a sufficient length of time to fill the gap."
He suggests its symptoms won't be pleasant: social discontent, labour strife, the increasingly nasty and repressive politics of class warfare and its fallout – all indicators that characterized similar periods of income disparities in the past.
Eventually, even the comfortable rich will come to dislike the consequent social upheaval as much as the beleaguered middle class dislikes its current plight.
So, what to do? Reich has some novel ideas. For example, he advocates a reverse income tax in which middle-class wages would be supplemented by direct payments from the government. He'd pay full-time workers earning $20,000 an additional $15,000 a year, with the supplement declining incrementally up the income scale until it zeroed-out at $50,000.
Wage supplements Those earning $50,000 to $90,000 would have their income tax cut to 10 per cent. Those earning between $90,000 and $160,000 would pay 20 per cent, whatever the income source. He'd offset the costs with higher marginal tax rates on the very wealthy top five per cent of income earners and a universal carbon tax, revenue from which would be directed to wage supplements.
Of course, the wage earners receiving supplements would also pay this carbon tax as prices rose to accommodate it, but he argues that middle-and lower-income Americans would still come out ahead while their increased purchasing power would drive economic growth, create jobs and make it possible for people to live satisfying lives in lower-wage employment.
Reich argues for a radical rethinking of the current system of providing unemployment benefits to tide individuals over during the job loss that accompanies economic downturns. What he advocates is a reemployment system that includes wage insurance coupled to aggressive retraining to increase productivity and to help address industry's shortages in particular sectors. This would mean, for example, that we'd have a rapid response system in place for response to changing job demands in the nimble economies of the digital era.
He thinks student loans should be directly linked to income levels after graduation so that the debt burden ceases to inhibit students from entering lower-paying professions, purchasing homes or starting families – the foundation of a new middle class. Instead of charging students up front for higher education, Reich argues, tuition at public universities, colleges and technical schools should be free, with every graduating student paying a fixed per cent of their taxable income for a fixed period into a fund that finances public institutions and provides reasonably priced loans to those qualified and wanting to attend private schools.
And he has some ideas about Canada, too.
When I contacted the busy professor by email with some specific questions, he courteously took time to answer. What about Prime Minister Stephen Harper's plan to drive the federal debt to the lowest level in 40 years? Good idea, Reich says, provided it's funded by tax increases applied to those who can best afford them and cuts to programs that benefit those who don't need them. Bad idea if it leads to an "austerity trap" in which government spending is cut so much that total demand for goods and services is compromised, thereby slowing economic growth or even triggering another recession. Is the recession of 2008 really over? Technically, yes, but not for those who still can't find a job or whose job now pays less than the job they had before, adjusted for inflation. Even when growth is positive, he says, high unemployment and falling wages can reduce the standard of living for a nation's people.
I tossed one of his own rhetorical questions back at him: "At what point does an economy imperil itself politically, as large numbers conclude the game is rigged against them?" His reply: "I'd say we're uncomfortably close in the United States. Cynicism about major institutions – government, big business, the media, unions – abounds. Politics has become highly polarized. And the entire society seems to have become angrier than I remember it at any time in the last 50 years."
Hmm, cynicism, polarization, anger, contempt for politicians and the political process, the justice system, big media – ring any bells? Everyone benefits So, what are the political implications if wealth continues to concentrate at the very top of society and the middle class continues to shrink, while increasing numbers of university graduates find themselves burdened with oppressive debts but earning low incomes? "It's a recipe for social upheaval. On the bright side,
however, our two countries have distinguished themselves historically by reforming their political and economic systems when necessary, before social upheaval succumbs to rightwing or left-wing populism or violence."
OK, if Reich had one piece of advice for the richest 20 per cent of the population, what would it be? "I'd remind the rich that they would do better with a smaller piece of a rapidly-growing economy than a larger share of one that's barely growing at all, and that they gain enormously from investments in the education, health and well-being of others around them that are not as well off."
And what would be his advice for the poorest 20 per cent? "I'd remind (them) that they have a responsibility to themselves and their families to take advantage of any and every opportunity available to them, and that the game is not yet so rigged that those who are ambitious and hard-working cannot get ahead."
Is he optimistic or pessimistic? "I'm overwhelmingly optimistic. First, I'm old enough to have seen enormous positive social change. Who would have believed, 40 years ago, that women would have as much economic and political power as they do now, that gays would be able to marry, and that a black man would be elected and re-elected president of the United States? Who would have foreseen the progress we've made technologically? Second, I spend much of my time with young people between the ages of 18 and 26, whose energy and idealism are infectious."
What might Canadians learn from the recent American experience? "That inequality of income, wealth and opportunity on the scale we're experiencing it in the United States threatens the economy and democracy."
Canadian lessons How about vice versa for Americans looking to Canada? "It is possible to have a health care system that works reasonably well and covers almost all the population; possible to control the use of firearms without trampling on individual rights; and possible to craft a system of federalism that provides a significant amount of autonomy to individual provinces while maintaining an effective national government."
And a sobering final word on the income gap between comfortable rich and struggling middle class and where it might lead: "Every country is different, of course, but we know that resignation can turn to rebellion when the resignation festers for many years, with a great deal of anger below the surface. These sorts of circumstances are ripe for demagogues who seek to build up their own power by exploiting frustrations and resentments, and directing the anger toward scapegoats that have little or nothing to do with the underlying problems."
Sounds like it will be an interesting evening.
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Tags: economy, featured, globalization, ideology, participation, poverty, standard of living
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welcome to my site - here you'll find everything about my music: past releases, currents works and future projects. If you are a pianist, you can also buy almost all my music sheets directly from this site.
Be sure to subscribe to my monthly newsletter and to check if I'll ever be at your place playing a concert (you can track my live gigs, just check the right column on this site).
Interested in more? Read my full biografy (press kits at the bottom of the page).

subset: commoncrawl


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Piercings Snug
Keeping The Snug Piercing Safe
If you already have a snug piercing then you might of just finished the gruelling healing process and now is the time to get looking for a new BCR or curved barbell. Both types are perfect for the snug, although BCRs and rings are most common for this piercing. All coming in different colours and sizes, picking up the right one can be tricky.
Tick Off Snug Jewellery Features
With the correct snug piercing jewellery size in mind, now you have an even tougher decision to make; the colour! Along with a range of sizes, weve also designed each piercing jewellery piece in a selection of different colours for individuality.
Not stopping there either, each ball closure ring and barbell is available in titanium, surgical steel or plasma gold, so what are you waiting for? Get shopping for your snug jewellery now.


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NEW YORK, N.Y. – There will be a strong helping of duck at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade — "Duck Dynasty," that is.
The reality show sensations will be among the celebrities appearing at the annual event in New York City. They'll join Ariana Grande, Jimmy Fallon and the Roots, Florida Georgia Line, Cirque du Soliel and several other acts on the famous parade floats.
Macy's says more than 8,000 people will participate in the event, and 3.5 million are expected to watch from the sidelines. That doesn't count the millions more who watch it on TV.
This year, Snoopy and Woodstock will be among the balloons, as well as Toothless from "How to Train Your Dragon."


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In the world of advertising, it is a commonly accepted fact that, dollar for dollar, there is no form of advertising more effective than a well crafted, well placed, and well maintained sign. At Burr Signs, we have over 25 years of experience partnering with businesses of all sizes, helping them design and install effective and attractive signs.
With the vast amount of competition that exists today, it is imperative to the success of your business that you maximize every opportunity to advertise your services and products to the consumer. A good sign that is able to engage people instantaneously is the most effective advertising campaign that money can buy, silently and steadily reaching the masses of potential clients and customers, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Let Burr Signs take the guess work and confusion out of your sign design and installation process. With our years of expertise at your service, we will help walk you through every step of the sign design and installation process, from the zoning and regulatory requirements of your local municipality to the final selection of fonts and colors. When you partner with Burr Signs, you are partnering with an expert that is ready to serve.


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Howard County 911 dispatcher helps in baby boy's delivery
Dispatcher coaches dad through delivery process
A Howard County 911 dispatcher helped a couple deliver a baby boy alongside a busy highway Monday morning.
Police said the father called 911 to report his wife was in labor and showing signs that birth was imminent at 9:02 a.m. The couple had stopped on eastbound Route 100 near Interstate 95; they had been en route to Anne Arundel County Medical Center.
"He said, 'I'm on the roadway and my wife's in labor.' He said, 'I think it's pretty close,' and I said, 'Well, I'm going to need you to pull over. I don't want you with your wife literally having a baby while you're still driving,'" Dispatcher Meghan Blizard said.
Blizard calmly coached the father through the delivery process. Through her experience and training, she was able to help him to stay calm while providing delivery instructions.
"I have been on maternity dispatch calls before but this is the first time where they actually had the delivery while I was on the call," said Blizard. "It was very exciting. It's not something that happens every day."
The mother can be heard in the background of the 911 call in obvious discomfort.
"It' a little nerve wracking because really you don't want anything to go wrong," Blizard said. "I said, 'Well, can you see any part of the baby? And he said, 'Yeah, the head's pretty much out.' So that's when we went with the instructions from there."
Meghan continued to give instructions while the paramedics were on the way, but the baby wasn't waiting.
"I looked around me and once we realized that it was an imminent birth all the call takers are standing around me and my supervisor is standing there. My sergeant is standing there. So there was like six people standing around you waiting to find out if it's a boy or a girl, so it was exciting," Blizard said.
It was a boy born at 9:05 a.m. born just three minutes after the call came in. The paramedics arrived seconds later.
"She said, 'Thank you. Have a great day,' and I was like, 'You're the one that gave birth so you try to have a great day too. You made my day better,'" Blizard said.
Blizard wrote on WBAL-TV 11's facebook page, "This was an awesome experience! So glad I was able to be a part of it. Congratulations!! Beautiful baby boy!!"
Blizard has been an emergency dispatcher for four years. Hospital officials said that mom and baby are healthy and happy.


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- Description
- Additional information
All moving parts panels are pre-assembled in the UK by Ace Playgrounds trained staff. The choice of materials used to manufacture each of the panels will vary from design to design, however the quality of the materials will always remain very high.
All exposed fasteners are made from stainless steel, as are all rods, tubes and ball bearings. All clear window and mirror inserts are manufactured from polycarbonate, which is virtually unbreakable and will keep the cogs, bearings and small parts safely away from the children. All small parts including discs, counters, frames and bolt covers are made from HDPE, the same as the main panel.
Additional information
|Product Features
This panel includes: 12 easy to rotate flip-over discs One side of discs with animals and one side blank Stainless steel spinner shafts This panel is available in many different HDPE sheet types including: Densetec Design Panel Densetec XD Densetec PCR


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Financial Awareness
For many students, educational loans are necessary to finance their education. This website is dedicated to providing students and parents with tools and information that can help them to minimize student loan debt and to borrow wisely when loans are the only option.
Click here to check out our Invest in Success Video Series!!


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By Luis Josephus
"Have I been so long time with you, and yet have you not known Me?" – John 14:9
It is quite possible to think you are a "Christian" and not really know the Lord Jesus in a personal way. Many might find that hard to believe, but it happens a lot. I can truthfully say that I had considered myself a Christian for most of my early life. As a boy I went to church regularly, prayed, learned my catechism, confessed my sins to the priest, and took the Holy Communion. But I really wasn't saved. nor really knew the true Jesus of the Bible. I was practicing a religion without having a genuine relationship with God.
Calling yourself a "Christian" doesn't automatically make you a Christian. Today, the term "Christian" has become more of a cultural label than a true testimony that Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, dwells in you.
Until I was spiritually "born again" and personally invited Jesus the Messiah to become my Savior and Lord, I didn't really become a true Christian. When I had this life-altering experience at the age of 29, I didn't really know God. Jesus came to dwell in my heart by the power of the Holy Spirit and my life was transformed for the better. I realized what I had been missing all of my life was a personal encounter with the Living God. I finally understood the words of Jesus to Nicodemus, a religious Jew and leader in his church, that he needed to be born again.
"There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. 'Rabbi,' he said, 'we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.' Jesus replied, 'I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God." – John 3:1-3
Like Nicodemus, you may consider yourself religious, or even believe you are already a Christian, but if you're not sure that you are really spiritually born again, you're probably not really saved. If you're not sure, pray this prayer of faith right now and invite Jesus to become your Savior and Lord of your life:
"Dear Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God who came to die on the cross for the penalty of my sins. I repent of my sins and ask you to forgive me. I invite you today to become my Savior and the Lord of my life. I submit myself in obedience to you and ask you to take full control of me; change me into your image, and help me to be the kind of person you created me to be. Amen."
If you prayed this prayer, email us with your complete postal address and let us know so that we can rejoice with you and welcome you into our Christian family. We will also send you some helpful study materials to enrich your Christian growth.
The Next Step
Now that you have received Jesus Christ as the Savior and Lord of your life, below are some necessary and practical steps you need to take to grow in your development as a Christian.
1. Prayer – It is important for you to spend time talking to God every day through prayer. Thank Him for your salvation, share your thoughts and concerns, and pray for the needs of others.
2. Bible Study – Personal Bible study is the primary way that God speaks to us and instructs us on how to live. As you read the Bible, ask God to show you which passages apply to your life. A good place to start your study is by reading the Gospel of John in its entirety.
3. Join a Good Church – Attend regularly and get involved with other Christians. As you get plugged into a local church, you will receive the teaching, encouragement, support, and fellowship you need to become a mature Christian.
4. Tell Others About Jesus – Share your new faith with others who need to know God. Invite family and friends to go to church with you.
5. Live a Godly Life – Make every effort to live a new life in Christ by practicing holiness, goodness, self-control, perseverance, kindness, and love.
Order Our Free Tract – This entire message by brother Luis Josephus is available in printed form as an evangelistic leaflet that you can use to witness to your friends. Order your free copy by filling out the form below. If you wish to order larger quantities, go to our Resources page.


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In the waning days of the U.S.S.R., Russian animators turned their eyes toward short stories written by science fiction authors like Ray Bradbury, Stephen King, and Robert Silverberg. The results are crude, experimental, and oddly beautiful.
(Via Rhizome)
Ray Bradbury's "There Will Come Soft Rains," directed by Nazim Tulyakhodzayev
"Contact" (Based on Robert Silverberg's "Company Man"), directed by Vladimir Tarasov
Stephen King's "Battleground," directed by Mihal Titov
Ray Bradbury's "Here There Be Tigers," directed by Vladimir Samsonov


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You are currently browsing the tag archive for the 'Ska' tag.
I was browsing YouTube and I came across a ton of Cornerstone videos from Zao24. The videos are a little rough, but there was a lot of footage of a ton of different bands. One of the most crazy videos (embedded below) was Squad Five-O playing "I Don't Want to Change the World…" and it's just insane. I booked a show with Squad in 2002 and this video brought back memories from the band's performance. You should also search for Tooth and Nail videos since the quality is better now that YouTube is doing high quality.


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This wonderful Haunt seems to have all the classic Halloween iconography.
Love it.
Monday, February 28, 2011
This wonderful Haunt seems to have all the classic Halloween iconography.
Posted by Rot at 7:06 AM
Labels: atmosphere, cemetery, foggyfathoms, halloweenforum.com, lighting, pirates, reaper, spider, tombstones, witches, yard haunt, yard haunts
7 comments:
- Anonymous said...
Love, love, love this guy's haunt. Being a newbie, it really gives me something to shoot for.
- February 28, 2011 at 1:30 PM
- Hopsy the beer drinking clown said...
all that AND giant spiders!! Yeah!
- February 28, 2011 at 1:50 PM
- Anonymous said...
thanks for the kind comments about my yard display.ive always been a fan of your awesome creations and inspired by your photography and pics. tim(foggyfathoms)
- February 28, 2011 at 7:43 PM
- STOLLOWEEN said...
Tim does awesome work...a master of the pirate theme.
- February 28, 2011 at 9:27 PM
- Susan (creepyh0ll0w) said...
OMG!!! This is my friend, Tim's yard haunt!
You couldn't have chosen a better yard to feature, he puts his whole heart and soul into his work and deserves a little recognition.
Thank you!
- March 1, 2011 at 9:40 AM
- Rot said...
Cool! : )
Love this haunt...my pleasure.
- March 1, 2011 at 9:46 AM
- wolvesvain said...
Awesome Haunt,well thought out and constructed by a fellow with a true love for the haunt industry.
- March 2, 2011 at 10:51 AM
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LSU approves sports ticket price hikes
The LSU Board of Supervisors has approved a boost in sports ticket and parking prices as requested by Athletic Director Joe Alleva.
A strong majority of board members voted Friday in favor of the proposals from Alleva to make 150 changes to prices for tickets and parking at university sports events. That includes a price hike for the 2014 football season and for the 2015 baseball season.
The changes are estimated to raise about $2.3 million in the current budget year and grow to $4 million a year later. Alleva says his department needs the money to keep up with rising costs for salaries, benefits, travel and athlete scholarships.
The department also stands to gain millions in new revenue from a new TV contract slated to begin next year.
Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news right in your inbox. Click here to sign up!


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Cotard Syndrome is a rare disorder in which the sufferer believes that he/she is:
- dead
- decomposing/putrifying
- missing internal organs
- not actually existing
- immortal
It can be observed in those with schizophrenia, biploar disorder and is often associated with those suffering depression. Keep in mind that though it has relationships with these disorders, it is still a very rare disorder.
Treatment includes treating the underlying disorder (such as schizophrenia).
Hmm. In writing, Cotard Syndrome would bring a whole other dimension to the zombie trends out there, wouldn't it?


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Trian Reduced Its Stake in Heinz, Kraft and Family Dollar
Activist investor Nelson Peltz's Trian Fund Management L.P. reported a $669.4 million position in put options in the SPDR S&P 500 ETF, and reduced stakes in H.J. Heinz & Co., Kraft Foods Inc., Family Dollar Stores Inc. for the third quarter.
In a securities filing on Wednesday, Trian reported holding put options in the SPDR S&P 500 ETF for 4,650,000 shares. A put option allows the owner to sell the underyling security at a specific price within a specified date.
Trian reported holding 106,500 shares of Heinz, compared to 603,250 at the end of June. In Kraft shares, the fund reported holding 8,131,787 shares, compared to 10.5 million shares in the second quarter. In Family Dollar Stores, Trian reported 8,967,564 in the third quarter compared to 9.9 million at the end of June.


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By Randy Harvey
There's a fine line between humility and a lack of confidence. There's also a difference in how some players answer questions from the media and how they play on the field. Coaches like Texas' Mack Brown don't necessarily mind if their players let actions speak for themselves.
Having said that, University of Texas fans should have at least paused when they read the comments from quarterback David Ash in Monday's Chronicle article by correspondent Mike Finger.
"What is leadership?" Ash asked in response to a question, sounding like a philosophy teacher who asks his students to answer, "What is truth?"
"I don't know," Ash added. " When it comes down to it, it's a pretty abstract term."
That's an F or at least a D-minus.
Maybe Ash is correct if you're discussing a poem or art or whether Taylor Swift is country or pop. But on the football field, I'd rather believe that quarterbacks deal in more concrete concepts such as, "Follow me and we'll kick their butts." Maybe that's not exactly how Vince Young or Colt McCoy or earlier versions in Austin like Bobby Layne or Duke Carlisle or James Street would have articulated it, but you have to think that's what their teammates were hearing in the huddle.
Case McCoy sounded less abstract in his comments but seemed OK if he's not THE guy when it comes to leading the team.
"(Quarterback) isn't going to be the position that's going to define this whole team," he said.
True. But I'm sure Longhorns fans would like it if the quarterback at least thought he was going to be the one to define it.


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Romans 13:11-14, 14:17; Mark 13; Luke 18-19
In the Northern Hemisphere of Planet Earth, now is the time of the first harvest. In the old European Celtic Wheel of the Year, the bread for the festival Communion Mass (Lammas, August 1) was made from the first grains – barley, wheat, rye. This year, 2012, the great "bread basket of the world" – midwestern United States – has been in drought for months. The winter wheat crop was good. But the summer corn and soybean crops are gone.
Economic uncertainty is a symptom; the disease is planet-wide: ecological breakdown, climate change, "global warming." Denying the facts of climate change has been a priority for right-wing business and Christian fundamentalist leaders. Unlimited sums of money have been poured into research that surely would destroy the credibility of left-wing "socialists" determined to destroy the "freedom" of the people to make all the money they want to make; until Richard Muller, professor of physics of UC Berkeley took his "no strings attached half-million bucks" from the Koch Brothers and discovered the scientists were right – not only about climate change, but the fact that humans are the cause. What really fries the right is that Prof. Muller was a climate change skeptic.
One of the prophets of our time is the Rev. Dr. Matthew Fox. Fox is the founder of a theology called Creation Spirituality, which has at its core the revolutionary conviction that the Universe and everything in it is an original blessing, not an original sin. At a recent conference sponsored by Evolve Chesapeake (a Creation Spirituality community), Fox discussed the necessity for "awakening imagination for transformation" – a mouthful of words that boils down to putting human creativity to work to solve the problem. After all, as Professor Muller says, human creativity got us into this ecological mess and human creativity can get us out of it.
Fox suggests that super-capitalism – the hegemony of the very wealthy – runs on the suppression of our own creativity – i.e., wilful ignorance. Wilful ignorance prompted Marie Antoinette to wonder why – if they don't have bread– the people can't eat cake instead? Now as then, the economic precariousness of the working classes has not yet percolated up through the layers of protective investments to affect the well-being of the wealthy. In a New York Times Op ed, "Corn for Food, Not Fuel," Colin A. Carter and Henry I. Miller (July 30, 2012) write:
By suspending renewable-fuel standards that were unwise from the start, the Environmental Protection Agency could divert vast amounts of corn from inefficient ethanol production back into the food chain, where market forces and common sense dictate it should go. The drought has now parched about 60 percent of the contiguous 48 states. As a result, global food prices are rising steeply. Corn futures prices on the Chicago exchange have risen about 60 percent since mid-June, hitting record levels, and other grains such as wheat and soybeans are also sharply higher. Livestock and dairy product prices will inevitably follow. . . . The price of corn is a critical variable in the world food equation, and food markets are on edge because American corn supplies are plummeting. The combination of the drought and American ethanol policy will lead in many parts of the world to widespread inflation, more hunger, less food security, slower economic growth and political instability, especially in poor countries.
"Who cares?" says the ghost of the clueless Marie Antoinette. But inevitably, the shortage of cake (never mind the absence of bread) will become apparent, even to those who thought that the higher the price the greater the profit for them.
The writer of the Gospel of Luke reports a parable told by Jesus that has stumped the faithful for centuries. But the meaning is perhaps not so mysterious, despite the ending – which may or may not be an addition supplied by Luke. At the end of the parable of the money in trust, in which a landowner returns to find that one of his slaves had been too afraid of the master's ruthlessness to risk investing the money entrusted to him, the boss says "I'm telling you, to everyone who has, more will be given and from those who don't have, even what they do have will be taken away." He then rewards his corporate allies ten-fold, and orders the execution of the members of the board who opposed his plan to merge with another company ( Luke 19:12-27). Putting the parable in the current context, suppose your CEO, a known crook whom everyone hates, gives you a million dollars to invest in corn futures and ethanol production. The only way to maintain your livelihood may be to bury the money in the atrium garden. You won't get a raise – your colleagues who play the game will get their reward – but you will at least save your life. Or, as in the parable of the Shrewd Manager, if your boss is threatening to fire you because the profit margin isn't satisfying the shareholders, make side-bets that pay off the creditors and save the business (Luke 16:1-8).
Jesus' parables tell us how use our creativity to subvert the putative rulers of Earth. Jesus got into trouble for suggesting that the way to assure that all of the people have food to eat is to share whatever they have. And don't assume that your traditional enemy has no soul. The very powers that are supposed to have your best interest at heart will pass you by on the other side of the road while you die in the ditch ("The Good Samaritan" Luke 10:30-35). To love your enemies is to have no enemies.
The much-misunderstood and dismissed Apostle Paul wrote in the first century:
I don't have to tell you that we are living in the most decisive moment in human history. The hour has already passed for you to be roused from your sleep, because the time of ultimate fulfillment is nearer now than when we first put our unconditional confidence and trust in God. The night is almost gone, the day is almost here. Let us rid ourselves of the preoccupations of the darkness and clothe ourselves with the armor of light. Let us conduct ourselves in ways befitting those who live in the full light of day, not in gluttony and drunkenness, now in promiscuous sexual behavior nor in uninhibited self-indulgence, not in contentiousness and envy. But adopt the manner of life of our lord, Jesus, God's Anointed, and make no concession to the lifestyle of this age and its pursuit of self-gratification. . . . For the empire of God is not about food and drink, but it is about the integrity and peace and joy that comes through God's presence and power among us. Romans 13:11-14, 14:17. The Authentic Letters of Paul (Polebridge Press, 2010).
The first step is to acknowledge the depth of the sin, but what does this mean in a secular world? Paul is not talking about petty trespass, like making love before marriage, or eating too much at a party. Paul is not suggesting that the answer is easy piety – going to church, giving money to charity, volunteering at the soup kitchen. When Paul talks about making no concession to the lifestyle of this age, he's not implying the internet is evil, or technology is de-humanizing, or that abortion, divorce, and contraception will send you to hell. That's the easy stuff. What's not so easy is the integrity that comes through the presence and power of God.
The presence and power of God is radical fairness – distributive justice-compassion. The only way to achieve that is through the radical abandonment of self-interest. In Paul's words, "no concession to the lifestyle of this age and its pursuit of self-gratification." This is the "inner work" that Matthew Fox calls the via negativa. To do this inner work means acknowledging and owning the conditions that lead to fear for survival, greed, war, and the destruction of the Planet. That "inner work" results in a transformation of attitude that then leads to creative ways to act with distributive justice-compassion – to a share world instead of a greed world.
In a share world, when corn is lost to drought, what is saved is not dedicated to conversion into fuel, but used for food. In a share world, mountaintops are not destroyed to save the expense of deep-mining for coal. In a share world, land and water are not destroyed for short-term economic gain. Paul claims that Jesus "made no concession to the lifestyle of this age and its pursuit of self-gratification." Indeed, Jesus got into major trouble for suggesting that while Cesar may have thought he was master of the universe, he in fact owned nothing but the coin with his name on it. "God" owns the earth and everything in it.
Apocalypticism is on the rise, whether among religious fundamentalists or atheists. For the religious – especially Christian fundamentalists – the end times have never seemed more imminent. Even though the "little apocalypse" in the Gospel of Mark is clearly about the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in 66-70, the language has lent itself to every political, social, economic, and ecological disaster of the past two millennia of the common era. "Wars and rumors of wars"; earthquakes, famines, persecutions, wild weather; and of course "phony messiahs and phony prophets will show up and they'll provide signs and omens in an attempt to deceive, if possible, the chosen people." Mark 13:22, The Complete Gospels (Polebridge Press, 2010).
One effective way to deceive the people is to suggest that misfortune is its own fault. So poverty is the fault of the poor; drug and alcohol addiction are caused by moral weakness; unemployment is the result of laziness. The result is denial on a global scale, across all social and economic strata of the seriousness and depth of what we are facing as a species. Scientists are telling us that we have the ability to choose whether to listen to the primitive parts of our brains and respond to fear, or to use the intuitive, creative parts of our brains to assure that we continue to evolve. Indeed we are at a point where we can watch over our own evolution – choice not chance.
Matthew Fox reminds us that there is really only one question: How to love the world. Pessimism, cynicism, and despair teach us how not to love the world. These are sins that lead us – in Paul's updated words – to make concessions to "the lifestyle of the age and its pursuit of self-gratification." The world is heavily invested in denial. Denial is the choice to be deliberately ignorant of conditions that will overtake us in the end if we do not wake up.
Please pass the bread.


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Welcome to the COGenWeb Project
Formation of the State of Colorado
Jefferson Territory was voted by the residents in 1859 but was never recognized by Congress. Because of this, some of the counties have organization dates and records prior to 28 February 1861 when the Territory of Colorado was finally recognized.
The first territorial assembly created the first seventeen counties in September 1861. These were Arapahoe, Boulder, Clear Creek, Costilla, Douglas, El Paso, Fremont, Gilpin, Guadalupe (later named Conejos), Huerfano, Jefferson, Lake, Larimer, Park, Pueblo, Summit and Weld.
On August 1, 1876 (28 days after the Centennial of the United States and 15 years after the territory was first formed), Colorado became the 38th state in the Union, earning it the nickname, "The Centennial State." Colorado is also known as "Colorful Colorado" and "The Heart of the Rockies."
The boundary lines of the state create
an almost perfect rectangle, measuring approximately 387 miles from
east to west and 276 miles from north to south and covering 104,247
square miles, including 450 square miles of bodies of water.
Colorado is the eighth largest state when measured in square miles
More Colorado history here.
COGenWeb Resources:
In addition to our county sites, you will find a wealth of information right here. Begin your journey by checking out our "Site Directory" on the left sidebar or by going directly to our "Guide to Researching your Ancestors in Colorado" page. New information is added all the time, so please be sure to check back often.
Are you interested in adopting one of our available counties? Click here for a full list.
|Co-State Coordinator
|Co-State Coordinator
|Gail Meyer Kilgore
|Colleen Pustola
Assist. Coordinator
|Assist. Coordinator
|Michael Irwin
|Colleen Pustola


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Perfecto Products, Inc., is a family owned company manufacturing specialty tools for plumbers and the plumbing trades designed and built in the USA since 1957. Our tools are rugged and sturdy, to provide many years of reliable operation. Browse our Online Catalog for more information on our product line.
Ask your favorite plumbing jobber for our tools, try one of the jobbers listed below, or find a dealer near you with our Dealer Locator.


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Rex makes inroads with Shane.
Brody puts Jessica at ease when he tells her what Tess did to him.
Jared and Natalie have their hands full watching Bree and Chloe.
Family and friends gather to mourn the loss of Starr's baby as Andrew presides over her funeral.
Jessica has a big reaction to the news of Hope's funeral.
Marty reaches out to Cole (Brandon Buddy, pictured).
Nora challenges Todd to do right by Marty.
Andrew gives Marty insight to her past.
Lola asks Langston to hide her so she won't be deported.
Tea's going to help Todd whether he likes it or not.
Vanessa has a surprising proposition for Cristian.
Nora throws the book at Todd.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
OLTL: Such a Tease!
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I upgraded to 13.04, but now I have two Ubuntu One cloud icons in my tray. Can someone explain why and help me remove one of them?
See what I mean?
EDIT: The difference isn't so clear as "general U1 vs. U1Music" for me, but even if it were, why does that require two identical icons? Here are the menu items for my two icons:
- Open Ubuntu One Folder
- Launch Ubuntu One Website
- (greyed out) Synchronization complete
- (greyed out) Your files are up to date
- (greyed out) Free space: 24.9 GiB
- Open Control Panel
- (greyed out) Recently Published Files
- Disconnect
- Ubuntu One (with an On/Off toggle switch)
- Open Ubuntu One
- Open the Ubuntu One Folder
- Share a File
- Go to the Ubuntu One Website
- Current and Recent Transfers
- Get More Space
- Get Help on the Web


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Dead horses on Whiteman Hill!
Has anyone noticed a woman who was banned (in Ohio) from having anymore animals and she moves to West Virginia only to acquire more horses and now, after getting these animals, they(at least 4-5 that I was made aware of) are found dead, starved and kept in a barn where there is no mucking done for almost a year and she has these poor creatures in there?! Is there anyone out on Whiteman Hill that has noticed this? The sheriff and police have been asked to help but are not completely doing everything they need to to get this woman fined, prosecuted, etc. and there are even rescues that will help, but b/c the law apparently are not completing their part in getting a warrant and seizure, these animals suffer and die! WHY???????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Roomy and sophisticated.
Compact Cars
Editor: New Car Test Drive
$14,750 Base Price MSRP
$16,165 As Tested MSRP
Model Lineup: Nissan Sentra 2.0 ($15,750); 2.0 S ($15,980 manual, $16,780 CVT); 2.0 SL ($18,680); SE-R ($19,680); SE-R Spec V ($20,180)
Standard Engine: 2.5-liter dohc 16-valve inline 4
Engine Options: 140-hp 2.0-liter inline-4; 177-hp 2.5-liter inline-4; 200-hp 2.5-liter inline-4
Standard Transmission: 6-speed manual
Transmission Options: 6-speed manual; CVT
Basic Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles
Assembled In: Aguascaliente, Mexico
Model Tested MSRP: Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V ($20,180)
Standard Equipment: cloth upholstery, air conditioning, interior air filter, tilt steering wheel, four-way adjustable manual front seats with height adjustment, power windows, power door locks, power exterior mirrors, remote keyless entry, AM/FM/CD stereo with six speakers, auxiliary audio input jack, cruise control, Bluetooth hands-free cell phone link, leather-wrapped steering wheel with illuminated audio controls, vehicle information display, theft-deterrent system, performance suspension, rear spoiler, W-rated P225/45R17 summer tires on alloy wheels
Options As Tested: Sunroof package ($750) with sunroof and illuminated visor mirrors
Standard Safety Equipment: dual-stage frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, full curtain airbags; active front seat headrests, tire pressure monitoring system
Optional Safety Equipment: ABS with EBDDestination Charge: $625
The Sentra may be classified as a compact, but it's not that small. The truly small cars are subcompacts: Nissan Versa, Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit. The Sentra is larger and roomier than those cars and competes with compacts such as the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic. Sentra comes only as a four-door sedan (no hatchback is offered) and all models are front-wheel drive.
This latest-generation Sentra was designed for American buyers. As a result, the cabin is spacious and it's finished like a more expensive car, with wonderfully supportive seats in cloth or leather. The 60/40 split rear seat folds flat, opening up the trunk space and creating a large flat cargo area. It's enough space for two to sleep back there, or haul long items.
High-performance Sentra SE-R and SE-R Spec V models have joined the lineup for 2008. The high-performance Sentra SE-R and the higher performance SE-R Spec V feature a 2.5-liter four-cylinder tuned to 177 horsepower and 200 horsepower respectively. These SE-R models have suspension modifications for sharper handling. The SE-R models have more power and better handling, but they're easy to live with and offer all the advantages of the standard Sentra.
Sentra 2.0 models come with an aluminum 2.0-liter engine and a choice between a wonderful six-speed manual gearbox or a CVT continuously variable automatic transmission. These cars are good values. They're roomy inside, the engine is modern and competitive, and the chassis provides good handling and a comfortable ride. Sentras with the 2.0-liter engine are EPA rated at 25/33 mpg City/Highway with the CVT, 24/31 mpg with the six-speed manual. Nissan is a leader in CVT, or continuously variable transmission, design, and we've been happy with them.
For 2008, there are no significant changes to the Sentra 2.0-liter models.
The 2008 Nissan Sentra comes in five models: 2.0, 2.0 S, 2.0 SL, SE-R, and SE-R Spec V.
Sentra 2.0 models come with Nissan's 2.0-liter four-cylinder aluminum engine, making 140 horsepower and 147 pound-feet of torque. The standard transmission in the 2.0 and 2.0 S is a sporty six-speed manual, but a high-tech and fuel-efficient Nissan Xtronic CVT is available ($800); this Continuously Variable Transmission comes standard on the 2.0 SL.
Sentra 2.0 ($15,750) comes with cloth seats, air conditioning, interior air filter, tilt steering wheel, remote manual mirrors, four-way adjustable manual front seats, 60/40 split fold-down rear seats, power windows, power door locks, electric power steering, AM/FM/CD stereo with four speakers, auxiliary audio input jack, theft-deterrent system, and P205/60R15 tires on steel wheels with wheel covers. Anti-lock brakes are optional ($250). A Sunroof package ($750) includes a sunroof and illuminated visor mirrors. Alloy wheels are available ($350).
The 2.0 S ($15,980) adds a height adjustment for the driver's seat, power exterior mirrors, remote keyless entry, cruise control, illuminated steering wheel audio controls, a six-speaker sound system, vehicle information display, and P205/55R16 tires. ABS with electronic brake-force distribution is newly standard for 2008. The 2.0 S is also available with the CVT ($16,780), which adds Nissan's Intelligent Key keyless access and ignition. A Convenience package ($650 manual, $850 CVT) for the 2.0 S includes a leather-wrapped steering wheel, Bluetooth wireless cell phone link, overhead CD storage, power trunk release, and Nissan's Divide-n-Hide trunk with a hidden storage compartment, cargo nets and hooks. For 2008, ABS with electronic brake-force distribution is standard. Available for 2.0 S models and above is a Rockford Fosgate Audio package ($750) with a 340-watt Rockford Fosgate AM/FM radio with six-disc CD/MP3 changer and eight speakers. XM Satellite Radio ($150) is optional. A rear deck lid spoiler ($210) is optional for all 2.0 models.
The 2.0 SL ($18,680) gets leather upholstery, leather-wrapped steering wheel, Intelligent Key, Bluetooth hands-free cell phone link, XM satellite radio with three months of service, and alloy wheels. The Divide-n-Hide trunk is optional ($150).
The SE-R ($19,680) features a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that makes 177 hp and 172 pound-feet of torque, and it is mated to a CVT. The SE-R comes with a sports suspension, a rear spoiler and P225/45R17 all-season tires. Intelligent Key ($250) and XM ($150) are optional. The SE-R is available with a limited-slip differential ($400).
The SE-R Spec V ($20,180) comes with the 2.5-liter tuned to produce 200 hp and 180 pound-feet of torque, and it links to a six-speed manual gearbox. The SE-R Spec V sports a performance suspension and W-rated P225/45R17 summer tires. It deletes the folding rear seat. XM Satellite Radio ($150) is optional.
Safety equipment is extensive on all models, including dual-stage front airbags, front side airbags, full length curtain airbags, active front seat headrests, and a tire-pressure monitor. Antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution are standard on all but the 2.0 S, where they are optional. Electronic stability control isn't available.
Walk Around
The Sentra is built on Nissan's C-platform which is larger than the subcompact Versa's B-platform and smaller the midsize Altima's D-platform. The current-generation Sentra is considerably larger than the pre-2007 model. From every angle, it looks like the latest-generation Nissans. With its crisp character lines, the Sentra resembles a scaled down Altima.
The Sentra is offered only as a four-door sedan. Hatchback buyers will want to look elsewhere, including to the smaller Versa.
Designers paid special attention to the grille, front fascia, big trapezoidal halogen headlamps, and steeply raked windshield. The short front overhang lends a sporty look.
Along the sides, only widened bodywork around the wheels breaks up the clean, attractive doors and quarter panels. A character line rises from the front door back to a tall trunk, giving the Sentra a bit of a rake. Large door openings make it easy to climb in and out, and a high, distinctive rear deck offers ample trunk space.
The contemporary Nissan look continues at the rear, where the high trunklid is flanked by white and red taillights that have a Nissan family look. The long roof line resolves itself in a short trunklid.
Sentra SE-R models have more aggressive front and rear fascias, side sill extensions that visually lower the car, a rear spoiler, and beefy, low-profile 17-tires on alloy wheels.
No matter what Sentra you choose, you'll make no compromises in looks, comfort, safety or style, to have this inexpensive compact car in your driveway.
The Nissan Sentra is a good choice for drivers who practically live out of their cars. For example, the locking glovebox is deep enough to hold a laptop computer. There is also an available integrated removable CD holder on the headliner above the driver's sun visor. The front of the center console has a tray for items such as cell phones, as well as two cupholders that are adjustable for 20-ounce bottles or 32-ounce mega cups. Pockets with see-through netting are provided on the backs of the front seats for passengers' cell phones and iPods.
With 97.4 cubic feet of cabin space, the Sentra offers more room than the Mazda3, Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, and Chevy Cobalt, in that order.
The trunk measures 13.1 cubic feet (12.0 cubic feet for the SE-R Spec V). The Cobalt offers 13.9 cubic feet. The Sentra offers the simple but clever Divide-N-Hide trunk. The trunk is so deep that it can accept a false folding back, creating a secret space about 20 inches wide, just behind the rear seat.
For cargo space, the 60/40 split rear seat can be folded flat, to open up the space into the trunk (thanks to a structural bulkhead, the SE-R Spec V lacks the folding seat). There's no problem fitting a bicycle or maybe two back there, through the trunk; two friendly Echo Boomers could even sleep back there.
We've spent time with a bare-bones Sentra 2.0 with cloth seats, a fully equipped 2.0 SL with leather, and a SE-R Spec V with its sport seats.
We loved the supportive feel of the cloth seats; they embrace your back like a good hug, and are neither too firm nor too soft. The available leather is plush for a compact car; there's no reason to ride in a penalty box just because you're trying to save gas. The SE-R's sport seats are better bolstered and have a grippy fabric to keep the driver in place during enthusiastic cornering. They also get more flair, with special stitching and red seat belts on the Spec V.
The four-speaker sound system in the 2.0 was okay, while the eight-speaker Rockford Fosgate audio system with in-dash 6CD in the 2.0 SL was great.
A long wheelbase with short overhangs results in agreeable legroom for the rear seat passengers. The back seats are relatively flat, however, so they won't be comfortable for long trips.
The instrument panel might be the nicest aspect of the interior. Again, it is very stylish, and functional, too. The instruments are sharp, the controls easy to operate, and the center stack features a strong-looking shift lever rising out at a 45-degree angle. The trim around it all is a handsome flat silver. SE-R models get two additional gauges at the top of the center stack, one for oil pressure and one that displays acceleration and deceleration g forces.
Driving Impressions
The Nissan Sentra holds its own in a world of big vehicles. The base 2.0-liter engine puts the Sentra on par with other high-tech four-cylinder engines. Boasting an aluminum block and head, continuously variable valve timing, and electronic fuel injection, the 2.0-liter makes 140 horsepower (same as the '08 Honda Civic, eight hp more than the Toyota Corolla and eight hp less than the Mazda3). However, the real story is its strong torque: with 147 pound-feet, it beats those other cars. Torque is important because it's needed for acceleration from lower rpm, such as when accelerating from an intersection or up a steep grade. Sentra develops 132 pound-feet of torque at just 2400 rpm, so it feels quite powerful around town and in traffic.
Our Sentra 2.0 zoomed up freeway on-ramps, and felt like it belonged in the fast lane. It ran in 80-mph Northern California traffic with ease and had no trouble cruising at 90. The engine wasn't loud and didn't feel strained at that pace, although under full-throttle acceleration it was a bit noisy from 5000 rpm up to its redline of 6500.
Fuel economy for a Sentra with the 2.0-liter engine is an EPA-rated 25/33 mpg City/Highway with the CVT transmission, and 24/31 mpg with the six-speed manual.
The CVT (continuously variable transmission) is now in its third generation, and the technology has improved greatly. The main benefit with a CVT is better gas mileage, a result of less internal friction. With only two ranges, high and low, it's smoother because there's less shifting, though the sound is odd, like the car is winding up like a snowmobile. Floor the gas pedal and the Sentra surges ahead aggressively.
The Sentra SE-R Spec V feels docile in traffic, in spite of the performance from its 200-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder. It makes its best power near redline, from 6600-7000 rpm, so you need to flog it to get the most out of it. It doesn't feel high-strung, however. It's easy to live with and provides that extra bit of oomph when you want to play. The Spec V comes with an easy-shifting six-speed manual transmission that isn't especially sporty. The clutch works with ease, too, making the Spec V feel more like an everyday driver than a sport compact.
The suspension on all Sentras is an independent configuration in front, with a torsion beam in the rear, a compact design with separate shocks and coil springs that allows more room for the trunk that's above it. In its base form, it's forgiving. In its most aggressive state, in the SE-R Spec V (with higher rate springs, shocks and bushings), it's firm in a quality kind of way, yet never harsh or uncomfortable. It feels rugged and inspires confidence, out there in the cruel world of pockmarked roads. It even felt comfortable over a series of Chicago potholes. We haven't driven the standard SE-R, but we suspect it is also quite comfortable.
We had the opportunity to drive the SE-R Spec V at the fast 4.0-mile Road America circuit near Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. We found it to be fun but not razor sharp. The engine revved predictably, without climbing too quickly to keep up with gear shifts. The brakes didn't fade during our high-speed lap, and the handling gave nice feedback but didn't feel as agile as a Subaru WRX STi or Mitsubishi Evo X.
We also thrashed it around an autocross course. The engine provided good power out of corners, so much so that we spun the inside wheel. We would recommend the optional limited-slip differential for anyone wanting to do parking lot autocrosses or other hard driving in their Spec V. The car leaned more in quick, sharp turns than an autocrosser would like, and wasn't as sharp as the likes of a Mini Cooper S, BMW 1 Series, or even a Chevrolet Cobalt SS. Overall, when it comes to ride and handling, we'd liken the Spec V to the Honda Civic Si: They're both comfortable road cars, with decent handling that provides a lot of feedba
The Nissan Sentra is a solid compact sedan that gets good gas mileage and offers a great value. The cabin is roomy and comfortable with nice seats and an attractive instrument panel. Sentra offers two excellent engines and a fine, forgiving chassis. The SE-R Spec V provides driving fun without being harsh or high strung. Nissan nailed this one.
NewCarTestDrive.com correspondent Sam Moses reported from San Francisco, with Kirk Bell reporting from Chicago.
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Congressman Peter King, who serves as Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, tells TODAY's Matt Lauer that the FBI had an "absolute obligation to tell the president" as soon as General Petraeus' name came up in the agency's investigation.
The chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee says she will seek testimony from former CIA Director David Petraeus, who resigned Friday as CIA director after acknowledging an extramarital affair, about the September attack on the consulate in Benghazi, Libya, that left four Americans dead.
"I have no doubt now that we will need to talk with David Petraeus and we will likely do that in closed session. But it will be done one way or another," Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., told NBC News' Andrea Mitchell on Monday.
Feinstein also she also may subpoena reports on a trip Petraeus took to Libya in the last year.
"I believe that Director Petraeus made a trip to the region shortly before this (Petraeus affair) became public," Feinstein said on "Andrea Mitchell Reports." "We have asked to see the trip report. One person tells me he's read it, and then we try to get it and they tell me it hasn't been done. That's unacceptable."
"It may have some very relevant information to what happened in Benghazi," Feinstein said.
A week and a half ago, Petraeus went to Tripoli and conducted a personal inquiry into the Benghazi attack, NBC News has confirmed.
Petraeus has not commented on his trip to Benghazi last month.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., tells NBC's Andrea Mitchell that "a decision was made somewhere not to brief" the Senate Intelligence Committee about on the Petraeus affair and compares the scandal to "peeling an onion," saying "every day another peel comes off," revealing "a new dimension"
Petraeus revelation began as cyber-harassment probe
Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, information management officer Sean Smith and security personnel Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty were killed in the Benghazi attack on Sept. 11-12.
Petraeus, a decorated four-star general who received widespread praise for the surge strategy that helped stabilize the insurgency in Iraq, resigned as CIA director on Friday, citing an extramarital affair.
Numerous federal government officials have told NBC News that the married general had a relationship with his biographer, Paula Broadwell, 40, who authored "All In," a book about Petraeus' education.
Feinstein said she received no advance notice of Petraeus' resignation or the affair.
The affair came to light after an FBI investigation into harassing emails sent to a family friend of Petraeus, Jill Kelley, sources have told NBC News. The investigation traced the emails to Broadwell, who revealed the affair. Petraeus also admitted the affair.
The FBI determined that no criminal charges would be filed as a result of the investigation.
Lawmakers question timing of Petraeus resignation
But now, Feinstein has linked the Petraeus affair with another controversy within the Obama administration – the attack on the Benghazi diplomatic mission in Libya.
The Senate Intelligence committee planned to start closed-door hearings on the Benghazi attack on Thursday with further proceedings expected to follow. Petraeus had been expected to testify at the hearings before he resigned as CIA director.
Republican lawmakers and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney have criticized the administration's evolving explanation of what triggered the Benghazi attack. Officials early on said it was a spontaneous reaction during a protest about an anti-Islamic film. Later, it was termed a planned terrorist attack.
Questions have also been raised about whether the consulate had adequate security and whether the State Department responded appropriately to requests for more protection.
Feinstein also questioned Broadwell's role as Petraeus' biographer.
"It's a rather confused situation because at one point she was an Army reservist doing intelligence-related work, at the same time she was doing a journalist's work, a biography on David Petraeus," Feinstein said. "It seems to me these two things don't go together, it seems to me someone who becomes active military should not be writing a book."
More content from NBCNews.com:
- Source: FBI agent's call didn't affect Petraeus probe
- Red Cross pushes back on Sandy, calls response 'near flawless'
- Woman fired over racist anti-Obama Facebok post
- Obama lays wreath, honors nation's veterans
- Earthquake rattles eastern Kentucky
- Video: Sandy victims call ordeal 'a horror movie'
Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook


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The best is getting better. MLB 14 The Show for the PlayStation®4 system will feature the most amazing visuals ever seen in a baseball video game. The stadiums are better. Boasting up to 4x the fidelity as their PS3 counterparts, stadiums will come to life like never before. Improved physics and player animations make the game more lifelike than ever.
So step up to the plate, to the greatest sport ever played. Which just got better. Welcome to The Show.
"PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
PS4 is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball trademarks and copyrights are used with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc., and MLB Advanced Media, L.P., as applicable. Visit MLB.com and MiLB.com. © MLBPA-Official Licensee, Major League Baseball Players Association. Visit www.MLBPLAYERS.com, the Players Choice on the web. The Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum trademarks and copyrights are used with permission of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc., as applicable. Visit the official website of the Hall of Fame at BaseballHall.org. © 2013 Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC. Blu-ray Disc™, Blu-ray™, and the logos are trademarks of the Blu-ray Disc Association. The Sony Computer Entertainment logo is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation. "PlayStation", the "PS" Family logo and "DUALSHOCK" are registered trademarks and "PS3" and "PS4" are trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.


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Anal or rectal prolapse is a condition in which one or more layers of the cat's rectum are displaced through the anus, the opening which allows digestive waste to leave the body. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including disorders of the digestive, urinary, or genital systems.
Although cats of any gender, age, or breed may be affected by this disorder, the Manx cat appears to be more prone to the conditions. If you would like to learn how these disorders affect dogs, please visit this page in the PetMD health library.
Symptoms and Types
Rectal prolapse occurs when all layers of the anal/rectal tissue, along with the rectal lining, protrude through the external anal opening. The protrusion of the rectal lining through the external anal opening, meanwhile, is solely referred to as anal prolapse.
Cats with rectal prolapse will demonstrate persistent straining while passing stool (or defecating). In an incomplete prolapse, a small portion of the lining of the rectum will be visible during excretion, after which it will subside. In a complete prolapse, there will be a persistent mass of tissue protruding from the cat's anus. In the chronic stages of complete prolapse, this tissue might be black or blue in appearance.
A cat may develop rectal or anal prolapse if it strains while passing stool, or if it undergoes surgery to the lower digestive organs. Other contributing factors for these two conditions include:
- Disorders of the digestive system that cause diarrhea, straining while passing stools, presence of worms or other parasites in the digestive system, and inflammation of the small or large intestines
- Disorders of the urinary and genital systems, such as inflammation or enlargement of the prostate, inflammation of the bladder, urinary stones, and abnormal labor or birthing process
- Chronic constipation, presence of sac-like protrusions in the intestine, rectal or anal tumors, or deviation of the rectum from its usual position
Your veterinarian will perform a complete physical examination of your cat, including a chemical blood profile and a complete blood count. The results will usually return normal, though there may be high levels of white blood cells, similar to those seen when an infection is present. A test of stools samples may reveal the presence of parasites.
Further diagnostic procedures include X-rays or ultrasounds of the abdominal area, which may demonstrate a large prostate, foreign bodies, thickening of the bladder walls, or kidney stones.
Your doctor will also conduct a manual rectal examination to feel for displaced tissue masses. During pathological examination of the tissue (for biopsy), it may appear swollen, and will ooze red blood when incised. The tissue, if dead, appears dark purple or black and oozes bluish blood when incised.


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http://www.flickr.com/photos/54966981@N ... 075495983/
My ancient category, uploaded and touched up.
This is my creation. I think mine is miscellaneous because I don't know the categories. Mine is of Mount Olympus, the Greek God's city in a cloud with the statue of the Gods (just the main three). Blue = Poseidon, God of the sea. White = Zeus, God of the sky. Black = Hades, God of the underworld. So here is my creation
Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 4 guests


text:
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FREE standard ground shipping on online patio items of $499 or more (excluding taxes) made at HomeDepot.com between 1/1/13-12/31/14 only. See product descriptions for free shipping eligibility. Not valid on certain items containing weight and/or size shipping restrictions (details in item descriptions). We currently ship only to street addresses in the 48 contiguous United States. We cannot ship to P.O. Boxes, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam or US Virgin Islands. Please allow 5-10 business days for ground delivery. Void where prohibited. ©2013 Homer TL C, Inc. All rights reserved.


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Well, here it is. My last dress. And yes, it is, in the tradition of the old couture shows, a wedding dress. Fabric, lace, ruffles and pearls in a sophisticated silhouette for my finale. I am both happy and sad that my year is complete. I've enjoyed nearly every moment---admittedly, there were times I didn't want to make a dress. In general, though, once I started, I enjoyed the creative process. What have I learned from this endeavor? 1.) I like fabric, but using paper as fabric was a new pleasure for me. 2.) I found it very difficult to not accept suggestions from others. I like to please, but I wanted this to be entirely my own creativity. 3.) The more you do, the more ideas you have. 4.) Recognition and praise is addicting and terrifying. 5.) It is impossible to me to work neatly. 6.) Waists really make dresses look good! 7.) A little glitz makes me very happy. 8.) Every dress idea produced ideas for other projects. I intend to document those project on this blog as this next year unfolds. 9.) 366 is a lot of little dresses! and 10.) Blogging about a commitment is an excellent motivator.
For all of you who have followed along for the year, thank you. I appreciate all those page views, and if you've made comments, please know that they meant the world to me. Eileen, thank you for sending me the care package of ribbons when I realized I'd left my collection at home. Sandy, thank you for your dialog with me about how I would display and share them when I finished, and for inviting me to come and speak at your group. Anticipating that presentation will keep me from feeling bereft at the loss of the daily "happy hour." And mostly important, thank you, Jeff, for putting up with the mess, and supporting me 100% all year long. Never did you groan or complain about the money or the effort. Thank you everyone!
365 Dresses
My year long creative journey
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Dress #365 Black Roses
This is one of my favorite looks---all the interest in the skirt fabric with a plain black sweater. It is more unexpected than the usual plain black skirt or pants with the fancy top. A very fancy ribbon from the scrapbooking world, black felt for the sweater, and a ribbon belt. The necklace is some chunky embroidery thread that I've had for years.
Posted by 365 Dresses at 8:07 PM 5 comments:
Friday, January 25, 2013
Dress #364 Bottle Green
Posted by 365 Dresses at 8:43 PM 8 comments:
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Dress #363 Pink and Gray Lace
Posted by 365 Dresses at 10:23 AM 8 comments:
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Dress #362 I Love Paris
Vichy fabric---what in the States is gingham---a tiny Eiffel Tower and crocheted white lace trim. All this makes a very Paris looking dress. I will tell you, however, that I have never seen anything made of gingham here in France. But as the song goes, "Why, oh why do I love Paris? Because my love is here."
Posted by 365 Dresses at 10:15 AM 5 comments:
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Dress #361 Red and Black Lace
Red top with black lace overlay, and a sheer black skirt. I'll take this over a little black dress any day. Fabric, lace, and ribbon.
Posted by 365 Dresses at 2:27 PM 7 comments:
Monday, January 21, 2013
Dress #360 Beaded Wool
I just love this gauzy, soft wool fabric I found here. The beaded top makes it a beautiful dress. Sheer wool, beads and a velvet ribbon.
Posted by 365 Dresses at 10:48 AM 7 comments:
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What's the best workflow for managing hundreds of passwords and accounts? – David P.
Once LastPass becomes the hub of access to your online life, the number of stored accounts and data in general will grow. Organization becomes essential, and there are a number of tricks that will help you more easily manage your data and get the most out of LastPass as your password manager.
Organize Sites into Logical Groups
As you add sites to your vault, logical "groupings" of your data will likely emerge.
To get started with grouping your sites:
- Click the "Create Group" button on the left of your vault to add a new group
- Drag-and-drop individual site entries from one group to another to re-organize them
- Create group names that differentiate by category, such as "Shopping", "Financial", or "Social"
- When saving new sites, click the "Group" field to choose an existing group or create a new one
- Create "subgroups" within groups to further divide your sites
Create Identities for Different Environments
If you're using LastPass in different environments, such as a personal computer and a work computer, Identities will help you separate your data based on what you need access to in each environment. To get started with Identities:
- Select "Add Identity" by going to the "Identities" tab in the vault
- Create a name for your Identities to easily distinguish between "Home", "Work", etc.
- Move all relevant data from your main vault to the new Identity
- When you switch to a different identity, from the dropdown in the LastPass vault, only data available in that identity will be filled as you browse, filtering out anything you don't want to see in your vault
- Edit an Identity at any time by clicking the "edit" option in the Identities tab
Use the Right-Click Menu Options for Quick Changes
As you continue to add more data to your vault, you can keep up with your organizational system by dragging and dropping your sites between groups, or by using the right-click menu options to quickly move your data or make changes.
Right-click on a group name to re-name it, create a subgroup within that group, or delete the group to remove all sites stored in it.
Right-click on a site name to move it to edit, delete, or move the site to a new group or subgroup.
These are just a few tips to better organize and manage your data in your vault. What tips would you share for managing hundreds of passwords with LastPass?
Have a question for the LastPass team? Let us know in comments or send us a note at marketing[at]lastpass.com. If we choose your question, you'll get a Tshirt!


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Just because New Moon was one of the biggest films of all time doesn't mean it's perfect. Twilight fans are cataloguing the film's many on-screen errors. We've picked our favorites, and suggested a few of our own.
Right now the fans have identified 22 flaws, and counting. We've listed a few funny ones below, but we'd like to contribute some mind-benders of our own. First, the impossibility that is Jacob's transformation to a dog 4 times his size, where does this extra matter go or come from! Also his magic shattering clothes I wish all clothes burst into bits like that. Plus the jean-shorts conundrum. Why are these jean shorts always around — don't they shatter too? Is there some cave in the forest stocked with jean shorts so the werepuppies can slip them on after a fight? We may never know.
But here are a few of the problems the fans have identified:
When Jacob first shows off his tattoo, it is up at the top of his shoulder. Then when he is in the forest at the end with Bella and Edward, his tattoo is about 2 inches further down his arm.
When Bella is flying to Italy they show a Virgin America airplane. Virgin America only flies within certain cities in the US. Virgin Atlantic flies from the US to Europe.
Just as Jacob enters Bella's room through the window, a stunt prop - white band on his right wrist - is briefly visible.
In the montage scenes where we see Bella's depression, when the camera is circling her, the camera man is shown in the mirror (twice) behind her.
The rims of the vampires contacts can be spotted occasionally during the film, especially the Volturi's during the ending scenes — e.g., Jane's in the elevator.
In the main title when the giant new moon appears on the screen the shadow fades over the moon from right to left when it should actually fade from left to right. The moon travels around the earth clockwise. The waning moon should turn to a new moon, not the waxing which is shown.
See the rest at Movie Mistakes.


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What units are used in the usage metrics (
USED_SPACE and
TABLESPACE_SIZE columns) described in Oracle's
DBA_TABLESPACE_USAGE_METRICS static data dictionary view?
The Oracle Database Reference only tells they are the "Total space consumed by the tablespace" and "Total size of the tablespace", without mentioning units. Are they in bytes? Megabytes? Blocks?


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September 22, 2011
Despite dry weather, high duck numbers should draw hunters
PRATT — The summer of 2011 will be remembered in Kansas as one of the driest, hottest on record, and much of Kansas still needs rain this fall. However, high duck numbers will still provide hunters with options, and the early youth waterfowl seasons are just around the corner. Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) staff at state waterfowl management areas are working hard to provide hunting opportunities, pumping available water into hunting pools.
As of Sept. 20, the following wildlife areas reported fair to good hunting conditions:
Northwest/Northcentral Kansas
Cedar Bluff — Fair
Glen Elder — Fair
Jamestown — Good
Norton — Fair
Wilson — Good
Northeast Kansas
Benedictine Bottoms — Good
Perry — Good
Tuttle Creek — Fair
Southwest Kansas
Cheyenne Bottoms — Good
Isabel — Fair
Texas Lake — Fair
Central Kansas
Council Grove — Fair
Southcentral Kansas
Elk City — Fair
Fall River — Good
Marais des Cygnes — Good
Melvern — Fair
Toronto — Good
Pomona — Fair
Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, near Stafford, reported that the only open water within the area's hunting zones is in Units 10 and 11 in the Reno County section of the refuge.
Duck season dates and zones include the following:
- Youth High Plains Zone — Oct. 1-2;
- Youth Low Plains Early Zone — Oct. 1-2;
- Youth Low Plains Late Zone — Oct. 22-23;
- Youth Low Plains Southeast Zone — Oct. 22-23;
- High Plains Zone — Oct. 8-Jan. 2, 2012, and Jan. 21-29, 2012;
- Low Plains Early Zone — Oct.8-Dec.4, and Dec. 17-Jan. 1, 2012;
- Low Plains Late Zone — Oct. 29-Jan. 1, 2012, and Jan. 21-29, 2012; and
- Low Plains Southeast Zone — Nov. 5-Jan. 8, 2012, and Jan. 21-29, 2012.
The Low Plains Southeast Zone, roughly the southeastern one-quarter of the state, is new for 2011-2012 and should provide excellent late-season hunting in this part of the state.
During youth seasons, hunters 15 and younger may take ducks, geese, coots, and mergansers while hunting under the supervision of an adult 18 years or older. The adult may not hunt.
In both youth and regular seasons, six ducks is the daily bag limit, which may include no more than one canvasback, two redheads, two pintails, two scaup, three wood ducks, and five mallards (only two of which may be hens). The daily bag may comprise six of any other duck, such as six teal, six gadwall, or six wigeon.
Depending on rainfall, good hunting may be found in many other areas of the state, both public and private. For weekly updates on public waterfowl management areas, visit the KDWPT website, www.kdwpt.state.ks.us, and click "Hunting/Migratory Birds/ Waterfowl Reports."
For a detailed map of the duck zone boundaries and other regulations, pick up a copy of the 2011 Kansas Hunting and Furharvesting Regulations Summary, available at all Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism offices and most license vendors, or download the booklet from the KDWPT website.


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The Lawton Chiles Legal Information Center Research Guides will assist you in finding a wide variety of information on the various sources used in traditional research as well as some new ones you may not have realized were available.
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If materials are not available through UF or the UBorrow system, you may place a request for the law library to try to borrow the materials from another library, referred to as an Interlibrary Loan.
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The HeinOnline World Trials Library provides access to transcripts and accounts of trials from around the world. Also included are works that analyze and debate famous trials and biographies of well-known trial lawyers.
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Even Barbie has a breaking point.
"Like seriously, its but so much a person can take. Good [expletive] bye," Barbie-inspired rapper Nicki Minaj tweeted before deleting her Twitter account Sunday, Us Weekly reported.
Earlier Sunday, Minaj had gotten embroiled in Twitter arguments with fans over fan site NickiDaily.com, which was leaking music from Minaj's latest album "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded."
U.S. & World
After the MC blocked it, NickiDaily.com shut down and closed its Twitter feed. On Sunday the site posted CLOSED in big letters and the song "Dear Old Nicki," BET.com reported.
Minaj's retirement from Twitter may also have had something to do with the heat she caught over her comments about her father Omar Maraj during an interview with ABC's "Nightline" last week.
"My father was abusive. We were afraid for [my mother's] life because whenever he would have a real bad outburst, he would threaten to kill her," Minaj told "Nightline."
"I wished he was dead," she added. "I wanted to kill him."
Minaj's father decried his daughter's comments, and according to TMZ, sources close to the family called her description of abuse "exaggerated." Minaj has not commented on her father's response.
Maybe the pink-loving rapper just needed a break from spectators. Should she change her mind and want to keep tweeting, she has 30 days to reactive her Twitter account before losing all 11 million of her followers.


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Join the facebook event here: http://www.facebook.com/events/480988831939956/
Join Parents For Life for a
Candlelight Flashlight Vigil at A. V. Norrell Elementary School
to enlighten the new school board
on Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Monday January 21st
6pm at 2120 Fendall Avenue
Get the babies off the dump!
Richmond's students deserve better!
Hot Soup and Hot Cocoa Provided by Richmond Food Not Bombs
Bring your own flashlight!
Then on Tuesday January 22nd,
attend the School Board Meeting with Parents For Life to shed light on the issues with Norrell Elementary.
4:30 p.m. in the Conference Room on the 17th floor of City Hall and 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers on the 2nd floor of City Hall, located at 301 North Ninth Street
The health and welfare of the city's children should be the primary concern of the Richmond City School Board. We are committed to remain vigilant in our demand for an excellent learning environment for our most vulnerable 3 & 4 year old preschoolers as well. We will remind everyone that we believe the previous school board has failed in their duty to our children.
– Parents For Life


text:
Bronson Arroyo: 8-8-3-0-2, 105 pitches. He was in some trouble in the first two innings, though it happened (both times) after he got the first two Angels out. Arroyo allowed five hits, an HBP and three runs to the first 11 batters; after that, he retired 19 of the 22 Angels he faced, allowing three scattered singles.
David Ortiz: His two-run, opposite-field single in the third inning -- right after he may have gone around on a check swing for stike three -- tied the game at 3-3. He now has 122 RBI. Ortiz also walked in the first and singled in the fifth.
Kevin Millar hit another home run, a solo shot in the second. ... Alex Cora walked and tripled, and scored two runs.
The Red Sox have won 23 of their last 26 games at Fenway Park.
Clement / Byrd at 7:00.