text:
In my previous comment, I defended Justice Kennedy's decision in the Texas redistricting case, LULAC v. Perry, to refrain from attempting to identify when (if ever) the effect of a partisan gerrymander might suffice to establish a constitutionally cognizable injury. In light of the Court's historical difficulties with this especially complicated and politically sensitive question, and because the plaintiffs in LULAC attacked only the mid-decade timing of the Texas redistricting, Justice Kennedy acted responsibly in leaving this larger question unresolved.
Here, as promised, I wish to defend the other major portion of Justice Kennedy's opinion in LULAC , the part where, writing for a five-member majority of the Court, he invalidated the Texas map's District 23 as a violation of the Voting Rights Act.
The problem with District 23, as the majority saw it, was that it split in half the Laredo-based Latino community, which had been wholly within the district as drawn in the previous map. In the old District 23, moreover, Latinos had comprised a majority of the citizen voting-age population (57.5%) and had begun to exercise effective political control over that district, whereas in the new District 23 Latinos were reduced to a minority of the citizen voting-age population (46%). The split of Laredo 's Latinos, therefore, had the effect of diluting Latino voting power, thereby violating section 2 of the Act.
The state defended against this vote dilution claim by arguing that District 25 of the new map contained a majority of Latino voters and, because both the old map and new map contained six majority-Latino districts, there was no overall dilution of Latino voting power in the new map. Kennedy's opinion for the Court, however, rejected this argument on the ground that the loss of voting power for the Latino community in Laredo could not be offset by an increase in voting power of Latinos elsewhere in the state. Only if those other Latinos were equally entitled under the Voting Rights Act to a district of their own, and only if it would be impossible for the map to provide each separate Latino community with its own majority-Latino district, would it be permissible for the mapmakers to trade off the loss to the Laredo Latinos with a gain to Latinos elsewhere. That situation, however, was not present in this case because the Latinos in the new District 25 were geographically dispersed and therefore not entitled to their own VRA-mandated district.
Chief Justice Roberts, in an opinion joined by Justice Alito, vigorously dissented from the Court's reasoning and conclusion on this vote dilution claim. In essence, Chief Justice Roberts believed that the geographic dispersion of the Latino residents in the new District 25 was irrelevant to a proper analysis of the vote dilution claim. As long as the percentage of Latino-controlled districts in a map is roughly proportional to the percentage of Latinos in the overall population, then the Chief Justice would require dismissal of the vote dilution claim. Although he would prefer to conduct this proportionality inquiry on a regional, rather than statewide basis, Chief Justice Roberts argued that either way the inquiry was satisfied on the facts of this case. As he observed, Latinos controlled 19% of the state's congressional delegation and comprised 22% of the state's citizen voting-age population, figures which should satisfy any standard of rough proportionality.
The Chief Justice's dissent is a rhetorical tour de force, as befits a justice who was one of the nation's leading appellate litigators before becoming a judge. But for all the "style points" his dissent deserves (to use a phrase from the dissent itself), it fails in my judgment to refute the Court's two main points: first, that the specific harm to the Laredo Latinos establishes the basis for a vote dilution claim, even if the map overall provides proportionality; and second, that the creation of the new District 25, with its Latino majority, cannot offset the distinctive harm to the Latino voters of Laredo.
To understand why the Court, rather than Chief Justice Roberts, is more persuasive on these points it is necessary to recall an Equal Protection claim that the plaintiffs presented as an alternative to their Voting Rights Act claim. Although it became unnecessary for the Court to adjudicate the merits of this alternative Equal Protection claim once the Court accepts the Voting Rights Act claim, as Justice Kennedy's opinion for the Court explicitly observes, it hovers in the background and undoubtedly influences the reasoning of the Court's opinion on the Voting Rights Act issues. This influence is hardly inappropriate, as it is standard operating procedure that statutes should be interpreted so as to avoid constitutional questions. Therefore, to the extent that section 2 of the Voting Rights Act is open to alternative interpretations-as it surely is, given its lofty but general, quasi-constitutional language-Justice Kennedy was entirely justified in suffusing the Court's analysis of the section 2 vote dilution claim with Equal Protection overtones.
One very important virtue of Justice Kennedy's approach, rather than relying directly on an interpretation of the Equal Protection Clause itself, is that, if Congress does not like the Court's theory of a successful vote dilution claim as articulated in LULAC, it can always amend the Voting Rights Act to make its position clear. A congressional directive of this kind would give the Court the reason to take "a sober second look" before proceeding directly to interpreting the Constitution to entail a theory of vote dilution liability that Congress considers unwise.
The alternative Equal Protection claim is that Texas legislature engaged in intentional race discrimination when it split apart the Latino community in Laredo , removing almost 100,000 Latinos from the old District 23. Some commentators (myself included on occasion) have loosely described this Equal Protection claim as asserting a race-based gerrymander in violation of the Equal Protection Clause according to the doctrine first articulated in Shaw v. Reno. But, in truth, this intentional vote dilution claim regarding the splitting of District 23 is not a Shaw-derivative racial gerrymandering claim, but rather a different kind of Equal Protection claim, as Justice Scalia's opinion in LULAC correctly observes. Shaw -based claims require no showing of vote dilution; rather, they originated in response to a kind of "affirmative action" undertaken to increase the voting power of racial minorities. There was, indeed, a separate Shaw-based claim in LULAC, but it involved the addition of Latino voters to District 25, not the subtraction of Latino voters from District 23, as Justice Scalia also correctly recognized. (That separate Shaw-based claim also was unnecessary to address, as Justice Kennedy properly noted for the Court, once District 23 was found invalid under the Voting Rights Act, thereby requiring the case to be remanded to make a new map.)
With respect to thinking about the Equal Protection challenge to the removal of Latino voters from District 23, on the ground that it was intentional vote dilution rather than Shaw -based gerrymandering, it appears that members of the Court may have become confused about the proof of intentional discrimination necessary to show an Equal Protection violation. Acknowledging as was inevitable that the Texas legislature knew full well that it was removing almost 100,000 Latino voters from District 23 and that it was doing so on purpose, the State's attorney attempted to defend against a finding of intentional vote dilution on the ground that the reason the legislature was consciously treating Latino voters this way was to protect the incumbency of Representative Henry Bonilla-a reason that the state asserted to be a political rather than racial motive. Justice Scalia bought this argument, while other Justices (including Justice Kennedy and his colleagues in the majority) were evidently troubled by it.
But the State's argument on this point seems to me to confuse the intent to disadvantage a racial minority, which triggers strict scrutiny under conventional Equal Protection analysis, with the reason (or motive) for the government's intent to discriminate, which is the justification that the government asserts in an attempt to satisfy strict scrutiny. If the harm to Latinos in Laredo did not involve a reduction of their voting power caused by the redrawing of district lines, but instead another form of impediment to their exercise of electoral power, I think it would be easier for the Justices to recognize this distinction. For example, suppose that the Texas legislature required Latinos in Laredo to provide an additional form of voter identification not required of Anglo voters within District 23. That requirement undoubtedly would qualify as intentional race-based discrimination triggering strict scrutiny under the Equal Protection Clause. If the State attempted to defend this additional identification requirement on the ground that it was desiring to protect Representative Bonilla's incumbency (because diminishing Latino turnout would increase his chances of winning), that justification would be subjected to strict scrutiny-and presumably would fail-but it would never succeed as an argument that the burden on Latino voters was not form of intentional race-based discrimination.
In the context of an intentional vote dilution claim of the kind involving the conscious and purposeful removal of Latino voters from District 23, the argument that this burden on the exercise of Latino voting power was undertaken with an incumbency-protection motive should meet the same fate as it would if the burden on voting rights was the imposition of a discriminatory identification requirement. This situation is different than a Shaw-based claim, where without diluting minority voting power the legislature decides to include a group of minority voters in one district rather than another because drawing the district lines this way is more favorable to an incumbent. In that non-dilution context, it is plausible to say, as the Court has in post-Shaw cases like Easley v. Cromartie, that this incumbency-motivated line drawing is not intentional race discrimination in violation of the Equal Protection Clause even though the mapmakers are obviously aware of racial demographics when they draw the lines.
But the treatment of the issue of intent for Shaw-based claims should have no bearing when the Equal Protection claim is one of intentional vote dilution. Purposefully manipulating district lines to undercut minority voting power is, regrettably (indeed, outrageously) a longstanding practice in U.S. history. The Supreme Court, most famously, confronted an especially egregious example of this intentional vote dilution in the 1960 case Gomillion v. Lightfoot. There, Alabama had manipulated Tuskegee 's boundary to prevent blacks from exercising political power in the city, and the Court had no difficulty determining that this mapmaking exercise was intentional race discrimination requiring a compelling justification from the state. (None was forthcoming in the case.) Although perhaps not as egregious as the dilution of black voting power in Gomillion, the dilution of Latino voting power in LULAC by splitting Laredo in half is the exact same kind of consciously imposed harm on a local minority community as occurred in Gomillion and should be subject to the same strict constitutional scrutiny. In other words, when a legislature willfully redraws district lines to undermine a local minority community's political power, that deliberate burden should count as intentional race discrimination for Equal Protection purposes, whether the legislature's motive for imposing this burden is a belief in the inferiority of the minority group or a desire to protect an incumbency whose reelection is opposed by most members of the minority group.
In any event, whatever is the appropriate resolution of this Equal Protection issue, an inclination towards this position appropriately informed Justice Kennedy's consideration, on behalf of the Court, of the vote dilution claim under the Voting Rights Act. In a crucial passage in his opinion, where he explains why the proportionality inquiry ultimately cannot defeat the section 2 claim involving District 23, he observes that the removal of Latinos from the district "bears the mark of intentional discrimination that could give rise to an equal protection violation." (Slip op. at 34.) This fact distinguishes the section 2 claim here from an ordinary vote dilution claim under VRA's section 2, which requires no showing that the dilution was intentional. Even if a State's constitution required a computer to draw district lines based solely on maximizing district compactness, without any consideration of racial demographics whatsoever (the computer selecting randomly among maps with equally compact districts), the resulting map could be challenged under section 2 if it failed to produce minority-controlled districts in circumstances where such districts could have been drawn. Demonstrating that the map has the effect of diluting minority voting power is enough to invalidate the map under section 2.
In an ordinary section 2 case, where only the effect of dilution is shown, the proportionality inquiry makes sense. Don't invalidate the computer's compactness-maximizing map just because it failed to produce a minority-controlled district that might have been drawn in one part of the state if it turns out that the percentage of minority-controlled districts in the map overall is roughly proportional to the percentage of minority citizen voting-age population overall. In this situation, the state's minority voters have not suffered a discriminatory harm.
The circumstances are entirely different, however, where, as in LULAC, minority voters in a specific locality are deliberately targeted by the legislature to undermine their political power. In Justice Kennedy's own words, the basic fact of the case that "the State divided the cohesive Latino community in Laredo]" because they "threatened Bonilla's incumbency" meant that "[i]n essence the State took away the Latinos' [political power] because Latinos were about to exercise it." (Slip op. at 33. 34.) Where this kind of deliberate undermining of minority political power occurs, the proportionality inquiry of an ordinary section 2 claim is beside the point. Statewide proportionality, as Justice Kennedy explained, could not "overcome" the harm of vote dilution specifically inflicted upon the Latinos of Laredo.
This conclusion is entirely sound. If Latinos in Laredo were targeted with another kind of discriminatory burden-for example, a reduction of their share of scholarships to Texas state universities, so that Anglos in Rep. Bonilla's district could receive a disproportionately large share of these scholarships-it would not matter that statewide the percentage of scholarships received by Latinos were proportional to the Latino percentage of the statewide population eligible to receive these scholarships. In the special case of a section 2 vote dilution claim predicated on the deliberate targeting of a local minority community, the proportionality inquiry similarly should have no place.
This conclusion also goes a long way toward explaining why the addition of Latino-controlled District 25 does not negate the vote dilution claim regarding District 23. In essence, the State's reliance on District 25 to offset District 23 is just another version of the proportionality defense, writ small. But giving extra scholarships to Latino students in Austin could not justify depriving Latino students in Laredo of scholarships in order to bestow extra scholarships on Anglo students within Rep. Bonilla's constituency. Similarly, giving greater voting power to Latinos in District 25 cannot compensate for diminishing the voting power of Latinos in Laredo in order to protect the political interests of Rep. Bonilla and the predominantly Anglo constituents who support him.
Chief Justice Roberts attempted to deflect this basic point by arguing that the Latinos of Laredo were no more entitled in the first place to a majority-Latino district than were the Latinos of District 25. He observed that the old District 23 was no more compact (or otherwise geographically compelling) than the new District 23 and, therefore, the State originally could have chosen equally between the contours of the old District 23 and the new District 25. But, contrary to the Chief Justice's argument, it does not follow from this observation that, when replacing the predecessor map, the State now is permitted to substitute the new District 25 for the old District 23. Even if Latino students in Laredo were no more entitled to receive scholarships than Latino students in Austin before any of these scholarships were awarded, once they are awarded the Latino students of Laredo cannot be deprived of them on the ground that Rep. Bonilla wants his Anglo constituents to receive more of the scholarships allocated to students in his constituency.
In his opinion for the Court, Justice Kennedy makes much of the fact that the Latino community of Laredo had been exercising its political power within District 23 before that power was taken away to benefit Rep. Bonilla and his Anglo supporters. He was correct to do so. Even if those Laredo Latinos had not been entitled to that political power in the first place, once they have it, the State should not be permitted to take it away from them in order to increase the political power of Anglos whose political interests, as demonstrated by past voting patterns, are opposed to theirs.
To be sure, by deciding that it violates VRA's section 2 for a state to deprive a local minority community of preexisting political power, the Court in LULAC appears to import the non-retrogression principle of VRA's section 5 into a vote dilution claim under section 2. But I would suggest that this apparent importation of the non-retrogression principle is limited to the special circumstance in which a vote dilution claim under section 2 is predicated on the deliberate targeting of minority voting power. In other words, it is limited to only claims of intentional vote dilution under section 2 that resemble an Equal Protection claim. It would not apply to purely effects-based vote dilution claims.
Ultimately, then, it is the deliberate nature of the injury to Latino voters of Laredo that justifies the Court's decision to sustain their Voting Rights Act claim and provides the basis for thinking that Justice Kennedy, rather than Chief Justice Roberts, got the better of the argument. Indeed, the Chief Justice entirely neglects this distinctive feature of the vote dilution claim in LULAC. He treats the removal of Latino voters from District 23 as nothing more than a conventional, purely effects-based claim under section 2. He nowhere considers whether the purposeful targeting of Laredo Latinos for a loss of voting power to protect Rep. Bonilla's incumbency presents a special case of intentional vote dilution under section 2.
Perhaps even more surprisingly, Chief Justice Roberts never considers the alternative Equal Protection claim that underlies the idea of deliberate vote dilution as a distinctive form of section 2 violation. Having rejected the Voting Rights Act challenge to the new District 23, Chief Justice Roberts should have gone on to consider the Equal Protection claim itself, just as Justice Scalia did. At the very least, Chief Justice Roberts should have explained why he would not address the plaintiffs' alternative claim of intentional vote dilution under the Equal Protection Clause (or, for that matter, the Shaw -based claim regarding District 25, which the Chief Justice also did not address). But there is only silence from the Chief Justice on this essential feature of the case.
Thus, for all its rhetorical power and flair, Chief Justice Roberts' opinion fails to grapple with what is most important about the Voting Rights Act claim regarding the removal of Latino voters from District 23. In essence, then, he misses (or ignores) the Court's main point.
It would be most unfortunate, however, if academic analysis and public commentary on LULAC also misses this main point, as easily could occur if the focus becomes whether in terms of craft Kennedy or Roberts was the more effective advocate of his position. Roberts may well be the better wordsmith, but Kennedy was ultimately stronger on the substance of the law.
Kennedy kept focused on the key fact that Latino voters had been deprived of voting power to increase the voting power of Anglos. In the end, nothing else mattered-nor should matter, as surely it is a proper interpretation of the Voting Rights Act to find this kind of deprivation unlawful.


text:
Friends of Library cruise winner; Second Sunday jazz concert; Greene Co. library party
Annual fundraiser is successful
Members of the Kinston-Lenoir County Friends of the Library held their ninth annual cruise drawing � its biggest annual fundraiser � to support the Friends� programs throughout the year.
The drawing was conducted during the �South Pacific Luau Party� held March 3 in the library�s Schechter Auditorium, and Maxine Fisher held the winning ticket. The top prize was a choice � $2,500 cash or a seven-day Caribbean cruise for two. Fisher chose the cash.
The Friends extend a big thanks to everyone who made this event such a huge success.
Second Sunday to present ECU jazz
The second installment of the Grainger Hill Second Sundays series will be presented at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Community Council for the Arts, 400 N. Queen St. Doors open at 2 p.m.
This will be the second of four concerts to entice the young and young at heart, with proceeds after expenses benefiting Grainger Hill PAC, a regional, cultural and civic center at 300 Park Ave. which serves audiences throughout a multi-county region.
Sunday�s concert will feature the ECU student jazz ensemble, Just Us Quartet. Members include Marvin Thorne Jr., voice; Quincy Jones, jazz piano; and Stephen Scott, jazz set.
Upcoming Second Sundays concerts will include Big Band Sounds April 14, featuring Earle Abernethy, drums; Carol Ann Tucker, vocalist; Jimmy Aycock, piano; and Dave Adduddell, bass; and Country, Light Rock and Bluegrass May 12, featuring The Ray and Bobby Band.
Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at door, available at the arts center on Queen Street or by calling 252-527-2517 or 252-527-8515.
Meeting to be community party
SNOW HILL � The Greene County Friends of the Library annual meeting is turning into a party, and the extended community is invited.
The free event, planned for 6 p.m. Tuesday at the library, will feature music by Brian Stark and Ray Lota, and Bob and Pat Jones. Refreshments will be provided by Starbucks.
FOL has five primary goals: to promote use of the library; to provide financial support through an annual book sale and other fundraising efforts; to sponsor speakers, storytellers, music and dramatic presentations, and cultural events for all ages and interests; to encourage the donation of books in honor or memory of individuals by members and library patrons; and to publish an informational newsletter for members and patrons.
Membership is open � students and senior citizens, $5; individual, $10; family, $15; nonprofit, $25; and patron, $50. The library is at 229 Kingold Blvd. in Snow Hill.
For more information, call 252-747-3437.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Compare cheap flights to Burnie
When is the cheapest time to fly to Burnie?
What to do in Burnie
Burnie is a Tassie city that's chockers full of gardens, parks, beaches, sparkling water, and refreshing air. It's even home to great architecture, like art deco and contemporary designs from Tasmanian architects and designers. So if you're looking for a bonzer Australian destination, Burnie should be on your list too.
Travel back in time and visit the fantastic Burnie Regional Museum, which has amazing replicas of shops during the turn of the century. Check out the Makers' Workshop, where you can see beautifully handmade paper and paper items using the town's age-old methods. Don't miss the inspiring collection of art at the Burnie Regional Art Gallery too. All three are definitely worth your time and attention.
Get up close and personal with Burnie's natural side next by checking out the gorgeous Emu Valley Rhododendron Gardens. If you wanted to have a new profile photo for social media during your trip, you are sure to find it here. This "plant museum" is also home to native animals like wild ducks, grebes, platypus, and more.
Grab your camera and waddle along to fun times at the Little Penguin Observation Centre at West Beach. From September to March, guides will give you a tour at dusk to observe the little penguins waddle ashore to nest in their burrows.
Have some fun under the sun and go beach hopping around Burnie. West Beach also welcomes surfies and swimmers. The other beaches you should stop by are South Beach and Cooee Beach.
End your trip on a high note with a visit to Hellyers Road Distillery for a taste of whisky, and breathtaking views of Emu Valley.
When to visit Burnie
The best time to visit Burnie is from the months of October to March, when the city is at its coolest, and it's the perfect time to spot penguins on the shore.
But you can fly to Burnie and travel whenever you want, because we Aussies can visit Burnie any time of the year without a travel visa. Just remember to bring your national ID card for important transactions in your trip.
Travelling to and around Burnie
Your flight will be bound for Burnie Airport, where taxis, shuttle bus, and rental cars are ready to take you to Burnie. Begin your Burnie adventure and travel around by bus or by driving yourself.
Get your camera and best clothes ready, because a trip to Burnie is exactly what you need! Don't waste any more days this year and go book your Burnie flights with Skiddoo today.
Temperature average in July
Rainfall average in July
106.9 mm
Cheapest time to fly to Burnie (BWT)
All prices refer to return flights to Burnie and include taxes and charges.
Our experiences customer support team is there to help you every step of the way.
With the Skiddoo Price Promise, if you find a cheaper price online we'll match it!


text:
A special issue of Cites & Insights is now available for downloading (or reading in your browser) at http://citesandinsights.info/hiatus.pdf
This two-page unnumbered issue consists of one brief essay:
Not With a Bang … (pp. 1-2)
Going on hiatus.
There will be no more issues in Volume 11. If and when there is an index, it will only be part of the annual volume available at Lulu, if and when that volume is available.


text:
Recent Items Added to the Cart
You have no items in your shopping cart.
A Mackenzie exclusive.
In Stock
Nutritional information here
Crab Meat, Cream Cheese (Pasteurized Cultured Milk And Cream, Whey, Salt, And Stabilizers (Xanthan Gum, And/or Carob Bean Gum, And/or Tora Gum)), Onion, Cream (Heavy Cream, Milk, Contains Less Than .5% Of: Mono And Diglycerides, Poloysorbate 80, Carrageenan), Mayonnaise (Soybean Oil, Water, Eggs, Vinegar, Less Than 2% Of Egg Yolks, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Salt, Sugar, Dried Onions, Dried Garlic, Paprika, Natural Flavor, Calcium Disodium EDRA(To Protect Flavor)), White Cheddar Cheese (Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes), Dijon Mustard (Water, Vinegar, Mustard Seed, Salt, White Wine, Fruit Pectin, Citric Acid, Tartaric Acid, Sugar, Spice), Sherry (Contains Sulfates)Seafood Seasoning Blend (Salt, Spices & Paprika), Red Pepper.
Contains: Crab Meat, Dairy, Egg, Soy, and Sulfites. May contain shell particle.
Check items & click Add to Cart above to add to your cart with Creamy Crab Dip, or click here to select all. Items without a checkbox need further option configuration.
Starting at
Starting at
1 Review
Add Your Review
The product was added to your cart


text:
You are here
The Beach Body Boot Camp Diet: Snack Smarter
Peter Ardito
Best Morning Booster: Mocha Yogurt Parfait
Mix 1/2 teaspoon instant coffee with 6 ounces low-fat vanilla yogurt until coffee is dissolved. Spoon half the mixture into a bowl and add 1/3 cup sliced strawberries. Top with remaining yogurt, and garnish with 1 tablespoon low-fat granola. (150 calories)
Why we love it:
- Granola provides a healthy dose of glucose (aka fuel) to help jump-start your morning.
- Calcium-rich foods increase fat loss. One study found that people who ate yogurt three times a day lost up to 22 percent more weight than those who ate none.
Peter Ardito
Best Stress Buster: Hummus and Red Pepper Bites
Spread 2 tablespoons hummus evenly over 5 whole-grain crackers. Top with 2 tablespoons diced red bell pepper and a pinch of dried oregano. (150 calories)
Why we love it:
- Red bell peppers contain vitamin C, which has been shown to help lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
- It's best to steer clear of coffee and soda if you're having a hectic day. Caffeine triggers your body to pump out adrenaline, which can make you feel jittery and agitated.
Peter Ardito
Best Afternoon Pick-Me-Up: Superfood Trail Mix
Combine 1 tablespoon each dried cherries, golden raisins, sunflower seeds, and roasted soy nuts with 1 teaspoon mini chocolate chips in a ziplock bag; mix. (150 calories)
Why we love it:
- For steady, long-lasting energy, choose snacks with a mix of protein and fiber. String cheese and grapes is another smart combo, as is low-fat cottage cheese topped with fruit.
- Soy nuts have more protein and fewer calories (just 126 calories an ounce) than most tree nuts.
Peter Ardito
Best Way to Satisfy a Chocolate Craving: Indoor Raspberry S'more
Spread 1 teaspoon raspberry jam on 2 graham crackers (don't break the crackers apart). Top with 1 large marshmallow and 1/2 ounce square of dark chocolate. Microwave 10 to 15 seconds, until marshmallow begins to melt. (150 calories)
Why we love it:
- Don't deny yourself chocolate. Research suggests that indulging in a little bit can help control your cravings for it.
- Satisfy your sweet tooth with dark chocolate. It's made with more antioxidant-rich cocoa beans and less sugar than milk chocolate. Look for bars with at least 60 percent cocoa.
Best Post-Workout Refuel: Blueberry-Pineapple Protein Shake
Combine 1 cup low-fat milk, 1/4 cup frozen blueberries, and 1/4 cup frozen pineapple in a blender; puree until smooth. (140 calories)
Why we love it:
- The protein and carbs in milk help repair muscles and replenish cells' energy stores after a workout. Eat dairy within 45 minutes of exercising, when the recovery process is at its peak.
- Pineapple contains bromelain, a natural anti-inflammatory compound, which may reduce post-workout pain.
Peter Ardito
Best Nighttime Snack: Pear and Almond Butter English Muffin
Top 1/2 toasted whole-grain English muffin with 2 teaspoons almond butter and slices of 1/4 pear. Sprinkle with a pinch of ground cinnamon. (150 calories)
Why we love it:
- The carbs in English muffins may help you get to sleep more quickly, according to recent research. This may be because they help boost levels of the sleep-inducing hormone serotonin.
- Avoid fatty and spicy snacks at night; they may upset your sleep cycle.
Peter Ardito
Get More Slimming Meals
Mix and match these breakfasts, lunches, and dinners for a total of 1,500 calories a day. Combine it with our Beach Body Boot Camp workout plan and you'll shed 10 pounds in one month!
Get Breakfast Recipes Under 300 Calories
Get Lunch Recipes Under 400 Calories


text: I know who you are. You are one of two people. Person number one has an unjailbroken iPhone and really despises the included Stock and Weather apps. He wishes to jailbreak his sacred device, but cherishes it too much to place the warranty at risk. So, how does he deal with apps that he never uses and cannot hide or remove? Well, he just leaves them on the last page of his iPhone/iPod Touch, thinking that he could forget about them forever. Think again. Person number two, on the other hand, has jailbroken it and is really happy he did so because now with SBSettings installed, he can hide the unwanted Voice Recorder app. After hiding those nasty preinstalled apps, you replaced them with better alternatives. Right? Don't fret. Regardless of which person you are, the applications you will see in this post will make you wonder why Apple didn't include these instead when they shipped the iDevice.


text:
Relationships with
Photo Credit: Photographic illustrations of Corey Feldman are copyright © by their respective holders. The images are published with permission or as allowed by the copyright law's fair use or quotation provisions. If any copyright holder objects to an image being included, please notify us and it will be removed immediately.
Disclaimer: This information about Corey Feldman is derived from astrological interpretation of Corey Feldman's date, time, and place of birth.


text:
Family discovers new home overrun by venomous snakes
David and Lauren Flory felt an immediate connection upon pulling up the long rock driveway of the property along Cypress Creek. They put in an offer that day.
But when the couple began remodeling the ranch-style house, they discovered the heavily wooded 12 acres were overrun with Southern copperheads, one of the six venomous snakes in the Greater Houston area.
"We started noticing all of these snakes but didn't know what kind they were," David Flory said of the demolition period 11 years ago. "So I put a bucket over one and searched 'Harris County snakes' online. I found Clint and gave him a call."
A self-taught herpetologist, Clint Pustejovsky gives educational programs to kids and adults alike. He also offers capture and removal services.
"I came out to pick up a snake," Pustejovsky recalled during a recent walk of the property with Flory. "We ended up talking for hours. David wanted to learn everything he could."
Pustejovsky, in turn, wanted to understand why the copperheads existed in higher than normal numbers on the Florys' land near the Champions area. A conversation with the previous owner held the answer.
"We were out here one night and heard this big splash," Flory said, making his way around the far shore of a lake between the house and creek. "We couldn't figure out what it was, so a couple of nights later we came back with flashlights and saw eyes. I called him and asked, 'What in the world is splashing out there and swimming super fast?' He said, 'David, those are beavers, and I have the eight pelts to prove it.' "
The man was an avid hunter who regularly killed wildlife on the land. Among his targets were opossums and kingsnakes, both predators of copperheads. (Both are immune to venom from the pit viper family, which includes copperheads.)
"He changed the ecosystem," Pustejovsky said, "and because of that these snakes were everywhere."
The herpetologist came up with a plan to control the copperhead population and restore balance to the land. Pustejovsky returned with Mr. and Mrs. Kingsnake, as they affectionately came to be known by the Flory family.
"He brought them over and had us pet them. He wrapped them around our necks," Flory said, laughing at the memory. "They are very gentle snakes."
Pustejovsky clarified. "Kingsnakes are ruthless fighters when it comes to their prey. They bite the other snake so it can't get away, then wrap around it and crush the heart."
Opossums arrived soon after courtesy of Gina Disteldorf, who runs Gina's Heart of Gold Reptile Rescue and works for Texas Wildlife Rehabilitation Coalition.
As nature took its course, Pustejovsky laid traps around the house and a smaller building added later as a satellite office for the family's real estate business. He removed more than 70 copperheads during the first 18 months. Today, maybe one a year gets caught in the traps.
In all, Pustejovsky has taken away more than 100 venomous snakes, including corals and western cottonmouths. He gives most to the National Natural Toxins Research Center at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, where scientists use the venom to develop treatments for strokes, heart attacks and cancerous tumors. The rest have been given to other educators or released into more appropriate habitats.
Balance restored
With hunting no longer allowed on the land - Flory has five game warden numbers programmed into his cellphone - and nearby development continuing to push animals out of their natural habitats, wildlife now flourishes on the property. Joining the beavers in the water are herons, egrets, turtles and even wood ducks, which arrive in the fall to feast on duckweed coating the lake and to lay eggs.
"Wood ducks are arguably the most beautiful in the world," Flory said. "They are very skittish, though. We could have 100 on the lake, but as soon as we open the back door, they're gone."
More than 20 deer sleep in the yard each night, and families of foxes, skunks and raccoons are in residence.
Coyotes and the occasional bobcat also make an appearance, and great horned and screech owls are among the raptors spotted in trees. Except for a tailless squirrel allowed into the house to snatch pecans off the counter, the family keeps its distance from the wildlife.
"I don't want to tame the animals," Flory said. "I try not to interfere. Help, yes. Interfere, no."
Help comes mainly in the form of food. Fish and deer have dedicated feeders, and the groundskeeper puts out corn, birdseed and kibble. He also has planted fruit trees, oats, barley and alfalfa. A section of the yard remains uncut so as to not disturb crawfish nests. Raccoons love the tasty crustaceans.
Flory also will help any animal he finds injured or otherwise in need, and that includes snakes that end up in a trap. With species unfamiliar to him, he takes a photo and sends it to his snake expert, who visits for both work and fun these days.
"I don't consider David a client anymore," Pustejovsky said. "It's a joy to come out here."
He still takes the venomous snakes away, but most of the others go free to continue acting as nature intended, such as with the rat snakes that keep rodents on the property to a minimum.
"Snakes just want to be left alone," Flory said. "Over the years, we've come to respect them and realize the really beneficial role they play."


text:
Welcome to the home of fairies and princes, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella. Let the 600 km German Fairy Tale Route transport you to the magical world of the Brothers Grimm, from their birthplace in Hanau to Bremen, the home of the famous four-legged town musicians (Tiercombo).
Many fairy stories begin with "Once upon a time…" Now you can create your own fairytale adventure as you follow in the footsteps of these two master storytellers. You might want to borrow some seven league boots – but if a nasty witch has stolen them, a bicycle or a car will do instead. The German Fairy Tale Route offers culture and history, enchanting medieval towns, bewitched castles, fairytale palaces, grottos and museums.
A route that tells a fairy tale of its own
Lose yourself in a realm of fairy tales, sagas, myths and legends, where the festivities never stop: open-air plays, puppet theatres, fairytale festivals, barn festivals, themed meals and medieval Tafeleyen feasts – and there's even the chance to bump into some of your favourite fairytale characters. Fairy tales can be found everywhere, even where you least expect them. On the German Fairy Tale Route, the everyday is an entire world away.
A meeting of fairytale fans
The route is a place where childhood dreams spring into life. Where the seven dwarfs and their seven mountains live side by side with daring princes, and fairies will cast a spell on you (unless the Pied Piper whisks you away first!). Bump into Little Red Riding Hood, who still hasn't got to her granny. Or Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel, and Mother Hulda (still shaking out her featherbeds). Live the dream in Sababurg Castle, where Sleeping Beauty's prince woke her from her enchanted sleep. And experience what it feels like to be Hans in Luck.
A mountain idyll: imagination in free flight
Art and culture, eight nature parks, enchanting highlands and riversides line the route, while images of half-timbered villages and romantic cities flutter past one after the other like the pages of a storybook. Delve into a countryside scattered with flowers, stride through deep forests, put your finger on the pulse of vibrant cities and enjoy the hospitality that lies round every twist and turn of the German Fairy Tale Route.
The spellbinding power of fairy tales
"Once upon a time...": this is how many fairy tales begin; the start of this particular journey into a world of witches, princesses, Rumpelstiltskin, Rapunzel and many other fairytale characters is marked by the words "I did that once". It's time to stop reading the tale and start living it on the German Fairy Tale Route.
Length: approximately 600 km
Theme: fairy tales, sagas, legends, culture
Bremen: UNESCO World Heritage Site, statue of the Bremen Town Musicians at the town hall
Ebergötzen: Wilhelm Busch Mill (as featured in the tale of Max and Moritz)
Hamelin: museums in the city of the Pied Piper,
Hanau: national memorial to the Brothers Grimm, Philippsruhe Palace
Hofgeismar: Sababurg Castle, Schönburg Castle
Kassel: UNESCO World Heritage Site, Brothers Grimm Museum, documenta exhibition
Marburg: museums, Landgraves' Residence
Schwalmstadt: Witches' Tower (Hexenturm), museums, land of Little Red Riding Hood
Steinau: Brothers Grimm House (Brüder Grimm-Haus)
Trendelburg: castle, Reinhardswald forest
Two useful shortcuts for using the zoom function of your browser:
Zoom in: +
Zoom out: +
For further assistance from your browser provider click the icon:


text:
How to get FREE Standard Shipping:
- Ship to an address within the United States (including U.S. territories)
- Place your online order of $25 or more* - after promotions and before tax are applied
- Use "Standard" shipping option at checkout
Order by 6pm for same day shipping
Domestic orders placed Monday - Friday by 6 p.m. Eastern Time will be packed and shipped the same day, pending verification of billing information and the shipping method selected. International orders and orders containing gift cards, out-of-stock items or refrigerated items will be processed as quickly as possible, but won't necessarily be shipped out the same day.
Excludes all orders placed on major US holidays (Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day).
- There is no shipping cost for Pick Up In Store orders
- Not all products are available for in store pickup
- Please bring a valid photo ID and your order confirmation number to pick up your item(s)
- A signature will be required upon pick up
- Your item(s) will remain available for 10 days from the time you receive your Ready for Pick Up email
- In most cases, your order should be ready in roughly 2 hours
- Orders placed within two hours of store closing might not be available the same day
- View Pick up In Store FAQs for additional information
Vitamin Shoppe® 100% Satisfaction Guarantee


text:
My friend and blogger colleague Cullen Roche at Pragmatic Capital posted a 7-point takedown of the deification of Berkshire Hathaway. It is a tongue-in-cheek post ostensibly teaching the reader "7 Easy Steps to Invest like Warren Buffett" while it sardonically catalogs the most well-known contradictions between Warren's business style and his public statements.
As an unabashed fan of the Oracle and a firm believer that he is indeed "the Mozart of Investing", I've offered up a point-by-point defense.
Cullen's one of the sharpest knives in the draw, so it was not without trepidation that I embarked on this task. You'll find my refutations below for each of his (italicized) statements, wish me luck:
1) Talk all sorts of smack about hedge funds but first spend the initial 10 years of your career running a hedge fund that charges 25% performance fees on top of 6% gains.
Buffett eventually found that there was a better vehicle to align his interests with his those of his shareholders and the types of long-term investments he wanted to make. And so he abandoned the hedge fund structure and spent the next few decades urging others to do the same. Why is learning and evolving one's business a negative? I spent my first ten professional years as a commission-based stockbroker charging 2.5% for buy and sell orders. And then when I realized how counterproductive a structure that was for my clients, I dashed my Series 7's head against the rocks and left it to drown in the river. Warren wised up, too. This is not a negative, it is a positive.
2) Amass enough capital (by charging massive fees) to buy multiple entire companies. Do it in a distressed debt/activist strategy, but later on spin it off as "value investing".
In Warren's youth, he was precocious and could even be vindictive, as he was in the case of the Berkshire acquisition. But are we to hold this against him four decades later? Is there any famous investor who can honestly say he is proud of every single moment of his career? Did not Mark Twain tell us that "a clear conscience is the sure sign of a bad memory"? If you're going to make an omelet, you've got to crack a couple of eggs. Buffett had certainly cracked his share.
3) Use your insurance arm (from the company you bought in a distressed debt play) as a massive cash flow machine in which you're essentially a leveraged covered call option writing operation.
Buffett has told us that his preferred holding period for an investment is "forever." Well, good luck finding a source of investment funds that aligns with this timeframe outside of the eternal cash flows of an insurance operation. And lo, doth my eyes deceive me or is that David Eimhorn's Greenlight Capital also in the reinsurance business, through a Cayman Islands holding company no less! And hark! Is that Third Point's Dan Loeb, also setting up a half-billion dollar reinsurance operation as well? They're all doing it because it's a good idea - given their investing style - to insulate their portfolios from the effects of un-sticky investor capital in times of turbulence.
4) Tell the world that they should just buy index funds and then spend most of your time building a portfolio around individual equities.
Buffett (and Munger) have been explicitly clear on the index fund versus active management debate. They are dyed-in-the-wool believers that hard work and homework and good old fashioned common sense can combine to produce successful equity portfolios that beat The Street. Their own record proves that this can be done consistently over long stretches. But they've also made it clear that they don't believe a majority of investors have what it takes and so they, rightly, recommend that people who are ill-equipped simply keep their risks spread out and their transaction costs and taxes low. How could this not be the sanest possible advice they could give to the masses hanging on their every word? What should they tell the average investor - to speculate?
5) Tell the world that fixed income is dangerous while maintaining billion dollar positions in bonds.
When you run insurance businesses, energy utilities and over fifty private companies with ongoing expense and cash flow obligations, using fixed income to meet the periodic costs involved isn't an option - it is a requirement.
6) Constantly refer to derivatives as "time bombs" while maintaining billion dollar derivative positions.
Buffett's derivative activities are tied to the reinsurance work he does and are largely a bet on future, long-term prosperity. He is taking the other side of the trade, in most cases, against those who would make the catastrophe bet. These long-term bets on the world's future have been additive to returns and are not of the reckless variety of the time bomb contracts written by AIG and Wall Street last decade - bets which were unpayable by the underwriters as we eventually found out.
7) Obtain a red phone to the US Treasury department so you can help them arrange a rescue plan that starts by rescuing your operation when it looks like the economy is collapsing.
The most powerful man in the financial markets and one of the world's wealthiest is always going to be listened to by the pols. This is the way of thew world. J Pierpont Morgan, when he occupied a similar position of influence one hundred years ago, was actually picking presidents and deciding elections over cigars on Madison Avenue. So if anything, Buffett's role, comparably speaking, is a benign and helpful one in times of distress. Don't hate the player, hate the game.
Thanks again to my friend Cullen for laying out this list, the exercise was a fun one to be sure.
What do you guys think?


text:
You have reached this page due to an error. Please try again. Please contact us at email@example.com if you receive this error again or have questions. Thank you!
Our Customer Support Center is equipped to rapidly answer questions and fulfill requests, via phone, fax or on-line. We take pride in providing superior customer service, and want to ensure that your technical needs are promptly addressed.


text:
Christ Is Risen!
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
I'm wondering which jurisdiction is the "best," canonically...There's also a Coptic Orthodox parish near the Ukrainian, but I [think?] they are non-Chalcedonian.
I would go with the OCA for sure. They are more prepared to help new people to the faith.
Page created in 0.064 seconds with 25 queries.


text:
Online Resources
Rack Mounting Resources
At RackSolutions, we make ourselves available to assist you with any rack mounting questions you may have. Call or chat with us online during normal office hours. After hours, please send us an email, and someone will get right back with you.
Contact Tech Support
- Phone: 903-453-0801
- To request a quote, call 1-888-903-7225.
- Online chat support is available during normal
- business hours (8 am - 5 pm, CDT)


text:
May 6 | Num 23-25, Matt 1
Orchard Community Church is excited to encourage you to spend time in Gods word daily. Each morning we will provide you with a quick encouraging word! If it is helpful or encouraging please consider sharing it with a friend and supporting the ministry of Orchard Community Church.
The Orchard is a North County Church and our goal is to help you find your place in God's story and we do that by inviting people to find hope and experience love through faith in Christ. We meet at Orange Glen High School in Escondido Ca. at 9:00am and 10:30am every Sunday. The address at Orange Glen High School is 2200 Glenridge Rd., Escondido Ca. 92027.
All of us at Orchard Community Church would love to see you!


text:
Select a topic or year
According to the company's 2011 Corporate Responsibility Report, which is now available at www.ibm.com/responsibility/2011/, commitment to socially and environmentally responsible behavior yielded a broad range of benefits: reducing energy usage, creating a new model for secondary education, and using technology and expertise to help small businesses grow.
These and other accomplishments are detailed in IBM's 2011 Corporate Responsibility Report, a year-to-year comparison of the company's citizenship and philanthropic projects, community partnerships, environmental stewardship, and employment policies and practices.
Sustainable Practices are Good for Business
IBM achieved strong sustainability results in energy conservation, data center energy efficiency and environmental responsibility last year. The company saved more than US$43 million in electricity expenses and conserved 378,000 megawatt hours of electricity last year, enough to power almost 34,000 average U.S. homes for a year. IBM's energy conservation projects delivered savings equal to 7.4 percent of the company's total energy use, significantly exceeding the annual goal of 3.5 percent. This was the result of an ambitious ongoing program involving 2,300 conservation projects at more than 364 IBM facilities around the world. Building on decades of environmental leadership, IBM will continue these conservation efforts and aim to eliminate 1.1 million megawatt hours of energy consumption by the end of 2012.
In 2011, IBM and the World Environment Center formed the Innovation in Environmental Sustainability Council to explore how innovation in business process and technology can enable strategic solutions to major challenges involving energy, materials, water, infrastructure and logistics. Charter members also include Boeing, CH2M HILL, The Coca-Cola Company, The Dow Chemical Company, F. Hoffman-La Roche AG, General Motors, Johnson & Johnson Family of Consumer Companies, and The Walt Disney Company.
IBM's long-term sustainability policies are paying off, literally. From 1990-2011, the company's energy conservation efforts have avoided 5.8 billion kWh of electricity consumption, nearly 3.8 million metric tons of CO2 emissions, and saved the company $442 million.
"In order for sustainability to be more than a passing fad, it must be sustained over the long term," said Wayne Balta, vice president of Environmental Affairs and Product Safety at IBM. "At IBM, environmental leadership is at the heart of our corporate values, and it shows in how we engage with clients, employees and communities in our efforts to make the planet smarter. From the impact of our operations and products on the environment, to how we manage our global supply chain, environmental leadership is a strategic imperative, backed by the conviction that good environmental management makes good business sense."
A Year of Advances in Corporate Responsibility
"For more than a century, IBM has served the community to make the world a better place," said Stanley Litow, vice president of Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Affairs at IBM. "But in recent years our technology innovations coupled with IBM's best talent have taken those results to new levels of performance. We continue to work with a global network of stakeholders from governments, businesses and society but are now increasing the level of real sustainable change in communities worldwide."
The report also details how IBM in 2011:
· Held the largest corporate community service event in history, the Celebration of Service, yielding more than 1,000 years worth of service by engaging more than 300,000 IBMers from 120 countries. They worked on 5,000 different projects ranging from improving education and healthcare to disaster relief response and conservation.
· Increased corporate donations of cash, technology and services to US$196.1 million, the 11th consecutive year that IBM donations increased.
· Pioneered a new model for economic development and education by opening Pathways in Technology Early College High School, or P-TECH, in New York City. It is the first grades 9-14 school, linking high school, college and career in one.
· Helped to fuel economic growth and job creation in the U.S. by creating Supplier Connection, a consortium of 16 companies that have a collective supply chain spend of $300 billion and make it easier for small businesses to become suppliers to large companies.
· Convened more than 100 IBM leaders from around the world for the first Global Diversity and Inclusion Summit, continuing IBM's commitment to diversity.
· Launched the Pro Bono Privacy Initiative, a group of privacy and legal professionals who engage with human services agencies to help them with privacy and data protection.
· Sent 115 IBM employees to 24 cities, from Johannesburg, South Africa to St. Louis, Mo., as part of its Smarter Cities Challenge, helping city leaders devise strategies to improve efficiency, spur economic growth and engage citizens.
· Increased its global first and second tier spending with diversity-owned suppliers to $3.2 billion, providing more global opportunities to diversity-owned businesses.
To download the 2011 IBM Corporate Responsibility Report, visit www.ibm.com/responsibility/2011/. For more information on IBM's Corporate Citizenship efforts, please visit www.citizenibm.com. Follow the conversation on Twitter at #THINKCSR
Registered journalists and bloggers can download b-roll associated with IBM's Corporate Responsibility efforts at http://www.thenewsmarket.com
Related resourcesSite links
YouTube Video: Positive Energy: IBM Goes Green Inside & Out
|XML feeds
Financial news, company earnings, philanthropy, community service, human resources, sponsorship


text:
The Cañon City Board of Education heard information Monday about a new committee formed to make recommendations toward beefing up the course offerings at Cañon City High School.
The "Cañon 20/20 -Bridging Today to Tomorrow and Beyond" committee began work Wednesday to recommend changes to the high school program that will provide students with additional opportunities for advanced offerings and career/vocational offerings
"Last year. we tried to focus on what we could do to beef up our elementary program, and we expanded the exploratory program and then expanded the science and technology offerings at Lincoln, and this year we're taking a look at high school," said Superintendent Dr. Robin Gooldy. "Our expectation is that what we'll do is really ask this question of what students are going to need as they graduate high school in order to be successful."
The committee then will compare that against what the district has and where they would like to be, primarily in the areas of advanced educational offerings and vocational offerings.
"Those seem to be two primary areas where we could probably do more if we had the right resources," Gooldy said.
The process will begin with next year's incoming sixth-graders and their future career planning.
"By the time they're graduating, it'll be 2020," Gooldy said. "We thought that title was a little catchy in the sense of 20/20 vision and seeing things clearly and the idea is to make that connection between what we are currently doing and what students will need for the future."
Gooldy said the committee likely will have recommendations ready to present in April.
In other business, the board approved a resolution certifying the ad valorem tax levies for the calendar year 2013 for the general fund and the 2003/2004/2006/2011 General Obligation Bond and Interest Fund, totaling 35.765. The portion set by the state is 27.086 and the amount set by the school district is 8.679.


text:
Find A CBV
Become a CBV
Contact Us
CBV Expertise
About CBV Institute
Members & Students
About CBV Institute
CBV Expertise
Members & Students
Volume 14, Issue 2 – November 2008
< See more from Business Valuation Digest
Volume 14, Issue 2 – November 2008
Your web browser is outdated. For the best possible site experience, we encourage you to switch your browser to Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome or Firefox.
This website uses cookies to establish a secure connection with you, improve your site experience and offer targeted advertising. By continuing on this website, you consent to our Privacy Policy and our use of cookies. For more information and to opt out of cookies, visit our
Privacy Policy
. If you choose to opt out of cookies, this message will continue to appear.
Privacy & Cookies Policy


text:
Get FREE Real Estate Postcards for Laser Printers Now! Order 5 boxes of ReaMark laser postcards & get 1 additional box FREE4-up Real Estate Laser Postcards are designed to feed through your laser printer, so you'll be ready to advertise that new listing or open house at a moment's notice. They come as 4 real estate postcards printed on 8.5" x 11" perforated sheets. Each box contains 50 sheets (200 total 4.25" x 5.5" postcards).You Can Order 4-up Laser Postcards in 2 Ways:Blank: (Full-color front, backside is blank)
Layout with Photo & Logo / Layout with Photo & Typeset Logo / Layout with Logo & No Photo / Layout with Typeset Logo & No Photo
Imprinted: (Full-color front, Black & White backside personalization)
Laser Postcards Selection


text:
Zack Green has your latest weather forecast.
WBZ Mid-Morning Forecast For June 3
Sponsored By
Program: WeatherCategories: News, Local News, Weather, Weather Forecast, WBZTV, Top Story
Latest Videos
WBZ Mid-Morning Forecast For July 7Zack Green has your latest weather forecast.
Kanye West's Yeezy Brand Received Up To $5 Million From PPP LoanKanye West's clothing and sneaker brand received a loan of up to $5 million from the Paycheck Protection Program.
International Students Must Leave U.S. If Classes Go Online, ICE SaysWBZ TV's Nick Emmons reports.
FDA Warns Of 5 More Potentially Toxic Hand SanitizersWBZ TV's Kate Merrill reports.
WBZ Morning Forecast For July 7Zack Green has your latest weather forecast.
The Last Minute: Woman Helps Save Suicidal ManThe woman told the man that she was there for him repeatedly. WBZ-TV's Louisa Moller reports.
Haverhill Couple Help Save Life Of Distressed Scuba DiverAbout nine people joined the chain to bring the scuba diver to safety.
WBZ ForecastEric Fisher has your latest weather forecast.
Health Experts Concerned About An Increase In Tick-Borne DiseasesThis year's mild winter could contribute to a rough tick season.
Man Injured After Stabbing In ChelseaThe 36-year-old man was seriously injured after the stabbing happened in O'Malley State Park.
Guidelines Announced For Youth Sports For Phase 3 In MassachusettsMany are frustrated by the lack of competitive play allowed in certain sports. WBZ-TV's Ken MacLeod reports.
Massachusetts Gyms Adjust To Reopening RegulationsFitness classes will be a different experience but many are happy to be back. WBZ-TV's Kristina Rex reports.
WBZ News Update For July 6, 2020WBZ-TV's Lisa Hughes and Eric Fisher have your latest news and weather.
WBZ Evening Forecast For July 6WBZ-TV's Eric Fisher has your latest weather forecast.
NH Governor Asks Anyone Attending President Trump's Rally To Wear MaskNew Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu said he welcomes President Donald Trump to the state this weekend for a rally, but added that it is "imperative" that anyone attending wear masks.
Baker Signs Massachusetts Vote By Mail Bill Into LawA new law expands voting options amid the coronavirus pandemic.
'Black Lives Matter' Banner At Mendon Church Ripped ApartRev. Ralph Clarke said the Black Lives Matter was peacefully hanging for two weeks. WBZ-TV's Tashanea Whitlow reports.
MLB Teams Facing Challenges With Coronavirus Testing, But Red Sox Get Results As PlannedWBZ-TV's Dan Roche reports.
Companies Utilizing Technology As Workers Return To Offices After Working From HomeMany office buildings are reopening after employees worked from home due to coronavirus.
Stop & Shop Employees Call For Company To Reinstate 'Appreciation Pay'Sen Ed Markey joined UFCW Local 1445 outside a Stop & Shop for a rally Monday.
WinnCompanies Extends Moratorium On EvictionsThe affordable housing company said the moratorium will apply to all residents financially impacted by coronavirus.
'Please, There's Hope': Lowell Woman Talks Suicidal Man Off BridgeWBZ-TV's Louisa Moller reports.
Can Sunlight Kill The Virus? Dr. Mallika Marshall Answers Coronavirus QuestionsDr. Mallika Marshall is answering coronavirus-related questions from viewers.
Mass. Wedding Venues Face Challenges With Celebrations Resuming In Phase 3 Of Reopening PlanWBZ-TV's Mike LaCrosse reports.


text:
Today I read a post called "Pocho studies" on Lotería Chicana. I started to leave a comment but by the time I finished it, I realized the comment was long enough to stand alone as a blog post, so here I am.
Cindy of Lotería Chicana writes about how her Spanish fluency is different from that of her siblings. (I encourage you to click through – it's worth reading and the photos make it all the more special.) This is a really fascinating topic because most people would assume that bilingual children raised in the same household would be equally fluent, but most parents raising bilingual children know this isn't true.
Just like children raised in the same household may end up with different eating habits, religious beliefs, or athletic abilities – the same goes for language. I imagine there are an endless number of possibilities in each family depending on all kinds of circumstances – many of which are only apparent in hindsight.
Here is the comment I started to leave but which I'm pasting here instead.
I was raised in an English only Anglo home but married a Salvadoran. It's always been my goal to raise our children to be bilingual. This was something I had my heart set on before they were born, before I married my husband, Carlos. It was a desire borne out a love of language and the knowledge that I would want to share that with my future children because of all the beauty and opportunity the gift of bilingualism can bring.
At some point my idealism was hit with a major dose of reality.
Our older son will soon be 14 and his little brother is 10 – While I have tried to raise them to be bilingual, the journey has been long, inconsistent and not nearly as easy as I had imagined. Their language abilities are both so different that it sometimes feels like they weren't raised in the same household — in some ways, they weren't.
When we had our first son we were both really young. My Spanish was very basic and I lacked confidence. I never said more than a couple words here and there in Spanish to the baby. My hope had been that my husband would speak Spanish to the baby, but Carlos was struggling with English and our focus at the time was his fluency – not our child's. During the first year of our first son's life, we lived with my (English-speaking) family. This was good for Carlos's English but meant a very English dominant environment for our son. Once we moved out, we still spoke English most of the time since Carlos needed the practice. Most of the Spanish our son heard the first couple years was when my husband was on the phone to El Salvador or when he watched TV, (mostly Spanish-language news.)
When I had my second son, life was very different. Our household had become a place where Spanish was very frequently spoken and heard throughout the day. (Our older son was 3 or 4 at this point.) My mother-in-law had moved in with us and she didn't speak English. My new baby, myself and my older son were now immersed in an environment with 2 native Spanish-speakers, (one of whom we had no choice but to communicate with in Spanish.)
As my skills and confidence in the language grew, I tried to speak and read to the kids more in Spanish and encouraged my husband to do so as well. Still, I didn't use Spanish with them much of the time because English had become my "code language" – a safe haven to speak to my husband and children in, a place where my mother-in-law couldn't understand me, (and I desperately needed that privacy.)
In 2010, realizing that my kids weren't on grade level with their Spanish from the limited interactions with their live-in grandmother, I decided to speak Spanish to them almost full time. Since then I've slacked off here and there but there has definitely been a much more concentrated effort on my part to ensure they're bilingual. Seeing how much more comfortable the kids are in Spanish, my husband has joined the effort. It comes naturally now – not the awkward way it once was, but it took a long time to get here. (Coincidentally, their grandmother moved out a year ago, so speaking Spanish to them has become even more vital.)
At this point both boys understand spoken Spanish very well but prefer to answer in English or Spanglish. My older son, when he does speak Spanish, has a great vocabulary, but the accent is very "gringo." His reading and writing was not very good but it's grown by leaps and bounds the past year because he's studying Spanish as his "foreign language" at school – having the basic foundation made it an easy "A" for him even though he started the class a year ahead of his peers and was given "native speaker" work.
Our younger son, perhaps because he heard native speakers since infancy, has a fantastic natural accent in Spanish. (He can pronounce the "rr" but his older brother can't.) Our younger son's vocabulary is probably not as big as his older brother's though, and I think maybe it's because he's the "consentido" and his older brother always does things for him, including translating things he doesn't understand. His ease at reading written Spanish aloud is probably better than his older brother though, because I read books in Spanish to him more than I did to my older son.
Another interesting development occurred this past week. Our older son is away at science camp and our younger son is home with me all day. Suddenly my younger son has begun to respond to me in Spanish when we're alone together… Yesterday he came to me and completely unprompted, offered me half of his snack saying, "Mamá, ¿Quieres compartir?" (and "compartir" is a word I've never even heard him use before.)
I've come to accept that there will be disparities in their fluency – that one may be better at one skill than the other, just as they have their own unique talents when it comes to sports or art, but it's harder to get over the feeling that I failed them. I couldn't have spoken Spanish to them any earlier than I did, and I tried to convince my husband to do it but, like many immigrant parents, he worried more about their English fluency until it was "too late."
I continue to speak Spanish to them, determined that they will be as bilingual as possible, but knowing that the ship has sailed as far as them being native speaker fluent, makes me incredibly sad sometimes.
What are your experiences with your bilingual siblings or your bilingual children? How are their skills different?


text:
Warning: Garfoose Is Loose in Tampa Bay!
Photo by Pat Manfredo
Got to tell you, I am really excited about the possibilities of possibly having a right-handed half moose, half giraffe who will be given a fighting chance for a roster spot this Spring on our Tampa Bay Rays Bullpen staff. And no, I am not talking about the Tall Texan Jeff Niemann who resembles a World-wide toy store Giraffe either.
The animated and finely illustrated character I am referring to is the creature that first festered out of the mind of relief pitcher Dirk Hayhurst, the highly acclaimed Garfoose. If you have not read any of my past posts about this mystical character, please feel free to hit this link, which will get you more in tune with the Garfoose frame of mind.
What is extremely exciting is not only will Hayhurst get a fighting chance to win a spot in the Rays Bullpen, but his mire presence in the Bullpen even this Spring will have droves of kids of all ages clambering for a brief moment with an acclaimed author ( The Bullpen Gospels ) , bus also the originator of this highly addictive baseball eating melting pot.
Sure some of you might also be excited that Hayhurst is also a socially active baseball player who is known to post more than a few particularly mind-bending 140-character posts to his Twitter account, or even to his own website just to see if you are awake and thinking. But I like those kind of people.
The Rays Bullpen can use more guys like Bullpen Coach Bobby Ramos and his motorcycle dance and Salsa moves to cut the tension like a knife. For some odd reason, I think a Bullpen with Hayhurst on it will never be a boring place to view during a game. Not since John Rocker or Rusty Meacham has the Rays Bullpen had someone you knew had distraction written all over them, even before Spring Training starts.
But also it could be an amazing mind melting experience if you can get an artist/prankster like Rays long reliever Andy Sonnanstine and Hayhurst possibly together on the same bench….. Think for a moment at the amount of imagination and ability assembled just under those two Rays caps and it definitely should have you smiling.
It is not a " sure thing" that Hayhurst will even get a legitimate shot at being on the Rays bench, but I am a glass half full kind of guy. With the Rays Bullpen in definite reloading mode, and the possibility that some of the recent additions to the Rays roster could find an early home at the Rays Triple-A affiliate, the Durham Bulls,
I find it highly probable with a great Spring the Garfoose will be on the new AstroTurf at Tropicana Field helping the Rays as they raise their 2010 American League East Championship banner to the rafters. And even if Hayhurst does spend some quality time at Durham, imagine the possibilities of a half-giraffe, half moose getting to know a snorting bull like Wool E Bully…up close.
I mean the idea instantly has me clicking and checking Hayhurst blog today as he introduced himself to the Rays Republic and was extremely excited about the future. With Fan Fest barely a month away, could the addition of the originator of the Garfoose to the Rays suddenly bring some extra incentive for kids to want to drag their personal chauffeurs ( parents) to the Trop on February 19th to meet Hayhurst in person, hoping for a Garfoose sighting or two….
You can bet between now and then I will be picking up the dusty covered "The Bullpen Gospels" still sitting on my coffee table and reading it from cover-to-cover in anticipation of the first time I get to chat with Hayhurst. Over the last several years I have met and talked with Hayhurst before, but never really talked about writing or his minor league odyssey..
For some reason I have the feeling Hayhurst would be an amazing guy to sit down and interview, or possibly just pick his brain for knowledge both on and off the pitching rubber. I love this signing.
More for the potential of greatness that Hayhurst could possibly achieve in 2011 than for the outer lying presence of his imaginary "friend". Having Hayhurst in Tampa Bay will never be labeled "boring".
But seriously, when was the last time you looked into the Bullpen before the 6th inning to see what madness might be occurring, lurking or possibly sighted with his antlers rising above the front row. Welcome to Tampa Bay Garfoose, I will keep a few baseballs handy especially for you.
13 Comments
Have to ask….What are your thoughts about Damon and Manny? I feel sure there will be a post coming up very soon here. Looking forward to it!
Sigh! You know me so well by now.
As we speak mymind is churning the facts, figures and even a few odd conversations on what this pair means to the Rays. Both aging superstars, but still better than Pat Burrell before May 15th of 2010.
This is going to get interesting real quick!
Rays Renegade
Manny being Manny. I can't wait either for your thoughts on manny and Johnny.
—Mark Gauthier
Okay Mark.
But I am upset no one wants to talk about an acclaimed author, a blogger and a guy who will entertain when he is for the mound. Garfoose being Garfoose is more important to me right now dang it! (lol).
Da-Manny will be addressed in due time…..count on it.
Might even throw a "Pat the Bat" reference in there too.
Rays Renegade
I'm not real familiar with Hayhurst…sorry. And like Jane and Mark, I cannot wait to see what you have to say about Johnny and Manny.
I'm not real familiar with Hayhurst…sorry. And like Jane and Mark, I cannot wait to see what you have to say about Johnny and Manny.
Why would anyone care what little ol' me has to say about Dam-Manny. That is my pet name for the cong;omeration, so get used to it (lol).
******Spoiler Alert******
I actually have a lot of positive thing to say about it all…..soon.
Rays Renegade
I haven't had time to get on, but I read all of your entries, so I just got around to it.
Funny thing about this article is, is that I was just looking up our major league signings earlier. I cam across this article (http://www.cantonrep.com/sports/x684401826/Hayhurst-gets-another-chance-with-Tampa-Bay) and then checking his website and stuff… To be honest, I'm somewhat excited about this guy. He seems like a perfect fit for us, and the fact that he's such a social guy seem great as well. He didn't do bad with the Blue Jays either in 2009. However, he had to have surgery so… I think he could be another case of Jaoquin Benoit. Sure, its hard to live up to that, but I do feel he could help us a lot.
He's like our very own CJ Wilson, with being an internet geek. Haha.
Okay I have to admit, I knew little to nothing about Dirk Hayhurst until reading your post but now you have me quite intrigued. I've been meaning to read the Bullpen Gospels and now I think I will have to add it to my "wish list". Hayhurst seems like an upbeat guy and a great character, a pitcher with a heck of a lot of heart. It sounds like other teams need to keep a wary eye on the Rays relievers this year even before they take the mound, LOL.
– Kristen
You had to go with C J Wilson here (lol).
I have read more than a few past articles ( and commented on them) about Hayhurst in the past, and the photos attached to the blog are from another Ray fan's personal collection as she is very well known within the Garfoose's tight knot community.
This is the type of player I am drawn to personally. Not for their literary side, but for the fun they have with the great abilities they have been blessed with while enjoying playing a child's game.
Looking forward to the reign of the Garfoose.
Rays Renegade
I am a follower of "The Garfoose" and share in your enthusiasm over the signing. Thanks for spreading the word on Dirk……Manny who?…..LOL
Hopefully with this third mention of the Garfoose and Dirk Hayhurst, we can get more people to know his great story and possibly read "The Bullpen Gospels". for themselves this year.
The Toronto Blue Jays used to hold their Spring Training games about 5 miles freom my old house, and I have wandered up to Dunedin more than a few times to check out the Jays.
Really excited the Rays have an opportunity to let a young reliever grow, and possibly be a key component to their 2011 season….I can't wait for April.
Rays Renegade
I follow him on Twitter, and look forward to many odd-based conversations this Spring and beyond with Dirk.
But then again I am drawn to people a little off-center, maybe he is left-handed… as a writer?
Rays Renegade


text: info We specialize in architecture, interiors and environmental portraiture. We also direct and shoot motion profiles of businesses, artists and craftsmen. We are based in Encinitas, CA and serve San Diego and Orange County, California We prefer to shoot on location rather than in a studio. Favorite quote right now: "A mediocre idea brilliantly told is preferable to a brilliant idea poorly told." ~Abbas Kiarostami We seek to work with people who are making the world a better place through intelligent innovation and creative design. I say "We" because its me doing most of the work but none of it could be done without all the amazing, talented people that I work with that really make it happen.


text:
Bizzare Medical Condition: Dissecting Scalp Cellulitis (Warning Not For The Weak Stomach)
"Update: 1/19/2012 Have not went back to the last dermatologist the laser treatments were to painful. I was referred to the University of Minnesota, and I am scheduled for March 29th! I am glad for this, maybe they can do the full scalp removal as I have been requesting for a while. I went and revisited my primary doctor today and was prescribed a body wash and advice not to scrub to vigrousley when bathing"
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


text:
I am working as the data architect and developer on a modern app build with a the team from Modern Apps Live! in Vegas. The goal of the project is to provide guidance to build modern applications and use this application as a reference. While the conference is focused on the why of the build, we have learned some interesting things about how as well. This is one of those how items.
In this post, I needed to preload some data into the database. I wanted to include this process in the database project I had created. However, I quickly found out that this was not a straightforward as I thought it would be. Here are the steps I followed and any of the gotchas along the way.
1. Create Scripts for the Load Queries.
I started out with scripts that included a DELETE statement followed by an INSERT statement. However, this created problems when data existed, particularly when the table is a list table used as a foreign key.
Next, I tried MERGE. This worked great. This gives me a way to handle new records that are required for the lookup or any changes made to existing data. Here is the script I used:
merge dbo.MVCategory as target
using (
select 1, 'Fun'
select 2, 'Technology'
select 3, 'Entertainment'
select 4, 'News'
select 5, 'Sports'
select 6, 'Off-Topic'
) as source (CategoryID, CategoryName)
on target.CategoryID = source.CategoryID
when matched then
update set target.CategoryName = source.CategoryName
when not matched then
insert (CategoryID, CategoryName) values (source.CategoryID, source.CategoryName)
After going through this process on my own, I also found the same recommendation from the SSDT team at Microsoft as noted here: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ssdt/archive/2012/02/02/including-data-in-an-sql-server-database-project.aspx
2. Add the Scripts to Your Project
This step is pretty straight forward. You can either create the script files and add them to your project or you can create them within your project as script files.
3. Change the Build Action to None
This was one of the key pieces I missed. After I added the scripts to the project and then ran a build, it was broke the build. Each of these files which were merge scripts reported an error during the build. It turns out this is called out in the article I reference above as well. SSDT (SQL Server Data Tools) is designed to build database objects not manipulate data. One other area of grief caused by this is that you can break the build in the solution if your project is part of a bigger solution such as mine. As a result, you will get grief from the other developers, you can trust me on this one.
The image below shows where to set the Build Action property to NONE. This will exclude these files from the build in this format.
4. Add a PostDeployment Script to Your Project
If you do not already have a PostDeployment Script, you need to do this at this point. This is a specific type of script task that can be found in the Add menu.
5. Add SQLCMD Statements to the PostDeployment Script
The final part of the process is to add SQLCMD statement to the PostDeployment script to execute the files you have created. As noted in the help in the template, you can execute the scripts by calling a single SQLCMD statement for each script.
:r .\PreLoadMVCategory.sql
The :r {filename} syntax will expand the script for execution during a publish call or DACPAC creation.
I hope you find this useful as well. This is a common task required in creating solutions.


text: NEWS 'Smash' Musical Within a Show Getting Cast Album 1/7/2013 by Associated Press FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME 'Smash' Star Megan Hilty Signs with Columbia Records The Broadway show within a show on NBC's "Smash" is getting its own cast album. NBC and Columbia Records said Sunday that a 22-song cast album for "Bombshell," the mythical Broadway play at the center of the television show "Smash," will be released on Feb. 12. Katherine McPhee, Megan Hilty and other "Smash" cast members perform the songs on the disc. NBC premieres the drama's second season a week before the album comes out. Producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron said they'd often talked about launching "Bombshell" as an actual Broadway show but haven't taken any steps to make that a reality. Zadan said he believed the cast recording for "Bombshell" could stand up with the music on any current Broadway show. The soundtrack has music from both seasons. © 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME


text:
Sigh, I totally didn't make my goal of sharing 31 monster animation cels this season, but in retrospect I don't mind all that much. Doing these sorts of blogging marathons can get grueling when doing them day by day, and this Halloween season was extra jam-packed with stuff for my family outside of my work on Branded. So in short, I had a great Halloween season, as I hope the rest of you did out there in internetland, and sooner or later I'll find the time to scan the rest of the animation cels I planned on sharing and get them posted here.
One of the cool things about this past October was getting a chance to be a guest on a number of podcasts, so I wanted to give a shout out to a couple that dropped recently…
The Nerd Lunch crew were gracious enough to invite me back on their show recently for a discussion on some obscure Halloween specials. I always love getting a chance to chat with Paxton & Jeeg, and I finally had the opportunity to talk to Jay of the Sexyarmpit.com! So if you wanna hear me and the guys speak to the importance of Paul Lynde's chest hair and whether or not Fairuza Balk's character from the Worst Witch grows up to be the evil bitch in The Craft, head on over to the Nerd Lunch site, or heck, you can download the episode by subscribing to the show on iTunes, or even directly right here!
I also had the opportunity to talk all things Halloween-y with the fine folks over at the Beaucoup Pop Podcast!
I've chatted with amazing artist Justin Stewart online for ages (as well as getting a chance to meet him in person during the Up! Fair and he was a super cool dude), so it was a real treat to get a chance to chat with him and Tressa (another great artist by the by) about the holiday and my obsession with 80s era cartoons. Also in on the conversation are the super talented Sara & Brian Turner of Cricket-Press.com, and it's always a pleasure to hang out with those guys. You can find episode 75 of the Beaucoup Pop Podcast over at their website or by subscribing to the show on iTunes!


text:
Home > POS Computer > 15-inch LCD POS Computer > POS-X XPC500 > XPC500-RR
- The POSMicro Advantage
- Free Shipping*
- Free Tech Support*
- Best Customer Service
- Best Prices
The picture displayed for this item is a picture of the XPC500 and may not be of this part number.
When you buy this product you receive:
POS-X 3-Year Rapid Replacement Warranty (must be purchased within 15 days of computer purchase)
Please call for pricing and information
Conditions Apply* Return Policy How can we improve your shopping experience? Leave us feedback.
About This Product
For a complete product description, including technical specifications, warranty information, and additional models please visit the main XPC500 page.
Product Technical Specifications
Listed specifications may not apply to every part number including the one listed above. Contact us and we will happily verify whether this part number is compatible with your current hardware and software.
Physical Characteristics
Performance Characteristics
Environmental Characteristics
- Dimensions (W x D x H): 14.9 x 10 x 12.25
- Weight: 19 lbs
- Power: 200w Power Supply
- Display: 15 TFT Active Matrix LCD Display
- Network: Integrated 10/100 Mbps Ethernet Adapter
Performance Characteristics
- Processor: 2.8 GHz Intel Celeron Processor
- OS: Windows XP Pro or XP Home
- Memory: 512 MB DDR RAM
- Display Resolution: 1024x768 (native), 800x600
- Touch Screen Technology: 5-Wire Resistive
Environmental Characteristics
- Operating Temperature: 32°–104°F
- Operating Humidity: 10% to 80% Non-condensing


text:
Actually, no, I told him.
He's the man who sells us our insurance and Jose and I were in his office yesterday morning pricing life insurance. Automatically seeking the least expensive price category, I looked at "elite preferred non-tobacco" — i.e. really healthy people!
It was marked N/A. Because we're already too old.
Holy shit.
Frankly, I'd never considered pricing life insurance, but that's why I married a man whose most common phrase is: "Be careful."
I never planned much of anything, I realized, when asked.
Which shocked me into writing this post…
From the age of about 12, I wanted to become a journalist, and ideally a foreign correspondent. I knew I never wanted to have kids. I figured I might get married eventually, but it was never anything I thought much about or fantasized over; I've now done it twice.
But planning?
Hmmm, not so much. I knew I wanted to move to New York for work, but did not know exactly how that would happen. I did start writing for major American publications in my mid-20s, freelance, to start building some contacts. I even interviewed for a staff job at the Miami Herald in my late 20s. But actually leaving everything behind?
I ended up meeting an American medical student in Montreal, fell in love, got a green card through my American mom, and crossed the border to follow him, for good. I still had no definite agenda beyond finding work in my field and eventually, as I did, marrying him.
I would say, truthfully, I've spent a lot of my time and energy preparing for these goals:
— I studied French and Spanish throughout university to gain fluency
— I started freelancing before I was 20, so I learned a lot, quickly, about my industry and made contacts within it
— I knew I wanted to write a few books, so I took workshops and attended conferences which taught me how to write a proposal and find an agent
So why haven't I been more directed in plotting a specific direction and set of coordinates for getting there quickly and efficiently?
I've always had self-confidence and have bounced back from some very rough times emotionally, so have always (correctly) assumed whatever shit showed up, I'd cope somehow.
I have good skills, and a variety of them.
I have savings.
I'm pretty smart.
I don't take drugs or drink to excess, which could seriously cloud my judgement or decision-making.
I've also been faced with some serious headwinds that impeded my younger/idealistic assumptions about what I'd be certain to achieve professionally: three recessions since 1989; 24,000 journalists fired in 2008; having to re-start my career at 30 (i.e. losing the first eight years' hard work and social capital when I left Canada).
And being fired from a few jobs also killed some of my drive. It's painful and humiliating and every time it happened I lost a little more appetite for climbing back into that harness with a clear action plan ahead of me. Having my first marriage end within two years also shook my sense of certainty about planning for the future.
But, if I look back over my career and life, I've achieved pretty much everything I'd hoped for without a tick-the-box meticulousness.
Especially living in an affluent part of the gogogogogogo United States, I see a lot of people making themselves (and their kids) crazy when they fail to achieve their specific goals — getting into X college or Y company, not earning as much as they'd expected to by 25 or 30. I think that attitude adds tremendous stress, unnecessarily.
I always knew the broad outlines of what I most wanted:
interesting, well-paid work
intellectual challenge
good health
a loving and loyal partner
dear friends
frequent travel
a safe and attractive place to live
enough disposable income for cashmere, decent wine, tickets to the ballet occasionally
My mother, now in a nursing home at 76, inherited enough money in her 40s that she never had to take or keep a job. So she traveled the world alone for years. She never taught me the normal tools: how to dress, wear make-up, stay employed, find and nurture a husband, balance a checkbook. Nor did my Dad, a celebrated film-maker, still world traveling and kicking ass at a healthy 83.
They're fun and interesting people, but normal and conventional life issues like wills, insurance, planning for the future (beyond, crucially, save money and stay healthy), just weren't part of our conversations.
So, did I plan to be 55?
Hell, no more than I planned to be 17 or 29 or 37 or 42.
Are you someone who does a lot of planning?
How does that affect your life?