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A new set of tighter mortgage rules designed to prevent the kind of lending frenzy that led to the 2007 housing crash are being established, but some worry they could dampen Southwest Florida's budding housing recovery.
that is because the new rules, aimed at protecting consumers from abusive lending practices, could wind up making it even harder for some borrowers to obtain mortgages.
"Lenders are very careful now. People who should get loans are getting loans, but it is a more difficult process for everyone," said David Hunihan, director of sales at homebuilder Neal Communities.
"My fear is that the legislation is too far reaching, that people who should get loans won't be able to, and that's not good for anyone," he said.
Borrowers already are facing uphill battles for mortgage loans, a reaction to free-wheeling lending practices that pushed consumers to buy homes they could not afford during the real estate boom of the mid-2000s.
Cash buyers, meanwhile, who have been key players in the revival of the region's housing market, also are elbowing out those who must borrow money to buy a home, said Lois Seropian, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker on Siesta Key.
"Most of our deals are cash," she said. "Mortgages are very hard on us. Even though rates are great, you have to have perfect credit.
"When those buyers go up against a cash buyer, the seller will take the cash. A mortgage is going to take six to eight weeks, while with cash you close in 10 days," she said.
The new rules issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFBP) are expected to have a profound impact on mortgage markets when they go fully into effect in January 2014.
Under them, lenders are banned from making risky "interest-only" and "no documentation" loans that helped inflate the housing bubble. Low interest "teaser" rates intended to draw in borrowers also are now prohibited.
Just as significantly, a borrower's total debt load cannot exceed 43 percent of their pre-tax income. Those loans, known as "qualified mortgages," will be the most common issued under the new rules.
That new standard will be phased in over seven years, so borrowers with heavier debt burdens or other credit issues can still get loans if they comply with FHA or Fannie Mae standards.
"When consumers sit down at the closing table, they shouldn't be set up to fail with mortgages they can't afford," said CFPB director Richard Corday.
Big banks are generally reacting favorably to the new rules. that is because they get more protection, or safe harbor, on prime qualified mortgages that limit a borrower's ability to sue over a loan. But the banks won't have as much protection on loans they make to borrowers with weaker credit.
"The new rule is a positive development for borrowers and industry members because it will help ensure that borrowers have the ability to repay their loans, and provides a degree of regulatory certainty for lenders and the secondary market," said Kris Yamamoto, a senior vice president at Bank of America.
Consumer groups have also applauded the borrower protections, in part because provisions were made for those who might not meet the qualified-buyer standard.
"This is especially important for low- and moderate- income consumers, whose debt levels may be above the threshold but who have shown the ability to repay loans," said Barry Zigas of the Consumer Federation of America.
Sarasota mortgage banker Joe Adamaitis said many lenders have already effectively adopted the more stringent standards called for in the new rules.
Still, he contends it took government action for that to occur.
"Part of that was the fear that the government was going to come in and begin regulating, and that is what has happened," he said.
Today's mortgage applicant faces plenty of scrutiny, he said. For an owner-occupied house, a credit score of at least 640 is required, along with two years' employment history, and a downpayment of up to 20 percent, although buyers with good credit and high incomes can sometimes put less down.
"They want to know where every dime in the bank account comes from," Adamaitis said.
Adamaitis said lenders and brokers are still unhappy with a proposed 3 percent cap on the fees and origination expenses they can charge on a loan. They plan to continue lobbying the CFPB to increase that cap.
Though they, too, may oppose the cap, smaller lenders could benefit even more under the new edicts.
At least for now, smaller lenders will not face the same rigid lending standards under the new CFPB rules.
That will help community banks create new opportunities and tailor loans to borrowers on a case-by-case basis, said Charlie Brown, president of Insignia Bank of Sarasota.
"As they create a big box for the larger institutions and mass lending, borrowers will turn to a local banker who is capable of understanding their more complicated financial elements and can take the time to do so," he said.
Stricter rules make mortgages hard to get
A new set of tighter mortgage rules designed to prevent the kind of lending frenzy that led to the 2007 housing crash are being established, but some worry they could dampen Southwest Florida's budding housing recovery.


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Mi amigo, Federico, randomly dropped a fun multilingual song in my comments and so that got me thinking of my favorite Spanglish songs. Here they are! Be sure to leave yours in comments! Please be aware, most of these songs are not appropriate for niños. There is strong language in some songs, and music videos in general, even if the language isn't strong, tend to objectify women, so please use discretion.
Kevin Johansen + The nada – Guacamole (Gracias, Federico!)
Me gustas tú by Manu Chao
Frijolero by Molotov (WARNING: Very strong language)
You ready for some old skool? That's It/Ya Estuvo by Kid Frost
Señorita by Los Lonely Boys
Electro Movimiento by Calle 13 …This song came out last year, but it is puro 1980's in style.
Pitbull featuring Akon – Shut It Down
Rico Suave by Gerardo … Ay. Dios. Mio. Qué raunchy! I was like 10 years old when this song came out. I didn't understand the lyrics back then but was fascinated by the video. I can't believe my parents let me watch MTV at that age.
Cha Cha by Chelo
Stand by Me by Prince Royce
Dejalo Ahi by Fulanito
Yo Digo Baila by Mexican Institute of Sound
If You Want it by Pacha Massive
Okay, now which Spanglish songs do you like? Díme in comments!

subset: commoncrawl


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Wild third period propels Liberty DI men past Arizona
January 11, 2013 | Tucson, Ariz.
A night after dropping an agonizing 4-3 shootout loss at Arizona State, the ACHA's top-ranked Division I team, the 10th-ranked Liberty Flames staged an astonishing 7-6 come-from-behind triumph in the first of two games at Arizona, Friday night before 1,350 fans at the Tucson Convention Center.
The 18th-ranked Wildcats, who were riding into the new year on a five-game winning streak, all on their home ice, lost for the third straight time in Tucson after holding a two-goal lead, this time in the third period.
"We were down 5-2 and we scored five goals in the third period," Liberty head coach Kirk Handy said, noting it was his team's biggest third-period production of the season.
The Flames (15-9-2) had rallied from a 3-0 deficit to force overtime Thursday at ASU before losing in an eight-round shootout.
"We were down by three goals again, which isn't ideal, but we were able to battle back and work our way back in the game," Handy said. "For the first two periods, we did not play well at all. We let them dictate the way the game was played. (In the third) we were working a lot harder and a lot smarter and the bounces were starting to go our way."
He said the turning point was the first of two third-period goals by Ryley Egan, trimming the Wildcats' advantage to 5-3 at the 17-minute mark.
"That was 24 seconds after they scored," Handy said. "We were looking dead in the water and it got us back on track. It was a 3-on-2 with Lindsay LeBlanc, Andrew McCombe, and Egan and LeBlanc went cross-ice to Egan who finished it off."
Following a second goal by Brent Boschman, who had opened the scoring, and the first of two goals from Liberty's scoring leader Rick Turner (54 points), Egan struck again off assists from Matt Sherry and LeBlanc, giving the Flames their first lead since the first period, 6-5.
"Egan's first goal started the ball rolling," Handy said. "His second was the beginning of the end for them, with the momentum we were gaining after that."
Egan and McCombe recorded assists on the game-winner by Turner with 6:31 left in regulation.
Freshman Tyson Street also scored for Liberty, lifting the Flames to a 2-1 lead off the first of three assists from McCombe and Paul Ingles.
Liberty junior Blair Bennett and sophomore Clayton Brown split time in goal, combining for 30 saves as the Flames outshot Arizona 38-36 on the night.
Liberty improved to 3-0 all-time against the Wildcats after sweeping a two-game set in 2006. The Flames play a second game at Arizona Saturday night at 9:30 (EST) before hosting AU on Jan. 25 and 26.
"It just gives us the confidence," Handy said of the dramatic win. "Through adversity, you either grow closer together or fall farther apart. We chipped away and grew closer together as a team tonight."


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Weight management, weight loss, and the increase in overweight and obesity are primary health concerns for adults, children, and youth in the United States. There are many reasons that contribute to the increase in overweight and obesity which make it a difficult subject to address. Behavior, environment, genetics, and access to health care are all factors that play a role in one's weight and general health outcomes. The ability to make healthy choices and lead a healthy lifestyle greatly decreases a person's risk of developing chronic disease.
Adult Obesity in Idaho:
Current adult obesity rate (2013)
Obesity rate by gender (2012)
Men 26.9%
Women 26.2%
Rank among states (2013)
Obesity rate by age (2013)
18-25 15.9%
26-44 28.2%
45-64 33.1%
65+ 27.1%
Idaho adult obesity rate in 1990
Obesity rate by race (2013)
White 26.8%
Latino 35.3%
2013 rates of obesity among U.S. adults report more than one-third (34.9%) are obese. Overweight and obese adults account for 68.5% of the adult population.
In addition, more than 82% of Idaho adults did not eat the minimum recommended 5+ servings of fruits and vegetables each day and more than 21% of adults did not participate in any leisure time activity (2011 Idaho BRFSS).
A 2008-09 school year BMI assessment of Idaho students in all odd grades 1 through 11 found that overall, 30.5% of Idaho school children sampled were classified as overweight or obese. The study found that significantly more boys were obese than girls.
Based on results of the 2011/12 Idaho 3rd Grade BMI Assessment and the 2011 Idaho Youth Risk Behavior Survey, there are an estimated 6,200 (29%) overweight or obese 3rd grade students and 17,700 (23%) overweight or obese high school students (grades 9 through 12) in Idaho.
U.S. medical costs associated with obesity were estimated at $147 billion. Annual medical costs for people who are obese were $1,429 higher than those of normal weight (CDC, 2008).
Due to the prevalence of chronic conditions often associated with obesity and the rising trend of obesity in children and youth, today's generation of children will likely live shorter lives than their parents.
Obesity-Related Conditions
Overweight individuals suffer more health problems than those who maintain normal weight. The rise in obesity rates is a cause of great concern because of the many adverse health conditions and chronic diseases it contributes to. These conditions include:
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes are the most prevalent, costly and avoidable of all health problems.
Strategies and Solutions:
Although there is no single solution for addressing obesity, there are a number of strategies that states and local communities can adopt to address obesity among children, adolescents, and adults.
Healthy Weight:
Knowing your Body Mass Index (BMI), achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced and nutritious diet, and getting regular physical activity are all actions you can take to combat obesity.
Balancing the foods you eat (calories in) with the energy you burn through everyday activities and exercise (calories out) is referred to as "energy balance." When you take in more calories than you burn, your body stores that extra energy as fat. When you take in fewer calories than you burn, your body burns fat as fuel.
Finding and maintaining a healthy weight includes making changes to both diet and physical activity, so that your body burns more calories than it takes in, on a daily basis. Cutting 500 to 1,000 calories per day, through decreasing calories taken in and increasing physical activity, can lead to 1 to 2 pounds of weight loss per week. Short-term changes don't lead to a healthy weight. The key is a healthy lifestyle that includes regular physical activity and balanced nutrition. Making lifestyle changes doesn't have to be difficult and it certainly doesn't have to hurt.
Read on for some tips to successful weight loss that you can start today!
Healthy Weight Tips:
CDC's Take Action Resources:
Take Action for Me and My Family:
Regular physical activity can improve your overall health and fitness, and reduce your risk for many chronic diseases. Find out what you can do to be active.
Take Action for My Workplace:
Healthy employees are productive employees. Find out what you can do to help make sure your employees are healthy by promoting physical activity at your work site.
Take Action for My Community:
See what communities can do to help make being physically active easier.


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Republicans are dug in as ever against raising new taxes, and their budgetary standard-bearer, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, said Sunday that the Republican House of Representatives has already moved past the question of new revenues.
Ryan, the House Budget Committee chairman and former GOP vice presidential nominee, laid out the contours of what will almost certainly be a bruising springtime debate on taxes and spending — an outgrowth of the unresolved consequences of the "fiscal cliff."
House Budget Chairman and former vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan discusses his views on economic solutions and immigration reform in an exclusive interview on Meet the Press with David Gregory.
And as the GOP-held House and the Democratic-controlled Senate prepare dueling budget proposals, Ryan argued that the president was unserious about tackling the mounting national debt.
"The president got his additional revenues. So that's behind us," Ryan said on NBC's "Meet the Press" in his first live interview since the presidential election, when Ryan and presidential candidate Mitt Romney lost decisively to President Barack Obama.
During the campaign, Romney and Ryan talked forcefully about reforming taxes and raising revenues by closing loopholes and deductions that favor the wealthy. While Democrats won higher taxes on household income over $450,000 as part of the New Year's deal to stave off the automatic tax hikes and spending cuts in the fiscal cliff, Democrats now say they'll produce a budget asking for even more revenue, possibly through similar tax reforms.
"Are we for raising revenues? No we're not," Ryan said. "If you keep raising revenues, you're not going to get decent tax reform."
The Wisconsin congressman's comments portend a debate over taxes and spending in Washington featuring parties as far apart as ever. Republicans this week passed legislation to suspend the debt limit — and, with it, the specter of default — until May. But Congress must still reckon with the need to continue funding the government, and address the automatic and drastic spending cuts (known as the "sequester") that were delayed only for two months as part of the fiscal cliff.
"I think the sequester's going to happen," Ryan said, blaming Democrats for offering no palatable substitute for those cuts.
And Ryan said that Republicans were "not interested" in a government shutdown, the consequence for which some GOP lawmakers have openly called should Obama and lawmakers fail to reach an agreement to fund the government.
But those looming questions — which are tied directly into the budgets that the House and Senate will debate this spring — reflect how Washington remained as vexed as ever by fiscal issues.
And the rhetoric is hot as ever, too.
"I don't think that the president actually thinks we have a fiscal crisis," Ryan said.
With tax and spending matters set to dominate much of lawmakers' energy for the first half of this year, it could make other elements of Obama's agenda — like immigration reform and curbing gun violence — more politically difficult.
Ryan, who has praised a bipartisan set of immigration reforms offered by Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, R, said he was cautiously optimistic about the prospects for immigration reform this year. But Ryan said that Democratic and Republican lawmakers alike would closely watch Obama's speech on Tuesday in Nevada on that topic.
And of the president's gun control measures, Ryan suggested openness to embracing some measures — like requiring universal background checks on gun sales — while expressing skittishness toward other elements of the plan, like the ban on assault weapons.
As Ryan himself navigates these very thorny issues for the next four years, his every action will be refracted through the prism of 2016 presidential politics. After having emerged as something of a GOP rock star as Romney's running mate last fall, many Republicans hope that the Wisconsin congressman might seek the presidency himself in four years, joining a tentative field of Republican contenders for the nomination that is full of proverbial heavyweights.
Ryan offered a familiar answer about his own potential ambitions, saying he doesn't think about running, and that he was currently focused on his job serving his constituents.
"I think it's just premature. I've got an important job to do," he said. "I'll decide later about that."


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Phone + 385 21 474 464
Mobile + 385 99 216 55 00
Send enquiry
Croatia Charter provides you to book your relaxing boat holiday sailing through the crystal sea with this 13.96 meters catamaran. You will have memorable experience, whether you book it for a party, the eldery, a family with children or a first time sailor. Lagoon 450 S charter form 2016 is very stylish and slender option with up to 8 people so you can spent quality time with those who matter most. It is the perfect combination of performance, class, speed and space. You can check up on full equipment this catamaran offers. With 4 cabins this is brilliant choice for those who seek the sublimity of sailing, without giving up on stability and comfort. Your floating dream awaits for you in Seget Donji, Croatia which is a magnificent starting point to explore the most popular Croatian destinations we suggest in our itinerary from Seget Donji. Croatia Charter guarantee you a magical holiday.
We offer you a possibility to hire a skipper so you can enjoy the holiday of your dreams to the fullest.
The yacht particulars and pictures displayed above are given in good faith and believed to be correct but not guaranteed. All information are subject to change without any further notice and without warranty. Croatia Charter booking department will confirm exact pricing, yacht particulars and pictures upon your request.
bareboatList of valid licenses (PDF)
The boat is situated in marina: Seget Donji and region: Split
In order to confirm your booking, a down payment amounting 50% of the total charter fee should be settled upon the reservation. The rest of the charter fee (50%) should be paid at least 4 weeks prior to your embarkation. For bookings within 6 weeks of departure, the total charter fee should be paid. For now, we offer only one method of payment - bank transfer. The deposit can be given in cash or as a credit card slip (Visa, American Express, Maestro and Diners).


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First Published: 21 Dec 2016
Guidance for employers and any organisation providing a service on handling customers' complaints.
Guidance for employers and any organisation providing a service on handling community complaints.
First Published: 06 Apr 2016
This technical guidance provides advice for any organisation, public or private, which is providing a service and explains the implications of the age discrimination ban. It provides examples of how the ban works in practice, explains who is protected and sets out what constitutes discrimination, harassment and victimisation on the grounds of age.
First Published: 01 Jun 2015
This is a guide that outlines your rights to equality from businesses providing goods and services.
First Published: 01 Apr 2014
This is a guide to what equality law means for your business.
First Published: 01 Jan 2011
This is a a code of practice that covers discrimination in services and public functions as set out in Part 3 of the Act and discrimination by associations.


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CASE47212: Horary consultation concerning Joan Porter (PERSON34402)
Question asked by the patient on 1 August 1618 at 10:30
RN was taken sudainly at the butchers stale Iuly 27 ☾ h. 2. 20 p m 1618. betwixt her gartering & kneepan in great payne & extremitye.
[Astrological Chart]
Transcribed excerpt from MS Ashmole 201, f. 206r (bottom left, and bottom right parts of page)


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July 14, 2013 – 18 Dead and 25 Injured in Russian Vehicle Accident: Eighteen people are dead after a truck carrying stones used for pavement ran into a passenger bus in an outlying area of Moscow. The Emergency Services Ministry says in a statement that 25 other people were injured in the Saturday crash. The severity of the injuries wasn't stated. The accident occurred when the truck plowed into the side of the bus near Oznobishino, a settlement in the Moscow municipality about 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of the city center. Russian news reports say the drivers of both vehicles are among the hospitalized.
The Master of Disaster


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We previously reported that a sequel to Magic Mike was in the works after the success of the original film, but now it looks like star and producer Channing Tatum may find himself in the director's chair for Magic Mike 2. Since director Steven Soderbergh is planning on retiring from filmmaking and headed towards TV land, he presumably wouldn't be returning for the sequel which leaves the spot open. Tatum recently spoke about the possibility of him assuming the director's role alongside screenwriting partner and producer Reid Carolin. Carolin, meanwhile, leaked a few details about the plotline the sequel would follow. Hit the jump to see what he said and to find out who else is in the running to direct Magic Mike 2.
The German site Filmstarts (via The Playlist) recently spoke to Tatum and Carolin about the plans for a sequel. While Tatum has now worked on three Soderbergh films (Haywire, Magic Mike, The Bitter Pill) with ample time to learn from the director, it's also possible that Gregory Jacobs (Criminal), Soderbergh's long-time assistant director and producer could end up with the job.
As for what the potential sequel would actually be about, Carolin went on to describe it as:
"You know, we are talking a lot about it. We have a story, and it is really ridiculous and fun. It's a road movie sort of thing, where a bunch of strippers get back together. It's more of a broad comedy. I don't know whether it will happen or not."
The report goes on to say that Tatum is in the mindset of giving priority to Magic Mike: The Musical at the moment. And for an original movie that came as such a welcome surprise to a somewhat disappointing 2012 movie season, perhaps that's as far as the property should be taken. Would you look forward to a Magic Mike sequel? Let us know in the comments!


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PPNW Wine Totes - Silver
PPNW Wine Totes are available in three sizes and hold two, four or six wine bottles perfectly! There is a minimum of 100 for custom printing this product. Plate charge for one color is $70.00.
Price includes one color, one side imprinting.
Price includes one color, one side imprinting.
* Disclaimer: Sold out items will be removed from the website, however delays can occur. We will contact you if an item is sold out and cannot be filled on your order. Closeout items cannot be returned. Due to color variations in monitors and printers, including settings and lighting, actual color may vary. For a true color representation, please call 888.429.5673 or email email@example.com for actual sample(s).


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OTTAWA – The head of the CBC is floating the idea of taking a percentage of every cable or satellite bill in Canada as a way to get the state broadcaster more money.
The comments came during a town hall meeting last week where CBC president Hubert Lacroix was discussing plans for 657 job cuts and changes in the wake of CBC's loss of NHL hockey broadcasts.
During a question and answer session, Lacroix suggested a CBC tax similar to that in Britain. The BBC is funded through a fee on every television in Britain, and in Lacroix's mind that money should come from cable and satellite companies, known in the industry as BDUs.
"Imagine if in Canada the BDUs decided to give us three or four or five percent of whatever bottom line number and they committed to that over years, maybe that could be something," Lacroix said.
A CBC spokesman declined to comment on whether the idea has been discussed with the government or industry leaders but did confirm it is something they are considering.
"Our goal is to achieve financial sustainability that allows us to evolve with our audience and stakeholders," spokesman France Belisle said.
Heritage Minister Shelley Glover's office threw cold water on the concept.
"The CBC already receives significant taxpayer funds. They can operate within their existing budget," Marisa Monnin said. "According to the CBC, it is declining viewership that is causing their challenges. It is up to the CBC to provide programming that Canadians actually want to watch."


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The move to scrap one avenue for rich foreigners to fast-track their permanent residency applications by parking large sums of money here will have little impact on the Republic's economy, analysts noted.
In fact, an analyst went as far as to describe the Financial Investor Scheme (FIS) – started in 2004 – as having "outlived its usefulness. http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC120405-0000087/Scheme-for-rich-foreigners-outlived-usefulness
The devil whispered in my ear, "What this means is that there will be less people applying for leave to buy houses in District 10, and less demand for places in Sentosa Cove, and super high end luxury apartments. Remember there is a group of S'poreans who have had their salaries cut by about half. Less competition for them now when it comes to buying luxury-end properties?"
"Perish the tot," the angel of the Lord said. "These are the people who introduced GRCs."
"My point exactly," said the MU supporter.
Angel of the Lord, "Since 2010, these businessmen, have not been allowed to include the cost of buying a private home as part of their required investment."
MU supporter, "The pigs knew they were going to have to cut their salaries. Pre-emptive move to ensure they are not affected by the cut in salaries."
Angel, "OMG! What can I say? You may have a point!"


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Valentine's Day Laughs, Food, Drinks & More – The Sweethearts Comedy Soiree
The Sweetheart Comedy Soiree presented by Adair Homes is the premier Valentine's Day date event in the Tri-Cities for 2013. The hilarious Susan Jones, winner of the 'Funniest Comedian in Washington', will be your host for the evening with nationally-recognized comedians Tommy Savitt and Erin Foley performing. Along with a great show, heavy hors d'oeuvres and a no-host bar will be available. Every woman in attendance will receive a rose from the Kennewick Flower Shop and chocolate from Occasions Cakes & Catering. Be sure to take a step into the Home Place Photo Booth while at the soiree to help create and record the nights memories!
Valentine's Night - Thursday February, 14
The M Hotel & Conference Center in Richland
Doors open at 6 p.m., show begins at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $70 for a couple, $40 for a single ticket. Tickets can be purchased at our Townsquare Media Office at 2621 West A Street in Pasco or online from YourTicketHere.com
A recent transplant to Los Angeles, Erin spent years in New York City's comedy clubs mastering the art of stand-up comedy while successfully pursuing her acting career. In NY and LA, Erin can regularly be found at Gotham Comedy Club, Caroline's on Broadway, The Improv, The Laugh Factory and Stand Up New York. She has performed at the Just for Laughs/TBS Comedy Festival in Chicago and the Marshall's Women in Comedy Festival. Foley has had the honor of being selected to perform at the prestigious Montreal Comedy Festival three times. Not only has Erin had a successful career in comedy, but also on the small screen with several national television commercial campaigns. Currently, Erin is filming a pilot for E! Entertainment, she recently shot her own half hour comedy special for Comedy Central, and has taped Chelsea Lately and The Kilborn File on FOX. Erin has branded a unique position for herself in the industry as not only a gifted stand-up but a talented actress.
Tommy Savitt
Born in New Jersey and bred in Brooklyn, Multi-Award winning comedian, Tommy Savitt has won the prestigious 2007 Boston Comedy Festival, 2008 Seattle Comedy Competition, and was honored for the "Best In Comedy" category at the 2009 LA Comedy Awards. Tommy has been seen on WGN's "The Bob & Tom Show", SI Tv's "Funny is Funny," Comcast On Demand, Man Up Stand Up on Mav.Tv and on JLTV's "James and Sunda." Tommy's comedy CD "Who Wants Me Now!" is one of the top requested on satellite radio. Tommy has dedicated this past decade to performing for our troops here and abroad. Tommy performs an unorthodox, exhilarating brand of eclectic comedy rarely seen today. His routine envelops his audience, teleporting them into a domain of hilarity and pure craftmanship. Tommy's journey to bring laughter to those that sacrifice for our country has taken him to Air Force, Army, and Naval bases around the world.
Susan Jones
Bringing 20 years of comedy and radio experience to the stage with some seriously funny girl talk, the larger than life, Susan Jones uses her attitude and experiences with size acceptance and being a single mom to deliver consistently funny, crowd-pleasing performances. Susan just opened for Brad Garret and can frequently be heard, on The Bob Rivers Show. Susan won Snoqualmie Casino's "Funniest Comedian in Washington" contest, Club Casino's "Jokers Run Funniest Comedian" contest, was a finalist in the "Funniest Woman in California" competition, and can be seen in the independent film "Homeless." Over the past few years Susan has also worked with other great comics like Doug Stanhope, Josh Wolfe, Emo Phillips, Rick Overton, Judy Tenuta, Brad Upton, Susan Rice, Rod Long, and a host of others. Susan started doing comedy at the Crossroads Comedy Club in Tacoma, WA, and now can be seen in comedy clubs all over the country.


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Party Recap
I was so excited when Kyndal told me she wanted to do a Nautical theme for her little one's first birthday! We went with the traditional colors... red, white and blue and a simple stripe pattern used throughout the printable collection. She did an outstanding job putting this party together and showcasing Benjamin's first year of life! I LOVE his smash cake... simple but OH-SO-CUTE!


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I love the readings of this Sunday. They are like three wholesome dishes that need to be tasted separately, yet they form one wonderful meal.
First, Jonah, my favourite prophet, warns the people of Nineveh of impending doom and the need for penance. He has little love for the people to whom he brings this message, but he obeys God's command.
The Assyrians were bitter enemies of Israel and Jonah was a Jew. I imagine him passing through the huge gates of the immense city and walking along the narrow, busy streets, beside flat-roofed houses, high temples of pagan gods and splendid palaces of kings.
His robes revealed his origins. The Assyrians, a proud and warlike people, wore distinct native garb and hairdos. All Assyrian women were veiled by law. Should a non-Assyrian woman wear such a veil, she would be flogged and her hair covered in tar, also by law.
All foreigners, a despised group, stuck out like sore thumbs. You knew who was who and treated him accordingly.
Yet before Jonah had walked through one-third of the sprawling city, its inhabitants were wearing sackcloth and fasting. Nineveh was saved.
Oh, if only we had their faith and childlike trust. These ancient people did not do anything by halves.
Over and over, we too hear calls to repent. We have been blessed with several prophetic popes and the technology that delivers their messages to our doorstep. Yet how many of us have read papal speeches, encyclicals, their books? How often do we visit the Vatican website?
Miraculous apparitions of Mary, who is pleading with us to mend our ways and pray were more numerous in the 20th century than ever before. Who has not heard of Fatima and Akita in Japan, to name just two Church-approved sites?
Yet, strangely numbed in will and heart, we often fail to fully respond to Mary's words. We love to hear about the supernatural manifestations which accompany Mary's coming; we are moved by her words for a day or two – then the daily rush, like a tidal wave engulfs us again – and we run, rush, run, rush, mindless of her call, chasing our electric rabbits of success, intent on snatching scraps of human applause.
The Ninevites were given only one call – and that delivered by one man, a foreigner to boot – and they were on their knees. We hear words of Peter's successors, truly holy men, and are granted incredible gifts of Mary's messages – so what is the matter with us, people of the 21st century?
We need gifts of the Holy Spirit as no other generation before.
So let's call with the psalmist: "Teach me your ways, O Lord. Your ways, O Lord, make known to me; teach me your paths." I need my ears to be opened by your grace and my will enlivened for me. I too am desperately weak. I need to be carried in your arms. I can walk no longer.
When St. Paul reminds us that "the world in its present form is passing away" and that "the time is running out," the sense of urgency increases. We all have that feeling that our world is changing invariably, what with the strange weather, threat of recession, terrorist wars, shocking crimes of which we hear so much.
What should we do? St. Paul gives strange advice: "Let those weeping (act) as not weeping, those rejoicing (act) as not rejoicing, those buying (act) as not owning."
For years I have struggled with the meaning of these words. Quite recently, however, I met a very ill woman who, despite her condition, is calm and peaceful. She is awaiting a serious operation with dim prospects of success. She asks few questions about the future but does not neglect the present.
She is grateful for every small pleasure and every moment of joy. "God is looking after me," she says. "He is with me all the time."
A few minutes ago I saw her looking through the window at the blue sky, so bright and sunny in our unseasonable weather. "Up there is my true home," she said quietly.
Indeed, our true home is not here. Maybe this is why we should weep as if we were not weeping because we are heading for the place where there are no tears.
Yet not all know the Good News, not all know yet that "all will be well, that all manners of things will be well." So in the Gospel, Jesus calls his disciples away from their boats, nets and fish. "I will make you fishers of men," he says, and they follow him, just as the 40 or so seminarians in our new seminary do.
I pass this lovely building daily and send our fishers of men one Hail Mary, praying that, once ordained, they teach us how to live both on earth and in heaven.


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hepatitis B virus contains
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This page is meant to establish some guidelines concerning comments on my blog. It is informal in tone and is not meant to be a thorough and exhaustive treatise on the ins and outs of commenting on my site. If you have any questions or concerns about it, feel free to contact me, but don't be surprised if, in the end, I don't bend over backwards to accommodate your concerns.
I really enjoy it when people comment on things I write. In fact, I love it! Even so, I do need to lay down some ground rules and guidelines. As my intent was and remains to create a forum wherein people can be free to discuss some fairly complex problems, issues, and topics in an intelligent manner, there are some types of comments that are preferred over others and some that are never appropriate.
Q: What is the genetic makeup of a good comment?
Excellent question! A good comment should have all of the following elements present:
- Brevity – meaning keep your thoughts pithy and to the point. No one wants to read a 2000+ word comment, especially me and in fact, I most likely won't.
- Respectfulness – meaning you assume good faith by operating under the assumption that people mean well and want to do the right thing as they see it.
- Intelligibility – meaning your grammar, syntax, and word choice lend probability to someone reading your thoughts and finding them coherent and understandable.
- Logicality – meaning free of logically fallacious arguments.
- Knowledge – meaning you're bringing a fresh take on the issue or an interesting perspective and not simply asking questions I've already answered or spouting nonsensical statements that make you sound like a conspiracy hack.
You can remember these things using this somewhat-lame mnemonic: "Bad Responses Ignite Loud Kerfuffles."
Unless you're just giving kudos or saying you liked something I wrote, make sure your comments have these qualities. I like to respond to people's comments if they're attempting to engage in thoughtful discussion (I tend to not respond with "thank yous" to the "I like this" comments; just know that I appreciate them). If I don't respond, it's either because your comment was just a simple "Thank you for posting this" or because you failed miserably on one or more of the above.
Q: What kinds of comments aren't acceptable?
This is a tough one for me. I hate censorship in almost every form but there does have to be a clearly demarcated line between what I will allow and what I will not. While I typically do not delete comments from my site, I reserve the right to do so at any time for any reason. If you don't like that, then start your own website and make up your own rules as you think they should be. The following is not an exhaustive list of the reasons why I would delete a comment, but it covers the vast majority of the ground.
Comments that will most likely be deleted or altered will typically include one or more of the following attributes:
- Inappropriate personal revelations or revelations about someone else, with or without their permission. I will decide what constitutes an "inappropriate revelation" on a case by case basis.
- Hateful or bigoted statements that transcend mere ignorance and approach malevolence. Comments of this type will not be tolerated.
- Personal attacks, particularly those in which a threat of violence is implicit.
- Spam comments; these include attempts to sell cheap "brand name" handbags, the best coffee you've ever tasted, and the insurance policy that changed your life. It also includes attempts to advertise your own website in the form of a comment. (On the latter point, if you have written something on your own website that responds to something I've said, you're welcome to post a link but be sure to include context.)
- Trolling; this essentially refers to intentionally ignorant or inflammatory comments posted with the sole intent to charge the emotional atmosphere of a discussion and draw negative attention to the commenter. Internet trolls are the people who liked to smear their feces on the bathroom walls when they were five and never quite grew out of it.
Q: What is the difference between deleting and altering a comment?
This should be self-explanatory but, just in case it isn't, let me explain briefly. On occasion, I will alter a comment and usually because its author revealed some personal bit of information about himself/herself or someone else that I have strong reason to believe is inappropriate (though there may be other reasons for which I reserve the right to withhold explanation). The comment still makes a point with the information, though, which is why I simply remove the information in question in a way that doesn't alter the author's meaning.
Comments that I have altered will carry the following tag as its first line in a separate first paragraph: This comment has been altered by the webmaster. The word "altered" will include a hyperlink to this page. Furthermore, in an effort to make any edits or redactions as transparent as possible, I will do my best to point out what exactly has been changed. For example, if I am redacting someone's name, I would replace John Smith with XXXX XXXX, as well any additional information included by the comment author that might identify John, which may include his hometown, alma mater, ethnicity, organizational affiliation, etc.
Comments that I have deleted will show up blank with the following tag: This comment has been deleted by the webmaster because it violates the policy for commenting on this site. The phrase "policy for commenting" will include a hyperlink to this page. The author of the deleted comment will also receive an email from me notifying him or her of its deletion with an invitation to visit this page.
Please bear in mind that I'm not required to take any of the actions noted in this section. If I wanted, I could delete a comment and make it appear as though it had never been there. I could also change a comment and not reveal that I had done so. I do these things as a method of holding myself accountable–I want it to be visible that a comment was removed or changed so people can see how very rarely I do it. (Note: this does not apply to comments automatically deleted by WordPress' spam blocking service, which I have no control over.)
Additional Information
In due course, I obviously reserve the right to alter or add to this policy page at any point and for any reason. This is my site and, ultimately, I'll do whatever the hell I want with it. Please remember, though, that the real goal is to have an intelligent and dignified discourse about important topics. If you aren't yet mature enough to handle that, then I recommend finding another site to troll.
Last updated: November 13, 2013


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Hey, you might have heard that the Pirates called up another rookie to add to the roster. This guy's pedigree is a little different than those of McCutch, Tabata, Walker, Lincoln, and Pedro. But his tale is perhaps even more compelling.
The player is thirty year-old catcher Erik Kratz. The bloom's off his rose; he's played nine years in the minors for eight different clubs, and the only time he's ever seen a MLB game was when he bought a ticket.
Well, that'll change tomorrow night. Kratz got pulled from the International League All-Star game in the fifth inning by his manager, Frank Kremblay, and was told to report to Pittsburgh.
For once, the Pirates did it right. Kratz is from Telford, less than an hour from Allentown, where the All-Star game was being played. He had a bleacher full of friends and family to share the long-time-comin' moment with him.
In fact, Mitch Williams of MLB Networks talked to him between innings; Kratz got all teary on him, and Williams sent him into the stands to tell his wife Sarah the news.
It was a long road for the 6'4", 255 pounder.
Kratz started as a 1998 graduate of Christopher Dock High School in Lansdale, and went to Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, where he tore it up and today holds a handful of school batting records.
He still claims the Division III record for career doubles with 75, and batted .507 with 14 home runs, 59 RBI, and a .993 slugging percentage during his senior season. Kratz was named the Conference Player of the Year in 2001 and 2002. Overall, he hit .415 with 33 homers and 159 RBI in 154 games during his collegiate career.
Still, D-3 is D-3, and Kratz was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 29th round of the 2002 draft to begin his minor league odyssey. In seven years with the Jays' organization, he only played more than 83 games once; he was considered no more than back-up material.
Kratz never put up very strong offensive numbers, but the pitchers loved him. He had a reputation as a savvy game caller, was an outstanding receiver, and routinely threw out 30-35% of base runners that ran on him. His glove is what kept him with the Toronto system.
But in 2009, he finally got the chance to opt out and joined Pittsburgh. At first blush, with Ryan Doumit, Jason Jaramillo, and Robinzon Diaz ahead of him, he looked like he was still prime back-up fodder.
Kratz caught his big break with the Pirates that year when Doumit fractured his right wrist just a dozen games into the season. Diaz got the call to replace Doumit on the big-league club, and Kratz became Indy's starting catcher.
By the end of the year, he had played in a career-high 93 games and in 319 at-bats hit .273 with 11 HR, 30 doubles, and 43 RBI. The big guy led all IL catchers in home runs and RBI.
Kratz earned mid-season and postseason International League All-Star honors plus the All-Star Game MVP award after going 2-for-2 with a walk, double and two-run homer in a one-run win.
The righty did put up some platoon-like stats, though. Kratz hit .340 against southpaws and just .243 against righties. But he did all the little things well. He swiped seven bases after entering the year with a total of six in 462 career games, and played a couple of times at first base. Heck, he even pitched an inning - and got the save!
And it didn't hurt his D at all. He was named Indianapolis' Defensive Player of the Year, and gunned down 25-of-58 runners attempting to steal against him, a 30% toss-out rate.
This year, he was batting .296 with nine homers and 37 RBIs in 56 games for Indy before he got the promotion. He should fit into the lineup a bit better than JJ; he provides a solid right-handed bat, the weak side for switch-hitters Jaramillo and Doumit.
And hey, it might just make his summers a little easier, too. As a minor leaguer, Kratz earned a not-too-majestic baseball paycheck for only five months a year. In the offseason, when he returned home, he worked construction and gave private baseball lessons to help keep a roof over the Kratz family heads.
So with the little boost in pay, maybe Kratz will get to spend a summer with his bride Sarah and sons Brayden, 3, and Ethan, who is one.
And in a season of not too many feel-good stories, Erik Kratz has given Pirate fans one to enjoy.
"Somehow we have developed this large contingent of know-it-all baseball fans who bay like wounded coyotes at any mention of wins, losses, RBI or batting average. I never know whether I should blame myself for this or not.." (Bill James)
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Kratz Gets The Call
Posted by Ron Ieraci at 6:20 PM
Labels: erik kratz
3 comments:
- Brad said...
In case you're interested, I shot some video of Kratz a month ago when Indy played Scranton.
- July 15, 2010 at 8:15 PM
- Joey Porter's Pit Bulls said...
Great write-up.
I hope Kratz succeeds. He's an easy guy to root for.
- July 16, 2010 at 12:24 PM
- Ron Ieraci said...
Yah, JP, lotta good guys on the team. Wish there were a few more good ballplayers, though.
And if you want to see Kratz in action, visit the "This Is Getting Old" blog link in Brad's comments.
- July 16, 2010 at 10:01 PM
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Saturday, November 12, 2011
Governor George Simpson's son, George Stewart Simpson
In order to write the speech for VHS, I re-read and quoted from "the Private Journal of Henry Peers from Fort Langley to thompson's River, Summer 1848," found in the British Columbia Archives under [its old number] E/A/P34A.
I had never particularly noticed before, but Alexander Caulfield Anderson travelled into Kamloops with a new clerk, named "Simpson."
Of course when I was consulting this journal years ago when I wrote the chapter, I had no way to check who this Simpson fellow was.
In fact I barely noticed him.
Now I have Bruce Watson's Lives Lived West of the Divide, and in volume 3 I find this biography:
Simpson, George Stewart (1827-1894) (probably Canadian: Scottish and probably Native)
Birth: possibly Red River Settlement -- 1827 (born to Sir George Simpson and Margaret Taylor)
Death: Victoria, March 13, 1894
HBC Apprentice, Fort Vancouver general charges (1841-1842); Apprentice and clerk, Honolulu (1842-1847); Clerk, Fort Colvile (1847-1848); Clerk, Thompson River (1848-1850); Clerk, Fort Victoria sales shop (1850-1857); Clerk disposable, Western department (1857-1858); Chief Trader, Western Department (1858-1860)
George Stewart Simpson came to Fort Victoria as a boy of eight with the 1836 brigade. In 1838, according to Reverend Herbert Beaver, young Simpson had arrived decently clothed but two years later, he was running about "in appearance like a beggar's child, and at one time suffered so much from sores, brought on entirely by the neglect of Chief Factor McLoughlin's woman, under whose charge he was placed" (Beaver, p. 84). Young Simpson had probably got his sores from flea bites from his beating furs in the large fur house at the fort, a job that young children often did. In 1841, he joined the HBC, likely at Fort Vancouver, and joined his father, Sir George Simpson, for a voyage to Honolulu where he spent the next four years in apprenticeship. He rose through the ranks and around 1858 became Chief Trader. He spent the last two years of his working career as chief Trader at Fort Dunvegan in the Athabasca Department but returned to the coast in 1864 when he pre-empted 320 acres in the Fraser Valley. George Stewart Simpson died on March 13, 1894, at his residence on Cook Street in Victoria, B. C.
On June 12, 1857, at Fort Langley, Simpson married Isabella Yale (c.1840-), daughter of James Murray Yale and together they had four children....
So there you go, if you are a descendant of this Simpson, then you will find more about him in Peers' journal in BC Archives.
Let's see what James Raffen says about this young man, in "Emperor of the North: Sir George Simpson and the Remarkable story of the Hudson's Bay Company:"
p. 233-34 -- While Simpson tended to these labours in Lachine, "the commodity" [Margaret Taylor] gave birth at York Factory in February 1827 to a bouncing baby boy, whom she named George Stewart Simpson. Simpson met the child for the first time that summer, during the Northern Council at the Depot, just before he hurried back south to make his way via Osnaburgh House, Martin Falls and Fort Albany to Moose Factory....On his way back upriver in September, to return to Lachine, he jotted off another quick private note to McTavish, in which his paternal responsibilities were given their usual shrug: "Pray keep a sharp look out upon Madam, if she behaves well let her be treated accordingly but on the contrary [be] sent about her business and the child taken from her. Should any accident happen to me and that the youngster lives until 4 or 5 years old he will in all probability be claimed by some of my friends in England or Scotland."
p. 264 -- [he arrived at Fort Alexander where Margaret Taylor was; he was travelling with his new wife] Not surprisingly, there was not time for a proper inspection stop at Fort Alexander at the mouth of the Winnipeg River. Their accounts say very little about this portion of the journey, but there cousin Thomas gives the impression of a very quick hello: "We arrived at Bas de la riviere [Fort Alexander] on the 5th of June. The Governor and Lady started the same evening for Red River. There was no time to stop -- they camped on the shore below Fort Alexander. ...In the rush to move on to Fort Garry there was no time at Fort Alexander to meet for the first time his new son James Mackenzie Simpson, or to pick up in his arms George Stewart Simpson, or to introduce his unsuspecting English wife to his half-Chipewyan wife, who had been counting the days until his return..."
Poor Margaret Taylor! But at least it looks as though George Simpson did not entirely abandon his son.
5 comments:
Hi there,ReplyDelete
First off, let me say how much I enjoy reading your blog. I have several ancestors who were involved in the fur trade including James McMillan and John Warren Dease, Sr. Margaret/Marguerite Taylor is my great great grandmother through her marriage to Amable Hogue. Hogue was one of Gov. Simpson's elite crew of voyageurs and the person the Governor picked to "take care" of Margaret once he had married Frances.
According to Gail Morin's Red River Settlement Censuses, in the 1835 Census of the Red River Settlement (which only names the head of the household), Amable is listed with a wife, 1 daughter under 15, and 3 sons under the age of 16. As Amable's second son wasn't born until 30 Dec 1835, I assume that Simpson's sons, George and John were living in that household.
In J.G. MacGregor's book John Rowand: Czar of the Prairies, he states "...with a subsidy from George Simpson, Hogue reared the governor's two sons." I have found no documentation for this.
On 1 Feb 1830 Chief Factor John Stuart (whose country wife was Margaret's sister Mary), with whom Margaret and family were residing at Bas de la Riviere, wrote to the Governor and included glowing reports of how well the family was doing: "...he has a little brother born 29th August as fine a child as needs be, and nearly as true a picture of Geordy, as Geordy is to his father. They both continue in the enjoyment of perfect good health and they are both as lively as you could wish. We call the little fellow Geordy's brother and he perfectly understands the name." (HBC B.4/b/1) Little did Stuart know that only 24 days later, the Governor would be marrying Frances!
This second son of the Governor's was named John Mackenzie Simpson and he stayed in Manitoba. He died 19 Oct 1900 in Pilot Mound. marrying Amelia Fidler, a granddaughter of Peter Fidler, explorer and surveyor.
There is a mention of A.C. Anderson in the footnotes (p 205) of Letters of Letitia Hargrave by Margaret Arnett MacLeod: "Letitia was evidently not aware that the Governor already had at least three sons in the service, George, James, and John. His son James had accompanied A.C. Anderson from York to the Columbia in 1842. In 1843 James and John were both at Fort Nisqually, in the Columbia Department (H.B.C. Arch. D. 5/9). In 1844 they recrossed the mountains. His son George was in Honolulu in 1844 (H.B.C. Arch. D. 5/10 and 12); and in 1861 a son named George, presumably the same one, took charge of Sir George and Lady Simpson's daughters, Augusta and Margaret, on a journey from Quebec to London, England (H.B.C. arch. B. 134/b19 fo. 618)."
I am interested in the reference to Margaret Taylor being half-Chipewyan, as I thought she was Cree. Can't find those references right now, except that in the 1901 Census Margaret's sons identify themselves Cree French.
Congratulations on the book, and good luck with all your speeches!
Hi, Jackie; I just caught this and thanks for your comments. Some of the other connections I didn't know or else had forgotten (which is what happens when you have tooooo much information).ReplyDelete
If you want to contact me directly I can put you in touch with another James McMillan descendant; and if you wish you can join the Descendants of David Thompson's men Facebook page -- is that the James McMillan you are descended from?
Thanks for following the blog.
Hi, Marguerite Taylor would be my Great 3X grand mother.ReplyDelete
1. Great grandmother - Sara Hogue, daughter of Joseph Hogue, son of Marguerite Taylor.
Robert Daigneault - my grandfather is Philippe Daigneault son of Sara Hogue and Émilien Daigneault.
Hi I am descended from Sir George and Marguerite, I have some records but not enough official to apply to the Media Nation. We loose some of our records at my Great Grandmother, born Helen Hilda Simpson' I think Marguerite was her Great Grandmother. how do we get the tribal councils to help with research or are there other forms of official proof? Thank you VandeleurReplyDelete


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Hi guys..
Anyone know about the Dream of wicca queen wicca queen...
Now i would like to share something about wicca queen and Dream book of wicca queen
This is the link to buy wicca queen book from creatspace i hope you enjoy it
This book of mine was a recurring dream that only stopped after putting pen to paper. Stunning controversy exists today that's spinning out of control, and we are all in too deep to see the real truths. A powerfully kept secret is contained in this book and one day we sheep must stop following blindly and make a stand, head to head. We must turn the tide before all is lost. The world is in chaos in the mid-21st century, and the predictions of the End Times seem to be coming true. Only the hidden esoteric wisdom of the breathtakingly beautiful Maia, the mystical Wicca Queen, can save the world. Armies are on the march, greedy for expansion and whatever else the Queen's magic can provide. The future hangs in the balance as world powers fight for control. Aided by her tribe, led by warrior Odin, the Templar Knights and the secret Black Pope, the Queen battles for survival, because unless a new world order is achieved, no-one is safe.
Wicca queen what to say first a year a go i kept having the same dream over and over a little dif ever time, but the basics where the same, So i thought ill start putting on paper what i recall the next morning Due to the time i get up for work ever day i think that helped me re member a lot of my dreams wicca queen is my dream
My Dream of wicca queen the pagan way
So after few months i had about 8 pages of short notes then i thought lets put this in order and try to make sense of this, Dream the wicca queen- now i am not a great writer and my spelling and grammar are poor it not that i am stupid it just i left school early to work to earn money and in my day school was not that important as it was what you could do not what you can say on paper.wicca queen
Any way as time went on i had over 30000 words or so and i thought was a good read but i know it did not flow like most books do so i went to a place where you can hire a ghost writer and god they want £1000s of pounds, to read and proof read my book well i am not a rich man and could not afford this so i found a site called people per hour and i posted what i wanted and i had lots of people want to do the proof reading for checking what i had done.
Dream of wicca queen
dream of wicca queen
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By Karin Calloway
Related Menus
Baby Spinach Salad with Strawberries
Spinach and strawberry salads abound in the spring, but here's one with a twist from warm vinaigrette that's salty with crisp pancetta and sweet from strawberry jam. This is a wonderful change of pace from standard spinach and strawberry salads that are tossed with warm bacon vinaigrette or poppy seed dressing.
Use the best strawberry preserves you can find in this recipe. Hang onto the recipe to substitute peaches and peach preserves for the strawberry in the summer, and pear jam and fresh pears in the fall or winter.
Place the baby spinach in a large bowl. Pour desired amount of warm dressing over the spinach and toss to coat. Divide among salad plates and garnish each salad with some of the sliced strawberries, walnuts and goat cheese. Serve immediately. (Cover and refrigerate any leftover dressing.)
Makes 6 servings.


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|Biosequences .. Software .. Molbio soft .. Network News .. FTP
Dear Reader while there are only two more weeks until the opening of ABIC2004, latest news show that AgBiotechnology will be remaining in the public focus for a considerably longer time after the conference. The German government, for example, which is not really known for it's liberal policy towards modern sciences in general and plant biotechnology in special, has last week (August 19th) been reproached with undermining the EU guidelines by trying to pass it's law on genetically modified organisms (GMOs). According to EU officials the German GMO-law defies the EU regulation in several points, especially in respect to a too strict regulation of coexistence rules and liability issues that put the full responsibility on the GM-plant cultivating farmer. Though the German ministry for Agriculture and Consumer Protection, run by Renate Künast of the environmentalist party "Die Grünen" does not see need for action, independent experts expect a revision soon. Overly cautious regulations, which occur not only in Germany, are a very typical symptom of an asymmetric risk perception. While everything labelled "organic" is per se regarded as "healthy" and environmentally beneficial by the public (in average), food associated with biotechnology is perceived as potentially risky. There is, for instance, little public discussion about contamination of organic crops with mycotoxins going on while the environmental benefit of pest resistant crops (reduced pesticide strain of soil) is rarely ever mentioned. Elucidation of the actual risks and requirements for a feasible coexistence of GM and non-GM plants and the actual ecological impact of GM plants will be the major plenary topic "Co-Existence of Transgenic and Non-Transgenic Crops" at ABIC2004! The AgBiotech-Manifesto, publicized on August 6th, has meanwhile proven a grand success. At the time of writing, more than 400 persons have signed the online version, which is accessible at www.abic2004.org/manifesto/ . It is still time to become part of 2004s groundbreaking event in AgBiotechnology - register now at www.abic2004/registration/ With best regards The ABIC2004 Organization team! Phytowelt GmbH ABIC 2004 Conference Office Nattermannallee 1 D-50829 Cologne email: newsletter at abic2004.org internet: www.abic2004.org phone: + 49 221-49299-55 fax: + 49-221-49299-560 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For removal from this list please send an email with the subject "unsubscribe" to newsletter at abic2004.org -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---


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Christmas Ball Ornament - Sailboat
Embrace the essence of island beauty and style with our hand-painted Christmas Ball Ornaments. Featuring 3 1/4" silver-lined glass, each are adorned with silky, satin or tulle bows and gift box, and ready to give for any occasion. See our other designs for a mix and match to create the perfect gifts or decoration ideas.


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<Mandi's Rant>
Few topics infuriate me as much as the notion that national standards-based implementation and adoption of healthcare IT should be cheap and easy. Haven't we all heard the adage, "You can only have things done two of three ways: fast, cheap, or well"? Considering that the "thing" we're trying to do is revolutionize the healthcare industry, the effects of which may be felt in each and every one of our lives at some point, don't you want to include "well" as the bare minimum of what is required? After all, this is YOUR electronic health record, YOUR data, YOUR treatment plan and effectiveness measurements. So, what's the other way we want this "thing" done: fast or cheap?
We're talking about an industry that takes an average of 17 YEARS to put significant medical discoveries into routine patient care practice. (Numerous sources confirm this: The Healthcare Singularity and the Age of Semantic Medicine Translating Research into Public Health Action, etc.)
17 years is an entire generation of doctors. Doogie Howser could have been born, graduated med school, and begun to practice medicince by the time any insights from his birth were applied to practice. Suffice it to say, "fast" is not a way that healthcare is used to doing a "thing".
Let's contrast that with the information technology industry's acceptance of iterative development releases and planned obsolescence for enterprise AND consumer assets. The big boys (Oracle, IBM, etc.) generally cease support of older products between 7-10 years after their introduction. Your company's AS/400 server hardware may be 15 years old, but the O/S is the latest release, and all the data on the legacy server is preserved with the latest in backup packages over a wire-speed network connection. How long have you had your laptop? How frequently have you updated your Facebook app this year?
If someone tried to sell you a 17 year-old 480DX PC with a 9600 baud modem, 5″ floppy disk, 64MB RAM, running Windows 3.11 using the argument that, although much newer, faster, cheaper, more effective technology is available it is not yet PROVEN, would you buy it?
So, healthcare – an industry which moves at the speed of 17 years of Doogie Howser medical student maturity, and technology – an industry reinvented with the introduction of the iPhone in June of 2007, are at a crossroads for how to accomplish this "thing": developing, implementing, and widely adopting national standards-based healthcare IT within mandated timelines that fall well within the next 10 years.
It must be done "fast", relative to the usual pace of healthcare change.
And it must be done "well", because it is OUR health at stake.
Suffice it to say, it will not be "cheap". And my momma always told me that nothing worth doing is easy.
We have to stop whining about how costly and hard it is to turn this ship, and start working with the ONC on how to make healthcare IT better, faster, and ultimately more meaningful to all stakeholders involved in its use.
</Mandi's Rant>


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Monday, February 11, 2013
Posted by Rot at 8:16 PM
Labels: dr. who, music, now playing, youtube.com
5 comments:
- wicKED said...
This was the first Doctor for me. This show blew my mind at such an early age.
- February 12, 2013 at 7:44 AM
- Rot said...
Yeah. Same here.
This was, and is, the Doctor to me.
I was a casual watcher, but whenever that theme came on, I kinda froze to hear the entire thing. Reminds me of late nights flipping around the tv and finding PBS running weird scifi shows and fast-motion citiscapes with Philip Glass music : )
A perfect theme.
- February 12, 2013 at 7:54 AM
- girl6 said...
awwwwwww...i know i say this all the time...& maybe, he's just a Super Obvious choice---buuuuut...Tom is STILL my Favorite Doctor of All time...he just lights up the room!!!
& i <333333 this Pic!!!
- February 13, 2013 at 2:19 AM
- ShellHawk said...
He made me knit longer scarfs...
- February 13, 2013 at 11:29 AM
- The Gill-Man said...
Like y'all...Tom Baker was my first Doctor, and still the standard by which all others are judged. He's still the best.
- February 19, 2013 at 5:49 PM
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En af vores kontorpladsrådgivere kontakter dig via den angivne e-mailadresse inden for 48 timer.
Downtown Boston is the city's primordial business district. It's also one of the most historic parts of the city complete with cemeteries and structures that are over a century or two old. But, while Boston certainly preserves and honors its history, it also has an eye on the future, as evidenced by its ever expanding skyline which now sees the city home to several corporate headquarters and government-owned facilities. Boston is an excellent place for any business to call home and with WeWork's coworking office space in Downtown Boston, you can finally have the office you want in the part of Boston you want to be.


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By Gavin Nichols
The San Antonio Area Foundation's Talk About It! campaign will host its second-annual "Bark in the Park – Perrito Grito" on Saturday, March 2, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Woodlawn Lake Park. Bark in the Park – Perrito Grito is a one-of-a-kind event, for all San Antonians and their pets. This event features access to various services supporting the Talk About It! goals of "Care. Adopt. Neuter." Those services include: pet adoptions, low-cost vaccinations, free spay/neuter and micro-chipping.
Last March, the first Bark in the Park – Perrito Grito served more than 4,500 people. We expect an even bigger event this year, with more than 5,000 people attending. We are excited to be hosting this event again with the support of District 7 City Councilman Cris Medina. More than 35 San Antonio nonprofit organizations and for-profit businesses will participate.
This will be a fun, family-friendly event. Some of the activities include musical performances by Las Alteñas, an all-female mariachi band; and San Antonio garage rock legends The Krayolas. We will have pet contests judged by local news celebrities and canine celebrities. The emcees for the day are equally legendary: Tim Derk and Colleen Quirk. Groups such as the Westside Dog Initiative will have a dog toy-making area for young people and the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club will have a Kid's Zone with moonwalks and face painting.
We will have caricaturists to capture people and pets, as well as a photo booth for family portraits.
Many groups have volunteered to help with the event such as Kym's Kids, the UTSA Women of Honor, Honors Alliance, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Alpha Kappa Psi Business fraternity, Texas Med Clinic and Americorp, along with many individuals who want to help make San Antonio a no-kill community.
Bark in the Park is more than a fun family event; it will provide families with the right tools to be responsible pet owners. Sixteen different adoption groups will have more than 100 adoptable dogs and cats. Free spay-neuter surgeries will be provided on a first come, first-served basis. For appointments, call San Antonio Humane Society, 210-424-7595. SNAP will have a spay-neuter lottery at 7:30 a.m. at the Gymnasium parking lot near the intersection of Alexander and Cincinnati streets. Low cost vaccinations and other veterinary services will be available from Pet Shotz from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Funds raised through sponsorships and exhibitor booths help cover the cost of this event. Any additional revenue will go to the Animal No Kill Fund of the San Antonio Area Foundation to be used for grant making. If you are interested in helping sponsor Bark in the Park – Perrito Grito, we look forward to "talking about it" with you!
For more info, see the event webpage: http://talkaboutitsa.wix.com/barkinthepark2013#.
Gavin Nichols is Program Officer – Community Initiatives at the San Antonio Area Foundation.


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About the title: When I checked in on Facebook, this was an option. And, as I'm always correcting people about how they climbed Koko Crater and not Koko Crater Head or Koko Head Crater or Koko Head, I jumped on that location immediately. It took me a while to get up there. Here's my tale.
Under the blazing sun at 1 p.m. yesterday, I had the curiously strange idea to go up Koko Crater, which is practically in my backyard. It's a big draw for (insane or fit or insanely fit) residents and tourists alike. It's also a draw for those who want to go on a little hike. How hard can it be, they must ask themselves. I don't know why anyone would do this hike more than once. We used to go up quite often, before it became a tourist destination, and we even took our daughters up there a few times. We'd watch the sunset, take in the view, and take lots of pictures.
For mere mortals, it's not a piece of cake. The tramway is treacherous, there is nothing to hold onto except maybe the rail if you bend over and grab it, the trestle, which always seems to have a hive of bees or wasps in activity, is terrifying (so I took the cheater path on the side), and there is no water anywhere. If you aren't discouraged by my message of doom yet, take a 2-liter bottle for the way up and maybe another for the way down.
There are 1,060 steps up to the top, and then you have to climb up rock that has been smoothed with erosion and thousands of footsteps. Years ago, an encouraging soul painted markers on the rail marking progress. At 200 steps. At 400 steps. At 500 steps At 800 steps. At 1,000 steps it also says only 60 more to go!
This being my off season, I haven't been training for triathlons much recently. But how bad was it? Bad. Before I got to the 200th step I was having second thoughts. I knew I didn't have to do it. I packed a little bit of water, but not nearly enough, and it was so hot. And it wasn't until I got to the 400th step did I remember about the dreaded trestle. Although it seems to have been reinforced some, I do not have the constitution to go across, whether it's climbing or descending. Fortunately, there is a well-worn path on its east side that takes some rock climbing and weaving in and out of the thorned haole koa thickets. To me, it was a better alternative.
I had to stop several times on the way up, and I wasn't the only one. When people were coming down, it gave those of us on the way up a reason to step to the side and pause. I met several families on their way down, little kids fearlessly hopping about, dads and moms with babies on their backs (none too happy, either), a young couple in their 20s, of which the woman whimpered with every step down.
And then I met Julian and Evan. Carrying their bikes. On their way down. Julian was wearing a bicycle kit, was walking in his socks, and his bicycle shoes were stuck on his handlebars. Evan carried his big Giant bike on his shoulders. When I first caught a glimpse of them, I could see their bikes sparkling high above me at the top of the tramway, Julian's front wheel spinning like a ferris wheel in the distance.
"Did youz guyz ride up from inside the crater?"
"Nope. We rode right up this trail."
"Holy cow! Really? Are you in training?"
Julian told me he did the Honolulu Tinman, but he wasn't doing this for training. If you could see that trail, you would be astonished at anyone getting a bike up there. If you have a rock hopper or a BMX or a trail bicycle, maybe, but these guys looked like they were on regular road bikes with regular tires.
Between 400 steps, the trestle, and 800 steps, I had to give myself the self pep talk. I compared the heat to Ka Wela, the recent Boca Hawaii endurance triathlon I completed a few months ago. I told myself if I can do Kona 70.3 Honu Ironman twice (and next year makes thrice), I can climb Koko Crater one more time in my life. I said to myself that I was not a quitter. I don't quit. I might be slow, but I achieve my goal.
Finally, at the top, breathless, heart pounding, I leaned on the World War 2 pillbox to take a break, take out my phone and shoot stuff, like scenery.
A week or a weekend doesn't go by that we don't hear the sirens wailing and the fire department's helicopter flying to Koko Crater to make a rescue. Having done it one final last time, it doesn't surprise me. It would be so easy to fall and twist an ankle or break a bone. For me, it was dizzyingly high and at one point on the way down, I didn't measure the step as far down as it was and I nearly tumbled. And, although it feels like it takes forever to get to the top, it also feels like forever to get back down. I am so done with it.
Somethings I don't get:
- Why do people hike with boom boxes or radios and make the rest of us listen to their music? Why not listen to the wind rushing through the brush, or the bullets ricocheting off the targets at the shooting range below?
- Why do women wear cute little shoes for this climb?
- Why do people go to the top and have a cigarette?
- Why do people even go up there?
Great mysteries.


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Prej disa ditesh i eshte bashkuar stafit te forumit tone moderatori Aleksandër, nje njeri dinamik dhe qe rrezaton shqiptari. Eshte kenaqesi qe ai eshte mes nesh.
"Moreover, you scorned our people, and compared the Albanese to sheep, and according to your custom think of us with insults. Nor have you shown yourself to have any knowledge of my race. Our elders were Epirotes, where this Pirro came from, whose force could scarcely support the Romans. This Pirro, who Taranto and many other places of Italy held back with armies. I do not have to speak for the Epiroti. They are very much stronger men than your Tarantini, a species of wet men who are born only to fish. If you want to say that Albania is part of Macedonia I would concede that a lot more of our ancestors were nobles who went as far as India under Alexander the Great and defeated all those peoples with incredible difficulty. From those men come these who you called sheep. But the nature of things is not changed. Why do your men run away in the faces of sheep?"
Letter from Skanderbeg to the Prince of Taranto ▬ Skanderbeg, October 31 1460
Aleksandër i bashkohet stafit tonë.
Këtu jepen njoftime prej drejtuesve te ketij forumi në lidhje me ecurinë, dhe bashkëbisedimin e këtij komuniteti.
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- Hymniarber
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Aleksandër i bashkohet stafit tonë.
Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt
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No new coal mines will be approved in the Elk Valley until the lead company in the region, Teck, develops a valley-wide plan to manage the cumulative effects of selenium concentrations in the Elk River, B.C. Environment Minister Terry Lake said Thursday.
"I don't want to say there is a moratorium, but I can tell you that any applications will have to be considered in context of the development of a plan, if not the finalization of a plan," Lake said.
Vancouver-based Teck has already embarked on one of the largest water-quality projects in the world to combat selenium released into the Elk River from waste rock at its coal operations in the Elk River Valley. It is also developing a management plan that could reduce downstream concentrations to less than half the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standard.
Selenium is a common earth element but it can be concentrated in foods eaten by aquatic animals and accumulate in their eggs, causing abnormalities or death. It has been showing up in elevated levels in Koocanusa Lake, which straddles the Canada-U.S. border.
Teck has committed $600 million over the next five years to address what the company acknowledges is a complex and difficult problem to solve.
"We have been working at how we reverse the trend of selenium levels here in the Elk Valley," said Marcia Smith, senior vice-president of sustainability and external affairs at Teck. "We at Teck are leading the research, and leading the implementation of plans, things that have not been done anywhere else in the world to reverse this trend."
Lake said Teck "understands the extent of problem and what they need to do to go forward."
Teck has an application before the government to continue its Line Creek coal mining operation in the valley. Besides Teck, there are a further three applications before the government for expansions and one application for a new mine.
"With the ones that are in the process, they will have to be considered in conjunction with a valley-wide plan. They won't be judged as one-offs," Lake said.
Lake said he has no timeline to have a plan completed, but he expects a framework plan could be completed within a matter of months. Details can be worked out later, he said.
"It does need to be something that has short-term, medium-term and long-term goals attached to it," he said.
Teck announced its selenium project in its fourth quarter report to shareholders, saying it expects its plans — to divert water away from waste rock sites and to construct treatment systems — will add $6 a tonne to the cost of its coal.
Work is already underway on a biological treatment facility at the Line Creek mine, Smith said in a telephone interview from the Elk Valley.
"That project is well underway with lots and lots of people working in the snow in the winter to build that facility."
A U.S. study released Wednesday concluded that selenium concentrations in the Elk River exceed B.C. guidelines and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's water quality standard. That study prompted a coalition of environmental groups to call for a ban on new coal mining in the valley.
In its fourth-quarter report, the company tells shareholders that it expects permitting for future projects to be delayed until regulatory authorities accept the selenium management plan and can asses any cumulative impacts of new projects.
Smith said Teck's goal is to reduce selenium to a scientifically-agreed-upon range of numbers, some of which would be below the U.S. EPA standard.
The presence of selenium in the river is not a new issue. It has been identified downstream from Teck's Elk River operations and from its coal mines upstream from Alberta's McLeod River for years.
Teck funded a 2010 report by experts and stakeholders that outlined the problem and came up with a series of recommendations of how to mitigate its impact.
"We agreed we would implement those recommendations," Smith said.


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Earth Day: Climate education is key to protecting our quality of life
Editor's note: April 22 is the 42nd anniversary of what is often called the birth of the modern environmental movement. This is one of four essays in which San Diegans discuss the need for vigilance in environmental law enforcement, science, education and legislative action.
Every day we read something about the global effects of changes in our climate: Arctic snow melts and how they affect polar bears, marine transportation and oil exploration; Midwestern farmers experiencing changes in growing seasons; water shortages; and thousands of heat records in the U.S. in March. We are also beginning to feel these changes closer to home: In San Diego County, we experienced record-high temperatures, snow in the mountains and flood-generating rain in a span of three weeks. Changes are happening and we feel the effects in our collective regional "backyard."
Climate education, leadership on climate adaptation and mitigation and concern for future generations are important issues for San Diegans. After all, we live in a region that imports most of its water and is bordered by the Pacific Ocean with communities and businesses affected by sea-level rise. History and trends clearly indicate the impacts of changes in our climate on these two resources alone. Understanding the science and impacts of these changes can help all of us prepare for the consequences, thoughtfully and carefully, and plan together for our future.
The San Diego Regional Climate Education Partnership is a team assembled from throughout San Diego County. Its mission: implement a research-based climate science education and communications program to increase knowledge about climate science among opinion leaders, decision-makers and their communities. Increasing climate knowledge fosters informed decision-making about adaptation to and mitigation of climate change impacts based on neutral, objective and verified climate science.
The partnership differs from other efforts in several ways.
First, the core of the education program uses regional climate-change science connected to regional impacts and focuses on what's unique to San Diego. Increasing temperatures not only affect weather patterns, but impact our water resources, the intensity and frequency of wildfires, heat waves and Santa Anas. These affect our economy, public health and regional planning. Changes in the marine layer, ocean temperature and sea level all directly affect our coast and quality of life in San Diego. Team scientists from Scripps Institution of Oceanography are studying these phenomena, providing cutting-edge science to enhance the education program and allow for more informed, thoughtful decision-making.
Second, the partnership is working with community leaders and decision-makers in San Diego County. There are excellent programs to improve climate-science education in formal educational settings from K-12 to college. There is a gap in efforts and programs to reach others, particularly community and opinion leaders. The partnership is working with this group of leaders to determine what they know and want to know about climate change and its impacts on their agencies, organizations and businesses. The partnership has worked across multiple community sectors, designing projects that provide resources to meet their needs and relevant education opportunities for them and their communities to learn more about the science of climate change and the regional impacts that affect our quality of life.
Third, the partnership will develop and implement a model for regional climate-change education that can be used elsewhere in the U.S. Interviews with leaders, results of public opinion research and discussions with diverse audiences all indicate San Diegans want to take the lead in climate-change research and adaptation. We anticipate developing a model that can be used across the nation to improve the understanding of changes in our climate and identify the best ways to engage community leaders and the best practices to communicate information.
The partnership is a multidisciplinary team, including oceanographers and climate scientists from the University of San Diego and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, social psychologists from Cal State San Marcos, educators from the University of San Diego, Cal State San Marcos and The San Diego Foundation, experts from the Energy Policy Initiative Center and communication specialists from The Steve Alexander Group. An external advisory board of leaders in business, tribes, education, government, military, real estate and other sectors works with the team. These experts have been living and working in San Diego for decades. They understand the need for regional leadership that benefits our region's economy and its quality of life.
The San Diego Regional Climate Education Partnership is answering the call to increase climate change knowledge. We believe our region depends on it if we are to protect and preserve our quality of life, not just for today, but for future generations.
Boudrias is an associate professor of marine science and environmental studies at the University of San Diego and project leader of the San Diego Regional Climate Education Partnership. McDade is a businessman and chairman of the partnership's External Advisory Committee.


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Blippy Opens to Public and Scores High-Profile Investors–Including Twitter's Evan Williams–For the Twitter of $$
Blippy, a start-up that lets users broadcast their credit card transactions online, will open itself up to the public today and announce a slate of high-profile Silicon Valley investors.
The size of the investment–$1.6 million–is actually not so large as the names on its funding roster.
They include: Sequoia Capital, Charles River Ventures, well-known angel investor Ron Conway, Twitter CEO and co-founder Evan Williams, and a trio of splashy entrepreneurs: Jason Calacanis, James Hong and Ariel Poler.
They are all presumably hoping the site–with the unlikely name of Blippy and headed by longtime Silicon Valley entrepreneur Philip "Pud" Kaplan–will become a viral hit with users and yet another step in the continuing socialization of everything a person does online.
The San Francisco-based company, which has only four employees (including Kaplan, who has also put his own money into the venture), has been in invitation-only private beta for the last several months.
In an interview last night, Kaplan said that the site now has about 5,000 users, accounting for $5 million in purchases in just the past few weeks. An average transaction, according to Blippy statistics, is just above $42.
Kaplan said he hoped Blippy would soon log $1 million in transactions per day.
"We are hoping to create a site that is useful and informative to people, based on a Twitter model of sharing information in an open way," said Kaplan. "People care about what they spend and we think this is an obvious thing to share."
Indeed, Blippy takes online transparency even further, allowing a user to automatically post on its Web site messages about the type and amount of the transaction every time they use a credit card–at least the one they designate as their "Blippy" card–for others to see and comment on.
The twist of Blippy–whose motto is: "What are your friends buying?"–is that it is more passive than the more active tweeting or texting.
While most of the transactions don't contain a lot of information–for example, "cat spent $3.55 at In-N-Out Burger"–Blippy is obviously going for deeper information, which it already collects for sites like Apple (AAPL) iTunes and Amazon (AMZN).
Retailers, restaurants and other vendors might also benefit from the flow of information, finally learning who their best customers really are and perhaps rewarding them.
And, of course, the key part is that your friends see what you are buying and you can all jabber (or gripe) online about what you bought, how much you paid and what you thought of the purchases.
How all this will make money is still being pondered, of course, but one might imagine a dedicated Blippy credit card or some kind of innovative analysis of the spending data or even group-sale offers to users.
And integration with Facebook and Twitter seems inevitable, eventually widening the circle of nosy friends, as does the emergence of reviews, mobile apps, search and more.
Kaplan is best known for a site he created during the Web 1.0 bubble, FuckedCompany, which chronicled the ongoing start-up implosion as it happened.
He later started online advertising service AdBrite, followed by a short stint as Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Charles River Ventures.
It was there that he met Blippy co-founders Ashvin Kumar and Chris Estreich.
Kaplan said the money raised was enough to fund Blippy for the next 12 to 18 months.
But why not hear him talk about Blippy? Here is the video of a BoomTown interview with Kaplan, which I posted in late December: