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Himes: steep cuts are coming
Snow drifts, overbooked flights and rising fuel prices may be the least of air travelers' concerns, if U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., has finger on the pulse of Congress.
Himes predicted Thursday night his colleagues in Washington will fail to reach a fiscal compromise by a March 1 deadline, triggering a steep and indiscriminate round of budget cuts that he said will wreak havoc on the economy, commercial aviation, the Defense Department and education.
His gloomy outlook on what is colloquially known as sequestration came during a 90-minute question-and-answer session sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Greenwich at Town Hall in Himes' hometown.
"After two or three weeks of people waiting three hours in line at the airport, because you've got fewer TSA agents at the (magnetometers) and X-ray machines, as people come to understand what this means for defense contractors in northern Virginia, California and elsewhere -- Connecticut frankly. As people come to feel what it means to have $83 billion in cuts in one year, the pressure will mount on the institution and a deal will get done," Himes said, referring to the Transportation Security Administration.
In his third term representing most of Fairfield County and a sliver of New Haven County, Himes said facetiously that Congress' "stratospheric" approval rate of 9 percent will go to 2 percent if the cuts are allowed to take effect.
"My colleagues, I suspect, will be more willing to compromise when their constituents have raised hell about problems at school, long waits at airports," Himes said.
Himes fielded a broad cross-section of questions from about 75 of his constituents, many of them members of the Democratic Town Committee he presided over before he was elected to the House in 2008.
On the same day in which Vice President Joe Biden addressed a conference on gun violence in Danbury that Himes also attended, a number of the questions dealt with gun control laws.
Of a package of reforms proposed by the White House in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, Himes said universal background checks for gun buyers and a proposal to close what is known as the gun show loophole stand the best chance of winning approval in Congress.
"We have a long way to go and a real struggle to take the measures we know we need to take to keep our kids safe and to keep all of us safe," said Himes, whose district immediately borders Newtown.
Himes predicted proposals to limit gun magazine capacity to 10 rounds of ammunition and re-classify a number of semi-automatic firearms as part of a federal assault weapon ban have a much tougher road to hoe.
Stating his support for the Second Amendment, Himes qualified his comments to say that constitutional rights should have checks on them.
"There are no absolute rights in this country," Himes said.
A member of the House Financial Services Committee, Himes defended the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, saying it protects people from predatory lending and requires banks to set aside more capital the more they trade derivatives.
He also reaffirmed his support for the measures enacted by President Obama to try to resuscitate the economy, saying that the U.S. has fared better than austerity-minded nations such as the United Kingdom that have tried to cut their way out of the downturn.
"Our recovery is nothing to write home about, but it is a recovery," Himes said. "I think the government has not done enough to bring the country back to full employment."
A former investment banker with Goldman Sachs, Himes disputed characterizations the country is on a path to financial ruin.
"Don't let anybody tell you, as I've been hearing for the last four years, that's we're about to become Greece," Himes said. "We're not."
Nick Edwards, who works for the town's Social Services Department and serves on the Representative Town Meeting, asked Himes what could be done to combat rising gasoline prices, now averaging just under $4 a gallon in Connecticut.
"Is there something at your level that this could be addressed, because it's killing the economy?" Edwards said.
Himes downplayed the influence of Congress or even the president on gas prices, which he also said are not affected as much as people think by oil futures trading.
"Folks, we live in a global market for gasoline and oil," Himes said. "People overstate the case when they say Wall Street is screwing around with oil prices."
Sean Goldrick, a Democrat on the Board of Estimate and Taxation, thanked Himes for his 95 percent approval rating by the League of Conservation Voters environmental group and for voting against subsidies for big oil.
He urged Himes to rule out supporting the Keystone XL pipeline project, for which the congressman has left the door slightly ajar.
"I would hope that you would consider," Goldrick said, trailing off.
Himes finished his sentence.
"Changing my mind," he said.
Unlike sequestration, Himes expressed optimism that Congress will hammer out a comprehensive package of immigration reforms. The estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the country should be required to register with the government, pay a meaningful penalty and get at the back of the line for green cards, Himes said.
A recurring theme for Himes throughout the Town Hall forum was the acrimonious climate in Congress, which he said has been exacerbated by gerrymandering and the need to raise campaign cash by Democrats and Republicans alike from their sound bite-driven donors.
"The American public has every right to be angry with the government," Himes said.
email@example.com; 203-625-4436; http://twitter.com/gettinviggy


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By Corey Heller
Photo credit: John Millard
Have you heard of compound interest? The worldwide financial crises aside, experts say that compound interest can make us millionaires by the time we retire if we take advantage of it correctly.
It goes without saying that it is completely dependent upon how much money we invest initially, how much we regularly add to the account, and what the overall rate of return is on our investment.
Is everyone going to become a millionaire through compound interest? No! But it doesn't hurt to do what we can! We add a set amount of money to our account on a regular basis and low-and-behold our little nest egg grows and grows.
Learning a language isn't really so different when you think about it.
Imagine that our brain is the bank and language is the money. We start off with some basic words and inspiration (initial investment), then each day we add a little more language to what we have (regular deposits) and that mix of old and new grows even larger and stronger (compound interest) over time through being able to use more complex sentences and communicate with more people which in itself adds to more vocabulary and better pronunciation – on and on. The more you put in, the more it develops and grows and compounds and before we know it, voilà, our language skills have blossomed and our family is speaking another language.
But what about our individual rate of return on our language learning, we may ask? Very good question! In fact, this is a key element (both in financial investing and language learning)!
As we all know from financial investing, if we put our money into an account that has an interest rate of zero, then we are basically going to remain in a holding pattern. No loss (if we don't count inflation) but also no growth! Not good.
To relate this with language learning: If we just repeat the same words over and over again in the same sentences and in the same contexts for weeks at a time, then our interest rate is going to remain stagnant. Using the words we have learned in new sentences, with new people, in different settings is key. Listening to audio programs, watching videos and taking notes, this will keep the ball rolling.
Getting excited about the culture is also key: making recipes from the culture, learning about the countries where the language is spoken, visiting cultural events in your community are all part of the process.
Putting all of this together is how our language will expand each day and each week. It is how we ensure that our interest rate remains high.
One hour a day can make all the difference
For a number of reasons, parents may not be able to expose their children to a language at least 30 percent of the time. Some families just aren't comfortable enough in a language to dedicate themselves completely to raising their children in it. Others may want to introduce a third or even fourth language. While yet others just aren't ready to jump into bilingual parenting completely – they want to give it a test run first to get a feel for the waters.
Whatever your situation might be, rather than doing nothing at all, focus on one hour a day of language exposure and you will be amazed!
One hour a day is 60 minutes and 60 minutes over a week is 420 minutes = 7 hours! You can figure out for yourself how much that is in a year (it's pretty easy in fact and sounds tremendous)! Just think of it: a year of language use with just one hour a day!
That is more than many of us got in our high school language classes (and if you consider the fact that many of us were usually not paying attention, cheating off our neighbor's paper, or utterly confused and didn't care, our kids have quite the advantage)!
So, how do we go about this? How do we ensure that we have a good return on our investment? No one can answer those questions completely for us but we can get a little help in the right direction…
Click Here for Part Two of this article, which includes some tips for one hour a day of language learning.
What's your story? Do you have a language that you have let fall to the wayside? Is there a language you would love to pass onto your children but are too afraid to leap in and make it happen? Tell us your story in the comments below!
This website is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as a replacement or substitute for any professional financial, medical, legal, or other advice. By using this website, you signify your agreement to all terms, conditions and notices contained or referenced in our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with these terms and conditions, please do not use this website.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Burton Global Open Series announced dates for its 2009/2010 international snowboard competition series, which will kick off in New Zealand this summer. Below are dates and locations for all 2009/2010 Burton Global Open Series events.
New Zealand Open August 11-15, 2009 Cardrona Alpine Resort, New Zealand
European Open January 9-16, 2010 Laax, Switzerland
Canadian Open February 2-7, 2010 Canada Olympic Park, Calgary, Alberta
Asian Open March 2-7, 2010 ALTS Bandai, Japan
US Open March 16-21, 2010 Stratton Mountain Resort, USA
Instead of having two events down under in 2009, Burton has decided to combine the Australian Open and the New Zealand Open into one premier Southern Hemisphere event taking place in New Zealand.
"Heading into a busy Olympic year, we've decided to reduce the number of events to free up some room in the global events calendar," said Liam Griffin, Global Events Director for Burton. "We're totally committed to the riders who support the series, and are trying to make it easier for everybody to hit all the different events they need to this coming season."
With events scheduled year-round and in five countries, the Burton Global Open Series boasts the most lucrative cumulative prize purse in snowboarding. All five Burton Global Open Series events offer riders the chance to earn points towards male and female championship titles, which are awarded at the US Open in Stratton, Vermont.
The Burton Global Open Series is also part of the Swatch Ticket To Ride (TTR) World Snowboard Tour, the largest group of independent freestyle snowboard events in the world. The Swatch TTR World Snowboard Tour Champions are crowned at the end of the season.
Go211 (click on the link for more info) is the official webcaster of the BGOS and home to live scoring, standings, rider bios and more for each Burton Global Open Series stop.


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It's that time of year to wrap things up and it's been a wonderful season for the blog and the radio show. I know that both are on different series numbers as this blog is on seven and the radio show at three. It's still confusing to say the least. As June wraps up, it was an exciting month due to various events and finally going to Toronto after a six year absence.
This past weekend was exciting as there were so many events in Ottawa. The Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival, TD Ottawa Jazz Festival and one event I took part was The Community Cup. It was fun taking part in the soccer tournament, even though I was sore the next day. I will admit that I was out of shape playing soccer due to a lot of speed and endurance. Overall, it was to show new Canadians show the love of the game.
I was able to document the trash talking tweets between CKCU & CBC Ottawa and the images. It is at this link.
Wrapping Up The Season
Looking back from this year, it's been an opportunity to chat with the usual Canadian bands and musicians. Probably the most exciting was getting my co-host, Lauren to come out and help me assistant on the interviews. The highlight having to be Dan Mangan back in October. Considering that he's become popular now since the release of Oh Fortune and winning a Juno Award.
Another highlight was having Candice So coming on the show in November and having fun with the music that I usually play. There were a few low points but it won't be mentioned. It was back in late October and early November, you'll probably know and it was very frustrating for a reason.
Who's the band to finish off this season? It's Wendy Versus from Toronto. The interview was aired on CKCU-FM and I made a mistake after airing the interview by saying Crayon War instead of Crayon Wars.
The playlist for this week's radio is at this link.
Have a great Summer. On a programming note, I will be airing the Nat & Marie interview in three parts. The Summer edition radio show will slightly be on the social media and online culture aspect. Hope you will enjoy it.
Radio Show/Interview
The June 27th Show – Press play to listen.
The Wendy Versus Interview


text: ForceM 1,456 Posted February 8, 2013 Ok, you might disagree from the start. But i honestly think the Y-Wing is the Stepchild of game design in X-Wing. I will say it: it is drastically underpowered. It has truckloads of hull and shield. But even against standard Tie fighters that cost 1/3 less than you, you do not stand a chance whatsoever. Your statline and manoeuver Dial is just not good enough. He can stay in track easily, and 2 attack dice chew through 8 HP surprisingly fast if paired to agility 1. If anything happens to have 3 or 4 attack dice, well bad luck you're dead and in Wave 2 even Imps get these options. Just compare the Base Tie Interceptor to Gold Y-Wing. Now tell me how you wanna defeat a ship of the same cost in the Y-Wing. In reality, you lose in a Y- Wing to a standard Tie fighter but the Interceptor will outmanoeuver, outdamage and outdodge you in a way that is not even funny. Fact is, Even 2 attack dice hit you consistently, and you cant hit back against 3 agility possibly with evade. Options you say? Yeah sure you have options, but even the symbols on your bar seem to make the ship more expensive, even if you don't use them (why exactly???). Overcosted proton torps that are one use and hardly ever make up for their point cost. Droids that are certainly a very useful toolbox, but make more sense on your X-Wing that actually does some damage occasionally. Also they don't fix the fundamental flaws of the Y-wing which are a lack of base firepower paired to poor agility. And you can't fix them both! And the only one that makes some sense, the 360 degree Ion turret. The ion turret is a Y-Wings bread and butter. But hey even your Gold Squadron now costs 23 points, and does a maximum of one damage per turn. 23 points is one point less than 2 Academy Pilots. Have you tried pitting a Y-wing with ion cannon against 2 Ties? Well i have, and there is no way you come out victorious here. Chances are piled against you and i have yet to see a Y-wing win this situation! The Ion turret is about to get more useful with wave 2 possibly, since an ion token on a Falcon or Slave 1 makes a lot more sense than on one of eight Tie Fighters. More elite lists have to fear Ion tokens that is quite true. In larger fights, Smart Imperial Players at the moment just ignore Y-wings. They kill the X-Wings which are the only real danger to them and then mop up the remaining Y-Wings. I have done this and people have done this to me. Works about every time. So after extensively outlining why i think the Y-Wings make little sense in current, and possibly future meta, what could FFG possibly do about it? 1) Alter the stat line. I don't really think it is possible. It has been printed on every Y-wing sold and errataing it makes little sense to me. So i guess we have to live with it. 2) Reduce the point cost. Seems logical. The Y-Wings cost is not justified by what it can do for you in many ways, so this would be a possibility. But again it has been printed on a lot of issued cards, so not realistic. 3) And this is by far my favorite possibility. The Y-Wing has 2 pilots. But can shoot with one weapon per turn. This makes no sense (same thing for other ships with multiple pilots). In any game you can play a Y-Wing it has decent firepower since the pilot can lock the turret forward or the gunner uses it while the pilot shoots the lasers. Make it possible to link your turret to your main guns so you can shoot both weapons in one turn if you have a target in front of you. This makes a difference especially against agility 3 ships with evade and would give you a chance at least. After all the turret costs 5 points. It also gives you a reason to manoeuver you main guns in position at all! I have playtested this via house rule in some games and the Y-wing does not even get overpowered. It just gets more dangerous, and you stand a chance against swarms finally because they can't ignore them like before. Now if you do this for turrets only it would be a necessary and aimed buff for the Y-Wing. If you would do it for every secondary weapon, you buff Turrets, cannons, torps and missiles. These all cost a lot and are arguably not worth their point cost. I have not seen a lot of competitive lists using secondary weapons at all. So why not guve them some kind of buff. I recognize the Firespray with HLC being a bit ridiculous with my ruling though, so this would need some further balancing. This also would require just a few erratas and updates for the rule book and a few cards possibly, a rather small and simple change to game rulings. I know a lot of people won't agree to this, but as it is now the game has quite some balancing issues, and FFG should adress these. Also i don't think wave 2 will fix these issues. Also with wave 2 coming, the Y-Wing will become a very rare sight on the table if nothing happens about it soon. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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BBC America have released a new trailer for The Snowmen, featuring a number of different clips to the original that aired on BBC One this week:
The Graham Norton Show: BBC America have also announced that the festive edition of The Graham Norton Show that will feature Matt Smith as a guest will be broadcast immediately after The Snowmen has aired on Christmas Day. The episode will have its premiere in the United Kingdom on Friday 21st December at 10:35pm, with Matt sharing the sofa alongside comedians Billy Connolly and Jennifer Saunders, and award-winning movie star Dustin Hoffman.
The Snowmen: new BBC America Trailer
12/15/2012 12:26:00 am - Reported by Chuck Foster
Filters: Series 7/33, Series Specials, USA


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Deals Year in Review: Only Facebook Lifted the Tech World
Wall Street was captivated by Facebook's' so-called bake off of banks looking to run the biggest offering in years.
Turns out, it was also among the few events global tech investment bankers had to fight over this year.
Outside of Facebook's $16 billion offering, the tech world's deal activity dropped across the board this year. Global mergers and acquisition volume in the industry slid 10% from the prior year to $198 billion and follow-on offerings dropped 31% to $16.2 billion, according to Dealogic.


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Pick your clever song or film reference for the new celebrity romance of MEG RYAN and JOHN "COUGAR" MELLENCAMP?!?!?!
I did not see that one coming.
For me, this is right up there on the level of
Eddie Van Halen & Valerie Bertinelli
Gwyneth Paltrow & Chris Martin
Jennifer Anniston & John Mayer
Heather Locklear & Tommy Lee
Julia Roberts & Lyle Lovett
I really don't "get" these romances. Are they real? How do they meet? How do they all fit in one bed? I mean, a man, a woman and two HUGE egos can get crowded.
Anyway, back to the celebromance du jour. I know that I am a cynic, but I have always thought that Meg Ryan is not the apple pie, sweet girl next door that she plays in every movie she's been in. Besides, I LOVE Dennis Quaid and I think there was more to that story than we were privy to. (Can you say Russell Crowe?)
And, John Mellencamp? Well, while his music brings back great high school memories, I always thought he was a bit of a tool when he feigned selective amensia regarding the toolish "Cougar" adjective that he threw around in the 70s and 80s and the way he's tried to be the Midwestern Bruce Springsteen.


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802.11b Wireless Access Point
Discontinued product. Online support only.Please see the support documentation for further information.
The 802.11b Wireless Access Point is an easy-to-use access point that complements the Axis network video products and print servers in wireless applications.
Wireless Network Video Solution
A complete wireless networking solution consists of any Axis network video product, an 802.11b Wireless Device Point from Axis and this 802.11b Wireless Access Point.
The 802.11b Wireless Device Point from Axis is used for bridging Ethernet devices to the wireless LAN/Access Point.
Wireless Network Printing Solution
The 802.11b Wireless Access Point from Axis can be used with the AXIS 5900 and AXIS OfficeBasic USB Wireless print servers.
The device point has radio type approval in the following countries:
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, USA, UK


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Wednesday, April 8
It's Time for Cooking to Combat Cancer, Round 3!
Cooking to Combat Cancer III is back! That means my friend Chris of Melecotte is celebrating her third year of being cancer-free. Now that's something to cheer about.
If you know Chris, then you know that she's a special person. Words such as generous, humble, funny, and caring come to my mind when I think of her.
So won't you join me in marking Chris's milestone? All you have to do is submit a recipe with cancer-fighting ingredients to Chris by Wednesday, April 29, 2009. See details here.
I'm submitting a healthy, cancer-fighting Mediterranean dish that I think Chris will enjoy. My Warm Barley and Fennel Salad is highly textured, aromatic, and flavorful; enjoy it as a main meal or as a side dish with grilled fish or meat. It's made with high fiber barley, antioxidant-rich vegetables, and heart-healthy olive oil, so your body will be happy.
Warm Barley and Fennel Salad
Makes 6 servings.
Print recipe only here.
1 cup barley
2 1/2 cups water, or as much as needed
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 large or 2 small fennel bulbs, diced
12 sun-dried tomatoes, thinly sliced
12 olives, such as Kalamata and Cerignola, pitted and thinly sliced
3 tablespoons lightly toasted, chopped walnuts
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon white balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons water
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon lemon zest
1/4 cup fresh parsley, thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
salt, to taste
In a medium saucepan bring water to a boil. Add barley; return to a boil for 2 minutes, then reduce to low, cover partially, and cook for 15-20 minutes, or until tender. If water evaporates, simply add a little more.
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, warm 2 teaspoons olive oil. Add diced fennel; saute 5-7 minutes, or until lightly browned and tender, but not mushy.
In a large bowl, add cooked barley, fennel, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, and walnuts; toss lightly until well blended.
In a small bowl, whisk olive oil, balsamic vinegar, water, lemon juice, lemon zest, parsley, crushed red pepper, and salt. Pour over the barley mixture and toss until well coated. Taste it and adjust seasonings accordingly. Garnish with additional fresh parsley, if desired.
Enjoy this salad warm, at room temperature, or chilled. It tastes even better after a day or two and makes excellent leftovers.
Here are more cancer-fighting dishes you might enjoy:
Cranberry, Banana, and Honey Smoothie
Asian Noodle Salad with Tofu and Mango
Lemony Blueberry Corn Bread with Basil
Shrimp, Pineapple, and Kashi 7 Whole Grain Pilaf Salad
Here are more delicious recipes featuring barley:
Crepes with Sweet Barley and Apple Preserves at Kitchen Unplugged
Barley Pilaf Salad with Three Basils Pesto at Christine Cooks
Barley Salad with Peppers, Beans, and Everything Else at ecurry
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25 comments:
- Chris said...
Susan, such sweet words! Thank you so much. ;) This salad looks awesome. I just bought fennel today. Wonder if I still have that barley in my pantry?
Thanks for participating in year 2 of CCC! You're the best!
- April 8, 2009 at 7:01 PM
- Snooky doodle said...
nice recipe and such a great post.
- April 8, 2009 at 9:02 PM
- Nicole said...
I haven't cooked with barely before. But put fennel, tomatoes, olives and the like in it, and I know it is good. What a wonderful book and cause.
- April 8, 2009 at 10:49 PM
- T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types said...
I have become quite a fan of barley recently. It is so versatile in soups, salads and casseroles, and so satisfying.
- April 9, 2009 at 5:25 AM
- Michelle @ Find Your Balance Health said...
Great reason to get some healthy recipes together! Now what am I going to submit....hmmmm
- April 9, 2009 at 6:50 AM
Good cause.
Happy Easter my friend.
hugs and kisses,
Maryann xox
- April 9, 2009 at 7:47 AM
- MyKitchenInHalfCups said...
Wow Susan this seems to have all kinds of wonderful flavors: olives, fennel, lemon and I really am always looking for new ways with barley. This should be a lovely summer salad.
- April 9, 2009 at 8:29 AM
- Soma said...
Love Barley & Fennel. Very Healthy salad for a very good cause.
- April 9, 2009 at 8:48 AM
- tavolini said...
What a great idea!! I'll be thinking about what to submit...
Thank you for the chocolates--we just posted about them. They were DELICIOUS :)
- April 9, 2009 at 9:26 AM
- gluten free pammy said...
I love anti cancer foods, I am a 5 year breast cancer survivor
- April 9, 2009 at 9:48 AM
- Mrs. L said...
My mom is a seven year lung cancer survivor...two years longer than the norm...wahooo! I'll have to see if I can enter this.
- April 9, 2009 at 3:13 PM
- Elyse said...
I think Chris's event is so great! Your Mediterranean dish looks amazing; what fabulous flavors. Great job!
- April 9, 2009 at 6:14 PM
- Manggy said...
I'll definitely check this event out :) And who needs grilled meats? I can finish this gorgeous dish in one sitting ;)
- April 10, 2009 at 1:49 AM
- Deeba PAB said...
Well written Susan...Chris is certainly a wonderful person! love this side dish; the flavours & the ingredients...very fresh & exciting!
- April 10, 2009 at 4:52 AM
- The Healthy Librarian said...
What an inspiring story!
I'm definitely trying your recipe--every recipe I've made of yours has been a winner-& I've made them over & over again. Really.
Diet & disease prevention is my all-time favorite subject. Delicious food is my second.
Articles like the one that follows continue to inspire me to keep eating all those healthy vegetables & grains.
Archives of Internal Medicine Study Asks: Can Cancer Disappear Naturally? Lessons to Learn - Diet & Exercise May Help
"The knowledge that some cancers can spontaneously regress is an incredible motivator to continue to modify my lifestyle. For example, Servan-Schreiber details the top foods that inhibit breast cancer cell growth: garlic, leeks, scallions, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, & kale."
Here's to good food & good health.
Thank you Susan for wedding the two.
- April 10, 2009 at 7:32 AM
- Lori Lynn said...
Your salad sounds excellent.
Congrats and best wishes for continued good health to Chris.
Lori Lynn
- April 10, 2009 at 9:30 AM
- Dragon said...
I love fennel and I bet it tastes amazing in this dish. Yum!
- April 10, 2009 at 2:16 PM
- farida said...
I am glad to hear your friend is cancer-free. I wish you a very healthy life from now on.
Your salad looks great! I make up salads similar to this whenever I have wheat berries or barley in my pantry. Never tried adding fennel to it but will next time. Thank you for the idea.
- April 10, 2009 at 3:53 PM
- MeloMeals said...
That looks so good! I am definitely going to submit a recipe!
- April 11, 2009 at 5:32 PM
- chefectomy said...
A great posting and a delicious recipe to boot! Thanks Susan...
- April 12, 2009 at 7:39 PM
- Lisa Johnson said...
Thanks for letting us know about the event! I'm going to try and get something together to submit. ; )
- April 13, 2009 at 5:06 PM
- Susan from Food Blogga said...
chris-You are so welcome, my dear!
nicole-I'm sure you'll love it.
tw-It really is versatile, plus I love the texture.
michelle-I'm glad to hear you're submitting!
maryann-Happy Easter!
tanna-It's great for picnics.
somea-I'm glad you like it.
tavolini-I'm so happy to hear that. :)
motorhome-That's terrific! Thanks for visiting.
mrs l-That is cause for a wahooo! :)
elyse-Thanks a bunch!
mark-It's pretty easy.
deeba-That is awfully sweet.
healthylibrarian-Chris is an inspiring person. Thank you so much for your kind words. I truly appreciate it.
lorilynn-Well said.
dragon-It's one of my favorite vegetables too.
farida-I second that wish!
melomeals-Yea! Glad to hear it.
marc-Many thanks!
anali-Chris will be happy!
- April 15, 2009 at 8:54 AM
- Jeanne said...
This is such a great event - and wonderful to see you supporting it. I don't make nearly enough barley salads...
- April 23, 2009 at 7:35 AM
- Unknown said...
I am so glad I found out about this event through your blog. I just posted mine today. And thank you for stopping by my blog :)
- April 26, 2009 at 8:00 PM
- Christine said...
Somehow I missed this post and am so sorry on many levels. Learning about Chris touched my heart and I wish her a long a healthy life. I love your salad. Warm... fennel... barley! I love barley and will make up a batch of the hulless variety just to have in the fridge for tossing into salads or fritattas. Your recipe is another one for my files.
- June 8, 2009 at 6:50 PM


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With Nintendo releasing their web-based version of Miiverse yesterday, gamers with a web browser can access the Wii U social network from devices like the PS Vita but not the 3DS. When trying to access it from the 3DS users get an error while Sony's handheld handles the social service just fine.
i tried accessing miiverse from the wiiu web browser and an error message popped up and told me to push home icon and tap miiverse tab. lol. i guess nintendo made it allowable for access from every browser but their own.


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Where to find sheet music
Many retailers are continuing to provide sheet music, books, instruments and accessories through online or mail order services. View our shops list here.
Latest exam updates
We've now published further information about our remotely-assessed Performance Grades. We will be gradually rolling out Performance Grades internationally, starting before the end of 2020, following their initial launch in the UK. We'll let you know more about future exam dates as soon as we can. In the meantime, you can find out more about these exams here.
Unfortunately, there is still uncertainty around how and when we can begin to offer face-to-face Practical exams. We recognise that the worldwide response to the coronavirus pandemic will continue to disrupt travel and large gatherings of candidates. We are monitoring the situation and doing all we can to get these exams up and running again. However, everything we do must be in line with guidance from both your government and the UK government to ensure the safety of learners, teachers, examiners and staff.
We are also accelerating our plans to move Music Theory assessment at Grades 1 to 5 to an online exam, instead of a paper-based one. In August we will be piloting an online Music Theory exam in the UK. This is a first step before we can offer online assessments at Grades 1 to 5 in more countries. Grade 6 to 8 Music Theory exams will continue as paper-based assessments for everyone, in all countries. We will share more information about our Music Theory plans in the week beginning 13 July.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work out the best options for the safe delivery of our assessments. We will provide updates on the availability of all our exams and assessments as soon as we can.
We've answered some more of your questions about these forthcoming graded exams, which we're launching initially in the UK. Click here to read the latest updates.
In August, we are aiming to launch performance-focused graded music exams in the UK that will be assessed remotely, based on a recorded submission. These remotely-assessed exams will be available in the UK only to begin with. We will then start to roll them out in stages to learners in other countries later in 2020. You can find out more about these remotely assessed exams here.
At ABRSM we appreciate how much the cancellation of our exams has affected you and we're working hard on solutions to ensure you gain your qualifications at the earliest opportunity.
On 6 May we announced that we would be making special arrangements to offer adapted exams to learners in the UK. These exams are available to learners in their final year of schooling who were expecting to take Grade 6 to 8 (Practical or Music Theory) or an ARSM by summer 2020, and to have their results in time to provide UCAS points for university entrance. The offer of an adapted exam is an exceptional and temporary measure for this specific group of learners. To ensure we can meet the needs of these learners we are restricting these exams to UK candidates to begin with. We will then consider offering them to other candidates and in other countries, and will provide an update on this as soon as we can.
We also announced that we will be offering online practical graded music exams, with a focus on performance, to learners in the UK from August. The exams will be for all instruments and grades (Grades 1-8 and ARSM) and will use our existing repertoire and resources. To begin with, these exams will be available in the UK only. We will then begin rolling them out in stages to learners in other countries later in the year.
The provision of online exams is a new and very exciting step for us and, we hope, for our community of teachers and learners too. I completely understand that many of you will be disappointed that you cannot use these online exams sooner. However, by launching them in the UK with a limited number of candidates, we can make sure that the processes and systems that support the exams are effective and run smoothly.
In the meantime, we are reviewing our Music Theory offer while continuing to plan for the resumption of face-to-face exams in appropriate venues and under strict management of social distancing requirements, once circumstances allow. Please continue to check our website for the latest information.
Whether you are a teacher, learner or parent, you matter to us, and we will continue to do everything we can to support your musical journeys.
Take care and stay safe!
Michael Elliott
Chief Executive, ABRSM
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have an impact on all our lives, the sheer imagination of musicians as they explore different ways of making music - alone, with others, and through their rapidly-adapted teaching - is a daily source of inspiration for me.
Whether it's the weekly Friday Night Club from the RSNO, featuring exclusive, previously unseen performances, or Jess Gillam's Virtual Scratch Orchestra, it's amazing to see how musicians and musical organisations are pushing back boundaries and finding new ways to communicate their art and connect with their audiences.
Some of these inspiring ideas are featured on Play On, just one of the ways in which ABRSM is working to keep you connected and itself doing things differently in these extraordinary times.
We're working hard in other ways too. The disappointment experienced by ABRSM candidates whose exams were cancelled in recent weeks has made our work to develop remote assessments and online measures of musical progress even more urgent than it was before.
Since the pandemic emerged we've diverted resources from other projects and stepped up our efforts to develop effective alternatives for teachers and learners, finding the best way in which ABRSM can continue to support musical progress in the utterly changed landscape in which we find ourselves.
Working within the framework of recently issued guidance from our regulators, we are fast developing ways to adapt our existing assessments for these exceptional circumstances so we can again offer exams to learners around the world.
Some of this is about finding online solutions, some of it is about looking differently at certain elements of our practical exams, such as accompaniment and supporting tests. These complex issues require thought and careful planning if we are to continue to offer high quality assessments that meet the high standards you rightly expect from ABRSM.
You have told us that you need robust, comprehensive digital solutions that allow us to award a fully recognised qualification. The challenge for us is to use our own creativity to develop a response that is timely and able to support musical progression during this extraordinary era, while avoiding over simplification and hasty promises. Our aim is to develop remote assessments that are fit for purpose and that give you what you want.
Striking this balance is one of our greatest priorities and we are working at pace to bring you the best solution. We seek to meet the immediate needs of learners looking to progress to further or higher education later this year. At the same time, we are looking beyond the current pandemic to offer new online and live assessments to complement our existing ones.
I know the whole ABRSM team is genuinely excited about the opportunities that online assessment can, when delivered effectively, unlock for teachers and learners. We will tell you more about our plans as soon as we can. In the meantime, I hope music will give you moments of relaxation, sustenance, comfort and enjoyment in these uncertain times. If you haven't explored Play On yet, do take a look and see what resources are there to help you.
Right now, more than ever, we would love to share your musical journeys, hear about what is inspiring you and find ways to celebrate the thing we all value so much - music.
Michael Elliott
Chief Executive, ABRSM
Many retailers are continuing to provide sheet music, books, instruments and accessories through online or mail order services. View our shops list here.


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Traditional Floor Lamp
There Is Something About The Pleated White Oval Shade And The Hanging Crystal Balls That Gives This Floor Lamp A Very Sophisticated Look. Crystals Will Reflect Light Beautifully. Gives Modish Touch To Your Decor.
Case Pack: 1
Color: White, Chrome
Material: Crystal, Glass, Metal
Number Of Cartons: 1
Total Carton Weight ( lbs. ): 25
Total Carton Length ( in. ): 20
We are dedicated to providing quality home furnishings at affordable prices. Free Shipping on everything we sell (includes all shipments within the contiguous United States) Most orders ship out in 2-3 days.
Return Policy
Please notify us within 30 days of delivery to request return authorization.
- If the return is due to an order being damaged, defective, or incorrect, then we will arrange for prepaid return at our expense and issue full refund shortly after the return is received back at our warehouse.
- If the return is due to reason other than item being damaged, defective, or incorrect then customer is responsible for shipping costs incurred. Please note that while we do offer free shipping, the customer will be responsible for all shipping costs incurred on returned orders that are not damaged, defective or incorrect.
Mattress Return Policy: Mattresses are non-returnable if opened or taken out of their plastic wrapping. You may return any unopened Brand New product within 30 days of your product`s shipping date. Shipping and Handling Charges are NOT refundable.
DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS: You may return all defective products for credit or exchange within 15 days from the date of shipment. If part of a product is defective, please return the whole product, including all manuals and accessories, in the original packaging. If one of these terms are not met there will be up to a 20% restocking fee. If you choose to return a defective unit for a refund, the shipping and handling charges are non refundable. Warranty is voided if serial tags, receiving numbers, product stickers, or manufacturer seals have been removed, altered or tampered with. Warranty is voided due to mishandling, improper use, or defacing of the product.


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American ginseng is grouped into four distinct categories: wild, wild-simulated, woods-grown, and field-grown. Natural wild American ginseng grows in its native habitat. Wild-simulated ginseng refers to a method of growing ginseng in a forest environment under natural conditions with no cultivation of the plants. Seeds of cultivated plants are most often planted in hardwood forests without any other human intervention (e.g. removal of vegetation, application of fertilizers, pesticides). As such, wild-simulated ginseng roots have wild-like characteristics and therefore, are virtually indistinguishable from roots of wild American ginseng plants.
The FWS does not advocate planting non-local/regional cultivated ginseng seed in State and Federal public lands (e.g., National Forests, National Park Service lands) and private protected lands because it could adversely affect wild populations and the long-term survival of the species.
Woods-grown ginseng is grown from seeds that are planted in hardwood forests and are grown under cultivated conditions. For example, plants are grown in prepared rows or beds, ground vegetation is removed and often fertilizer and pesticides are applied. Field-grown ginseng is intensely cultivated under artificial shade structures using fertilizers and pesticides.
Export of American Ginseng
American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The listing covers the export of whole live or dead plants, whole and sliced roots, and parts of roots (including root fibers), but excludes powder or manufactured finished products (e.g. teas, capsules, extracts, confectionary).
For the purposes of CITES, wild and wild-simulated ginseng are exported as wild, and woods-grown and field-grown ginseng are exported as artificially propagated. The main destination for U.S. exports of American ginseng roots is Hong Kong, where roots are sorted, graded, and shipped to China and other Asian countries to be used in traditional Chinese and herbal medicines.
Wild and wild-simulated American ginseng roots can only be legally exported if they were harvested from plants that are 5 years of age or older and were legally harvested during the designated State harvest season. Of the 19 States approved by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS), 18 States require wild ginseng plants to have 3 leaves (each leaf is comprised of 3-5 leaflets), which ensure that plants are at least 5 years old, and one State (Illinois) requires wild ginseng plants to have 4 leaves and to be 10 years old. Roots of artificially propagated American ginseng can be exported at any age. To learn more about how to determine the age of American ginseng, click here.
Export of American Ginseng Permit Application Form
*** This permit application can be submitted online. To do so, click here.
State Annual Harvest Report Form
List of States and Tribes with Approved Export Programs for Furbearers, Alligators, and Ginseng
Information for Harvesters, Dealers, and Exporters
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Management and Scientific Authorities Findings
Export permits for Appendix-II listed species can be issued only when the Management Authority makes a legal acquisition finding, and the Scientific Authority makes a non-detriment finding. The legal acquisition finding determines that the American ginseng roots to be exported were not obtained in contravention of State laws, and that they are correctly identified as wild or artificially propagated. The non-detriment finding is a biological determination that the export of legally harvested American ginseng roots will not be detrimental to the survival of the species. This finding is based on information provided by the 19 States, research findings, and other biological and trade information.
The most recent U.S. export data for American ginseng are available below:
Good Stewardship Harvest Brochures for Wild American Ginseng
The Good Stewardship Harvesting of Wild American ginseng brochures were developed with the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), the FWS, State ginseng coordinators, the board of United Plant Savers (UpS), and the board of the Roots of Appalachia Growers Association (RAGA) for the Ohio brochure.
There are 19 State-specific brochures, one for each State approved by the FWS for the export of wild American ginseng. By following the guidelines presented in the brochures, collectors will help ensure a sustainable future of wild American ginseng. The brochures also provide information on current State and Federal regulations that apply to harvesters and buyers of wild American ginseng, and contact information for each State regulatory office. All 19 brochures are available for download at AHPA Website.
A separate brochure, which describes the requirements to export wild American ginseng, is available for download .
For more information on American ginseng and regulations on its trade, please see the FWS regulations (50 CFR 23), or visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
For information on past meetings centered on exporting ginseng and permit issues, please visit our Archive page.
For general information on CITES permit requirements, click here .
If, after reading this information, you are unclear about the permitting process, please feel free to contact us.
Click here to read in Spanish.


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Security on minds of Harley riders, police
Authorities increase security for Harley anniversary
Greenfield police have put out extra security cameras because they say Harley-Davidson motorcycles can be targets for thieves.
Harley Davidson motorcycle riders take great pride in their bikes and customize them with thousands of dollars worth of accessories. Those accessories make the bikes even more desirable to thieves, but riders are also learning better ways to protect their bikes.
"Yeah, I'm pretty certain of all these bikes, they're not going to pick out mine if it's not easy to get out of a parking spot," said rider Dave Kleba.
Kleba said he has never had a bike stolen and he is doing everything he can to make sure it doesn't happen.
"The primary is the security key fob, so if this isn't close to the bike, the bike won't start," Kleba said.
For many riders in Milwaukee for Harley's 110th anniversary, their bikes are their pride and joy.
"Very precious," said biker Mike Lentz. "I take care of it like a baby. I wash it. I wax it."
Lentz also makes sure he parks his bike in a well-lit area.
"They ain't gonna mess with a bike that people are watching you mess with," Lentz said.
Tom Vodicka works in the chrome service and parts department for House of Harley in Greenfield. He said as bike thieves get more clever, so do Harley riders.
"Bike theft is somewhat common, but not as much as it used to be," he said.
Greenfield Police Detective Greg Hoppe said if something does happen to a bike, the owner should the license plate number handy. He also said the title and photos can help, especially for customized bikes.
"We have strategically placed cameras in and about the area that are high quality and everything is on camera and we're doing everything we can to deter bike thieves," Hoppe said.


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8606 W. McDowell Rd.
Phoenix, AZ 85037
Phone: (623) 936-1100Mon – Sat: 7am-5pm
Sunday: 9am-4pm
Plant Photos & Descriptions
Nursery and Tree Farm is a retail and wholesale tree and plant nursery that has
been serving the Phoenix Metro area since 1986. Our trees and shrubs are locally
grown at our farm. We
are a proud member of the
Nursery Association.
Our nursery is located north of I-10 and east of Loop 101 Agua Fria Freeway
at 8606 W. McDowell Road. See Map.
Be sure to ask about our Frequent Visitor's Card to receive free plants.
Copyright © Elgin Nursery & Tree Farm - R.O.C.# 203622 - Website design:


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Terry the Teet — Hot Mess of the Day
Name: Terry The Teet
Location: Newcastle, England
Occupation: Canine wet nurse.
Hobbies: Sudoku, erotic lactation.
5 Things She Can't Live Without: Prenatal vitamins, trips to the pound, a portable pump, lollipops, and religion.
Skills: "Fastest breast in the West!" (We didn't ask her to elaborate.)
Her Motto: "Lunch is
in on me!"
HEY, GUYS! This is not a real profile. It was made up for the sheer entertainment that comes from browsing through pictures of, well, hot messes. BTW! If you or someone you know should be one of our Hot Messes of the Day, send us a quick email at jackie [@] guyspeed.com.


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Differentiate your club by giving your clients the best possible service. Show them what they are made of. Booth No. 1234 will feature Tanita, a world leader in body composition monitors. Provide your clients with a unique insight into their physiques with a Tanita bioelectric impedance analysis. Featured products include the new BC-1000. This ANT +wireless monitor links body composition data to remote devices (like PCs, Apple products and Garmin watches) for long-term tracking while providing a level of privacy. Also featured is the new SC-331S body composition analyzer. With new FDA-cleared body fat ranges for children and other enhancements, it provides more detailed analysis than previous Tanita professional-grade analyzers. Finally, the BC-418 segmental body composition analyzer and WB-3000 digital beam scale are great club additions. All Tanita monitors are FDA cleared to ensure the highest quality and most accurate products on the market.
About Tanita: Tanita is a world leader in body composition and weight measurement. Our reputation for quality has made Tanita the standard that other scales and body fat monitors are weighed against.
Booth No. 1234


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At Empire Die Casting Company we have a tradition of going beyond…well beyond…to exceed customers' expectations. At all levels, our people take ownership of the part they play in producing the absolute best aluminum or zinc die castings.
Sometimes "the best" means suggesting a redesign to improve part manufacturability…sometimes "the best" means triple-checking shipping instructions to be sure that a JIT release is timed properly.
If you are a prospective customer, we look forward to the opportunity to earn your business…if you are a current customer, we will continue to put 110% into making every production run a total success.
The bottom line? Talk is cheap and actions speak louder than words. Here is what a current customer says about Empire Die Casting Company.
Empire Die Casting Company has consistently been one of our top performing suppliers in terms of quality, value and on-time delivery…"
—Lance Leibold, Emerson Climate Technologies


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DWTS Brooke Burke Dishes On Who She'd Like To See Dance Next Season
Brooke Burke talked with Extra about the next season of Dancing With The Stars. I'm having issues hearing this video, but, the link says Brooke mentions who she'd like to see dance. Among the list are Kellan Lutz, Oscar De La Hoya, and…..drum rolls please…her husband, David Charvet. Not bad choices. What do you think? More below or at the link whichever you prefer.


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I've been reading The Pickup Artist, by Terry Bisson. There's a point in the book where Shapiro (the main character) is calling to find out how his sick dog is doing. There is so much bureaucracy in his world that he gets in this ridiculously long series of phone calls in which he gets the run-around about how his dog is doing, hears recorded platitudes, has to be transferred to grief counseling before he's even told his dog has cancer, is upsold on a new miracle life-extending drug for his dog which would keep her just barely alive for up to two years (HalfLife™), in case a cure is developed within that time-frame, but then is told his insurance won't cover it, and has to wait so long on hold to get through to anyone that he dials in the morning, and then carries the phone around with him all day on speaker phone, waiting for somebody to pick up. This is a futuristic story, but so painfully true. The novel reminds a bit of Brazil.
I had my own little Pickup Artist / Brazil government bureaucracy going on today. First of all I spent an hour and half or so waiting patiently at the DMV, just so I could pay them $40 to spend 30 seconds glancing at my paperwork and various forms of i.d., have me double-check their data entry (twice), and take a new photo. They were, to their credit, very friendly and efficient once I got to the counter. As a bonus I got to try to read while crammed in a room with about 60 other people, many of whom had also been waiting for a couple of hours and had brought along various loud and/or obnoxious family members. I'm surprised nobody busted out a picnic basket. At least I didn't get picked by the lonely and somewhat confused elderly lady who talked the ear off of the teenage girl next to her. But I did have to listen to her, because, well, she was shouting.
Then, because I'm masochistic, I decided I also needed to call the IRS today. I had already tried to fill out an online form with them on multiple occasions over the last week or so, only to receive an unhelpful error message. I had also tried to call several times over the last week, only to be told that the wait would exceed ½ hour. Today, I thought I better bite it and just wait on hold. So, I put the phone on speaker and carried it around the house with me while doing various things like feeding the animals, going to the bathroom, preparing lunch, etc. Over 45 minutes later an agent finally answered. Things were going along just fine until the IRS employee decided to give me a canned lecture on the importance of remembering that money owed to the government is owed when it is earned, and what did we plan to do differently next time, seeing that we were being gifted this magnanimous extension plan? And no, getting a job wasn't the right answer, and if I didn't indicate "compliance," or basically, state that we had learned our lesson, he would have to put a note in our file. Say what?! {And this is over a very small amount of money owed.} It was condescending, to say the least, and I told him that I knew it was his job to say his script, but that I did not appreciate being treated like an idiot. Poor guy. How would you like a job that required you to be a jerk to people who are unemployed and just doing the best they can to pay their tax bill?
{This upset me almost as much as the day the lady from the unemployment office called to harass me because I hadn't responded immediately to a job possibility she had emailed me—for a job with a company that I had previously interviewed with and been rejected by. Of course I wasn't going to apply with them again! "Well, are you even looking for a job?!" she said. Uh, yes. In fact, I had just gone through an interview the previous day. "You're supposed to get back to me right away, every time." She sends me another job opp—I email her back within a half hour. Never hear from her again. I have other examples. Here's a classic from another agency: Me, "Let me check my calendar really quick to make sure I can make that appointment." Agent, "You're supposed to be unemployed, so you shouldn't have anything on your schedule." OK… so I don't have 3 step-kids to juggle and a ton of volunteer work. And one car to get 5 people to all of their various activities. If I've made an appointment with somebody, I've made an appointment—I can probably reschedule, but it doesn't mean that I don't have commitments. WTF?}
In spite of the above, over the last 6 months for every one bureaucratic cog that has made me want to cry or pull my hair out, I've probably dealt with 3 that were kind, efficient, had a sense of humor, or went out of their way to make things go as well as possible.
What's your favorite bureaucratic interaction story?


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SALT LAKE CITY As 20,000 Mormons streamed from the church conference center, a ragtag group of protesters stood across the street shouting that the Latter-day Saints were going to hell.
Mormon families, who had gathered here for two days of speeches and spiritual guidance called General Conference, ignored the hecklers or laughed and kept walking.
This, after all, is a church accustomed to much worse.
Yet, even with a resilience built over nearly two centuries as outsiders, church members are anxious about whats ahead. Republican Mitt Romney is about to become the first Mormon nominee for U.S. president on a major party ticket.
That will give them a chance like no other to explain their tradition to the public, but the churchs many critics will have a bigger platform, too. And the vetting will take place amid the emotion of what may well be a nasty general election.
People who have opposed Mormonism forever will use this as an opportunity, said Robert Millet, a religion scholar at Brigham Young University who co-founded a pioneering evangelical-Mormon dialogue. I dont know if were ready for this kind of deluge.
At the Salt Lake City headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, officials are preparing to defend the church.
Its an effort that began before Romney officially announced his first, ultimately unsuccessful, 2008 bid for the GOP nomination. Mormon officials met with journalists around the country about the churchs nonpartisanship. Leaders were worried that any statements they made to clarify doctrine would give the impression of aiding Romney.
That concern continues this election season. LDS officials have emphasized repeatedly that the church doesnt communicate with the Romney campaign.
In a lengthy statement on the churchs main website, Mormon leaders say the church does not endorse, promote or oppose political parties, candidates or platforms.
The Latter-day Saints have been running a multimillion-dollar series of ads, called Im a Mormon, since 2010, to dispel stereotypes by telling the stories of individual Mormons.
To avoid any appearance that the ads were meant to help Romney, the church didnt buy ad time in Iowa and some other markets with early primaries, said Michael Purdy, an LDS national spokesman.
At the General Conference last month, led by the highest authorities of the church, there was no mention of the election across the pulpit.
Were just going to do what the church does, regardless of the election, Purdy said.
The neutrality message can be a hard sell as Mormons are known to be overwhelmingly Republican and more socially conservative than many other Americans.
The impression was reinforced by Mormon contributions of money and volunteers for Proposition 8, the 2008 California measure to bar same-sex marriage. (LDS officials say they were advocating for a moral, not a partisan, issue.)
The church has long contended with conspiracy theories of Mormon plots to take over America claims that have only increased with Romneys prominence. If the former governor wins the White House, however, several political scientists predict LDS officials would be more likely to pull back from any policy debates to avoid an appearance of undue influence, even when Mormons have a clear interest.
There is a good chance that the main way a lot of leaders of the church will respond to the election of a Mormon to the presidency will be to stay as quiet and uninvolved in politics as possible and put as much daylight as possible between that president and the institutional church, said Russell Arben Fox, a political scientist at Friends University in Wichita, Kan., and a Mormon writer. Theyre a global church and have responsibilities all around the world. For them to appear to be lining up behind a Mormon president and endorsing his policies would just be bad for the church.


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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The crowds in Jacksonville gun shops aren't part of the holiday rush. Long lines and empty shelves have to do with the potential for firearm reform and the possibility what's available for purchase now might not be soon.
"It's really busy," gun owner David Quick said while at Shooters of Jacksonville on Wednesday. "You walk in there, everybody's got high-capacity clips, the line is like 30 people long."
It has been called the "Sandy Hook effect" in the wake of last week's tragic elementary school shooting in Connecticut, and it's a trend that's surfaced in recent days -- a spike in gun sales in response to the federal government's plan to explore firearms restrictions.
Vice President Joe Biden has been tasked with that, but as far as state regulations are concerned, Florida Gov. Rick Scott says that is not on his list of priorities right now.
"What I want to focus on right now is the families, make sure our schools are safe," Scott said. "In our state, we're at a 41-year low in our crime rate."
But the possibility of changes is what those frequenting gun stores are talking about, and that is what spurred gun owner Damon Shumard into Shooters on Wednesday.
It's also what has caused retailers like Shooters, Shumard says, to up their prices. Shumard walked out empty-handed because he said prices are so high, nearly double what they were last week.
While the so-called Sandy Hook effect has spurred him to shop, Shumard said he still draws the line somewhere.
"The way I feel is if they are going to jack up the price, the money that they are making off of these prices should go to those families. That's what I'm thinking," Shumard said.
There are plenty who are on the other side of the fence. In response to those, Walmart removed its holiday gun ads and Dick's Sporting Goods isn't selling the type of high-powered rifle used in the school shooting.
Safety classes recommended for responsible gun owners
When it comes to buying a gun, it's as simple as picking one out and passing a background check. But to be a responsible gun owner, Shumard says it takes more than that.
"So they are aware of what that jag is going to do and to be safe on your side and protect your weapons when stolen," Shumard said.
All those things are why he has gone to multiple gun classes, including the one required to carry a concealed weapon. That is the only one required by law, but as Armando Patane will tell you -- and many gun stores offer -- there are plenty of other safety classes available for a new gun owner.
Even for those who don't plan to carry their gun, Patane suggests they take a safety class just to fully understand the laws and the implications of using a gun. It might, as in Patane's case, change the way gun owners look at firearms.
"In my opinion, I just use them for the gun range 'cause it's more trouble carrying them on you and if you are looking for trouble," Patane said.
Beyond training, experts say gun owners should store their firearms in a safe place. Guns should be unloaded and stored apart from the magazine. Owners should also keep their guns' serial numbers in a safe, separate place so they can report it if their guns are stolen.
As gun sales and prices spike in the wake of the Connecticut school shooting, Patane said it's a good precaution to take, just in case criminals are looking to turn that high demand to their profit.
"Everyone is just in there trying to get their weapons while they can," Patane said of shoppers at one gun store. "You never know what's going to happen."


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Check out the latest RPG news | Podcasts | Twitch Streams
I'm so tempted to use my evil mod powers do delete one of those posts and you look like a bad speller, Annubis.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7YQpBWpHLU(NSFW: profanity)
Sorry for missing your 9000th post Dice. What with all the tangents you've been getting involved with.Anyways, my question to you is what will you do now that you've won the Super Bowl?
#9000 #RallyDice #DoTheDew
Oh the irony.
Quote from: Starmongoose on January 09, 2014, 02:50:43 PMOh the irony. Hoist by my own petard!


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I am Connelly Smith, and I am privileged to have been selected for a position on the CSRA Heat 14 Gold travel volleyball team. I am 13 years old and in the 8th grade. This is my second season playing club travel volleyball. During my first season playing last year, I knew I had found my passion. I took a faith leap as a volleyball rookie, believed in both my abilities and potential and I competed for a position on the 2018 Lakeside High School junior varsity team and I made it! I played HIGH SCHOOL volleyball as an 8th grade middle school student! Yay me!!
Please help support my second season in club travel volleyball. Last year I played on the BLACK level club team, but this season I was selected to move up to a higher skill bracket and will play on the 14U GOLD/POWER team. Yay me!
Your help goes towards club fees, travel costs and dues to an intensive skills summer camp held on a college campus. My position is middle blocker. I am 5'9" and I'm still growing!
This season I was again voted team co-captain by my teammates. What an honor for a newbie. I am focusing on maintaining honor roll grades in my 4 advanced placement classes, continuing to work hard and improve in volleyball, and also striving to be a leader both on and off the court. Most important, I am attempting to be more responsible and to help my mom with my costly volleyball expenses as she is my number one fan and my number one supporter, chaperone, nutritionist and chauffeur. I love my mom. I would very much appreciate your support to help me continue my volleyball dreams and goals. Every amount is welcomed and appreciated. Please share with your family, friends, network - all who may be interested in the empowerment of girls, volleyball, and anyone who may want to help me succeed. A study by the Women's Sports Foundation found that girls who participate in sports:
● Are more likely to get better grades
● Are more likely to graduate
● Reduce their risk of breast cancer with just 4 hours of exercise per week
● Have higher levels of confidence and self esteem
● Have lower levels of depression
● Have a more positive body image
● Experience higher levels of psychological well-being
● Gain critical workplace skills as they learn about teamwork, goal-setting and the pursuit of excellence
Thank you and blessings,
Connelly #20


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Galaxy to celebrate Independent Bookstore Day
This is the second year for Independent Bookstore Day, which celebrates independent bookstores nationwide. It will be on April 30, and there will be literary parties around the country. The Galaxy Bookshop in Hardwick will be celebrating with a story time, sales, raffles, and homemade treats.
"We're so excited for Independent Bookstore Day," said Sandy Scott, who co-owns the store with Andrea Jones. "This isn't just about our store; it's about indie stores all over the country and our role in our communities. We're planning to make it a fun day for everyone."
The Galaxy Bookshop will also offer exclusive day-of merchandise created especially for Independent Bookstore Day by major publishers and authors. Those items will only be available at participating independent bookstores. Since its inception in 2014, more than 120 authors have demonstrated their support for independent bookstores by donating work for Bookstore Day.
The second annual National Independent Bookstore Day is sponsored in part by Penguin Random House, Ingram, and The American Booksellers Association. Last year participating bookstores saw an average increase in sales of 70 percent on Independent Bookstore Day. — from The Galaxy Bookshop.


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BUD ARREST: In Cattleya Sheaths
Orchid Doctor
by Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler)
Originally published in The Orchid Doctor in 1980 and 1988
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No obvious reason except the death of the buds; remove sheaths carefully to see if buds are still green. A75-1007
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text: AWARDS Katy Perry, Adele, Arcade Fire Songs Among 75 Advancing in Oscar Race 1:25 PM PST 12/11/2012 by Rebecca Ford FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME Getty Images Katy Perry's "Part of Me" The new song from Tom Hooper's "Les Miserables" also has made the shortlist. Seventy-five songs from eligible feature-length motion pictures are in contention for nominations in the Original Song category for the 85th Academy Awards, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Tuesday. PHOTOS: The 8 Studio Picks for Best Picture Oscar Among the artists included in the shortlist are Adele for "Skyfall" from the James Bond pic; Katy Perry's "Wide Awake" from her 3D concert film; Keith Urban's "For You" from Act of Valor; Mumford & Sons, who teamed up with Birdy for "Learn Me Right" from Brave; Arcade Fire for their song from The Hunger Games' soundtrack, "Abraham's Daughter"; and Dolly Parton's "Here to the Moon and Back" in Joyful Noise. Additionally, the new song from Tom Hooper's Les Miserables, "Suddenly," penned by legends Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil, has made the list. The original songs, along with the motion picture in which each song is featured, are listed below in alphabetical order by film and song title: "For You" from Act of Valor "Metaphorical Blanket" from Any Day Now "Let It Rain" from Being Flynn "Learn Me Right" from Brave "Touch the Sky" from Brave "Airport" from Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best "Come on Girl" from Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best "Someday" from Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best "Protect the King" from Brooklyn Castle "California Solo" from California Solo "Casa De Mi Padre" from Casa De Mi Padre "Del Cielo" from Casa De Mi Padre "Yo No Se" from Casa De Mi Padre "No Other Plans" from Celeste and Jesse Forever "Before My Time" from Chasing Ice "By the Light of the Moon" from Crossroad "The Sambola! International Dance Craze" from Damsels in Distress "When You Comin' Home" from Darling Companion "Death by China" from Death by China "Delhi Safari" from Delhi Safari "Ancora Qui" from Django Unchained "Freedom" from Django Unchained "100 Black Coffins" from Django Unchained "Who Did That to You?" from Django Unchained "How Bad Can I Be?" from Dr. Seuss' The Lorax "Let It Grow" from Dr. Seuss' The Lorax "Thneedville" from Dr. Seuss' The Lorax "Ain't No Train" from Downtown Express "You Don't Have to Be a Star" from Fame High "Jose's Martyrdom" from For Greater Glory: The True Story of Cristiada "Strange Love" from Frankenweenie "Voodoo" from Halloween Party "Luna Nascosta" from Hidden Moon "Song of the Lonely Mountain" from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey "Abraham's Daughter" from The Hunger Games "Master of the Seas" from Ice Age: Continental Drift "We Are" from Ice Age: Continental Drift "Looking for a Sign" from Jeff, Who Lives at Home "From Here to the Moon and Back" from Joyful Noise "He's Everything" from Joyful Noise "I'm Yours" from Joyful Noise "Wide Awake" from Katy Perry: Part of Me "Cosmonaut" from Lawless "Beaten Up and Broken Down" from Least Among Saints "Suddenly" from Les Miserables "Pi's Lullaby" from Life of Pi "When I Grow Up" from Losing Control "Love Always Comes as a Surprise" from Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted "Ladies of Tampa" from Magic Mike "The Baddest Man Alive" from The Man with the Iron Fists "This Gift" from The Odd Life of Timothy Green "Still Alive" from Paul Williams Still Alive "Dotted Line" from People Like Us "Snake Eyes" from Promised Land "Razors.Out" from The Raid: Redemption "I'm Not Leaving" from Re:Generation "Still Dream" from Rise of the Guardians "Undercover Love" from Rock of Ages "Big Machine" from Safety Not Guaranteed "I Be Here" from Saint Dracula "I Have Secrets" from Saint Dracula "Skyfall" from Skyfall "Breath of Life" from Snow White and the Huntsman "Gone" from Snow White and the Huntsman "One Wing" from Sparkle "Not Running Anymore" from Stand Up Guys "Feel Love" from Struck by Lightning "Everybody Needs a Best Friend" from Ted "Never Had" from 10 Years "Dull Tool" from This Is 40 "She Won't Let Go" from Until They Are Home "Kiss Me Goodbye" from Virginia "Anything Made of Paper" from West of Memphis "Hashishet Albi" from Where Do We Go Now? "When Can I See You Again?" from Wreck-It Ralph The 85th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live Thursday, Jan.10, at the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. ABC will broadcast the Academy Awards live on Sunday, Feb. 24, from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME Rebecca Ford firstname.lastname@example.com beccamford


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The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) has discovered a new form of intellectual disability involving mental retardation (MR) along with the eye defect retinitis pigmentosa (RP). CAMH also discovered the previously unidentified gene that causes this disorder, CC2D2A. This scientific advance will help understand the developmental and biological processes involved in brain development, and may help identify ways to diagnose and treat intellectual disabilities.
Under the direction of Dr. John Vincent, scientist at CAMH, the team identified a mutation in CC2D2A that causes the production of a shortened protein missing the C2, or calcium-binding, domain. This protein mutation results in faulty cell function, which leads to MR with RP.
Most genes for intellectual disabilities that have been found so far are on the X chromosome. As Dr. Vincent explains, this mutation was found on the autosome (The 22 pairs of non-sex chromosomes, that make up the 46 chromosomes in the human body). Autosomal-recessive inheritance (where both mother and father carry a gene mutation on one chromosome, but both maternal and paternal copies must be passed on to the offspring to cause the disorder) is believed to be relatively common in intellectual disability, though only four genes causing this type of disability have been identified to date.
"What's really exciting is that the new gene, CC2D2A, encodes a protein with domains similar to those found in one of the previous four autosomal recessive MR genes. This link could suggest a common function that is essential for normal brain development," says Dr. Vincent.
Dr. Vincent and his team will continue exploring these initial findings, to help identify more people with mutations affecting the CC2D2A gene. This additional research will provide scientists more clues to understand, diagnose and treat intellectual disabilities.
Intellectual disabilities, also known as developmental delay or mental retardation, are a group of disorders defined by deficits in cognitive and adaptive development. Impacting between one and three percent of the population, a higher proportion of men are affected by this type of disability.
A full copy of the this paper, published in The American Journal of Human Genetics, is available under the title "CC2D2A, Encoding A Coiled-Coil and C2 Domain Protein, Causes Autosomal-Recessive Mental Retardation with Retinitis Pigmentosa".
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is Canada's largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital, as well as one of the world's leading research centres in the area of addiction and mental health. CAMH combines clinical care, research, education, policy development and health promotion to transform the lives of people affected by mental health and addiction issues.
CAMH is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, and is a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Collaborating Centre.


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I've started clearing out some of our unused Club and Tournament subforums, but need some help from the WAU community in identifying what should go and what should stay...
My current plan is to delete any club or tournament area that hasn't had new posts since 2015, on the assumption that >12 months of inactivity means the event or group no longer operates.
If that isn't the case for your favourite club or forum, please let me know and I'll make sure it doesn't get removed in this round of cleanup.
Outpost 6030 in WA is thriving, but mostly runs through facebook these days.
No worries. Do you think it's worth putting a new thread in there ("Outpost 6030 contact details") with a link to the Facebook group? That way, when people come here looking for info about games in a particular region they'll be able to track down more details.
Those sorts of threads could end up being pinned threads in a general "WA clubs" area, rather than needing subforums of their own. That way we still provide a directory to help local clubs with exposure.
I think a WA clubs directory would be a great idea.
Tumult in the NSW Tournaments is still an event (despite no post last year) we posted in clubs area & on facebook in 2016, but please keep its subforum in tournies.
Grots wound up a couple of years ago....all over there i am afraid.
Greenacre Gamers in SA closed shop half-a-year or more ago. Harlequin Halls in SA is still very active (just on Facebook). Group North and Southern Wargamers are still running.
Sorry - that one was caught in a batch that I did over the weekend, and only spotted the mistake later. I can make a new subforum for it in the next batch, and move the topics back in - they've all been moved to the main NSW Tournaments area by default.
I'd ask that you get the organisers to at least post major announcements in the subforum here, though, if it's going to stay active on this site. Running most event comms via a FB page is fine if that's where your players are, but if a category has nothing posted on WAU for multiple years then it's not really doing anything except taking up space here
Hi I noticed that my club is no longer listed. It was previously known as WAAAGH
But the person who was the go to person for the club is no longer on wau.
I just let him know it's been removed but the club is still there and running but under a different name. Any chance it could be resisted?
Hi Guys, are there any informal groups active in Melbourne? Me and brother play Nids and CSM respectively and are just building out our lists after getting back into 40k this year. Even if the groups are managed elsewhere would like to get a pointer in that direction. Thanks!
High command forum still needs to be deleted.
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•Rickey Bahe, 33, Many Farms, AZ, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol in the 1100 block of Edmunds Street on October 3 at 7:32 p.m. Held on a $1,500 bond.
•Cody Small, 26, of Quartz Hill, CA, was arrested for trespassing at 400 S. Clayton Street on October 4 at 12:09 a.m. Held on a $200 bond.
•Alexander Hendrickson, 26, Brush, was arrested for driving under the influence of drugs at the intersection of Knearl and South Clayton Street on October 5 at 3:12 a.m. Held without bond.
•Michael Reyez, 19, Fort Morgan, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol in the 100 block of Clayton Street on October 6 at 2:09 p.m. Held on a $1,500 bond.
•James McKee, 44, Crown Point, Indiana, was arrested on a warrant for failure to appear in the 400 block of Ray Street on October 7 at 5:31 p.m. Held on $500 bond.
•Rudy Contreras, 46, Brush, was arrested on a Brush Municipal Warrant for failure to appear at 118 Carson Street on October 8 at 1:55 p.m. Released after paying a $500 bond.
•Krystal Sullivan, 27, Brush, arrested on a warrant for probation violation at 101 Murillo on October 9 at 9:18 a.m. $5,000 bond.
•Erica Walker, 40, Brush, was contacted for a traffic accident at 1005 Edison Street on October 5 at 3:45 p.m. Summons issued.
•Dustin Brownlee, 20, Brush, contacted for a barking or howling dog complaint at 522 Colorado Avenue on October 7 at 8:14 p.m. Summons issued.
•Hescilta Perez-Santay, 34, Fort Morgan, was contacted for driving without valid license and no proof of insurance in the 900 block of Edison Street on October 9 at 5:36 a.m. Summons issued.
•Mitchell Elliott, 23, Brush, reported an assault in the 100 block of Cameron Street on October 5 at 4:56 p.m.
•Cheryl Graham, 47, Brush, reported a theft at 1015 Colorado Street on October 7 at 9:45 a.m.
•Martha Simental, 52, Brush, reported a burglary at 1906 Edmunds Street #20 on October 8 at 8:41 p.m.


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Difference between revisions of "The Hole"
(New page: Very Overhanging. +/-30 Single Pitch Sport Routes, Mostly hard routes in the hole itself, but some easier nearby. 30 min walk up to crags ==The climbing == Steep, long & pumpy. The main ...)
(No difference)
Revision as of 10:44, 16 January 2009
Very Overhanging. +/-30 Single Pitch Sport Routes, Mostly hard routes in the hole itself, but some easier nearby. 30 min walk up to crags
The climbing
Steep, long & pumpy. The main crag (the Hole) area is extremely overhanging with good holds. There is another section called the Sideline on the far left of the crag that comprises of a few easier routes.
Getting there
Drive up Boyes Drive, towards Fishhoek. Park your car opposite the stone entrance to the walk up. Walk up the path. At the contour path turn right and follow the path up the valley. There is a cairn indicating the new path which breaks out right towards the Hole (same path as for Foreign Policy). Walk along this path until you see a good path leading up to the left (with pole steps) - follow the steps up to the Hole (straight takes you to Foreign Policy) The walk should take you about 25 minutes.
This area has shade all day except in the early morning. This crag will take some time to dry after rain and in winter it often seeps water.
Additional entertainment at The Hole: Take your binoculars with. When the shark siren goes off on Muizenberg beach you may be rewarded with a sighting of "Johnny White" getting chased away by the lifesavers.


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Principles for a Professional Growth Salary Schedule
The principles outlined below have been established to provide a framework for the development of professional growth salary schedules. Where implemented well, these schedules aid in the recruitment of talented college graduates to the teaching profession and our nation's public schools, and they help keep them there. To advance these goals, the principles:
Provide an outline for a career path for teachers who want to seek additional responsibility without altogether leaving the classroom;
Recognize and reward teachers who attain and can demonstrate knowledge and skills that improve professional teaching;
Recognize and reward improved teacher practice that is a factor in student learning and other student outcomes, based on evidence of student progress drawn from teacher documentation, student work samples, and classroom assessments;
Provide guidance for how to recognize and compensate teachers for the myriad duties that their daily work entails outside of direct classroom teaching; and
Position teachers on par with the salary, professional growth opportunities, and career earnings of comparably prepared professionals.
NEA's Principles
Base Salary: A professional growth salary schedule must start with a professional-level salary of at least $40,000 for all beginning teachers entering the classroom. Teachers should be able to reach their "maximum" salary on the schedule within ten years.
Association Involvement: The schedule must be co-created or designed with teachers through collective bargaining or, where there is no collective bargaining, agreed to by the organization representing teachers, and it must allow for the strictly voluntary participation of current teachers.
Salary Levels (Tiers): A professional growth salary schedule must contain several levels through which teachers progress that are based on prescribed skills, knowledge, licenses, certifications, degrees, responsibilities, and/or accomplishments. Each level should build on previous ones and contain salary increases for specified time periods within each level.
Advancement through the Levels: Generally, early levels on the schedule should be linked to the probationary period of employment, and advancement through the levels should be required. Movement through later levels may be voluntary.
Linked to Quality Professional Development: A professional growth salary schedule must be linked to a professional development system that has been locally developed with teachers and tied to quality professional development standards such as those of the National Staff Development Council (NSDC). The schedule should clearly define what will be measured and how those measurements will be conducted.
Knowledge and Skills: The professional growth salary schedule should be tied to locally developed, research-based, professional learning opportunities (knowledge and skills) targeted to the needs of the students.
Funding: A professional growth salary schedule must have adequate and sustainable sources of funding, both initially and on an ongoing basis. Grants should be viewed only as temporary resources that are not capable of sustaining a career salary program.
Accessibility: Any professional growth salary schedule should be accessible to everyone who is eligible, without quotas.
Flexibility: There is no single model for professional growth salary schedules. Schedules should be locally bargained or, where there is no collective bargaining, agreed to with the organization representing the teachers. Proposed schedules must be flexible and structured for the contexts in which they will be implemented.
Transparency: The schedule must be understandable to teachers and the public.
Program Assessment: There must be an annual assessment of the schedule to determine its effectiveness in improving teacher salaries, teaching quality, and the recruitment/retention of quality staff. The schedule's administrative efficiency and cost-effectiveness also should be examined each year. The association must be involved in all stages of these assessments, including identifying criteria that will be assessed.
Definition of Those in the System: When implementing a professional growth salary schedule, all parties must agree on, and clarify, who is eligible to participate.
Other Considerations
Teacher Assessment: A professional growth salary schedule must be accompanied by a quality teacher assessment system (e.g., Charlotte Danielson's Framework for Teaching) to ensure the quality of teaching for all those participating.
Linkage to Licensure: Those who develop the professional growth salary schedule will need to determine if it will be linked to the state licensure system or operate irrespective of state licensing structures, requirements, etc. Examples of both approaches exist.
Longer School Year/Day: One other item to consider is the length of the teachers' work year or work day. School districts and teacher representatives may decide to provide voluntary options to extend a teacher's year or day (for extra pay) under some pay levels in the professional growth salary schedule, or it could be determined that, in order to provide the necessary professional development to improve teaching and learning, an extended work year/day is necessary to effectively implement a professional growth salary schedule.
Student Progress: Improved teaching practice leading to improved student learning and evidence of changes in student outcomes can be factors in the professional growth salary schedule. This evidence can be drawn from classroom assessments and other forms of documentation, including pre- and post-test measures of student learning in specific areas and evidence of student accomplishments in relation to specific teaching activities.
Student Tests: While student test scores are not reliable measures for making high-stakes decisions (e.g., for teacher pay or job status), test scores do provide valuable information to teachers and schools that can be used to inform curriculum and instructional decisions.
Specifics of a Professional Growth Salary Schedule: The NEA has developed an example of a professional growth salary schedule. It may provide guidance to those seeking to develop a professional growth schedule but should not be considered an "ideal model." We have included a significant number of suggestions and accompanying documents with our example to demonstrate the importance of investing sufficient time in the planning and preparation of any salary schedule. Please contact NEA CB/MA for a copy of the sample schedule.
NEA welcomes other examples, which can be provided to Dale Templeton.