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From "47 percent" to "oops" to "you didn't build that," the 2012 campaign was full of memorable moments that arguably changed the trajectory and rhetoric of the presidential race, influencing conversations about the role of government, the essentials of leadership, and the direction of the country.
Aaaaaand then there was all the other stuff.
The first campaign in which ideological scuffles were waged on Twitter, the 2012 race was noteworthy for its moments of pure silliness, when there was little observers could do except use their 140-character allotments for snarky pronouncements like "#headdesk."
So, with apologies to the Happy Days episode that birthed the phrase "to jump the shark," here's our list of the Top 10 "shark-jumping" political moments of 2012:
10. The Drudge Report floats Petraeus for VP. Despite overwhelming evidence -- even more overwhelming in retrospect -- that the now-resigned CIA director was hardly a slam-dunk to be on the GOP ticket, reporters scurried frantically to shoot down a Drudge Report siren floating Gen. David Petraeus for Mitt Romney's vice presidential pick. The news was sourced to "a top fundraiser" who heard it "whispered" by Barack Obama. The Romney-aligned conservative news hub suggested the once-revered general (who resigned after the election in the wake of revelations of an extra-marital affair) after it plugged an exclusive scoop on the implausible pick of Condi Rice for the job.
Martin Bashir asks whether the penguin who bit zoo fanatic Newt Gingrich was possibly one of his many creditors.
9. Newt Gingrich is bitten by a penguin at the zoo. While technically still a presidential candidate -- but long after the sheen of his surprise January victory in the South Carolina GOP primary had faded -- it wasn't unusual to hear tales of Newt Gingrich's passion for zoology during the spring of 2012. An April incident at the San Diego Zoo offered LOL-worthy headlines when the former speaker was nipped on the finger by a Magellanic penguin. Hounded for confirmation, Gingrich spokesman R.C. Hammond dutifully vowed that the Band-Aid-prompting injury would not end the candidate's love of animals, saying "Newt is a zoo fan. He will be back."
Despite being a fan of "Big Bird," GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney proposed cutting federal funding of public television, setting off criticism and quips.
8. Everyone meta-argues about Big Bird. Asked during the first presidential debate for areas where he would cut federal spending, GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney pointed to the (relatively minuscule) funds received by PBS, even while asserting earnestly that "I like Big Bird." After a particularly lackluster debate performance by President Obama, the statement offered Romney foes a welcome peg for attacks, including a parody ad in which the goofy avian puppet was derided as a "big, yellow, a menace to our economy." Republicans, in turn ridiculed the Obama campaign's fixation with the Sesame Street protagonist as frivolous, and an exasperated PBS requested that the ad be taken down.
7. A stop at Chick-Fil-A becomes a political act. Liberal lovers of waffle fries faced a difficult choice this summer when Chick-Fil-A president Dan Cathy voiced criticism of same-sex marriage. While Mitt Romney didn't bite, other Republican politicians leveraged the story, flocking to the fast-food joint to show their support for Cathy's socially conservative views. Sarah Palin, Rick Santorum, Mike Huckabee, and then-VP hopeful Tim Pawlenty all publicly backed the franchise that launched the "Eat Mor Chikin" campaign, while some Democratic pols threatened to keep new stores from opening and pilloried the restaurant with labels like "hate chicken." The chain later - ahem -- "waffled" on its stance, agreeing to stop funding groups that fight same-sex marriage.
While courting Hispanic voters on Univision, GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney delivered a new message after saying he stood by his beliefs about the "47 percent." NBC's Chuck Todd reports.
6. Romney not-really-jokingly laments not being Latino. The "47 percent" remarks were the enduring headline out of Mitt Romney's leaked fundraiser remarks, but the nominee also raised some eyebrows when he joked to attendees that he would have been much more likely to win the presidency if his father had been Mexican. "He was born in Mexico… and had he been born of, uh, Mexican parents, I'd have a better shot at winning this," Romney said to reported crickets from the audience of donor heavyweights. "But he was unfortunately born to Americans living in Mexico. He lived there for a number of years. I mean, I say that jokingly, but it would be helpful to be Latino." Si se puede!
5. The Trump "October surprise." Remember this? Donald Trump sent the Twitter machine into a frenzy after he promised a "revelation" that would derail the president's re-election efforts. The rumor mill indicated that the bombshell could be some kind of divorce records from Obama's past, a claim which turned out to be far more potentially interesting than Trump's actual revelation -- which was to offer $5 million to the charity of Obama's choice in exchange for the president's college and passport records. The news dud served to remind voters of Romney's tortured embrace of the coiffed billionaire in a February endorsement, which Romney accepted by deadpanning, "There are some things you can't imagine ever happening in your life. This is one of them."
4. Spandexed Rick Perry tweets he's staying in 2012 race. The morning after the Iowa caucuses, political reporters and Perry staff were making arrangements to attend the Texas governor's inevitable dropout press conference when a tweet from the governor's official account pictured Perry in running attire giving a thumbs up -- with the text "Here we come South Carolina!!!" Some close aides initially believed the vow to stay in the race was a hoax. Frazzled reporters chased the candidate to a hotel hallway where they got their first in-person confirmation of the news from Perry's wife Anita, in the form of her declaration that "I LOVE grits!"
3. Joe Biden poses with biker chick. Relentlessly parodied as a dopey muscle-car enthusiast by joke newspaper The Onion, Vice President Joe Biden finally appeared to be merging with his own caricature when he tried to make friends with a trio of bikers at an Ohio diner. The result: an AP photo of Biden nuzzling a grinning female rider as two male companions looked on with impossible-to-describe-in-print facial expressions of annoyance, disbelief and wonderment. (It didn't help that the photo was published within hours of a picture of a Barack Obama being aerially bear-hugged by a large Florida admirer.)
Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood speaks at the RNC Thursday in Tampa, Fla.
2. Eastwooding. After his appearance in a stark, full page pro-Chrysler ad dubbed "Halftime in America," some Republicans accused Clint Eastwood of being an Obama backer. That presumably gave the gravelly-voiced star's endorsement of Mitt Romney even more heft going in to the Republican National Convention, when no organizers questioned the famous "Dirty Harry" actor as to exactly what he might say on stage. Republicans, along with a primetime audience of millions, looked on with (at best) bewildered amusement and (at worst) horror as Eastwood wandered around the stage spouting insults at an empty chair meant to symbolize the president. Eastwood later admitted -- in the biggest scoop to date for his hometown paper The Carmel Pine Cone -- that he came up with the idea to malign available furniture while in the green room before the speech. "[The Romney team] vets most of the people, but I told them, 'You can't do that with me, because I don't know what I'm going to say,'" Eastwood recalled to the Pine Cone.
Former Rep. Harold Ford, Jr., D-Tenn., Republican strategist Mike Murphy, and NBC News' Savannah Guthrie and Chuck Todd discuss how the Obama and Romney campaigns responded to the comments Hilary Rosen made about Ann Romney's lack of employment during her life.
1. The "war on women." Little did Hilary Rosen know when she dinged Ann Romney's career choices on CNN that she was touching off a seven-month battle that would be dubbed by both sides as a partisan "war on women." "His wife has actually never worked a day in her life," said Rosen, a political consultant who advises the Democratic National Committee, launching a rhetorical spitball/Twitter war that continued in various incarnations until Election Day. Obama campaign aides scrambled to condemn the remark as Ann Romney shot back that she "made a choice to stay home and raise five boys. Believe me, it was hard work."
That opening volley continued through the end of the campaign, with Republicans and Democrats each painting the other group as baby-hating suffrage opponents eager to confine the brightest of women to lady-prisons of convenient stereotypes.
Both sides pointed to issues ranging from the arguably legitimate (economic policies affecting families, contraceptive policies) to the unrepeatable (Rush Limbaugh calling Sandra Fluke a "slut") to the absurd (demanding that the other side disown the endorsement of a musical artist with unpleasant lyrics about women.)
The silliness may have been best encapsulated by Reince Priebus, who described the back-and-forth thusly: "If the Democrats said we had a war on caterpillars and every mainstream media outlet talked about the fact that Republicans have a war on caterpillars, then we'd have problems with caterpillars."
For which he had to apologize.


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City of Bloomington, IllinoisHome Menu
American Passion Play
Celebrating our 96th Season!
- Date: 04/14/2019 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM
- Location: Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts
600 N. East Street
Bloomington, Illinois 61701
We are pleased to announce that the American Passion Play will be performed in its 96th consecutive season in 2019!
This live drama presents scenes from both the Ministry and Passion of Jesus of Nazareth.
Attending the play is a great way to share the story of Christ with friends and family!
It is also a means for Prayer Groups, Sunday School Classes, Church Membership classes,
Fellowship groups, and Confirmation Classes to share in a spiritual experience together!
Here are the American Passion Play performance dates and times for the 2019 Season.
Be sure to get your tickets soon!
• Saturday, March 30, 2019 @ 1:00 p.m.
• Saturday, April 6, 2019 @ 1:00 p.m.
• Saturday, April 13, 2019 @ 1:00 p.m.
• Sunday, April 14, 2019 @ 1:00 p.m.
• Saturday, April 27, 2019 @ 1:00 p.m.
Tickets are available by phone at (309) 829-3903 or (800) 354-9640,
or by mail at The American Passion Play, Inc., P.O. Box 3354, Bloomington, Illinois 61702-3354.
For more information and an order form, follow this link:

subset: commoncrawl


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No Charges Against Gooding County Deputy Who Shot Woman Near Bliss
Twin Falls, Idaho ( KMVT-TV / KSVT-TV ) - Twin Falls County Prosecutor Grant Loebs said Tuesday that he will not file criminal charges against a Gooding County deputy sheriff following a shooting near Bliss. The shooting occurred February 2 in which Hollee Johnson 39, was shot.
It happened following a high speed chase and after Johnson, the driver of the fleeing vehicle shot Ronald Water Rice, 40, in the stomach. He was riding with her at the time. It started in Mountain Home when police there stopped a car for no headlights. The driver drove off of the traffic stop eastbound on Interstate 84. Gooding county deputies got involved stopping the car at the Y-Inn Motel in Bliss. The two were Colorado residents who were passing through the area. Both were taken to St. Alphonsus in Boise for treatment.
Lobes investigated the matter at the request of Gooding county prosecuting attorney Luverne Shull. Lobes said, "I have carefully analyzed the report prepared by the Critical Incident Task Force and have concluded that no criminal charges should be filed against any of the law enforcement officers involved in this incident."


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Dirt tracks.
Dirt Moto Racing
Race ATVs over rough terrain in Dirt Moto Racing.
Follow the checkpoints.
Overtake your rivals!
Ride! 3 laps / race
What is it about?
For those who...
- Racing fans who want to avoid the pavement will definitely get a kick out of Dirt Moto Racing.
Not for those who...
- The game is showing its age, even though the 3-D graphics still hold up pretty well.
Why we love it
If you prefer the road less traveled, this is the off road racer for you.
App Screenshots
App Store Description
LIMITED TIME OFFER - Now 50% Off
Hurry up and get Dirt Moto Racing!!!
Welcome to Dirt Moto™ Racing, the new release from Dohi Entertainment that raises the bar yet again for Powersport games on the iPhone/iPod Touch platform.
Editors Choice Award - appVersity: "For those of you who like their racing to be unencumbered by a roof and want to see the sky as they fly through the air, Dirt Moto is a dream come true"
Hot Award - AppGamer.net: "stunts, tricks and drifts unseen by any other racer in the App Store - we're sold"
4.5 / 5 - Macworld: "Dirt Moto Racing is the pinnacle of its genre"
4.5 - iPGN: "Dirt Moto Racing is a fun ATV racing game with great graphics, sound and content. If you are a racing fan it is a must have."
4/4 Must Have - Slide To Play: "Dirt Moto Racing is a great new entry to the racing genre, and it is one we can recommend highly"
4.5 Exceptional - 148Apps: "Due to superb controls and an extensive career mode complete with vehicle upgrades, Dirt Moto Racing, surges to the front of the pack as the premiere freestyle racing game for the platform."
5/5 - AppSmile: "Dirt Moto Racing takes the torch and powerslides its way into our adrenaline-fueled hearts."
8/10 - Pocket Gamer: "Dirt Moto Racing revs up great gameplay, controls, and graphics"
90/100 Gold Award - Games-Review: "Resolution Interactive have all the trump cards - the latest idea, excellent implementation and first-class graphics"
Touch Arcade: "The controls feel "right," the physics are solid and it's just a great off-road racer that stands as the king of the genre in the App Store"
Dirt Moto Racing will put your ATV riding skills to the ultimate test. Start off with participating in a tour for beginners, race well to unlock new tours, game modes, achievements and tuning points as you climb your way towards the world elite. Collect medals in Career, Time Trial and Freestyle modes by beating opponents, set target times and scores. Events take place in 4 different and beautifully rendered North American locations; British Columbia, Death Valley, Toronto, Florida Keys. Perform stunts, powerslides and wheelies to power your boost. Enable online mode for your profiles and compare your event results with friends all over the world. Download ghosts and challenge the records of other Dirt Moto Racing riders.
Key Features:
- 8 Tours ranging from easy to extremely hard
- 4 True-to life environments: British Columbia, Death Valley, Toronto, Florida Keys
- 36 Unique Events and 5 Game Modes
- 21 Achievements to unlock
- 12 Stunts with 3 difficulty levels to perform
- 4 Mega-Stunts such as backflip and three-sixty
- Time Trial mode with Gold, Silver and Bronze Target Times
- New Freestyle mode with Gold, Silver and Bronze Target Scores
- Tuning of Top Speed, Acceleration, Steering, Grip, Brakes, Shocks and Lift
- Ghost Play – Download and race against the World's Best Riders
- Online Leaderboards
- Original Soundtrack with 12 Tunes
Follow us on Facebook
Support, Promo Codes, Press Releases and Game Updates
For all our games, see:
AppAdvice does not own this application and only provides images and links contained in the iTunes Search API, to help our users find the best apps to download. If you are the developer of this app and would like your information removed, please send a request to [email protected] and your information will be removed.


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Life in Christian County, Kentucky...
It looks like the first sunset of February, 2007, will be over a snowy landscape. It's snowing a little as I post this, and we're supposed to get up to 3 inches total by tomorrow night. There may also be some freezing rain tomorrow, depending on what the temperatures do. This is our first snow of the winter.
I doubt if there will be school tomorrow, because they usually cancel if the roads are slick at all. But we won't know for sure until tomorrow morning.
UPDATE: Yes, school was cancelled and Isaac is enjoying his day off. They could have run the buses today, but many of our residents are not accustomed to driving in winter conditions, so even an inch of snow makes the roads a lot more dangerous. It has been snowing lightly much of the morning, but the flakes are so fine that it's not accumulating very fast.


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Hey all, I'm running a summer map contest! Here's how it'll work:
1) Pick any one of AN1Guitarman's single levels that he uploaded to simplici7y over the summer (Jun 1 through August 31) to review.
2) PM me a list of all the things you hate about it by September 15.
You can pick any one of the single levels he has made, but you can only pick one. The person with the longest list of (valid) complaints about the level wins. I'll post the best entries here when it's all over. You'll get extra points for being especially cruel.
By the way, the winner gets a Prize. Best of luck to all of you.


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"Persistence is to the character of man as carbon is to steel."
— Napoleon Hill
After serving in World War II, my grandfather started working for an electric company. He retired from that very same electric company 40 years later. Was it the perfect job? Of course not. But that's just what you did back then – you got a job and stuck with it.
Things are different today. Maybe too different. Employees now feel entitled to near-perfect working conditions, regular raises, and constant praise. As a result, I'm seeing more and more resumes with brief job tenures (1-2 years), especially among twentysomethings. And the reasons I'm hearing for why people leave one job for another are often trivial.
Hiring managers are noticing this trend and are shying away from considering such candidates. After all, why would an organization want to hire an employee who will only be around for a year or two?
If you are in a position to mentor up-and-coming talent, please encourage them to show some commitment and fortitude, and not to jump from job to job with the frequency of a cheap ham radio. And if you're considering jumping ship without a great reason, remember that it often takes years to contribute significantly to a project or organization. You'll have a better chance of having an impact on social change if you stick around for a while and make things happen.


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Ocean Trance
Saturday, June 27
per guest
Learn more
Class Details
This beach path leads you to beautiful water that has you in a trance. Make a heart out of rocks or customize and make it your own.
Due to recent Fort Bend mandates, all patrons above the age of ten must wear face mask/covering.
The Perfect Night Out
Enjoy drinks, upbeat music and hanging out with your favorite people while you paint! It's as fun for first-time painters as it is for experienced artists.
Fun Atmosphere
From the moment you walk in, the mood is light, the music is fun and the conversation comes easy!
Easy to Do
You don't need to be a seasoned painter — we make it easy for everyone to find their inner artist!
Sit Together
You'll get seats with all your friends, even if you book separately. Just tell us your friends' names when you register.
Paint Your Way
There's no rule that says you have to follow the artist's steps. It's your art, so paint it however you like!
Frequently Asked Questions
Check out our FAQs to learn more about what to expect from your Pinot's Palette experience or feel free to call the studio to speak to a member of our staff.
What are your studio hours?
We are available by phone 9am to 10pm every day (except major holidays). The Studio is usually open from 6-11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Public Classes are usually on Thursday through Saturday Nights (Sometime Saturday and Sunday afternoons). Check our Event Calendar for more information. Is there a date and time you would like to see more classes on the calendar? Let us know! Private parties can be held any day of the week 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.10
How do I sign up for a class?
Signing up is easy. Click the "Event Calendar" link on the top of the page to view our calendar of paintings. Select which painting you would like to paint and click "Add Painting to Cart." Follow the on-screen directions to complete the order. Contact us if you have trouble completing your order and we will walk you through the process.
What do I bring to class?
We provide the canvas, easel, brushes, paints, and apron for the class. All you need to bring are any drinks and/or appetizers you might want to enjoy! We also provide the wine glasses, corkscrews, ice & ice buckets, paper plates, napkins, plasticware, and complimentary water.
Is there reserved seating?
Yes. You may put your seating preference down at the time of your reservation in the "seating request" section.
When do I arrive for class?
We recommend you arrive 20 minutes before class starts to allow time for you to get settled in and mingle before the painting starts.


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|Pin It
Part Number:NOTE-SDP-874
Item Size:4.25" x 5.5" (folded)
Cartouche Olive Photo Save the Date Cards
Sometimes a photo says it all! This flat white save the date card features your digital photograph as the main background of the card. A brown and olive green bookplate frame adorns the right side of the card for your text with three modern line and dot separators. Includes white unlined envelopes.
Ideal For:Save the Date Cards, Photo Save the Date Cards, Digital Photo Save the Date Cards
Delivery Time
To determine your delivery time, add the ground shipping time to your location, as shown on the map below, to the listed processing time. To speed up your delivery, you can select rush processing(details below in the form) and/or upgrade shipping to next day or second day air during the checkout process. If you have requested a proof, the processing time listed begins after you have approved your proof.
Processing Time:Approximately 2-3 business days
Ships From:North Carolina
Font Shown:Inspiration, Kartago
Font Color:White
Paper Thickness:130# White Cover
Printing Method:Digital Press
Photo Size:5.5" x 4.25"
Min. Order Quantity:20


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1979 Jeep Cherokee - Retro Racer
Desert-Prepped Cherokee
If you've been in a coma the last four or five years, let us clue you in on something: In the automotive world, what was old is new again. Another way of saying it is that retro is cool. So it should be no surprise we hunted down this race Cherokee from our coverage of the '05 Trucking Nationals in Phoenix ("Truckin' Nationals," Mar. '06) so we could find out more.
OK, to be honest, after seeing Tim Wiley take off like a shot from a gun and stay in it through some pretty demanding whoops, hills, and unbanked turns, we were halfway to writing this feature. When we found out he had a fire-breathing 401 in it, we were drooling. Once we saw he was racing the rig with the leaf springs still under it, we wanted to know more and figured you would too.
Aside from the race-prepped engine, this is a racing SJ you can duplicate at home for around the same coin your friends are building all those go-slow Jeeps for. The difference is this Jeep is a lot more fun. And if you race it in Jeepspeed like Tim does, you could possibly win some coin back.
It might be a dirty secret, but we'll let that cat out anyway: Right now, in the Currie Enterprises Jeepspeed Cup (aka Jeepspeed 3: The Pinnacle), the key isn't really who is faster or has the ber-unobtanium parts, it's who can keep their race Jeep together until the end of the race. We think Tim and Stephen Moe have the parts combination to go the distance-and they do it in full-on, old-school Jeeper style.
The chassis itself is largely untouched. Go buy a '79 Cherokee, do some (OK, a bunch of well-thought-out) boxing and plating to the frame and suspension, and race it. This Jeep is really cool for just that reason.
Tim and Stephen really built this, raced it in SCORE, broke it, fixed the problems, and raced it some more. Do that for three or four years, and you'd end up just where they are-with a fullsize Jeep ready to take the Jeepspeed community by storm. Still, it's a Jeep you could build. Build it, beat the snot out of it, break it, and fix it. Do that till it won't break, race it in Jeepspeed, and you'd be a serious contender.
The big problem, as most of you fullsize guys know, is the durability of the Quadratrac. Yes, this Jeep is still running the full-time transfer case behind that fire-breathing 401, but this team swaps the chain out every race or two, and it's sporting a MileMarker part-time conversion kit. Sure, they have a small mint in stock of transfer-case chains, but from watching this thing go, it's well worth it.
Oh, and by fire-breathing, we're talking a 13.25:1 compression ratio with Venolia pistons and Total Seal rings in a balanced and blueprinted AMC 401ci V-8. While we weren't able to pry the cam specification out of either of these guys (regardless of the number of beers we plied them with), we did find out the intake valves are 2.25 inches and the exhaust valves are 1.65 inches, while an Edelbrock Torker II intake passes the mixture into the motor from the Holley 750-cfm 4150 carburetor. The 401 got a set of Hedman Headers with 131/44-inch tubes and a 211/42-inch dual side-exit exhaust wearing Dynomax mufflers.
Spark is fed to the beast with an MSD 6A ignition, and an auxiliary oil line ran from the distributor to a spot in the galley between cylinders number 7 and 8, which mostly solves the famous oil-starvation issue of the otherwise solid AMC V-8 at higher rpm.
All that power goes through a 2,500-rpm stall speed B&M torque converter with gear selection by a complementary B&M reverse-pattern, ratchet-style shifter controlling the stock-ratio AMC Turbo 400 transmission. Sure, it got heavy-duty clutches and a B&M Super Cooler, but other than that, Sun Transmission of Peoria, Arizona, didn't do anything other than a stock rebuild on this slushbox. And we're happy to report it has held up to years of racing just like it is.
Meanwhile, the 108-inch wheelbase works great off-road, and the custom front and rear leaf springs give about 6 inches of total lift, while the Bilstein 9100-series shocks in the front and Bilstein 7100 shocks out back control those custom sproingers.
Beyond that, they added a Rancho steering stabilizer to complement the stock steering box to direct the rear BFG Mud Terrains and the front BFG All-Terrains. Even with the 6 inches of lift, the Superior Industries BFG-wrapped race wheels still have some rubbing issues at full compression and sharp turns.
The front axle is a Dana 44 that's custom-built with 5.38 gears, but it's still open running the stock disc brakes. The Dana 60, however, is running complementary 5.38 gears and is custom-built by Henry's with a spool and disc brakes. Both axles have been converted to run old-school, 5-lug rims. The top end of the brake system consists of a Corvette dual-pot master cylinder and a hydro-boost for that extra oomph.
With the Jaz Fuel Cell poking into the back of the Jeep through the cargo-bay floor, a set of black cloth Renegade race seats, a 2-inch DOM custom Wiley Moe Racing-built rollcage, full accompaniment of Auto Meter gauges, and a Grant steering wheel to control those BFGs, these guys got it going on. After that, they added the obligatory set of five-point race harnesses, a VHF radio, an in-cab intercom, a GPS, a fire extinguishing system, and window nets (to keep limbs in and debris out) complement the full race interior.
Other body modifications include removing the glass. Tim was telling us they raced with the windshield in it for a while before pulling it out, and the added airflow keeps them cooler and keeps dust down in the cab. The fuel filler was mounted in a custom aluminum panel on the driver side, where the rear side window used to be. The hood got a series of holes cut into it to help with cooling, while the front inner fenders were removed completely for tire clearance. As it is, the tires still kiss the firewall occasionally.
The red, white, and blue colors were put on with Corvette paint, while the graphics were applied by Sam Broslin at StreetGraFX.com in Peoria, Arizona. A custom-made front bumper and light bar put the light down the course with a quartet of KC daylighters.
This is one Jeep that we were really having problems finding what was bad about it for this section of the feature. Fortunately, with the miles in the cockpit, Tim did it for us: "Reconfigure the bumpstops, put bypass shocks in the rear to combat the fading problem, put a bigger fuel cell in it to feed the hungry 401, and dial some compression out of the motor so we could run just super unleaded instead of full-on race gas." As for us? If we were left to our own with this Jeep, we'd just run it till we hurt ourselves.
Some of the Jeeps running this Unlimited class of Jeepspeed are built to the hilt with all the gee-gaw gadgets and widgets going. Most often, they never cross the finish line. Sure, this might not be the most built-to-the-hilt race Jeep in the class, but it's been there, done that, and consequently, it has what it takes to go the distance. In off-road racing, that's so much more important than a quintuple bypass shock and full-on, double-super-whammy, full-hydraulic steering with hamster assist. Plus, a version of it would be attainable to even this lowly magazine editor on a beer and Spam budget.-Pete Trasborg
Vehicle:'79 Cherokee
Engine:'77 AMC 401ci V-8
Transmission:'79 AMC Turbo 400
Transfer Case:'79 full-time Quadratrac
Suspension:6-inch lift with custom leaves
Axles:Dana 44 (front), Dana 60 (rear)
Wheels:15x8 Superior Industries
Tires:35x12.50R15 BFG ATs(front), 35x12.50R15 BFG MTs(rear)
Built For:Off-road racing
Estimated Cost:$20,000
Check out www.jpmagazine.com for some videos of this thing tearing past in a silt bed. Look, I'm a mud guy who likes exploring forests on fire roads. There's no secret I can get bored by rocks. But regardless of what your bent, a high-performance 401 tearing ass past a video camera deserves a click of the old mouse. It's vintage iron with a lead foot, and it's only at www.jpmagazine.com.


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Yesterday, I talked about a tragic case involving two young children in Kentucky.
The case has created a lot of reaction from across the board, including on The Daily Item's Facebook page. Here's a taste of that:
The consensus seems to be that poor parental supervision may be to blame in this situation – although I would say it can be so easy to overlook something that other people think is obvious if you're busy and frazzled, such as when trying to take care of a house and at least two young children.
And only about 5 posts blaming "the media" – that's a win in my book.
Anyway, you can read more at dailyitem.com, but the company that made the gun isn't commenting until a full investigation is complete.
What's your take on situation? Do we need stricter gun laws or was this just a tragic accident?


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Jordan Hall
Scroll below for building history
Location: Central Campus
Built 1989
Sq. Footage 150,453
This imposing contemporary structure of reinforced concrete, brick, and green-tinted glass is named for Rupert Byrd Jordan, Jr., Robert B. Jordan III, Jack B. Jordan, and Irene Eugenia Jordan Ussery. Establishing the family tradition of public service was R. B. Jordan, Jr.. He developed the Jordan Lumber Company in Mt. Gilead and served as county commissioner and town councilman. All of his children went to NC State.
Robert B. Jordan III helped establish Jordan Hall, which was then called the Natural Resources Center. An NC State graduate of 1954 with honors in forestry, he later became president of the Forestry Foundation. Jordan also served as a member of the N.C. Senate, as lieutenant governor, and on the UNC Board of Governors. He was active in his participation of numerous state, local and regional bodies. Among his honors, he was named State's Outstanding Young Alumnus in 1966.
Jack Jordan ( 63) served as chairman of the University's Endowment Board from 1983 to 1992. He was president of both the Mt. Gilead Industrial Development Board and the Southeastern Lumber Manufacturer's Association. Among his positions in office, Jordan served as chairman of the N.C. State Board of Trustees and was a member of the UNC Board of Governors. He has also been vice president of the Jordan Lumber Company.
Genie Jordan Ussery ( 75) was instrumental in the early development of the women's sports program at N.C. State. She was the first captain of the varsity women's basketball team and was the first woman to score a basket in competition in Reynolds Coliseum.


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Chapter: Glossary, CASS, PROF, COND, TC, FIT, SUP, FEES, PERG, COMP, DISP, GEN, SYSC, MIPRU, COBS, PRIN, ICOBS, CREDS, EG, IPRU-INV, PROD
Effective Date: 25th May 2018


text: Description: 24 wooden skittles, 6 wooden inset boards, 6 wooden color control boards all stored in a beautifully made wooden box with a lid. Children then can progress to grading the skittles without the help of the control board, just using it to check that they have completed the task successfully. Size:30L*30W*7HcmAge:3+


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Forest Whitaker's Lazy Eye
The Best of the Lazy Best[edit]
Forest Whitaker's lazy eye is the most famous lazy eye in America, slightly beating out Tracy McGrady's. It has been know to cause blindness in the French, and Deafness in most Asian people. It eats sausage for most lunches, and causes power outages when it becomes enraged. While it is notably creepy, it was actually responsible for the end of the Cold War, and the rise of China. It enjoys going to Africa in the Spring, and Romania in the fall. If you see Forest Whitaker's lazy eye, shake its hand, and thank it for all it does for all of us.
The eye is evil now. Its going so far as to kill the devil, and name himself king of the underworld. All power goes towards the lazy eye, and the lazy eye's subordinates. It is very kick ass. No one can handle Forest Whitaker's Lazy Eye. Not even your mom (fucking lol). Seriously though, it does creep me out. I'm gunna have nightmares because of that thing now. Supid eye.
I saw that eye once, it is kinda scary. Still, couldn't be on a nicer guy. LOVE YOU FOREST. YOU THE MAN!
No, he isn't. Forest is alright, but if I'm going to watch a brotha act, I might as well watch Denzel. Mmmm. Denzel.
Man, Fuck You. Denzel's A Fucking Bitch. FOREST! FOREST! FOREST!
His lazy eye made him a cannibal dictator. LOL.
Suck It you stupid eye!
The Lazy eye isn't all that bad. At least hes a good actor. He has defeated so many stereotypes about black actors, and lazy eyes. It is just a little droopy. Forest proves that you don't have to be good looking to be a successful Hollywood Actor.
The Eye Has since Risen to Supreme Death Sargent of the Yellow Brigade of the Broduka Universe. It's a really kick-ass brigade. TOM IS A FAG WHO LIKES DONGS! No one can beat the yellow brigade, douces. No one. Especially now, that it has the laziest of lazy eyes on its side.
That thing is, like, so fucking lazy. Man, tell it it needs to get a room or something. And if it does, tell it to invite me. Aw, fuck yeah.
Forest's Lazy Eye was asked to comment on his rise to power, but he could not be reached. Because he's a bitch. If Forest Whitaker's Lazy Eye was a man, it would be a midget. Because it only comes up, like halfway. No... no... If Forest's eye was a man, he would be donovan mcnab becauase it always coms up short. Let's go G-MEN!
I actually kind of like Forest's Eye. I think it is nice to see a face with character after looking at all these blond bimbos all day in Hollywood. Plus, he really is a nice man.
Actually Folks[edit]
Forest Whitaker here, everybody. I'm sorry I had to strike out that previous section, but I see some truly ignorant people have been saying some really asinine things about me, and I want to set the record straight. First off: yes, I have a lazy eye. It is actually a genetic condition known as ptosis. I find it to be wholly unimportant in my life as well as my acting career. Even the producers in Hollywood have learned that my superior acting talent obviously outshines any damage my eye may or may not do. Everyone needs to calm down, release their ignorance, and get to know a little more about me. If you want, you should check out my real article, Forest Whitaker. I'm sure that article has a great deal of information on my work in Bird, American Gun, and Prêt-à-Porter, just to name a few of the pieces I have starred in. I would especially suggest that you take a look at my work on The Last King of Scotland, for which I won my Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role. Using my unique acting skillset, I dove headfirst into the role I was given, and not only did I act like my character, Idi Amin, but became him in many senses of the word. If you don't mind me sounding a little full of myself, I believe that my work on that film is truly one of the quintessential performances of the last 100 years. I would suggest that someone delete this article immediately and redirect the page to Forest Whitaker. That should clear things up about who I am, not only as an actor, but as a man. Peace Everybody.
~Forest Whitaker
Hold On a Minute...[edit]
Are you telling me that this website has an article on my lazy eye, but you don't even have one on me? Man.... I won a goddamn Oscar!
~Forest Whitaker


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Hello, I'm Jason Wolfe. I suppose I should tell you a little about myself so you have an idea of what to expect when encountering me in this lovely forum. I'm an Independent Fundamental Baptist. I believe in Free Grace/Once Saved ALWAYS Saved/Eternal Security. I believe that salvation is by grace ALONE, through faith ALONE, in Christ ALONE, NOT of works lest any man should boast. I believe that if you add any conditions other than faith to the gospel, in any way, in any capacity, at any point whether before or after faith, then it is a false gospel of works righteousness. I believe in the plenary verbal inspiration of Scripture. I believe that the King James Bible is the perfectly preserved word of God in the English language. I believe that the Bible is our final authority in ALL matters of faith and practice. I believe that the Bible can and should be translated into ALL tongues. I believe in the pre-millennial return of Christ, and a literal earthly millennium. I believe in a post-trib/pre-wrath rapture. I believe in believer's baptism, separation of Church and State, the autonomy of the local church (I don't believe in the "universal" Church), the priesthood of believers, individual soul liberty, young earth creationism, pacifism, UNlimited atonement, human free will, I utterly reject all five points of Calvinism. I also reject Arminianism and believe that the oh-so common contrast between Calvinism/Arminianism is a false dichotomy. And, of course, I believe in the trinity, the resurrection, the miracles of Christ, the virgin birth, etc. That's enough of that.
I write a blog: freegrace123188.blogspot.com
I look forward to interacting with new people, and taking part in vigorous debates, etc. See ya around!


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Andretti Prediction In Baltimore Becomes Reality For Hunter-Reay In Fontana
With 36 points separating Ryan Hunter-Reay (RHR) from the championship points lead and two races to go left in the season, the Andretti Autosport driver wins on the temporary street circuit race promoted by the recently formed Andretti Sports Marketing ... the Indy Grand Prix of Baltimore. This left RHR with a tall, but not impossible mountain to scale of 17 points to overcome in order to clinch the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series Championship.
Immediately after Ryan crossed the finish line at the inner harbor track location, in a post race interview on NBCSC, team owner Michael Andretti came out with a strong prediction - "We are going to win the championship in Fontana at Auto Club Speedway."
This isn't the first time this motor culture legend, in his own time, came forth with a prediction that paid off - and Michael Andretti never was the kind of personality to boast.
Ryan Hunter-Reay of Andretti Autosport becomes the first American born driver to win a race in this 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series season. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2010)
This excerpted and edited from "... notes from The EDJE" -
Toyota GP of Long Beach: Owner Andretti Predicted Hunter-Reay Win
By Edmund Jenks - April 19, 2010
With the confidence that comes from being a multiple time race winner here at motorsports premiere temporary street course race at Long Beach, Michael Andretti predicted that his recently signed driver (a test for a few races to begin), Ryan Hunter-Reay, would win the race.
What makes this prediction almost astounding is that none of the cars had set a tire anywhere on Shoreline Drive and he made this prediction at a post induction ceremony interview on Thursday, April 15, 2010, where he, along with Danny Sullivan, were honored with an achievement medallion in the sidewalk along the Long Beach Motorsports Walk Of Fame located in front, and the West side, of the Long beach Convention Center along Pine Avenue.
Add the fact that in the post race interview in front of the gathered press, Ryan Hunter-Reay cited his previous Formula Atlantic (2002) and CCWS experience with his positive feelings for the track (which he considers his "home" track) at Long Beach ... one could say Champ Car has never left ... in this, the sophomore year for IndyCar at the famed streets in Long Beach ... for at the end of the race it was P1, P2 , and P3 on the podium for former ChampCar World series experienced drivers!
[Reference Here]
The set up seemed insurmountable. Penske Racing's Will Power, who had been here in this same position of having to finish off the year on an oval racing course ahead of his next leading points owner the previous two years, looked as though all he had to do was finish the race on the same lap as Ryan Hunter-Reay. He had all the confidence of being the only driver to ever hold the Mario Andretti Trophy for the most points scored on road/street courses ... three years running.
For Ryan's part, in order to have any chance at all, he needed to finish the race P6 or better to have any of the championship scenarios to play out. Further, RHR was tied in the points for the season championship trophy for most points scored on oval courses with KV Racing Technology's Tony Kanaan ... so he also had to finish ahead of this competitor as well.
Again, the prediction by Michael Andretti, that his driver would win the IICS Championship at this final race, when the new DW12 chassis had never competed at this track and that no American open wheel races had been run at Auto Club Speedway since 2005 seemed astounding being that it came directly after the Baltimore win.
Andretti Autosport racing team came to the Auto Club Speedway track loaded for bear. In qualifications, the DW12's go out for three laps with the final two laps (5 miles) total time used for formation to the grid (baring any penalty for engine changes - later). Michael's son and third generation racing Andretti, Marco bested the next closest competitor, Penske' Ryan Briscoe, to gain the championship point and the check by .2614 of a second. Hunter-Reay did not do so well. His time combined with the fact that most all of the top competitors changed to fresh engines for the 500 mile race, had him starting at the back of the grid at P22 with Will Power at P13.
The pre-race odds for the top five drivers to win the race were published (in the newsroom) as follows - Will Power - 2/1, Ryan Hunter-Reay 5/2, Scott Dixon 7/2, Ryan Briscoe 5/1, and Dario Franchitti at 6/1 odds.
All Will had to do was basically stay on the same lap and dog/stalk RHR around the track, have clean pit stops, and finish the race. The start of the race saw Will Power struggle with the handling of his car and eventually, Ryan and Will were running with each other. After about a fifth (of the laps in the race ... not the bottle), Will Power responded to calls from his team over the radio in his ear to pass RHR. On Lap 55 in turn #2, Will dropped down low and according to his view, caught a seam in the pavement that got his car loose and he spun up into the safer barrier wall, just missing the #28 of Ryan Hunter-Reay - WOW!
This excerpted and edited from IndyCar -
Drama, intrigue, excitement: Hunter-Reay grabs title
By Dave Lewandowski - Published: Sep 16, 2012 @ 12:01 AM
For the third consecutive year, contact in the season finale altered the title aspirations of the Aussie. The No. 12 Verizon Team Penske car "caught a seam" in Turn 2 of the 2-mile oval, spun and made contact with the SAFER Barrier while running 12th -- a few car lengths ahead of Hunter-Reay's No. 28 Team DHL/Sun Drop Citrus Soda car.
Click it: Box score | Hunter-Reay signs two-year extension
Andretti Autosport owner Michael Andretti relayed to a surprised Hunter-Reay, who 18 hours signed a two-year contract extension, that he had to finish sixth to claim his first series championship by one point.
But wait. In this season of surprises, ultra-tight competition and high drama, all three collectively focused on the Team Penske garage as the crew converged to repair the Dallara chassis and collect 11 more laps to finish 24th and ahead of the retired car of E.J. Viso.
That's exactly what transpired, forcing Hunter-Reay to finish at least fifth. Crews from rival teams cheered as the No. 12 entry was wheeled onto pit lane.
"It's fantastic," said Power, who quickly changed back into his firesuit.
But as Power maintained throughout this three-race duel with Hunter-Reay, "You can on focus on what you can control." So he watched the remainder of the race unfold from the team transporter, hoping that others would occupy the top five positions.
That went by the wayside as Alex Tagliani's engine expired with 20 laps left and then Tony Kanaan's car made contact with the Turn 4 SAFER Barrier on Lap 241. That created a red flag, with the restart on Lap 244.
Hunter-Reay was running third on the restart, lost two positions, but the 31-year-old Floridian regained one spot when Takuma Sato's car crashed on the final lap. The difference in over 15 events on the most diverse set of racetracks in motorsports was three points over Power.
[Reference Here]
Driving legend, team owner, sports marketing operations magnet, and excellent prognosticator, Michael Andretti as he congratulates Ed Carpenter on his first win as a driver/owner of the Fuzzy's Vodka #20 DW12 Chevy-powered Dallara at the post race press conference at Auto Club Speedway. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2012)
At the post race press conference, Michael was reminded about this penchant he seems to have to predict and then deliver on the prediction. Michael bristled at the suggestion that he might like to take this 'talent' to Las Vegas with the attitude of a person who never gambles and frowns upon it.
This is a funny reaction to attribute to a past open wheel driving legend who would gamble on the track and, for the most part, win (or as on that 1998 Mid-Ohio day when he flipped head long into the run off at the end of the straight) or survive! Now, as an owner, expands his operation through the formation of Andretti Sports Marketing to include promoting the Milwaukee Mile (which his driver won) and picking up the Grand Prix of Baltimore (oh yes, that's right, his driver won the race the team Andretti operation was promoting for the first time this year as well).
All anyone can know, with this kind of track record, if one hears Michael Andretti blurt out a prediction of an outcome, and the Andretti Autosport operation has a hand in controlling some of the variables ... TAKE THAT BET ... the odds are good for a Michael Andretti predicted outcome!
... notes from The EDJE
** Article first published as Andretti Prediction In Baltimore Becomes Reality For Hunter-Reay In Fontana on Technorati **


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The American cities with the healthiest, happiest residents are Boston, San Francisco, Chicago, New York and Washington, D.C., according to a new survey that scored communities on important health measures, NBC News reported.
While they may not shriek "healthy living," they all have lots of sidewalks, parks and good public transportation, a report from Gallup and Healthways found. The four key components the group identified are walkability, easy biking, parks and public transit.
"Residents in these top five communities have, on average, significantly lower rates of smoking, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and depression compared with those in the five lowest-ranked active living communities," the groups said in a statement, adding to a large body of research that's found that access to green spaces, lowered stress and other factors translate into lower rates of disease and longer lives.


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In 1841, the Globe observed that
The impressio grows that the man of this age is neither Sir Robert Peel, nor Sir John Russell, [nor] even Ibrahim Pasha, but Alexis Soyer.
The first two should be recognizable to us all- Peel was a great reforming Home Secretary and Prime Minister, Russell too served as Prime Minister, Ibrahim Pasha an Egyptian general- but who was Alexis Soyer? Soyer was an immigrant to Britain, he had worked an apprenticeship in the kitchens of Versailles in the 1820s and 1830s, became cook to the Reform Club in the 1840s and left that to open his own resturant, opposite the Crystal Palace in 1851. Soyer might not be a well known figure today- but he is an interesting figure. For like Jamie Oliver today, Soyer advised the British government on food and also attempted his own public initiatives to improve the health of the nation. What he did though and the contrast to Jamie Oliver's recent enterprises is an interesting one if we are to understand the different remit of the British state today and in the 19th Century.
Oliver today, for those who do not know, is a well known television chef in the UK and has embarked on an endeavour to improve the food of school kids and the population at large in the UK. Hold that thought in your mind. What Soyer did was very different. His two most famous interventions into politics were separated by almost a decade. In the 1840s, Soyer provided food to Irish men and women starving in the famine. His soups were offered in Dublin for free to releive the situation. The second thing that Soyer did came a decade later- he was instrumental alongside Florence Nightingale in providing better food to troops in the Crimea in hospital. Indeed he invented a portable stove that as the 'Soyer' stove was still being used by British troops in the first Gulf War. Soyer was prompted to intervene by the realisation that the troops in the Crimea were being served worse food than prisoners in the UK.
Soyer's endeavours were directed against two of the main problems of the 19th Century state. He attempted to do something that traditionally food did: stop famine and provide recourse to the starving in moments of disaster. From the 19th Century on, such famines have become less common in industrialised societies but we should not forget how important the fear of famine was as a political factor still. The Irish famine was a key part of an Irish story of neglect by the British: it would have been within living memory for some of those who were around in the Irish civil war (1916-22) and definitely within the living memory of their parents. The other aspect of what Soyer did was to attempt to improve the standards of health within the army. The 19th Century saw a growing movement within Britain towards a proffessional army- cemented in part by the consequences of the Crimea and also by the reforms of Gladstone's 1870 government. But we should be careful to understand what Soyer's endeavours were: they were charitable (in Ireland) or directed to a specific patriotic purpose.
Contrast that to Jamie Oliver who wants to improve the diet of every school kid in England- that is a much more extensive project than anything Soyer wished to do. We are extending ourselves to the whole population- and dealing with a problem that might be one of over abundance rather than scarcity. The difference between Soyer and Oliver's charitable impulses is their scope- and that reflects the increasing scope of the state. From the Boer war onwards, the British state became interested in the health of its citizens- we can detect one of the reasons for that in some of Soyer's work. From the 19th Century, the diet and health of your soldiers became of interest to you as a politician or strategic thinker: in the era of mass warfare that meant the diet and health of your young men as a whole cadet rather than just of the young men serving in the army. Soyer's career therefore indicates one of the reasons why his era would change into the era of Oliver- but its important that we see the aspirations of the British state in the 19th Century not as a step to the 20th but in its own right. Soyer's endeavours allow us to define the scope of what was viewed as possible to do in the 19th Century- and a useful way of understanding the evolution of the state in that period.


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Prospective students and transfer students interested in attending SVSU and completing a business degree program must first be admitted to the university. You can apply for university admission online here!
Current SVSU students must apply and be accepted into the Scott L. Carmona College of Business (CCB) prior to enrollment in 300-400 level courses. Application forms are available through the Office of the Dean. Admission decisions ordinarily are made within one week and applicants are notified by mail of the actions taken by the admissions committee. You may also apply online or print a copy of the CCB Application (258KB) .
The following criteria must be successfully completed (not in progress) prior to filing an admission application with the College of Business:
The College of Business welcomes transfer students. Courses from accredited four-year institutions are accepted as equivalent to Saginaw Valley State University if the grades are "C" or better. Transfer students must complete at least 50 percent of the business credits, which normally is interpreted as approximately 30 credits, at SVSU. Reasonable exceptions to this rule will be approved by the Dean in consultation with the appropriate department chairperson.
Students holding appropriate associate degrees or courses from community colleges are admitted in the same manner as SVSU students, except that writing and quantitative tests may be required. Transfer students should contact the Office of Admissions to obtain admission to SVSU before applying to the College of Business. The SVSU Registrar's Office may also assist with questions.
(989) 964-4064(989) 964-4064
Mrs. Stacie L. Krupp
Dr. Amy L. Hendrickson


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|1,321 free recipes at www.edenfoods.com
Serves 4 | Prep Time 20 minutes | Cook Time 25 minutes
4 slices Eden Dried Tofu, soaked in warm water to cover for 20 minutes, reserve soaking water
2 cup water, for cooking tofu and shiitake
1/4 cup Eden Sliced Shiitake Mushrooms
1 1/2 Tbsp Eden Shoyu Soy Sauce, or to taste
Squeeze dried tofu to remove soaking water and discard soaking water. Rinse slices under cold water and squeeze again. Place all ingredients in a saucepan, cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Pour into a strainer and allow to cool. Place the shiitake slices in a small bowl. Slice the dried tofu into thin lengthwise strips. The shiitake and dried tofu are now ready to use in making rice, noodle or vegetable sushi.
VARIATION: Add 3 tablespoons of pure maple syrup to the cooking liquid, at the beginning of cooking, for a sweeter flavor.


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I've been a slacker lately, and for that I apologize. RL has gotten heavy and I have been a bit busy there. I will try and keep you all as fashionably up to date as I can, but know that I might not be quite as "chatty" in my posts, or blogging quite as much.
So, let's catch up shall we? Here are a few goodies from the Atooley Hunting for Winter Hunt!
Hunt Gift:
Picture Me Pretty | Winter Stroll (pose only)
Gazebo | A.D.D. Andel
Wreath | Circa
Pine Cones | Circa
Candle Basket | Circa
Stone Walkway | LAQ Decor
Snow Dome | Tulips Snowdome 2.0
Hunt Gifts:
Cat Hat | Cutz
My Beloved Deer Jewelry | Sweet Leonard
Arcade Tales #7 | Flowey
Pillows | Sway's (part of the Yuka set)
Blue Books | Flowey (the cute "boxes" her poses come in)
Hot Chocolate | Sway's
Teddy Bear | Damo's Friendship Bear
More coming… stay tuned!
Skin: Izzie's | Geanna Frostbite | Collabor88
Shirt: Razorblade Jacket | Smart Wool 1/2 Sweater
Pants: 1 hundred | Comfy Yoga Pants
Slippers: Epicosity | Part of the Reindeer PJ's from the With Love Hunt
Hands: SLink | Mesh Hands
Related articles
- Walking in a Winter Wonderland… (simplydou.com)
- Cute Winter Things I Like (fabfree.wordpress.com)
- Winter is Magical: Winter Fair and Silver Lining Hunt (secondlifefashionblog.com)


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Olympic Vermin is such a great title for this video, featuring the scruffy creatures of London having their own mini-Olympic torch lighting. I have to say, I'd almost rather watch this then the real Olympics. Those rats are pretty cute (but you know, not in real life). Nice work from Amael Isnard and Leo Bridle.(via)
51.529956 -0.221059


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On October 1, 2011, from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm, at The St. Joachim's Church Hall, 603 Loch Lomond Road, Saint John, New Brunswick the Saint John Branch of the NBGS Inc. will be hosting a Genealogical Fair.
Several exhibitors will be in attendance, and it will feature the NB Archives Road Show which includes research material from the New Brunswick Provincial Archives.
I understand that Dave Obee, genealogist from Victoris, British Columbia will be there giving talks.
This fair will be of interest from the beginner to the experienced researcher.
They say that you will be able to "Learn the first steps in the lifetime journey of family research, perhaps find that small piece of information that chinks away at that brick wall you've encountered or make connections with researchers that are on the same trail as you are".
There will be a small entrance fee, and refreshments will be available to purchase.
Plenty of free parking is available.
Their site is http://www.nbgssj.ca/GenealogicalFair_October12011.asp


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by Silhouette®
Dream It Up • Cut It Out
Silhouette's glitter heat transfer is the perfect way to add a little glam to your project! Transfer tape is already adhered to the product. Try it for t-shirts, throw pillows, monograms, gifts for the Bride, car decals, and anything else you can dream up!
Blue Glitter; 12" roll x 6 feet.


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Hi all i have a list control inside my user control which creates a user form for my application. It is placed inside a GridView column. now i want to move that control on runtime and place is some where else on the form. How can i do this.
I want to move the control to a specific position using code. I have a number of controls in my user control which work as a form. The cotrols as arranged using gridview. I have one common list box which i need to move to different position in the window programatically at runtime.


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PS. Ryan Reynolds did not need a reshoot.
Thursday, April 09, 2009
posted 11:35 Labels: 2009, it's not..., Ryan Reynolds
A listing of Blind Items, Clues and Reveals to Lainey Gossip (laineygossip.com) blind items by Barda Free
"Non smoking reshoot," it's not...
Copyright © 2009 Lainey Blinds
Design by Design Disease for Smashing Magazine | Blogger Templates by Blog and Web


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Capital Budgeting: Rational Outsourcing Decision in VoIP Projects
According to a recent Harvard Business School study, higher IT capability directly correlates with superior revenue growth.
Nearly all IT managers (at more than 150 large enterprises) surveyed for the study said they plan to increase outsourcing, particularly in the areas of application development and IT infrastructure.
Outsourcing is the practice of turning over responsibility of some to all of an organization's information systems applications and operations to an outside firm. This practice is widely believed (sometimes erroneously, according to recent research) to lead to cost savings and/or to free company resources for other activities.
Often, outsourcing enables a business to run faster than if it tried to deploy the same technology using in-house staff. So, where time to market and such is crucial and skilled IT labor is scarce, outsourcing has gained in popularity. U.S. IT managers are adapting to outsourcing and gradually implementing it as a comprehensive corporate strategy, rather than as individual contracts for distinct IT tasks.
However, outsourcing isn't without potential pitfalls. Some firms are less than confident when it comes to giving outsourcers access to their internal operation. What's more, some question how much responsibility an outsourcer will accept when its service isn't sufficient and whether it can integrate its offerings fully with a business's existing infrastructure and legacy applications. Caveat emptor.
With both the findings of the Harvard study and my caveat in mind, this article—the third in a series on capital budgeting—will focus on the use of decision-tree analysis (with real options) to facilitate the buy or make decision of a proposed Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) project. (See footnote.) Here, "buy" refers to outsourcing the job of migrating from a traditional analog telephone system to a data-based digital one. The buy or make a particular deliverable decision is crucial in project management in today's business environment.
Decision-tree analysis is a schematic way of representing alternative sequential decisions and the possible outcomes from these decisions, as illustrated in Figure 1. In a sequential decision problem, in which the actions taken at one stage depend on actions previously taken in earlier stages, the evaluation of investment alternatives can become very complicated. In such cases, the decision tree technique facilitates project evaluation by enabling the firm to write down all the possible future decisions, as well as their monetary outcomes, in a systematic manner.
Click here for a larger image.
Figure 1. Model of three- (or possibly four-) stage investment decision process for the build branch of an earlier build-inhouse or outsource decision node (shown later in Figure 4).
Figure 1 shows a decision-tree model based on costs (rectangles—with square or rounded corners), probability of successes and, future cost savings (increased cash flow streams). Because this model treats the investment decisions for a proposed project in a series of stages, the solution is a close proxy for real options theory.
You identify the things that could happen to the project and the main counteractions that you might take. Then, working back from the future to the present, you can consider which action you should take in each case. Note, however, that this figure hides many of the real-world details that must be assigned dollar amounts when constructing your capital budget.
VoIP is a potentially cost-saving technology used to transmit voice conversations over a data network using the Internet Protocol (IP). Such data networks may be the Internet or a corporate Intranet. When, as in the case discussed below, a project involves rolling out a major new data-networking application, along with new hardware and infrastructure to support it, the project should be staged and budgeted throughout its life cycle.
Also included will be a look at related issues such as:
- How much unbudgeted downside risk you should manage
- Worst-case scenario (given catastrophic losses) vs. regret
- The value (and cost) of compliance with regulations (for example, SOX)
To present a real-world discussion of decision-tree analysis, I will also explore some of the assumptions made in the penultimate and antepenultimate articles of this series: for example, probability distributions are symmetric and worst-case scenarios need only be considered statistically.
Real Options: The Value of Midcourse Corrections to Projects
One of the fundamental insights of modern financial theory is that options have value. The phrase "We are out of options" is surely a sign of trouble. However, because corporations (and other organizations) make decisions in a dynamic environment, they usually have midcourse options that should be considered in project valuations:
- The Option to Abandon a project: Has value if return (or savings) turns out to be lower than expected
- The Option to Expand a project: Has value if return (or savings) turns out to be higher than expected
- The Option to Delay a project: Has value if the underlying variables are changing with a favorable trend
- The Option to Outsource a project: Has value if internal resources don't have required experience and expertise
In the previous two articles of this series, the widely-practiced Net Present Value (NPV) analysis was used as the basis for selecting or rejecting a project. However, NPV analysis ignores the adjustments that an organization can make after a project is accepted. These adjustments are called real options. In this respect, NPV—the present value of its expected future cash flows, discounted at a rate that reflects the riskiness of the expected future cash flows—can underestimate the true value of a project. This outcome can be exacerbated further when the data from which NPV is calculated stems from an asymmetric probability distribution, as explained in Appendix 1. (Figure 1 shows the full life cycle of a project in which real options are considered.)
When you use discounted expected future cash flows—the basis for the NPV calculation—to value a project, you implicitly assume that the organization will hold the asset passively. But, managers are not paid to be passive. After they have invested in a new project, they do not simply sit back and watch the future unfold. If things go well, the project may be expanded; if they go badly, the project may be cut back or abandoned altogether. Managers get to manage projects—not simply accept or reject them.
In practice, companies sometimes have other choices. They can delay the decision until later, when more information is available. Or, they can call in outside help, even after having deciding not to do so at the outset. Such investment timing options can dramatically affect a project's estimated mean NPV and risk. Projects that can easily be modified in these ways are more valuable than those that do not provide such flexibility. The more uncertain the outlook, the more valuable this flexibility becomes.
Consider a proposed project where there is uncertainty about the state of the economy. Suppose it can be either good or bad and it's as likely to be one as the other. If it is good, your investment project returns $5. If it is bad, you lose $6. The cost of doing nothing now and waiting to see what the economy looks like at a future date is $1 (you might, for example, have to pay the salaries of software developers or others who become under-utilized as you wait).
An NPV calculation, where you invest now or never, values the project at 50%x$5 – 50%x$6 = -$0.50. If you sink $1 and wait and see, the real option value of the project is 50%x$5 – 50%x$0 – $1 = $1.50 as you don't have to invest if the economic climate is bad. So flexibility can be profitable!
The final decision as to whether to build in house or outsource is determined by which of the two choices has the lower discounted cash flow (NPV) after probabilities are used to weight the expected cash flows. Remember, the entire model in Figure 1 represents only the make branch of the make-buy decision. Both branches are shown in Figure 4.
When are real option values most significant?
- Uncertainty: There must be high uncertainty about the future. In fact, the option value increases with increasing uncertainty. This is in contrast to most traditional thinking; instead of fearing the uncertainty (risk), option thinking is actively taking advantage of uncertainty.
- New information: It must be very likely that you will receive new information (decreased uncertainty) over time.
- Managerial flexibility: If there is high uncertainty and new information decreases this uncertainty, there is no option value unless management is able to respond appropriately to this new information.
Obviously, for some projects flexibility is of great value while to others flexibility is of minor interest. Which factors are important to increase the Real Option value?
The Decision Tree shown in Figure 1 is a simplification created to satisfy the needs of this article. Figure 2 indicates that, although decision trees alone can be helpful when a project is characterized by high flexibility but low uncertainty, decision trees with the addition of real options is the methodology of choice when the project is characterized by both high flexibility and high uncertainty.
However, it is generally felt that real option analysis does not provide much value in investment decisions on projects with very high NPVs, because the projects are already attractive for investment and the additional value that may be provided would not change the decision. Similarly, on projects with very low NPVs, the additional value provided by real options would most likely be so negligible that the investment decision would still be a "no go." That is, real options offer the greatest value on projects with an NPV close to zero (either positive or negative) and positioned in the upper-right quadrant of Figure 2.
Figure 2. Real options have value when both uncertainty and flexibility characterize a project.
The bottom line: Breaking up the inflexible investment bet represented by the upper path(s) in Figure 1 into two smaller investment bets represented by the lower path(s) enables the project manager (or Project Management Office) to use options to improve his or her allocation of resources to the project as new information becomes available. Appendix 3 contains a discussion on the place of real options in the real world.
Before continuing, as I have been, with issues from the perspective of the CIO or PMO head, you should take a look at some of the issues that the CTO will be concerned with while evaluating the buy-make decision for this proposed project. Understanding one helps understand the other.
Page 1 of 4
This article was originally published on July 19, 2006
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text: Job Discussion Forums :: View topic - No go Summer schools. Get TEFL Certified & Start Your Adventure Today! Job Discussion Forums"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!" FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in No go Summer schools. Goto page 1, 2 Next Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> United Kingdom View previous topic :: View next topic Author Message Will.Joined: 02 May 2003Posts: 783Location: London Uk Posted: Sun Feb 29, 2004 10:34 am Post subject: No go Summer schools. Now then, Summer school is approaching and we will be fielding more and more questions about it. I haven't checked the gre(a)ylist or blacklist for this info. Who would like to add the name and the reason they would not recommend a particular Summer School to a supplicant summer teacher? I have been lucky and have had little relevant negative experience in summer schools. You know, The kind of thing that really gets up your nose and you feel powerless to do anything about and realise that this is the way it is every year and they, the organisation, really don't give a toss for you or any of the staff as long as you keep the students happy, their parents, or agents don't complain and the money keeps rolling in. You know things like M Money late, Long hours, Cover lessons at short notice, "ACTIVITY" afternoons and evenings. FOOD. Resources or lack of them. Senior staff with no knowledge of the programme or links within the organisation who seem to have been given a sinecure with no training whatsoever and little interest in the educative process at all. Maybe I do have a whinge or two after all. Back to top SekhmetJoined: 05 Apr 2004Posts: 329Location: Alexandria, Egypt Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2004 3:52 pm Post subject: So...... summer schools..... I'm new at all this, and I'm looking for a decent summer school to go work for before I head on out into the world... I've had an offer from a school called "student-club" which looks kinda like the previous post - lots of "activity sessions" and "pastoral care" included - I gave up babysitting when I was 15... But if it's my only offer... Has anybody got any ideas of others?? I've got an interview with Cambridge Language Projects, and that looks quite good, but it's always better to get more offers right??!!! Thanks guys!!! Lindsey Back to top Will.Joined: 02 May 2003Posts: 783Location: London Uk Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2004 10:49 pm Post subject: Don't jump at the first offer. There are plenty of horror stories anfd plenty of better schools. Student Club????? CLP sounds familiar but not that familiar. Sorry I can't help you out more, what's the story? money, hours... Back to top SueHJoined: 01 Feb 2003Posts: 1022Location: Northern Italy Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2004 11:28 am Post subject: I think a lot comes down to luck... I started teaching at a summer school in 2001 after doing a 20 hr (!) evening class, which I only did to keep busy following redundancy. Apart from a lecherous assistant chef who even chased butch me it was OK and a good learning experience - French teenagers on a colonie de vacance who would rather have been canoeing in the Dordogne or something. Fortunately the group was well provided with their own activity assistants so the workload was pretty light, and if I did play football (soccer) and tennis it was from choice and enjoyment. Certainly my robust English style football impressed some of the stroppier lads which might even have helped with respect in class ! I would say take your own resources though, as these were appalling. I think I won the prize the following year with the same company for finding the oldest published material in the box of tat provided. 1964/5 I seem to recall... I also took an Ordnance Survey map and was thus able to find the nearest off-site pub and the appropriate shortest cross-country footpath! Back to top Boy WonderJoined: 29 Mar 2004Posts: 453Location: Clacton on sea Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 8:31 am Post subject: no go summer schools ALEXANDERS SCHOOL in Woodbridge,Suffolk. Without doubt the worst summer school I have worked for or heard about!!! I cannot even bring myself to decribe just how bad it really is....and I left nearly 3 years ago.!! DO NOT I repeat do not ever work for these people...the owner is completely insane and the accomodation...food...location...arrogant,smug and entirley inefectual sports staff ...lack of shop/pub.(nearest one is 15 miles away)..lack of materials...overly long and tiring teaching schedule...and trips..if they can be called that to bowling alleys and cinemas in Ipswich will leave you exhausted,frustrated,angry,resentful and feeling completely washed up and washed out... I worked there for 3 months...the money was ok...300 sterling per week but the next job i took in Manchester ,for almost half that amount , was a godsend and helped me recover whatever sanity i had left. I CANNOT SPEAK LOWER OF A PLACE..AND I'VE BEEN IN SOME PRETTY AWFUL ONES!!!! Back to top Will.Joined: 02 May 2003Posts: 783Location: London Uk Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 9:44 am Post subject: ......I know it . At the end of a very long bus ride on an old RAF base in the middle of nowhere. Nice house. Closer to felixstowe but for some reason they do not advertise thyis fact. Good for UFO sightings I believe. Tell us more about this place. Back to top Will.Joined: 02 May 2003Posts: 783Location: London Uk Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 9:45 am Post subject: At least I think, I do. but the place i visited was SKOLA. Back to top SueHJoined: 01 Feb 2003Posts: 1022Location: Northern Italy Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 11:41 am Post subject: Will, It's probably one of those places that have to change their name every year! Back to top Boy WonderJoined: 29 Mar 2004Posts: 453Location: Clacton on sea Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 4:54 am Post subject: No-Go summer schools more about this place...not sure if the medications can handle it.....!! Very well then....... It's a big old house formerly an industrailists Vicorian dream home and latterly an RAF listening base...an important Radar station during WWII. I think it's been a school since the Alexanders took it over in the 80's or early 90's....as a scenic location it is admittedly stunning....at the end of a creek rising above treetops...completely isolated. There is a ferry...daytimes only.. over the river to a spit of land where a nice pub/garden is located...Felixstowe is then a 4-5 km walk along the coast. PLs bear in mind though that working for thes clowns..the only chance you'll ever get to visit Felixstowe is your day off...Sunday...when no buses are running and all the shops are closed...unless you count the local tescos a highlight not to be missed!!! The problem is isolation....the nearest town Woodbridge is 15 miles away...Ipswich for kids shopping trips etc 25km. Usually in summer schools..I've done 8 so far...you get a few afternoons off....oh no...not with these guys...no way.... finish teaching and lunch and boom...you'll be full on until darkness descends.... i felt sorry for the kids though....nothing for them to do...and most of them were resigned to watching and rewatching some of the pitifully few videos left lying around..or just sitting smoking in the fields around the school... Usually in summer schools you met a fairly decent bunch of individs to get along with...here is very very diff....dredged up from the bottom of the EFL pool... wacky i can deal with....but arrogant,self serving,self important and quite frighteningly weird I can't. the only other decent bloke left after a couple of weeks...i should have had the sense to follow him.... highlights you can look forward to should you be unfortunate enough to work there include....being pulled out of a middle of one class and being stuck in the middle of another!Food that is inedible..stick to the biscuits if i were you...textbooks for the kids with answers from last years students scribbled in every exercise...a teaching schedule sometimes from 9-5... a no booze policy anywhere for teachers...and management that has to be experienced to be believed..it is so bad....your weekly trip to london...laughably called a day trip includes roughly 5-6 hours of coach journey interrupted by 2-3 hours in Covent Garden....this will be the highlight of your week...a chance to see normal people and read a newspaper...oh i forgot no newspapers at Alexanders...too remote you see....i could add more but my medicatio n is wearing off and i must go back to the dark corner of the room and wait for Doctor.! Back to top Will.Joined: 02 May 2003Posts: 783Location: London Uk Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2004 1:26 pm Post subject: Been absent for a week. Yep! thats the place. It all sounded wonderful, then no newspapers! This is going too far. Back to top gugelhupfJoined: 24 Jan 2004Posts: 575Location: Jabotabek Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2004 10:06 am Post subject: Re: no go summer schools Boy Wonder wrote: ALEXANDERS SCHOOL in Woodbridge,Suffolk. Without doubt the worst summer school I have worked for or heard about!!! I cannot even bring myself to decribe just how bad it really is....and I left nearly 3 years ago.!! DO NOT I repeat do not ever work for these people... Looks like they are advertising on tefl.com - even the advert smacks of the slave trade. A six day week plus evenings plus "pastoral care"... for the princely sum of £330. Going by the hours of duty in the advert this must equate to something like the national minimum wage. I wouldn't touch it with a very long stick. Back to top Boy WonderJoined: 29 Mar 2004Posts: 453Location: Clacton on sea Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2004 4:31 pm Post subject: more of the same! Add The Salisbury School Of English to the list too.........so bad I left after 2 days. Back to top SueHJoined: 01 Feb 2003Posts: 1022Location: Northern Italy Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 11:15 am Post subject: Oh go on BW - 2 days only? Do tell us more. I approached one school and was approached by another with both offering terms which I found easy to turn down. With one the pay would have been just a little bit above minimum wage, but that was without time for lesson planning. I work as a relief worker at a hostel, so luckily shifts there to cover holidays have taken up the slack. Hourly pay is 50% more and no lesson prep! Sue Back to top Boy WonderJoined: 29 Mar 2004Posts: 453Location: Clacton on sea Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2004 2:01 pm Post subject: Salisbury. I don't do furniture removals.....nor do I make beds!! I teach.....that's all I have to say on the subject ...I don't want to hurt anyones feelings since others seemed content with the situation....but then again they were on the whole a rather young and inexperienced lot.....middle class..female and enthusiastically enforcing the wacky rules that the school lays down...... all i kept thinking was 'poor kids'...until a sudden realisation dawned over me and I left before any more humiliation was heaped upon me....!! Back to top Will.Joined: 02 May 2003Posts: 783Location: London Uk Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2004 8:25 am Post subject: Hi Boy wonder, I can handle a little moving around beds and arranging furniture inm classes and in bedrooms or dorms a little is to be expected, nothing is ever the way it 'should be' when we arrive on site. I don't make beds either, there are ancilliary staff to do this. The first few days everyone mucks in together and the job descriptions get blurred. I view the first few days as a group dynamics session. It normally settles down after a few days though, if not it gets horrendously worse and 'contractual obligations' are quoted at all and sundry who are having second thoughts. This is the moment to get out, if you haven't already .It means there are not enough people to fill all the posts so we need to guarantee nobody leaves or we are in the s***, meaning senior staff will have to take on teaching responsibilities as well. Was this your first summer school experience or your first bad one? Hey Please! Oh pretty Please! do tell us some if not as many of the wacky rules as you can remember. I wonder if there was one related to Photocopying? Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> United Kingdom All times are GMTGoto page 1, 2 Next Page 1 of 2 Jump to: Select a forum Where to Begin----------------General DiscussionNewbie ForumCurrent Events ForumTechnology ForumOnline Teaching Forum Africa Forums----------------General Africa Forum Asia Forums----------------CambodiaChina (Job-related Posts Only)China (Off-Topic)Hong KongIndiaIndonesiaJapanMalaysiaPhilippinesSingaporeTaiwanThailandGeneral Asia ForumVietnam Caribbean Forums----------------General Caribbean Forum Europe Forums----------------Czech RepublicFranceGermanyGreeceItalyMacedonia and the BalkansPolandRomaniaRussia & C.I.S.SpainTurkeyUkraineUnited KingdomGeneral Europe Forum Latin America Forums----------------ArgentinaBrazilChileColombiaCosta RicaMexicoMexico (off-topic)PeruGeneral Latin America Forum The Middle East Forums----------------BahrainEgyptIsraelKuwaitOmanQatarSaudi ArabiaUnited Arab EmiratesGeneral Middle East Forum North America Forums----------------General North America Forum Oceania----------------Australia/New Zealand You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling. 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A remarkable skeletal restoration of Quetzalcoatlus northropi, that giraffe-sized pterosaur of terrestrial-stalking fame, photographed by yours truly at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History this past summer.
Despite my attempts to be as prolific a writer as a teenager engrossed in highschool can be, this blog has experienced a hiatus in publications since May 1st. This lapse in writing has spurred some concern among viewers as to whether my blogging career was finished. While the more important obligations of my life have made it difficult for me to make any progress on the numerous articles currently in draft, quite an important change is on the horizon for this blog. In case you haven't been following the Bizarre Zoology Facebook page, this writing platform is set for relocation. Moving this site from what has been a successful venue was a decision preceded by much conflicted thought, but the technical difficulties recently experienced with the Blogger domain have prompted this choice. I will wait until the new location of this blog is more significantly prepared to reveal anything further, but for now please continue to check back and I thank you for your viewership.
Even when I don't have the time to communicate my current zoological musings through this blog I'm delving into related literature, photographing inner-city theropods (Columba livia), and marvelling at colossal bear skeletons (Arctodus simus).


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The spring tax season is a fraught period for U.S. taxpayers. It's also a lucrative one for scam artists who prey on both unwary victims and complicit tax evaders.
"These schemes jump every year at tax time," IRS commissioner John Koskinen said recently on the release of the agency's "Dirty Dozen" list of tax scams that can take many different forms, some quite sophisticated.
Scams, which taxpayers may encounter throughout the year, can lead to significant penalties and interest and possible criminal prosecution, the IRS warned in a statement.
"We urge people to protect themselves and use caution when viewing emails, receiving telephone calls or getting advice on tax issues," Koskinen said
Following are the 2014 Dirty Dozen Tax Scams.
1. Identity Theft
Unauthorized use of someone's personal information to commit fraud or other crimes remains the IRS's top concern this tax season. In many cases, an identity thief uses a legitimate taxpayer's identity to fraudulently file a tax return and claim a refund.
The agency has a special section on IRS.gov dedicated to identity theft issues.
It said taxpayers who believe they are at risk of identity theft because of lost or stolen personal information can call the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 1-800-908-4490.
2. Pervasive Telephone Scams
Calls from scammers pretending to be IRS representatives in hopes of stealing money or identities from victims are increasing across the country, according to the agency. Callers may tell victims they owe money or are entitled to a big refund. They may threaten arrest, driver's license revocation or, in the case of recent immigrants, deportation. Follow-up calls may come from people saying they are from the local police department or the state motor vehicle department.
The IRS said these scams are characterized by the following:
- Callers generally identify themselves with fake common names and surnames and provide false IRS badge numbers.
- Scammers may be able to recite the last four digits of a victim's Social Security Number.
- They imitate the IRS toll-free number on caller ID to make it appear that the IRS is calling.
- Scammers sometimes send bogus IRS emails to victims to support their calls.
- Victims hear background noise of other calls being conducted to mimic a call site.
The IRS said recipients of calls from suspected scammers can call the agency at 1-800-829-1040 if they know or think they owe taxes and receive help with a payment issue—if there really is an issue.
Those who have no reason to think they owe taxes can report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 1-800-366-4484.
3. Phishing
Some scammers like to "phish," using unsolicited email or a fake website to lure in potential victims and prompt them to provide valuable personal and financial information. They can then commit identity theft or financial theft.
The IRS noted that it did not initiate contact with taxpayers by any type of electronic communication to request personal or financial information.
Recipients of an unsolicited email that appears to be from either the IRS or an organization closely linked to the IRS, such as the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System, should forward the message to email@example.com.
4. False Promises of 'Free Money' from Inflated Refunds
Scam artists routinely pose as tax preparers during tax time, promising large federal tax refunds or refunds people never thought they were due. They prey on people who do not have a filing requirement, such as low-income individuals or the elderly. Non-English speakers, who may or may not have a filing requirement, are favored targets.
Scammers dupe people into making claims for fictitious rebates, benefits or tax credits. Sometimes, they file a false return in a person's name, and that person never knows that a refund was paid. They also victimize people with a filing requirement and due a refund by promising inflated refunds based on fictitious Social Security benefits and false claims for various credits.
The IRS said taxpayers who buy into such schemes can end up being penalized for filing false claims or receiving fraudulent refunds.
Victims sometimes lose benefits because of false claims being filed with the IRS that provided false income amounts. Frequently they are not given a copy of what was filed. And when the fraudulent refund is deposited into the scammer's bank account, the con artist deducts a large "fee" before cutting a check to the victim—legitimate practitioners do not use this practice, the IRS said.
5. Return Preparer Fraud
Taxpayers are legally responsible for what is on their tax return even if it is prepared by someone else. For the 60% of taxpayers who the IRS said will use tax professionals this year, it is important to choose carefully when hiring an individual or firm to prepare a return.
Some unscrupulous preparers prey on unsuspecting taxpayers, and the result can be refund fraud or identity theft. The agency said taxpayers should use only preparers who sign the returns they prepare and enter their IRS Preparer Tax Identification Numbers.
Details on preparer qualifications and information on how and when to make a complaint are available at www.irs.gov/chooseataxpro.
6. Hiding Income Offshore
U.S. taxpayers who maintain financial accounts abroad must fulfill reporting requirements. Over the years, however, the IRS has identified numerous individuals as evading U.S. taxes by hiding income in offshore banks, brokerage accounts or nominee entities and then using debit cards, credit cards or wire transfers to access the funds. Others have employed foreign trusts, employee-leasing schemes, private annuities or insurance plans for the same purpose.
The IRS pursues taxpayers with undeclared accounts, as well as the banks and bankers it suspects of helping clients hide their assets overseas. And the agency works with the Department of Justice to prosecute tax evasion cases. New foreign account reporting requirements being phased in over the next few years will make hiding income offshore increasingly difficult.
At the beginning of 2012, the IRS reopened for an indefinite period its Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program following continued strong interest from taxpayers and tax practitioners after the closure of the 2011 and 2009 programs. The agency has collected billions of dollars in back taxes, interest and penalties so far from people who participated in the voluntary programs since 2009.
7. Impersonation of Charitable Organizations
Big natural disasters elicit powerful responses from charities and donors. Scam artists usually show up too, commonly impersonating charities to get money or private information from well-intentioned taxpayers. Some operators of bogus charities contact people by telephone or email to solicit money or financial information, or set up websites to solicit funds for disaster victims.
Sometimes, scammers directly contact disaster victims and claim to be working for or on behalf of the IRS to help the victims file casualty loss claims and get tax refunds. They may try to obtain personal financial information or Social Security numbers that can be used to steal the victims' identities or financial resources.
The IRS cautions both victims of natural disasters and people wishing to make charitable donations to avoid scam artists by following these tips:
- To help disaster victims, donate to recognized charities.
- Be wary of charities with names that are similar to familiar or nationally known ones, but are phony organizations. IRS.gov's Exempt Organizations Select Check allows donors find legitimate, qualified charities to which contributions may be tax-deductible.
- Don't give out personal financial information to anyone who solicits a contribution as this information could be used to steal your identity and money.
- Don't give or send cash. For security and tax record purposes, contribute by check or credit card or another way that provides documentation of the gift.
8. False Income, Expenses or Exemptions
Inflating or including either wages or self-employment income on a tax return that was never earned in order to maximize refundable credits could result in repaying the erroneous refunds, including interest and penalties, and in some cases, even prosecution, the IRS said.
Farmers and other taxpayers who use fuel for off-highway business purposes may be eligible for the fuel tax credit. But ineligible individuals have also claimed this tax credit. The IRS said fraud involving the fuel tax credit is considered a frivolous tax claim, and can result in a penalty of $5,000.
9. Frivolous Arguments
Promoters of frivolous schemes encourage taxpayers to make unreasonable and outlandish claims to avoid paying the taxes they owe. Such arguments are wrong and have been thrown out of court, according to the IRS. Those who promote or adopt frivolous positions could be responsible for an accuracy-related penalty, a civil fraud penalty, an erroneous refund claim penalty or a failure to file penalty. The Tax Court may also impose a penalty against taxpayers who make frivolous arguments in court.
Taxpayers who rely on frivolous arguments and schemes may also face criminal prosecution for attempting to evade or defeat tax. Persons who promote frivolous arguments and those who assist taxpayers in claiming tax benefits based on frivolous arguments may be prosecuted for a criminal felony.
10. Falsely Claiming Zero Wages
The IRS warned taxpayers not to fall prey to people who encourage them to claim deductions or credits to which they are not entitled, or willingly allow others to use their information to file false returns. Parties to such schemes could be liable for financial penalties or even face criminal prosecution.
One scheme involves filing a phony information return in order to lower the amount of taxes an individual owes. A Form 4852 (Substitute Form W-2) is used as a way to improperly reduce taxable income to zero. The taxpayer may also submit a statement rebutting wages and taxes reported by a payer to the IRS. Filing this type of return may result in a $5,000 penalty.
Another fraudulent scheme involves use of false Form 1099 refund claims. For instance, individuals may claim a refund based on the bogus theory that the federal government maintains secret accounts for U.S. citizens and that taxpayers can gain access to the accounts by issuing 1099 Original Issue Discount forms to the IRS. The perpetrator files a fake Form 1099-OID to justify a false refund claim on a corresponding tax return.
11. Abusive Tax Structures
Abusive tax schemes have evolved into sophisticated strategies that take advantage of the financial secrecy laws of some foreign jurisdictions and the availability of credit/debit cards issued from offshore financial institutions. The IRS said it was on the case. Its Criminal Investigation program identifies and investigates promoters of abusive tax structures and those who aid and abet them. Equally important, it investigates investors who knowingly participate in such schemes.
Abusive schemes encompass violations of the Internal Revenue Code and related statutes where multiple flow-through entities are used as an integral part of the taxpayer's effort to evade taxes. The IRS said these schemes were usually complex, involving multi-layer transactions for the purpose of concealing the true nature and ownership of the taxable income and/or assets.
The agency cautioned that form over substance are the most important words to remember before buying into any arrangements that promise to "eliminate" or "substantially reduce" a tax liability. It said promoters of abusive tax schemes often use financial instruments in their schemes. However, the instruments are used for improper purposes including the facilitation of tax evasion.
12. Misuse of Trusts
Trusts are essential estate planning tools, but the IRS often sees highly questionable transactions. It said unscrupulous promoters urged taxpayers to transfer large amounts of assets into trusts, including not only cash and investments, but also successful on-going businesses. These transactions promise reduced taxable income, inflated deductions for personal expenses, the reduction or elimination of self-employment taxes and reduced estate or gift transfer taxes. Such transactions commonly arise when taxpayers are transferring wealth from one generation to another.
The agency said questionable trusts rarely delivered the tax benefits promised, and were used primarily as a means of avoiding income tax liability and hiding assets from creditors, including the IRS.
– Check out these related stories on ThinkAdvisor:
- Providing Tax 'Alpha' to Your Clients: 21 Days of Tax Planning Advice
- Top 10 Tax Cheats: the Big, the Bad & the Weird
- 5 Wacky Tax Deduction Ideas (and Why They Might Work)
For more tax planning advice, check out ThinkAdvisor's 21 Days of Tax Planning Advice for 2014 home page.