text:
Hawking Open Source in Tough Times
Feb 24, 2009 4:00 AM PT
The ongoing economic meltdown has presented a unique strategic opportunity to vendors of open source software.
Slashed budgets and riffed staffs are forcing enterprise users of proprietary software business solutions to rethink the suitability of open source replacement products.
Many firms -- both large and small -- are discovering that the misconception that "free" means "cheap" is causing them to overspend on proprietary software. At the same time, some open source vendors are taking the chance to experiment with new marketing approaches. The goal is to deliver a wider message that buying open source products and services at a lower price than their proprietary-code competitors is serious business.
"Historically, there is increased level of activity around open source during challenging times, and we expect this trend to continue. The challenge is to convert this higher level of interest to increased adoption and commercial value for the open source ecosystem," Gopi Ganapathy, president and CEO of Essentia and the Open Solutions Alliance (OSA) community development chair, told LinuxInsider.
Open source marketing strategies, he explained, are wrapping around a variety of discrete trends, such as on-demand/software-as-a-service models with virtualization/cloud computing, mobile/location-based services, and Web 2.0/collaboration to various degrees of success. These trends reflect global forces that will drive a new economy based on valuing efficiency, productivity and cost-effectiveness across the board.
Buying Patterns Changing
One of the biggest adjustments being made to marketing efforts lies in responding to how businesses approach software migration from proprietary products. Companies are more willing to download open source software and try it out for free without ever engaging any paid support.
So the trick is to see how far along new adopters can get without having to open the wallet. The sales aspect kicks in when customers reach the point where they need support for mission-critical use, such as consulting and training.
For open source software firm Progress Software, that means going after non-users. The company's FUSE product provides open source enterprise service bus (ESB) for service-oriented architecture (SOA) initiatives and provides data infrastructure software.
"We are adapting from our traditional marketing to people who already know about open source. Now we also spend marketing funds to attract attention from people who don't know about it. We are using our Web site to add more information on things like how to get started with open source. We're doing more marketing programs and more content to offer through those programs," Debbie Moynihan, director of the FUSE Community for Progress Software, told LinuxInsider
Reaching Out
Providing more free information to hook new open source users is part of the new marketing plan at Ingres as well. Ingres provides appliances that run on the Ingres Open Source Database, powered by the technology of an Ingres partner, Alfresco. Alfresco developed the Open Source Enterprise Content Management System.
"One of the key things we've done with this economy is our Web site and outreach program. We offer white papers to explain the open platform. We've been participants in panels and trade shows to push this concept," Deb Woods, vice president of product management for Ingres, told LinuxInsider.
One way Ingres is reaching out to new customers is by participating in virtual trade shows, where the company can hawk its open source wares at a booth online. This puts their product message in front of companies that do not spend money to attend a physical show.
Compelling Compromise
As Ned Lilly sees it, any IT consumer that is not looking at open source needs to be looking for a new job. Lilly is president and CEO of xTuple. His company provides the Postbooks Projects Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.
"We are seeing more enterprises that are looking for lower-cost alternatives to high-priced commercial products they currently use. A completely free ERP has to be compelling. We see this a lot with startups," Lilly told LinuxInsider.
Part of xTuple's marketing strategy is to provide a dual product line that draws support for high-end features. The fully featured community-backed software has over 200,000 downloads, he noted. Many of those users rely on forums and bug trackers. Others come back for support later on.
"We have a functional distinction between the core open source product and the functionality in the commercial product. These tend to be bigger company features that not all small businesses need. We avoid being too cute with annoying reminders on getting support," he explained.
Making IT Fit
Ingres tweaks its marketing strategy to make sure that open source fits what the potential new customer is doing. Woods calls it developing the new economics of IT.
"We're doing a lot of work with the JBoss application server and Red Hat. This is how we are trying to move people forward with open platform solutions," Woods explained.
Part of that strategy is advising potential customers to see if they have the right architecture deployed. Many companies have deployed architecture that locks them in for future decisions around continued use of proprietary software.
Teaming Up
No longer is the sales pitch a take-it-or-leave-it option, with the "it" being open source migration. Rather than throwing out existing products, Ingres preaches the concept of phasing in or integrating open source. There's no one-size-fits-all answer for every potential customer.
"You can do both approaches. You also can look at porting existing applications into open structure. We are helping customers port their older apps over to Ingres. You can put new applications on the open framework or port older ones," explained Woods.
In the past, it took a lot of work to migrate a company to open source. Ingres is working to smooth out that process by partnering with other companies like Alfresco to help customers find more cost-efficient ways of operating.
Jump-Start Strategy
Open source is often less costly and can have little or no changeover costs, depending on the tasks being handled and the talent in house. But lower cost -- rather than no cost -- is the real sales message.
"We have seen with our customers that they have saved money compared to applications they were using previously, so the total cost of ownership is an issue when they switched to the same type of application from a proprietary product. There are costs still involved, however. It is not free if you want to use it in mission-critical situations," Moynihan said.
Open source businesses have built up communities, and people would come to it as more of a grass-roots movement to find out about the software. Now Progress Software and other open source developers are doing more marketing to reach not just the community, the software developers and the grass-roots users, but also the buyers and users who are new to open source, she explained.
No Cost Lowering
Given the lower pricing threshold of open source, vendors are generally not resorting to price cuts on their support options. Instead, open source vendors are toying with how to push more value.
"Right now I'm not seeing a lowering of the cost of ownership with open source products as a result of the worsening economy. I have seen more creative pricing from players in the market. People are emphasizing the better choice with open source. I think generally people's prices aren't changing all that much," said Moynihan.
Instead, firms are thinking about how to get started with open source faster without spending much money up front. For example, Progress is getting ready to kick off a free two-hour tutorial over the Web where people can call up and help them get started at no cost to them.
License Leeways
One factor that does not come into play with open source pricing strategies is licensing. Once a product is established at the community level, developers have little wiggle room.
"It's difficult for open source communities to change their licensing once they've built up the community. They would only have the option to do this with new product offerings," said Moynihan.
Instead, the focus is user acquisition. How can you convert them to a paying or support customer?
For instance, the more permissive licenses like Apache and MIT make it much easier to get adoption. They have very few restrictions on how someone can use the software, she explained. In these economic times, those licenses will become much more attractive because developers do not have to pay any money to modify the software and consumers can use it in any way they want without any restrictions.
On the other hand, the GPL and the LGPL licenses may require more consideration in adoptions because they have more restrictions. Many companies will shift to commercial licenses when they go into production, so those licenses may be less attractive to a developer, Moynihan said.


text:
Positivity: Pope — Christ displayed his power in humble deeds
Jan 29, 2012 / 04:51 pm
The power of Jesus Christ is manifested in humble service and love, Pope Benedict XVI said in his Sunday Angelus address on Jan. 29.
"For man, authority often means possession, power, control, success," the Pope said to thousands of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square.
"For God, however, authority means service, humility, love," he continued, "it means entering into the logic of Jesus who stoops to wash the disciples' feet, who seeks the true good of man, who heals wounds, who is capable of a love so great as to give up his life, because he is Love."
The Pope's made his comments as part of a reflection on today's Gospel reading in which an unclean spirit identifies Jesus Christ as the "Holy One of God," during his travels in Galilee. The Pope observed how Jesus heals both spiritually and physically through his teaching and miracles.
"In a short time, his fame spread throughout the region, which he travels announcing the Kingdom of God and healing the sick of all kinds: word and action."
He then quoted the fifth-century Church father St. John Chrysostom, who noted that Jesus "alternates the speech for the benefit of those who listen, moving on from wonders to words and again passing from the teaching of his doctrine to miracles."
The Pope suggested that Jesus' use of words immediately opened up most of those listening to "the will of the Father and the truth about themselves." However, the scribes who "struggled to interpret the Holy Scriptures with countless reflections" were not open to his words.
Therefore, Jesus also united to his words to miraculous actions as "signs of deliverance from evil," the pontiff explained. He further recalled how St. Athanasius, the third-century Church father, would say that the "commanding and driving out demons is not human but divine work" and demonstrates how Jesus "distanced men from all diseases and infirmities."
"Divine authority is not a force of nature." Instead, it is "the power of the love of God who created the universe and, in becoming incarnate in His only begotten Son, in coming down to our humanity, heals the world corrupted by sin." …
Go here for the rest of the story.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
- 3 Beds
- 3 Full Baths
Property TypeResidential – Single Family
SubdivisionBighorn Fifth
Listing Date07/11/19
Year Built1973
AreaEast Vail
Lot Size0.51 Acres (22,216 SqFt)
Parking2 Car Garage
Property Description
Absolutely stunning half-acre parcel of land in East Vail with panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and a dynamic landscape with water features and rock formations that could be incorporated into unique architectural elements in a future home. Zoned Two Family Primary/Secondary, this property is located steps from the bus stop and backs to US Forest Service land. Original single-family home is on site; the owner has enjoyed living in this incredible location full-time for 40 years.
Presented By
- Bus Route
- Creek or River
- Meadow
- Mountains
- Valley
- Health Club Membership
- Hiking/Pedestrian Trail
- On Bus Line
- Deck
- Fireplace - Wood
- Multi-Level
- Vaulted Ceilings
- District Sewer
- District Water
- Electricity Avail.
- Natural Gas Avail.
- Phone Available
- Snow Removal
- Trash Pickup
- Baseboard
- Electric
- Forced Air
- Dryer
- Washer
Financial Information
About East Vail
Only four miles away from the Village and tucked under the Gore Range at the base of Vail Pass, East Vail is a favorite of locals and Front Range visitors. As a strictly residential area, it offers peace and tranquility as well as sweeping views of its high alpine surroundings. East Vail residents enjoy the many conveniently located hiking trails, a large dog park on the Eagle River, and several waterfalls along the north facing slopes. East Vail is convenient to the heart of town by the free bus system yet maintains moderate property prices in comparison.
Area Market Data
3 Beds 3 Baths
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The data relating to the real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange program of the Vail Multi-List Service, Inc.
Copyright © 2020 Vail Multi List, Inc. (VMLS). The information displayed herein was derived from sources believed to be accurate, but has not been verified by VMLS. Buyers are cautioned to verify all information to their own satisfaction. This information is exclusively for viewers' personal, non- commercial use. Any republication or reproduction of the information herein without the express permission of the VMLS is strictly prohibited.
Listing courtesy of Slifer Smith & Frampton/Solaris


text:
CITY ROOM; A Woman (and the Public) Can Now See All Her Quilts
By JAMES BARRON
Published: March 25, 2011
The first thing that Joanna S. Rose said was, ''I'm not a collector.''
It was an interesting way to begin a conversation about 651 red-and-white quilts that she has -- what? -- amassed since the late 1950s.
''We used to say I'm an accumulator,'' said Mrs. Rose, who was the longtime chairwoman of Partisan Review magazine, ''but I'm a treasure hunter. A collector is always bettering what he has. I only have accumulations of things.''
Six hundred fifty-one quilts. If laid end to end down Park Avenue, they would go from the Park Avenue Armory, between East 66th and East 67th Streets, to at least the old New York Central building at East 46th Street, and probably on into Grand Central Terminal. (They are not all the same length, so this kind of back-of-the-envelope calculation can go only so far.)
It turns out that Mrs. Rose has never seen them all at once. But now she will, and so will lots of other people. From Friday through Wednesday, all 651 will be displayed, not stretched down the avenue but inside the armory. The exhibition -- note that word -- is coordinated by the American Folk Art Museum.
Clearly, Mrs. Rose had a hand in the preparations, like interviewing design firms that could hang the quilts in the armory and writing part of the full-color brochure. Only once in the brochure is there a mention of ''Mrs. Rose's collection,'' and not in the part she wrote.
The brochure refers to only 650 quilts. No. 651 made it into the exhibition when Mrs. Rose looked at the design for the display and said, ''You're missing a quilt.'' She was thinking of a favorite that bears the Lord's Prayer. There was a search. It turned up in a closet.
And it was Mrs. Rose who suggested the title of the exhibition: ''Infinite Variety: Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts.'' She said the inspiration was a line from Shakespeare's ''Antony and Cleopatra'':
Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale
Her infinite variety....
So the quilts' appeal is that they have retained their ''infinite variety.'' They have not turned ''stale'' with age.
The armory display was a birthday present for, and from, Mrs. Rose, who turned 80 several months ago. ''My husband asked me what I wanted,'' she said, referring to her husband, Daniel, the chairman of Rose Associates, a real estate development company. ''I told him, two things: Something I had never seen before, and a gift for New York City. I thought, one thing I've never seen is these quilts all at once.''
Mrs. Rose said she had no idea she had so many. ''Someone asked, and I said, 'Maybe 70,' '' she said. ''Somebody took pictures of them, and I was shocked to realize how many there were.''
The armory was the only place she could think of that could hold them all -- specifically, the 55,000-square-foot drill hall, the eight-story home to antiques shows, art fairs and birthday galas for the likes of Brooke Astor when she was alive. Mrs. Rose's family arranged a donation so that admission would be free for the six days of the exhibition.
When Mrs. Rose began buying quilts, they were selling for $5 or $10 apiece. ''They were undervalued,'' she said. ''Gradually, quilts that cost me $5 or $10 went up to $15 or $20 and then $50. When they got to $150, you had to think twice.''
Before long, each purchase was a test of her visual memory. ''I'd see a quilt and I'd think, 'I don't have that pattern,' '' she said. She did not have a computerized index, or even photographs, and the quilts were stowed in a big cedar closet most of the time.
''I never checked to see if I had a pattern before I bought a quilt,'' she said.
A couple of minutes later, an e-mail arrived, with an offer of a quilt for sale.
She looked at the photograph and gave the word: yes. The accumulating continues.
PHOTOS:Six hundred fifty-one red and- white quilts owned by Joanna S. Rose will be on display through Wednesday at the Park Avenue Armory. ''I'm not a collector,'' she said. ''We used to say I'm an accumulator,
but I'm a treasure hunter.'' ( PHOTOGRAPHS BY MARILYNN K. YEE/THE NEW YORK TIMES)


text:
08 August 2009
Malay-Chinese Takeaway: Hainan Chicken Rice, Sydney (6 August 2009)
18 comments:
- Anh said...
I ate the chicken rice there quite a lot. It was ok, but I prefer more condiment. I still prefer this to the fried chicken with tomato ricr they have there though.
Will check out the other places you mentioned!
- August 8, 2009 at 7:01 PM
- Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said...
Three words (or five): Ginger & Spice, Neutral Bay :P
Absolutely amazing chicken rice!
- August 8, 2009 at 7:59 PM
- Iron Chef Shellie said...
oh pictures making me hungry. I love nothing more than Hainanese chicken rice!!
- August 8, 2009 at 9:39 PM
- Mr. Taste said...
Yummy. Chicken rice is the best,
I wish I could have it more often. I'm living my chicken rice fantasies through you Simon! hehe
- August 10, 2009 at 5:08 PM
- Simon Leong said...
Hi Anh, i haven't tried their fried chicken and tomato rice so will have to try next time.
Hi Lorraine, I've been to ginger & spice but ordered all the classics except for chicken rice because my brother thinks it's boring hehe. i'll have to make the time to check it out now.
Hi Iron Chef Shellie, a really good chicken rice is very satisfying but half the battle is finding a good one to start with.
Hi Mr Taste, hope all your chicken rice fantasies come true, let me know if you find any good ones
- August 10, 2009 at 7:19 PM
There are some many places to get good hainanese chicken rice in sydney. We are spoilt with good choices!
- August 10, 2009 at 9:55 PM
- B said...
The skinless chicken laksa is great here, but you have to get in early before 12pm to beat the rush!
- August 17, 2009 at 9:38 PM
- isyaantonius said...
I went to this place for lunch to end the 2009, and I think it is safe to say they have the best hainan chiken rice in Sydney and super yummy char kway teow too...
The people are very friendly as well. Ur recommendations is always spot on Simon :)
- January 1, 2010 at 10:16 AM
- Simon Leong said...
hi ellie, definitely a lot of competition out there but i wonder where's the best of the best?
hi b, definitely need to arrive early to grab a spot to eat. it's one of the most popular laksa houses for sure in the city. i actually haven't tried the skinless one, i just love the fatty skin version too much hehe
hi isyaantonius, so glad you liked the chicken rice although you should also try Sayong to compare both dishes. you might like them there as well :-)
- January 1, 2010 at 11:56 PM
- Extra said...
I can't believe this! A whole list of tried chicken rice places?! My absolute dream food blog!! Thank you so very much, Simon! Love your many photos too! This will save me going to all the wrong chicken rice spots when I'm next in Sydney lol!
By the way, I wonder if you or any of your readers here can advise where (or whether) I can find Pork Noodle Soup in Sydney. This is the stuff in PJ & KL coffee shops that can include the liver, kidney and intestine but great ones usually come with "Chee Yau Char". I've discovered a place here in William St, Perth that makes a pretty good one with Chee Yau Char - couldn't believe my luck, and keep going back as it's as good as I remember it.
- July 9, 2011 at 8:03 AM
- Simon Leong said...
hi kitty, glad you found the blog helpful. i'm not sure about the Pork Noodle Soup though? I don't think i've come across something like this before but sound a bit like a Pho Beef Soup Special which includes lots of offcuts :-) is it a Malaysian or Chinese dish? if so then possibly Albee's might be your best beat in Sydney http://simonfoodfavourites.blogspot.com/2009/09/albees-kitchen-malaysian-and-chinese.html
- July 9, 2011 at 11:20 AM
- Extra said...
Hey Simon,
Yes, the Pork Noodle Soup is very similar to Pho. It is a Chinese dish that is found in Chinese coffee shops around KL and PJ. I think the term (in Cantonese) in Malaysia for this type of dish is "ching tong" (meaning clear soup - please excuse the spelling lol). I have taken photos so will try to post it online somewhere and post a link here so you can have a look...
- July 10, 2011 at 4:16 PM
- Simon Leong said...
hi kitty, perhaps post a photo on the Sydney Food Bloggers group on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/groups/38028323532
- July 10, 2011 at 10:09 PM
- Extra said...
Hi Simon,
It says I need to log in to see the page on FaceBook.
This is a link from my Google account - see if you can open it... if not, let me know and I can email it.
- July 11, 2011 at 6:06 PM
- Simon Leong said...
hi kitty, thanks for the link. i can see it. i haven't come across a dish exactly like it but it sort of looks a bit like a combination wonton noodle soup without the wontons and will extra special bits in it. will keep my eye out for it though. Singapore Shiok might be able to cook it for you. I know they have some great fried pork lard on their Har Mee http://simonfoodfavourites.blogspot.com/2010/12/singapore-shiok-one-of-sydneys-best-har.html :-)
- July 11, 2011 at 7:09 PM
- Extra said...
Oh wow, that Har Mee looks fantastic with the fried pork lard, Simon! I'm salivating! Will check it out next week when I get there, although looking at your photos, I feel like taking the next plane out right now lol! What torture! Can't wait! Interestingly, I checked with my aunt about how the pork lard is made - apparently no oil is added and the pork lard is just fried on its own!
- July 12, 2011 at 6:01 AM
- Simon Leong said...
hi kitty, i'm not surprised about pork lard needing no oil since it's basically pure fat already. hope you enjoy Sydney food :-)
- July 12, 2011 at 9:05 AM
- Extra said...
I will really enjoy Sydney food now, thanks to you Simon! :)
- July 12, 2011 at 12:04 PM
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Established in 1983, FACT is dedicated to protecting the IP of its members, working with industry partners and law enforcement bodies worldwide. Members of FACT include global and UK film distributors, TV broadcasters and sport rights owners.
FACT's access to better intelligence through the IBM Big Data intelligence analytics software has virtually eliminated illegal in-cinema recordings in the UK, with only one such recording in the past two years. Previously, more than 90 percent of the counterfeit versions of movies originated from a copy recorded in a cinema. This has led to more prosecutions of those responsible for the capturing, copying, sharing and selling of illegal pirated copies of audio-visual media.
According to a report published by Oxford Economics and commissioned by Respect for Film, the audio-visual sector loses more than £500 million in the UK each year because of copyright theft. Fraud of this scale has significant economic impact on an industry that supports 1.9 million jobs in the UK and accounts for more than eight percent of GDP.
FACT has used IBM Big Data intelligence analytics software since 2005 when it replaced a system of managing large volumes of data in spreadsheets. With an intelligence-led approach, data analysts at FACT can now quickly establish patterns and relationships, and make non-obvious connections between disparate sources of data.
In one such case in 2012, surfthechannel.com was running a massive pirate movie website. At its peak, surfthechannel.com was the 514th most visited website in the world, providing access to more than 5,000 pirated films and TV programs. The value of sales lost to the film industry was estimated at up to £198m.
FACT analysts, using IBM Big Data intelligence analytics software, were able to access publicly available chat logs, forum messages and other generally available data. Using a visual mapping illustration of the data, FACT identified non-obvious links between the various data trails, which in turn assisted with identifying the culprit.
Based on FACT's work, the owner of the site was found guilty of conspiracy to defraud.
"Our role in successfully detecting and targeting those involved in crimes that impact our members requires the ability to foresee and be aware of the technological changes that occur constantly," said Keith Byrne, Intelligence Manager at FACT. "The IBM technology is vital to our work at FACT and enables us to better protect our members' valuable creative intellectual property."
In recent years, FACT has witnessed a significant shift away from the distribution and sale of infringing film content in DVD format to digital pirating through downloads, file-sharing and streaming.
Pirating of films has a huge impact on creators of entertainment. If creators are unable to derive a return from their work, they will have less incentive to produce the next film, TV program or other content and may struggle to get financing. Fraud of this kind also impacts cinemas, service industries, retailers and the livelihood of employees who depend on the survival of the creative sector.
"FACT is a tenacious and professional organization, respected by law enforcement and the judiciary," said Lavinia Carey, Director General, British Video Association. "They have the skills and the tools to tackle the online piracy landscape in the UK just as successfully as they did with physical sales."
"Providing access to better intelligence can greatly assist in detecting and targeting those involved in crimes of this nature," said Shaun Hipgrave, Intelligence Analytics Executive, IBM. "Our clients are able to make use of IBM technology as a valuable tool in the fight against fraud."
Part of a broad portfolio of counter-fraud solutions, IBM Big Data intelligence analytics software provides a dedicated environment for information fusion, collaboration and information sharing. It helps facilitate and support operational analysis, improve situational awareness and provides faster, more informed decision making across and inside organizations.
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President Obama will argue Friday that immediate renewal of lower Bush-era tax rates for the middle-class could prevent a "hit to consumer spending" during the holidays, as he visits a Montgomery County toy factory, according to a White House official.
The campaign-style stop is part of a stepped-up effort designed to pressure Republicans, who control the House and have blocking power in the Senate, to bend to the president's will in negotiations over a budget deal to avoid the fiscal cliff. If the two sides don't agree on a deficit-reduction plan by Dec. 31, the income tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 will expire and automatic budget cuts will begin.
That's the cliff, which experts say would have a recessionary effect on the economy.
Obama wants to allow taxes to go up on those making more than $250,000 a year while renewing the lower rates for those under that threshold. Republicans want to keep all the rates from increasing, arguing a fragile economic recovery is no time to raise the tax burden.
By focusing relentlessly on taxes, Obama has thrown the GOP on the defensive. But Republicans are pointing out that the president has yet to detail any real spending cuts to round out what he has called his "balanced" approach to deficit reduction.
In particular, they say that in exchange for any concessions on taxes, Obama must support restraints on the cost of Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid, the federal government's biggest and fastest-growing programs.
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"The Democrats have yet to get serious about real spending cuts," House Speaker John Boehner said Thursday. "No substantive progress has been made…over the last two weeks."
Boehner was speaking after the White House presented a proposal to him that relies on $1.6 trillion in tax revenue over 10 years, few details on spending cuts – and millions in more stimulus spending.
The president is visiting the Rodon Group in Hatfield, Pa. It is the sole U.S. manufacturer of K'Nex brand construction toys and also makes Tinkertoy products and Lincoln Logs. Double message bonus for the White House: Rodon brought 95 percent of its packaging and manufacturing back from China over the past few years, leading to a 25 percent increase in the size of its workforce, to 150.
"As we move into the holiday season, Democrats and Republicans should come together to renew middle class tax cuts so families have more certainty at this critical time for our economy," said a White House official previewing the visit.
Expiration of the tax cuts for those making under $250,000 would increase next year's tax bill on a median-income Pennsylvania family of four by $2,200, the administration calculates. (Median income in the state is $80,400.)


text:
I'm a little late getting this posted but it's here at last!
I kid you not, I started working to make the perfect elephant mobile for Keelin's nursery since early into my 2nd trimester. I had the perfect plan laid out, all of my materials chosen {thanks to a fantastmastic sale at JoAnn fabric}, and a vision that was too cute for words. BUT, no matter how many different ways I tried, I couldn't get it to turn out the way I wanted. Today I'm going to walk you through ALL of my fails {there were plenty} and finish with a BANG and my FINAL success!
Here goes nothing…
My initial inspiration came from the same bedding photo I mentioned in my elephant painting post back in October.
I loved the geometric elephant shape so much I wanted to turn it into a mobile. I opted not to get the mobile that came with the snickerdoodle bedding we chose because, while the giraffes were adorable, I wanted to stick with the elephant theme AND I knew I could create something super cute without spending $50.
I grabbed myself a handfull of colorful patterns, cut out my shapes and started sewing.
The beige burlap pattern was a perfect match for the nursery and the multicolored ears seemed like a great way to incorporate a tone of color and stimulation without clashing with the rest of the room.
Unfortunately for me, the type of fabric that I chose just wasn't doing what I wanted it to.
The edges were fraying, the stitching didn't look right, and my dream mobile started slipping away each time I would try something different. Finally I realized it wasn't how I was making the elephants, it was what they were being made out of. I did some searching online and found almost exactly what I was looking for on the fabulous blog, My Sunrise, Sunshine & Sunset. I shot Mrs Julius an email to get some details and the answer was magically revealed… FELT!
Love the mirror detailing!
As you can see in the photo above I ended up with two mobiles! Keelin loves the one above the changing table and I'm still finding the perfect spot for the second… probably above the crib in some way.
I'm so happy with the way they turned out and so thankful that I found a way to make it happen for WELL UNDER the price of most bedding set mobiles! So much so that I've mocked up some other patterns perfect for any nursery! Chicks, paisleys, hearts, stars, clouds, you name it! I'm hoping to start an Etsy shop in the near future and make these for other mommies and soon-to-be mommies.
Until next time…
So what do you think? Would you buy one for your little one's nursery?


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Category Archives: Limbaugh
Ever wonder why Rush Limbaugh's syndicated show is draped across the radio dial like the proverbial cheap suit? Hint: It's not necessarily about any perceived popularity that may be attributed to the man who brought Oxycontin addiction to popular national awareness.
If you live in or near to small town America and listen to the AM dial at all, Limbaugh's bloviations are often the only thing you can pick up on a radio, either at home or on the road. That's why I have XM satellite radio and a CD player in my car.
OK, so why is his show so "popular?" Why do hundreds of stations around the country carry his show, the most widely syndicated talkfest in the country? Did Rush's tirades, lies, and rambling idiocy find their way onto hundreds of local radio affiliates across the country because his political views are mainstream? I doubted that this could be the case, and so I set out to find an answer to satisfy my own natural curiosity.
The real story can be found by researching the business of radio via such resources as industry trade magazines like Radio World.
It's because, I kid you not, Rush's show was, and still is, given away for free to many local radio stations by way of a little-known practice in broadcast syndication called a "barter deal." Michael Wolf's recent article about Rush in Vanity Fair mentions this practice, and from that mention I began my search for more details about its implementation.
Here's how a barter deal works. To launch the show, Limbaugh's syndicator, Premiere Radio Networks, the same folks who syndicate that other conservative wing-nut, Glen Beck, give Limbaugh's three hours away. That's right, free, to local radio stations, mostly in medium and smaller markets, beginning back in the early 1990's, and continuing, though to a lesser degree, to this very day.
So, a local talk station can Rush's show for zilch. In exchange, Premiere takes for itself much of the local station's available advertising time during that three hour block. Usually something on the order of 15 minutes out of every hour, packing the show with national ads it has already pre-sold.
It's a very sweet deal for local radio station owners, explains Bill Exline, a well-known radio broker. "Not only does the local station get three hours of free programming," according to Exline, "but that's one less local talk-show host on staff they need. It makes small- and medium-market radio properties more profitable and attractive by cutting down staff expenses."
Thus, by carrying Limbaugh, local radio stations can improve their bottom lines while advancing Rush's dubious career. At the same time, local stations become far less local in content and focus, becoming nothing more than a series of right-wing echo chambers, piping out canned diatribe instead of real content.
Major-market right-wing talk stations usually have to pay actual money, of course, to carry Limbaugh's daily rantings and slobbering cacophony of mindless drivel. But regardless of whether they are among the few who pay, or the many who broadcast the show due to the barter deal, they all become nothing more than sieg heil on your dial. The goose-stepping sameness of radio in America holds some people captive by its ubiquity, and drives others away, not because of a wealth of content or a hunger to know, but because it's free. It's all about the bottom line folks. It's not about ideas or ideals. It's not about popularity, nor even entertainment value. It's about cheap and/or free programming.
So, when you hear Rush bellowing from your car radio as you're passing through Intercourse, Pennsylvania, or Beanblossom, Indiana, or Gnawbone, Kentucky, just remember, the radio station is getting what it paid for. And you are left to wonder at the value of free, even at half the price.


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So, here's a scenario. You, single, lookin to meet someone. You're perusing the offerings at Match.com when you come across an attractive stranger whose specs are all to your liking. Then, let's say, he describes himself: "Big Ol Failure!"
…I'm guessing you'd pass?
You'd hardly be alone. Success, after all, is a virtue in our world; failure, something to be ashamed of.
But. A new book says that, "in a complex world, the process of trial and error is essential." The book, written by Financial Times columnist Tim Harford, is called "Adapt: Why Success Always Starts With Failure." And while the book is business-leaning, the point–that it's the mistakes that beget the great successes–seems pretty applicable to Life In General.
Of course, failure's scary. But, without it, what is life? If we're here to learn, to change, to grow, to discover who we are and what we want to do with ourselves while we're here, well–all of those things involve taking steps into the unknown. And, like someone wandering an unfamiliar town, we're likely to take a couple missteps. We may even fall flat on our collective face. But, with every stumble, every accidental dead-end, we get a little bit clearer about the road we do want to follow.
Makes sense–but then, it's easy to speak in metaphor. It's a lot harder to cut ourselves that kind of slack in our actual lives. We'd prefer to never get fired, dumped, disappointed, bored, scared, angry, or lost again. But I feel pretty certain that we will. (Admit it, you know I'm right.) After all, in a way, our mistakes are our lives. They're certainly every bit as significant as our successes.
And so imagine if we weren't so tied to the outcomes of the things we try. When we're making the big decisions of our lives, what if our ego didn't give a shit whether we'd come out on top? What if we chose to believe that there are no right or wrong decisions, only choices that we'll live with? What if we realized that failure might, in fact, be inevitable–and went for it anyway? It reminds me of this quote from Elizabeth Gilbert that I wrote about some time ago:
Let's just anticipate that we (all of us) will disappoint ourselves somehow in the decade to come. Go ahead and let it happen. Let somebody else go to art school. Let somebody else have a happy marriage, while you foolishly pick the wrong guy. (Hell, I've done it; it's survivable.) While you're at it, take the wrong job. Move to the wrong city. Blow it all catastrophically, in fact, and then start over with good cheer. This is what we all must learn to do, for this is how maps get charted–by taking wrong turns that lead to surprising passageways that open into spectacularly unexpected new worlds. So just march on. Future generations will thank you–trust me–for showing them the way, for beating brave new footpaths out of wonky old mistakes.
In medicine, doctors make diagnoses by ruling things out. Seems a pretty sane approach in life, too, doncha think? I mean, maybe I'm wrong about all this. In which case… great! I'll try something else tomorrow.


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At this point, you just have to hand it to veteran ESPN broadcaster Brent Musburger. Not only did he let the Katherine Webb controversy just roll off his shoulder, he had enough of the mojo left in him to continue the mackin' brigade. Here's his closing comments from tonight's Baylor-Kansas game, in which he refers to court-side reporter Holly Rowe as "really smokin.'" [ESPN]
Update (10:14 a.m.): ESPN says Brent Musburger said "It was really smokin'," not "Who was really smokin'." We hear no evidence of a retroflex consonant, but we'll take their word for it.


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IQVIA leverages data, advanced analytics and machine learning to identify Alzheimer's patients in early stages and proactively support decisions across the patient journey. Produce more predictable results and deliver innovations to the neurology and Alzheimer's medical community by leveraging IQVIA's unique combination of data, machine learning and domain expertise.
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Stormy weather packing wind gusts of close to 50 mph Friday afternoon knocked down power lines and toppled a tree that demolished the roof of a house on Springfield�s south side.
Fire Chief Ken Fustin said firefighters were called to 2424 E. Wilshire Road about 2 p.m. after the tree fell through the roof and the home caught fire.
�Our units arrived to find the house fully involved in flames. A large tree from the backyard blew over and landed on the house. There is extensive structural damage and fire damage to the house,� Fustin said.
The cause of the fire appeared to be an electrical or gas malfunction caused by the tree hitting the single-story house, he said.
A woman lived at the house but was not home when the tree fell. There were two cats inside at the time; one was killed, and the other was missing as of early Friday evening.
Fustin said it looked like the large tree was uprooted.
Wind gusts of as much as 48 mph, as measured by the National Weather Service, also knocked out power to about 350 to 500 City Water, Light and Power customers. By 7:15 p.m., the number of people without electricity was down to 30, CWLP said.
A repeat may be in store today, with the potential for severe storms this afternoon and evening.
Highs today are expected to be in the upper 80s and lower 90s. A cold front interacting with this hot air mass will trigger strong to severe thunderstorms, the National Weather Service said, with the greatest chance across the heart of central Illinois.
A few of the storm cells could initially produce large hail and an isolated tornado; however, the primary threats will be damaging wind gusts up to 75 mph, dangerous lightning and heavy rainfall between 2 and 10 p.m.
Contact John Reynolds: firstname.lastname@example.com, 788-1524, twitter.com/JohnReynoldsSJR.


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Student Government Association
Club Sponsor: Craig Wheatley
Contact Email: email@example.com
WKHS Student Body Constitution
The Student Government Association of White Knoll High School is the flagship organization that directly represents the students of White Knoll High School to the administration and district level personnel. Our organization's mission is to give each student of White Knoll High School an opportunity to render service to the school by participating in various school and community service, by building school spirit and loyalty, and encouraging high morals and standards among its members. We develop the ability to work as part of a group in achieving common goals and function as leaders by setting the example, with proper attitude and behavior in the classroom and the community. Develop self-discipline and self-confidence.
Our organization is award winning, bringing recognition and fame for our service to White Knoll High School. Among these include a 2004 Bronze Council award and a 2013,2014,2015 and 2016 Gold Honor Council Award. In 2014 our Mr. Timberwolf pageant won the best Recreational Project in the State of South Carolina. In 2016, our Veterans Day Museum exhibit won the runner up to best Recognition Project, and our White Knoll's Got Talent Competition won the best Recreation Project in the State of South Carolina. In addition, we have had five members who have been inducted into the Terry McCoy Hall of Fame, and three members inducted into the James F. Byrnes Society of Student Leaders.
On January 1, 2017, our organization became a founding charter member of the Student Council Coalition, known simply as the SCC. In our time in the SCC, the Student Government won the 2018 best Recognition Project for our Veterans Day events, the 2018 best School Spirit Project for our Pep Rallies, the 2019 best Leadership Project for our Anti-Bullying Campaign, an event recognized by the First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump. In 2017-2018 our Student Government was named the Student Council Coalition Student Government of the Year.
We look forward to serving the students of White Knoll High School and the Lexington community in an even greater capacity through this organization.
15154total visits,2visits today


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Waukesha house fire considered suspicious
Michael Coyle burned more than 90 percent of his body
WISN 12 News has uncovered new documents about a Waukesha man critically burned in a house fire Friday night.
Michael Coyle, 34, is facing criminal charges for taking secret nude videos of staff at Swimtastic Swim School while they changed.
WISN 12 News reporter Nick Bohr has learned a fire that burned 90 percent of Coyle's body is considered suspicious.
VIDEO: WISN 12 News learns Waukesha house fire considered suspicious
The smoky fire Friday night near downtown Waukesha concealed not only the critically injured owner but also at least for a time, how the fire started.
WISN 12 News has learned police investigators searched the house Saturday, finding heavy fire damage not only in the garage but in the home's bathroom. They also found a pile of burned clothes in the living room and "large amounts of blood splattered throughout the residence."
Police note Coyle is severely burned and is unable to tell them what happened. Police collected two computers, two flash drives, a tablet, a camera and a red lighter as possible evidence.
Online records indicate Coyle had reached a deal with prosecutors on two counts of secretly video recording teenage girls as they changed into their swimming suits at Swimtastic Swim School in Waukesha where he worked part time.
Coyle was scheduled to be sentenced next month.
The Waukesha police and fire departments working with the state Fire Marshal's Office have determined the fire started in the garage, but the cause and the motivation, remain under investigation.


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Anywhere Doors is an interactive installation that moves through the public space. Five doors on wheels traverse the urban landscape – and evoke question about territories and borders. Feel free to open the doors, to close them, to step through them… Anywhere Doors will begin its journey in front of the 5 Blocks, as an open invitation to the children in the neighbourhood. You can accompany it to the Kaaistudios, where you will be treated to hot chocolate, waffles, and all the activities at the Arts Day!
SSSSSSSSSSSS is a solo about survival instincts based on Butoh techniques, performed in the public space. Initially, Misevičiūtė looks like one of those street artists who pretend to be statues, but the meticulous movements of her living sculpture gradually evolve into a choreography.
Based on the Golem myth – in which Jewish scholars bring dead matter to life, which subsequently turns against them – Thomas Ryckewaert creates an explicitly visual performance about ambition, creativity, power, creation, insanity, and destruction.
Gaëtan Rusquet has three performers build a construction. The actors continually have to fight against the threatened destruction of what they are building up. The passage of time and the relationship between humans and their environment become tangible: the history of a city unfolds before your eyes.
The man who holds the 12kg bronze handkerchief, does not enact, he manifests the physical effort it takes to hold the weight and therefore encapsulates those instances when we mask our internal embarrassment by transferring the cause to the external factors such as stress, exhaustion, pain.
In Springville we witness the constant metamorphosis of a small world. Characters, half human, half object, attempt to function with and in the proximity of one another. They play a moving game of chaos, expectation and surprise. Scenography, costumes, props and characters are closely interwoven and merge together. The image prevails. A performance with references to slapstick.
Under the title Big Heap / Mountain, Miet Warlop creates a number of 'propositions' regarding what can and cannot be perceived. For each of these propositions, she looks for one or more partners in crime. She explores the boundaries of our imagination with a small arsenal of everyday objects and shows us how much fantasy we put into our struggles with reality.


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I live in CA AND WI and often commute the 2000 miles between the two locations. I have two 10 year old Great Danes that dont move much but are still bulky. I have been renting minivans with stow-n-go and layng a futon matress down for them to ride back-n-forth with. It works very nicely but is VERY expensive.
I am thinking of buying a Fordf150 Crew Cab with a the 5'7" box and buying a Fibrglass topper. I figure I could put a futon matress in the back and it would basically be exactly the same as the minivan. WITHOUT the $5,000 per year rental costs I paid last year!
Anyway, my concern is NOT if I make a suddent stop (the smae exact problem exists in the back of a minivan) but rather temperature. I want to make sure it isnt too COLD in the winter nor too HOT in the summer.
I was told I could buy a donut/gasket to tie the cab to the topper to get some ventilation back there....
MY QUESTION: is there anyone who regularily drives 2000 miles (or a long way) with there pets in the back with a topper?
Thank you for your time,


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Forest River Cherokee 264DBH travel trailer highlights:
This Cherokee travel trailer can certainly house a bunch of campers looking for a fun weekend get-a-way! With double bed bunks, a queen size bed, plus a sofa and an oversized u-shaped dinette you will have easy sleeping for nine! So, gather the family and a few extra friends and head out for a great time to explore, relax, and just simply enjoy! You will find the large slide out provides a nice amount of space in the main living/dining area. The u-shaped dinette allows for several to sit comfortably for meals, games, or just to gather for a great conversation about your day. The private front bedroom features its own private entry door as well, and you will also find this unit provides loads of storage for your gear and necessities both inside and out!
No matter which Cherokee model by Forest River you choose, you can rest assured knowing that each unit is built to provide you with great value, comfort and style making is easy to get up and go as soon as the urge strikes you. Each model features two-toned exterior metal and upgraded graphics, a one-piece rubber roof with 3/8" walkable roof decking, as well as a front stone guard for protection. Self-adjusting brakes and quick super lube axles are two additional features that you are sure to appreciate on the exterior of every Cherokee model. Inside each unit, you will enjoy comfortable seating, oversized windows that provide a great view and an abundance of natural lighting, plus a family friendly and functional kitchen featuring an abundance of storage for all of your camping supplies with large overhead cabinets. There are also a variety of packages available providing additional features and options on select models. So, when the open road is calling you, answer with your very own Cherokee in tow!
happy out of state customerDelivered to my driveway ready to take camping at price 15 % below local dealer's price. Helpful salesman. - David from Pea Ridge, AR
|32 ft
|Ext Width
|8 ft 1 in
|Ext Height
|11 ft 1 in
|Interior Color
|Hitch Weight
|885 lbs
|Gross Weight
|7885 lbs
|Dry Weight
|6455 lbs
|Cargo Weight
|1430 lbs
|Fresh Water Capacity
|46 gals
|Grey Water Capacity
|38 gals
|Black Water Capacity
|38 gals
|Number Of Bunks
|Available Beds
|Refrigerator Type
|Double Door
|Cooktop Burners
|Number of Awnings
|LP Tank Capacity
|13500 btu
|Awning Info
|Axle Count
|Number of LP Tanks
|Shower Type
|Tub/Shower Combo
In 1996, Forest River founder Peter Liegl had a vision. He foresaw an RV company dedicated to helping people experience the joy of the outdoors by building better recreational vehicles. Today, we have grown to become one of the largest RV manufacturers in North America, producing class A and C motorhomes, travel trailers, fifth wheels, toy haulers, camping trailers and destination trailers. From the new family just starting out in the world of RVing to the experienced full-timer, we offer something for everyone.
Forest River RV is a division of Forest River, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway company, which produces recreational vehicles, pontoons, park models, buses, cargo trailers and commercial trucks. The diversity of Forest River, Inc., enables us to approach the RV industry with a unique perspective, incorporating lessons learned at each one of our divisions. Operating with openness across a wide range of products is what makes us stand apart from the competition. At Forest River, Inc., quality and dependability are a necessity in everything we make.
Some RV makes are not available at all locations. For details, contact the AC Nelsen location nearest you. We make every effort to show current and accurate data. Any price/listing may not show the most current transactions or may show an occasional data entry error. Inventory listed is subject to availability and prior sale, and prices are subject to change at any time. All prices plus government fees and taxes, any dealer document preparation charge, any finance charge and any emissions testing charges. Payment amounts *with approved credit. Prices subject to change, only prices that are contracted are final. Every effort is made to ensure accuracy for pricing and and equipment included on the units as the manufacturer has the right to change standard equipment and options at any time.


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This is a unique project which I was almost afraid to start. Daphne, who had requested me to make this keepsake for her fiance had given me a clear outline of what she wanted the piece to look like. The theme had to be 'marriage in France' and each letter of the keepsake designed to show that.
Each letter has its significance. 'M', 'L' and 'M' are in the colours of the French flag. 'A' is shaped in a representation of the Eiffel tower, 'C' with hat for groom , heart for O , and L for bride.
She wanted lots of flowers and Daphne flowers at that. I tried layering the flowers and buds to create them. The first row is Malcolm and below are Daphne flowers. I moved the butterfly around until I found the right spot for it without it taking the attention away from the name. The background is a shimmering gold paper with texture, It was a bit of a struggle to cut the sheet up. It is one of those sheets that I hoard to admire from time to time. I used 5mm strips for Malcolm and 3mm for the flowers and butterfly.


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Find a Career Opportunity
Thank you for considering — or continuing — your career with PeaceHealth. You may use this portal to search for, and apply to, any available job openings.
PeaceHealth Caregiver First Time Applicant Returning Applicant
Please use caution - potential fraud alert (click here for more information)
If you have questions about the application process please feel free to review our Employment FAQs or our External Applicant Instructions for a step by step guide to submitting an application with PeaceHealth. If you would like to reach our Talent Acquisition team directly, write us at email@example.com.
Our "Spirit of Health" promise is the embodiment of PeaceHealth. Everything we do is in service to a higher purpose: to work with and help our neighbors live healthier, happier lives.
We take care of the needs of people, we don't simply treat patients. We put people at the center, enabling them to be their best, and providing personalized, compassionate care when they are not. We make them feel welcome, comfortable, and safe. We are neighbors, caring for and loving one another, for the betterment of all.
Caring for those in our community is not new to PeaceHealth; it's been in practice since the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace arrived in Fairhaven, Washington to serve the needs of the loggers, mill workers, fishermen and their families. They knew strong, healthy communities benefit individuals and society, and that social and economic factors can make some community members especially vulnerable. The Sisters believed they had a responsibility to care for them, and that ultimately, healthier communities enable all of us to rise to a better life.
This philosophy inspires us today and guides us toward the future.


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STEVEN R. KAUFMAN Personal Property Appraiser & Auctioneer(WV-1556)
SRK Auctions offer all types of auction services including;
Estate, Household, Farm Equipment, Antiques, and Business Liquidation.
AIA can also meet your other needs such as; Personal Property Appraisals for Business and Residential.
Philippi Lions International (Past Local President)
Life Member of the Telephone Pioneers
West Virginia Auctioneers Association (Past Board of Directors)
National Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice(USPAP)
Mendenhall School of Auctioneering, High Point, NC
Auction Marketing Institute
National Auctioneers Association Education Institute
Attended Marshall University
Auctioneering/Appraising Experience:
Numerous Estate Auctions in Barbour and Harrison County, WV; Surplus Equipment Auctions in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Colorado, Arizona and Connecticut.
AIA has conducted Personal Property Appraisals for WesBanco, MVB Bank, Chase, Bank One, United Bank, BB&T, Traders Bank, Huntington Bank, MCNB, First Citizens Bank, trustees, lawyers and numerous others.
Please click on "Current Auctions Listings "below and come see us at our next event!
—–Contact us for a Free Consultation—–


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Asheboro, North Carolina, situated 70 mi/112 km west of Raleigh, is home to the North Carolina Zoological Park, said to be the world's largest natural-habitat zoo.
Asheboro is located in the heart of the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina. It is about 90 mi/145 km east of the Blue Ridge Mountains and about 200 mi/320 km west of the Atlantic Ocean. For more information about the area, visit http://www.visitrandolphcounty.com.
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I am running a multisite install with domain mapping and W3 Total Cache set up on each of the sites. I don't use a network in the traditional sense - each site is generally independent. I only have the second checkbox checked in "Domain Options" for the mapping plugin, if that gives you any sort of idea.
Each site's administrators can still see the Performance menu and change its options, however. I would like to disable this.
Best method?


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Dana Library is one of the 26 libraries and centers in Rutgers University Libraries. The library's web site lists news, workshops, events and more.
> Know more about John Cotton Dana - Newark's First Citizen.
> Take a Walking Tour of Dana Library
Help (Reference Service) is provided by professional librarians who assist library users with information needs. The service is provided at the reference desk (1st floor, 973-353-5901), through email ( Ask a Librarian ), instant message, and phone calls. Users can also have private consultations with librarians. We can save you time, effort, and even money--ask us!
Subject Librarians at Dana Library:
Natalie Borisovets: American Studies, Criminal Justice, Urban Education, History, Humanities, Latin American Studies, Newark, Political Science, Social Work, Spanish and Portuguese, Women's Studies. Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Fobazi Ettarh: Undergraduate Success, English, Sociology
Bonnie Fong: Chemistry, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, Biological Sciences. Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Roberta Tipton: Business, Public Administration, Nursing. Email: email@example.com
Jonathan Torres: Business, Data, Economics. Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Krista White: Art, Philosophy, Religion, Theater, Digital Humanities. Email: email@example.com
Delivery and Interlibrary Loan: You can use this service to request books and articles unavailable in your campus library or in Rutgers. The books will be delivered to a Rutgers library of your choice, and articles will be delivered electronically .
Printing: All the computers in the library are connected to printers. For every current student, there will be no charge for the first $30 of printing (equivalent to 750 sheets in black and white) for every six month printing period.
Photocopying: Photocopy machines are available in the reference room. Black and white copies cost $ .10 per page. Money saving tips: Scan and save to your email or USB, and print it out in a computer lab with your NetID.
Scanning: Scanners are available in the computer labs and the copy room in the library.
Wireless Access: The access (with RU NetID & passward) is available on 1st floor, 2nd floor and 4th floor in Dana Library. See the coverage map.
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, an equal access/equal opportunity institution. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to direct suggestions, comments, or complaints concerning any accessibility issues with Rutgers web sites to: firstname.lastname@example.com or complete the Report Accessibility Barrier / Provide Feedback Form.


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Pepper has written this blog about his voyage on the Queen Mary 2 to Hamburg and then Paris and he has allowed me to add a few words to it to give a human's perspective. Thank you, Pepper!
A few summers ago I had the opportunity to visit some friends in Europe, so I made the decision to move my writing business (me and a laptop) to Paris for the summer – and take my dog.
Pepper, a Miniature Schnauzer, was 11 years old at the time. I had adopted him from a small, cold shelter in Indiana 10 years prior. He was a mess when I found him – full of mange and terrified of hands and feet. He'd sit shivering in a corner for hours. He has since realized that no one was ever going to hurt him again, and decided that he was the Alpha Dog of the World. I am fine with that.
So, how do the Alpha Dog of the World and his favorite girl spend their 10-year anniversary? With a romantic voyage to Europe on the ocean liner the Queen Mary 2, of course! It was the voyage of a lifetime, and since I don't love to fly (and I was sure Pepper wouldn't appreciate a 10 hour plane ride), it seemed like the perfect option.
I immediately called Cunard and started setting up the trip. When I spoke with the person in charge of helping people prepare their pets to make the voyage, I realized that I was a day late and a dollar short – if I wanted to go that summer I should have started preparing Pepper's veterinary papers eight months before! So, our trip was postponed till the next summer.
The first thing that Cunard did was email me a packet of paperwork with the international rules of pet travel and instructions on how to get a Pet Passport. Most countries aren't strict about dogs coming in, but the UK is very strict, and since the Queen Mary 2 is run out of the UK, their rules are the same. They dock in South Hampton, so every dog and cat on board must have all of the paperwork for the Pet Passport Travel Scheme in order to the UK's satisfaction.
Here's what you have to do, in a nutshell – start EIGHT months before your trip:
- Get your pet microchipped with a subcutaneous (below the skin) chip that your veterinarian will implant into your pet. It's about as painful as a vaccination, which is to say, it's not that bad. This chip is permanent identification for your pet. Get the veterinarian's signature on your paperwork stating that this has been done and listing the microship number. The signature must be in BLUE ink over a BLACK stamp (your vet will have the stamp). I can't stress this last part enough.
- After the microchip (note: AFTER) your pet must be vaccinated for rabies. Do it in the same visit as the microchip implantation. Get the veterinarian's signature on your paperwork stating that this has been done. The signature must be in BLUE ink over a BLACK stamp.
- After a few weeks (your vet will advise you on the timing), you will take your pet back to the veterinarian and he/she will draw blood and send it to a lab where it will be tested for a rabies titer. Once that is in, get the veterinarian's signature on your paperwork stating that this has been done. The signature must be in BLUE ink over a BLACK stamp.
- Your dog must travel within – I think – 4 or 6 months from the time this signature is given. Please check with Cunard and the Pet Passport Scheme to make sure of the timing. As I recall, we had to wait 6 months to travel because this was the first time we were doing the Pet Passport – the timing is confusing, I must admit.
- Between 24 and 48 hours before your voyage, your pet must have flea and tick treatment. This is simply something like Frontline put onto the pet's skin (by the vet). Get the veterinarian's signature on your paperwork stating that this has been done. The signature must be in BLUE ink over a BLACK stamp.
- Between 24 and 48 hours before your voyage, your pet must have tapeworm treatment. This is just a pill that your vet will give to your pet. Get the veterinarian's signature on your paperwork stating that this has been done. The signature must be in BLUE ink over a BLACK stamp.
7. The veterinarian must also fill out a health certificate for your pet.
If you are coming from the USA into Europe, you will need your veterinarian to fill out this form as well.
NOTE: Please do not use this information as the only information on how to get your pet ready for the voyage. I am writing this in hindsight and may have forgotten something important.
If you get confused, do not hesitate to call Cunard. They have someone on staff that deals specifically with the pets and they know that the documentation is confusing and they do everything they can to help.
So, we finally got all of that done and it was embarkation day! When Pepper and I first walked into the terminal we were told to sit in a separate are with the other people who had pets – this was nice because it gave us a chance to meet each other's animals.
The purser for the Queen Mary 2, Chantal Mooiman, met us at the dock in Brooklyn. She was in charge of making sure that all of the pets had their paperwork. What a sweet, lovely, patient woman! She combed over Pepper's intricate paperwork, the stack that I had been meticulously working on for nine months, and noticed that I was missing one veterinary signature. It was the last signature, the one saying that Pepper received flea and tick treatment. The stamp was there, but not the signature in blue ink.
I begged Chantal to let us on regardless. It was just one little signature, right? She couldn't do it. Rules were rules, and these rules were important. I literally broke down and cried. I wasn't going to be able to take the voyage that I had been planning all of these months. The ship would leave without us. But I had my little meltdown too soon. It seem that this happens occasionally, so they have a driver and a nearby veterinarian ready for an "emergency."
The very helpful and nice Cunard driver took Pepper and I to a vet in Brooklyn where he got an extra flea and tick treatment (not a big deal) and we got our signature. We were ready to go!
People with animals are escorted as VIPs onto the ship. It's the only time your pet will be able to be anywhere on the ship other than the kennel, so take this time for some photo opportunities.
Someone will take you directly to the kennel on Deck 12 (there are 13 decks) where you will meet the Kennel Master. This is the person who will be responsible for taking care of your dog or cat. The Kennel Master we had was named Dayle, and he was the sweetest guy. He clearly loved the dogs and cats on board and I immediately trusted him. And I don't trust a lot of people with Pepper.
There are "visiting hours" for the kennel and you can spend quite a lot of time there sitting on deck or inside the playroom. However, if your dog needs medicine, special food, or you just miss him TOO much, you can see him 24 hours a day. Just be sure to tip your Kennel Master well if you're getting him out of bed at night! The Queen Mary 2 will provide your pet with both dry and wet food, or you can bring your own. If it needs to be frozen or refrigerated, they will do that too. They also provide freshly cooked chicken and homemade biscuits.
You can not take your pet outside of the kennel. Other than that, Cunard is VERY accommodating. On one of my voyages (we went back and forth) a woman with three cats was very distraught that the barking dogs would upset her cats, so they made a space for the cats in a storage room. I'm sure that Cunard doesn't want to encourage such things, but they will do just about anything to please their guests.
One night on each of my voyages Cunard put a "Dog Lovers Meeting" into the daily ship calendar. I don't know if they did this just for me (they said they did), but it was nice either way. All of the dog lovers on board got together to talk about their dogs on board and their dogs at home. Cunard brought us Champagne and petit fours. Very nice.
One day, Cunard schedules a photo session for people with their pets. A photographer comes and takes photos of you and your pet with the complimentary QM2 coat on – very cute. You get the photo for free. You also get a key chain, Frisbee, food scoop, and some other promotional items.
A LOT of people have asked me where the pets go to the bathroom. They go on deck! They have a fairly generous area of the deck that they can use as a run and as a potty. The second they do their "business," the Kennel Master is there to clean it up. Everything is VERY clean and sanitary.
People have also asked me if keeping the pets in the kennel is like boarding them. Yes, they are in cages when no one is around. But other than late at night, someone is always around! I never found Pepper in a cage when I came to see him. The Kennel Master has the dogs running free all the time when he's there. The cats do not have free run – obviously, that would be dangerous because they could escape – but owners are allowed to play with them outside the cage in the playroom for as many hours a day as they like. So, no, it's not like boarding. And your pet is just a few steps away at all times. At first, they had Pepper in a small kennel because he is small, but since the kennel wasn't full I was able to have him moved to a double sized cage. The Kennel Master will do anything in his authority to make pet owners happy.
The kennel is a great place to spend part of the day if your pet is on board. The view is spectacular. We saw whales one day! Only people who have pets are allowed inside the deck run or the kennel, so your pet is safe, and the kennel is locked tight when the kennel master isn't there. The kennel is quite a curiosity on board, so be prepared to answer some questions from people stopping by to say hello to the dogs.
Do dogs get sea sick? None of them did when I was on board. The Queen Mary 2 has large stabilizers, which help keep the ship from rocking a lot.
Do all the dogs get along? They did on the two voyages I went on. They had a ball, actually! I'm sure there are issues from time to time, but the Kennel Master is prepared to deal with that.
All of the ship's staff, from the sweet lady who tended to my room to the CAPTAIN knew that I had Pepper on board and asked about him constantly. Yes, the captain! This is a very tightly run ship that is geared toward making the passengers feel welcome and at home. The pets, I was told, are considered passengers, just like the humans. How cool is that?
In terms of safety, the QM2 has a kennel safely protocol that's as good as the one used for human passengers! Each pet has a life jacket. Each pet also has a staff member assigned to him/her in case of an emergency. The staff member will come get your pet and escort him/her to a safe location. I don't think they've ever had to use it, but it's nice to know that they thought about our pets ahead of time.
You will be happy (or scared) to know that bringing a pet back into the US from the Queen Mary 2 is a breeze. I could have had a rabid raccoon in Pepper's bag instead of Pepper and no one would have known. No one looked at him or at his paperwork. I was honestly grateful that it was so easy. The Cunard staff helped us off the ship, and I have to say that I was very sad to go!
All in all, we had a spectacular time and I would take this voyage again in a heartbeat. Pepper thinks so too.
Hugs and Woofs,
Nikki Moustaki


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Alex Chilton, rock guitarist and killer songwriter, died Wednesday in New Orleans of heart failure.
He sang with The Box Tops and later with Big Star.
A band that has figured largely into my musical, The Replacements, were heavily influenced by Chilton. They even wrote a song about him, which included the lyric, "If he died in Memphis, wouldn't that be cool?"
From The Mats, I became a fan.
59 is way too early to go.
Rest in peace, Alex.
"The Letter"
"Can't Seem to Make You Mine"
Westerberg, "Alex Chilton"
Alex Chilton, 10/28/50-3/17/10
Labels: Alex Chilton, infuences, music, Paul Westerberg, The Replacements
1 comments:
- Uncle E said...
Ah, that's too bad. I came late to the Big Star party, introduced to them by Teenage Fanclub and their amazing Bandwagonesque album. RIP Alex.


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Tha Joker & Nation - We Don't Do That
We Dont Do That - The Casino Family Story pt. 4 - Tha Joker & Nation
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Will SeaWorld Tank After 'Blackfish' Exposé?
The more that people see the film "Blackfish," the deeper the stock of SeaWorld Entertainment dives, says Al Lewis on the News Hub. The movie garnered attention at Sundance, and won a wider audience with an airing on CNN. SeaWorld has criticized the film, saying in a statement to CNN that "Blackfish is billed as a documentary, but instead of a fair and balanced treatment of a complex subject, the film is inaccurate and misleading…" Watch a clip from the movie. What do you think? Leave your thoughts in the comments.


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- Inside Athletics
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JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Dec. 29, 2013) – The ETSU men's basketball team capitalized on Valparaiso's 18 first-half turnovers, building a 21-point halftime lead and ultimately picking up a 73-62 win over the Crusaders Sunday afternoon inside the ETSU/MSHA Athletic Center.
With the victory, the Buccaneers wrapped up the non-conference portion of their schedule by winning for the seventh time in nine games and improving to 7-6 overall on the season. Meanwhile, Valparaiso – a preseason favorite to win the Horizon League title – fell to 8-7 on the year.
ETSU played its best all-around first half of the season, applying strong defensive pressure, shooting 50 percent from 3-point range, and hitting on 12-of-14 free throws to build a 42-21 lead at the break. The Crusaders did manage to rally and made it a seven-point contest at 60-53 with 5:17 left, but the Bucs made clutch shots late to seal the 11-point win.
"Valparaiso is a really good team," said ETSU head coach Murry Bartow, who collected win No. 299 of his career and No. 196 at ETSU. "I would have taken a one-point win, so to win by 11 feels pretty good. We were thrilled to be up 21 at halftime, but against good teams it's still scary because you know they will make a run, and they did that tonight. It got tight and down to like a seven-point game, but I was proud of our guys for making plays late to win."
The Bucs had four players reach double figures in the winning effort, led by a game-high 19 points from junior guard Jalen Riley (Racine, Wis.). In addition to Riley's production, junior guard Rashawn Rembert (Tampa, Fla.) had 16 points, senior forward Kinard Gadsden-Gilliard (Georgetown, S.C.) added 13, and sophomore forward Lester Wilson (Knoxville) pitched in 10.
Early on, the Bucs appeared poised to run away with the contest. After falling behind 4-0 in the early going, ETSU's defensive pressure forced multiple Valpo turnovers, and despite getting out-rebounded 22-12 in the first half, the Bucs still enjoyed a 42-21 advantage at the break.
However, after the intermission the Crusaders opened on a 14-2 offensive run to make it 44-35, and slowly picked away at the ETSU lead to draw to within seven at 60-53 with five minutes left. At that point, back-to-back 3-pointers by KGG and Rembert powered a 7-0 spurt, and the Bucs hit five foul shots down the stretch to end the Valpo threat.
For the game, ETSU shot 48 percent from 3-point range (10-of-21), while holding Valparaiso – a team that entered the game averaging eight made threes a contest – to just 4-of-19 for the game. While the Crusaders did hold a whopping 45-28 edge on the glass, ETSU grabbed 14 steals and forced Valpo into a total of 24 turnover – compared to just nine turnovers for the Bucs.
Valpo was led in scoring by LaVonte Dority with 14, while Alec Peters and Vashil Fernandez had 13 and 10 points, respectively.
With their non-conference schedule now complete, the Bucs will return to action as they hit the road to open up Atlantic Sun Conference play on Saturday, Jan. 4 at Kennesaw State. Tip is set for noon inside the KSU Convocation Center.
For more on ETSU men's hoops throughout the 2013-14 season, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the men's hoops link.


text: delpart 15 Report post Posted January 29, 2012 Tsk, guys! Welshy listens to music while he works so you'd have to listen carefully for the cursing & then most likely it'd be in Welsh because the words fit better in your native tongue. Well at least that's one crew member I dont need to hire then ... Soundtrack will be included. Wait, nope, now I need to hire an interpreter for the subtitles ... Speaking of which, I'm trying to find some music right now and went down the "OMG, what is that?" playlist path. Nothing seems to flow today at all ... Of course, that's what happens when your neighbors start your day off poorly ... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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Another day, another App. Here is NASA's JPL releasing yet another app in the Store joining the Be A Martian App, and this time a dedicated App for the Mars Rover: Curiosity. I personally like this development as this meant we will be seeing dedicated apps for NASA wares on Mars and other parts of the Universe. Hey NASA, can we have one too for Vger, ahem, I meant Voyager 1 and 2? ;-)
Anyway, If you've been a Space bum like me and most of my friends you know who Curiosity is, he has been making waves since August this year on Mars. First with a Grand Entry, landing on rockets of fire, and already finding some strange objects. Ach, don't take my word for it, just install this app and get the full details from NASA, and keep abreast of latest information too about this dear Robot. You said what I meant with 'dear'? Well, I have personal vested interest in this robot because it took some names of earthlings to Mars and Yours truly's name in on that list.
Here's how JPL describes this app in the Store:
NASA's Mars Rover Curiosity, landed on Mars August 6th, 2012. Explore this amazing SUV-sized rover, and learn about the tools that it will use to explore the Martian landscape.
Explore NASA's Mars Rover Curiosity with touch or your mouse.
Learn about why Curiosity is a Mars Science Laboratory.
Share your love of exploration with your friends.
If you love Curiosity and will like to more about his robots mission, please download this app immediately via the Source.
Source: Windows Store


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Teacher Resources for Instructional Planning is a project of the Mobile County Public Schools' Department of Instructional Technology. This site provides an alignment of lesson plans and other web-based resources to state and local standards for the K-12 curriculum.
Choose your subject area from the tabs above or the links to the left, and then navigate to your course of study standards for links to lessons and resources. To see it in action, take one minute and watch our TRIP QuickStart Guide .
The Mobile County Public School System is not responsible for the content of links beyond the tripforteachers.org domain and does not officially endorse any software or other products mentioned. As in all planning, teachers should preview materials and also, consider that internet sites may be temporarily unavailable.
Copyright © 2020 Teachers Resources for Instructional Planning


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A student who intends to transfer to a four-year college or university after attending Pearl River Community College should follow a university (academic) bachelor's degree transfer program of study. A student following a transfer program of study has the opportunity to earn the Associate in Arts degree at PRCC.
Typically up to one-half of the total semester hours required for a bachelor's degree may be transferred from a community college and applied to that degree at a university or four-year college. Students who plan to transfer to a four-year college or university should be aware of the transfer requirements that may apply in their particular cases.
PRCC participates in the Articulation Agreement between Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning and the Mississippi State Board for Community and Junior Colleges. This Articulation Agreement contains Academic/University Transfer programs of study appropriate for community college students who plan to transfer to public universities in Mississippi. Additional transfer information on public universities in Mississippi, can be found on the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning's website http://www.mississippi.edu/cjc/.
Students who plan to transfer to a four-year college or university other than a public Mississippi university should contact that institution for their admission requirements for transfer students.
How to Prepare for Transfer
- Meet with an academic counselor/advisor at PRCC
- Consider which program and university for transfer
- Declare a major at 24 college credit hours or sooner
- Contact the transfer services office at the transfer institution to obtain information relating to application deadlines, transfer policies, financial aid policies, and other available assistance
- Plan to meet and/or exceed the admission requirements for the university and program
- Complete the AA degree and prerequisite courses prior to transfer


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Guest blogger Mike Hogan, commercial analyst with Stewart-Peterson Inc., shares what happened when a group of agricultural lenders participated in a simulated marketing activity.
A well-known proverb suggests "There's no substitute for experience." I think that's a statement most of us can agree with.
Unfortunately, gaining experience – especially in the marketing realm – can sometimes be a costly endeavor if you don't understand all the aspects and alternatives available.
It was that premise that prompted Stewart-Peterson to create a farm marketing simulation activity called "What's Your WAP?" – with WAP standing for weighted average price.
Weighted average price is the net average price received over time for all of your milk production (or paid out for feedstuffs). It is calculated by averaging the value of priced milk per cwt., the value of un-priced production assigned the current market value, and the value of any milk with hedge positions. Averaging these values is important, because the price you receive for your production at any given point in time might be higher or lower than the current market price. It should be your goal to make strategic and incremental sales (or feed purchases) that build the best possible weighted average price for all your production long term.
The simulation allows participants to make milk and soymeal trades in a fictitious market setting. To truly mimic the risk that occurs in the real world, the activity includes three pricing periods, and as the market moves (within the three periods) each participant's WAP moves. At the end of the activity, participants can compare WAPs with one another and determine how they did.
In short, this simulation provides a great opportunity to gain some practical marketing experience without the risk of real dollars on the line.
I was part of a Stewart-Peterson team that debuted the "What's Your WAP?" activity during the trade show at the Wisconsin Banking Association's Ag Lenders Conference in mid-April. The event draws approximately 120 bankers from over 60 banks and is the only bank-focused agriculture conference in Wisconsin.
Bankers who participated in "What's Your WAP?" were told they owned a 400-cow dairy with an annual production of 12 million pounds of milk. Using futures prices and option premiums, they were charged with marketing one month's production of milk (1 million pounds) and managing one month's expected purchases of soymeal (40 tons). Futures contracts were offered, which replicates the pricing activity of a cash sale or forward contract. Cash sales and forward contracts were not allowed since those positions cannot be offset.
The Results?
The response to this marketing simulation activity was overwhelmingly positive. We had more than 100 of the 120 attendees participate and actively engage in marketing their milk and feed. They were asking questions, competing with their fellow bankers, and working hard to improve their marketing.
This was a real opportunity for bankers to stand in the shoes of a producer, make marketing decisions and experience the outcomes of those decisions.
Among the participants in the simulation, we found that 70% beat the market average by using futures or options.
The table below shows the WAP for milk and soymeal. Those participants who were actively managing positions during the three pricing periods finished with a higher WAP for milk than those participants who did nothing.
For this simulation, lenders who took the market average for soymeal got the best price. However, it is also important to note that those who took the market average in milk got the worst price. Notice that the lenders who made pricing decisions for both milk and soymeal in two pricing periods did quite well. Overall, those lenders had the best WAP for both milk and soymeal.
In reviewing the results, it becomes evident that marketing has a "sweet spot" in the middle. If you do too little or are too overly aggressive and border on speculative activity, it can result in a diminished return. For this simulation, those who hedged were 2% better off across all price scenarios than those who engaged in speculative activity.
Marketing can be thought of like applying herbicides to your crops. You need to apply some, but doing three or four times the recommended rate can be detrimental. You need to find the middle ground.
From this activity, I believe two take home messages are clear.
· First, marketing does make a difference as opposed to doing nothing and accepting the average price. Great marketers manage milk and feed to get the best possible WAP for both over the long haul. By building the best possible price for milk and feed individually, you are also incrementally building the best possible margin for yourself.
· Second, we can conclude that marketing decisions can't be a "one and done" deal to achieve the best results. In order to capitalize on every opportunity the market offers, you need to make incremental decisions that gradually build the best possible WAP for milk and feed. The key is being consistent and planning for the long-term.
Producers who consistently engage in marketing to build a strong WAP over time can minimize the unwanted highs and lows in the marketplace and remove the volatility from their revenue and expenses. Consistent marketers won't always capture the best price, but they position themselves to also avoid painful losses. Think of it as building a financial cushion for the really tough years.
While this exercise was a simulation, it was also a realistic opportunity for participants to examine what great marketing looks like and the strategic focus that is so necessary. Our team at Stewart-Peterson can offer "What's Your WAP?" as a free, educational activity to other groups as well. Contact me if you are interested.
Mike Hogan is a commercial analyst for Stewart-Peterson, a commodity marketing consulting firm based in West Bend, Wis. You may reach Mike at 800-334-9779, email him at [email protected]
Scott Stewart is CEO of Stewart-Peterson Inc., a commodity marketing consulting firm based in West Bend, Wis. You may reach Scott at 800-334-9779, email him at [email protected]
The data contained herein is believed to be drawn from reliable sources but cannot be guaranteed. Neither the information presented, nor any opinions expressed constitute a solicitation of the purchase or sale of any commodity. Those individuals acting on this information are responsible for their own actions. Commodity trading may not be suitable for all recipients of this report. Futures trading involves risk of loss and should be carefully considered before investing. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Any reproduction, republication or other use of the information and thoughts expressed herein, without the express written permission of Stewart-Peterson Inc., is strictly prohibited. Copyright 2013 Stewart-Peterson Inc. All rights reserved.