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Skip Maine state header navigation
1. At all relevant times, it has been unlawful for any person to act in this State as an investment adviser unless licensed or exempt from licensing under section 10303 of the Revised Maine Securities Act, 32 M.R.S.A. §§ 10101-10710 ("the Act"). This section and other provisions of the Act are superseded by similar provisions in the Maine Uniform Securities Act for conduct occurring on or after December 31, 2005.
2. At all relevant times, it has been unlawful under section 10203 of the Act for any investment adviser to employ, directly or indirectly, any device, scheme or artifice to defraud any client or engage in any act, practice or course of business which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon any client.
Larry Robert
Balliet ("Balliet") is an individual who has been at all relevant times a
Balliet was
licensed in
5. Between 1998 and 2003, Balliet served as the investment adviser for eight clients with respect to their accounts at Rydex Investments ("Rydex"), a Maryland-based company that offers and sells its own mutual funds. Balliet set up these accounts for his clients and, in doing so, indicated to Rydex that he was authorized to act as their investment adviser and withdraw advisory fees from their accounts.
In 1999 and
2000, Balliet withdrew $14,782 in advisory fees from seven of the eight Rydex
accounts, including $6,002.20 in advisory fees from one of those seven
accounts, held by a resident of
On or about
October 1, 1999, Balliet sent a letter to the
In or about December of 2002, Balliet discussed with
9. At all relevant times, the Aptus note was not registered as a security with the Maine Office of Securities (the "Office").
10. Balliet
did not adequately disclose to the
11. It is the Office's position that Balliet's
conduct with respect to the Rydex accounts violated sections 10303 and 10203 of
the Act. Specifically, it is the
Office's position that Balliet violated section 10303 of the Act by providing
investment advice for compensation at times when he was not licensed in
12. It is the Office's position that the offer
and sale of the Aptus note to the
13. To the extent that Balliet was acting as Aptus' sales representative in connection with the sale of the note, he is liable for the violations of the Act listed above and is also liable under section 10301 of the Act for having transacted business in Maine as a sales representative without being licensed or exempt from licensing under that section. Balliet has represented, however, that he did not receive compensation in connection with the Aptus transaction and that he had no expectation or agreement with respect to such compensation.
14. Balliet admits that he violated section
10303 of the Act by providing investment advice for compensation at times when
he was not licensed in
15. The Office and Balliet desire an expeditious resolution of this matter.
16. The Office has agreed to the terms of this order based in part upon information provided by Balliet regarding his conduct and financial condition. If this information is later determined to have been materially inaccurate, the Securities Administrator may, in his sole and unreviewable discretion, declare this Consent Order to be null and void.
17. The Office has agreed to the terms of this Consent Order based in part on certain proof that Balliet has represented he will provide to the Office with respect to the other Rydex investors. If Balliet does not provide this proof to the Office of Securities within 90 days of the execution of this Consent Order, the Securities Administrator may, in his sole and unreviewable discretion, declare this Consent Order to be null and void.
18. The Office agrees not to take further action against Balliet based solely on the allegations contained in this Consent Order, provided, however, that the Office is not precluded from taking action based on other allegations, or from taking this Consent Order and its underlying allegations into account in determining the proper resolution of such other allegations.
19. Without trial or adjudication of any issue of fact or law, Balliet waives his right to a hearing and to judicial review and consents to the entry of this order.
NOW, THEREFORE, it is ORDERED as follows:
1. Balliet shall permanently CEASE AND DESIST from violating any provisions of the Maine Uniform Securities Act, including the prohibitions against acting as an unlicensed investment adviser or sales representative and offering or selling unregistered securities, and also including the antifraud provisions of sections 16501 and 16502 of the Act;
2. Balliet shall pay $10,000 in restitution to the Portland resident, with $4,000 to be paid no later than the date this order is executed, and $6,000 to be paid in 36 monthly installments, the first payment being due by March 1, 2006, and each subsequent payment being due by the first day of each subsequent month, and all payments to be made via checks made payable to "Treasurer, State of Maine" and delivered by the due date to the Office of Securities, which shall distribute the funds to the Portland resident; and
3. If Balliet fails to make any restitution payment as set forth above, all remaining restitution shall become immediately due and owing.
Balliet hereby waives his right to a hearing and to judicial review and consents to entry of the order set forth above.
Date: February 18, 2006 s/Larry Robert Balliet
Larry Robert Balliet
Ordered by:
Date: February 21, 2006 s/Michael J. Colleran
Michael J. Colleran
Securities Administrator
Reviewed by:
Date: February 21, 2006 s/Bonnie E. Russell
Bonnie E. Russell
Assistant Securities Administrator
Presented by:
Date: February 21, 2006 s/Michael W. Atleson
Michael W. Atleson
Staff Attorney


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SickKids is more than a hospital
SickKids is one of the largest and most respected paediatric academic health science centres in the world. We are known around the world for our excellent patient care, carrying out leading-edge research, and teaching and training the health-care workers of tomorrow.
Family-centred care
Excellent patient care has always been, and will always be, very important to SickKids. We work together with your family so your child gets the best possible care. This is called family-centred care. With family-centred care we:
- give you the information and support you need.
- respect your family's beliefs, traditions, and ways of coping.
- ask you to tell us about your child and make suggestions to us about caring for your child.
- want you to ask any questions you have and tell us about any concerns you have.
Since 1954, scientists at SickKids have carried out research in many different areas. Led by some of the world's top scientists, SickKids has made many important discoveries - including the discoveries of a number of genes that cause diseases.
While you are here, we may ask you if you would let your child take part in one of our research studies. If we do, we will explain why we are doing the research and how the study will work. If you agree to let your child take part we will ask you to sign a form. Your child will still be well cared for if you do not want him or her to take part.
Teaching and training
As one of the teaching hospitals for the University of Toronto, SickKids teaches and trains men and women from around the world to become doctors, nurses and other important health-care workers such as social workers, physiotherapists and dietitians.
While you are at SickKids, your child may be seen by these students. These students do not make decisions or treat patients by themselves.

subset: commoncrawl


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Friday, January 2, 2015
Mission Possible: Bust the Stash 2015
But how did that happen? I thought back and could only think of three times when I had purposely purchased fabric for a "right now" project. The rest had been impulse buys. All those pretties in the Hawthorne Threads newsletter, Instagram is the enemy when you are following Art Gallery Fabrics, Fat Quarter Shop or the like, Mood Fabrics (dang them for their beautiful designer fabric deals), the mounds of vintage fabric at our local Antique Mall, the Craigslist ads, the resale store, the blah, blah, blah. Then the facebook (fb) flashback.
In the middle of last year when I was suppose to be busting not buying I was pretty active in a fb group where people post their fabric for sale. When I say active, I don't mean I was selling. I bought over $250 of fabric that I did not need or research the details of very well and truthfully will have a hard time finding a way to use it. It is not fabric that I would ever ever buy from a fabric store if I could see and touch it! And I paid way too much per yard...more than I could have at say JoAnn's with a good coupon. People, heed my warning: when you are buying fabric on fb from sketchy individuals across the country from you, you just might have a problem.
Oh... I was so low... down and out about my sewing; facing all these facts about my stash habit but out of it all realized something important. A huge fabric stash has been a real negative for me and actually kills my creativity and my desire to sew.
And I think I know why....
Stash reminds me of projects I intended to do but never did start;
Stash is money I spent for no immediate return;
Stash falls out of fashion especially in the quilting world where daily new lines of fabric are being introduced by a multitude of fabric companies;
Stash can't really be used for the type of sewing I like to do, i.e. huge floral prints from the 80's don't look so good on 5'2" middle aged women;
Stash makes choosing a good fabric for the project more difficult for me. There are too many options or possibilities. What if it doesn't look good when I'm done and then it is.....horror......wasted? This one is almost paralyzing at times because by nature I am a perfectionist. For me, the stash facilitates my tendency to procrastinate because "what if I get it wrong"?
Just looking at my stash became unpleasant. So I determined at the moment that from then, the middle of October until December 2015, I was going to sew, sell, give or donate my stash with the exception of some select pieces of high quality wools, silks and flannels if they had not been used.
I boxed up all the fabric in my sewing room except for the fabric I would be using in the next several weeks. I sighed up for a craft show and sewed over 20 yards preparing for the show. I made a boatload of small Christmas gifts and gave them to pretty much anyone I knew. I just spent a lot of time sewing, some of which turned out awful, but by the end of December I had sewn through almost 40 yards!
Guess what? I can't even tell the difference. S-E-R-I-O-U-S. Did not put a dent in things, but that is okay. It will happen. Just like it took 20 plus years to get here, it will take some time to get out. Yesterday, I combined some totes and actually have an empty one. 40 plus large totes to go but...IT WILL GO.
Next week sees the launch of the Stashbusting 2015 group on fb. This will ultimately be a closed group but right now anyone who commits to Bustin' the Stash can join through the end of January and possibly beyond dependin'. If it sounds a little like a support group, well, I suppose it is. There will be themes and bustin' counts and good folks. In February, here on this blog, I host the theme which will be announced soon.
It is a delight for me to a part of Stashbusting 2015 and I hope you join us (if you feel the need to...)
4 comments:
I've been on a fabric diet for a couple of years now, and it's been great to use up what I have instead of buying more fabric. I've also donated a whole bunch of fabric I know I'll never use to Project Linus so they can make quilts for kids in need. :0)ReplyDeleteReplies
Making progress Terry, just got a ways to go...Delete
I really really enjoyed your post. I've joined the FB group and am slowly sewing through my stash. I am impressed (amazed) that your stash is that big!!! Where do you keep it all? I had to literally hide mine when my mom came to visit in Dec because I just didn't want to hear her comments (why do you have so much? what are you going to do with it all? etc....) I filled up a zippered plastic bag like the ones that comforters come in but a long one. We have a boat and the boat cover came in it, it's probably 6-7ft long. I also have 6 plastic bins and one large multi drawer filing cabinet filled with fabric. I have vowed to not buy any more and use what I have. Thanks for helping me see the light!!!ReplyDelete
Thank you Sandra. I look forward to getting to know you over in our Stashbusting group!Delete


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Setting a benchmark for comfort and style in Dubai, soaring 333 metres, 72 storeys and certified as the second tallest hotel by Guinness Book of Records, Rose Rayhaan by Rotana located on a prime location of Sheikh Zayed Road, 3 mins away from the DIFC metro station is the flagship property of the alcohol-free brand, Rayhaan Hotels & Resorts, offering panoramic views of Dubai overlooking Burj Khalifa.
Deluxe Room rate*:
|Single Occupancy rate
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*Terms and Conditions under the reversation form.
Click on "Book Now" for rates and the reservation form.
Book Now Back to Accommodation


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Jim Carrey Supporting Free Wheelchair Mission13 Jul 2009
By Priya B (Web correspondent)
Jim Carrey through his 'Better U Foundation', is taking up the charity work for Free Wheelchair Mission. He is supplying plastic wheelchairs to the disabled around Africa, India, Iraq and other developing countries.
In a new video regarding this mission, the voice-over narration is done by Jim Carrey encouraging social organizations in the developing countries to request and give generous donation of at least $51.29, for these white plastic wheelchairs for the disabled.
Those who are interested in donation can donate online or by mail. For further information, you can visit Better U Foundation or Free Wheelchair Mission.
Watch the 57 seconds video in hi definition below. Video direction and film by Kelly Moore, with recipient footage provided by Lisa Lax and Nancy Stern of Lookalike Productions and voice-over narration by Jim Carrey.
-- Source: Free Wheelchair Mission. With thanks to Cotton. Click to comment this article.
» Send to friend
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Camp Craft Week Project #6: Beaded Lizards
Everyone loves crafting with pony beads and what better way than to make our summertime friend the Lizard. This beaded lizard will keep kids entertained and occupied for about a half an hour - so it's a quick and clean project.
Bag of pony beads {plastic beads}
1. Start planning out your pattern. Use the photos below as a guide for the layout.
2. Cut a piece of string about 16 inches long.
3. Begin stringing on beads. Follow pictures below for guidance.
The arms. Repeat on both sides.
Back to the body.
Legs. Repeat on both sides.
4. Tie off with a knot and marvel at the awesomeness of the LIZARD!!!
Do you want to win the materials for this project and many others?
Simply enter below.


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Archive for Paratransit
Reports urge Access-A-Ride reform to save over $100 million a yearPosted by: | Comments
It's been a few years since the MTA's Access-A-Ride costs have made headlines, but two reports published this week have brought the issue back to the forefront of the discussion over transit offerings in New York City. Both the Citizens Budget Commission and the NYU Wagner's Rudin Center have put forward proposals that could save the MTA over $100 million a year in Access-A-Ride costs, and while each report is worth consideration, they're silent on the most important fix — investing in the accessibility of the New York City subway system.
Let's start with the basics: The MTA currently spends around $470 million annually on Access-A-Ride, and trips cost on average $71. The fare is equal to a $2.75 MetroCard swipe so someone — largely subway riders and drivers along with a mix of tax dollars — supports this expensive program. Meanwhile, with out population rapidly aging, the MTA expects to spend over $620 million on paratransit in 2020 with the per-ride cost reaching nearly $80. With the MTA's razor-thin budget margins, significant savings on paratransit can improve the program's efficiency while averting future MTA budget crises.
The CBC's report [pdf] is a straightforward presentation of fairly obvious policy solutions. The MTA, the CBC notes, uses wheelchair-accessible vehicles even in situations where the paratransit riders are ambulatory. The agency should better improve dispatching and refine its services offerings to align needs with vehicles while reducing costs. Better contracting practices, a common refrain for anything MTA, is part of the solution while the CBC also recommends "discourag[ing] excess use of paratransit by charging a higher fare" and calls for a better funding mix.
The Rudin Center's report [pdf] leans on technology and ride-hailing apps in particular to improve service offerings. Both reports call upon transit agencies to work with Uber, Lyft and other web-based car hailing services to shift some paratransit trips to lower cost providers (though these companies' fleets are far from sufficiently accessible for many riders). Both reports are sympathetic to the unfunded nature of the ADA mandate that transit agencies provide paratransit services. And both reports recognize how costs are going to begin to climb as the Baby Boomer generation starts to age.
Yet, I wanted to hear more about a potential other solution: Transit agencies, and the MTA in particular, should make more of an effort to ensure their systems are fully accessible. The MTA is working to fulfill a pledge to make 100 Key Stations accessible by the end of 2020, but our transit agency has seemingly interpreted the ADA in a way that doesn't require them to retrofit old stations if the cost is prohibitively out of proportion. Thus, despite extensive renovations to, say, Smith-9th Sts., the station is far from accessible with no plans to rectify this accessibility gap in the future. (New build stations will, of course, be fully ADA compliant.)
Meanwhile, the MTA has shied away from reopening subway station entrances and exits that were closed shortly before the ADA become law because the agency is concerned doing so will trigger ADA compliancy obligations. Thus, all riders are paying the costs in high and increasing paratransit services and in inconvenient station design that leads to crowding and frustration.
What I would like to understand is another element of cost-shifting. The MTA has spent billions of dollars over the years on paratransit while barely complying with the ADA. How much money could it save on paratransit by investing upfront in a more aggressive plan to make more of the subway system accessible? These reports do not reach this question, but I think it's key. If paratransit costs are going to increase by 33 percent over the next four years, is there another way to slow spending otherwise?
The trouble with Access-A-Ride, againPosted by: | Comments
Over the years, I've touched upon the problem with the MTA's Access-A-Ride offerings. Essentially, the paratransit service is in response to the unfunded ADA requirements, and the MTA estimates that the door-to-door service costs nearly $66 per ride. It is, in other words, a giant money suck for a cash-strapped agency, but one in which it must participate due to federal law.
Lately, the authority has begun to discuss ways to cut its annual expense — which grew to over $440 million last year. As The Daily News reported a few weeks ago, the MTA may just offer up free MetroCards for those who would otherwise qualify for Access-A-Ride service. The MTA says that just a fifth of all Access-A-Ride users are wheelchair-bound, and the rest should be able to use the bus or subway with the assistance of a caregiving who can ride for free. Allen Cappelli of the MTA Board said of the new plan, "There's really no downside to it that I can see."
Disabilities advocates and disabled riders see otherwise. "People don't use use Access-A-Ride for the fun of it," Edith Prentiss, a vice president of Disabled in Action, said. Still, as The News notes, agencies in Los Angeles and Washington, DC, have implemented similar plans successfully. It apparently does not run afoul of federal law and could save the MTA upwards of $96 million a year.
Yesterday, The News' editorial board sounded off on the MTA's plan. From the new plan, they claim, we can draw "two disturbing conclusions":
The first is that thousands of people who are listed as eligible for Access-a-Ride service are not too disabled to use the subways and buses. The second is that Access-a-Ride service is so terrible that, given the slightest monetary benefit, even truly disabled people will mount herculean struggles to avoid it.
While MTA staff members say similar plans have cut costs in other cities, Chairman Joe Lhota should think more broadly and should do so in coordination with Mayor Bloomberg, who needs a hand to untangle the taxi mess his administration has created. Together, Lhota and Bloomberg should study moving toward shifting at least some passengers off the Access-a-Ride program's clunky, unreliable vans and into wheelchair-accessible cabs and livery cars.
Provided it clamped down on eligibility — a most critical element — the MTA might well be able to deliver improved transportation at lower cost, Bloomberg might well be able to remake taxi service under an economically viable structure and the disabled might well be able to get around more conveniently.
The News has no better solution for the various stakeholders other than "work it out." They want the MTA to work with the city and the Taxi & Limousine Commission to come up with a cost- and ride-sharing scheme that removes the some of the fiscal pressure from the MTA while providing adequate taxi service for the city's disabled. In an ideal situation in which the city works well with state agencies, such a call may be heeded, but the MTA and New York City do not have the best track record when it comes to such cooperation.
The real eye-opener here though are the costs. Access-A-Ride service costs around $500 million annually, and the cost per rider are astronomical. A door-to-door taxi ride from most points in the city to any other doesn't cost that much, and we can only imagine what the MTA could do to make its system more accessible if it could invest this money in physical upgrades rather than $60-per-person rides. This is one problem clearly in need of a comprehensive solution.
Accessible taxis could reduce Access-A-Ride costsPosted by: | Comments
Over the past few weeks, New York taxis have dominated the transit headlines. Gov. Andrew Cuomo finally signed the livery cab hail bill, and wheelchair-accessible taxicabs took the spotlight. Despite the high costs of such access, the new plan calls for a steep increase in the number of wheelchair-accessible taxis. Meanwhile, a federal judge decided last week that New York City had to make its taxi fleet more accessible.
For regular subway riders, this news doesn't seem to carry a big impact. It will be easier to flag down a cab in the outer reaches of New York City that do not enjoy regular yellow cab service, but outside of the money that should come the city's way, it's hard to see how these happenings could impact the MTA. They do, however, have the potential to solve a problem by reforming the way Access-A-Ride does business.
According to a report in Crain's New York, the looming changes to the Taxi & Limousine Commission's fleet could change Access-a-Ride for the better. Jeremy Smerd has more:
A year ago, the MTA launched a pilot program with the Taxi and Limousine Commission to test the theory that, because 80% of disabled riders do not use wheelchairs, the taxi fleet could handle much of the business now outsourced to private companies at an average cost of $60 per ride.
The program allows 400 riders to use a debit card to pay for taxi service. The passenger pays $2.25—the cost of a one-way subway ride—and the state picks up the rest of the tab. The agency estimates the program will save $34 a trip and, coupled with other changes, $66.2 million next year in paratransit costs. Advocates believe more savings—and better service for riders—would result from expanding the program to the outer boroughs, especially now that as many as 18,000 cars will be allowed to pick up street hails.
Advocates approached the idea of a dedicated debit card to use with livery cars nearly three years ago. They called it the Access-a-Card. But MTA officials balked at the idea because they worried that riders would take advantage of the program and drive-up costs, said Avik Kabessa, a member of the Livery Roundtable who was part of the discussions…The city is putting in place a dispatch system next year that would allow disabled riders to call 311 to get a wheelchair accessible taxi. But it remains unclear whether the Access-a-Ride debit-card pilot program will be expanded.
If the MTA can figure out a way to contain and reduce Access-A-Ride costs, they will gain a tremendous amount of financial flexibility. It often flies below the radar, but the ADA-mandated program costs the authority a few hundred million dollars a year. It's not a particularly efficient program either with the cost per rider far exceeding that of even the most wasteful bus lines.
As the city gears up to address issues concerning taxi accessibility, TLC officials should work with the MTA to ensure cooperation on cost-reduction measures. The opportunity is there. Now, it's just up to someone to seize it. Those New Yorkers who rely on the subways would reap the benefits, and those who use Access-A-Ride would find a more flexible and personal system at their disposal.
Turning to taxis to save Paratransit costsPosted by: | Comments
As with many elements of the unfunded federally mandated ADA, the MTA's Paratransit obligations are crushing its budget. As the above graph shows, the authority's costs are skyrocketing, and last year, for instance, it paid out $451 million to provide door-to-door service for everyone who needed (and some who did not). Now the authority is turning to a taxi cab pilot program to save money.
Earlier this week, Jay Walder and Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced a 90-day pilot for Access-a-Ride customers that will enable these riders to take taxis at a discounted rate. By using Chase Pre-Paid Visa cards, the 400 Access-a-Ride volunteers will be able to hail any yellow taxi for pick-ups and drop-offs south of 96th St. in Manhattan. These customers are all ambulatory, and the MTA expects costs to drop from $49 a trip to $15 a trip.
"We are working every day to find new ways to help our disabled customers navigate the city, whether it's through our 85 accessible subway stations, fully-accessible fleet of 6,000 buses or our paratransit services," the MTA Chairman and CEO said. "This initiative recognizes that most Access-A-Ride users don't need a wheelchair lift, and by targeting service to the needs of different customers within the disabled community we're able to dramatically improve service and cut costs at the same time. For the first time, our disabled customers will be able to take regularly scheduled trips by hailing a yellow taxi and using a special, pre-loaded debit card."
So how does it work? Chase and New York City Transit worked closely to calculate potential costs for a taxi ride, and Transit has loaded money onto these debit cards. The cards are dispatched to the 400 volunteers, and every two weeks, the customers will mail the MTA a check for $2.25 multiplied by the total number of rides they took. The authority will then reload the pre-paid debit cards.
The MTA expects to save between $155,000 and $200,000 a month in the first 90 days of the pilot alone, and if the pilot is successful this plan could expand to include more and more of the city's disabled riders. "We first proposed this idea on the campaign trail last year and later incorporated it into our joint effort with the City Council to make New York a more age-friendly city," the Mayor said. "We are now ready to deliver on our promise to offer Access-A-Ride users more convenience and greater flexibility — at a lower cost to taxpayers."
David Yassky, head of the TLC, praised this pilot program as well. "Using the taxi fleet will give Access-A-Ride customers better service at a cheaper cost," he said. "This is smart transportation policy by the MTA."
While this is certainly a step in the right direction, it doesn't address the problem of accessible subway travel. Due to valid concerns over cost, the MTA has been very resistant to the need to improve access underground. But that is just one of the ills of an unfunded federal mandate. The Access-a-Ride costs and debate over Key Stations might be a problem that rests on the MTA's shoulders, but it starts in D.C. A taxi pilot is only the first step.
For disabled riders, an inaccessible systemPosted by: | Comments
Earlier this fall, a group of advocates fighting for the rights of disabled New Yorkers made headlines when they filed suit against the MTA over plans for the Dyckman St. station rehab. The suit, which alleges an overall failure on the part of Transit to make the subway system handicapped-accessible, says that the authority is not fulfilling its obligations under the ADA as it renovates Dyckman St. in Upper Manhattan. The MTA does not comment on ongoing legal fights, and work has proceeded apace at the station.
Piggybacking off of the attention given to the lawsuit, Jillian Jonas wrote an extensive piece on the state of underground accessibility for Gotham Gazette, and as you would imagine, disabilities advocates are not happy. Only 89 subway stations are accessible while 379 are not. "It is an absolute disgrace that 20 years after the ADA was passed, more than 80 percent of the subway stations in New York are inaccessible," attorney Julie Pinovar said in October and repeated to Jonas.
In essence, the problems are threefold: The MTA is legally required to upgrade only 100 "Key Station" under an exemption from the Americans with Disabilities Act, an unfunded federal mandate, and advocates have been happy with that arrangement. Meanwhile, escalator and elevator outages lead to situations where accessible stations are made inaccessible, and disabled riders have little advanced notice of the malfunctions. Finally, the MTA opted for Access-A-Ride in the early 1980s, and the costs from that program have spiraled out of control, leading the authority to try to cut services for the disabled. No one is happy with the arrangement.
Ultimately, the problem is one of paying it forward. MTA officials opted for a paratransit solution at a time when they didn't have money or foresight. They reportedly believed Access-A-Ride would cost just $9 million a year, and now it costs $450 million annually. Had they spent the money over the decades on station upgrades, fewer riders would need Paratransit, and most of the system would be accessible. Had the federal government been willing to foot any of the bill for the costly ADA upgrades, the entire fight would be moot.
"The MTA made a stupid decision in the 1980s when … they [were] foolishly relegating people with disabilities to Access-A-Ride, not realizing how the cost would grow over the years if they didn't do more than make buses accessible," Edith Prentiss, a vice president with Disabled In Action of Metropolitan New York, said. "For years, bus lifts were as unreliable as subway elevators are today."
While Paratransit trips number just under 16,000 a day — compared with over 5 million daily subway riders — this is a costly problem that hits disabled riders particularly hard. They do not want to be relegated to second-class status and have been vocal critics of the MTA. Still, a solution remains out of hand and out of sight as money and costs are, as always, the overarching problems.
Disabled riders file suit against Dyckman St. rehabPosted by: | Comments
When the MTA announced in July that they would be spending $45 million on the Dyckman Street station rehabilitation, the project drew the attention of disabled advocates because the plans did not include ADA upgrades. Now, these groups are filing suit. In a complaint filed earlier this week in federal court, the United Spinal Association charges the MTA with ADA violations and has requested an injunction halting the Dyckman Street work until it complies with federal law.
"If the MTA is not required to make the Dyckman Street Station accessible, it is unlikely that the people with disabilities will ever be able to use the station because once this major renovation is complete, no project of this scope is likely to be undertaken at the Dyckman Street Station for decades," the complaint says.
The battle over this station first came up over the summer when Transit officials responded to complaints from disabled groups about the scope of the work. The MTA said that they didn't have the money to install elevators or ramps at Dyckman St. and weren't required by law to do so. At the time, they claimed that the station "does not fit the criteria for a key station" and is not on the list of 100 "key stations" to become ADA-compliant by 2020. The stop, Transit spokesperson Deirdre Parker said in July, is "not a terminal point, is not a transfer point to other bus or subway lines, is not near any major activity centers and ranks 185th out of 422 stations in ridership."
The United Spinal Association disputes these claims. They say that even if Dyckman St. cannot be made fully accessible right now, the Americans with Disabilities Act still requires the MTA to spend 20 percent of the project budget on what they term access improvements. "By making incremental improvements to accessibility now," the complaint says, "even great accessibility can be achieved when future projects are considered at the…station."
Despite the United Spinal Association's focus on the Dyckman St. rehab, their complaint touches upon issues more serious than that and stems from what many disabled riders believe is institutional neglect on the part of the MTA. When Congress enacted the ADA — an unfunded federal mandate — the New York Senate delegation, federal regulators and the MTA worked out a compromise. The authority signed a consent decree to make 100 key stations fully ADA accessible by 2020. So far, they've completed 73 key stations and 16 non-key stations.
Yet, advocates for disabled riders say this isn't enough. "It is an absolute disgrace that twenty years after the ADA was passed, more than 80% of the subway stations in New York are inaccessible," Julia Pinover, a lawyer with the Disability Rights Advocates who is representing the United Spinal Association in its case, said.
The MTA does not comment on lawsuits in progress, but in the past, the authority has spoken about issues of cost. The ADA is, as I mentioned, an unfunded federal law. Congress has required state and state entities to pay for these costly upgrades but has not provided federal dollars for the projects. When the MTA upgrades a station, it must include more money than it would to ensure compliance with the ADA. Even though the authority says it doesn't have the money for upgrades to Dyckman St., the complaint — embedded below — makes a strong case for the plaintiffs.
In related news, the MTA plans to cut back Paratransit service to the minimum required by law. The service costs $470 million a year, and by eliminated some door-to-door service and cutting the driver rolls, Jay Walder believes he can save up to $80 million annually.
Advocates too are up in arms, but again, they recognize that the MTA's fiscal problems are a high barrier. Still, they want the authority to do more. "The Americans With Disabilities Act," Mike Godino of the Brooklyn Center for the Independence of the Disabled said to New York 1, "should be viewed as a floor, not a ceiling, to accesibility."
After the jump, a copy of the complaint filed in United Spinal Association v. MTA. Read More→
How the cuts impact disabled ridersPosted by: | Comments
When the MTA scales back service next month, its disabled riders will see many of their Access-A-Ride and paratransit options whittled down. The authority currently feels its Access-A-Ride options are too inclusive and too broad and that cost savings can be found by better personalizing paratransit trips and excluding some who have previously been included. To that end, the authority will implement $40 million worth of savings by replacing door-to-door service with feeder routes to accessible fixed-route transit stops, determining eligibility on a trip-by-trip rather than season-by-season basis and streamlining management and scheduling.
While the main focus of the coverage around the service cuts has delved into the labor battles and impact on everyday riders, City Limits recently highlighted how the cuts will impact the disabled riders. Many will find their trips longer and more circuitous; others will rely more on taxi vouchers than transit options. Still, as the MTA cuts services, they're forging ahead with ADA compliancy efforts as more stations are slated to become accessible throughout five years covered by the next capital campaign. It is a challenging balancing act as the MTA stretches their dollars to keep pace with demand.
'Balancing a budget on the backs of the disabled'Posted by: | Comments
During last week's public hearing on the fare hikes and service cuts, a common theme emerged concerning the MTA's Access-A-Ride paratransit service. With plans to double the paratransit fares on the table, advocates for the disabled and disabled riders all said the same thing: Don't balance the budget on the backs of those least able to get around town.
Over the weekend, The Times examined this oft-neglected aspect of the MTA's Doomsday budget. Gregory Beyer wrote about this plight of the disabled:
[W]hile all transit riders can expect a fare hike this year — the Metropolitan Transportation Authority conducted public hearings last week on the proposal — the 123,000 users of Access-a-Ride may well face a much steeper increase, according to Kevin Ortiz, an M.T.A. spokesman. Under two of the four plans that the authority is considering to close its budget gap, the Access-a-Ride fare would more than double, to $4.50 or even $5.
"If I have to pay, I have to pay," Mr. Suss said about the possibility of a much higher fare. "But I resent that when my income is going down, everything else is going up."
Asked why Access-a-Ride customers would shoulder such a comparatively steep increase, Mr. Ortiz said the guidelines of the Americans With Disabilities Act allow paratransit fares to run up to twice the base fare. He added that the authority is one of the few mass transit agencies in the country that doesn't already charge double the base fare; the paratransit systems in Atlanta, Miami, Denver and Philadelphia do. All other aspects of the paratransit service, he added, will remain the same.
Meanwhile, in today's Daily News, New York City Comptroller and 2009 mayoral hopeful William C. Thompson sounds off on the paratransit fare increase. The Mayor, he says, alone has the power to stop this unfair fare increase. He writes:
But unlike the 23% increase proposed for subways and buses – which is likewise inequitable – the Access-A-Ride hike can be stopped right now by Mayor Bloomberg, who has the power because of a contract the city signed 15 years ago with the MTA…
[In 1992], then-Mayor Dinkins negotiated a contract with the MTA that set the cost of a trip on Access-A-Ride equal to the one-way base fare on mass transit – currently $2. The contract says that the MTA cannot change the terms of the deal without the written permission of the mayor…
Placing a greater burden on the disabled is unfair and unacceptable. It's time for the mayor to tell the MTA that he won't allow a doubling of the mass transit fare for Access-A-Ride users.
Additionally, advocates for the disabled threatened to sue the MTA under the Americans with Disabilities Act if they approve a 100 percent paratransit fare increase. It seems, however, based on Ortiz's statements to The Times that the increase would be legal if unfair.
In the end, this all goes back to the same thing. It's on Albany to rescue the MTA or else the transit authority will have to resort to the measure it has at its disposal to balance its books. It's unpopular, it's unfair, but it's the only legal way without a transit bailout for New York City.


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Cougar life the dating site for women released a poll today said that 19% of their subscribers said their prowling preference will be Barcelona Spain and many are hoping to get some fun and games with a handsome and fit tennis or golf coach.
A huge 70% of the woman polled said they are hoping to meet a younger 'cub' to satisfy their sexual needs.
British men, rest easy. This summer, cougars are going on tour and they're mostly heading for then Mediterranean.
A poll of female members of CougarLife.com, the dating site for women of a certain age looking for younger men, shows that British cougars can't get enough of Spain. And it seems that Barcelona is their favourite hunting ground. With 19% cent of the votes, the sunny and busy Mediterranean coastal Spanish city topped the list.
These women are at their sexual peek and 53% said they hoped to 'hook' up with hotel or entertainment staff.
It looks like the lucky men of the Mediterranean and Canary Islands are in for quite a summer, rumors are circulating that the local young men are 'resting up' ready for the summers onslaught of beautiful and sexy UK cougars looking for fun.
FidelityCheckOnline gave one word of warning to UK Cougars " Be careful ladies, don't get caught in a romance scam and end up being one of many women sending some young Spanish or foreign waiter you met on holiday money when you get home, if you meet somebody and are serious about them, check them out before you make any big decisions".


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On April 21, the men's and women's tennis teams will compete in the Southern Conference tournament.
Last season, the women won the Southern Conference tournament, defeating Samford in the final. This year's team returned a lot of players from last year, losing three players to graduation.
The men's team also won the Southern Conference tournament last season, defeating Furman in the final. Like the women's team, the men returned a majority of last season's team, losing three players to graduation.
The women's team will go into the tournament with a 12-5 record and as a No. 2 seed. Though they've experienced a coaching change mid-season, the women's team has stayed on course with many of their losses being close.
Going into the first match against No. 7 seed Wofford, Coach Ricardo Rojas feels confident in his team.
"Everyone has to be at their best, we finished second in the conference," Rojas said.
Their only conference loss came at the hands of the No. 1 seed Furman.
"We can't afford to have two players show up, we need everyone to play at their best for us to be successful," Rojas said.
Leading up to the weekend, Rojas wants his girls to be focused.
"We have upped the intensity this week," Rojas said. "We have been working on game situations preparing to be ready."
The men's team finished 13-7 for the season and went undefeated in the conference, going 7-0.
The men's team played elite competition early in the season to prepare them for this coming weekend.
Led by senior David Biosca (Sant Fruitos de Bage, Spain), the men go into the tournament as the No. 1 seed, and they will face No. 8 seed Chattanooga.
Coach Rojas' only concern is his team playing in another environment.
The team, however, went 7-4 on the road, playing more away games than home games this season.
"We have to play to our best ability," said Rojas.
Leading up to Friday, the men want to clean up simple habits that can help them be successful. They also want to stay healthy, something the team struggled with early in the season.


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- Parent Category: News
Garage fire in rural Iroquois County
Martinton firefighters had help from seven other departments Thursday battling a 3-car garage fire along the Iroquois River.
John Torres and his wife were not injured when their garage went up in flames along Oak Acres Drive, east of the Iroquois River. The couple had just backed their vehicle into the structure and unloaded groceries when they heard something like an explosion...about 12:40 pm.
Martinton Fire Chief Jeff Meyer said the approximate 24 x 60 foot structure was engulfed when firemen arrived. Meyer said it was the car that caused the fire. The garage and vehicles were a total loss. No injury. The couple's house, about 15-feet to the north, was spared.
Mutual aid had several departments hauling water to the site, including Ashkumj, Papineau, Crescent –Iroquois, Danforth, Chebanse Township, and St. Anne. Aroma Park Fire provided back-up at the Martinton fire station.
94.1 wgfa


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Cover of the current issue of Elle Decor
Interior design is one of my strongest influences when designing an event. I am forever inspired by the pages of Elle Decor. Don't get me wrong, bridal magazines and blogs are great resources to see ideas pulled together right before your eyes...but as a designer, I truly get excited when I flip trough the pages of my Elle Decor each month when it's delivered to my doorstep.
Wedding magazines are vastly (sad face) disappearing and my heart would just about stop beating if interior design magazines followed suit. To me, blogs can never compare to the feeling of a magazine in your hands...flipping through the pages, tearing out selects, drooling over the luxury and pining over the flea market finds.
Ladies (and gents) you will find inspiration on every page. It can be as simple as falling in love with the colors on the wall, the texture and lines of a painting, or a fantastic print on a settee...endless possibilities! For example, you can even design an entire event around a single piece of china. If it's hard for you to visualize something like that, Elle Decor has made it easier for you in their current issue, just check out page 164. Also, don't miss page 182 & 183 for some sensational tablescapes.
So when thinking about the design of your wedding or next event, take my advice, try picking up an interior design magazine and see what inspires you. Happy planning!


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Hungary PM banks on anti-migrant vote to defy EU 'elite'
Hungarians on Sunday began voting on the EU's troubled refugee quota plan, in a referendum aimed at boosting Prime Minister Viktor Orban's self-styled campaign to defend Europe against the "threat of mass migration".
While there is little doubt his 'No' camp will comfortably win, the poll could still end in embarrassment for Orban if it fails to reach the required 50-percent turnout and is deemed invalid.
Polling stations opened at 0400 GMT and will close at 1700 GMT, with results expected later in the evening.
"We are proud that we are the first to be able to vote on this question, unfortunately the only ones," Orban said after casting his ballot in the capital Budapest.
The firebrand leader has emerged as the populist standard-bearer of those opposed to German Chancellor Angela Merkel's "open-door" policy, in the wake of the bloc's worst migration crisis since 1945.
He has led a fierce media offensive urging the eight-million-strong electorate to spurn the EU deal, which wants to share migrants around the 28 member states via mandatory quotas without the consent of national parliaments.
Orban warned on Saturday that mass migration was a "threat… to Europe's safe way of life" and that Hungarians had "a duty" to fight the failed "liberal methods" of the "Brussels elite".
– 'Dangerous game' –
The proposal — spearheaded by Germany and approved by most EU governments last year after antagonistic debates — seeks to ease pressure on frontline countries Italy and Greece, where most migrants enter the EU.
But implementation has been slow. Eastern and central European nations are vehemently opposed to the plan aimed at relocating 160,000 people, many having fled war in Syria.
Hungary has not accepted a single refugee of the 1,300 allocated under the scheme and instead joined Slovakia in filing a legal challenge against it.
The referendum has incensed Western leaders and threatens to further split the quarrelling bloc, already weakened by Britain's decision in June to leave the union — a decision Orban has blamed on the EU's handling of the migrant crisis.
European Parliament president Martin Schulz warned Sunday Hungary "played a dangerous game".
To cement his power at home, Orban "plays with the EU's founding principle: he questions Europe's legal basis — which Hungary was involved in creating," Schulz told German media.
– Test for election –
The referendum asks voters: "Do you want the EU to be able to mandate the obligatory resettlement of non-Hungarian citizens into Hungary even without the approval of the National Assembly?"
Critics slammed the government for asking a leading question and whipping up xenophobia despite the lack of asylum-seekers in the country.
Many said they would abstain out of protest.
"I will not be a pawn in Orban's game… The question is phrased in such a way that it practically only invites one answer," said a 40-year-old farmer who accompanied his mother to a polling station in Budapest.
"It's true that the campaign was exaggerated but no-one can tell me if these migrants really are refugees of war," Zoltan, a 38-year-old lawyer and 'No' voter, told AFP.
Polls show the vote may not reach the required 50-percent threshold — a scenario Orban has already downplayed, insisting the turnout had "no political significance".
"If there are more 'No' than 'Yes' votes, that means that Hungarians do not accept the rule that the EU bureaucrats want to impose on us," he said Friday.
Analysts say the referendum provides a testing ground for the scheduled 2018 general election, in which immigration will be a key issue.
– Shaky deal –
More than 400,000 refugees, mainly fleeing war in Syria, trekked through Hungary toward northern Europe in 2015 before Hungary sealed off the southern borders with razor wire in the autumn and brought in tough anti-migrant laws, reducing the flow to a trickle.
Other countries on the so-called Balkan migrant trail followed suit, shutting the route and leading to some 60,000 migrants being now stranded in Greece.
The EU said last week it hoped to relocate half of them by the end of 2017.
A deal struck in March with Ankara to halt the influx looks shaky in the wake of a coup attempt in July.
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Termoelettronica Fratelli Conforti is a company that specialises in the production of machines and accessories for ironing and packaging socks and underwear. Machines designed for many sock manufacturers to enable them to iron all types of socks with better temperature control and matchless quality levels, regardless of the fibre used.
Uzņēmuma mājas lapas
www Korporatīvā vietne


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Herbs Or Contaminants – What's In Your Herbal Supplement? Video)
What would you do to lose some weight or maybe gain a few pounds? Pop an herbal supplement, thinking that it is effective and safe at the same time. A study conducted by the Attorney General's Office has proved that …[CLICK TO READ MORE]


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SOURCE: The Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce
May 13, 2014 12:26 ET
Come Celebrate the City of Beverly Hills' 100-Year Anniversary With an Old-Fashioned Night at the Drive-in
Come Celebrate the City of Beverly Hills' 100-Year Anniversary With an Old-Fashioned Night at the Drive-in
BEVERLY HILLS, CA--(Marketwired - May 13, 2014) - The Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce continues its celebration of the city's centennial year with a night at the drive-in. Against the backdrop of one of the most notable mansions in America, guests will enjoy an evening of old-fashioned movie magic complete with a 75th anniversary celebratory showing of The Wizard of Oz. The Chamber's first-ever drive-in movie night will be held at Greystone Mansion (905 Loma Vista Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210) on Sunday, May 25 from 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm.
This exclusive event will be limited to an intimate audience of less than 300 people and will feature special Oz themed experiences; food trucks from select culinary member businesses; savory selections from Umami Burger, including Truffle Burgers, Manly Sliders, Thin Fries and Sweet Potato Fries; vintage cart concessions from Let's Have a Cart Party serving nachos, hot dogs, popcorn, and cotton candy; and a very special dessert feature from Sprinkles, including their world famous cupcakes. Guests can arrive early to connect with business leaders and our Beverly Hills residential community, ogle the beauty of luxury vehicles provided by O'Gara Coach, check out the latest technologies from Sprint, and have the chance to receive a private tour of Greystone Mansion. Moviegoers will have options to watch from the comfort of their own vehicles or from the Warner Bros. lounge designed by the talented team at Paradigm Shift.
"This unique event will recapture drive-in movie magic for our community as we continue to celebrate our own historic 100th birthday," said the Chamber's Executive Director, Alexander Stettinski. President John Bendheim added, "This event will bring the drive-in movie theater experience right to Beverly Hills' Greystone mansion and we're excited to celebrate this slice of Americana with the Beverly Hills community and our members. If you've ever attended a drive-in movie, you know it's both a fun and unforgettable experience."
O'Gara Coach Beverly Hills is the Presenting sponsor of the Drive-in Movie Night. Gold Sponsors are Wells Fargo, Sprint, and American Express OPEN. Silver Sponsors are Rothstein Kass, Northern Trust, and Eisner Jaffe Gorry Chapman & Ross. Bronze Sponsors are Endurance Artist Management at UBS, SSI, JP Morgan, Quick Foundation, B&A Management, Capital Group Private Client Services, Montage, Aon, and Ecology Control Industries. The event Media sponsor is Modern Luxury Angeleno Magazine and the Public Relations sponsor is 7 Second Strategies. The feature film is provided by Warner Bros.
For more information about this event, visit http://www.beverlyhillschamber.com/pages/Drive-InMovieNight or call 310.248.1000. Please note, all parking spots are currently sold out. Member Lounge Seating $150 | General Lounge Seating $200.
The Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce has served as the voice of the Beverly Hills community since 1923. The organization is committed to promoting local businesses and consistently advocates for Beverly Hills' economic interests. The Chamber's diverse members form a community of savvy innovators and business leaders who are committed to ensuring that the Beverly Hills economy thrives.
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Media Contact:Sheena TahilramaniTel: (202) 340-5536Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
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[wvns] Iran & Israel: Behind the Scenes
Iran and Israel - understanding the dynamics
October 06, 2007
The real threat that Iran poses to Israel is that Iran and the US may
start to get along, thus undermining Israel's strategic value to the
US and creating an obstacle to Israel's regional ambitions. Promoting
emnity between the US and Iran also gives the pro-Israeli lobby a
reason to exist, even though it is contrary to broader US interests.
By now you're quite familar with the standard trope in which Iran, the
crazed fundamentalist regime, is supposedly seeking nuclear weapons in
order to pose an 'existential' threat to Israel.
This is a convenient way to frame the issue, because among other
things is perpetuates the mythology of Israel as the underdog victim,
facing down a sea of irrationally hostile neighbors. That's why the
Israeli propagandists make a particular effort at locating and
magnifying any statements from Iranian officials that they can
characterize as being threatening to Israel - for example the alleged
statement by Ahmadinejad (the New Hitler, we are told) about "wiping
out" Israel - now thoroughly debunked but still often repeated. The
mythology of Israel as the always-victim was never true of course, as
even Israeli historians now acknowledge - nor is it an accurate
representation of the Israel-Iran dynamics either.
The real threat to Israel: US-Iran engagement
What is the real nature of the threat that Iran poses to Israel? Is it
that Iran is going to drop a nuke on Israel? No. According to Trita
Parsi, author of Treacherous Alliance: The Secret Dealings of Israel,
Iran, and the United States, Israel has often gotten along and
cooperated with Iran when it suited their interests. In fact, when
AIPAC was pushing for US sanctions laws on Iran that prohibited
American companies from doing business with Iran, Israel was busy
doing business with Iran through Turkey. The danger that Iran poses to
Israel is not that Iran may one day decide to nuke Israel - the
Iranians are not about to get into a sucidal nuclear exchange with
anyone - no matter how hard the Israelis try to portray Iranians as
crazed fundamentalists. Rather, the real danger posed by Iran to
Israel is that Iran and the US may start to get along, leaving Israel
out in the cold, threatening Israel's strategic value to the US, and
posing an obstacle to Israel's domination of the Middle East. A
secure, economically-stable Iran - which has the benefit of nuclear
energy to power its economy in the future and is perceived as being
technologically advanced - plus Iran's strategic position and
relatively well-educated population of 75 million potential consumers
of US goods, added to many other factors - all would pose too much of
a temptation to the US to start to warm up to Iran - especially now
that the Cold War is over and Israel's strategic utility to the US is
severely diminished (assuming Israel was ever a strategic asset during
the Cold War in the first place.)
As Trita has written,
"[I]t wasnâ™t Iran that turned the Israeli-Iranian cold war warm â"
it was Israel . . . The Israeli reversal on Iran was partially
motivated by the fear that its strategic importance would diminish
significantly in the post-cold war middle east if the then president
(1989-97) Hashemi Rafsanjaniâ™s outreach to the Bush Sr
administration was successful."
And so,
Israeli politicians began painting the regime in Tehran as fanatical
and irrational. Clearly, they maintained, finding an accommodation
with such âœmad mullahsâ was a non-starter. Instead, they called on
the US to classify Iran, along with Saddam Husseinâ™s Iraq, as a
rogue state that needed to be âœcontained.â
The Iran-Bashing Industry
Israel's characterization of Iran as an irrational threat that has to
be contained rather than engaged has had the added benefit of
providing a raison d'etre for the hardline pro-Israeli lobby in the US.
By 1993, with the end of the Cold War and the start of the
Israeli-Palestinian peace process under Rabin, AIPAC had lost its
purpose and was in a tailspin due to a series of scandals. It had
essentially broken off from the Labor government in Israel over the
peace process, and had alienated Bush I administration too. AIPAC's
swing to the hardline Right had also alienated a good chunk of the
Jewish community in the US and had raised quite a bit of ire &
controversey all around: by its attempts to impose its hawkish views
on the Washington Jewish Week; disclosure by the Village Voice in Aug
92 that a unit of AIPAC had investigated and harassed dovish Jewish
peace groups; leaked memos of how AIPAC intended to discredit figures
such as Jerome Segal of the Jewish Peace Lobby, Jim Zogby and Jesse
Jackson; Rabin explicitly telling AIPAC to back off; Shamir's conflict
with Bush I over loan guarantees, etc - all made worse by a series of
other scandals and in-fighting which led to the resignations of top
AIPAC officials like Thomas Dine, David Steiner, and Harvey
Friedman... In fact in June 1993, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister
Yossi Beilin explicitly stated that AIPAC was a right-wing lobby that
represented neither his government nor the views of the American
Jewish public.
But then came the issue of Iran's award of a lucrative oil contract to
Conoco as an opening gesture to the US. It was a Godsend to AIPAC,
which rallied hard behind sanctions legislation along with Senator
Alfonse D'Amato. With the election of Netanyahu and Indyk's "Dual
Containment" policy in ascendance, AIPAC got back in business as never
before, and they went to town over Iran, pushing harder and harder on
primary then secondary sanctions legislation. Now they've gone
completely overboard and are overtly embracing the likes of Rev Hagee
who explicitly calls for an apocalyptic war on Iran.
In short, with the end of the Cold War and the renewal of the
Palestinian-Israeli peace process, AIPAC needed a reason to exist & a
"threat" to rally around - and they found Iran. As Walt & Mearsheimer
have written:
In addition to this tendency for those with more extreme views to back
and dominate key organizations in the lobby, there is another reason
that many pro-Israeli groups have moved rightward: to keep
contributions flowing in. As Waxman notes, "Many American Jewish
organizations now need Israel to legitimate their own existence.
Although these organizations may have been established for the purpose
of enhancing and strengthening Israel, today Israel is vital for their
continued viability." Portraying Israel as beleaguered and vulnerable,
and issuing dire warnings about continued or growing anti-Semitism
helps maintain a high level of concern among political supporters and
thus helps ensure these organizations' continued existence.
And what is the natural conclusion of this sort of policy of "no
engagement with Iran" ?
Although it makes good strategic sense for the United States and Iran
to pursue a grand bargain, and although there is plenty of suport for
that policy inside and outside of America, it is unlikely to happen
anytime soon. Israel and the lobby will almost certainly try to thwart
any efforts to seriously engage Iran before they get started, as they
have consistently done since 1993...If the United States does launch
an attack, it wll be doing so in part on Israel's behalf, and the
lobby will bear significant responsibility for having pushed this
dangerous policy. And it would not be in America's national interest.
So now you know.
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"Amelio's demise doesn't really change anything" with the review, said David Roman, VP-advertising and brand communications. "From my point of view, it doesn't affect the time schedule by a single day."
Mr. Roman said he will complete visiting or reviewing materials from about a dozen agencies this week, narrowing to a short list after July 17 and then bringing that handful of agencies in on July 21 for a briefing.
Apple expects to pick a shop by Sept. 1 to replace BBDO West, Los Angeles, which resigned after Apple put the account in review.
Mr. Roman can't afford a delay; he wants the new agency's first effort to break in the fourth quarter for Apple's holiday sales push.
Apple's initial long list of agencies already has been winnowed as a few were cut or quit (see "Account Action" on Page 31). TBWA Chiat/Day, Venice, Calif., for example, declined an invitation. CKS Partners, Cupertino, a longtime Apple project shop, also declined. CKS handles Fujitsu PC Corp. and is expected to win Silicon Graphics.
Apple pushed out Mr. Amelio after just 18 months amid rising losses, shrinking market share and continued questions about strategy and execution. The company expects to spend about three months searching outside for what it called "a customer-focused" CEO.
Before Mr. Amelio's exit, agencies were privately weighing the odds of taking on so troubled a client; Mr. Amelio's tenure has been uncertain for months. Hours after his exit announcement, a top executive with an agency in the pitch vowed to ask Apple hard questions before deciding whether to stay in the review.
Apple for the interim will be run by the remaining management team. Mr. Roman said marketing, under Exec VP Guerrino De Luca, will continue on course.
"In terms of having a plan for where the company is going, we have a much clearer plan than we've had for years," said Mr. Roman, who works under Mr. De Luca. "We don't think that's going to change. Personally, I think the marketing plan is much stronger than it ever has been . . . I don't anticipate there will be any significant shift" in marketing direction.


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Local authors
Little Houses, by Eleanor Swanson. A smart collection of richly rendered short stories — some heartbreaking, some mysterious — by a Regis University professor and award-winning poet.
A Collusion of Powers, by V. Christian Kingsford. The second book in a series of action novels by Fairplay writer Kingsford. This one finds our hero in battle with various drug cartels.
The Cirque, by Martin Van Pelt. A former air traffic controller from Denver turns to writing; this adventure follows four friends on an ill-fated backpacking trip in the high country.
Fatal Descent, by Beth Groundwater. Mandy Tanner and her fiancé are on an off-season rafting trip when one of their party is killed by a bear. Wait, was it really a bear?
Ballistics, by D.W. Wilson. Booklist says, "Readers, who may be reminded of Russell Banks or Ken Kesey, will find this a muscular, often violent, and dramatic story."
Sisterland, by Curtis Sittenfeld. The best-selling author of "Prep" and "American Wife" turns her pen to the intimate, mysterious world of twins.
Instructions for a Heatwave, by Maggie O'Farrell. Can a massive heatwave bring a family to its knees? In this psychological drama set in 1970s Britain, yes.
The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells, by Andrew Sean Greer. Literary time travel takes our heroine from 1985 to 1919 to 1941 and back again. Is she the same person in all three eras?
Saved, by Ben Hewitt. The subtitle says it: "How I Quit Worrying About Money and Became the Richest Guy in the World."
The Alley of Love and Yellow Jasmines, by Shohreh Aghdashloo. Aghdashloo, star of TV's "24" and an Oscar nominee for "The House of Sand and Fog," writes about her life in and out of Tehran before, during and after the Iranian revolution of 1979.
Across the Pond, by Terry Eagleton. Subtitled "An Englishman's View of America," this is a humorous, insightful look at "irritatingly optimistic" American culture, warts and all.


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Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Just in time for White Friday!
Travel Doll Seed Stitch Dress
If you are at a loss for what to make someone for Christmas, there are many, many sites with free knit and crochet patterns. Starting with Ravelry, all you need to do is register (free!) and you have access to literally thousands of free patterns for dolls, toys, wearables, you name it. Many low cost patterns as well.
Lionbrand yarns is another great site for free patterns.
1500 Free Amigurumi Patterns is actually now 2000 free patterns, and a great site.
Crochet Pattern Central and Knitting Pattern Central are also great sources for free patterns.
So make yourself a cup of your favorite hot beverage, put a Christmas CD in the player, get out some yarn and the tools of your choice (needle or hook), and enjoy the day!
14 comments:
I like the concept of "white Friday" crafting. I hope I remember after going to the bank and to the grocery store. (They shouldn't bee too crowded. ) :)ReplyDelete
What a beautiful idea. I think I'll sit down and finally cast on my hubby's Christmas hat. :)ReplyDelete
Your doll is wonderful! You've inspired me to cast on my own Traveling Doll. She can be a friend to my little Waldorf doll that I knitted from your patterns. :-) This blog is such a treasure! Thanks for all your creative work and how your generous sharing of it brings us joy all year long!ReplyDelete
That is exactly what mother and I did. She helped me tidy up my yarn ends. I put some finishing touches on some handmades. And then we watched the evening news of stampede shoppers at the malls all around the USA. We were happily together and glad to be watching the madness rather than participating in it.ReplyDelete
I've never heard of "white" Friday but it is the perfect way to follow up the feelings of gratitude on Thanksgiving. Love your dolly.ReplyDeleteReplies
Hi Beth,Delete
I've been calling it 'White' Friday for a few years now, just to get away from the mentality of 'Black' Friday. I'm not opposed to buying gifts, but standing in line for the latest 'must have' that will be forgotten hours after it is received seems like an aweful waste of time and energy.
The season should be about love, not about things. Thank you so much for visiting, and for your good words. Happy Holy days!
She is so adorable!!ReplyDelete
Warm hugs:)
I think she is my favourite so far, what a beautiful girlReplyDelete


text:
Bladerunner Nano 3
Available on two different Infra Red bands to allow both models to be flown together this miniature marvel is supplied completely assembled ready-to-fly. Simply insert six 1.5v AA Alkaline Batteries into the Transmitter/Integral Charger for impressive indoor flights of 5 minutes or more powered by a lightweight Lithium Polymer Battery that may be recharged in just 20 minutes! This straightforward system makes the helicopter incredibly easy to control in comparison with traditional RC helicopters and has contributed to Bladerunners reputation as the number one flying toy in the US. When you've hovered soared dived and completed your reconnaissance mission you'll want to refuel. And if you do crash the Bladerunner RC helicopter's tough body will usually enable it to recover from potentially lethal crashes in minutes compared to the more traditional RC helicopters that often fall at the first hurdle destroying hours of your painstaking labour.Brilliant for both beginners and experts alike the Bladerunner Nano has a tough foam body and includes a bright red LED Search Light for fantastic flying fun in the dark. The stylish black Transmitter is easy to use with a central trim control knob for accurate adjustment and convenient charging connector stored safely away inside. Features: Dual Main Rotor Diameter 155mm (6.2) Length 185mm. (7.4) Rear Rotor diameter 30mm (1.2) Product Weight: Only 17g including Flight Battery. Rechargeable Flight Battery: High capacity integral Lithium Polymer pack. Charger: Convenient Integral Charger built into Transmitter. Simply plug in and charge with Auto Shut Off facility. Charging Time: 20-30 minutes for full charge. Flight Duration: 5 minutes or more between charges. Batteries Required: 6 x AA Alkaline Batteries for Transmitter/Charger. Specification: Supplied already charged and completely assembled Ready-to-fly with pre-installed 3 Channel Proportional Infra Red Control. Take off and descend turn left and right proceed forwards and backwards. Range: Up to 10m (30ft). Frequency: Infra Red Band A and B. Instruction Manual included: Providing helpful tips for either the new Helicopter Pilot or current BladeRunner enthusiast. Age Recommendation: 8+ Adult supervision recommended for operation.
|Catalogue Product Name
|The Hut
|Bladerunner Nano 3