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Bye-bye, Tox-eol: Condo tower exterminates sign
"Call Tox-eol." That old advertising advice hasn't been applicable since the late 1980s, but for nearly 40 years, the bold green and yellow sign near the C&O restaurant has been an unofficial downtown landmark. Now it's about to disappear.
"It'll be one less thing of beauty to look at downtown," says C&O owner Dave Simpson.
Familiar over the years for facing a parking lot at the corner of Fifth and Water Streets, the sign, in exuberant 1960s commercial lettering, promises "bonded termite control."
But now a developer promises a luxury mixed-use tower on the formerly City-owned lot. Dubbed the "The Holsinger," the new building will offer three stories of luxury condos (some topping $1 million) on top of two levels of retail and parking.
Developer Bill Nitchman, although building three or four feet inside his property line, acknowledges that the advent of the Holsinger means the disappearance of the Tox-eol sign.
"Isn't it a shame," says Chuck Pinnell, owner of the former Tox-eol building at 511 E. Water St. After buying the building in 1994, Pinnell lived there and operated his custom leather business for five or six years.
"I replaced bricks that had rotted out, but I did not touch the sign," he says.
Satyendra Huja, the now-retired Charlottesville planner whose office surveyed wall signs about two years ago, is sorry to see it go. Says Huja, "It's part of history."
So is Tox-eol. It was a national chain of extermination services based around a Tennessee company's special blend of pest-slaying chemicals of the same brand name.
But the parent company, Creo-tox Chemical Products, is defunct. And in 1995, the old Memphis factory location was placed on the EPA's "Superfund" list of contaminated sites. The Charlottesville Tox-eol closed in the late 1980s, and the number of former franchisees still using the name is dwindling.
The former Tox-eol service in Madison, Illinois, is changing its name to Barnett's. At the Tox-eol service in Salina, Kansas, the person answering the phone denies ever being part of a chain.
Even the onetime owner of the Charlottesville Tox-eol– the man who commissioned the doomed sign– says he won't miss it.
"I didn't like billboards, and I still don't," says retired exterminator and roofer Frank Terrell.
The only reason he ordered such a big sign, Terrell says, is that he was covering up scads of signs left by a short-time painting contractor who'd occupied the building before he opened the Tox-eol office in the 1960s.
"Every building downtown had billboards like that," says Terrell. "It looked terrible."
Yet such alleged eyesores obviously have their fans. Christine Madrid French holds leadership roles in the Recent Past Preservation Network and Preservation Piedmont.
"At the very least," says French, "adequate photo documentation should be completed before the sign is obscured."
Developer Nitchman says there's at least a month before the structural steel beams exterminate Tox-eol.
The Holsinger's rise will hide a Water Street landmark.


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This is an incredible visual penetration of a solid six sided block through two examined metal plates. Performer displays a large square wooden tube with three cut out holes on front and back, enabling the audience to see there is nothing concealed in the tube.
A large square die, (approximately 4" on all sides) is displayed. The die is a solid one, and all six sides may be tapped with a wand to establish it's solid nature. Two examined metal plates are now introduced through two slots on the sides of the tube, dividing this into three compartments. The metal plates project on both sides of the cylinder, and fill the entire inside.
The die is dropped into the top of the tube. It rests on top of the upper metal plate, in the upper third of the tube, and is clearly visible through the large cut outs on front and back. The magician claims he will cause the die to penetrate the metal plate, just like a ghost walking through a wall.
He strokes the side of the tube, and visibly the die penetrates through the plate, to the middle third of the tube. Again this is clearly visible through the large cut outs on front and back of the tube, and the die is now seen resting on the lower plate. The upper plate is immediately removed and handed out for examination. It is a solid metal plate, with no trap doors or holes.
This is now repeated with the die penetrating through the second plate, to the lower third of the tube. The second plate is now handed over for examination. Finally the tube is lifted off the base, and the die resting on the base is shown to be solid, and the tube seen to be clearly empty.
Regular Size - 8 inches tall
Stage Size - 12 inches tall
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subset: commoncrawl


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Join Forest Found for our new Wild & Free sessions for Home Educated children aged 5-11years.
We've planned a morning packed with opportunities to learn, explore, create and play in the magical setting of Farnley Hall woods. .
Run by an experienced teacher and Forest School Practitioner, this exciting and relevant programme offers children the chance to learn within an rich informal play environment whilst developing vital emotional and social tools to equip them to face challenge, become resilient learners and creative thinkers.
A few important bits of info:
Sessions will only be able to run if all spaces are taken.
A full refund can be issued if place is cancelled up to 7 days prior to the event after which no refund will be paid.
Parents are not required to stay with their child/children.
Please ensure your child/children wears appropriate clothing and brings extra layers just in case.
Please ensure your child/children are wearing sturdy footwear.
All children need to bring a bottle of water with them and a packed lunch. (Hot chocolate and marshmallows will be shared at the end too!)
There will be a form to complete on arrival to check any medical/learning requirements etc.
The site will be signposted but here are a few further instructions on how to find us:
Drive into the main entrance of Farnley Hall and then turn immediately right through the wooden gate. Make your way down the track to our site where you'll find space to park on the left hand side.
We look forward to meeting you in the woods!


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Pacers win in Atlanta to clinch series
Atlanta, GA – It wasn't easy, but the Indiana Pacers finally earned a road win against the Atlanta Hawks.
And it just happened to come in the series' clincher.
After dropping 13 straight games in Georgia's capital, including the first two of this quarterfinal series, the Pacers put on a defensive clinic early and held off the Hawks down the stretch to secure their second straight berth in the Eastern Conference semifinals with an 81-73 victory Friday at Philips Arena.
George Hill and David West each poured in 21 points, with Roy Hibbert donating a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double for the Pacers, who will visit New York in the second round after the Knicks finished off the Boston Celtics later on Friday. Game 1 of the conference semifinals will be Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden.
Al Horford led five Atlanta players in double figures with 15 points, while Josh Smith and Devin Harris each added 14 points for the Hawks, who shot just 33.3 percent from the field and went a woeful 3-for-19 from 3-point range.
"The first two games here, Game 3 and 4, we just didn't bring the focus. . ... I thought tonight we had the intent of coming out and guarding them, keeping them between us and the basket," West said.
Atlanta trailed by just one, 23-22, early in the second after Kyle Korver knocked down a jumper, but the Hawks went the next 12-plus minutes without a field goal to dig themselves into a double-digit hole.
A pair of free throws from Korver moved his team within two late in the second before the Pacers pulled away with a 13-2 surge spanning the second and third quarters.
Hill's 3-pointer just over 1 1/2 minutes into the third capped the outburst to give Indiana a 13-point cushion before Harris' driving layup less than a minute later ended Atlanta's field goal drought to make it a 44-33 contest.
Indiana responded with eight straight points to push the margin to 19 before taking a 65-50 advantage into the final frame.
The Pacers' lead was 17, 69-52, early in the fourth before Atlanta's offense came to life with a 17-4 spurt that found the Hawks within four with 3:43 to play.
Horford started the run with a jumper and added a one-handed slam late before capping the surge with 1-of-2 from the free throw line to make it 73-69.
Another Horford dunk with 2:41 left brought the Hawks within three, but Atlanta failed to find the bottom of the net the rest of the way, as the Pacers ratcheted up defensively down the stretch.
A shot clock violation against Indiana gave Atlanta the ball with 47.9 seconds left facing a five-point deficit, but West blocked Smith's 3-point try from the top of the key.
After Lance Stephenson split a pair from the line at the other end, Korver let fly a triple from the left wing that Paul George got a piece before West and Hibbert each went 1-of-2 from the charity stripe down the stretch to seal the outcome.
"For whatever reason we just weren't making the right reads tonight, and I think that kind of carried over throughout the game," Horford said.
Game Notes
The Pacers lost to the Miami Heat in six games during the Eastern Conference semifinals last season ... Indiana's last win in Atlanta came on Dec. 22, 2006 ... The last time the two teams faced each other in the playoffs was in 1996, and the Pacers won that series 3-2 ... Atlanta shot 6.7 percent in the second quarter and scored a franchise-playoff low nine points in the frame ... Indiana outrebounded Atlanta, 53-35 ... Korver finished with 12 points, but went 0-for-7 from 3-point range.


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Saturday, October 22, 2011
Recipe: Pumpkin Seed Coconut Flour Pie Crust
Note: I usually soak and dry a large batch of pumpkin seeds to have on hand. Using the ratio of one tablespoon of sea salt to two cups of pumpkin seeds, cover everything with water and soak for 8-12 hours. Rinse and drain in a colander. Preheat oven to 250° and place on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Turn frequently until crispy and dry.
Pumpkin Seed Coconut Flour Crust (makes 1 crust)
1 1/4 raw pumpkin seeds, soaked, dried and ground
1/2 cup coconut flour
2 Tblsp maple syrup or liquid honey
4-5 Tblsp coconut oil
pinch of sea salt
Preheat oven to 350°. In a food processor, pulse pumpkin seeds until finely ground. Add coconut flour and sea salt and mix until blended. Using a pastry knife, cut in the coconut oil and honey. Look for a consistency that holds together, but is still crumbly. Too much oil will cause the pie to loose it's shape while baking; too little oil will prevent it from sticking together in the pie plate. Gradually add more oil as needed. Press into a pie plate. If you plan to bake a pie in the shell, pre-bake the shell for 15 minutes. If the pie is in the raw format, bake the shell for 30 minutes. Enjoy!
Linked to Wellness Weekend, Grain-free Real Food, Sugar-Free Sunday, Weekend Gourmet, Monday Mania, Barn Hop, Mouthwatering Monday, Fat Tuesday, Tea Party Tuesday, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday, Tasty Tuesday, Real Food Wednesday, WFMW, Gluten-Free Wednesday, Health2Day, Full Plate Thursday, Simple Lives Thursday, Pennywise Platter, Fight Back Friday, Allergy-Friendly Friday, Freaky Friday, Allergy-Free Friday, Fresh Bites Friday, Living Well, Go-Ahead, It's Gluten-free.
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22 comments:
Hello, hello, Shanon! I just nominated your blog for a Liebster award--congrats! I truly admire your use of food as medicine and am insanely jealous of your almost self-sustainable kitchen.
- October 22, 2011 at 6:46 PM
- becky3086 said...
How interesting! I never thought of grinding up pumpkin seeds. We usually just eat them roasted and salted.
- October 24, 2011 at 3:58 PM
- Shanon Hilton said...
Hi Farmersmarketvegan - I'll be sure to pass on the Liebster love, thank you so much for thinking of me!
Becky3086 - We had to get creative with cooking when we discovered that my son was allergic to nuts and that neither of us can tolerate grains! It really is quite tasty! Thanks for stopping by!
- October 24, 2011 at 4:11 PM
- PaulaB52 said...
This sounds interesting. I"m assuming since you're using coconut flour, it's a bit more flaky tasting than almond flour alone?
I'm going to give this a try.
- October 25, 2011 at 8:04 AM
- Shanon Hilton said...
Yes, the coconut flour is the key to keeping the crust light and the coconut oil aids in the flakiness of the crust. Let me know if you try it!
- October 25, 2011 at 8:14 AM
I'd love to try this recipe; we use coconut flour a lot and I've been searching for a pie crust recipe using alternative flours.
Question: Where do you purchase raw pumpkin seeds (or are they from your pumpkins?) In stores around here, even at Whole Foods and Fresh Market, the pumpkin seeds are roasted & often salted.
- October 25, 2011 at 8:34 AM
- Shanon Hilton said...
We buy our raw pumpkin seeds in bulk from Superstore in the natural foods isle. We can also find them bulk at Nutters. I'm not sure if you have either of those stores where you live? Hope that helps! --S
- October 25, 2011 at 8:48 AM
- beyond the peel said...
What a great recipe. Nut free and wheat free. I'll give this recipe a try for sure. Love the idea.
- October 25, 2011 at 9:41 AM
- Trish - Sweetology101 said...
what a unique idea! thx for sharing.
- October 25, 2011 at 11:08 AM
- Liberty said...
Oh i have needed this recipe - cannot wait to try it. Here's what we do to protect out egg supply: http://bit.ly/uqFMmK
- October 26, 2011 at 1:33 PM
- Mary said...
This will be a great recipe for the crust of my pumpkin pies this year! Thank you for sharing :)
- October 26, 2011 at 8:32 PM
Fantastic recipe. I use walnut crusts without flour but I have a few friends that are nut allergic so I will be giving this a try! Coming by from the Foodie Friday Hop but glad I met a like minded soul.
- October 28, 2011 at 11:24 AM
- Brittany Kerlin said...
Can't wait to try this! 1 question, can i freeze these crusts? prebaked or not?
- October 28, 2011 at 3:52 PM
- Shanon Hilton said...
Hi Brittany, Good question. I haven't tried freezing them before. I would venture to say that you should freeze them unbaked. You wouldn't want it to get soggy when it thawed if it were already cooked. If you try that, let me know how it works out for you! --Shanon
- October 28, 2011 at 4:16 PM
Thanks for linking your great post to FAT TUESDAY. This was very interesting! Hope to see you next week!
Be sure to visit RealFoodForager.com on Sunday for Sunday Snippets – your post from Fat Tuesday may be featured there!
If you have grain-free recipes please visit my Grain-Free Linky Carnival in support of my 28 day grain-free challenge! It will be open until November 2.
- October 28, 2011 at 7:10 PM
- Miz Helen said...
What a great idea, this recipe would have the best flavor. I really want to try this soon. Thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday. Hope you are having a great week end and come back soon!
Miz Helen
- October 29, 2011 at 4:25 PM
- Shanon Hilton said...
Thanks Miz Helen! Please let me know how you like it!
- October 29, 2011 at 7:44 PM
- Deanna said...
That sounds amazing. I've yet to come up with a grain-free crust that I totally love, so this one is definitely going on my list.
- November 2, 2011 at 4:07 PM
- Unknown said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- April 16, 2012 at 8:09 PM
- Unknown said...
Quick question...do you grind the seeds with the shells on them? Oh I will be using a glass pie pan do i need to grease it 1st?
- April 16, 2012 at 8:16 PM
- Shanon Hilton said...
Grind pumpkin seeds with shells removed!
- April 16, 2012 at 8:18 PM
- Shanon Hilton said...
I don't think I've ever greased my pie plate! So, no, you don't have to, but you can if you want. --S
- April 16, 2012 at 8:20 PM


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How does Bitcoin work?
From a user perspective, Bitcoin is nothing more than a mobile app or computer program that provides a personal Bitcoin wallet and enables a user to send and receive bitcoins.
Behind the scenes, the Bitcoin network is sharing a massive public ledger called the "block chain". This ledger contains every transaction ever processed which enables a user's computer to verify the validity of each transaction. The authenticity of each transaction is protected by digital signatures corresponding to the sending addresses therefore allowing all users to have full control over sending bitcoins.
Thus, there is no fraud, no chargebacks and no identifying information that could be compromised resulting in identity theft. To learn more about Bitcoin, you can consult the original Bitcoin whitepaper, read through the extremely thorough Frequently Asked Questions, listen to a Bitcoin podcast or read the latest Bitcoin news.
How does one acquire bitcoins?
- As payment for goods or services.
- Purchase bitcoins at a Bitcoin exchange.
- Exchange bitcoins with someone near you.
- Earn bitcoins through competitive mining.
While it may be possible to find individuals who wish to sell bitcoins in exchange for a credit card or PayPal payment, most exchanges do not allow funding via these payment methods. This is due to cases where someone buys bitcoins with PayPal, and then reverses their half of the transaction. This is commonly referred to as a chargeback.
Is Bitcoin legal?
To the best of our knowledge, Bitcoin has not been made illegal by legislation in most jurisdictions. However, some jurisdictions (such as Argentina and Russia) severely restrict or ban foreign currencies. Other jurisdictions (such as Thailand) may limit the licensing of certain entities such as Bitcoin exchanges.
Regulators from various jurisdictions are taking steps to provide individuals and businesses with rules on how to integrate this new technology with the formal, regulated financial system. For example, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau in the United States Treasury Department, issued non-binding guidance on how it characterizes certain activities involving virtual currencies.
Can Bitcoin be regulated?
The Bitcoin protocol itself cannot be modified without the cooperation of nearly all its users, who choose what software they use. Attempting to assign special rights to a local authority in the rules of the global Bitcoin network is not a practical possibility. Any rich organization could choose to invest in mining hardware to control half of the computing power of the network and become able to block or reverse recent transactions. However, there is no guarantee that they could retain this power since this requires to invest as much than all other miners in the world.


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Susan Crowley, MD, FASN
Professor of Medicine (Nephrology); VHA National Program Director for Kidney Disease and Dialysis; Chief, Renal Section, VA Connecticut Healthcare Systems
Departments & Organizations
Office of Cooperative Research
In my position as the Veterans Health Administration(VHA) National Program Director for Kidney Disease and Dialysis, I lead the development of clinical policies and programs in nephrology for the nation's largest integrated health care system. As such I serve as Chairperson of the VHA Dialysis Steering Committee, chartered in 2010 to provide programmatic guidance to VHA and assist in the management of the delivery of dialysis services for all enrolled Veterans. I enjoy drafting evidenced based health policy, and collaborating with an incredibly diverse group of colleagues to source innovative solutions for clinical program needs. My experience as the former Medical Director of Dialysis for the VA Connecticut Healthcare System (VA CT HCS), a VA Dialysis Center recognized twice as a Clinical Program of Excellence by the Under Secretary of Health, provided superb clinical grounding for my current role. In addition, as Chief of the Renal Section at VA CT HCS, I've welcomed the opportunity to expand the diversity of clinical nephrology services available to local Veterans, as well as the clinical renal research initiatives and post graduate professional training opportunities available at the VA.
Education & Training
|Union University (1984)
|Albert Einstein College of Medicine
|State University of New York
|National Naval Medical Center
Honors & Recognition
FellowAmerican Society of Nephrology (2010)
Professional Service
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) (2015 - Present) Improving Chronic Disease with PIECES ( ICD-PIECES) Data and Safety Monitoring Board
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2014 - Present) Chronic Kidney Disease Surveillance System Advisory Group
Veterans Health Adminstration (2013 - Present) Center for Innovation in Complex Chronic Healthcare (CINCCH) Steering Committee
VA/DoD (2013 - 2015) VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Care of Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease in Primary Care
Veterans Health Administration (2010 - Present) VHA Dialysis Steering Committee
Department of Veterans Affairs (2010 - Present) VA Innovation Initiative Renal Technical Expert Panel
National Kidney Disease Education Program (NKDEP/NIDDK/NIH) (2009 - Present) Kidney Interagency Coordinating Committee


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CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The MIT women's track and field team's comeback bid came up just short, as the Engineers finished in second place by just four points at the NCAA New England Division III Championship held at the Shobrys and Aronson Track over the weekend. Tech earned 137 points, just four behind Williams College, despite a number of very impressive individual efforts.
Portia Jones gave the Engineers the spectacular effort they are used to seeing from her, earning a first and second place finish on her own while taking part in a pair of relays that were among the top two. The junior All-American set a new program record in the 200 meters with her winning time of 25.43 seconds. She followed that up with a runner-up performance and NCAA provisional qualifying time in the 400m (57.64). Jones was a part of the victorious 4x200 relay squad that also set an Institute record with their time of 1:44.57. Jones was then joined by Jacqueline Brew, Martha Gross and Jamie Simmons. Jones, Gross, Simmons and Hazel Briner then combined to take second in the 4x400 relay, finishing in 4:05.18.
Anna Holt-Gosselin had a record-setting effort in the 3000 meters, as the senior came through in 10:08.37, besting her own program mark by over three seconds. Martina de Gues also scored in that event, placing sixth with a time of 10:15.29.
Amy Magnuson had an NCAA provisional time of 8.47 seconds to lead a group of three MIT hurdlers in the top five of the 55HH. Magnuson placed third and was followed by Briner (8.56) and Brew (8.63).
Karin Fisher was the New England champion in the pole vault, clearing 12-5.50 feet to help the Cardinal and Gray sweep the top three places of the event. Briner was second clearing the bar at 11-11.75 feet in fewer attempts and Lauren Kuntz placed third, also vaulting 11-11.75 feet.
Jacyln Konopka was a surprise third-place finisher in the pentathlon on Friday afternoon, coming from her unseeded position to earn six points for Tech with 2,958 points.
MIT will continue with its Championship competition next weekend at the NEICAAA Championship, hosted by Boston University. The meet begins on Friday, February 25 at 11:00 a.m. and will feature the top teams in the region from across Divisions I, II, and III.


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SHOOTYOURSTUDIO is a blog on design studios. Product design, art, architecture, photography, fashion and music studios.
Actually any kind of place where something creative is going on.
However it does not present studios works but studios at work.
If you find our idea interesting feel free to SHOOT YOUR STUDIO and send one chosen photo accompanied by short information on your studio's name, website, country, kind of activity (for example: architecture, design, photography, etc) and photo credit to: firstname.lastname@example.com
studio's name:
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SSN's Anabolic Muscle Builder is an incredible tasting mass builder specially formulated to pack size onto even the hardest gainers. It offers caloric and nutritional support to anybody involved in strenuous physical activity looking to increase muscle mass or get better results from their work at the gym or on the field.
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Directions: Mix 2 scoops (±100g) with 300-400ml cold fat free milk. Lactose intolerant individuals should substitute cold water for the fat free milk. Serving size and mixing ratios may be adjusted to meet individual requirements and taste preferences. For ease of mixing use a blender or shaker. For best results take one serving immediately after weight training workouts. Additional servings may be taken during the day depending on individual caloric and nutritional requirements and ones need to gain muscle mass. Alternatively use as recommended by your nutritional advisor.
Storage: To maintain product freshness, store away from direct sunlight in a cool (<25°C), dry place and keep pack tightly sealed.
Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
There are no guarantees that every person using this product / service will see the expected results for sure. Results depend on a lot of factors and the results may vary from person to person.
- SSN Anabolic Muscle Builder XXXL 11 LbsReview by RAM
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Tequi-la-la is a nightclub in Grand Theft Auto V. It is located at the intersection of Eclipse Boulevard and Milton Road in West Vinewood, Los Santos.
According to the Vinewood Star Tours, Tequi-la-la used to be a restaurant owned by the mob, but it was closed after the "Adam's apple in the soup" incident of 1982. The bar was reopened in 1983 and became the Mecca of bands and fans of hair metal of the entire country. Its name appears to be a portmanteau of "tequila", a type of alcoholic beverage, and the French exclamation "oo-la-la".
The bar is comprised of three main areas:
- Main floor : Features the bar itself at one end with a stage at the other and a small dance floor between the two.
- Second floor : VIP lounge and technical/DJ area.
- Basement : Game room with a pool table, QUB3D arcade and darts board.
It is featured in the Strangers and Freaks side mission Vinewood Souvenirs - Willy, where Trevor Philips must steal a gold tooth from Willy, the bassist of Love Fist who are playing there.
Events of GTA Online
The interior of the club can be seen after The Fleeca Job is completed, when players are seen drinking, however, it still can't be accessed.
Tequi-la-la is the location for Every Bullet Counts III.
The interior is also accessible during a Biker Drug Business Resupply mission where the player is tasked with beating up Lost MC Members for the Supply.
Events of GTA V
After the Strangers and Freaks mission, the bar is available for purchase for $2,000,000. Once bought, it generates a weekly profit of $16,500. The player can then choose to participate in side missions such as picking up alcohol or defending the establishment from Gang Attacks.
It is based on the rock n' roll nightclub Whisky a Go Go, which is located on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, California.
Owner of the most legendary rock club in town!
Hi Mr. De Santa/Philips/Clinton,
My name's Cody and I'm the club manager at Tequi-la-la. Just thought I'd reach out and say hi to my new boss! You've bought a piece of history, dude. Pretty fucking cool.
Anyway, I'll keep you in the loop.
Rock on,
- Tequi-la-la.
- Tequi-la-la's marquee was seen in the first trailer for GTA V.
- The interior is only accessible in Vinewood Souvenirs - Willy. The front and back doors are locked for the rest of the game, even if the establishment is purchased.
- It became accessible in GTA Online during the adversary mode Every Bullet Counts III.
- The marquee advertises Love Fist playing "for one night only," although the sign never actually changes for the rest of the game.
- According to a certificate found on the wall in the entrance booth at the front of the establishment, Tequi-la-la opened on January 1, 2012, which contradicts the Tour Guide of the Vinewood Tour, that says that the bar was reopened in 1983.
- If purchased, Tequi-la-la will take 122 weeks to turn a profit over the initial investment, not counting bonuses from side jobs.
- The Vinewood Tour also mentions that there are rumors that the Love Fist song "Dangerous Bastard" was composed based on a party that the band held at Tequi-la-la involving mescaline and transsexual twins.
- The fact that the bar used to be owned by an unknown mafia family is probably a reference to the now nearly defunct crime family, the Los Angeles crime family, seeing that one of its members owns a pizzeria in the city of Westwood.
- The radio station that plays inside Tequi-la-la is Channel X.
- On the enhanced version of the game, the name of some of the jukebox songs can be read, with humorous names, such as 'Country Crap', 'I Ran Out Of Ideas', and 'Arrrggghh MAX'.
- Tequi-la-la's logo is available as a tattoo in the 'Right Leg' category, it is called 'Grub'.


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Today we would like to post a big THANK YOU to our sponsors. Many have donated time and materials to help make this event bigger and better than ever.
This post is to highlight Joy. She has done so much for us in the past year – we love working with her and her team. Joy is a landscape architect and a big advocate for "play". She coined the term Pop Up Park! and her pop up park was a true success. Check out her website: http://www.jklastudio.com/ Thanks for being a sponsor, Joy!
Here is what JKLA is all about.
The Main Goals
- To have a positive impact on the quality of life for people through sensitive, responsible and sustainable designs for the outdoors. We excel at creating specialized environments for health and learning.
- To promote the use of place-based or community-based design methods in landscape architecture in order to build upon existing culture and natural systems.
- To focus on the human experience of the landscape, by integrating architecture and assets of the outdoor environment, to create unique and inspiring spaces.
Our Markets
Our diverse markets provide the knowledge and experience to provide the best solutions to our clients.
- Corporate
- Campus
- Communty
- K-12 Schools
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Our Dedication to the Community
We are dedicated to improving the community around us by coordinating and sponsoring local services projects.
- Lt. Col. Matt Urban Community Center – Buffalo, NY
- Junior League of Buffalo Decorator's Showhouse – Buffalo, NY
- ABC TV's Extreme Makeover Home Edition – Buffalo, NY
- Pop Up Park – Buffalo, NY
- Ryan A. Bertini Memorial Meditation Garden – North Tonawanda, NY
- Cloverbank Elementary School – Hamburg, NY
Our Respect for the Environment
We design every project with sustainability in mind illustrated in the projects listed below.
- Niagara University Academic Complex Building at Perboyer Hall – Lewiston, NY
- Buffalo Public School 305 – McKinley High School – Buffalo, NY
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- JKLA Office Green Roof – Buffalo, NY
- JKLA is a certified WBE and DBE full service Landscape Architectural firm.


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Esper DPS Guide [Drop 6]
Moderator: Mod
Re: Esper DPS Guide [Drop 6]
Do the latest changes to GA set make it worthwhile now? And what Base multi hit chance are you looking at out of combat fully runed?
Re: Esper DPS Guide [Drop 6]
Yes the changes to the GA set are very good and should be used. If you are using multi melee build i am sitting right around 41.5% base unbuffed multi-hit right now.
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Straight Type Pin Header in stock
- Dirección: images/face/Panda.jpg
- Ciudad: HANGZHOU
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- País: China
- Listed: 9 noviembre, 2018 12:18 am
- Expires: 112 dias
|Product Information
Product NameH1.7 mm, Daul Insulator Daul Row Pin Header Connector
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text:
More than 60 percent of respondents to this week's RBJ Daily Report Snap Poll disagree with Gov. Andrew Cuomo's assessment of New York's property tax cap as a "tremendous success."
In reports filed recently with the state comptroller, more than 18 percent of counties, cities, towns, school districts and fire districts statewide said they plan to override the property tax cap in 2013. Last year, roughly 15 percent said they planned to override the cap.
Cuomo introduced property tax cap legislation soon after taking office in 2011, and the state Legislature passed it in June of that year. The law limits growth in the property tax levy to 2 percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is less, with some exceptions. Communities can override the cap with a 60 percent majority of a governing body for local governments or 60 percent of those voting on a school budget.
Last fall, Cuomo termed the cap a "tremendous success" and said it had held average property tax growth to 2 percent—40 percent less than the previous 10-year average. Nine percent of Snap Poll respondents agree strongly with Cuomo's assessment; nearly one-third "agree somewhat."
This compares with 37 percent who disagree strongly, and 22 percent who disagree somewhat.
Supporters say the cap is necessary because the local property tax burden in New York is highest in the nation. When Cuomo took office, the average paid by a homeowner in New York ($4,090) was twice the national median ($2,043), his report states.
Critics say the cap was not needed—because average levy increases already were moderating—and should be tied to mandate reform.
Roughly 380 readers participated in this week's poll, which was conducted April 29 and 30.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has termed New York's property tax cap a "tremendous success." Do you agree?
Agree strongly: 9%
Agree somewhat: 32%
Disagree somewhat: 22%
Disagree strongly: 37%
It's not working because the local communities, like Webster, have been overriding the 2 percent each year, so there really is no change from before. It's kind of a joke—a bad joke on the taxpayers.
—Fritz Odenbach, the Dolomite Group
There are too many loopholes and exemptions that allow taxing entities to increase taxes higher than 2 percent. For example, the school district in which we live is calling upon voters to approve a 5.33 percent increase this year. If Gov. Cuomo wants to make a real difference, he'll enact a law that imposes an across-the-board mandatory 2 percent tax decrease every year until New York is no longer the laughingstock of the rest of the country.
—Lester Wilson, Syracuse
The tax cap was sold to the state as working to lower tax rates—without impacting services, as a result of lessened unfunded mandates. Except the mandates didn't lessen. The schools and local governments were sent up the river, forced to either cut back on services or vote to violate the cap. If the mandates had been cut first, then the cap wouldn't have been needed at all, because the local governments and schools wouldn't need the extra money.
—Matthew D. Wilson
Frankly, I think it's way too early to tell whether the cap has achieved anything. The other side of the cap was supposed to be a reduction in "unfunded" mandates. Well, that hasn't happened.
—Jerry Lighthouse, Advanced Purchasing Technology
Please, this was a no-brainer by a pandering-to-the-voters politician. He should figure out a way to reduce property taxes by 2 percent a year until we're at a competitive level nationally.
—Dom Pullano
Do your bills go down if your income is capped? The tax cap is a disastrous plan. With a limited amount of flexibility, suburban school districts and local governments will be forced to continue to cut vital services and employees until they can no longer fulfill their intended function. Taxpayers will pay small increases but eventually will suffer serious diminution of services. All of us depend on well-educated students and efficient government. "Starving" them of money can only destroy both school systems and local governments.
—Lola Kelly
I understand that the property tax cap has been a failure due primarily to New York State mandates. The Yates County tax rate had a double-digit increase for 2013, far from the governor's 2 percent "cap." After careful review by many citizens, it was found that almost all increases were driven by state pension, Medicaid, social services and employee health costs.
—Craig Densmore, Penn Yan
It and the more recent SAFE Act were both hastily and poorly written. I question the quality of our elected officials and those they seek out to compose new legislation. This is not a new problem. Everything they seem to do is fraught with legal problems and is poorly thought out when viewed by even the casual observer. They are a sorry lot, indeed.
—Dave Scudder
Cuomo keeps announcing "success" as if saying it over and over will make it happen. The cap is really not a cap at all; it is at best a barrier to higher taxes, but not a very high barrier. Worse, to impose a "cap" without dealing with mandates is almost meaningless. New York is still the highest-taxed state in the nation, with the most anti-business government (although, Illinois and California are competing with us on that one). To claim the cap has been a success and "New York is Open for Business" is false advertising.
—Bob Sarbane
It's better PR than substance.
—Damian Kumor
In my business, I receive papers from all over New York. I see story after story of school districts, towns and other municipalities that are overriding it. No, I do not think it is working.
—Michael Knox
Stats lie. Cap is on tax levy, so rates increase beyond 2 percent with many loopholes. Growth in property values allows much more tax than people think.
—Wayne Shipman
The tax cap only limits the tax levy, which is the total amount of property taxes collected. Even if a levy is limited to a 2 percent increase, a tax bill could show an increase of more or less than 2 percent. That's because the bill is determined by the tax rate, which isn't limited by the tax cap law. Also, certain costs are excluded from the cap: pension expenses, capital expenditures and litigation liability awards.
—James Lieb
The property tax cap is a political ruse that does nothing to help overtaxed New York residents. It simply caps the amount of tax government adds to our already high property tax burden. Gov. Cuomo has done nothing and proposed nothing to lower property taxes. A cap that limited total property tax to no more than 1.5 percent of the true market value of residential and business property would do more to stop New Yorkers from moving to low-tax, business-friendly states.
—Michael Caceci, Pittsford
Does pushing on a balloon do anything (other) than create a dimple and expand the balloon elsewhere? We need serious spending cuts to allow for meaningful tax reduction in order to stop driving people and businesses out of New York.
—Keith B. Robinson, Diamond Packaging
Something had to be done to slow down school districts among other government entities, and this is an initial first step. We still need to do more.
—Peter Bonenfant
As long as Albany keeps pushing mandated programs on the local towns, villages and school districts, each in turn will have to override the cap to balance their budgets. Taxes here in New York are still on the top end, compared with most other states.
—Al Kempf
More entitlement cost-cutting needs to be done in Albany, along with pension and tort reform. If they don't address pension and tort reform, we'll never get out of this mess.
—Mark Wolcott, Rochester
While most people agree taxes are too high and growing too quickly, this program is a failure. What is does is give the state more control over the local governments, taking power out of the hands of the local voters. This is because the state has numerous mandates which it fails to fund, the state school aid formulas are subject to political whim, and the impact of fuel and wage increases on the budget. Wages are the primary expense, and many contracts call for greater than 2 percent raises. The math does not compute. The state should focus on its own fiscal house, which is sorely in need of work.
—Deb Gleason
A tax cap provision will never be successful as long as local government has the option to override the provision. Most local municipalities have voted to override. Another significant problem is the state enacting a tax cap without any relief on mandates made to local governments. In Albany, as always, it is business as usual and it is usually bad.
—Dave Sliney
We must cap spending but need to focus on other areas that are budget busters. Medicare and Medicaid are prime examples. New York is especially burdened.
—Don Dorschel
The "2 percent tax cap" may have been well-intentioned but was likely more of a political ploy. If anything, it raised people's awareness. What is really needed is structural reform that weak politicians are afraid to make. The Triborough Amendment needs to be repealed, public employee labor contracts need to truly "expire," and new ones negotiated based on today's economic realities. Savings need to be found! When the average civil servant's salary is higher than the average taxpayer who is paying that salary, something is wrong.
—George Thomas, Ogden
A "success" simply in the fact that local jurisdictions do not assume they have a blank checkbook of the taxpayers, but without meaningful mandate reform from the state we have just created another problem. The goal is to lower our property tax burden, and until we see that "success" is a relative term.
—Peter Short
The heck with the cap—it is just a license to raise taxes. And they got you to agree to it! Check this out: Find an amortization calculator and plug in $100,000 as a loan over 25 years at 3.5 percent interest. Got it? It should come out to approximately $500 a month. So if you pay $6,000 a year in property and school taxes, guess what! That's $500 a month (or $6,000 a year). So the government gets to charge you that forever and wants you to feel like costs are under control! On top of your mortgage. You gotta' love it! Even when you pay off your mortgage, Uncle Sam keeps on collecting. But don't worry, your rate isn't fixed with Uncle Sam—he gets to raise it 2 percent a year and you say "thank you." Andrew Cuomo considers this a "tremendous success." It exemplifies Andy's favorite mantra: "New York, Open for Business!" I think they have the definition of a free man owning his own property screwed up. Who is worse, the bank or the tax man? Wake up, "sheeple." The government makes more money on a pack of cigarettes than "big tobacco" does. The government makes more money on a gallon of gasoline than "big oil" does. The media and politicians would have you think the banks, oil and tobacco are taking advantage of you. Really?
—Lou Romano
How in the world could it be considered a success? It's only part of a comprehensive plan. What good is a new 75 MPG engine if it's driving on four flat tires? Without mandate reform, the property tax cap just makes local life miserable—the governor knows this but has one eye on New York and another on Washington. "A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways." James 1:8
—Steve Wichtowski, Honeoye
Maybe it is working because the local communities knows they have a restriction, so they will actually fight mandates and the other levels of government now have to listen. The ball is rolling uphill, but it is rolling.
—Bill Lanigan
The counties have been forced to fund certain programs that grow each year much more than inflation. Public employee pension plans have been allowed to expand far beyond private pension plans, Child Protective Services the same. Medicaid, the costliest unfunded mandated program would not be as costly had New York State not made it the Rolls Royce of the Medicaid programs across the nation. New York State claims to be taking some of the (burden) off the shoulders of the counties, but people fail to forget that the state gets its money by looting our pockets elsewhere. So whether there is a 2 percent cap or not the money will need to be gotten elsewhere and that is from productive businesses and we the people. Ultimately, spending is the problem. Until New York State, the counties, towns and cities begin to reign in that spending taxes will go up somewhere to compensate. The property tax cap is nothing more than smoke and mirrors. The money government spends must come from somewhere and that somewhere are the taxpayer.
—Michael F. Kloppel, chairman, Ontario County Conservative Party, Canandaigua
Truthfully, HOW would the readers REALLY know when we cannot trust our news media to tell us the truth?
—J.A. DePaolis, Penfield
The property tax cap is but a cruel joke. Taxing entities have simply voted to overrule them and the tax rip-off continues. The locals blame state mandates, and the state blames local for not controlling costs. And the unintelligent idiot taxpayers accept both arguments and praise the underhanded liars that make up the state government.
—Jim Weisbeck Bloomfield
5/3/13 (c) 2013 Rochester Business Journal. To obtain permission to reprint this article, call 585-546-8303 or email email@example.com.


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- The speed of trust � an undeniable advantage (11/24/18)
- Frustrated with declining Facebook performance? (9/8/18)
- How to build brand with Instagram (8/18/18)
- Geofencing is for everyone (7/28/18)
- Alexa, sell my brand � (6/23/18)
- Self-accountability key to sales success (6/2/18)
- Repeatable sales = scalable growth (5/5/18)
Your Biggest Competitor is Prospect Indecision
Ask about anyone in business about their biggest competition, and they'll likely offer up the name of a rival company. I'd argue that for most companies, the fiercest of all competitors is prospect indecision and apathy -- the predominant deal-killers faced by sales teams day in and day out.
Indecision indicates a discomfort level in pulling the trigger on a purchase the prospect believes solves a problem, whereas apathy is an overarching indifference for what you're selling. While both are often vocalized under the guise of the same objection -- "I need time to decide" -- the underlying issues are very different.
If a prospect is apathetic, they're questioning the need for what you're offering. When you sense apathy, question to determine if a real need exists. If it doesn't, end the call. If you know they can benefit, but they don't see it yet, help them realize the need by posing high-impact questions designed to help them discover missed opportunities or the real impact of a lack of decision. If they just aren't ready, move on.
With indecision, the prospect may simply struggle to make big decisions alone, needing a hand to validate the desire to move forward or not, or it may be a more deep-seated concern. While it can be challenging to detect the difference, the approach to overcoming either type of indecision begins in the same way. Early in the sales call, work to overcome the most likely prospect objections before they are even realized.
Then, if you still encounter indecision, utilize an assumptive close. Remind the prospect of what's to be gained in moving forward or lost in not doing so, and begin completing the paperwork necessary to close the sale. This will encourage a prospect to either move forward, decline to purchase, or voice an underlying objection. Either way, a decision of some kind has been made.
If the prospect voices what you believe to be a legitimate reason for delaying a purchase decision, then be sure to advance the sale by setting a specific appointment for your next call before you wrap up your current meeting. Make this a low-key five-minute check-in call and encourage the prospect to initiate that call to ensure they don't feel chased. If they call, there is a high likelihood a partnership will be formed. If they don't, check in to make sure everything is okay. If it is and they simply weren't able to make the call a priority, it's likely time to leave the proverbial ball in their court, moving on to prospects with a more immediate need.
Be proactive in tackling these prevalent sales challenges. You cannot afford to invest time and energy with a prospect who isn't genuinely interested or who isn't able to make a decision.
Lori Turner-Wilson is an award-winning columnist and CEO/Founder of RedRover, a sales training and marketing firm based in Memphis, Tennessee, www.redrovercompany.com. You can follow RedRover on Twitter (@redrovercompany and @loriturner) and Facebook (facebook.com/redrovercompany).
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Tramping it up
Hiking, trekking, tramping – Whether you fancy going alpine, coastal or forest,there's a route to please everyone in both the North and South.
The Tongariro Crossing is regarded as the country's best single-day walk and many rate it among the world's top 10 one-day tramps. The dramatic 19.4km journey takes you amongst the towering volcanic peaks of Ngauruhoe, Tongariro and Ruapehu.
The weather on the Central Plateau can get very wild very quickly so be prepared for everything. The track can be tough going but once those panoramic views kick in and you start feeling like an extra in The Hobbit, it will all be well worth the effort. Tongariro Crossing website
If you've ever arrived in Picton on a Bluebridge ferry you will have sailed past one of the South Island's best walking tracks. The Queen Charlotte Track stretches 71km through the heart of the Marlborough Sounds from the historic Ship Cove to Anakiwa.
It's easier terrain than you'll find on the Tongariro Crossing and suitable for both walkers and mountain bike riders. Expect to take three to five days walking, or two to three days on a mountain bike.
You can stay in private accommodation or in Department of Conservation campsites and the coolest way to be dropped at the start of the track is to ferry to Picton then hitch a water taxi. Heed the call of the wild and do it freestyle or, for added security and a friendly guide, take a four-day guided walk. Find out more on the official Queen Charlotte Track website
Whichever way you go, let's be careful out there. Before you set off check out the Mountain Safety Council's Seven Rules of Tramping.


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Estate Platinum Diamond Solitaire Engagement Ring 0.77ct
Product Details
An exquisite Estate diamond engagement ring! This lovely piece is made of platinum and has a single round Brilliant Cut diamond set within the center. The classic design has a beautiful 6-prong setting and the stone weighs approximately 0.77ctw, with I color and VS2 clarity. The inside shank is stamped "90 PLAT 10 IRID". The stone has been appraised by an independent and accredited GIA certified Gemologist and states the above grades are correct. It is an absolutely stunning piece and would make a perfect engagement ring!
Measurements: The ring has a finger size 4.5 but could easily be re-sized. When worn, the ring sits a little more than 1/4" atop the finger.
Condition: The overall condition of the ring is excellent. Besides normal surface wear, there is no apparent damage to the platinum setting or to the diamond stone, which is intact.


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I was so happy to read the nice words that Peanut Butter and Pickles wrote about Juno Baby's DVD, Juno's Rhythm Adventure. As much as I hate to admit this, I was actually so thrilled that someone noticed the book like packaging. We've gotten a few questions about our free iTunes downloads. If anyone is interested in three free songs, you can get the code by signing up on the Juno Baby mailing list. I've cut and pasted the full review below! Thank you Peanut Butter and PIckles!
Juno Baby music adventure DVD {GIVEAWAY}
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Music and kids go together like peanut butter and jelly (or peanut butter and pickles!). I was really pumped to get this DVD from Juno Baby in the mail for my daughter to watch. We've watched our Baby Einstein DVD's to death, and I was looking forward to trying something new.
The DVD comes in this really cute book-like case, and inside the cover is the DVD and a spot to put another CD you make yourself with a free music download code from their site. A great bonus, if your kids like to listen to music in the car.
My daughter (she's three) LOVED the Juno's Rhythm Adventure DVD that we were given. She wanted to watch it again right away and did not budge off of my lap the whole time. We talked about if afterward and her favorite characters were Juno, and the "silly pink bunny".
I liked the use of puppets instead of animation, and the use of original music from creator and composerBelinda Takahashi. The segments were short enough to keep my daughter's attention, and were colorful and whimsical. The songs promoted positive things such as walking and running and enjoying your friends. I also like that the DVD is also playable in French and Spanish. Watching something simple like this is a great way to expose a young child to foreign languages. The main focus of the DVD was finding rhythm in every day things, but I wouldn't have picked up on that theme if I hadn't known the title of the DVD.
In addition to giving you quality musical engagement for your child, Juno Baby is giving back to the community. They are very proud of their One for All project. For every Juno Baby DVD, CD or book purchased, they donate one item to a child less fortunate. Their goal for 2010 is to give away 1 million items!!!
BUY IT: Help them out with their goal, and purchase a book, CD or DVD for your little music lover. Juno Baby products are available at www.junobaby.com


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Facts of Life, The
Share your life lessons!
Family Ties
Stories from Jacksonville
New Jax Witty
Articles, reviews, advice, and legitimate research to go along with some back-handed comments. Think of us as Jacksonville's mother-in-law.
If You Have to Ask How Much Fortress Garage Suites Cost...
That's right, you can't afford one. If you have to ask, I mean. But they do (or will) exist in Jacksonville. 13 of 30 are sold at the location I saw near Beach and I-295.
If you don't have to ask, they start at about $170,000. People who are in the market for a garage suite more than likely own a home valued at 10x the garage price, as well as cars valued at more than my home's value. But they are real people, too, and they are totally normal once you get to know them.
Then there's that one crew that pools together for a garage suite because all four of the guys own one nice car. Except the one guy, we'll call him Todd, doesn't make his $42,500 payment. Never should have trusted Todd, boys. Not when it comes to money. Or dating your sister.
For most of the people, this is a man-cave deluxe. Some of the online renderings make it seem like where you might bring all your guys to hang out, complete with basketball hoop, but others have couches and intimate lighting, so maybe you bring your dates to see your NSX?
nice garages, with room for four cars and some weird observation deck where you can stand and look at your cars from above. And watch TV. I guess you could also fit more cars with one of those car stands that allow you to drive one car above another, since these garages are two stories high.
They are over 1,000 square feet. Somewhere slightly bigger than 20' wide by 50' deep. With RVs running about 8' by 30', maybe some people will store two RVs in their Fortress Garages, though it's definitely marketed for car enthusiasts. And no one owns two RVs, right? Maybe fifty motorcycles, none stolen.
So $170,000 gets you in the door, then pay your own utilities. There's a clubhouse in case you're not storing your Sega Genesis in the loft area. Or if you need more guy time once your guy friends stop coming along to stare at your cars worth more than their life insurance policies.
I assume some VIPs with Ferraris will pretend like they are going to work on their cars here, but I'm not sure if it's the right kind of setting for DIY oil changes and fixing the other 80,000 problems you get to own along with the Ferrari.
But it's a good place to start up that Cobra, rev it, pull it into the alley, show it to the other guys, and then slip back into the Cobra Cocoon.
And then there's the elusive guy who supposedly owns a McLaren F1, but he only shows up on Tuesdays at 10am when everyone else is at work, except the old guy with three Corvettes named after his three ex-wives.
You know what, I really want in. No matter how sad I try to make it seem, I'd love to have a special home for my 1986 Bertone X 1/9, surrounded by other cars loved as much by their owners, who would all understand why I can't sell my Precious. Even though my wife did make me sell my Sega Genesis, so I'll be over after I stare at my car a while to play Streets of Rage.
But the problem is that I had to ask how much, so maybe I'll just drive by the place a few times with my X, hoping someone will see me and want a selfie with their MR-2 or TR-7, and invite me into the fortress. Just for a fleeting moment, as a sing Calloway's "I Wanna be Rich" to myself.
Quick, Now is Our Chance to Kill Public Schools
Jacksonville entered into one of the most liberal educational experiments of any city when the city basically became the county. While I am not sure forced busing was ever associated with the move, it's still fairly unique as an attempt to bring all the awesomeness of the suburban schools into the city schools. Problem is that the suburbs are now, basically, in other counties (St. Johns and Clay), and that's where all the Duval educational hope has run to. What if, instead of throwing $2 billion into Duval Public Schools, we step back and see how we can do it all different once again? I'm wondering what our unique version of public schools might be today.
Consolidation 2.0
Sure, we could go to St. Johns and Clay and say we want in. A combined school school district covering 2,300 square miles. Basically the same size as Miami-Dade (except half of it's area is Everglades). Milwaukee asked for this sort of opportunity to combine with the rich suburbs for years. And since Duval already did this once, it's probably not even on the table. I guess I thought I'd remind everyone that since Jacksonville was really a trailblazing city in trying to save public schools here once, maybe some lessons were learned.
Technically, the city of Jacksonville has a huge percentage of the high-paying jobs AND all these new suburbs get out of such nuisances as Section 8 housing and public transportation, so there should be some way to equalize the educational systems. Basically, people leave the city to avoid the problems and find better schools, but their pocketbooks are very tied to the city, and the city has to recognize this without totally alienating those who have moved away. Good luck, since this is pretty much standard in every major metro.
UnConsolidate 1.0
So all the integration lawsuits and whatnot have gone away. Our neighborhoods in Duval are integrated to some degree, and busing is expensive and relatively stupid. Some of the highest ranked schools are in high-crime areas, and kids who live there take buses to low-performing schools. It's all a circus in order to pretend the school system works, and everyone pretty much knows that. If we UnConsolidate, the best schools will be in the best neighborhoods. I'm fine with paying for programs, police, extra teachers, charter schools, or whatever for failing schools in lower-income areas as long as my kids can attend a legitimately good school near me. I almost hate to be a snob, but we left good schools in Wisconsin and Kansas to come to Florida, where education is anything but a top priority. And we live in a county that does not have a good reputation even within that state. Like most people who have the means, I'll move my family to St. Johns before I'll send them to a joke of a school in Duval. And I don't even believe that St. Johns schools are all that special for all the talk, but at least they'd be on par with the Shawnee Mission schools back in Kansas or the Brookfield Schools in Wisconsin.
Kill em All
Yes, now would be the time to kill all local public schools and start over with something new. Back when I got let go from public school teaching, I suggested everyone else (mostly getting paid a lot more than myself) also get let go so that schools could start over with lower salaries. Sure, there was some spite in that suggestion, but I have also met some head-in-the-sand public school teachers in Duval who don't worry much about job security, even as schools don't perform well and the best kids move away or get siphoned off by charter schools. Or we could sell the schools to charter schools (I think that's the city council / mayor's plan), not unlike the JEA plan. Charter schools like operating in mini-malls and other obscure places, probably because it's easier to get out fast, so we could just tear down the schools to build some more housing, and let charter schools figure out the whole problem of facilities.
I'm not REALLY in favor of something like this, but now would be the time to think very big. $2 billion is huge when it's all about just rebuilding bad schools that have students leaving every year. Are you saying that for $2 billion, we won't even get a few boarding schools to house kids who would be better off away from home? Are there any brand-new buildings for those of us on the (somewhat) wealthier side of town, or is all the money just to rebuild old-ass schools where all the infrastructure is already dilapidated?
Basically, will a $2 billion investment somehow create a situation where Duval can compete with St. Johns for the wealthiest clientele? Follow me on this one, since it's important. When new subdivisions go up at the current rate in St. Johns and Clay for a few more years, we will see a strong desire on the part of these people (with jobs in Jacksonville) to try to find a place closer to work. That is a natural progression in urban sprawl. If Jacksonville's investment in schools takes this future desire into consideration, I wonder how it might change the needs for the same money.
What Then?
Jacksonville might be the only city in the country in a position to try out the straight-up capitalist model for education (choice/charter/private/vouchers). It also might be time to move good schools out of crappy neighborhoods. It might be time to invest in the schools in Duval's version of suburbia. Or maybe getting new schools will turn around our worst schools for some reason. No matter what, I look forward to a bold new plan that isn't just the typical money pit public school solution.
I do know that the worst thing that can be done is to just throw money at a system that doesn't work. The current plan asks for $15,000 for every student enrolled in Duval's schools. I'd bet that most of those families would be perfectly happy sending their kids to the same old, falling apart schools if they got a $15,000 check for each kid enrolled in public school. Heck, I'd enroll my kids for that.
I wonder, however, if anyone's asked the question of current students and graduates. THE question that all this money is supposed to answer:
What parts of attending Duval Public Schools made it difficult for you to learn?
That's the $1.9 billion question, really. As a graduate of Milwaukee Public Schools, I can tell you that my answer would have been about:
Students fighting during lunch or in the hallways.
Worrying about getting jumped by groups of kids.
Disruptive students in my classes.
Students who didn't care about learning in my classes.
Teachers who were probably awesome at one point but who were exhausted when I was there.
My stuff or my car getting stolen.
The bathrooms always being locked because of vandalism.
My high school was built 30 years before I attended. Maybe there were some small maintenance issues, and maybe Jacksonville has much more major ones, but the point is that if I'd been asked about it, my answers would all have been about safety, security, and learning environment, not whether or not we had the newest computers, science labs, or brand-new classrooms (we didn't). Five years after attending MPS, I substitute taught in many of the schools on the North Side of town, and my answer would have been pretty much the same. Old and new schools alike seemed clean. My former middle school (now a magnet school) was a "better" school than when I went there, and the building itself was a decade older. Same desks and lockers and classrooms.
Anyhow, if the Duval School Board is forced to wait a year before the referendum is allowed to make it to the public, maybe the question above needs to be answered first and foremost. If the answer locally is all about how the schools are falling apart and nothing else, then I would totally vote for the money needed to fix the central problem of education in the city. If it's more about people than places, however, then maybe the answer isn't as simple as brick and mortar.
Duval or DuVal or du Val?
I was just on an insurance website that listed DuVal as the county we're in. Some people go by DuWhatever, while others use DuSomething. Still others are du Frenchplace. So, I wonder what the deal is with Duval.
Duval County is named after William Pope Duval, who was the first governor of Florida. He was an appointed governor, so it's not like the people of the state voted for him, but he did rule over Florida for twelve years. Duval himself went by Duval, as can be seen in his signature:
Of course, Duval, regardless of how William spelled it, would have been du Val at one point. Just like duPont (as in Jessie Ball duPont), used to be du Pont, though I am sure some people around Duval County call it Dupont.
To recap, the person specifically for whom Duval County was named was named Duval, not du Val, duVal, or DuVal. So, unlike St. Johns, which people from Florida changed because...lazy, Duval County is spelled correctly. With ONE u, not three.


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sean foley necesitaba un nuevo diseño de impreso o envases y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 90 diseños de 33 diseñadores freelance.
Foley's has been providing good hospitality for over 30 years this project needs to be able to tell those in need of entainment for themselves friends, family,or work colleagues that Foley's is the place to go to during the St. Patrick's Day fetvities.
This Poster will be placed in a Advertising window Street Display to attract the public to come in including locals and Tourists.
Ok, So this Poster should be Irish, Fun, colourful and jumping out at the people on the street, telling them that not only is there going to be music, drinking and excitement but also we have a restaurant serving a great value meal.
I attach a demo Poster that I'm not happy with, but will give you an idea of where I'm coming from, together with a copy of a music notice and Menu that I have on file just to allow you to play with.
The wording will need to include the following:
From Friday the 12th to Sunday the 21st of March.
20 Days of Non-stop Paddy Fun.
The Best in Local Irish Music, featuring music every night, including:
The Bold Brendan
The Dublin Codger
The Nama Nutters
Plus, many many more!
Length 37
Width 18
Basically, I want more more emphasis on the fun and drinking end of things and to tell people that this is where they should be fro this period.


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Jindal: 'Silent war' on religion
In a Thursday night speech at Ronald Reagan's presidential library, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal will warn of a "silent war" on religious liberty in America and urge states to pass laws designed to block overreach by the Obama administration.
The 4,500-word address, shared first with POLITICO, touches on several hot-button issues, including same-sex marriage and contraception. Jindal, a potential 2016 GOP presidential candidate trying to woo social conservatives, argues that liberals will use the mantra of anti-discrimination to force people to violate their religious beliefs.
Story Continued Below
"The American people, whether they know it or not, are mired in a silent war," Jindal will say at the Simi Valley, Calif., event. "It threatens the fabric of our communities, the health of our public square and the endurance of our constitutional governance."
( Also on POLITICO: Is Washington working again? Um …)
"This war is waged in our courts and in the halls of political power," he adds, according to the prepared remarks. "It is pursued with grim and relentless determination by a group of like-minded elites, determined to transform the country from a land sustained by faith into a land where faith is silenced, privatized and circumscribed."
The 42-year-old governor calls the upcoming Supreme Court decision on whether government can force Hobby Lobby craft stores to cover contraception through their health insurance plans just one of the battles being fought over religious liberty.
Citing a piece of failed legislation in Illinois, Jindal suggests that liberals will eventually try to pass laws designed to pressure churches to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies against their will. He also will blast the New Mexico Supreme Court for ruling last August that a wedding photography business violated the state's Human Rights Act by refusing to photograph a same-sex commitment ceremony.
( PHOTOS: Bobby Jindal's career)
"This is the next stage of the assault, and it is only beginning," Jindal plans to say. "Today, an overwhelming majority of those who belong to a religious denomination in America — that's more than half the country — are members of organizations that affirm the traditional definition of marriage. All of those denominations will be targeted in large and small degrees in the coming years."
Jindal, a son of Indian immigrants and a convert to Catholicism, notes that religious persecution led the first pilgrims to cross the Atlantic Ocean. He speaks poignantly about the role religious groups have played in the push to abolish slavery and promote civil rights.
"America does not sustain and create faith. Faith created and sustains America," he is expected to say.
Jindal, whose second term as governor ends in January 2016, is positioning himself to carry the mantle for social conservatives if he goes forward with a run for the White House. He was the first prominent politician to decry A&E for suspending "Duck Dynasty" star Phil Robertson over comments he made about homosexuality. The network backtracked under pressure from viewers.
( Also on POLITICO: Jindal: Christie should stay RGA chairman)
"I defended them because they have every right to speak their minds, however indelicately they may choose to do so," Jindal says of the Robertson family in his Thursday speech. "The modern left in America is completely intolerant of the views of people of faith. They want a completely secular society where people of faith keep their views to themselves."
On March 25, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the Hobby Lobby case.
The religious family that owns the crafts store chain was told it would be fined $1.3 million a day if it did not cover morning-after pills for its employees under the Affordable Care Act. The federal government argues that Hobby Lobby is a for-profit business and thus not protected under the First Amendment's "free exercise" of religion clause. But the family considers birth control objectionable on religious grounds.


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10 Great Musicians Photographed With Their Dogs
When one of our favorite book blogs, the Millions, tipped us off to this great photo gallery of writers with their dogs, we thought about all the famous furry companions in other disciplines and realized how many of our favorite musicians have secret odes to their dogs. Okay, okay, so the whole story about "Mandy" being Barry Manilow's dog is an urban legend, but we're of the opinion that every hardworking musician needs a furry bellwarmer for the cold nights. Plus, we all know that the internet is mostly for looking at cute pictures of animals, so how could we resist? Click through to see ten musicians with their best furry friends.
Paul McCartney and Martha
McCartney's Old English Sheepdog Martha inspired the name of the song "Martha, My Dear" – though the track itself was supposedly about McCartney's onetime fiancée Jane Asher.


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SEATTLE (AP) - A Delta Air Lines Boeing 757 from Atlanta landed safely early Wednesday at Sea-Tac Airport after reporting a problem with the wing flaps.
Airline spokesman Michael Thomas says the crew followed procedures for an indicator warning related to the flap system and requested expedited handling by air traffic controllers.
Delta Flight 2329 landed at 12:48 a.m. It had 184 passengers and a crew of six on board.


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GE is the world's Digital Industrial Company, transforming industry with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive. Through our people, leadership development, services, technology and scale, GE delivers better outcomes for global customers by speaking the language of industry.
GE Oil & Gas fuels the future. We push the boundaries of technology to bring energy to the world. We are inventing the next industrial era in the oil and gas sector. In our labs and factories, and in the field, we constantly push the boundaries of technology to solve today's toughest operational & commercial challenges. We have the skills, knowledge and technical expertise to bring together the physical and digital worlds to fuel the future. GE Oil & Gas is a "fullstream" company, working from exploration and production to downstream. A $19 billion leader designed for a world of complex resources. The deeper, the hotter, the more remote, the more logistically difficult or environmentally sensitive the challenge – the more GE Oil & Gas can help.
Through project management expertise and technology innovation, we work to help lower costs, make things faster, simpler and more productive for our customers.
In today's era of complex resources, the deeper, the hotter, the more remote, the more logistically difficult or environmentally sensitive the challenge – the more we can help. The GE scale helps us bring new solutions to market quicker to help our customers adapt to the industry's changing environment.
We go where you go and operate side-by-side in 120 countries. The closer we are to our customers, the quicker we can anticipate and solve their challenges.
We're at work today, to ensure the next generation is equipped and empowered to go further and deeper, helping to
fuel the future.
Follow GE Oil & Gas on Twitter @GE_OilandGas.
GE offers a great work environment, professional development, challenging careers, and competitive compensation. GE is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.
Role Summary:
The successful candidate will be responsible for the shipping and receiving functions for first shift to ensure conformance to specifications and continuous production consistent with established standards.
Essential Responsibilities:
In the role of Shipping & Receiving you will:
Eligibility Requirements:
GE looks for innovation everywhere. For 130 years, GE has been at the forefront of innovation, but finding solutions to the world's biggest problems has never been more important than right now. Join us today and become an essential part of the solution! Not just imagining. Doing. GE works.
Start your career on the right path. Join our results-oriented team at GE Oil & Gas today!
Locations: United States ; Texas; Cotulla
Having technical issues with ge.com/careers or your application? We're here to help.
Stay up to date on GE and possible opportunities that open in areas that interest you.


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Took first tram up, put snowshoes on at Ranger Station. Trail is broken in to Round Valley/Sid Davis junction. Went up Sid Davis breaking trail to lower and upper
Tamarack. Brush was covered but did break through. Tried to go up to Miller Saddle but sank in to my hips. I had to rock back and forth to extract myself so called it at 12:30 and headed down. Still sank in too much. Bottom line, beautiful snow but needs to consolidate.
Merry Christmas,


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This from the official Whole Foods Market blog:
If GMOs (genetically modified organisms) are a no-go on your grocery list, then you'll want to make sure to shop at any US Whole Foods Market® store this weekend, April 19th – 21st, because hundreds of Non-GMO Project Verified products will be on sale.
Our selections will vary by store, so just look for the Weekend Sale signs. You'll find them on products that have been made following the best practices of GMO avoidance and third-party verified by the Non-GMO Project. Products like:
Eden Foods Canned Vegetables
Stahlbush Frozen Fruit
Lotus Foods Rice
Lundberg Rice Products
Erewhon Cereal
EnviroKidz Gluten-Free Cereals
Wholesoy & Co. Soy Yogurt
Way Better Snacks Tortilla Chips
Green Mountain Gringo Tortilla Chips
Theo Chocolate Classic Bars
Look Here to Avoid GMOs
The Non-GMO Project verified seal means the product has passed a third-party verification program and has been produced according to best practices and procedures to avoid the intentional use of GMO ingredients. To date, there are 3,300 products and 250 brands in our stores that are Non-GMO Project verified — the most in North America!
Want to know more about verification? Their Executive Director, Megan Westgate, recently wrote a blog post about the top three things you should know about the Non-GMO Project. Think about it – you vote with your wallet – the more Non-GMO Project verified products you buy, the more products will be verified as more vendors join in!
In addition to selecting Non-GMO Project verified products, here are a few other ways you can avoid GMOs:
• Choose organic products. All organic foods sold in the US must be certified to the USDA National Organic Standards, which do not allow genetically engineered seed and ingredients in the growth and production of organic foods.
• Use the non-GMO shopping lists found on each of our store's web pages.
• Buy our 365 Everyday Value® products. All ingredients derived from plants are sourced to avoid GMOs, and hundreds of those products are verified by the Non-GMO Project.


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1. "Cheap funds often outperform pricey ones."
If there's one thing people assume when shopping, it's that the more something costs, the better it is. It may not always be wise to shell out top dollar for that storm-cloud-silver Bentley convertible. But if you do, you can probably rest assured that you scored a nicer ride than your neighbor who bought a 10-year-old Corolla on Craigslist. But when it comes to mutual funds, cheaper — not pricier — usually means better. Sound counterintuitive? Think about it this way. Most investors regard the highest-quality funds as the ones that will eventually hand them back the biggest pot of money. Every extra dollar portfolio managers spend on items like researching stocks or hefty salaries for star analysts reduces that total.
Fund companies argue they can more than make up for any money they spend up front if they pick the right stocks. Indeed, some star funds, like the $5.7 billion Sequoia have managed to do just that. Although the fund is slightly more expensive than its peers — customers pay $100 per $10,000 invested, compared with about $93 on average — it's been worth it. An investor that chipped in that same $10,000 five years ago would have $12,457 today, compared with $10,436 for a fund that tracked the market.
Still, the trick for investors is picking a fund that will outperform over the next five years, not the past five. And many academic studies have shown that low cost rather than past performance is the best way to predict future returns. That makes the mutual fund business unique, according to experts like William Birdthistle, a law professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology. "It's the only industry where price correlates inversely to the quality of the product."


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What's your point uclown? What do you mean by "Seriously?" I'd really like to know, as a single word comment like that can be taken in many ways.
FWIW, I wasn't looking for thanks, a pat on the back, or international recognition, merely a reply.
Jean, there was no need for an apology and I didn't feel you meant me any harm, at least now you've acknowledged my input.
I posted on Real Curry Recipes so can you!
And.....everyone breathe......
Hi Just came across this recipe and forum for the first time the other day, i've always been a keen cook and gave this a go after making the MB3, without doubt the best curry i have ever made! thanks
I posted on Real Curry Recipes so can you!
Well done bm it's good to hear it worked well for you.
I posted on Real Curry Recipes so can you!
hey everyone,
This might be a daft question, but I was wondering how much "10 pieces of chicken" is? How many does the recipe feed?
I'm an expat living in Australia, and couldn't find a garlic chilli chicken anywhere, but this recipe looked so good that I thought I'd give it a bash! The base is bubbling away just now and smells great. They don't sell coconut block over here so I've had to use coconut cream (with the watery part sieved) instead, so I'll see how that goes.
Thanks for the recipe, really looking forward to it
I posted on Real Curry Recipes so can you!
Hi Furious, chicken pieces in these recipes.are typically bite size chunks of precooked chicken breast. As an average, one standard breast would yield 8-10 pieces when cut up. Hope that helps!
Thanks for the quick reply! Definitely helps.
The finished product was brilliant - just what I remembered from getting take away in Glasgow. Thanks again for the recipe.
Last edited by Furious_D; 05-07-2014 at 12:50 PM.
I posted on Real Curry Recipes so can you!


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Halloween can be a catalyst for unique lawsuits. A 2011 article in the New York State Bar Association Journal, titled Case Law from the Crypt: The Law of Halloween summarizes some of these strange cases.
In one case, the plaintiff alleged that a neighbor's holiday decorations—which included an "'Insane Asylum' directional sign pointed towards the plaintiff's house" and a tombstone referencing the plaintiff— were "defamatory, harassing, and caused emotional distress." In addition to claims involving Halloween decorations, other cases have involved injury to persons or property and provocative costumes in the workplace.
In her new book, Halloween Law, Law Professor Victoria Sutton calls Justice Scalia the "father of Halloween Law." During oral argument in Central Virginia Community College v. Katz, 546 U.S. 356 (2006), held on October 31, 2005, a light bulb exploded loudly. This led to the following exchange:
Justice Scalia: Light bulb went out.
Chief Justice Roberts: It's a trick they play on new justices all the time.
Justice Scalia: Happy Halloween.
Justice Ginsburg: That's the idea
Justice Roberts: Take your time.
Justice Scalia: We're even more in the dark now than before.
Listen to the Oral Argument on Oyez.org here (explosion at 42:59).
Happy Halloween!!


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P(r)aying for PEP
Recently, an HIV service provider in New York City shared his experience after being exposed to HIV through sexual contact. He is well-informed about HIV and had received information about HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) at an ACRIA training. It was fortunate for him that he had attended this training, but many others aren't lucky enough to have this information.
PEP offers the possibility of preventing HIV transmission when exposure to HIV has already occurred, through either occupational or sexual exposure. Current guidelines recommend starting HIV medications within 36 hours of exposure and continuing them for 30 days. But more information needs to be available to those who are exposed to HIV through sex. If you ask people who are relatively well-informed about HIV what they would do if they were sexually exposed to the virus, chances are that not many will have a good grasp of PEP. This is where we rely on medical providers, even those who are not HIV specialists, to be informed of current PEP guidelines.
Many states follow the CDC's guidelines for PEP or have developed their own. These include consideration of side effects, adherence concerns, risks and benefits, cost of care, payment for medications, and public health impact. Even more important, these guidelines stress that a person who has been exposed to HIV should be able to walk into any emergency room and ask for PEP. If the person has had a significant exposure to HIV, such as unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse with someone with HIV or of unknown HIV status, PEP should be provided. PEP is not of course a substitute for proven HIV prevention methods like condoms, but in an emergency it is an important option.
When my friend walked into the ER of a hospital in the Bronx, he spoke with intake personnel who had no clue what PEP was. He was shocked. He was repeatedly asked for an explanation, until he was forced to share that he had been exposed to HIV, with other patients sitting nearby. He informed the intake staff that New York State guidelines specify that he receive treatment within 36 hours, and that he had been exposed 28 hours earlier. They promised he would be seen quickly.
Three hours later, he was finally able to see a doctor (now hour 31), was told that there weren't any HIV testers available, and that he would need to get tested in three months. He explained he was there for PEP and needed an immediate HIV PCR test, which would provide valuable information about the degree of his exposure. The doctor looked at him as if he was nuts, had some back-and-forth with another doctor, and finally offered PEP (now hour 32). He was given three days' worth of Viread and Combivir and a prescription for a month's supply. He was told he could take it then or wait until the morning. Fortunately, he knew enough to take it immediately, as he would have been past the suggested 36 hours by morning.
Unfortunately, when he filled the prescription, he got a surprise: he had to pay $1,880, since his private insurance would not cover drugs for PEP. He was able to afford that, but what would have happened if he couldn't? Medicaid and Medicare cover PEP, but many private insurance companies do not.
The next day, a doctor at the hospital called to tell him to come back for a PCR test. But when he returned to the ER, he found a different receptionist who asked him to explain what a PCR test was, why he was there, and the name of his doctor. Again he had to discuss his HIV exposure in front of other patients. When he finally saw a doctor, he was once again told he needed to wait three months to get tested. He informed him he was there for a PCR test and not an antibody test. Finally, the doctor he had spoken with earlier came to the ER and clarified everything.
The mix-up seemed to be solved ... until the hospital found that they didn't have a PCR sample tube in the ER. The doctor apologized and stated that he was unaware of PEP guidelines. My friend asked, "So am I the first person you've treated with PEP?" The doctor said, "No, we've treated others for occupational exposure" -- surprising, since he was unaware of the NYS PEP guidelines.
Fortunately, his PCR test came back negative and, due to his insistence, he had begun PEP in time. But what would have happened had he been less well informed? Would PEP and a PCR test have been offered?
It's important that ERs not only have written guidelines for PEP but that all service providers be familiar with them. Moreover, part of the process should be not only providing three doses of medications, but also giving patients the information about which pharmaceutical companies will pay for PEP. (GlaxoSmithKline will cover costs for uninsured patients only, whereas Gilead and Abbott will cover insured patients if income requirements are met.)
Local and state health departments need to create quality assurance processes to check whether PEP is being implemented in a sensitive and timely manner, from the moment a patient walks into the ER until he or she walks out with a three-day dose and a voucher for medications if needed. Perhaps health department investigators need to do surprise mock visits to hospitals posing as patients to see if the guidelines are being implemented.