text:
The 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is being held in Paris, France from November 30th to December 11th.
In 2015 COP21, also known as the 2015 Paris Climate Conference, will, for the first time in over 20 years of UN negotiations, aim to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate, with the aim of keeping global warming below 2°C.[1]
Emission reduction targets
Region | Post-2020 Target |
Australia | 26 to 28 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 |
China | Peak CO2 emissions around 2030 Cut CO2 emissions per unit of GDP by 60 to 65 per cent from 2005 level |
United States | 26 to 28 per cent below 2005 levels by 2025 |
European Union | 40 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels |
Russia | 70 to 75 per cent below 1990 levels by 2030 |
Announcement and policies
The African Union announced it will double the continent's energy capacity by 2030 using only clean, renewable energy.
Thirty developing countries from the Climate Vulnerable Forum pledged to support 100% renewable energy by 2050, as did 1,000 city mayors from around the world.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande launched a 120 nation solar alliance, which committed funds to grow solar power to increase energy access for the poor.
A coalition has emerged at the conference of 105 of the most vulnerable countries that are after a 1.5℃ limit to global temperature rise.[2]
Fossil fuel subsidy reform communique
The fossil fuel subsidy reform communique, led by New Zealand, encourages countries to phase out subsidies to help limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius, extending on previous commitments made by the G20 in 2009.
Australia refused to sign the communique, even though Australian taxpayers subsidise the fossil fuel industry A$182 per taxpayer every year. $9.4 billion over the next four years will be handed out to the most profitable fossil fuel companies in Australia. Australian politicians are captive to "big coal" in particular – which donates to both major political parties.[3]
The communique – which was ceremonially handed over to the UNFCCC head Christina Figueres – stated that even a partial phase out of fossil fuel subsidies would generate 12% of the total abatement needed by 2020 to keep the door open to meet the 2°C target.
Greg Hunt extends the "Australia Clause"
Environment Minister Greg Hunt got what the Turnbull government had keenly sought: the acceptance of accounting rules that allow Australia unrestricted access to the 128 million tonnes of surplus emissions credits it claims from the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. That surplus will allow a big increase of emissions above current levels, and should the current upward trajectory of pollution breach the weak targets, Australia – once it ratifies stage two of the Kyoto Protocol – will get to tap international carbon markets to make up the difference.
At present prices, UN certified carbon units are selling for under $1 a tonne – a bargain compared with the $13.12 a tonne paid by the Abbott-Turnbull governments under its $2.55 billion Emissions Reduction Fund.
Hunt's success was to nullify opposition from tiny St Lucia in the Caribbean and South Africa to Australia's preferred definition of carbon emissions to include deforestation.
Had Australian negotiators not prevailed, the country would likely have struggled to meet the modest goal of cutting 2000 level emissions by 5 per cent by 2020. Excluding land use changes, the increase could be as high as 11 per cent, Melbourne University estimates.[4]
Australia ranked third last in an annual assessment of 58 nations' climate policies
Australia has come third last in an annual assessment of 58 nations' climate policies, with only Saudi Arabia and Kazakhstan ranking worse.
The assessment by Germanwatch and Climate Action Network Europe was released at the Paris climate summit, just one day after foreign minister Julie Bishop told the assembled ministers Australia was meeting and beating its climate targets and transforming its energy production.[5]
Australia awarded "Fossil of the Day"
Activists in Paris awarded Australia the "fossil of the day" award – a dubious honour given to a country that has done the most in the past 24 hours to stop a meaningful response to climate change, following a speech from Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop who stated that traditional energy sources such as coal would "remain a significant part of the global energy mix for the foreseeable future".
"Barring some technological breakthrough, fossil fuels will remain critical to promoting prosperity, growing economies and alleviating hunger for years to come"
Final text of agreement
The final agreement was endorsed by 190 countries with the new treaty commencing in 2020. It is hoped that the deal will limit global warming – which threatens humanity with rising seas and worsening droughts, floods and storms – to well below 2 degrees Celsius, perhaps 1.5.[7][8]
Final agreement: ADOPTION OF THE PARIS AGREEMENT, Proposal by the President, Draft decision CP.21 (PDF)
NGO responses
Here's what the many NGOs here in Paris think of the final draft. It's overwhelmingly positive with caveats.
Avaaz: "a turning point in history, paving the way for the shift to 100% clean energy that the world wants and the planet needs"
WWF UK: "We have a clear vision in the strong long term goal; mechanisms to address the gap between that aspiration and the countries' current commitments; and the foundations for financing the transition to a low-carbon future." Greenpeace: "The wheel of climate action turns slowly, but in Paris it has turned. This deal puts the fossil fuel industry on the wrong side of history. There's much in the text that has been diluted and polluted by the people who despoil our planet, but it contains a new imperative to limit temperature rises to 1.5C."
350.org: "This marks the end of the era of fossil fuels. There is no way to meet the targets laid out in this agreement without keeping coal, oil and gas in the ground."
EDF (Environmental Defense Fund): The agreement will send a powerful, immediate signal to global markets that the clean energy future is open for business. It makes a moral call for dramatic action that leaves no one behind, and it moves us closer to the crucial turning point when global carbon emissions, which have been rising for more than two centuries, finally begin to decline."
Christian Aid: "This is a historic agreement and the culmination of a path the world set out on four years ago."
Cafod, Catholic aid agency: "For poor people living on the frontline of climate change this deal offers hope for a brighter future, but not yet the security that we'll get there quick enough."
E3G, thinktank: "The transition to a low carbon economy is now unstoppable, ensuring the end of the fossil fuel age."
ActionAid: "what we have been presented with doesn't go far enough to improve the fragile existence of millions around the world"
Dermot O'Gorman, WWF-Australia, CEO: "The agreement puts in place a global framework that sees countries continually strengthen the pollution reduction targets they set over time."
"Paris marks the end of the fossil fuel age, and the acceleration of the renewable energy era, sending a clear long-term signal to business and investors."
"Now that we have a new global agreement, it's time for the Australian government to step up and put in place a long-term plan to achieve its promised pollution reductions. This plan should include policies to clean up and modernise our energy sector, and a ramp-up of funding to help vulnerable nations and communities adapt to climate change."
Helen Szoke, Oxfam Australia, Chief Executive: "The Paris agreement can be a major marker in the fight against hunger, poverty and inequality. But only if countries including Australia now match what has been agreed with action. And fast."
"The real leadership in Paris came from those on the frontline of the climate crisis, including our Pacific neighbours, and from the millions of people around the world already working to build a resilient and sustainable future."
"The outcome demands Australia now step up, transition rapidly from a polluting backwater to a modern clean energy economy, and provide far greater support to poorer countries with tackling climate change."
Kelly O'Shanassy, Australian Conservation Foundation, CEO: "For the first time in history, humanity has agreed to limit pollution and create a pathway towards a safer climate. Now the real work starts and Australia, as one of the world's biggest polluters, must do its fair share to cut pollution.
"As we head into the 2016 election year, ACF urges Prime Minister Turnbull to listen to the millions of Australians and people around the world calling for a better future by making genuine changes that will unshackle our country from dirty energy and pave the way for a truly innovative renewable future.
Ben Davison, Chief of Staff, ACTU: "It is crucial as we make the transition towards a net zero emissions planet that it is a just transition.
"Working people, low income households, the poorest nations and their communities should not bear the costs of the Climate change whether through job destruction, lack of access to new energy sources or destruction of their Eco systems.
"While we would have preferred stronger language and more ambition, the paris agreement does provide us with a baseline from which to build that just transition and we will be continuing to work with civil society, business and government towards a better outcome after COP21."
Josh Gilbert, Chair, NSW Young Farmers: "The COP21 Paris agreement is an exciting time for Australia, particularly the Australian agricultural sector.
"It is widely recognised that farmers are on the front lines of climate change and that there is a great opportunity for farmers to not only feed and clothe the world, but also power and empower our communities through renewables.
"I also welcome comments regarding the importance of food security. In the next 35 years, farmers will need to double food production to feed an additional 2.3 billion people. While there will be challenges in Australia to help accomplish this feat, particularly climate change and urban encroachment, there is also a great opportunity to share our knowledge systems internationally with our colleagues.
Jaden Harris, Climate Change Campaigner, Australian Youth Climate Coalition: "This historic agreement gives young people hope that a safe climate future is still within reach. We're still on track for a 3-degree warmer world, which would devastate vulnerable communities worldwide, but now we have a structure to increase ambition and young people will lead the call to use it.
"The transition to a clean energy future is inevitable, today confirms the fossil fuel era is coming to an end. Australia is being left behind, Turnbull needs to match our rhetoric in Paris with real change back home. Young people are missing out on the opportunities of renewable energy and the fairer society it helps create"
Michael Jacobs, Senior Adviser for the New Climate Economy project, and former advisor to UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown: "This is a historic moment. The world's governments have finally understood what the science has long been telling them – we have to act now if the earth's climate is to remain safe. Today they have committed to act – and to act together. Historians will see this as the turning point: the moment when the world started shifting decisively away from fossil fuels and towards clean and safe energy systems. Remarkably this effectively signals the end of the fossil fuel era. This is unquestionably a great success. But the work really starts now. These commitments now need to turn into policy, and policy into investment. They can congratulate themselves for 24 hours – now they need to act."
- Media contact: Benjamin Jullien, email@example.com +33 669 016 384
Jennifer Morgan, World Resources Institute: "This agreement would mark a true turning point in the global effort to address climate change. The text reflects both the push for high ambition and the voices of the most vulnerable. It accelerates the energy transformation that is well underway, pointing us to a safer and stronger future."
- Media contact: Rhys Gerholdt, email@example.com +1 202 341 1323
Monica Araya, member of the Climate Vulnerable expert group: "This agreement marks the beginning of a new era where we find good examples of climate action from all, developed and developing countries, because it is in everyone's best interests to do so. It is no longer about who is acting and who is not, but how strong the world can act together."
- Media contact: James Lorenz, firstname.lastname@example.com, +61 400 376 021
Nigel Topping, We Mean Business (WMB): "This is a remarkable diplomatic settlement and a historic economic catalyst. The world's governments have sent a decisive signal to businesses and investors that will accelerate the shift towards a thriving, clean global economy. The Paris Agreement for net zero emissions will turn the billions of investment we've seen so far into the trillions the world needs to bring clean energy and prosperity to all. The diplomatic process that included businesses, investors, cities, states, regions and civil society created a powerful alliance which has clearly raised the level of ambition in the negotiations. Businesses and investors look forward to playing a continued role in turning this agreement into on the ground reality."
- Press contact: Callum Grieve, email@example.com, +44 7734 399 994
Major General (ret) A M N Muniruzzaman, Chairman of Global Military Advisory Council on Climate Change (GMACCC) Bangladesh: "Military leaders, assembled under GMACCC, realising the fragility of the situation call upon leaders for urgent action to implement the Paris agreement, to save mankind from the catastrophic consequences of climate change. The Paris agreement must be more than paperwork. Its success depends on a verifiable, implementable, transparent and fair agreement which is made accountable. The military has a new, definitive, more humanitarian role, to deal with millions of people on the move, and this will only grow over time as climate impacts bite."
- Press contact: Matt Luna, +31 68 394 8959, email@example.com
Anthony Hobley, the Carbon Tracker Initiative: "A 1.5 degrees Carbon Budget means the fossil fuel era is well and truly over. There is absolutely no room for error. Fossil fuel companies must accept that they are an ex growth stock and urgently re-assess their business plans. New energy technologies have leapt down the cost curve in recent years. The effect of the momentum created in Paris means this is only going to accelerate. The need for the financial markets to fund the clean energy transition creates unparalleled opportunity for growth on a scale not seen since the industrial revolution."
- Contact: email@example.com
Christoph Bals, Political Director at Germanwatch: "Our experience in Germany has shown that renewable energy can be scaled up rapidly with significant economic benefit. The decarbonisation signal from the Paris Agreement will increase and accelerate these benefits, but Germany still needs to up its game. Chancellor Merkel needs to commit to a plan to phase out the use of coal within the next two decades. The Paris outcome requires developed countries to come back next year with a credible plan for reaching their 2020 targets – that just is not going to be possible without a coal phase-out."
- Press contact 1: Vera Künzel, +33 643 80 69 99, email@example.com;
- Press contact 2: Katrin Riegger, +49 157 71 33 57 96, firstname.lastname@example.com
Chris Field, Founding Director, Carnegie Institution's Department of Global Ecology: "The world truly reached a turning point with the historic Paris agreement, but this is not a time for self-congratulations. This is our moment to unleash ambition with new levels of innovation, building the clean energy system of the 21st century, developing sustainably, and comprehensively protecting people and the planet."
Muhtari Aminu-Kano, Senior Policy Advisor in Poverty Reduction at Islamic Relief Worldwide, an international humanitarian organization, and the former CEO of Nigeria's leading national environmental NGO: "Muslims living in some of the world's poorest and most vulnerable countries can be hopeful that this climate deal provides a foundation for positive change. In August, Muslim leaders laid out in a declaration, grounded in the Qur'anic teachings, their vision of the low-carbon future necessary for the peace and prosperity of the planet: while COP21 reaffirmed that this vision is necessary and feasible with strong political willpower, the various positive announcements of the last two weeks (and last six years) prove that it is already on its way to becoming a reality. There is still much work to be done: the Muslim community, in continued solidarity with those from other faiths and humanity at large, must now encourage those in Paris and beyond to live out their pledges and take responsibility as stewards of the Earth."
- Press contact for Muhtari Aminu-Kano: Lotifa Begum, firstname.lastname@example.com, +447850226689
Rob Bernard, Chief Environmental Strategist, Microsoft: "Microsoft stands with the many voices within the private and public sectors urging the negotiators in Paris to come to a final agreement on climate change. Reaching agreement on a long-term goal framework for cutting carbon emissions and achieving GHG neutrality is critical to address climate change. It will also provide the certainty required for corporations around the world to accelerate their low-carbon investments and foster the creation of a true low-carbon global economy."
Kathleen McLaughlin, chief sustainability officer for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.: "We believe climate change is an urgent and pressing challenge, and it is clear that we must all do our part to reduce, avoid and mitigate the impact of rising greenhouse gas (GHG) levels. That's why we support the UN's call for the U.S. corporate sector to commit to science-based targets to reduce emissions. In addition, we have already successfully decoupled our growth from emissions, and recently announced that we exceeded our goal to reduce 20 MMT of GHG emissions from our supply chain."
Kevin Rabinovitch, Global Sustainability Director, Mars Incorporated: "Back in October, we joined with the rest of the food and drink industry calling on global leaders to embrace the opportunity presented in Paris. Now really is the time for talk to become action and to meaningfully address the reality of climate change. Global policy makers should think big. Because big thinking leads to big results. Having a long term science based target will drive ideas and innovation, ultimately making what may have seemed impossible – possible. We are on the cusp of a deal that can change the world. And as a business we are committed to tackling the climate challenges that face us. We hope that global leaders will do the same."
Professor Peng Gong, Co-Chair, Lancet Commission on Health and Climate Change, Tsinghua University, Beijing: "Beijing's first-ever 'red alert' this week, called due to dangerous levels of air pollution in the city, is a clear symbol of the crucial importance of a strong climate deal here in Paris. Concerted action on climate change, particularly through a transition to clean energy, has immense potential to protect respiratory and cardiovascular health and to improve quality of life. In China, it is estimated that over 4000 people die every day as a result of air pollution, much of which comes from burning coal, and worldwide, air pollution is responsible for 7 million deaths every year: a shocking one in eight of all deaths. By accelerating the transition to healthy renewable energy sources and continuing to scale up climate ambition over the coming years, we can protect millions of people from air pollution as well as the serious health impacts of climate change."
Dr. Xavier Deau, Former-President of the World Medical Association: "We the physicians have the ethical duty to stand for the health of the population, so do all the politicians here in France today. We leave Paris with a strong public health agreement and are encouraged to see elements crucial to the protection of health central to the final agreement. Millions of physicians around the world have their eyes on Paris and are now looking forward and calling on their governments to get to work protecting the health of their populations."
Mr José Luis Castro, Executive Director of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease: "The Paris Climate Agreement cements a decisive call for concerted action to reduce emissions which are toxic to human and planetary health. It is now the duty of the health community to work with others to ensure that these emissions are dramatically reduced – to reduce exposure to leading NCD risk factors, limit global warming, and promote health for all."
Ms Johanna Ralston, CEO of the World Heart Federation: "The adoption of the Paris Climate Agreement and its embedded references to health mean that NCDs and other health issues can no longer be side-lined in the global response to climate change. The NCD Alliance and its Federations are dedicated to ensuring a comprehensive response to create sustainable environments in which we can live, work and prosper."
Ms Katie Dain, Executive Director, NCD Alliance: "The adoption of the Paris agreement is an unprecedented victory for people and planet, and a catalyst for the next phase of action. Now, all of government and all of society must come together in a coordinated response to mitigate the impacts of global warming, NCDs and ill-health."
Professor Hugh Montgomery, Co-Chair of the Lancet Commission on Health and Climate Change: "The impact of climate change on everything from food production to heat stress and water scarcity means it poses the single biggest threat to global health. This agreement is incredibly important for beginning to ease that health burden, ultimately saving lives. It will also set us on a path to a cleaner, less polluted world which in turn reduces costs for our healthcare systems."
Dr. Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum, Climate Change Lead, World Health Organization: "Every tonne of carbon that we put into the atmosphere turns up the planet's thermostat, and increases risks to health. The actions that we need to take to reduce climate change would also help clean up our air and our water, and save lives. To take a medical analogy: We already have good treatments available for climate change, but we are late in starting the course. The Paris Agreement helps us take this forward and is a crucial step in protecting our climate and our health."
Dr. Bettina Menne, Climate Lead, WHO Europe: "As doctors, nurses, and other health professionals, it is our duty to safeguard the health of our families and communities. The Paris Agreement takes us one step closer to securing a future which protects the public from the impacts of climate change – the defining health issue of this century. Today, we are leaving France with a deal that bolsters community resilience, strengthens our health systems, and helps to ackle inequalities."
Analysis and criticisms
The world has reached an historic agreement on climate change. The deal concluded at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris commits countries to take steps to limit warming to "well below" 2C relative to pre-industrial levels and to pursue "efforts" to limit warming to 1.5C. It also obliges developed countries to provide $100 billion per year in assistance to developing countries. But, unfortunately, the final negotiations dropped the one number that truly matters for the future of our planet: zero.[9][10]
George Monbiot: "By comparison to what it could have been, it's a miracle. By comparison to what it should have been, it's a disaster."
Nick Dearden, director of Global Justice Now:
"The Paris negotiators are caught up in a frenzy of self-congratulation about 1.5 degrees being included in the agreement, but the reality is that the reductions on the table are still locking us into 3 degrees of global warming. This will have catastrophic impacts on some of the most vulnerable countries and communities. And yet the deal seems to be shifting more responsibility on those countries who are least responsible for the problem, and the finance that has been agreed on is just a fraction of what is broadly agreed is necessary for those countries to cope with the impacts of climate catastrophe. The bullying and arm twisting of rich countries, combined with the pressure to agree to a deal at all costs, has ensured that the agreement will prevent poor countries from seeking redress for the devastating impacts of a crisis that has been thrust upon them."
"What has been inspiring in Paris is the multitude of action on climate being taken by a huge cross section of global civil society, from small farmers, to indigenous people, to trade unions, to direct action groups. As politicians fail to respond to the crisis, people power is stepping up to meet the challenge."
See also
External links
- COP21 | United nations conference on climate change
- So What Is This Paris Climate Meeting Anyway? The Basics of COP21, Forbes
- COP21: Understanding Emissions and Targets, OnCirculation
- Paris 2015: Tracking country climate pledges, Carbon Brief
- Is This The Beginning Of The End For Fossil Fuel Subsidies?
- Your top 5 questions about the Paris climate agreement answered, Climate Council
- UNFCCC COP 21 Paris France – 2015 Paris Climate Conference
- Two days in at COP21 – what has Australia pledged?, Theconverstation
- Paris climate talks: Australia won't sign fossil fuel missive due to Nationals concerns about diesel rebate, ABC New
- Paris UN Climate Conference 2015: Greg Hunt extends the 'Australia clause', The Age
- Australia ranked third-last in climate change performance of 58 countries, The Guardian
- Paris UN climate conference 2015: Australia named 'fossil of the day', The Age
- Paris climate deal: Historic climate change agreement reached at COP21, ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
- Paris climate talks: governments adopt historic deal – as it happened, The Guardian
- This is the only number that truly matters for the future of our planet, Agenda – The World Economic Forum
- Paris Agreement: near-term actions do not match long term purpose – but stage is set to ramp up climate action, Climate Action Tracker


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subset: commoncrawl


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The analysis in this report is based on telephone interviews conducted among national samples of adults, 18 years of age or older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Three surveys are referenced in this report: October 24-28, 2012 (2,008 adults; 1,204 interviewed on a landline telephone, 804 on a cellphone, including 433 who had no landline telephone); October 4-7, 2012 (1,511 adults; 906 interviewed on a landline telephone, 605 on a cellphone, including 291 who had no landline telephone); and September 12-16, 2012 (3,019 adults; 1,806 interviewed on a landline telephone, 1,213 on a cellphone, including 599 who had no landline telephone). Data collection was managed by Princeton Survey Research Associates International and conducted by interviewers at Princeton Data Source and Abt SRBI. A combination of landline and cell phone random digit dial samples were used; samples were provided by Survey Sampling International. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish. Respondents in the landline sample were selected by randomly asking for the youngest adult male or female who is now at home. Interviews in the cell sample were conducted with the person who answered the phone, if that person was an adult 18 years of age or older. For detailed information about our survey methodology, see https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/methodology/
The combined landline and cell phone samples are weighted using an iterative technique that matches gender, age, education, race, Hispanic origin and nativity and region to parameters from the March 2011 Census Bureau's Current Population Survey and population density to parameters from the 2010 Census. The sample also is weighted to match current patterns of telephone status and relative usage of landline and cell phones (for those with both), based on extrapolations from the 2011 National Health Interview Survey. The weighting procedure also accounts for the fact that respondents with both landline and cell phones have a greater probability of being included in the combined sample and adjusts for household size among respondents with a landline phone. Sampling errors and statistical tests of significance take into account the effect of weighting. The following table shows the unweighted sample sizes and the error attributable to sampling that would be expected at the 95% level of confidence for different groups in the survey:
Likely Voter Scale
The following table shows the questions in the likely voter scale for each survey and the turnout estimate used in identifying likely voters:
For full question wording of the turnout indicators, see the Oct. 24-28 topline. More details about the Pew Research Center's methodology for estimating likelihood to vote are available at https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2011/01/UnderstandingLikelyVoters.pdf


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Song Lyrics
Would you like a drink with me?
(If you don't mind, can I talk to you if it's all right)
I want your body close to mine
(All night, while we're dancing in the moonlight)
We could spend the night in ectasy
(Kissing, touching, caressing)
You know that you don't have to leave (Tonight)
Saying why didn't I go home with you tonight.
In fresh from out of town
Just breezed in so I thought I'd take a look around
And find a party where the vibe is right
I'm talking maybe meet a honey take her home tonight,
So shades on, top's off the whip
Taking in the sigths as I cruise the strip
As I pull up to a red light
I see the pretty little shorty in my headlights.
This girl looked half black yet half oriental
Man this chick's got class & style
I'd like to ask her for her credentials
Name, address, numbers to dial
She plays tuff when deep down she's gentle
Ain't that hard to read the signs
The girl bangs like dre instrumentals
Well here's an acappella of mine
Scene two all up in the club
Got my game tight about to tear it up
Could be a night that I won't forget
Boy I'm lookin for a honey & I'm a confident
I was… dancing bat I had to stop
Whe I clocked this fly girl wearing a halter top
She had her hair done nails right
This señorita had a booty that was so tight
She was a… hot girl looked continental
Damn, her body looked so fine
The way she spoke I saw her potential
If looks could kill then she'd do time
I don't claim to speak perfect spanish
But I do know a few lines
This female's sliker than your average
And I gotta meke her mine
So, quieres beber conmigo?
(If you don't mind, can I talk to you, if it's all right)
Quiero sentir tu cuerpo
(All night while we're dancing in the moonlight)
Haz el amor conmigo
(Kissing, touching, caressing)
Ya no me dejes solo (tonight)
Saying why didn't I go home with you…
Tonight I'm from the distance admiring
Girl you're looking so vibrant
And I dig the way you move your body
Let's get out of this party
Maybe we can get naughty
Say bye, bye girlfriends
'Cos just in a minute we'll be gone if we're N-sync
(Can we dance?)
Would you like a drink and some loving?
But leave your husband at home
Unless he want a bump on the dome
Come along, rub alongside me
Put your phone on silence, just breath
What you're doing is rigth, what I'm doing is wrong
Only time I do right is when I'm doing a song
So, expect your ex to exit the area
Exterior vex, perplex by the sex
What you're drinking?
Drinks on me, find me on drink & drink on me
You can ride next to me, girl it's ectasy
Here's something for your ex to see
It's messed up how I slide up your tight with my right hand
You wanna ride all night then I can
Don't be shy of just one, one night stand, now let's go!!!
Album More music by Craig David
Video Karaoke scroller |


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Tourists- unless you're planning on getting sure friendly with Sin City, this post might only semi interest you. Why not read it anyway.
Vegas has recently had a culture shift and boom. When Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh moved headquarters to Vegas- I had no idea he would be impacting the style I would be wearing and he new friends I would be meeting. His non-profit arm, the Downtown Project (oh so aptly named) has revamped not only East Fremont Street, but provided the growth for all of downtown (that's old Vegas, north of the Strip). It's a culture awakening in Vegas- and it's awesome. Like a cold beer on a hot day. Going to the strip and paying $30 a drink for tiny plastic cups of sky and oj are reserved for just the special times. Like when everyone comes to Vegas. The other times, Downtown is where it's at. Friendlier bartenders, interesting people to meet, great art to look at, cheaper and more genuine handcrafted cocktails to be had.
With this culture growth has come a style change. It's taken a tangent from Vegas club style altogether while still keeping some of the extravagance and decadence of the strip.
Of course, anything goes. You can still find half naked girls in silver panties and neon tops (I've been one of them) after work and college coeds mingling. The style, like the drink prices, is much more relaxed. There are much more tattoos and piercings, yet the same amount of platinum hair dye and red lipstick. I'm really digging the way Downtown is carving its own way, yet people still want to keep that Sin style. I wouldn't want it any other way.


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Participants for AMFA: Earl Clark – Region I Director Michael Nelson – Region II Director Bob Cramer – Local 4 Airline Representative Matt Townsend – Local 11 Airline Representative Shane Flachman – Local 18 Airline Representative Mike Young – Local 32 Airline Representative Lucas Middlebrook – AMFA Counsel
Participants for Southwest Airlines: Jim Sokol – VP, Maintenance Operations Gerry Anderson – Sr Director, Labor Relations Michelle Jordon – Director, Labor Relations Mark Lyon – Sr Manager, Labor Relations Sam Moser – Manager, Financial Planning
The Negotiating Committee is providing this update to the AMFA Membership at Southwest Airlines. This report is the only official authorized source of negotiating communications by the Committee.
We met in Dallas, Texas on Wednesday, June 18 for the first of a scheduled two-day Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) negotiations session. Surprisingly, the Company did not begin this session with yet another presentation, but rather decided to reiterate their five (5) "must have" concessionary items:
The Company agreed that their list of items is for economics purposes with the exception of the twenty-hour duty limit, which has a two-fold concern: economics and safety.
The Company then presented their Article 7: Training proposal which gave consideration to our members' adjusting their schedules related to training as long as there is no additional cost to the Company by allowing the schedule adjustment requested. After a short caucus and a few clarifying questions, we agreed to Tentatively Agree (TA) to Article 7. The Company also informed us that they had rejected our proposals in Article 20: Insurance Benefits, which included a percentage cap on how high the Company could raise our healthcare premiums. They proposed that we stay with the current language for Article 20.
We then entered another lengthy discussion on why the Company feels it is necessary to impose "qualifications" for certain bid locations. We explained that the tentacles of such a request are long reaching, and that the Company would also have to train anyone who wished to work overtime in those bid locations where they chose to establish "qualifications" or else they faced the same situation as they did at the Dallas line several years ago regarding fueling.
After lunch and a Company caucus, they returned and presented two lone bullet points related to their Article 2 efficiency concepts. The Company stressed that these are not a proposal of intended language, but are concepts that they would like to see integrated into our Scope language:
In regards to bullet point #1 above, the Company initially indicated they were talking about shops. Although when questioned further, the Company said our strengths are Line and Intermediate maintenance. During that discussion, the Company indicated that it needs at least two in-house heavy check lines to be efficient, but that any "additional lines and their value to the company are questionable." This highlights the importance of contractual language that guarantees those heavy lines and our victory in arbitration that forced the Company to implement the fourth line. More discussion on the bullet points flushed-out that the "10-hour" task rule, which was part of what we gained in the last negotiations in exchange for Aeroman, is causing aircraft scheduling disruptions, and is not efficient for the Company because most of our aircraft are not scheduled RON for the 10 hours that the tasks take to accomplish. The remainder of our discussions was centered on the EPIC maintenance program and how that will affect our work. The Company contends that EPIC is not costing work but reallocating work from the hangar to the line. The Company contends that the "10 hour" task rule is a problem for the WIZARD or the EPIC program.
After the above discussion, we asked the Company if they had anything else for this session, to which they replied, "No." We notified the Company that our members would not ratify an agreement containing their 5-6 or 7 "must haves." In addition, with the absence of Mike Ryan, our concerns of last month became reality and we had nothing further to work on without his presence. We ended this session after one day, but we look forward to our next session on July 9 and 10. We expect, and are hopeful, that the Company decision makers with sufficient bargaining authority will be present.
Our side continues to be committed to making a concerted effort to reach an agreement that addresses our members' concerns. Our Committee would like to thank the observers that took the time to attend. It is important to remember that your Committee is only as strong as the members that support us – stay engaged, remain united, and together we will maintain a contract that protects our profession and rewards your labor.
Your Negotiating Committee


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'Cleaning Up the Potomac'
courtesy of 'mtngirl9999'
Looking for something to do Saturday? How about volunteering at a local National Public Lands Day site.
Tomorrow marks the 15th anniversary of this event to preserve and protect America's natural heritage. Last year brought out more than 120,000 volunteers at over 1,800 locations to assist public land managers with hands-on projects.
You can find 6 events taking place in DC at various locations, like: Kennilworth Aquatic Gardens, Rock Creek Park, Kingman and Heritage Memorial Park, the Lincoln Memorial, President's Park and National Mall & Memorial Parks.


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We have extensive hospice and end of life resources for patients and their families
What Does Heritage Do?
We provide care to all age groups during the final stages of life. You will have an experienced team of physicians, registered nurses, home health aides, medical social workers, counselors, and trained volunteers available to help you and your family manage your illness.
Your physician and Heritage Hospice will work with you to set up a comprehensive plan of care to manage your symptoms and assess the needs of your family. Your family or another caregiver will be with you, and members of our team will make regular visits to ensure your comfort. A nurse and a physician are on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to give you and your family support and care when you need it.
Heritage's physicians and Medical Director provide additional support to patients' existing physician(s). They are an additional resource for the hospice team, the community doctor, the patient, and their family. While patients can choose for one of our Medical Directors to be the attending physician, most often we play a coordination role with the patient's existing doctor.
The Hospice Difference
Although it may be difficult to shift your focus from seeking a cure to choosing comfort care as the best alternative, numerous studies have shown that patients enrolled in hospice services actually live longer with better symptom control and pain management than non-hospice patients. The most common statement made by families who chose hospice for their loved one is, "we wish we had known about hospice sooner."


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HAMILTON, Ohio — A teenage martial artist from Hamilton hopes to make his mark and inspire others with disabilities as he goes out for the U.S. Paralympic team.
Austin Osner, 15, is a Taekwondo champion who just placed third in an international competition. He started studying martial arts when he was younger to learn self-defense and discipline. However, Austin tackles the sport differently than others.
Austin was born with part of his right arm missing due to amniotic band syndrome. However, the condition hasn't slowed him down, as he's earned awards at the state, regional and national levels.
"When I first started getting used to fighting with one arm, I was fighting people with two arms, and it never really bothered me," he said.
Austin trains three hours a day, five days a week while taking classes online through the Ohio Virtual Academy. He said his goal is to compete at the Paralympics.
"Whether that be Paris in '24 or Los Angeles in '28," Austin said. "If I could achieve that goal, I would be very happy with myself. I would be happy with all the work I've put in. That's when I know everything I've done the past five years have truly meant so much."
Now, Austin wants others with disabilities to know it's possible to win at the elite level.
"People look at disabilities differently," Austin said. "You know, as long as you maintain a good mindset, no one's going to stop you at the end of the day."
This story was originally published by Kristen Swilley on Scripps station WCPO in Cincinnati.


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See Vol. 1
See Vol. 3
Item Returns - Computer Software and DVDs
Computer Software and DVDs can only be returned or exchanged if the product is in its original, shrinkwrapped packaging and has not been installed or used in any way. Once you open the packaging of a Computer Software or DVD title, it can only be exchanged for the same title if the original media is defective. There are NO exceptions to this rule.
If you wish to return a Computer Software or DVD title that is eligible for return (as defined above), please refer to the Item Returns - All Other Items on our Return Policy page.


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I've been experimenting with my Not Ketchup fruit ketchup sauces for more than a year now. One of the things I discovered last Thanksgiving and Christmas is that Not Ketchup added a ton of flavor - with very little corresponding work - to my holiday menus.
I've compiled some of my favorite holiday recipes into The Not Ketchup Holiday Recipe eBook, a free ebook that I'm delighted to share with you. It includes six delicious, gorgeous, ultra-simple recipes:
- Smoky Date Sweet Potato Fritters - light, smoky puffs that work equally well as a pre-meal snack or an unusual side dish
- Cherry Chipotle Roast Turkey - an easy, flavorful roast turkey lacquered with Cherry Chipotle Not Ketchup
- Spiced Fig Glazed Ham - one spiral-cut ham plus one bottle of Spiced Fig Not Ketchup equals one fantastic centerpiece for your holiday meal
- Blueberry White Pepper Stuffing Muffins - single-serving cornbread dressing studded with dried blueberries and drizzled with Blueberry White Pepper Not Ketchup
- Smoky Date Brussels Sprouts - with bacon, slivered dates, pistachios and Smoky Date Not Ketchup, these are Brussels sprouts even a vegetable hater will adore
- Cherry Chipotle Turkey Tostadas - leftover turkey turned into a post-holiday lunch
I hope you enjoy this free ebook as much as I enjoyed putting it together. I'm already making notes for next year's edition!


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Often we present data without thinking about it too much.
We might actively think about the metrics we are computing (and avoid rookie analysis mistakes).
But it is rare that we, "Web Analysts", actually think, I mean think, about the story we are telling.
I think that's because that is not our job (I mean that in all seriousness).
Our job is to report data. On good days it is to understand and segment and morph and present analysis.
But we don't think about the implications of the data in a grander context and we don't think about the role we can play in connecting with the Business, the Marketers and be so bold as to try and change behavior of decision makers. Change company cultures.
This blog post is a short story about my small attempt at changing the culture and setting a higher bar for everyone. Using data.
The Use Case:
The data in question was survey data. This one was specifically about a day long conference / training / marketing event for current and prospective customers.
On a five point scale for each Presenter the Attendees were asked to rate "how satisfied were you with the presentation and content".
Quite straightforward.
Here are the results:
But you can also imagine getting this kind of data from your free website survey, like 4Q from iPerceptions ["Based on today's visit, how would you rate your site experience overall?"].
Or if you use free page level surveys from Get Satisfaction or Kampyle ["Please share your ratings for this page."]
In those cases you would analyze performance of content or the website.
The Data Analysis:
On surface this is not that difficult a problem to analyze.
Here is a common path I have seen people take in reporting this data, JAI! Just Average It! :)
The actual formula is to take the average of the last three columns (satisfied through extremely satisfied).
This is ok I suppose.
I find people have a hard time with smaller numbers and then you throw in the decimals and you might as well call it quits.
Your boss, Bruce, eyeballs this and says: "Looks like everyone performed well today, let's uncork the champagne."
Those a bit more experienced amongst you know this and what we might see from you is not averaging but rather a more traditional Satisfaction computation.
The formula is to add the three ratings (satisfied through extremely satisfied) and divide that by the total number of responses. For Jonny: (6+12+0)/18
A bit better from a communication stand point.
6.0 is a number hanging in the air naked, without context, and hence is hard to truly "get".
100% on the other hand has some context (100 is max!) and so a simple minded highly paid executive can "get" it. Jonny, Chris and Apple did spectacularly well. Will and Brian get a hug, Guy was great (come on, 89% is not bad!!).
The Problem.
Well two really. One minor and one major.
The minor problem is (as you saw in Guy's case immediately above) percentages have a certain nasty habit of making some things look better than they are. From a perception perspective.
My hypothesis is that in general human beings think anything over 75% is great.
So maybe we should not use percentages.
My major problem is that this kind of analysis:
- rewards meeting expectations
- does not penalize mediocrity
Both are a disservice in terms of trying to make the business great. I have to admit they are signs of business as usual, let's get our paycheck attitude.
Think of mediocrity. Why in the name of all that is holy and pure should we let anyone off the hook for earning a dissatisfied rating? So sub optimal!!
Consider "meeting expectations". I was upset that our company was not shooting higher. Accepting a rating of Satisfied essentially translates to: "as long as we don't suck, let's accept that as success".
What a low bar.
I believe that every business should try to be great. Every interaction should aim to create delight. It won't always be the case, but its what we should shoot for.
And its what we should measure and reward.
Because our way of life should be to create "brand evangelists" through customer interactions that create delight.
You like us so much, because we worked so hard, because we set ourselves such a high bar, that you will go out and tell others. Be our Brand Evangelist.
So we don't have to do that.
The Solution.
Now it is very important to point out that worrying about all of the above was not in my job description. As the Manager of a small team of Analysts (or as an Analyst) I am supposed to supply what's asked for (sure with some analysis).
But I made two major changes to the calculation, and one minor.
- Partly inspired by the Net Promoter concept I decided to discard the Satisfied rating.
When we spend money Marketing (/Sales / Teaching / Advocating) I am aiming for delight. - Decided to penalize us for any negative ratings (even if slightly negative).
- Index the results for optimal communication impact.
I call the new metric: Brand Evangelists Index. (Ok so its a bit wordy.) BEI.
The actual formula applied was:
{ [ (Very Sat + Ext Sat) – (Not Sat + Not At All Sat) ] / # Responses } *100
The Results.
Here's what the success measurement looked like:
The result was a radically different understanding of quality and impact of each Presenter.
Not obvious?
Check out all three measures next to each other:
You can see how the Brand Evangelists Index separates the wheat from the chaff so well.
Compare Jonny's scores for example. Pretty solid before, now a bit less stellar.
In fact Will who initially scored worse then Jonny is now 11 points (!!) higher than Jonny.
That's because the BEI rewards Will's ability to give a "delight" experience to a lot more people (as should be the case).
Compare the unique case of Guy Berryman.
In other computations Guy was dead last but there was not much difference between him and say Will and Brian. Just a few points.
But the Brand Evangelists Index shows that Guy was not just a little bad, he was badly bad.
Sure he got a couple bad ratings but Guy failed miserably at creating delight.
He failed at creating Brand Evangelists.
And if we invest money, in these times or in good times, we demand more. Guy can't do, or has to do a lot better.
Note that Apple could also use some mentoring and evolution.
The Outcome.
Initial a few people said what the freak! Some stones were thrown.
But I took the concept of the Brand Evangelists Index two levels higher and presented it to the VP and the CMO.
They adored it.
The reasons were that the Brand Evangelists Index
- demanded higher return on investment
- it set a higher bar for performance and
- it was truly customer centric
The BEI became the standard way of scoring performance in the company.
[In case it inspires you: That year I received the annual Marketer of the Year award (for the above work and other things like that). Imagine that. An Analyst getting the highest Marketer award!]
The Punch Line.
When you present data think of not just the data you are presenting but what are you measuring really and how you can lift up your company.
You have the data. You have immense power.
Now your turn.
What do you think of the Brand Evangelists Index? How would you have done it better? Got your own heroic stories to share? I would love to know how you used data to alter a company's culture.
Couple other related posts you might find interesting:


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FS Sunday Sermon
Born on the Fourth of July
By: David Mathis
For those of us in the States, the time is here again for our midsummer's patriotic respite.
For many, the Fourth of July means parades and picnics, hot dogs and Coca-Cola, ice cream and apple pie, baseball and bombs bursting in air. In God's good providence, the adoption of Jefferson's Declaration in 1776 happened during one of the best weather weeks of the year in this hemisphere. And so for 237 years now, the significance and seasonal timing of the day have conspired to make it a deeply rooted annual occasion in the American psyche.
While the Fourth's flood of Americana is all-too-enticing for many, it can rub many others the wrong way. But before thumbing our noses or diving in deep, it's good to pause to ask whether there's anything that makes the day different for an American follower of Jesus. Does being born again affect how we view the Fourth of July? Here are four layers of perspective for the Christian in contemplating the Fourth specifically, and human government in general.
Where Our Fundamental Identity Lies
First, let's be clear about where the Christian's deepest identity lies. If we are in Christ, joined to him by faith, all other pledges of allegiance have been relativized, whatever our nation of origin or naturalization. We still have our loyalties — they may even multiply — but none goes this deep. No man can ultimately serve both God and country. In Jesus, we have one final allegiance, and thus in this world we will always be, in some real sense, pilgrims, strangers and aliens, sojourners and exiles (1 Peter 2:11).
For the Christian, our citizenship in any nation aims to be "worthy of the gospel of Christ" (Philippians 1:27), not merely worthy of that political state. At the most basic level, "our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ," who will do for us what no political entity in this world will ever do — "transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself"(Philippians 3:20–21).
At the end of the day, we are sons of God, not sons of Uncle Sam. The kings of the earth tax others, not their own sons (Matthew 17:25–26). Let your annual submission to the IRS be a friendly reminder that our fundamental identity is in God, not country.
Which means that as we Americans sing the anthem together and pledge allegiance side by side, and enjoy the parades and fireworks shoulder to shoulder, we create and strengthen ties that only go so far. The blood of Jesus runs deeper than the blood that flows in defining or defending any nation. Our fellows in political liberty are important, but not as significant as our fellows in Jesus from every tribe and tongue. Yes, we seek to do good to our fellow Americans, but especially to those who are of the worldwide household of faith (Galatians 6:10).
Embracing God's Goodness in the Fatherland
Second, though our embrace of fatherland is relativized by our embrace of Jesus and his Father, it is good and healthy to have real affection for the nation we call our own. It is right for the Christian to be patriotic and reserve a special kind of love for city and country. In fact, it's a sign that something may be amiss spiritually if the Christian doesn't have some tempered but tangible sense of belonging to his fatherland. It's not only okay for American Christians to enjoy being American on the Fourth; it's commended.
God means for us to be appropriately enmeshed in this world (as Jesus prays in John 17, not of the world, but sent into it). Christ and country aren't irreconcilable. In Jesus's perfect arithmetic, there is space not only to render God our everything, but render to Caesar his share as well (Matthew 22:21–22).
Christians render respect to whom respect is owed, and honor to whom honor is owed (Romans 13:7). We acknowledge God's common goodness when our nation is manifestly "God's servant for your good" (Romans 13:4) and the authorities are "ministers of God" (Romans 13:6). "Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor" (1 Peter 2:17).
Genuine Gratitude for the Goodness
Third, it follows that as God's common goodness is manifested in our political state, we should be genuinely grateful. We give thanks when thanks is owed.
Perhaps we balk at being "proud to be an American" — and would prefer to be "humbled" by it. That's wise and good. And we need not make any such alteration to the call to be thankful.
Given the fallen condition of our world because of human sin, we should be amazed how much common goodness God continues to create and uphold in nations good and even bad. In the same breath Paul instructs Christians to be good citizens — "to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people" (Titus 3:1–2) — he also reminds us about our native condition:
For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy . . . . (Titus 3:3–5)
Given our depravity, and the diabolical desires that have a foothold in humanity for now, it is extraordinary mercy not only that any are saved at all, but also that any of our nations aren't in worse shape than they are. We betray the far-reaching effects of God's kindness when we're so consumed with frustrations about our homeland that we can't see many good things to be grateful for.
Taking Others to the True Country
Finally, for now, it continues to be legal to speak the gospel in public in these united states, and even to press for repentance and faith. This is a glorious liberty. Let's make the most of it while we can, remembering that we Christians have a true country, which will satisfy our inconsolable longing like no nation in the present can. And let's double our joy by bringing as many others with us as we can. It's hard to say it any better than C.S. Lewis:
If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. If none of my earthly pleasures satisfy it, that does not prove that the universe is a fraud. Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it, but only to arouse it, to suggest the real thing. If that is so, I must take care, on the one hand, never to despise, or to be unthankful for, these earthly blessings, and on the other, never to mistake them for the something else of which they are only a kind of copy, or echo, or mirage.
I must keep alive in myself the desire for my true country, which I shall not find till after death; I must never let it get snowed under or turned aside; I must make it the main object of life to press on to that country and to help others to do the same. (Mere Christianity)
If such a perspective would fly as the star-spangled banner over our Independence Day celebrations with family and friends, we might find them richer than ever.
Let's be profoundly grateful for the freedom we have in this country to recruit for the true one, and let's be unashamed to seize upon our fellow Americans' desire for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and show them in whom such joy is truly found.


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This blog is a place for wives, girlfriends, significant others, and anyone else stuck to a chef to come together and chirp to each other about how to deal with the nonsense that goes along with being the wife of a chef. I was struggling to live with a ghost of a husband who I never saw until I met two other chefs' wives that saved me. It was then that I realized there must be more who need love and support too, right? Hilary, First Lady Desperate Chefs'Wives instagram @hilarya25
Thursday, September 8, 2011
I'm Ready For My Closeup
When I first started this blog in 2007 I was spending my weekend at restaurants and bars all over New York. Arm in arm with two other chef's girlfriends I was having the time of life and getting loads of PX treatment at some of the best places in the city. Four years and one baby later and I'm still spending my weekends at restaurants, it's just that those restaurants are kid friendly and dinner is around 5.
Are you a Jill Zarin? Or more of a Ramona? If you are out there reading this blog and want your Real Housewives style life shown in a reality show send me a comment or email and I'll forward your information along to the production company. This company by the way is the same company that puts on Iron Chef and Iron Chef America so they are no strangers to food shows.
Just remember if you become famous...it all started here
Food is Love,
12 comments:
It'd probably be a better show if it was about chef EX-wives (which I am)! Besides, I think you're right, most chefwives are working women, and the galas become tiresome after you've gone to a few. My chef always abandoned me to go hang out with his other cool chef buddies and drink too much. It was like taking a little boy to a birthday party and dropping him off, yet he always insisted that I accompany him because he didn't want to show up alone. Only one of the many reasons I am now an ex-chefwife. It was truly sad but I think it's for the best.
- September 9, 2011 at 4:51 PM
- ch said...
Why would they want real chefwives? It's a reality show after all!! haha
I would never watch a show glamorizing our lives. It would be a lie.
There may be one or two out there-maybe, but it is not the true picture.
It's amazing how misinformed people are about this industry. - September 10, 2011 at 6:22 AM
- This Culinary Wife said...
I would love this show - if it showed real wives dealing with dinner and bedtime without their Chefs around to help, or all those nights of going out with girlfriends on their own...
If it does come about, I hope it doesn't make it look like we're pampered, eating all this wonderful food... mac n' cheese for one is far from gourmet. - September 10, 2011 at 7:08 PM
- annette said...
my life as a chef-wife is far from glamorous! raising 2 kids by myself, dining and going to bed alone, attending major family events unaccompanied, and struggling with the financial woes of trying to run our first restaurant by ourselves. i think watching a show like that would just make me mad!
- September 14, 2011 at 12:18 PM
- chefwife said...
The tv producers just need to read this blog and learn the truth about chefs and their wives. That's why I love this blog, it's real.
- September 20, 2011 at 3:49 PM
I have been a chef wife for 2 years- girlfriend for 8 before that. I told myself for 10 years that life would get better & we'd have more time together, but so far it hasn't happened. For about 9 years, I was 2nd, 3rd or 4th to various things. About a year ago he left me, saying he wasn't sure he wanted to be married (and I suspect he wanted to try out life with a new waitress he connected with. He came back a few months later, asked for forgiveness, I gave it & he has made a huge effort to make things work. But now I am questioning whether or not this life is worth it. I find myself not giving 100% to our marriage & it kills me. I love him dearly & he is one of my favorite people. I feel like we're doomed. Any advice? I'm tired of spending holidays, weekends and every night alone.
- September 29, 2011 at 1:20 PM
Hahaha!!! Glamorous? Whatever. Newly married and while I count my blessings every day that we get weekends and nights together right now due to his hours but all those extra gigs add up so I am back to being on my own again. I love people who think we eat like goddesses all the time. Hello, I had Trader Joe's pizza last night. Fancy. If that woman exists out there I don't know if I want to know her, I might punch her.
- September 29, 2011 at 4:51 PM
TV has really told the wrong story of chefs that's for sure, if they only knew the truth.... I love how all chef wives say the same thing.... mac n cheese for dinner anyone?
- October 23, 2011 at 7:19 PM
- Iris said...
This is so similar to a conversation I once had with my friend:
Friend: "Oh, you're dating a chef? I'm so jealous, he must feed you soooo well!"
Me: "What are you talking about? He works through every meal, then comes home at 1am. We share a kebab and watch a catch-up of that night's X-Factor until 4am."
If there was a show about chefs' wives, it would just be two split screens of separate lives that intersect for 10% of a day. - December 31, 2011 at 7:52 PM
- Hilary Battes said...
Iris, there is something so perfectly "chef" about kebobs and 4 AM X-Factor. The things we do just to be with them!! I could write a book!
- January 4, 2012 at 5:46 PM
- Hilary Battes said...
Oh, and Iris SO funny about the split screen. If I get another call from another production company I'll have to share that lovely image. BTW-nothing has come of the last dumbo who thought they could make a show about the wives.
- January 4, 2012 at 5:48 PM
My life is far from glamorous, but I would love to do the show. It would be nice to show everyone the reality of what us Chefvives go through on a day to day (although most reality shows are staged.)
I'm a stay at home mother of 2 that never see's her chef husband and pretty much goes to all school funtions and activities alone. That has never even been invited to a gala...mcuhless attend to one. If they want that... Bring it on! - January 11, 2012 at 11:25 PM


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2016 FIG Aerobic Gymnastics World Championships
The Korea Gymnastics Association will host the 2016 Aerobic Gymnastics World Championships and World Age Group Competitions, which will take place in Incheon, Korea's third largest city. The World Championships will take place from June 17-19 and World Age Group Competitions from June 13-15, 2016.
Incheon is famous for being the host city for many significant sport events. The 2014 Asian Games were conducted there and they are considered to be the second largest event after the Olympic Games which includes a great variety of sport spheres. The 2016 Aerobic World Championships will be held at the Namdong Gymnasium where the gymnastics competitions took place at the 2014 Games.
Almost as soon as aerobic gymnastics was accepted as a FIG discipline, Korea took the leading positions in this kind of sport having established itself as a World power in Aerobic Gymnastics. The most famous and the most successful Korean gymnast, Park Kwang-Soo, won a total of seven medals, three of them gold, in World competitions between 1995 and 2000.
The beginning of the 21st century was not a successful period for Korea in acrobatic gymnastics. There were no medals for Korean sportsmen and sportswomen. But Korea made its legendary back in 2012 when Ryu Jusun, Lee Kyung Ho and Kim Guontaeck won their gold in Trio competition. Korea's Trio followed up with a bronze medal performance in 2014, where Korea also took bronze in the newly established Aerobic Dance category.
Aerobic World Championships take place every two years, and the FIG is thrilled to bring them to Asia for the second time. The categories that will be presented in the Aerobic World Championships are the following: Men's and Women's Individual, Mixed Pairs, Trio, Group, Aerobic Step and Aerobic Dance. More than 300 athletes from at least 30 countries are expected to participate in 2016.
- You may also order bespoke tailoring of gymnastics clothes for boys.
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A small nation of more than 4 million people, Lebanon's strategic location, the diversity of its citizens, and its entrepreneurial spirit have long made it a center of trade and culture and a bridge between Europe and the Middle East. Since the end of the Civil War in 1990, Lebanon has been working hard, despite continued sectarian strife—and now the crisis in neighboring Syria—to rebuild its physical, social and economic infrastructure.
Lebanon's economy is largely driven by services, a strong financial sector and, prior to the current crisis in neighboring Syria, tourism. Years of civil war and recurring periods of political unrest pose significant challenges to stability and prosperity. These challenges include growing the economy, improving the public education system, rebuilding national infrastructure, preserving the country's ecological resources, and strengthening local governance.
U.S. assistance to Lebanon continues to help the country in its revival efforts. USAID engages with partners to help increase access to education, improve water and wastewater services, ensure good governance, enhance academic opportunity, particularly in poor, underserved areas, and protect the environment.
USAID/Lebanon Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS)


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Silverstein Properties announced today that global technology company MediaMath has signed a 15-year, 106,000 square foot lease at 4 World Trade Center.
The company will consolidate its more than 300 NY-based employees from three Midtown locations into the 44th, 45th, and 46th floors of 4 World Trade Center when it moves into the 72-story tower in early 2015.
MediaMath joins a growing and diverse group of companies that have made long-term commitments to the new World Trade Center, and becomes the first global marketing technology company to commit to 4 WTC. As DoubleClick anchored Midtown South, as Google anchored the Meatpacking district, having an anchor technology leader provides a magnet for others. This comes on top of more than five million square feet of office space that has been leased at the WTC by such blue-chip tenants as Condé Nast, Moody's, GroupM, BMI, Omnicom, WilmerHale, Fast Company and Inc. magazines.
With the signing of MediaMath, 70 percent of the 7.4 million square feet of newly built space at One, 4 and 7 World Trade Center has now been leased.
"MediaMath's decision to relocate to 4 WTC proves that New Yorkers were right to bet on Downtown. The new World Trade Center is emerging as the commercial heart of the city's hottest neighborhood," said Silverstein Properties Chairman Larry A. Silverstein. "I am thrilled to welcome MediaMath, which represents the technology, advertising, media and information companies driving the City's new economy and Downtown's future."
"MediaMath has been blessed with outstanding growth over the past seven years, which is a testament to the market's need for a transformation in digital marketing through software, and the service that makes it work for you," said Joe Zawadzki, the company's CEO. "We want that software to be on the desktops and tablets of every professional marketer in the world; we worked hard to find a property and a developer that matched the scope of our vision."
Zawadzki continued, "Tal Kerret, the Chief Investment Officer, and the entire Silverstein team, made this happen by creating flexible and creative solutions tailored to the evolving needs of our fast-growing, dynamic company."
"We are delighted to be partnered with Silverstein Properties and their vision and commitment to the technology and media communities. We look forward to bringing our talent, energy, and culture to Lower Manhattan and look forward to our clients and partners doing the same. Come on in, the water's warm," finished Zawadzki.
Silverstein's World Trade Center President Janno Lieber said: "What we are seeing is a major shift in momentum favoring the World Trade Center. 4 WTC has been open for barely six months, but is already getting serious attention from virtually every major tenant. This is the same pattern we saw at 7 WTC, which has been fully leased for several years. Companies are moving Downtown in record numbers. And all of the projects at the WTC – the Memorial, Museum, office buildings, and transit hub –are either open or on schedule to be completed soon. We are in the process of financing 3 WTC and are on target to complete and open the building as planned."
Lease negotiations for MediaMath were handled by a CBRE team, led by Harly Stevens and Mike Rizzo. Jeremy Moss, Director of World Trade Center Leasing for Silverstein Properties, together with the CBRE agency team including Mary Ann Tighe, Steve Siegel, Ken Meyerson and Evan Haskell led the negotiations for the landlord.
According to the Downtown Alliance, 511 firms have moved to Lower Manhattan since 2005, leasing a total of 12.3 million square feet (1.14 million square meters). 226 of those companies have been in creative or professional services, taking 51 percent of the space leased.
In its 2013 report, "Brain Gain," the Downtown Alliance explained, "The high-value knowledge workers who drive the region's economy – the people companies want to hire – increasingly live within a 30-minute commute of Lower Manhattan. Extensive residential development and dramatic neighborhood revitalization in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and New Jersey's Hudson River waterfront cities have attracted huge numbers of young, educated people, workers in the professional and creative fields that drive leasing in New York City – who prefer apartment living and shorter commutes via subway, PATH, ferry, bike and foot to suburban life and lengthy commutes via heavy rail or car."
"Over the past several years, Lower Manhattan has seen a surge of 5 million square feet of relocations," said Alliance for Downtown New York President Jessica Lappin. "MediaMath's move from Midtown is one more piece of evidence showing that the gravity of Lower Manhattan is only growing. Marketing and advertising firms are flocking to the area and we're thrilled to welcome MediaMath's more than 300 NY-based employees to this dynamic community."
"MediaMath has clearly done the numbers and it all adds up to 4 World Trade Center," said Catherine McVay Hughes, Chair of Community Board One. The World Trade Center is at the heart of Lower Manhattan, the fourth largest business center in the country, and the place to be for our city's leading new-media companies. What was new for our founding fathers is new again, today."
About 4 World Trade Center
Designed by Pritzker-prize winning architect Fumihiko Maki to meet a LEED Gold standard of sustainability, 4 WTC is a model of transparency and efficiency.
The 977 foot (298 meter) building contains 2.3 million square feet (213,680 square meters) of light-filled, green and high-tech office space spread over 56 office floors. In addition to MediaMath, which will occupy almost three 44,000 square feet (4,088 square meters) office floors in the middle of the building, 520,000 square feet of the office space in the tower is currently being built out to become the new headquarters of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey. Another 600,000 square feet is being occupied by the City of New York.
4 WTC was designed to enliven and seamlessly integrate into Downtown's streetscape, with a major concentration of retail – both at the street-level and in underground pedestrian concourses that lead directly to 11 subway lines and the PATH trains. All of the retail will open in tandem with the World Trade Center Transit Hub in 2015.
About MediaMath
MediaMath (mediamath.com) is a global technology company that's leading the movement to revolutionize traditional marketing and drive transformative results for marketers through its TerminalOne Marketing Operating System™. A pioneer in the industry introducing the first Demand-Side Platform (DSP) with the company's founding in 2007, MediaMath is the only company of its kind to empower marketers with an extensible, open platform to unleash the power of goal-based marketing at scale, transparently across the enterprise. T1 activates data, automates execution and optimizes interactions across all addressable media, delivering superior performance, transparency and control to all marketers and better, more individualized experiences for consumers. It has a seasoned management team leading 13 global locations across five continents. Key clients include every major agency holding company, operating agency and top brands across verticals.
About Silverstein Properties
Silverstein Properties, Inc. (SPI) is a privately-held, full-service real estate development, investment and management firm based in New York. Founded in 1957 by Chairman Larry Silverstein, the company develops and acquires office, residential, hotel and retail properties. SPI has developed, owned and managed more than 35 million square feet (3.25 million square meters) of commercial, residential and retail space, including 7 World Trade Center, the first LEED-certified office tower in New York City, which opened in 2006 and 4 World Trade Center which opened in November 2013.
Currently, the firm has $10 billion of development underway: Four Seasons Resort at Walt Disney World, Four Seasons Downtown New York Hotel and Private Luxury Residences and 2 and 3 World Trade Center. In addition, SPI is focused on joint ventures for development and acquisitions in Europe, Asia and Israel. The company has been recognized as one of the "Best Places to Work in New York City" by Crain's New York Business for the past six years.
For further information on Silverstein Properties, please visit www.silversteinproperties.com orhttp://www.wtc.com.