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You don't love pumpkin pie? You're like me. Looking for something different for Thanksgiving? Try this delicious cranberry apple pie, which my wife and her fellow members of the Grace Church cooking crew served at our Harvest Dinner, and which was a great success.
What you need (per pie):
1 refrigerated pie pastry (or make your own, if, like my wife, you're really hard core)
2 cups apples, peeled, cored, and quartered
2 cups fresh cranberries
2/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 1/2 tablespoons flour
For the crumb topping:
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
4 tablespoons cold butter, cut into 1/4 inch pieces.
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Line a nine inch standard pie pan with the pastry; flute the edges.
Slice the apples thinly and mix them in a bowl with the cranberries. Add and mix sugar, lemon juice, and flour. Put the filling in the pastry, smoothing the top. Put in oven and bake for thirty minutes.
While the pie is baking, mix the flour, sugar, and cinnamon for the topping in a bowl. Add the butter and combine it with the other ingredients until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs.
When thirty minutes are up, take the pie from the oven, reduce the temperature to 375 degrees, spread the topping on the pie, and bake for another thirty minutes, or until the top is a golden brown. Let it cool for two hours before serving.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Image and recipe thanks to spoonful.com.
Addendum: In today's Times, Ian Fisher seconds Calvin Trillin in recommending spaghetti carbonara as a substitute for turkey. Zelda will be thankful.


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Live Nation Revenue Down 98 Percent Due to COVID-19
Live Nation's revenue for the second quarter of 2020 was down 98 percent from the previous year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. But the concert promoters believe they'll be in a good position when the touring industry returns to normal.
According to public documents filed with the SEC, Live Nation took in $74.1 million during the past three months as opposed to $3.15 billion for the same period in 2019. This includes a net loss of $87 million in the ticketing field due to refunds. For the entirety of 2020, the company is down 71 percent, with revenue of $1.43 billion against $4.88 billion last year.
However, the statement noted that 86 percent of fans are holding on to tickets for shows that have been rescheduled - including two-thirds of all festival dates - and that sales for next year's festivals in the U.K. are robust. In total, 19 million tickets have been sold for upcoming concerts and festivals.
The documents add that Live Nation held only 24 concerts in 2020's second quarter, compared to 7,213 shows during the same period last year.
Live Nation also noted it has $2.7 billion in available liquidity that will allow the company to operate at current capacity "until the expected return of concerts at scale in the summer of 2021, preceded by ticket sales earlier in the year." It also spotlighted the success of its streaming concerts, including the Virtual Lollapalooza Festival this past weekend, as proof that demand for live music remains high. Live Nation is looking for ways to further integrate streams into its business model in the future.
"While this is a challenging time for everyone – the live events business in particular – there are a few things that I am confident about," company president and CEO Michael Rapino said. "We are well positioned to weather this crisis, and we will get through this. When it is safe to return, we will have an abundance of fans and artists ready to enjoy live music again, and Live Nation will do everything in its power to meet our responsibilities to artists, fans, our employees and everyone else affected by this shutdown by bringing back as much live music as fast as possible when it is responsible to do so."

subset: commoncrawl


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Hey ya'll, ever since I agreed to lead the Reformed Celtic Polytheism SIG I feel like I haven't been around that much. Real life, depression and the last semester of my college career can, I guess, take up a lot of time and energy.
I'm happy there are new topics popping up here and there occasionally; I think there are some great discussions happening.
That said, I need ya'lls opinion. I'd like to start making this SIG a more active place again, but frankly, I'm a little uncertain as to how to do that. So I turn to you guys.
What would ya'll like to see here in the SIG to make things more active/interesting to you? Are you interested in trying to return to the core planning and decision making of RCR? Are you interested in weekly topics (such as Juni started)? What kind of suggestions, projects, ideas, anything, if any, do ya'll have for trying to boost this SIG up a little?
- Message Board: Join in our discussion


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The world shoulders a heavy burden when it comes to shifting our stuff. Could new approaches lighten the load? Michael Ashcroft investigates.
Despite growing enthusiasm for local products, most of the items that end up in your shopping basket or in your wardrobe will have journeyed through a global cargo system that is as complex as it is carbon-intensive.
Indeed, according to most estimates, moving things (including people) around accounts for 15% of global carbon emissions. Shipping, according to the International Maritime Organization, represents more than 80% of global trade - and is the most efficient means of transporting large quantities of goods over significant distances. The World Shipping Council points out that if all the containers from an 11,000TEU [twenty-foot equivalent unit] ship were loaded onto a train, it would need to be 77km long.
Nevertheless, the 50,000 merchant vessels on the world's seas and oceans at any given time are responsible for emitting 1 billion tonnes of CO2 each year. Cross-continental traffic is set to increase with population growth and urbanisation, so the race is on to rethink each stage of the global supply chain. Can industry find a way to transform this heavy load into an efficient system of exchange?
The first step has to be finding out where the inefficiencies lie. You might start by looking for the worst performers - but that's not always easy, says Peter Harris, Director of Sustainability, EMEA at the logistics firm UPS. The complexity of the supply chain makes it "very difficult to measure sustainability performance objectively between two companies, even in the same sector", he says.
One beacon of hope in all of this is the trend towards transparency. If data hackers are able to make sense of supply chain impacts, retailers and consumers will come to expect a new level of accountability. This should help to drive improvements in performance and ultimately enable more sustainable decision-making for business and, in particular, procurement.
Take, for example, Green Freight Europe. This consortium of more than 65 carriers, shippers and logistics firms monitors and reports on the carbon performance of road freight companies. It's facilitated by the (neutral) European Shippers' Council and the Dutch Shippers' Council, and the London-based Energy Saving Trust has been contracted to develop the methodology and operate the platform. The aim is to help logistics companies pick the carrier best placed to boost their sustainability credentials - while saving them money on fuel. This also drives best practice by rewarding carriers that invest in energy-efficient technology with new business.
"We intend to use Green Freight Europe to get a better understanding of the environmental performance of our subcontractors", says Harris of UPS. "And it will give us an opportunity to demonstrate our capabilities to our customers."
It's all very well for road freight moving across defined and well-regulated geographical regions. But how would it work for shipping? At the moment, sea freight works something like this: the organisation with goods to transport subcontracts to a logistics company, and the logistics company, in the majority of cases, charters a ship.
Demand for efficiency could reward those who do maintain a clean fleet
Here's the hitch: as the cost of a ship's fuel is paid for by the charterer, the ship's owner has no incentive to install efficiency measures. One way to overcome this could be to increase the demand for efficient ships, and make sure they are available to charter, thereby rewarding those owners who do maintain a clean fleet.
An initiative spearheaded by the Carbon War Room seeks to do just this, by providing a database of a large proportion of the world's shipping fleet, complete with efficiency data. When charterers need to procure a ship, they can search the database of over 60,000 vessels and select an efficient one. Each ship is assigned a rating using an A-G rating system, the Existing Vessel Design Index [EVDI], developed by Melbourne-based ship vetting specialist RightShip. When an owner upgrades a ship, they are encouraged to update the details on the database.
This initiative is already being used by some major players. Cargill, one of the world's leading agribusinesses, is one of 180 organisations globally to have signed up to RightShip's EVDI rankings service. "We endeavour to charter the most efficient vessels operating in the shipping market", says Jonathan Stoneley, Environment and Compliance Manager at Cargill. "This is a significant commitment as it marks a first in the industry."
At the same time, ship owners, charterers, builders and engineers, as well as the insurance and logistics sectors, have teamed up with Forum for the Future and WWF to launch the Sustainable Shipping Initiative [SSI]. It aims to set the industry on course to be resilient, socially and environmentally responsible, and profitable - by 2040. Making transport more efficient is the most pressing challenge facing the industry right now, and the most attractive from a savings point of view, and so the SSI is exploring everything from better planning of shipping routes to enhanced ship design to slower (and therefore cleaner) traffic.
Making the vessels themselves more efficient is just a start, admits Sam Kimmins, who leads the SSI at Forum for the Future. More pressing over the longer-term, he explains, is the need to make the logistics chain as a whole more sustainable, something which requires a major rethink of not just how goods get from A to B but why they are sent in the first place. Indeed, would it be best to just cut out the need for global transportation completely?
Not necessarily. According to the Low Carbon Leaders Project, an initiative supported by the UN Global Compact and WWF, transport can be part of the solution rather than part of the problem. Its 'Chasing the Sun' initiative, which has the support of Maersk, imagines a more holistic approach to transport and logistics, going way beyond new hull designs and fuel-efficient routes. Take fruit and vegetables. While produce grown locally may, to European consumers, appear to be the 'green option', Chasing the Sun asks whether shipping fruit and vegetables from regions of high solar input such as Africa may be more sustainable. The fertiliser and pesticides needed to grow such crops in colder climes have a greater carbon footprint than that of a fuel-efficient container ship, the reasoning goes.
Kimmins would like to see the speed of travel given the same public profile as the distance, where environmental impact is concerned. Any possibility of moving freight by sea rather than by air should be explored as a priority, he maintains, replacing the culture of getting the product from A to B as quickly as possible with one where it journeys as sustainably as possible. "Both consumers and importers need to ask themselves, 'Can I wait a few more days and get this shipped rather than sent by air mail?'", he says.
Patience is one thing; financial incentive another. To create change at scale, sustainable cargo options have to be attractive to business. "It's a case of constantly looking for ways to bring things into the space where economic and environmental intersect", says Harris. "Sustainability is a commercial thing. Ultimately, organisations cannot function on a dysfunctional planet".
Michael Ashcroft is an energy technology and policy analyst and freelance writer.
Green Futures is the leading magazine on environmental solutions and sustainable futures.


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Saturday, August 30, 6:00 PM CDT
Dear Friends,
I ask for your prayers for our friends and colleagues in New Orleans, and to let you know that we are canceling Many Stories, One Voice: The North American Convocation of Pro-LGBT Christians.
As of this writing, Hurricane Gustav has been upgraded to a Category 4 and is still expected to make landfall near New Orleans. Additionally, the New Orleans airport will be closing at 6 pm tomorrow evening (Sunday) and we don't know when it is expected to re-open.
For these reasons and for the reason that we do not want to add any additional burdens to our already-overtaxed and traumatized colleagues in New Orleans, we do not want any more people going to New Orleans. Your safety and that of the folks in New Orleans is our utmost priority.
At this point, it is simply too early to tell what we will do in terms of another conference. We will be in touch as soon as we've had time to talk with all of our colleagues and confer.
Two items of information:
1. If you were scheduled to fly to New Orleans, check with your airlines about their inclement weather and hurricane clauses.
2. Please call +1 888 236-2427 or go online: http://www.marriott.com/ in order to cancel your hotel reservations. But please do not call the New Orleans Marriott as they are trying to make preparations for the storm.
I am deeply disappointed to have to write this. But, as I've heard from many of you in the last few days, God has called us into this ministry and will make use of all the faithful work that has gone into MSOV's planning. May we continue to pray for our colleagues, friends and family in the Gulf Coast region and may our call to embody God's extravagant welcome continue to embolden and sustain us.
In peace,
Rev. Rebecca Voelkel
Institute for Welcoming Resources and Faith Work Director
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force


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Do rooftop solar panels add value to a home, and are they cost-effective in terms of energy savings? The short answer is yes, say the experts. Although more than a million U.S. homes boasted solar panels in 2016, the percentage of solar-equipped households is still miniscule.
That may change, however, as domestic prices for solar installations continue to decrease and property values rise.
The Pros And Cons Of Solar
While there is global agreement on the need to encourage cost-effective, non-polluting renewable energy sources, it is also acknowledged that solar effectiveness is not equal in all locations or situations.
Several Southwestern states boast abundant sunshine, a high percentage of roofs that face in the proper direction for solar capture, and high consumption of electricity, including the the need for air conditioning. Experts predict that California could supply 74 percent of its total electrical needs if its roofs were clothed in solar panels.
On the other hand, Nevada, with a much smaller population and a different climate, only has the ability to supply 14 percent of its total need. The truth is that solar is not equally beneficial in all locations.
Solar Costs On Par With Grid Electricity
Even so, according to information provided by the Union of Concerned Scientists, more than half of U.S. states have reached or are close to the point where rooftop solar costs are on par with grid costs for electricity. In areas where utility companies offer net metering, solar producers can return excess energy for credit, which results, in the best of cases, in a monthly electricity bill that is extremely low, perhaps even zero.
Before committing to rooftop solar panels, homeowners should ask some pertinent questions. An investment in solar is still pricey, even though installation costs have dropped by about 50 percent over the past decade. With government incentives of various kinds, the total cost may dip to $10,000 or below for an average size home.
On average, the payback on that initial investment will be long-term, even though monthly savings on electrical bills can be immediate. Panel leasing is a popular option, with no initial down payment required, although the lease term may extend for 10 or even 20 years. Another option in some areas is to invest in a solar farm or cooperative.
Important Questions For Homeowners
Pertinent questions include personal motivation: Are solar panels simply a way to save money or do they demonstrate eco-consciousness and a concern for quality of life? Owners should also consider how long they plan to own a specific home before investing in rooftop panels.
Current data suggests that buyers will pay a premium for solar-equipped homes. A study by Energy Sage confirms that buyers in some states are more "pro-Solar" than other U.S. residents, but notes that the national value boost is around $15,000 for an average solar home, and higher in select locales. That equates to between $3 and $4 per kilowatt of solar power generated.
Even though the added value is not uniform throughout the country, it is obvious that rooftop solar panels are emerging as mainstream home amenities.


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Among those adding their voices to the debate over gun control and school safety are young people who have been personally affected by mass shootings, including the one in Newtown, Conn. That's where a gunman killed 20 children and six educators in 2012. NPR's Tovia Smith spoke with a former Newtown student turned activist who sees the work as more urgent now, but at the same time, more difficult to do.
TOVIA SMITH, BYLINE: Of all the mass shootings since Newtown - Buffalo, Boulder, Pittsburgh, Parkland and more - none has rattled Sarah Clements more than Uvalde.
SARAH CLEMENTS: I found myself, when I first learned about the shooting, essentially blacking out.
SMITH: Clements was 16 years old when she spent hours under a table in lockdown at her high school down the road from the Sandy Hook Elementary School. She was terrified for herself and for her mother, a second-grade teacher at the Sandy Hook school. Clements says memories of those days that she had long since blocked out came rushing back after Uvalde.
CLEMENTS: To see faces of the children, these, like, primal screams from parents who realize that their kid hasn't come out of the building, that are so starkly similar to what we experienced that my brain has maybe been trying to protect me from. Seeing those, like, forced in front of me again, it's really, like, a shock to your system.
SMITH: That shock, Clements says, quickly turned to anger.
CLEMENTS: It's the anger that so many of us tried so hard so that another community wouldn't have to experience what we did.
SMITH: Clements, now 26, is one of many students who turned to political activism after a school shooting turned their lives upside down. They've organized walkouts, teach-ins and marches, lobbied lawmakers and have even run for office. Clements started a student advocacy organization and has spent the past decade running youth summits, trainings and strategy workshops, as well as protesting and speaking out. She was propelled to get involved, she says, days after the shooting, when she heard comments made by the head of the NRA.
CLEMENTS: I do vividly remember seeing over and over again this clip of Wayne LaPierre saying this idea that, like, anything but guns is the problem.
WAYNE LAPIERRE: Since when did the gun automatically become a bad word?
CLEMENTS: And I remember he kept repeating...
LAPIERRE: The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun...
LAPIERRE: ...Is a good guy with a gun. That just ignited something in me. It was such an offensive remark.
SMITH: Clements says she feels the same fury now, hearing calls to arm teachers even as stories emerge of bad decisions in Uvalde made by law enforcement.
CLEMENTS: You know, if even trained military and police officers at the very top of their profession could not do that, asking educators to have a firearm and do that is nonsense.
SMITH: Since the Uvalde shooting, a new wave of student activism has bubbled up. But Clements knows momentum tends to wane just as quickly, creating a second level of heartbreak for activists like her. In her nearly 10 years of work, she's seen some wins at the state level, like tougher background checks, waiting periods and red flag laws, but nothing from Congress. After Sandy Hook, she says she was crushed that the murder of 20 kids and six teachers was not enough to compel lawmakers to act. Now, she says she's starting to believe there may never be enough.
CLEMENTS: I think there is not some number of shootings or some number of bodies for the people in power that refuse to take action. And I don't know why.
SMITH: She tries so hard not to be jaded, she says. But having seen so many promises of action peter out and feeling like even democracy itself is under fire right now, Clements says she struggles to find cause for optimism.
CLEMENTS: I used to be able to answer this question. Like, 10 years ago, I would talk about how there's this growing movement. There's young people who are standing up who are walking out of their schools in protest. Even five years ago, I probably would have had a litany of things that made me hopeful, and right now, I'm just not.
SMITH: Still, Clements says she will keep on doing the work. It does take a toll on your soul, as she puts it. And it's infuriating to feel the onus is on students themselves to drive change. But eventually, she insists, change will come from her generation, those who grew up hiding under desks, in active shooter drills, and the ever-growing number of those who hid from actual shooters as well. Tovia Smith, NPR News. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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Getting the Most Out of Your ISO Certification – Part 3: Check Your Gauges
Picture a small plane flying over the Atlantic Ocean. Halfway across, the captain announces, "I've got bad news and I've got good news. The bad news is that the gauges aren't working. We are hopelessly lost. I have no idea how fast we're flying or in what direction, and I don't know how much fuel we have left. The good news is that we're making great time!"
This is an analogy taken from Gino Wickman's book, Traction. It may sound a little too familiar. Perhaps a little like the businesses we run day-to-day. We are hurling along at a great speed, but we're not quite sure where we're going anymore, or how we're going to get there, because we've got no way to gauge the things that indicate progress.
Check Your Gauges
In the same way that we expect an airplane to have fully functioning gauge's, we should feel challenged to consider what, exactly, needs to be measured within our organization to ensure success. Many people do have measurements… but are the truly helpful? Typically, we have a set of numbers that we look at, but is it honestly a good reflection of the health of the organization? And just how granular do we get with those measurements?
Section 9 of ISO 9001 speaks to determining what needs to be monitored and measured and how that should happen. Our first challenge is to determine what needs to be monitored and measured. So, we have to ask ourselves, especially in light of risk-based thinking, "What are the things throughout each part of our process that should be measured to ensure we are performing well?"
From a QMS perspective, perhaps we institute a series of measurements on a high-level scale, particularly in support of achieving the stated (quality) performance objectives of the organization. Further, there may be a need to ensure compliance with regulatory or statutory requirements. But we should be encouraging our teams to consider how their particular function can be measured to help support the overall effort. If we take the dashboard analogy from earlier, an accurate measurement of distance covered is going to influence the monitoring of fuel use and, hence, the overall objectives of arrival at the destination and cost management.
A Number for All
In reality, everyone in our organizations should have at least one number, one thing that indicates success. The measurement that marks the win. It's really almost that simple. If you have an expectation of an employee, find a way to institute a measurement, which will drive an action. By instituting a measurement and then reporting on the results, we stay focused — important, because we use that information to make decisions to improve. And if each of these measurements rolls up into a company scorecard of 5 to 15 numbers weekly, you'll be able to see at a glance how your business is doing in both the short-term (the next 90 days) and long-term (the next 3 to 10 years).
If this concept seems overly simple, think for a moment of what number, or perhaps numbers, constitute a sure "win" for you in your position. Do you have one? Two? Things that clearly and easily translates to success? Most people don't. So, we fly that plane, hoping to reach our destination without the help of gauges, not knowing if we're on track or dangerously close to the Bermuda Triangle.
Communicating Expectations
When you're driving your car and a dash light flickers on, let's say it's the light indicating a soft tire, you know you've got to deal with it before it becomes a flat. But increasingly, we have dashboard metrics in cars that are leading indicators, not lagging. An example would be the Eco indicator light that acts as a pat on the back when you're going light on the gas pedal. It's a great leading indicator to help you move forward and conserve on fuel.
So, what are you leading indicators? Do you ensure that each member of the team has a measurement that indicates an eventual win? Often times a significant challenge is in the communication of an expectation. We think we're clear and articulate, when in fact, we're not. An effective method to ensure that we get the point across is to measure the result. For example, you may hire a receptionist and communicate that great customer service is your number one concern. But how do you measure "great customer service?"
Perhaps a consideration is how many times the phone should ring before being answered. You might determine that three rings is acceptable, but four is not. So, the measure you'd put in place is how many calls are answered by the third ring. It helps us to clearly communicate the expectation and define the win. And when we institute these kinds of measurements throughout the organization, we find that we are more in control of what's happening. Communication is clearer. We have a finger on the pulse of the organization and how we're performing overall. This information then translates into data, giving us a pathway to success. After all, evidence-based decision making is critical to success, while ego-based decisions put up roadblocks.
In the words of W. Edwards Deming, "Without data, you are just another person with an opinion." So, let's be sure to move forward with the data (and let's ensure its non-biased) that's going to help us stay in control of our businesses.
Co-authored by Kirsten Smith & Andy Nichols
Kirsten Smith is the owner of Made to Thrive Consulting, LLC, an organization born from a passion for excellence in business and a desire to help people and organizations reach a higher potential than they thought they could.
Andy Nichols is an experienced Quality Management consultant, trainer and author.
© Made to Thrive Consulting, LLC, 2019. All rights reserved.
Image credits:
Small Plane Gauges: Mike Focus/Shutterstock.com
Jet cockpit: aslysun/Shutterstock.com.
Jet wing: Sheila/Pexels.com


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Westside Boogie's obscure declaration before the final song of his set indicated his detailed knowledge of Tiny Desk concerts. "I gotta be the first person to bring kids to NPR, right? No, I'm not," he exclaims. "I gotta be the first one with kids in costumes, though." He's correct. American Football brought a children's choir to the Desk in 2019, so Boogie added flair to that idea for the climactic end to his show. The "superheroes" accompanying him for "Silent Ride" are local Washington, D.C., children representing the future. The vulnerable and solemn nature of this Compton poet's music required minimal adjustment to fit into our space.
"Oh My," the song that reeled us back to 2015, was atypical of what he does naturally in the booth. He finds comfort in laying bare vivid images of his personal life, much of which delves into his relationship struggles yet beams with self-awareness and self-criticism. The title of his latest project, More Black Superheroes, is in part dedicated to two recurring themes in his music: his neighborhood and his son. For his Tiny Desk, he played songs from that album, including "NONCHALANT," featuring former Tiny Desk Contest contestant Mamiiand other highlights from his catalog. After the performance, in a full-circle moment, Boogie signed a poster from our 2015 SXSW showcase, which he was part of, telling us it was his first paid show.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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The Senate voted 71-26 on Wednesday to confirm San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro to head the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
All 26 no votes came from Republicans.
"Julian has lived the American dream in his own life, and I'm confident he will help Americans across our country seize their own piece of that dream for themselves and their children," President Obama said in a statement after the vote.
Obama nominated Castro, a Hispanic and a rising star in the Democratic Party, to the job in May. As NPR's Scott Horley reported, he takes over the department at a time "when the nation's housing market has been treading water."
Castro, 39, succeeds Shaun Donovan, who was tapped to be White House budget chief. Castro rose to national prominence as the keynote speaker at the Democratic convention in 2012.
NPR's Frank James noted at the time:
"A graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Law School (like his twin brother, Joaquin, a Texas state representative), Castro became the youngest mayor of a top 50 U.S. city in 2009.
"That, among other achievements, long ago put Castro on the radar of some of the keenest political observers as a local politician with national potential."
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Walking: Rx for Health, Happiness
For a healthier, happier lifestyle, try walking–the most popular form of exercise.
It's easy, safe, and inexpensive. It's also relaxing and at the same time invigorating, requires little athletic skill, and does not call for club membership or special equipment other than sturdy, comfortable shoes. And it is fun and natural–good for your mind and self-esteem.
The results of walking are physically rewarding–a trim, fit body better able to enhance general health and add enjoyable years to your life.
Fundamental walking–also called healthwalking–can be done almost anywhere and at any time, year around–to the store, in the mall, or in your neighborhood; alone, with your dog, or with others; and at your own pace. It is simple, uncomplicated–physical fitness at your leisure.
Walking benefits most everybody, regardless of age. About 67 million men and women are walking regularly. Convinced that it is good exercise, they're making it a part of their daily routine. And their numbers are increasing every year, according to the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.
A Sure Way To Fitness
For those with a long history of inactivity, problems with obesity, or who just don't like strenuous activity, walking is an excellent way to begin an exercise program. You can start slowly, then increase your speed and maintain a steady pace. A good conditioning program begins with moderation and dedication.
Podiatric and family physicians recommend walking to ease or ward off a number of physically related ills. Walking can help you:
Strengthen your heart and lungs, and improve circulation.
Prevent heart attacks and strokes.
Reduce obesity and high blood pressure.
Boost your metabolic rate.
Favorably alter your cholesterol.
Improve muscle tone in your legs and abdomen.
Reduce stress and tension.
Reduce arthritis pain; stop bone tissue decay.
Walking: There's An Art To ItBefore you start walking, some simple warmup exercises–but not strenuous, advanced stretching–can give your muscles added flexibility. Body twists at the waist, in a slow hula-hoop motion, and a few toe-touching or knee-bend exercises are appropriate. When you're ready to begin, the best way to start is walking 20 uninterrupted minutes at least three times a week. Walk at a comfortable pace, slowing down if you find yourself breathing heavily.Don't tire yourself. If 20 minutes is too much, cut back to l0 or l5 minutes. You can gradually increase your time and pace as your body adapts to the exercise.
There are several ways to measure your pace. One is to walk on routes which you have pre-measured with your car's odometer. Perhaps the simplest is to use a wristwatch. Count the number of steps you take in a 15-second period; if you're taking 15 in that time, you're walking about two miles an hour. At about 23, you're probably going three miles an hour, and at 30, the pace is close to four miles an hour.
You may want to keep an activity log, in which you jot down the dates, times, and estimated distances of your walks, plus other notes, such as routes, milestones, and incidental experiences.
Some Walking Tips:
Move at a steady pace, brisk enough to make your heart beat faster. Breathe more deeply.
Walk with your head erect, back straight, abdomen flat. Keep your legs out front and your knees slightly bent.
Swing your arms freely at your sides.
As you walk, land on the heel of your foot and roll forward to push off on the ball of your foot.
At least at the beginning, confine your walks to level stretches of flat surfaces, avoiding excessively steep hills and embanked roadways.
If you're walking in the evening, be sure to wear clothing with reflective material sewn in, or otherwise attached.
Cool down after a long, brisk walk to help pump blood back up from your legs to where it's needed. Here's where some stretching exercises can be helpful. A good one is standing about three feet from a wall, with your hands flat on the wall. Then take five or six small steps backward, maintaining your hand contact with the wall. Repeat the exercise five to ten times.
Racewalking is a very specific technique that's used by walkers for both fitness and competition. It has greater aerobic benefits than healthwalking, since it is faster and increases the heartbeat rate.
If you get to the point where you think racewalking is for you, there are clubs which can be contacted in most places.
Walking Footwear: Comfort and Fit
Choose a good quality, lightweight walking shoe with breathable upper materials, such as leather or nylon mesh. The heel counter should be very firm; the heel should have reduced cushioning to position the heel closer to the ground for walking stability. The front or forefoot area of the shoe should have adequate support and flexibility.
Fit is very important. Go to a reputable store and have both shoes fitted for length and width with the socks you'll be using. (Do this late in the afternoon, since your feet do swell enough during the day to affect your shoe size.) Make sure the shoe is snug but not too tight over the sock. The shoe should have plenty of room for the toes to move around. Several walking shoes have qualified to use the APMA Seal of Acceptance.
Your choice of athletic socks is also important. Sports podiatrists frequently recommend appropriately padded socks of acrylic fiber. Acrylic fibers tend to "wick" away excessive perspiration, which active feet can produce from 250,000 sweat glands at a rate of four to six ounces a day, or even more. Again, there are popular brands of athletic socks which are authorized to use APMA's Seal of Acceptance.
Some Other Tips
Check on the shoe width; it must comfortably accommodate the width of the ball of your foot.
Make sure you get good arch support.
See that the top of the heel counter of the shoe is properly cushioned and does not bite into the heel or touch the ankle bones.
Do You Need A Checkup?If you are free of serious health problems, you can start walking with confidence. Walking is not strenuous; it involves almost no risk to health. You should, of course, exercise good judgment, not exceed the limits of your condition, and not walk outdoors during extreme weather periods, until you have a good walking program established.
You should, however, consult your family or podiatric physician before you begin a walking regimen. A checkup is suggested, particularly if you are over 60, have a disease or disability, or are taking medication. It is also recommended for those who are 35-60, substantially overweight, easily fatigued, excessive smokers, or have been physically inactive.
One of your physicians will help you determine your proper walking heart rate. Heart rate is widely accepted as a good method for measuring intensity during walking and other physical activities. The formula says that subtracting your age from the number 220 yields your maximum heart rate (beats per minute), and that the proper walking rate is 60-70 percent of that number. For a 50-year-old, that's 220 minus 50 equals 170; 60 percent of that is 102 and 70 percent is 119. Other factors should be considered, though; a physician's advice is the best indicator of your correct rate.
You are now ready to begin a walking program. It is a prescription for a healthier, happier life.
Shoe Tips
Check on the shoe width; it must comfortably accommodate the width of the ball of your foot.
Make sure you get good arch support.
See that the top of the heel counter of the shoe is properly cushioned and does not bite into the heel or touch the ankle bones.
Your podiatric physician/surgeon has been trained specifically and extensively in the diagnosis and treatment of all manner of foot conditions. This training encompasses all of the intricately related systems and structures of the foot and lower leg including neurological, circulatory, skin, and the musculoskeletal system, which includes bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves.
Resources: APMA.org


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Friday, August 14, 2009
~ This Looks Familiar ~
23 comments:
- Amy {The Red Chair Blog} said...
What a great writeup! Congratulations!
- August 14, 2009 at 8:13 PM
- Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...
Thanks, Amy! I was happy with the way it turned out; although the print newspaper has something a little different than online.
- August 14, 2009 at 10:50 PM
- Jane B. said...
Your bedroom is divine! Among many things...I love those botanical prints with the bamboo frames! I would love to know where you bought those.
Happy Friday!
Decor mamma - August 14, 2009 at 10:52 PM
- Blessed Mama said...
Lovely! Congrats!
- August 14, 2009 at 11:26 PM
- Anne Lubner Designs said...
The room turned out beautifully, Kathy, love your colors and accents! No worries on your open house tomorrow for sure. Congrats on a lovely room and great write-up too!
- August 15, 2009 at 12:06 AM
- Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...
Hi Jane ~ Thank you! I got those prints off of eBay! I also got the mats and frames from eBay as well {from different sellers}, and then put them together.
- August 15, 2009 at 9:10 AM
- Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...
Thank you, Blessed Mama!
Thanks, Anne! The newspaper will have to do until the magazines discover me! : ) - August 15, 2009 at 9:12 AM
- Room Service ~ Decorating 101 said...
love your bedroom. I have the same lamp in my master, without the tassel. Thanks for stopping by and don't let me miss any of your up and coming pink rooms, for you have the magic...
- August 15, 2009 at 9:25 AM
- Decor To Adore said...
What a great article! Is this your local paper?
Love the milk pail wall shade~well done! - August 15, 2009 at 9:35 AM
- Maria Killam said...
How fun, it's great to be published! And it is a great room!
- August 15, 2009 at 10:33 AM
- Melissa Miller said...
Congrats Kathy how exciting!
Your bedroom is beautiful and very soothing! Wonderful job on every lovely detail.
~Blessings to you. ~Melissa :) - August 15, 2009 at 8:10 PM
- Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...
Thanks very much, Room Service!
Thank you, Laura! That is one of my favorite colors; I'm hoping to use it again when we move.
It absolutely is, Maria! I get excited every time.
Thank you, Melissa! I like to think that the things I do in my own home are good ways to experiment with colors and styles. I've gotten good reactions to this room {thankfully} and everyone wants the color name. - August 15, 2009 at 9:53 PM
- {oc cottage} said...
Hooooooooow exciting!!
m ^..^ - August 15, 2009 at 11:21 PM
- Pat said...
Oh my, your blog is beautiful!! and your bedroom---oh la la!
Great job! - August 15, 2009 at 11:30 PM
- Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...
Thank you! I was so excited that week waiting for it to come out.
Thank you, Pat! I've been putting a bit more of myself into this blog. As for the bedroom, it was a labor of love and turned out exactly the way I was hoping. - August 16, 2009 at 12:05 PM
- Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...
Beautiful room! Love the botanical prints! The colors are sooo soothing...really pretty! :-) I'll have to hop over and check out the article! Thanks so much for including my Give-a-way in your sidebar...truly appreciate that!
Susan - August 17, 2009 at 10:15 PM
- Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...
Thank you, Susan! That's what I was going for, so I'm glad that comes across. My pleasure on the giveaway - every little bit, right?
- August 17, 2009 at 11:06 PM
- Design Esquire said...
Wow! Great write-up! Congratulations. It is such a nice picture of you too.
- August 18, 2009 at 8:33 AM
- Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...
Thanks, Christine! It was a nice feature, and I was happy with the pictures the photographer took, too.
- August 18, 2009 at 12:12 PM
- Tiaa @ EYInteriors said...
I've been out of the loop lately. I totally missed this post. What a great article in Newsday! Congrats! Well deserved!
- August 25, 2009 at 10:11 PM
- Janell @ House of Fifty said...
Here it is! I love the wall color, so completely soothing! I think apart from the soft colors the bamboo frames with the botanical prints are my favorite part of the room! Gorgeous...Janell
- February 17, 2010 at 11:00 AM
- Sabrina said...
Congratulations! What an honor! I love this room. I recently did our master in the blueish green tones mixed with brown. Yours is SO polished yet comfortable.
- March 7, 2010 at 11:15 PM
- Vicky said...
i love your bedroom!it's awesome, you've done well!!
- May 19, 2010 at 12:45 AM


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Author : E. B. White
Publisher : HarperCollins
Page : 196 pages
File Size : 26,49 MB
Release : 2015-03-17
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Don't miss one of America's top 100 most-loved novels, selected by PBS's The Great American Read. This beloved book by E. B. White, author of Stuart Little and The Trumpet of the Swan, is a classic of children's literature that is "just about perfect." Illustrations in this ebook appear in vibrant full color on a full-color device and in rich black-and-white on all other devices. Some Pig. Humble. Radiant. These are the words in Charlotte's Web, high up in Zuckerman's barn. Charlotte's spiderweb tells of her feelings for a little pig named Wilbur, who simply wants a friend. They also express the love of a girl named Fern, who saved Wilbur's life when he was born the runt of his litter. E. B. White's Newbery Honor Book is a tender novel of friendship, love, life, and death that will continue to be enjoyed by generations to come. It contains illustrations by Garth Williams, the acclaimed illustrator of E. B. White's Stuart Little and Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House series, among many other books. Whether enjoyed in the classroom or for homeschooling or independent reading, Charlotte's Web is a proven favorite.


text: Share insert_drive_file Article 5 Best Practices to Help You Be the Travel Planner for Your Customer's Journey Customer's expectations are changing. Companies with the ability to respond to customers with personalized, contextually relevant offers and communications in real-time are learning how to adapt to those changes. By using insights, not only based upon their in-the-moment activity, but also past behaviors, companies can reinvent and reimagine customer journeys to increase delight, sales and service productivity, while automating processes to reduce operational costs and drive standardization. file_download Download article


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To put the best face on a listing and appeal to buyers who follow feng shui principles, keep these tips in mind.
- Pay special attention to the front door, which is considered the "mouth of chi" (chi is the "life force" of all things) and one of the most powerful aspects of the entire property. Abundance, blessings, opportunities, and good fortune enter through the front door. It's also the first impression buyers have of how well the sellers have taken care of the rest of the property. Make sure the area around the front door is swept clean, free of cobwebs and clutter. Make sure all lighting is straight and properly hung. Better yet, light the path leading up to the front door to create an inviting atmosphere.
- Chi energy can be flushed away wherever there are drains in the home. To keep the good forces of a home in, always keep the toilet seats down and close the doors to bathrooms.
- The master bed should be in a place of honor, power, and protection, which is farthest from and facing toward the entryway of the room. It's even better if you can place the bed diagonally in the farthest corner. Paint the room in colors that promote serenity, relaxation, and romance, such as soft tones of green, blue, and lavender.
- The dining room symbolizes the energy and power of family togetherness. Make sure the table is clear and uncluttered during showings. Use an attractive tablecloth to enhance the look of the table while also softening sharp corners.
- The windows are considered to be the eyes of the home. Getting the windows professionally cleaned will make the home sparkle and ensure that the view will be optimally displayed.


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Follow RFF News on your cell phone. Text follow rff to 40404 you will receive txt messages with RFF News
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
So: Black Team=Azmyth, Jay, Jupiter, JD, Christa, Cheryl. and Laurel? Red team=Sean, Ben, Louie, Kendra, Nessa, and Joy?
I'm still watching the show and lurking here. Truthfully I'm watching because it is summer and not much else is on (until July 5th! ). I'm also watching The Lot and So You Think You Can Dance. I'll probably fall off the pick'em game board next week because I am going on vacation and won't be able to make picks.
Nice! This picture is at Red Rocks-looks like they get a map there?And they take their own ladder there too... Changed my mind on this one--not the same ladder as in the hole at Red Rocks, can't explain why JD is on the red team when this week he looks like the black team--so that ladder carrying must be from later on...
i thought that black spots could go to anyone not the captain or an officer? the teams are only in place for the challenge and then they are disolved once the loot is split.


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Buy Mica Powder Satin Orange Yellow Pigment to colour soaps and cosmetics online
Particle size: 5-25 micron
Composition: mica 39-45%, titanium dioxide 54-60%
Form: powder
Colour: satin orange yellow
Odour: odourless
Solubility: insoluble in water
Melting point: decomposes
Add a radiant touch to your soaps and cosmetics! Shop the Satin Orange Yellow Mica Pigment from N-Essentials online today!
This multicolour shimmery pigment mainly comprises of mica and titanium dioxide.
Micas are categorised as an approved natural colourant that has been mined and then individual mica platelets are coated with approved pigments to achieve the colourant. The multi-sided colour is what gives micas its unmistakeable shimmer and sheen. It works best in clear products such as clear melt and pour soap as the shimmer needs light in order to reflect. One good thing about mica is that it tends not to clump in cold process soap.
The down side though is that it tends to be unstable in cold process soap. Titanium dioxide is a thickening, whitening, lubricating ingredient added to this pigment to protect the skin. It is added to allow a level of stability not afforded by mica. The end result of the combination of mica and titanium dioxide is a multicolour shimmery pigment that is fairly stable and not clumpy. This shimmery pigment can be used by itself in bodycare applications or to brighten other colours in various applications. It can be used for colouring cosmetics as well as to colour soaps.
The 15g option is packaged in a clear vial whilst larger options come packaged in resealable ziplock standup pouches.
Warning: there may be violent or incandescent reaction of the product with metals, such as aluminium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, lithium, sodium etc, at high temperatures.
Additional Details


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vendredi 15 février 2013, par Pieter Degroote (KU Leuven & Aarhus University)
Recent space based photometry (CoRoT & MOST) delivered a few late B-type stars, where the variability shows intriguing similarity with the light curves of cool, differentially rotating spotted stars. A pilot study (Degroote et al., 2009) showed that it is possible to explain both the light curve variability and the spectral line profiles with a differentially rotating spot model. However, white light photometry alone is not sufficient to disentangle variability due to spots or pulsations. Much effort is devoted to building models that can explain all of the observations simultaneously in one consistent model, a method which we have generalised also to binary and multiple stars, and other types of observations. After the pilot study, more targets were looked for and found. The multicolour spaced based photometry and ground based spectroscopy available for some of these targets allow for a follow-up study to explain the observations and understand these objects.


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A pot containing 17g (approx 700) Colour Lined Rocaiilles from Rayher.
These beads are size 8 or 2.6mm Glass Seed Beads.
They can be used for making jewellery, bead embroidery or adding to your knitting and crochet.
They will fit onto a 0.5mm crochet hook
Rayher Ref: 14 312 520


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Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, Country Stars Love Valentine's Day, Too!
Just like the rest of us, country stars fall in and out of love -- but unlike the rest of us, their romantic turmoil is often the inspiration for songs that, in turn, get the rest of us through our own restless sea of love. And so, just like all of us, country stars are hit and miss with their romantic (or not-so-much) plans when it comes to Valentine's Day.
Perhaps you're into putting in a lot of effort for a grand gesture, as Keith Urban is for his wife, Nicole Kidman. Or maybe you're more of a hit-and-run lover (we see you, Billy Currington!). Either way, there's a bit of advice and inspiration for you in the photo gallery below, which is full of some of the best Valentine's Day (or anti-Valentine's Day) memories, celebrations, traditions and even blunders and mishaps that country's biggest stars have shared over the years.
As Shakespeare said, "The course of true love never did run smooth" -- even for celebrities. Flip through the gallery to find out how your favorite country stars celebrate (or don't) love and romance:


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Join brilliant young naturalist Dara McAnulty – winner of the 2020 Wainwright Prize for his book Diary of a Young Naturalist – on a nature walk and experience the joy of connecting with the natural world on your multi sensory journey.
This beautiful gift book, illustrated in full colour by Barry Falls, is divided into five sections: looking out of the window, venturing out into the garden, walking in the woods, investigating heathland and wandering on the river bank.
Dara pauses to tell you about each habitat and provides fantastic facts about the native birds, animals and plants you will find there – including wrens, blackbirds, butterflies, tadpoles, bluebells, bees, hen harriers, otters, dandelions, oak trees and many more.
Each section contains a discovery section where you will have a closer look at natural phenomenon such as metamorphoses and migration, learn about categorization in the animal kingdom or become an expert on the collective nouns for birds.
Each section finishes with an activity to do when you get home: plant wild flowers, make a bird feeder, try pond dipping, make a journey stick and build a terrarium.
Dara ends the book with advice for young conservationists.


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NEW YORK — Is Donald Trump's business empire as Teflon-coated as his hair appears to be?
Trump has found himself on the receiving end of the catchphrase he made famous on his reality show "The Apprentice" – "You're fired!" – after NBC dumped the real estate mogul Monday over comments he made about immigrants during his recent presidential campaign kickoff speech.
Trump, known for his poufy red hair and penchant for provocative remarks, has never shied away from controversy. But as he launches his 2016 presidential bid in earnest, his latest comments, that some Mexican immigrants bring drugs and crime to the country and are rapists, offended many, were denounced by Mexican-American groups and led NBC to abruptly drop the billionaire.
Mexican media giant Televisa and TV company Ora TV, which is backed by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, have also said they will no longer be doing business with Trump.
The flap has some wondering if the backlash may spill over to his globe-spanning empire of real estate properties. But other experts say NBC's dramatic action simply gives "The Donald" more of the attention and publicity he craves.
"I think that people have come to expect this kind of behavior from Trump," said Robert Passikoff, president of Brand Keys Inc., which monitors brand equity. "You don't have to agree with him, but he is one of the few human brands wandering around anymore."
Other personality-based brands have been felled by inflammatory remarks, such as Paula Deen, the celebrity chef who lost her show and endorsement deals in 2013 for making racist remarks. But Trump's empire is far bigger than Deen's, spread across vast hotel and other real estate holdings.
Trump has said his net worth totals $8.7 billion, though Forbes magazine's analysis of billionaires pegs it at about $4.1 billion. Here's a look at his various holdings and how the recent controversy may affect them.
While TV revenues are just a small part of Trump's billions, NBC's decision Monday that it would no longer air the annual Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants, was the sudden end of a long-running relationship. "The Apprentice" debuted in 2004 and was a smash, making Trump a familiar figure in many American living rooms.
In recent years its spinoff, "Celebrity Apprentice," was a modest performer but a reliable part of NBC's schedule as the network fought to get out of the ratings cellar. The network plans to try to continue "Celebrity Apprentice" without Trump as its colorful center, but a previous effort, 2005's short-lived "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart," failed to find an audience.
Despite the loss of his NBC deal, Larry Chiagouris, marketing professor at Pace University in New York, said it's likely that after his presidential bid winds down Trump will have a show on another network.
"The Trump name still brings attention and eyeballs," he said.
Trump says that his ownership stakes in real estate are worth $5.3 billion, ranging from the Trump Tower in New York to the Mar-a-Lago golf club in Palm Beach, Florida. Some in the real estate industry see the impact of his recent comments as minimal.
"This is a blip on the radar," said Stefani Markowitz, president of the New York-based brokerage Rutenberg. "And there is little question that his real estate holdings not only won't be affected, but will continue to rise."
Others say Trump's comments about Mexicans and other ethnic groups could hurt him in closing real estate deals in the future. Don Peebles, a real estate developer with a $5 billion portfolio of properties, said he vehemently disagrees with Trump's comments and said government officials involved in public-private partnerships might be wary of conducting business with Trump.
Real estate moguls such as the Sultan of Brunei have lost business due to their political views. Last year, many celebrities and entertainment industry leaders boycotted the Beverly Hills Hotel and other properties controlled by the sultan due to the tiny Southeast Asia nation's adoption of Islamic Shariah law that called for punishing adultery, abortions and same-sex relationships with flogging and stoning.
As for Trump, Peebles said, "It's hard to tell how long the anger lasts and whether there is a residual impact."
Trump manages or lends his name to nine hotels marketed as the Trump Hotel Collection. They include properties in New York, Chicago, Las Vegas, Toronto and golf resorts in Florida and Ireland. Another four properties are under development including one in Rio de Janeiro and one in Washington, D.C. His daughter Ivanka has been very active in the hotels, personally overseeing recent renovations at one of the New York City locations.
Chris McGinnis, founder of travel news and advice site TravelSkills.com, said it's not likely the comments will affect the hotel business.
"Business travelers may find what he said distasteful, but if their meeting is a across the street from a Trump hotel, that's likely where they will stay," he said. "There are plenty of people who do not like the politics of the Marriott family, but that clearly has had little impact on that chain."
Comments are no longer available on this story
Send questions/comments to the editors.


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Camera Labs has published a review of the new Canon EOS 1000D (aka Digital Rebel XS). The EOS 1000D takes over for the EOS 400D (aka Rebel XTi) at the bottom rung of Canon's DSLR lineup. It features a 10.1 megapixel sensor.
There's certainly some very strong competition you should also weigh-up, but by delivering all the features budget DSLR buyers look for, the 1000D / XS looks set to be another best-seller for Canon.
For the latest news, reviews and more, stay tuned to Photography Bay's Canon Rebel XS Reviews and Resources.


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_. John Gurney Pelly, who died 20 November, 2015, was a scion of the Pelly baronets (Baronet, UK, cr 1840).
Mr Pelly was the father of Guy Pelly, close friend of the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry.
He was born 1938 a son of the late Douglas Gurney Pelly by his wife the former Monica Tate, a scion of the Tate baronets, and married in 1973, Vanda Joan Allfrey, a scion of the Allfrey baronets, by whom he had issue, Sam, James and Guy.
A Memorial Service will take place at St Michael's Church, Mere, Wilts, 16 Dec, 2015, at 12 noon.


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CEO power has chance for abuse, but decisions made in open, he says. Jacksonville City Hall auditors released an audit on the Jacksonville Aviation Authority that criticizes it for shoddy spending and giving its chief executive too much unchecked power.
The 30-page report, the first examination of JAA's spending since it split off from the Jacksonville Port Authority 10 years ago, details a list of questionable spending that occurred primarily when John Clark was the authority's executive director.
It includes giving almost $550,000 in severance packages to 18 former employees who were let go. The report also said the authority took months to make routine payments and reimburse employees for travel expenses.
Auditors also discovered the authority threw out payment documents from 2004-05 even though it was required by state law to keep the documents. On Thursday JAA officials acknowledge that was a mistake.
The audit also found several questionable expenses reimbursed to Clark, who left in 2009 to become chief executive of the Indianapolis Airport Authority.
Clark was reimbursed for $83.50 on a Saturday evening at a nightclub and the receipt indicates the bill was paid at 1:39 a.m. The second questionable reimbursement was for $123.44 at a local cigar bar when the bill was paid at midnight on a Saturday.
Principal Auditor Kim Taylor said the audit of JAA's accounts payable division showed that the CEO position has broad authority to spend money without going to the JAA board as long as the board approves the operating budget.
"Should the CEO be allowed to approve a $500,000 to $1 million contract without board approval?" Taylor asked. "That's a question we raise."
The audit doesn't allege any impropriety but points out that the CEO possesses broad authority that could be abused, Taylor said.
JAA's current chief executive, Steve Grossman, took issue with the suggestion that he possesses vast powers.
He said the board does delegate day-to-day responsibilities to the CEO, but he makes decisions out in the open.
"I can't think of a single decision I've made in the past 15 months that was just me," Grossman said, adding that he gets constant input from his staff and the board.
The audit examined spending that occurred before Grossman arrived, but the chief executive's duties remain the same.
Board Chairman Ernie Isaac agreed with Grossman.
Isaac said he regularly reviews spending with Grossman, and the board is in the loop for all major spending decisions.
"I can't comment on when John Clark was CEO, because I wasn't here," Isaac said. "But I look at all the expenditures Steve Grossman signs off on."
Grossman took a mixed view of the audit. He agrees that spending policies need to be better defined when it comes to donating to nonprofits and admits a mistake was made in throwing out the spending documents.
But he also said the audit is overly broad and papers over the fact that JAA is a well-run organization with no major problems.
Grossman also said the auditors didn't understand how the authority works.
"The auditor wants us to be more like the city," Grossman said. "But that's not the way we were set up."
The Airport Authority, which runs Jacksonville International Airport, Cecil Field, Herlong Airport and Jacksonville Executive Airport (formerly Craig Airport), is supposed to operate like a business, not a government agency, Grossman said.
Some of the audit's criticisms are now out of date, he said. For instance, auditors criticized a policy where the chief executive submits his personal expense reports to the chief financial officer, who reports directly to the CEO.
"You're putting a subordinate of the CEO in an awkward position," said Taylor, pointing out that's how the two late-night reimbursements to Clark were approved.
Grossman said he ended that policy when he became CEO. He now submits his expense reports to Isaac.
Clark could not be reached for comment Thursday.
Taylor said the audit was routine and not focused on Clark.
Expenses were examined from Sept. 1, 2008, to Oct. 31, 2009, and Clark's expenses were flagged as questionable, Taylor said.
Auditors randomly examined about 200 payments totaling about $4 million.
Taylor said auditors would go back in the spring to assess the progress JAA had made in making improvements.
Visit our airport system websites


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FOERSTER Japan Limited is a subsidiary of the FOERSTER Holding GmbH.
FOERSTER is the pioneer in the development of eddy-current and magnetic testing technologies, and has been the leading company for manufacturing and distributing equipment for non-destructive testing and measurement by means of eddy current technology.
To meet the increasing demands of our customers, we continue the state-of-the-art R&D aiming at further progress of the product quality and improvement of the technical services.
FOERSTER Japan offers the testing and measuring equipment as follows:
- For material testing: Flaw detection equipment and systems using magnetic leakage flux and eddy current technologies for quality controls of secondary steel products
- For component testing: Test systems majorly suitable for automotive components
- For maintenance and periodical inspection: Portable test instruments for field testing on aircrafts and plant facilities
- For magnetics: Instruments for the determination of electro-magnetic material properties
- For metal detection: Metal detectors and magnetometers for landmine and ordnance (UXO) detection, geophysical and archaeological survey
Should you be interested in further FOERSTER products please contact us via email / the contact form. We will provide you with the necessary Information.
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Plan your visit with Google Maps
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text:
Fact Sheets and Reports
Click here to download fact sheets and reports on issues ranging from alternatives to mental health treatment and international warnings on psychiatric drugs to psychiatric fraud and abuse.
Texas Medication Algorithm Project: Allen Jones Blows the Whistle on Doctors
Allen Jones, a former investigator with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Office of Inspector General (OIG), Bureau of Special Investigations blows the whistle on the pharmaceutical-psychiatric collusion to push psychotropic drugs and drive up insurance costs.
CBS 48 Hours—A Mouthpiece for the Psychiatric/Pharma Cabal
It is no wonder that CBS's 48 Hours show claimed that "schizophrenia" was a physically based mental "disease" requiring debilitating antipsychotic drugs—CBS receives nearly $600 million a year in drug company advertising revenues, and the antipsychotic drugs manufactured by CBS's sponsors are extremely profitable.
Psychiatrists Cannot Predict, Treat or Cure Violent Behavior
By their own admission, psychiatrists cannot predict dangerousness. They often release violent patients from facilities, claiming they are not a threat to others, or grant them privileges that lessen security procedures. According to the American Psychiatric Association's own Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the manual is "not sufficient to establish the existence for legal purposes of a 'mental disorder,' 'mental disability,' 'mental disease,' or 'mental defect,' in relation to competency, criminal responsibility or disability. Read more in this report.
Blaming the Brain: The "Chemical Imbalance" Fraud
The cornerstone of psychiatry's current disease model is the theory that a brain-based, chemical imbalance causes mental illness. However, Dr. Mark Graff, Chair of Public Affairs of the American Psychiatric Association said that this theory was "probably drug industry derived." His cohort, Dr. Steven Sharfstein, Former APA president, was forced under media pressure to admit that there is "no clean cut lab test" to determine a chemical imbalance in the brain. This is a brief synopsis of the theory behind the "chemical imbalance" fraud with expert comments debunking it.
Doctors' Open Letter to Governments
How concerned should we be about reports that mental illness has become an epidemic striking one out of every four people in the world today? According to the source of these alarming reports—the psychiatric industry—mental illness threatens to engulf us all and can only be checked by immediate and massive increases in funding. This letter from doctors is the foreword to a CCHR booklet on the "mental illness" crisis generated by psychiatrists.
Global Burden of Disease
Flanking the rapid development of psychiatry's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Lewis Judd, director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) from 1987 to 1990, created the psychiatric marketing strategy. It was dubbed the "Decade of the Brain" and was signed into United States law by Presidential Proclamation. Since then, terms such as "treatable brain disorder," "no-fault brain disease" and "chemical imbalance in the brain" have been marketed. This report shows how the global burden of disease, when it relates to "mental disorders," is a hoax.
Does Insanity Cause Crime? by Thomas S. Szasz, M.D.
This article by the renowned Dr. Thomas Szasz is reprinted by permission of Sheldon Richman, Editor, Ideas on Liberty. which is published by The Foundation for Economic Education, Irvington-on-Hudson, NY 10533.
Adolescent Suicide Rate, Not Due to Black Box Warnings
Prompted by psychiatrists with their own vested interests in pharmaceutical sales, the media spun the blame for the rise in the suicide rate for children on the "black box" warning labels placed on antidepressants. This was utterly false and this report details why.
This article explores how, over the past fifty years, there has been an astonishing increase in severe mental illness in the United States. A review of the scientific literature reveals that it is our drug-based paradigm of care that is fueling this epidemic. The drugs increase the likelihood that a person will become chronically ill, and they induce new and more severe psychiatric symptoms in a significant percentage of patients.
Psychiatric Abuses in New York State
The report covers: deaths, abuse, crime (including massive fraud in New York State), patient abuses (including an involuntary commitment case that goes to the issue of psychiatrists' inability to determine dangerousness), psychiatric escapees causing harm and psychiatric experiments in New York.
Mental Health Declaration of Human Rights
CCHR's Mental Health Declaration articulates the guiding principles of CCHR and the standards against which human rights violations by psychiatry are relentlessly investigated and exposed. It has been used to expose institutional abuse and outlines how it should be reformed.
According to psychiatrist Sander Breiner, in the Psychiatric Times, nearly 40 percent of psychiatrists in the United States are sued for malpractice during the course of their career. This can impact on the cost of general medicine. As a report entitled "Medical Malpractice Insurance" published by the Insurance Information Institute states: "Many insurers have scaled back their exposure to the medical malpractice market and, in some cases, exited the market completely."
Mental Health Screening in Schools Leads to Dangerous Child Drugging
In 2003, a report to the federal government on "mental health care" recommended that all 52 million American schoolchildren undergo screening for "mental illness." The report claimed—without a shred of scientific evidence—that "early detection, assessment, and links with treatment" could "prevent mental health problems from worsening…." Today, those recommendations are going into force, state by state. Get the facts and fight back.
South Bend, Indiana—Attorneys for The Rutherford Institute have filed a lawsuit in the US District Court for the Northern District of Indiana on behalf of an Indiana family whose 15-year-old daughter, Chelsea Rhoades, was subjected to screening. If you want to protect your child against psychiatric screening in school, this article is well worth reading.
Mental Health Fraud: Big Business
In 1991 in Dallas, Texas, two uniformed security guards pulled up in a patrol car beside 14-year-old Jeramy Harrel and took him, against his will and his mother's protests, to a private psychiatric hospital owned by Psychiatric Institutes of America (PIA), a subsidiary of National Medical Enterprises (NME). A psychiatrist, Dr. Mark Bowlan, and a child welfare agent—who had never spoken with Jeramy or his parents—had filed an application to the court for the boy's detention, claiming he was a "substance abuser" and that his grandparents had physically abused him. Read this story and learn more about the illegal practice of "trolling for patients."
The US-based insurance company, Blue Cross & Blue Shield United, reported that as many types of health insurance fraud exist as the "criminal mind can invent." This fact sheet offers but a small sample of convictions.
One of the essential problems with psychology is its reliance upon psychiatric or biological behavioral models—a far cry from its foundations. Psychology once followed early philosophy and initially meant the study of the soul—psyche (soul) and ology (study of). The general thought was that the mind and body were separate entities. Thus, each man and woman was regarded as a composite of soul, mind and matter. Here we provide a brief paper about the derivations of psychology.
List of Recent School and Teen Shooters
Recent teen/school shooters under the influence of psychiatric drugs resulting in 54 killed and 105 wounded.
Committee on Quackery Hides Psychotropic Drug Proliferation
The 1963-1974 American Medical Association Committee on Quackery set out to discredit chiropractors, with the AMA urging its members to lend "their full support to the continuing vigorous attack on medical quackery and to the education program on the cult of chiropractic." The AMA recommended that Congress exclude payment for chiropractic services from insurance coverage. This report shows how psychiatrists, in collusion with the AMA, sought to discredit non-drug alternative treatment methods, denying patients the right to be fully informed of all options available to them.
Solutions for Better Mental Health
People do have problems in life, sometimes very serious. Mental difficulties do exist, people's hopes and dreams can be shattered and their methods of coping with this can fail. However, with such a prevalence of mind-altering, physically damaging, psychiatric drugs, psychiatrists are not healing, but are creating addicts and lifelong patients. While CCHR does not give medical advice, this report offers information regarding alternative options recommended by doctors.
All documents require Adobe Acrobat Reader, available free by clicking here.


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Earlier in the year we provided an analysis of Bitcoin's role and potential as a Store of Value. One can find that analysis at the following link:
Prior to catching up on where we stand currently, let's review a definition of the term Store of Value so we clearly understand the intent here. This is how Wikipedia defines Store of Value:
A store of value is the function of an asset that can be saved, retrieved and exchanged at a later time, and be predictably useful when retrieved. The most common store of value in modern times has been money, currency, or a commodity like gold, or financial capital.
The definition of Store of Value as a function is certainly easy enough to understand, but let's not confuse simplicity with lack of significance. An effective Store of Value needs to be easily and seamlessly retrieved, exchanged at a later time, and predictably useful when one does retrieve it for use. Discussions over practical use and what is most likely to happen in a world dominated by technology and mobile connectivity can easily lead to a comparison of Bitcoin and gold and silver as a Store of Value.
Critics of Bitcoin tend to refer to how gold and silver continue to withstand the test of time and "hold their value". That is true. The physical piece of metal, assuming it is not fake, will always retain some level of value. However, it is more important to consider which options that we have now will perform the best as Stores of Value moving forward rather than the past performance and history of precious metals.
Given that, let's compare the performances of Bitcoin, gold, and silver as Stores of Value measured in USD and going back to September 1, 2015. We will compare the price action from this date because in middle to late August of 2015 the PBOC (People's Bank of China, or China's "Central Bank") started to very clearly and publicly reveal its intentions to devalue the Yuan. Although we understand that nations always have and always will engage in "currency wars", this verbal and written action by the PBOC ratcheted up the intensity. We can see this is indeed the case simply by looking at the Yuan versus USD and the Yuan versus a basket of currencies representing China's top trading partners since this time.
Here is the performance of each denominated in USD since 9/1/2015:
Bitcoin +305%
Gold +3%
Silver +9%
Naturally after major moves in prices people tend to ask if it is "too late" or if they "missed out" on an opportunity. This raises the question of whether it is "too late" to effectively use Bitcoin as a Store of Value and where we are in terms of this entire experience with Bitcoin and cryptocurrency in general. In short, how much potential still exists for the market value of Bitcoin to rise substantially?
This analysis contends that we are still very, very early in the game fully understanding that Bitcoin has been operational since 2009. Bitcoin enthusiasts, early adopters, blockchain techie experts, and VCs tend to express frustration over a "lack of killer apps" or the purported failure of Bitcoin to "go mainstream". We will analyze what killer apps may appear next in another piece but regardless there is still an absolutely enormous amount of potential for Bitcoin to continue performing exceptionally well as a Store of Value. In fact, this analysis contends it is likely that the "killer app" of Bitcoin will remain Store of Value for the foreseeable future because it has the most direct and significant impact on human nature and hence economic behavior. Applications for the use of Bitcoin will continue to emerge but there is certainly nothing wrong with Bitcoin "only" being used by most as a Store of Value for the time being.
Part 1 of our discussion of Bitcoin as a Store of Value looked at merely 1% penetration of massive pools of funds such as bank deposits in China and global FX daily trading volume. Obviously those factors are still present, but let's veer into another couple of topics that could also play a strengthening role in the very near future. An emerging battle between Bitcoin and gold, looming Bitcoin ETF approvals at the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission), and the extremely intense battle against cash are three spaces that could very well shine bright lights on Bitcoin over the next several months and beyond.
Given the price performances noted above it is natural and highly likely that more and more people and investment professionals start to at least consider trimming exposure to precious metals and initiating exposure to Bitcoin. Gold topped in 2011 and has been in a bear market since with the typical bear market rallies elevating levels of hope that "this time is different" and gold will soon instantaneously vault to $5,000/oz or $10,000/oz. Perhaps gold will enter a new bull market at some point but the reality is that over the last 12, 24, 36, and 72 month periods, gold's performance falls well short of that of Bitcoin. Globally about $7 Trillion is stored in gold. The GLD ETF stores about $30 Billion and there are several other ETFs related to gold or gold miners. Bitcoin currently stores around $15 Billion. As more people ask why they should not shift at least some funds oriented around gold into Bitcoin the size of the potential funds moving could substantially impact Bitcoin's market value.
This analysis will not speculate on if or when either of the two pending ETFs for Bitcoin will or will not gain approval from the SEC. Chances are that at some point there will be a way for individuals and institutions to gain exposure to Bitcoin through the status quo channels if only because of the desire of the establishment to profit from Bitcoin. However, the key here is the potential for institutions to be able to enter into significant Bitcoin positions via an ETF eventually. Currently there is no seamless and direct way for professional money managers to gain exposure to Bitcoin using OPM ("Other People's Money"). In most cases the charters and regulations governing their funds place very strict controls on what they can and can't buy. If institutions could quickly direct seven and eight figure sums into Bitcoin or even more this would have an enormous impact on Bitcoin's market value in both directions. People may not completely understand and absorb that unlike gold or silver money managers moving very large sums of funds can't simply buy a large chunk of Bitcoin with the click of a mouse or phone call. Professional money managers crave and need Alpha (the delta or difference between their AUM and fund's performance and its benchmark). Don't be shocked if Bitcoin ETFs are used to try and generate Alpha. This is a potential stimulus that is still sitting out there as a future catalyst.
Venezuela. India. Australia. Pakistan. These are not tiny countries with miniscule populations in the grand scheme of things. Venezuela and India already banished certain bank notes literally at the drop of a hat and instantly created even more havoc for their citizens and economies. Australia and Pakistan announced plans to do the same in the near future. It is very obvious that this is not a crazy, hypothetical scenario and that Central Banks are and will continue their battle against physical cash (to see our prior analysis click here: https://cryptortrust.com/2016/07/07/real-reason-for-cash-ban-and-why-it-will-only-boost-bitcoin/ ). Banning cash will only push more people into using Bitcoin as a Store of Value and even a Medium of Exchange as well.
Despite the exceptional performance of Bitcoin since 2009 as a Store of Value relative to all major currencies, we are still very early in the game. The current market value of Bitcoin is a microscopic drop in the bucket in the global tsunami of fiat and liquidity sloshing around. We have not yet even seen the impact institutions can have on Bitcoin and the War on Cash is just entering the tornado phase. Shifting 10% of the $7 Trillion stored in gold currently is $700 Billion. How high can Bitcoin's market value ultimately rise over time? We can't answer that definitively. How much DEBT IN TRANSIT (state sponsored, Central Bank issued fiat currency) can be exchanged for Bitcoin?
Stay focused on the basic fundamentals:


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A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year, handling the bulk of international trade. Cargo ships are usually specially designed for the task, often being equipped with cranes and other mechanisms to load and unload, and come in all sizes. Today, they are almost always built by welded steel, and with some exceptions generally have a life expectancy of 25 to 30 years before being scrapped.
Cargo ships/freighters can be divided into five groups, according to the type of cargo they carry. These groups are:
General cargo vessels carry packaged items like chemicals, foods, furniture, machinery, motor- and military vehicles, footwear, garments, etc.
Tankers carry petroleum products or other liquid cargo.
Dry bulk carriers carry coal, grain, ore and other similar products in loose form.


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Rechercher une page de manuel
Langue: en
Version: 2008-08-19 (MeeGo - 06/11/10)
Section: 3 (Bibliothèques de fonctions)
getservent, getservbyname, getservbyport, setservent, endservent - get service entrySYNOPSIS
#include <netdb.h> struct servent *getservent(void); struct servent *getservbyname(const char *name, const char *proto); struct servent *getservbyport(int port, const char *proto); void setservent(int stayopen); void endservent(void);
The getservent() function reads the next entry from the services database (see services(5)) and returns a servent structure containing the broken-out fields from the entry. A connection is opened to the database if necessary.The getservbyname() function returns a servent structure for the entry from the database that matches the service name using protocol proto. If proto is NULL, any protocol will be matched. A connection is opened to the database if necessary.
The getservbyport() function returns a servent structure for the entry from the database that matches the port port (given in network byte order) using protocol proto. If proto is NULL, any protocol will be matched. A connection is opened to the database if necessary.
The setservent() function opens a connection to the database, and sets the next entry to the first entry. If stayopen is nonzero, then the connection to the database will not be closed between calls to one of the getserv*() functions.
The endservent() function closes the connection to the database.
The servent structure is defined in <netdb.h> as follows:
struct servent { char *s_name; /* official service name */ char **s_aliases; /* alias list */ int s_port; /* port number */ char *s_proto; /* protocol to use */ }
The members of the servent structure are:
- s_name
- The official name of the service.
- s_aliases
- A NULL-terminated list of alternative names for the service.
- s_port
- The port number for the service given in network byte order.
- s_proto
- The name of the protocol to use with this service.
The getservent(), getservbyname() and getservbyport() functions return a pointer to a statically allocated servent structure, or a NULL pointer if an error occurs or the end of the file is reached.FILES
- /etc/services
- services database file
getnetent(3), getprotoent(3), getservent_r(3), services(5)COLOPHON
This page is part of release 3.25 of the Linux man-pages project. A description of the project, and information about reporting bugs, can be found at http://www.kernel.org/doc/man-pages/.Contenus ©2006-2024 Benjamin Poulain
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