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At our chiropractic center our examinations procedures are geared toward detection and correction of the "Vertebral Subluxation" (click on this link for more information on subluxations). The procedures we use are therefore specifically selected for your spine and nervous system health. There are a couple of things that you should expect when you have a first visit at our clinic.
Our Examination consists of a thorough spinal and nervous system exam which includes "Palpation". Palpation essentially is checking your spine by hand. With this exam the doctor can feel areas of your spine that may be involved with subluxations problems. Spinal position, curvatures and muscle tone can also be examined as it relates to possible spinal subluxations. Your examination may also include some specialized equipment designed to better access your spine and nervous system. This examination could involve several components.
The first part of this examination process may involve reading spinal heat differences from one level of the spine to another, as well as from one side of the spine to the other. Heat is a byproduct of circulation, which is controlled by the autonomic nervous system. From this we can see how subluxation may be affecting these functions of your nervous system.
In the second part of this examination scans may be performed on the surface of your spinal area to evaluate surface electrical impulses and measure them along your spine. This helps measure the effect of subluxation on the motor nerve system and the affect subluxations may be having on your muscles.
The importance of each of these tests will be explained to you at your Report of Findings. However, it is important to note that this examination helps scientifically understand the subluxation processes going on in your spine. It also gives us a baseline for future tests so we can accurately measure your progress to see how your spine is correcting and your nervous system is functioning. Using these examination procedures is much more accurate than just depending on "how you feel" on any given day.
Spinal X-rays may be taken depending on your age, and situation. There are many reasons why we would not take x-rays on certain patients including pregnancy, most children, recent usable spinal x-rays and some other various situations. Aside from these situations, x-rays are a common part of the examination process when looking for vertebral subluxations. X-rays give us important information including the position of the spinal bones, and the quality of the spine and safety of adjusting it. X-rays also tell us the relative length of time subluxations may have been involved in your spine. Commonly, most patients receive three spinal x-rays at the beginning of care.
With this important information we can make a more accurate determination of the type of adjustments your spine needs as well as the ongoing frequency of your care. Your x-rays will be explained to you and covered in detail at your Report of Findings. You will be scheduled for your Report of Findings within a few days of your initial visit. This visit is your most important visit and may take up to one hour. It is at your Report of Findings that we will give you a care plan and go over any special instructions you will need to obtain the best and fastest possible results. We have set aside specific times for these visits so as not to interfere with regular patient care hours. Our staff will schedule your Report of Findings with you after your first visit.
Our Chiropractic Care utilizes the most modern chiropractic analytical, and adjustive procedures and equipment available. We consider subluxations to be a serious threat to the quality and quantity of your health and that of your family. It is therefore imperative that we utilize the most modern, and the well established time-proven procedures to help you. We feel you're worth it!


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The concept of Locked Funds is really simple. Every request that is processed for an Order deducts funds from your Account. However, some requests (like Transfer of a domain name from another Registrar to LovingName) typically takes some time to get processed. The process of executing a request consists of several steps. There is a chance that the steps may fail and the request does not get processed. Therefore, we deduct funds from your account only at the last step after the processing is complete, and the request has been successfully executed.
However, in order to prevent the possibility of your Reseller Account not having funds when the request is processed successfully, we lock the amount of funds required for a particular request, while it is being processed. As soon as the request processing steps are complete the, Locked funds are either deducted from your Reseller account or the lock is removed and the funds are credited back to your Reseller account depending on whether the execution of the particular requested action was successful or not.
There are also times when the process of executing a particular action of an Order takes several days. Some requests may take 5-10 days to get processed. We would in this case lock the funds required for a successful completion of the request, as soon as it is executed. Once the Order is executed Successfully, we would deduct these funds from your Reseller account. If the requested action fails, we would credit the Locked funds back to your Reseller account.
For instance, if there is a request being executed in your Reseller account which is likely to take 5-10 days, and your Reseller purchase price for the Order is USD 10, we would then lock USD 10 out of your available balance and begin processing this request. If the request is processed successfully, we would deduct this USD 10 from your Reseller balance. If the request fails, we would simply remove the lock on the USD 10.
As a Reseller, you can also check out the Locked Funds for your account, from the My Billing -> Locked Funds menu.
Please note that the concept of Locked Funds would always be applicable for you and your Sub-Resellers. In case of Customers, their funds would be locked only in case of Bulk Orders, such as Bulk Registration, Bulk Renewal (through Renewal Management) and Bulk Transfer.

subset: commoncrawl


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June 18, 2011 – Business Meeting, Feed One (1:36)
June 18, 2011 – Business Meeting, Feed Two (1:40)
June 18, 2011 – Business Meeting, Feed Three (:32)
NOTICE: The Commission may not meet on every noticed day. Please consult this website for up-to-date information on the days the Commission will convene. The order of business reflected on Meeting Notice and Agenda is subject to change by the Commission at the meeting. The Commission may consider parts of an agenda item without closing the item, and Agenda items may continue from day to day. At its sole discretion, the Commission may periodically recess for breaks.
This meeting will be streamed live and recorded by a videographer and stenographer. Both the video and transcript will be available on this website as soon as is practicable after the meeting. Hard copies of written materials that have been provided to the members of the commission will be available at the meeting. In addition, electronic versions of the documents that have been made available to the commission will be available on this website.


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Wolf Appliance Repair El Sobrante
Keeping Appliances Up to Date
Society today can be very consumerist which has fostered a disposable culture. Thirty years ago, the process of buying appliances and electronics was investing a decent amount of money into a quality brand and fixing it if anything went wrong. However, recently that philosophy has changed. With the shift towards cheaper production, the cost of items has decreased dramatically. This creates a financial disparity between maintaining an appliance and just buying a new one. It has now become common place to just buy a new TV. rather than paying to repair the existing one. This attitude has also resulted in a new view of appliance and electronics. Rather than treating an appliance carefully, they are thrown around and neglected. However, the tide may be turning. Lately, there has been a return to "keeping up" appliances. Wolf Appliance Repair is taking advantage of the change and encouraging and educating consumers on the care, maintenance and, if necessary, repair of their appliances.
In the interest of keeping appliances up and running for a long time, there are several things owners can do. Making sure to read the instruction manual, and checking that it is the correct manual, so as to service the appliance when necessary. Also, making sure the appliance is housed in the correct atmosphere is important. This will ensure the longevity of the product. There are also small issues that owners can trouble shoot themselves. Making sure the electrical plugs are connected and working is primary. If the appliance deals with food, making sure it is cleaned and dried after use is very important. Also, unkinking the electrical cord when storing prevents bending of the wires and shorting out the circuit. If at any time there is a problem that the manual cannot correct, contacting an appliance repair concern will answer any other questions.
Keeping appliances maintained will help consumers avoid spending unnecessary money on new appliances and repairs that could have been avoided. However, in the event that the appliance does break down, repairing, rather than buying a new one, will help to shift our culture away from the disposable society that exists today.


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Keep your little one's favorite treats and drinks at hand with this innovative cup holder and snack bowl set for the Burley Solstice. The cup holder and snack bowl each clip into place individually, and conveniently swivel out of the way to make it easy to get your child in and out of the stroller.
-Made from food-grade material.
-Once installed, the cup holder and snack bowl are easy for your child to access while seated, but swivel so they are out of the way when taking your little one in and out of the stroller.
-Cup holder fits most brands of child cups.
-Snack bowl has an attractive lid with tether, making it easy to transport snacks from the house to the stroller without spills.


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Utah Flat Fee MLS REALTOR ® or Broker
Is the practice in the real estate industry where a seller enters into a listing agreement with a real estate broker who accepts a flat fee rather than a percentage of the sale price for the listing side of the transaction. The buyer's broker is still typically offered a percentage though that could be a flat fee as well. A discount Utah REALTOR® flat fee MLS brokerage typically unbundles the services a traditional real estate brokerage offers and list the property for sale in the local multiple listing service (MLS) a la carte without requiring the seller to use its services for valuation assistance, negotiating, transaction management and showing accompaniment. Flat Fee brokers are real estate brokers, just like the national brand names, but offer discounted or unbundled services. Most flat fee brokers do offer full service brokerage services. Many flat fee brokers are limited service brokers but we offer full service brokerage as well.
Utah For Sale By Owner
In the by owner MLS ®, the listing agreement between the real estate broker and the property owner typically requires the broker to enter the property into the MLS and provide other contracted services, with the broker acting as what the traditional industry has coined a "limited service broker". However, the flat fee industry prefers the term a la carte broker because the services are not limited. Instead freedom of choice is expanded to allow sellers to pick from a menu of services.
Within the nontraditional real estate services market, there are multiple programs offered to sellers that share the common objective of saving the consumer money by reducing the overall expense of selling real estate. A "nontraditional service" does not automatically entail "limited service". For instance, some full-service brokers list properties under a full-service agreement but charge a "flat rate" that is not a percentage of the sales price.
Utah Multiple Listing Service
For Sale By Owner MLS ( Multiple Listing Service in) is not different from traditional real estate brokerage services. Because the MLS requires a listing agreement between a real estate broker and property owner, the rapid explosion of discount flat fee service providers has created a gap in the States developing laws governing flat fee services provided by real estate broker.
The main differences flat fee Utah Multiple Listing Service and traditional services, flat fee allows the seller to sell as a for sale by owner in and not pay a commission. With traditional commissioned real estate agents, if you sell your own property, you will own the agent a high commission. Flat fee listing allows the customer to sell as a FSBO and with an agent, having the best of both worlds.
You are not a for sale by owner FSBO on the MLS, you are listed with an agent but still have the option to sell your own property without paying a buyer agent commission. We are a discount real estate broker from the normal 6% commission. Flat Rate or Flat Fee MLS listing services have been around for years but is fast becoming more popular when selling your property. Vist our other national site FLAT FEE MLS
Protecting your privacy:
All personal information collected is done so exclusively with your consent. No information is collected or shared without your written consent. You may be required to submit personal information when purchasing our services. This is a secured site and no information will be shared or compromised without your authorization.


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Customized Mouth Guards in Overland Park , KS
Mouth guards protect your teeth. They also help with sleeping. So, whether running for the ball or just running to bed, a mouth guard can do a lot to help you maintain a healthier, happier smile.
Who Needs a Mouth Guard?
Contact sports are here for a while. How can you protect your smile? Mouth guards. From chipped teeth to knocked out teeth, mouth guards help prevent injuries by reducing the impact of face or mouth accidents. Additionally, people with sleep apnea or chronic snoring may benefit from a mouth guard because it repositions the jaw to open the airway. So, whether running for the ball or just running to bed, a mouth guard can do a lot to help you maintain a healthier, happier smile.
5 Reasons for a Mouth Guard
1. You or your child participates in any contact sports or activities
2. You have a history of dental injuries or fractures
3. You experience teeth grinding or jaw clenching
4. You suffer from TMD or related jaw joint pain
5. You are undergoing orthodontic treatment and need additional protection for your teeth.
Types of Mouthguards
There are three types of mouthguards
- Stock mouthguards: These are made ready to wear. They are inexpensive and can be found at any sporting goods store, as well as most pharmacies. Little can be done in the way of adjusting the fit of the mouthguards. They are bulky and make breathing and talking difficult. They also provide little in the way of protection.
- Boil and bite mouthguards: This is another mouthguard that can be found in any sporting goods store, and most pharmacies. These have a better fit than stock mouth protectors. The mouthguard is place in hot water to soften it. Then, it is placed in the mouth and shaped around the teeth using finger and tongue pressure.
- Custom fitted mouthguards: These mouthguards are designed and made in the dental office or a professional dental lab based on your dentist's instructions. They are created from an impression of your teeth. A mouthguard is the molded over using a special material. This is the most expensive of the three options, but it provides the most comfort, the best fit, and the most protection.
Stock Mouthguards
Boil and Bite Mouthguards
Custom-Fitted Mouthguards
Mouthguard Care Instructions
To properly care for your mouthguard
- Rinse your mouthguard: Before and after every use of the mouthguard you should rinse it off with cold water or mouth rinse. You can also clean your mouthguard with mild soap and a toothbrush.
- Clean your mouthguard: A thorough cleaning of your mouthguard should be done often with cool, soapy water, and then rinse it thoroughly.
- Store your mouthguard: Keep your mouthguard in a firm, perforated container. This allows air circulation and helps keep it from getting damaged. If the mouthguard is acrylic, it should be stored in fresh clean water when you're not using it.
Important Statistics About Mouth Guards
- A 2019 systematic review and meta-analysis found the prevalence of dental trauma among mouthguard users to be 7.5% to 7.75% compared to 48.31% to 59.98% among non-users, and that mouthguard users were between 82% and 93% less likely to suffer dentofacial injuries.1
- In a 2007 meta-analysis of studies of team contact sports,researchers found that the risk of orofacial injury was 1.6 – 1.9 times higher in players who did not use a mouthguard of any type.1
82% - 93%Mouthguard users less likely to suffer dentofacial injuries.
1.6 - 1.9xRisk of orofacial injury in players who did not use a mouthguard
Choose BluHawk Dental Group for the Best Mouth Guards
Here at BluHawk Dental Group we are committed to you and your smile. Our experienced team of dental professionals practice the latest techniques and apply advanced technology to ensure top-quality, personalized dental care. We understand your concerns. We offer customized comfort and prime protection to treat your specific needs. To schedule a consultation, please call at 913-215-9664.
BluHawk Dental Group
8033 W 159th St
Overland Park , KS 66085
on 159th & Antioch in the BluHawk Marketplace across the parking lot from Cosentino's Market
Our Mouth Guards Dental Team
At BluHawk Dental Group, our dental team in Overland Park provides custom mouth guards for patients of all ages and needs.
Custom Mouth Guards for All Needs
We offer dental night guards for patients who suffer from teeth grinding or jaw clenching, sports mouth guards for athletes to protect their teeth and mouth during contact sports, and dental mouth guards to prevent dental injuries and fractures. Our team uses advanced technology to create customized mouth guards tailored to each patient's unique needs, ensuring maximum comfort and protection.
Don't wait, Call Now 913-215-9664
Protect your smile with a custom mouth guard from BluHawk Dental Group. Whether you need a sports mouth guard or a dental night guard for teeth grinding, our skilled team is here to provide you with personalized and effective protection. Call us today to schedule an appointment and take the first step towards a healthier smile.
Dental Issues That Could Require Emergency Dental Care
- Toothache or sever dental pain
- Broken or chipped tooth
- Lost or knocked out tooth
- Swelling or infection in the mouth or jaw
- A lost or losse orthodontic appliance (such as a bracket or wire)
- Trauma or injury to the moth or jaw
- Abscess or pus-filled pocket on the gums
- A broken or lost dental restoration (such as a filling or crown)
- Gum bleeding that doesn't stop
Mouth Guards FAQs
How much does a mouth guard cost at BluHawk Dental Group?
The cost of a mouth guard depends on the type and level of customization required. At BluHawk Dental Group, we offer affordable prices for high-quality, personalized mouth guards.
Can I use a boil-and-bite mouth guard from a sports store?
Although boil-and-bite mouth guards are readily available, they do not offer the same level of protection and customization as professionally fitted mouth guards. We recommend using a custom mouth guard from our dental office for maximum protection and comfort.
How often should I replace my mouth guard?
Mouth guards can wear out or get damaged over time, so it is essential to replace them every one to two years or sooner if they are damaged or show signs of wear and tear.
Can children use mouth guards?
Yes, children can use mouth guards for protection during sports activities. We offer customized mouth guards for children that are designed to fit their smaller mouths.
How long does it take to get a mouth guard?
It takes approximately one to two weeks to create a custom mouth guard. However, we offer emergency services for dental injuries that require immediate attention.
1Athletic Mouth Protectors Mouthguards. Athletic Mouth Protectors (Mouthguards) | American Dental Association. (n.d.). Retrieved April 14, 2023, from https://www.ada.org/resources/research/science-and-research-institute/oral-health-topics/athletic-mouth-protectors-mouthguards


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Mutual Fund service fee payments
Nationwide® Retirement Solutions, Inc., offers a variety of unregistered group variable annuity contracts and mutual fund platforms (collectively referred to as "retirement products"). Those retirement products are sold exclusively in the public sector retirement markets through NRS's life insurance and trust company affiliates (collectively referred to as the "Nationwide companies").
The variable accounts, trust accounts, or custodial accounts (the "Accounts") that accompany the retirement products offer investment options, and purchase and sell shares of certain mutual funds in the aggregate each day so that the performance of the investment options corresponds to the performance of those mutual funds. When the Accounts aggregate these transactions, the underlying mutual fund does not incur the expense of processing individual transactions it would normally incur if it sold its shares to the public directly. Instead, the Nationwide companies incur these expenses.
The Nationwide companies also incur the distribution costs associated with selling the retirement products, which benefits the mutual funds by providing contract owners and participants with investment options that correspond to the underlying mutual funds.
An investment adviser or subadviser of a mutual fund or its affiliates may provide the Nationwide companies with wholesaling services that assist in the distribution of the retirement products and may pay the Nationwide companies to participate in educational and/or marketing activities. These activities may provide the adviser or subadviser (or their affiliates) with increased exposure to persons involved in the distribution of the retirement products.
Types of payments we receive
In light of the above, certain underlying mutual funds and their affiliates make payments to the Nationwide companies (the "payments"). The amount of these payments is typically based on an agreed upon percentage times the amount of assets that the Accounts invest in the mutual funds. These payments are made for various purposes, including payments for the services provided and expense incurred by the Nationwide companies in promoting, marketing and administering the contracts and underlying funds. Nationwide may realize a profit on the payments received.
The Nationwide companies receive the following types of payments:
- Mutual fund 12b-1 fees, which are deducted from mutual fund assets
- Sub-transfer agent fees or fees pursuant to administrative service plans adopted by the mutual fund, which may be deducted from mutual fund assets
- Payments by a mutual fund's adviser or subadviser (or its affiliates). Such payments may be derived, in whole or in part, from the advisory fee that is deducted from mutual fund assets and reflected in the mutual fund charges
Furthermore, the Nationwide companies benefit when assets are invested in Nationwide's affiliated underlying mutual funds (i.e., Nationwide Variable Insurance Trust and/or Nationwide Mutual Funds) because their affiliates also receive compensation from the underlying mutual funds for investment advisory, administrative, transfer agency, distribution, and/or other services provided. Thus, the Nationwide companies may receive more revenue with respect to affiliated underlying mutual funds than unaffiliated underlying mutual funds.
The Nationwide companies took into consideration these anticipated mutual fund service fee payments from the underlying mutual funds when it determined the charges imposed under the retirement products (apart from fees and expenses imposed by the underlying mutual funds). Without these mutual fund service fee payments, the Nationwide companies would have imposed higher charges on their retirement products.
Amount of payments the Nationwide Companies receive
For the year ended December 31, 2015, for public sector retirement products, the maximum payments that the Nationwide companies received from the underlying mutual funds and their affiliates (as a percentage of the average daily net assets of the mutual funds attributable to the retirement products) and weighted average payments were:
Maximum Percentage | Weighted Averages** | |
Public sector retirement products* | 0.75% | 0.234% |
*Excludes select public sector retirement plan assets where the Nationwide companies either do not have agreements to receive any payments from the mutual funds or do not retain payments from the mutual funds.
** Weighted averages are the product of amounts the Nationwide companies earned, divided by annual average mutual fund assets (using quarter end average balances). All mutual funds available in a line of business are included when determining average mutual fund assets, regardless of whether the mutual funds or their affiliates actually made any payments to the Nationwide companies during the year, subject to the exclusion noted above.
Most underlying mutual funds or their affiliates have agreed to make payments to the Nationwide companies, although the amount of the payment may vary from mutual fund to mutual fund. Some mutual funds may not make any payments at all.
The amount of the actual payments the Nationwide companies receive is based on an agreed upon percentage times the amount of assets invested by the Accounts in the mutual funds. As such, the Nationwide companies may receive higher payments from mutual funds that pay a lower percentage than from mutual funds that pay a higher percentage because of the level of assets invested by the Accounts.
Opportunities to participate in educational and/or marketing activities offered by investment advisers or subadvisers of the mutual funds or their affiliates to employees of the Nationwide companies are not taken into account in determining the amount of payments received.
Identification of Mutual Funds offered in our Retirement Products
The Nationwide companies identify a menu of potential mutual funds that correspond to the investment options for their retirement products. They may consider several criteria when identifying those mutual funds, including some or all of the following: investment objectives, investment process, investment performance, risk characteristics, investment capabilities, experience and resources, investment consistency, and fund expenses.
In some cases, the Nationwide companies identify mutual funds based on requests and recommendations made by retirement plan sponsors and/or their advisers. Another factor the Nationwide companies consider during this process is whether the mutual fund's adviser or subadviser is one of their affiliates or whether the mutual fund, its adviser, its subadviser(s), or an affiliate will make payments such as those described above.
More about fees
You should consider all fees and charges of a retirement product in relation to the features and benefits of that product when making your decision to invest. The fees of the mutual funds being offered as part of the overall retirement product should also be considered in your decision. Please note that higher product and mutual fund service fee payments and charges have a direct effect on the investment performance of your retirement savings.


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ServiceTree provides Glen Chimney Service in Mangadu, nearby locations and all over Chennai, Our Chimney technician Service all kind of Chimney models, our service available in Mangadu. We service Glen and all electric Chimney brands Book Now, our customer service people respond you in 3 - 5 minutes.
Electric kitchen chimney is an extremely helpful apparatus in any cutting edge kitchen. When we cook that time we produce zesty smoke. So we can see, how much a fundamental apparatus it is nevertheless it is one of the costliest interest in kitchen as well. That is the reason we feel on edge and upset once it quit working or when we discover any kitchen smokestack/chimney issues. Chimney issues will be brought about by a scope of things; anyway here are some of the premier normal causes
Commotion is a typical issue of electric fireplace. Higher suction power implies more commotion. However, at some point explanation for exorbitant clamor can be something different. In the event that you didn't do cleaning of your kitchen stack for long time then that may make breaking down of smokestack or extreme commotion
Kitchen retains sleek and zesty smoke from your kitchen chimney and afterward channel that smoke and return sifted air to the environment. Presently if suction framework isn't working that implies it isn't playing out its genuine errand. Such serious issue may occur because of harmed engine. So call the Chimney Service technicians at ServiceTree right away!
At some point suction is alright yet not appropriately filling in as fan is pivoting in all respects gradually, so kitchen stack isn't having the option to apply greatest suction control. This issue might be corrected by evolving condenser (capacitor) or overhauling of motor (greasing, supplanting harmed metal ball and so on).
At some point you have changed on from power supply board yet not a solitary component (auto clean, suction, top light and so forth) is working. On the off chance that such occurrence will transpire, at that point you should check control at switch board and outwardly examine power link to discover any harm zone. In the event that all is well, at that point call our Chimney Service technician because of issue in inner circuit.
Chimney service | Charges |
Chimney General Cleaning | 499 |
Chimney Repair & Service (Per visit Inspection charge) | 149 |
Chimney Deep Cleaning | 1399 |
Chimney Uninstallation and Installation | 649 |
Chimney Uninstallation | 399 |
Chimney Installation | 499 |
Chimney service cost vary based on service or problem, for chimney general cleaning, deep cleaning, installation, uninstallation, we provide fixed price on the website for chimney repair we can provide quote after inspect the kitchen chimney. Find the complete chimney service charges.
Chimney service | Charges |
Chimney General Cleaning | ₹ 499 |
Chimney Repair & Service (Per visit Inspection charge) | ₹ 149 |
Chimney Deep Cleaning | ₹ 1399 |
Chimney Uninstallation and Installation | ₹ 649 |
Chimney Uninstallation | ₹ 399 |
Chimney Installation | ₹ 499 |
We services all types of refrigerators
We charge Rs.499 for chimney general cleaning per unit and Rs.1,399 for chimney deep cleaning.
We charge Rs.499 for chimney installation per unit and Rs.399 for uninstallation
Yes, we provide 30 days warranty for all appliance repair and service.
If you are availing the service, no inspection charge only pay the service charge, Incase not availing the service you have to pay the inspection charge of Rs.149
Yes, you can pay online with multiple payment modes credit / debit card, netbanking, etc…
Yes, you can reach our customer support 8 AM to 8 PM on all seven days 044 4011 4081 .
Credit/Debit card


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Hunan Wok offers delicious dining, takeout and delivery to Jacksonville, FL.
Hunan Wok is a cornerstone in the Jacksonville community and has been recognized for its outstanding Chinese cuisine, excellent service and friendly staff.
Our Chinese restaurant is known for its modern interpretation of classic dishes and its insistence on only using high quality fresh ingredients.
© 2024 Beyond Menu. All Rights Reserved.


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What Is Employment Practices Liability Insurance, and Why Does My Business Need It?
Employee lawsuits against employers are on the rise. Employment practices liability insurance (EPLI) is coverage to protect your business against employee claims that their rights have been violated. Some insurers will provide this coverage as a Business Owners Policy (BOP) endorsement, while others offer it as stand-alone insurance.
What Does EPLI Cover?
Employment practices liability insurance provides protection against a range of employee claims, including:
- Discrimination
- Wrongful termination
- Sexual harassment
- Retaliation
- Mismanagement of employee benefits
- Wrongful discipline
- Negligent evaluation
- Breach of employment contract
It can help cover your legal defense costs and any settlements or judgments arising from such a claim. Common exclusions include third-party property damage or bodily injury, work-related employee illness or injury, wage and hour claims, and intentional or dishonest acts. EPLI coverage will not typically pay for punitive damages (designed to punish the defendant for wrongdoing) or for civil or criminal fines.
What Is a Claims-Made Basis?
This type of coverage is typically written on a claims-made basis, meaning the incident that led to the claim and the claim notification must have occurred during the coverage period. Employment practices claims often arise months or years after an alleged incident occurred. If your policy was no longer in effect when a claim was made, your business would not be covered.
When Would My Business Need Employment Practices Liability Insurance?
A business of any size is at risk of litigation brought by employees. The risk increases as you hire more employees and managers. Even interviewing a prospective employee poses a risk, as that person could allege discrimination.
We live in a litigious society. Defending your company against an employment lawsuit could cost many thousands of dollars, in addition to the cost of any award or settlement.
How Can I Help Prevent Employee Lawsuits?
The best preventative approach is to educate managers and employees so problems do not occur in the first place. You will need effective hiring and screening programs in place to avoid discrimination, and company policies posted throughout the workplace and placed in employee handbooks. Educate employees on what steps to take in case of harassment or discrimination by a supervisor, and make sure supervisors are aware of company policy.
How Much Does EPLI Cost?
Annual premiums for employment practices liability insurance can vary widely, depending on a number of factors, including:
- Number of employees
- Coverage amount
- Deductible or self-insured retention (amount for which the policyholder is responsible)
- Employee turnover rate
- Hiring and firing practices
- Claims history
According to Fit Small Business, EPLI premiums for a company with one to 10 employees, with coverage amounts of $500,000 per occurrence and $1 million aggregate, and a $2,500 deductible (or self-insured retention) range from $800 to $2,000 annually. You can lower your premiums by increasing your self-insured retention or deductible amount, but that also means you will cover more costs in the event of a lawsuit.
Our agent can evaluate your company's employment practices liability insurance needs and help you find the appropriate coverage at the best available rates.


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William Russel, who has served as dean of Princeton University's Graduate School since 2002, has announced that this will be his final year as dean.
Russel said he has enjoyed "participating in the forward-thinking leadership of senior officers of the University, collaborating with outstanding faculty members, getting to know very bright and creative graduate students, and working with a highly skilled and dedicated staff."
After a year's sabbatical, Russel, the Arthur W. Marks '19 Professor of Chemical Engineering, intends to transfer to emeritus status. He has been a member of the Princeton faculty since 1974.
Princeton President Christopher L. Eisgruber, who served as provost from 2004 to 2013 and worked closely with Russel over the past decade, noted: "Bill Russel's leadership has enhanced Princeton's Graduate School in ways too numerous to count. He has sustained academic excellence, improved our stipend and support system for graduate students, integrated those students more fully into the University community, and strengthened the ties that bind the University to its graduate alumni. Bill Russel has given unselfishly to this University, and his legacy will benefit our graduate students, and Princeton more generally, for many years to come."
The Graduate School, established in 1900, enrolls about 2,600 students pursuing master's and doctoral degrees in 42 departments and programs. Russel and his wife, Priscilla, reside in Wyman House, on the Graduate College grounds, where they host graduate students for talks by faculty (High Tables) and informal monthly dinners and welcome back graduate alumni.
Russel noted that he is proud of many improvements spanning academics, recruitment, student life, financial aid and alumni relations, recognizing that "little is accomplished by the dean and Graduate School staff alone without support or initiative from the provost, the president and other offices of the University."
The changes Russel has overseen include the following:
- Improving the academic curriculum, including the differentiation of the biological sciences with the establishment of Ph.D. programs in quantitative and computational biology and neuroscience, and the creation of the Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program in the Humanities, initiated through the leadership of then-provost Eisgruber.
- Using modern measures to monitor progress of Ph.D. students through the annual reenrollment process to identify sooner students who are struggling.
- Instituting summer stipends for graduate students in the humanities and social sciences that allow them to pursue their academic work throughout the year.
- Increasing diversity among the graduate student body through the efforts of the Graduate School's associate dean for academics and diversity, through recruiting, mentoring, creating programming and bringing students to degree completion.
- Steadily expanding professional development programming, created by dedicated staff in the McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning, the Princeton Writing Program, and Career Services, to better prepare graduate students for their careers.
- Making substantial improvements in student life, as judged against a 2002 report of the Graduate Student Government. They include creation of the Dissertation Completion Enrollment status to enable Ph.D. students who have not completed their dissertation within the typical five-year period to have access and often support for up to two more years; improvements in parking and transportation, such as a campus shuttle to the Graduate College; and increased support for graduate students with children through programs such as the Childbirth Accommodation and Adoption Policy, Student Child Care Assistance Program, and Carebridge program for assistance with work, personal or family issues.
- Increasing investment in graduate student housing to replace the Butler Apartments and Hibben and Magie apartments with a modern set of apartments on Lake Carnegie, to support a commitment to house 70 percent of regularly enrolled graduate students.
- Strengthening the Association of Princeton Graduate Alumni, leading to the creation of graduate alumni staff in the Alumni Association shared with the Graduate School, who have planned the University's first graduate alumni conference, "Many Minds, Many Stripes: A Princeton University Conference for Graduate Alumni," to be held Oct. 17 to 19.
- Surveying of graduate students and graduate alumni, conducted by the vice provost for institutional research, to assess graduate programs.
- Expanding the Graduate School staff, with essential support from the Office of the Provost, to provide the capacity to support programming more effectively.
At the national level, Russel said he also enjoyed collaborating with other deans around the country through his participation on the executive committees of the Council of Graduate Schools and Association of Graduate Schools.
During his tenure as dean, Russel has continued his research in processing, structure, properties and applications of colloidal dispersions — for example, explaining why paint cracks and gels sometimes collapse.
He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He is also the recipient of the 2007 Award for Surface and Colloid Chemistry from the American Chemical Society; the 1999 Bingham Medal from the Society of Rheology, for outstanding contributions to rheology, the science of deformation and flow of matter; and the 1992 William H. Walker Award for Excellence in Contributions to Chemical Engineering Literature, from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. He earned his B.A. and M.ChE. degrees from Rice University and his Ph.D. from Stanford University.
Russel's service to Princeton includes chairing the chemical engineering department — now the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering — from 1987 to 1996. From 1996 to 1998 he served as director of the Princeton Materials Institute, which was merged into the Princeton Institute for the Science and Technology of Materials.
Eisgruber has appointed a search committee composed of members of the faculty and graduate students, which is chaired by Claire Gmachl, the Eugene Higgins Professor of Electrical Engineering and vice dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science.
Faculty members serving on the panel are:
Eddie Glaude, the William S. Tod Professor of Religion and African American Studies, and chair of the Center for African American Studies; Mikko Haataja, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering; Wendy Heller, professor of music and director of the Program in Italian Studies; Bo Honore, the Class of 1913 Professor of Political Economy and professor of economics; and Sabine Kastner, professor of psychology and the Princeton Neuroscience Institute.
Audrey Yau, a graduate student in geosciences, and Friederike Funk, a graduate student in psychology and president of Graduate Student Goverment, are also on the committee.


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Swirly Elements Die |
Giveaway Prizes
$300 in total prizes! To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $50 gift certificate to 2 lucky winners and a $25 gift certificate to 8 winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog and/or each designer's blog post on the blog hop list below by 03/03/2022 for a chance to win.
Altenew will draw 10 random winners from the comments left on each stop of this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew Winners Page on 03/05/2022.
Blog Hop Order
LauraJane YOU are here


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Monday, March 1, 2010
A Glimmer of Hope for Conan?
Cheering as this is, the new film will live or die by its script and I've yet to seen any indications that the new film will be any more true to REH than its predecessors. Harron's post also notes that a second script doctor has been called in to rewrite the screenplay just weeks before shooting starts. That doesn't inspire a lot of confidence, but who knows? Perhaps the "rewrite" will prove to be more extensive than that and we might be saved from the worst nonsense that was in earlier drafts.
Time will tell.
41 comments:
Al's a very rational guy. He's actually done a very good job in evaluating Solomon Kane from a Howardian perspective while still demonstrating objectivity and a recognition of the differing needs of literature and film. I think he's doing the much the same with Conan, but I suppose everyone balances guarded optimism/pessimism differently on a slightly different scale.
ReplyDeleteMomoa looks great; the lack of blue eyes is a non-issue for me. As you point out, we can now adjust eye color with contact lenses. Heck, it wouldn't bother me if they just let Momoa's Conan keep Momoa's darker eye color--I know the piercing blue eyes are a common descriptive element in Howard's stories, but they're not the core of the character. The script is the sticking point here.
ReplyDeleteFor what it's worth, these days it's not unusual for script doctors to be messing with a film even days before filming starts...
That said, there aren't a hell of a lot of good films being produced by hollywood these days. A Conan movie that doesn't completely suck is probably the best we can reasonably expect to hope for.
Here's to the continued lowering of american expectations...OK, I just did quite the double-take after clicking the link for the photos, pressing the Next button, and then seeing a picture not of Jason Momoa, but Jason Segel. And with a rather sheepish look on his face as if he had just stopped at the restaurant to grab his take-out and got in the way of the Jason Momoa photo shoot. I can just hear someone shouting at the photographer "Not that Jason, the other one!"
ReplyDeleteAnger, Crowe? Trust me, this isn't me angry. Dismissive and derogatory, sure, but I find it difficult to muster any measure of genuine anger after ranting and raving after reading the script.
What did you find personal and juvenile in my comments towards Rourke? I don't think I was particularly cruel to him, in fact, I wanted him to get away from the project. I'm a fan of the guy, and I'm much more interested in War of the Gods: I'd honestly rather have Rourke in that film than in this.
Sapp I'll give you, but frankly, he's infamous for his glass jaw. Anybody who knows Bob Sapp's MMA experience knows that for all his size and imposing manner, he's been knocked out by people half his size. That's the kiss of death for a guy whose badass reputation is built on such fighting experience.
As for the scale of optimism verseus cynicism: I'm a positive guy most of the time, and will give credit where it's due. My review of Solomon Kane is testament to that.
However, in my mind, Momoa and Rourke are the only bright spots in this project so far. Nispel inspires no confidence, nothing short of throwing out the original script will improve the story (and they won't, since that would involve dropping the characters too). I simply don't see the justification for a "wait and see" approach given the script and director.
If nothing else, I'd be happier to be proven wrong and eat my words, than to hope beyond hope and set myself up for disappointment. I guess others might differ.- AnonymousMarch 1, 2010 at 4:01 PM
ReplyDelete Well Al, if your a fan of Rourke your sure didn't display it in your article. Instead of making note that he's one of the best actors of his generation and that if you HAD to cast someone to play Conan's father, Rorkue would be an excellent choice. Instead you had to make some derogatory comment relating to a scene he did with an actress over twenty years ago who has a relationship with Jason Morma. As to Sapp himself, your attacking him not on his acting ability but his fighting record which neither one has noting to do with the other. I'm sure every MMA and tough guy in Hollywood auditioned for the role so obviously he stood out if the producers decided on him. I also think Nispel is a great choice. He's a proven commercial director with a great eye for visuals and if you ever seen his little seen film " Pathfinder", you would know he pays a great deal of homage to Frazetta.
I understand your feelings All and everyone is more or less on the fence as we all want to see a great Conan film that keeps to the spirit of REH. But the way your going signifies you've pretty much written the move off entirely.Pathfinder was Crap, and if that's the best that Nispel can do, then the He should stick to directing advertisements and Music Videos.
This whole thing is beginning to be ominously similar to the reaction on all the Transformer forums when Bay started working on the first one..
First, Everyone was angry.. then the " wait and see " people started to be viewed as the voice of reason and next thing you know people who who have been transformer fans for 20+ years suddenly know less about the franchise and its characters than Micheal Bay and Don Murphy.. Now its so bad that if you happen to have anything negative at all to say about the movies.. you're a " Hater " and you get jumped on by hundreds of posters.. I'm so not looking forward to that with Conan once this movie hits...- AnonymousMarch 1, 2010 at 6:53 PM
ReplyDelete CAPS LOCK .. UNLEASH THE FURY!
As for saving a few bucks.. well I plan to see Solomon Kane if it ever comes out, and I'll probably see Conan when it does as well. But I'll likely wait till its at the 1$ theater.. I don't want the film makers to get the wrong idea that this is what I want now do I?Bob Sapp can act. Not Shakespearian quality acting, but the guy can get the job done. He spend a few years in Japan being the "big scary foreigner" on various and sundry shows and commercials.
And casting him will lock up the Japanese audience just because of the popularity he has there, I'd bet. That's the biggest international market for Hollywood movies, so there's some logic to his casting.
Even if he gets his ass handed to him occasionally in MMA, this is acting. His character doesn't have an MMA record to worry about.I'm willing to give Mr. Momoa the benefit of witholding judgement until after he gets a shot at the role. He can act, and has got to be better at the role than the bodybuilder they got to play Conan in the short-run TV series that was absolutely awful. Maybe some sort of stroke of genius will strike the people behind this movie and they'll revise the script along the lines of Howards' actual stories...
One can hope. Toss a coin in the fountain. Then move along.
So does anyone know just what the heck ever happened with the animated version of Red Nails?Crowe, I still fail to see what was derogatory about me stating simple facts. Rourke was in an (excellent) film starring Jason Momoa's long-time girlfriend and the mother of two of his children, and Rourke happened to have sex scenes with her. If you've seen Angel Heart, you'll know that there's way more to it than just the sex scenes in themselves (I didn't want to spoil it, major twist). It's just an amusing coincidence to me, that's all.
As for Sap, if I thought he was a fantastic actor, don't you think I would've mentioned it in the article? Sapp basically growls and grunts as adequately as any MMA/wrestler-turned-actor this side of Dwayne Johnson.
Sapp was hired for his intimidating appearance - which is infamous for being mostly show. It's like casting notorious womaniser Wilt Chamberlain as the guy charged to protect a princesses' virginity: of course it has no reflection on his acting ability, but it's the sort of thing that would be pretty distracting to people in the audience.
I guess we're going to have to agree to disagree on Nispel, since outside of the seriously flawed Pathfinder, I'm thoroughly unimpressed. Now, *if* you gave him a great script and just had him contribute to visuals, that'd be fine... but with this script? Now.
I have indeed written off the film entirely, because of one thing only: the script. It makes a mockery of Conan, the Hyborian Age, and Howard's themes. It isn't even Conan the Barbarian: this is Conan the Destroyer-level wretchedness we're talking about. Hell, it's Kull the Conqueror-level.
Dungeonbrawler: I'm not talking about real life here, I'm talking about the fictional context of the film. I would've thought "Cimmerian family scandal" would've explained that enough. I'm not implying some sort of real life affair between Momoa, Bonet and Rourke. No, I wouldn't say any of this to his face, because I'm not talking about him in the first place!
Rach, you're welcome to your optimism. I wish I could share it.
Netherwerks, Red Nails has officially been halted. A shame, because it would've been nice to finally have an actual REH adaptation in film for once, even with the liberties it takes.@ James:
Maybe with Kane Al has been objective, but the amount of vitriol that has been leveled at Momoa's casting, based on one picture of him in makeup to make him look like an alien, certainly doesn't seem fair.
I think not judging the movie until you actually see it would be the first criteria for anyone wishing to be labeled "objective".Al, have you even read the current script or let alone seen any of the revisions? How about the sets? The storyboards? FX tests? No you haven't. You haven't seen one frame of it but you've already written off the film entirely. Your attitude is typical of every arm chair internet critic who based their options not on the final product but on what some anonymous person you don't even know has said about the project.
Honestly, If you really are the REH fan that I know you are, you would at least hold final judgement until you seen the film and not the other way around.Momoa looks great; the lack of blue eyes is a non-issue for me.
The thing is that blue eyes cost the filmmakers next to nothing and their presence would signal that they've not only read Howard but are using his stories as the basis for their own work. It's the kind of good faith gesture I look for when Hollywood is preparing to make a movie about a beloved character or series.And haven't I said from the start that Momoa could look just like Conan if he wanted?
To be fair, Momoa's not there yet, but I'll admit I'm surprised that he looks as good as he does now. The real pity will be if manages to be an awesome Conan but the script damns his performance to a by-the-numbers Hollywood action movie hell.I think not judging the movie until you actually see it would be the first criteria for anyone wishing to be labeled "objective".
I think it depends upon what one is criticizing. If one's critiques are about technical details, then I'd agree you can't objectively criticize them without seeing the film. But if the concerns revolve around fidelity to Howard and his stories, we have quite a lot of evidence, based on the casting calls alone, that this film won't be particularly true to the source material. Unless I'm mistaken, I don't believe Al's ever claimed the movie would be a bad movie, taken in its own right, only that, from what we know, it's almost certainly going to be yet another poor adaptation of Howard.Honestly, If you really are the REH fan that I know you are, you would at least hold final judgement until you seen the film and not the other way around.
Again, I think it depends on what one is critiquing. Unless the latest round of script revisions are extensive (i.e. eliminating characters entirely, for example), we can already tell that the film is going to take great liberties with the source material. If that's one's concern, as it is with me, I think there's plenty of reason to doubt the quality of the film without even having seen it, especially when one considers how the Solomon Kane film turned out, despite much more explicit talk by its director about its Howardian origins than we're getting with Conan.James: I think it depends upon what one is criticizing. If one's critiques are about technical details, then I'd agree you can't objectively criticize them without seeing the film. But if the concerns revolve around fidelity to Howard and his stories, we have quite a lot of evidence, based on the casting calls alone, that this film won't be particularly true to the source material.
There are many, many things that contribute to a film's success and it's more alchemy than chemistry.
And no, I don't think you can judge a film based solely on its casting or its script.
How this actor plays the role, how the movie is directed, costumes, sets, will all have a huge bearing on the film.
I've seen too many comics fans declare that Michael Keaton can't play Batman because he's too small (turns out he could), or Hugh Jackman can't be Wolverine because he's too big (turns out he could), or Heath Ledger couldn't play Joker cause he's too pretty (turns out he could) to judge movies based solely on casting.One final comment:
The presence of a screen doctor right before shooting doesn't mean a damn thing.
Many good movies have been rewritten DURING filming, and many terrible movies have never used a screen doctor.
Screen doctors just mean someone with the power to make things happen is unhappy with some element of the script.
They might be tuning the script to the star, or maybe Mickey Roarke had a problem with some element of his character, or maybe they've decided they won't have the time or money for one of the locations they planned to shoot at.
Again, just like casting, the fact that writing is still happening means nothing.
Wait until someone has seen the damn movie. Is that hard?There are many, many things that contribute to a film's success and it's more alchemy than chemistry.
Certainly, but if one's primary concern is fidelity to its source material, there's plenty of grounds already for worrying about this film. I won't speak for Al, but, for me, I'm not doubting that it might be an enjoyable, eve well done action movie in its own right. However, as a film laying claim to the heritage of Robert E. Howard, the signs of not even as promising as were initial reports of Solomon Kane and we all know how that one turned out.James:
If the script is indeed being rewritten, then we can't even judge the script.
And leaked scripts are dicey specifically because things change even while movies are being made.
Secondly, even if the script makes major departures from Conan, which it probably will, since this is a movie and not a book (many things just won't work), the movie could STILL evoke the right feel.
A "by the numbers action movie" with a brooding main character, brutal, visceral combat and spooky as hell sets might in fact convey fidelity to the source material.Secondly, even if the script makes major departures from Conan, which it probably will, since this is a movie and not a book (many things just won't work), the movie could STILL evoke the right feel.
You're talking to a man who's very skeptical of "feel" in general, as it's usually used as a cover for reducing all criticisms to the realm of the purely subjective.
A "by the numbers action movie" with a brooding main character, brutal, visceral combat and spooky as hell sets might in fact convey fidelity to the source material.
I guess we have differing definitions of "fidelity." If what you describe is the best we can hope for, why make a Conan film at all, especially when doing so creates expectations on the part of people who care deeply about the source material, expectations that seem unlikely to be fulfilled? It's not as if Hollywood is incapable of producing faithful adaptations of literature and most of Howard's Conan yarns are eminently adaptable without much change due to the medium. So why introduce ridiculous elements like Conan being "the last of the Cimmerians," for example? It's unnecessary and (once again) reduces Conan to a walking cliché rather than the complex character REH created. If that's the kind of fidelity to the source material we're getting, I'll happily pass.James: You're talking to a man who's very skeptical of "feel" in general, as it's usually used as a cover for reducing all criticisms to the realm of the purely subjective.
Well, actually, I do think all criticisms of a movie's quality are subjective.
I love Hard Boiled. My best friend thinks its terrible. There's no objective measure to prove which of us is correct.
James: I guess we have differing definitions of "fidelity." If what you describe is the best we can hope for, why make a Conan film at all, especially when doing so creates expectations on the part of people who care deeply about the source material, expectations that seem unlikely to be fulfilled?
Well, first, I would question the expectation for 100% fidelity to Howard's vision.
It might be *my* personal taste, but there's been decades of popular Conan material between Howard and now that's very different, and as a Howard fan, I still can enjoy those different takes on the character.
I have a complete run of the Roy Thomas comics. I like the Frazetta paintings of Conan.
Neither of these have a slavish fidelity to Howard's vision either.
In fact, just by taking a book and turning it into something else, you're changing it.
LOTR the movies are *very* different animals than the books.
So I think expecting 100% fidelity with popular fiction written 7 decades ago, when its been interpreted and re-interpreted many times (in ways that have had their own enduring popularity) is way too high a bar.
It's like me going to see Iron Man and expecting it to be 100% faithful to its Stan Lee-penned beginnings, while ignoring everything contributed to the mythos by other writers since the 60's.
You know, that story where Tony Stark is testing landmines to use on the Viet Cong.
You're putting a burden on Conan that it simply can't sustain.
This isn't a similar situation to LOTR or the Narnia books (and those movies took licenses with the literary source too).
Conan, unlike those other two books, has really been a more popular fictional universe, more akin to characters like Sherlock Holmes, Dracula, Batman or Superman.
Many authors and artists have interpreted the character, and many of those interpretations have taken root in the general consciousness.
When printing Howard's stories, I think all that stuff (de Camp, Lin Carter, Frazetta, Roy Thomas) should be kept at bay.
When making a movie, I think it needs to be considered, because a certain percentage of the audience will only know Conan from those other sources.- AnonymousMarch 2, 2010 at 10:43 AM
ANGRY YELLS WITH SOME FINGERS IN YOUR EARS MEANS LATINA REVIEW IS BOOKMARKT FOR CONAN NEWS. TO SAY YOU DONT LIKE SOME SCRIPTS OR DIS-AGREE WITH A CASTING IS FINE,. BUT RUDE AND DISSMISSING MEANS YOU HAVE TO LINK TO OTHER PEOPELS SCOOPS. It's going to be a stock Hollywood action movie with a main character whose name happens to be "Conan."
That doesn't mean it will be a bad representation of that type of movie. It could be Die Hard with swords.
That's unlikely though. Not because of anything I've read in this thread or anywhere else. Rather, it's unlikely because Hollywood puts out only about 1 decent movie for every 9 clunkers.
But that's not the point James and Al are making. The point is, whether it's a good Hollywood action film or bad one, there's not likely to be anything particularly Conan-y about the film.Crowe, you seem to think that until the film is finished and out in theatres, there is absolutely no way to tell whether it's good or bad. Which is nonsensical: by that logic, any Uwe Boll film coming out *could* be the next Citizen Kane. If I protest, you could say "have you read the current script, or the sets, or the storyboards?" - and it would be just as inaccurate.
I don't NEED to have seen the revisions, storyboard, FX etc, because I'm not criticizing the revisions, storyboards, or FX. All I'm commenting on is the stuff that is directly available and confirmed - and again, there's very little to find confidence in.
All I have to go on is what has been officially confirmed, and that includes the character casting sheet, which reveals crucial elements of the story.
Of course, I AM going to withhold final judgement until the film's out and I've seen it, but until 2011, I'm going to call the problems out when I see them.
James: I am guilty of saying that the film will be bad, because many of the elements are hideously cliched. I counted scenes ripped from Conan the Destroyer, Red Sonja, Krull, X-Men: The Last Stand among others. The second version removed a couple of things like the Ceti Eels, but the major problems remained.
Chuck: I'm just going to leave us with an analogy one of the mods at the REH forum came up with: You put in an order for a Lexus top-of-the-line model and show up at the factory to see it starting. It looks like they're putting together the frame for a Ford Fiesta. As soon as you protest, they say, "Don't worry, it's still early in the process."
I reiterate: outside of Momoa and Rourke (and the monster guys from 300, who are at least competent) there is no reason to think we're going to get anything other than Kull the Conqueror for the 2010s. The director isn't great, the script they started with (and no matter how extensive the rewrite, some elements of the plot are so itegral that they couldn't be removed) is atrocious, and Lionsgate are not exactly wowing us with their releases.
For a useful comparison, let's compare with Solomon Kane. MJB is known as a hungry young director whose horror films attempt to be different (Deathwatch, Wilderness). MJB came on to the Conan forums and actively debated why he made the changes he did, and argued that they were a valid interpretation of the text. MJB got great actors like James Purefoy, Pete Postlethwaite, Alice Krige, and Max Von F'n Sydow for the film. The producers have constantly repeated their desire to make a film adaptation, viewing the origin as a compromise to get things started.
Conan? Nispel is most known from Frazetta fan-films and unwanted horror remakes. Nobody on the screenwriting side - Doppenheimer, Nispel, the doctors - explained or defended the story changes, or even acknowledged them at all. So far we have *one* a-list actor, an unproven cable star, and an MMA fighter turned actor. And there's no indication that Lionsgate have any desire to adapt REH.Please you can't be serious. Your actually comparing this film to a Uwi Boll crapfest? Your hated for this film has sunk so low that you think it's now on par with such dung as Alone in the Dark and Paperboy. Even you said if Nispel had a great script to work with you would be fine with him directing it so obviously you feel the man has some talent. Believe me, if you gave Boll that very same script the movie would turn out just as bad as everything else he makes because he has no talent in any way nor any insight on what are the elements to making a film except for one: convincing people to give him money to make more crap-- THAT he is a genius at.


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Gluten Free Blueberry Waffles & Getting Back On The Road!
Sunday mornings are good for waffles and eggs. Any mornings really. But yesterday was so absolutely gorgeous that we had all the windows open, shorts and t-shirts on. I knew I had a mile long work to do but I just needed to put all this aside and do something familiar.
Cracking an egg. Popping a few blueberries in my mouth. Making waffles. Hearing the whisk against the mixing bowl. Smelling the scent of freshly squeezed oranges. Doing things that require time and attention, away from the work list. It's not procrastinating but recharging my internal batteries.
We sat down on the back deck with our waffles and our hot coffee and talked. I listened actually. Writing feels like talking at times. And right then, I was out of words. We made a pact to have more Sunday mornings as cozy as this one. We usually don't need a reminder to take a break but just thinking about our schedule from now throughout the Summer made me appreciate some chilling time even more.
Yep. Looks like I am back on the road teaching workshops here and there. And talk about awesome workshops…All are located in gorgeous venues allowing one's creative juices to really get going!
In a couple of weeks I'll be heading down to Savannah, Georgia to be part of the firstGo Savor Culinary Retreats. Since it's so close to home, it's the perfect opportunity to relax, share, be with good friends and meet new faces. We are also looking forward to the time away.
We decided to team up and do a workshop on artificial light during the Go Savor retreat, targeted to the bloggers who can only shoot at night or when the quantity of light outside is not enough. B. used to operate his own portrait and wedding studio for over 10 years (in a life way before us) so it came as natural as buttering my toast to ask him to team up. He'll be doing an hands on demo on speedlights and I'll be doing one on a studio light kit.
Since natural light is definitely more my grove, there will be another workshop that weekend. One of my favorite peeps, Tami from Running With Tweezers is also coming to Go Savor and we will be doing natural light, composition and styling the next day. We aim to please and we aim to share as much as people want to take in or leave out. We've attended events together, we've worked together but we've never done workshop together and I am very much looking forward to it.
Check out the Go Savor site for updates on registration and great giveways.
In April I'll be doing a food photography workshop as part of Food Blog Forum Orlando, April 9th. I don't have my full schedule set out for April yet, but when Jaden emailed and asked if I wanted to be part of this awesome one day event dedicated to sharing information in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. Just good peeps passing on what they know and are passionate about.
Jaden is good people…When Jaden asks, you say yes. I am really glad that Julie from
The Little Kitchen persuaded her to make it happen and I am really thrilled to be able to participate and give back.
For more info on the line up and registration, follow the (hot) link here. See you there I hope!
Moving on to May and going a bit further out West….all the way to Sante Fe, New Mexico to teach an awesome workshop May 6th – May 9th. Luxury of time, creativity of location, great workshop topics! Oh yeah…
When Angela Ritchie emailed last year asking me if I wanted to be one of the workshop instructors, I think I read the email 5 times before answering "yes please!". I was already familiar with Angela's workshops and how interactive, creative and completely hands on they were. Think of them as a complete retreats. I had promised myself I would do one in 2011, I had no idea I would be teaching one! I picked Sante Fe as the location because of all its earthy and colorful gorgeousness. I can't wait!
If you want to get more info about this amazing opportunity to spend a complete weekend learning food photography, head over to the site here. I can't wait to be there and share, practice, show and discover new things from hanging out with different people for a few days.
Hope to see you there!
An now on to the recipe and some darn good Blueberry Waffles…!
Gluten Free Blueberry Waffles
Makes 6-8
1 3/4 cups warm water
1/2 cup finely ground flaxseed
1/2 cup potato flour
2 cups superfine rice flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
pinch salt
1 3/4 cups coconut milk
2 tablespoons honey
1 cup fresh blueberries
Mix the ground flax seed with the warm water in a large bowl, and let the mixture sit for 5 minutes.
Whisk together the potato flour, rice flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Reserve.
Blend the coconut milk with the honey and then add to the flax seeds mixture.
Dump the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix until the batter looses the bulk of its bumps. Add the blueberries and fold them in gently with a spatula
Grease both sides of the waffle iron with a little vegetable oil or butter and pour some of the batter (1/3 cup) into the center of the iron. Close the top and cook until brown or according to the manufacturer's directions. Serve with syrup if desired.


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We are approaching the 10th anniversary of the horrendous atrocities of September 11, 2001, which, it is commonly held, changed the world. On May 1st, the presumed mastermind of the crime, Osama bin Laden, was assassinated in Pakistan by a team of elite U.S. commandos, Navy SEALs, after he was captured, unarmed and undefended, in Operation Geronimo.
A number of analysts have observed that although bin Laden was finally killed, he won some major successes in his war against the U.S. "He repeatedly asserted that the only way to drive the U.S. from the Muslim world and defeat its satraps was by drawing Americans into a series of small but expensive wars that would ultimately bankrupt them," Eric Margolis writes. "'Bleeding the U.S.,' in his words." The United States, first under George W. Bush and then Barack Obama, rushed right into bin Laden's trap… Grotesquely overblown military outlays and debt addiction… may be the most pernicious legacy of the man who thought he could defeat the United States—particularly when the debt is being cynically exploited by the far right, with the collusion of the Democrat establishment, to undermine what remains of social programs, public education, unions, and, in general, remaining barriers to corporate tyranny.
That Washington was bent on fulfilling bin Laden's fervent wishes was evident at once. As discussed in my book 9-11: Was There an Alternative?, written shortly after those attacks occurred, anyone with knowledge of the region could recognize "that a massive assault on a Muslim population would be the answer to the prayers of bin Laden and his associates, and would lead the U.S. and its allies into a 'diabolical trap,' as the French foreign minister put it."
The senior CIA analyst responsible for tracking Osama bin Laden from 1996, Michael Scheuer, wrote shortly after that "bin Laden has been precise in telling America the reasons he is waging war on us. [He] is out to drastically alter U.S. and Western policies toward the Islamic world," and largely succeeded: "U.S. forces and policies are completing the radicalization of the Islamic world, something Osama bin Laden has been trying to do with substantial but incomplete success since the early 1990s. As a result, I think it is fair to conclude that the United States of America remains bin Laden's only indispensable ally." And arguably remains so, even after his death.
The First 9/11
Was there an alternative? There is every likelihood that the Jihadi movement, much of it highly critical of bin Laden, could have been split and undermined after 9/11. The "crime against humanity," as it was rightly called, could have been approached as a crime, with an international operation to apprehend the likely suspects. That was recognized at the time, but no such idea was even considered.
In 9-11, I quoted Robert Fisk's conclusion that the "horrendous crime" of 9/11 was committed with "wickedness and awesome cruelty," an accurate judgment. It is useful to bear in mind that the crimes could have been even worse. Suppose, for example, that the attack had gone as far as bombing the White House, killing the president, imposing a brutal military dictatorship that killed thousands and tortured tens of thousands while establishing an international terror center that helped impose similar torture-and-terror states elsewhere and carried out an international assassination campaign; and as an extra fillip, brought in a team of economists—call them "the Kandahar boys"—who quickly drove the economy into one of the worst depressions in its history. That, plainly, would have been a lot worse than 9/11.
Unfortunately, it is not a thought experiment. It happened. The only inaccuracy in this brief account is that the numbers should be multiplied by 25 to yield per capita equivalents, the appropriate measure. I am, of course, referring to what in Latin America is often called "the first 9/11": September 11, 1973, when the U.S. succeeded in its intensive efforts to overthrow the democratic government of Salvador Allende in Chile with a military coup that placed General Pinochet's brutal regime in office. The goal, in the words of the Nixon administration, was to kill the "virus" that might encourage all those "foreigners [who] are out to screw us" to take over their own resources and in other ways to pursue an intolerable policy of independent development. In the background was the conclusion of the National Security Council that, if the U.S. could not control Latin America, it could not expect "to achieve a successful order elsewhere in the world."
According to [National Journal Group's] investigation, White House planning appears not to have considered the option of capturing bin Laden alive.
The first 9/11, unlike the second, did not change the world. It was "nothing of very great consequence," as Henry Kissinger assured his boss a few days later.
These events of little consequence were not limited to the military coup that destroyed Chilean democracy and set in motion the horror story that followed. The first 9/11 was just one act in a drama which began in 1962, when John F. Kennedy shifted the mission of the Latin American military from "hemispheric defense"—an anachronistic holdover from World War II—to "internal security," a concept with a chilling interpretation in U.S.-dominated Latin American circles.
In the recently published The Cambridge History of the Cold War, Latin American scholar John Coatsworth writes that from that time to "the Soviet collapse in 1990, the numbers of political prisoners, torture victims, and executions of non-violent political dissenters in Latin America vastly exceeded those in the Soviet Union and its East European satellites," including many religious martyrs and mass slaughter as well, always supported or initiated in Washington. The last major violent act was the brutal murder of six leading Latin American intellectuals, Jesuit priests, a few days after the Berlin Wall fell. The perpetrators were an elite Salvadorean battalion, which had already left a shocking trail of blood, fresh from renewed training at the JFK School of Special Warfare, acting on direct orders of the high command of the U.S. client state.
The consequences of this hemispheric plague still, of course, reverberate.
From Kidnapping and Torture to Assassination
All of this, and much more like it, is dismissed as of little consequence, and forgotten. Those whose mission is to rule the world enjoy a more comforting picture, articulated well enough in the current issue of the prestigious (and valuable) journal of the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London. The lead article discusses "the visionary international order" of the "second half of the twentieth century" marked by "the universalization of an American vision of commercial prosperity." There is something to that account, but it does not quite convey the perception of those at the wrong end of the guns.
The same is true of the assassination of Osama bin Laden, which brings to an end at least a phase in the "war on terror" re-declared by President George W. Bush on the second 9/11. Let us turn to a few thoughts on that event and its significance.
On May 1, 2011, Osama bin Laden was killed in his virtually unprotected compound by a raiding mission of 79 Navy SEALs, who entered Pakistan by helicopter. After many lurid stories were provided by the government and withdrawn, official reports made it increasingly clear that the operation was a planned assassination, multiply violating elementary norms of international law, beginning with the invasion itself.
There appears to have been no attempt to apprehend the unarmed victim, as presumably could have been done by 79 commandos facing no opposition—except, they report, from his wife, also unarmed, whom they shot in self-defense when she "lunged" at them, according to the White House.
A plausible reconstruction of the events is provided by veteran Middle East correspondent Yochi Dreazen and colleagues in the Atlantic. Dreazen, formerly the military correspondent for the Wall Street Journal, is senior correspondent for the National Journal Group covering military affairs and national security. According to their investigation, White House planning appears not to have considered the option of capturing bin Laden alive: "The administration had made clear to the military's clandestine Joint Special Operations Command that it wanted bin Laden dead, according to a senior U.S. official with knowledge of the discussions. A high-ranking military officer briefed on the assault said the SEALs knew their mission was not to take him alive."
The authors add: "For many at the Pentagon and the Central Intelligence Agency who had spent nearly a decade hunting bin Laden, killing the militant was a necessary and justified act of vengeance." Furthermore, "capturing bin Laden alive would have also presented the administration with an array of nettlesome legal and political challenges." Better, then, to assassinate him, dumping his body into the sea without the autopsy considered essential after a killing—an act that predictably provoked both anger and skepticism in much of the Muslim world.
As The Atlantic inquiry observes, "The decision to kill bin Laden outright was the clearest illustration to date of a little-noticed aspect of the Obama administration's counterterror policy. The Bush administration captured thousands of suspected militants and sent them to detention camps in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Guantanamo Bay. The Obama administration, by contrast, has focused on eliminating individual terrorists rather than attempting to take them alive." That is one significant difference between Bush and Obama. The authors quote former West German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, who "told German TV that the U.S. raid was 'quite clearly a violation of international law' and that bin Laden should have been detained and put on trial," contrasting Schmidt with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, who "defended the decision to kill bin Laden although he didn't pose an immediate threat to the Navy SEALs, telling a House panel… that the assault had been 'lawful, legitimate and appropriate in every way.'"
[T]he conclusions of a congressionally authorized investigation, however convincing one finds them, plainly fall short of a sentence by a credible court, which is what shifts the category of the accused from suspect to convicted.
The disposal of the body without autopsy was also criticized by allies. The highly regarded British barrister Geoffrey Robertson, who supported the intervention and opposed the execution largely on pragmatic grounds, nevertheless described Obama's claim that "justice was done" as an "absurdity" that should have been obvious to a former professor of constitutional law. Pakistan law "requires a colonial inquest on violent death, and international human rights law insists that the 'right to life' mandates an inquiry whenever violent death occurs from government or police action. The U.S. is therefore under a duty to hold an inquiry that will satisfy the world as to the true circumstances of this killing."
Robertson usefully reminds us that "[i]t was not always thus. When the time came to consider the fate of men much more steeped in wickedness than Osama bin Laden—the Nazi leadership—the British government wanted them hanged within six hours of capture. President Truman demurred, citing the conclusion of Justice Robert Jackson that summary execution 'would not sit easily on the American conscience or be remembered by our children with pride… the only course is to determine the innocence or guilt of the accused after a hearing as dispassionate as the times will permit and upon a record that will leave our reasons and motives clear.'"
Eric Margolis comments that "Washington has never made public the evidence of its claim that Osama bin Laden was behind the 9/11 attacks," presumably one reason why "polls show that fully a third of American respondents believe that the U.S. government and/or Israel were behind 9/11," while in the Muslim world skepticism is much higher. "An open trial in the U.S. or at the Hague would have exposed these claims to the light of day," he continues, a practical reason why Washington should have followed the law.
In societies that profess some respect for law, suspects are apprehended and brought to fair trial. I stress "suspects." In June 2002, FBI head Robert Mueller, in what the Washington Post described as "among his most detailed public comments on the origins of the attacks," could say only that "investigators believe the idea of the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon came from al Qaeda leaders in Afghanistan, the actual plotting was done in Germany, and the financing came through the United Arab Emirates from sources in Afghanistan."
What the FBI believed and thought in June 2002 they didn't know eight months earlier, when Washington dismissed tentative offers by the Taliban (how serious, we do not know) to permit a trial of bin Laden if they were presented with evidence. Thus, it is not true, as President Obama claimed in his White House statement after bin Laden's death, that "[w]e quickly learned that the 9/11 attacks were carried out by al Qaeda."
There has never been any reason to doubt what the FBI believed in mid-2002, but that leaves us far from the proof of guilt required in civilized societies—and whatever the evidence might be, it does not warrant murdering a suspect who could, it seems, have been easily apprehended and brought to trial. Much the same is true of evidence provided since. Thus, the 9/11 Commission provided extensive circumstantial evidence of bin Laden's role in 9/11, based primarily on what it had been told about confessions by prisoners in Guantanamo. It is doubtful that much of that would hold up in an independent court, considering the ways confessions were elicited. But in any event, the conclusions of a congressionally authorized investigation, however convincing one finds them, plainly fall short of a sentence by a credible court, which is what shifts the category of the accused from suspect to convicted.
There is much talk of bin Laden's "confession," but that was a boast, not a confession, with as much credibility as my "confession" that I won the Boston marathon. The boast tells us a lot about his character, but nothing about his responsibility for what he regarded as a great achievement, for which he wanted to take credit.
Again, all of this is, transparently, quite independent of one's judgments about his responsibility, which seemed clear immediately, even before the FBI inquiry, and still does.
Crimes of Aggression
It is worth adding that bin Laden's responsibility was recognized in much of the Muslim world, and condemned. One significant example is the distinguished Lebanese cleric Sheikh Fadlallah, greatly respected by Hizbollah and Shia groups generally, outside Lebanon as well. He had some experience with assassinations. He had been targeted for assassination: by a truck bomb outside a mosque, in a CIA-organized operation in 1985. He escaped, but 80 others were killed, mostly women and girls as they left the mosque—one of those innumerable crimes that do not enter the annals of terror because of the fallacy of "wrong agency." Sheikh Fadlallah sharply condemned the 9/11 attacks.
One of the leading specialists on the Jihadi movement, Fawaz Gerges, suggests that the movement might have been split at that time had the U.S. exploited the opportunity instead of mobilizing the movement, particularly by the attack on Iraq, a great boon to bin Laden, which led to a sharp increase in terror, as intelligence agencies had anticipated. At the Chilcot hearings investigating the background to the invasion of Iraq, for example, the former head of Britain's domestic intelligence agency MI5 testified that both British and U.S. intelligence were aware that Saddam posed no serious threat, that the invasion was likely to increase terror, and that the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan had radicalized parts of a generation of Muslims who saw the military actions as an "attack on Islam." As is often the case, security was not a high priority for state action.
It might be instructive to ask ourselves how we would be reacting if Iraqi commandos had landed at George W. Bush's compound, assassinated him, and dumped his body in the Atlantic (after proper burial rites, of course). Uncontroversially, he was not a "suspect" but the "decider" who gave the orders to invade Iraq—that is, to commit the "supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole" for which Nazi criminals were hanged: the hundreds of thousands of deaths, millions of refugees, destruction of much of the country and its national heritage, and the murderous sectarian conflict that has now spread to the rest of the region. Equally uncontroversially, these crimes vastly exceed anything attributed to bin Laden.
[T]he bin Laden assassination is another illustration of the important fact that security is often not a high priority for state action, contrary to received doctrine.
To say that all of this is uncontroversial, as it is, is not to imply that it is not denied. The existence of flat earthers does not change the fact that, uncontroversially, the earth is not flat. Similarly, it is uncontroversial that Stalin and Hitler were responsible for horrendous crimes, though loyalists deny it. All of this should, again, be too obvious for comment, and would be, except in an atmosphere of hysteria so extreme that it blocks rational thought.
Similarly, it is uncontroversial that Bush and associates did commit the "supreme international crime"—the crime of aggression. That crime was defined clearly enough by Justice Robert Jackson, Chief of Counsel for the United States at Nuremberg. An "aggressor," Jackson proposed to the Tribunal in his opening statement, is a state that is the first to commit such actions as "[i]nvasion of its armed forces, with or without a declaration of war, of the territory of another State…" No one, even the most extreme supporter of the aggression, denies that Bush and associates did just that.
We might also do well to recall Jackson's eloquent words at Nuremberg on the principle of universality: "If certain acts in violation of treaties are crimes, they are crimes whether the United States does them or whether Germany does them, and we are not prepared to lay down a rule of criminal conduct against others which we would not be willing to have invoked against us."
It is also clear that announced intentions are irrelevant, even if they are truly believed. Internal records reveal that Japanese fascists apparently did believe that, by ravaging China, they were laboring to turn it into an "earthly paradise." And although it may be difficult to imagine, it is conceivable that Bush and company believed they were protecting the world from destruction by Saddam's nuclear weapons. All irrelevant, though ardent loyalists on all sides may try to convince themselves otherwise.
We are left with two choices: either Bush and associates are guilty of the "supreme international crime" including all the evils that follow, or else we declare that the Nuremberg proceedings were a farce and the allies were guilty of judicial murder.
The Imperial Mentality and 9/11
A few days before the bin Laden assassination, Orlando Bosch died peacefully in Florida, where he resided along with his accomplice Luis Posada Carriles and many other associates in international terrorism. After he was accused of dozens of terrorist crimes by the FBI, Bosch was granted a presidential pardon by Bush I over the objections of the Justice Department, which found the conclusion "inescapable that it would be prejudicial to the public interest for the United States to provide a safe haven for Bosch." The coincidence of these deaths at once calls to mind the Bush II doctrine—"already… a de facto rule of international relations," according to the noted Harvard international relations specialist Graham Allison—which revokes "the sovereignty of states that provide sanctuary to terrorists."
Allison refers to the pronouncement of Bush II, directed at the Taliban, that "those who harbor terrorists are as guilty as the terrorists themselves." Such states, therefore, have lost their sovereignty and are fit targets for bombing and terror—for example, the state that harbored Bosch and his associate. When Bush issued this new "de facto rule of international relations," no one seemed to notice that he was calling for invasion and destruction of the U.S. and the murder of its criminal presidents.
None of this is problematic, of course, if we reject Justice Jackson's principle of universality, and adopt instead the principle that the U.S. is self-immunized against international law and conventions—as, in fact, the government has frequently made very clear.
It is also worth thinking about the name given to the bin Laden operation: Operation Geronimo. The imperial mentality is so profound that few seem able to perceive that the White House is glorifying bin Laden by calling him "Geronimo"—the Apache Indian chief who led the courageous resistance to the invaders of Apache lands.
The casual choice of the name is reminiscent of the ease with which we name our murder weapons after victims of our crimes: Apache, Blackhawk… We might react differently if the Luftwaffe had called its fighter planes "Jew" and "Gypsy."
The examples mentioned would fall under the category of "American exceptionalism," were it not for the fact that easy suppression of one's own crimes is virtually ubiquitous among powerful states, at least those that are not defeated and forced to acknowledge reality.
Perhaps the assassination was perceived by the administration as an "act of vengeance," as Robertson concludes. And perhaps the rejection of the legal option of a trial reflects a difference between the moral culture of 1945 and today, as he suggests. Whatever the motive was, it could hardly have been security. As in the case of the "supreme international crime" in Iraq, the bin Laden assassination is another illustration of the important fact that security is often not a high priority for state action, contrary to received doctrine.
Excerpt from the new "preface" of the 10th anniversary reissue of Noam Chomsky's 9-11: Was There an Alternative?.
This essay originally appeared at TomDispatch.com.


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