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Signs are increasingly starting to point to the lower-income and even some of the middle-market end of the life insurance market going direct, and momentum in that direction seems to be building with a number of recent developments.
As life insurance agents continue to gravitate toward wealthy consumers, many carriers are ramping up their direct sales efforts and introducing new programs designed to reach the lower and middle markets. You've probably heard about MetLife's Walmart pilot program. The company now has kiosks in about 200 Walmart stores in South Carolina and Georgia — and will likely expand into Pennsylvania soon, as well. Based on what I've heard at various industry conferences so far this year, I'd be shocked if we didn't hear about at least a couple more partnerships between carriers and retailers — big box or department stores — before the end of this year.
Who can blame carriers? Life insurance premiums have been flat for some time, and it's not like we're going to have a huge influx of new agents anytime soon that are going to target lower- and middle-market consumers. Knowing this, the carriers are more open than ever to experimenting with selling direct — or at least via a non-traditional retail partner.
New research shows consumers are open to it. Nearly 1 in 5 consumers are willing to purchase life insurance from a retail outlet like Costco or Walmart, according to a study just released in conjunction with the LIMRA Life Insurance Conference in New Orleans, April 15-17.
The 2013 Insurance Barometer Study from LIMRA and the LIFE Foundation revealed that 17 percent of respondents said they would be willing to purchase life insurance directly from a retail outlet, which seems like a significant percentage given that this is the first time consumers were asked about their interest in purchasing life insurance from a nontraditional distribution channel. By the time the 2015 study comes out, would you be at all surprised if that 17 percent figure has risen to 40 percent?
See our infographic: Why 1 in 5 prospects would buy life insurance from a retail outlet
"While the number of consumers willing to purchase a life product through a retail outlet is not overwhelming, it certainly is worthy of note," says Todd A. Silverhart, Ph.D., corporate vice president and director of LIMRA Insurance Research. "In light of the novelty of the concept and that few people have actually shopped for life insurance through a retail outlet, there is likely to be considerable confusion in the eyes of the consumer as to what such a purchasing experience might entail. For carriers seeking a niche market, retail ventures could be a worthy approach."
An opening session at the recent LIMRA Life Insurance Conference in New Orleans featured Manish Bhatt, MetLife's senior vice president of global brand and digital marketing, who spoke at length about the company's patented partnership with Walmart. He noted that if you had asked people 15 years ago if they would be interested in purchasing a book online, the vast majority would have said, "No way." How many bookstores has Amazon put out of business since then?
"We have to act; we have to move; we have to try things. This is how new industries are born," Bhatt told the crowd. He also said carriers are not necessarily competing against each other, but against non-consumption, given the flat new premium figures and the high percentage of Americans who have inadequate or no coverage. "If things were working well, they'd be consuming," he said.
At the Walmart stores with the MetLife kiosks, customers can bring the "life insurance in a box" — actually a prepaid Discover card — to the checkout. To activate, the buyer must call MetLife and answer six questions. If there are no "yes" answers, the one-year term policy is activated. If you have one "yes" answer, you can get a one-year accidental death policy or your money back. The person hasn't technically bought the insurance until the call. (Read Carriers actively exploring alternative distribution and Walmart just moved your cheese for more details about the program.) Bhatt said that when people who purchase from Walmart call, they are offered a quote for level term, and 20 percent of the people who call end up going with level term instead of the one-year, non-renewable policy.
Bhatt said they have not sold "a ton" of the policies through Walmart to date, specifying only "triple digits." But the pilot program is definitely helping them figure out how to make it work, as Bhatt mentioned a laundry list of alterations being considered, including a renewable policy and the need for monthly payment options.
Nobody is pretending the MetLife/Walmart program is the best deal for consumers, who could do better through an agent or an online quote site. But, apparently, there are a lot of consumers out there who would pay a lot more money to avoid dealing with an agent. Bhatt told the LIMRA conference crowd that blowback from producers about the Walmart program has not been an issue, as the average case size they see from a producer is substantially larger. "If [a producer] is going after this [Walmart] market, they aren't going to make it in this business," he said.
I would love to hear your thoughts about this program and whether you agree that carriers targeting direct sales to this market have minimal impact on producers. Please feel free to share your opinion via the comment tool below.
For more from Brian Anderson, see:
IUL and the need for clones in New Orleans
Carriers actively exploring alternative distribution

subset: commoncrawl


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Adrienne's in the 'New York Times'
Peter Meehan visits Adrienne's Pizza Bar and finds that "the difference is night and day."
He's talking about the vibe and the menu at lunch and dinner.
Until 5 p.m. or so, Adrienne's Pizza Bar is brightly lighted and bustling. Those who need to rush back to the office - Adrienne's is in the financial district - can grab a slice from the counter near the Pearl Street entrance. Those with time to linger can order from a simple menu that features gigantic 10-slice rectangular pizzas ($15) with a bevy of toppings to choose from ($3 each), as well as simple salads, sandwiches and pasta dishes....
At dinner, the lights are dimmed, softening the mood. A pinkish glow radiates from above the stiff-backed black leather banquette that runs most of the length of the room. The clean efficiency of the black-and-white color scheme is less pronounced; at night there is time to notice the chandeliers and the marble detailing and that any evidence of the slice line is gone, replaced by a display of dinnertime antipasto that is a part of the expanded, and slightly more expensive, dinner menu.
Gone from the menu, too, are the rectangular pizzas, replaced by round 10-inch thin-crust pies. Fantastically crisp, they are near facsimiles of the pizzas that one of the owners, Nick Angelis, serves at his restaurant Nick's Pizza in Forest Hills, Queens.
Don't worry, oh fans of the Grandma pizza. Mr. Meehan explains a few grafs later that the rectangular pies are available at night, tooif you order off-menu.
$25 and Under: Whatever Shape You're Into [New York Times]
Review: Adrienne's Pizza Bar [Slice]
Review: Nick's Pizza [Slice]
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


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When it was announced earlier this year that Disney would be purchasing Lucasfilm and churning out a new Star Wars sequel trilogy, thoughts quickly turned to who would be worthy of the director's chair. Tops on many lists was J.J. Abrams (Star Trek), who promptly squashed any rumors by taking himself out of the running. Recently, Abrams further commented on refusing the position to direct Star Wars: Episode VII, saying he's a fan of Star Wars and would rather be a viewer in the audience than a force behind the camera. Hit the jump for his comments.
In a recent interview with Empire, Abrams commented on the upcoming Star Wars film as follows:
"I guess the franchises could go up against each other, but I'm not thinking that far ahead! I'm a huge fan of Star Wars, Empire and Jedi, and the idea of the world continuing is exciting and will be amazing. Kathy Kennedy is a friend and there are no smarter producers. It's in great hands…there were the very early conversations and I quickly said that because of my loyalty to Star Trek, and also just being a fan, I wouldn't even want to be involved in the next version of those things. I declined any involvement very early on. I'd rather be in the audience not knowing what was coming, rather than being involved in the minutiae of making them."
That quote is in line with his earlier comments that firmly place Abrams as a fan of Star Wars who just wants to enjoy the new films:
"Look, Star Wars is one of my favorite movies of all time. I frankly feel that – I almost feel that, in a weird way, the opportunity for whomever it is to direct that movie, it comes with the burden of being that kind of iconic movie and series. I was never a big Star Trek fan growing up, so for me, working on Star Trek didn't have any of that, you know, almost fatal sacrilege, and so, I am looking forward more then anyone to the next iterations of Star Wars, but I believe I will be going as a paying moviegoer!"
Be sure to catch up on all of our previous and ongoing coverage of Star Wars here.


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The new attack on Israel is a reminder that we must never stop engaging with Leftists
The single most effective opposition to the movement to turn Israel into a pariah state is for people actually to go to Israel. Once there, they see that it is a free, dynamic, pluralist society, that is deeply respectful of human rights. This explains the newest outbreak of antisemitism in America's universities and churches: marginalizing people who dare to see Israel for themselves. Over at Commentary Blog, there are two stories about just that, one coming out of UCLA, and the other coming out of the Presbyterian Church.
Traditionally, both Jews and conservatives have shied away from fights. The time to shy away is over. As Ben Shapiro showed when he decimated boycott/divest/sanction supporters at UCLA, every time the Left hits out, conservatives must hit back twice as hard and twice as often.
One of the things Charles Martel and I talked about yesterday at lunch was the fact that Leftist are perpetual adolescents. This is obvious in a lot of ways: they're short-sighted, short-fused, emotional, deeply invested in shallow takes on serious issues, given to ill-conceived hero-worship, etc. The other thing that they have in common with adolescents is their laser-like focus on their personal needs.
I think I've mentioned here before a book I once read about parenting techniques to use on challenging teens. Eighteen years after the fact, what has stick with me is the author's point about a teen's focus versus an adult's focus. Adults focus on lots of things: a job, a household, the children's needs, an elderly parent's needs, community work, and sometimes even their own needs. Teens, however, focus only on one thing, which is their emotional need at that specific moment. While you're juggling myriad responsibilities, both temporal and intellectual, your teen is thinking "mall" or "party dress" or "Cancun."
In the political world, conservatives, like adults, tend to think in terms of responsibilities, while Leftists, the adolescents, think in terms of emotional needs. Responsibilities place demands on you; emotional needs place demands on everything else.
What this means is that, if the Leftist's emotional need is to destroy Israel, he will tackle it with the same ferocity and single-mindedness one sees in the teen demanding that trip to the mall. If one argument fails, he will shift effortlessly to the next one and then to the one after that. Meanwhile, if you, the adult/conservative, have won the first argument, you're not automatically gearing up to defend against any subsequent arguments. Instead, you're foolishly thinking that the issue is over and that you can move on to your next responsibility. Silly you.
In the battle between teen and parent, the book's author suggested acknowledging the teen's argument without ever engaging: "I understand that all your friends are going to the mall, but in our house, the rule is that you can't go to the mall on a week night." "I understand that you feel this is unfair, but the rule is that you can't go to the mall on a week night." You're Teflon and, faced with this consistent, impregnable line of defense, the teen eventually runs out of arguments, especially because you won't engage him substantively.
Unfortunately, in the real world, the mature conservative cannot use this Teflon approach with the adolescent Leftist. That's because the battle isn't just being fought between the two combatants; it's being fought on the public stage, with the winner taking all in public opinion. Just as is the case in a trial against the lawyer from Hell, no matter how stupid or unprincipled his arguments are, you have to challenge every one of them on the merits because you're not really arguing with him at all. Instead, you're performing for the judge.
The same is true in politics. No matter how heated the argument between two individuals seem, they're not really fighting each other. They are, instead, are performing for the American public.


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Here's a freaking sweet idea for all you future lovebirds: hide a camera inside the wedding bouquet so you can capture the entire wedding through the bride's perspective. You'll end up with a touching first person video of the biggest day of your life.
Ben Horne, a photographer, and his wife cleverly put a GoPro camera inside the bouquet. You couldn't even notice it. In Horne's words:
6 months before our wedding, my wife and I decided to hide a GoPro HD Hero 2 video camera in her wedding bouquet. The wide angle first person viewpoint of her walking down the aisle is something we can look back on many years from now. We let it run for much of the day, and captured a lot of great moments. As far as I can tell, this is the first time anyone has put a HD Video camera in a Wedding Bouquet. No one knew it was there unless we pointed out the small black camera lens.
I'm thinking you should get as much footage as you possibly can of your wedding day. Let's throw a camera on suits, chairs, garters, cakes, cake knife, dance floor, shoes and everything! [YouTube via PetaPixel]


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Enough with the secret sources.
Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton has gone on the record to say Steven Tyler is a lock to replace Simon Cowell as "American Idol" judge. His confirmation came after a host of widespread, but anonymously-sourced reports on Wednesday.
"Steven is doing 'American Idol.' The ink is dry on that," Hamilton told New Jersey's Star-Ledger for an interview the paper will run in full next week. "So, we'll have to work around his schedule for a new record."
U.S. & World
Hamilton told the Ledger he "wouldn't want to be the one standing in the way" of an "opportunity for millions of people to see another side of Steven Tyler."
Fox execs have not confirmed which judges they plan to replace Cowell or Ellen DeGeneres with, or revealed the fate of existing panelists Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi. Even after a bevy of new Tyler-inks-deal reports on Wednesday, the network continued with its no-comment policy.
Tyler himself said after a July 31 concert in Las Vegas that he "probably" was going to be an "Idol" judge, clueing in People magazine before the rest of his band mates.
"I mean, after working with me for 40 years, he couldn't tell me about this," longtime Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry fumed at the time. "Why so secretive?"
Selected Reading: Star-Ledger, THR, Deadline, E!


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The Central Connecticut women's basketball team earned its first Northeast Conference victory of the season on Saturday afternoon at Wagner. The Blue Devils improve to 7-6 and 1-2 in NEC play with the 80-71 victory. Wagner falls to 2-12 and 1-2 in NEC play with the loss.
Senior Jaleen Thomas (14) and sophomore TeJahne Malone (12) combined for 26 of CCSU's 58 rebounds in the game.
Senior Jessica Babe led the Blue Devils in scoring with 19 points. She was joined in double-digits by sophomore Kaley Watras (15) and senior Lauren Arbogast (14).
CCSU grabbed an 11-point halftime lead behind 15 points each from Babe and Watras. The Blue Devils shot 36.1% (13-36) from the field in the half and connected on three-of-seven three-point attempts in the period. At the free throw line CCSU was 12-of-15 in the period.
Wagner climbed back into the game in the second half behind a strong shooting effort, including four three-pointers.
With 49 total fouls, the game came down to free throw shooting in the second half with the Blue Devils hitting on 15-of-20 attempts. The Seahawks were just 5-of-16 at the line in the second half and 7-of-21 from the stripe in the game.
Wagner's Jordan Peck led all scorers with 30 points on 11-of-25 shooting, including 5-of-11 from beyond the arc.
Thomas led all players with 14 rebounds. The 14 boards are the second highest total of her career with her previous high of 19 coming on the Spiro Center court last season.
Malone was strong off the bench for the Blue Devils with nine points and 12 rebounds in 19 minutes of action. Her 12 rebounds are a new career-high. Malone also had one steal and did not turn the ball over in the game.
Both Babe and Watras were limited by foul trouble in the second half. Babe still posted a solid 6-of-13 from the floor and 6-of-8 at the free throw line in 32 minutes. Watras was five-of-eight shooting, one-of-one from three and hit four-of-five free throw attempts.
Babe rounded out her stat line with seven rebounds and six assists to go along with her 19 points.
CCSU led 41-30 at the half. Wagner outscored the Blue Devils 41-39 in the second half.
The Blue Devils were 27-of-35 at the free throw line in the game.
The Blue Devils return to action on Monday night at LIU Brooklyn. That game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip-off.


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Go ahead and tell us.
Personally, I like my panniers, but this time of year I like a backpack to keep my gadgets safe from peril should I lay the bike down. Since I'm already wearing a backpack, I just toss my clothes in it, too. If I have anything extra, I bungee it to the rack.
How about you?
As usual, you need to go to KC Bike Commuting to see the poll. It's in the upper right hand corner.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
New Poll: How do you carry your stuff?
Go ahead and tell us.
6 comments:
GREAT TOPIC!i had my panniers & trunk on my commuter until a few weeks ago,i dug out a old backpack of my sons when he was in high school,i did this when riding my MTB in bad weather,and found myself really liking it better,its a Jansport,but i think my next will be a Banjo Brothers new commuter bag they have come out with, the panniers & trunk will be put back on my bike this summer when i'll do some camping rides,
- January 10, 2008 10:05 AM
- Jeff Moser said...
I've been using an old JanSport backpack, but my new Chrome Messenger Bag should arrive today. And just in time too! My backpack is falling apart.
I recreational ride at lunch, so I don't want the extra gear on my bike. If I was strictly a commuter though, I'd probably have bags on the bike to keep my body more comfortable.
- January 10, 2008 10:18 AM
- dvicci said...
Can't stand backpacks. Don't really even like CamelPaks, though the longer warmer rides force a certain tolerance. This comes from the years of wearing my college textbooks on my back and hating it every day.
My panniers are great. I got them from NashBar. Though the fit to the rack isn't 100%, I make do. There are pockets on the sides for the soft stuff, and a pocket up top for the more fragile stuff should the bike go down.
- January 10, 2008 10:50 AM
- Chris said...
One thing missing from the poll would be a trailer of some sort. For 2 years I used a BOB trailer until I had gotten a rack\panniers for my QB.
- January 10, 2008 1:38 PM
- Noah said...
Yeah, I missed a few things. Not the least of which are trailer and trunk bag, and the ever-so-popular "plastic grocery sack tied to the handlebars" option.
- January 10, 2008 1:46 PM
I've been using a backpack for the last 7 years on my 17+ mile commute. Before that a rack mounted to the frame and strapped the backpack to the rack for a year, until the bike was stolen. Tried a seatpost mounted rack on the next bike, but it turned out to be a POS from Performance bike. Didn't even last 2 months. Since then it has been backpacks. I tried a messenger bag for a few months last year while my backpack was getting a warranty repair. Not bad, but 2 straps are a MUST HAVE on long commutes. Ogio makes nice backpacks and stands by them. The first one was a gift, the 2 following were replacements after a zipper stripped after 3 years each of hard use.
- January 10, 2008 1:51 PM
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Back from a long hiatus.
Lately I've been migrating a large legacy code base from Visual C++ 2008 to Visual C++ 2010. Visual C++ 2010 supports Native Multi-Targeting, which lets you use the Visual Studio 2010 IDE and the new MSBuild-based C++ project system (*.vcxproj files, etc.) while invoking a legacy compiler like Visual C++ 2008 for the actual build, or for invoking the modern compiler with special INCLUDE and LIB directory settings (e.g., using the Windows Driver Kit's headers and import libraries).
The "Platform Toolset" is the project setting which specifies which baseline compiler settings apply. Visual Studio 2010 bundles the "v100" platform toolset for using the Visual C++ 2010 compiler and the "v90" platform toolset for using the Visual C++ 2008 compiler. The Windows SDK 7.1 includes the "Windows7.1SDK" platform toolset which invokes the Visual C++ 2010 compiler, but with the SDK's build environment. The latest Intel C++ Compiler includes a "Intel C++ Compiler XE 12.0" toolset, as well. A third party has even created a platform toolset for the antiquated Visual C++ 2003 compiler.
The IDE GUI exposes the Platform Toolset project setting in the General property sheet. By right clicking a project in Solution Explorer, clicking Properties and going to General under Configuration Properties, you can change the setting on a per-build configuration basis. Solution Explorer is clever enough to let you group select several or all of the projects in the open solution and group-modifying the platform toolset in the properties dialog. For many cases, this may be sufficient.
However, if you want to modify the platform toolset en masse, but based on more complicated criteria, or just wish to achieve a higher degree of automation in the migration process, you may prefer to modify the setting programmatically like I did.
Visual Studio has an automation model for modifying project settings and for many other IDE tasks. This object model is accessible from Visual Studio Macros (which have unfortunately been removed from the Visual Studio 11 Developer Preview) and from other forms of Visual Studio extensibility such as add-ins. After some browsing of the documentation and searching the Web, it is clear how to modify things like the project's Linker OutputFile property. However, it took me a while to figure out how to access other properties like the PlatformToolset.
It turns out that project settings that have appeared recently are not accessible in straightforward way like the older ones. That is, they are not properties of the VCProject object or its child objects. Instead, there is a new interface for manipulating these properties, IVCRulePropertyStorage.
With this interface, the PlatformToolset property in the General property sheet becomes easily accessible. To illustrate, the following is an example Visual Studio macro that changes the platform toolset of any project in the solution using the "v100" toolset to the "Windows7.1SDK" toolset:
Option Strict On Option Explicit On Imports System Imports EnvDTE Imports EnvDTE80 Imports EnvDTE90 Imports EnvDTE90a Imports EnvDTE100 Imports System.Diagnostics Imports Microsoft.VisualStudio.VCProject Imports Microsoft.VisualStudio.VCProjectEngine Public Module Module1 Sub RetargetProjects() For Each p As Project In DTE.Solution.Projects If p.Kind = vcContextGuids.vcContextGuidVCProject Then Dim prj As VCProject = CType(p.Object, VCProject) For Each cfg As VCConfiguration In CType(prj.Configurations, IVCCollection) Dim generalRule As IVCRulePropertyStorage = CType(cfg.Rules.Item("ConfigurationGeneral"), IVCRulePropertyStorage) Dim currentPlatformToolset = generalRule.GetUnevaluatedPropertyValue("PlatformToolset") If currentPlatformToolset = "v100" Then generalRule.SetPropertyValue("PlatformToolset", "Windows7.1SDK") End If Next End If Next End Sub End Module
You need to add references to the VCProject and VCProjectEngine assemblies in your macro project to access the types of the Visual C++ Project Model used in this macro.
Stay tuned for more useful functionality of IVCRulePropertyStorage.


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The Vampire Diaries Review: A Case of Jungle FeverMatt Richenthal at .
Is it possible for The Vampire Diaries to feature too much action?
I never thought I'd ask that question, either, but, in many ways, "The Hybrid" left me as confused as Caroline. No, my estranged, creature-hunting, formerly horn-rimmed-glasses-wearing father did not just walk through that door.
But the fast paced, dark developments in the woods have left me scratching my head a bit. I really hope I don't have a werewolf bite...
Okay. So Klaus' grand goal has been to create a hybrid army. That much I follow. And this was the point of his sacrificial ceremony last season, right? But it failed to work here because - as we know, and as Klaus appears to now know - the Doppleganger is NOT actually dead... right?
Also: why can hybrids only be made out of werewolves? Those are apparently very difficult to track down, whereas vampires are abundant.
Is it because Klaus already possesses vampire blood and can just drip that into the werewolf's throat to complete the process? But then why not use a nearly-dead werewolf, such as Ray, to do the same thing for any number of vampires he and Stefan could easily track down?These are all questions of practicality. I may simply be over-analyzing. I may be forgetting a plot point. But there is one overarching question from this storyline that the show definitely wants us to be thinking about:
Who told Klaus about making the army? Who is pulling the strings of the blood sucker we were previously told was the oldest, most powerful vampire alive? Might it be the individual Julie Plec has teased will steal Klaus' thunder later this season? There is some Wizard of Ooze out there, hiding behind some curtain, we can be certain of that. Fascinating.
Elsewhere: give it up for a battle between ghosts! I've been assuming all along that Anna and Vicki were back for the same purpose, whatever the heck that is. But the former says the latter cannot be trusted, which does jibe with Kayla Ewell teasing that her character is back for revenge. But against whom? Stefan killed her. The audience might not want Vicki to go after him, but why would Anna care? Why would she issue this warning to Jeremy?
And where does Matt fit into all this? He couldn't see Vicki in that scene, but she saw him. Or at least felt his presence. Matt is such a good guy, offering to assist Tyler with his chaining, let's hope he isn't in for more heartbreak somehow here. The guy has already lost his sister once, along with his girlfriend to his best friend, please tell me the show won't put him through even more.
You know, like having him kidnapped and tied up by a father whose family has been in the vampire-killing business for 150 years. I did not see that ending coming! (Editor's note: I never see any episode ending coming.) Where has this Bill guy been? He's clearly familiar with Tyler's mother and the counsel, yet he hasn't been mentioned once by them.
Other notes from the episode:
- We can only assume Jeremy used Bing to educate himself on ghost summoning, right?
- Careful to avoid the True Blood threesome trap, Vampire Diaries. I'm a big fan of Elena with Stefan, period. I get we need the longing glance with Damon, I understand there's an attraction there. But there's only so many times the show can focus on teasing these two as a couple before it gets more irritating than intriguing.
- Aren't they more akin to brother and sister than lover and lover anyway? I got a fun sibling vibe from Elena and Damon when they bickered over leaving the woods, when he pushed her into the lake and when Damon burned his hand on those chains and Elena sighed: "I said Ric."
- Katniss Everdeen would not have needed Stefan's help with Ray. She would have scaled a tree and shot arrows right through him. Just saying.
- One thing was for sure this week: the gang wasn't bird watching!
WHAT DID EVERYONE ELSE THINK? For an advanced look at next week's installment, watch this Vampire Diaries promo!
Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.


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"usb virtualbox" Related Articles
Using a Portable VirtualBox to run Linux from USB
Portable VirtualBox was an unofficial Portable Wrapper for VirtualBox, created by Micha. An improved version is currently being offered by Tibo, the author of the LiLi USB Creator. VirtualBox is officially a product of Oracle. It is an emulator or virtual machine that can be used to run various Operating Systems via Disk Images, ISO's and CD/DVD's as a guest OS from within another Host Operating Environment. By using Micha/Tibo's portable wrapper, VirtualBox can be stored and run entirely from a USB device.


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MOVIE REVIEW- One-joke wonder: Will 'Norbit' kill 'Dreamgirl' buzz?
The one joke in Norbit, Eddie Murphy's new comedy that grossed some $33 million last weeeknd, is a tired one: Murphy plays a large woman, as he did in two Nutty Professor movies, Martin Lawrence did in two Big Momma movies, and Tyler Perry did in two Madea movies. It's not funny this time, with a witless script and the cheap production values of a bad TV movie.
Although Norbit is the name of a character, the fact that it includes the word "orbit" triggers unpleasant memories of one of Murphy's worst previous movies, The Adventures of Pluto Nash, an unfunny comedy set in outer space.
Abandoned and raised in a combination Chinese restaurant and orphanage, Norbit loves Kate, but she's adopted when they're nine, and he's left to be dominated by Rasputia, whom he marries when they're old enough. Then they're both played by Murphy, as is Mr. Wong, the Golden Wonton owner.
Playing multiple roles allows Murphy to accede to the requests of his critics by screwing himself, perhaps a record number of times for a PG-13 movie.
Rasputia has three brothers (Terry Crews, Clifton Powell, Lester "Rasta" Speight), who run a protection racket and are also protective of their sister. She's quite capable of protecting herself against her timid husband, but they still warn him not to hurt her, or "I'm comin' after you with razor blades and lemon juice." She hurts him instead, cheating openly with Buster (Marlon Wayans), her "tap dance guru."
Kate (Thandie Newton, a brilliant actress Hollywood underuses shamefully) comes back into Norbit's life, but she's engaged to Deion (Cuba Gooding, Jr.), who's involved in shady dealings with Rasputia's criminal brothers– something about buying the orphanage and turning it into a "ti**y bar."
Also in the cast is Eddie Griffin, who may finally have resigned himself to supporting Eddie Murphy instead of trying to be Eddie Murphy and coming off as a second-rate Martin Lawrence. He and Katt Williams play semi-retired pimps who run a rib joint.
Director Brian Robbins (Varsity Blues) was last represented by the remake of The Shaggy Dog, which turned out surprisingly well and really looks like a masterpiece compared to this atrocity. From the retro backlot sets that represent Boiling Springs, Tennessee, to bit players who can't deliver their single lines convincingly, Norbit is an utter waste of time and celluloid.
Murphy isn't to blame. He does what he does well enough and the makeup does the rest, but the material isn't there. Of course he didn't realize when he made this what his personal best performance in Dreamgirls would do for his career, but if enough Academy voters see or even hear about Norbit before they vote, it could cost him the Oscar that seemed his for the taking.


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Municipal Court Clerk - Vivian Creighton-Bishop100 10th Street, Government Center - Tower, 8th Floor
Phone: 706.653.4378
On-Line Filing - www.columbusmunicourt.com
Vivian Creighton Bishop was born at Fort Benning, Georgia. During her childhood, she lived in various locations throughout the United States and Europe. She attended elementary school in Columbus, Georgia, junior high school in Arizona and graduated from high school in Wuerzburg, Germany. Mrs. Bishop attended Columbus Technical College, Atlanta Jr. College and Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA. She recently completed training in Macon, Georgia to become a State Certified Mediator in Civil, Domestic and Family mediation.
Mrs. Bishop has received numerous awards to include the Outstanding Community Service award from the Columbus Professional Women. She received the Citizen of the Month award, the Outstanding Achievement in Community Involvement Award in Women on the Rise award; Kiwanis Public Service award, Community Service Award for Outstanding Service in Government, the South Trust Bank Employee of the Month, Rainbow Push Coalition-Woman on the Rise Award, Woman of Achievement for Girl Scouts of Concharty Inc, Big Sisters/Big Brothers Big Heart award and the order of St. Maritzs award, she also received the State Employee of the Year for the State of Georgia/Administrative Support Division, and the Davis Broadcasting, Ordinary Women-Doing Extra Ordinary Things Award, just to mention a few.
An active participant in various organizations, Mrs. Bishop has served or continues to serve on the board of the American Cancer Society, Girls Inc., the Liberty Theater, the National Infantry Museum, Little Blessing Nurturing Center, the Family Center, the Black History Committee and the prestigious Congressional Club in Washington, DC, where she holds the position of Immediate Past President, she is presently serving on the 1st Ladies Luncheon Committee. The Congressional Club is the bipartisan spouses club for the members of Congress, the US Senate, the Supreme Court, the Ambassadors and former First Ladies. Mrs. Bishop is the first African American to hold this position since the club's inception in 1908. She is Past President of the Congressional Black Caucus Spouses organization and previously served as an Ex-Officio Officer on the Board of Director's of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. She is a member of the NAACP, a Rotarian a Paul Harris Fellow and a member of the Metropolitan D.C. Chapter of Links, Inc. She is also a member of the ML Harris United Methodist Church, and serves on the Board of the Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia, Inc. (she is a former girl scout). She is a Member of the International Club
Vivian is married to the Honorable Sanford D. Bishop Jr; they have one daughter, Aayesha (Stephen) Reese, and a granddaughter Londyn who lives in Lithonia, Georgia.
Vivian was recently recognized as one of the 30 most influential women in Muscogee County.
© 2009 Columbus, Georgia


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Students are admitted to Willamette University with the understanding that they will remain until the end of the semester unless unforeseen circumstances necessitate their withdrawal. Students who are suspended or expelled from the University forfeit all refunds of tuition and fees.
In compliance with the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 (Section 668.22), Willamette University's refund policy is as follows:
- A student's withdrawal date is the date the student began the institution's withdrawal process or officially notified the institution of intent to withdraw; or the midpoint of the period for a student who leaves without notifying the institution.
- Refunds for tuition for full withdrawals will be prorated, per day, based on the academic calendar up to the 60% point in the semester. If a student drops below full-time (3.0 credits) but remains enrolled, after the 10th day of class (the Add/Drop Period), they will not have their tuition charge adjusted, but will be billed as a full time student for the semester.
- Withdrawing students are responsible for applicable room and board charges through the date they checked out of their campus housing with Residential Services.
- Students withdrawing for medical reasons may petition for a Medical Withdrawal. In the case of an approved Medical Withdrawal, the student refund is the same as a student who withdraws from the University. However, the student's transcript will indicate a withdrawal for medical reasons. Applications for a Medical Withdrawal may be obtained from the Registrar's Office.
- Health insurance charges and student body fees will not be refunded to withdrawing students.
- In the case of a student's death during a term, a full tuition refund will be granted to the student's estate.
Students who withdraw and have received financial aid will receive their refund after the required portion of their financial aid is returned to the aiding programs. The required portion of financial aid that is returned to the aiding programs is calculated as follows:
Title IV aid and all other aid is earned in a prorated manner on a per day basis based on the academic calendar up to the 60% point in the semester. After the 60% point, no refunds are granted for tuition.
- Recalculation of financial aid is based on the percent of earned aid using the following federal formula:
Percent Earned = Number of days completed up to the withdrawal date divided by total days in the semester.
- Federal financial aid is returned to the federal government based on the percent of unearned aid using the following formula:
Aid to be returned = (Percent earned x aid that was eligible to be disbursed) – aid that was actually disbursed.
- When financial aid is returned, the student may owe a balance to the University. The student should contact the Business Office to make arrangements to pay the balance.
Questions regarding this refund policy should be addressed to the Director of Student Accounts located in the University"s Business Office, first floor of Waller Hall.


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The Business of Traveling
Marc Casto BA '97
Whenever Marc Casto BA '97 travels, one of his first goals is to find a good local cookbook. "You can't understand a culture until you understand its food," he says.
Casto knows a lot about cooking—and about travel: He's president and COO of Casto Travel, the largest privately owned travel agency in Northern California, with 120 employees and offices in San Francisco and five other Bay Area cities, plus the Philippines. In business for 34 years, the company provides corporate, concierge, vacation, and group travel management services in addition to full-service visa and passport processing.
Driven by data, Casto is an avid reader who conducts ongoing research about travel industry trends and exotic locales. He's also committed to anticipating clients' needs—especially those of business travelers, who make up 60 percent of his company's business. Casto schools his corporate clients in the art of spending travel dollars wisely while controlling expenses.
"We provide computer software, keep track of their expenses, and pinpoint the locations of employees when they're traveling," he says.
Before joining his family's business, Casto studied philosophy at Lewis & Clark and spent a semester abroad in Ecuador.
"Geographically, Ecuador is incredibly diverse," he says. "It offers pristine beaches, lush rain forests, and some of the highest snow-packed mountains in South America—not to mention the Galapagos Islands."
He found philosophy equally fascinating. Studying the nature of inquiry, he says, taught him how to think and made him humble and unafraid to question his assumptions about life.
After college, he worked as an accountant for six years before the allure of travel became irresistible. He joined Casto Travel as a junior accountant in 2000. Maryles Casto, his mother and the company's founder, named him president and COO in 2005.
"I've learned from the best," he says. "There's no one better than my mom in knowing how to motivate people."
Every year the company brings all its employees in from the field to break bread together and laugh. Building strong relationships, he says, allows business to thrive within a nurturing family-oriented culture.
That close-knit culture flourishes online as well. Company specialists travel frequently and share their expertise and experiences through the company's website, blogs, travel alerts, and RSS feeds.
"A common misperception is that all we do is book tickets," he says. "In reality, we're consultants and advocates for our clients."
Those who travel for pleasure are looking for exceptional deals along with unique trips tailored to their needs and interests. Casto recommends less frequented cities like Torgiano and Positano in Italy instead of major cities like Florence and Rome, as well as Croatia's Dalmation Coast over Italy's Amalfi Coast.
"If someone loves Etruscan pottery, we can get them on an archaeological dig or behind the scenes at museums," he says. "We design custom experiences for people who crave originality, who aren't content to merely check locations off a map."
— Pattie Pace


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Biggest IPO since Facebook makes its debutFebruary 1, 2013: 10:52 AM ET
In the biggest IPO since Facebook, animal health company Zoetis generated strong demand from investors early Friday.
Shares of Zoetis (ZTS) surged as much as 22% in its debut on the New York Stock Exchange.
The company, which spun off from pharmaceutical giant Pfizer (PFE), sold 86.1 million shares at $26 apiece late Thursday. The stock traded as high as $31.74 before easing slightly but still remained above the IPO price.
The offering raised $2.2 billion, making it the largest initial public offering since Facebook (FB) first sold shares to the public last May. The social network's highly-anticipated stock market debut was marred by technical difficulties and shares have struggled to recover.
Zoetis' offering appears to have gone off without a hitch.
Under the terms of the IPO, Pfizer will retain about 80% ownership of the company and Zoetis will not receive any proceeds.
The offering was led by JPMorgan (JPM), BofA Merrill Lynch(BAC) and Morgan Stanley (MS).
Related: Buy, sell or hold? Most hotly debated stocks of 2012
Facebook's IPO raised concerns about the health and safety of the public markets and left many investors, large and small, embittered. But a number of companies have gone public in the months since and have received relatively warm welcomes.
In its investment prospectus, Zoetis said the animal health industry, which includes products for livestock and "companion animals," has grown to about $100 billion in annual sales.
The company is largely focused on medicine and vaccine for livestock, citing an increasing global demand for meat and poultry.
"Growth in the livestock medicines and vaccines sector is driven by human population growth and increasing standards of living, consequently increasing demand for improved nutrition, particularly animal protein, increasing natural resource constraints driving a need for enhanced productivity, and increased focus on food safety," said the company in its prospectus.


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Halifax, Canada – capital of the province of Nova Scotia is also houses the largest population in Atlantic Canada. Besides being a major economic centre in Eastern Canada, Halifax offers visitors a multitude of experiences from its maritime history, Scottish and Celtic culture to the great outdoors.
Halifax's tourism industry showcases Nova Scotia's culture, scenery and coastline. The area has many museums reflecting its ethnic heritage, including the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia. Others museums tell the story of its working history, such as the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. It is also home to several internationally renowned events such as the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo, the Atlantic Film Festival and the Atlantic Fringe Festival.
Halifax has numerous National Historic Sites, the most notable being Citadel Hill (Fort George) in Halifax and in recent years it has become a regular port of call for cruise ships. In 2017, the Port of Halifax welcomed 173 cruise ships and almost 300,000 passengers.
Stunning Halifax offers many things to do for families, couples and singles. From the walkable city to charming rural communities, there is something for every traveler.
For a city with more pubs and clubs per capita than almost any city in Canada, it's fitting that the most famous brew master was also the city's mayor - three times! Alexander Keith's original 1820 brewery welcomes visitors with costumed guides, stories and, of course, good ale. Then walk (don't drive!) from Keith's to the boardwalk that follows the water's edge of the world's second largest ice-free harbour. Stretching from Pier 21 – the gateway into Canada for one million immigrants – to Casino Nova Scotia, you'll pass unique shops, restaurants, and in the warmer months, graceful tall ships.
Outdoor Adventure Experience Halifax through our pristine seacoast and Maritime landscapes. Halifax outdoor activities, trails, and off-the-beaten path adventures will awaken the explorer in you. A must visit: The Famous Peggy's Cove – Peggy's Cove is a small rural community located on the eastern shore of St. Margarets Bay in Nova Scotia's, Halifax Regional Municipality, which is famous for the Peggy's Point Lighthouse.
Arts and Culture Rich historic and contemporary art works are on display in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the heart of East Coast arts and culture. A must visit is to the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 - Over 1.5 million immigrants, war brides, displaced people, evacuee children and Canadian military personnel passed through this famous building between 1928 and 1971.
Maritime & Halifax's History Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is located in the heart of the Halifax waterfront. There's no better place to immerse yourself in Nova Scotia's rich maritime heritage from small craft boatbuilding to World War convoys! Final resting place or the 121 victims of the RMS Titanic are interred at Fairview Cemetery in Halifax. Officially known as Fairview Lawn Cemetery, the non-denominational cemetery is run by the Parks Department of the Halifax Regional Municipality. The Halifax Citadel National Historic Site gives visitors the opportunity to explore the history of the fortress and the soldiers who were stationed there, walk within its walls – both inside and out – and literally touch a piece of Halifax's military history. Tour the Citadel's Army Museum, which showcases uniforms, weaponry and models of the fort and its soldiers throughout history. Watch the story of Halifax and the Citadel as told the through imagery, displays and sounds of the Tides of History exhibit. Take a private or guided tour of the Citadel grounds – just be sure to keep an eye out for the ghosts that are rumoured to lurk in its shadows!
Touring around the province of Nova Scotia With easy accessibility via rail network from eastern Canada, to major international airlines and coach tours; Halifax is the perfect base for touring around the province of Halifax and other Atlantic provinces of Canada.
Shopping When it comes to shopping in Nova Scotia, you can have the best of both worlds. Halifax is the largest shopping destination in Atlantic Canada, offering malls and big box stores as well as speciality shops. Halifax's charming Spring Garden Road is lined with a wide assortment of restaurants, coffee houses, and more than 200 retail stores including many independently owned, specialty shops. The Spring Garden Road area consists of nine city blocks, a block of which borders on and includes the main entrance to the Historic Public Gardens. The Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History and the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site are located just minutes from this shopping district. In Halifax's North End, the Hydrostone Market is a European-style, historic collection of shops, restaurants and services with local cuisine and unique boutiques. You will find everything from custom, hand-built furniture and hand crafted jewellery to artisan breads, flavoured oils and vinegars and cuisine from around the world. The Halifax waterfront also offers many unique shopping experiences.
Dining If there's one thing every visitor to Nova Scotia enjoys, it's the food. No matter where you go in the province – whether you're a seafood lover or landlubber – you'll find the makings of a delicious meal. From Atlantic lobster and Digby scallops, to Oxford blueberries and Annapolis Valley fiddleheads, if you're a locavore – someone who enjoys locally sourced food – you'll love what Nova Scotia has to offer. The thriving culinary scene in Halifax, Nova Scotia ranges from contemporary fine dining to traditional diners. Of course, many people visit Nova Scotia for its world-renowned seafood. Depending on the season, you can watch fishing boats head out in the early morning and return later in the day to unload catches of lobster, fish, scallops and many other types of seafood. The docks are not only the perfect place to seek out the freshest seafood but to also catch a glimpse of the work that goes into bringing that seafood to market.
Halifax festivals and events showcase creativity and inspire adventure year-round, offering a wide variety of things to do for every traveller. From festivals along our harbour front boardwalk to sandcastle competitions on stunning white sand beaches located just outside of the city, we have it all!
Scotia Festival of Music: Late May – Early June Scotia Festival of Music is an annual two-week chamber music festival held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, during the first two weeks of June, boasting over fifty public events. Featuring international talent of the highest caliber, the festival offers concerts, recitals, open rehearsals, master classes, coaching sessions, lectures, and more.
Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo: Early July One of the world's premier cultural and entertainment events featuring over 2,000 world-class Canadian and international military and civilian performers, the two-and-a-half-hour show has something for everyone. There are bands, pipes and drums, highland dancers, and military traditions. For those seeking something more modern, the Tattoo also features innovative acrobatic acts, contemporary dancing, and trampoline routines. This spectacular event can be enjoyed by the entire family in the air-conditioned Halifax Metro Centre.
Halifax International Busker Festival: Early August For 6 days in August, the Halifax International Busker Festival explodes across Halifax's beautiful and historic downtown. Featuring the hilarious, wacky, and breathtaking entertainment that can only be found at the annual Halifax International Busker Festival - crowds are treated to mind blowing shows from the world's top street performance artists as they showcase their unique talents and skills with acrobatics, music, visual arts, comedy, fire shows, and so much more. With stages located along the Halifax Waterfront, the festival promises hundreds of jaw dropping shows. Un-gated and open to the public, the Halifax International Busker Festival promises something for everyone.
Atlantic Film Festival: Mid September The Atlantic Film Festival (AFF) is an eight-day celebration of film, media and music from around the world. It's a festival that turns Halifax – a charming and historic coastal city – into an international Mecca for the arts, abuzz with filmmakers, industry types and film lovers. The Film Festival offers a first-look at the best international films of the festival season and is the platform in Atlantic Canada to showcase the regional filmmaking community.
Despite its coastal location, the climate of Halifax is humid continental, due to the prevailing westerly winds blowing from the mainland of the continent.
Halifax's climate is, however, heavily influenced by its location on Nova Scotia's Atlantic coast. The weather is usually milder or cooler than that of central Canada, with the temperature remaining between about −15 °C and 25 °C (5 °F to 77 °F) inland.


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Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories
Plans are shaping up for the fifth annual Lewiston Region Tour of Kitchens, taking place Saturday and Sunday, June 8 and 9, from 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at select addresses in Lewiston and Youngstown.
Six residences will feature both entertaining and cooking spaces for visitors to experience, along with culinary samples created by chefs from area restaurants.
"The Tour of Kitchens is a self-guided tour," said event organizer Sandra Hays Mies.
She notes the exact locations of the homes and all the details attendees will need for the tour can be found in the program that comes with a ticket purchase. Tickets, $27, are available at The Village Bake Shoppe, 417 Center St., or DiCamillo Bakery, 535 Center St., both in the Village of Lewiston.
Tickets are also available online at http://www.TourofKitchens.net and at all Wegmans locations. Mies said tickets will be available from Wegmans locations until 4:30 p.m. on June 7, and until 7 p.m. June 7 online and at the two Lewiston locations.
"Tickets are limited and this event is expected to sell out with pre-sale tickets. It is strongly recommended that tickets be purchased in advance as this has been a sold-out event," Mies said.
Any remaining tickets will be available for purchase June 8 and 9 after 9 a.m. at the Tour of Kitchens tent, located on the corner of Center and First streets in Lewiston.
Mies said visitors on this year's tour will have opportunity to taste the following dishes: jambalaya pasta from the Town Hall American Bistro; pear salad wrap and Mediterranean flank steak from The Red Coach Inn; signature Brunswick stew and cornbread from The Brickyard Pub and B.B.Q.; cassoulet and the Italian raclette from Raclettes; berry-berry salad and cream of mushroom soup from The White Linen Tea House; chilled lobster bisque from Wegmans; Malibu spiced rum cocktail and a Thai chicken slider from Water Street Landing; assorted signature desserts from DiCamillo Bakery; and still more assorted signature desserts from The Village Bake Shoppe.
Participating residences will also be paired with a retailer and/or decorator who will create tablescapes - "an artful way to set a table for guests," Mies said.
Participating companies include: Design; Pallister House Florist; Michelle J. Hook - Custom Interior Sewing; Rooms Re-Created by Tasia; Creations by Colleen; Sue Pell; Pottery Barn; Piccirillo's Florist; Kathleen Fischbein Design LLC; The Country Doctor; Summertime Bloom; A-1 Landcare; and Le Creuset.
Included in the ticket price is a dessert tasting and wine sampling experience at The Barton Hill Hotel and Spa, featuring sweets from The Village Bake Shoppe and DiCamillo Bakery, as well as wines from Supermarket Liquors and Wines.
And ticket holders will have an additional stop at Water Street Landing where a sample cocktail and Thai chicken slider will be offered.
•The Youngstown Garden Club will feature the "Youngstown in Bloom" flower market and perennial sale at the Bistro at the Old Fort Inn, 110 Main St., Youngstown, on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Perennials from members' gardens, culinary herbs and other garden items will be available for purchase.
•A jewelry and vendor show will be held at the Barton Hill Hotel and Spa in the Fairbanks Room, just off the main lobby, where the dessert tasting and wine sampling will be held.
•Presenting sponsor for this year's Tour of Kitchens is Kinetic Kitchen and Bath. "Silver Spoon" sponsors are CFM Stone Surfaces, Great Lakes Real Estate, Supermarket Liquors and Wines, Fittante Architecture PC, Orville's Home Appliances, The Niagara Falls Culinary Institute, the Barton Hill Hotel and Spa, DiCamillo Bakery, The Village Bake Shoppe, Wegmans - Niagara Falls and Niagara Frontier Publications.
Proceeds from the Tour of Kitchens will help benefit the Historical Association of Lewiston and the Porter Historical Society. For more information, call 716-745-9583 or visit http://www.TourofKitchens.net.
More information and images of the featured homes can be found on the Tour of Kitchens website.


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Dodgers put three prospects on Top 100 list
Outfielder Puig (76), righty Lee (78), outfielder Pederson (85) ranked by MLB.com
The annual ranking of baseball's biggest and brightest young talent is assembled by MLB.com's Draft and prospect expert Jonathan Mayo, who compiles input from industry sources, including scouts and scouting directors. It is based on analysis of players' skill sets, upsides, closeness to the Majors and potential immediate impact to their teams. The list, which is one of several prospect rankings on MLB.com's Prospect Watch, only includes players with rookie status in 2013.
The list does not include international signing Hyun-Jin Ryu because players who are least 23 years of age and have played as a professional in a league recognized by the Commissioner's Office for a minimum of five seasons are not eligible for consideration. The Dodgers committed more than $62 million to sign the 25-year-old Korean, who will slide into the middle of their starting rotation.
Ryu's signing came less than six months after the Dodgers rocked the game with their stunning acquisition of Puig, a Cuban defector who landed a staggering seven-year, $42 million deal despite a sketchy professional background on the island nation.
While other clubs have expressed skepticism over Puig's talent, new Dodgers ownership felt the signing was necessary to re-establish the franchise's presence on the international market. As the top prospect in the system, Puig ranks 76th in the Top 100.
Dodgers scouts love Puig's light-tower power swing and athletic actions. Teammates and opponents have questioned his maturity. Club officials acknowledge Puig is rough around the edges, having missed the 2011 season when he was suspended by Cuba for a failed defection attempt. He projects as a corner outfielder and will open the season at Double-A if he shows in Spring Training that he's ready.
Lee, 78th on the Top 100, might lack Puig's high ceiling but makes up for it with all the intangibles Puig lacks. Lee, paid $5.25 million to abandon a career as a quarterback at LSU, has off-the-charts makeup, competitiveness and aptitude.
What he doesn't have that you'd want in a top pitching prospect is an overpowering pitch. His fastball sits in the low-90s, but he's learning how to miss the zone effectively and already has a full repertoire of pitches that he knows how to mix.
Lee is athletic with a prototype pitcher's frame, and even if he isn't a right-handed Clayton Kershaw, he's the most likely arm in the system to join Kershaw, Zack Greinke and Ryu in the rotation long term. He spent part of last year at Double-A and will probably return there, as he's only 21.
Pederson, ranked No. 85 on the Top 100, has moved up the Dodgers' ladder off a 2012 season at Class A Rancho Cucamonga in which he was named the organization's position player of the year, rebounding from a disastrous 2011, when the 11th-round pick was demoted from low Class A to the Rookie League. The 20-year-old son of former Dodgers player Stu Pederson, the outfielder had to overcome a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder as a junior in high school, rehabbing without surgery.
Pederson is a grinder, a solid all-around player with no exceptional skill other than baseball instincts, and he will need to continue his improvement while tested at Double-A this year.


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We hope your order is exactly what you wanted and ordered, but if not, we will do everything possible to make it right! Please read our Returns Policy carefully below, before making any returns.
The information below will provide you with our policy regarding returns of IN-STORE PURCHASES as well as items PURCHASED & SHIPPED TO YOU FROM THIS WEBSITE.
Please note that any item(s) purchased in our store must be returned to the store, and cannot be returned through this website.
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With its air of classic modernity and abundance of finish options, the Full-Door Personalized Fireplace Screen - Brush will herald beauty and simplicity into your hearth. In the past, monograms have been used to label the valuable property of royalty all over the world. Consider this personalized fireplace screen your own modern Coat of Arms.
- Made in the United States
- 20 finish options to choose from
- Constructed from durable steel
- Full door design
- Scroll legs
With its simple flat top and unconventional lettering, the Full-Door Personalized Fireplace Screen - Brush will fit nicely in most living spaces. Each letter is fastened with prominence in the center of the fireplace screen doors. Finishes are available in powdercoat and anodized options and blend well with the tightly woven mesh screen.
For screens smaller than 24" and larger than 48", please call one of our specialists and have a personalized fireplace screen built to your exact specifications.


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Listings in Public Services & Government, Weddings, Colleges & Universities and Acupuncture near Goodyear
Quality Inn & Suites Goodyear (1.81 mi)
in Venues & Event Spaces, Hotels, Ceremony & Reception Sites
160 room hotel with pool/hot tub, wedding gazebo & bar.
950 N Dysart Rd.
Goodyear, Arizona 85338
Fax: 623-932-9198
Queen of Hearts Casino Parties, LLC (13.93 mi)
in Party & Event Planning, Event Planners, Organizational Fundraising
Casino themed events for all occasions! We LOVE to entertain you!
Based in Glendale, Arizona. Serving all of Arizona
Glendale, Arizona
Photography Is Unique (14.80 mi)
in Photographers, Video/Film Production, Photography, Videography, Photographers
Welcome to the Artistic side of photography.
4344 W. Indian School Rd Suite 100A
Phoenix, Arizona 85031
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61 Productions (19.27 mi)
in Graphic Design, Video/Film Production, Videography
Photography and videography services for weddings, special events, headshots, products and business/promotional use. Graphic and website design services also available.
Serving All of Arizona
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The Big Zephyr (19.42 mi)
Great People – Great Music – Great Times
Serving all of Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Mi Patio Mexican Food (19.35 mi)
in Caterers, Mexican, Catering
Mi Patio is known for our authentic Mexican Dishes.
3347 N. 7th Ave.
Phoenix, Arizona 85013
Michael Mazzocco Events (19.64 mi)
in Caterers, Party & Event Planning, Wedding Planning, Food Delivery Services, Bachelor & Bachelorette Parties, Catering, Ceremony & Reception Sites, Event Planners
MME is a full-service event coordination firm that specializes in the planning, design, coordination and on-going support of social and corporate event programs.
Phoenix, Arizona
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A Memorable Wedding Ceremony (19.64 mi)
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Arizona wedding officiant creates and performs nondenominational, civil, nonreligious and religious wedding ceremonies. Call to schedule your complimentary consultation appointment.
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CWLIFE Photography (19.64 mi)
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We love to photograph and it shows!
Phoenix, Arizona
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Landmark Jewelers (17.23 mi)
Discover the Difference … Locally Gay Owned & Operated
17570 N 75th Ave., Suite 655
Glendale, Arizona 85308


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"We're not going to take it," Boras said. "We're going to decline. We are talking with the Red Sox and other teams about Tek."***
Nick Cafardo reports that a source close to Jason Varitek confirms that the Red Sox captain will decline salary arbitration. If so, Varitek will be able to negotiate with any major league team.
For the most part, I've been avoiding the trade/free agent rumours of the past month or so. And Fox's Ken Rosenthal has presented Exhibit A of why that's a good idea.
December 4: Rosenthal calls Varitek "a strong candidate to accept arbitration" and said "it would be an upset" if Tek rejected Boston's offer.The winter meetings begin tomorrow in Las Vegas.
December 6: Rosenthal reports that (a) Varitek will likely "reject arbitration and remain on the open market" and (b) that he "seems an ideal candidate to accept the Red Sox's offer".


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Published by obrienjackieo
Hi. I'm Jacquelyn, although I pretty much respond to many names, Mom, Mommy, Mother, Mamma, Ma, Wife, Jackie, Jac. I'm a wife and full-time working mom to three kids and one giant dog. Juggling too much & just trying to make it all work on a budget and still have my sanity at the end of the day! Between my 9 to 5, business trips, clients, conference calls, mothering, PTO meetings, school events, cleaning, cooking and sports 4-5 days a week, I feel like I am always looking for extra hours in the day. But, we all get the same 24 hours each day to balance and make it all work (however, if you plan to sleep at all you're down to like 16-18). So, this blog is meant to be my collection of the HOW we make this life work. In hopes that it will inspire some along the way and cultivate a community for sharing and helping each-other on this journey we call life. View all posts by obrienjackieo


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Take the surprise out of your trip east of Snoqualmie Pass; know before you go
Posted by Unknown in bridges, construction, Hyak, Hyak to Keechelus Dam, I-90, Keechelus Dam, pavement, snoqualmie pass, traffic alerts on Thursday, March 28, 2013
By guest blogger Meagan McFadden
|Drivers traveling on I-90 this summer need to know
before they go to avoid construction-related delays.
Crews are scheduled to start work again in mid-April on a dozen projects that add lanes, build bridges, repave bridge decks and repair cracked sections of pavement.
Construction at several locations east of Snoqualmie Pass will require single-lane closures and rolling slowdowns this summer, which will add to travel time. During construction, drivers need to add at least an hour to their east-west trips, especially if trying to catch a flight or make a time-sensitive appointment.
It's going to be a very busy construction season on I-90 and when we say, 'plan ahead', we mean it. We're letting you know now, so you can take the surprise out of your trip and plan accordingly.
We have a wide variety of resources to help drivers take the surprise out of their trips across I-90 this year. Drivers can find information on multiple websites, including the What's Happening on I-90, Snoqualmie Mountain Pass and Traffic Alerts pages. Drivers can also follow us on Twitter @snoqualmiepass and @wsdot_passes or sign up for email updates. While on the road, drivers can use our travel time signs to find out how long it will take them to get to their destination.
In mid-April, crews resume work on a $551 million project that builds a wider, safer and more reliable stretch of I-90 from Hyak to Keechelus Dam. Later this spring, crews on this 5-mile-long project will resume blasting along the rock slopes east of Snoqualmie Pass. Drivers need to plan for hour-long closures, Mondays through Thursdays, starting an hour before sunset. Due to the nature of blasting operations this year, some closures may last longer than an hour.
In late April, crews will begin deck repair on five bridges along I-90 between Easton and Ellensburg. Crews will remove a thin layer of the existing bridge deck, repair damaged concrete, reinforce the deck with steel and repave with asphalt. Crews will also begin repaving deteriorating pavement in both directions west of Easton Hill. Drivers could experience delays of up to 15 minutes Monday through Friday through the work zone.
This entry was posted on Thursday, March 28, 2013 at 2:53 PM and is filed under bridges, construction, Hyak, Hyak to Keechelus Dam, I-90, Keechelus Dam, pavement, snoqualmie pass, traffic alerts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response.


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Let $(P,\Omega)$ be a symplectic manifold, and let $[\cdot,\cdot]$ be the natural Poisson bracket. Let $\varphi^h(a)$ be the Hamiltonian flow generated by the smooth function $h:P\rightarrow\mathbb{R}$, and let $\varphi^g(b)$ be the Hamiltonian flow generated by the smooth function $g:P\rightarrow\mathbb{R}$.
Suppose the two flows commute, $\varphi^g(b)\varphi^h(a) = \varphi^h(a)\varphi^g(b)$. Are there interesting circumstances under which it follows that the generators commute as well, $[g,h]=0$?
I know that the flows commuting implies that $[g,h]=k$ for some constant $k$; a reference for the proof of this can be found, for example, in Arnold's (1989) Mathematical Methods of classical mechanics, pg. 218 Cor. 9. It is also easy to show that if $[g,h]=0$, then $\varphi^g(b)\varphi^h(a) = \varphi^h(a)\varphi^g(b)$. But under what circumstances does the converse hold?
It's interesting that in quantum mechanics, the analogous relations hold in both directions. That is, if $G$ and $H$ are linear self-adjoint operators on a Hilbert space, and if $e^{ibG}$ and $e^{iaH}$ are the continuous one-parameter unitary groups they generate, then $e^{ibG}e^{iaH}=e^{iaH}e^{ibG}$ if and only if $[H,G]=0$ (where now $[\cdot,\cdot]$ is the commutator bracket).


text: The Canon FS31 Dual Flash Memory camcorder is lightweight, compact and user-friendly, records stunning video - and does it all at an affordable price. As employed in advanced electronic products such as laptop computers, MP3 players, PDAs and cell phones, flash memory has numerous benefits. With the Canon FS31, you're able to record to both the camcorder's substantial 16GB internal flash drive and a removable SD card. Not only does dual flash memory give you extended recording space, but it also gives you added flexibility in file transfer and playback. You'll have a chance to catch and share even more of your life's special moments with the FS31. Adding to the usefulness of this camcorder is Quick Charge - which reduces the recharge time for the FS31's battery, and Pre-Record which gives you a head start on capturing the action. With Canon Exclusive features such as Canon 41x Advanced Zoom and our DIGIC DV II Image Processor, combined with a 2.7" Widescreen LCD, Quick Charge and our new Dynamic IS - you've got a flash memory camcorder that's both hard to beat and unmistakably Canon.


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Last Thursday we learned that the US Federal Reserve has decided to make unlimited US dollar loans (swaps) to the European Central Bank (ECB) and directly to European money center banks that are in trouble, at least through the end of this year. And what will the Fed get in return as collateral? Eurodollars that are quickly falling in value as of late. So even as our own economy may be falling back into recession, the Fed sees fit to bail out the European banks that are sinking in sovereign debt from the likes of Greece, Ireland and Portugal.
All eyes are on tomorrow's Fed Open Market Committee policy statement. The Fed is expected to announce its so-called "Operation Twist" strategy that is intended to lower medium and long-term interest rates, which may or may not work. Some people expect the Fed to comment on its latest decision to make unlimited US dollar loans to European banks, but I will be very surprised if they mention a word about it. They're keeping it very quiet (which is another good reason to read my E-Letters and blog postings).
Speaking of blog postings, I will write about tomorrow's Fed policy decision on my blog before the end of the day tomorrow. Go to www.GaryDHalbert.com and subscribe to read my take on the Fed's announcement.
Following the Fed discussion, I will bring you the highlights of the latest report on US poverty from the Census Bureau. Poverty is now at an all-time high. Ditto for the number of Americans that depend on food stamps, according to the Department of Agriculture. These two reports are very troubling.


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Stellar and Interstellar Development
Oh man. Can I tell you how much I love that minor league tirade? This guy just understands that bigger is better. And the thing is, if they're going to toss you, you might as well make it worth it. Why kick dirt when you can throw a base? Why toss your hat when you can toss the entire contents of the dugout? That is the reason why I love America.
And I also love America because of college sports. In general, NCAA football and basketball provide much more drama and interest than do their professional counterparts. Yeah, that's a factless, baseless blanket statement but my name is on this blog so I can write that. However, most other major college sports pale in comparison to their older brothers. Nowhere is this more true than baseball. Quick, tell me who won the College World Series last year? Yeah, I didn't think so. And who won tonight's CWS finale? No one cares. And there's a reason for that.
Unlike football and basketball, there's a different route to the pros for baseball players. It's a much more (dare I say?) European system of small feeder clubs nurturing talent at different levels in order to prepare them for the big leagues. Like the big European club soccer teams do in Africa and Brazil, MLB constantly scours the developing world, trying to get an edge by finding hot new talent in some Latin American backwater. Then, they throw them into the minor league crockpot, set it to simmer and see how it all turns out.
Even homegrown talent is developed in a similar fashion. Do people get excited for a Derek Jeter to head off to the University of Michigan for a year before turning pro? No. He signs with the Yankees and they develop him in their minor league affiliates before bringing him up to the parent organization. So, if no exciting players show up in college baseball, why should we care about the sport?
Simply put, we shouldn't. At least in college basketball or football, we get to see guys play for one or two years before they head off. Syracuse doesn't win the 2003 NCAA basketball championship without Carmelo but that was all they got from him. Similarly, Ohio State doesn't beat Miami in 2002 Fiesta Bowl without Maurice Clarett but that didn't stop him from heading straight to the NFL (although his life since has been somewhat less than stellar).
So, should we care about this inequity in the sporting system and does it really matter? It seems pretty obvious that the different sports need different systems. Football and, to a lesser extent, basketball are homegrown sports that rely on colleges to develop players and provide them with greater exposure before they begin their professional careers. Baseball, like soccer, is a more international game and so the collegiate development system just doesn't work. It's unfortunate for fans of the game but when there are already so many MLB teams playing 162 games a year, the allure of collegiate baseball just seems unimportant. In the end, these systems, kind of like the American primary election system, seem to have fundamental flaws. But, when you consider the alternatives, I guess we're doing a pretty good job.


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Featured work 25/2/12: Adam Bogusz, Seth Weaver, Yvonca, Susan Ringler, Frank Balestracci, Nawroski, Loui Jover, Tom Norton, Scott Allison.
This entry was posted on February 25, 2012 by Art Changing The World Futurism.. It was filed under R/B Futurist Work and was tagged with art, artists, futurism, futurist, RedBubble.
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|Sexy in addition to beautiful breasts. Image: goodsinfinite.com
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Get to a greater extent than fantastic article virtually salubrious tips now.


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Aviary Brings Photo-Editing Tools to Windows 8 Developers
Aviary, the Web-based photo-editing software company, debuted its software development kit for Windows 8 developers on Monday, making the company's photo-editing suite of tools available to those creating apps for the latest version of Microsoft's operating system.
It's pretty significant for Microsoft (and definitely a big deal for Aviary), but you'll have to indulge me in a bit of nerding out to hear why.
In a nutshell, a new platform is only as good as the apps that populate it. And right now, Windows 8 is starting from scratch, with Microsoft courting the thousands of developers out there creating programs for other tried-and-true platforms like Apple's iOS and Google's Android. So to convince developers to build apps for yet another platform like Windows 8 isn't an easy sale.
But Aviary's SDK release may make it just a little less difficult. Instead of developers building photo-editing software from scratch into their applications, picking up Aviary's tool kit allows developers to quickly integrate and deploy a host of photo-centric tools into their apps, cutting out some of the heavy lifting and freeing up resources to do other things.
So, in theory, the less time it takes a developer to write a Windows 8 app, the more likely they are to do it. That's a win for Microsoft (if enough developers do it, that is), and it's certainly a win for Aviary — if the company can coax said coders into using its tool kits.
A number of larger companies already swear by Aviary's wares — Twitter, Flickr and Photobucket, to name a few — instituting the company's software in mainstream, consumer-facing applications. That's a pretty ringing endorsement for Aviary to use in its sales pitch.
Aviary's Windows 8 SDK will launch with six partners to get things going. Now all Microsoft has to do is hope that the increased set of tools encourages developers to create more apps for the platform.


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fast, scalable, distributed revision control system (obsolete)
DescriptionGit is popular version control system designed to handle very large projects with speed and efficiency; it is used for many high profile open source projects, most notably the Linux kernel. Git falls in the category of distributed source code management tools. Every Git working directory is a full-fledged repository with full revision tracking capabilities, not dependent on network access or a central server. This is a transitional dummy package. The 'git-core' package has been renamed to 'git', which has been installed automatically. This git-core package is now obsolete, and can safely be removed from the system if no other package depends on it.
Upload more screenshots Please help extend the collection of screenshots. Just make a screenshot and upload it here. You don't need to register or anything.
Please help extend the collection of screenshots. Just make a screenshot and upload it here. You don't need to register or anything.
61031 other people were interested in this package here. The newest known version of this software is 1:2.15.0~rc0-1 (Information last updated about 9 hours ago.)
Upload new screenshots
Thanks for uploading more screenshots. Please note:
- Your screenshot should contain a typical scene when working with it.
- Take only a screenshot of the respective application and not of your whole desktop (unless the screenshot is meant for a window manager).
- Your screenshots must be in PNG format.
- You can upload multiple images at once.
- Your screenshot need to be approved by the moderators first. You will already see your screenshot but it will not be visible to others instantly. If moderators reject your upload you will get notified next time you visit this site (requires cookies).
- Images larger than 800x600 pixels will automatically be reduced. So don't try to capture too much detail in a screenshot. It may become unreadable. Shrink the applications window if possible.
- Screenshots are made public and can freely be used by anyone.
- Useful programs for making screenshots are shutter, ksnapshot (KDE), gimp, xwd or scrot. See the Debian wiki for more information on how to make screenshots under Debian.
- Please set your language to english so that everybody understands it. If you don't use english by default please start your application from a shell using after setting "export LANG=C".


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Now that you've found Indietech you can stop looking. We did. In the past, we've tried other companies but Indietech understood what we were trying to do better than we did and delivered immediate results. Indietech offer a team of people that work closely with us who are professional, creative and passionate. I highly recommend them to everyone except my competitors!
We would like to highly recommend the team at Indietech for their commitment in the time that it has taken to build our website. Their analytical skills coupled with their ability to research and develop wonderfully creative content has in turn delivered a great website.
Would have no trouble recommending Ben & Indietech for anything digital related. They are our go-to-go guys for anything big, beastie and complicated!
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ActiveState, developers of the Komodo IDE have launched a new project - the Open Komodo Project - in an effort to create an open source editing platform:
ActiveState is pleased to announce the creation of the Open Komodo Project, a new initiative to create an open source platform and promote open standards. The Open Komodo Project will support the open web and web standards, fill a need for developer tools in the open web technology stack, and drive further innovation for Komodo IDE and Komodo Edit.
They want to create a framework for development that integrates with other software (like Firefox) and makes development of both simple applications and complex, rich applications simple. Check out the full press release for more information or just head straight to the project's homepage to get started.


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I just got an e-mail from my breeder that Jake's grandaddy (my breeder owns Jake's mom and his grandad) passed away Saturday from a heart condition just days shy of 9 years old.
I think anyone who owns a cavalier knows that at some point dealing with a heart condition is a very real possibility. I am so sad to hear about Atlas. He was a beautiful guy and my breeder's first cavalier. He was tested clear at 5 years old.
Kind of makes my heart drop. Makes me scared for Jake. I will just continue to get my guys heart checked every year and hope for the best.


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Sometimes it's the little things our ancestors left behind that tell us something personal about them. My grandmother raised five children and all that's left are a few things that were important to her — a cookbook with her handwritten notations, a set of ceramic bowls and her watch. Since she died when I was a baby, the artifacts and family stories have provided me with a sense of knowing her. I can imagine her using the bowls and her cookbook to create some of the recipes my family still makes today, but it's her watch that tells me a story of her life before marriage and children.
What can you learn about an ancestor from one piece of her life? More than you think. Family heirlooms can help fill in the details of your ancestors' lives — that's what makes them "attic treasures."
By today's standards, a watch is an ordinary accessory. Most people own more than one and wear them as a coordinating piece of an outfit. But to previous generations, a watch was a treasured possession.
Pocket watches like the one my grandmother owned signified maturity and status. Women wore them hung from small chains and kept them in waistband pockets or pinned to their dress bodices, as my grandmother did. Two family photographs show her wearing the watch. In one, her sister Rose is wearing an identical timepiece. The other is her wedding portrait.
As young women, the sisters worked in the cotton mills in Pawtucket, RI, to contribute to the family income. The watches may have been given as gifts, but it's more likely they bought identical watches with their earnings. While watches could be purchased by mail, women also could visit a local jeweler to select the mechanism and the case to create a personalized watch. My grandmother had her initials engraved on the exterior of the watch.
Gently removing the watch mechanism from its case reveals a serial number. Generally, the manufacturer's name appears either on the face of the watch or on the mechanism. The Hampden Watch Company manufactured this watch in 1910, a year it made 2 million watches in various styles.
When you look for genealogical treasures in your attic, be sure to research the history behind the item so that you can better understand when it was popular and to whom it belonged. Read Katherine Sturdevant's Bringing Your Family History to Life Through Social History (Betterway Books) to learn more about the types of items that have genealogical significance.
When you start to delve for data, don't forget to examine each artifact with these questions in mind:
? Are there any stories associated with it?
? Are there any photographs that include the object?
? What technical data is available in collectors guides and historical sources?
? What's the origin of the item, such as who owned it?
Learn more about a watch in your collection at <www.oldwatch.com> and in Alan Smith's Clocks & Watches (Connoisseur), which provides an overview of the history of watches with illustrations.
There isn't much left of my grandmother's watch today. The glass covering and parts of the hands are missing. She wore it until one of her sons damaged it with a hammer when he was a toddler. It was a valuable part of her life, a symbol of her financial achievement and a leftover from her life before she met my grandfather. I can imagine her looking at it and reflecting on her young adult life. When she died, the watch became the property of her youngest daughter who looks to it as a visual reminder of her mother. There are an awful lot of memories in one broken watch, worth more than any antique appraiser could estimate.
From the June 2000 issue of Family Tree Magazine


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Wednesday Wrap-Up (and Open Thread)
This is what community organizers do: they go into a struggling community that anxiously awaits a high-quality, low-priced store that community members believe will help lift up their neighborhood and, shouting racial epithets, they shut the initiative down.
Democracy? Who needs democracy, even a watered-down representative democracy? Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee has announced that she will enthusiastically bypass the Congress to which she belongs and simply draft orders for His Imperial Majesty Barack Hussein Sotero Obama to sign.
Labeling as "criminals" people who commit illegal acts is somehow insulting. I wonder if Justice Sotomayor, who made this Orwellian statement, has the same standard when it comes to pedophiles. (Maybe Woody Allen can help her answer that question. And yes, I think he's guilty, if only because so many of his movies reflect an old man's obsession with young, female flesh.)
John Kerry lies, and lies, and lies — this time about Israel. And he lies precisely in the same way Barack Obama does: blatantly and unashamedly, secure in the knowledge that a compliant media (and, in this regard, that includes Fox) will not call him out.
Speaking of Fox and Israel, I'm wondering something. Al Waleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz al Saud, a member of the Saudi royal family and one of the richest men in the world, is the second largest holder of shares in Fox. In the past, he's claimed to have put pressure on Fox to tilt the news his (and Saudi Arabia's) way. That meant that Fox, while reliably conservative in most ways, was more Muslim-friendly and less-Israel friendly than one would expect. Now, though, Saudi Arabia and Israel suddenly have similar interests: keeping the bomb out of Iran and preventing Iran from becoming the true power broker in the Middle East. I wonder if this will change Fox's tilt. I don't have an answer, because I don't watch TV news. Has anyone noticed a change in Fox News' coverage?
And speaking of Muslim-friendly news, CAIR is advertising a "walk against Islamophobia." I love Drew's comment at Weasel Zipper's: "If CAIR really think so-called 'Islamophobia' is a problem then why don't they hold a 'walk against Islamic terrorism?' Wait, that means they would have to condemn their co-religionists, never mind." That statement really nails the problem with CAIR, doesn't it?
Oh, and while I'm piling up on Islam, Daniel Greenburg wrote a Groundhog Day post looking at the fact that Islam never breaks free of its endless day of winter.
And while I'm on the subject of Daniel Greenburg, he's got another superb post (he's always got superb posts), this one about the utopian Universalists, who speak the language of universal love while spreading antisemitic hate.
Salon has sunk to new lows by openly promoting communism (and no, I won't link to that drek). It does so, of course, through lies. Tom Toth calls out Salon on its latest pro-Communist grotesqueries.
As an aside, looking at the posts above about Islamism, antisemitism, Universalism, and communism, I can only say that it's not true that man is the most dangerous animal of all. The truth is that there are certain subsets of man who deny morality, individual freedom, and the worth of the individual — they are the most dangerous animals of all. And now back to our regularly scheduled linkfest.
The more I hear about Scott Walker, the more I like what I hear. He's courageous, tenacious, and highly effective. Unlike Rand Paul, Mike Lee, or Ted Cruz, all of whom are dynamos for conservativism, he hasn't spun his wheels in the toxic environment of Congress. Instead, despite enormous obstacles in Wisconsin, he's wrought huge changes in that most Left of Left states. As with other young conservatives who have appeared on the horizon, I'm not yet willing to give him my heart but, if he stays true to what he seems to be at this moment in time, he might well be my guy.
And finally, I was not charmed or moved by Budweiser's "Welcome home, soldier" Super Bowl commercial. This was not a community's spontaneous outpouring for a returned soldier; it was a corporate event. As best as I could tell, it was the commercial equivalent of astroturf, rather than grass-roots, organization. I was therefore completely unsurprised to read that Budweiser wasn't the only self-promoting corporation involved. Lt. Chuck Nadd also makes a career out of self-promotion. As the post to which I linked said, this is the American way. But it doesn't mean you have to be moved or manipulated by it.