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LESSONS LEARNED #26: "If we need Big Government to protect us from ourselves, then our public schools can't be the best place to learn." -Old Pithy
WE ARE WHAT they teach us. And here is a little of what our teachers taught us. And a little of what we learned by observation.
WHEN I WAS in grade school, our teachers went on strike. It was great. Another week or so of summer vacation. But I saw a curious thing. Some of my classmates were carrying picket signs. And there they were, walking with the teachers. I could not understand why anyone would want to help to end an extended summer vacation. That's all I knew about a teacher's strike. I had no idea why they didn't want to go back to work. I just knew it meant I didn't have to go back to school yet.
The signs my fellow students carried said something about making our schools better. As kids typically don't like being in school, I couldn't imagine they thought much about improving the educational system. Other than greatly shortening the school day. And school year. But giving a pay raise to our teachers? Giving them more benefits? How, exactly, was that going to make school better? I mean, if they got more pay and benefits, our education would get worse, not better. They would just transfer money from the classroom to the teachers. Unless the city raised property taxes to replace the classroom money that was given to the teachers. And that would only increase the household costs of these kids' parents. Meaning less presents at Christmas. Couldn't these kids see the folly of their ways?
Of course they couldn't. They were just useful pawns. They hadn't the foggiest idea why teachers go on strike. The teachers told them what to say. What to think. And they lied to these kids. They weren't striking because they wanted more money and better benefits. Which they were. No. They told these innocent children that they were striking so they could have a better art department. A better music department. Better field trips. That's why these teachers were on the picket lines. For the children. And that every time there were cuts in the classroom, it was because of the greed of their parents who didn't approve a millage. Or who bitched about rising property taxes. It was never their OWN greed. Never that.
WE HAD A mock election when I was in 7th grade. It was an 'exercise in democracy'. I remember voting for the Democrat candidate. I don't know why. I knew nothing about politics. I had only recently quit playing with my toy cars. I was still reading The Hardy Boys mystery novels. And thinking about the pretty girls in class. What I don't remember was spending much time thinking about the presidential election. But there I was, voting for the Democrat candidate. Who won in our little mock election. But how did I, as well as my fellow students, know enough about politics to vote for the Democrat candidate?
Obviously, they taught us what to think. That the Democrat candidate was the better candidate. Because he was for the working man. And cared about the little people. That the Democrats cared about education. Not profits. All these touchy feely things. Which was about all a kid could understand. A kid can't understand monetary or fiscal policy. The intricacies of foreign policy. They don't have a clue about those things. But kids do know that they should play nice. And that's what the Democrats are all about. Playing nice. And providing political muscle for the teachers' unions in exchange for votes. And obedient little minds of mush that will one day become voters.
I HAD A speech/debate class in high school. Our teacher used the latest in progressive teaching methods. A lot of touchy feely stuff. Feel more than think. We often did these exercises where the class as a whole debated the pros and cons of a particular position. One day we went through a list of five or so. I found the last one interesting. It was about a 'death ray'.
I had recently watched a program about nuclear weapons. I learned that the size of their warheads was a function of the accuracy of the weapons. They needed a big radius of destruction to guarantee the destruction of the target. This is true for all weapon systems, conventional or nuclear. The less accurate they are, the bigger the destructive force required. (Whereas smart weapons today can have smaller warheads because they can be steered onto target.) The more accurate the weapon, the less destructive it can be. The less collateral damage there would be. Less civilian dead. The lesson described the 'death ray' as a weapon of pinpoint accuracy. Based on what I just recently learned, I thought that it would be very interesting to discuss the pros of such a weapon.
When we finished discussing the position before the 'death ray', he said something like it was obvious that no one would argue for such a weapon system. So there was no point in discussing it. And then, as an afterthought, he said "unless someone does" with a condescending smirk. I raised my hand. I began to make some positive points. He cut me off. There was to be no discussion in favor of any weapon system in his class. Turns out he was anti-war. Free speech was one thing but not when you disagree with the program.
TWO BOOKS THAT that stand out from high school that were required reading are The Grapes of Wrath and Johnny Got His Gun. You couldn't find a couple of more depressing books if you tried. The Grapes of Wrath was about the plight of a family who lost the farm during the dust bowl of the Great Depression. In it you learned that bankers were evil. Rich people were evil. That Big Business was evil and exploited the poor. Whereas poor people were virtuous. And only poor people helped other poor people. That Big Government was good and helped the poor people. That FDR's New Deal was good and helped the poor people. That unions are good and protect those who Big Business exploits. You get the picture? Democrats good. Republicans bad. Because the Democrats take care of the little guy. And evil bankers and fat cats are all Republicans. Or so we were taught.
Johnny Got His Gun is an anti-war book. It's about a U.S. veteran of World War I. Joe Bonham. He lost about every part of the human body you could. And yet they kept him alive. I read it in the 10th grade. Young and impressionable, I saw the folly of war. War hurt good, young men like poor Joe Bonham. (Incidentally, the name 'Bonham'? It's from the French 'bon homme', good man.) A pity only the anti-war crowd read it. Apparently no one read it in Germany or Italy or the Soviet Union. Maybe if their citizens did read it World War II would not have broken out. Thankfully for the free world, though, men did serve in the armed forces despite what happened to poor Joe Bonham. And they saved liberty. And the burning of books did not spread further. And books like this, because of men who did pick up a gun, remain in the public school curriculum.
Of course, you know why they (the public school teachers) are anti-war, don't you? It's simple. Any money spent on the military is money not spent on them.
I HAD AN electronics teacher in high school who was really cool. He let us drink coffee in class (or, should I say, cream and sugar with some coffee). He'd send a student across the street to buy donuts to eat with our coffee. And he taught us how to build little black boxes that could unscramble scrambled television. He was also a pretty good teacher. A PNP transistor symbol? The arrow was P-N (peein') on the base. (An NPN transistor symbol pointed away from the base.) The resistor color code? Bad boys rape our young girls but Violet gives willingly. The whore. (Hey, this stuff was funny when you're only 16 years old.) He even set up an interview for me at an electronic repair shop. He liked being a teacher. But he enjoyed doing concrete flatwork, too. One of those things he did to pay the bills while in college. And kept doing after college. And that's what he did during the summer, the peak of the construction season. And made good money doing it.
MY MOM WORKED as a volunteer at my grade school. She got to know the teachers pretty well. She even went to their homes. One lived not too far away from us. I went with her once or twice. Talk about surreal. Seeing your teacher outside the school. Acting so un-teacher-like. Wearing something she doesn't wear to school. Having fun. Laughing and joking. And seeing her being a mom to her own kids. That was weird. We treated her politely and with respect in school. Her kids whined "maaaa" at home just like I did when I was at home. My teacher was just a normal person. Human, almost.
But what really struck me then was that though they lived in the same general area as we did, they had more. Bigger house. With nicer stuff. A newer car in the driveway. More presents under their Christmas tree. And in bigger boxes. It was a 'blue-collar' neighborhood. Her husband was a 'blue-collar' worker. Just like my dad. But my mom volunteered. My teacher was, well, a teacher. The ultimate second income in a two income family. Good pay and benefits. And no child care to worry about. Teachers are off when their kids are off. Holidays. Breaks. Snow days. And, of course, summer vacation. It just didn't get better for a working mom.
IT IS INTERESTING that people become more conservative with age. They may start out Democrat. But after working awhile or raising a family, they often become Republican. Not all of them. But a lot. The net number of people changing from Democrat to Republican far exceeds those changing from Republican to Democrat. If there are any. Other than for political reasons (in a desperate attempt to get reelected by switching parties). That's why the Democrats depend on the youth vote. Because the youth vote is an uninformed voted. They haven't been deprogrammed yet. They still toe the party line. Because they don't know any better. Yet.
As we work and live in the real world, though, away from the insulated life of home or the college campus, things change. We get older. And wiser. Less naive. Less idealistic. Less ignorant. That's why there is a net change from Democrat to Republican. We grow up. And start thinking for ourselves. And try as they might during our public school indoctrination, we stop being sheep. Eventually. We strop bleating their mantra. 'Big Government good. Private sector bad'. Why? Because we see that public school teachers and government workers live a lot better than we do. This privileged few, this ruling elite, continue to take from us and respond with condescending arrogance when we complain. Angry that we don't mind our place in the lower strata of society. Where we belong.
And they are nervous. They can only maintain their elite status as long as we pay for it. The more we learn, though, the less we are willing to support this aristocracy. And they know it. So they try to keep us dumbed down. For an educated constituency is the greatest threat to Big Government. And the public school system. This self-proclaimed aristocracy.
Tags: Anti-war, aristocracy, bankers, Big Business, Big Government, blue-collar, blue-collar neighborhood, burning books, child care, children, civilian dead, classroom, collateral damage, conservative, curriculum, death ray, democracy, Democrat, Democrat candidate, Democrats, dumbed down, Dust Bowl, educated constituency, education, educational system, election, elite, fat cats, FDR, fiscal policy, foreign policy, free speech, free world, Germany, grade school, Great Depression, greed, Hardy Boys, household costs, Italy, Joe Bonham, Johnny Got His Gun, liberty, lower strata of society, millage, minds of mush, monetary policy, New Deal, NPN transistor, nuclear weapons, parents, party line, pay and benefits, picket lines, picket signs, pinpoint accuracy, PNP transistor, politics, poor, presidential election, pretty girls, privileged few, profits, Progressive, property taxes, public school, public school system, public schools, Republicans, resistor color code, rich people, ruling elite, school, smart weapons, Soviet Union, strike, summer vacation, teacher's strike, teachers, teachers' unions, The Grapes of Wrath, touchy feely, two income family, unions, voting, War, warheads, weapon systems, weapons, working man, working mom, World War I, World War II, youth vote


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The United States is so wealthy that we award researchers millions of dollars per year to fund "important" studies that report nothing beyond common sense. Why does it take a research team of Ph.D.s to create statistical tables to report findings that everyone already knows? The market for research studies continues to grow, as everyone from politicians to new parents now relies on it to furnish credibility.
Among recently released studies is one containing the amazing finding that breathing clean air is better for one's health than breathing dirty air. As reported in the January issue of The New England Journal of Medicine, a research team from the Harvard School of Public Health and Brigham Young University examined pollution content in 51 U.S. cities during the 1980s and 1990s and found that people living in cities where air pollution had declined enjoy increased life expectancy concomitant with increases in air quality. Wow.
The authors of the study conclude: "A reduction in exposure to ambient fine-particulate air pollution contributed to significant and measurable improvements in life expectancy in the United States."
In case that did not change your world view, try this one: Did you know that high school dropouts are much more likely to succumb to cycles of dependence rather than independence and are, overall, less productive in a global economy? According to a "groundbreaking" study conducted by The Economics Center for Education & Research at the University of Cincinnati, at the request of the Ohio Alliance of Public Charter Schools (OAPCS), on average, each student failing to graduate from high school will end up costing Ohio taxpayers $3,909 per year from age 16 to 64, or about $191,500 over a lifetime. Based on this analysis, the cost to taxpayers of the 40,000 young people who drop out of school each year in Ohio is more than $156 million annually.
Dropouts are at higher risk for unemployment, underemployment, and criminal behavior resulting in expensive incarceration, according to the study. They pay less in state and local taxes and are much more dependent on public assistance such as welfare payments, housing subsidies, food stamps, unemployment benefits and Medicare and Medicaid – in addition to the immeasurable human misery that results from dropouts' inability to participate successfully in our economy.
Are you sitting down for this one? According to a new study, virginity pledges adolescents make are not lasting. Really? Virginity pledges alone do not decrease teenagers' sexual behavior, says a report in the January issue of Pediatrics.
Health researcher Janet Elise Rosenbaum of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that abstinence pledges were 10 percent less likely than non-pledgers to use a condom or any form of birth control. Using data from a 1996 National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, Rosenbaum compared the sexual behaviors of 289 teenagers who reported taking a verbal or written virginity pledge with 645 non-pledgers with similar religious or conservative views, according to K. Aleisha Fetters of Medill Reports. "Five years after their pledges, the two groups did not differ in rates of premarital sex, sexually transmitted infections, or oral or anal sex practices."
Rosenbaum also found that five years after taking their pledges, 82 percent of pledgers denied having taken them. Public pledges, in large groups, often function like New Year's resolutions. To make matters worse, teens who took a virginity pledge and did have sex were less likely to use condoms. The real question is why people believed that a teenager making a virginity pledge, outside of broader and deeper commitments to moral virtue, would persist in his or her resolution? A teenager?
In the end, many of these researchers are given university tenure and awards for telling us things that our parents taught us – for example, toxins are toxic, education is vital for making a contribution to society and supporting oneself and one's family, and sexuality divorced from a strong moral code restricting it to marriage is aimless and damaging.
In today's meritocracy, we have traded in time-tested guidance from our elders for costly university studies. Even opinion-heads like me have come to rely on these studies for public credibility. They permit me to say, essentially, "See, I told you so." As a result, we pay for insight that we could get for free from clergy, older family members, and other sources of wisdom. In the end, these studies demonstrate, as ancient wisdom has taught us, "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun."

subset: commoncrawl


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Neil Heinen's Column: The Greatest Hits
A reflection on musical favorites of the past year
By: Neil Heinen
I got a new guitar this year. I love guitars. I've had at least one close by for the last forty-five years, since I was sixteen. Recently I've even stopped bemoaning the fact I can't play as well as I'd like to. I get so much pleasure out of simply learning new things, discovering different ways of making music. It's deeply satisfying to just plug in and fiddle around in the basement. I'm constantly amazed when I am able to put on a new song I like and figure out how to play along.
That happed with one of my music discoveries of the year, a CD released four years ago by the great Stax Records session guitarist, and member of Booker T and the MG's Steve Cropper, and former Young Rascals frontman, Felix Cavaliere. Nudge It Up A Notch is a great soul/blues record and the second cut, "If It Wasn't For Loving You," is one of my favorites. Strumming along tickles me something fierce.
I tried to keep up with the new releases in 2012, but I didn't do as well as some years. I missed Leonard Cohen, The Shins, McCartney, The Cranberries, Jack White, The Beach Boys and The Hives, to name just a few. Sooner or later I'm going to get to Mumford and Sons. And I just haven't found time for the new Soundgarden record yet. Springsteen was Springsteen and Norah Jones was Norah Jones. I thought they were both okay. Garbage and Dylan were excellent. Alabama Shakes didn't have much staying power for me.
My favorite new albums by far were Dr. John's Locked Down (I'm a huge Dan Auerbach fan), Patti Smith's Banga and, no surprise to anyone who knows me, Neil Young's Psychedelic Pill, for which he reunites, again, his trusted band Crazy Horse.
Actually, somewhat to my surprise, the bulk of my music buying this year has been old blues. I picked up classic recordings, or greatest hits collections, of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Hubert Sumlin, Buddy Guy, James Cotton, Albert Collins and The Paul Butterfield Blues Band. I just had a craving for the real deal, and the more I listen the more I'm blown away by the thrilling creativity of these artists. I hear their influences in almost every song recorded since.
Which brings me to the biggest music discovery of the waning year, Ben Sidran's extraordinary bookThere Was a Fire: Jews, Music and the American Dream. It's not just one of the best books of the year, or top highlight of the year in music. It's one of the best books I've ever read. Period.
If this were just a book on the symbiotic relationship between the Jewish people and music, it would be interesting enough. Sidran gives both a comprehensive and personal history of that relationship and makes the irrefutable case for a simple proposition: No Jews, no music as we know it today.
His stories of Jewish musicians, music industry and entertainment industry business people, and leading Jewish intellectuals, whose writings and teachings were essentially music themselves, are exquisite.
His chapter on Bob Dylan is a revelation. His anecdotes—some wise, some moving, some hysterical—give depth and insight into musicians I've respected, admired and thrilled to for decades. Michael Bloomfield. Donald Fagen. I kept thinking, "This is why I love blues and soul and jazz and rock and roll music so much."
But the magic of the book, Sidran's genius, is the thread of humanity at its deepest and most aspirational that is woven throughout. It is what Sidran calls the commonality of all people. It is music in the truest Jewish definition as "the inner voice of our collective self." And it is about that all-important human requirement: memory.
If you love music, get the book. It makes me want to play the guitar.
Neil P. Heinen is editorial director of Madison Magazine.
Find more columns here.


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This hand over-dyed, 6-stranded Egyptian cotton fiber was Weeks Dye Works' initial product line. It was introduced into the cross-stitch and embroidery market in 1994, and remains our largest line with the most colors available. The colors are variegated enough to be noticeable, yet subtle enough to blend naturally.
Because it is pliable, this fiber is perfect for surface embroidery, cross-stitch and needlepoint on many different counts of fabric and canvas. It also works great for punch needle (1-, 3- and 6-strand) and stitching on wool applique and penny rugs. It gives a more nuanced appearance to the fine stitching on applique when compared to the heavier fibers, like pearl cotton.
Weeks Dye Works - 2221a Yukon Gold


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Steering locks or lock cylinders are inexpensive standard spare parts for your Vespa. No matter if you lost the key or the lock is rusty – our high quality cylinders are a decent replacement.
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General Dentist (63A)
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The cost of starting and maintaining a dental practice can be substantial. If you are a recent graduate with student loan obligations, this cost can be prohibitive. As a member of the U.S. Army Dental Corps, you can enter a stimulating existing practice with no start-up costs and begin treating patients without waiting to build a patient base.
Job Duties
- Examine, diagnose and treat diseases, injuries, and defects of teeth, jaws, oral cavity and supporting structures to ensure that each Soldier is in optimal oral health
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- Exercise command of medical units as provided by law and regulation
- Perform special staff functions in health support for commanders at all levels
- Conduct medical research on diseases of military importance, and conduct, supervise and participate in graduate medical education and training of other medical personnel needed to sustain a robust and readily available medical system
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- Between 21 and 42 years of age (may request waiver, Locate A Recruiter for more information)
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In the Army Dental Corps, the case diversity dentists experience in caring for our service men and women far exceeds the medical care environment of the private sector. As an Army Dental Corps officer, you'll have access to the most sophisticated technology, the opportunity to consult with experts in both the military and private sector, plus exceptional professional growth opportunities, and may pay for continuing education, clinical specialization and residencies.
Newly appointed Army Dental Corps officers who have not had postdoctoral residency training are designated General Dental officers. Upon completion of residency specialty training, the General Dental officer will acquire an advanced specialty designation.
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Army Dental Corps officers must be leaders skilled in tactics, techniques and procedures in order to understand and support the Soldier; possess strong Army values, leader attributes and skills; and fully understand the key leadership actions that must be taken to ensure success.
The Army Dental Corps offers a broad spectrum of opportunities. Every officer learns and trains to be a fully capable team member, gaining expertise and experience in diverse specialties and skills. Dentists gain this knowledge through continuing medical education and experience sustained by mentoring, additional institutional training, continuous self-development and progressive levels of assignments within their specialty.
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In addition to the many privileges that come with being an officer on the U.S. Army health care team, you'll be rewarded with:
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Army Dental Corps officers enter a ready-made practice without having to worry about insurance forms, malpractice insurance or the overhead of supporting an office and a staff. The U.S. Army also provides generous education loan-repayment programs, residency programs and continuing education opportunities to support your continued career growth and development.
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One of the many advantages of becoming a member of the U.S. Army Reserve health care team is that you'll be able to focus on patient care instead of dental school loans. By continuing to practice in your own community and serving when needed, you may qualify for HPLR to repay your medical school loans.
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As you advance through your career, you will be looking for experiences that blend teaching, research and clinical excellence to best prepare you for unique and challenging opportunities. Our dentists excel in clinical, research and executive administration arenas. Many have worked in more than one career track throughout their time in the U.S. Army and have held leadership positions ahead of their private sector counterparts. In fact, U.S. Army dentists are highly desired candidates for competitive private sector jobs upon leaving the Army.
PARTNERSHIP FOR YOUTH SUCCESS (PaYS) Program
Those interested in this job may be eligible for civilian employment, after the Army, by enrolling in the Army PaYS program. The PaYS program is a recruitment option that guarantees a job interview with military friendly employers that are looking for experienced and trained Veterans to join their organization. Find out more about the Army PaYS Program at http://www.armypays.com.
- Johns Hopkins
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The pace of US home sales slowed in May, in part because of a tight supply of homes on the market.
That news, delivered by the National Association of Realtors on Thursday, means that the housing market was not as robust during the important spring selling season as many forecasters had predicted.
Sales of previously owned homes fell by 1.5 percent compared with the prior month, the NAR reported. The dip in activity was concentrated in the Northeast and Western regions of the country. (Sales of newly built homes, delivered in a separate report each month from the US Census Bureau, are scheduled to be released Monday.)
"The slight pullback in monthly home sales is more likely due to supply constraints rather than softening demand," Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said in a statement released with the numbers Thursday. "The normal seasonal upturn in inventory did not occur this spring."
If the May numbers were a bit disappointing, the broader picture in housing is one of gradual improvement. The May sales pace came in at an annualized rate of roughly 4.6 million home sales per year. A year ago in May, the sales volume stood at 4.2 million. So despite its modest dip in May, sales activity has been rising when viewed in the longer term.
But the supply of homes on the market is tighter than expected: Some 3.1 million homes were on the market last May, versus 2.5 million now. Inventory shortages had been growing in some areas all year, Mr. Yun said.
Why the tight supply?
Here are three factors that may be important. First, about 1 out of 4 borrowers with mortgages have "negative equity," meaning the amount they'd get by selling their home wouldn't pay off their mortgage. That acts as a disincentive to sell.
Second, potential sellers may see "light in the tunnel," so to speak. If they think home prices have bottomed out and will be rising in their local market, they might delay listing their home for sale.
Third, the pace of distressed-property listings has been slow. Distressed homes (foreclosures and "short sales" in which lenders don't recover the full loan balance from sellers) accounted for 25 percent of May sales, the NAR reported. That's down from 28 percent in April and 31 percent a year ago.
One reason for fewer distressed sales may be a positive trend: Fewer borrowers are defaulting as the economy and home-price outlook improves. Another factor is that foreclosure activity slowed down during a period when lenders were working out a settlement with states over alleged flaws in documentation. That part of the equation may be poised to change.
In May, new foreclosure starts increased on a year-over-year basis for the first time since January 2010, the firm RealtyTrac reported last week.
Thursday's housing report showed a rise in median home-sale prices. But economists don't view the NAR data as the best gauge of home prices, because it's not really an apples-to-apples comparison from month to month. The price changes are often based on shifts in the types of homes that are selling, rather than on the prices of homes that are similar to one another.
In May, the mix of homes sold tilted more toward the high end of the market, pushing the median price up.
A recovery in the housing market is also burdened by challenges for prospective buyers, says Patrick Newport, an economist at IHS Global Insight in Lexington, Mass.
"The key obstacle to a strong recovery right now is tight credit," he said in a written analysis of the new housing data Thursday. "Our forecast is for existing home sales to climb by 9 percent this year to a still too-low 4.68 million units in 2012."
He predicted that, although the housing market has been on the mend, "the path to recovery will be a slow and bumpy one."


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Commercial coffee machines are often used by cafés, restaurants, and hotels that hire skilled baristas, but if you're hiring for a business that doesn't have barista-trained staff, or you want a coffee machine to use in the office, an automatic coffee machine is your best choice. A bean-to-cup coffee machine takes care of all the steps along the way.
If you're considering investing in a coffee machine for your business, it's essential to know what your choices are. There are four basic types of coffee machines used by the commercial market.
These machines are best left to the skilled baristas. They are seldom used these days, and when they are, it's by somebody who knows what they are doing with coffee. Manual machines take some real knowledge and skill to use since the barista needs to use a lever to ensure that the correct pressure is maintained, ensure that the correct amount of coffee is used for the drink being made, and to ensure that the water is at the correct temperature. If you try to use one of these without the right training, your coffee is likely going to taste disgusting. However, if you want a far superior coffee compared to anything else, it's worth learning.
These are often used in high-end restaurants, cafés, and hotels because they speed up the process thanks to automatically controlled pressure. However, the water flow and other operations, such as the weighing and packing of coffee, are still controlled by the barista. They require skill and training to be used properly and like manual coffee machines, provide coffee worth savouring when used right.
Automatic machines are the most commonly used for commercial purposes.
They operate in a similar way to semi-automatic coffee machines, however, there's the addition of buttons that control the water flow. The barista will still need to make sure that the coffee is correctly ground and packed before making the cup, but most other factors are taken care of by the machine.
They still require some barista training to use correctly, but leave the barista with one less thing to worry about, which makes them an ideal choice for busy cafés, restaurants, and bars, since baristas are able to better focus on the flow of customers.
These are the next generation of coffee machines and they do pretty much everything except for washing the cups afterward.
Bean-to-cup machines can be operated by literally anybody and do everything automatically with the use of buttons. They are the ideal choice for an establishment with no trained baristas, or for use in the office if you want to have barista-standard coffee without all the messing around.
Most bean-to-cup coffee machines take care of the entire coffee-making process, from grinding the beans to texturing and frothing milk, behind their plastic, metal and chrome exterior.
All you need to do is push a button and out comes a cappuccino, latte, or whatever kind of coffee you like.
And, today's bean-to-cup machines are far superior to what they were in the past; as demand has risen for them, some of the better brands and models are producing higher-quality coffee than ever before. If you like Starbucks, you should know that their baristas use bean-to-cup coffee machines – and you can even get the same coffee beans that they use to make in the office without having to take that trip out in the morning once you arrive at work.
Bean-to-cup machines these days are particularly good at texturing milk, so they are an especially good choice for companies that sell a lot of milky drinks like cappuccinos, flat whites, and lattes. All of them are easily able to texture any kind of milk from skimmed milk to almond or soya milk; but bear in mind that in general, full-fat milk is the best kind to texture, and that's using any kind of machine. But if you're vegan, avoid dairy, or prefer drinking your coffee with lower-fat milk, bean-to-cup coffee machines are your best bet.
If you are operating a business that hires baristas, you might want to skip the bean-to-cup machine and go for something that takes a little more skill to use; after all, you don't want to put their training to waste by giving them buttons to press on a machine that does it all for them.
The same goes for if you're running a high-end food establishment and want to make sure that the coffee you're providing to your patrons is only the best.
The types of coffee machines that you'll choose will depend on the skill of your baristas – or the type of money you're willing to pay a barista to operate them. Generally speaking, you're going to pay higher wages for somebody who's highly skilled in using a completely manual coffee machine as these people tend to be coffee connoisseurs and can be fairly hard to come by.
A semi-automatic or automatic machine is your best choice if you're looking for an espresso machine to be used by a barista. They require some skill to use and provide great coffee, but won't slow the service down in your establishment since baristas can focus on getting great coffee out quickly rather than messing around with water pressure or flow.
If you want to provide coffee to a business or office with a lot of people, then you're going to need to choose one that's up to the amount of work it's going to be put through every day. Large, bean-to-cup coffee machines are going to be your best option here – unless your staff also happen to be barista-trained.
A bean-to-cup machine can handle pretty much every type of coffee that anybody would want to drink; not to mention the different types of milk that they can easily texture. When you're catering to a large number of people, keeping everyone happy is paramount, and these machines are the best for that.
If you're looking to buy a coffee machine for a smaller office, you have several options available. Again, bean-to-cup espresso machines tend to be the best option, since they require no training, are easy to use without getting accidentally broken, and are easy to fix on your own if anything goes wrong. Plus, you don't have to waste any time teaching your staff how to use the machine; they're fairly self-explanatory.
On the other hand, if you're a bunch of coffee buffs, you might want to invest in an automatic coffee machine for the office. This will require some time to train staff on how to use it correctly, but if you invest in a really good one, you'll probably get a higher quality of the drink.
For restaurants, cafés, bars, and hotels, the type of coffee machine that you invest in will depend on the staff that you can afford to hire to operate it. Smaller restaurants might find that a semi-automatic machine is the best option as they can afford to spend time training staff on how to use it, and prefer to provide a slower yet more personal and higher-quality experience to their patrons.
On the other hand, if you run a small yet very busy establishment, you won't want to waste time making sure that the water pressure is bang on; you want to get drinks out to customers with no time wasted. If this is the case, go with the trusty bean-to-cup model.
Similarly, if you run a pub or bar where your employees are trained for making alcoholic beverages and you don't tend to sell coffee a whole lot, investing in a high-end manual coffee machine probably isn't the best idea. A bean-to-cup device should be more than suitable for your needs. And the good news is that these days, bean-to-cup coffee machines are providing better quality coffee than ever before.
Once you have chosen the best type of coffee machine to suit your business and checked out the different suppliers, the last question to answer is how you're going to finance it. You have three options: Buy, rent, or lease.
When you lease a coffee machine, you do so for a finite period of time. With this agreement, you're able to use the device as if you owned it, but it still belongs to the leasing company. You will pay in monthly instalments and at the end of the lease, there's the option to purchase the machine outright for a small fee or upgrade it. It's an ideal option for businesses who want to invest in a good machine but are on the fence about buying it outright or don't have the funds to purchase it in one go.
On the other hand, renting a coffee machine differs slightly. You contract directly with the supplier, renting the machine for a fixed term that can often be renewed. But unlike leasing, there is no option to purchase your coffee machine at the end of the term. Renting a coffee machine tends to be more flexible – as you can decide at the end of the term whether the particular machine you've chosen is the best option for you, or rent for a short term to determine whether it's the right move for your business. However, it's more expensive in the long-term, so probably not the best option for businesses who are certain that a commercial coffee machine is the right option for them.
Any good coffee machine supplier will offer a flexible range of renting or leasing contracts. These range from hire-only, to fully-managed services including repairs, which can often work out to be the best effective option.
Renting or leasing coffee machines offers several advantages, including:
One the other hand, it might make sense to purchase your new coffee machine outright. This is especially true if you only need a small, inexpensive machine and don't want to be tied into a contract. A benefit of purchasing outright is that your coffee machine becomes an asset. However, you'll need to cover all the maintenance, servicing and stocking costs.
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JOB TITLE:Clinic Supervisor
LOCATION: Geisinger Medical Center Hospital
DEPARTMENT:Oral Surgery
WORK SCHEDULE: Days
WORK TYPE: Full time
Supervises and participates in the day-to-day activities of clinic. Monitors, evaluates, and coaches support staff's daily performance and productivity. Monitors quality, responsiveness, and customer satisfaction. Ensures system and regulatory compliance by the team. Adjusts staffing levels according to pre-established productivity guidelines.
Acts Decisively, Customer Service Skills, Leads Others, Supervisory Customer Service
Associate's Degree -Preferred
High School Diploma or Equivalent in -Required
Minimum of 3 years Related work experience -Required
Minimum of 1 year Managerial/Supervisory -Preferred
Work is typically performed in a clinical and office environment. Travel may be required. Accountable for satisfying all job specific obligations and complying with all organization policies and procedures. The specific statements in this profile are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements considered necessary to successfully perform the job.
OUR PURPOSE & VALUES: Everything we do is about caring for our patients, our members, our students, our Geisinger family and our communities. KINDNESS: We strive to treat everyone as we would hope to be treated ourselves. EXCELLENCE: We treasure colleagues who humbly strive for excellence. LEARNING: We share our knowledge with the best and brightest to better prepare the caregivers for tomorrow. INNOVATION: We constantly seek new and better ways to care for our patients, our members, our community, and the nation.
GEISINGER MEDICAL CENTER: (GMC), located Danville, Pa., the largest tertiary/quaternary care teaching hospital in the region, is licensed for 475 beds, including 89 pediatric beds in the Janet Weis Children's Hospital. GMC, a Magnet Hospital, maintains the region's only Level 1 Regional Resource Trauma Center with additional qualifications in pediatrics. GMC offers an array of highly specialized medical and surgical services, including neurosciences, cardiovascular services, transplantation, women's health (in the Women's Pavilion), oncology and orthopaedics. The Hospital for Advanced Medicine serves as an integrated center for the most critical patients. Outpatient services are available on and off campus.
About Geisinger
One of the nation's most innovative health services organizations, Geisinger serves more than 1.5 million patients in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The system includes 13 hospital campuses, a nearly 600,000-member health plan, two research centers and the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. A physician-led organization, with approximately 32,000 employees and more than 1,800 employed physicians, Geisinger leverages an estimated $12.7 billion positive annual impact on the Pennsylvania and New Jersey economies. Repeatedly recognized nationally for integration, quality and service, Geisinger has a long-standing commitment to patient care, medical education, research and community service. For more information, visit geisinger.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
** Does not qualify for J-1 waiver. We are an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer Women and Minorities are Encouraged to Apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability or their protected veteran status.
*Domestic partner benefits not applicable at Geisinger Holy Spirit.


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Clear questions and runnable code
get the best and fastest answer
(OT troll) New Section: PHPby Anonymous Monk
|on Mar 03, 2006 at 09:37 UTC ( #534177=monkdiscuss: print w/replies, xml )
|Need Help??
In an answer to my last meditation, an O'Reilly employee admitted that O'Reilly is trying to control perl by using the viral GPL. Also, when I critizised the development of perl6, leading members of the perl community admitted that there was no finished spec and that they were still designing it after 8 years of development. There has been no progress and all that is happening is one useless feature after the other is being added. How can you realistically expect perl6 to succeed without planning it out beforehand? You cannot just start and hope that you figure it out along the way, that has never worked for a serious project.
What does all this mean? It is clear that something is wrong and I think O'Reilly is trying to steer perl to make more money for themselves. They don't want you to program effectively, instead they want to create a new version that is so complicated even the designers don't understand it, so they can keep selling more books to everybody caught in their mouse-trap.
I have been a member of perlmonks.com for many years (I am logging in anonymously now because I know some of you are O'Reilly employees or friends of them and may react negitively), so this makes me very sad, but I think we should all move away from this language which is falling under corporate control. Instead, PHP has been gaining ground steadily and is already a better language, and it is real Open Source. So we should help people move to writing PHP instead. For this I propose we add a new section, entitled "PHP", where we can ask the questions on how to change a piece of perl into PHP and talk about building the future this way. Maybe this can be the start of a phpmonks community?
2006-03-03 Retitled by jeffa, as per Monastery guidelines
Back to Perl Monks Discussion


text:
Legend of Jiang Wei is a mod of Legend of Cao Cao, starring Jiang Wei as the hero and focusing on the later period of RTK, when the actual Three Kingdoms came into being. While most people tend to skim over this period because all of the old heroes from the beginning of the novel have died off by then, there are still lots of interesting characters to be found here as well.
I'll let Guntank explain the mod itself since I can't really improve on his words:
This actually seems to be a relatively recent mod, with the fully finished version released in April of this year, but I believe an early version was released two years ago and worked on ever since. Everything seems top-notch; The gameplay, levels, dialogue, characterization, depths of the story scenes, the music borrowed/used, and even the liberties taken in the story and the modern culture references for that extra bit of humor, such as Sun Hao's Gihren Zabi-style speeches or Guanqiu Jian channeling Aguille Delaz from Gundam 0083 (sadly, it's in Cantonese so most NA fans probably won't get a lot of those, and seems to have a problem in Windows 7 where it'll occasionally crash every so often, but works fine again after reopening the game).
Also, the LoCC 'Factual/Fantasy' Bar has been turned mostly into a Relationship Meter in this mod --- Jiang Wei has three possible 'heroines' he can choose to 'hook up' with throughout the story, and I use the quotes because the 'romances' are a bit blah...I'd say it's really the only (although not too much) disappointing aspect in the game story, in fact.
To add to that, the story is very impressive compared to most mods, and the production values are top-notch. The graphics reworking is especially impressive: every single named character has their own unique sprite.
Unfortunately, like every LoCC mod, this one is also only available in Chinese. So I'm trying to change that by translating the script, and then finding out a good way to patch the files to replace all the existing text with English. For now, all my translation work is going to be in a companion text file that you can consult while playing the game.
Please be aware that my Chinese literacy is still very limited, and this is my first translation project. In many places, I have guessed at the meaning or added and subtracted as I thought necessary to make meanings clear. If anyone wants to give me some criticism on how I'm doing, please feel free to post in response and let me know what I can do differently.
This is the download for the Chinese 1.1 version, in Traditional Chinese. The Soundtrack is included in this download.
This is the patched version of the game, without the soundtrack files.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/rgw2lhn4h49x6 ... nglish.rar
Download these if you are newly downloading the mod and don't have prior save files from before.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ifx330j7fl82n ... 0Saves.rar
Here is the soundtrack as a seperate download. You only need to download this once, even if the above download link changes; the translation won't impact these files.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/aomp2e5zf9hk3 ... undTrk.rar
How to make the files work
Please make sure that you have gone into Control Panel, under Language Settings, and changed your non-Unicode settings to Chinese (Traditional, Taiwan) for this to work properly.
Below are some screenshots from the game to entice some of you to give it a try.
The title screen.
Jiang Wei and Yin Shang have no idea what they're getting into.
One of the art stills from the opening.
Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi hear about someone trying to raid their camp.
Jiang Wei prepares to duel Zhao Yun.
Looks like Jiang Wei's gotten the upper hand.
An event from later in the game.
On a technical note, I am able to translate the intermission cutscenes, as shown below. But I am still trying to find a way to translate the battle scenes. The Van scenario editor doesn't want to read those files (the S files) so I'll need to find something else.
Enjoy the game, and keep checking back for updates! And feel free to ask any gameplay questions you may have.


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text:
Author: Brad Beer
CLinch is a simple, yet powerful 3d graphics engine/graphics library in OpenGL for Lisp. In true Lisp fashion, it is more a build-your-own-engine hobby kit rather than striving to be a full graphics panacea. Much of the design is based on Horde3D. Although Horde3D is a very good design, it has limitations which it attempts to solve by adding domain specific languages. Items such as shaders, entities and, most importantly, the pipeline are specified using an XML language. Lisp, by being self-compiling seems like a better fit than requiring (yet) another language.


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LL Cool J Performing At The 2008 Video Game Awards! (Also Rocks Out To Mama Said Knock You Out)
LL Cool J's performance at the 2008 VGA
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New 2019 Toyota Sienna LE Mobility 7-Passenger near Bothell, WA
Vehicle Pricing
Vehicle Details
|LE Mobility 7-Passenger
|Stock #
|Exterior Color
|Alumina Jade Metallic
|Interior Color
|Gas Mileage
|City:19 Hwy:27
|3.5L V6 296hp 263ft. lbs.
|8-Speed Shiftable Automatic
New 2019 Toyota Sienna LE Mobility 7-Passenger
This van features a BraunAbility In-Floor Ramp Conversion and is located in our Tacoma showroom.
Installed Options
Additional Vehicle Information
Crash-Test Ratings
Green Score
EPA Green Score
( California LEV-III ULEV70
EPA and California-required standards. The names refer to tables of numerical limits for the various air pollutants allowed by the standards.
|Fuel Type
Air Pollution Score ?
The Air Pollution Score is based on the government emission standards for which the vehicle was certified to comply with and reflects vehicle tailpipe emissions that contribute to local and regional air pollution, creating problems such as haze, and health issues.
Greenhouse Gas Score ?
This score reflects fuel emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases.
Smartway ?
SmartWay is a designation earned by those vehicles that have combined Air Pollution and Greenhouse Gas Scores that place them in the top tier (approximately the top 20%) of environmental performers. SmartWay Elite is reserved for the best of the best.
EPA Green Score
( Federal Tier 3 Bin 70
EPA and California-required standards. The names refer to tables of numerical limits for the various air pollutants allowed by the standards.
|Fuel Type
Air Pollution Score ?
The Air Pollution Score is based on the government emission standards for which the vehicle was certified to comply with and reflects vehicle tailpipe emissions that contribute to local and regional air pollution, creating problems such as haze, and health issues.
Greenhouse Gas Score ?
This score reflects fuel emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases.
Smartway ?
SmartWay is a designation earned by those vehicles that have combined Air Pollution and Greenhouse Gas Scores that place them in the top tier (approximately the top 20%) of environmental performers. SmartWay Elite is reserved for the best of the best.
Other Vehicles Customers Viewed
From: The Department of Human Services Vocational Rehabilitation and services for the Blind State of Hawaii
" Dear Eddy and Amanda Riveira: Thank you so much for your services, advocacy and follow up with Zachariah Platt in the vehicle modification, training and getting his vehicle to Maui. We met with Zachariah who showed us his new car, the equipment, how the devices worked and its adaptability. The installation and configuration of the devices and equipment appear well placed, of superior quality and performance of above satisfactory expectation. He also showed us his newly issued driver's permit. He was excited about sharing his experiences, expertise and the freedom of having mobility. Your service was timely, professional, superior and greatly appreciated by the Division. We want to express our gratitude for helping our client reach an important goal in his vocational plan. Sincerely, Lydia Sheets, M.Ed., CRC Rehabilitation Counselor "
March 2013
" My wife and I needed to update our very old handicap van. We had purchased two handicap vans from Eddie at Absolute Mobility and so we went back for one that we could use with a power wheel chair. My wife and I were finally able to get her a power wheelchair and we needed a newer van for it. We still had to go used as the new vans were out of our price range. Eddie showed us two vans in our price range that he had just reduced the price by $3000.00. We picked one that looked brand new but was 12 years old and was way out of any warranty. We even signed papers stating we recognized that there was no warranty left on the van. We wrote him a check for the total amount and headed home some 150 miles away over a range of mountains. To make a long story short, the van failed us and we had to be trailered home with the help of our AAA membership. We made Absolute Mobility aware of our difficulty. We then took the van to two local garages hoping to find the problem. Neither shop could recreate the problem even though one of the shops was the dealers' shop. We again contacted Absolute Mobility with the thought of returning our van and swapping it for another van as we had seen that in the week that had passed our check had not been cashed. Eddie said that he would gladly do what we wanted. He then asked us what had happened. When we explained exactly what had happened he said it was the fuel pump. He said he was very familiar with his vans and how they perform and that if we wanted and could do so, bring it back and he would replace the fuel pump at their expense. We were able to do that and they even fixed another small problem at no expense to us. This was not our first experience with this company. We purchased our first van from Absolute Mobility from Eddie back in 2000. He seemed to always have what we needed. Eddie has created a loyal customer in us. Don & Karen Webb "
September 2012
" Dear Absolute Mobility Center, Hello to you all today! We'd like to say your place is so great! All your special vans are so nice for all the very gifted disabled people who can get around in style - Only at Absolute Mobility Centers in Tacoma, WA. Oh Lance you are so good to help us with all the questions we have always! Read the rest of the note here. Bless You All Forever, Selby Family "
September 2012
" Dear Amanda, Thank you so very much, very much for volunteering at the 2012 Seattle Walk to Defeat ALS on Saturday, September 22nd! We could NOT have done it without you. By our most recent count out total raised is over $200,000!!! And we anticipate that this total will go up as late donations and matching gifts come in. What a really special day it was so happy to see families and friends joining together with the same goal-defeating ALS! The rain stopped, the crowd was enthusiastic and I hope you had a great time! We are grateful for your involvement in the Walk. Read the rest of the letter here. Warmest Regards, ALS Evergreen Chapter "
May 07, 2012
" Dear Eddie and Amanda, I want to thank you for your thoughtfulness all these years in helping me overcome my disabilities. I am so in love with my new van. It has every convenience that I could ever dream of having. Plus you made sure that I received help learning about all my options. The walker you gave me has been a Godsend. I feel very blessed and I really do think of you as family. I will be returning for additional training on my van features. Warmest Regards, S. Nielsen "
April 19, 2012
" Sometimes good customer service can make the difference between a problem being solved or becoming an even bigger problem. There is no wheelchair van repair facility in my hometown, but Absolute Mobility is located about 30 miles away. A quick phone call to owners Eddie and Amanda Riveira as they were closing for the day resulted in a promise to help me out; they brought a rear-entry van out of their showroom and braved the rush-hour traffic to see how they could assist. It is important to note that I did not purchase this van or the wheelchair lift from Absolute Mobility, but they were willing to go out of their way to help in any way possible. It took about an hour of effort on the part of Eddie Riveira and four volunteers, but they were able to back the rear-entry van up to my open van doors so I could roll down their ramp into their van. Using straps, cables, ingenuity, pulleys, cunning, ropes and brute strength, Eddie and the volunteers were finally able to get the lift folded into the van and the doors closed most of the way so that a flatbed tow truck could haul it to their shop for repairs. As I sit here, in the warmth and safety of my home, I am sure of two things. The first is the knowledge that good customer service is an important ingredient to have when things go wrong. The second thing is the fact that my fears are actually based on reality, because things do go wrong. Read the entire article here. Michael Collins on Christopher and Dana Reeves Foundation Blog "
April 16, 2012
" Dear Absolute, I love the van,still trying to get used to it. I scheduled an appt with auto place to check the navigation and iphone on thursday. I did have difficulty putting the passenger chair back in place (I almost called u) but my brother in law read the manual and figured it out for me. He then taught me again and I think I know how now. My special friends at absolute mobility will always be greatful and could have not done this process without u guys. I send hugs to all of you from mike and myself. Cesca and Mike "
March 3, 2012
" Absolute Mobility family, Thank you all so much for everything you do. Since 1990 you've provided 2 vans for us and serviced 3. You have made my life easier by making it accessable to work, vacation, kids events and more. The sun certainly shined on us when we met you at "Rich's"! Thank you again, Mark, Lisa & Family "
September 26, 2011
" Dear Sir We are writing this letter in that we may commend your company for the excellent service we've received from your vendor; "ABSOLUTE MOBILITY". We recently made our second purchase from Absolute Mobility in April of this year and have received the most excellent care and service from them. Being a disabled veteran can be quite a stressful lifestyle and for me being a full-time caregiverfor my husband often takes quite a toll on our lives. One of the many important factors in caring for him is my ability to transport him whenever necessary for medical as well as other appointments. Absolute Mobility has truly been a life send in making sure we have our service needs met 7 days a week 24 hours a day! I don'(know any other company or dealership that will go to that extent in making sure customer satisfaction is met! They truly show care and compassion with their clients and we have experienced this first hand. It has been our goal to let the Veterans Administration know the level of service any veteran will experience when purchasing a vehicle with Absolute. We are also very pleased to know that because it is a family run business, that there will be an on going level of professional care for generations to come. Please acknowledge "ABSOL UTE MOBILITY"for their dedication and excellent professional service! Truly Yours, Mose Wilson Jr Retired USMC & Barbara Wilson "
April 20, 2011
" Thank you, I am in love with our new Chrysler! The convenience of being able to take Jon anywhere so easily has been one of the best things to happen for us. Jon and I have gone to the movies, shopping, drop off and pick up our dog from daycamp, barber shop, VA appointments, etc. We are planning on going to the art museum, the drive-inn and to the Puyallup Fair. I had not intended on getting rid of my old car. I thought the Chrysler would be too big to drive when I was alone in the car and besides, I would be going on vacation soon and did not want to be out alone in the van. But from the moment I took possession of the van, I've been on love so much so that I did not want to return to Absolute to pick up my old car. The day I returned to pick up my car, I sold it to the man who gave me a ride to Absolute! Thank you Absolute Mobility for all assistance in making Jon and my dream of hitting the road with ease a reality! Jonathan Whitlow & Valencia Whitlow "
August 3, 2010
" Dear Eddie, Thank you, thank you! Every time I reach for the Braun lift wand to transport my husband I say a special prayer for you and Tim. Even though I purchased the equipment elsewhere you were compassionate and caring, you listened, assessed the situation at hand, and saw my desperation and immediate need. I'm so very grateful that you are such a kind individual: grateful to encounter such a special person in a specialized business that is so greatly needed --- and the knowledge that you truly care for those who face special challenges. You took the necessary actions to ensure that the lift was operating and reliable to ensure a stress-free transport for both me and my husband. There was no personal gain here, just the desire to help another in need!!!! My husband has advanced dementia, is non-verbal, wheelchair bound and unable to assist in his transfers and 100% dependent for his daily hygiene and feeding needs. I am doing my best to keep him at home and out of the nursing home environment. Without this van and functioning and reliable equipment I don't know where we would be! Thank you for your understanding and awareness to the tremendous challenges that I, as well as other individuals with special needs,face just in order to function and meet our basic daily living requirements. Because of your kindness and actions my husband and I did not have to face the challenges of being away from home for such a long period of time, as we are now unable to be away from home for more than a couple of hours at any one time, or the necessity of long travel for the lift repair, sitting in traffic, sitting in waiting rooms, locating family restrooms, changing and feeding, etc. The thought and stress would have been too overwhelming for both of us. In addition, your generosity regarding the part and replacement went beyond anything I have ever personally experienced. You are the indeed a very special person and the very BEST!!!!! Bless you and thank you again. Remember, there is a special prayer said for you every time I reach for that wand. Forever grateful, Sandra Grafe "
June 5, 2009
" Hi Shay, Just a note to tell you about my experince with Absolute Mobility. I first came to your firm in 2005 just to see what was available with no intention of buying anything. You were the first one I met and before I left I had decided to purchase a Van. I had dealings with Eddy, Amanda,Tim, Angie, Lance and you over the years and I find this interesting. All of the information I have received has been truthful and has been backed up by action. In this day and age that is refreshing to get this type of service. Please share this with your teammates. My new chair is working fine. I would recommend the Firm to anyone. Sincerely, Bob Radnich "
May 2, 2009
" Dear Lance, Nancy and I want you to know what a pleasure it was working with you in the purchase of our van. You demonstrate a wonderful combination of helpfulness, friendliness and professionalistm. Yesterday, I gave you Howard Schultz's philosophy for Starbucks - "We are not in the coffee business serving people but rather in the people business service coffee." That's the way we feel about you and everyone else we met at Absolute. You are not in the handicap equipment business but rather in the people business solving highly diverse handicap needs in a very personal way. Thanks again. Have a wonderful trip to Hawaii. Sincerely, Rod Rightmire, Gig Harbor, WA "
January 28th, 2008
" Dear Eddie & Amanda, Thank you so much for the best buying experience of a wheelchair van I've ever had. Your hearts are truly in the right spot. I knew this was the best place to go after my other experiences; your staff is warm, friendly and knowledgeable. Any customer who comes here gets a warm fuzzy feeling. Thank you, Thank you, and Thank you. Your generosity and beauty of spirit are a blessing. Nicole Cady and Kevin Bachmeier "
October 15, 2007
" Dear Eddie, Amanda & all, Thank you so much for making our life easier with our new Buick van. It runs like a charm (and the girls love the "movies") From our initial contact with Shay to our driving off in our new van, you all went out of your way to assist us, answer questions and make us feel like "family". We especially appreciate your being available to us in the time frame we had. Sorry to interrupt your personal time. I hope your lasagna turned out well. We enjoyed the Maltby café. Sincerely, Dick and Mary Neuder, Sandpoint Idaho "
October 3, 2007
" Hey! I just wanted to let all of you know that you people at Absolute Mobility Center are a wonderful group of real people... As I entered your huge well structured front doors I felt welcome and was greeted with a sense of compassion and love, and as I entered the indoor show room I was able to get in and out of all the Vans with lifts and was aloud to access all vans with the hands on approach, at the same time I wasn't pressured, and was shown each Van of interest to me with a graceful introduction and tour.. After the grand tour I was invited to the office of Shay and found myself comfortable and welcome, as I was asking questions I hear in the back ground a man singing out loud and I smiled, then Shay said that's the owner, Eddie He's the best boss he's ever had, then I realized the people who work here are like family, they care for each other and also for me.. And they show it not just say it... So I just wanted all you to know that each and every one of you makes Absolute Mobility Center a wonderful experience, and has a family like compassion feeling. So thanx again and you are the realist bunch of people I've seen in a long time... So keep it real and I love you guys... Lucinda Irish "
June 6, 2007
" Dear Eddie, Amanda, and Shay, Just wanted to thank you for all your wonderful service and assistance in making our purchase of a new van for our patients a reality. We appreciate all of your education to the "latest" in access vans. Shay, you were a pleasure to work with, and Eddie, I just want to tell you…the storage box and new steps are fabulous! It has been such a joy using the van and the patients have had equally "positive" comments. Thanks so much, Mary Ann & Nola, Providence Everett Medical Center "
April 2, 2007
" In appreciation, Eddie & Amanda: This extra-special Thank-you note Sent to you today Holds more appreciation Than any words can say… For you're among the nicest Of any people I have known, And you'll never be forgotten For the thoughtfulness You've shown. Thanks for everything. Karl & Joyce Brock "
April 1, 2007
" Eddie & Amanda, This is a long overdue "thank you" to you and the crew at Absolute Mobility Center. The Buick van that we purchased last summer has been a life saver. We made the decision just in the nick of time as Neil took a turn for the worse at Christmas time. Eddie, I called on Saturday and asked for your advice—the van had died. You suggested a "trickle charger." It did the trick! Brilliant! You helped when Buick Roadside Assistance and our local Buick dealer had no clue. You're AWESOME! Thanks for everything! Candy & Neil Holt "
March 28, 2007
" Recently, my husband and I purchased a new Toyota wheelchair van from Absolute Mobility Center near Woodinville, Washington. We were so pleased to receive such excellent service from Shay, Amanda & Eddie. They went out of their way to help us understand and operate the numerous controls on the van. Each of them spent a lot of time explaining, in detail, how everything worked. And all this wonderful help after we'd changed our minds once about buying a used van that they'd already converted for us! These three folks really care about their customers and they worked hard to give us the best deal possible. We give them the highest rating for, as their business card states, "serving the needs of the physically challenged." Marilyn & Charles McCarrell "
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Rum and Rye: Returning to Roots, Stepping Into the Future
New brands and bottles you should know.
Something old, something new... it's not just a tradition for young brides to call down good luck for their marriage, it's also a recipe for success in booze-making. Today we'll explore two new spirits that look back towards inherited traditions and also push forward into new territory. Rum is particularly fitting for this Janus-faced endeavor on American shores, as it's one of the new world spirits with a unique place in colonial history (see our Guide to Rum for a refresher course in all things rum), while rye is making a strong run to reclaim its pride of place as a premier American drink.
Bully Boy Distillers Boston Rum
Boston's Bully Boy Distillers come from an almost-forgotten tradition of booze makers. During Prohibition, their family farm was a vault for illegal produced local spirits such as "Medford Rum," and "Cow Whiskey." The rediscovery of this stockpile some 70 years later inspired brothers Will and Dave Willis to make their own contribution to the Boston area craft distilling legacy.
The most exciting product of their lineup is the recently released Boston Rum. While many rums are distilled from low grade industrial molasses, the Boston Rum comes from blackstrap molasses, sourced from a sugar refinery in New Orleans. Darker and more robust than normal molasses, this heavy, nutrient-rich syrup is what remains after the final extraction of sugar from raw sugar cane. Using blackstrap as the base lends an extra degree of funkiness and character to the rum, though the spirit is tamed through aging in mostly used bourbon barrels. But a small percentage of rum is aged in red wine barrel and incorporated into the final blend, providing a bit of color and fruity flavor.
Bottled at 80 proof, it's a happy compromise between sweeter, lighter styles of rum and the aggressive bite of a rhum agricole. The vanilla-laced sent carries a hit of grassy funkiness (think lawn trimmings after they've sat out in the rain and sun for a few days). The flavor starts classic and sweet but has a unique twist of stone fruit and dark berries from the wine barrel finish.
It's tasty to sip and a pretty versatile mixer, adding just the right amount of panache to a Dark and Stormy, or throwing down in a rum Old Fashioned (just rum, a few dashes of Angostura bitters, a drop of simple syrup and a splash of water, shaken on the rocks). At $31, a bottle it's a bargain for a piece of New England history and a distinctive take on the spirit.
Angel's Envy Rye
Angel's Envy first made a splash with their port-finished bourbon, so it should be no surprise that they're poised to repeat a similar formula for success with their new entry into the world of rye. Its 95% rye mashbill means the juice is most likely sourced from MGP (formerly known as LDI), the massive clearing house for many ryes currently on the market. Aged for six years in new charred American oak barrels, the rye then gets finished in specially selected Caribbean rum barrels (which were themselves formerly cognac barrels). It's the first rye that's been given the rum treatment, and as a result it's a beast entirely unlike anything out there.
As a rye, you might find this stuff a little confusing at first glance. The scent is all spice, but not grassy, biting rye spices. Instead, it offers sweet baking spices—cloves, cinnamon, molasses—and maple syrup above all. If maple syrup rye sounds good to you, seek out this bottle. If you're skeptical of that concept, then move along. I'm a lover of both rye and maple syrup (I confess, sometimes sampled straight from the bottle), and this tastes like home to me. The body is nicely chewy, and the dessert-rye hybrid keeps coming round again with gingerbread, molasses, maple, and only a hint of hot whiskey at the end.
Granted, it's not the most balanced whiskey experience of all time (or of the past few weeks), but there's nothing else that tastes remotely like this rye. It's clearly meant for sipping straight, but also uniquely suited for an amazing dessert-like twist on the Sazerac. Unfortunately, the price tag (around $70) and the rarity of this release are two major strikes, but if you are looking for a complete reinterpretation of this classic American spirit, you could do a lot worse than the Angel's Envy Rye.
Samples provided for review consideration.
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For 9th consecutive year
Gartner positions SAS as a Leader in the 2019 Magic Quadrant for Data Integration Tools
SAS® Data Integration recognized for completeness of vision and ability to execute.
Artificial intelligence (AI) holds much promise for its ability to autonomously analyze vast data volumes and uncover insights. The promise of AI can only become reality however if the data that feeds it is curated by a well-governed, comprehensive platform such as SAS® Data Management.
SAS believes its market advantage is confirmed by Gartner's evaluation of SAS Data Management, a comprehensive solution that transforms, integrates, governs and secures data, while improving its overall quality and reliability. For the ninth consecutive year, SAS has been named a Leader in Gartner's 2019 Magic Quadrant for Data Integration Tools.*
"The increasing emergence of AI and ML will drastically improve the integration of data across the data landscape," says Kim Kaluba, Sr. Product Marketing Manager for SAS. "To get a full return on investment with AI, organizations need to start by putting a strong data management program in place to support it."
"As organizations continue to leverage big data and data grows in complexity, the ability to orchestrate data becomes even more daunting. Data no longer resides inside of an organization - it is living in the cloud and across cloud platforms," continues Kaluba. "The right data integration solution helps to break down data silos and address data problems while providing a vision for the future."
SAS Data Integration products include SAS Data Management, SAS Data Integration Studio, SAS Federation Server, SAS/ACCESS, SAS Data Loader for Hadoop, SAS Data Preparation and SAS Event Stream Processing.
Leaders in the data integration tool market are front-runners in their capability to not only support a full range of data delivery styles but also allow for the combination of these different data delivery styles (e.g., data virtualization and ETL). In 2019, they have been advancing their metadata capabilities, with some introducing highly dynamic optimization and advanced design assistance functions. They have been extending their capabilities to allow for ML over active metadata, to assist developers with various degrees of support and automation in integration design and implementation.
Recommended Resources
Turbocharge marketing campaigns with fast data access.
Connect with experts from the Data Roundtable.
Find more Insights articles on data management.


text:
Contest Source: Burger King Singapore
Contest Type: Online
Prize: 6 snacks that the octopuppy picks
1. Pick six small BK snacks from a range of 32.
2. Drop them into six time-slot boxes in any order.
3. Answer a simple question and submit your details.
4. Return here on results day (every Thursday at 6 p.m. starting 26 Aug 2010) to watch the draw.
5. Rub your hands as you await the good news.
6. For each correct snack prediction, you win a voucher to redeem the respective snack.
7. Repeat the above for 5 weeks from 19 Aug to 23 Sep 2010 to win a jackpot of snacks!
Contest Empire's Rating
Prize worth it or not: 6/10
Winning Chance: Maybe


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Sen. John McCain reacts to Gen. Martin Dempsey's written statement surrounding the deadly attacks on U.S. facilities in Benghazi, Libya.
Published at 1:55 p.m. ET: Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., sharply criticized Gen. Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for not deploying U.S. forces so they could rapidly respond to the Sept. 11, 2012 attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi.
"It's one of the more bizarre statements I have ever seen in my years on this committee," McCain told Dempsey, accusing him of failing to place U.S. aircraft ahead of time at bases such as Suda Bay, Crete, where they could have reached Benghazi within 90 minutes on the day of the attack.
Given the threats and attacks on foreign diplomats in the weeks leading up to Sept. 11, 2012, McCain contended, Dempsey ought to have placed forces closer to Benghazi.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein clears the chamber during Thursday's Senate Intelligence Committee hearing do to protesters opposing the nomination of John Brennan as head of the CIA.
McCain called Dempsey's testimony "simply false" regarding U.S. deployments to deter or respond to an attack in Benghazi.
Dempsey "didn't take into account the threats to that consulate—and that's why four Americans died," McCain angrily told the general. In the Sept. 11 assault on the facility, Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans, Glen Doherty, Tyrone Woods and Sean Smith, were killed.
Recommended: Drones take center stage
The Arizona Republican also contended that "it was almost predictable" that "bad things were going to happen in Libya" in the weeks leading up to the attack because the fledgling government was too feeble to maintain control of the country – and he blamed Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and President Barack Obama for not deploying a strong U.S. military presence in the country to help keep order.
For his part Dempsey told McCain that "we never received" a request from the State Department to place forces closer to Benghazi to be poised to respond to an attack on the U.S. diplomatic facility.
"So it's the State Department's fault?" McCain asked.
"I'm not blaming the State Department," Dempsey replied. But he said he was concerned on the day of the Benghazi attack about an array of possible assaults on U.S. facilities not only in Libya but in Afghanistan, Yemen, Sudan, Pakistan, and other locations in the Islamic world.
Dempsey, along with Panetta, was testifying Thursday before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Senator Saxby Chambliss criticizes the job that Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey did to help protect the American citizens killed during an attack on U.S. facilities in Benghazi, Libya.
Panetta told the panel there were two short-duration attacks that occurred six hours apart. "We were not dealing with a prolonged or continuous assault which could have been brought to an end by a U.S. military response," Panetta said.
Both Dempsey and Panetta said the best situation would have been to have had U.S. forces on the ground before the attack to defend the facility.
Two other Republican members of the committee, Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire and Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, pressed Panetta and Dempsey on how many times they directly briefed Obama on the attack on the day it occurred – the answer was once.
Both Ayotte and Graham implied that Obama ought to have asked more questions and been more involved in keeping apprised of the events in Benghazi in real time. On her Twitter account, Ayotte said while the hearing was in progress, "POTUS outsourced #Benghazi response."
While the attacks were underway, Graham asked, "did the president show any curiosity about how is this going, what kind of assets do you have helping these people?"
Recommended: Senators, John Brennan brace for national security showdown in CIA hearing
Panetta replied – citing his experience a former White House chief of staff, "The purpose of staff is to be able to get that kind of information and those staff (members) were working with us." He added, "The president is well informed about what is going on."
Graham also questioned Dempsey about Ambassador Stevens's Aug. 15 cable warning the State Department that the facility in Benghazi couldn't defend itself if it came under attack. Dempsey told Graham that he was surprised that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton did not know about that cable.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta reflects on the government's response to the September attacks on U.S. facilities in Benghazi, Libya.
In his testimony, Panetta said the Department of Defense and U.S. armed forces "did all that we could do in response to the attacks in Benghazi." He explained that "armed UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones), AC-130 gunships, or fixed-wing fighters with the associated tanking – you've got to provide air re-fueling-- armaments – you've got to arm all the weapons before you put the on the planes" -- were not in the vicinity of Libya.
He said that even if he'd been able to deploy F-16 fighters or AC-130 gunships over Benghazi in time, "the mission still depends on accurate information about what targets they're supposed to hit. And we had no forward air controllers there" and no communications with U.S. personnel on the ground.
He said, "because of the distance, it would have taken at least 9 to 12 hours, if not more, to deploy these forces to Benghazi. This was, pure and simple, -- in the absence as I said of any kind of advance warning -- a problem of distance and time."
Win Mcnamee / Getty Images
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta testifies on the attack on U.S facilities in Benghazi, Libya before the Senate Armed Services Committee Feb. 7, 2013 in Washington, D.C.
He explained that "unfortunately there were no specific indications of an imminent attack on U.S. facilities in Benghazi. Without adequate warning, there was not enough time given the speed of the attack for armed military assets to respond."
In his testimony Panetta also warned about the effects of the automatic spending cuts – called sequestration - that are mandated by the 2011 Budget Control Act and are set to begin on March 1.
"If Congress fails to act and sequestration is triggered, and if we also must operate under a year-long continuing resolution (keeping spending at last year's levels), we would be faced with a significant shortfall in operating funds for our active forces with only seven months remaining in the fiscal year," he told the committee. "This will damage our national defense and compromise our ability to respond to crises in a dangerous world."


text: Join Gery for a short 10-mile Silver Lke and Mill Creek loop: Social pace (10-12mph), flat terrain with just a few very very very short climbs (like less than one block each). Optional (quick for Gery) coffee after the ride before he has to return to the office. Water falling from the sky cancels the ride, but not the coffee. Ride leader Gery Osowiecki, 469 358-2887 (mobile).


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I have to stop doing this.. I got some more music gear.
This time it's a Boss GT-10 Multi Effect unit.
About two weeks ago the Rock Inn had a one day sale which had the above processor for 39,800 yen. I contemplated whether I really wanted, or needed it, and in the end I let it go.
The next day I decided that I did want it, and tried just two days later to see if they could still do that price. Being in Japan I was not surprised that they flatly rejected doing it.
Yesterday I saw an online ad from Musicland Key in Osaka doing the same one day price for today. Naturally I thought it'd be no problem to go to the SAME shop in Shinjuku and ask if they can do the same price.
No, of course not. I DID get a free pack of strings from them so I won't hate on them too much.
I received an email from the Ishibashi store that their "best" price (non discounted at all!) was 49,800 yen.
"Many apologies for inconvenience this may cause you. Please let us know if you any concern!"
No inconvenience at all, I'll just shop elsewhere! Great, quick response to my email though. Kudos to that.
I thought to go back to Rock Inn but I didn't really think they deserved a second chance. I bought a cheap taiwanese guitar cable for 300 yen at TC Gakki and on the way back I thought I'd go to Shimamura Music in the Pepe building in Kabukicho.
I spoke to Tomomi who REALLY bent over backwards to make the sale. At first she tried to bring it down to 43,900 yen with a guitar cable. It didn't sway me. Next she noticed it was in Osaka, so I said I had a friend there who could get it for me.
She asked for Musicland's number in Osaka to confirm they had them in stock and came back to me to say they would do that price.
To be sure, I asked her if I could try it out before going through with the sale. They have a Mesa Boogie Express combo similar to mine so it was the perfect opportunity to test it with a comparable amp. The store was a little noisy, but I think it sounded pretty good.
It's refreshing to find a store that actually CARES about selling their products. To the other companies, let it be a lesson to you. You just lost a genuine sale. I highly recommend Shimamura Music. Even if you check elsewhere come here last, they actually care to match a price.
They didn't have the actual unit in the store, so they're posting it to me to arrive on Tuesday morning. I hope I got my address written right! Stay tuned for the low-down on this new piece of sweetness.
G.A.S. be damned.
Sunday, 12 April 2009
Wired For More Sound
I have to stop doing this.. I got some more music gear.
Posted by Jimmy In Japan at 9:33 pm


text:
Hi Dolla Honey - Lonestar [Label Submitted]
Hi Dolla Honey has a Hott 16 for ya'll!!!! THE SWEET BEAST reppin for TEXAS the LONE STAR!! Direct Link to vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=q1JCPZ09uTM check out www.hidollamuzik.net And see more videos from Hi Dolla Honey and Proteja at www.youtube.com/hidollahoney watch for the WORLD PREMIERE of BOUT MY MONEY video coming soon!!
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