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All our vans are equipped with trolleys, blankets, straps, bungee cords, tracking, sat-nav etc.. And only used for household moving content. NO RUBBISH CLEARANCE!
When you order one man it means that driver will assist with loading and unloading. Please consider to order 2 men if there are any items too heavy or too bulky for one man to carry or more than 2nd floor with no lift. Sometime when you ordered one man we may send 2 men, however one man will work for you as you ordered, unless you want to upgrade to 2 men.
Please make sure to select appropriate van size for all items you are moving. Sometime we may send you a larger van, but allowed loading space is for the van size you ordered, unless you want to upgrade the van size.
If job run over the estimated time, we will charge in 30 minute blocks, however we can stay maximum one hour longer, so please estimate loading and unloading time as precisely as possible.
If you need any help with packing your belongings, protecting furnitures for the transit or any help with dismantling furnitures we will help of course at no extra cost, it will be still the same hourly rates, but please remember to extend loading or/and unloading time when you need extra services.
If you need packaging materials you can easily order them online on our website "BOX SHOP" and we will deliver within 24-48 hours. Alternatively you can request Packaging Materials to be delivered on your moving day by providing your reference number for the move and we will assign your order to be delivered on the moving day.
If there is no lift/elevator in operating, we charge for flooring £5 per level per person carrying the goods. All charges are included in your quotation based on selected details.
Please note that we provide our service up to fourth floor if there is no lift in operating.
Please do not overload boxes and make the weight not heavier than 20-25 KG.
We are doing our best to be always on time, but please allow up to 1 hour window for arrivals in case of any traffic on the road.
Fuel charges for provided route are included in price.
Parking Charges, Penalty Tickets, Toll Roads Charges, Ferries charges are not included in cost.
Please note that customer responsibility is to arrange parking space for the van. If there are parking restrictions on the area please arrange parking suspension for the van. If parking suspension have not been arranged for our van than our driver may request deposit of £65 for the penalty ticket. If we will get penalty ticket we will send you prove on your email if we don't get parking fine within 6 weeks then we will refund deposit you paid for parking fine. Click on link to find more information how to arrange "PARKING PERMIT"
If you need to travel in the van, please let us know in ADDITIONAL INFORMATION on the booking form. ( one passenger can only travel in the van ).
By pressing the button BOOK NOW you accept our Terms & Conditions and all confirmed orders are subject to the terms and conditions.
Please make sure to pay full or 30% deposit payment, so we can confirm your booking. If you paid 30% deposit than remaining balance need to be paid before unloading the van, so please make sure to arrange payment before unloading the van as delays with payments will delay unloading what may increase total time of your move.
If you need to cancel your booking, make sure to inform us in writing ( Email or TEXT ) at least 48 hours in advance, otherwise cancellation fee will apply (cancellation fee = 30% of total charge). Please DON'T leave these information on our voicemail.
Our Goods in Transit insurance cover up to £10.000. Insurance apply only if you provide "INVENTORY LIST" - list of all items you are moving including value. This is the responsibility of the customer to ensure extra insurance is arranged if required.
If you don't require packing service please make sure to protect all furniture to avoid any damage as our insurer will not cover any damage during the transit for unprotected items.
If you notice any damage, please report to our team before they leave, so they can make an evidence of damage for insurance purposes. Please note that if our team leave the side and no damage has been reported we will not take any responsibilities for unreported damages.
Please note that this is customer responsibility to check with our team that the van inside is empty and all your belongings been unloaded, before they leave.
To make sure your order has been accepted use our website tools "CHECK ORDER STATUS"
If you are moving within 10 miles we do not charge for the mileage, if over 10 miles than full mileage charge will be included in price- £1.5 per mile. (Routes taken will be those as advised by our Sat-Nav unless you request a particular route)
Additional unexpected van load may be treated as a separate order if distance over 10 miles.
Congestion Charge Zone in central London applies Monday to Friday from 7am to 6pm ( £11.50 ). Click CONGESTION CHARGE ZONE to find if your property is in Congestion Charge Zone
If you need to contact us in regards current order, please CALL, TEXT with your ORDER NUMBER on 07912604743 or EMAIL HERE


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Indonesia can improve national food security by facilitating greater investment in agriculture, opening agri-food markets to greater international trade, reforming input subsidies and food aid schemes and moving away from self-sufficiency policy objectives, according to this OECD report.
» Read the complete book online
» Download the full book or individual chapters from the OECD iLibrary (subscription access required)
» Order your print or PDF edition from the OECD Online Bookshop
» Journalists: Log in to the OECD publications and statistics site for journalists (accreditation and registration required; embargo rules apply)
» Government officials: Log in to OLIS, the OECD committee information service, and access this publication under the 'Books' tab.
Documents connexes

subset: commoncrawl


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Notions: Moth kicks off new season
The Middlebury Moth kicked off its 2010-2011 season last night on Middlebury campus. The NPR-inspired storytelling initiative was kicked into gear last year by students Will Bellaimey and Bianca Giaever just last spring, but has already gathered quite a loyal following. Every one of their Thursday night events that I've attended has packed the Gamut Room (a student-run lounge/café) in the basement of Gifford Hall to the brim. Students pile into every available nook and cranny, splay themselves across the laps of friends, and squeeze into doorways to hear their peers, faculty, staff and community members tell stories based around the prescribed theme for the night.Last night's theme was "Summer,"—nice, simple, and something everyone can relate to, which is what Giaever and Bellaimey usually shoot for when they are shopping around for the next session's tagline. As we, the audience, smooshed ever closer into our neighbors (people continued to cram in even after the first story was well under way), Max Kanter '10.5 got things started with his tale of his summer in L.A. living in a house with a dozen other drama students and a random 40 year-old woman and her son, whom he and his housemates had lovingly coined, "Momson."Kanter wove a hilarious and gesture-riddled story rife with mystery and anxiety surrounding a sum of $1,100 which he and his younger brother had found in the backyard of his rented L.A. home situated close to the University of Southern California campus before he gave the stage over to Professor of Political Science Quinn Mecham. Mecham captivated the group with the story of his treacherous border crossing in Turkey, during which he was subject to accusations of terrorism, extreme dehydration, and a clown-car-esque packed taxi ride to safety.Brad Becker-Parton '11.5 followed with a heartening tale about roommates—his roommate at a London B&B a few summers ago was none other than the Wolfman, aka Benicio Del Toro's body double for the werewolf flick of the same name. We were left to savor the image of sprightly Becker-Parton drinking alongside a 7-foot-3-inch (and totally built) half-man, half-wolf in a London Pub until Sam Dungan '10.5 spun his summer camp tale, Sean Maye '11 related his "groovy" experience on the Miami club scene, and Ken Grinde '11 explained why he and his mom are so tight (it involves fireworks, a crazy landlady, and fainting, just as a teaser).Gregg Humphrey of the college's Education Studies department killed it when he told of his days working in a Chex cereal factory during the summer when he was a student at Middlebury. Our sides hurt by the time Humphrey finished telling us about how he had dumped the cereal out of one box, and filled it completely with super balls, instead, and about the little notes that he decided to compose and include with the cereal, in place of a toy.Michaela Lieberman was the last to share and as her story can truly only be done justice by her, you'll just have to take my word for it when I say that it was—fabulous. In fact, all of the stories in this bunch were well told, super interesting, and quite hilarious, which, frankly, is not always the case. I was blown away, and thrilled that I overcame my fear of returning to campus post-graduation to attend this event which, by the way, is open to all members of the community (and not just the college community!).If you or someone you know is interested in telling a story at Moth, contact Bianca or Will. Or if you, like me, are more of a sit-back-and-listen kind of a gal or guy, you can simply mark your calendars for Thursday, October 7, for the "School"-themed iteration of the Middlebury Moth. Oh, and if you were captivated by teasers of the stories performed last night, be sure to check out the Middlebury Moth Podcast, where you can stream them all!Tamara Hilmes can be contacted at email@example.com.


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Andrea's Surprise Makeover
It all started when...
I started sketching and making clothes at an early age and I used to dream of being a designer. Now I'm an actress, and dressing well and experimenting with fashion is still a passion of mine, but I found it harder and harder to find great pieces; not just for the red carpet or a character, but for my everyday life.
So when I got the opportunity to design a clothing line, I jumped at the chance. I wanted to build a better closet for myself and other women; interesting separates, well-made key pieces that can be mixed and matched to express our mood and personal style on any given day.
The Melissa McCarthy collection is designed to give all women a whole new love of shopping. I want to help women lose "the uniform" and discover their own personal style.
Every element is rooted in something special to me. From my kid's drawings to special pieces I've picked up on my travels; all these little gems find their way into my line and nothing goes without my personal stamp on it.
I hope you love the collection as much as I do; I want getting dressed to be fun again!
xoxo Melissa


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Jack Freestone - 2 times World Jnr Champion (2010 & 2012) and Kinetik Racing bring you the Jack freestone signature template. A combination of Jacks favorite KR templates (P3, JP-5 & BI-7) this master blend delivers the most aerial driven fin in the KR range.
KR have spent the past year testing and refining templates with Jack in a wide variation of boards and wave types. In particular, beach breaks and waves most expected in the QS. The result is the ideal fin for all surfers looking to improve their game in and around the lip.
The strongest and stiffest 12K carbon has been used within a new base shape to accurately deliver the flex where needed. With the majority of carbon in the front edge providing stability and the reduced back edge allowing additional release; expect a loaded release of energy to project your surfing to a new level.
- Size: Medium
- Fins in set: 3
Tech Specs
- Bsae: 4.47 in, 113.5 mm
- Height: 4.53 in, 115 mm
- Rake: 123.6°
Write Your Own Review
Returns are easy! We understand that in some situations returns or exchanges may be necessary. We also want you to be stoked on your purchase. If you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase you may return it for a full refund, or exchange within 30 days of receiving your order. Items must be in new condition with original tags and packaging.
Please make sure your wetsuit fits before taking it in the water. We are not able to take returns or exchanges on used wetsuits.
Please reference our full Return Policy.


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My good friend Ricki over at Diet, Dessert, and Dogs just posted a lovely review of my recipe collection "A Year to Eat Freely: 2011 Allergy-Friendly Recipe Calendar." This 12-month calendar features seasonally-appropriate recipes that are free of Gluten, Rice, Dairy, Casein, Eggs, Soy, Corn, Tree Nuts, Peanuts, Potato, Tomato, Citrus, Shellfish and Cane Sugar. I self-published it last fall, and all the recipes, photography, and design work are original. It was a wonderful project, I love the recipes, and the feedback so far has been great.
In addition to posting a thorough review, Ricki is giving away a copy to one lucky reader and is sharing one of my favorite recipes from the calendar, my Smoky Zucchini Dip.
Smoky Zucchini Dip from "A Year to Eat Freely", as made by Ricki. Image courtesy Ricki Heller at Diet, Dessert, and Dogs
Head on over to Diet, Dessert, and Dogs to read the review, enter the giveaway, and get the recipe. If you read closely, you may even find a special coupon code for my etsy shop.
If you'd rather not take your chances and just want to purchase a copy of my calendar, head on over to my etsy shop. The new sale price is $11 plus shipping & handling.
So, what are you waiting for? Go, go!


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Of course every animated cartoon series has to have a villain or there wouldn't be any tension, excitement, or laughs to go with the plot. Today I will be uploading more characters from 9th Grade Ninja. If you haven't already you can catch the series on Disney XD. I hear tell that it's pretty good and even funny. Next, we will be drawing the "bad guy" of the series, and his name is The Sorcerer. Needless to say we will be learning "how to draw The Sorcerer", step by step. He is a nasty green colored man that has been in slumber for the past 800 years. His main goal is to destroy the ninja and take over anything that comes in site. When I say that he has been in a slumber, I mean that he has been sitting or rotting in a hole for that many years. Of course he is still locked up, but if he can just create enough of a chaotic mess, there may be a chance that he can break free. He sort of reminds me of Rasputin from the animated movie "Anastasia", but then again I could be wrong. Well, that's about all I can say since the character creation is still brand new. Have fun drawing The Sorcerer, and I will get busy with uploading more drawing fun. Peace out people!
DragoArt members upload artwork and drawing tutorials! They are also allowed to leave comments on tutorials, profiles, etc. Many more features, as well; it's way better than just being a boring guest! Register Now!


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#151 Find any text on a webpage
February 13, 2013
Spending too much time looking for a specific link or text in a webpage or document? Try this shortcut:
- Press "Control"+"F" on your keyboard. This opens a search bar in your Internet Explorer browser.
- Type in what you are looking for. You will notice that the web page will automatically jump to your first match and highlight it. If the page contains multiple matches, you can scroll through them by pressing the "Enter" key.


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I think one of the driving forces behind my out-of-control alt "issue" (I can quit any time I want, okay?) is that I use alts as solutions to problems I have. ("Problems" is kind of a mis-label, I think of them more as "ideas." However, it is still true.) If there's something I am thinking of doing or working on, it usually comes down to "roll another alt." Do I have an obsession with a race/class combo? Roll an alt. Did I forget how to play a spec on an 85? Roll an alt. This little habit of mine probably started around the time I wanted to do Insane; needing alts for very specific tasks like being a scribe or being able to pick lockboxes was pretty crucial. However, all of these things are intensely practical as far as playing World of Warcraft goes.
What if the need for a new alt (in the face of a looming expansion a month away, no less) is less of a functional one and more personal?
It is no secret that I feel very strongly about my guild. It has become, over the course of this expansion, not just a resting place for me post-progression raiding but a safe haven for folk of all stripes. We have come very close together and we're getting new people every day. I'm a proud guild leader who sees the number of people online every night going up. I have guildmates pulling me aside to tell me how for the first time they feel "accepted" and "comfortable." This is really important to me. I like being at the helm. However, sometimes, even a guild leader wants to slip off and be a peon for a while. There's more friends out there than just within the borders of my guild. Having a place I can jet off to during the day when barely anyone is on to fill up guild chat, or when I'm feeling stressed out is pretty important. Plus, it is a way to extend my time to others without them needing to join my guild. Because mine isn't the only one that is valuable or important.
That being said, it's been hard. I've rolled alts on other servers before but they've never really "stuck." I even have level 85s in other places now but I don't play them that often. It's hard to tear myself away from my "kids" enough to enjoy myself somewhere else. There's also the larger concern: will other guilds uphold the same values I do? I've spoken about this before, that the driving force behind my guild is to treat people with respect. This means in word and deed. Treat people for the equals they are. Do right by them. A lot of guilds don't quite live up to this in my eyes, in either large or subtle ways. So how am I supposed to pal around and hang out in some other person's house that doesn't treat me the way I wish to be treated? It's harder when you're not the one running things to speak up, to effect change. It's someone else's living room, don't shit on the rug.
It had been something that had been percolating away in the back of my brain for a while when I asked Snack from <Waypoint> if I could join his guild on an alt to "hang out and talk." Him and I share a lot of similar interests and opinions on things and I consider him a mentor when it comes to running a guild. He's been wildly supportive of my efforts to be a good GM so far and always lets me bend his ear with whatever concerns I have. You might say we're friends. I also have quite a few Twitter buddies that hang out in Waypoint that I enjoy being around, so it naturally seemed like a good place to stick yet another alt. I'd have my little place to noodle around when my own guild was dead or when I felt like getting away. I definitely was not expecting to find a guild that reminded me so much of my own, so full of warmth and laughter and respect.
I wasn't also not expecting to roll a warlock.
Let me tell you, it feels like I'm in some sort of bizarre universe skin. I'm tall and gorgeous and I love spending money on outfits and and and and…
I'm a warlock.
Let those words sink in for a minute. I have a level 75 warlock but she's never really been mine. She's been rerolled 3 times and is a glorified scribe machine. This time around? I'm only 48 and I've sunk money into beautiful transmog outfits, made mage jokes and thrown myself off high places to resurrect myself from a soul stone. In short, I'm actually enjoying myself. The irony of this is that the class is going to change wildly in a few short weeks, but I don't care. I'm around a fairly expansive "coven" of warlocks in Waypoint and feel pretty good about myself. Sure, most of this involves picking on Cynwise mercilessly when he's playing his mage, but I ain't complaining. It is fun learning another caster and despite the intrinsic loathing I feel for being all "YAY GREEN FIRE," warlocks are actually quite cool.
The point of all this is that sometimes change can be good, even if just to inject a slightly different perspective of fun to the fun you were already having.
It's so unbelievable to me to not only find another guild that could be a "sister" to the guild I belong to in both personality and spirit, but that I'm getting to know the warlock class intimately and not feeling bored. Stuff like this is not only valuable in and of itself but it makes me value what I have on my home server so much more. I feel like this is merely a new extension of myself in which to express not only my story vampires but my personality to a whole other group of people I care about. And it is really easy to care about people in Waypoint much like Northrend Commonwealth. They are a laid-back but friendly group of players that like to make terrible puns, have fun while raiding and while maybe slightly less enthusiastic about poop or radical feminism, they share the same core of love and respect I'm used to. I like staying up late sometimes and hashing out more serious feelings about leadership, celebrity or pride with some of my Waypoint friends (like Dee, Zable or Lizzy), or pootling around in the afternoon with Catulla and talking about lady business. All of these things adds to the already pleasurable social experience I have with my guild. I want to say things like RealID and Twitter made this happen but the undercurrent of that is that social media has to be populated with people you want to socialize with in order to be productive. So finding more of my "own kind" to talk to, raid with and generally explore Azeroth with has opened my eyes to the real possibilities.
My only concern (if you could even call it that) is that people might read this and feel that I'm handing out an advertisement for particular people or guilds. I'm not pulling back the curtain, so to speak, to shine a spotlight on Waypoint in particular. I think that while the folk in-guild are wonderful and amazing people, I think the real "magic" of this experience comes from this intrinsic and valuable idea that guilds, and by that point, social interactions in this game, should function based on treating people right. I've always believed this and this is why when I find another guild that believes in it as strongly as I do, it feels like "coming home again." There's no formula or steps you can follow to really replicate caring, concern and valuing people inside your guild other than believing it and acting on it. If you do this, the people that value this as well will find you. I know this is definitely how I found Waypoint as a space to stick a vacation alt.
All in all, there is yet another place that I feel comfortable being myself in (even if that "self" is a warlock right now) and that is a good feeling indeed.


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Re: Snowkiting Comes To California
Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2012 11:23 am
charging to kite is about the lamest thing i've ever heard of... should do some real advertising and stay off the forums with shit like this... JUST SAYIN!wjb wrote:I sent an email and this is what I got:
A Royal Gorge ticket($27) or season pass is required or a Sugar Bowl ticket or season pass. The 250 acre riding area with natural and man-made features is definitely worth it. Feel free to call for more info 530-816-0484.


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This place is great - you can bring your own wine and they charge you $1.50 corking fee - unheard of! Everything is well seasoned, truly authentic and fabulously presented to share. We've gone here three times, will always go back.
Outstanding. Be sure to try the Ethiopian tea - cold or hot - depending on the season. Great vegetarian and meat options. Perfect for a group of friends or family. Order different dishes and eat communally.


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Folate (Vitamin B9)
Cobalamin (Vitamin B12)
DISCLAIMER: The content on this website is intended for informational, and educational purposes
only and not as a substitute for the medical advice, treatment or
diagnosis of a licensed health professional. The author of this
website is a researcher, not a health professional, and shall in
no event be held liable to any party for any direct, indirect,
special, incidental, punitive or other damages arising from any
use of the content of this website. Any references to health
benefits of specifically named products on this site are this
website author's sole opinion and are not approved or supported by
their manufacturers or distributors. COPYRIGHT 2009-2019


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GB1896 on Family Tree Circles
view: full | list
Journals and Posts
Bennett, Henry William last known place of residence New Zealand
Henry/Harry William Bennett and Mary Ann Harrison, had a daughter Violet May McCabe Bennett - 2 May 1896, Epsom, Auckland. This was possibly my grandmother, who we later knew as Marvine Viola Heather McCabe Bennett, as listed on her marriage certificate to Harry Cross,b1890, Norfolk, England, UK.
On her marriage certificate she also listed that she was born at sea. She may have not legally changed her name and by stating she was born at sea, avoided the problem. They married in Wellington on the 1st December, 1925.
Violet May McCabe, Bennett may have been a sister, but we have not been able to find a BC under the name of MVH etc.
As our elusive grandmother left very little information regarding her parents and their family history in New Zealand, we are hoping that some other distant Bennett family researchers may be able to help us!
- Displaying 1-1 of 1 Journals
- 1
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The Social Sciences Department at Michigan Tech offers two PhD degrees and two Master's degrees, as well as Bachelors of Science in five disciplines. Since 1986 we have conferred over 130 graduate degrees. In the listings below, broken out by field and then by degree, you will find the library reference for all the theses and links to them if they have been put online.
Environmental and Energy Policy
Industrial Archaeology and Heritage
Note: You can also search the J. R. Van Pelt and Opie Library Catalog for online availability of recent theses.


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Ranking season continues, as now that we know where just about every team's major league squad stands going into spring training, we can have more informed conversations about their minor league systems -- specifically, who has the system most ready to contribute top-end talent to their major league team over the next year or two.
We're looking specifically at talent in the upper levels of the minors ready to help now (or very close to now), which means that most players that haven't played at least a little bit of Double-A ball won't be showing up in our analysis. This is also a very subjective exercise by its very nature, so I've profiled not only the top three teams, but the six runners-up behind them.
Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox are in an odd, and enviable, position -- they have the consensus top farm in baseball, but they also have one of the consensus top teams in baseball, meaning there's really not that many immediately available open spaces for all those top, near-ready prospects to slot into. It's good news, then, that the two most immediate counter-examples to that are also two of Boston's most highly touted young players: shortstop Xander Bogaerts and centerfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. Bogaerts is the better prospect out of the two; he's been a top-five position player prospect in baseball the last two years, and will either slot in directly at shortstop or, if the Red Sox eventually do something like re-sign Stephen Drew following what can only be called a total collapse of his free agent market, at third base. Bradley shouldn't find playing time too much harder to find, however -- with the departure of Jacoby Ellsbury, and Daniel Nava and Jonny Gomes making up a fairly formidable left field platoon, he should move into centerfield while Victorino mans right.
The pitchers are a bigger mystery, but they might have even bigger upside than the position players; RHP Brandon Workman, RHP Anthony Ranaudo, and LHP Henry Owens (among others like RHP Matt Barnes or RHP Allen Webster) either already are or will soon be ready for some major league looks at some point next year, but the entire rotation and much of the bullpen is already taken up by established veterans. Their best bet for exposure in 2014 would likely only come as an injury call-up, but with at least some spaces opening up in 2015 it's more likely the starters among them will start to make a impact then.
Houston Astros
Not too long ago the Astros had one of the worst farm systems in baseball to go along with a team that could barely clear .500 on a lucky year; now the MLB squad is a disaster, but Houston has one of the top five farms in the game, and one of the ones with a lot of talent close to making its mark. The biggest name that will probably come out of the Houston system this year is outfielder George Springer, who will join new Astro Dexter Fowler (by way of the Colorado Rockies, not the minor leagues) in a revamped Houston outfield. Fowler and Springer will immediately become the best hitters on the team not named Jason Castro, and that odd assortment of offensive production -- the top three bats being a catcher and two centerfielders -- says all it needs to say about everyone on the MLB team at the plate.
As far as pitching goes, RHP Jarred Cosart will be up as soon as he's ready -- there's absolutely no one blocking him at the major league level, after all -- and RHP Mike Foltynewicz shouldn't be too far behind him. Stanford pitcher Mark Appel, the team's first overall pick in last June's draft, should be ready for the big leagues very shortly, as should the team's presumptive first overall pick this June, North Carolina State's Carlos Rodon. In fact, the biggest question about Astros prospect debuts has to do not with the prospects' readiness in any general sense, but with how the team wants to handle their service time. There could be a number of cases in which players ready to contribute now start the season in the minors for a month or so just to play service-times games.
Chicago Cubs
The Cubs farm probably gets just as much hype as the Red Sox farm -- a by-product of having two long-time, successful Red Sox executives running it, as well as being a major-market team with a bad MLB squad and a national fanbase starving for success -- and while it's not the best system in the majors and does in fact have a few glaring flaws, there's still a lot for Cubs fans to be excited about coming up through the minors. The positives are that the team is absolutely loaded with position players all around the diamond, like SS Javier Baez (likely will have to move to third base), 3B Kris Bryant (if Baez moves to third base and stays there, might have to move to RF), and OF Albert Almora and Jorge Soler. The sheen comes off some of these players a bit if they have to move down the defensive spectrum -- Bryant from third to RF would put a lot more pressure on his bat to hit its upside -- but the real question mark in that discussion is current Cubs SS Starlin Castro, who either has to prove he's a long term starter worth moving guys off of positions for or has to be dealt with another way.
The biggest problem with the Cubs system as it stands is its lack of pitching, with RHP Pierce Johnson and RHP C.J. Edwards being the two biggest arms in the Cubs system at the moment and neither with an ETA before 2015 right now (though it's conceivable they might get a look in September if next year goes really well for them in the minors). It's not inconceivable that the Cubs could trade hitting prospects for pitching prospects, but that's not something that happens often even before taking into account that, in this market, it's far easier to buy bats than arms, making pitching prospects even more valuable.
The Runners-Up
Texas Rangers. Graduating 2B/SS Jurickson Profar as well as both RHP Martin Perez and Justin Grimm (now a Cub) was a big blow to the system, but the Rangers still have great up-the-middle prospects behind him in (amazingly named) 2B Rougned Odor and SS Luis Sardinas. RHP Luke Jackson could have a big impact in coming years as well, but probably not 2014.
St. Louis Cardinals. Graduating RHP Michael Wacha, Carlos Martinez and Shelby Miller last year along with 2B Kolten Wong and OF Oscar Taveras this spring almost entirely empties out the upper level of this farm, but there's enough interesting going on at the lower levels that the Cardinals system won't be barren for long.
Minnesota Twins. The Twins have two really good advanced position player prospects in CF Byron Buxton and 3B Miguel Sano and a very promising pitcher in RHP Alex Meyer, but the system falls off kind of quickly after that. Still, having three elite prospects close to graduating isn't a bad thing at all.
San Diego Padres. Not a lot of really well-known talent on the San Diego farm, but there's a lot of it, especially in the pitching department (LHP Max Fried, RHP Matt Wisler, RHP Casey Kelly). C Austin Hedges could make an impact sooner rather than later as well.
Kansas City Royals. Kansas City is another pitching-heavy system, with RHP Yordano Ventura likely joining the Royals rotation this season and RHP Kyle Zimmer on his way next. Also notable in Kansas City's system is the continued rise of SS Raul Adalberto Mondesi, whose father is the mayor of the city of San Cristobal in the Dominican Republic, and who I believe played professional baseball himself at one point.
Seattle Mariners. The Mariners have one of the best pitching prospects in baseball, RHP Taijuan Walker, ready to jump into their rotation, along with another very promising RHP in James Paxton right behind him. Unfortunately for Seattle, that's about the extent of the help that's coming from the minors. LHP Danny Hultzen has been sidelined by shoulder injuries for most of a year now, and almost all of the position prospects in the system have graduated or are too young to factor in.


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EME, a subsidiary of Edison International, filed for bankruptcy protection in December 2012.
The firm's wind business, Edison Mission Wind, has a 2.1GW portfolio of 16 projects, including 1.73GW worth of operating wind farms. It is EME's one bright spot and was excluded from the bankruptcy filing.
EME's projects include the 240MW Big Sky project in Illinois, 100MW Storm Lake in Iowa and the 80MW Broken Bow project in Nebraska.
According to court papers, the company has $5.1 billion in assets with a combined generating capacity of 4.5GW. It carries roughly $3.7 billion in debt and another $1.3 billion in liabilities.
However, EME is reportedly considering putting the wind business up for sale alongside all of its other generating assets — largely coal-fired plants — that were included in the bankruptcy.
According to reports, EME is currently in the process of selecting financial advisers to help run the sale, which could be run in a variety of ways.
One method may well be a court-run auction, with parallel auctions for different types of generating assets, freeing the wind business to be sold as a stand-alone offering. There is project debt on a large number of the 16 wind projects.
The next hurdle for EME comes next week, at a court hearing on 15 May where the firm will seek to extend the period over which it has the exclusive rights to remedying its bankruptcy.
Failure to do so would see the bankruptcy come under state control and make it difficult to include the wind business in any sale of the overall portfolio as it was excluded from the original bankruptcy filing.


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The Real O'Neals: A Rocky Start Leaves Room to Grow into Great Comedy
Mar 1, 2016 7:41 PM EST
The Real O'Neals has real hurdles in its way. The sitcom, about a Catholic family full of misfits including a teenager coming out as gay, has been protested by Catholic and conservative groups since ABC ordered its pilot. Just this week, The Catholic… Read more


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Glenmoor Real Estate
Glenmoor is a small residential neighborhood nestled among expansive greenbelts and open area. Sitting at the intersection of Nicolaus Road and Joiner Parkway, the homes range from ranch style homes built in the late '90s to palatial contemporary homes.
The area is home to Creekside Oaks Elementary School and the 4.5-acre Scheiber Park, featuring playgrounds and shade structures. The nearby Joiner Park offers football and soccer fields as well as a four-acre vernal pool and wetland. The Auburn Ravine also runs adjacent to the neighborhood.
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Search Results: low-sodium
2-Minute Apple Cinnamon Peanut Butter
Apple butter and peanut butter were destined to be together, don't you think?
All-Natural Pumpkin Butter From Scratch
Homemade Pumpkin Butter using freshly roasted pumpkin and all natural sweeteners. Pinch me, I think I'm dreaming.
Adzuki Bean & Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad with a Twist
This is my take on the delicious All Star salad at Fresh restaurant in Toronto. It's filled with red quinoa, adzuki beans, parsley, cilantro, green onion, and tomato, and paired with a simple red wine vinegar, olive oil, and garlic dressing. I will be making this again and again all summer long.
Almond Butter Chews (5 Minute + 5 Ingredient + No Bake)
These Almond Butter Chews could not be any easier and they make a simple pre-workout snack for about 100 calories each. They take 5 minutes to whip up, use just 1 bowl, and do not require an oven! You could even make them gluten-free quite easily using Nature's Path GF Rice Crisp cereal.
Aloo Baingan (Potatoes with Eggplant)
If you love Indian food like I love Indian food, then let me tell you, we have found the mother load. Unfortunately, since I did not grow up with an Indian mother and not even an Indian aunt, I have to teach myself how to make authentic tasting Indian food. But without using any oil. How's that...
Andean Potato & Cheese Soup w/ Guacamole
Learn how to make an Americanized version of the classic Ecuadorian soup known as Locra de papa.
Angel Salad
A light and refreshing sale with lightly peppery arugula leaves, fennel, shallots, pistachios and apricots in a light white balsamic vinegar.
AMAZING Black Bean Sweet Potato Burritos
Perfect sunday meal. Slightly altered from thegardengrazer.com.
Amazing Kale Salad
This is the best salad ever! Loaded with vitamin k, D and C and tons of fiber and calcium, this will surely be a big hit all year round!


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Home >> Course Descriptions >> College of Education
Special Topics: Contemporary Problems in School Administration.
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This course must be taken on a pass-fail basis and will focus on educational administration issues relating to state principal standards which emphasize instructional leadership; administrative supervision, and communication skills; curriculum and instructional management; performance evaluation; organization; and fiscal management. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and completion of program coursework. May be taken concurrently with EDAM 5337.
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It's 1957, and Bobby goes to pick up his date, Peggy Sue. Peggy Sue's father answers the door and invites him in.
He asks Bobby what they're planning to do on the date. Bobbytells him that they'll probably go to the malt shop or a drive-in movie.
Peggy Sue's father suggests, "Why don't you kids go out and screw? I hear all of the kids are doing it."
Bobby is shocked. "Excuse me, sir?"
"Oh yes," he replies. "Peggy Sue really likes to screw. She'll screw all night if we let her."
Peggy Sue comes downstairs and announces that she's ready to go.
About 20 minutes later, Peggy Sue rushes back into the house, slams the door behind her and screams, "Dad! The Twist! It's called the Twist!"


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The Wars of Robert Gates
On Afghanistan, Obama was caught between his generals' advice and his advisers' political worries
I had been the secretary of defense for just over two years on Jan. 21, 2009, but on that day I again became the outsider. The Obama administration housed a web of long-standing relationships—from Democratic Party politics and the Clinton administration—about which I was clueless. I was also a geezer in the new administration. Many influential appointees below the top level, especially in the White House, had been undergraduates—or even in high school—when I had been CIA director. No wonder my nickname in the White House soon was Yoda, the ancient Jedi teacher in "Star Wars."
Read More
Dr. Gates was the 22nd U.S. secretary of defense. This is The Wall Street Journal's second excerpt from his new book, "Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War," to be published Jan. 14 by Knopf. The first excerpt, published online Tuesday, can be found here.
For the first several months, it took a lot of discipline to sit quietly at the table as everyone from President Obama on down took shots at President Bush and his team. Sitting there, I would often think to myself, Am I invisible?
During these excoriations, there was never any acknowledgment that I had been an integral part of that earlier team. Discussions in the Situation Room allowed no room for discriminating analysis: Everything was awful, and Obama and his team had arrived just in time to save the day.
Our discussions soon turned to the war in Afghanistan. My years in the Bush administration had convinced me that creating a strong, democratic, and more or less honest and competent central government in Afghanistan was a fantasy. Our goal, I thought, should be limited to hammering the Taliban and other extremists and to building up the Afghan security forces so they could control the extremists and deny al Qaeda another safe haven in Afghanistan.
At the Obama administration's first National Security Council meeting on Afghanistan on Jan. 23, 2009, there was much discussion of the lack of a coherent strategy. The Joint Chiefs of Staff had previously asked to send 30,000 more troops into Afghanistan to deal with the Taliban's expected summer offensive and the country's upcoming presidential elections—a request eventually pared back to about 17,000 troops and an additional 4,000 "enablers," troops for countering roadside bombs, ordnance disposal, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and medics.
This pressure for an early decision on a troop increase had the unfortunate and lasting effect of creating suspicion in the White House that Obama was getting the "bum's rush" from senior military officers—especially the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Admiral Michael Mullen, and Gen. David Petraeus, who was then running the U.S. Central Command—to make a big decision prematurely. I believed then—and now—that this distrust was stoked by Vice President Joe Biden, with Deputy National Security Adviser Thomas Donilon, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and some of Obama's other White House advisers joining the chorus.
A March report on the Afghanistan situation by Bruce Riedel, a seasoned and very capable Middle East expert who had advised the Obama campaign, proved breathtaking in its ambition. It recommended disrupting terrorist networks in Afghanistan and Pakistan, promoting a more effective Afghan government, ending Pakistan's support for terrorist groups and working to reduce enmity between Pakistan and India. Most significantly for the conflicts to come between the White House and the U.S. military, the report called for a "fully-resourced counterinsurgency campaign" to let us "regain the initiative" from the Taliban.
All of Obama's national security principals—except Biden—agreed with Riedel's recommendations. But the vice president argued that the war was politically unsustainable at home. I thought he was wrong—and that if the president remained steadfast, he could sustain even an unpopular war, as President Bush had done with a far less popular war in Iraq. The key was showing that we were succeeding militarily and that an end was in sight.
The president embraced most of Riedel's recommendations and announced his new "Af-Pak" strategy in a televised speech on March 27, including 21,000 more soldiers to "take the fight to the Taliban." There would now be some 68,000 American troops in Afghanistan.
But within weeks, I began hearing from Mullen and other commanders about the need for more troops. I made clear that we could not go above the presidentially approved number of 68,000 without going back to the commander in chief. On June 8, I told our new commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, that I wanted him to do a 60-day review of the situation in Afghanistan, including personnel levels. It seemed a perfectly innocuous request. We needed to do the review before I approached the president about any more forces; I couldn't nickel-and-dime him to death.
The next day was my worst so far with the Obama administration. In a meeting with the president, I described my request to McChrystal for a new assessment, including a review of troop levels, and the urgent need to send more enablers. The room exploded. The president said testily there would be no political support for any further troop increase: Congressional Democrats didn't want one, and the Republicans would just play politics. Biden and Emanuel piled on. I had my own reservations about a big increase in troop numbers but didn't see why 2,000 to 4,000 more enablers should cause so much angst and hostility.
Many in the White House were increasingly suspicious that the commanders were trying to box the president in. In early August, I had a long, very direct conversation with Emanuel in the chief of staff's corner White House office. I told him that the president needed to "take ownership of the Afghan war." My principal concern wasn't with Obama's public comments on the need for an exit strategy from Afghanistan but with what he wasn't saying. He needed to acknowledge that the war could take years but that he was confident we would ultimately succeed. He needed to explain publicly why the troops' sacrifices were necessary.
I told Emanuel I would likely come to the president in mid-September for additional enablers. I said that the president didn't want to be in the position of turning down assets that had a direct role in protecting the troops' lives.
Emanuel sat quietly while I vented. I never raised my voice, but I think he could tell how angry I was—and chose to exercise uncharacteristic restraint. I would later hear that some White House politicos worried about my quitting.
In a June 24 videoconference, McChrystal told me for the first time that he had found the situation in Afghanistan much worse than he expected. In mid-July, Mullen returned from a trip to Afghanistan and told me that McChrystal might ask for as many as 40,000 additional troops. I nearly fell off my chair. I had no idea how I could get the president's approval of even a fraction of that number, and I saw a train wreck coming. The only time as secretary of defense that I was truly alarmed was when I heard what McChrystal intended.
On Aug. 4, Mullen and I briefed the president in the Oval Office. The president said that he wanted a choice of real options, not just a troop-intensive counterinsurgency campaign. Obama was thoughtful and balanced, sensible in his comments and questions. He was aware of the politics but, unlike Biden and Emanuel, not driven by them.
For 2½ years, I had warned about the risks of a significant increase in the U.S. troop presence in Afghanistan, and during that period we had increased from about 21,000 to 68,000 troops. I believed, with Mullen, that the war in Afghanistan had been neglected and under-resourced in the Bush administration. But I was torn between my historical perspective, which screamed for caution, and what my commanders insisted was needed to accomplish the mission they had been given.
The Saturday Essay
- Making College Pay Off (1/3/14)
- The Words That Popped in 2013 (12/27/13)
- The Late, Great American WASP (12/20/13)
- The Tsarnaevs and the Boston Bombing (12/13/13)
- America the Vulgar (12/6/13)
- The Boomer Bust (11/30/13)
- All for One: China's New Deal (11/23/13)
McChrystal submitted his assessment on Aug. 31. Mullen and I met with the president in the Oval Office on Sept. 2 and gave him a copy. I told him it didn't represent a new strategy but focused on implementing what the president had approved in March. With IED attacks and casualties rising, I told the president I wanted to move quickly on the enablers, sending perhaps up to as many as 5,000.
To my astonishment and dismay, the president reacted angrily. Why do you need more enablers? he asked. Were they not anticipated as part of the 21,000? Is this mission creep?
Outside the Oval Office after the meeting, exasperated, I told Biden and Donilon that, with respect to the 5,000 enablers, "From a moral and political standpoint, we cannot fail to take action to protect the troops."
I was deeply disturbed by the meeting. If I couldn't do what I thought was necessary to take care of the troops, I didn't see how I could remain as secretary.
I shared Obama's concerns about an open-ended conflict in Afghanistan, but I was deeply uneasy with the Obama White House's lack of appreciation—from the top down—of the uncertainties and inherent unpredictability of war. "They all seem to think it's a science," I wrote in a note to myself. I came closer to resigning that day than at any other time in my tenure, though no one knew it.
On Sept. 10, I gave the president a long "eyes only" memo on my own thinking. I wrote that, "as usual," all the options were unpalatable. I added, impertinently, that any new decision that abandoned Obama's decisions in March would be seen as a retreat from Afghanistan, sending a worrisome message to Afghanistan, Pakistan, our Arab and NATO allies, Iran, North Korea and others about U.S. will and staying power.
I ended on a very personal note. "Mr. President, you and I—more than any other civilians—bear the burden of responsibility for our men and women at war," I wrote. "But, I believe our troops are committed to this mission and want to be successful. Above all, they don't want to retreat, or to lose, or for their sacrifices—and those of their buddies—to be in vain."
On Sept. 15, at Mullen's Senate confirmation hearing for his second term as chairman of the Joint Chiefs, he forcefully argued for more troops in Afghanistan. Six days later, McChrystal's assessment of the dire situation in Afghanistan leaked, and on Oct. 1, while answering a question at a speech in London, McChrystal dismissed out of hand the Afghan option the vice president had been pushing in our internal deliberations. All this ignited a firestorm as the president—and everyone else in the White House—angrily concluded that it constituted an orchestrated effort by the military to force the commander in chief's hand.
Mullen and I repeatedly discussed with the infuriated president what he regarded as military pressure on him. "Is it a lack of respect for me?" Obama asked us. "Are [Petraeus, McChrystal and Mullen] trying to box me in? I've tried to create an environment where all points of view can be expressed and have a robust debate. I'm prepared to devote any amount of time to it—however many hours or days. What is wrong? Is it the process? Are they suspicious of my politics? Do they resent that I never served in the military? Do they think because I'm young that I don't see what they're doing?"
By mid-October, some clarity was emerging on the key issues. The president called me one night while I was eating a Kentucky Fried Chicken dinner at home. "I'm really looking to you for your views on the way forward in Afghanistan," he said. "I'm counting on you."
When I met privately with him in the Oval Office a week later, he grinned broadly, stuck out his hand to shake over the bowl of apples on his coffee table and said, "You have the solution?" I told him I had thought about his call a lot and had prepared a memo for him offering my thoughts. Ultimately, one of the pivotal decisions of Obama's presidency largely tracked the recommendations in that paper.
"We tried remote-control counterterrorism in the 1990s, and it brought us 9/11," I wrote. The core goals Obama had chosen the previous March remained valid—above all, defeating al Qaeda—but we had to narrow the Afghan mission and better communicate what we were trying to do.
We could not realistically expect to eliminate the Taliban; they were woven into Afghanistan's political fabric. But we could work to reverse their military momentum, deny them the ability to control major cities and pressure them along the Pakistani border. Our military efforts should aim to stabilize the situation and buy time to train the ragged but courageous Afghan security forces. We should "quietly shelve trying to develop a strong, effective central government in Afghanistan" and concentrate instead on building up a few key ministries. I supported McChrystal's request for 40,000 troops, but I offered an alternative of about 30,000 troops.
"In conclusion, Mr. President, this is a seminal moment in your presidency," I wrote. "If you elect not to agree to General McChrystal's recommendations (or my alternative), I urge you to make a tough-minded, dramatic change in mission [in] the other direction. Standing pat, middling options, muddling through, are not the right path forward and put our kids at risk for no good purpose."
The atmosphere at the White House was getting poisonous, especially on the part of Donilon, who had characterized Mullen and the military as "insubordinate" and "in revolt." It steamed me that someone who had never been in the military and had never even been to Afghanistan was second-guessing commanders in the field.
On Nov. 27, the day after Thanksgiving, the president called me at my home in the Pacific Northwest for a long talk. He was fine with the 30,000 troops, with flexibility "in the range of 10%" for additional enablers, but he wouldn't agree to the requests for 4,500 enablers unrelated to the new deployments that had been stacking up on my desk for more than two months. He said that pushed the total number to 37,000. The president asked me to return to Washington early for a meeting with him, Mullen and Petraeus to make sure they were on board. "I'm tired of negotiating with the military," he said.
That Sunday meeting was unlike any I ever attended in the Oval Office. Obama said he had gathered the group principally to go through his decisions one more time to determine whether Mullen and Petraeus were fully on board. The commanders said what he wanted to hear, and I was pleased to hear my proposal being adopted.
Then came an exchange that is seared into my memory. Biden said he was ready to move forward, but the military "should consider the president's decision as an order."
"I am giving an order," Obama quickly said.
I was shocked. I had never heard a president explicitly frame a decision as a direct order. With the U.S. military, it is completely unnecessary. As secretary of defense, I had never issued an "order" to get something done; nor had I heard any commander do so. Obama's "order," at Biden's urging, demonstrated the complete unfamiliarity of both men with the American military culture.
The president announced the troop surge at West Point on Dec. 1. In the end, this major national security debate had been driven more by the White House staff and domestic politics than any other in my entire experience. The president's political operatives wanted to make sure that everyone knew the Pentagon wouldn't get its way.
Obama, however, made the tough decision to go forward with the Afghan surge—a decision that was contrary to the advice of all his political advisers and almost certainly the least politically popular of his options.
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I asked this young gentleman , Michael Haar, what movies he watches for inspiration.
"The Marxs Brothers" he says.
I'm off to B&N to buy a new DVD box set
Monday, November 26, 2007
I asked this young gentleman , Michael Haar, what movies he watches for inspiration.
"The Marxs Brothers" he says.
I'm off to B&N to buy a new DVD box set
106 comments
Great shot, Scott! I find myself admiring this young gentleman's leather boots, jumper, and cap. Very nice. His facial hair accessory is pure genius. He reminds me of an Italian patriot preparing to battle the communists. I suspect I would enjoy discussing politics over lunch with this young gentleman.
Wooow, everything about this guy is perfect! I especially love his very fitted knit top kind of pulling in his big flowy pantaloons and his amazing red boots! If this is the kind of inspiration one gets from watching these shows then I desperately need to start doing so… first on my list will be all those B&W films you are always raving about.
what a great shot! love the alley and the lighting.
and though the look is one part expression, one part costume party, i'd still love to have a drink (pint?) with this guy.
though don't you wonder how a handlebar kisses? is it waxy?
no? just me? ok.
wow, he looks straight out of Newsies. love it.
The setting looks like Old Montreal (south of the downtown core and where the tech art geeks dwell).
But this is o'er the top. Was it a movie shoot for a period piece? The boots on their own would have sufficed for extraordinary "wow factor."
i love this, i think if i saw him i would start clapping
The top half of the outfit makes me think of him riding one of those old fashioned bicycles with the huge wheel in the front, and the lower half is reminding me of the bottle dancers in Fiddler on the Roof – but he looks great! Beautiful colors as usual, Sart.
I'm not surprised that he likes the Marx brothers. A guy that dresses like that must have, at least, some sense of humour!
Captain Spaulding!
Mmmmmmmmm, cordovan field boots.
He looks great in them—even with no horse in sight!
Fabulous! This is what style is all about!
Nice. Very nicely done.
He's like a modern day, real-life Mercutio.
Very rarely do can you see both a great sense of humour and sense of fashion in just one shot.
The sweater is amazing, like it's tailored.
He really does look spectacular — I, too, would clap. But I think it's the moustache that makes it feel like an impeccable costume rather than just a great, inventive look.
From the waist up, this cat is pretty well put together. But below that- way to Ringling Bros. for my taste. The sweater and hat are really fly.
He looks more Cretan traditional folklore man's costume to me than Marx brothers…
From the boots to the cap to the brilliant facial hair – perfection. I wish I worked somewhere where I could dress like this.
if i'm not mistaken, that sweater is an army sweater, and should be available at any army/navy [surplus?] store. both my father and old boyfriend own one, and it looks wonderful on both.
i'm curious… does he dress like this everyday?
it seems it would be difficult to find enough pieces to create an entire wardrobe.
i suppose it could be done via thrift stores, army/navy, tailoring, etc.
Italian hunting attire, circa 1950s.
Totally awesome.
I bought that same sweater at an army navy store a month ago but have been unsure how to wear it. Now I have an idea. Thanks!
This was really inspiring! Since I'm a huge Marx Brothers fan this was such a treat! The young man is really fabulous in his Marx-influenced style: I think the outfit looks well put together without the feeling that he's an actor who's just in a custome, dressed up for the stage. The early 1920-1930′s is a special era, and the mens' garments from that time can look a bit "baggy" (imagine the big [in swedish:] "äppelknyckar-byxor", a BIG cap, big mustach and a big coat/jacket). But this is just fun, and stylish! /AM – Sweden
I adore the color in this shoot – but I can`t help but thinking about what this picture would look like in black&white..
I have very similar pants and was planning to wear them with my knee-high boots. He beat me to it! And he looks perfect. Dammit! ;)
why not?
I absolutely LOVE it. I love vintage that looks accurate and real. The setting is right too…the light…the alley.
Great pic!
especially the
5 button CI army sweater
now THAT is a moustache I can get behind.
a handlebar does get up the nose a bit, but when you love the wearer, it's no matter. :)
How tall would you say this guy was? His torso looks kinda short, but I can't judge his lower body. The only reason I ask is that I usually think shorter guys (like me) look awkward in knee-high boots, but it looks great on him. But he may not be that short. I think the volume of the pants throws the eye off enough that it works.
wow, never saw a guy look so good with pants tucked in his boots.
looks like he just peaked out a play written by cechov.and the moustache is hot!
I love the pants- and I want a pair in every color right now!
The boots look a bit too feminine for him I wish they had some hardware or detail so they weren't so streamlined.
Someone above asked how a handlebar moustache kisses.. the answer is beautifully. My boyfriend has one.
Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous.
This guy has the best fashion I have seen so far. So classy…
Nouveau Jockey! And I mean that in the nicest possible way.
This is exactly what personal style is all about. While it would be easy to dissect each individual piece it's the toatal flow of this look that would make me want to KNOW this fella.
Al I can think of is how much courage it took to wear this outfit…or disdain for the boorish.
bravo for kookaii (11:02am) who nailed the look as a "modern day, real life Mercutio." absolutely!!!
i love his mustache and the colour of his boots.
The boots! I love it. I agree with Jill; clap clap clap!
yes, you should buy it because it'll help us to understand! I'm atornished.
somehow, i seriously doubt i'd be a motif for the honoured sartorialist..
well done sir!
He's rocking the Michael Corleone just arrived in Sicily look, circa Godfather 1.
Holy Cow! I love a dandy! I must have him so I can steal his…boots!
Great look, great inspiration. I'm gonna add that to my Christmas DVD festival. Thanks.
wow, i'm in love.
What a great shot. The dark background and the dark clothing just come together perfectly. As far as his personal style I am mad about anyone who can put together a look of their own like this with nary a designer label in sight. Please keep posting these unique shots.
wow, i'm speechless
simply great!!
…I´m asking myself if you´d have to change something and what, when you are not that slim…
I'm not sure what it is (is it the confident stance, the look, the boots?) but he is very sexy and sensual.
One of your best. The pose, the look, the colours, the boots, the pants, the moustache… Stunning. And so August Sander.
The moustache is a little Gangs of New York.
he's not growing it for movember?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movember. come to melbourne for some world class handlebars!! and other stylish masculine facial growth…
certainly has nailed the detail on outfit, from keychain and buttoned collar, thru to cap and boots. i love his precision, i'm sure his sartorial standards would translate over to more 'modern' dressing. he doesnt strike me as a 'tiny barbour' type guy!!
Those pants and boots are killer.
Someone call the psychiatrist, stat.
He is impersonating an Italian patriot preparing to battle the communists. I suspect I would not enjoy discussing politics over lunch with this young gentleman.
I think this is a very brave look–I know that I would feel costumey in it and thus couldn't wear it (besides the fact that I'm a woman and wouldn't anyway…I can't wear anything that feels like a "themed" look to me…)
It is a bit over the top, but like others have said, thats what you get when you mix a sense of humor with fashion…
The rich, yet subtle colours and the silhouette are definitely something I'd love to incorporate into my wardrobe.
As always, your blog is full of inspiration.
if you want to see some great shots of the Marxes off-set, Harpo's autobiography ("Harpo Speaks") has tons of photographs that really show off their style. it smacks of growing up on the east side in the teens and 1920′s…really amazing.
Quite snappy! All he needs is a riding crop.
I like everything but the moustache. I believe it takes a certain kind of man to pull off a good 'tache, and he just isn't one of them.
This is how my boyfriend dresses. There is nothing more pleasing than a young man with facial hair.
I love the combination of colors, it's nicely understated. What I think makes the outfit, though is the demeanor of the man, the outfit seems like a genuine statement of style, not a spectacle.
Yowsah! This makes MY top 10 list for 2007!
watch movies for dressing, lol…but really you need groucho to tell you to match a brown with a blue ;)
He is young, cute and has a mustache… I want to go to a pic-nick with him and wear my very fine suede evening gloves!
hahaha, i don't know, come on, he looks like a director from the 30s but it just doesn't work today.
Off to the Army Surplus place tomorrow to see if I can find a sweater like that. Actually I HAD one many years ago, in khaki.
you know what sart? i said stiletto boots!!!!
but, touche!
Looks like the traditional outfit of Cretan men (Crete, Greece).
Superbe !
do you know if he's married already?
very well done. a little Ă la Cohen bros., circa "o brother". lovely man, confident, excellent colors. coppola off to you, mister.
Sicilian horseman of the year, if the year were 1927.
fantastic. absolutely fantastic!
I really like his boots and.. I simply like it all very very much!
My town is to small for a man to get away with those boots. Guess I will have to buy an old motorcycle and say the boots came with it…
wow!! fantastic
although part of me thinks 'fancy dress'
I also doesnt own a horse. but in such a way no horse ….
and to say as an answer to laguna beach trad without a wish to harm you: that was not the outfit of italien patriots, but fashists …
I love this – unique and inspirational – personal style at it's best
This guy is sooo cool. What a fine 'tache! I love his sweater and want one now! A thoroughly brilliant, individual look! I would have to agree with Jill – there would be much clapping and jollification if I saw him in the street…shame I live in Scotland and probably won't get the chance…x
Love him! I just want his moustache!
I love the equestrian look (how can I not, I'm one myself) but it seems a bit silly to be wearing such a literal translation of the look if you aren't an actual horseperson heading off to the barn. I like tall boots with tight jeans, and a riding coat with a street pant or a dress or skirt, and even the Balenciaga version of the jodhpur. However, the reason I think these work is because they're drawing inspiration from the costume, but not taking it so literally.
I think that's what makes a truly quality look-the ability to take various influences and incorporate them in such a way that something new and not-so-transparent is created.
But of course, some people enjoy dressing as if they are in costume all of the time, I just, personally, could never imagine wearing my riding gear out in public as a fashion statement.
i love those boots
now there's an outfit. must say, for me personally, i've found the last few shots pretty uninspiring. but that's just down to different tastes i suppose.. however, this guy is wonderful i think :)
My dream man came to life!
Mike always dresses like that. And his job allows him to dress like that. lol, i'm sure he is delighted with the marriage proposals.
Such a beautiful picture and this mans style! LOOOVE IT!
I wonder what he works with? How he became so daring and sure of him selves? Rock on cool dude!
Hey Sart I had such a nice outfit today (i think you would hav loved to photogragh me), and you did not find me in the streets of NY..
I was in Nolita for lunch, soho for a hot chocolate, Broadway for shopping and uptown for a steak dinner.
I'll dress my coolest tommorow and hope for the best..
What a sexy man. I love it when men wear costume-like outfits like this but look utterly comfortable in them.
Right down to the perfect moustache, I adore this man. He's beautiful! I wish I were so well put together, with such a defined sense of self.
The moment I saw this picture I was sure that he is a horseman. Shiny,riding boots and real oldfashioned pants.Somehow he has this gypsy look and we all know that horses are important for them.SO-where is the HORSE?
I think it's hilarious that this young man is called "Mike". "Mike"?! I could accept Ferdinando, Amedeo, or Cesare, but "Mike"?! It doesn't suit his look. Just too much.
I myself adore the leather boots… This photo is timeless. From his vintage-style sweater to the detail buttons and well tailored slacks.. Everything blends!!!!!
I myself adore the redish color boots… The photo is timeless! From the vintage sweater to the detailed buttons and well-tailored slacks… A well-blend this gentleman is displaying….
Oh my god! I was friends with Mike in college about 4 years back and I am a daily visitor to your blog! I was totally surprised to see a familiar face! I never expected anyone I know to be photographed by you :)
If there's one thing I knew for sure about Mike it is that he is an original character, always.
I wish you could do a "few years back" vs. "today" shot with him because you wouldn't believe it.
(Mike, if you're reading this – it's Lisa Kinne from Hartford :) You look great)
He looks great!! Very good combination of the knit and pants and everything… Super stylish
That's one difference between you and me, Sart. You asked this young gentleman, Michael Haar, what movies he watches; and I would have asked this young gentleman, Michael Haar, for his phone number.
Eh, Tomato/Tomahto. He looks great.
Love the 70s porn star 'stash. He's got the face to pull it off.
the pants are like the traditional Cypriot Vraka pants
my grandfather wore them like this and with his knee high black leather boots – a strong look!
Absolutely genius!
I am sorry, but to me this is not well dressed, this is dressed up for a masquerade.
Still a very good photo, though!
Ostentatious, literal and costumey. I appreciate each individual piece but all together, it's rather ridiculous. the same goes for western/cowboy wear; one or 2 pieces can be great but cowboy boots + big belt buckle + western shirt + cowboy hat + bolo tie = costume.
I think I saw this guy recently, in Forever 21 Market St San Francisco, walking with a sense of purpose toward the mens section…could have been a look-a-like though…same proportions and pantaloon-ish effect.
Same guy?
On the NYMag Look Book
This one shows more similarity of features: http://robertfougere.com/
Was shocked to find this photo of my barber in your book just the other day! Pleased to see you caught him on the street to take a shot of his great style.
I'm from Argentina and our cowboys, called "gauchos", dress like that :D
A joy to see men wearing riding boots…don't see enough guys wearing them, and he wears them perfectly and proudly. Problem being of course, that high dress or riding boots were quite common for men…60-70 years ago, but if you wear them today as walking boots, they're either too showy, ostentatious or its part of a costume.
All power to Michael Haar…keep it up mate!
Well said, leatherpress. Riding boots are great… if you're in the saddle. Walking around the city in them… well, it's very costume-y. Proudly is the only way to wear them, if you don't want to appear clownish. He does all right.


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Hi Yah,
Have been using Barca (latest edition) on XP for ages & no probs, computer died & have bought new PC with Vista home edition & have found a problem with Barca...
I delete a email from any folder - emails go to trash as normal then if I compress folder all the email I deleted appear back in the folder again ???????
I have tried this on numerous occassions in different folders i.e In, Sent even Trash, the funny thing is that it's not always the same email that appear back in the folders after compression.
Even after I close Barca when I open it up the email that I deleted previously still appears in the In folder, trash folder, sent folder
Anyone any ideas as to why this is happening or anyone else having the same problems ?


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MXA PRODUCT TEST: Shoei VFX-W Helmet
WHAT IS IT? A radically new lid from the trendsetter in premium motocross helmet design.
WHAT'S IT COST? $399.99 (solid colors), $529.99 (graphics).
CONTACT? Your local dealer or www.helmethouse.com.
WHAT'S IT DO? Shoei needs no introduction. The Japanese company has been offering safe and eye-pleasing helmets to American racers for decades. At one point in history, Shoei offered the most popular helmet design in motocross (their Troy Lee-Penned VFX look was cloned by several boutique helmet companies). However, with more less-expensive "Shoei clones" and a swelling market of competition in the premium price range (over $350), Shoei has decided to set itself apart. The new VFX-W, Shoei's latest helmet, has features that focus on increased safety, comfort and aesthetics. Our goal was to find out if the VFX-W truly is different from Shoei's previous bread winner, the VFX-DT.
WHAT STANDS OUT? Here's a list of things that stand out with the Shoei VFX-W helmet.
ÿÿ (1) Shape. The MXA wrecking crew has long been enthralled by the look of Shoei helmets, dating back to the mid-'90s. From the front, the VFX-W shares the DNA of all the previous VFX helmets. It is when you turn the helmet that you realize that Shoei's designers have embraced "edge styling." Edge styling's overriding characteristic is hard edges, creases, ridges and rills that give a sense of movement to an inanimate object. There is no doubt that the VFX-W's shape, with its sharp beltline, is an acquired taste, but overall it was a hit with test riders. Additionally, the winglet on the lower back is a strange styling clue to be sure! The creases do provide the perfect slot for your goggle strap. On a side note, Shoei got rid of the snap-on plastic vents, which were prone to breaking. Hooray!
ÿÿ (2) Foam. The shell's liner is the most important part of a helmet. Shoei uses a dual-density EPS lining, which is softer at the crown and more dense around the sides of the helmet. The softer lining is meant to crush during an impact and reduce the force to the head. The MXA wrecking crew has always preferred dual-density shell liners to single-stage liners.
ÿÿ (3) Fit. The fit is deceiving. We won't kid you, this helmet is a hassle to get on. It requires serious effort to get your head in the helmet. On the first few attempts your temples take some serious abuse, but once on, the VFX-W is the best-fitting Shoei helmet we have ever tried on. We compare the difficulty of getting the helmet on to squeezing into a Formula 1 car. It takes some effort to get in, but once situated, everything falls readily at hand.
ÿÿ (4) Shell sizes. Shoei has four different sizing molds (extra-small, medium, large and extra-large). Most helmets are only available in three shell sizes. The extra shell size means that size gaps aren't achieved by varying padding thickness. A few riders complained about the cheek pads, which were extended further out on the chin bar compared to the VFX-DT. This chipmunk-cheek feeling lessens once the padding begins to break in. The VFX-W tipped the scales at three pounds, four ounces.
ÿÿ (5) Safety. With an eye towards post-crash safety, Shoei incorporated what they have coined the "Emergency Quick Release System." The system allows medical personnel to remove the cheek pads while the helmet is still on the rider. Very smart, but they need to get the AMA to approve the helmet removal system for Pro racing.
ÿÿ (6) Liner. The three-piece liner is designed to rout air through the interior to keep your head cool. We didn't notice any major gains in ventilation compared to the VFX-DT.
ÿÿ (7) Visor. We hated the previous VFX-DT's rear-mounted visor. Shoei's new W visor is an improvement. It does a much better job staying put when landing from jumps.
ÿÿ (8) Place of manufacture. The Shoei VFX-W helmet is made in Japan.
WHAT'S THE SQUAWK? It may be cruel to say, but we think that Shoei went to school on the Arai VX-Pro3. And they get a passing grade, because Shoei has closed the gap between the two high-end helmets.
Only one helmet had ever received five stars from the MXA wrecking crew (The Arai VX-Pro3). Now there are two.


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Microsoft has released the first details on the upcoming Extenders for Windows Media Center. Among other things, yesterday, the company announced that the Extenders will work with a variety of devices from Cisco, D-Link, and Niveus Media Inc.
While some devices will ship only as stand-alone units, several others will feature integration points with DVD players and televisions. Though the devices will have built-in Ethernet adapters, Microsoft is especially touting the units' support for the Wireless N protocol which will be helpful when streaming high-definition video.
Another major feature of the Extenders and their respective equipment is that they will support DivX, Xvid, and Windows Media Video HD formats. Along the same line, recorded television from Advanced Television Systems Committee and CableCARD tuners will be supported, and music and movies can be downloaded directly from providers such as MovieLink, CinemaNow, and Napster. A few bonus features include support for Reuters news feeds, NPR, and XM Radio subscriptions. "Whether it's a high-def show recorded from digital cable, new Internet video, or your personal library of pictures, music and videos, it's all on your television — just a remote-click away," said Dave Alles, general manager for eHome at Microsoft.
According to Microsoft, the new breed of Extender devices will be available this holiday season. Only two operating systems will work with the devices: Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate.


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Are you interested in the future of Tell City? Do you have ideas about your community to share? If your answer to either of these questions is "Yes," then join the city of Tell City, as your community begins to plan for its future through the development of a comprehensive plan. The first step is a community meeting to be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Friday at the Schergens Center. Please consider this an invitation to each citizen to attend and be part of the progress.
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Sometimes an easy bird can become difficult to identify. Such was the case with the molting bird below, a species that has crossed my path hundreds of times. It is an icterid, a family that includes blackbirds, grackles, orioles, cowbirds and meadowlarks, but beyond that I was temporarily stumped. My birding partner for the day, Danny Melore, was similarly stumped. We tried very hard to make it a Yellow-headed Blackbird but there was no chance of that happening. Then we briefly considered an abberantly-plumaged Bobolink before the birds identity finally came to me like a light bulb being turned on. Do you know what it is?
Of course, it is a molting male Brown-headed Cowbird and an excellent example of how just knowing the colors of a bird's plumage is not always enough to identify a bird. The birds shape, size, bill structure, call notes, and behaviour can all be used to figure out a bird's identity. It is humbling to be stumped, even temporarily, by such a common bird but it served a good lesson: always think common before thinking rare!
This post has been contributed to Bird Photography Weekly #4 at Birdfreak.
Pretty cool! Probably takes a bit to get you guys off track. Not me though. I knew immediately that it was a bird. 😉 Them wings gave it away.
Cheers, Klaus
I had a molting cowbird give me and my friends the ID run-around awhile back. I'm glad I'm not the only one that was initially confused.
They are tricky when they are still in that "scaly" phase. At least now, we have clue when the structural coloration becomes evident.
Haha… Cowbird was my first thought.
I guess knowing the common birds well really is key.
Great pictures Corey. A neat looking bird. I don't get to see them like that very often.
Great catch of the cow bird…. I love that name.
I LOVE photos of molting birds, they are so unique and can be so tricky to I.D., Great shots!
Cool molting bird! I did guess a brown-headed cowbird. But it was mostly just a whim, and was giggling when I read that's what it was.
I live in Va. Beach and saw the same type of molting cowbird on one of my feeders. Thought I'd made a rare discovery . . . until I looked on the ground and saw 35 of his closest readily idenifiable cowbird friends!
These moulting brown headed cowbirds are all over the place here in TN in August. They are not a very pretty sight, to be sure. I found out what they were because the females were easy to identify and they were hanging out together. Then a quick google image search on moulting cowbirds confirmed my suspicions. Thank goodness for google!
Glad I found this page to confirm. Poor guys are sitting out my window looking confused and stumped. I had to move their bird feeder since it was interfering with my finches and now they are trying to figure out where it is…
I was stumped by this bird today. First time I ever saw a molting brown-headed cowbird and was glad to get a picture of it!
Tricky (Molting) Icterid : I had this bird land fearlessly close to me while mowing my lawn, and was able to come within inches of it with my hand. this fearless bird followed me around my yard for hr., while mowing my lawn, flying across the yard to stay close to me when I got a distance away from him, was not scared of me or my lawn mower at all. Has anyone else have a common experience with this bird ?
Had just one in my yard. He followed me around and I was able to
Feed and touch him. Amazing encounter. He finally moved on.
© 2013 10,000 Birds. All words, images, and opinions are the property of their respective authors unless stated otherwise.


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GREENLAND — Democratic candidate for governor Maggie Hassan outlined a plan Thursday to improve the state's budgeting process by creating a panel of experts to provide reliable revenue projections to lawmakers.
GREENLAND — Democratic candidate for governor Maggie Hassan outlined a plan Thursday to improve the state's budgeting process by creating a panel of experts to provide reliable revenue projections to lawmakers.
The idea was one of three proposals Hassan highlighted during remarks to the Portsmouth Rotary Club.
In recent weeks, the Exeter Democrat and former state senator has delivered the message that she will restore support for public education as a means of boosting economic growth. That message was complemented Thursday by a promise to increase efficiency and transparency in state government.
Hassan said she would create a so-called "consensus revenue estimating panel." The panel would consist of economists, state employees and a bipartisan group of legislators. It would provide updated revenue projections to lawmakers throughout the year.
"As lawmakers, we can have differences and we can have different priorities, but we need to be using the same facts," Hassan said. "That's an important step to break gridlock and bring people together so we can move the state forward."
Hassan also said she would work with the Legislature to make sure the largest state agencies are audited more frequently, and promised to provide greater accountability by providing data about government spending online.
"People have a right to know that we are using their taxpayer dollars as efficiently as possible," she said. "That's why as governor, I'll work with agencies to develop performance goals and metrics and make sure that information is publicly available on the Internet."
Speaking to a small audience at the Portsmouth Country Club in Greenland, Hassan reaffirmed her pledge to veto any new sales tax or income tax that comes across her desk. Hassan also said she would reverse some of the "bad decisions" made by the current GOP-controlled Legislature, which cut taxes on tobacco, and established a new tax credit to help students attend private schools, which Democrats say is akin to a school voucher program.
Regarding casino gambling, Hassan said she supports the construction of one "high end, highly regulated" casino in New Hampshire.
Hassan also discussed health care and pension reform while fielding a handful of questions from the audience. She said the next governor of New Hampshire should "look closely" at accepting money from the federal government to fund the expansion of the Medicaid program, a measure called for under the federal health care law passed in 2010.
Hassan's Republican opponent, Ovide Lamontagne, has said he would not participate in the Medicaid expansion, and would instead request a waiver from the federal government to receive funding to establish a state-specific health care program.
Hassan argued the federal money will be a valuable asset to the state, but lawmakers must ensure that it's used in a way that makes sense for New Hampshire and addresses the underlying factors that drive up health care spending.


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TitleU.S. After Coal, W.Va. Push for Natural Gas Trust Fund
BodyFor decades, coal from West Virginia's vast deposits was mined, loaded on rail cars and hauled off without leaving behind a lasting trust fund financed by the state's best-known commodity. Big coal's days are waning, but now a new bonanza in the natural gas fields has state leaders working to ensure history doesn't repeat itself. West Virginia's Senate president, Jeff Kessler, is pushing to create an oil and natural gas trust fund to support core government functions decades from now. His goal: a cushion of funds long after the gas is depleted to buoy an Appalachian mountain state chronically vexed by poverty, high joblessness, and cycles of boom and bust. The Democratic Senate leader said the previous generation missed out on creating a permanent fund based on coal severance tax revenues. Current residents, he said, should be prudent and set aside a part of the revenue from the extraction of natural gas to benefit future generations. "Had we had the good sense to put a few cents aside of every ton of coal ... that has come out of our ground, we'd probably be the richest state in the Union instead of in many respects the poorest," Kessler said. Indeed, supporters say the future health and welfare of the state is, to some extent, at stake. West Virginia consistently has ranked among the states with the lowest life expectancy while grappling with problems of obesity, education and drug abuse. "This is really about protecting the long-term fiscal health of the state," said Ted Boettner, executive director of the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy. "Without a plan for the future, we're likely to continue to experience a lack of economic diversity, cycles of boom and bust and poor economic outcomes." Kessler's isn't a new concept. Other states with abundant natural resources have set up legacy funds as Alaska voters did in 1976 with a constitutional amendment creating the Alaska Permanent Fund to protect a portion of that state's oil wealth for future generations. That vote came amid construction of the trans-Alaska pipeline and the fund is now worth billions. Kessler is still crafting his Future Fund proposal for the 2014 legislative session that opens in January. He said he's leaning toward presenting it as a proposed constitutional amendment. His call for a trust fund would go on next year's ballot for voters to decide if it clears the Legislature. His proposed endowment would be built with a portion of oil and natural gas severance tax collections. Severance taxes, including those on coal and other natural resources, are a big part of the state budget. They contributed an estimated $462 million, or 11 percent, to total general tax revenues in the fiscal year that ended in June. The trust could not be tapped for a specified number of years and would be limited to supporting a few needs including education, economic development or tax relief once it became accessible. Kessler said constitutional protections would lock down the fund from lawmakers and interest groups tempted to pry it open prematurely to spend money elsewhere. "I don't want it to be willy nilly, people using it for pet projects," he said. He notes that places such as Alaska are already benefiting handsomely from their funds. Supported by about 30 percent of all mineral royalties the state receives, the Alaska Permanent Fund is invested in a broad portfolio and recently had an unaudited market value of $46.6 billion. Dividends, coming from investment profits, are paid each year to most Alaskans. Last year, the payment amounted to $878 per person. Principal can't be spent. Then there is North Dakota. Kessler recently led a group of West Virginia lawmakers there to study state's legacy fund. In 2010, North Dakota voters approved their Legacy Fund, which has been rising faster than predicted with booming oil production. Oil and gas revenue that began gushing in only since September 2011 had topped $1.3 billion as of last month. The fund gets 30 percent of the state's oil and gas tax collections. None of the money can be spent until 2017, and only then if the Legislature decides by a two-thirds vote to dip into it. Natural gas production in the big Marcellus Shale formation underlying parts of West Virginia and other nearby states has been rising even faster than energy experts had predicted. That production in West Virginia alone nearly doubled in the last five years and could nearly double again in coming years, they say. Tapping it can require an unconventional horizontal drilling method as well as hydraulic fracturing. Also known as fracking, that process relies on water drawn from area sources that's mixed with chemicals and sand and then pumped into wells to crack the rock. As a result of the production boom, natural gas severance tax collections in West Virginia are expected to surge. But despite the welcome news, some are taking a wait-and-see approach. Corky DeMarco, executive director of the West Virginia Oil and Natural Gas Association, said the proposal to divert money into a fund that's untouchable for years comes at a time of a shrinking state budget. "In theory, I'm not sure how anyone could not support leaving something for their children and grandchildren," he said. "The problem is that we are looking at budget deficits in West Virginia." The Legislature agreed in April to cut ongoing spending by $28 million and expects to face more budget pressures next year. The oil and gas industry worries that talk of creating a permanent fund could veer onto another subject, such as tax rates, DeMarco said. Kessler said his legislation would not increase severance tax rates. Boettner estimates that an oil and gas trust fund started now could accumulate $2 billion to $4 billion by 2040, if it wasn't tapped. But that wouldn't be politically practical, he said, adding that the fund would probably need to be accessible within five to 10 years to build public support. West Virginia House Speaker Tim Miley said some form of a Future Fund "carries great potential." He and Kessler, along with the House and Senate Finance committee chairmen, plan to meet with other legislators who visited North Dakota as they prepare for next year's session. Getting a constitutional amendment on the ballot requires super-majority support in both legislative chambers, and Kessler said he thinks that is attainable. "Rather than pouring it all into the General Revenue fund and spending every dime we get and wake up 20 years from now and say, 'What did we do with all that money,' we could say, 'Hey, we put it in the bank and put some aside," he said. That could be welcome money for a state struggling on many fronts. In July, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said West Virginia ranked among the worst four states for life expectancy and healthy life expectancy. In June, a report by the national KIDS COUNT project — backed by Annie E. Casey Foundation — found that 26 percent of West Virginia's children live in poverty. The report also said West Virginia's educational system ranks fourth-worst in the nation, citing in part a lack of quality pre-kindergarten programs. And while West Virginia has been a coal-producing powerhouse for generations, Kessler noted, some of its most economically stressed areas are in the heart of the coalfields. "When the (coal) seams got thinner and the jobs were done, there was just nothing to sustain their communities," Kessler said. "I don't want to see that happen again ... when I see another golden opportunity where we have something in great supply and enormous demand."
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