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By Liam Friel, Accenture Digital Video
Most CSPs will need to diversify to thrive in the digital economy. The rise of the Smart Home offers one of the best ways to do it.
Pundits have been talking about the potential of Smart Homes for years. Thanks to increasingly pervasive high-speed internet penetration and the emergence of desirable apps like security, heating and major appliances, potential is finally tipping into reality. A recent Accenture study predicted that the Smart Home could bring an additional $100 billion in profits to the communications industry by 2025.
CSPs will reap these profits by developing and operating the platforms on which the Smart Home operates. They're already trusted providers of connectivity, and increasingly of content. They have billing relationships (often long-standing) and can mine their internal systems for data-driven insight on individuals within the household. Analysing the digital video being consumed by householders, for example, can provide remarkable insight into what consumers want.
CSPs are not the only contenders for Smart Home platform ownership, of course. Digital Disruptors have made inroads with the introduction of AI assistants. While consumers may currently just see them as clever audio speakers, these devices could also provide a front end to a platform. And OTT video providers like Amazon and Google's YouTube, of course, could come up with that same remarkable insight.
ONE: Flawless network performance. People aren't buying "broadband" anymore; they're buying the connectivity that enables their life. Fast, reliable networks are the table stakes that earn CSPs the right to sell more.
TWO: Exploit visibility into the home. CSPs have a unique, usage-based view of everyone in a household. They can mine even more insight by giving customers the ability to opt in to new services in exchange for data. For example, some CSPs are deploying more sophisticated routers that can have differentiated services, automatically managing a multitude of devices and services. By opting in and actively managing their profiles, customers generate even more valuable usage data.
THREE: Now associate devices and services with users to personalise your offerings and customers' experiences. These should all be driven by analytics, both on the technical side (pro-actively determining problems on networks) and from a user experience perspective (developing living products and services based on habits and preferences).
FOUR: Bring the platform online to house and integrate those services. Though 80% of consumers say they'd love for a single provider to deliver their Smart Homes, no one company could conceivably provide the range of services expected. Behind the scenes, teamwork within a whole new, collaborative operating model will be essential. Providers within this API-based ecosystem will have to talk to each other in a way they never have before. Out front, the owner of the customer relationship will reap the benefits … as long as delivery is to the quality levels expected.
FIVE: Maintain a virtuous circle. Having come this far, the CSP is now in the enviable position of running a double-sided platform, with business growth opportunities coming from consumer users on one side, and service-providing partners on the other. The two-sided platform also lays the groundwork for a new era of highly sophisticated "living services" that can learn and tailor themselves in real-time to meet the changing needs of consumers, workers, patients and citizens.
Consumers will keep referring back to network performance, often not realising that the devices they keep adding are a drag on performance. (One CSP recently found that homes were adding an average of 10-12 connected devices a year on top of the laptops, phones and tablets associated with individuals in the house.) CSPs have an opportunity here to step in as trusted guides, delivering apps that help people understand and control network usage.
Security is another such issue. CSPs are highly trusted, giving them a distinct advantage in a market where security is amongst consumers' top concerns. Consumers will find it so important, for example, that a recent report from the European Telecommunications Network Operators and Accenture concludes that European-based operators, used to that continent's stringent security and privacy regulations, will have an advantage in consumer perception over global players based in countries with more lax data privacy laws. The security that CSPs build into their platforms will be a critical factor in maintaining the trust they've established.
While we have seen the rise of some global competitors, and others who are aggregating smaller brands, this is still a marketplace in its early growth stage. There's enormous potential. Consumers are pre-disposed to look to their existing, local service providers. Scores of CSPs around the world have their foot in the door of the Smart Home. Now is the time for them to push through.


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I'm a woman, but I have so much hair on my face that I look like I have a mustache and beard. Please help!
The condition you have, called hirsutism, is not uncommon and can be treated.
Why does hair grow so extensively on a man's face? Each hair grows out of a little pit in the skin called a follicle. Cells that live in the base of that pit cause the hair to form when androgens ("male" hormones) in the blood reach those cells. So two things are required: androgens in the blood, and cells that respond to androgens by making hairs.
Why would hair grow on some women's faces the way it grows on most men's faces? Because men and women are not as different as you might think. Women actually have measurable amounts of androgens in their blood. The levels are much lower than they are in a man's blood, but they are present. And the cells in the hair follicles on a woman's face also make hairs in response to androgens.
When a woman has unusually high levels of androgens in the blood, she can start to grow hair in places that most women don't. Such hair growth may also be caused by cells in the hair follicles that are more easily stimulated by androgens to make hairs, even when androgen levels are normal.
In some cases, the extra androgen comes from medications. Some birth control pills as well as certain steroids contain androgens, or have effects similar to androgens. Other drugs indirectly cause the body to make extra androgen hormones; these include some medicines to treat schizophrenia, seizures, migraine headaches, bipolar disorder and high blood pressure.
Occasionally, an abnormality in the ovaries, the adrenal glands or the pituitary gland can cause overproduction of androgens. One such (common) condition is polycystic ovarian syndrome. Your doctor can rule out these causes with various blood tests.
If your doctor diagnoses a specific cause, he or she can suggest appropriate treatment. For example, the rare tumors that produce androgen hormones can be treated with surgery, radiation or both.
All women with hirsutism can benefit from cosmetic treatments. These include:
- Plucking, shaving, waxing or depilatory creams.
- Laser hair-removal techniques use light to generate heat inside hair follicles, destroying their ability to produce hair.
- Electrolysis also destroys the ability of the follicles to grow hair by using electricity to produce heat within the hair follicles. It can leave small areas of scarring.
Long-term use of medical treatments can decrease levels of androgens or their impact on hair follicles. Medical treatments include:
- Estrogen-containing medicines. Several medicines, including birth control pills that contain both estrogen and progesterone, can alter the impact of androgens.
- Anti-androgen medicines. The most commonly used medicine is spironolactone (Aldactone). Others are available.

subset: commoncrawl


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NEWTON, N.C., Nov. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Directors of Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. (PEBK) declared a cash dividend for the fourth quarter of 2018 in the amount of $0.13 per share at their most recent meeting. The cash dividend will be paid on December 14, 2018 to shareholders of record on December 3, 2018.
Shareholders are encouraged to enroll in the Company's Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan. For details, contact Krissy Price at (828) 464-5620 or (800) 948-7195 or you may email any questions to our transfer agent, Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc. at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Peoples Bank, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. operates 20 banking offices entirely in North Carolina, with offices in Catawba, Alexander, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Iredell and Wake Counties. The Bank also operates loan production offices in Lincoln and Durham Counties. The Company's common stock is publicly traded and is quoted on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol "PEBK."
Statements made in this press release, other than those concerning historical information, should be considered forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to management and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those described in Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc.'s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, under "General Description of Business" and otherwise in the Company's reports and filings.
Lance A. Sellers
President and Chief Executive Officer
A. Joseph Lampron, Jr.
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
828-464-5620, Fax 828-465-6780


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I have been reading the stackexchange questions on enhanced symmetries in string theory, the Leech lattice, monstrous moonshine, etc. , and I have a question to ask.
An astute commentator pointed out with enhanced symmetries, massless vector bosons have to couple in the Yang-Mills fashion. Only if the massless vectors come in a Lie algebra will that be possible.
Imagine bosonic string theory. Compactify 24 spatial dimensions over the Leech lattice or odd Leech lattice. With respect to the uncompactified dimensions (one spatial and one timelike), we get 196560 massless vector bosons, but they can't be part of any Lie algebra. But that's OK because massless vector bosons in 2 dimensions have zero norm.
Let's try again. Compactify 23 spatial dimensions over the shorter Leech lattice. There are 2 spatial and one timelike uncompactified dimensions. Over this space, we have 4600 massless vector bosons, but they're not part of any Lie algebra either. But that's also OK because massless vector bosons in 3 dimensions are physically indistinguishable from massless scalar bosons. The reason for this is there is no helicity.
If we try to find a similar example over at least 4 uncompactified dimensions, where massless vector bosons exist for certain and aren't equivalent to anything else, we discover all unimodular lattices in 22 dimensions or less are part of a root system. Thus, we always have a Lie algebra.
What is the magical mechanism in string theory enforcing this sort of self-consistency? Is string theory only self-consistent because of accidental coincidences?


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Who doesn't love seeing their own name or artwork on something useful like a pencil? This is an easy way to bring new life to a boring or in our case a holiday pencil ! These are perfect back to school crafts.
- Gather your materials. You will need some plain sticky back labels, markers, a pencil and pencil sharpener.
- Grab your markers and start designing, I can never find things with Allie on them and even if I use my whole name there are so many ways to spell Allison that I'm lucky if I find my spelling.
- Carefully wrap the label around the pencil. Don't worry if it wrinkles just smush it down as flat as you can.
- Sharpen it and you are stylin' ! All the pencils I made sharpened no problem with the labels!


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Balnar Management Ltd.
If you're looking for an apartment, townhome or rental property in Guelph, Kitchener, Waterloo or Fergus, you've come to the right place.

Our goal is to work the hardest we can not just to give you an apartment but a home for you and your family. We know you need a place to relax, feel safe, comfortable and secure all while having the knowledge that your needs will be met.

We pride ourselves in giving you the best possible place to live whether it be in our Guelph, Kitchener and Fergus apartments or in our townhomes in Waterloo and Kitchener.

Welcome to not just your next apartment, but your next home!


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Item #1041
Annual. The wonderful scent and beauty that delights sweet pea lovers, but with shorter vines. Needs little or no support. Knee-High Blend offers a symphony of colors to brighten up your garden, short trellis or basket. Multiple florets of blossoms that average 1-inch for excellent cut flower bouquets.
Seedling Image
Full sun
Blooms spring/summer
2'-3' vines
Days to Emerge:
Seed Depth:
Seed Spacing:
When to sow outside: RECOMMENDED. Cold winter climates: 4 to 6 weeks before average last frost, or as soon as the soil can be worked. Mild winter climates: Late fall to early winter for early spring bloom.
When to start inside: 4 to 6 weeks before average last frost.
Special germination instructions: To hasten germination, soak seed in water for 12 - 24 hours, or nick with sandpaper before sowing.
Artist: Carolyn Crawford
Item #1041
3.00 grams
What is Soil?
Soil is a diverse mix of substances, teeming with life and composed of minerals, decayed plant and animal matter, water, and air. It…More…
These are some simple techniques you can use to extend the life of your cut flowers from days, to over a week.
1) In the morning or early evening,…More…


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3 's
Check out now. Fast, Easy, Secure Checkout.
Primary Material: Pearls, lace,Genuine Leather,
Size: US:4.5-9
Color: White
wedding,Cocktail party
If I could rate this seller a 0 I would.
I contact my seller immediately after placing my order due to concerns with communication and the legitimacy of this seller. They made no effort to respond with confirmation to cancel my order, and no refund. My money was taken from me, and I have had NO contact from the seller in two weeks since placing my order despite numerous attempts and methods to try to contact them. DO NOT BUY FROM THIS SELLER!!! It is a scam to steal your money!! I will be posting everywhere I can so everyone knows to not by from Trymybest, because she will try her best to scam you and take your hard earned money!
Thank you for your business! If you have any questions or need more information, please contact me using the "Contact this seller" button. I am happy to assist you.
After 2 weeks your items will automatically renewed for another 60 days and $0.23 per item will be added to your billing ledger.
While you were away our TOU was updated,
read the terms of use here.
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In the second part of his two-part blog on lenders and marketing, guest blogger Mike Hogan, commercial analyst with Stewart-Peterson Inc., shares comments from ag lenders who participated in a simulated marketing activity.
This spring, I had a unique opportunity to help lenders experience what it's like to be in the shoes of a producer making marketing decisions. Through a farm marketing simulation activity that Stewart-Peterson created, lenders attending the trade show at the Wisconsin Banking Association's Ag Lenders Conference in mid-April had the opportunity to market one month's worth of milk production for a 400-head dairy and one month's purchases of soymeal.
To help participants experience the risk that occurs in the real world, the activity included three pricing periods and as the market moved (within the three periods) each participant's weighted average price, or WAP, also moved. We call the simulation What's Your WAP? and I explained more about it and which marketing strategies faired best in this recent blog post "Simulation activity underscores the difference strategic marketing makes"
In visiting with lenders who participated in the simulation, many agree that the experience gave them great perspective – both in better understanding the market and in grasping the emotional factors that influence decision making.
Jason Lindeman, vice president and agricultural loan officer at AbbyBank in Abbotsford, Wis., valued the exercise because it required making decisions and showed the outcome from those decisions.
Jason shared with me that he liked the tangible learning experience What's Your WAP? offered compared to simply talking about "what if" scenarios. "The exercise definitely gives participants a better understanding of the impact of your trades made," he said.
Because of this Jason added, "I think producers hesitant on buying into marketing would be more likely to market their milk and feed after doing a simulation like this."
As well, Jason said the marketing activity demonstrates how important planning and consistency are in marketing. "It's important to have – and remember – your plan in marketing and not get too greedy when the opportunity is there to meet your marketing objective."
Brad Guse, vice president and agricultural banking officer with BMO Harris Bank in Marshfield, Wis., also found value in the activity.
Interestingly, it was Brad's suggestion about a year ago that prompted us to develop What's Your WAP? He wanted to see something developed that would help lenders "practice what they preach" and give them a chance to experience what it's like to make marketing decisions and see the results.
Of his experience with What's Your WAP? Brad told me, "It certainly put us in the producer's shoes. We felt the emotions and angst that goes along with making decisions and pulling the trigger."
Because new market information was shared with participants in each of the three trading decisions, Brad said he also felt the pressure of having to make relatively quick decisions, and he admitted he's now more cognizant you don't always have enough time to make the best decisions.
For me, this really underscores the importance of pre-planning marketing. Marketers who know what they're going to do in advance if the market goes up a little or a lot, or down a little or a lot avoid having to make difficult decisions in the heat of the moment. Emotional decisions often turn out poorly.
I asked Brad if he was surprised to learn that those marketers who were active, but not too aggressive, ended up with the best weighted average price (WAP) for both milk and soymeal in the end. He said he wasn't – and compared it to the tortoise and the hare. "Steady and consistent is important in risk management. That's the lesson. You don't want a strike out that takes you out of business."
I couldn't agree more. Marketing is a marathon, not a sprint. There are no shortcuts
that yield long-term success.
Mike Hogan is a commercial analyst for Stewart-Peterson, a commodity marketing consulting firm based in West Bend, Wis. You may reach Mike at 800-334-9779, email him at [email protected]
Scott Stewart is CEO of Stewart-Peterson, a commodity marketing consulting firm based in West Bend, Wis. You may reach Scott at 800-334-9779, email him at [email protected]
The data contained herein is believed to be drawn from reliable sources but cannot be guaranteed. Neither the information presented, nor any opinions expressed constitute a solicitation of the purchase or sale of any commodity. Those individuals acting on this information are responsible for their own actions. Commodity trading may not be suitable for all recipients of this report. Futures trading involves risk of loss and should be carefully considered before investing. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Any reproduction, republication or other use of the information and thoughts expressed herein, without the express written permission of Stewart-Peterson Inc., is strictly prohibited. Copyright 2013 Stewart-Peterson Inc. All rights reserved.


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Label changes open door for discussion of 'good' fats, GOED chief says
"Certainly in the proposed label review FDA did not do a thorough review of all 20,000 papers on omega-3s," Ismail told NutraIngredients-USA.
Agency: Evidence inconclusive
In its draft proposal, FDA wrote: "Based on a review of relevant scientific research, in 2004, FDA concluded in its qualified health claim review that there is supportive, but not conclusive, research to suggest that n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (EPA and DHA) reduce the risk of CHD."
The agency further stated that, "Because of the lack of well-established evidence for a role of n-3 or n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in chronic disease risk and the lack of a quantitative intake recommendation, and consistent with the factors discussed in section I.C., we tentatively conclude that the declarations of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids are not necessary to assist consumers to maintain healthy dietary practices."
"We've known for a long time that what is needed is for the Institute of Medicine to consider whether there should be separate recommended intakes for EPA and DHA," Ismail said. "FDA needs the input of an authoritative government body in order to be able to take a stance on the issue. We have suggested to IOM that they do a large-scale review of omega-3s."
Calories are not the important factor
The issue of the efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids is bound up with the issue of fat in general. One of the key changes on the new labels is that the "calories from fat" callout has been removed, something that Ismail saw as a good thing.
"FDA says with regards to fats that the total calories from fat is so important any more because they want consumers to think about the quality of fat they are consuming. They want to treat fats differently based on the quality of the fat," he said.
Ismail said FDA's rejection of omega-3s as a specified nutrient on the labels was not a surprise, but the agency's de-emphasis of fat as a calorie source was. The next step, and one that GOED will advocate for in its comments on the proposal, is to set up a framework in which information about good fats can be communicated to consumers.
"We want to make sure that there is an acknowledgment that there are some good fats out there," Ismail said.
In the draft proposal, FDA seems to open the door for more discussion on the issue, while not providing much cause for hope that omega-3s will show up on food labels anytime soon: "We acknowledge that certain polyunsaturated fatty acids are essential and understand the interest expressed by some comments that there is a need to provide information on beneficial fats. However, the essentiality of a nutrient is not a factor considered for the mandatory or voluntary labeling of non-statutory nutrients, other than essential vitamins and minerals."


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eHealth Solutions
Improve communication in healthcare
"The need for collaboration platforms in the healthcare sector will be increasing enormously in the future. Today we have many different sectors in primary care – and inpatient care. In the future, they will have to become more integrated."
Univ. Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Werner Leodolter,
Steiermärkische Krankenanstalten GmbH
Chief Information Officer, Information & Process Management
With customized clinical applications, eHealth Solutions support healthcare executives in realizing resource-saving, high-quality patient care.
Sustainable solution that fits to your environment
A scalabale infrastructure that fits for single hospitals or small hospital groups, as well as for regions or nations, for future growth:
- Sharing of data and expertise
- Saving resources
- Creating a homogeneous network for easy processes
Enhanced workflows lead to cost savings
Using a virtual Electronic Health Record, information AND expertise is where it is needed:
- Efficient processes and cost savings - Patient-centered care
- Improved cross-institutional communication
Attractive infrastructure and applications
Individual offerings for your institution and network:
- Providing value by building a whole network
- Help to bind patients and referrers
- Offering teleconsultations and tumor boards
Basis for future population health and knowledge exchange
Standard-based interfaces for easy connection to other systems:
- Connecting existing data silos
- Provision of standard interfaces
- IHE conformity


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All of our Tucson Health Clubs are listed below. Click on their name to see the details for that specific Tucson Health Club.
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6127 N La Cholla Blvd
Tucson, AZ 85701
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Create an Account - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about.
Carrboro is dedicated to providing opportunities for safe, decent and affordable housing for all of our citizens, no matter income level. Through an interdepartmental approach, the utilization of Carrboro's Affordable Housing Advisory Commission and policies like our Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance, Carrboro is working towards having suitable housing options for all citizens.
We understand that affordable housing is a regional issue best solved through collaboration. We work closely with regional partners like the HOME Consortium, Orange County Affordable Housing Coalition, Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness, the Triangle J Council of Governments, and others, to find affordable housing solutions.


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Hotels in Madrid
Find a place to stay
Top neighbourhoods in Madrid
Top landmarks in Madrid
Find out more about Madrid
Exploring Madrid
Set in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula, Spain's capital city of Madrid is a fascinating combination of Bohemian culture, striking modernity, delicious cuisine, magnificent artistic and architectural heritages and a large and varied chunk of the world's most vibrant nightlife. The Madrilenos as a cultural group are laid-back and traditional in their daily routines, tailoring their activities to the region's varied climate. The siesta is observed with almost religious fervour, and the cooler nights of summer are celebrated until early morning in clubs, tapas bars and dance venues.
The heart of the city is the Puerta del Sol square, a favourite meeting place for citizens and home to several of Madrid's colourful fiestas. Plaza Mayor is the tourist hub, lined with cafés, tapas bars and restaurants and home to local markets and the occasional concert or tournament. The massive Royal Palace is one of Europe's largest former royal residences, now used for state ceremonies and crammed with treasured artworks. Self-guided or guided tours give access to a world of lavish décor, precious antique silverware, porcelain and tapestries. The Royal Armoury holds medieval armour and weapons, and the palace sits opposite the superb Cathedral of la Almudena.
Sights nearby
The old city with its landmarks and attractions is home to a selection of accommodation including the Petit Palace Puerta del Sol, set close to the Museum Triangle and other landmarks.
- Museum Triangle
Its position set in the old city and as home to Madrid's three most important art museums, make the Triangle a must–see for visitors. Here you'll find the Museo del Prado, the Thyssen-Bornemisza collection of classical artworks and the modern art museum of Reina Sofia, dedicated to Picasso's works.
Madrid's massive Royal Palace on Calle Bailen is one of the largest in Europe, and considered one of the city's most beautiful and emblematic buildings. Once the home of Spain's Royal family, it's kept nowadays for ceremonial occasions and is crammed with treasures.
- Puerta del Sol
The heart of Madrid is the Puerta del Sol, a huge square and transit hub popular with locals as a meeting place and festival centre. Equally popular with visitors, its street entertainers, statues and local cafés and bars are crowded with Madrilenos day and night.
- Palacio de Cibeles
The fairytale towers and elaborate architectural features of Madrid's Palacio de Cibeles bely its everyday function as a city hall with their sheer extravagance. Set in Cibeles Square, it's an excellent photo opportunity.
Eating and drinking and shopping nearby
Spanish cuisine isn't all paella and tapas, as Madrid's eateries offer a wide selection of typically traditional local dishes as well as international cuisine. Favourites are cuts of lamb fried in lamb fat, spicy tripe hotpots with Balkan flavours, a delicious stew of meat, vegetables and chick peas and the famous garlic soup, enriched with olive oil, grated smoked ham, a poached egg and fried bread. Top-quality seafood is a popular choice on many upscale hotels' restaurant menus, with the InterContinental Madrid a good place to try. Madrid's shoportunities range from the mall district of Sol-Salamanca through Madrid's famous markets, the El Rastro flea market and Fuencarral Market. For sheer luxury and famous brands such as Burberry, Hugo Boss, Versace and Tommy Hilfiger, Las Rozas Village Outlet Shopping is the place to go.
Public transport
Visitors to Madrid enjoy one of the best public transportation networks of any world city, second only to that of London. The metro covers many of the attractions, with frequent buses taking up the slack where the underground service doesn't run. Taxi travel is convenient but drivers rarely speak English.


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Up to 13 SEER Rating: The higher the SEER rating, the more efficient the unit operates, and the more you will save on cooling bills!
Electric Control System: Controls every function of the furnace with digital accuracy to keep your home comfortably heated.
Uses R410a Refrigerant: Uses R410a refrigerant - A chlorine free, high performance refrigerant that
is better for the environment.
Steel Cabinet: Steel cabinet protects against damage and the elements.
Louvered Side Panels: Louvered side panels feature powder-coated gray paint
that will inhibit rust or fading and maintain a "new" appearance.
Onboard Diagnostics: Onboard diagnostics continually monitor operation and provide
critical service and maintenance information.
100% Run-Tested in Factory: Each unit undergoes a thorough inspection and performance test before leaving the factory.
Heavy Duty Insulation Blanket: Heavy duty insulation blanket and wire fan guard reduce operating sound.
Quiet Shift Technology: Allows the unit to shift quietly into defrost mode without the loud hissing noise that occurs in some heat pumps.


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FamilyHairrcut specials@UnisexEuropeanHair in the Kelly CrossingPlaza.
Hello Fort Myers.We are announcing June 1st,2011 we celebrate our third year in our new location in the Kelly crossing plaza next to Contour Body Works and Metro P.C..Proudly serving SW Florida nine years and counting.To thank our community we'd like to offer a special on all our services 20%off all full services and $14.00 Adult haircuts and bring the kids Haircuts just$10.99 that's rite $10.99.we offer 28 plus services walk ins welcome or call for an appointment @(239)267-hair(4247)Be sure to mention this ad.Look for our savings coupons in the PLUSH magazine Unisex European Family Salon.Just look for the Rashsta Smiley face on the building smiling @the word SALON in bright yellow.When you been to the rest its time to have the best.European trained 37 years experience.Serving you is our number one pleasure.Blessings Pa&staff
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What do you want to be when you grow up?March 10, 2016
The reason my panties remain un-bunched is that, so far, every weapon that Mack has built is pathetically inadequate for taking down Cayden-sized prey. I've seen several of his creations throughout the weekend and I believe the majority of them are as benign as a feather duster. He has a homemade BB gun made from a mechanical pencil, a dart gun which used to squirt water, and the above mentioned chop stick hurling crossbow. He told me the other day that he was "born to make weapons"- that admission was a bit unsettling. No parent wants to announce that their child is an international weapons manufacturer at the local garden club meeting, unless of course the club meets in Baghdad.
The one piece of his newfound fascination that is alarming is that the Marine in me can't stand to see an ineffective weapons system and the tinker-er in me has the technology to make those weapons better, stronger, faster- sort of like the guy who rebuilt Steve Austin after his spaceship crashed in the 6-Million Dollar Man.
So when Mack wasn't looking, I tinkered with his dart gun and increased the muzzle velocity on the damn thing by approximately 300%- enough to fire a toothpick clean through a ½ inch piece of sheet rock (our dining room wall happens to be made of just such a substance- this is how I know the thickness- oops). Smelling a potential lawsuit, I quickly reversed the modifications I had made and put it back on the counter.
Note to self- deny my services if Mack finds "You Tube" directions for homemade hand grenades.
Posted in:at 11:30 pm Thu, Mar 10, 2016.


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News from the world of Maths
A team of Australian researchers has delivered dire news for polar ecosystems, predicting that in some regions biodiversity may be reduced by as much as a third within decades. It's the result of a tipping point induced by global warming.
This year's British Science Festival will take place from 7 - 12 September at the University of Newcastle and there's plenty of (mostly free) maths on offer.
Why are drug induced hallucinations so compelling that they apparently provided much of the inspiration for early forms of abstract art? Researchers suggest that the answer hinges on an interplay between the mathematics of pattern formation and a mechanism that generates a sense of value and meaning.
Number theory is famous for problems that everyone can understand and that are easy to express, but that are fiendishly difficult to prove. Here are some of our favourites.
Rollercoasters, the London Eye, planes, bikewheels and boomerangs - no it's not our plans for the summer holidays, it's just a normal afternoon at a Maths Inspiration gig.
Did you learn at school that the angles in a triangle always add up to 180 degrees? If yes then your teacher was wrong. Find out why here.
Right. That's it. We're convinced. We are officially behind team tau! Find out why and celebrate tau day with us!
Agreeing to pay £50,000 for something worth £2 wouldn't win you any haggling competitions. In mathematics, however, a similar result can bring you international acclaim. This is the case with recent progress towards the famous twin prime conjecture.


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Product info
- Supports absorption and utilization of important nutrients
- Supports normal digestion
- Provides enzymes that promote absorption of nutrients
- Supports normal digestion of grains (gluten) and dairy (casein)
- Supports a healthy digestive tract
- Supports normal growth of intestinal cells
- Promotes stomach comfort
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- Gluten-Free
- Vegan
Product Classifications
Why Choose DNA Miracles Isotonix Digestive Enzymes?
While there are many options to help support a child's nutritional needs, it's important to trust the supplement you're using works for the unique needs of your child. That's why we created DNA Miracles Isotonix Digestive Enzymes. While there are many children's digestive health products on the market, DNA Miracles Isotonix Digestive Enzymes is uniquely formulated to aid children needing additional digestive support. DNA Miracles Isotonix Digestive Enzymes promotes stomach comfort and bowel regularity in children by supporting the absorption of foods with a formula that works to split proteins during digestion, making them smaller and easier to digest. Not only does this promote normal digestion and absorption of nutrients, it also promotes bowel regularity. In addition, DNA Miracles Isotonix Digestive Enzymes is formulated using the revolutionary Isotonix Delivery System. Combining the Isotonix Delivery System with an enhanced, patented enzyme blend that better tolerates stomach acids and supports the normal digestion of dairy and gluten, DNA Miracles Isotonix Digestive Enzymes presents a diversified formula designed for even the most challenging foods indulged in by children. DNA Miracles Isotonix Digestive Enzymes works not only to promote stomach comfort, but also as a promoter of long-term digestive health. Give your child the nutritional support they deserve with DNA Miracles Isotonix Digestive Enzymes. Because Every Child is a Miracle.
Isotonix Delivery System
DigeZyme® is a multienzyme complex composed mainly of amylases (starch hydrolyzing enzymes), proteases (protein hydrolyzing enzymes) and lipases (lipid hydrolyzing enzymes). These digestive enzymes collectively support the breakdown of complex macromolecules into energy sources and promote the release of the nutrient content from the foods we eat. The digestive system naturally produces digestive enzymes. DigeZyme supplements the gastrointestinal tract with enzymes to adequately support the body's ability to digest food. In addition to the amylases, proteases, and lipases, DigeZyme contains two additional digestive enzymes including lactase (lactose hydrolyzing enzyme) and cellulase (cellulose hydrolyzing enzyme). DNA Miracles Isotonix Digestive Enzymes supports the absorption and utilization of important nutrients and provides enzymes that promote the absorption of nutrients, in children who need digestive support.*
Sucrase (Invertase)
Sucrase is a digestive enzyme secreted by the villi of the epithelium in the small intestine that supports the hydrolysis of sucrose, also known as table sugar, into glucose and fructose. Glucose and fructose can then enter the blood stream and be used for energy. The source of sucrase in this product is from food.
Maltase is another digestive enzyme produced by the villi of the epithelium in the small intestine. It promotes the hydrolyzation of the disaccharide maltose into two monosaccharide glucose molecules. The source of maltase in this product is from food.
Papain is a sulfhydryl cysteine protease produced naturally in papaya fruit. It can be found naturally as a zymogen, or pre-enzyme, that is activated upon exposure to cysteine residues found in proteins. It has been shown to provide better support than other proteases due to the zymogen nature of the enzyme. Papain has been used traditionally to support digestion of tough animal meat fibers. Because papain is not chemically altered during its proteolytic activity, the enzyme is able to react multiple times per enzyme. Bromelain Bromelain is a mixture of enzymes, primarily proteases, found in the pumice and stems of pineapple. It is one of the few enzyme extracts shown to support the breakdown of casein, the major protein found in milk. Bromelain supports normal digestion of grains (gluten) and dairy (casein).
Kiwi Proteases (Actinidin)
Kiwi fruit is rich in the protease actinidin which supports the body's normal ability to degrade cysteine residues in proteins. Proteolytic activity on cysteine amino acids promotes the liberation of the sulfhydryl groups from proteins.
Glutamine is a conditionally essential amino acid, meaning that the body can synthesize glutamine, but certain conditions can require more glutamine than the body can produce. It is involved in more biological processes than any other amino acid. Glutamine serves as a source of energy for the enterocytes lining the gastrointestinal tract, as well as some immune cells (intraepithelial lymphocytes, IgA plasma cells and goblet cells, which are epithelial in nature and secrete mucin). Glutamine has been shown to support the normal proliferation of enterocytes leading to preservation of the villi barrier function of the small intestine. Scientists have discovered that glutamine can support the health of the gastrointestinal lining.
Why are digestive enzymes important for my child's health?
Proper digestion is essential for the body to effectively utilize food for use by cells and tissues. Enzymes support the normal breakdown of food into substances that can be used to provide energy to the body. Supplementation with digestive enzymes provides the body with the additional support it needs for proper digestion.
How does DNA Miracles Isotonix Digestive Enzymes compare with other enzyme formulas?
DNA Miracles Isotonix Digestive Enzymes contains DigeZyme®, which is designed to replenish essential digestive enzymes, supporting digestive health. It also contains protease enzymes that support the body's normal ability to break down proteins such as casein (dairy) and grains (gluten).*
When is the best time to take DNA Miracles Isotonix Digestive Enzymes?
It is generally recommended that enzyme supplements be taken at the beginning or early on in the meal to assure appropriate digestive support, since most food stays in the upper part of the stomach for an hour and half. However, if the enzymes are not taken before or at the beginning of the meal, they can be supplemented after the meal is started.
Are there any allergens in DNA Miracles Isotonix Digestive Enzymes?
DNA Miracles Isotonix Digestive Enzymes is a vegetarian product and contains no wheat, soy, yeast, gluten, artificial flavor, starch, salt, preservatives or milk.
What is the serving size for DNA Miracles Isotonix Digestive Enzymes?
Pour one level capful of the powder into a cup. Add 2 fl. oz. (line on the colored overcap indicates 2 fl. oz.) of water and stir. As a dietary supplement, take with each meal, three times a day, or as directed by your physician. Additional servings may be taken as necessary.
Can my children take DNA Miracles Isotonix Digestive Enzymes in addition to other DNA Miracles products?
An assortment of DNA Miracles products – DNA Miracles Chewable Probiotics, DNA Miracles Essential Omega 3, DNA Miracles Isotonix OPC-3, and DNA Miracles Isotonix Multivitamin or DNA Miracles Isotonix Multivitamin Plus – can be taken in addition to DNA Miracles Isotonix Digestive Enzymes.
- Brudnak, M., et al. Enzyme-based therapy for autism spectrum disorders – Is it worth another look? Medical Hypotheses. 58(5): 422-428, 2002.
- Horvath, K., et al. Gastrointestinal abnormalities in children with autistic disorder. Journal of Pediatrics. 135(5): 559-563, 1999.
- Yalcin, S., et al. Effect of glutamine supplementation on diarrhea, interleukin-8 and secretory immunoglobulin A in children with acute diarrhea. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. 38(5): 494-501, 2004.
- Evans, M., et al. Glutamine prevents cytokine-induced apoptosis in human colonic epithelial cells. Journal of Nutrition. 133(10): 3065-3071, 2003.
- Furukawa, S., et al. Glutamine-enhanced bacterial killing by neutrophils from postoperative patients. Nutrition. 13(10): 863-869, 1997.
- Kidd, P. Autism, an extreme challenge to integrative medicine. Part I1: medical management. Alternative Medicine Review. 7(6): 472-499, 2002.
- Miller, A. Therapeutic considerations of L-glutamine: a review of the literature. Alternative Medicine Review. 4(4): 239-48, 1999.
- Miller, A. The pathogenesis, clinical implications, and treatment of intestinal hyperpermeability. Alternative Medicine Review. 2(5): 330-345, 1997.
- Reeds, P. and Burrin, D. Glutamine and the bowel. Journal of Nutrition. 131: 2505S-2508S, 2001.
- White, J. Intestinal pathophysiology in autism. Experimental Biology and Medicine. 228(6): 639-649, 2003.
- Yalcin, S., et al. Effect of glutamine supplementation on diarrhea, interleukin-8 and secretory immunoglobulin A in children with acute diarrhea. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. 38(5): 494-501, 2004.
- Borovicka, J., et al. Role of lipase in the regulation of postprandial gastric acid secretion and emptying of fat in humans: a study with orlistat, a highly specific lipase inhibitor. Gut. 46: 774-781, 2000.
- Caspary, W. Physiology and pathophysiology of intestinal absorption. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 55: 299S-308S, 1992.
- Du, H., et al. Enzyme therapy for lysosomal acid lipase deficiency in the mouse. Human Molecular Genetics. 10(16): 1639-1648, 2001.
- Keller, J. and Layer, P. Human pancreatic exocrine response to nutrients in health and disease. Gut. 54: 1-28, 2005.
- Kidd, P. Autism, an extreme challenge to integrative medicine. Part I1: medical management. Alternative Medicine Review. 7(6): 472-499, 2002.
Customer Reviews
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|CVA Str P223 J. A. Brock 1887
In the same article I mentioned a row of houses on the 600 block of East Cordova. There are a number of 1880s houses in that block which includes two houses built by Italian-born hotelier Angelo Calori, the builder of Vancouver's landmark flatiron Europe Hotel at Carrall and Powell.
|357 East Cordova, built by Angelo Calori in 1907
|313, 311, and 305 Heatley
305 Heatley was home to English-born lumberyard foreman Stanilaus Brereton, hi wife Ada and their family.
|305 Heatley
|311 Heatley
|313 Heatley
|CVA 447-314 Professor Edward Odlum's house on Dec 26, 1935 by Walter Edwin Frost
|CVA Photo Port P941.3 President Harding with V. W. Odlum at right - July 26, 1923
|CVA Photo Mon P54 - Maj.General Odlum at George Vancouver's Grave
Odlum only lived at 311 Heatley for a year, but it is interesting to see just how much history can be locked into these old houses north of Hastings.
Currently, there is an application for demolition for the three houses on Heatley but I understand that the owner would as likely sell the houses is he/she could get $500,000 for each of them. Any takers?


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Welcome to Watch List, where we identify five things on TV to watch while you stay at home and try and figure out how the Giants blew a 21-point lead and ended up losing on a punt return touchdown. Holy smokes, that was insane. LET'S GO!
MILLION DOLLAR MONEY DROP – 8:00PM (FOX) From the people who brought you "Greed" and "The Moment of Truth" comes another game show that will leave you aggressively indifferent. Every contestant is given a million dollars at the beginning of the show. But there's a catch, you see. They must answer seven questions right to keep that money. Every time they answer a question wrong, some of the money drops! Yes, that's right! Gravity punishes you! Oh the humanity! Anyway, Kevin Pollak hosts, and I can't begrudge him for taking the gig. He seems like a really nice dude. ANTICIPATION: DROPPY!
PERFECT COUPLES – 10:00PM (NBC) The premiere of this new NBC sitcom tonight is not actually its premiere, or so I've been told. The premiere is on January 20th. This episode, which is not the pilot, is running tonight as a sneak preview of sorts. Got all that? So don't go acting like it's the premiere, or else we'll come and give you a paddlin' for it. Anyway, this show focuses on three seemingly perfect couples who – GASP! – are not actually perfect. In fact, one of them is a serial arsonist (NOTE: Not actually true). Hayes MacArthur is one of the leads, and I only mention that because I went to sleepaway camp with him when I was a kid. And now he's married to Ali Larter and makin' sitcoms. Craziness, I tell you. ANTICIPATION: HI HAYES!
TRUE LIFE: I'M AN ALBINO – 10:00PM (MTV) Well, I for one can't wait for the hot tub scene. They match the bubbles! ANTICIPATION: WHITE!
INSIDE R. KELLY – 10:00PM (BET) BET cameras follow the R&B sex machine around everywhere he goes. It's a nice change of pace from the singer's last special, "R. Kelly Inside Everyone Else". ANTICIPATION: IGNITION!
SECRETS OF THE HOPE DIAMOND – 9:00PM (NatGeo – an NBC/Universal network) Learn more about the famously cursed 45-carat flawless diamond that has ruined lives and may or may not be holding a very small albino genie in its center. Beware: Even watching a special about the hope diamond may cause you to be eaten to death by a mink. ANTICIPATION: SPARKLY!
Monday Watch List: Drop The Money!
Welcome to Watch List, where we identify five things on TV to watch while you stay at home and try and figure out how the Giants blew a 21-point lead and ended up losing on a punt return touchdown. Holy smokes, that was insane. LET'S GO!


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So far in the new year, I'm continuing to be sadly neglectful to this little blog. But, I was very excited to work on these tasty wings for Super Bowl Sunday last week!
Our Lets Lunch group picked foods to eat while watching sports on tv this month -- just in time for last week's Super Bowl (or, the Stupid Bowl as I often refer to it).
I love Super Bowl wings. Ever year, whether I'm with a big group, a small group, or if, like this year, it's just me and my husband, I like to go all out for chicken wings for the Super Bowl.
Some years I make buffalo wings, other year's I've made sticky teriyaki wings. This year I went with Korean Fried Chicken again and also pulled together a curry-spiced wing recipe for Lets Lunch.
I borrowed some techniques for battering and frying chicken from this Serious Eats Food Lab post. I thought it worked well for the curry wings, but ultimately may not have been worth it for the Korean wings.
To start, I gave each pound of wings a couple hours of soaking in a buttermilk bath spiced with salt, pepper and coarsely chopped garlic (about 8 cloves for each batch). The curry spiced wings also got a tablespoon of sweet curry powder. After a few hours, I drained the wings from the buttermilk.
This is the step I borrowed from Serious Eats: coating the wings in a mix of corn starch, baking soda and salt. I think for the curry wings it added a nice crispness to the end result. It made less of an impact on the Korean wings, because of the gochuchang sauce that gets added at the end.
The other aspect I borrowed from Serious Eats was in the batter, though, instead of following the recommendation for using half water and half vodka, I took a chance with a beer batter. This was absolutely the right choice (I used about 3/4 of a Blue Moon) and it was delicious. After prepping and frying the Korean wings, I mixed a tablespoon of Moroccan spice rub, a tablespoon of sweet curry powder, and a teaspoon of cayenne pepper into the batter for the second half.
It took about a bottle and a half of mixed peanut and canola oils to fill my wok to acceptable frying levels. In the past, I have sometimes steamed the wings first to ensure that they cook completely. This year, I went with a slightly longer frying time (around 10-12 minutes) to get a nicely browned outside on the wings.
In the end, the Korean wings get tossed with a sweet and spicy gochuchang sauce and topped with toasted sesame seeds and green onions. The curry wings get an aggressive salting as soon as they're removed from the wok.
Lets Lunch is a digital monthly meet up of food bloggers and writers.
Check out other posts from around the web here or on the hashtag #LetsLunch
Cheryl's Mongolian Buuz at A Tiger in the Kitchen
Annabelle's Idiazabal and Black Pepper Gougeres at Glass of Fancy
Grace's Taiwanese Beef Sliders at HapaMama
Jill's Spiced Pecans at Eating My Words
Karen's Sporting Eats at GeoFooding
Linda's Trio of Salsas from Oaxaca at Spicebox Travels
Lisa's Sausage Rolls at Monday Morning Cooking Club
Lucy's Crabcakes with Chipotle Mayo and Citrus Salad at A Cook and Her Books
Rashda's Finger Lickin' Good Curried Ribs at Hot Curries & Cold Beer


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INSPIRE WFS Download Service for the theme Administrative Units (AU)
|Product information
|INSPIRE WFS Download Service for the theme Administrative Units (AU)
|Commercial code
|Export unit
|Unit price
|Product description
|WFS download service for the theme Administrative Units (AU) is a public download service for provision of data from the INSPIRE theme Administrative Units(AU) that makes possible repetitive download of these data in a file for the whole territorry of the Czech Republic and an online access to these data using the WFS 2.0.0. technology. The download service provides harmonised data from the theme Administrative Units (AU) in GML formate according to INSPIRE. The service is available for the whole territory of the Czech Republic. The service fulfils technical guidance for INSPIRE download services v. 3.0.1 and simultaneously fulfils the OGC WFS 2.0.0 standard.
|Service characteristics
|Download document service characteristics
|Service location
|Data set provided by the service
Provided data
|Access restriction - licence agreement and other restriction
|Czech office for Surveying, Mapping and Cadastre, , phone: +420 284 044 455 , e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Product last update:
Information last update:


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Table of Contents
- Introduction to Automake
- Downloading Automake
- Documentation
- Mailing Lists
- Getting involved
- Bug Reports
Introduction to Automake
Automake is a tool for automatically generating
Makefile.in files
compliant with the GNU Coding Standards. Automake requires the use
of Autoconf.
Downloading Automake
Please note that Automake 1.12.2 and Automake 1.11.6 fix a
security issue (CVE-2012-3386) present in the
make distcheck rules of all packages using Automake.
for details.
GNU Automake can be found on http://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/automake/ [via http] and ftp://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/automake/ [via FTP]. It can also be found on one of our FTP mirrors. You can also order a CD-ROM from the FSF or use other methods to obtain a copy.
Alpha/beta releases of Automake can be found in ftp://alpha.gnu.org/pub/gnu/automake/, and the latest in-development sources for Automake can always be fetched through git from Savannah. DO NOT use Automake sources from these locations for production use.
The Automake manual can be read on-line or downloaded in PDF format; also, more formats are offered for download or on-line reading. If you have installed Automake on your system, you may also find more information about it by looking at your local documentation; for example you might use info automake at the shell prompt.
In case you are interested or merely curious, a brief history of Automake (up to roughly 2007) is available on our site; again, more formats are offered for download or on-line reading.
Mailing Lists
Automake has several public mailing lists, each of which is archive.
For general Automake discussions, use <email@example.com> (archives and subscription).
If you have a patch for Automake, please send the it to <firstname.lastname@example.com> (archives and subscription). The HACKING file present in the Automake git repository should explain how to properly prepare, format and post a patch.
Bug reports can be emailed to <firstname.lastname@example.com> (archives and subscription). Before submitting a bug report, please read the Bug Reporting section of the manual.
You can subscribe to any Automake mailing list via the associated web interfaces, linked above. Or you can send an empty mail with a Subject: header line of just "subscribe" to the relevant -request list. For example, to subscribe yourself to the bug-automake list, you would send mail to <email@example.com> with no body and a Subject: header line of just "subscribe".
It has been necessary to moderate the GNU Automake mailing lists to prevent the flood of spam. Postings to the lists are held for release by the list moderator. Sometimes the moderators are unavailable for brief periods of time. Please be patient when posting. If you don't see the message in the list archive an hour or so after having sent it, then it did not get posted.
Getting involved
Development of Automake, and GNU in general, is a volunteer effort, and you can contribute. For information, please read How to help GNU. If you'd like to get involved, it's a good idea to join the discussion mailing list (see above).
Bug Reports
For bugs in Automake, please see the Bug Reporting section of the manual.


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Follow RFF News on your cell phone. Text follow rff to 40404 you will receive txt messages with RFF News
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Puddin, I think she's sitting with Charlie (on his lap??) and Terence is the one to the right of her in the yellow shirt. No?? Also, this made me realize she and Charlie may know each other because they both went to Upenn! (her for business school, him for college). I wonder if they're friends???Georgiapeach, did you talk to her??? Is that how you know she had fun?? They were sooooo funny last episode. I think I am completely obsessed with them
Sarah: [Aja Benton] and [Ty White], Mark and Bill. Kelly and Christy, I liked them even though... Terence: (Interrupting) I don't. Especially after they said something mean on the TV show. That's why.
Have to say a big thank you, Puddin, because I actually haven't had a chance to watch this clip yet (as the Welker blog says, I just returned from LA and Disneyland!) so if it weren't for your post....And the nice feedback of course is much appreciated I've been reading all the blogs for a while so Michael, I'm glad I've now joined the ranks of Kelly & Christy and Dustin & Kandice as female racers you like, but glad you didn't start rooting for us too early with your bad luck....
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Value Line is regarded as the best independent research available. More than just recommendations, Value Line provides the rationale behind its picks for greater understanding.
The Railroad Industry is engaged in hauling freight. Rail operators enable the efficient flow of goods from producers to consumers, and are therefore a vital part of the broad economy. With roots dating back to the 1800s, moving freight by rail is an old-line business that remains capital-intensive and cyclical.
Within North America, the industry is dominated by a handful of large operators, while countless short-line railroads provide regional and local service. Very few of the publicly held railroads are involved in ferrying passengers. However, they do generate certain noncore revenue and income streams, be it from haulage agreements (track usage fees) or railcar switching for industrial customers.
Underpinned by the economic expansion that peaked in late 2007, the railroads produced enviable profit growth and above-average investment returns. Consistent gains led many to posit that the industry had entered a period of sustainable growth. However, the most recent recession had a sizable impact on freight demand (and on industry profits and share-price performance), which largely put to rest the new "less-cyclical rail" paradigm. With that in mind, patient investors, willing to maintain positions throughout the economic cycle, may continue to enjoy positive returns within the sector, especially as these companies focus on improving normalized earnings and the efficiency of operations. At the same time, novice and sophisticated investors alike are urged to survey the greater economic climate before committing funds.
The railroads are part of a broader freight-hauling industry that includes truckers, barge operators, and air transporters. The rails haul an estimated 15% of tonnage in America, a fraction of the 70% or so moved by truckers.
Competition varies widely, depending on the route and freight category in question. Fixed networks limit direct competition between railroads, while speed and flexibility often give truckers an advantage on short routes. Rails have the upper hand on long hauls, and can carry bulk freight, such as coal. Indeed, an estimated 65% of U.S. coal shipments are delivered to final domestic destinations by rail.
On contested routes, railroads are well positioned to take business from truckers. The rails consume less fuel than trucks (to move equivalent freight loads), while emitting fewer carbon emissions. Amid a growing push to adopt "green" practices, shippers may well elect to move more of their wares by rail over time. In a high-fuel-price environment, moving freight by rail also makes better sense cost wise.
Investors should keep a close eye on revenue trends. Top-line growth is a fairly reliable indicator of underlying freight demand and of the railroad's ability to increase rates. However, customer surcharges tied to diesel-fuel prices tend to muddy comparisons, especially in a period of volatile energy prices. Some railroads still release monthly freight volume data, thereby giving investors a good indication of quarterly progress. What's more, the leading railroads submit weekly results to trade groups (such as the American Association of Railroads), and composite data is released on a regular basis.
Well-managed operators often command a premium valuation. With that in mind, investors should also be watchful for management's ability to both minimize margin contraction during down-cycles and achieve above-average improvements during flush times. The railroads are increasingly focused on wringing costs from operations and doing things more efficiently, so that a greater proportion of revenue flow to the bottom line. To that end, railroad operators are running longer trains, made possible by the use of powerful locomotives and remote-controlled distributive power units. Longer trains mean fewer route runs and crew starts. The railroads are also investing in their networks, so that tracks and crossings can accommodate heavier and taller trains.
Access to cheap capital and cash flow is also important. Indeed, during any given year, railroads typically plow 13%-15% of their revenues into rail-network maintenance and improvements, as well as new more-powerful locomotives. (Comparatively, capital spending by leading nonrailroad industrial and energy companies usually doesn't exceed 5% on an annual basis).
There are some significant regulatory issues to consider here. The industry was effectively deregulated in 1980, when the Staggers Act was signed into law. Staggers gives the railroads freedom to set rates on routes with competitive alternatives. However, because of the industry's close relationship with the economy and, in many cases, material pricing power, regulation issues should be a material consideration for investors.


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Haven't found anything yet?
Elegant baroque wallpaper collection "ORNAMENT" from P + S International
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The short answer is, there's no short answer to flopping. It's nearly impossible to legislate intent, except in the most egregious of cases. Soccer has long failed to address even the glaring dives, and the NHL's embellishment penalties are often more controversial than the plays that don't get whistled. Lots of folks, Jeff Van Gundy the most vocal among them, agree it's a major issue that ought to be addressed, but here's precisely the most useless way of doing it: the most powerful man in basketball saying it's a problem he'd love to solve, but it's out of his hands.
David Stern, how about some tough-sounding words designed to do nothing but deflect criticism from yourself?
"I think it's time to look at (flopping) in a more serious way, because it's only designed to fool the referee. It's not a legitimate play in my judgment. I recognize if there's contact (you) move a little bit, but some of this is acting. We should give out Oscars rather than MVP trophies.
"Some years ago I told the competition committee that we were going to start fining people for flopping, and then suspending. And I think they almost threw me out of the room (saying), 'No, let it be.' "
"Basketball reasons" is a good enough rationale for moving a team, keeping a failing team in place, handling a team's personnel moves, and vetoing a team's fair trade. Stern's position is secure enough to push just about anything through, no matter the public outcry and internal hostility. But not secure enough to actually act on something that has near-universal opposition. You know what David Stern, who claims to hate flopping, does to people who also vocally hate flopping? He fines them.
It's the Competition Committee's fault, he says. Chaired by Stu Jackson and manned by GMs (or GMs' reps) from each of the 30 teams, that board that has traditionally rubber-stamped anything Fifth Avenue has pushed through apparently pushed back on flopping. "No, let it be," they supposedly said, except no one would actually say that about flopping. This was "some years ago," but Stern has apparently not considered bringing it up again, or going to his hand-picked NBA Rules Committee" created for the sole purpose of bypassing the competition committee.
These are not the actions of a man who wants to do something about flopping. They are the words of a man who doesn't want to do anything about it, but would really appreciate if you would take your criticism elsewhere over what's going on in his league.


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contributed by
Assoc Prof Frank Gaillard
on January 24, 2016
- "
This is a good example of the sometimes dramatic edema that results from radiosurgery.
Patient went on to have surgery.
View full size version of Meningioma with radiosurgery
See the case: Meningioma with radiosurgery
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Sears and Kmart are closing over 100 stores.
There was a riot at Mall of America.
Burglars steal the family dog.
Sinead O'Connor ends marriage, eats dinner in fancy restaurant.
R.I.P. Helen Frankenthaler.
The many moods of the yeti.
Time for your beard slap.
The war against funny money.
Create your own warning labels.
Raise the dead with batteries.
The Adventures of Crossbow Man.
Will New Mexico tax online purchases?
R.I.P. Mya Gonzales.
Happy birthday, Gerard Depardieu.


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The Great Pyrenees breed standard differs slightly from country to country and are usually established by the dominant kennel clubs of a particular country. The differences sometimes reflect geographical differences that have caused a slight difference in development of the breed, and they also can reflect a particular country's preference over a single aspect of the breed. Breeders will typically adhere to their local standards.
The major world-wide Great Pyrenees standards are the North American Canadian Great Pyrenees Standard (CKC) and the American Great Pyrenees Standard (AKC), as well as the European Pyrenean Mountain Dog Kennel Club Standard (TKC) and the French Chien de Montagne des Pyrenees Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) Standard. A number of other foreign standards exists that are variations of one of the central standards. Click on the country of interest below to view the corresponding breed standard of the Great Pyrenees.
Next: Great Pyrenees Grooming


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January 28, 2011
2001: Ravens Throttle Giants in Super Bowl XXXV
Nine weeks into the 2000 NFL season, the Baltimore Ravens were 5-4 and hardly seemed likely to reach the postseason, let alone the Super Bowl. But from that point they won seven straight games to close out the regular season, securing a wild card spot with a 12-4 record that placed them second in the AFC Central. From there they dominated the Broncos at home and the Titans (the club that won the division title) and Raiders on the road to win the AFC title and storm into a Super Bowl matchup against the New York Giants on January 28, 2001 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
Under Head Coach Brian Billick, the Ravens were propelled forward by the defense. At defensive tackle, Pro Bowler Sam Adams and Tony Siragusa effectively plugged the middle of the line. The brilliant All-Pro MLB Ray Lewis (pictured above) led a unit that included Peter Boulware and Jamie Sharper on the outside. Cornerbacks Duane Starks and Chris McAlister were highly effective and joined in the backfield by 35-year-old Pro Bowl FS Rod Woodson and SS Kim Herring. The unit gave up just 165 points over the course of the 16-game season, shutting out four opponents and allowing no more than one TD in 11 contests. If anything, it had stepped up its game in the playoffs.
At midseason, Trent Dilfer took over for Tony Banks at quarterback and provided good leadership as well as a steady hand as game-manager of a conservative, run-oriented offense that kept mistakes at a minimum. Rookie RB Jamal Lewis came on strong in the second half as well, gaining 1364 yards on the ground. 11th-year veteran TE Shannon Sharpe caught 67 passes. OT Jonathan Ogden anchored the offensive line.
The Giants, coached by Jim Fassel, had also gone 12-4 in winning the NFC East, and won more consistently across the course of the season. QB Kerry Collins took every snap and threw for 3610 yards and 22 touchdowns, reviving his career. Running backs Tiki Barber and Ron Dayne combined for 1776 rushing yards and 13 TDs (although Dayne tailed off badly toward the end), and Barber also added 70 pass receptions for 719 yards. Wide receivers Amani Toomer and Ike Hilliard were effective and caught 15 scoring passes between them. The solid defense featured Pro Bowl LB Jessie Armstead, DE Michael Strahan, MLB Mike Barrow, and CB Jason Sehorn. New York defeated the Eagles in the Divisional playoff round and then routed the Vikings for the NFC title.
The game started quietly as neither team was able to generate much offense, although as they exchanged punts, the Ravens were winning the battle for field position. The Giants had the first possession of the game, but the second and third times they had the ball, they started at their own 13 and one yard lines, respectively. Midway through the first quarter, WR Jermaine Lewis (pictured at left) returned a punt 33 yards into New York territory, and while a holding penalty cost the Ravens ten yards, they started in good field position at the 41. Two plays later, Dilfer threw to WR Brandon Stokley for a 38-yard touchdown and 7-0 lead.
The clubs returned to trading punts, with Sharper intercepting a Collins pass in the second quarter that Baltimore was unable to capitalize on, but which stopped New York's deepest penetration thus far (to midfield). The Giants nearly got a big break when Armstead intercepted a Dilfer pass and returned it for an apparent TD, but a defensive holding penalty on DT Keith Hamilton nullified the play.
With less than four minutes remaining in the half, the Ravens took over at their own 12 following another punt by the Giants, but following a six-yard completion to Stokley and a two-yard run by Jamal Lewis, Dilfer threw a pass to WR Qadry Ismail for a 44-yard gain down the left sideline to the New York 36. Four plays later, Matt Stover kicked a 47-yard field goal.
The Giants, getting the ball back with 1:34 remaining on the clock, briefly created some excitement as Collins completed a 17-yard pass to WR Ron Dixon and Barber took off on a 26-yard run to the Ravens' 29 yard line. But on the next play, McAlister intercepted a Collins pass to snuff out the threat and Baltimore held a 10-0 lead going into halftime.
Following a punt by the Ravens on the first possession of the third quarter, Collins was again intercepted, this time by Kim Herring. Tony Banks replaced Dilfer at quarterback for this series (Dilfer had suffered a hand injury), but after Baltimore advanced to the New York 24, Stover missed a 41-yard field goal attempt.
The game settled back into a monotony of short possessions ending in punts until suddenly a stunning scoring spree erupted. First, Starks intercepted a Collins pass and returned it 49 yards for a touchdown to stretch Baltimore's lead to 17-0. However, Dixon returned the ensuing kickoff 97 yards for a TD to make it a 10-point game again. But on the next kickoff, it was Jermaine Lewis responding for the Ravens with an 83-yard touchdown. In just 36 seconds, a Super Bowl-record three touchdowns were scored, and the tally now stood at 24-7 in favor of Baltimore.
After that outburst, the game settled back into a defensive struggle. Baltimore took advantage of a short punt by Brad Maynard from his end zone to start with good field position at the New York 38 and drove to a three-yard touchdown run by Jamal Lewis. A fumble by Dixon on the ensuing kickoff return set up a 34-yard Stover field goal for the game's final points. New York gained just one first down in its last four possessions and Baltimore came away the winner by a score of 34-7.
The Ravens defense capped a tremendous year by holding the Giants to 152 total yards and 11 first downs, and Ray Lewis was named the game's MVP (Lewis accounted for 11 tackles, four assists, and four blocked passes). Collins was sacked four times and intercepted four times as well. Baltimore's offense did little to generate excitement, but gained 244 yards and didn't turn the ball over (thanks to the negated interception), as opposed to New York's five turnovers. The teams set a Super Bowl record by punting 21 times (11 by the Giants, 10 by Baltimore).
Trent Dilfer (pictured below) completed 12 of 25 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown. Jamal Lewis ran for 102 yards on 27 carries that included a TD. Brandon Stokley caught three passes for 52 yards and a touchdown and TE Ben Coates added three receptions for 30 yards.
For the Giants, Kerry Collins had a rough outing, completing just 15 of 39 passes for 112 yards and four interceptions. Tiki Barber led the team in rushing with 49 yards on 11 carries and also caught 6 passes for 26 yards. Ike Hilliard's 30 yards on three receptions led the team.
"We came after them early, set a tempo," said Baltimore's defensive coordinator, Marvin Lewis. "We applied pressure to let them know we'll play our defense and keep attacking and not let anyone take us out of our game."
Speaking of the kickoff return for a TD by Jermaine Lewis that trumped Ron Dixon's, Brian Billick said, "The emotional swing of the game at that point, you could see it on their side. When Jermaine took it back the other way, it was more dramatic...The emotional flipflop, even though the points were the same, I think had to be devastating to them."
It was a triumphant return to Tampa for Trent Dilfer, who had spent six disappointing seasons with the Buccaneers before moving on to the Ravens. However, winning the Super Bowl did not guarantee job security and he was released in the offseason, catching on with Seattle.
The Ravens parted ways with Dilfer due to the free agent signing of the more highly-esteemed Elvis Grbac, who had been a Pro Bowl quarterback for the Chiefs. While Grbac ultimately proved to be a disappointment, the team again made it to the postseason in 2001, once more as a wild card, but fell to Pittsburgh in the Divisional round. New York dropped more precipitously, going 7-9 in '01 before returning to the postseason as a wild card team in 2002 – the Giants would not vie again for a championship until the 2007 season.
Posted by Keith Yowell at 7:09 AM
Labels: 2000 NFL season, Baltimore Ravens, Brian Billick, Jermaine Lewis, Jim Fassel, New York Giants, Trent Dilfer
1 comment:
Probably the most boring, one-sided, non-competitive game in Super Bowl history (except for last week's Denver-Seattle matchup), not helped by the fact that both teams sported truly mediocre quarterbacks at best. There wasn't anything even mildly entertaining to watch, like Joe Montana or Steve Young performing with peak precision, or Richard Dent or Randy White pounding another quarterback so relentlessly that they turn into frightened deer. Just a horrid mismatch made worse by one of the most stifling defenses in history, and a team that was totally unprepared to deal with the big stage.ReplyDelete
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Born: in the US
Describes postwar efforts to reunite survivors [Interview: 1995]
Rabbi Abraham Klausner was a US Army military chaplain. He arrived in the Dachau concentration camp in May 1945. He was attached to the 116th evacuation hospital unit and worked for about five years in displaced persons camps, assisting Jewish survivors.
Copyright © United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington, DC


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Say you live in Brooklyn and you've been offered a bourbon barrel. You have no car. You shudder at the thought of rolling said barrel onto the subway. What do you do?
If you're me, you call on a neighbor for help. Luckily, my neighbor is Matt Hardigree and he had the perfect solution: the Kia Soul.
By the way, this thing smells even better than it looks. If you have the means–and the opportunity–I highly recommend picking one up.
Thanks to Widow Jane for the barrel, and thanks to Matt for the ride. Cheers!


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- News
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Mark Mayhew retired and promptly bought himself a motorcycle. Riding became a passion. He started attending bikers' rallies. But when the former defence policy specialist told his wife, Katherine Baird, that he planned to attend yet another one last July in Wisconsin, she suggested they turn it into a road trip for two.
Katherine booked four weeks off her job as special projects manager at the Public Policy Forum, an Ottawa think tank, and joined Mark for a 12,500-kilometre trek through the western United States.
They caught a Cirque du Soleil show in Las Vegas; drove through smoke from a California forest fire; discovered Ouray, Colorado, dubbed the Switzerland of America; were inspired by Sedona, Arizona; broke down in Wyoming.
Katherine says she'd never drive to California. "But on a motorbike you spend all the time attuned to your surroundings. You feel the wind, the minor fluctuations in temperature, the smells in the field -- some good, some bad. I really, really wanted to see that scenery on the back of the bike with Mark."
The couple, who've been together a decade, not only discovered America, however. They rediscovered themselves as well.
"Because Mark is retired, it makes me think more carefully about how to spend longer quality time with him," Katherine says. "I want to start enjoying more time with him, you know, and the trip was a great experiment.
"We might bicker in day-to-day life," she says, smiling at her husband, "but on the bike, I took my cues from you. You're a very cautious person in life. On a bike, I'm happy with that. I'm surprised at how uncomplaining I was over four weeks."
- - -
"Lovers want to get away, talk, get to know each other," says Martin Rovers, an Ottawa psychologist and marriage counsellor. "I suspect those who get away more together have better marriages."
Marilyn Belleghem, a fellow marriage and family therapist in Burlington, Ont., agrees. But, she adds, "The problem is that we forget about being each other's lover.
"And I strongly believe that when we travel, we come face to face with who we are."
One doesn't want to find out once children leave home that you don't know your partner anymore.
Quick getaways break the routine, letting couples communicate without the distractions of home and workplace, experts say. But that's easier said than done.
According to Gordon Walker, a University of Alberta leisure studies professor, the average Canadian works four hours more per week than 20 years ago.
"Just in terms of time pressure, it's not surprising people want to escape," Walker says. But those time constraints, especially among those over 45, are the biggest obstacle against doing so.
Couples seeking romantic getaways often can't spend more than a night away from home.
"People are so time-starved they can't afford more," says Judy Hammond, a Toronto-based tourism marketing expert.
Other reasons holding couples back, according to Belleghem, include "fear of intimacy, fear of cost, fear of conflict, fear of loss of control at work."
Nevertheless, says Hammond, "Those seeking balance in their lives recognize that a change of scene, a change of routine, revitalizes them."
The public appears to share that view. In September, an Ipsos Reid poll found nearly three-quarters of Canadians in a committed relationship look on vacations as "an opportunity to rekindle the fire in their relationship;" 82 per cent say vacations remind them of their partner's best qualities. The majority say their relationship improves as a result.
But the survey also shows getaways for two aren't as common as couples might like: 54 per cent of Canadian couples haven't taken a vacation with their significant other in the past year, including 16 per cent who have never taken a holiday with their partner. In a similar poll a year ago, 13 per cent said they'd never vacationed alone together.
All that may hold particularly true for couples with kids. Last month, a survey of American parents reported that nearly half would be willing to take off a week without their children. Another 23 per cent would go for a child-free night or two. But the majority admitted they'd feel guilty leaving the kids behind -- and one-third said they'd never taken a holiday alone while their children were under 18 years of age.
That doesn't surprise Vera Dyck, who wrote a thesis at the University of Guelph on couples' time together.
"Couples feel a pressure from the culture at large that they should always put the kids first," she says, "that kids have an entitlement to their parents' time.
"I'd like to see the wider culture affirm couples' needs, to pay more attention to the value to children of a loving relationship."
- - -
For a while, Stephanie Small and Matthew Bonsall were hesitant to leave their daughters Daisy, now 8, and Nettie, 6, even for a night.
"I found it impossibly hard to get away," Stephanie says. "We were encouraged by family and friends to go, but it's just who I am. I was bonding with my kids."
This was a far cry from the couple's life together before their daughters arrived. After finishing graduate school, where they met, they ventured to exotic locales for months at a time: southeast Asia, India, London, Paris.
"We really had great times together," Stephanie says.
But they've been away alone just three times since parenthood. The first was an overnight trip to Quebec City when Daisy was one; Matthew had to give a conference presentation. The other two, weekend visits to New York, happened within the past year or so.
Matthew recalls skipping out of the Quebec conference for dinner with Stephanie and feeling relaxed.
"Dinner with a one-year-old is hectic. But we probably just talked about Daisy anyway," he laughs.
By contrast, the New York trips were a whirlwind of activities they no longer do at home.
"We spent a lot of time listening to great music at the clubs, dancing, staying up late," Stephanie admits. "We came back exhausted. But we were in a magical little cocoon."
They strolled neighbourhoods and visited the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art.
"Though we take the girls to the gallery here," Matthew says, "it's a different experience. We can't go for two or three hours."
Experts suggest getaways give couples a chance to work out problems or just get to know each other better. For this couple, though, things are different. They work together in their own communications firm.
As Stephanie puts it, they talk about their lives daily, the way others talk about TV programs around the water cooler. As a result, their getaways have been focused on fun.
"It's reminiscent of our younger adventures together," Matthew says.
- - -
Family responsibilities are one reason couples don't escape. Jobs and financial responsibilities are others.
Megan Murtagh faces the problem many self-employed people do. She's the owner of a personal training studio, Bounce. Although she can theoretically take off whenever she wants, she doesn't.
"I have to go when business is slower, over Christmas and in the summer," she says.
Megan also has to take into account the workplace demands of her partner, Yanie Chauret, a climate-change analyst for the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs.
In the 11/2 years they've been together, the couple has spent a week in Fort Lauderdale and weekends in Toronto and Sudbury.
"In Florida, our goal was to rest, be in the sun, have a good dinner with our friends," Yanie says. "We just shopped, walked around, spent a lot of time by the pool."
Because the couple is saving for a house, they're not allowing themselves to splurge.
"We tend to have a lot of friends because we're very social," Megan says. "We pretty much always have had friends wherever we've gone."
In Florida, for instance, they stayed at a condo owned by one of Megan's clients.
"For gay people, friends are probably more important than for straight people who have kids," Megan adds. "We've been through a lot with people coming out, so you spend time differently with them than with family."
By living in a small one-bedroom apartment, she adds, the women "probably already know everything about each other." But on getaways, they bring back stories -- like the time a disco ball fell on a patron's head in a Sudbury bar.
"We don't need a getaway to have a good relationship," Megan notes, "but each trip adds history to it."
- - -
Mireille and Guy Coderre say talking through challenges has always been an important part of their holidays.
"If you don't have those two days every once in a while, the problems just sit there," Mireille says. An example: conflicting child-rearing practices (Guy's the permissive one). Especially when their two children, now adults, were young, being away gave the Coderres time to talk -- and uninterrupted time in the bedroom.
Because their first child didn't arrive until many of their friends were already parents, they received advice: keep some time for themselves.
"It was not tough for me to go out for a night to a restaurant a month after they were born," Mireille recalls. Extended periods were more difficult, but Guy's mother babysat.
Financial difficulties were a deterrent, Guy says, but they kept to their budget: a 24-hour visit to New York, because that's all they could afford; a three-night cruise in the Bahamas; a stay at a Florida timeshare owned by his parents; flights on Aeroplan points.
"You always find what's really important to you," Guy says.
Their most recent trip, to celebrate Guy's 50th birthday in Palm Desert, California, was in September, when prices are lower. He wanted to rent a sports car there, but Mireille objected, citing lack of comfort and luggage space. She promised him a bottle of good wine instead.
"It's called compromise," she says.
They can afford to be more impulsive when they're travelling by themselves, too.
"One time in Quebec City, we couldn't find a place, so we slept in the car," Mireille explains. "With kids, you don't do that."
Guy says he's surprised by surveys that say couples want to get away but don't.
"If you want to be away, go."
Mireille agrees.
"That's why we're still together," she says. "Travel kept the flame alive."
Peter Johansen teaches journalism at Carleton University. His own most recent getaway with his wife was to Montreal over Labour Day weekend.


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Editor's Note: This is part one of a three-part series from Dr. Miroslav Volf an a voice instructing us how to involve our values into our present politcal debates.
In this year of presidential elections, I have decided to summarize key values that guide me as I decide for whom to cast my vote. There are three basic elements of choosing a candidate for public office responsibly:
- Values we hope the candidate will stand for and the order of priority among them (which requires of us knowledge of faith as a whole, rather than just a few favorite topics, and knowledge of how faith applies to contemporary life)
- Ways in which and means by which these values are best implemented in any given situation (which requires of us a great deal of knowledge about how the world actually functions and what policies lead to what outcomes — for instance, whether it would be an economically wise decision to try to reintroduce the gold standard)
- Capacity — ability and determination — to contribute to the implementation of these values (which requires of us knowledge of the track record of the candidate)
Most important are the values. As I identify each value, I will (1) name the basic content of the value, (2) give a basic rationale for holding it, (3) suggest some parameters of legitimate debate about it, and (4) identify a key question for the candidate.
I write as a Christian theologian, from the perspective of my own understanding of the Christian faith. Whole books have been written on each of these values, explicating and adjudicating complex debates. In providing a rationale for a given value, I only take one or two verses from the Bible to back up my position, more to flag the direction in which a rationale would need to go than, in fact, to strictly offer such a rationale.
0. Christ as the Measure of All Values
Value: The ultimate allegiance of a Christian is to Jesus Christ, the creative Word (become flesh), who enlightens everyone, and the redeeming Lamb of God, who bears the sin of the whole world. A Christian ought not embrace any practice, no matter how prudent it may seem from the standpoint of national security or national competitive advantage, which conflicts with her or his allegiance to Christ.
Rationale: "Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil. 2:11)
Debate: For Christians, the debate should not be whether one's allegiance to Christ trumps one's allegiance to the nation. The debate should be what key values for national life follow from allegiance to Jesus Christ and what the proper relation is between the universal claims of Christ and the particular claims of the nation.
Question to Ask: To what extent is the candidate merely seeking to serve the "goddess nation" and to what extent is what he stands for compatible with the Christian conviction that Christ is the key to human flourishing?
1. Freedom of Religion (and Irreligion)
Value: All people are responsible for their own life, and they have the right to embrace a faith or way of life they deem meaningful and abandon the one with which they no longer identify without suffering discrimination.
Rationale: "If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Rom. 10:9). "When many of his disciples heard it, they said, 'This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?' . . . Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, 'Do you also wish to go away?'" (John 6:60, 66–67).
Debate: The debatable issue should not be whether people should be free to choose and exercise their religion (or irreligion) without discrimination; that's a given. Public debate should be about which way of life, including its public dimensions or implications, is more salutary, and whether there are ways of life so inimical to human flourishing and common life that their exclusion doesn't represent an act of discrimination but is a condition of humane social life. We should also debate the moral foundation of a state that is "neutral" with regard to distinct faiths and secular interpretations of life as well as the precise nature of political arrangements required to keep the state "neutral."
Questions to Ask: Does the candidate respect the right of all — Christians and Muslims, fundamentalists and secularists, conservatives, and progressives, to name a few groups often at odds with one another — to take personal responsibility for their lives and to lead them as they see fit? Does the candidate think of America as a Christian nation (so that, in one way or another, all others have to fit into a Christian mold) or as a pluralistic nation (in which a way of life is not imposed on anyone without his or her endorsement)?
2. Education
Value: It is important for all citizens to understand the world in which they live, to learn to reflect critically on what makes life worth living, and to acquire qualifications for jobs which increasingly require complex skills. We should strive for excellent and affordable education for all citizens.
Rationale: "Then God said, 'Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth'" (Gen. 1:26). "To you, O people, I call, and my cry is to all that live. O simple ones, learn prudence; acquire intelligence, you who lack it. . . . Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold; for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her" (Prov. 8:4–5, 10–11).
Debate: The debate should be about what families and government must do to improve the educational system, what exactly improvements in education look like, and what proportion of the budget should be allotted for educational purposes (as compared to, for instance, defense). The debate should not be about whether we should have an educational system that is both excellent and affordable for all.
Question to Ask: What will the candidate do to ensure that all citizens—the poor no less than the wealthy—are taught to make intelligent judgments about what makes life worth living, acquire skills necessary for functioning in modern societies, and have an adequate understanding of the world?
3. Economic Growth
Value: Economic growth is not a value in its own right because increasing wealth and money are not values in their own right. They are means — indispensable means, but only means — to human flourishing, which consists more in righteousness than in possessions.
Rationale: "No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. . . . But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matt. 6:24, 33).
Debate: We can abandon the old debate about whether efficient wealth creation or just wealth distribution is more important; both are important, for we cannot distribute what we don't have, and we should not possess what is given to us to pass on to others. Instead, we should debate (1) what are morally irresponsible (Wall Street gambling), inhumane (child labor), and unsustainable (deforestation) ways of creating wealth and how to create wealth in humanly and ecologically sustainable ways; (2) what kind of wealth contributes to human flourishing; and (3) how to make wealth serve us instead of us serving wealth.
Question to Ask: Which candidate is reminding us that we diminish ourselves when we turn into money-making and consumption-obsessed creatures and that we flourish when we pursue truth, goodness, and beauty, that we are truly ourselves when we reach to others in solidarity and enjoy one another in love?
4. Work and Employment
Value: Every person should have meaningful and, if employed for pay, adequately remunerated work. All able citizens should work to take care of their needs and to contribute to the wellbeing of others and the planet.
Rationale: "Anyone unwilling to work should not eat" (2 Thess. 3:10). The prophet Isaiah envisions a time when all God's people "shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit" (Isa. 65:21). Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35).
Debate: The debate should be about what the required economic, cultural, and political conditions are for people to have meaningful work, and who is mainly responsible to create and maintain these conditions. How can we best fight unemployment and underemployment? Given the present state of economy and future economic developments, how can we stimulate the creation of jobs that pay adequate wages?
Questions to Ask: What policies does the candidate propose to help encourage meaningful employment and adequate pay for all people? What will the candidate do to encourage people to work not just for personal gain but for the common good?
5. Debt
Value: As individuals and as a nation, we should live within our means and not borrow beyond what we can reasonably expect to return; we shouldn't offload onto others, whether our contemporaries or future generations, the price of our overreaching or risk-taking; instead, we should save so as to be able to give to others who are less fortunate then we.
Rationale: "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). "Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy" (Eph. 4:28).
Debate: We should debate what responsible levels of debt are for households, businesses, or a nation; what constitutes predatory lending practices and how to prevent them; to what degree, if at all, spending on consumer goods should be promoted as cure for a faltering economy; and what the public significance of contentment might be.
Questions to Ask: What will a candidate do to bring and keep national debt under control? What will the candidate do to encourage individual saving and living within one's means?
As the Director of the Yale Center for Faith and Culture and Henry B. Wright Professor of Theology at Yale Divinity School, Dr. Miroslav Volf, a native of war-ravaged Croatia, works to promote a theology of forgiveness, non-violence and unity. A member of the Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Church in Croatia where his father was pastor, Dr. Volf spent more than a decade involved in international ecumenical dialogues, including the Archbishop of Canterbury's Building Bridges Seminar on Muslim Christian Relations and the Vatican Council for Promotion of Christian Unity.
Check back tomorrow for Part two of the series in which Dr. Volf discusses the poor, elderly, and the unborn.
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