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(The Root) — On the heels of a major loss for organized labor in Wisconsin earlier this year, when the state's governor signed a law limiting collective bargaining rights (a law later struck down by a judge and pending appeal), unions are now under siege in the state of Michigan. On Tuesday Gov. Rick Snyder signed into law a series of controversial "right to work" laws, which will limit the powers of the state's organized labor force.
Among the measures: Union dues can no longer be compulsory in private workplaces with labor contracts, which critics fear will sap union finances and clout. The move has sparked national outrage among progressives, as well as fear among many members of the working class. But black working men and women may have particular reason to worry.
According to a report, being in a union puts black Americans noticeably ahead, economically, of their nonunionized black counterparts. "On average, unionization raised black workers' wages 12 percent — about $2 per hour — relative to black workers with similar characteristics who were not in unions," a 2008 report from the Center for Economic Policy Research (pdf) found. Given that blacks overindex for labor union membership, these wage differentials have a greater impact on overall black earning power.
The report went on to note that for benefits, like health insurance and pensions, unionization had an even more profound effect on the economic stability of black workers. "African-American workers who were in unions were 16 percentage points more likely to have employer-provided health insurance and 19 percentage points more likely to have a pension plan than similar nonunion workers," according to the report. For low-wage jobs, the benefits of union membership were even more pronounced. Black Americans in low-wage jobs who were unionized were 20 percent more likely to have insurance and 28 percent more likely to have pension plans than their nonunionized low-wage counterparts.
One could argue that unions also had a particular impact on black Americans this year by playing a significant role in the re-election of President Barack Obama. Despite the president's struggle with white male voters throughout the campaign, he managed to win states like Wisconsin and Michigan, in part on the strength of union support.
It is worth noting that unions' role in this year's presidential election goes right to the heart of why some are so concerned about the new Michigan laws. Nearly 20 percent of the state's workforce consists of union members, making the state a sort of unofficial capital of union power in the U.S. Since the new legislation makes paying dues in private-sector unions voluntary, imagine what could happen to the vital role that unions have played in political campaigns, providing both manpower on the ground as volunteers and financial muscle. Could they still afford to fund media blitzes and other endeavors to support progressive candidates and progressive causes — and, equally impactful, to oppose conservative ones?
As I have written before, the public reaction to the Wisconsin labor fight shows that our nation is increasingly divided over the role of unions. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker easily survived a recall effort after signing his state's controversial union laws. Yet while the future of unions in America may be increasingly in question, the financial benefits to working families appears to be pretty clear.
What is not clear is what unions can do to stop losing the war over communications, messaging and image with those working- and middle-class voters whose support of anti-union conservatives have caused union power to wane significantly in recent years. Such support has given power to anti-union governors in what were once union-friendly states.
The anti-union laws signed by Govs. Walker and Snyder have made them conservative darlings, and since they're from swing states, it's very possible that either could end up on a presidential ticket in the near future. It remains to be seen if, by then, unions will still be in a position of sufficient power to help prevent either candidate from making it to the White House, as they did with another anti-union governor from a union state: Michigan-born Mitt Romney.
Keli Goff is The Root's special correspondent. Follow her on Twitter.


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Notes: i) certain sections of this website tend to end up quite out of date (specifically, at the moment, the Modular sections) - so it goes.. and ii) when I set up this website at the beginning of 2009 I was intending to transfer all the info from the old website to the new one - instead I have now simply duplicated the old site: BugBrand Archive Site (2005-2008)
A Brief Introduction
Coming from a musical background in playing / recording, since officially starting BugBrand in April 2005 I have been pretty much subsumed by working with analogue electronic circuitry. My work comes from a self-taught perspective of creative engineering - reveling in the meeting of art and science, where the inner workings of analogue circuits open up to present new sonic worlds.
While the early years saw me primarily making quite lo-fi and experimental devices such Weevils and several thousand Contact Microphones, I have gradually moved more into the world of Modular Synths. I introduced the BugBrand Modular System at the start of 2009 and this was the main focus up to 2013 when life changes meant I had to try to focus in on less nebulous projects. So, today, you can see the next iteration, where new standalone devices have clear roots leading from my Modular works.
The methods used in my work have undergone a gradual evolution - beginning with supremely laborious hand-etched circuits built into old cigar cases, but gradually moving to professional PCBs (circuit boards) and then through 2010 starting to using surface mount components, first of all stuffing these by hand in Bristol, but nowadays getting them done automatically by subcontract. In fact, the evolution of the Weevil family really highlights the refinement process, reaching the BoardWeevil in 2009 which did away with any enclosure and presented the naked circuit with touch-points integrated into the circuit design. I did have an assistant for several years, but now do everything myself.
In 2010, I incorporated the business as BugBrand Ltd and finally left the damp basement where BugBrand had developed and moved down the road to Ninetree Hill, just off Stokes Croft in Bristol.
Electronic Background
I actually have virtually no official training in electronics! Well, that's a slight lie because I actually studied Music Systems Engineering at UWE, Bristol (2000-2004, 1st Class Honours), but what this technical course really taught me was that excess mathematical calculations were not going to lead me to interesting and fun design ideas (or at least not quickly..). My route has instead been through trying things out and reading in books and on the internet - a self-directed DIY approach.
It was the ideas of circuit bending, the creative short-circuiting of devices to make malfunctionary new sounds, that got me started investigating the sounds hidden within circuits. From there I began building my own circuits to better understand the workings and things have just grown from there as I have discovered new techniques, both in circuitry and in the creative use of materials.
Musical Background
Between 2001 and 2006 my main creative focus was in performance and recording, both solo as Knowledge of Bugs and in several bands around Bristol including Francois and the Atlas Mountains, War Against Sleep and Bronnt Industries Kapital. My last Knowledge of Bugs album, The Shifted Sands, was released in late 2005. Since then it has been a gradual slide from music into electronics. It was only once I moved to Ninetree Hill that I really rekindled the playing - getting back to live shows and doing more studio work (very few things finished! But I did get a rambling techno track out on Omar S' FXHE Label in 2013)
I spent several years helping out at the wonderful Cube Cinema, primarily doing live sound for bands, but also recording acts such as Safetyword, Herman Dune, Jandek and Evan Parker.
The Old BugBrand Workshop - Apr2007
A note on 'Bugs': While one may think that the Bugs moniker comes from sonic-errors, it in fact stems from my old performance name - Knowledge of Bugs. I dreamt up that name while in Tennessee back in 1998 or so and used it for years. When I started self-releasing recordings, I came up with the BugBrand label name and this slid onwards to the beginnings of my electronic explorations. By the way, my real surname most certainly isn't Bugs!

subset: commoncrawl


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President Barack Obama made a late appeal for compromise to stave off across-the-board cuts Tuesday in a speech at Newport News Shipbuilding.
He called sequestration – the budgetary term for the cuts – an ugly word, and an even uglier concept, particularly for working-class people like the roughly 2,000 shipyard employees who crowded into a submarine construction facility for the event.
"The main reason I'm here is to call attention to the important work you're doing on behalf of the nation's defense, and this work, along with hundreds of thousands of jobs, are currently in jeopardy because of politics in Washington," Obama said, speaking in front of an aircraft carrier propeller.
Sequestration is scheduled to start March 1 if Congress doesn't find another way to address the budget deficit. It would come on top of another set of cuts stemming from the inability of lawmakers to pass a budget for the 2013 fiscal year.
Navy officials have already canceled or delayed a string of ship maintenance projects, including a postponement of the refueling and overhaul of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which had been scheduled to come to the shipyard on Valentine's Day.
The shipyard also builds new aircraft carriers and is one of two manufacturers of nuclear-powered Virginia-class submarines, and though it has long projects under contract the construction programs could, nevertheless, be impacted long-term. The pace of sub construction could slow, and the start of the carrier John F. Kennedy could be delayed if lawmakers don't take action on cuts.
Obama pleaded instead for a deal.
And he urged lawmakers to follow the lead U.S. Reps. Scott Rigell, R-Virginia Beach, and Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, D-Newport News, and remain open to a compromise.
Obama credited Rigell for asking colleagues in the House "to consider closing tax loopholes instead of letting these automatic cuts go through. (Rigell)'s more than prepared to make some really tough cuts but he wants to do it in a smart way."
But, Obama said Rigell is the exception in his party: "There are too many Republicans in Congress right now who refuse to compromise even an inch when it comes to closing tax loopholes and special interest tax breaks."
Obama said loopholes should be closed "for the well-off and the well-connected" – specifically "hedge fund managers, oil companies and corporate jet owners."
He also said Democrats have to make concessions.
"None of us will get 100 percent of what we want."
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, told reporters at a news conference earlier this week that Republicans understand there are "smarter ways" to cut the deficit but are waiting to see a proposal from the Democratic controlled Senate.
Boehner also criticized the president for "holding campaign rallies" on sequestration instead of spurring the Senate to action.
While the president was in Newport News, Senate Democrats huddled in Washington in an 11th-hour bid to head off sequestration. Sen. Mark Warner said the day's developments offered "some hint of good news."
Senators on both sides have been talking about a deal on the budget cuts that would include new revenues and reforms to social programs.
Failing that, the Senate could propose legislation allowing the country to avoid sequestration for the balance of fiscal year 2013. That plan makes smaller cuts over a smaller period of time – the remainder of the year – through a combination of new revenue and spending cuts.
A third option would give the White House authority to cut the budget at the level envisioned in sequestration but with flexibility in terms of what programs would be scaled back. The Navy in particular has asked for this authority, saying it would allow them to restart stalled projects.
But Obama dismissed this possibility during his shipyard speech. He said the cuts are so steep that even if he has such discretion, they'll damage the country. And Warner said he didn't like the idea either, even if it's better than doing nothing.
"If the sequester is stupid on steroids, this is only slightly less stupid," Warner said. "Let's hope it doesn't get to Plan C."
"Balanced approach"
In his introduction for the president Mike Petters, CEO and president of shipyard parent company Huntington Ingalls Industries said sequestration demands a "balanced approach" and a collaborative effort in Washington.
"Sequestration doesn't benefit anyone, and that includes the thousands of shipbuilders here today, our families, our friends and neighbors, and our extended family of 5,000 suppliers in all 50 states," Petters said.
Before the speech, Petters and two shipyard executives huddled with the president, and showed him two attack-submarines under construction: the Illinois, a boat that Michelle Obama is sponsoring, and the John Warner.
Petters told the Daily Press it's tricky to pinpoint where members of Congress are on a solution to avert sequestration but that people should understand what happens if a deal cannot be reached.
"I learned a long time ago, when you're inside of a negotiation, folks outside the negotiation don't really know what's going on," Petters said.
"My purpose is to say, 'Here are the consequences or potential outcomes.'"
The shipyard has not laid out exactly how it would react to cuts. But Petters has said that if the Lincoln refueling is not funded in the current fiscal year, the company, which has been in a hiring posture, will have to consider layoffs.
Presidential visit
The speech represents the first presidential visit to the sprawling shipyard – Virginia's largest industrial employer – since George W. Bush came for the christening of the aircraft carrier bearing his father's name.
Tuesday's event was popular, with workers filling a large section of the Supplemental Modular Outfitting Facility, a 65,000-square-foot space finished in August to accommodate a faster schedule for submarine production.
"We gave tickets to each department and it was up to the departments how they were distributed," said Christie Miller, a shipyard spokesman.
- Elections
- Politics and Government
- Budget Control Act of 2011
- Manufacturing and Engineering
- Shipbuilding
- Barack Obama
- Budgets and Budgeting
- Aircraft Carriers
- U.S. Senate
- Crime, Law and Justice
- Justice System
- U.S. Congress
- Mark Warner
- Government Debt
- Mutual Funds
- John Boehner
- Huntington Ingalls Industries
- Michelle Obama
- Abraham Lincoln
- George W. Bush


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Snapshots from Sweden: Vanilla Hearts and Cardamom Cookies at Flickorna Lundgren
From June 5 to June 11, I visited Western and Southern Sweden on a trip sponsored by Visit Sweden, West Sweden Tourist Board, Skåne Tourist Board, and Volvo as part of their CAR + VACATION contest. Here's a look at something I ate during my trip.
The pack of cardamom cookies I brought back from the over 70-year-old café and bakery Flickorna Lundgren didn't last long in the Serious Eats office; by the end of the day only a few crumbs remained. But as good as the cookies tasted here, they probably would've tasted better in their original, fairytale-esque setting in southern Sweden.
Flickorna Lundgren bursts with greenery and flowers from their thatched-roof cottage filled with baked goods, to their garden featuring a pond and plenty of outdoor seating, to their airy greenhouse, perfect for sitting indoors on a rainy afternoon like on the day I visited.
Flickorna Lundgren ("Lundgren Girls") is named after its founders, the Lundgren sisters: Greta, Ebba, Marta, Rut, Anna, Britt-Marie and Ella. In 1938, after their father Alexander considered selling the family's summer cottage in light of financial troubles, the sisters saved the cottage by turning it into a bakery and "coffee cottage." The business became popular from the beginning, eventually gaining the attention of King Gustav V and later King Gustav VI Adolf, both of whom gave official endorsements by awarding Flickorna Lundgren with royal warrants ("Kunglig hovleverantör" in Swedish). In 1988, Ella's son Mats Fejne took over the business and has since made updates to the property, including building a new greenhouse in the garden, repairing the cottage's roof (the building dates back to 1732), and installing a new kitchen to better serve their over 65,000 guests each summer.
Flickorna Lundgren's most famous dessert (and a favorite of King Gustav VI) is their vanilla heart, a heart-shaped cookie filled with vanilla cream and dusted with confectioner's sugar. It's a typical Swedish pastry—I also found them at supermarket chain ICA—but I'm guessing Flickorna Lundgren's are among the best. The shortbread-y cookie is crisp on the outside, soft on the inside, and made all the better with a center of rich cream. They say they make about 37,000 vanilla hearts each summer; I can see why. I'd contribute more to that number if I didn't live 3,800 miles away.
Unfortunately, I found out from Mats that vanilla hearts don't travel well and should be eaten in the same day. There went my plan for hoarding a suitcase of vanilla hearts back to New York. On the upside, King Author Flour has a recipe on their website.
What travels better are their Skåne rings (Skåneringar), thin, nutty, ring-shaped, cardamom-flavored cookies topped with sliced hazelnuts and pearl sugar. Before eating these cookies I thought I merely liked cardamom; afterward, I found that I love cardamom when used as well as it is in these cookies. The flavor is dominant but not overwhelming, like a gentle cardamom punch (if there is such a thing as a gentle punch). The cookies are brittle, so if you're as dumb as me, your pack of cookies will transform into a bag of cookie shards by the time you get back home. However, the texture and flavor of the shards should be the same as when the cookies were still ring-shaped.
As I already mentioned, I brought my bag of cookie shards to the Serious Eats office; by the end of the day, the bag was cleaned out. That's impressive in an office usually rife with leftovers. (I must thank Mats for not letting me leave without a pack of the cookies; at first I was just going to get a bottle of their homemade strawberry juice concentrate—which I'm still enjoying two weeks after getting back home—but he gave me the extra cookies on my way out.)
Now that I'm cookie-less, I tried to find a recipe online. Thanks to Swedish cooking blog Sara Bakar, I can try to make it at home, at least with this Google translated version. Sara notes that the recipe isn't in Flickorna Lundgren's official recipe book, Underbart är gott: klassiska kakor från Flickorna Lundgren, at the request of Aunt Rut, who didn't want to reveal it.
I wish I had had more time to try Flickorna Lundgren's other cakes, cookies, sandwiches, and homemade juices—my less than 45-minute visit was sandwiched in between a trip to a meat shop and Vikentomater, which was followed by Fricks Spettkaksbageri (it was a packed afternoon). If you can't make it in the summer, they're also open in the winter for the Christmas season. Make sure to spend more time there than I did. And eat more vanilla hearts.
Flickorna Lundgren
Skäretvägen 19, 263 72 SKÄRET, Sweden (map) 042-34 60 44; fl-lundgren.se; Facebook page
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


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Irrigation starts with sourcing water for the crop from groundwater or surface water from a channel or storage pond. Pumps used at the water intake need to meet changing conditions above and below ground, which have an effect on the pressure and flow required from day to day and from season to season.
A pumping system must be able to deliver the right amount of pressure and flow at the nozzle. Traditionally, water has been distributed from the water source at low or constant pressure from pumps operating atsingle speed, where the simple solution is to oversize the pump. However, this is wasteful – of energy, water, and the of the farmer's investment.
Grundfos can supply variable speed pumps that are able to adjust its head and flow to compensate for changes in water levels, reducing energy bills. If filtration is required at the water intake, intelligent pump controls ensure that reduced pressure at the nozzle does not happen over time.
Dedicated to modern agricultural irrigation
Grundfos can supply irrigation pumping solutions that reduce energy costs, safeguards the water resource, and keeps productivity at its best. Our pumping expertise and technology ensure uniform coverage despite changeable conditions. Grundfos offers the industry's broadest line of irrigation pumping systems. Our pumping systems are efficient, tested for reliability and designed to work seamlessly with modern farming operations.
No matter how big or small the application, Grundfos can supply the necessary pressure and flow for modern agricultural irrigation. Variable speed pumps and easily integrated controllers automatically react to changing conditions and demands to keep running costs down. Each component in the system is pre-engineered to work seamlessly with the next.
Modern pumping systems for modern agricultural irrigation
Modern agricultural irrigation is a complex interplay of sustainable energy consumption and water use, market conditions, and the application of experience and knowledge to ensure the best design for irrigation applications. Understanding past practices, today's water and energy issues and developments in pump technology all contribute to build pumping systems that best service the needs of modern agriculture.
Challenges in agriculture require new techniques to boost productivity. The agricultural market is changing rapidly, and today's farmers cannot rely on the technology and practices of the past.
To keep productivity high and to stay competitive in the market for agricultural products, farmers need increasingly to focus on profitability, which includes energy optimisation and better use of water resources. And here pumping systems play a vital role
What is irrigation?
Put simply, irrigation is an artificial application of water to the plant roots, with the purpose of assisting the growing of agricultural crops. Fertiliser and chemicals can be added to an irrigation system, and irrigation also has a role in frost protection.
Successful agriculture is dependent upon farmers having sufficient access to water. Looking back to the middle of the last century, the common perception was that water was an infinite resource. Today, we are aware that water is a resource that needs to be managed. This is not only a question of more mouths to feed, people today consume more calories and eat more meat, and this requires more water to produce food.
Energy consumption is also an issue for the modern farmer. Energy for irrigation pumps is now one of the highest single cost drivers for farmers, and yet many are unaware of just how great the potential savings can be from more effective energy use.
Modern agriculture requires irrigation solutions that optimise irrigation uniformity, reduce energy costs, safeguard the water resource, and keep productivity at its best. The agricultural market is changing, and these changes require greater focus on applying knowledge, experience and total irrigation solutions integrating all components.
What to consider when getting water to the crop
Irrigation starts with sourcing water for the crop from groundwater or surface water from a channel or storage pond. The next step is water treatment, if this is necessary, and perhaps the addition of fertiliser or chemicals. Finally, water is delivered to the crop using various techniques, such as flooding, sprinkler irrigation or drip/micro spray applications.
Mechanised sprinkler systems, such as pivot irrigation, are effective for covering large areas. Such systems are typically attached to a pump that can supply the necessary amount of water and pressure – and a good deal more, just in case. A valve will typically handle the excess amount of flow and pressure.
Drip and micro-spray irrigation are for low pressure applications, where there is a requirement for reducing potential evaporation and runoff as much as possible. Keeping the pressure constant is vital for ensuring uniform application throughout each zone in the system, and this can be the most energy-efficient method of irrigation, if managed properly. Achieving this requires that the system can compensate for the variations in flow to ensure constant pressure, as zones cut in and out.
A Grundfos Hydro MPC booster system fitted with Grundfos CRE − variable speed drive-controlled pumps − is able to adapt to changing conditions and ensure constant pressure.
Traditional approaches and pumping solutions
Groundwater withdrawal has typically involved submersible or vertical turbine pumps that are able to bring water to the surface. For surface water intake, centrifugal pumps in various configurations, split case and end suction pumps have been traditional solutions.
These pumps are required to meet changing conditions above and below ground, which have an effect on the pressure and flow required from day to day and from season to season. A pumping system must be able to deliver the right amount of pressure and flow at the nozzle. The simple solution is to oversize the pump, so the pump is able to handle a worst case scenario. However, the result is that the pump will almost never operate at its optimal duty point. It will produce too much pressure and consume too much energy, which is not used productively in any way.
Traditionally, water has been distributed from the water source – either groundwater or surface water from a channel or storage pond – at low or constant pressure from pumps operating at single speed. Delivery to the crop has been from nozzles, where the focus has been on surface coverage, without too much attention placed on run-off, canopy evaporation and wind drift. Soil moisture monitoring to ensure an even spread over the irrigated area is a relatively new discipline.
However, pressure management has long been an issue, and over the years, pressure reduction valves have been commonly used to reduce pressure in the system. However, valves are costly to install and require frequent service and replacement, and their operation consumes a lot of energy.
If we consider that a modern agricultural irrigation system is a car and the pump is the motor, would it make sense to drive your car at constant full throttle and control the speed with the brakes? This is a very common approach for irrigation pumps.
If a pump is specified to run continuously at the highest level – for example when the corner section comes on – energy is wasted. The varying requirements for optimal energy use on a pivot application can easily be met by using a variable speed pump. This offers substantial savings on energy while maintaining pressure.
Meeting the challenges of modern agriculture
Complete pumping systems instead of large, isolated pumps are the way forward. For example, the costly and time-consuming use of pressure reduction valves to maintain constant pressure can be eliminated by an investment in pump controllers for effective pressure management. This saves costs in the long-term, also with service, and reduces energy consumption.
The same can be said of using valves in sprinkler irrigation. A much better approach would be to use a variable speed pump and a pressure sensor on the pivot, which will then automatically adjust the pump performance to match the requirements for the pivot. This ensures higher irrigation uniformity, and keeps energy costs down. A pump controller offers the additional advantage of protecting the pump from dry-running or power supply irregularities, extending the lifetime of the pump.
The rises and falls in water level below ground and for surface water essentially change the specifications for a pumping system because these variations change the head. A single speed pump dimensioned to lift from the lowest water level will burn energy dollars when the level is high. A variable speed pump is on the other hand able to adjust its head and flow to compensate for changes in water level, reducing energy bills.
The range of pump applications in agricultural irrigation is many and varied. The key to success is using intelligent pump controls that are designed for the application in question.
Designing a modern irrigation system
We need to think through the specific applications in irrigation in new ways, and in particular we need to think irrigation system design into the application. The pumps have to be much more integrated with the rest of the irrigation system. This means the pump must be designed to match the rest of the irrigation equipment, or the irrigation equipment must be designed to match the pump.
The current approach of simply installing a pump capable of always delivering more than enough water ends up wasting money and energy. Returning to our pump-as-motor metaphor: Purchasing an over-sized motor as an afterthought to place in your car will end up a costly affair and offers no guarantee of a comfortable or fuel-efficient ride!
Think this into an irrigation system, where the pump must do more than simply deliver water to the pipes in order to be effective. For example, adding variable speed drives improves the efficiency of groundwater withdrawal when pumping directly into an irrigation system. Surface water intake and distribution can be improved by using multi-pump pressure boosting systems, and across the board, monitoring and control systems further safeguard the reliable flow of water by protecting the pump from dry-running, motor breakdown or power supply irregularities.
All these elements must be fully integrated into the design to provide the benefits that a modern irrigation pumping system can offer the farmer. Maintaining correct pressure and flow in the pipes and at the nozzle means more water per kWh and savings on energy, which is one of the highest cost items in farming.
Earlier, we discussed the importance of maintaining a constant pressure in a pivot irrigation system. This becomes very relevant if the pivot is equipped with an end gun and maybe even a corner section. As soon as the end gun or corner section comes on, the pressure in the pivot's main line will drop, and this will impact the irrigation uniformity.
The solution is to replace the pivot's main pump with a variable speed pump, which will immediately react to a pressure drop when an end gun or corner section cuts in. In such a configuration it is possible to maintain the exact same pressure on all the sprinklers, and thereby deliver a high uniformity.
A modern pumping system is not only about pumps. Variable speed drives, intelligent control and even remote management all necessitate the integration of all components in an irrigation system.
The future: total solutions, tailored to the application
The development described above shows the need for the careful consideration of the entire irrigation system and each component's integration, tailored to the application. This requires experience and knowledge, and the ability to follow water from the source to the crop – from the water intake, through water treatment and distribution to the irrigation application, all carefully monitored and regulated along the way.
Modern agriculture requires a broader understanding of component integration, and the system must ensure the farmer is able to respond to issues of energy consumption and water supply, specifically by isolating areas where savings can be made, generating increased profit per hectare.
This is not an exercise that can be carried out in isolation; all relevant local conditions need to be added to the equation, such as soil conditions, the crop, topography, and weather patterns. Pump control including monitoring and intelligent management is then the way forward.
The energy savings are there to be made – and are substantial. The added benefit for the farmer is, in addition to the lower operating costs, that water is delivered with greater precision to the crop, resulting in a better harvest, increased profitability, and better water management, ensuring sustainable agriculture in the future.


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|New Crown Hill Book
This Sunday, June 1st Crown Hill Cemetery will celebrate 150 years! In celebration of the sesquicentennial, the Crown Hill Heritage Foundation and Indiana Historical Society Press have published a 380-page book entitled "Crown Hill: History, Spirit, Sanctuary".
|View of the Cemetery
The Indianapolis Indiana cemetery was dedicated June 1, 1864 and the first interment was held the next day. Today, over 200,000 people rest among 555 rolling, tree-covered acres, making it the third largest non-government cemetery in the U.S.
|View from the Crown
The park-like setting is home to thousands of stories, many of which the book shares, along with photos. The history of, and in, this cemetery is interesting and informative.
|Grave of Lucy Ann Seaton
The first burial at Crown Hill was held one day after the dedication ceremony, on June 2nd. Lucy Ann Seaton, a 33 year-old mother had died of consumption (tuberculosis.) Her husband John, a Union Captain serving in the Civil War, had inscribed on her stone, "Lucy, God grant that I can meet you in heaven."
|Through a Gravestone
|Crown Hill: History, Spirit, Sanctuary
Crown Hill has thousands of statues, markers and gravesites. The Crown Hill book features over 600 color photographs from stunning monuments and mausoleums to seasonal vignettes to detailed close-ups of symbols and epitaphs to a bird's eye view of the "City on the Hill."
|Crown Hill: History, Spirit, Sanctuary
The photos provide intricate and often over-looked details in the cemetery whether depicting chiseled mausoleums, abundant wildlife, or deeply etched shadows on a statue's face: The fascinating photographic angles give the reader an even greater feel for the subject.
|John Dillinger's Grave
|Crown Hill: History, Spirit, Sanctuary
Crown Hill is the final resting place of numerous famous and notorious people from politicians to artists, actors, community and state leaders, automotive manufacturers, musicians, and countless others. Many of their stories are captured upon the pages of the Crown Hill anniversary book.
|James Whitcomb Riley's Monument
Hoosier Poet James Whitcomb Riley was the first person to be buried on top of the crown in 1917 – 18 months after his death. From the top or the crown of the hill, you can see downtown Indianapolis, almost 3 miles away.
|Eli Lilly Mausoleum
Other well-known people interred in the cemetery include Lyman Ayres, founder of L.S. Ayres Department stores. Colonel Eli Lilly, Civil War Commander and pioneer pharmacist, who founded Eli Lilly Laboratory in Indianapolis. Dr. Richard Gatlin, inventor of the Gatlin gun, along with John Dillinger, the infamous 1930's bank robber.
|Graves in National Cemetery
Crown Hill is also home to a National Cemetery. It was 1866 when the U.S. Government purchased 1.4 acres of land within Crown Hill to construct a military cemetery for Civil War soldiers. Over 700 soldiers were interred by November of that year. In all, 2,135 soldiers are now buried here, representing every war in which the United States has taken part in up to and including the Viet Nam War. The last burial was for Air Force Major Robert W Hayes in 1969.
|Confederate Mound
There is also another military burial ground in Crown Hill: The Confederate Mound is the final resting place of 1,616 Confederate Prisoners of the Civil War. These southern soldiers died while being detained at Camp Morton from 1862 through 1865. Most were originally buried at the City Cemetery, but were moved in 1931 by the War Department.
|June Tour Schedule
Public and private tours of the cemetery are offered throughout the year. There are four different tours scheduled during the anniversary month. Tours will be held on each Saturday this month and include: Angels of Crown Hill (June 7), Heritage Tour, which includes a visit to over 40 graves and monuments of well-known and notable people (June 14), Private Family Mausoleums (June 21), and Skeletons in the Closet, Part 1 (June 28). All tours begin at 7:30 p.m. except June 21 when the mausoleum tour is held at 9:30 a.m.
|U.S. Colored Troops Burial Grounds
The "Spirit of Freedom" event, celebrating the African Americans who fought and died during the Civil War, will be held June 5th, 10:45 to 1 p.m.
|Cemetery Honey
Crown Hill is alive with nature from Monarch butterflies covering a gravestone to deer grazing peacefully under the trees. The cemetery is also home to over 4,000 inventoried trees; many uncommon to the region, and many that are very old. The cemetery is a-buzz with thousands of bees, which have hives on top of the Art Deco Community Mausoleum. Beekeepers from England's Apiary of Indianapolis gather the honey a couple of times a year to sell. It has been called, "Gravely delicious."
|Statue in Cemetery
Plan a trip to Crown Hill Cemetery to explore the art, sculptures, history and more. The cemetery is located at 700 West 38th Street in Indianapolis, Indiana. For more information, visit their web page at www.crownhill.org. Or check out the Crown Hill Facebook page at
If you can't make it for a visit, or would like a beautiful keepsake, consider a copy of the 150th anniversary book, Crown Hill: History, Spirit, Sanctuary. To order visit www.crownhillhf.org
Crown Hill is a true Rural Cemetery offering something for everyone; history, architecture, art, walking tours and nature, all in a serene and beautiful setting.
Happy 150th Anniversary to this magnificent City on the Hill!
~ Joy


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Maine Power lines being inspected from air
CMP using heliocpters for inspection
Those choppers Mainers hear overhead may be power line inspectors.
Central Maine Power is performing its autumn inspections of its transmission lines by helicopter. The twice-yearly flights help spot potential problems with equipment, as well as signs of unauthorized use. This helps ensure safe, reliable delivery of power.
CMP, a subsidiary of Iberdrola USA, does a visual inspection of all of its transmission rights-of-way from the air each spring and fall.
In addition to those inspections of its entire transmission system, CMP also flies over more than 600 miles of transmission lines during the summer using a helicopter equipped with infrared thermal imaging equipment to detect "hot spots" that might need attention.
CMP owns nearly 2,200 miles of transmission line.


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Package manager vulnerability study flawed ?
A study from the University of Arizona (recently posted on slashdot) looked at weaknesses in package managers (and mirror setup). By becoming an official mirror and delaying or stalling a mirror's updates they tried to lower the security of servers using that mirror and increasing the window of opportunity for a successful attack.
In itself it is very useful to make people aware of weaknesses in technology or abuse of trust, but in this case (and certainly for CentOS) I think they overstated the impact or at least ignored mechanisms used to prevent possible security risks.
By default CentOS uses yum with mirrorlist enabled. This means that instead of using a single mirror all the time, you are not using one, but different mirrors. This reduces the risk of a single mirror being out-of-date somewhat. But next to that CentOS has several tiers of mirrors depending on the update-frequency of each mirror (and the form of control the CentOS project has of those mirrors).
And the mirrorlist that CentOS users actually use is being created based on the correctness of the individual mirrors, we are continuously verifying mirror content, metadata, filesizes and signatures on checksums. This means that CentOS users are only working with an up-to-date mirrorlist and mirrors that stall or delay packages are left out of this mirrorlist. You can see how it works on the CentOS mirror status page.
Unfortunately this mechanism was not mentioned in the study.
The conclusion seems to be that any theoretical risk is very minimal and indirect, however some of the recommendations for improving the package manager's robustness should definitely be taken seriously by their developers.
Update: CentOS developer Johnny Hughes blogged about the same topic.
Should that "Before publishing" part be in this post?
Human error
You actually catched my article when it was being reviewed by others before it was ready for publication.
I guess I need to look into a better way of offering a new article for review to others without making it public and available from a feed :-/
Maybe there is a Drupal module that allows this functionality ?
Hello, I'm one of the authors of the study. I wanted to first of all thank you for commenting on our research. One of the major benefits we hoped would come from making this public is that the Linux community would become more aware and interested in fixing the problems we point out.
I also wanted to respond to several of the issues you brought up in your blog post. First, I appreciate you pointing out that many distributions check to see if their mirrors are current and try to remove mirrors that are not. We under-emphasized this in the webpage and other documents because we did not view this as a mechanism used to detect a malicious party (we thought the intent was to detect negligent administrators and broken scripts). As I'm sure you and the savvy reader are aware, it is possible for a web server to serve different content to different users. We examined our web request logs from our CentOS mirror and I believe we can identify the "checking bot" IP addresses. If we were malicious, we could serve "good" content to your checking bot and "malicious" content to other users. I would be happy to provide what I believe to be the IPs used to check if a mirror is current to you offline for verification / rebuttal. However, since you view this information as important to the security of your users, I will not list the information here.
Additionally, I wanted to mention that we found significant security problems with Fedora's MirrorManager (our FAQ talks about how it can be used to target attacks). However, other redirectors we looked at (like Download Redirector for OpenSUSE) do improve security in a similar manner to what you describe. I was wondering if we could talk more offline about how your mirror list redirection works so we can discuss the potential for abuse?
I also wondered if you might want to look in detail at the other attacks page of the web site and the technical report which mentions detailed information about flaws in YUM. We would be happy to discuss the feasibility of attacks that target these issues with you. However, I will point out one attack that is extremely simple that I hope illustrates there is a real danger to your users. If I control a mirror and you attempt to retrieve a file from my mirror, I can return an endless stream of data which (on YUM) will fill the disk and crash the client system (stopping logging, corrupt databases, etc.). This is obviously a real threat to all of your users regardless of any mirror redirection strategies you perform.
Anyways, we thank you for taking a look at our research and hope to hear more rebuttal / confirmation in the future.
Justin Cappos
You are correct when you say that there are potential problems with the depsolvers (yum and others) and I think my article ends to point out that we should not minimize those risks and developers definitely should look into them.
What I simply wanted to make clear is that we do more than just accept mirror-requests and that a mirror is not just offered whatever the accuracy of the mirror is. We do verify for forgery or malicious content.
But here also, yes, you have a good point about providing different content to different clients and unfortunately we trust other mechanisms (from the depsolver) to make sure that the user is not affected.
Other security mechanisms?
Can you explain more about your checking for forgery / malicious content (privately via email is fine)? I understand you have a checker bot that looks to see if the repomd.xml file is up to date. Can you talk more about other security checks you have that we may have overlooked?
I want to make sure that we don't provide any incorrect information about CentOS' security mechanisms. :)
I definitely appreciate the comments and suggestions on our research. Our goal isn't to point fingers at distributions. We're trying to provide accurate information about the real risks involved. We thank you for helping to point out any items we missed in our broad examination of package manager and distribution security.
Why the silence?
Did the discussion between dag and justin go offline? I would be very interested in reading the rest of this thread (being a CentOS admin).


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Machines don't just happen. They are dreamt, designed, developed, built and flown. The Space Shuttle Orbiter came out of the same malaise era that brought us rich Corinthian leather, 180 HP V8s and chassis stiffness akin to a wet sheet. Nonetheless, the orbiter was a remarkable machine. It was designed and built by Rockwell International in Palmdale, CA after an extensive design competition to develop the next generation of space vehicle after the Apollo program and the a Saturn V. The idea was to operate a space craft that could be reused, land and takeoff at multiple sites, fly frequently and cheaply and to haul just about anything. We can debate if the finished product lived up to this billing, but I won't do that here. What we will do is talk about how the shuttle was built.
To operate as NASA desired, taking off like a rocket and gliding back for landing, meant that the shuttle would be a hybrid between a spacecraft and an aircraft. Propulsion, life support and cargo carrying design features would be recognizable to those dealing with spacecraft. The entry and landing requirements resulted in many features and design techniques that are common with airliners and high performance aircraft.
The fuselage of the shuttle would be assembled from frames, stringers and skins in a way familiar to anyone who has been around aluminum aircraft. Riveted or bolted members widely utilizing aluminum were used long with a smattering of composite structures and a few high test details.
The orbiter used some lifting body research in the development of its aerodynamics. That and thermodynamic requirements needed for the heat shield necessitated a flat belly.
This is not favorable for taking pressurization loads of the cabin. As you can see in the image below, the crew cabin was actually circular in shape, like a standard airliner, and was mounted in a cradling structure on the main fuselage. A shell was then installed over the top of it. This forward structure was then bolted to the structure around the keel and sides of the cargo bay. The fact that the cargo doors opened also necessitated a keel structure that was stronger than you would typically see on an airliner. Extensive use of truss structures helped provide a light weigh solution to this problem.
The orbiter's delta wings are constructed in a fairly typical way. Spars run inboard and outboard with forward and aft ribs along with stringers building up the structure. Skins are either aluminum sheet or sheet with bonded corrugated bonded doublers. This stiffens the panels with a relatively low weight penalty. The wheel well structures use this design technique as well.
The tail structure differs significantly from what you would see in an airliner simply because it must house the thrust structure of the Space Shuttle Main Engines. When you have to transfer 500,000 lbs of thrust from each of the engines into the stack you need a beefy structure. The fact that the engines gimbal to help steer the shuttle on climb means that you need need even more strength. While the main orbiter structure was fairly conventional, the thrust structures for the engines used some high test stuff. Strips of titanium were bonded together under very high heat and pressure and then had boron epoxy bonded to the outer surfaces for added stiffness.
The Orbital Maneuvering System pods on the upper portion of the aft fuselage were made with carbon composite skins and honeycomb cores. These cores had to be vented to prevent delamination from trapped air when the shuttle got to orbit.
Orbiter systems were also fairly conventional, but with a high level of redundancy. Most systems are triple redundant, meaning there are three of each. This type of redundancy meant there was a low probability of a full critical failure of a system.
Landing gear and tires on the orbiter were also fairly conventional. In fact, the orbiter gear were deployed simply by gravity. There were no hydraulics like you would see on an airliner. Tires were provided by Michelin and were pressurized to 300 PSI. A bit more than a standard airliner. While an airliner tire is typically designed for 200-300 landings, the orbiter tires were designed for just a few. In fact, they weren't reused that often.
I could spend hours writing about the orbiter's thermal protection system. I won't. There are lots of articles out there talking about the trials and tribulations of getting that system to work. The orbiter utilized carbon-carbon wing leading edges and nose cone, silicon tiles on the belly and parts of the fuselage and thermal blankets in lower temperature areas. It was amazing in its capability, but fragile.
The Space Shuttle Orbiter itself was a remarkable spacecraft that did some pretty amazing things. True, the fact that it was designed to act as a spacecraft and aircraft meant there were some compromises. Also, the fact that we didn't always operate it as it should have been shouldn't be held against it. The loss of Challenger and Columbia can be attributed to design issues with other parts of the shuttle stack and not the orbiter. In fact, once NASA got around to building the station, a mission that the Orbiter was really designed for, it excelled.
Additional photos of the orbiters under construction:
Photo credits:


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NEA HIN Disaster Relief Fund Aides Gulf Coast School
NEA Vice-President Lily Eskelsen (center) and NEA Secretary-Treasurer Becky Pringle (left) present Mississippi Association of Educators President Kevin Gilbert with a $37,000 check for disaster relief.
Photo by Calvin Knight for RA Today
Copyright © 2010 NEA
$1.5 Million collected in two months for relief efforts.
July 4, 2010
Five years ago the Gulf Coast states were devastated by Hurricane Katrina and NEA immediately mobilized to help the relief efforts.
NEA's Health Information Network created the Disaster Relief Fund and collected $1.5 million in just two months. Since that time the Fund has helped rebuild schools in Gulf states like Alabama, Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi.
Today at the Representative Assembly, Mississippi Association of Educators President Kevin Gilbert accepted a $37,000 check from the HIN Disaster Relief Fund on behalf of North Bay Elementary school in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The students at North Bay Elementary have been learning in portable trailers since Katrina came ashore in 2005. They will finally move into a new school this fall with new library books, art supplies and other educational resources to benefit the students.
North Bay serves as an example of the resilience of our schools along the coast," Gilbert said. "This grant will go a long way in helping the students receive a quality education in the wake of a hurricane that has left its mark on the state of Mississippi forever."
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For the first time we welcome the Spanish dramatist, writer and performer Angélica Liddell to the Kaaitheater. Her use of powerful imagery made her the revelation at the 2010 Avignon Festival. She is sometimes described as the female Rodrigio Garcia, that other big name in Spanish avant-garde theatre. Black humour and religious symbolism find a prominent place in her work.
Las Ideas draws us into the life and mental universe of an artist. We see the transformation of an idea at work from the inside: how it takes shape, grows and acquires a definitive expression.


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Ed Levine's Caloric Journey, Week 182: Goin' Fishin'
After 182 weeks of sharing the highs and lows of trying to get a handle on my weight as a serious eater, I need a break from this column. This column has changed my life and my weight. Every time I see someone who hasn't seen me in a few years and they comment on how good I look, I realize what a force of good this column has been.
It has literally changed my life for the better in more ways than I even realize at the moment.
So I'm taking the rest of August off with the idea that I will use this month-long hiatus to recharge, rethink, and retool the column. I'm thinking the column could, among other things, tell the story of other serious eaters who have successfully embarked on their own caloric journey.
It could be a blogger, chef, restaurant critic or a mixologist or any member of the SE community who wants to share how they balance their love of food while leading a healthy life.
The column could even take different forms. It could involve a recipe, a photo, an illustration, or something else I haven't even thought of yet.
So I'll be back, and in the meantime you'll be hearing from me elsewhere on Serious Eats. See you in September.
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


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The 2011/12 season has been characterised by long-running sagas. Normally I find myself in an annual review recounting a series of relatively self-contained accounts of the woes which have beset a number of clubs, but many of those listed below are far from resolved scenarios.
The selection is not systematic – it consists of the clubs who have found themselves on my radar screen; further suggestions are welcomed.
Ashford Town
For a club to have its two co-owners feuding (1) was always likely to lead to tears before bed-time. Add to this a withdrawal from its league in 2010 (2) and there is a clear downward pattern. This July HMRC issued a winding-up petition (3).
Billingham Town
A long dispute with Hartlepool over who should pay for improvements to the Billingham stadium (4) had been resolved in December 2010, but in January this year Billingham sought to wind themselves up (5). However, HMRC then stepped in with their own winding-up petition (6). The former of the these two seems to have been granted in April (7), but nonetheless the club is still is playing. Any insight into what has happened would be much appreciated.
Coventry City
Coventry City have faced financial problems since their relegation from the Premier League in 2001, not least because of the development of the Ricoh Arena, a less ambitious materialisation of what had originally been called Arena 2000, originally designed with a retractable roof and a removable pitch (8). In 2007, in a moment of financial crisis with the club having announced its intention to go into Administration, it was bought by venture capitalists SISU. Since then SISU has failed to inject enough money to buy back the Rich from the local council and a local charity.
SISU have struggled to find the right balance between economising and maintaining team performance, thus causing complaints from fans. The financial struggle led to SISU stopping paying the rent for the stadium in April this year in an attempt to force a lower a rental. The confrontation was resolved in court last month, but details have not been made public (9).
Croydon Athletic
The imprisonment of owner Mazher Majeed for his part in cricket's 'spot-fixing scandal' last November (10) made the club unsustainable. It was promptly fined and deducted 10 points (11), adding another straw to an already broken back. Unable to find a new owner, the club withdrew from the Isthmian League, unable to fulfil its fixtures (12). A resurrection club, AFC Croydon Athletic, has been formed however (13).
A sorry tale of desperation and despair, covered in postings passim and on the TwoHundredPerCent website, but eventually one of hope. In early May fans group Darlington 1883 finally succeeded in taking over the club (14), but at what a price – the club had been forced into exile (15 and 16), and demoted to the Northern League Division 1 (17). Onwards and upwards!
Harlow Town
Another sorry tale, this time tied up with the owners' divorce (18 and 19; note the dates). The club entered a CVA back in September 2009 (20). Last November the club faced a winding-up order from HMRC (21), but this was finally dismissed in February. In the same month, new owners had taken over (22). Any further insight from local readers would be appreciated.
Kettering Town
Not the ultimate car crash – that comes lower down the posting – but certainly one of the most dragged cases. See postings passim and on the TwoHundredPerCent website. The season just finished was yet another traumatic one.
Having started the season by going into exile at the former Rushden & Diamonds stadium in Irthlingborough, less than ten miles away, there seems to have been no synergy in attracting new fans, as is reflected in the appearance of fan-owned AFC Rushden & Diamonds, also in exile, at Wellingborough, ground-sharing with Wellingborough Town, less than five miles from Irthlingborough.
Debts built up, and in June the club had to enter a CVA, with debts reported to be £1.2m (23), and HMRC hot on the club's heels (24).
Meanwhile, want-away owner Imran Ladak had handed over the reins to 'acting Chairman' George Rolls, at least, until he was suspended from football for five years by the FA (25). Ritchie Jeunne took over as Chairman (26), albeit extremely briefly, and now, in a Chainraiesque twist, Ladak is back (27). The long-suffering Poppies Trust continue to fight on doggedly (28) notwithstanding demotion and a 10 points penalty (29).
Chased over debts by HMRC and then Barclays (30), the Welsh Premier League club was wound up at the end of May (31).
Northwich Victoria
Another depressing season for the clubs' fans – evicted from their stadium (32), and then a crazy saga about where they could and couldn't play (33), and expulsion from the Northern Premier League (34). You couldn't make it up.
Plymouth Argyle
It seems some time ago now, but the final chapter in the club's survival was last October, and so within last season. Mark Murphy has a neat summary of events here.
Port Vale
Yet another long-running saga – see postings passimandTwoHundredPerCentfor details. Notable events and non-events during the 2011/12 season were the appointment of an Administrator in March (35), the lack of an attempt to take over by long-time suitor Mo Chaudry (36) and the Administrator's misplaced faith in Keith Ryder as a potential owner (37).
Here we go yet again. The 'club as company' has been, more or less continuously, the basket case of English football for the past four decades, and this last season has proved no exception, with the arrest of the latest owners in November (38) and a now familiar drop into Administration in February. I'm going to hold back in my lengthier comments for the moment as we seem to be on the point of either the start of a new chapter in the saga or dénouement.
Suffice it to say, in the red corner is Balram Chainrai, threatening to 'save the club again'. To me this is a bit like 'giving up smoking' – you can't logically apply the phrase on more than one occasion. In the blue corner is the Pompey Supporters Trust (vested interest declared – I have made a pledge to buy shares, and would urge all Pompey fans to do likewise here)
Prescot Cables
In an act all too rare in English football, the supporter-owned club took the difficult but realistic decision to return to amateur status (39).
Rossendale United
Effectively defunct at the end of the previous season, the club still appeared on my radar screen. In March the club was still being chased for £37,000 by HMRC (40). In January the defunct stadium had been gutted by fire (41), and the next month the owner, Andrew Connolly, had announced plans to redevelop the site with 50 new houses (42). This forced the abandonment of plans for a resurrection club (43)
Rothwell Town
Which is, by the way, five miles from Kettering and thirteen from Irthlingborough. In May 2010 the club had withdrawn from the Southern League due to financial difficulties (44), and a mooted rescue did not materialise (45). Last October the club went into Administration (46), and in March the ground was put up for sale (47). As far as I can make out, there have been no further substantive developments – again any local input would be appreciated.
Stockport County
Yet another season of uncertainty for County (see postings passim and TwoHundredPerCent). The end of a ground-sharing agreement for Edgeley Park with Sale Sharks will have added to the financial pressures (48).
Truro City
An interesting case of amazing success on the pitch, driven by a 'benefactor', which has proved unsustainable (49). The club has been pursued by HMRC (50), struggled to play its players (51), and at the start of the current season has had to seek protection through Administration (52). Two mysteries remain – the involvement of the Salisbury City Chairman, William Harrison-Allison (53), and the sale of the ground (54). The timing of the latter will guarantee that this story has legs.
The joker in this particular pack, destined to be an obscure name that only reappears occasionally in pub quizzes. It marks an attempt by Steven Vaughan, he of Barrow, Chester and at one time allegedly Wrexham fame (see postings passim), through his son, to create a football club from scratch. Originally to be called Widnes Town (55), it had to change its name on the not unreasonable grounds that Widens Town already existed (56). Finding a ground to pay at proved challenging (57) and Stephen Vaughan seems to have opted to weave his own very particular brand of football magic in Malta instead (58).
Very roughly, the clubs involved fall into two groups. First here are the League clubs. Here there seems to be a continuing trend of slightly fewer clubs getting into financial difficulty, but those that do do so on a grand scale, and perhaps do so on a kind of cyclical basis – one crisis leads directly to the next one.
The second group, the non-League clubs, frequently display Benefactor Withdrawal Syndrome (BWS). The unsustainability of this business model becomes particularly problematic when the 'benefactor' has lifted the club up the pyramid to a level where his withdrawal makes survival especially difficult. Clubs like Crawley Town and Fleetwood are surely vulnerable to BWS, not to mention the League and Premier League clubs of much longer standing who have become benefactor-dependent.
When I started preparing this posting, I did so with as close to a sense of cautious optimism as I manage. With the natural exception of Portsmouth, surely things were beginning to look a little rosier in the football football finance garden. Having completed it, I've fallen back to more usual mood of pessimism, wondering when club owners are going to get a grip and face reality (full marks to Prescot Cables as an exception). Not that aren't some good practice stories out there – Wrexham and Chester provide the most encouraging examples.
At least fifteen years ago I wondered 'when the bubble was going to burst'. This has obviously proved the wrong metaphor. Suggestions for a more appropriate one are welcomed.


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Tri-State Forest Products opens new DC
Tri-State Forest Products, the Springfield, Ohio-based wholesale distributor, has opened a new distribution center in Toledo, Ohio. This is the company's third distribution center in the region.
The new location occupies the former Toledo Forest Products facility -- former employees at that facility have accepted new positions with Tri-State. Tri-State recently purchased a large portion of the assets of Toledo Forest Products, which is based in Perrysburg, Ohio, for an undisclosed sum.
The new DC aims to serve customers in northern Indiana and Ohio, as well as to establish a greater presence in Michigan, according to a statement from the company.
Tri-State Forest Products distributes engineered wood, roofing, vinyl siding, decking, flooring and a number of other building materials. The company currently has locations in Toledo, Ohio; Perrysburg, Ohio; and Indianapolis.


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- Calisto 610-M Speakerphone for Microsoft Lync
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Unfortunately, aggressive behaviour is something we all can encounter in our daily lives. Handling these interactions can be difficult, as the wrong technique can jeopardise the safety of yourself and those around you. When a conflict escalates, you run the risk of disruption and violence that can have grave ramifications. This video will demonstrate how to avoid such mistakes, and is suitable for personnel at all levels who might encounter aggressive behaviour in public.
Running time: 29 mins
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Sacramento, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - DeMarcus Cousins had 25 points and 16 rebounds and the Sacramento Kings routed the Chicago Bulls 99-70 on Monday night. Isaiah Thomas netted 19 points and Rudy Gay added 14 points and six rebounds for the Kings, who snapped their seven-game losing streak. "The key was rebounding and making them make tough shots," Gay said. Jimmy Butler had 17 points to lead Chicago, which shot just 28.2 percent (22- of-78) from the floor and were outrebounded 53-30. "You got to learn from it, you have to make your corrections," Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau said. The Bulls have dropped two straight. Joakim Noah was ejected in the third quarter when he picked up two technical fouls in less than three minutes. He yelled obscenities at the referees while being escorted off the court. After Tony Snell's runner pulled Chicago within 12-9 late in the first, the Kings closed the frame on a 12-3 run. Quincy Acy's 3-pointer at the buzzer staked the Kings to a 24-12 cushion after one period. Taj Gibson scored eight points during an 18-4 Chicago run, which was capped on a pair of Joakim Noah free throws to tie the game at 30-30. Sacramento, though, closed the half on a 14-3 burst and it never looked back. Thomas' driving layup at the horn gave the Kings a 44-33 halftime lead. They took a 71-57 cushion into the fourth, where the hosts led by as many as 30 before cruising to the easy win. Game Notes Sacramento shot 52.2 percent (36-of-69) from the field ... The Kings turned the ball over 23 times ... The Bulls were 4-of-20 from beyond the arc.
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Template:May 1
Prophet Jeremiah (7th-6th c. b.c.); Saint Philosophos the Martyr, at Alexandria (252); Martyr Batas of Nisibis (Bata the Persian) (ca. 364); Saint Isidora the Fool-for-Christ, of Tabennisi, Egypt (ca. 365); Saint Corentin, Bishop of Quimper (460); Saint Brioc, Abbot of St. Brieuc (ca. 502); Saint Marcul, Hieromonk of Corbeny (ca. 558); Saint Asaph, Bishop in North Wales (6th-7th c.) Saint Ultan, Irish missionary monk of Burgh Castle (East Anglia), Fosse and Peronne (Gaul) (680); New Monk-martyr Romanus of Raqqa (780); St. Michael, ascetic of Chalcedon (8th-9th c.); Saint Tamara the Great, Queen of Georgia (1213); Saint Paphnutius of Borovsk, Abbot (1477); Hieromartyr Macarius, Metropolitan of Kiev (1497); St. Zosimas, bishop of Kumurdo (15th c.); Saint Gerasimus of Boldinsk, Abbot (1554); Saint Panaretos of Cyprus, Archbishop (1791); New Martyrs Euthymius, Ignatius (1814), and Acacius (1815) of Mount Athos; Archbishop Martyr Sabbas (1821); Venerable Nikephoros of Chios, monk (1821); New Martyr Mary of Mirambelos (Mary of Crete) (1826); Virgin-martyr Nina (1938); Other commemorations: Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Unexpected Joy" from Andronikov; Repose of Schemamonk Luke of Glinsk Hermitage (1898); Translation of the relics of Saint Walburga, Abbess of Heidenheim.


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WHAT To Perform IF YOUR pandora gift card IS LOST OR STOLEN
In the situation of loss or burglary of the pandora gift card, right away inform the provider of the card by contacting us to the toll-free number showed on the issuer is internet site.
You will need to provide the lost or swiped gift card number for cancellation as well as the substitute.
HOW TO TERMINATE A PURCHASE OF YOUR pandora gift card
If for some reason you decide not to purchase, educate the vendor concerning it. If the purchase is already full and the seller cancels the purchase after refining it, it might take 3 to 7 days for the money to be returned to your pandora gift card.
WHAT TO DO WHEN THE pandora gift card VALUE IS DEPLETED
If the balance on your pandora gift card is exhausted, then you must conserve your gift card up until you are absolutely certain that you will certainly not return the products bought with the card.
If you make a decision to return items purchased with a pandora gift card, then the store might need you to provide this card, this is stated in the store regulations.
USING YOUR pandora gift card BEYOND U.S.A.
Your present card will certainly not stand beyond the United States. But on the terrarium of the USA, a pandora gift card can be utilized at numerous places within the U.S. where Visa Debit cards are approved.
Vital Info Regarding pandora gift card
To aid the federal government combat the financing of terrorism as well as money laundering activities, a pandora gift card has actually restricted the maximum value of each gift card to $500.


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It keeps cropping up in the news. I keep hearing about it on publishing discussion groups. The number of authors who are self-publishing novels for the Kindle and then selling thousands of copies of their books is increasing.
Recently, Amanda Hockings was big news in the self-publishing world. Amanda penned novels and received rejection after rejection from publishers. Finally, she made the decision to put her novels up for sale on Amazon's Kindle. To date, she has sold 900,000 copies of her ebooks and essentially become a millionaire. Now she has received a two million dollar book deal for a new series from a major publisher.
Just the other week, The Charlotte Observer (a newspaper in my home town) had an article about a woman named Elisa Lorello. Elisa is a teacher in North Carolina. She, too, after multiple rejections from publishers, decided to publish her first novel as an ebook for Amazon's Kindle. At first, she got a modest response, but when she lowered the price from $1.99 to $.99, her sales began to soar. To date, she has sold 52,000 copies of her novel on Kindle.
So what's the key to selling thousands of books on Kindle?
Well-written novels for the younger generation (16 to 32 year olds) priced at $.99.
I'm not joking. Every success story on selling thousands of copies of books on the Kindle has had the common theme of books priced at $1.99 or below. Both Amanda and Elisa sold many of their books for $.99.
It appears that many Kindle owners have a garage sale mentality. "Here is a cheap novel for $.99. I will pick it up and see if I like it." When you buy books cheap at a garage sale, you can take a risk. You are not shelling out much money when paying a buck for a book. If you don't like the book, no sweat; after all, you got it for a bargain.
If you have a Christian novel you want to sell, try bargain pricing it for the Amazon Kindle. You probably will pick up a number of Christian readers who are just looking for the bargain books.