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Brokers ready to run with the bulls as drought ends
Published in the The Saturday Age, Melbourne, February 2013
Many analysts are quietly confident as the recovery in global markets gathers steam, write Adele Ferguson and Mark Hawthorne.
As far as barometers of the financial markets go, Collins Quarter is a hard place to beat.
The little bar is located across the road from 101 Collins Street, Melbourne's famous Citadel, a building which, at upwards of $1,000 per square metre to rent, ranks among the most expensive city real estate in the country.
The Citadel is home to Macquarie Group, Morgan Stanley, Bell Potter Securities, lB Were, JP Morgan and Lazard, among a host of household names from the world of finance.
When many of those companies shed staff amid the global financial crisis, the bar was where many gathered to shed a tear or three with colleagues.
Gloom and doom has hung over such bars for the best part of five years.
But after some lean years, the brokers are gathering at Collins Quarter again, but this time in much happier circumstances.
"I have never known so much about the ups and downs of the sharemarket as I have since I started working here.
I can see it in their faces every night, if the market has had a bad day or a good one. For the past couple of weeks, they have seen some good ones," the general manager, Yuksel Yucetepe, said.
And so it was again this week, when BusinessDay dropped in on a Wednesday night.
The place was packed with "suits" from all the big firms, enjoying what they affectionately call "Pig Wednesday" when spitroast pork rolls are dished out at $7 apiece.
The beers are flowing, even at 8pm in the middle of the working week.
"Mate, I haven't had two brass razors to rub together in about four years," said one broker, from Bell Potter.
"No sign of a bonus, no brokerage, but the last two weeks have been great, so it's time to enjoy the good times again."
It is a scene that is being replicated across the country. From Sydney's Martin Place to Perth's St Georges Terrace, stockbrokers are celebrating the end of a long drought.
Last month, for the first time since the global financial crisis devastated retirement savings, the nation's super funds returned to their pre-crisis levels, helped by a 14 per cent increase in the share market over the past 12 months.
In the past quarter the ASX 200 index has risen 12 per cent in lockstep with the surge in global sharemarkets.
In the US, Wall Street is just 5 per cent off an all time high and in Europe equity markets have also risen as the "rotation" from bonds to equities gathers steam. Price-to-earnings ratios have jumped from 10.6 a year ago to 13.7 and volumes going through the market have almost doubled.
Caan Krsztew-Ivanow, a senior consultant in banking and financial services recruitment at Randstad, says the change in sentiment has been palpable.
"The last eight months of the year were dead for the stockbroking industry," he says.
"In the past two weeks, we've pretty much had every major firm in the country we deal with come to us and say get ready, we're hiring'.
I can see March being very good for the industry."
It is in sharp contrast to nine months ago when a number of brokers were struggling to survive as business dried up, corporate activity flat lined and margins continued to come under attack.
But the equities revival hasn't gone unnoticed. With most of the world economies still basket cases, China's economy slowing and Australia battling its own problems including the uncertainties associated with an impending federal election, the experts are divided.
Has the global equities market officially entered a bull cycle or is it illusory?
Craig Drummond, the chief executive and country head of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Perpetual's head of equities, Matt Williams, Tyndall's head of equities, Bob Munster, Deutsche Bank's Scott Mailer, and others believe the rally isn't a false start, but a clear shift in the cycle.
Indeed, Craig James at Comm-Sec revised his end-of-year forecasts for the Australian sharemarket to close at 5300, up 14 per cent.
"It does appear on current developments that we were too pessimistic, swamped by a perfect storm' of bad news," James says.
He had previously estimated a year-end close of 4900 to 5000 points.
Drummond believes the turning point in the cycle was when the European Central Bank president, Mario Draghi, made his famous "whatever it takes" speech about Europe.
"Those comments said to investors there isn't a lot of downside in taking on risk.
Prior to that point there was massive uncertainty about what the ECB would do and whether they would provide the liquidity," he says.
"Falling interest rates have helped, but it is also confidence, that's what has changed."
For Drummond the world is continuing to globalise and the equities rally is a global thematic.
"If global equities run, Australia will be part of it," he says.
Perpetual's Williams says there has been a clear shift in interest rate expectations and bonds, and Australia has been late to this.
"This time last year I said we would have a positive year. It outperformed even my expectations, particularly the industrial sector, which was up 19 per cent. It will be hard in the absence of earnings upgrades to replicate that, but with the dividend yields on offer the chances are good for another positive year," he says.
The rotation into global equities has extended to retail.
A report from Bank of America Merrill Lynch showing that retail investors pumped billions of dollars into the US market in the past few weeks after redeeming more than $US 100 billion ($96 billion) last year and close to $US450 billion since 2008.
It is this which is giving the experts pause and prompting some panic buying as investors worry they might miss out.
From a local perspective, it means that the current profit reporting season, which is expected to report flat earnings, is unlikely to dampen confidence.
"This is not an earnings-driven recovery, but it never is," says Drummond.
"The prospect is that dividends will start to grow in 2014, along with earnings."
US broking house Citi wrote on Tuesday: "If we're right and the reporting season is reasonable, it should give further impetus to the market, though it has run hard lately, and partly on some encouraging signs about the results.
But we still expect the market to go higher through the year, with our S&P/ASX 200 target of 5200 for end 2013, as moderate earnings growth returns in full year 2014."
Macquarie Equities recently issued a note saying Australians were taking the view that "lower interest rates via lower mortgages rates will be the catalyst that shakes households out of their GFC-induced malaise and finally drive the upswing in earnings per share growth that has been so absent in this market (ex-resources) over the last three years".
But not everybody is a bull.
Simon Bond at RBS Morgans takes the view that the current rally could be built on false hope.
"Most market participants are paid to be bullish and paint a brush of optimism but that optimism may get wiped out if we have more bad news, and the canary in the coal mine for me is unemployment," he says.
"There will be lots of left-field events globally and locally this year but if the markets go up what will push them up is a search for yield.
Eight out of 10 trades we are doing are from SMSFs [self managed super funds] and they are buying high-yielding stocks such asANZ, CBA, Coca-Cola Amatil, Origin Energy and Telstra."
This obsession with yields coincided with shopping centre owner Westfield issuing a statement on Friday that it expects to meet its distribution payments in the December half Some believe it is a fool's game to chase yield in a fragile world.
An executive in a top 200 company wrote in an email to BusinessDay: "Capital preservation and not income growth should be the focus over the next few years.
Just go back to comments made by the governor of our Reserve Bank when the official cash rate was set at 3 per cent during the GFC.
He stated that this was a rate which reflected catastrophic global economic conditions which we are unlikely to ever see again.
Well, here we are again, only this time the official cash rate is forecast to drop to 2.25 per cent in 2013."
The executive said the crisis talks in the US and Europe had not changed anything.
"Sorry, there has been a change.
They are actually getting worse. Developed countries are still running massive deficits and banks are still time bombs.
Millions of foreclosed homes around the world are still sitting in the books of both government and banks, yet the markets are saying that the housing market has recovered.
Did these toxic assets simply disappear? The US has over 50 million citizens living off food stamps [financed by the government which has over $U516 trillion in debt which will never be repaid].
"GDP will further erode over 20 13-14 and unemployment is clearly understated using the participation rate method and deteriorating further in key countries, but the financial markets aren't worried."
Mike Hawkins at Evans and Partners believes the rotation away from ultra low-yielding asset classes, including gold, into relatively high-yielding equities has barely begun but he is not bullish on Australian equities.
Australia is a relatively high risk investment.
It is chronically uncompetitive, declining industry diversity and gross foreign liabilities equivalent to 146 per cent of GDP," he said.
Hawkins believes the ASX 300 is a "low- quality investment universe", which is capital intensive, has high industry concentration and structural challenges for many sectors.
If that isn't clear enough, he says: "Corporate quality and strategic opportunity is far better offshore.
What the ASX delivers in terms of higher dividend yield it has lost over the past five years from inferior dividend per share growth.
We will never be wealthier.
We can buy superior international assets with an overvalued currency."
The market's 10-day-straight rise broke on Thursday, when it fell 0.4 per cent. On Friday the ASX 200 closed 0.87 per cent higher at 4921.1.
As 2MG fund manager Mike Mangan says: "As I told a mate yesterday, the most you can get on a term deposit is 4 per cent pre-tax.
Telstra is still yielding 6 per cent fully franked even after rising 84 per cent in last two years ... It's a no-brainer really."
The string of cuts to official interest rates has created a situation where bank term deposit rates are paying substantially less than the bank's dividend yields, which average about 6 per cent for the big four banks.
According to BBY's banking analyst, Brett Le Mesurier, "for these reasons, bank share prices should increase further, albeit more slowly, over the coming years and they all deserve buy' recommendations".
Deutsche Bank's Mailer believes interest rates in Australia have another 75 basis points to fall between now and September.
If he is right it will make holding cash or term deposits even less attract-Patrick Trindade, the head of private wealth at Octa Phillip Financial Group, sees the return of risk appetite in the markets.
"We are doing an initial public offering for a company called Real Energy at the moment, and we were surprised at the level of interest both from offshore and in Australia in a domestic shale play.
That appetite just wasn't there a year ago." But even the bulls agree it will be a bumpy ride this year, otherwise the 5 per cent gain in the market since the start of the year would put it on track for gains of 65 per cent by the end of the year.
In a note to clients, Dale Gillham, the chief analyst at private investment company Wealth Within, wrote: "This week our market has risen again, which takes the current bullish move to 10 weeks in length.
In fact, bull runs of at least 10 weeks in length without at least one down week have occurred in 1987 just before the crash, in 1993 and 1997.
"The longer the rise the higher the probability a fall will occur, and right now price is close to resistance at 4900 points and very strong resistance at around 5000 points.
Given these factors I believe a turn to the downside is very close, and as such, investors might be wise to wait for the opportunities that a down move will present.
I still believe that after a short fall our market will be bullish overall for a little while longer."
Nevertheless, there is a wall of cash waiting to be invested at some point.
Rainmaker's Alex Dunnin says 29 per cent of self-managed super fund assets are held in cash, equivalent to $125 billion, and 10 per cent of institutional money is held in cash.
Dunnin says the issue is if rates keep going lower or even if they just stay low then will the SMSFs stay in term deposits or will they move to bond funds (to get the capital return from bonds rather than just the yield) or will they move to equities?
"The answer is some of this money may move but given the certainty of cash against the train wreck that super was during the GFC it's hard to see SMSFs throwing caution to the wind just yet, plus they are by their nature more fearful of downturns.
While this cautiousness is sometimes criticised we should recall that during the GFC it served SMSFs very well while regular funds took a 20 per cent haircut at their worst, SMSFs proved to be much better preservers of capital which is a big part of why SMSFs are now so popular among new-money younger people," he says.
Because of this, Dunnin believes it is fanciful to believe that SMSFs will move this wall of cash into equities in any large way.
For now, the most likely trend is companies relying on cost cutting and productivity gains to bolster margins and lift underlying growth.
It is a theme expected to dominate the reporting season.
In the past few months a list of companies have flagged cost cutting as away to improve profits.
Rio Tinto, Qantas, Boral, QBE, BlueScope Steel, Fortescue Metals and numerous others have joined the chorus of cost cutters.
In the meantime, at Collins Quarter, the money, it seems, is flowing again. It has been the most profitable January since the financial crisis as brokers squeeze through the doors.
"Definitely the best January takings we have seen here," says the manager.
"Lunch bookings are up and the bar takings are at a January record."
There are a lot of people hoping it stays that way.
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Canucks' past picks a mixed bag at NHL Draft
The Canucks have had an uneven past when it comes to their first-round draft picks, as most teams have.
Here's a look at the club's 41-year history of first-rounders, in reverse chronological order:
Luc Bourdon, No. 10, 2005 (fatal motorcycle accident in 2008)
Cory Schneider, No. 26, 2004 (seriously, Giants goalie Marek Schwarz went nine spots higher?)
Ryan Kesler, No. 23, 2003 (who knew?)
Daniel and Henrik Sedin, Nos. 2-3, 1999 (kudos Burkie)
Mattias Ohlund, No. 13, 1994 (per-haps the best D-man in franchise history)
Petr Nedved, No. 2, 1990 (OK, they could have picked Jaromir Jagr, but hindsight's 20-20)
Trevor Linden, No. 2, 1988 (Capt. Canuck)
Garth Butcher, No. 10, 1981 (You can quibble that Al MacInnis went five picks later, but Butcher was the straw that stirred the drink in the trade the brought Cliff Ronning and Geoff Courtnall to Vancouver and, arguably, turned the sorry franchise's fortunes around)
Rick Lanz, No. 7, 1980 (Montreal took Doug Wickenheiser first over-all, so who could argue with Lanz at No. 7?)
Rick Blight, No. 10, 1975 (lots of early promise till his demons took over)
Dennis Ververgaert, No. 3, 1973 (26 goals as a rookie, 37 as a career-high, Lanny McDonald was picked next)
Don Lever, No. 3, 1972 (solid for Canucks, but who knew Steve Shutt, picked No. 4, would become Steve Shutt?)
Patrick White, No. 25, 2007 (get the Wite-Out)
R.J. Umberger, No. 16, 2001 (you want fries with that?)
Nathan Smith, No. 23, 2000 (Smith, Smith, heard the name before, let's take 'im)
Bryan Allen, No. 4, 1998 (not exactly Tyler Myers; Robyn Regehr and Jiri Fischler were available)
Brad Ference, No. 10, 1997 (250 NHL games, none as a Canuck)
Josh Holden, No. 12, 1996 (another centre, named Daniel Briere, was available)
Mike Wilson, No. 20, 1993 (not exactly Tyler Myers ... tall, lanky players who can skate backwards do not a D-man make)
Libor Polasek, No. 21, 1992 (Canucks took another centre, Mike Peca, at No. 40 - talk about ones who got away)
Alex Stojanov, No. 7, 1991 (but he turned into Markus Naslund)
Shawn Antoski, No. 18, 1990 (68 games as a Canuck, 3 points, 255 PIM, injury-prone)
Jason Herter, No. 8, 1989 (never played a game for the Canucks)
Dan Woodley, No. 7, 1986 (Cood-ley? Shoodley? Craig Janney was available)
Jim Sandlak, No. 4, 1985 (big body who played small - Mike Richter and Dave Manson were available)
J.J. Daigneault, No. 10, 1984 (when the player you pick hobbles to the stage in crutches with a leg in a cast, you probably want to melt into the background)
Michel Petit, No. 11, 1982 (along with Brent Ashton and J.J. Daigneault, the Canucks knew how to draft players who would become nicknamed "Suitcase")
Jere Gillis, No. 4, 1977 (78 goals, 385 NHL games; Mike Bossy was taken nine spots later)
Bob Dailey, No. 9, 1973 (ah, Rick Middleton was available)
Joceln Guevremontt, No. 3, 1971 (Rick Martin went two picks later, Larry Robinson in the second round)
Dale Tallon, No. 2, 1970 (yes, he was the No. 2 consensus pick after Gilbert Perrault.
But Reggie Leach went next, Rick MacLeish after that and Darryl Sit-tler No. 8)
Michael Grabner, No. 14, 2006 (traded for Keith Ballard)
Cam Neely, No. 9, 1983 (Um, ah, well, ahem ...)
Rick Vaive, No. 5, 1979 (Tiger Williams for a 50-goal scorer?)
Bill Derlago, No. 4, 1978 (Tiger Williams for a 40-goal scorer?)
Nicklas Jensen, No. 29, 2011 (interesting potential)
Jordan Schroeder, No. 22, 2009 (Money says he'll never be a Canucks regular.)
Cody Hodgson, No. 10, 2008, (traded for Zack Kassian)
NHL entry draft, Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Friday, 5 p.m., TSN.
1. Edmonton Oilers
2. Columbus Blue Jackets
3. Montreal Canadiens
4. N.Y. Islanders
5. Toronto Maple Leafs
6. Anaheim Ducks
7. Minnesota Wild
8. Carolina Hurricanes
9. Winnipeg Jets
10. Tampa Bay Lightning
11. Washington Capitals (from
12. Buffalo Sabres
13. Dallas Stars
14. Calgary Flames
15. Ottawa Senators
16. Washington Capitals
17. San Jose Sharks
18. Chicago Blackhawks
19. Tampa Bay Lightning (from Detroit)
20. Philadelphia Flyers
21. Buffalo Sabres (from Nashville) 22. Pittsburgh Penguins
23. Florida Panthers
24. Boston Bruins
25. St. Louis Blues
26. Vancouver Canucks
27. Phoenix Coyotes
28. New York Rangers
29. New Jersey Devils
30. Los Angeles Kings
© Copyright (c) The Province

subset: commoncrawl


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ORMOND BEACH — Robert Scott drives from his house to the YMCA three times a week to work out with very little fanfare.
Oh sure, the younger folks in their 70s and early 80s might look over with curiosity from their treadmills at the fit, white-haired man dressed in slacks and casual shirt, his legs peddling and arms pushing a Nu-Step machine.
After all, Scott's old enough to be their father.
On Friday morning, his usual 30-minute exercise routine was delayed a bit. The staff and many regulars gathered in the lobby to honor a special milestone — Scott's 103rd birthday.
A young lifeguard played the piano and everyone joined in to sing "Happy Birthday" as Scott blew out the candles on his cake in one strong and quick attempt.
"This is a little unusual to say the least. I never thought I'd make it," said Scott, a retired Army officer, as a steady stream of people offered their congratulations with handshakes and hugs. "I can honestly say I lived this long because I had a good wife."
A widower since 1993 after 58 years of marriage, Scott lives with his 72-year-old son and daughter-in-law. He started working out regularly at the YMCA about a year ago because he was "wobbly" when he walked and had fallen a few times.
"I'm trying to strengthen my legs so I'm not wobbling," he said.
Sally Scott, his daughter-in-law, was a bit skeptical at first about his starting an exercise regimen.
"We held our breath. We weren't sure he'd do it. But he looks forward to coming here," she said. "The doctor just told him he's doing great. He's not on any prescription meds."
Glenn Koll, a personal trainer, recalled the first time he met Scott and set up a light workout regimen.
"He said he couldn't do a whole lot because he was 102. I couldn't believe he was that old," Koll said. "He still drives and does laundry and dishes. He's amazing. He's everyone's inspiration."
One man in his 70s wished Scott good luck as he left.
"Luck is the thing, believe me," Scott responded.
For him, there are no secrets to longevity. He enjoys a couple of glasses of red wine a day, reads a lot and maintains a happy outlook on life.
"I ate simple food, nothing fancy. But I eat everything," Scott said. "And I like to see people smile. That's my hobby."
And he added: "Fitness is the key. I learned that in the service."
His father and mother died of heart disease at ages 59 and 62. The 5-foot-10 Scott maintains a trim and youthful 144 pounds.
At 103, he is a role model around the YMCA for old and young alike.
"I'm 82. I hope I make it. He looks great," said Carl LaConte of Ormond Beach after his daily workout. "Age is really a state of mind."
"I'm impressed," said Anthony Beau, 22, lifting weights and glancing over at the centenarian. "If I can be that old and still be in here — that's something."
And Scott has no intention of retiring to a couch anytime soon. In fact, he received added incentive in the birthday gift from the YMCA — a free lifetime membership.
"I don't usually eat cake," he said almost apologetically after his workout. "But this is a real celebration."
Ormond YMCA celebrates member's 103rd birthday
ORMOND BEACH — Robert Scott drives from his house to the YMCA three times a week to work out with very little fanfare.


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Georgia is using the LexisNexis Tax Refund Investigative Solution in a pilot program to mitigate identity fraud.
The program was launched in January and uses identity verification and authentication tools to detect and prevent potentially fraudulent tax returns. Georgia officials have awarded LexisNexis a contract to continue the effort. The pilot program, which detected that 2 percent of all returns filed were potentially fraudulent, is part of the state's comprehensive anti-fraud program, which stopped millions of dollars in fraudulent returns in 2011, state officials said.
Related coverage:
New phishing scam targets military users, DFAS warns
"Tax refund fraud is a growing problem nationwide, and increasingly it is perpetrated by criminals who steal the identities of innocent taxpayers and then submit returns requesting refunds before the real taxpayer has a chance to do so," said Doug MacGinnitie, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Revenue. During the pilot program, Georgia tax officials used identity-based filters, which screened tax refund requests against billions of LexisNexis identity records collected from public databases and commercial sources. When a returned record is flagged with a fraud indicator, the individual is asked to answer a series of identity authentication questions that only a person with authentic, personal knowledge can answer. The authentication questions were securely integrated into Georgia's Revenue Department's website and customer service center, officials said. To find fraud before it happens, government agencies must be able to access records across city, county and state boundaries, LexisNexis officials said. The Tax Refund Investigative Solution lets agencies access billions of public record sources to establish identity-based filters. Identity-based filters can uncover categories such as:
About the Author
Rutrell Yasin is is a freelance technology writer for GCN.
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I definitely see the potential benefit, I just hope they do a better job of responding to inaccuracies than the credit bureaus.
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In the Doctor of Education program at Aurora University Woodstock Center, you will find expert faculty with a wealth of experience as administrators and professionals who are committed to teaching the most relevant and current curriculum. You'll find like-minded peers who can share their experiences, challenges and successes in positions similar to your own. You'll join a cohort of students who work together to address pressing issues in education, and will leave the program with a strong network of peers in districts and institutions across Illinois.
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To join an upcoming cohort, contact:
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By Jim Fetzer
Saturday, August 6th, 2011
The Debate over 9/11 Truth: Kevin Ryan vs. Jim Fetzer
Jim Fetzer
The publication of "Is '9/11 Truth' based upon a false theory?" has led to many attacks upon me by Kevin Ryan, Niels Harrit, and others, as anyone who reviews the comments on that article can ascertain for themselves. In addition, a rather heated exchange has taken plane on an email thread initiated by T. Mark Hightower, the collaborating author of that article, which initially included Steven Jones, Kevin Ryan, Neils Harrit, and many others. When I sent them a set of questions that had been posed in the "Comments" section, the level of attack increased, where I sought to remind them that they not only have not done their homework with regard to the "explosive" properties of nanothermite but have made a practice of attacking me without doing research on my actual views and have gone out of their way to attack me even when I was standing up for 9/11 Truth. Ryan has even asked me if I had been recruited by the CIA as a graduate student at Indiana University after I had served four years of active duty as a regular officer in the USMC, to which my answer was a most emphatic, "No!"
And, in what has to be one of the more bizarre twists of fate in relation to the 9/11 truth movement, Kevin Ryan, whom I have admired in the past, has also attacked me for criticizing "The 9/11 'Truth' Parlor Game", an article by Robert Parry, in my response, 9/11 Truth is No Parlor Game. Ryan had already expressed his displeasure that I had responded to Parrys trivialization of the truth movement in a thread on the bloggerbrigade and was apparently taken aback when some of those on the thread responded negatively to his assault on me. When I was invited to reply and exposed certain shortcomings in his false and defamatory attacks, he left the thread saying that he was going to write it up. His later blog, "Why Robert Parry is Right about 9/11 Truth", was the outcome.
Alas, this blog illustrates some of the worst tendencies in the 9/11 truth movement. Kevin criticizes me for trivialities, including a couple of typos. He attacks my JFK research, which he does not know, and assails me for trespassing into terrain that is off limits to the members of his clique. He pretends to understand a subtle debate between two professional philosophers over the meaning of the word information, which drives him to absurd claims over a dispute where he hasnt a clue. To guard against public criticism, he even closed the comments on his blog before any could be posted. This shows that dogmas are not restricted to religious groups but can be embraced by 9/11 societies–where I would offer his exaggerated commitment to "explosive nanothermite" as the primary explanation for the destruction of the Twin Towers as another!
My Background
It is no secret that I am the founder of Scholars for 9/11 Truth, a former Marine Corps officer, a magna cum laude graduate of Princeton and a Ph.D. in the history and the philosophy of science. I have done a great deal of research on the assassination of JFK as well as on 9/11, where I edited the first book from Scholars, THE 9/11 CONSPIRACY (2007), organized and moderated its first conference, The Science and Politics of 9/11: Whats Controversial, Whats Not, and produced its first DVD. These events have proven to be expensive, however, where I lost about $10,000 on the Madison meeting, which was blackballed by Kevin Ryan, even though I had invited both him and Steve Jones to be speakers.
I have participated in hundreds of interviews about 9/11 on radio and television, including a 3.5 hour appearance on television in Athens in December 2006, which was broadcast worldwide by satellite, speaking in New York in 2007 and in 2008, traveling to Buenos Aires for 9/11 presentations in 2008 and 2009, and organizing a London symposium on Debunking the War on Terror in London in 2010. But none of that matters to Kevin Ryan, who insinuates that I have an agenda to spread false information about 9/11, which is apparently based, at least in part, on his misunderstanding of a subtle disagreement between professional philosophers. This means that, when he attacks me, the truth simply doesnt count.
Ryans Attack
Since Parry was condemning the 9/11 truth movement, while I was defending it, that Ryan should attack me for doing so is rather peculiar. Acknowledging that mine was the only response to Parry that had been published at that time, he said I did not contribute to any of the research he claims as our research, and apparently cannot even spell Parrys name or the name of the company that I worked for in his continued efforts to spread false information. The article also makes wild assertions that are not supported by evidence, such as every claim the government has made about 9/11 is false. I took a look to figure out what he was talking about and discovered that these claims were either trivial or false.
The name Parry appears nine or ten times in the article, and in one instance, I had it as Perry. I had also referred to Kevin Ryans former place of employment, as Underwriters Laboratory, where, strictly speaking, it is Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. I was curious about his allegation that I had made a wild assertion in saying that, every claim the government as has made about 9/11 is false. When I took a closer look, I discovered that he replaced the word virtually with , which is not the act of an honest critic. Indeed, since my rebuttal is devoted to elaborating major falsehoods advanced by the government, based upon research by the members of Scholars for 9/11 Truth and previous studies, as I observe in Why doubt 9/11?, whats wrong with calling it our research?
My JFK Research
Kevin was not satisfied to trash me for trivialities but also claimed that, when I founded Scholars in 2005, I was known for some dubious contributions to the JFK assassination research community. What he has in mind is beyond me. To the best of my knowledge, Kevin Ryan knows nothing about the death of JFK, where, in late 1992, I organized a research group that consisted of the best-qualified individuals to ever study the case. We discovered that the autopsy X-rays were altered, that another brain was substituted for that of JFK, and that a home movie known as the Zapruder film had been extensively edited. I have published these findings in three edited books, which Vincent Bugliosi, who defends the lone gunman theory, has described as the only three exclusively scientific books on the JFK assassination. Our work has shattered the cover-up and qualifies as of exceptional scientific significance.
As an indication that others do not share Kevin Ryans dismal assessment of our work, MURDER IN DEALEY PLAZA (2000), which has chapters from nine contributors, was reviewed by George Costello for THE FEDERAL LAWYER, a professional journal for attorneys who work for the federal government, who practice before federal agencies, or who appear in federal courts. His comprehensive evaluation, which you can read for yourself, is decidedly at odds with Kevins dismissal as dubious contributions. He concludes,
It is time for people of integrity who were involved in the official investigations — especially the professionals — to take a good-faith look at the new evidence and confront the likelihood that their conclusions were based on falsified data. Murder in Dealey Plaza may not be the last word on the medical evidence, but it should be the starting point for a fresh look — not only at the medical evidence, but also at the assassination and its implications.
Costello would later write to me that he had subsequently received an award of recognition for his review. What I do not understand is why Kevin Ryan would hazard opinions about research on a topic that, if anything, may be even more complex and convoluted than research on 9/11, when he knows nothing about it. That does not strike me as a responsible approach for someone who wants to be taken seriously, especially when I have been pioneering the application of scientific reasoning to controversial political events like these.
My 9/11 Research
Some of my more recent JFK articles are US Government Official: JFK Cover-Up, Film Fabrication, Forrest Gump on the grassy knoll, and Whos telling the truth: Clint Hill or the Zapruder film? As in the case of my JFK research, which has focused on its most challenging aspects, especially with respect to separating authentic from inauthentic evidence, including the authenticity of the Zapruder film,
my research on 9/11 has focused on the most challenging aspects of that case, too. Thus, I have studied what happened at the Pentagon, the causal mechanisms by which the Twin Towers were destroyed, and the possible use of video fakery in New York. My research has included What Didnt Happen at the Pentagon, Seven Questions about 9/11, and "Inside Job: More Proof of 9/11 Duplicity". It is common knowledge that Kevin Ryans society, Scholars for 9/11 Truth and Justice, shuns those who, like me, study the Pentagon and video fakery–and go ballistic over anyone who challenges the nanothermite dogma.
Even though Pilots for 9/11 Truth has concluded that the FDR data it obtained from the NTSB shows that a plane flew toward the Pentagon on a different trajectory, too high to have hit any lampposts, and rather than crashing into the building, swerved over itfor which there is a great deal of evidenceKevin Ryan and his friends are intolerant of anyone who suggests that no plane hit the Pentagon. Indeed, there is also no evidence that a plane crashed in a field in Shanksville. Even though Elias Davidsson has shown the government has never proven the hijackers were aboard any of those planes and David Ray Griffin has established that all of the alleged phone calls were faked, Kevin and his associates refuse to even consider questions they raise for the prospect of phantom flights.
The Scholars Breakup
Scholars for 9/11 Truth and Justice not only proscribes the study of video fakery (or no planes) but also insists that thermite in one or another of its forms is the crucial ingredient for explaining the demolition of the Twin Towers. I am sure that Kevin took a dim view of my agreement with Parry on the point that thermite does not seem promising as an explanation of the demolition of the Twin Towers for the reason that it is an incendiary, not an explosive. For thermite to be explosive, it has to be combined with explosives, where the same could be said of toothpaste. That has long been my opinion, which is no secret within the 9/11 research community. I have given critiques of this theory during 9/11 conferences as well as elsewhere, such as The Manipulation of the 9/11 Community.
Indeed, it was my growing conviction that thermite was most unlikely to be able to provide an explanation for the destruction of the Twin Towers that was behind the separation of Scholars at the end of 2006 and the creation of Scholars for 9/11 Truth and Justice, which entailed corrupt activities by those trying to wrest the control of Scholars from me, including the misrepresentation of my views, which continues to this day, but also by conducting a phony poll of the members while feigning to be the membership administrator and freezing our original web site at st911.org, even though I had been responsible for posting every item that ever appeared there, which forced me to create a new web site at http://911scholars.org, where the history of these events has been archived on Scholars home page.
Kevins Distortions
Kevin claims, for example, that, less than one year after founding the society, just before the 5th anniversary of the attacks when media attention was at its peak, Fetzer began speaking publicly about space beams destroying the WTC and other such nonsense. And he faults me for a radio interview with Judy Wood, Ph.D., which occurred on 11 November 2006, when I was about to speak in Tucson. With her degrees in structural engineering, applied physics, and materials engineering science, however, I regard Judy as one of the best qualified students of 9/11 in the world today. A former professor of mechanical engineering, she introduced her theory that directed energy weapons may have been employed on 9/11 during during our conversation on the radio. I found her conjecture fascinating because it opens up an unconventional approach toward understanding the events of 9/11.
Since 11 November is two months after 11 September, I have no idea where Kevin comes up with this stuff, but factual accuracy does not appear to be an important desideratum for him. I do not know to this day whether Wood is right, but her web site (at http://drjudywood.com) and new book, WHERE DID THE TOWERS GO?,
sets a high standard in accumulating evidence about the data that an adequate theory would have to explain, including the conversion of the Twin Towers into millions of cubic yards of very fine dust, the peculiar kinds of damage that were sustained by WTC-3, WTC-4, WTC-5, and WTC-6, and the oddity of the toasted cars. While I have advocated the study of DEWsalong with nukes, lasers, masers, and plasmoidsI have not endorsed them because we still do not know how it was done. And I would add that Kevin Ryan and his colleagues are certainly not in any position to know that Judy Wood has it wrong.
The Exchange
What set him off in composing this blog appears evident from what occurred on a discussion thread between January 26th and 28th, 2011. Kevin began by expressing dismay over my article criticizing Robert Parry with the remark, Oh God, not Fetzer again. He was immediately countered by Ben Collet, who replied, Kevin Ryans reputation as a scientifically-minded 9/11 activist has, unfortunately, taken a big hit with this snide comment about one of the most important voices in the 9/11 truth movement. Not to be outdone, Kevin responded with a partial transcript of my interview from 11 November 2006 in which I expressed fascination with Judys theory. He was again countered by Ben:
Ryan's citation of this four year old interview demonstrates only that Dr. Fetzer starts with the appropriate attitude of the truth-seeker who is employing the scientific method. That is he exhibits curiosity and openness to a new idea. Nowhere does he say Judy Wood is correct, he simply evinces an honest curiosity to hear her views. This is the true scientific approach. Unfortunately others who do not have Dr. Fetzer's familiarity with the scientific method think it is enough to denounce unpopular views as heretical without even listening to them. Dr Fetzer has a PhD in the philosophy of the scientific method.
Kevins Defense
Kevin responded by offering an exaggerated version of my position, which makes it easier to attack, and ridiculed Ben for supporting me: "Ben"s support for Fetzer's claim that space beams destroying the WTC is 'the most fascinating development in the history of the study of 9/11′ is interesting.
"Oh Really?? Oh ho ho ho ho! Oh Ben. Oh my oh my oh my oh my. This is huge … this is huge Ben.
He added, See attached for an article on the value of false information, written by Fetzer and presented in a conference one month before 9/11/01. Fetzer doesn't have any peer-review scientific articles on the attacks of 9/11. But he does know the value of false information.
Ben replied, Kevin Ryan misrepresents Dr. Fetzer's position. Fetzer never has said he supports "space beams", only that he supports the study of space beams and other theories of how it was done. This is the appropriate attitude to take until we figure out the actual method used. . . . In writing, "9/11 Truth is No Parlor Game", Dr. Fetzer is defending the 9/11 movement against an attack from a widely admired investigative journalist, Robert Parry. It is unfortunate that Ryan feels compelled to belittle and misrepresent the person who has so ably defended the truth against Parry's lies.
Another Response
While I am sure he was not pleased with Bens comments, I imagine that another response from mlkjeldsen was even less warmly received, since it cut to the core of his attack upon my article:
I do not mean to attack you, because I consider your actions to be heroic and your tenacity inspiring. But I have two questions.
Number one, after going back and reading Jims piece a second time, I found nothing to be untrue or disinformative. I found it to be a quality refutation of a piece of garbage written by a scoundrel. Did you find any flaws?
Number two, our phony president, while addressing the phony congress and the rest of the phony government actually made a joke about the sexual assault that the TSA carries out against us everyday. There are blimps surveilling us. The country is divided into ten FEMA regions. The economy is being collapsed on purpose. The noose is being tightened around our collective neck. How does, lets be honest, attacking Jim Fetzer help us to reach the critical mass of informed citizens that we need to hold off this tyranny? This is a war of government against freedom, plain and simple. He, like you and I, is reaching people with this messageis he not?
Kevins response was almost guttural:
He has been reaching people with space beams and holograms and false information for many years. Please don't promote it. It is the problem.
To which he would subsequently add:
The most influential article relating to this topic that he wrote is the paper on the value of false information, which Fetzer presented at a conference in August 2001. Why would an expert on false information, who has made no serious contributions to the truth movement, be seen as worthy of our attention let alone be welcomed as a champion of truth?
Thank you, Ben and Mike, for reminding me of the power that false information still has in the 9/11 truth movement. I will turn my attention to this problem again, and write it up.
Kevins Misconceptions
While I have not been endorsing space beams or holograms but promoting their study, I am now increasingly inclined to believe the plane rather than the video was faked. The hologram hypothesis to explain video fakery in the footage of Flight 175 hitting the South Towerwhere the plane is traveling at an impossible speed, entering the building in clear violation of Newtons laws, and passes through its own length into the building in the same number of frames it takes to pass through its own length in airis one of three possibilities, where the other two are the use of computer-generated images or the use of video compositing. Unless you have studied the issues involved here, it may sound a bit far-fetched. But how are we going to understand the pivotal event of the 21st century if we are not allowed to study the evidence and explore alternative explanations? Kevins attitude is not only unscientific but is virtually illiterate.
The hardest part of scientific inquirywhich involves stages of PUZZLEMENT, SPECULATION, ADAPTATION (of hypotheses to evidence) and EXPLANATIONis figuring out all of the possible alternative explanations. Premature closure at this stage (by excluding hypotheses that seem too unusual, unconventional, or politically incorrect) can consign an investigation to failure by excluding the true hypothesis for consideration on inappropriate grounds. That, in my opinion, has been the case with Scholars for 9/11 Truth and Justice with regard to the possible use of directed energy weapons or the possible use of sophisticated technology to create images of a plane that isnt really thereas I have attempted to demonstrate many times now. But the most bewildering aspect of Kevins assault concerns his attacks upon me for (what he claims to be) the use of false information, which is a massive confusion.
False Information.
The differences between me and Professor Floridi concern whether or not truth is a condition for something (reports, photos, evidence) to qualify as information. In other words, we are engaged in a classic philosophical debate over how a word should best be understood in order to clarify and illuminate its use within various contexts in which it might occur. He maintains that, for something to qualify as information, it has to be true, which I deny. I argue that, for every assertion, there is a denial, where we are often presented with contrary or contradictory assertions from alternative sources. As I see it, we are being presented with information and have to figure out which is true and which is not. According to Floridi, however, we would not even know if one other the other of these assertions were information unless we knew that it was true.
As it happens, I have published two papers, one on this question and another on the nature of misinformation and of disinformation. I argue that "misinformation" is information that is false, where "disinformation" occurs by the deliberate dissemination of false information with the intention to deceive or mislead an audience. Think how awkward it is to even talk about false information if you have presupposed that, to qualify as information, it has to be true. This is another reason for rejecting Floridis approach. It creates very awkwardeven incoherentuses of language in talking about false information, if that means talking about the falsity of what we have already implied is true merely by calling it information. So I think Floridis approach has no merit and have offered my reasons for holding that position in these articles:
"Information: Does it Have to be True?", Minds and Machines 14/2 (May 2004), pp. 223-229.
"Disinformation: The Use of False Information", Minds and Machines 14/2 (May 2004), pp. 231-240.
Kevins Confusion
Imagine my astonishment when I read in Kevins blog that, In this paper, Fetzer argues that false information (including disinformation) is just as meaningful as true information, implying that false information has just as much value as true information. He further maintains that, according to Fetzer and his colleagues, spreading and using false information (more precisely, misinformation, if the source is unaware of its falsity, or disinformation, if the source is aware and uses/spreads it on purpose, precisely because it is false) is perfectly fine and acceptable! I must say that in my entire adult life I have never read such drivel, which has no basis in my work other than drawing a distinction between information, misinformation and disinformation. We are dealing with a man who has a diminished capacity for drawing conceptual distinctions.
To say that information, misinformation and disinformation are equally meaningful does not mean that false information has just as much value as true information! No one in their right mind would make such a claim. The point about meaning is that I define information as meaningful data, where the meaningfulness of data is not a function of its truth. If we are told my one source, It is going to rain, and by another, It is not going to rain, they cannot both be true but they are both meaningful! The problem that we confront in every area of inquiry is to sort out the claims that are both meaningful and true from those that are instead meaningful but false. Truth itself can even be defined as beliefs that provide us appropriate guidance for actions in the world, where, when our beliefs are true, actions based upon them are more likely to be successful than if they are false. Their value is enormously different!
Whats the Deal?
In this blog, Kevin Ryan asserts that, This paper challenged the work of a professor at Oxford University by the name of [Luciano] Floridi, who like most honest people, contends that, since information is data that changes what we do, only true information that helps us respond to our world accurately and effectively has value. He then contends that, When contacted by 9/11 researchers who suspected Fetzer of being a propenent and purveyor of false information, Floridi confirmed that Fetzer was effectively arguing for the use of false information. Floridi responded that the arguments of Fetzer and his colleagues suggest that spreading and using false information (more precisely, misinformation, if the source is unaware of its falsity, or disinformation, if the source is aware and uses/spreads it on purpose, precisely because it is false) is perfectly fine and acceptable. But there is no reason that Luciano Floridi would make such claims.
That Kevin Ryan did not know his first name, "Luciano", suggested to me that this was a false report. In spite of our philosophical disagreement, Luciano and I are friends, so I wrote him to ask if he had made such a claim to 9/11 researchers. He replied that, I'm afraid I had not recollection of being contacted by any 9/11 researcher, but before writing to you I wanted to check my computer. It also does not have any recollection. So I might be wrong (it happens more often than I like to think), and my computer might be wrong (but it is a beautiful new iMac after all), but it seems more plausible to think that there was no contact at all. I do answer tens of emails a day, so who knows, but I would remember, I think, and there should be a trace in my mail, at least of my reply. But nothing, no biological or artificial memory of any of this. So it may be that one of usdeliberately or notreally is trading in false information.
Bringing It Home
On the basis of a gross misunderstanding of my position, Kevin Ryan contends, Facts and evidence indicate that the use of false information to derail the 9/11 truth movement is a reality despite the inability of leading 9/11 researchers to admit such a possibility. With unsubstantiated claims of space beams, video fakery and holograms, Fetzer and his colleagues have taken advantage of the fact that many Americans are scientifically illiterate. These evil parlor games give influential professionals like Robert Parry, who are already psychologically challenged and fearful of the topic, additional reasons to ignore all t he evidence and spout off about the issues with little or no understanding. Which is especially ironic, since, in this very blog, Kevin Ryan is spouting off about me and my positions, even philosophical ones, with little or no understanding. And nothing would give me greater pleasure than to discuss these things in a public forum. I therefore extend an invitationa challenge, if you liketo Kevin Ryan to debate these issues with me over the radio, where Kevin Barrett could serve as host.
Once again, we see that Kevin Ryan wholly ignores the difference between STUDYING A POSITION and ADVOCATING A POSITION. I do not know how the Twin Towers were destroyed, but I do know that Judy Wood has advanced an interesting hypothesis. I dont know if holograms were used to perpetrate video fakery, but I do know that the weight of the evidence supports it. And I have no doubt at all that no Boeing 757 hit the Pentagon, for which there is abundant and compelling evidence. But dont ask Kevin Ryan, because he wont even consider them. How, I have to ask, could I be dedicating my life to sorting out the differences between authentic and inauthentic evidence regarding JFK and 9/11 were I not profoundly committed to discovering the truth? And why would I even care, if I held the absurd views that Kevin Ryan attributes to me? As a philosopher, I care about truth. As a former Marine Corps officer, I care about my country. And, as a philosopher of science, I know that scientific investigations are our most reliable means for discovering truth. One of us has lost his way and is betraying the movement, but it isnt me.
Jim Fetzer, a former Marine Corps officer, founded Scholars for 9/11 Truth in December 2005 with Steve Jones as his co-chair. This is an expanded and revised version of "The Misadventures of Kevin Ryan".
View the original article at Veterans Today


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The United States' women's field hockey team remained unbeaten in Rio on Thursday, defeating India, 3-0, in a Pool B matchup.
Katie Bam led the way for the U.S., as usual, scoring two goals. Melissa Gonzalez, hailing from Westchester, New York, added a goal in the fourth quarter.
Goalie Jackie Briggs notched her first shoutout of the Games India after allowing a single goal in each of the team's first three matches.
The United States is now 4-0 and has clinched a slot in the quarterfinals.
In the team's last game, against Japan, Bam collected a hat trick as the U.S. maintained full control of the game, starting with a Gonzalez goal in the first minute.
Not long after, Bam -- a Pennsylvania native who played for the University of Maryland -- kicked into gear by deflecting a pass high into the cage that flew over Japan goalkeeper Sakiyo Asano.
With two minutes left before halftime, the U.S ran another tricky play on a penalty corner attempt that had Katie Reinprecht taking the shot -- and scoring.
It didn't take much time for Jill Witmer to score the fourth goal of the game, but the Cherry Blossoms finally scored in the fourth quarter on a penalty corner attempt when Mie Nakashima sneaked one into the corner of the cage.
Bam had an answer for that, using incredible stick skills to weave through two Japan defenders and fire one in to take a four-goal lead. She finished off the scoring with another field goal before heading to the bench.


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two of the finest French Restaurants in the Chicago area.
|Cafe Central is a casual storefront cafe offering exquisite French cuisine and a pleasant dining atmosphere. The menu offers an extensive array of selections, including gourmet salads, sandwiches and tartines, Quiche, pasta, and seafood. Notable selections include Salad Nicoise, Portobello Mushroom Sandwich, Quiche from Les Halles, and Grilled Chilean Seabass. Owners Carlos and Debbie Nieto look forward to making your visit to Cafe Central as pleasant as possible.
Best Known For
Poached Chicken Salad, Smoked Salmon on Country Bread, Risotto, and Martini Specialties.
Reservations are taken from 5:00 up until 6:30 Tuesday thru Sunday. Call for more details on partys of 8 or more. Our dining room is available for large parties on Sunday aftemoons and Monday all day. Available for private parties Sunday afternoons and all day Monday. Bar or Bat Mitzvah, Birthdays, Bridal Showers, Baby Showers, etc. Select a personalized party package to suit your needs.
We offer carry-out from our kitchen. Having a party at home' Call us we'll do the cooking for you! From our kitchen to yours.
Children Are Welcome! Bring the children, too. We offer a "Kids' Menu" designed just for them.
Carlos & Debbie Nieto, Hosts
Cafe Central
847 266-7878 fax 847 266-7373
Cafe Central of Highland Park, companion to Nieto's


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Royston, of Bismarck, was among eight people accused of obtaining cocaine in Illinois, South Dakota and Minnesota and bringing it to North Dakota for distribution.
A North Dakota man originally sentenced to life in prison for his role in a major crack cocaine conspiracy now must serve 25 years, a judge ruled Wednesday.
An appeals court in August overturned Marcus Royston's sentence because of a change in federal law that increased the quantities of crack cocaine needed to trigger statutory minimum sentences. The switch was made retroactive to the original August 2010 sentencing date.
Royston, of Bismarck, was among eight people accused of obtaining cocaine in Illinois, South Dakota and Minnesota and bringing it to North Dakota for distribution. A jury found him guilty in May 2010 on two counts, including conspiracy.
U.S. District Judge Ralph Erickson said Royston's criminal history and his role in the conspiracy make 25 years an appropriate sentence.
"This was perhaps the largest cocaine conspiracy in North Dakota," Erickson said. "It certainly had the largest quantities of crack cocaine in any case that I have presided over."
Witnesses testified during the case that members of the conspiracy spent up to $900 per ounce of crack and $1,000 per ounce for powder cocaine and would sell it for twice that. The crack cocaine was stored and distributed at various locations, mostly in Fargo, witnesses said.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Myers recommended Wednesday that Royston be re-sentenced to 30 years in prison. Royston's lawyer asked for 20 years.
Royston told the judge he deserved fewer than 13 years.
"Mr. Myers blows it up like I'm some big-time drug dealer," Royston said. "I played a very minimal role, if I played a role at all."
Myers and defense attorney Joseph Quinn argued about drug quantities. Myers said the government, in the original trial, needed to show that Royston was involved with 50 grams or more of cocaine, but could meet the new 280-gram threshold for a life sentence if there was a new trial.
A presentence investigation backed Myers' claim, but Quinn said the evidence shows that Royston dealt in no more than 196 grams, compared to 700 grams by Ferris Lee, the alleged ringleader of the conspiracy.
"Frankly, I'm at a loss at how this number was calculated, given the testimony at trial," Quinn said of the presentence report.
Royston received the original life prison sentence even though Lee got 45 years because of a quirk in sentencing laws that required prosecutors to choose between competing charges. Steven Mottinger, Royston's original lawyer, argued that the discrepancy in the two sentences was unfair.
Royston has since filed a legal malpractice suit against Mottinger. James Hill, Mottinger's attorney, called the suit frivolous.
"Mottinger exercised that degree of skill, care, diligence and knowledge commonly possessed and exercised by reasonable, careful and prudent attorneys in the practice of law in the state of North Dakota," Hill said in court documents.


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SFX Entertainment shares fall in debut
October 9, 2013
NEW YORK (AP) — Shares of SFX Entertainment Inc. fell in their trading debut Wednesday after the dance music promoter raised $260 million in its initial public offering.
The New York-based company produces dance music events around the world, including Tomorrowland and Life in Color. Through planned acquisitions, it expects to own the rights to Electric Zoo and Stereosonic. It also operates Beatport, an online music store that sells electronic dance songs.
SFX Entertainment priced its IPO at $13 per share. The stock fell $1.11, or 8.5 percent, to close at $11.89 Wednesday.
The company said that it will use the money it raised to pay for acquisitions. Its shares are trading on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the ticker symbol "SFXE."


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|You are replying to: Thanksgiving Turkey
Topic Title: Thanksgiving Turkey
Created on November 30, 2012 at 05:45 PM
That you Holland! This was our first year to have a Thanksgiving turkey grilled at home on our new Holland Wrangler. This was the first time in 22 years that I have been married that ALL of the turkey was eaten on Thanksgiving Day! We have always had extra white meat left over and usually had to throw away because it was so dry from the very first serving. Not on the Holland, every piece of turkey was juicy and excellent. I used the Carolina Seasoning and a tray of hickory chips at the very first of the cook and the flavor was Great. 12 lb. turkey cooked in 2 1/2 hours. Our local Holland dealer keep telling me how good the turkeys would be but I have to admit I was a little skeptical. Turns out, it was even better than he said. From now on, all turkeys served at our house will come off of the Holland Grill!!
Congrats! I'm betting you'll be cooking another turkey at Christmas!
Whatever you do....don't lay a few strips of bacon on top of the turkey before you close the lid!
That turkey you describe sounds delicious! I will have to try it on my Wrangler!


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Sunday, September 9, 2012
Game 1 2012 @ home against the St Louis Rams
In the first game of the official 2012 season the Detroit Lions managed to win the game 27-23 in a game that should've been a lot easier to win. During the game a lot of tweets suggested that the 3 turnovers were Matthew Stafford's fault. As in completely his fault. I didn't agree with them about that then and I still don't.
I blame the new coaching staff of the Rams and the Rams players for executing the defense perfectly. Jeff Fisher (previously Schwartz's boss) had a great game plan that I hope other teams aren't able to emulate. The coaches realized that if various players on the Lions offense are in single coverage that they immediately become the target. So what did they do? They pealed off guys who were defending one guy (which originally left a player such as Calvin Johnson in single coverage) and had him flow to that single covered player, allowing the defender to make a play on the target who suddenly finds himself in double coverage.
The Lions eventually figured out how to counter those moves but not until playing more then a quarter gun-shy. Now I'm not saying that Stafford couldn't make better throws or saw the coverage shifting, but the bait and switch that was the Rams' defense was pretty ingenious.
Stafford still nearly doubled Bradford's completion numbers and except for the 3 interceptions had a much better day. The Lions also doubled the Rams first down numbers. One of the most notable stats is that the Lions kept the Rams running game to a mere 78 yards rushing. They may have had only 83 yards themselves but in their offense that is pretty much normal. Those numbers won't cut it for the Rams.
The most notable item of the game though was the lack of Titus Young for the majority of the game, and once the commissioner gets done with him, he may be a whole lot broker. Apparently Titus decided to, after a play, head butt a defender.
Special teams did well, the offense started and finished great, the defense was up and down but did enough, in the end it was Stafford who drove down the field and got the winning touchdown with less then 2 minutes to go... and I'm betting many a fan didn't think that was going to happen when the drive started. Instead of confidence in our team we are still jaded from the Millen decade (heck, even the Scott Mitchell decade) and just can't quite muster up the swag needed to root for a final drive to win the game with any expectation of the Lions pulling it off.
We fans... we need as much confidence as Stafford already has.
Posted by NetRat's Lions Blog at 7:56 PM
2 comments:
- telemakhos said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- September 10, 2012 at 8:41:00 AM EST
- nwashuta said...
good stuff. I was losing confidence and feeling pretty down when the Rams kept getting one first down after another. The thought popped into my head that the Lions wouldn't get the ball back if the Rams kept moving it like they were. But with the game on the line, 1:55 on the clock, and 1 timeout, I put on my Stafford jersey and just sat back to watch.
- September 10, 2012 at 8:42:00 AM EST
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Exclusive: Disney Channel Brings Back Game Show Win, Lose or Draw
Apr 17, 2013 6:42 PM EDT
Disney Channel is dusting off Win, Lose or Draw, the late 1980s game show that was co-created by Burt Reynolds. The new version will be kid and family-friendly and employ modern technology. Justin Willman (Cupcake Wars) will host the revival, in whic… Read more


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FBI, Working With Banks, Chose Not To Inform Occupy Leadership Of Assassination Plot On Its Leaders
from the gee,-thanks dept
All that being said, you'd at least expect the FBI, no matter what level of corporate bowing they wish to engage in, to at least keep American citizens apprised of threats against their life. Unfortunately, it would appear the FBI disagrees when the citizens in question are Occupy leadership, as they allowed a plot to murder Occupy leadership in Texas with suppressed sniper rifles go untold until a rights group dug it up.
Last week, Digital Journal reported that the documents obtained by PCJF detailed how the FBI cooperated with the Department of Homeland Security, US military and private corporations to monitor and investigate Occupy Wall Street protesters as "domestic terrorists" and "criminals." The documents prove that federal agencies are "functioning as a de facto intelligence arm of Wall Street and corporate America," PCJF said.
Thorough analyses of the documents has now revealed a heavily redacted file that clearly mentions a plan to use snipers to assassinate Occupy protesters. The names of the groups or individuals involved in the murderous plot have been redacted, so it is impossible to identify them at this time. What is known is that the FBI never alerted any of the potential victims of the danger to their lives.We're talking heavily redacted text here, which strips out a bunch of details, but here's the text that is available.
An identified [redacted] of October planned to engage in sniper attacks against protesters in Houston, Texas, if deemed necessary. An identified [redacted] had received intelligence that indicated the protesters in New York and Seattle planned similar protests in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin, Texas. [Redacted] planned to gather intelligence against the leaders of the protest groups and obtain photographs then formulate a plan to kill the leadership via suppressed sniper rifles.What's plain as day is that some group somewhere was plotting to murder OWS leadership in Texas. It's also clear that the FBI never bothered to inform the targets of the threats against their lives. This stands in apparent contrast to how closely they worked and coordinated with private banks to handle the OWS protests as a whole. And, remember, this is the same FBI who has put tremendous effort over the past few years into breaking up its own terrorist plots. You'd think that when it had a chance to go after actual plots to assassinate leaders of a political movement, they might, you know, actually do something and then trumpet the success in stopping a real plot. Apparently not.
So the lesson here is simple. If you're a private bank, the FBI will help you demonize non-violent protesters as "terrorists," but if you're a protester, you don't get to know that you might have an infrared dot dancing on the back of your head -- or have the FBI take it as serious as one of its own made up terrorist plots.


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The Chair City earned a new designation Sunday night that only a few communities share across the nation.
The Chair City earned a new designation Sunday night that only a few communities share across the nation.
Thomasville was one of 10 cities nationwide to receive the National Civic League's All-America City Award, which annually recognizes communities for civic engagement and community-wide initiatives.
A team of 30 Thomasville citizens, government officials, and community leaders traveled to Denver this past Friday for the All-America City conference. Thomasville, which was nominated but did not receive the award in 2003, was one of 20 finalists for the 2013 awards.
Thomasville was the fifth city announced a winner shortly after 10 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Sunday.
"A lot of the folks you see here didn't know each other five weeks ago," Thomasville Mayor Joe Bennett told the conference crowd after receiving the award Sunday. "But when we got on that bus Friday morning at 5:45 a.m. to come here, we were family. From what we learned from not only our experience but your experience, we are going to carry back ideas and implement the ideas you folks have shared with us."
Thomasville's full team posed on the All-America City conference stage for a photograph after receiving the award.
Judges identified Thomasville as a community that honors its history and its veterans, a community that redefined play, and a community that took action to address homelessness.
Doug Croft, president of the Thomasville Area Chamber of Commerce, said Thomasville has a lot to be proud of and that the team is extremely proud of this award.
"Thomasville is an All-America City because of collaboration, grassroots community action and great civic leadership," Croft said Sunday night. "Forever, Thomasville will be an All-America City, and I couldn't be more proud to be part of this team."
A committee established by the Thomasville Area Chamber of Commerce applied for this year's award, which spotlighted community-wide initiatives that honor and benefit veterans and military families.
Thomasville's formal presentation, made on Saturday afternoon, spotlighted a plethora of the city programs and initiatives, including the city's Memorial Day services, its playground renovation initiative and Project Divine Interruption, a grass roots effort that seeks to assist students struggling with housing and food insecurities.
Croft said community leaders are in the process of rebranding the city, and he is excited that the new brand will include the All-America City designation.
"The 30 people here are very humble to represent Thomasville's 28,000 citizens and those surrounding the community," Croft said. "This team is only a microcosm of a wonderful citizenry. The three projects that we submitted reflect a beautiful story and all of Thomasville have every right to be proud and celebrate."
Thomasville's All-America City team will travel back to North Carolina on Monday and a "Welcome Home" gathering is scheduled to meet the team when it returns at about 5:30 p.m. at the Chamber's office off of Randolph Street.
The cities of Dunn and Garner were the other two North Carolina cities granted the All-America City Award on Sunday night.
For more information or to view Thomasville's formal presentation in Denver, go to www.allamericacityaward.com.
Nash Dunn can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 227, or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Berkeley's Free Speech MovementWritten by Stephen Lendman Subject: Bill of Rights
by Stephen Lendman
Free expression in all forms are fundamental in democratic societies.
All other freedoms are risked without free speech, a free press, freedom of thought, culture, intellectual inquiry, and right to challenge government authority peacefully.
In the 1960s, anti-war and civil rights activism inspired Berkeley's Free Speech Movement (FSM). It began in 1964. UC Berkeley students protested banned on-campus political activity.
They demanded free expression and academic freedom rights. Unprecedented student activism followed.
FSM was a student initiative. Faculty, administration and local government officials joined. UC students earlier protested House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC: 1947 - 1975) anti-communist witch hunts.
Berkeley's 1964 fall term included several dozen students returning from Mississippi's "Freedom Summer." Racially motivated discrimination and violence horrified them.
They bonded with other student activists. Berkeley's activist SLATE (1958 - 1966) was precursor to FSM. Civil rights and International Workers of the World (IWW) leaders supported it. So did Joan Baez and Bettina Aptheker. She later became UC Santa Cruz Feminist Studies Professor.
Activism is traditional at Berkeley. It began long before FSM. Iconoclasts and free-thinkers challenged hidebound societal notions and practices.
Muckraking journalist Lincoln Steffens studied at Berkeley. So did novelist Frank Norris and Spanish Civil War Abraham Lincoln Brigade commander Robert Merriman.
In the early 1920s, faculty activists revolted. An Academic Senate followed. Shared governance at that time was unprecedented. The tradition lives.
Student groups since the 1930s protested against emerging fascism, banned leftist speakers, capital punishment, and a statewide UC loyalty oath.
In 1949, university regents approved it. It required faculty, staff and student employees to declare in writing no connection to the Communist Party.
Opposition arose. Regents relented. In 1952, California's Supreme Court sided with fired university employees for refusing to sign.
These and similar events were precursor to FSM. Activism is traditional at Berkeley. It's an idea whose time came long ago. More than ever it's needed across America to challenge fast eroding rights.
Ironically, 1960s Berkeley protests helped elect Ronald Reagan. In 1966, he became governor. He promised to "clean up" student unrest. In spring 1969, he sent National Guard troops and state police to People's Park.
On "bloody Thursday" May 15, a violent confrontation ensued. Many dozens were injured, some seriously. Reagan declared a state of emergency. Public anger arose.
Months later, Reagan defended his action. "If it takes a bloodbath, let's get it over with," he said. "No more appeasement."
On May 4, 1970, the disease spread east. Ohio National Guard troops murdered four Kent State protesters. Nine others were seriously wounded.
Berkeley activism continues. Jewish/Palestinian issues are highlighted. On December 10, ACLU's Northern California affiliate wrote the US Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights (OCR).
It concerns a July 9, 2012 complaint filed by attorneys Joel H. Siegel and Neal M. Sher for UC grads Jessica Felber and Brian Maissy. In March 2011 they sued the university. They alleged a hostile Jewish student environment.
They claimed Palestine solidarity activism creates "a disturbing echo of incitement, intimidation, harassment and violence carried out under the Nazi regime and those of its allies in Europe against Jewish students and scholars….during the turbulent years leading up to and (during) the Holocaust."
Saying so exceeded reason and then some. It was way over the top. Northern California's US District Court agreed. In December, it dismissed the case. It ruled that:
"The administration has engaged in an ongoing dialogue with the opposing parties in an attempt to ensure that the rights of all persons are respected, and to minimize the potential for violence and unsafe conditions."
Felber and Maissy claims about Palestinian campus activism marginalizing Jewish rights don't wash. The ACLU got involved. It's concerned about First Amendment rights.
Its letter said the Northern California branch was involved "in a number of instances in which similar claims have arisen as a result of the activities of pro-Palestinian and/or pro-Israeli student groups on campus."
"It acknowledges that these can be hard cases, but warns that the present Complaint 'raises constitutional red flags.' " (It) consistently ignores 'paramount constitutional message(s).' "
The US Supreme Court ruled "the First Amendment (to mean) that government has no power to restrict expression because of its message, its ideas, its subject matter, or its content."
Plaintiff claims were dismissed. The District Court said publicly expressed "political speech and expressive conduct" are constitutionally protected.
Dissatisfied, attorneys filed an OCR Complaint. Jewish student discriminatory harassment is reflected in activities like annual "Apartheid Week," they claimed.
Students for Justice in Palestine and the Muslim Student Association organize mock checkpoints. They're erected to simulate occupation harshness.
The ACLU letter added:
"The allegations of this Title VI complaint reflect either a profound misunderstanding of the First Amendment, or an attempt to persuade the government to use its power to restrict speech based on its content and political viewpoint."
Title VI is codified in the 1964 Civil rights act. It assures nondiscrimination in federally assisted programs. Section 601 states:
"No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."
In October, the Department of Education began investigating plaintiffs' complaint. It stressed that doing so "in no way implies that (it) made a determination with regard to its merits."
ACLU's main concern is for First Amendment rights. Compromising them would have a chilling effect on campus activism nationwide. Free expression would be threatened.
ACLU Northern California Legal Director Alan L. Schlosser wrote the letter. He said campus activism "convey(s) a political viewpoint about the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza - that it is discriminatory against Palestinians, and that it is unjust, coercive, (and) oppressive."
Whatever views Felber and Maissy hold, First Amendment rights are inviolable.
"Speech that criticizes the State of Israel and its policies and actions, or even questions its right to exist as a Jewish State in the region, cannot constitute the basis for government restriction or regulation."
"Speech on public issues occupies the highest rung on the hierarchy of First Amendment values, and is entitled to special protection."
"The First Amendment protects speech, no matter now offensive or disturbing it is to some people."
"In fact, First Amendment protections are most important when speakers take controversial or unpopular positions that might arouse strong feelings, passions, and hostility."
"There are no sacred cows when it comes to the First Amendment's protection for political messages or viewpoints."
Activist speech in all forms is protected. Pro-Israeli activism may be as freely expressed as others do for Palestine. Constitutional law prohibits inhibiting either. Censorship in any form is abhorrent and illegal. Harsh criticism often is most important.
Voltaire defended it. "I may disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it," he said.
In Texas v. Johnson (a 1989 flag burning case), Justice William Brennan wrote the majority opinion, saying:
"(I)f there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea offensive or disagreeable."
Former US Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall said:
"Above all else, the First Amendment means that government has no power to restrict expression (regardless of its) ideas.…subject matter (or) content….Our people are guaranteed the right to express any thought, free from government censorship."
Freedom activists nationwide express similar sentiments. Free expression in all forms exceeds all other rights in importance.
The ACLU urged prompt Department of Education action. It said government scrutiny of student activism could compromise it.
It remains to be seen what follows. Police state repression targets fundamental freedoms. First Amendment rights may be compromised.
America stands a hair's breath from full-blown tyranny. On arrival it'll be wrapped in an American flag.
Doing so won't mitigate its harshness. In today's climate of permanent war, state-sponsored fear, and erosion of fundamental rights, expect recrimination against non-believers to follow.
Freedom in America hangs by a thread. Compromised First Amendment rights assures losing all others.
It may be nearer than most expect. The possibility should arouse mass activism to defend what's too important to lose.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at email@example.com.
His new book is titled "Banker Occupation: Waging Financial War on Humanity."
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.


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The sixth year Prefects' compartment on the Hogwarts Express was abuzz with excitement.
"Did you hear?" Hannah Abbott asked excitedly as Ron and Hermione entered the compartment. "Draco Malfoy and a whole bunch of Slytherins aren't coming back to Hogwarts!"
Hermione sat down next to Padma Patil with a thump. "No!"
"Why?" Ron asked.
"Does Daddy-is-a-Death-Eater-in-prison sound like a good enough excuse?" Padma mocked.
"Well, that doesn't mean their children did anything wrong."
Padma rolled her eyes. "You are so naive, Hermione."
"Really," Ron said, moving to sit next to Anthony Goldstein. "I can see why they left. Who would want to be around them now? Who could trust them?"
"So who are the Prefects from Slytherin this year?" Ernie MacMillan asked.
"Pansy Parkinson is still here. But I don't know about -"
"- shh!"
Pansy Parkinson entered the compartment with a tall, thin boy who Ron remembered from Care of Magical Creatures class. He was one of the three students who had been able to see the Thestrals.
Pansy looked at all the curious faces, and brazened it out. "Hello, everyone. This is Theodore Nott, he is the new Prefect for Slytherin this year since Draco decided to go to Durmstrang."
Theodore Nott looked decidedly uncomfortable, yet he too looked defiantly around. There was an uncomfortable silence, until Hannah Abbott remembered her manners. "Sit down. The Head Boy and Girl should be here soon." Then she slid down the seat to make room for the Slytherins.
The train whistle blew, drowning out any attempts at conversation.
Ron looked over at Hermione. She was chewing on her lip and had that frown she always got when she was thinking furiously. As glad as Ron was that Draco Malfoy was no longer a Hogwarts student, he couldn't help but feel that this was an ominous development. People were starting to take sides - and not everyone wanted to be on Dumbledore's.
Two hours later, Ron and Hermione trudged back to the compartment where they had stowed their trunks with Harry and Ginny's. Ron really hoped they had bought something off the cart for them; he was starving.
"I don't have a good feeling about Malfoy leaving Hogwarts," Hermione said.
"I heard Crabbe and Goyle went with him."
"Really?" She looked startled.
"Yeah - they all went - all of them with Death Eaters in the family. Except for Nott. Wonder what is up with him. And why on earth would Dumbledore make him a Prefect?"
"I'd like to know that too," she murmured.
"There's one more thing I'd like to know," Ron said as they reached the door of their compartment.
"What's that?" Hermione looked up in surprise.
"Where the hell are Harry and Ginny?" Ron asked grimly.
After touching the Portkey in Sirius' kitchen, Harry landed on his back, with Ginny half sprawled on top of him. This is very pleasant he thought, looking up at the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall watching the clouds chase each other in the pale blue sky. Then his stomach lurched with dread, what if we have landed in the middle of the Great Hall with the entire school assembled here?
He took his eyes off of the ceiling to look into Ginny's face. She looked as bemused and disoriented as he felt. "Ginny?"
"Am I too heavy on you? That was quite a rough landing."
"No, but are we the only ones here? I'm afraid to look."
She looked around and laughed. "Just you and me - and oh no, here comes Professor McGonagall." She scrambled off of him and got to her feet. Harry followed suit, wishing they could have stayed that way a little while longer.
"Potter! Weasley! How on earth did you manage to miss the train?"
"We stopped to help a lady who fainted. By the time she and her daughter Disapparated, the train was pulling out of the station," Harry explained.
Professor McGonagall peered at him as if finding his explanation too simple for such a big mistake.
Harry looked steadily back, noticing for the first time that he was taller than she was. When did that happen? he wondered.
"Ah, here he is. Do you have a story worked out yet, Potter?"
Harry looked at the unwelcome sight of his Potions teacher sauntering into the Great Hall. He met Snape's eyes. Harry could tell that he was trying to determine if he was telling the truth. Just try it, Harry thought. He was confident in his Occlumency abilities since he had been practicing diligently all summer.
A queer smile played around Snape's lips. "Been practicing, have you? Useful for all sorts of situations, isn't it?"
Professor McGonagall looked from Snape to Harry. "What are you going on about Severus? He gave an explanation. I don't think he is hiding anything. Seems these two helped out a lady on the platform."
"Two?" Snape asked, as if had just noticed Ginny. "A different Weasley to share in your troubles this time, Potter?"
Harry saw that Ginny was looking red-faced and a little lost. He moved closer to her.
"Who was this woman you helped?" Snape asked.
Harry looked at Ginny, who gave a helpless shrug, and then he answered, "I don't know. She was really old. When her daughter came up, the mum called her Harriet."
Professor McGonagall was listening closely. "Did anyone else see this woman?"
He shrugged. "I'm not sure. I didn't notice her at first, Ginny did."
Ginny reddened again as all the attention swung to her. "I was talking to Harry and I noticed this woman putting her hand to her head like she was going to faint. I don't know - I think my friends had already gone on."
Harry didn't remember; he had eyes only for Ginny, but he wasn't going to tell Snape that.
"Well, Potter we're going to check out your story. Hopefully that was all there was to this incident. I'd hate to think we had Death Eaters on our platform waiting to attack," Professor McGonagall said. "I don't need to remind you that security is tight these days. To have lost two students between the platform at King's Cross Station and Hogwarts on the very first day is most disturbing. I'm glad you had the presence of mind to summon the Knight Bus."
"Yes, at least no Muggles saw a flying car." Snape sneered. "As for your punishment, that should save Gryffindor a few points and the Weasley family a few Galleons."
Harry looked at Professor McGonagall in appeal. "We'll see about punishments in my office. Come with me, Potter, Weasley."
Once in her office, Professor McGonagall closed the door and said in a quiet voice. "There will be no punishment, of course. I imagine returning to that house was punishment enough."
She sat down with a sigh. "It's unfortunate the Knight Bus couldn't have brought you all the way here, but it would have been too long on public transportation. We can't risk that these days. You understand why don't you, Potter?"
She knows about the prophecy, he thought. He nodded.
"I suppose you're hungry?"
"Yes," Harry said with more enthusiasm than he intended.
Professor McGonagall smiled and with a flick of her wand produced a plate of sandwiches. "I'd send you to the kitchens, but the House Elves are busy with the Welcoming Feast. We've had several desertions - so there aren't as many hands to do the work."
"Desertions? How can they do that? I thought House Elves were bound by magic to their masters."
"Hogwarts isn't a master in a traditional sense. This is the place second or third children of the elves go when their wizard family can't afford to keep them. The eldest always takes over from the parent elf. If an elf from a Death Eater's house is called back, they are not tied to Hogwarts anymore. They can choose."
Harry's stomach lurched. The war really had begun - and sides were being taken.
Professor McGonagall sighed. "I think you will find fewer students this year at Hogwarts - many parents have decided that Britain is too dangerous of a place with You-know-who back. Although," she added in a contemptuous voice, "distance has never stopped him before."
She stood up abruptly. "I will inform the Headmaster that you both have arrived safely." She turned at the door. "Until the feast you may wander the castle freely, but do not go on the grounds."
Harry and Ginny sat in silence after the door clicked shut. All that business with the House Elves seemed so unexpected, yet inevitable. He wondered how else Voldemort's public return was going to affect life at Hogwarts.
Ginny shook her head. "I told you it was going to get weird once we got back to school."
Harry grinned at her. "I know you're always right. Didn't I say it was 'yes dear' and 'no dear' from now on?"
She chuffed him on the arm and went to the window.
Harry picked up a sandwich. "I wonder why we're not allowed out on the grounds?"
Ginny turned from the window with a strange look on her face. "Maybe because of the dragons?"
Please Note: This is for problems with the formatting or the layout of the chapter. This is NOT for comments on this chapter itself!Any non-technical comments will be ignored.
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text:
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Matchbook calender file for 2012
Print PDF on 8 1/2 by 11 sheet of paper
Cut your cover to 3 by 6 1/4 inch
Score cover at 1/2 and 3 1/2 inch
Put in your stack of calenders
Staple. One staple makes it easier to pull out the calender, but two looks better, you decide!
Now embellish and your done!
PS: If you want to mark special dates, the eraser on a standard pencil inked on your stamp pad, will make a nice circle over the date. Sorry, no time to make some cute samples, the house is almost done and its crunch time. Today we put in laminate flooring in one of the boys room. Tomorrow we will do the other one, then move on to the dining and living rooms. BUSY! Thanks for looking!
PSI_Matchbook calender 2012
9 comments:
- Ann R. said...
So very cute. Thanks for the file. It is very much appreciated!
- October 6, 2011 at 5:44 PM
Just a quick note to let you know that a link to this post will be placed on CraftCrave today [06 Oct 09:00pm GMT]. Thanks, Maria
- October 6, 2011 at 11:38 PM
- Joanne said...
I have not seen this one before. I think it is a great little stocking stuffer. Hmm might have to make a few for my daughters. Thank you for the instructions and PDF of the calendar.
- October 7, 2011 at 1:58 PM
Very nice! TFS.
- October 7, 2011 at 5:24 PM
- Cely said...
wow! this is soooo cute! thanks for this! :D
- October 7, 2011 at 7:05 PM
- CBH said...
Thank you so much for this post. I want to let you know that I posted a link to your blog in CBH Digital Scrapbooking Freebies, under the Page 8 post on Oct. 10, 2011. Thanks again.
- October 10, 2011 at 6:31 AM
thank you, very handy, love christine in italy xx
- October 10, 2011 at 6:45 AM
- Jani said...
Cute project. Thanks for sharing.
I have an award for you on my blog.
- October 17, 2011 at 3:43 PM
- MaryEllen said...
thanks for the calendar file will be making some for my grandchildrens teachers for and end of the year gift
good luck with the floors
- October 25, 2011 at 9:04 AM


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Determination of the pH value provides information about the acid or base action of the soil solution. This in turn is enormously important for the nutrient supply and microbial activity of the soil. For example, many metals (trace elements) are considerably more mobile in acidic soils. If the soil pH values are very low, toxic levels can soon be reached and these can damage the roots of plants. On the other hand, excessively high pH values quickly lead to a shortage of trace elements because of immobilization.<...
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