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Goals in Sight
By Rep. Mike Sanders
We're nearing the end of the Legislative session and several of my bills have either been signed into law or are headed to the governor's desk.
Already signed into law is Senate Bill 324, which creates the Oklahoma Awards Program. The Oklahoma Medal of Valor and the Oklahoma Purple Heart will be awarded to those in our Department of Public Safety and citizens who display heroic acts of valor or are injured or give their lives in the call of serving another or saving a life. I am very proud and honored to carry this piece of legislation.
Headed to conference committee is House Bill 1116, which allows for the first time statements by vulnerable or incapacitated adults who alleges abuse, neglect, financial exploitation or any violent act to be admissible as evidence in court if a judge finds the statement to be reliable. This will help protect the vulnerable. I'm hopeful this moves forward.
On its way to the governor is House Bill 1833, which transfers all duties and responsibilities of the state Council of Firefighter Training (COFT) to the Office of the State Fire Marshal. COFT is an agency that assists and works with all state volunteer fire departments. It was critical its duties remained intact. This measure keeps COFT but returns the State Fire Marshal's Office to non-appropriated status as it has been in the past, saving the state $1.4 million.
House Bill 1259, which strengthens the qualifications of candidates seeking the job of sheriff, also is headed to the governor's desk. The intent of this measure is to make sure those who serve as sheriff in our state are highly qualified for this important position.
Changing gears, budget negotiations are still ongoing with several measures being discussed between the parties in the House before we send them to the Senate. There is much talk about raising revenue right now. Keep in mind that to raise revenue in our state requires a ¾ majority vote in both the House and the Senate and or a vote of the people. In 1992, Oklahomans voted for this high threshold to keep the Legislature from increasing their taxes without their permission. Before we consider raising revenue, however, we must always look at efficiencies in state government first.
The House meanwhile continues to lead on major issues such as working to secure funding for a teacher pay raise, ensuring greater efficiencies in state government, shepherding a number of victims' rights bill through the legislative process – many of which have become law, and protecting transportation funding.
Speaking of transportation funding, there are some in the Capitol that would like to cut $125 million or more from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation's (ODOT) budget. Let me remind you that $323 million was cut from the agency's budget last year. The Legislature did approve a $200 million transportation bond, but the agency still absorbed a cut, plus they have to pay back the bond.
Some also would like to cut or cap the County Improvement for Roads and Bridges Program (CIRB). This is a non-starter in the House. County roads and bridges are a lifeline for rural residents. I will continue to stand with our county commissioners and with ODOT. Transportation is a core service of government and needs to be treated as such.
In the coming weeks – two to be exact – we will have a budget. I am hopeful and optimistic this will occur. I would ask for your thoughts and prayers during this time.
As always, I'd love to hear from you. I can be contacted at email@example.com or (405) 557-7407.
Drafting the State Budget
By Rep. Mike Sanders
It's the time of year when we hear a lot about the state budget. Here's a brief review of the process.
House leadership starts looking at the state budget for the next fiscal year in about October when we start seeing state agency preliminary requests. This year, in January, we added public budget hearings with the five state agencies that receive almost 80 percent of the state appropriated budget.
Once session starts, the speaker forms the House appropriations & budget subcommittees, broken up into education, general government, health, human services, judiciary, national resources and regulatory service, public safety, transportation and other areas. This year, these subcommittees met with various state agencies to do a deeper dive into their budgets. Each member was asked to rotate through the various committees to get a better look at the state's overall budget.
The House Appropriations & Budget Committee and the Joint Committee on Appropriations & Budget, made up of House and Senate members, also have met multiple times, approving a number of bills that are now starting to move through the House and to the Senate.
The first of those measures passed the House last week.
House Bill 2343 removes red tape, making it easier to collect back sales taxes from businesses that are late on their tax payments. House Bill 2344 reduces the cap on film tax rebates from $5 million to $4 million annually. House Bill 2350 eliminates the sales tax exemption for certain sporting events, like tickets to the Oklahoma City Thunder games. Combined, these three measures are expected to generate about $20 million and are a step towards helping close the budget gap.
These are examples of bills that require 51 votes in the House to pass: bills that raise certain fees or end tax exemptions, deductions and credits. Bills that will raise taxes require two-thirds, or 76 votes in the House, to pass. Raising taxes is harder, as it should be.
Here's a look at the budget breakdown. About 60 percent of the money in the overall state budget comes off the top, mainly for transportation and education; about 40 percent gets appropriated at the Legislature's discretion. We're working to move more money from the off-the-top category to the appropriated category to give the Legislature greater flexibility to better meet changing needs each year. But, there's a reason that money was set aside in the first place, to protect things like transportation.
We hear a lot about education funding, but common and higher education and CareerTech gets about 52 percent of the appropriated budget. We have to fund the rest of government – more than 60 state agencies – with the remainder. Transportation as a whole only gets about 9 percent of the budget.
We're working to craft a state budget this year that will adequately fund core government services but that will continue to force state agencies to spend conservatively and eliminate all waste. The taxpayer should get the greatest discretion of how their money is spent.
We are on track to have a balanced budget before session ends in May. I will keep you posted on our progress.
As always, I'd love to hear from you. I can be contacted at firstname.lastname@example.com or (405) 557-7407.
Saying Goodbye to a Friend
By Rep. Mike Sanders
My friend and fellow Representative, David Brumbaugh, passed away late Saturday night at his home in Broken Arrow. It was a shock to those of us who saw him in the House chamber and in committee meetings just a few days prior.
David was the kind of man you liked to have on your side. If a lawmaker was struggling to explain a bill, David would stand and exactly sum up the legislation's intent with the requisite question, "Would you agree?" I can't tell you how many times this happened and what a relief it was.
David had a gentle approach. He was a gentleman and a statesman. He had a true love for representing his people and for the rule of law. He was a master at balancing individual freedom against serving all people. He was never afraid to disagree, but he was always respectful. A lot of politicians could learn a thing or two from such a man.
His life ended tragically short. He leaves behind a wife and two daughters. My thoughts are prayers are with them now and with the league of friends and colleagues he leaves behind at the Capitol.
David's passing reminded me of the commitment this job takes – the time spent away from our families, our businesses and our homes. It is taxing. Legislators must answer to many masters – the people who elect us and who we represent, taxpayers at large, the state agencies that depend on us for funding to keep operating and offering services to Oklahoma residents, and other government officials. Then we must answer to fake news reports and try to help people distinguish between those and legitimate concerns. It can be frustrating mulling over the massive amount of false and true information. With that said, it is such an honor to have your trust to represent the constituency of District 59.
This also makes me take stock of my job at the Capitol. Sometimes the legislative process is characterized as only so much nonsense. But without lawmakers, we have no public roads, no way to transport our goods and services to grow our economy, no public schools to educate our children, no assistance for health care, no mechanisms to keep the public safe.
So while my heart is heavy in grief for my friend's family, I turn back to the business of legislating. The budget process is well underway, with the Joint Committee on Appropriations & Budget and the House A&B Committee meeting this week to consider a number of measures that will save the state money or result in some revenue for our state. I'll talk more about that in a future column. I want you to know we are working to close our budget gap, but for now, I'd rather take the time to honor the memory of a friend.
As always, I'd love to hear from you. I can be contacted at email@example.com or (405) 557-7407.
Rep. Mike Sanders Honored for Supporting Agriculture, Rural Oklahoma
House Majority Leader Mike Sanders, R-Kingfisher, this week was presented with the Oklahoma Farm Bureau 100 Percent Club award for his support of farmers, ranchers and rural Oklahoma during the 2016 legislative session.
"This honor is presented to those legislators who stand with Farm Bureau in its core mission of improving the lives of rural Oklahoma," said Tom Buchanan, OKFB president. "We're grateful to these state lawmakers for their leadership and service at the state Capitol."
Sanders received the award for a 100 percent voting record on Farm Bureau-supported legislation during the 2016 legislative session.
Legislators were scored on four pieces of legislation which included aiding the extermination of feral swine, increasing penalties for cattle theft, easing restrictions on prescribed agricultural burns, and granting driver's licenses to temporary H-2A agricultural workers.
In honor of the award, Rep. Sanders received a OKFB 100 Percent Club coin to display in his office at the state Capitol.
"I am incredibly honored to have received this award again this year. I take great pride in advocating for our family farmers and ranchers and protecting private property rights, "Sanders stated.
Founded in 1942, Oklahoma Farm Bureau is a grassroots organization of farm and ranch families united for the purpose of analyzing issues and formulating action to achieve educational improvement, economic opportunity and social advancement in each of Oklahoma's 77 counties. As the state's largest general farm organization, OFB is committed to improving the lives of rural Oklahomans through advocacy, education and member benefits. To learn more, visit http://www.okfarmbureau.org/.
Rewarding Heroes
By Rep. Mike Sanders
A bill creating public safety awards to honor our state's first responders as well as citizens who perform acts of heroism has been sent to the governor for her signature.
I was the House author of Senate Bill 324, which creates the Oklahoma State Award program. A nine-member committee will design the Oklahoma Medal of Valor and the Oklahoma Purple Heart Award. These awards will be given to those in our Department of Public Safety and citizens who display heroic acts of valor or are injured or give their lives in the call of serving another or saving a life. They will in no way resemble our military's highest honor.
The bill passed the House last week with a vote of 84 to 6, and now awaits the governor's signature to become law.
The governor last week signed 11 bills into law, a good sign for early April.
This week in committee, I led the charge against Senate Bill 602, which would have allowed the state Department of Agriculture to siphon off up to 10 percent of the Rural Fire Protection Fund, wresting it from local control. This fund, which is intended for maintenance and operations needs, has already been cut 30 percent over the last five years. Both Republicans and Democrats stood together to shoot down this poorly worded bill in a 13-4 vote. I am always going to protect our rural way of life and those who serve our rural communities.
Also this week, the House and Senate convened a joint session on Tuesday to observe the 45thInfantry Appreciation Day, a time to honor our state's National Guard for helping in times of emergency and tragedy. I appreciate all who are willing to put their lives on the line in defense of our country and our nation's liberty. I also want to thank the families of these service members for their sacrifice.
Committee work, except for the full Appropriations & Budget Committees, wraps up this week. In the House, we continue to consider Senate bills and the same is happening with our House bills in the opposite chamber.
We are moving closer on budget negotiations. We have nearly seven weeks left in the legislative session. A budget has not been written yet despite some fake news accounts from two large newspapers. The House and Senate continue to work together on this issue. We've been meeting since last October. We held full budget hearings with five state agencies that receive almost 80 percent of the state's appropriated budget before session began. We've moved on legislation that will restore money to the state's General Revenue Fund and we continue to look at tax credits and incentives as well as other cost-savings and revenue measures. We will have a balanced budget before the end of session and protect things important in rural Oklahoma.
As always, I'd love to hear from you. I can be contacted at email@example.com or(405) 557-7407.
Budget a Priority
By Rep. Mike Sanders
This is a busy time in the House of Representatives as we continue to consider legislation and work on balancing the state budget.
Last week, the House voted to give the Department of Human Services $34 million in supplemental funding for this fiscal year. This allows developmentally disabled adults and seniors on Medicaid to continue to receive medicine and services in their homes instead of having to move into an institutional setting.
House appropriations and budget subcommittees are meeting with state agencies to get an in-depth look at their fiscal year 2018 budgets. All representatives have been asked to rotate through each committee so they have a better appreciation of the state's overall budget. We have to consider not just our current budget but long-term restructuring.
The House Appropriations & Budget Committee met this week to consider almost 20 Senate Bills. Other House committees also are meeting in advance of approaching deadlines. April 13 is the deadline for all Senate bills to pass in House committees, except for those considered by the full A&B Committee. That deadline is April 20. The floor deadline for third reading of bills and resolutions from the opposite chamber is April 27. If a bill passes as is, it goes to the governor. If it is amended, it goes back to the chamber of origin. If the amendment is not accepted, the bill could go to conference committee, where representatives and senators discuss final language.
The speaker of the House and the Senate president pro-tempore as well as full A&B committee chairs can bring bills at any time.
Also this week, the House observed National Crime Victims' Rights Week. I am a primary author of House Resolution 1009, which honors the men, women and children who have been victimized in the state of Oklahoma and the strength they exhibit as they work to overcome adversity.
According to recently released statistics by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Oklahoma experienced 16,506 violent crimes in 2015, including 234 murders and non-negligent manslaughters, 1,849 reports of rape, 3,005 robberies and 11,418 aggravated assaults.
These victims deserve equal rights in our justice system. Earlier this session, we passed a number of bills that will help victims receive rights and protections co-equal to those provided to those accused and convicted of crimes. This week creates awareness for victims and lets them know we hear and remember their cause; we stand with them; we will treat them with fairness and respect.
On a final note, I along with many others in my district am thanking the good Lord for the recent rain! I know many people in Western Oklahoma are struggling to recover from the recent wildfires that took several lives and many animals as well as caused major property damage. If there is anything at all I can do to assist you, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.
As always, I'd love to hear from you. I can be contacted at email@example.com or(405) 557-7407.
Protecting Life
By Rep. Mike Sanders
This week, I voted in support of House Bill 1549, which creates the Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act of 2017 that would prohibit abortion solely based on the unborn child being diagnosed with either Down syndrome or a genetic abnormality or who has the potential for a genetic abnormality. The bill passed the House with a vote of 67-16 and now heads to the state Senate.
I have always been a staunch supporter of life and have a 100 percent voting record of supporting pro-life legislation. Our unborn are the most defenseless of our citizens. I will always do all I can to protect them. I understand that women sometimes face surprise or even unwanted pregnancies. I will do all I can to support them, but we must end the murder of our unborn.
In the meantime, budget negotiations are ongoing. House budget leaders, including myself, are meeting with state agencies to determine funding needs and to encourage greater efficiencies. We also are continuing to evaluate underperforming and non-performing state assets as well as tax credits and incentives as we work toward crafting next year's budget.
Several measures in the House this week moved gross production tax apportionments from off-the-top earmarks into specified funds within the General Revenue Fund. This measure gives the Legislature a greater role in appropriating this funding. When House Speaker Charles McCall met earlier this year with national bonding agencies, they indicated the state's credit rating would be downgraded in part because of the portion of the state's revenue that is unavailable for appropriating. These measures help the state start to correct that problem but still allow us to meet priorities such as transportation and education funding.
Recently, I sent my annual You Speak I Listen survey to constituents throughout my district asking you to give me your thoughts on pending measures before the House. I've received a number of responses; I would love to see more. I don't represent me at the state Capitol; I represent you. I use these responses to help guide me in voting on or drafting new legislation. Remember to sign your name and include contact information if you would like to hear back from me.
Unfortunately, I must deal with some unsavory news released over the past week of a state senator accused of engaging in despicable behavior. This embarrasses the state and all lawmakers who are working hard on your behalf. I'm thankful the senate took quick action to strip this person of his office, his vice chair position and all of his committees. He resigned Wednesday. Legislative efforts should now be taken to disqualify him from any state pension.
On one final note, this week is the deadline for all bills originating in the House to be considered in the House and the same for Senate bills. Next week, committees will resume considering bills from the opposite legislative chamber.
As always, I'd love to hear from you. I can be contacted at email@example.com or(405) 557-7407.
Boosting Education Funding; Preserving State Parks
By Rep. Mike Sanders
I hear every week about how our schools are struggling – struggling to pay teachers and struggling to buy new textbooks and other classroom materials to improve student learning.
Last week, the House approved several bills that would help K-12 schools. First was a measure to raise teacher pay by $6,000 over the next three years. This would make Oklahoma's average teacher pay among the highest in the region and move us from 48th to 13th nationally when cost-of-living is factored. We still have to find funding for this raise; I believe we will.
A measure that could help is a bill to increase the Oklahoma Lottery's contribution to education by $110 million over the next five years. Many public schools and education associations statewide supported the bill.
House Bill 1837 will allow bigger lottery prizes, which is hoped to increase lottery sales, which would send more money to public schools. We've long heard the lottery has not benefitted education as much as first promised. While the lottery has sent more than $750 million to education since it began in 2005, funding has declined in recent years and is expected be about 30 percent lower than 10 years ago. Part of the reason is thought to be low prize payouts. Other states have used this mechanism to successfully increase education funding.
Without this bill, education is projected to lose $25 million in lottery funding over the next five years. This would end the mandate that 35 percent of profits go to education. Instead, the bill guarantees common education would receive at least $50 million in lottery revenue each year as well as profits above $50 million for specific K-12 public school programs. Initiatives in reading, science, technology, engineering and math would receive $85 million over the next five years.
This funding comes without having to raise taxes. With our current budget conditions – a recent revenue failure and a gap in the amount appropriated last year vs. the amount available for fiscal year 2018 – such revenue raising measures are welcome.
There are other measures like this one that will help us close our budget gap and fund core government services in addition to education.
Lastly, I have received many phone calls regarding our state parks. Let me state this: I support our state parks and our tourism department. A memo was sent by our appropriations chairwoman to all state agencies, including the Department of Tourism, asking for opinions on potential cuts to agency budgets. As everyone is fully aware, we have our budget issues. We are trying to scrub and find ways to meet our state constitutionally mandated law to balance the books by the end of the fiscal year. The Department of Tourism responded that cuts might force it to close parks. I don't believe any state parks will close. But, as I'm sure all of you would understand, we have to look at everything, even as families have to look at everything in their household budgets during tight times. I will point out that the Legislature does not line item spending for parks; that is a decision left to tourism. They must decide whether to keep parks open or cut services in Oklahoma City.
I want to thank everyone for their concern and their phone calls. I hear you, and I fully believe at the end of the day all state parks will remain open.
As always, I'd love to hear from you. I can be contacted at firstname.lastname@example.com or(405) 557-7407.
Blue Lives Matter Bill Passes House
OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill that would increase the likelihood of the death penalty for people convicted of killing a law enforcement officer in the line of duty passed the House with a vote of 73-21 today.
House Bill 1306, by State Rep. Casey Murdock, creates the Blue Lives Matter in Oklahoma Act of 2017, which provides that any person convicted of, or who pleads guilty or nolo contendere to murder in the first degree of a law enforcement officer, correctional officer or corrections employee while in the performance of their duties shall be punished by death or life in prison without parole.
"Every time our law enforcement officers put on their uniform they are putting on a target," said Murdock, R-Felt. "The least we can do as a legislative body is send a message to law enforcement that we value their lives, that if something happens to them while they are performing their duties we will punish their killers to the fullest extent of the law."
Murdock said he was inspired to write this legislation after the tragic events that occurred in Dallas and around the country, where snipers were shooting at law enforcement. He also told a personal story of a friend whose son-in-law was shot and attacked in the line of duty.
Murdock worked with several other representatives to make sure the bill was constitutional yet still firm when it comes to dealing with criminals. The bill makes it harder to just get a life in prison sentence. Punishment would be either death or life without parole. The bill also requires that an overwhelming amount of mitigating evidence be shown for those convicted to just be given a life sentence.
"I applaud my colleagues that stood up today for the men and women that risk their lives protecting Oklahoma families," said state Rep. Scott Biggs, R- Chickasha. "In an era where respect for law enforcement is at an all-time low, this body has sent a message to the law enforcement community that we will use the full extent of the law to protect them."
Majority Leader state Rep. Mike Sanders said he was happy as well with the bill's passage.
"If this law deters one crime against a law enforcement agent, then this bill is worth it," said Sanders, R-Kingfisher. "I'm proud to support those who are willing to lay down their lives for the safety of me, my family and all Oklahoma residents."
The bill now moves to the state Senate.
Expanding Rural Health Care
By Rep. Mike Sanders
A bill to allow nurse practitioners and advanced practice registered nurses to provide health care services in line with their education and training passed the House floor this week by an overwhelming majority. This will increase access to quality health care, particularly in our rural communities. This bill would free these nurses from the collaborative agreement they now sign with a physician. Many of the doctors do not see the patients or even their charts, resulting in little actual collaboration. Plus, doctors can only contract with only two nurse practitioners at a time, severely limiting the number that can practice in the state, adding to our health care shortage. These nurses are not replacing the role of the doctor. They would still have to refer patients to a doctor if necessary. Nurse practitioners, however, have many areas where they are trained. Plus, they must be nationally board certified in their area of training and are licensed and regulated by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing. They complete graduate-level education that leads to a master's or doctoral degree.
On another subject, I want to touch on the governor's proposal to tax 164 currently untaxed services. Some fear the Legislature is mulling these tax increases. This idea came only from the governor. Frankly, there is little to no support for these ideas among the conservative majority in the House. Before we would ever consider these kinds of tax increases, we must make sure we have looked at and realized all efficiencies in state government. There are things being requested in agency budgets for fiscal year 2018 that can certainly wait for more prosperous times. There are still areas of state waste. Recently we learned from the Government Modernization Committee that the state has saved $3.1 million, for instance, by selling underutilized state government properties. This is just one example of finding revenue in a lean economy.
The state Senate this week passed House Bill 1845, which will give Oklahomans options of getting a REAL ID compliant with federal law or keeping their current driver's license. The bill now heads to the governor's desk. She's indicated she will sign it. A REAL ID will allow access to federal buildings, military bases and commercial flight. For those concerned about the security of the information on the card, however, they will have a choice of retaining their current state ID.
I had the opportunity last week to assist the Speaker of the House as he gave his weekly update to the media. This is part of my new role as House majority leader. I was able to talk about the serious issues that are important to the people in House District 59. These include having a balanced budget, giving teachers a pay raise, passing REAL ID legislation and other issues.
This was the last week for committee work and now all remaining bills hit the House floor. We have two weeks to consider these measures before passing them to the Senate. Our primary focus is still on the budget and will be as these negotiations are ongoing.
As always, I'd love to hear from you. I can be contacted at firstname.lastname@example.com or(405) 557-7407.


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Product Description
In the third session in the Dancemeditation series of Fluid Yoga, paced at Intermediate Advanced level, Dunya guides you through a restorative balance of rest and activity from a soothing opening, to a lively rolling like animals in the wild in spring to a natural conclusion of deep meditative movement.
Gently twist, rock and elongate your body with rhythmic fluidity. This purifying sanctuary of breath and motion strengthens and relaxes you, unlocking the door to your vitality.
Part I–Fluid, Soothing, Circulating
This sequence, done prone with limbs extending and retracting, activates your core.
Part II–Lively, Dynamic
You begin cross-legged, then roll and breathe to charge up your system. Though seated, it may be strenuous for some.
Part III–Slow, Sweet, Gentle & Deep
A deep, slow, subtle movement meditation. Very healing. Very centering.Each section can be done separately but together they make the perfect nurturing movement session.
50 minutes DVD

subset: commoncrawl


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Sir Isaac Newton, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.
The Purma special has three shutter speeds, selceted according to which way up the camera is held, but there is no "B" setting, so indoor shots are generally not feasible. This sunlit chapel seemed just about bright enough to get away with the "slow" shutter speed, so I took this picture of Isaac Newton. Even though the sculpture was several feet away, it is clear that the lens is focussed better on the wall behind, there is no way to focus the Purma, other than by attaching supplementary lenses, but I don't have any of them, so this was the best I could do.


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Forty-four high school seniors were recently named to the NC State University Park Scholarships Class of 2017.
Park Scholarships Announces Class of 2017
Park Scholarships Class of 2016 Announced
posted 2012.05.07 The Park Scholarships program at North Carolina State University has selected 45 outstanding young men and women to join the seventeenth class of Park Scholars this fall. The Class of 2016 was chosen from a record number of nearly 1,500 applicants. Over 200 Park Scholar and NC State alumni were involved in this year's selection process. Candidate biographies, listed by country, state and county, are available in PDFformat: Park Scholarships Class of 2016 The Park Scholarships program brings exceptional students to NC State
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Park Scholarships Class of 2015 Announced
posted 2011.04.26 North Carolina State University is pleased to announce that 45 exceptional young women and men have been named to the Park Scholarships Class of 2015. The sixteenth class of Park Scholars was selected from over 1,300 applicants by the Park Scholarships Selection Committee, comprised of more than 200 Park Scholar and NC State alumni from across the country. Members of the new class include the recipient of the Congressional Award Gold Medal and U.S. Senate Youth Program Award; founder
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Park Scholarships Class of 2009 Announced
NC State and the Park Scholarships have named 46 students as Park Scholars for fall 2005. When the tenth class of Park Scholars arrives at NC State in the fall, there will be 12 class valedictorians and three students with perfect SAT scores among them. There's also a co-author of a cancer research paper published in the Journal of Neuroscience; both Eagle Scouts and Girl Scouts' Gold Award winners; a state champion cross country runner; and a member of the
Read more »


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The "rare earth elements" are a group of 17 naturally occurring metallic elements used in small amounts in everything from high-powered magnets to batteries and electronic circuits. The materials (including scandium, yttrium and a group of elements called the lanthanides) have specific chemical and physical properties that make them useful in improving the performance of computer hard drives and catalytic converters, mobile phones, hi-tech televisions, sunglasses and lasers.
As technology advances, so the demand for the metals rises; in the past decade, their use has doubled. There are several kilograms of such elements in typical hybrid petrol-electric cars made by Toyota and Honda, a market that will expand in coming years.
Despite their name, rare earth elements are not actually all that rare. In a report on the elements published this year, the British Geological Survey put their natural abundance on the same level as copper or lead.
China has a near-monopoly on mining the elements. According to the geological survey China has 37% of the world's estimated reserves, about 36m tonnes, but controls more than 97% of production. The former Soviet bloc has around 19m tonnes and the US 13m, with other large deposits held by Australia, India, Brazil and Malaysia. The Royal Society of Chemistry is raising awareness of declining mineral resources, making conservation of rare earth and other elements a priority for 2011.
The US House of Representatives is also worried about security of supply and is considering legislation to try to end America's dependence on Chinese imports. The Mountain Pass mine in California, shut down in 2002 because of environmental and cost issues, is now to be reopened, along with potential mines at Bear Lodge in Wyoming and Bokan Mountain in Alaska..
Other sources, untapped as yet, include Greenland. Estimates suggest the land mass could meet 25% of global demand for REEs. South Africa also has potential for rich REE deposits, as do Malawi, Madagascar and Kenya.


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Rice Husk Insulation To Make Fridges 50% More Efficient
Your next refrigerator might be sheathed in renewable rice, if a team of students from the University of Michigan have anything to do with it. With just 12.5mm (half inch of rice husk ash they reckon they can achieve the equivalent of over 100mm (4 inches) of conventional petroleum-based insulation.
With claims that the 11 million fridges sold annually in the US could be made 50% more efficient, the judges of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Clean Energy Prize obviously saw the potential in such technology. Such that they awarded the students first prize, which came with a cheque for $200,000 USD. That will now no doubt help them as they launch a start-up company, Husk Insulation, to commercialise their product. The students figure it will take them about 18 months to bring the rice husk insulation to the fridge market. For which they calculate $425,000 USD (PDF) will be required. But that may not present too much of a hurdle as they are on a winning streak of grant award winning, with another couple of awards already under their belt.
Once they've captured the refrigeration industry, the students have their sights set on the housing and transportation markets.
And we know that this is not pie-in-the-sky research, because last year we reported on Maerogel, whereby a student at the Technical University of Malaysia had announced the discovery of a cheap process for turning waste rice husks into an equivalent of that miracle material: Aerogel. So impressive was her research that the Malaysian government anted up with US$62.5 million in funding for Halimaton Hamdan to bring her particular rice husk insulation to the masses. We wish the Michigan Uni students similar success.
Via ::Business Wire
Photo: Business Wire
More Insulation
• HempFlax Insulation
• Ralph Lauren Insulates Habitat for Humanity Homes
• Air Krete: Green Insulation from Cement


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Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Newcastle and Southampton vie for Cheikhou Kouyate
NEWCASTLE and Southampton are both on the trail of Anderlecht's Cheikhou Kouyate.
The versatile 23-year-old is ready to leave the Belgian club, having played for them since 2008.
He can play in defence or midfield and scouts from numerous Premier League clubs have travelled to watch him this season.
Arsenal were said to be keen on the Senegal international but their interest has apparently cooled.


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Should parents assist adult children to buy their first home?
Our Prime Minister and RBA Governor suggest parental support is required
In November 2014, we published a Blog article titled "How do you give financial help to your adult children?". Its focus was to match any assistance provided with the objective of developing children's financial maturity. The views expressed were not influenced by what was actually happening at the time i.e. they were meant to be as timeless as possible.
However, since then, housing prices have continued to rise, particularly in Sydney. Young adults are finding it increasingly difficult to purchase a first home to meet their current living requirements. For most, housing that is also consistent with raising a future desired family is out of the question.
This has prompted a number of commentators, including both the Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, and the retiring Governor of the Reserve Bank, Glenn Stevens, to suggest that the only way many young adults will be able to purchase their first home is with significant parental support i.e. the "Bank of Mum and Dad". There is often an inference that "good parents" should provide such support.
Is superannuation's wealth accumulation role in jeopardy
The 2016-17 Budget proposed major changes to superannuation
We have previously discussed our "Personal Financial Dashboard" that graphically captures where a client is on the road to their version of financial independence. A key dashboard measure is the so-called Tax Effectiveness Ratio ("TER"), calculated as the ratio of superannuation holdings to total Projected Lifetime Investment Wealth.
Because of the tax effectiveness of the superannuation environment, we encourage clients to target a TER of at least 75% to be achieved by retirement. For some high income/high net worth clients or for clients who have delayed maximising super contributions, increasingly restrictive contribution caps may make this an impossibility.
Are your investments held tax effectively?
The Tax Effectiveness Ratio is a guide to investment tax efficiency
Each of the previous articles in our series on the Personal Financial Dashboard – a graphic format that succinctly captures the journey to, arrival at and maintenance of financial independence – referred to net investment wealth. The first examined its change over time, the second its proportion of total wealth (the "Investment Wealth Ratio" ("IWR") and the third in terms of the number of years of desired lifetime spending it would support (the "Retirement Expenditure Multiple" ("REM")).
But regardless of the apparent adequacy of the amount of your net investment wealth, to increase the chances of both becoming and remaining financially independent there are some investment related practices and behaviours that are better than others. A critical one, that is the subject of this article, is to invest so that you don't pay more tax than is necessary.
A self managed super fund comes with responsibilities
Self managed super funds to come under increased scrutiny
Self managed super funds (SMSFs) are being set up at a faster rate than ever before. They're now the fastest growing sector of the superannuation industry and account for around one third of total superannuation assets in Australia (see chart below).
Click Here To Read More
The cost of "free" financial advice
Financial advice is "freely" available
Many people are reluctant to seek out and pay for personal financial advice. Some are just distrustful of financial planners, heavily influenced by the negative publicity that accompanies every financial product disaster. The entire financial planning industry is tarnished by the "bad apples"
But there are many others that can't see the point in paying for advice because they believe they can get it for free: from family, friends, and the media, including the internet. "Free" is a very strong motivator, particularly if the advice is apparently authoritative and credentialled.
A high income does not imply high wealth
Statistics shows that a high income does not mean high net worth
In our previous article, "Household income and wealth in Australia", we examined the progress toward financial independence being made by the wealthiest 20% of Australian households, with wealth measured alternatively by household net worth and household gross income. We found that the net worth measure of wealth was a better indicator of current financial independence than was household gross income.
The official statistics [1] on which our analysis was based clearly reveal that a high income does not imply high net worth. In fact, they indicate that only about 34% of households that rank in the top 10% by gross household income also rank in the top 10% by household net worth.
You can be better off paying capital gains tax!
Surely, it's better to defer paying tax
It is not unusual for clients to have sizeable exposures to individual shares that they have held for long periods of time. We generally would encourage them to sell these holdings and invest the proceeds into highly diversified investments to reduce the risk of their portfolios, without a loss of expected return.
However, we often experience considerable resistance to this advice if sale of the shares would result in the crystallisation of significant capital gains and the obligation to pay capital gains tax. Clients reasonably ask "What's the point of taking an unnecessary action that brings forward the payment of tax?"
DIY Financial Planning – The real costs may not be evident
DIY Financial Planning appears to be a low cost alternative
There are a lot of smart people who make some rather dumb choices with respect to their finances. More often than not this is driven by short term thinking and the desire to save an immediate out of pocket expense. There is often a failure to lift the eyes and see the bigger picture.
An example that highlights this is the use of superannuation. We've talked previously about the significant benefits of making pre-tax contributions to super. However, in this article we look at the benefits of making post-tax contributions to super.
Click Here To Read More
Maximising Super Contributions – Beware
The super contribution rules changed from July 2007
If you're planning on maximising your super contributions, it pays to be vigilant when managing and implementing your strategy. There can be a nasty sting in the tail if you're not careful.
Prior to the introduction of "Simple Super" there was a limit on the amount of pre-tax contributions you could make to super. But after-tax contributions were unlimited.
The "Simple Super" changes not only put a limit on after-tax contributions. They also changed the nature of pre-tax contributions.
Click Here To Read More
How far to financial freedom?
What you live off when you're not working …
In our introductory meetings with potential new clients, we want to obtain a preliminary view of their "Net Investment Wealth". It quickly gives us an idea of how far along the road to financial freedom or financial independence they have come and how far they have to go.
Net investment wealth is your net worth less your lifestyle assets. It's the stuff available to live off when you are no longer earning income from your work.
To make the concept more concrete, consider Steve and Kate Wilson. Their assets and liabilities are shown below:
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Media Statements
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
$800 million project offers transport choices
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
$800 million project offers transport choicesMinister for Transport John Mickel today turned the sod on an $800 million infrastructure project which will be the first integrated road and rail project ever to be built in South East Queensland.
Minister Mickel was joined by Member for Inala Annastacia Palaszczuk and Councillor Milton Dick to mark the start of construction at the Richlands railway station - a key component of the Darra to Springfield Transport Corridor project.
The infrastructure is the first integrated road and rail project ever to be built in South East Queensland.
"This new infrastructure is vital – the Greater Springfield area has a population of 15,000 which is expected to reach up to 120,000 in the next 20 years," Mr Mickel said.
"On top of this is the growth in surrounding suburbs, such as Forest Lake and Richlands, but we are planning and building for that growth.
"This infrastructure will tackle congestion but it will also anticipate the future growth in this corridor and give people transport choices."
Stage one of the project includes constructing a new passenger railway line from Darra to a new station at Richlands.
At the same time the Centenary Highway at Richlands will be upgraded from two to four lanes to meet with the Logan Motorway interchange at Carole Park.
Mr Mickel said building both road and rail at the same time made good sense to save time and money and cause less disruption.
"This project provides an innovative and effective transport solution by offering a road and rail solution in the booming western corridor," he said.
Mr Mickel said the new Richlands railway station would provide commuters with an estimated 650 car parks, bus interchange, bicycle lockers, taxi set down areas and kiss 'n' ride bays.
Stage one of the project will be completed in 2011 while the balance of the entire Darra to Springfield Transport Corridor project will be finished by 2015.
This will continue the Centenary Highway's four lane duplication and extend the railway line to Springfield, building up to three extra new railway stations along the route.
"Currently, the Centenary Highway from Richlands to Carole Park carries an estimated 26,000 vehicles per day in each direction," Mr Mickel said.
"When the Centenary Highway is duplicated in 2011, traffic volumes will have increased to almost 32,000 vehicles per day."
Mr Mickel added that a dedicated visitors' centre, staffed by members of the project team, will open at the Richlands station site in October 2008.
"The centre will feature a scaled 3D project model, digital project fly-throughs, noise barrier design examples, detailed maps and comprehensive information materials for community members," he said.
The Darra to Springfield Transport Corridor Project is being delivered by The Horizon Alliance – collaboration between QR, the Department of Main Roads, John Holland Pty Ltd, GHD Pty Ltd and Kellogg Brown & Root Pty Ltd (KBR).
For more information on the project, please call 1800 887 464 (freecall) or visit www.qr.com.au/seqip
Tuesday 1 July, 2008
Media contact : John Smith 07 32371944 or 0409 305 669


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Terning's Steam Show RR #3, Box 184, Valley Center, Kansas 67147
Everyone loves a challengeit seems to bring out energy in us we did not realize existed. Jerry Ottaway of Wichita, Kansas, is no exception to this rule. When Jerry and his father, Herb Ottaway, located an 1894 Herchell Spillman steam carousel deteriorating in Missouri, it seemed just what was needed to get the adrenalin flowing once again.
The Ottaway family has, for generations, been recognized as an authority on the care and the operation of anything that is powered with steam. Jerry's grandfather, L.A. Ottaway, was a dedicated steam man. Jerry's uncle, Harold Ottaway, and his father, Herb Ottaway, were the driving force behind the famous Ottaway Amusement Trains. Herb is also a world renowned steam car expert. Jerry's son, Scott, spent many, many hours this past summer assisting with the restoration of the steam carousel. Their wives also take an active part. Jerry's grandchildren enjoy riding the carousel but, at this point in time, are a bit young to be of assistance. They support the projects as well as assist with its safe operation.
This particular steam carousel is one of six remaining in the nation. It is powered by an upright 10 HP steam engine which is harnessed to a 150 foot cable beneath a wide platform which is shaped like a track. Thus the name 'track merry-go-round' is given to this particular type.
The horses number twenty-four. There is much work left to do with the horses, but they were in good enough condition for the 1987 Labor Day event. They were minus tails how many of you have ever had to find tails for twenty-four horses? Well, Jerry finally located them up in South Dakota and they arrived just in time for the show.
Scott Ottaway rides with daughter on steam carousel at Terning's Annual Show over the Labor Day Weekend in Valley Center, Kansas. Photo courtesy Arkansas Valley News, Valley Center, Kansas, Vada Snider photographer.
Many happy patrons enjoyed the ride.
Herb Ottaway giving rides in his locomobile, past the restored carousel in background. Photo courtesy Melissa Lear of Garden City, Kansas.
Jess Gibbs, 92, of Wichita, Kansas assisted with the restoration of this steam carousel. Mr. Gibbs operated the steam carousels as a teenager. In fact, the magnificent organ which played and amazed show goers was built by Mr. Gibbs seven years ago. By the age of twenty-five, Mr. Gibbs had saved $2,000.00 which was enough to purchase his own steam carousel. He recalls that a nickel bought a customer one ride and a quarter bought six. The invention of the electric powered rides put Mr. Gibbs out of business. Much to his dismay, he had to abandon his carousel because he could not afford to hire help to assist with taking it down and hauling it on to the next show. This was very tragic. When Mr. Gibbs was given the opportunity to assist with this carousel, it was a dream come true for him to once again see a steam carousel being brought back to life.
When the carousel was entirely set up and in full operation, the many people responsible just stood back in complete amazement. As the organ played its many tunes and the horses moved back and forth, it really was a sight to see.
A very big THANK YOU to Jerry, Herb and the countless others who assisted with the complete restoration of the steam carousel. Another piece of history has been preserved for many generations to enjoy watching, take a ride, or just stand back and listen to the delightful music.
The only remaining question seems to be 'Since this project is complete, what next'? I guess we will have to just wait and see.


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Another World (Symbian) Review
|Publisher: Telcogames :: Developer: Magic Productions
|Download Game
Game Features
A real game with depth
Key pad is redundant
|Review Details
|Nokia 6600
Costas Stephanidess Review
The classic from the early 1990s gets an excellent mobile re-working.
This is the first MMC mobile game that we have reviewed and we love it. The average mobile phone game that you download via WAP is usually between 50kb-200kb. It is amazing what the developers can squeeze into such a small size. Another World is a whopping 3 Mb or 3000kb. We are talking about a game that is 15 times bigger than Ancient Empires or Townsmen. What have Telcogames got to offer us then?
Graphically, the game is as good as the Amiga version. There is an enhanced graphics mode which doesn't slow the game down and makes the polygons look extremely slick. You're probably looking at the landscape oriented screenshot and thinking that its an old Amiga pic. To play this game you actually have to hold your phone sideways hence the landscape view. As you would expect, graphically, it's the best mobile game I've seen and it actually feels like you are playing on a handheld console rather than your phone although it does get strange looks from people.
While there has been a huge leap in graphics, the sound is pretty average. The background music is atmospheric and you cannot tell if the rack loops round which makes a pleasant change. Not many sound effects, so much so that you are actually surprised to hear them. It does have about 5 different volume settings which is good although it does seem to override the handset's 'silent' mode.
I found the controls quite good. As the game is played sideways, all controls are via the D-pad (or in my case, the 6600 little joystick). Left and right directions are pretty obvious; pressing down makes you crouch and pushing up does a little jump. Double tapping left/right can start you running. If you push up while running you perform a nice long jump. Pushing the central on the joystick fires your weapon or lets you do a kick. Overall, I found the controls quite easy to use; it does take a little practice to perform the running jumps. I would have liked to have the choice of using the keypad as it would have been easier to perform these timed jumps.
The gameplay is fantastic but a little confusing at first. The game starts with a long intro film (with great graphics and sound) and you soon find yourself transported to another world. That's it, no instructions, no extra plotlines; just try and find your way out. You have only one life, but you do have infinite continues. You will find yourself dying a lot until you figure your way out of each screen. The game is split into lots of mini levels which are seamlessly strung together. When you die, you continue at the beginning of that level (at most, three or four screens before you died). It is a great game that relies on your ingenuity to figure the way past a huge monster, a prison and other such traps. It is a great feeling of satisfaction when you solve each conundrum. Please note, the game is not an exact replica from the 1990's. There are plenty of cheats and walkthroughs for the original version but these don't work for the mobile version.
The longevity factor is high. The game is long and will take a while to complete as it is quite tricky. The deluxe MMC version is due to be released in the near future from selected retailers. Compared to some of the dross that is out there for ??4-??5, Another World is definitely value for money. Finally, mobile gaming is moving in the right direction. Another World is also available via WAP/SMS. This version is still 1Mb in size. The enhanced graphics options is not available but it does not make a huge difference. The game length and all the features are identical.


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Medical errors kill enough people to fill four jumbo jets a week. A recent survey of doctors, nurses, technicians and other employees at 60 U.S. hospital found that at one-third of them, most employees believed the teamwork was bad. At other hospitals, by contrast, an impressive 99% of the staff reported good teamwork. Of interest is the fact that these results correlated strongly with infection rates and patient outcomes. Good teamwork meant safer care. The public needs to have access to such information for every hospital in America.
Part of the problem is that doctors fail to comply with well-established best practices in their fields. One New England Journal of Medicine study found that only half of all care follows evidence-based guidelines when applicable. If cameras were routinely used to record care and treatment, the compliance rate might improve significantly. Cameras are already being used in health care, but usually no video is made. Reviewing tapes of cardiac catheterizations, arthroscopic surgery and other procedures could be used for peer-based quality improvement. Video would also serve as a more substantive record for future doctors. The notes in a patient's chart are often short, and they can't capture a procedure the way a video can.
Though health care is moving toward increased transparency, resistance to open information is still evident. Increasingly, patients checking in to see doctors are being asked to sign a gag order, promising never to say anything negative about their physician online or elsewhere. In addition, if you are the victim of a medical mistake, hospital lawyers will only settle if the victim agrees to never speak publicly about the injury.
We need more open dialogue about medical mistakes, not less. As one author of the study noted, when hospitals have to compete on measures of safety, all of them will improve how they serve their patients.


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Thursday, June 9, 2016
canada | a walk on the chemin de la vallee-de-la-jacques-cartier
For our second day of hiking in Parc National de la Jacques-Cartier, we decided to walk down the park road (Chemin de la Vallee-de-la-Jacques-Cartier). The day before, we had learned that many of the park's trails were inaccessible during the winter season, and that most of the park road was closed to vehicles because it is not plowed during the winter. My first thought was "Well, why don't they just plow it so cars can reach the rest of the park?" But then I realized that Canadians actually prefer a snow-covered road for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. It hadn't even occurred to this cold-weather hating American that snow is an asset in Canada because it provides opportunities for winter recreation!
Anyway, the park road travels along the river, so we figured walking through the valley along the river would give us the best overview of the park we could get during the winter. We also thought it would be flatter than the up-and-down trail we had hiked the day before, so again, we decided not to rent crampons. Note to self: Just rent the damn crampons!!!
Once again the hike was icy. Extremely icy and extremely bumpy - one of the most difficult surfaces I've ever walked on. And it wasn't flat - the park road definitely had plenty of hills - so add a slope to the icy and bumpy road, and you've got a recipe for busting your face/ass. I didn't take many photos during this hike, because the actual hiking part required two hands on my trekking poles and all my concentration. (Of course the bridge where we did stop to take photos was clear of snow, but trust me, the rest of the road was covered with a couple of feet of ice.)
But we persevered and kept going. And going and going and going. We hiked 6 km up the road. We were getting tired from hiking over ice, but then saw a sign with an arrow for Les Loups overlook - the trail I had wanted to hike before we realized the trailhead was only accessible from the park road during the summer. Had we really walked all the way to Les Loups? I think the sign with the arrow said 2 km, which we decided was totally doable if we were that close. We headed up the trail, up the mountain and over a snowy hilly path, dodging obstacles, climbing over fallen trees, jumping over creeks, tripping over hidden rocks, up, up, up. We finally reached another sign and that was when we realized Les Loups was not 2 km away. Les Loups was actually a significant hike further up the mountain. We had to ditch the plan and head back down the mountain - more snow, more ice, more treacherous trails, moose tracks, and lots of gooey mud, which I finally slipped in, leaving a big gooey mud stain all over my backside. When we finally got back to the Les Loups sign, we realized it actually said Les Loups JCT 2 km. JCT = junction. Duh. So it was 2 km just to get to the trail from the road. A big fat F for these two dummies in sign-reading and navigation skills!
By this point we were really tired and we still had a 6 km return down the park road to get back to the visitor center. It was a long day. I estimate we ended up hiking about 15-16 km (9-10 miles) over ice. Our legs were done by the time we got back to the cabin.
Back at camp it was a cool 28 degrees F - perfect weather for a fire, roasted marshmallows, and some beers to celebrate our last night in Parc National de la Jacques-Cartier. The next day, we would pack up and drive to Quebec City.
2 comments:
- little green field book said...
I hate when our lack of info/research means we have to add additional miles to/from a trailhead. I don't know why it bothers me so much when my intention is to hike anyway. I think I commit to a certain distance in my head and anything over that feels demoralizing, especially when it's at the start of a trail.
- June 9, 2016 at 7:27 PM
- Funnelcloud Rachel said...
Agree. I need to be mentally prepared ahead of time for how long I'm going to walk that day!
Plus, hiking a significant distance to get to a trail is just lame. (And why don't they just include that mileage in the total hike in the first place? It's not like anyone has a helicopter and can just skip the walk that gets you to the trail!)
- June 9, 2016 at 8:12 PM
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Have you ever heard of Madesimo?
The handful of the skiers I asked whilst researching this post responded by saying: "Oh yes, I went with my school back in the 1970s!"
Everyone else seemed to have heard of it, but had never actually been – including the great Arnie Wilson (who has clocked 701 resorts on his travels).
The only exception? My business partner Loredana, who has actually done a few seasons in the resort and had nothing but positive things to say about it.
To me, that meant it was high time to widen the Momentum encyclopedia of ski resorts and introduce the British ski media to Madesimo.
Without further ado, here are four reasons why I think this place merits a ski holiday…
1. It's an easy journey
Madesimo is two and a half hours north of Milan, so there are plenty of flights into Linate or Malpensa to choose from, including regional flights. The drive up is beautiful, passing George Clooney's pad on Lake Como on the way.
Tip: A great lunch spot en route is the Seven Park Hotel at Colico on Lake Como
As the crow flies, Madesimo is almost on the Swiss border – very close to St Moritz. So once you reach Chiavenna in Valtellina, it's either 45 minutes to St Moritz or 45 minutes to Madesimo.
2. It's Italy, so the food is great
This is where the bresaola comes from, so expect to be impressed. For the big foodies, there's the Cantinone in Madesimo – which has a Michelin star. But my favourite restaurant of the year was actually the Dogana Vegia, situated in the old customs house. The ambiance was simply amazing, with lots of little cosy corners equipped with fire places and tables and full of antique objects.
3. There are 60km of snowmobile tracks
This is very rare. With the exception of Scandinavia, I don't think there's anywhere in Europe where you (yes, you) can drive a snowmobile for so long. There are stops at various refuges along the way, so if you're in the mood for a vin brulle or coffee, you're in luck. Better yet, you can drive your snowmobile under the night sky to have dinner at a mountain refuge. That, my friends, is a truly unique experience – I assure you.
And if all that snowmobiling has got you in the mood for driving in winter conditions, Madesimo also plays host to an ice driving school. Lessons are available for those who want to polish their skills and confidence for driving on snow.
4. Oh, and the skiing
Thought I forgotten about that, didn't you? With skiing from 3000m, all the way down to the town at 1500m, there's plenty of it. And since nearly all the slopes have an east-facing aspect, you can ski on great snow well into April.
The bottom part of the mountain has some excellent fast-cruising terrain combined with a healthy dose of beginner slopes, whilst the lift system is modern and easily accessible from the majority of the hotels in town.
And then, there's the Canalone. Not cannelloni, you understand, but Canalone – which means large couloir. This is a 1000m vertical, ungroomed itinerary run served by a lone cable car. Believe me, it's something. My group for the trip, which included the mafia of the British travel press, all agreed that this was one of the top ten runs in Europe that ought to feature on every skiers' to-do list.
Madesimo is also a great spot for night skiing. Now normally, that's not everyone's cup of tea (although if you have kids, I'm sure they'll be delighted). But humour me for a second, and try to look at it this way:
Get the gondola shortly after dusk, and go and have a lovely meal on the mountain at the Larici restaurant. Good so far, right? This is typically the point where it all goes wrong. But don't worry – you won't have to ski down a dark slope afterwards, following a ski instructor whilst a burning torch singes your perfect ski jacket.
Instead, the slopes are floodlit all the way down to Madesimo as you return to resort. Which means you can ski down at your pace – which may be rather measured – if your dining experience at the Larici was half as good as mine was.
To think, just a few moments ago you'd never really thought about going to Madesimo. Je rest ma valis (I rest my case) – you have to go.
If you're interested in a trip to Madesimo, contact Amin and Momentum Ski – about a tailor-made ski trip.


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The Top Ten Things You Dont Want to Hear About Losing Weight
(But What You Need to Know if You Want to Get Fit!)
10) No, you won't end up looking like the latest hot young model/singer/actress!
Let's face it: your body is your body. It's the only one you've got. Can you still look great? Sure! But there are some things you can't change. You can't make your legs longer or your feet smaller. You can't grow five inches or elongate your torso. You have what you have, so work with it! Concentrate on making a healthy and fit you instead of wishing you looked like someone else. You don't have to be perfect to be attractive. A strong, fit body as well as the self-confidence it brings can make any person attractive!
9) It's better to be muscular and weigh more than to be flabby and weigh less.
I've said it so many times: I'd much rather be 135lbs and muscular than 120lbs and flabby. I've been both, and 135lbs with a lower percent of body fat was definitely better! I was smaller, stronger and had much more energy. So, don't always seek that magical number on the scale, but look at your total body composition instead.
8) You can't get fit in a week.
Okay, well, you can, but only if you're one week away from being in peak condition and you keep working out. Otherwise, forget about it! If you want to look good for that class reunion or because you'll be in a bikini soon, then get moving way before that. Or better yet, get moving for your own health and not for "things" like reunions and bikinis.
7) You need to put some effort into it.
You want to get fit? You have to work at it. You have to plan it, you have to schedule it, and, most importantly, you have to do it. No excuses. Sitting on the couch, telling yourself you should be doing something will not burn up a lot of calories. If nothing else, get out there and start walking. And while you're out there walking think about a plan of action for a healthier you and get started on it today - not tomorrow!
6) You need to exercise.
Can you lose weight just by diet alone? Sure, you can! But if you want to get fit, you need to exercise those muscles, including your heart. And that heart won't get any exercise if you're sitting on the couch, eating broccoli. Lose the weight that you need to lose and you'll just end up with a thin, but flabby, body. Get moving! Weight training is ideal, but if you're really not into weight training, find an activity you like to do that work all your major muscle groups.
5) You need to eat properly.
Putting aside any low carb/low fat/high protein controversies, the simple fact is, if you want a fit body, you need to nourish it. Protein, carbs and fat are important, but vitamins and minerals are key elements that your body needs, too. No matter what way of eating you're following make sure you're getting enough vitamins and minerals. Add a variety of fresh vegetables and fruit to your diet. The next time you go grocery shopping, linger around the produce section and not only pick out some old favorites, but experiment a little by trying something new!
4) You can't lose weight overnight.
You didn't gain it overnight -- or in two months -- and you're not going to lose it overnight -- or in two months. Think of getting fit as a train leaving the station: you start off slow, gather speed and then off you go! Patience is the key here. Look for consistent trends. If you're really not losing fat and getting stronger after a couple of months, then you need to sit down and honestly analyze what you're doing. Keep a journal to help you know how you're really eating and exercising.
3) You can't spot reduce.
Genetics will decide where the fat will come off. Doing 1000 crunches won't reduce your belly fat. Nor will 1000 leg lifts get rid of the fat on your inner thighs. Your body does not burn the fat it needs from the body part that you're exercising. Your body will burn fat much like an onion is peeled, a layer at a time, if you will. So, don't overdo it on the exercise for one specific body part and look to getting your whole body in shape.
2) There are no quick fixes.
That's right, you heard me. There are no quick fixes. None. Put all those pills, potions, contraptions and miracle diets in the garbage where they belong. Learn the basics about how your body gains muscle and loses fat, so you won't get sucked in by another scam again.
1) Fitness is a lifelong commitment!
So, you faithfully work out and eat properly and you've reached your goals. Now what? Well, now you've got to keep doing it for the rest of your life, that's what! You can't just work your way to being fit and then stop, because you'll end up exactly like you were before. Fitness is a lifelong commitment. And, you want to know a secret? It isn't easy! And anyone who says it is easy is trying to sell you something. Make fitness a lifelong ambition and you'll reap the rewards of a long and healthy life, filled with energy, strength and an overall sense of well being.
Suzanne Hiscock has been interested in fitness and nutrition for over 16 years. She is the owner of FitWatch Inc. and developer of the FitWatch Fitness Tracker, an online food and exercise tracker. You can visit the site at http://www.fitwatch.com for a variety of fitness calculators and tools.
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Children of Gastric Bypass Patients at Risk for Eating Disorders
As parents who've had gastric bypass we face many challenges raising a family. Perhaps an unexpected challenge is when a child develops an eating disorder that may be exacerbated by the parents dieting habits.
Phentermine Generics & Brand Names: How To Avoid Prescriptions Riddled With Impurities
Which diet pill are you currently taking for your weight loss needs? Recently, many people have been switching to brand names as opposed to generics. This is because generic manufacturing is put under far less strict rules and conditions.
Close Kept Secrets to Weight Loss Lesson #2
Welcome to lesson #2. First of all, I believe that gratitude is so important in everyday life.
Three Easy Ways To Prevent and Suppress Cravings on a Low Carb Diet
If you've been on a low carb diet for any amount of time, you have undoubtedly felt the pangs of hunger that accompany strong cravings. There are a number of ways in which you can deal with these cravings and mitigate them in the future; and if you want to be successful on your low carb diet, you will do exactly that.
The Most Effective Fat Burning And Muscle Building Workout That Takes Just 13 Minutes
Most people who want to burn off some excess pounds and tighten and tone their bodies simply don't have 2 hours each day to spend in the gym performing the bodybuilding style workouts that most "fitness experts" recommend.Plus, these workouts consist of exercises and techniques that do not exercise the body in the way it is normally used so they end up building a somewhat unusable strength.
Pathological Eating Disorders and Poly-Behavioral Addiction
When considering that pathological eating disorders and their related diseases now afflict more people globally than malnutrition, some experts in the medical field are presently purporting that the world's number one health problem is no longer heart disease or cancer, but obesity. According to the World Health Organization (June, 2005), "obesity has reached epidemic proportions globally, with more than 1 billion adults overweight - at least 300 million of them clinically obese - and is a major contributor to the global burden of chronic disease and disability.
Dealing with Childhood Obesity
Experts tell us that overweight or obese children have reached epidemic proportions. If you spend your childhood being obese then there is a very good chance you will spend your adulthood being obese.
Top Thirty Weight Loss Tips and Tricks
Here are some everyday, helpful hints to get you started, keep you going, and help you stick to your diet.1.
Three Steps to Achieving Your Health Goals
We all have aspects of health we want to improve. It could be as simple as increasing your stretching, or as great as starting an exercise program.
Fitness Wars: Revenge of the Girth
As of the writing of this article, May 16, 2005, we are all almost 5 months into our New Year's Resolutions.Are you skinny yet?Did you find your six-pack?Does your butt look like you wanted it to in those jeans?For a lot of you, the answers to these questions are going to be "No, No, and, I took the jeans back to the store".
What are the Benefits of the Low-carb Diet?
Are you one of those who hate dieting? Well, you are not alone, almost all of us hate the deprivation from food that dieting brings to us. Aside from the fact that our parents raise us to believe that food intake is necessary to keep us energetic, especially carbohydrates.
Gastric Bypass Surgery - What Happens Afterwards?
After patients have had gastric bypass surgery comes a very challenging and demanding few months ahead. It isn't easy, no matter what those success stories on the adverts tell us.
Action Plan to Take the Weight Off This Year
Addicted to Restaurants Are you addicted to restaurants? So are lots of Americans. What used to be a "treat," going out for dinner, has become more common that cooking at home, and we think we're better off? Think again.
Close Kept Secrets to Weight Loss Lesson #11
You are the GREATEST, aren't you? You are focusing on you and attracting all the wonderful things you deserve. You are enlightened about your Divinity as God only creates the Divine.
Revolutionary, Safe, and Clinically Proven Natural Weight Loss
America is in a health care crisis. More than 60 percent of US adults are overweight and 25% are considered obese.
What Diet Plan Is Best For Losing Weight?
The answer to the title of this article is "none." That's right, no diet plan on its own is very effective for permanent weight loss.
Quick Weight Loss Secrets
The Secrets have been in our family recipes, some even date back as far as 3000 BC. For years our Ancient ancestors have been using natural herbs and spices to heal and cure, even to take the weight off.
The Crazy Amazing Diet Maker
This past Christmas Season, as most of us stuffed our faces full of turkey and pies, a well respected weight loss expert from WebMD made some crazy remarks about ending obesity. Needless to say, the response to his rhetoric, despite the Christmas Season, was naughty not nice.
Bat-Wings: The Dreaded Hanging Arm Skin After WLS
Gastric-bypass surgery is only the first step many morbidly obese patients take in their total body make overs. One residue of massive weight loss is the dreaded "bat-wings".
How to Lose Weight in a Healthy Way with Hypnosis
More and more people are turning to hypnosis or hypnotherapy for help with weight loss. Most people who seek the help of a hypnotherapist will have already tried numerous diets or slimming programs with little in the way of lasting results.


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In celebration of the Thanksgiving holiday, the visitor center at Pea Ridge NMP will close at 1:30 PM on Wednesday, November 21, 2012. The visitor center will also be closed Thanksgiving day. The park tour road and trails will remain open both days so visitors may still visit the park from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Brochures will be available at the front door. The visitor center will re-open on Friday, November 23 at 8:30 AM.
Last updated: April 10, 2015


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Emergency services helped rescue two people after a road crash.
Firefighters were called to the three-vehicle collision on the A611 in Hucknall at 7.20pm on Sunday.
A 36-year-old man was rescued from one of the vehicles by Nottinghamshire firefighters and taken to hospital by road ambulance.
Paramedics from East Midlands Ambulance Service also helped release a 44-year-old woman.
Crews left the scene at about 8.30pm.


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The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is shut down for an upgrade. The lab that detected the Higgs Boson (aka the poorly named "God" Particle) will increase its energy from 8 TeV (8×1012 electron volts) to 14 TeV. The physics goals will be to progress "beyond the standard model." The discovery of the Higgs more or less completed the so-called standard model. It means that there is nothing left to work out in the framework model that physicists have hammered out over decades to explain most of the fundamental interactions—with the notable exception of gravity.
Detecting the Higgs boson was a fantastic achievement and a spectacular confirmation of our understanding of fundamental physics. However—it was so expected that it was, in a way, boring. It would have been very interesting had the Higgs not been found where it was expected!
It is hoped that the upgrade to the LHC might result in new physics, physics not covered by the standard model. This might include detecting the next great unseen: dark matter. There is also anticipation that we will be able to start discerning among the different non-standard models that incorporate gravity.
We'll see.
As for the Higgs boson, here is a talk on the Higgs that I gave to high school students in 2012. The goal was to try to explain, in very simple terms, how the Higgs field leads to mass. Maybe you'll find it useful.


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Hi and welcome to Day #2 of
Stamp Anniething's July Release!
Get your summer party hats on, this release is all about "chillin' and relaxing"
Vanessa will be available in the store Friday along with the other 2 stamps we show you this week!!
Here is the card I made with Vanessa
I started this card with a standard A2 card base and added the background mats cut with the Jaded Blossom Card Mat Dies.
I stamped Vanessa and half paper pieced/half colored her with Copic Markers.
I cut the tree from the Tropical Dies 2 and the sand layer from the Tropical Dies.
To finish, I heat embossed the sentiment stamped from the Aloha stamp set and added some twine with a button.
I hope you enjoyed our July release!
Have a great day!


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Alex has been in the same position as many entrepreneurs having started, built and sold his own business. He founded Katalyst Ventures with his colleagues in 2000, creating the private angel network which would later be known as the Octopus Venture Partners. Over seven years, Alex led the business as CEO until its sale to Octopus in August 2007, providing succession plans for the executive team as the Titan series of VCTs were raised to invest alongside the newly branded Octopus Venture Partners. Since 2007, the amount of assets that the Ventures team manages has risen from approximately £20 million to in excess of £500 million at a time when the economy has seen the worst financial crisis in a generation.
Alex is chairman of the Octopus Ventures Investment Committee, remaining actively involved in new deal transactions, portfolio management, exits and new fund creation. Under Alex's leadership, the Ventures team at Octopus has established itself as one of the leading European venture capital houses.


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Quentin Tarantino Drops N-Word Backstage At Golden Globes
The Golden Globe winner, who took home the Best Screenplay award for 'Django Unchained,' dropped the vulgar N-word backstage in the press room! Do YOU think that's crossing the line?
Quentin Tarantino is no stranger to controversy, and the Django Unchained writer and director definitely stirred up the drama backstage at the Golden Globes by saying the N-word in a room full of people.
The director has come under fire ever since Django Unchained premiered, with many people insisting that the 100-plus times the racial slur is uttered in the movie is unnecessary and over-the-top.
Quentin Tarantino Says Racial Slur Backstage At Golden Globes
But Quentin believes it's important factor in telling the slave-era story about hatred and intolerance, especially in the South. So when he tried to defend himself and his movie yet again against the vulgar word, he said it in the press room backstage at the Golden Globes.
The usually noisy and chaotic room fell silent after Quentin uttered the phrase, according the The Hollywood Reporter, with only audible gasps and shocked whistles from reporters in response. And the writer and director wasn't apologizing.
"They think I should soften it, that I should lie, that I should massage." he said about critics who didn't think him using the slur so often in the film was appropriate. "I would never do that when it comes to my characters," he added.
Quentin Takes Home Golden Globe For Best Screenplay
The Hollywood Foreign Press didn't seem offended by Quentin's controversial use of the N-word in his film Django Unchained — he took home the Golden Globes for Best Screenplay, and actor Christoph Waltz won the award for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture for his role in the film.
What do YOU think of Quentin using the N-word backstage HollyoodLifers? Do you think it crossed the line? Let us know in the comments below!
WATCH: Golden Globes 2013 Biggest Moments!
— Christina Stiehl
More Golden Globes news:
- Jennifer Lawrence Disses Meryl Streep At 70th Golden Globes
- Golden Globes Best Moments: Jodie Foster Comes Out, 'Girls' Wins & More
- 2013 Golden Globes Winners: Jennifer Lawrence & More — Full List


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This is the English Version of KIKAN KOCHI.
Features is "Stay, Drink, Kochi's Best Inns 7. Serenity, sleep and stay enveloped in the nature of the land."
KIKAN KOCHI is a local quarterly magazine that's crazy about Kochi. Kochi is located on the south coast of Shikoku and has a rich natural environment with the sea, mountains, and rivers.Kochi's tough but rich natural environment has shaped a unique culture. We cover a wide range of topics connected with Kochi, such as people, food, and lifestyle.
It is revised in order to shorten its length.
We do hope many people will read this free online magazine.
It's KIKAN KOCHI style.


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DRINK! The Sketch Comedy Drinking Game: Power Hour
North Center | Website
This event occurred in the past.
Map | Find Parking
With 10 rounds of sketch comedy under their belt, Corn decided it was time to pay tribute to the "Drinking Game" end of their hit show title, so they've put together an ode to all their favorite games.


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Manufacturing jobs probably aren't coming back to the U.S., but that's not stopping Apple from investing in U.S. job creation.
In an interview with CNBC, CEO Tim Cook announced a new $1 billion fund that would support advanced manufacturing jobs in the United States. Cook shared the news before Apple released new information about the make up of its workforce.
"We asked ourselves, how can we get more people to do advanced manufacturing in the United States?" Cook said. "And I'm proud to tell you that we're creating an advanced manufacturing fund. We're initially putting $1 billion in the fund." Read more…
More about Tim Cook, Jobs, Manufacturing, Apple, and Business


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Bob Emery: Let Kids Be Our First Focus
Bob Emery is one of the preeminent national experts on issues related to children and divorce. He is a Professor of Psychology and the Director of the Center for Children, Families and the Law at the University of Virginia. He has both written extensively on the subject and also continues to engage in a clinical psychology and divorce mediation practice. In this video excerpt, he captures the essence of the problem: almost all of the systems that relate to divorce and separation are geared around the parents—or even worse, the lawyers and judges who handle the cases. Very few systems are geared to the needs of the children—who are, of course, the most vulnerable actors. Bob advocates for a fundamental shift in thinking: a shift that would require everyone to focus on the kids—their needs, their growth, and their opportunities.
The Honoring Families Initiative at IAALS agrees. In fact, at the Resource Center for Separating and Divorcing Families, which will debut on campus at the University of Denver this fall, there is a specific role for the voice of the child. We hope to demonstrate that a system built to value not only the parents, but also the children, can indeed succeed.


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Only in recent months has the total number of employed reached the pre-crisis levels of 2007 as reported by the BLS. The financial crisis caused about 8.5 million persons to lose their job according to the BLS, so we've supposedly gained those back after 5 1/2 years. But, during the recovery from the March 2009 recession bottom, fully 3.3 million jobs (out of the 8.5 million who lost jobs) have been added back to the ranks of the employed through a faulty Birth/Death "adjustment" at the BLS. Maybe that's why polls show that people are still pessimistic about the economy with many saying that the economy is still in recession?
The Birth/Death adjustment was designed to capture the jobs at new, small firms that are missed in surveys. Historically, small start-up firms are the major job creators in the economy. Start-up firm creation typically exceeds small firm failures by a wide margin. But, this situation hasn't been true since the 2007 crisis which is why the recovery in US employment has been the slowest in history. In fact, firm exits have exceeded firm entries since 2007. There are fewer start-ups and they are failing at unusually high rates.
The following chart shows that entrepreneurial start-ups has fallen below the failure rate of these firms since 2007. So, the entire pretext of adding "missing" start-up jobs due to normally high levels of entrepreneurial startups is no longer true.
|Chart Showing the Decline of New Start-ups in the US Economy
Perhaps the BLS should talk to the Census Bureau?
Here's the tally of phantom jobs added to the workforce through a now-faulty birth/death adjustment (years 2009 to present):
|Chart Showing Annual Additions of "Employed" Through the Birth/Death Adjustment
So, we live in a time where the widely reported unemployment rate has come down to 6.2% giving an "all clear" signal to the country (and voters). But this low rate is mostly due to 10's of millions leaving the workforce (most gave up looking) so these millions of persons are no longer counted as unemployed. We know the economy is not creating enough jobs for immigrants and population growth. There's a reason that a record 91 million in this country are not working and the number of people working compared to the working age population is back to 1978 levels.
Fewer Americans are at work today than in April 2000, even though the population since then has grown by 31 million.


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Buying Christmas decor can be expensive so why not DIY it? I have compiled a list of my favorite ideas. Happy holidays!
- 1. Create minimalist christmas trees out of wash tape
2. Put bauble and string lights in a jar
3. DIY a snow globe with just plastic figures, a jar and glitter
4. Make a wreath with pine sprigs and sticks
5. Print off a christmas tree and frame it
6. Make gold leaf painted ornaments
7. Diy a Christmas tree with yarn and glue


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Our recent blog discussed the credit freeze being experienced in the current financial crisis, which can only be thawed by coordinated actions of the U.S. Treasury, Congress and the President, and the world's central banks to bring confidence and liquidity back to the markets. Many of the necessary steps have been taken, and there are few additional major actions that should be required to restore some elements of which President Warren Harding called "normalcy" during his 1920 campaign. This blog focuses on valuation and the failed concept of mark-to-market accounting.
Banks are required to mark-to-market most financial assets other than loans. The practice of marking-to-market (or fair-value accounting) began with commodities dealers who accepted nominal amounts of margin (often as little as 5 or 6%) to hold futures contracts for clients. Each night that day's settlement prices from the exchanges were used to revalue positions, so that margin calls could be made the next morning if the value of holdings had deteriorated and more cash was required. The idea was extended to bank investments in FAS 157 issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), taking effect after November 15, 2007. This re-pricing works when there is a deep and liquid market, and willing buyers and sellers can clear the market based on normal conditions of supply and demand. The concept does not work when the market is illiquid and/or when there are insufficient numbers of buyers and sellers.
We are going through a period of panic selling and sharply falling prices for certain assets, and mark-to-market is inappropriate in these conditions. The alternative is to use discount cash flow valuations of assets, bringing the expected future stream of interest payments and the repayment of principal back to present value. The unknown is whether the issuer can reasonably be expected to honor its debt contract, that is, will those interest and principal amounts be paid or has the quality of its assets or earnings been so affected that there is a permanent deterioration in its financial position? If so, the asset would be written down to reflect that change. What a radical idea – recognizing losses (or gains) when the investment has clearly lost value or when it is actually sold!
The SEC and FASB issued new guidelines on fair-value accounting just about the same moment that Congress was debating the $700 billion Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA), Public Law 110-343, October 3, 2008. The new rules permit the designation of "distressed" to certain investments so that less emphasis is placed on market prices. The EESA instructs the SEC to investigate whether mark-to-market rules deepened the problems in the credit markets and to suspend the rules if appropriate.
The SEC should instruct FASB to abolish fair-value accounting once and for all. Instead, banks should treat investments in the following manner:
- Model the value based on discounted cash flow projections of the present value of interest and principal payments.
- If permanently distressed, write down the assets as appropriate, based on reduced or omitted interest and/or principal payments.
- Subject all asset write downs and valuation to external auditor reviews.
- Further subject all asset write downs to bank examiner reviews.
_uacct = "UA-4404037-1";
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: commodoties, credit freeze, Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, fair-value accounting, FASB, liquidity, margin calls, mark-to-market accounting, panic selling, SEC, U.S. Treasury, Ward Harding |


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How to Declutter Your Life? (cont.)
Acknowledging what we do not like helps us develop a game plan to make positive changes. So what exactly needs changing? Get clear on what will make a difference to your day and make a priority list. Then create a time frame for when you can achieve this. This may take up to 6 months so don't rush things. Ultimately the plan is to de-clutter your life so you can create more room for fun.JUST DO IT
This may mean you need to spend some time on your own for a while so you can focus on getting your life looking the way you'd like it. Make a date in your diary to clean up your act. Your ultimate aim is to clear away all the things that drain your energy and create as many energy boosters as possible. People and situations that drain your energy leave you feeling tired, frustrated and annoyed. An energy booster is the opposite. This occurs when you encounter people and situations that enliven you, you come away from them feeling refreshed and optimistic. These experiences are what you want more of in your life.
Creating the space "to be" is our next step. In an ideal world we would all have at least 1 hour a day to reflect but the fast pace of modern life rarely allows it. You have to make a conscious effort to find this important time for yourself. Book it in, that way you are making yourself a priority (for once!) and giving yourself some time to just be and reflect on all the stuff that is going on in your life. You can choose to just sit somewhere quiet and not do anything. This really calms your mind and can help you discover a new perspective on the challenges of the day.
Once you begin clearing out the clutter in your life you'll find that there's some room for fun, at last. The first step is to identify what makes you smile. What do you like doing? We all have things we love to do yet end up finding numerous excuses to not do them. List 20 things you love and mark a time to do them in your diary. Call friends and enrol them in your game plan. Start initiating activities, start a new hobby and start living the life you want to live.