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You can have your Grammys and your Mercury Prizes and your Polaris Prizes and whatever other musical prizes honor things like "talent" and "artistry"—the most honest awards show in pop music, though, is undoubtedly the American Music Awards, the annual exercise in silliness that figures out its nominee pool via metrics like sales and "social-networking activity" and calls each category "Favorite" instead of "Best" and puts its weight behind that claim by throwing open the voting process to the unwashed texting masses. Which is why last year Justin Bieber took home a lot of hardware, and why this year he probably has the Favorite Male Pop Or Rock Artist award on lock as well. (If only the show's producers had determined the evening's performers this way—we'd have all been spared Gavin Rossdale's horrifying attempt to channel Marc Bolan while Carlos Santana noodled beside him.) This year's nominees were announced this morning, and it probably shouldn't be too surprising that Adele is dominant, what with her being the record-sales-related story of 2k11 and all. Full list of nominees after the jump. Note that the New Artist award has a couple of nice left-field nominees (Miguel, Marsha Ambrosius), although there's no way LMFAO doesn't shuffle off with the prize.
Artist of the Year
Lady Gaga
Katy Perry
Lil Wayne
Taylor Swift
Pop or Rock Music: Favorite Female Artist
Katy Perry
Lady Gaga
Pop or Rock Music: Favorite Male Artist
Justin Bieber
Bruno Mars
Pop or Rock Music: Favorite Band, Duo or Group
Maroon 5
Pop or Rock Album
Adele, 21
Rihanna, Loud
Lady Gaga, Born This Way
Rap/Hip-Hop Music: Favorite Artist
Lil Wayne
Nicki Minaj
Kanye West
Rap/Hip-Hop Album
Lil Wayne, Tha Carter IV
The Throne, Watch the Throne
Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday
Soul/R&B Music: Favorite Male Artist
Chris Brown
Trey Songz
Soul/R&B Music: Favorite Female Artist
Kelly Rowland
Soul/R&B Album
Chris Brown, F.A.M.E.
Rihanna, Loud
Beyoncé, 4
Alternative Rock Music: Favorite Artist
Foo Fighters
Black Keys
Mumford & Sons
Adult Contemporary Music: Favorite Artist
Bruno Mars
Katy Perry
Latin Music: Favorite Artist
Enrique Iglesias
Jennifer Lopez
Country Music: Favorite Female Artist
Sara Evans
Miranda Lambert
Taylor Swift
Country Music: Favorite Male Artist
Jason Aldean
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
Country Music: Favorite Band, Duo or Group
Zac Brown Band
Lady Antebellum
The Band Perry
Country Music: Favorite Album
Jason Aldean, My Kinda Party
Taylor Swift, Speak Now
The Band Perry, The Band Perry
New Artist Of The Year
Wiz Khalifa
The Band Perry
Marsha Ambrosius
Foster the People
Hot Chelle Rae
Thompson Square


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Administrative Assistant
Ann Arbor MI
Assists manager in the execution of administrative functions in the department or market.
• Collects data and prepares reports required by supervisor.
• Routes documents according to instructions provided by supervisor for appropriate review, correction or signature.
• May coordinate or arrange meetings.
• Maintains an organized filing system for department records.
• Ensures that both incoming and outgoing correspondence is distributed timely and accurately.
• Provides administrative, clerical and organizational support to manager; data entry/word processing as required.
• Acts as liaison for manager and other departments in researching questions accurately and expediently.
• Practices good judgment, discretion and confidentiality of sensitive information regarding department activities.
• Utilizes professional phone etiquette when responding to internal and external inquiries.
• May perform other functions as assigned by the designated manager.
• Due to the critical nature of the position, it is essential that all job functions be executed with a high degree of accuracy, detail orientation, timeliness, follow through and responsiveness.
A high school diploma or equivalent.
A general knowledge of simple clerical routines and use of office equipment. Ability to interact with the public, either on the telephone or in personal contact. Effective interpersonal and communication skills. Experienced in accounts payable and account receivable.
Must be able to sit in one location for extended periods of time.

subset: commoncrawl


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First-time visitors will find out that it's easy to get swept up in the glitz, glam, and gridlock of Los Angeles when you've first arrived. LA is a complicated place on the surface. So, having a few survival tips for visiting Los Angeles can ensure your stay is safe, fun, and memorable.
Disclaimer: Some of the links included in this post are affiliate links. By purchasing products using these links, you can support a Cajun in Cali at NO cost to you. Getting the goods you want while showing support is the best of both worlds!
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First Impressions of LA
When we first arrived, I wanted to do it all! But I quickly felt overwhelmed by the sheer size of the city and surrounding metropolitan area. I was also overwhelmed by the number of things to do and see.
Needless to say, I've learned a lot about the city over the past five years. Slowly I began to understand the flow of traffic, how to know my directions without a compass or navigation, etc.
So, take it from me, my friends. Learning to navigate LA will make it seem like a different place altogether. Check out my best tips for visiting Los Angeles to start your LA vacation off on the right foot.
LA is Large
Seriously y'all. LA is HUGE! I'll never forget what my parents told me after landing in LA for the first time. They described looking out over the blanket of lights below while landing during their evening flight and saying to each other, "How will we ever find our little girl in such a big city?"
Flying into LAX really gives you a sense of how truly large the LA area is. The city is home to 4 million people, and Greater Los Angeles has 16 million.
And with so many different pockets, annexed cities, and historical neighborhoods, there's enough to do and see for weeks! I suggest doing your research long before booking your flight or lodging. And unless you plan to "Go Metro", you'll definitely need a rental car to get around.
"The" Freeway
A quick note to any visitor: Angelenos refer to their freeways as "THE 10," "THE 101," "THE 5," and "THE 405" (just to name a few). Don't ask me why. They just do. Not only are interstates referred to as "freeways," they are also preceded by the article "THE." Having grown up in the South, I was surprised by this phenomenon. It seemed really foreign and funny. Where I come from, "THE 10" would be called Interstate 10. So, needless to say, it took me a while to get accustomed to using the preferred nomenclature.
Traffic is Terrible
Yes, all the rumors you've heard are true. Los Angeles traffic really is as bad as everyone says. Granted, there are times of the day that are worse and areas that are particularly bad. But, generally speaking, no matter the time or place, you should be prepared for a traffic jam to occur.
One of my best tips for visiting Los Angeles is to allow for extra time whenever planning excursions. If Google says it will take 30 minutes, plan for an additional 15 minutes just in case of an accident or gridlock. Another great tip is to avoid using WAZE. I have found that WAZE will typically take me far out of my way to avoid traffic, often adding to my commute rather than subtracting from it.
get that L.A. look
LA has a TON of Freeways
I'll never forget first looking at a map of LA and thinking, "I'll never learn my way around this place." And to hear the traffic report rattled off on the radio gave me a slight panic attack.
Learning the freeway system here, not to mention the different neighborhoods/cities and other major thoroughfares, seemed impossible when I first arrived. But take it from me, it is possible to get around even if you don't understand the freeway system.
Since you're only visiting, you'll want to have a sense of where you're going to maximize your sight-seeing time. You'll want to be able to use Google maps to help you get around without too much trouble. For those of you coming from other countries, invest in an international data plan so you can get around.
Way to put on a show #LosAngeles pic.twitter.com/vNtbWuITgK— a Cajun in Cali (@acajunincali) January 14, 2017
You Can Make Do with the Metro
One of the best tips for visiting Los Angeles that I can give you is to explore using the public transportation system. Sure, it may mean adding extra time to your schedule, but the convenience might be worth it.
Los Angeles has an excellent public bus system that runs 24 hours a day, ferrying passengers all over the city. And although the subway system here can never rival that of NYC or London, there are enough lines and trains to go car-free in LA as long as you plan accordingly. Stay tuned for my post dedicated to a car-free holiday in LA.
So, I have a thing for trains. More like an obsession. I grew up in a tiny town in Louisiana. We didn't even have any public buses, much less a train. When I started visiting major US cities I quickly fell in love with public transportation, especially with trains and subways. I love living in #LosAngeles and having access to #LAMetro trains and buses. There is something so urban about taking the train. #gometro #lovemetroLA
Savings Passes Really Matter
Most people visiting Los Angeles for the first time are interested in seeing the major attractions (think studio tours, theme parks, etc.) But these attractions can add up, especially for families.
Buying Savings Passes like the Los Angeles Go Card can help you save money on the main attractions. Also, look for deals on sites like Groupon and ViaTour before booking directly to save a few extra bucks.
Beware the Left Turn
And now, one of the most valuable tips for visiting Los Angeles: red lights don't necessarily mean stop in Los Angeles. Especially not if you're turning left at an unprotected signal. In LA, it is EXPECTED that the car trying to turn left and the one following it will turn as (or even just after) the light turns red.
Most of the time, that car will be in the middle of the intersection waiting for the light to change, so don't be alarmed if that happens. Also, know that you will be honked at (a LOT) if you do not inch into the intersection or take advantage of the changing light to make the dreaded left turn.
You'll also want to avoid using the WAZE app, as it has a tendency to put you in left turn situations. Relying on Google Maps is the best way to go in LA.
Bicyclists Don't Get No Respect
You'd think that a SoCal city known for outdoor living would be more bicycle friendly. Unfortunately, LA does not have that reputation. Sure, there are some pockets of the city where cyclists get more respect than others, but generally speaking, bicyclists are second-class citizens.
Many choose to ride on sidewalks rather than brave the streets unless there's a protected lane on which to ride. Just beware if renting a bike! Drivers aren't necessarily going to give you the right away you deserve.
Watch Out for Motorcyclists
Another thing about Los Angeles that first-time visitors should know is that motorcyclists in LA are daredevils. No, seriously! These men and women risk their lives on the daily to commute in some of the heaviest traffic EVER.
In California, motorcyclists are permitted to ride the lane boundaries (even if this seems crazy to everyone else). Out of nowhere, they can suddenly appear, whizzing by you on "THE 405" like a bat out of hell. It can scare the bejeezus out of you, trust me. But it's considered normal behavior here, no matter how dangerous.
Explore Outlying Areas
Don't confine yourself to "LA" if you can help it. There are a lot of different places to go. Downtown has lots going on, from LA Live to Little Tokyo.
But you should be looking for world-class Chinese food in the San Gabriel Valley, beach life and athlete-spotting in the Beach Cities (Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach), quirkiness in Venice Beach and Santa Monica, greaser punks in San Pedro and Long Beach, theme parks in Anaheim and Universal City, luxury brands in Beverly Hills, avant-garde art in Culver City, the LGBT scene in West Hollywood, Craftsman cottages in Pasadena and Orange, and mid-century modern in Mid-City LA.
Consider fitting in a scenic drive or LA architecture tour to get a real sense of the city. Much of Los Angeles' best culture can be found in the surrounding cities.
Need More Los Angeles Travel Inspiration?
If you're planning a trip to LA, then you're in the right place! I've got tons of tips for visiting Los Angeles right here on the blog. Dive deep into my Los Angeles archives and get ready to learn more about La-La-Land.
Let's Stay in Touch
Like this post? If so, be sure to check out my other travel articles! Plus, be sure to sign up for email updates. You'll get access to all my freebies, including my best travel hacks, photography tips, and more. And don't forget to connect with me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook!
Thanks for all your interest and support!


text: Win A Date At The AVN With Me Starting August 8th every member of Anna Bell Peaks site will enter to win a number of prizes including a date with her at the AVN convention!!! To enter the competition you must be a member of my site. All current VIP, Gold, and Platinum members will start with 9 tickets. All current silver members will start with 3 tickets. The first place winner of the competition will win a date with me at the AVN convention in January a pair of worn panties, and a signed DVD from Wicked Pictures. Second place will win a signed DVD and a pair of worn panties. Third place will win a signed DVD. All active members will be entered into the drawing in December. For those who want to enter and become a member all silver members will start with 3 tickets. Anyone wanting to enter the win a date must become a VIP, Gold, or Platinum member. All new VIP members will earn 6 tickets, all new Gold members will earn 8 tickets, and all Platinum members will earn 9 tickets. Winners will be announced in December. To enter go to Annabellpeaks.xxx Post navigation Previous Previous post: Smooth Ridin' Anna Bell Peaks Cruisin' Into the Cadillac LoungeNext Next post: September News Letter My schedule Loading… --> 123


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13490 Wilt Store RoadLeesburg, VA 20176ph: email@example.com
Meadow Fox Jubilation
Meadow Fox Lyric
2009 Ronaldo babies !
2009 Ronaldo colt (out of Foxmor Godiva by Glendower Prince Charming)
2009 Ronaldo filly
out of Smooth Sailing by *Pendock Masterpiece
Free barn kitties (easily converted to house cats)
The gang...
Copyright 2011 Meadow Fox Farm. All rights reserved.
Web Hosting by Yahoo!


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I have been meaning to do a follow up post on eating clean. I wanted to document it for myself as well as share a few things that I took away from the whole experience. For 21 days we ate clean- you can see the book & program in my original post above. I cried for the first days and realized somewhere along the way how much I love bread & chocolate.
The first 11 days were really hard. Then it gradually got easier and easier and by the end of the 21 days this is what I took away:
* I officially traded in my dr.peppers & cokes for tea
* Instead of going into the kitchen and eating a hotdog or chips for a snack, I now can eat a piece of celery with almond butter and feel just as full and way better!
** A few people asked about nursing mamas// my doctor said that as long as it doesn't effect your supply this is wonderful! Think about all the nutrients being added to your diet!!
*What about the kids? They ate some of it and didn't eat some of it. They love the pecans, smoothies, chicken, veggies and juices! But I also still made them muffins, sandwiches, cookies and breads. I think a good mix of them both works well for us!
* The 80/20 rule- this is huge!!! Mine might even be more like 70/30. It means 70% of the time you eat clean and the other 30% you eat what you want. This rule is the key for me. I know it's not entirely ideal but it's where I am at right now! When I was doing the 21 day program there were moments I could either give up on the whole thing or cheat with a piece of chocolate or a bowl of oatmeal. To me, the 30% for a lifestyle change/ a lifetime of change is worth it. So yes, I am cool with the occasional hamburger, the occasional splurge, eating a big yummy meal at your friend's dinner party, enjoying cake at a birthday party...because overall (70%- 80% of the time I will be trying to eat totally clean).
* Instead of ketchup, gluten free soy sauce is a great way to add flavor!
*Always have what you need! If we are hungry and don't have the right stuff to make a good, clean meal- then we wind up eating bad...just what is convenient. So being prepared is really important.
The last thing that I wanted to add is that through the process I realized for the first time in my life that I am actually allergic to certain foods. This has been life changing!
If anyone is thinking about doing it, my motto was- I can at least do this for one day and I can always quit tomorrow!


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Along with a lot of kickass new content, the latest patch in LoTRO had some major nerfs for the most popular class in the game: Hunters.
I've always been a fan of ranged DPS classes in MMOs (i.e., nukers), and the Hunter is by far my favorite of the bunch (though Engineers in WAR and certain Blaster comboes in CoH are also way up there). They do a screaming ton of damage to single targets, are far from helpless in melee range, have pretty good crowd control if you specialize for it, and get fantastic travel abilities. A group runspeed buff in the teens, and then a series of group teleports. By the time you reach 60, you can teleport to nearly every zone in the game. As "taxi cabs with machine guns" they have no parallel. My main has been a hunter since the open beta, and I've rarely been as happy with a character as I am with her.
All that is why I saw the coming of the last update with a bit of dread. The primary role of Hunters, ranged DPS, got a huge nerf in the last patch. As nearly as I can tell something like a 25% damage reduction, perhaps more. At first I was horrified. However, now that I've had a couple of weeks playtime post nerf I have come to the conclusion that it's not that big a deal. I can still do everything solo I used to, and I still do very noticeable DPS in a party.
If I have any lasting complaint, it's that our stances outside of the high damage/ high threat stance have been rendered pretty borderline. A guardian that is on the ball can now hold aggro against a hunter going all out in their highest damage stance. Save for a long boss fight where power management might be an issue, there's not much reason to ever drop out of strength stance now. It seems a bit silly, and reduces the dimensionality of the class. However, on the whole still one of the most enjoyable classes in any MMO to my tastes.


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» Did You Know…
New York's State mandates take your tax dollars out of your local community and limit the ability to provide local services.
90 cents of every county property tax dollar goes to Albany to fund State mandates.
Local taxpayers send $7.3 billion, in weekly installments, to help fund the State's Medicaid program.
In 2012, counties and the City of New York will send more than $11.5 billion in local revenue to subsidize the State Treasury.
In order to pay for State programs, counties across the State are reducing or eliminating long term care services for seniors (including nursing homes), community health care centers, Meals on Wheels, local law enforcement activities, veterans services programs, and many other community-based services and programs.
Your State Legislators can enact mandate relief to help stabilize property tax dollars and keep more of your hard-earned money in your community for local purposes.
->Contact Your State Representatives: It's as Easy as 1, 2, 3
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NY'ers for Local control of Local government
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Rensselaer County Legislative majority proposes different approach to mandate relief
February 11, 2012 By Katie Nowak Roberts The Record
TROY — Members of the Rensselaer County Legislature majority will file a resolution during the body's next meeting asking the state to consider giving counties the choice to opt out of certain mandated services that are not federally required.
The push is an effort for the county to control its costs and potentially lower its tax rate, Republican legislators said. Majority Leader Ken Herrington noted that giving counties more control over what optional services they provide is a more feasible request than hoping the state "provides tens of millions of dollars to counties for mandate relief."
Currently, the federal government requires states to provide some mandated social services, while also giving states a list of optional services they may also elect to provide. New York state has chosen to provide both federally required and optional services, and legislators said it is the only state that requires counties to pay for a portion of the costs of all of them.
Republicans are asking for a so-called "reverse-mandate" where they would be allowed to opt out of some of those optional services, adding that the state could in exchange require Rensselaer County to apply some of the savings that move generates to tax relief.
Rich Crist, a spokesman for the majority, said that most of these cuts would focus on Medicaid, which he called "the largest and costliest unfunded mandate in the county," ringing in at about $40 million in annual costs, and contributing to what he called the state's "Cadillac level of care." While programs would not necessarily have to be cut completely, Crist said legislators would like the opportunity to "have greater control over how these services are provided and an opportunity to reduce costs while still providing a basic and needed level of care."
Guest essay: State must offer mandate relief to municipalities (Promotes new initiative – EnoughMandates.Com)
By Mark Westcott The Post-Star | Posted: Saturday, February 11, 2012
Mark Westcott is on the Warren County Board of Supervisors. He lives in Queensbury.
The single most important issue facing local government is the issue of state mandates. If local governments hold the line on tax increases, the impact of unfunded or underfunded state mandates on local community services will be severe if there is not mandate relief from the state. Based on current trends, local governments across the state are facing major, negative cuts to community services such as road repair and maintenance (including snowplowing), sheriff patrol, nursing and adult homes, Office of the Aging, libraries and other services deemed to be important by local citizens. This is no exaggeration.
What is an unfunded mandate? An unfunded mandate is when a higher branch of government passes a law, statute or regulation requiring a lower branch of government to perform certain actions, but provides no, or only partial, funding for fulfilling the requirements. In the case of state mandates, local governments like the county, city and towns must find their own funding source in order to fulfill the requirements, i.e. raise property taxes. This is why state mandates are the hidden property tax.
Are unfunded mandates bad? I am not passing judgment on any particular mandate, but the unfunded or underfunded mandates that have accumulated over the decades are not affordable now. The situation is different today. In addition to unfunded mandates, New York continues to reduce the amount of partial reimbursements for mandated services. In New York, the passing of the 2 percent property tax cap was historic legislation, but it addressed only half the equation. Local governments cannot control the growing burden of unfunded mandates. The result will be a variety of responses. Some local governments will pass budgets that include property tax increases above 2 percent. Others will find new taxes and fees to compensate. Some will cut essential services. As time goes on, the trend points to a scenario that if local governments hold the line on tax increases, local community spending will be choked out because of the growth of unfunded mandates. This unintended consequence will not be a good thing for local communities. There needs to be mandate reform.
What is an example of an unfunded mandate? The largest unfunded mandate local governments must pay is for Medicaid. New York places a much higher financial burden for Medicaid on local governments than any other state. In New York, the local share of Medicaid payments is 16 percent of total Medicaid spending; compared to the next highest state California at 2.5 percent (Source: Citizens Budget Commission). In 2012, the Governor's office estimates the local government share for Medicaid will be $8 billion. This is paid for by property taxes. Now you know why New York has the highest property taxes in the country. New York has been the highest overall taxed state 26 out of the past 30 years. When you look at counties across the U.S., New York has nine out of the top 10 highest county property taxes. (Source:www.taxfoundation.org). Most everyone agrees we can't take more taxation.
What would you say if 100 percent of your property taxes went to Medicaid? In Warren County your 2011 property taxes paid for more than $13 million of Medicaid payments or 33 percent of your property taxes. Consider yourself lucky. At a recent conference with other counties, I met two county officials who said 85 percent and 100 percent respectively of their county property taxes go to mandated Medicaid payments. That's right: 85 percent and 100 percent of their county property taxes go to Medicaid! How could this be? The state policy that mandates local Medicaid payments to counties is inequitable. Poor counties and taxpayers pay disproportionately a higher amount for Medicaid than affluent counties. This is not right and it is not how the state pays for other services like the state university and prison systems, i.e. people do not pay taxes based on the number of students from their county who go to state universities or the number of people in prison who are from their county. This should not be the case for Medicaid.
Three points to make while having this discussion:
First, this is not an indictment of Medicaid. Medicaid is an important program and needs to be preserved, but in order to maintain it for future generations, the program needs to be reformed, and paying for it by bankrupting local counties is not responsible. The fact is the program as currently designed is not sustainable. As they say, you can fix it now, or fix it later at even greater cost and pain.
Second, counties and local governments cannot shirk their own fiscal responsibility while working toward state mandate relief. Each level of government is responsible for finding efficiencies and savings in their budgets. We on the local level need to continue working toward finding better, smarter ways to run local government.
Third, just shifting the mandate burden back to the state, while providing relief on the local level, would likely result in increased state income or sales taxes. A "tax shift" from local government to the state with no net tax benefit to people is not helpful. There needs to be meaningful reform of mandated programs so that savings result versus just shifting the tax burden.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has presented as part of his 2012 budget a proposal to reduce the annual growth of the county share in Medicaid expenses and for pension reform. This is an important first step to the mandate relief effort and I urge people to support the governor in his efforts. To further study the issue, Gov. Cuomo has assembled a Mandate Relief Council. "For too many years local governments and school districts have been burdened with growing costs, driving up property taxes and cutting into the delivery of vital services," Gov. Cuomo said. "My budget already includes billions of dollars of relief to help lower costs for taxpayers and this council will continue to build on that effort to ensure more savings for New Yorkers." State Sen. Elizabeth Little is a member and we have met to discuss mandate relief. She has been very helpful in generating ideas on how to address the growing problem of unfunded mandates. Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward has also expressed her support for mandate relief.
Locally, a group of citizens, businesspeople and elected officials including Tom Hoy, Omar Usmani, Frank O'Keefe, Fred Monroe and other community leaders have been meeting to discuss the issue of unfunded mandates. This nonpartisan group agreed it was important to educate, inform and get people involved in the discussion.
The result is an initiative called http://www.enoughmandates.com/ On this site are facts, research, information and links to other sites that provide information on mandates. We are coordinating efforts with other counties across the state to call on members of the state legislature to support mandate relief. You can help by contacting your state legislator to let them know how you feel about unfunded mandates.
There is one thing that just about everyone agrees on: Mandate relief is essential or local community services will have to be cut and/or local governments will have to raise taxes above the 2 percent property tax cap. It is time for the state legislature to take meaningful action on mandate relief.
Genesee Co Legislature asks for community support on Medicaid petition drive
Howard Owens February 3, 2012 – Press release from the Genesee County Legislature:
Importance of Medicaid Petition Drive. Why should Geneseeans Care?
$9.2 million six years ago was the amount Genesee County was spending for Medicaid. 50% of the total program cost is the responsibility of the taxpayer in New York State which is the same in most of the other 49 States. New York State has the 57 New York counties paying a share of this Medicaid Bill each week which in 2012 equals about 18.5% of that 50% state share.
Six years later, $9.8 million is the dollar amount representing 18.5 cents of every dollar spent for Medicaid that Genesee County taxpayers must fund in the 2012 budget year.
Approximately 7,200 individuals are enrolled in Medicaid in Genesee County. In 2014, the Federal Health Statute (Affordable Care Act) is mandating states to select a health care program for those particular state residents in need of health coverage and eligible to enroll. In New York state the choice has been made, Medicaid will be the primary payor.
Current estimates that there are 5,000 additional county residents eligible for this proposed/expanded Medicaid program. This means an additional 69% increase in Medicaid funding, or in 2012 dollars would mean $6.30 per thousand just to pay the county's 18.5% of this unfunded mandate.
This is a call to be answered by Genesee County and all New York State residents that have concern to be proactive with their county's Medicaid petition drive. Blank petitions are available at your town and village offices and once you have obtained signatures return to your town or village hall or local library. Petitions may also be sent to county residents electronically by contacting the Clerk of the Genesee County Legislature, Carolyn Pratt, 344-2550, ext. 2202, email@example.com
In addition to the hard copies, we have created an on-line petition here. Please share it with EVERYONE, not just your fellow Reformers!! Your one signature is appreciated, but what is really needed, is for you to strap your boots on! At your keyboard or at the Mall, no matter!
Also 01/27/12: I got a call today from Annie Lawrence of the Genesee County legislature, to thank me for my help in getting signatures for the Medicaid petition. Since this is so important, they've decided to extend the date through February, in order to get this message and petition out to all counties in NY.
The purpose of the petition is to get the state government to take over medicaid from the counties. As it stands right now, just about all of our property taxes go towards medicaid benefits; and the state DICTATES TO US, WHAT WE MUST PAY. If the state takes it over, they will have to reform the system, because the state has a budget cap.
I'm attaching the petition PDF (medicaid_petition ucc-afp) again…PLEASE…. at least get 10 signatures from family, coworkers,
and/or friends, or, if the weather is decent, go to neighbors. I stood in the mall for an hour, and got 55 signatures. If we ever want mandate relief, this is a great place to start, but we need everyone's help. Thank you,
Ellie Corcoran
(You can contact me at 716-741-1076, or 716-864-2753, or email@example.com I will make arrangements for pick up or mail)
Fulton Co: Urge property-tax relief
February 12, 2012 The Leader Herald
Not too long ago, citizens in Fulton County and the state received their 2012 county property-tax bills. In New York state, these property-tax bills are far too high because they are loaded with the costs of state-imposed mandates. People need to take notice that state legislators in the other 49 states do not levy such a high burden through unfair property taxes.
Citizens can now use a new online Internet link, mandaterelief.com, to demand property-tax relief from their state legislators. The link has three easy steps that take less than a minute to complete. A message will go directly to the state officials who control about 85 percent of your property-tax bill.
Click on www.mandaterelief.com today.
Chairman, Fulton County Board of Supervisors
State, Local Officials Talk Mandate Relief at Hearing
Governor's office says relief package would save billions for local governments, school districts.
- By Michael Bruschini February 15, 2012
Glen Cove mayor Ralph Suozzi and state assemblyman Charles Lavine attended a public hearing Friday where Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy met with local officials to review and advance proposals which would reduce the burden of state mandates on local governments and school districts.
"This is the single greatest issue of our financial stability," said Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano. "Unfunded mandates have such an effect on the county – our pension costs went up from $94 million to $113 million from 2010 to 2011, and in 2012, it's $160 million. We've managed to absorb and reduce costs to avoid passing on a tax increase, but we need help to fix this issue."
Mangano also cited other unfunded mandates in 2012, such as the $250 million for Medicaid and $175 million for the Early Intervention Program for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families.
"These are good programs, I think we can agree on this," he said. "The savings from New York State are welcome relief."
"We've spoken about this before with various state organizations," Suozzi said after the meeting. "Everything we're talking about applies to Glen Cove."
The mayor became familiar with the effects of mandate costs over the course of preparing the city's budget for 2012. Pension costs mandated by the state increased by $1 million and health insurance costs went up by about $500,000, amounting to a $1.5 million, 6.6 percent increase just as Gov. Andrew Cuomo's two percent property tax increase cap took effect.
Suozzi and the Glen Cove City Council were able to adopt their 2012 budget by absorbing the costs of public employee pensions and healthcare through staff reductions which saved $550,000, as well as $100,000 in cuts at the Glen Cove Senior Center and lowering debt service payments.
Assemblyman Charles Lavine sits as chairman of the assembly's Administrative Regulation Review Commission.
"The need for mandate relief in New York is compelling," he said. "The neighborhoods I represent are in a county infamous for collecting the second-highest property taxes in the state. I look forward to seeing these relief programs not only lowering property taxes, but also reaffirming New York as a great place to raise a family or start a business."
The hearing was also attended by state senator Carl Marcellino, who said he hoped for fast action on the part of the mandate relief council.
According to the governor's office, the proposed relief package would provide billions of dollars in savings to local governments and school districts, and would include Medicaid relief, pension reform and early intervention and preschool education reforms.
Related Topics:Unfunded Mandates, mandate relief council, and state mandates
County executives share Medicaid concerns
Times Herald-Record Published: 2:00 AM – 02/22/12
POUGHKEEPSIE — Ask the Orange, Ulster and Dutchess county executives what they want most to fix and the answer was unanimous Tuesday — Medicaid..
Diana concurred, but was skeptical about seeing any action in Albany during an election year because counties can't wait too long. Medicaid reform, along with pension reform, must happen, Diana said, "or you will bankrupt every county in the state."
Molinaro, a Republican who previously served in the state Assembly, predicted that body's Democrat majority will be the most difficult to get on board with Medicaid reform…
- County executives from Ulster, Orange, Dutchess air concerns about nursing homes, jails The three executives agreed unfunded state mandates, such as Medicaid costs, desperately need to be reformed. Diana paraphrased Gov. Andrew Cuomo, saying: "Until the state can print money, they will not take over Medicaid. The state's simply broke."
Local leaders discuss mandate relief at NYSAC conference
"That was the biggest thing on the agenda — how we're going to get the public riled up and get state legislators to support mandate relief," said Lewis County Legislature Vice Chairman Michael A. Tabolt, R-Croghan, who participated in a panel discussion on the topic Wednesday.
"Throughout the whole conference, there was a lot of discussion on mandate relief," St. Lawrence County Administrator Karen M. St. Hilaire said. "Mandates are really the cost drivers."…
Counties keep pressure on state for mandate relief
February 3, 2012 By Tom Rivers firstname.lastname@example.com The Daily News Online
Gov. Andrew Cuomo seems to have heard the message from county leaders throughout the state, that the local governments need relief from shouldering some of the state's mandated programs.
Cuomo has proposed a three-year gradual phase-in to cap the counties' share of the Medicaid program. The counties are currently capped at a 3 percent annual (medicaid) growth rate, but county leaders say that stresses their budgets and puts them on pace to exceed the state-imposed 2 percent tax cap…
Astorino calls for immediate relief on state mandates
WHITE PLAINS – Westchester County Executive Robert Astorino said the county's ability to provide local services will remain seriously threatened unless Albany takes immediate steps to rein in unfunded mandates…
Cayuga County would welcome state takeover of Medicaid cost hikes
Here again the tax cap in of itself just doesn't cut it…
Chautauqua Co Exec Edwards: Immediate Relief Needed
State Budget Savings Are Far Off
MAYVILLE – The impact of Albany's mandates on counties isn't going away any time soon, it's just not going to increase all that much. Governor Andrew Cuomo addressed ideas for relief in his 2012-13 budget proposal on Tuesday. County leaders were relieved to hear issues such as Medicaid and pension reform being talked about by the state's leader.
However, ideas mentioned by Gov. Cuomo don't look to translate to any immediate cost-savings for counties. In fact, the cost of Medicaid, for instance, will still increase for counties in 2013 and 2014 under the governor's proposal – just not as much as counties were expecting…
Pressure Mounts on Medicaid Cap
Just-released November data indicate that Medicaid spending was within Governor Cuomo's new cap through the first two-thirds of fiscal 2011-12 — but just barely.
The $15.3 billion cap on state-funded Medicaid spending within the Department of Health (DOH) was a hallmark of Cuomo's budget control and reform for fiscal 2011-12. Future annual growth is supposed to be limited to the 4 percent average rate of medical cost inflation over the last 10 years.
Fulton County – Officials say Medicaid relief a start
Cuomo's Medicaid plan draws mixed reviews – Some say state mandate relief should still go farther
Saratoga County officials – Mandate relief included in Gov. Cuomo's state budget proposal falls short BALLSTON SPA — Saratoga County supervisors are saying the mandate relief Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo proposed Tuesday is a step in the right direction, but it doesn't come anywhere close to providing any sort of meaningful relief for the county or its residents…
With budget deals, state wipes out long-term deficits (or least that's the assumption)
Giving credit where credit is due – By cutting out the built-in growth factors for state programs, Cuomo has changed the state's accounting of its budget deficits, said E.J. McMahon, senior fellow for the conservative Empire Center for New York State Policy.
"He appropriately made the projections more realistic by removing escalators for Medicaid and school aid from his assumptions," McMahon said.
But McMahon also said, "That reflects a new set of assumption: He binds and disciplines the Legislature to those levels."
McMahon said the state is also delaying some payments, such as borrowing off the pension fund to pay for growing costs for retirees. And budget projections have sprung holes in recent years…
Unfair Medicaid Costs
December 30, 2011 By Nicholas L. Dean (firstname.lastname@example.com)
NEW YORK CITY – Medicaid is costing counties in the state too much, according to a recent report by the Citizens Budget Commission.
The report is titled "A Poor Way to Pay for Medicaid: Why New York Should Eliminate Local Funding for Medicaid." In the report, the Citizens Budget Commission describes the inequity found throughout the state on a county-by-county basis.
According to the findings, Medicaid costs are shown to be not only inequitable and out of step with efforts to control costs in the program, but also out of line with practices in all other states. The Citizens Budget Commission is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization. The group's report researched the financial and management practices of the state of New York and New York City.
County Executive Greg Edwards shared the report in his Monday Morning Memo on Dec. 19, pointing to its finding that counties with less income, such as Chautauqua County, get punished disproportionately in the cost of programs such as Medicaid when compared with counties having greater wealth and per capita income.
The full report, as well as other additional information, can be found attached with this article online at www.post-journal.com.
[View the full file here: infographic describes visually the effects of this long-standing problem.]
In a news release announcing the report, the Citizens Budget Commission pointed to the $6.5 billion paid for Medicaid by New York's counties in 2008. The next state closest to New York in terms of county costs for Medicaid was California, where a total of $1 billion was spent that year.
Elsewhere in the country, a total of 22 states require no local contribution for Medicaid at all.
Of the 27 states other than New York which require a local share, most require localities to pay only for administrative costs or some other minimal contribution.
"New York's current local Medicaid burden is regressive and inequitable," according to the Citizens Budget Commission. "Taxpayers in low-income counties tend to pay more towards Medicaid per person and relative to their wealth than taxpayers in more affluent counties."
To make comparisons more directly relevant to individual taxpayers, the Citizens Budget Commission has created an online tool which allows New Yorkers to estimate average local Medicaid costs according to their home property value and to compare costs in their county to those required in neighboring counties. The Medicaid calculator is available online at www.cbcny.org.
"It's time for the state to face up to the difficult issue of finding statewide revenues to replace the regressive system now used to pay the local portion of Medicaid costs," said Carol Kellermann, Citizens Budget Commission president.
The Citizens Budget Commission was founded in 1932 as a nonpartisan, nonprofit civic organization devoted to influencing constructive change in the finances and services of the state and New York City governments.
Proposals Fail To Pass Assembly
- Assembly Republican Leader Brian Kolb: Still no significant unfunded mandate relief for local governments
From Assembly Republican Leader Brian Kolb: "From what has been reported in the media so far, the bottom line is that taxes are being raised in New York State and we are still not dealing with our state's serious spending problem. There is still no significant unfunded mandate relief for local governments. We should be protecting taxpayers by capping local Medicaid costs, enacting a state spending cap and doing this through an open, public process where these issues are debated and discussed in the light of day, not through secret deals behind closed doors by three-men-in-a-room. Tax hikes have never been the answer for creating more private sector jobs and long-term prosperity for New Yorkers. That still holds true today."
From Assemblyman Steve McLauglin: A family making $100,000 will see $400 more per year or $33.33 per month. Less than the cost of a tank of gas. You are being scammed if you believe this is a serious tax cut. None of the three have the guts or fortitude to address New York's out of control spending problem. I'd have more respect for them if they'd have kept the current tax structure. At least that structure would've raised the revenue needed to close the gap. They chose the smoke and mirrors route and a change that will not close the existing budget gap.
The reality is that the underlying problem — too much spending, unfunded mandates on localities (unreasonable medicaid costs) pension benefits — have not been resolved. The changes that Larry, Curly and Moe agreed to, do not resolve the problem, yet they have proven one thing: Their word means absolutely nothing. No matter how they sell it, taxes are going up to the tune of $2 billion dollars, money that could be used to create jobs.
Everything you need to know about Cuomo's Tax Hike
On Dec. 6, 2011, Gov. Cuomo and legislative leaders announced a deal to extend New York's biggest income tax increase in 50 years, targeting earners of $1 million and more for what will be the third highest income tax rate imposed by any major state. About one quarter of the $2.6 billion tax hike will be redistributed in the form of tax cuts for middle-class filers, and the rest will be spent. This page, which will be continuously updated, features Empire Center commentary and analysis on this topic.
Next is a good example of what is going on, or needs to be going on, in several counties, including fellow Western NY county of Chautauqua. Privatizing county nursing / county homes, for the sake of the taxpayers for whom it's costing millions in losses.
Catholic Health proposes county nurse privatization
January 20, 2012 By Bill Wolcott The Tonawanda News
— Niagara County is getting out of the nursing care business and is prepared to accept a bid which would net Niagara County's taxpayers $2.65 million.
The Niagara County Legislature will hear proposals to privatize nursing care at the Community Services and Administrative Committees meetings at 6 p.m. on Tuesday at the County Courthouse on Hawley Street.
The lawmakers are expected to act on a recommendation by County Manager Jeffrey M. Glatz and Public Health Director Daniel J. Stapleton to sell the county's home healthcare certificate to Catholic Health. The proposal has been endorsed by Community Services Committee Chairman Tony Nemi, I-Lockport/Pendleton.
"We got out of the long-term healthcare business to save money. It was a loser for us," County Chairman Bill Ross said. "It's not only to save money, but make some money."
The health department has the full-time equivalent of 12 employees who work out of the Shaw Building on the Mountview Campus and the Trott Center in Niagara Falls. There were about 20 full- and part-time registered nurses and home health aides. Some left through attrition.
Catholic Health Services will offer employment to all the employees. "Any of the nurses that don't have a job, they will hire," Ross said.
"It's a big deal," Stapleton said. "The health department will continue to thrive and focus on mission, which is protecting public health."
Five competitors bid on the certificate, including Niagara Hospice which initially offered $3.7 million but dropped out. Catholic Health offered $2,600,000 and VNA offered $2,500,000 with a down payment of $250,000. Catholic Health made an immediate down payment of $795,000.
"It's going out of the public hands of the county to save you and me money," Ross said. "It will save money, because we won't have those people on staff … We are selling it. It's a sellable item. We are looking at quite a bit of money."
"We're getting out of the businesses we shouldn't be in," Ross said. "Before we shut down Mount View, we were losing a million dollars a year." …
- Panel backs sale of nursing services to Catholic Health January 25, 2012 – Staff Reports Lockport Union-Sun & Journal
Next up, something needing repealed for some time, and at this point enough is enough. No matter how much the Public Unions object, repeal this now !
Triborough Trouble
How an obscure state law guarantees pay hikes for government employees
January 11, 2012 What you'll learn from this report:
- * New York's 30-year-old "Triborough Amendment" requires public employers to maintain all contractual perks for unionized public employees, including automatic "step" increases in pay, after the expiration of a collective bargaining agreement.
- * This law gives unions an incentive to resist negotiating structural changes to their contracts, since the status quo will be preserved even if there is no contract.
- * Pay hikes required by the Triborough Amendment cost the state government $140 million a year, despite a "freeze" on base salaries.
- * The Triborough Amendment guarantees pay increases for teachers that add almost $300 million a year to school budgets across the state.
- * The requirement to finance automatic pay increases has undermined attempts to stretch taxpayer dollars further in a time of extreme financial stress.
- Repeal of the Triborough Amendment would establish a more equitable collective bargaining system in New York's public sector, preserving basic union rights while giving local officials the tools they now lack to negotiate needed changes to costly and outmoded contracts.
Related Publication:
Repealing New York's Triborough Amendment is
'Core Reform Issue in State'
Contact: Bill O'Reilly, 212-938-0004
New Yorkers for Growth Challenges Governor Cuomo, Legislative Leaders, and
Legislators to Make Positions Clear on Repeal of Law
New York, NY-Jan. 19…New Yorkers for Growth , a leading voice for responsible fiscal policy in New York State, today announced its chief legislative priority for 2011: repealing New York's Triborough Amendment which has unfairly added millions of dollars in extra costs to state, county, and local governments, the group says.
The Triborough Amendment, which was enacted in 1982 as an amendment to New York's Taylor Law, prohibits a public employer -the taxpayers – from changing any provision in an expired labor contract until a new contract is signed. In other words, it's rigged: it guarantees built-in pay increases and benefits for unionized public employees in perpetuity if a new contract is not signed. That removes any incentive for public service unions to negotiate, guaranteeing that any new contract be more generous than the last.
"Repeal of the Triborough Amendment is an essential first step for fiscal reform in New York State," said New Yorkers for Growth spokesman, former Larchmont Mayor Liz Feld. "We have a rigged system in New York with the public service unions holding all the cards. New Yorkers for Growth strongly urges the State Legislature and Governor Cuomo to repeal this ridiculous law."
New Yorkers for Growth urges Governor Cuomo to take the leadership role in repealing the Triborough Amendment:
"To his credit, Governor Cuomo has said he is willing to take on the public service unions to save this state and its local governments from fiscal insolvency," Ms. Feld continued. "But that cannot happen with the union-biased Triborough Amendment in place. We therefore urge Governor Cuomo to make clear his support for repeal."
To learn more about New Yorkers for Growth, please visit www.newyorkersforgrowth.com.
Click to contact your Reps, tell them to support this effort.
Thanks to your support, our efforts are beginning to pay off. Triborough Amendment repeal is now very much on the radar in New York.
Already this week, we have seen the issue debated in three major New York newspapers: by New Yorkers for Growth-endorsed Rob Astorino in the New York Post, the Empire Center's Russell Sykes in the Buffalo News and by columnist Bill Hammond in the Daily News. Here are the links to all three articles:
New York Post: Labor Law is Choking NY's Governments
by Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino
Buffalo News: Drop Triborough Amendment to Control Expenses
by Empire Center for New York State Policy senior fellow Russell Sykes
New York Daily News: Cuomo Must Break Public Union's Grip Over New York
(How public workers rig the game) by Bill Hammond
For more on union issues, jump below…
Meanwhile, on the mandate relief front
Governor Cuomo's 2012-13 budget, to be presented later today, will command media attention for the rest of the week. Advance reports on his modified pension reform proposal are especially promising. Meanwhile, there's a (fiscally) cost-free approach to helping local governments and school districts alleviate their budget problems: repealing the Triborough Amendment…
Just so you know, it's 2012 and here we go again:
Tax Freedom Day is the day when Americans finally have earned enough money to pay off their total tax bill for the year. In 2011, New York taxpayers work until April 24, ranking it 3rd highest in the nation.
During the past three decades, New York's state and local tax burden percentage has ranked among the nation's highest, currently estimated at 12.1% of income (2nd nationally), above the current national average of 9.8%.
Now if that didn't rile you up, this surely ought to:
Pay NY lawmakers more? (Assembly Speaker Silver wants what, no way. Hey Shelly, why don't you read that little tax day piece above, and the last line below. You really want to make these things worse? Well sure you do, cause that's what happens when you are no reformer, but rather are a part of the problem!)
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver may seek a pay hike for members of the New York State Legislature before the year is out, today's New York Post reports. New York part-time lawmakers now make a base salary of $79,500 a year, plus $171 for every day in Albany and added stipends for leadership positions and committee chairmanships. The speaker's own pay is $120,000 plus expenses.
As of 2011, New York's legislative compensation was already the third highest of any state. For details, see our Data Bank here.
- Should NY lawmakers give themselves a pay raise? ALBANY — It's a fact. New York State lawmakers haven't had a pay raise in the last 13 years, not since 1999 (yet they are still the 3rd most compensated body nationally). If they don't vote themselves a pay raise this year, they'd have to wait at least another three years. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said he thinks lawmakers deserve more money. According to US Census data, the real median household income was $49,445 in 2010. The base salary for New York State legislators is $79,500, but with extra pay such as for chairmanships, they average just over $90,000. Speaker Silver said, "Well, obviously it's never a good time to make the case and I'm not making the case. I am saying that members work hard, many of them are full time legislators." (No, at the same base pay, all are either full time or all are part time). Assembly Majority Leader, Ron Canestrari (D), does not think that they are underpaid. Assemblyman Jim Tedisco (R) has served 30 years in the legislature, has never voted for a pay raise, and says he never will. Tedisco said, "If the legislature wants a pay raise, just like they go before the voters to be reelected, a pay raise should be out on the ballot." Senate Majority Leader, Dean Skelos, said the pay raise issue has not been discussed in the senate.
In the following segment, here is but one example of that which is true in about every county: The pay cut of just 5%, to just 64 county employees, saves the tax payer $385 thousand. That's wonderful but that's just non-union workers so consider a 5% cut across the board for all county employees (which would be fair), now the tax payer saves $? millions! (The sad thing is in many cases, not only are the 100's of county union workers seeing no cuts, they're probably getting automatic increases.)
By: YNN Web Staff
BROOME COUNTY, N.Y. — After less than one month in office, Broome County Executive Debbie Preston is putting forth a resolution that would fulfill one of her campaign promises.
Preston's proposal would cut the salary of 64 county employees by five percent. The total savings to the county would be more than $365,000 this year alone.
The county legislature will vote on the measure Thursday night and if passed, the pay cuts will take affect later this month.
Preston says cuts like these are just part of the larger task of getting the county on track financially.
"This is just the beginning. We will look at every penny that is spent and every budget line. Things are going to be done differently. They have to be done differently," Preston said.
The proposed cuts will account for approximately one tenth of a percent of Broome County's $360 million budget.
Tracking firms, jobs and economic growth in the Empire State
Complete report in PDF format (updated)
Executive Summary
Employment statistics are the leading indicator of what's happening in New York State's economy. However, traditional government job counts don't tell us much about the underlying dynamics of job creation. Information on openings and closings, expansions and contractions, and interstate movements by employer "establishments" in New York has not been as readily available – until now.
This report draws from the newly developed National Establishment Time- Series (NETS) Database, generated from the Dun & Bradstreet Marketing Information file, to assess some of the key trends driving employment in New York from 1993 to 2008. During the period in question, our data show:
- New York's job base grew at just one-fifth the national rate.
- New York gained 272,172 jobs from firms moving into the state while losing 393,280 jobs from relocations of firms to other states. As a percentage of total employment, New York's net job migration loss was the third largest of any state. Many of these positions moved to neighboring New Jersey and Connecticut.
- New York lost 506,620 more jobs to firm closures, or "deaths," than it gained from firm start-ups, or "births." The Empire State's nega- tive ratio of job creation from start-ups was a key factor in its rela- tively weak overall employment growth during the period. Only five states performed more poorly in this category.
- Expansion of existing firms was the leading source of employment growth in New York, creating a net 1,000,881 more jobs than firm contractions—but this wasn't nearly enough to make up for the state's job migration losses and its failure to nurture more start-ups.
- Small establishments, including the self-employed, accounted for a growing share of New York jobs, but the Empire State nonetheless lagged behind most states in job creation by small firms.
Total Jobs – NY ranking only one shy of dead last:
From 1993 through 2008, New York added just 442,682 jobs to a base of almost 10 million at the start of the period. The Empire State's 4.6 percent job growth rate, as counted by the NETS database, was just one-fifth the national average during the period. Only one state, Rhode Island, had lower growth rates by this measure.
And here's a real important snapshot; bottom line, bad policy and bad results –
* See table 1.2: shows in part; Public Admin jobs (State gov) increasing by 23.2%, and Manufacturing jobs decreasing 28.4%, while mining- quarrying- oil & gas extraction decreased 40.1%
Hey, at least we beat New Jersey
January 26, 2012
Tim Hoefer
New York's ranking in the Tax Foundation's 2012 State Business Tax Climate Index is second to last, just ahead of New Jersey. Our climate ranked 49th — second worst — in 2011, and we're 49th again in the new index. California was ranked just above New York at 48th.
The state's business tax climate didn't improve in Andrew Cuomo's first year as governor, according to the Tax Foundation. To the contrary: while our overall ranking didn't change, New York's index "score" actually declined, thanks to the December 2011 income tax increase pushed through by Cuomo under the guise of "fairness reform."
|a cutting-edge quarterly magazine on
culture, politics, and urban affairs.
Christian Schneider
Steven Malanga interviews Christian Schneider about his recent City Journal article and Governor Walker's successful strategies that made reform in Wisconsin possible.
Listen to their discussion.
* In NY the answer is very simple: Public Sector a/k/a Government Unions are stronger and more dominant in NY than in any other state in the country. *see Table 3
** Another simple answer: The political implications and donation money whereas everything flows left. 90+% of gov unions' money going to democrats for the sole purpose of self perpetuation, always resulting in more government. *see Table 5
Storm Clouds Ahead: Why Conflict with Public Unions Will Continue, a new issue brief by Daniel DiSalvo, argues that the repeal of SB 5 in Ohio is not a referendum on the terms of public sector employment but rather the latest in a series of ongoing conflicts that will arise between governments and public-employee unions.
NY union bigs take heat over junket
By CARL CAMPANILE and DAN MANGAN Last Updated: 3:34 AM, December 7, 2011
It was rainy and chilly in New York City yesterday, but hundreds of local union bigs wouldn't have known it.
As many as 300 labor bosses, who represent New York's struggling municipal workers, have been whooping it up in sunny Puerto Rico on a union-paid junket, even as their rank-and-file members pinch pennies back home.
The honchos are on a six-day, fun-and-sun jaunt in San Juan — on their cash-strapped memberships' dimes — preferring to host their union "convention" in a posh hotel instead of, say, more modest digs in stodgy Schenectady.
"You've got to be kidding me!" fumed an Albany insider about the New York State Public Employee Conference's annual frolic at the luxurious Caribe Hilton.
"It's piggy, piggy, piggy! It's pigging out in Puerto Rico! Then they come back to New York with their hands out.''
Two Brooklyn politicians who sit on statehouse committees that oversee public-sector workers — Sen. Martin Golden (R) and Assemblyman Peter Abbate (D) — even held fund-raisers there, The Post has learned.
The gigs were attended by the same union officials who often appear before their committees pleading their members' cases.
NYSPEC is comprised of unions representing thousands of state, local and other government workers, most of whom work in New York City. They include MTA workers, Port Authority police officers and NYPD captains.
The sun-soaked union bosses yesterday defended their jetting to warmer climes.
Speaking of climate issues (and bad policy) –
An initiative "proves is an impractical government policy", and of course the main reason being the ineffective and wasteful cost to taxpayers. That said, why doesn't the government listen?
The High Cost of Wind Energy as a Carbon-Dioxide Reduction Method
A new Issue Brief by Manhattan Institute senior fellow, Robert Bryce, finds that wind energy's ability to reduce CO2 is so insignificant and so expensive that it proves an impractical government policy.
and finally a word on pensions:
If you were a public employee, what would your pension be?
CalculateYourPublicPension.com launched, find ou now.
Learn More and Take Action Now!
The cost of public pensions is about to blow through the roof, with financial consequences that could affect generations of New Yorkers to come. And it's not just pensions: state and local governments have promised over $200 billion in post-retirement health care, but set aside no money to pay for it. To learn more about the problem and take action:
- Read the Empire Center report, "New York's Exploding Pension Costs."
- Search the pension database of more than 340,000 retired state and local government employees at SeeThroughNY.net.
- Read "Iceberg Ahead", the Empire Center's study of unfunded government retiree healthcare obligations.
- Join our email list and keep up to date with the latest on this and other Empire Center reports and projects.
- E.J. McMahon discusses the report on YNN's Capital Tonight and with Joe Spector of Gannett News Service.


text:
Sunday, July 17, 2011
In My Mailbox (Elebenty-sixteen)
More casualties from the Aussie bookshop cull.This time Readers Feast, my favourite bookstore :(
They do tell me they'll be opening again somewhere else in the CBD.
But probably not in time for me to go visit my book there. Sadface.
Apart from my badly chipped nail polish and a kitty toy, what you can see in this picture is:
Silvermay by James Moloney (recommended by Adele and also an Inkys longlister. It's Australian fantasy, YAY!)
The Wilful Eye, Isobelle Carmody & Nan McNab (Eds; WOO more Aussie fantasy! This time short stories.)
Stolen, Lucy Christopher (Last year's Inkys winner; another Adele rec.)
Alaska, Sue Saliba (Heard about a million awesome things about this book)
The Dead, Charlie Higson (my only non-Aussie purchase--ZOMBIES! Grrr Arrrgh)
Eon, Alison Goodman (AKA The Two Pearls of Wisdom. I like the new title and packaging better.)
The 2011 Inkys longlist is now up on Inside a Dog.
In other news, last night I went to a costume party dressed as Julia from Nineteen Eighty-Four. Note the red sash around the waist, which signifies membership to the Anti-sex League.
Nobody got my costume! Bah. I loved wearing it though.
Currently sitting on my lap is a mopey kitty who got spayed on Tuesday. We tried taking off the cone today but, devil as she is, she went straight for her stitches. Back on went the cone.
Poor Tiv.
9 comments:
LOL I thought that kitty toy was some kind of swag.ReplyDelete
Great books in your mailbox this week! I hat to add Silvermay to my wishlist. I've read some novels by Australian authors and they've been great:) I'm not quite sure why but they seem to come up with good and original storylines.
Wonderful costume, I was wondering how many got it before I read your answer.
Enjoy your new books and have a great week!
Great books you got this week. They all look really interesting. Hope you enjoy reading all your books.ReplyDelete
Awesome Aussie stack! Stolen is an amazing story and I love that the outback felt like another character in it.ReplyDelete
I really want to read Alaska. Happy reading :)
Lots of goodness in your reading stack :) The cover of Alaska is so beautiful. *is dying to read it*ReplyDelete
There's something called a 'crop' button... ;) hahaReplyDelete
Loved Alaska. :) So atmospheric and just one of those books that can take you away. Hope you enjoy!
I need to get a copy of Eon. I accidentally won a copy of Eona (thanks Braiden :P) and it looks awesome but I can't just drop right in on the sequel!
WHY IS ISOBELLE CARMODY WRITING THINGS OTHER THAN OBERNEWTYN?!?!?!?!?!?!? This is totally unacceptable!!!! Ugh!ReplyDelete
I don't think I would have gotten your costume either. In fact, in that photo I think you look like Donna from That 70s Show. ;)
I now have Silvermay on my wishlist. Looks great!!
Poor Tiv!ReplyDelete
You've got a great pile of books there!
Ah, the Cone of Shame...Poor Tiv, indeed :-( *hugs to kitteh*ReplyDelete
- Thomas JuetteJanuary 29, 2012 at 4:13 AM
The Julia costume idea is just awesome and I definitely would have gotten it (after it nagged at me for a bit, perhaps). Well done :)ReplyDelete


text:
Somalia has been without a formal commercial banking and financial institutions sector since the overthrow of Siad Barre's government in 1991. Immediately prior to the civil war, Somalia's formal financial sector was composed of:
- Central Bank of Somalia
- Commercial and Savings Bank ;
- Somali Development Bank; and
- State Insurance Company
At present the financial sector is composed of the Central Bank of Somalia, Somali Remittance Companies, and Micro-finance institutions (as pilot projects in the North-Western regions-Somaliland and in the North-Eastern regions-Puntland).
The Central Bank is currently operating under the 1968 Act, No. 6 of 19th October, which specifies the roles and responsibilities of the Central Bank. These include acting as a fiscal agent to the treasury, supervising commercial banks and others financial institutions, issuing currency etc.
Money supply:
In the absence of formal commercial banking activities, the credit creation and therefore money creation by the commercial banks does not exist in the economy at present. Under such circumstances, all economic transactions in the country are being handled through cash payment to settle obligations in domestic trade, including transactions that involve large sums of cash, which could have been otherwise settled through other means.
Inflation and exchange rates:
The economy is deeply dollarized in view of weak confidence in the local currency, with prevalent use of counterfeits. Alongside the Somali shilling, the US dollar is widely accepted as a medium of large and high value transactions even for local trade exchange.
Remittance Companies.
The Remittance companies supported with spin-off activities in telecommunication sector are the main medium for much of the hard currency movements to and from the country and they provide the infrastructure of trade and commerce in Somalia and abroad. The remittance companies are the only financial services providers in the country for the majority of households and for the whole for the private sector.
No commercial banks are operating in Somalia. It has been reported that some regional banks are in discussions with the Somali Remittance Companies with regard to joint ventures. The local Somali business community is also exploring the possibilities of launching commercial banks that could also provide service to the private sector.
Challenges facing the Financial sector of somalia
The following are challenges facing the financial sector of Somalia
- The insecurity resulting from the civil war
- Lack of an effective formal banking sector .
- Lack of effective financial operating framework
- Lack of skilled staff
- Inadequate legal framework
- There is no formal financial sector in the country
- Lack of stock market and securities exchange
- Lack of insurance companies
- Weak regulatory framework
- Inadequate security
- High operation cost


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Our media can be used in a variety of contexts—from media spotlights to encyclopedic entries to lessons. From this page, check out the different ways you can use this .
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sea Encyclopedic Entry
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5 - 12 and up
Earth Science, Geography
Appropriate For
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People often use the term "sea" to refer to the ocean. To geographers, a sea is a division of the ocean that is enclosed or partly enclosed by land.


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Big K is one of the leading BBQ fuel and Solid Fuel producers and distributors in the UK. The company looks back on over 40 years of trading experience and strives to offer consumers the best quality products, so that they have a positive experience when using one of Big K's products. This usually results in repeat purchases for trade customers. Since introducing a winter range such as coal products, hardwood logs and kindling wood Big K can be viewed as a company who sells fuel all year round. Operating from its national distribution centre in Stoke Ferry, Norfolk, Big K can deliver anywhere in the country to a 5-day lead time.
In addition to the national distribution centre in Norfolk, Big K's head office is based in Tottenham Hale, North London. This site is ideally located to enable Big K to operate a more localised warehouse and distribution centre for areas within the M25, providing added benefits to the customer. With its own fleet of vehicles, Big K can offer a fast and reliable service to all their customers within the M25 corridor Big K also offers a home delivery service direct to the public via their e-commerce site.
One of their most popular products is the Instant Light Charcoal, which offers consumers a clean and convenient way to light charcoal – no hassle and no mess. Big K have developed a close control mechanism for the process of dipping the charcoal in a lighting agent, which led to a extremely reliable product, lighting every time.
Big K also offers a Disposable BBQ, which is bigger compared to most products on the market, offering consumers a more reliable and longer lasting product. For 2018 Big K introduces 2 new products. Hickory Smoking Wood Chips, which is a natural flavour enhancer for BBQ's and Wood Wool Firelighters, which acts as a natural firelighter for BBQ's and fires.
01366 501485 | firstname.lastname@example.com | www.bigk.co.uk


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dead in the water
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Acronyms, Encyclopedia.
dead in the water
Completely defunct. Oh, that idea from last week's meeting is dead in the water now that the CEO has vetoed it.
dead in the water
stalled; immobile. (Originally nautical.) This whole company is dead in the water. The project is out of funds and dead in the water for the time being.
dead in the water
Unable to function or move; inoperable. For example, Without an effective leader, our plans for expansion are dead in the water. Originally referring to a crippled ship, this colloquialism was soon applied more broadly.
dead in the waterJOURNALISM
COMMON If something or someone is dead in the water, they have failed and they are unlikely to be successful in the future. I think for all practical purposes, the talks are now dead in the water. One backbench Tory MP said last night: `It looks as if he is dead in the water now.' Note: The image here is of a sailing boat which cannot move because there is no wind.
dead in the waterunable to function effectively.
Dead in the water was originally used of a ship and in this context means 'unable to move'.
1997 Times And Oasis? Well, they are hardly dead in the water, having sold three million copies of Be Here Now.
ˌdead in the ˈwatera person or plan that is dead in the water has failed and has little hope of succeeding in the future: Now the scandal is out, his leadership campaign is dead in the water.
dead in the water
mod. stalled; immobile. (Originally nautical.) The project is dead in the water for the time being.
dead in the water
Unable to function or move: The crippled ship was dead in the water. With no leadership, the project was dead in the water.


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|Industry Leadership Award 2011 - Matanya Ophee
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Matanya Ophee was born in Jerusalem on June 15, 1932. He spent some years on a kibbutz tending horses, picking fruit, and then driving 18wheeler trucks down to the Dead Sea, working as a printing press operator, selling books from door to door and other delightful occupations. In 1952, he enlisted in the Israeli Air Force as a cadet in its flying school, graduating on August 13th, 1953.
In 1955 Matanya began his guitar studies in Tel Aviv with Esther Bromberger, a pupil of Luigi Mozzani, then taking further lessons from José Pelta and Menache Baquiche. In 1960-62 he studied with Richard Pick in Chicago. Further studies in music theory were taken under Gérard Le Coat at the Conservatoire de Lausanne in Switzerland (1963), and in composition with Eli Yarden in Israel (1964). During the years 1964-65, Matanya was active in Tel Aviv as a private guitar teacher, and gave a fair number of concerts and recitals. He took part in a radio broadcast on Kol Israel, together with Uri Shoham, first flute of the Israeli Philharmonic, and Ze'ev Shteinberg, the first viola of the same orchestra, in a world premier performance of the Trio for flute,viola and guitar by the Israeli composer Yosef Mar-Chaim.
In 1965 Matanya immigrated to the USA and became a naturalized American citizen in 1970. Teaching the guitar in the mid60s was not a good way to pay the rent and buy groceries, so he got a day job flying airplanes commercially, beginning with Mohawk Airlines, which then became Allegheny which then became Usair now known as US Airways.
The guitar was always there.
In the early 1970s Matanya joined a small chamber music group in Concord, New Hampshire, playing lunch time concerts in various locations. The Boccherini quintets, the Schubert-Matiegka quartet, the Kreutzer Trio and the rest of those things with a green cover from Zimmermann. That was not quite enough, so he started looking in libraries for more. Since then, he had the good fortune to discover a great deal of unknown music, a lot of information about some composers guitarists never heard of and by the sheer force of perseverance, he learned from his mistakes as he went along. He discovered, in the writings of Blaise Cendrars, one small saying which changed his life: "One does not need much talent or knowledge. All that is required is a love for that which is true, a deep curiosity and a sense of being." He became a historian-musicologist. His many articles have appeared in leading guitar journals throughout the world and in many languages. His research into the repertoire of chamber music with guitar and the history of the guitar in Russia have been notable contributions to public knowledge. He is recognized, among others, for bringing to light the music, the biography and the accomplishments of François de Fossa, Jan Bobrowicz, Antoine de L'Hoyer, Andrei Sychra, Johann Dubez, Ivan Padovec, Leonhard Schulz, Giulio Regondi and a few others. Besides his interest in early nineteenth century guitar music, Matanya also relentlessly sought out high-level guitar music by contemporary composers. He brought to light the music of Eli Magen (grandson of Alexander Scriabin!), Roberto Sierra, Marilyn Ziffrin, Carlos Barrientos, Mark Delpriora, Nikita Koshkin, and Jan Freidlin, to mention a few names.
In 1978 Matanya established, while still in New Hampshire, the publishing company Editions Orphée. Eventually it moved with him to Boston and later to Columbus, Ohio, where it has been based since 1984. The company is recognized internationally as a leading publisher of guitar music and books, having won numerous awards for the graphic excellence of its editions and the approbation of important music critics around the world. In 1988 Matanya retired from aviation, and now devotes his full time to music and the guitar. He is a fearless researcher of guitar history, an occupation he still maintains on a daily basis, and (as Matanya says), much to the consternation of his many supporters and detractors, he knows no compromise as a public figure in the International guitar world.


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Kate Sherrod blogs in prose! Absolutely partial opinions on films, books, television, comics and games that catch my attention. May be timely and current, may not. Ware spoilers.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Summer of Jest Part the Third: Chapters 5 & 6
These next two chapters have neither of them ever been favorites of mine, though one is a giant plot mover and the other is a pretty remarkable literary achievement. I admire but do not love them.
They made me realize this time around, though, just what a big task DFW set for himself in this novel; the only comparable endeavor I can think of is the brilliant HBO series The Wire. The Wire wasn't so much a police drama as an anthropological/ecological study of community-as-ecosystem, as food web, with the Baltimore Police Department and its internal struggles as pretty much just a convenient framing device for the storytelling. Similarly, IJ is looking at a whole city, Boston this time (and, to a lesser degree, an imagined nation of ONAN), as ecosystem, with the Enfield Tennis Academy in the role filled by the Baltimore Police in The Wire. And DFW did it first, all by himself, and did a whole lot of science fiction-y world building to boot!
But so, Chapter 5 brings us around to the weirdly delimited little world of a Saudi Arabian medical attache, an Ear Nose and Throat specialist whose job is to keep his country's Minister of Entertainment's never-ending naso-pharyngeal yeast infections at bay* while the big man is in Boston striking a big deal with ONAN's big Netflix/Redbox analog, Interlace Entertainment. Which yeast infections the Minister is pretty much constantly aggravating via his staggeringly poor lifestyle choices. Our unnamed attache is pretty much in Sorceror's Apprentice mode without having had the fun of casting the spell, poor guy.
Attache's only happiness is to come home, sink into a futuristic superchair that converts into a bed, sheets and all, when he's ready to go to sleep, strap on a tray that's more like a feedbag, and eat dinner and watch "entertainment cartridges"** while his wife does the hard work of keeping crumbs out of his beard and whatnot. Except on Wednesdays when he usually works late and she gets to go play Burqa Tennis. Aren't we all jealous as hell of her life.
On this particular Wednesday, though, our man gets home early, to no dinner, no pre-selected DVDs, nothing but crap on broadcast/cable ("spontaneous dissemination"), his mail unsorted, himself bereft of options. In desperation he decides to watch an unlabeled DVD some unknown party mailed to him, a decision which seems utterly innocuous and utterly time-wasting, but will turn out to be pretty much fatal and crucially important to the overall plot of Infinite Jest. I'd say it's probably equivalent in its combination of banality and importance, if not in, you know, actual content, to McNulty's spouting off to a judge about how the Barksdale Outfit keeps intimidating witnesses in The Wire.
Our only hint that something unusual is going on is hints toward the end of the chapter that the attache is watching the program for like the third time in a row. It's that entertaining, apparently.
Moving onto the next chapter, we are jolted further out of our contemplation of the Incandenza family's drama (remember the Incandenzas?) by an entire chapter written in, what appears to this white girl anyway, perfectly rendered Black English, a study in unconjugated verbs, phoenetic spellings and all. The chapter, from the point of view of a pre-teen black girl, tells an old, old story, of a pretty young woman, Wardene, who is desired by her icky stepfather figure, Roy Tony, is brutally punished for it by her mother, and runs to her boyfriend Reginald for shelter and comfort. We get hints of a future conflict between Reginald and Roy Tony. All of this will have implications in the larger plot later on, but for now it's just sort of sitting here confusing readers and perhaps annoying them even as they might admire DFW's dual achievement of technical skill and sheer ballsiness.
We'll be doing that a lot.
*Thus introducing the icky theme of dealing with mucous membranes and nasal secretions that recurs in IJ in surprising and sometimes seriously plot-propelling ways, as we'll see shortly in the backstory of one Don Gately.
**Let's just make like they're DVDs, because DFW was very close on this. To the point where I call the TV in my living room, not connected to cable but via an Xbox 360 to Hulu Plus and Netflix and Amazon Instant Video, the teleputer. Which confuses the hell out of my lodger who has not read IJ. Tee and also hee.
Posted by Kate Sherrod at 10:59 AM
Labels: David Foster Wallace, literary fiction, re-reads 2013, science fiction, Summer of Jest, The Wire
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Remember I blogged about it a couple of weeks back- here.
Its all been very hush, hush so I wasn't entirely sure until now what it was all about. The site is now up and its actually a game to help people learn a new language. As mentioned it is only the testing site so the full thing has not been released yet. Eventually it will become an app.
The company developing the game have asked me to try out the game & give feedback. I said i would also share it on here, so if anyone wants to have a play and offer some input then leave a comment (constructive please) and i'll pass it on. This link rebootlanguages.com will take you to the beta site. You'll need a PC to download the various versions of the games - sorry Mac users. Being a Mac bod myself I had to borrow Dave's laptop.
Before I sign off, here are few food related illustrations for the project which i've been working on:


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locally inspired
About The Durham Art Walk Holiday Market
November 17, 2018, 10am-5pm
November 18, 2018, 1pm-5pm
The Durham Art Walk Holiday Market is a celebration of visual arts and fine crafts held in downtown Durham, featuring the work of numerous talented artists in multiple locations. This event kicks off the holiday season by bringing thousands of art lovers for a weekend of shopping and exploration of all that Durham has to offer including live music, world-class restaurants, great shopping, innovative businesses and fascinating historic sites. Most sites are within easy walking distance around downtown and on Saturday visitors can take the Bull City Connector, Durham's fare-free bus that travels downtown. The Connector does not run on Sundays (www.bullcityconnector.org).


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Marsaxlokk is a small fishing village with a population of around 4,000 located on the south-eastern coast of Malta located at the shoreline of the second largest port in Malta.
Fast Reference to Sections within Marsaxlokk Page
You will find this fishing village on all Malta guide books. Surrounded by green vegetation, this port is very sheltered and has deep waters. For this reason it has served many purposes over the centuries.
The nearby village of Birzebbugia also forms part of this port however it offers a very different character. At present this important fishing village has the largest population of active fishermen with many traditional fishing boats of all sizes anchored in the port.
Traditional Fishing Boats
A local characteristic of these wooden boats is that they create a particular scenic effect, painted in bright red, green, yellow and blue. This fishing boat is called 'luzzu' in Maltese and in themselves are an attraction to many tourists who visit this location all year round.
The colours reflect beautifully in the blue sea of the bay. The fishing boat design is said to date back to 800 BC when the Phoenicians came to Malta. They have the traditional eye of osiris on both sides of the front bow of the boats.
Marsaxlokk & Hop On Hop Off Tours
It is a very quiet village compared to others, with few cars passing through. But at the same time it has become a very touristic location with many fish restaurants and cafes lined along the promenade.
If you are lucky enough you might see the fishermen tending to their nets before they go out to sea for their next catch. It is indeed a village where you can relax and gently stroll around.
Marsaxlokk Fish Market and Stalls
Street hawkers set up their daily stalls here selling souvenirs, clothing and all kind of things. You will also notice there are stalls selling fresh fish.
Marsaxlokk is busiest on Sunday when many people flock to the Sunday market.
Many locals come on this day to buy their weekly supply of fish and vegetables.
You will still see the usual souvenir stalls and the Maltese lace table-cloths with crochet finishing many of them depicting the cross of the Knights of Malta.
For those with a sweet tooth, one will find many locally baked sweets to savour and purchase.
The most popular fish in Malta are the Swordfish and blue fin tuna. During spring and autumn dophin fish or Dorado, known locally as 'lampuki' is caught in abandance and is very popular with the locals.
Modern Developments Within the Ports
Being a large port, it has seen two national major investments. The Freeport Terminal was launched in 1988 and was the first one in the Mediterranean sea at the time.
Now it is the third largest with a turnover of 2.54 million in 2012.
Due to increased development the Maltese government decided to build a new power station with a generating capacity of 304 MW to complement the one at Marsa.
Although these two large projects have had an impact on the bay and its surrounding environment, however Marsaxlokk has managed to retain it's natural beauty.
Marsaxlokk Malta remains one of the most attractive places to visit.
Malta Tours Best Sellers
Marsaxlokk Bay: There are no beach facilities in the area. It is therefore advisable that one takes along the essentials.
How to arrive here: If driving your own rented car, take the road leading to Zejtun. Follow the signs on the main road until you find the signs which will take you to the centre of the village which is adjacent to the sea shore.
Public transport to Marsaxlokk Bay: Buses to take you here:
From Valletta - Bus No 81 and 85 - every 40 and 60 minutes
From Birzebbugia - Bus No 210 - every 60 minutes
From Airport - Bus No 119 - every 60 minutes
Parking: Along the promenade and on the left side of the bay there is a large parking area
Public Toilets: There is a public rest room in the centre of the bay adjacent to the sea shore in front of the main church square.
Sightseeing Buses: The CitySightseeing Malta hop-on hop-off service, passes from Marsaxlokk too. First departure from Valletta Waterfront at 9.15 am to 16.10 pm every 30 minutes. You have to get on the South Malta red line. Marsaxlokk is stop number 4. For further details click here
Villages close by: Birzebbugia, Zejtun and Marsascala.
Malta hotels in the vicinity of the beach: There are no hotels but there are a few apartments for rent. Very close by there is Birzebbugia and on the other flank Marsascala, a very touristic location. In these two locations you will find a very good selection of 2 & 3 star hotels and apartments for rent.
Restaurants All restaurants offer a particular experience in fresh locally caught fish and sea food. Most fish restaurants are open for lunch and dinner and are sought after by all types of persons, not least by foreigners who live or work in Malta.
Boat trips from Marsaxlokk: St. Peter's Pool, Harbour tour
We suggest that here is a good choice for meals, not only for the fresh fish on offer but also for its' quiet and picturesque location. For those who come to our islands in search of a relaxing holiday, this is the place where this can be achieved.
Attractions: Despite its importance in the history of Malta over the years and its reputation as the most picturesque seaside locality in Malta, remains a simple fishing village.
Despite having become very commercialized, the beauty is in its old houses laden with character.
The typical Maltese church with the large square at the front, and the laid back village atmosphere that enable it to retain its character.
The Most Popular Tourist Attractions Malta Offers
Malta Excursions Exclusive: Blue Grotto and Marsaxlokk
From: €31
Duration: Extended Half Day (Morning)
Departs: From your Accommodation
Book your tickets online. More info »
Above & Below
From: €47
Duration: Full Day
Departs: From your Accommodation
A double cruise to the Grand Harbour, Lunch and underwater safari. More info »
Various historic buildings can be still seen in the harbour, while the fishing nets are still spread on the quay to dry in the sun.
The Parish Church which is located in front of the promenade, was built in 1897 and is dedicated to our Lady of Pompei.
Tas-Silg historical site
The Tas-Silg historical sites are a living memory of generations of culture that have settled on this island over centuries. It is worth viewing a feature describing its' importance.
St. Lucian Tower
It has been used for many centuries by inhabitants and invaders alike. In fact the Knights of St. John had constructed a large fortification which is called St. Lucian. It is located at the centre of the port on a peninsula. It's main purpose had been to protect this harbour from invaders to which often fell prey.
Fort Delimara
It was built by the British Forces during their presence in Malta in the period 1880. Its principal scope was to protect Marsaxlokk Bay. Located at the mouth of the bay, it was built almost underground so as to camoflage it from unwanted invaders.
Marsaxlokk bay is the location mentioned on all Malta guide books.
Want To Know More?
- National Historic Places - Ghar Dalam | Hagar Qim | Mnajdra »
- Tourist Attractions Nearby - Blue Grotto »
- Famous Beaches - Golden Bay | Ghadira Bay | Ghajn Tuffieha Bay
- Return to top of Marsaxlokk »
- Return from Marsaxlokk to Malta Info Guide home page »


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555 Newport Center Drive Newport Beach, California 92660
(949) 219-0555
exec general manager
Holly Padias
culinary manager
Garrett Brazier
R+D Kitchen in Newport Beach is located on the north side of Fashion Island near the Neiman Marcus. Featuring patio seating, large windows and a central horseshoe bar, this location is the perfect place for afternoon lunch and a glass of wine.
On Our Dress Code:
To enhance the experience of all our guests we ask that you respect our dress code. We suggest collared shirts for gentlemen. We consider tank tops, overly provocative clothing, boldly logoed athletic attire, and flip-flops too informal for the dining experience we plan to provide. We do not allow hats to be worn in the dining room. Your comfort is our priority; however, we do not feel that overly casual attire is appropriate for dining in our restaurant.
Before your visit, view our other Dining Guidelines.
Part of the Hillstone Restaurant Group, © 2019


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Open sourciness
Red Hat's JBoss conundrum
JBoss seems to be undergoing some generational pains as it strives to morph from an open source products company to an enterprise open source products company. So its recent formal announcements covered the enterprise tack: something called Enterprise Acceleration that performs the basic blocking an tackling to show enterprises, ISVs, and systems integrators alike that nobody will get fired for buying JBoss. And then there were the pronouncements to the faithful that, while JBoss is trying to go enterprise, that it won't forget its roots.
First, the enterprise stuff. So-called Enterprise Acceleration is a new bunch of consulting services, testbeds, benchmarks and best practices for reducing the risk of migration, which cover migration, interoperability, and performance tuning. Plus, for ISVs and systems integrators, a center that formally certifies that third-party applications indeed run properly on JBoss.
There's little startling about the announcement. Given that JBoss has always pitched itself as the challenger, and that its product has cultivated a reputation as a compact, flexible body of code that just actually works, the burden of proof is on JBoss to document that it can scale up and won't jeopardize security.
JBoss also announced its new service oriented architecture (SOA) platform, but there's less to the announcement than meets the eye because JBoss already had some of the pieces. The SOA platform announcement was that its enterprise service bus (ESB) was now ready enough to be bundled with JBoss' existing business process management (JBPM) offering. We emphasize "ready enough," because the ESB is still technically in beta. According to Crag Muzilla, vice president of the middleware business, the core is in place, but still lacks some tooling.
But back to the growing pains. Although the acquisition by Red Hat is almost two years old, as we noted last week, the move has not gone down smoothly with the customer base. At first blush, the concerns are over licensing and support, but they belie a general feeling that Red Hat is trying to tame JBoss's culture. Muzilla likened it to sibling rivalry, where the younger brother resents the older one for growing up too quickly.
Addressing questions about whether the deal was good business for JBoss, Muzilla admits that a drop in sales following the deal were the result of turnover in the sales teams and inadequate cross training of Red Hat reps, who didn't fully understand the JBoss business. But he claimed that JBoss is on the upswing, with business increasing for each of the last three quarters, and that the accounts teams have been repopulated with salespeople from the likes of BEA Systems and Cape Clear - who obviously should help the business.


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Grilled some chicken thighs for this on Sunday when the grill was hot. Skipped the blue cheese for the lactose intolerant among us and for the health of the lactose tolerant.
Verdict is: delicious. A good combination of flavors. A satisfying salad.
This isn't my picture (it's from the original blog), but.. just look at this! Ours looked rather similar.