text:
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Avatar: A must see for the holidays
James Cameron's Avatar
and you absolutely must see it once you get the chance. Besides the fact that the movie is stunningly beautiful and revolutionary in terms of film-making, I think you'll find something else to take away from it.
Interestingly, when Joe Lieberman said he voted against the Public Option because liberals were too excited about it, I thought in a similar fashion with this movie review. Only after sufficient conservative whining did I realize the potential fuss this movie could generate. So I went and saw it, and to be honest, 99% of my satisfaction came directly from the imaginative and beautiful world of Pandora and the Na'vi- their story and lifestyle. Only a small sliver of me got excited because the message of the film was so clearly anti-imperialist and against American intrusion in the Middle East.
So although most Americans will go and simply enjoy this film for what it is, a small minority will sh#t a brick and begin their political whining. In the same way, it would be awesome to keep the comments about this post strictly about the movie. I'm a little tired of hearing obnoxious "Hollywood is liberal" arguments, even if they are probably true. So what? STFU, sit down and watch the movie, and get over yourselves. Thank you, and Merry Christmas Lefties!
Visual: A
Sound: A
Story: A-
Experience: A
Overall: A
Friday, December 18, 2009
Joe Lieberman Is A Dirty Whore (as if you didn't know)
Thursday, December 17, 2009
A Crazy Week of Politics
Then today I heard Bill Clinton come out and support it.
Angry progressives are voicing their ire with Joseph Lieberman, including one man who threatens to organize a boycott of pro-Lieberman businesses in Connecticut.
MoveOn has reportedly raised over $1 million against Lieberman in under 48 hours.
Albeit finals week at ND, it's been interesting in the world of politics, from Copenhagen to Washington.
Finally, here is Olbermann's special comment, for your viewing pleasure:
Monday, December 14, 2009
Stop Joe Lieberman.
Today I watched the news and was absolutely disgusted to find that
Sen. Joe Lieberman may be shutting down progressive health care reform
by himself! I have opposed the filibuster rule in the Senate for
quite some time, even though Sen. Harkin is raising that issue again
it will not be able to get passed in time to help us pass health care
Lets make our democracy work by putting pressure on Lieberman. How do
you put pressure on a politician? You make them look bad to their
constituents. Progressive Change Campaign Committee is an up and
coming organization that is widely being recognized as a liberal
megaphone in our political system. They have a great ad targeting
Sen. Joe Lieberman they want to air in Connecticut and are asking 3
dollars from health reform supporters like us to help them air it.
Please go to this link, watch the ad, and consider donating 3$
Saturday, December 12, 2009
2009: The Great Recession
This seems to be a fitting mantra, at times...
- In 2009, many faithful Obama supporters lost the faith, as a compromise turned to betrayal at times and progressives were left in the dark. The war machine was only pushed harder, and definitive progress toward universal health care was unclear, not to mention the soft hand that was given to corporate America.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Kroc Institute Prof. Comments on Obama's Nobel Speech
Professor David Cortright, Director of Policy Studies at the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies here at Notre Dame was recently interviewed by Christopher Hayes of The Nation Magazine, for his reaction on President Obama's speech at the awards ceremony for the Nobel Prize.
I caught this onto this from Chris Hayes' Twitter feed. Shameless self-promotion: you can also now follow Lefty's on Twitter, as well as ME your loyal Lefty's editor, and the Kroc Institute!!!
When asked for his reaction to the President's speech, Professor Cortright had the following reaction:
"I found the Nobel speech disappointing." He continued: "To use the Nobel dais to justify the use of military force is unseemly. The president's characterization of the historic role of US military power was distorted, and his interpretation of just war theory was incomplete."Read the rest of his reaction at The Nation.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
The New Way Forward - The President's Address
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
December 01, 2009
Remarks by the President in Address to the Nation on the Way Forward in Afghanistan and Pakistan
Eisenhower Hall Theatre, United States Military Academy at West Point, West Point, New York8:01 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Good evening. To the United States Corps of Cadets, to the men and women of our Armed Services, and to my fellow Americans: I want to speak to you tonight about our effort in Afghanistan -- the nature of our commitment there, the scope of our interests, and the strategy that my administration will pursue to bring this war to a successful conclusion. It's an extraordinary honor for me to do so here at West Point -- where so many men and women have prepared to stand up for our security, and to represent what is finest about our country.
To address these important issues, it's important to recall why America and our allies were compelled to fight a war in Afghanistan in the first place. We did not ask for this fight. On September 11, 2001, 19 men hijacked four airplanes and used them to murder nearly 3,000 people. They struck at our military and economic nerve centers. They took the lives of innocent men, women, and children without regard to their faith or race or station. Were it not for the heroic actions of passengers onboard one of those flights, they could have also struck at one of the great symbols of our democracy in Washington, and killed many more.
The Next Page In the Afghanistan War
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
A New Way Forward:
The President's Address to the American People on Afghan Strategy
Oval Office
For Immediate Release
December 2nd8:01 P.M. EDT
My fellow Americans,
On March 28th, I outlined what I called a "comprehensive, new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan." It was ambitious. It was also an attempt to fulfill a campaign promise that was heartfelt. I believed -- and still believe -- that, in invading Iraq, a war this administration is now ending, we took our eye off Afghanistan. Our well-being and safety, as well as that of the Afghan people, suffered for it.
I suggested then that the situation in Afghanistan was already "perilous." I announced that we would be sending 17,000 more American soldiers into that war zone, as well as 4,000 trainers and advisors whose job would be to increase the size of the Afghan security forces so that they could someday take the lead in securing their own country. There could be no more serious decision for an American president.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
5 Lessons From the Charlie Weis Era
Presenting: Henry's 5 Lessons From the Charlie Weis Era
#5: Being a native son shouldn't earn you preferential treatment.
#4: Notre Dame can recruit again. However, a coach cannot lean only on the caliber of his recruits. He must develop those players.
#3: Hire someone who has already proven themselves as a head coach at the D-1 FBS college level.
#2: College football is more about executing fundamentals well and less about "schematic advantages."
#1: Don't give 10-year contracts to anyone.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Game Day!!!
So, Domers... who is on your Christmas wish list to take over the program next year???
Thursday, November 26, 2009
5 Things To Be Thankful For in 2009
I'd like to wish a Happy Thanksgiving to all our readers and writers at Lefty's Last Cry. Lefty's has been in a bit of a hiatus right now. To be completely honest, I've been discouraged by some of the buzz surrounding the health care debate. The dramatization and horse-race style of the MSM is too exhausting. However, I was happy to see that someone bothered to point out how ridiculous the filibuster has become.
As we sit and watch football, drink beer, and stuff our faces, I'd like to present a little list of 5 things I am thankful for. If you have any thanks to give, feel free to add them into the comments.
#1: I am thankful our national soccer team didn't miss the world cup because of some silly hand ball.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Calling All Lefties! Let Senator Bayh hear your voice!
This evening, 20 College Democrats of Notre Dame got together and made over 1000 calls to Hoosiers in Northern Indiana asking them to call their Senator. If you haven't already had the chance, take a minute and call. Your voice matters!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
On the other hand
On the supposed victory...
Health Care Reform Passes in House 220-215
1 Republican, Congressman Joseph Cao (R-LA) joined 219 Democrats, including our own Joseph Donnelly (D-IN), in passing the measure. Here is Congressman Donnelly's contact info so you can call and thank him:
South Bend: (574) 288-2780
Washington, DC (202) 225-3915
176 Republicans and 39 Democrats opposed the bill. The following Democrats voted against HR 3962.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Where We Are Now
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Game Day!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Pickens comes to Notre Dame
A Town Hall event with T. Boone Pickens
This week, I had the opportunity to visit a town hall meeting hosted by T. Boone Pickens in the Debartolo Performing Arts Center.
The event was kicked off by an ND alum, Salem Abraham (class of '88), Pickens' friend and neighbor and the head of Abraham Trading Company, a commodity trading company based in Canadian, Texas.
Pickens came to Notre Dame as part of a college speaking tour across the country to promote his ambitious energy proposal, the Pickens Plan. The Plan kicked off in July of 2008 with the goal of reducing American dependence on foreign oil with investments in natural gas and wind farms. Pickens has invested $62 million of his own money into the Pickens Plan, which boasts over 1 million supporters.
Pickens' lecture largely focused on expanding the use of domestically produced natural gas as a substitute for oil. He believes that global oil production will never exceed the current rate of 85 million barrels per day, meaning that we have currently reached peak oil, the maximum rate of global petroleum production. He also also cited the increasing percentage of imported oil in the total consumption of oil in the United States as a concern.
Foreign Oil
He recalled that President Nixon once promised that the United States would not import oil by the end of the 1970s. In that time, foreign oil imports actually increased from 24% to 28%. Since then, Pickens said that he has seen every subsequent presidential candidate promise a reduction in oil imports. Meanwhile the actual percentage of the oil Americans consume that comes from outside the country has continued to increase. Currently, around 67% of our oil comes from overseas, and Pickens expects that number to go up to 75% in the next ten years if there isn't a significant change in our energy policy. He added, "I don't think the folks in Washington lie to us about energy. They just don't understand it."
He commented briefly about his meetings with both John McCain and Barack Obama during the 2008 elections to discuss their energy proposals. John McCain proposed increasing nuclear power, while Barack Obama wanted to focus more on renewable fuels. Both of them wanted to invest in battery technology for transportation. As Pickens' story goes, he asked both of them "You know a battery won't move an 18-wheeler, right?" to which both candidates responded "It won't?".
Speaking further about President Obama, he recalled that he criticized Obama's promise of 1 million plug-in hybrids by 2015 for being "too small". While Pickens himself drives a fuel-efficient car that runs on natural gas, he's more interested in focusing on commercial vehicles like trucks which consume much more oil and produce more pollution than cars.
Though he claims his movement "doesn't have anything to do with politics, it has to do with being Americans", Pickens hasn't been at all cautious about involving himself in politics. Pickens is a supporter of HR 1835, the "New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions Act of 2009" which he dubbed, "the climate bill".
Natural Gas
Pickens went into more detail about his plan, which can be broken into two parts. First, Pickens predicts that the United States' electricity consumption will increse 20% in the next ten years. Most electricity in the US comes from coal fired plants, but Pickens argues that natural gas and, eventually, renewable fuels can be used to meet that demand in an effort to reduce costs and environmental damage.
Second, Pickens supports the expanded use of natural gas-powered trucks instead of diesel trucks. The majority of his speech consisted of outlining his plan to incentivize the replacement of what he referred to as diesel "heavy-duties" (big trucks), with more efficient trucks powered by natural gas engines. He cited the use of natural gas to fuel garbage trucks in Los Angeles as an example.
Aside from the benefits of diminished cost and pollution, Pickens notes that at over 2000 Tcfs (trillion cubic feet) the United States has the largest natural gas reserves in the world, so we could be replacing foreign fuel with a domestic one.
"6.5 million heavy-duty vehicles can be switched to natural gas. We can cut 2.5 million barrels (of oil imports) per day. That would cut half of the amount that we import from OPEC"
After his 30 minute lecture, Pickens stayed for 30 minutes of the audience's questions. Here are some of his answers to what I thought were the best questions:
Q: What's your stance on Cap and Trade?
A: Cap and Trade will be in the Climate Bill, which I support. But, I think Cap and Trade is really just a tax, and as a businessman I don't like taxes. If Congress wants to raise revenues with an energy tax they should pass a gas tax.
Q: What about ethanol?
A: I support anything made in America. Corn ethanol won't move an 18-wheeler either, but it'll help
Q: What about nuclear power?
A: Nuclear won't move vehicles, but it makes up 20% of our power generation. It could be a clean alternative to coal, and it's American, so I'm for it.
Q: In 2008 you were promoting the idea of creating wind farms from Texas to North Carolina. What happened to that?
A: In 2008, gas was more expensive than it is today. When gas is cheap, wind is not affordable. When the cost of gas goes up, wind power will be a better option. Both wind and solar technology will improve and be more useful in the future. But for now the storage technology isn't good enough either.
Natural gas is a bridge. Right now we need to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Hopefully in 50 years we can move completely to renewable fuels, and batteries and fuel cells. As long as those batteries are American. As I told Al Gore, I don't want to trade Saudi oil for Chinese batteries.
Q: What about volatile gas prices and the role that speculators have in driving up the cost of energy?
A: Speculators don't manipulate the cost of energy. The commodities market is different than the stock market. When someone sells shares of a commodity, someone else actually has to buy it. Energy markets are volatile, but part of the volatility comes from the fact that too much of our energy comes from foreign oil. We can't be buying oil from people that don't like us.
Q: Don't you agree that oil has been demonized too much in the national discussion of energy policy? We need oil for synthetics and other petroleum products like plastic.
A: 70% of the oil we use goes to transportation. Right now we have no energy plan. We have to get one. Oil from the enemy is likely to become very expensive. 5 years ago OPEC made $250 billion. In 2008, OPEC made $1.25 trillion.
This post is getting kind of long, so I'll put my own impressions of the town hall and the Pickens Plan in general in the comments section. If anybody else went to the town hall and wants to share their thoughts, feel free to add comments.
Regarding Our Last Poll:
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Bold and Honorable Words from Our New Democrat
The time has come to repeal the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Enacted 13 years ago when the idea of same sex marriage was struggling for acceptance, the Act is a relic of a more tradition-bound time and culture.
Connecticut, Iowa, and Massachusetts have already passed laws recognizing same sex marriage and other states are moving in that direction. The states are the proper forum to address this divisive social and moral issue, not the Federal Government with a law that attempts to set one national standard for marriage.
Prohibition showed just how difficult it is to enforce law establishing standards of personal behavior or morality. Coercion, whether civic or legal, in matters of this kind rarely works. It certainly won't halt public controversy surrounding the issue.
The repeal of DOMA is one step among several designed to fully integrate and protect the rights of gays and lesbians in American society. Recently enacted hate crimes legislation is another. The Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act (S 909), which I sponsored with the late Senator Kennedy, makes it a federal crime to target victims on the basis of disability, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity. President Obama has said he will sign the measure.
Nothing in the Act impedes the lawful expression of one's political or religious beliefs. All Americans are entitled to hold and express their own beliefs, no matter how provocative. At the same time, no person has the right to engage in violent acts of hate or incite to violence. Protecting Americans against such hate crimes does not inhibit free speech but rather serves us all by halting and penalizing those who carry out those acts of cruelty.
Measures to combat discrimination against gays and transgendered people in the workplace are another needed measure. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2009, of which I am an original cosponsor, was introduced on August 5, 2009 and is currently before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Finally, the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy is outdated, and should be rescinded entirely. A person's sexual orientation has no bearing on their ability to serve their country in the armed services. Countless studies and the experiences of gays who have served in the military have borne out these findings.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Game Day!
Grab a Mop
Yesterday a group of concerned Hoosiers delivered mops to Republican Party offices all across the state and asked them to pitch in and help clean up the mess they've made over the last eight years. Recognizing that we are all in this together the President has been hard at work to create jobs, ensure stable and affordable insurance, and better secure the country. But he has been met by Indiana Republicans (ex: Mark Souter, Mike Pence & Steve Buyer) with knee-jerk opposition and partisan obstruction to every new idea. Last week, the President suggested that rather than simply saying "NO" to efforts to help put the country back on the right track, the GOP should "grab a mop" and help clean up the mess we're in to move the country forward.
The College Democrats of Indiana are asking the Republican Party to take the President's advice: either grab a mop and help clean up the mess, or get out of the way!
"And this is the cause of my life, new hope that we will break the old gridlock and guarantee that every American -- north, south, east, west, young, old -- will have decent, quality health care as a fundamental right and not a privilege."
Edward Kennedy (1932-2009)
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
The World of The Conservative Base
The Very Separate World of Conservative Republicans
A Lefty's Call to Action
Make the call Lefties.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Game Day!
The Real Reason Behind The Nobel Prize
Friday, October 16, 2009
Lefty's Writer Spotted on The Huffington Post!
Don't be fooled by the Sarah Palin disguise, and Joe the Plumber on her arm. We at Lefty's can assure you that this version of the wolf huntress is far more intelligent, doesn't really shoot wolves from helicopters, and "pals around with terrorists" like us.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Michael Steele: The Gift That Keeps on Giving
Monday, October 12, 2009
College Democrats Are Working Hard For Health Care Reform
The College Democrats of Notre Dame co-sponsored the "Health Care for All" rally in downtown South Bend Saturday to support health care reform, a cause they say will make for a wiser system of medical insurance - and a healthier and wealthier nation.
Attended by about 150 community residents and students, the rally kicked off at 1:30 p.m. in front of the Morris Performing Arts Center.
"It becomes unaffordable for our businesses to provide health care for the people who work for those businesses," Congressman Joe Donnelly, a Democrat who represents Indiana's 2nd District, said at the rally, arguing the current system is unsustainable in the long term.
The rally was intended to put political pressure on Indiana's Democratic elected officials, College Democrats co-president and junior Christopher Rhodenbaugh said.
"The rally is about showing the widespread support in South Bend and the surrounding area for health insurance reform, showing the members of Congress that this is something that people really need and want and anyone who votes for it, this community will support and volunteer for them when they come up for re-election," he said.
To demonstrate public support for health care reform, the College Democrats have been calling Indiana residents during a weekly phone bank. Their goal is to reach five thousand people before the health care bill is submitted for a vote, which should be in mid-November, Rhodenbaugh said.
Rally attendee Sean Fritts shared the story of a family tragedy, which he believed could have been avoided with affordable health insurance.
When his wife Jennifer sought medical care for a cold during her pregnancy, the hospital turned her away. The next day, feeling more ill, Jennifer went with Sean to a different hospital. There, they lied that they had insurance, and she was diagnosed with double pneumonia. But the finding came too late - 55 days later, she died in an intensive care unit.
Citing a recent study by Harvard Medical School and the Cambridge Health Alliance that found 45 thousand deaths each year are linked to a lack of health insurance, Rhodenbaugh voiced a moral argument for health care reform.
"We believe that health care is a human right and that it is a social justice issue and to have one of the wealthiest countries in world have 45 thousand people die every year because of lack of insurance is wrong," he said.
Sophomore Tim Ryan, who attended the rally, said that a for-profit system of health insurance is immoral.
"It's unethical," he said. "It's a violation of human rights."
Freshman James Crowe said any short-term costs will be outweighed by a system that cuts expenses in the long term.
"In the short run, it will send us into a deficit, but in the long run, it will be more efficient," he said.
"The fact that the public option means a government takeover" is a part of the debate that Rhodenbaugh believes is often misunderstood.
"President Obama said in the health care speech that with the public option, roughly five percent of the population will be getting health insurance from the government," he said.
About 15 people attended an adjacent counter-demonstration in opposition to public intervention in the health care system.
Tim Grimes, founder and assistant organizer of Michiana's "9/12 Project," said he believed President Barack Obama's health care initiative was part of a larger scheme by the current administration to seize absolute control of the government and implement Obama's "total socialistic views."
Grimes also saw a conspiracy in the program proposed to limit carbon emissions, claiming that "cap-and-trade is going to make Al Gore rich."
Rhodenbaugh said he was displeased with the debate's level of discourse thus far.
"I am unhappy with how the debate among the American people has gone about. The fact is that it's been very much reflex politics," he said. "I wish there was more thoughtful debate. A lot of people forget that Medicare is a successful government health insurance program."
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Sunday Evening Tunes
Healthcare Reform Rally
After an "interesting" (but passionate) take on our national anthem, the speakers began to take the stage. Congressman Joe Donnelly made a surprise appearance. It was nice to see him finally (at least by all appearances) choosing the right side. He's not necessarily a leader in the House, but every vote is important. Another elected official,
But by far the most moving moment was the man who told us the story of how he lost his wife. She was 24, pregnant, and without insurance, when she came down with a mysterious illness. They went to a doctor, but because of her lack of insurance she was told there was little they could do, given an inhaler, and sent home. The next day her condition visibly worsened, so she was taken to another hospital and put on a respirator. At the cost of $22,000 a day. With no insurance. (At this point, the man was understandably unable to continue, so a woman whose relation to the family I did not catch continued the story for him.) Naturally, no average citizen is unable to sustain that sort of payment without assistance, so she was taken off the respirator. The baby was lost. Then she passed away. Leaving her husband and her two and a half year old child. Her memorial service was yesterday. Her husband came from the service to the healthcare rally. You can't hear a story like that and not choke up. When something like this happens in a country as wealthy and supposedly morally upstanding as America, the system is broken. Healthcare is a basic human right, and if we are unable to pass meaningful reform, then we will be hearing more stories like this every day.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
In Review- Capitalism: A Love Story
Presentation: B+
Evidence: A-
Fairness: B+
Relevance: A
In general, Moore does an excellent job nailing a timely problem in a way that is effective and persuasive. It was hard not to be teary-eyed during the FDR speech during this film. When you realize that you're watching a movie about things so recent and so painfully real, this movie really hits you. The movie probably only loses a few point by being overly abstract and preachy in the beginning. After about 30 minutes, though, it starts to get very real. I really love the parts of the film that try to emphasize that capitalism is inherently anti-Christian and anti-Catholic. It's time to realize that you must pick one or the other. Money or The Lord? Who is your God? Some of the other Lefty's writers and I thought it would awesome if we could get some conservatives to go watch this film. If anyone has any brilliant ideas on how to do this (pay for their tickets?) let us know. I would love to see this happen.
Finally, about the message of the film:
I'm going to make an assumption and give our readers credit for being an intelligent bunch. Many of you are college-educated or successful professionals. In this same light, I hope that you will be fair and realize that what I am about to say is actually NOT elitist, as much as it may seem so at first.
The reality, that Moore shows us, is that capitalism has erased that which democracy had achieved. Before democracy, there was aristocracy/monarchy/plutocracy. Only the smartest and most privileged ruled. Democracy meant "1 man, 1 vote" and tried to defy this inequality. Capitalism, on the other hand, disproportionally rewards those who are smart and privileged, far beyond what is deserved for being smart and privileged. So for people like ourselves, in the most basic self-interested sort of way, capitalism is excellent. Most of you will probably do well. There is no guarantee, of course. The problem is, that for the other 95% of people, capitalism is mostly shitty.
Think about it like this. We all love to play a game that we know we can win. Even if the rules aren't the most fair, we will find enjoyment in competition and victory. Fairness only becomes a serious issue when we are less sure we can win or when we know we will lose. No one wants to play a game that seems rigged against them.
And this is the problem. Intelligent people try (successfully) to export their enthusiasm for this whole "capitalism" idea to the rest of the bunch- the 95% that probably won't win. They're so smart in fact that they actually persuade all those people that the game is fair after all. "You can win, too." Our enthusiasm is contingent on the high that we get from winning. This is fine and dandy, then. We can keep playing this game and keep winning. I mean, if it makes us feel good, and we're winning, who really cares, right?
We should care. We should realize that the people who already hate capitalism can't afford to watch Michael Moore's film, don't have the power to ever really do anything about it (this is debatable), and really don't have as much to gain from seeing it. THIS MOVIE IS FOR PEOPLE LIKE US. It is a wake-up call for those who are winning at this game called capitalism that maybe winning isn't everything. Maybe there are other virtues that matter- like equality/shared prosperity (everyone having some fun playing), fairness, democracy, accountability, and for God's sake, maybe some humility. Let's think about who we serve sometimes. Maybe if we weren't always feeling the high from winning we would realize that it is money who we serve. Let's get sober, Lefties.
Another Take on the Nobel Prize
To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many transformative figures who've been honored by this prize... But I also know that this prize reflects the kind of world that those men and women, and all Americans want to build. A world that gives life to the promise of our founding documents. And I know that throughout history the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement, it's also been used to give momentum to a set of causes. And that is why I will accept this award as a call to action. A call to all nations to confront the common challenges of the 21st century.
It confirms, finally, America's return to the hearts of the people of the world.
I cannot think of anyone today more deserving of this honor ... President Obama has provided outstanding leadership on moving towards a world free of nuclear weapons.
Friday, October 9, 2009
The Nobel Prize
Big Mistake, Barack
Listen, I know you're doing everything you can to engage with other nations and lay down some real diplomatic roadways so that the US can crawl its way out of the international relations morass your predecessor created. Really. We all get it. We know you're working hard out there.
But this Nobel Prize thing? Honestly? Not a good move.
Sure, many of my friends on the left will look at me askance here. We (in general) love our President and want him to succeed. On the surface, the Nobel Prize for Peace looks like a giant win. It looks like affirmation from the world that Barack Obama is respected and a positive change from The Last Guy.
Unfortunately, the local ramifications are troublesome. Let's face it: the guy is in the PROCESS of accomplishing things, but there isn't a whole lot to hang a Nobel Peace Prize on yet. I am willing to wager that he'll have accomplished a lot of good by the end of his term (hopefully two terms), but he's not there yet, and the awarding of the prize is embarrassing.
If, on the other hand, the President had graciously refused the prize, he would have earned himself an ENORMOUS amount of political capital. Can you imagine the speech? "I cannot accept the honor of this accolade until we have accomplished what we've set out to do." I mean for God's sake, it practically writes itself. The Republicans would have been falling all over themselves trying to find some way to criticize it.
And yet here we are with a Nobel awardee President and massive amounts of fodder for conservative attacks, with no additional "oomph" for the President's agenda.
Bad form, Barack. Bad form.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Unacceptable Policy
Mullen's letter suggests that we use a "don't ask, don't tell" policy to avoid including gay students, staff and faculty in Notre Dame's non-discrimination clause. I sincerely hope Mullen is not implying that it is acceptable to tolerate discrimination against members of the Notre Dame community who are openly gay. How does that fit in with the Catholic nature of our University? As a Catholic, you should respect the inherent dignity of every human being, and that means rejecting all forms of discrimination. Furthermore, being openly gay does not necessarily mean practicing homosexuality any more than being straight means that you are actively engaging in sexual activities.
Does Mullen believe that the University should exclude unmarried sexually active heterosexuals from the non-discrimination clause as well? While I'm in no way an expert on Catholic social teachings, I believe it is your responsibility as a Catholic to strive to love everyone, regardless of sexuality. It is detestable to try to hide behind Catholic social teachings to justify a tolerance of discrimination when in fact I believe it calls on you to do the opposite.
Mr. Mullen, I'm horrified that you would like to force our gay friends, neighbors and classmates into the closet just because homosexuality makes you uncomfortable.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Why Wait On "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"?
A petition was sent to Congress last spring by about 1,000 (homophobic) military officers stating that "We believe that imposing this burden on our men and women in uniform would undermine recruiting and retention, impact leadership at all levels, have adverse effects on the willingness of parents who lend their sons and daughters to military service, and eventually break the all-volunteer force." Apparently, these officers believe that having to serve with - or god forbid, under - an openly homosexual person would constitute a "burden" on our military. Go ahead, Congress, turn your heads while America's bravest get stuck in an unconstitutional quagmire in the desert, but please, please keep the gays away from them! Meanwhile, the Pentagon is looking for ways to continue "humanely" instituting the policy. Sorry Pentagon, there is no way, because it's an inhumane policy. These people are volunteering to protect the rights we believe in, but we are denying them theirs.
My father is a colonel in the United States Army who has served in both Iraq conflicts. I can assure you that whether deployed or on home turf, the least of his worries is the sexual orientation of the people who work for or with him. We insult the intelligence and fortitude of our men and women in uniform if we assume that they will be unable to perform as they are asked to if they have to work with somebody who is openly gay. This repulsive policy has to be repealed, and it has to be repealed now.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Game Day!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
What More Should It Take?
Bishops Support Universal Health Care Policy
"Universal health care is an intrinsic human right that proceeds from human dignity, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)."
The article continues:
The following appears on USCCB's website: "Every person, created in the image and likeness of God, has a right to life and to those things necessary to sustain life, including affordable, quality health care."
The Bishops were pleased by President Obama's reference to a conscience clause and a recognition of the ethical issues at hand. "[Let's] make sure that all of our health care policies are grounded not only in sound science, but also in clear ethics, as well as respect for the equality of women," said Obama at the ND 2009 Commencement ceremony.
Bill Purcell, Associate Director for the Center for Social Concerns, sees the issue within the framework of Catholic Social Teaching. "Yes, there needs to be health care; it has to be universal, especially for the poor and the vulnerable; but health care has to protect life from conception to natural death," Purcell said.
Some may feel as I do...that if a convincing majority of the American people, the Catholic Church, and many of the medical professionals support universal health care, what is holding us back? Left Coast Lefty suggested a fairly probable answer yesterday. What are your thoughts? What more should it take?
The Crusade Against ACORN
What you may not be aware of, was that the case that pushed ACORN over the edge has since been exposed as a conservative undercover hoax. You may also be unaware that such a bill, which directly targets ACORN for "breaking campaign finance laws" and "filing fraudulent paperwork," is now under question for unconstitutionality, because it unfairly targets an individual (or individual organization) without applying the law to all organizations that have violated such provisions. Rachel Maddow does a great job exposing the issue. Enjoy!


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Easy Valentine Candy Treat with Sure Do Love You Bundle
February 12, 2018
It's two days to Valentine's Day so here's an easy candy treat made with the Sure Do Love You Bundle. If you can find some boxed candy treats, these will go together in a jiffy.
The project in the original video has the same wrap idea with a belly band. See the how-to in the video tutorial below.
You can CLICK HERE to see this Valentine candy wrap video tutorial on You Tube.
Here's another option below. You can embellish these however you like!
- Measure the height of your candy box then make sure you cut it long enough to wrap around and overlap.
- No need to score your paper. Just crease it with your fingers as you fold it around the box.
- Use Tear & Tape to secure the wrap.
Here are supplies used for the projects that you see here today:
Product List
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Silver Rings for Men are Fashionable and Equipped with Cool Designs!
Wrist wear like bracelet has always managed to attract both men and women. It's not that only fashion savvies prefer to wear the bracelets. There are also people who wear bracelets made from different materials in order to receive the healing properties associated with that base metal. This time you can even take advantage of the healing properties that silver like metal carries while using the sterling silver mens bracelets announced by Kainam.
This is a leading brand for producing the best men's and unisex jewelry items for the market. They have always come up with the latest designs and styles of jewelries that attract both men and women. But when it comes to the silver rings for men, this is the most suitable online store for you where you can receive maximum good deals!
Now day's you can find a huge importance is being given to the use of silver made ornaments. People are not really showing a great interest in using the gold and platinum made jewelries. Sterling silver has surely appeared as the most suitable and best alternative base metal to gold when it comes to making the jewelries. This is cheap than gold and also shines a lot. The luster and shine of this metal uses to stay intact for a long time. It also needs very less or no maintenance to maintain the overall feel and shine of these jewelries. There are some other benefits that you must know before you invest with the silver rings for men.
Silver as a metal is believed to be very important for humans. It brings happiness, beauty, luck and abundance. As per the Vedic astrology, silver is related to Jupiter as well as moon. As per the experts in this field, wearing silver rings on particular fingers can help the wearer to reap those big benefits of moon and Jupiter. There are so many other points already made when it comes to the amazing benefits that silver like metal can deliver for our overall life. So, wearing the silver rings for men is something that might have started to knock your mind now! Well, the leading online store is all set to help you find the best deal on these items. The kind of online shopping experience you are going to receive here is just unmatchable.
Men use to have a huge inclination towards wearing bracelets and rings. They love to opt for different types of bracelets and rings. But the sterling silver mens bracelets can always make a big difference for your look and appearance. This online store is also the place to find the coolest collection for leather mens bracelets. With such leather bracelets, the designers have really managed to show off how creative they can be. These bracelets are designed in such a way that they can last long and can enhance the beauty of your wrist in an effortless manner. These mens bracelets suit almost any wardrobe that you decide to wear while going for a night out or for a party.


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VANDY VAPE JACKAROO KITLogin to see prices
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Link: Prairie dogs kill ground squirrels26 Mar 2016
Ed Yong writes about a long-term study of prairie dog sociality that demonstrated a surprising behavior among females: they kill dozens of ground squirrels: "Adorable Prairie Dogs Brutally Kill Baby Ground Squirrels".
The consequences of the kills were even more extraordinary. Hoogland showed that females who killed ground squirrels produced larger litters every year, and successfully raised more youngsters over their lifetimes—and the more they killed, they more successful they were. No other factor correlated with their success as parents—not body weight, colony size, or even longevity! Put it this way: Killing ground squirrels is the number one way in which female prairie dogs can get an advantage over their peers.
They don't consume the ground squirrels, they just seem to kill them to eliminate competitors for the roots and plant material that they eat. The little carcasses are then removed by raptors. It's a striking interaction of two species that I grew up around.


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PATH DA BHOG: 16 June 2018 (Saturday), 5pm-7pm, at Gurdwara Sahib Titiwangsa | Malaysia
RAMKALI M5: Pevnay Meh Peven Semaya Joti Meh Jot Ral Jaya. Maati Maati Hoyi Ayk. Rovenharay Ki Keven Teyk"
The air merges into the air. Light merges into light. Dust into dust. Hence why lament.
(1.4.1939 – 6.6.2018)
A true & rare gem of a man. An exemplary & devoted Husband, Father, Brother & Grandfather. A devout Gursikh. An ocean of pure love, mercy, benevolence & virtue. You have left a lacuna nearly impossible to fill. Words cannot describe our gratitude towards you.
Leaves behind loving wife, Harmeet Kaur. Children: Sukhbir & Dr Parmjit, Gurmukh & Inderjit and Jagdeep @ Jagi. Grandchildren: Sharanpreet, Jaspreet, Kavelnain, Gursimer & Gurishver.
Path Da Bhog: 16 June 2018 (Saturday), 5pm-7pm, at Gurdwara Sahib Titiwangsa, Kuala Lumpur
Inderjit 012-2333844
Jagdeep 012-3147574
| Entry: 6 June 2018 | Source: Family
[ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs in Southeast Asia and surrounding countries. We have a Facebook page, do give it a LIKE. Follow us on Twitter. Visit our website: www.asiasamachar.com]
[The fastest way to reach Asia Samachar is by sending us a Facebook message or Whatsapp message to +6017-3351399. For obituary announcements, click here]


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There is something to be said for an environment where people feel comfortable expressing appreciation, respect and caring for their co-workers.
When employees can feel really comfortable and supported in the workplace, magic can happen — innovation peaks, creativity stirs and collaboration naturally happen. This is how really great results are produced. When you create an environment where "we win" is supported over "I win," you will create a much more supportive and collaborative work environment. And what's not to love about that?
1. Embrace differences.
Most workplaces today are extremely diverse. Backgrounds, life experiences, choices and worldviews — we all bring something different to the table. You don't have to become an advocate for each person's unique traits, but you can embrace those differences to benefit the workplace as a whole. Do this by looking for ways to assign people with unique talents and abilities to certain situations where they would be a good fit and by looking for common ground among people and celebrating both the similarities and the differences.
2. Listen deeply.
Focus on listening as much as you talk. Every person has a need to feel heard, and being a good listener can help your employees feel that they have a voice. Even if you can't implement an employee's idea or solve a problem she may have, your willingness to listen will make a difference.
3. Care about others — and show it.
It may seem easy to simply care about your employees, but it can be difficult for some bosses to show it in a genuine way. Take time to understand your employees' points of view, and make exceptions to the rules when necessary. Make it a priority to express your appreciation to them in a genuine way.
If emotional intelligence is something that your workplace just doesn't embrace, consider making an argument for how this can effect not just employee morale, but your company's stock performance too. An important economic link between company intangibles, such as employee satisfaction, and broader financial performance among large publicly held companies.
So make your workplace where employees love each other. This could be the key to achieving your organization's goals.
Sources: Entrepreneur.co


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Word to the Wise
Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - St. Monica - mother of Saint Augustine[2 Thessalonians 3:6-10, 16-18 and Matthew 23:27-32]
For we did not act in a disorderly way among you, nor did we eat food received free from anyone. On the contrary, in toil and drudgery, night and day we worked, so as not to burden any of you. Not that we do not have the right. Rather, we wanted to present ourselves as a model for you, so that you might imitate us. In fact, when we were with you, we instructed you that if anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat.
Although scripture scholars argue over the question as to whether or not St. Paul actually wrote the Second Letter to the Thessalonians, the subject matter seems clear. It concerns the way people should behave until the Second Coming of the Lord. It would appear that some in the community had taken the attitude that there was no point in trying to earn a living since Jesus was coming soon and everything earthly would vanish. The result was that the behavior became parasitical and was causing tensions within the community. We do know that St. Paul had a trade that he followed - tentmaking - and he worked to support himself even though he believed his ministry entitled him to some support from the community. In the tightly related early Christian communities, there was a system of social support which aimed at providing for widows and orphans and others who had no other way to live. This system presupposed that all other members of the community contributed to this common good. To avoid participating on the grounds of a belief that Jesus' return would happen soon was contrary to the gospel and to what St. Paul was teaching. Perhaps on some levels we Americans with our strong work ethic can identify with the problem. We are all familiar with "couch potatoes", "moochers" or "leeches" whose behavior is motivated by less than convincing reasons or else by good reasons that don't seem to apply to them! In any case, the Second Letter to the Thessalonians shows us that the problem is an old one and was addressed in almost the same words we might use: "Get a job!" AMEN


text: Publicado el 29 enero, 201825 febrero, 2019 por chape — 10 comentariosWeider´s training principles: The isolation principle Several muscles can be trained as a unit or isolated and trained individually. All muscles are involved more or less in every movement – either as stabilizers, agonist, antagonists or synergistic. If a particular muscle is to be built up, it needs to be exercised as separately as possible from the other muscles. The isolation principle The main focus for isolation work is to concentrate fully on using the main muscle to move the weight. Main Muscles Worked: The muscles that are used the most during the exercise. Secondary Muscles Worked: Muscles that assist the main muscles in the exercise. Stabilizers: Muscles that are not worked by movement, but rather assist in stabilizing the body in addition to the weight of the exercise. Let´s analyze the Barbell Curls, for example: Main Muscles Worked: Biceps Brachii Secondary Muscles Worked: Brachialis Brachioradialis Stabilizers: Deltoid, Anterior Trapezius, Upper Trapezius, Middle Levator Scapulae Wrist Flexors Some people often make the mistake that isolation work is useless and a full compound routine is all one needs to build muscle. While compounds are the quickest way to work your body, they fail to fully exhaust the muscles. This is where isolation work is needed. While a compound workout is faster, isolations will better target each individual muscle, resulting in a complete workout. This puts more stress on the muscles, and thus makes them grow better than a full compound workout. What Are Some Of The Benefits Of An All Isolation Workout? Results: Put in simpler terms, it will give you maximum muscle growth. When body parts are neglected they won't be able to grow. Isolation movements give you the ultimate edge. You get to hit the muscle group that couldn't be hit with compound movements, or it wasn't hit as good and that's why it's lacking. Completely exhausting a muscle. Compounds work multiple muscles at once, yet it is impossible to work each of those muscles to its max with a single compound exercise. One muscle will tire out before the other. Thus the only way to get a complete workout with compounds would be to do a compound exercise for every muscle in your body. And that is not feasible due to energy and time. This is where isolation work shines, each muscle can be worked to its maximum potential that does not take an extreme amount of time or more energy than one has. Fewer opportunities for injuries: Injuries can arise in all types of workouts, but they are much less common in isolation exercises. This being because compounds are more intense than isolations. They use several muscles at once, which greatly opens the door for one muscle overpowering another, thus resulting in a pulled muscle. Examples are the «Big 3»: squats, deadlifts, and bench press. Squats and deadlifts put a great deal of pressure on your spinal column while bench press puts pressure on your chest and shoulders at once, often contributing to a pulled muscle if the barbell slips. Who Would Benefit From Using An All Isolation Workout? The people who gain the most benefit from an all isolation workout would definitely be people looking for a symmetrical body. Others who would benefit from an all isolation workout would be older people who may not have the strength or bone support to do squats, deadlifts, bench presses or pull-ups. Also for beginners, who may not know correct form for the big compound exercises or have enough strength to perform them, would benefit from an all isolation routine. There are not many people that can do pull-ups on their first day in the gym or can do a set of squats in proper form. An isolation workout would give these people an introduction to weightlifting before they start doing the more advanced exercises. Whatever the reason, an all isolation routine has its place. Do you need help to achieve your fitness goals? I still have some available spots. Do you think any of your friends should read this? Please, share on your favorite social network. Me gusta esto:Me gusta Cargando... Navegación de entradasAnterior: Best workout playlist February 18Siguiente: Dumbbell Chest Fly 10 comentarios en "Weider´s training principles: The isolation principle" thelonelyauthorblog 29 enero, 2018 You break it down in a way that makes sense and is easy for everyone to understand Cargando... Responder chape 29 enero, 2018 Thank you! That was the plan but one never knows… ;) Cargando... Responder thelonelyauthorblog 29 enero, 2018 You did well Cargando... Josh Gross | The Jaguar 29 enero, 2018 Really great post, Chape. This is all new information for me, and quite fascinating! You're making me want to work out 😉 Cargando... Responder chape 29 enero, 2018 Thank you so much, Josh! Are you doing your exercises for the knees? Cargando... Responder Josh Gross | The Jaguar 29 enero, 2018 I've been doing the quad wall stretch, the quad clenches, and the clam exercise daily. The quad clenches in particular seem to be helpful. Cargando... chape 30 enero, 2018 I'm very happy to hear that 😀 Cargando... gpowersm 30 enero, 2018 This is awesome advice. I do a full body workout three times a week, but unfortunately I am visibly more muscular on my dominant side. It's a subconscious thing that I'm trying to work on, but maybe an isolation work out would solve my problem. Cargando... Responder chape 31 enero, 2018 Thank you 😀 In this case, you should work each side of the body separately, with dumbbells. Start on the non-dominant side every set and exercise. The non-dominant side should set the pace. For example, you plan to do 12 reps of biceps curls but your non-dominant side is exhausted at 10. It's OK. Then you should perform only 10 reps on your dominant side 😉 Hugs, David Cargando... Responder Dumbbell Chest Fly - Chape Fitness 31 enero, 2018 […] about isolation exercises, the dumbbell chest fly on a flat bench is key to developing your pectoral muscles. It works mainly […] Cargando... Responder Penny for your thoughts Cancelar respuesta Este sitio usa Akismet para reducir el spam. Aprende cómo se procesan los datos de tus comentarios.


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Choosing to Participate Poster Exhibition
Choosing to Participate is a poster exhibition created by Facing History and Ourselves and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service to encourage dialogue, engagement, respect, and participation in our communities.
The Wright Memorial Public Library presents Choosing to Participate as a part of its Vision to enrich minds and transform lives; its Mission to provide diverse opportunities for lifelong personal growth; and its Values of empathy and community.
Let Choosing to Participate be the beginning of your learning. Attend a related program, download for free the official poster exhibition book from Facing History and Ourselves, explore Smithsonian Learning Lab collections, and check out the Youth Services Librarians' recommended reads.
- For children: Children Make a Difference Cosplay Event
- For adults: Let's Talk: Barriers to Voting, with League of Women Voters
- For all: Exercise your participation muscles by voting in Wright Library's Favorite Fairy Tale Characters Bracket!
Smithsonian Learning Lab Collections
- What Will You Stand For? from the National Museum of American History
- Native American Resistance & Activism, Then & Now from the National Museum of American History
- Martin Luther King Jr.: The Later Years (1965-1968) from the National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Portraying Global Citizenship from the National Portrait Gallery
- Well Done, Sister Suffragette! from Ellen Rogers, elementary school teacher
- Votes for Women from Rita Blair, middle school teacher
- LGBT Rights & History from Kate Harris, high school teacher
Recommended Reads


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For every search performed on Yumm.com we donate 10 grains of rice to The World Food Program. It's basically the same as using Google except you're helping someone else in the world get a bite to eat.Hill Climb racing Mod APK
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It is that simple. Use Yumm, feed hungry people.


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In This Issue.
* Euro climbs above $1.34
* Japanese yen continues to slide
* US trade deficit widens on increased imports
* Bud Conrad comments on the Fiscal Cliff deal
And, Now, Today's Pfennig For Your Thoughts!
The euro continues to climb, vaulting through $1.34 for the first time in almost a year...
Good day. I want to start off this morning's Pfennig with a quick correction/clarification of something Chuck ran on Friday morning. Chuck encouraged all of the Pfennig readers to go out and sign the petition to force the government to audit the US government's gold holdings. But apparently the link Chuck provided in Friday's Pfennig was shut down and removed. Here is what Chuck had to say: "So, I immediately went into conspiracy mode, and thought that. The Gov't put it up on their website, thinking that no one would notice it, then in a couple of months they would be able to say, that the people didn't demand an audit when they asked... Unfortunately for them, someone noticed and the word got out, and seeing thousands of names on the petition being added, the Gov't pulled it, before it got to 25,000..."
But in the end. it was just a bad link (I had gotten it from the GATA site). Chuck was able to find another link which seems to work (I tried it over the weekend) here is where you can all sign the petition and watch the government squirm: http://tinyurl.com/bsudyck We only until Feb 8th to sign.
Direction was given to Friday's markets by the euro which continued to march upward vs. the US$. The positive rhetoric by ECB President Mario Draghi continued to support the euro which climbed quickly through the $1.32 handle and then vaulted right through $1.33 touching $1.3404 as a high. This is the highest level for the euro in almost 11 months. Both Mario Draghi and Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, who leads the euro-area finance ministers, made convincing arguments last week that the 'worst is now behind for the euro'. But is the worst really over? Or is the European debt crisis simply taking a back seat while the US debt ceiling and budget negotiations dominate the markets?
Draghi pulled off what has got to go down as one of the best verbal interventions of all time with his statement regarding 'unlimited support' for the European bond markets at the height of the European debt crisis. This can now be seen as a definite turning point in the crisis, and what is sometimes forgotten by the markets is that the European Central Bank has still not spent a single euro supporting Draghi's statement. No country has asked the ECB for the help which Draghi offered last summer, but the markets continue to be convinced that help is available, and that has kept the bond vigilantes away.
2012 was definitely a challenging year for the euro area, but Draghi and the ECB seem to have pulled through the worst and are actually looking forward to 2013. "We spoke a lot about contagion when things go poorly, but I believe there is a positive contagion when things go well," Draghi said. And you really can't argue with Draghi's optimistic outlook. The markets are no longer betting the Euro will collapse, and even a Greek departure is no longer such a 'sure thing' with bets placed at Intrade.com implying just a 15 percent chance vs. a 49 percent chance at this time last year. And the rest of the PIIGS are also looking better. The economies of both Portugal and Ireland, two of the first countries needing help, are looking better. Chuck sent me a note last night regarding something he had read on the plane down to Florida: Just read in The Economist, which is always required reading when I travel, and came across an article On Ireland. Our ancestor's homeland may just may be able to leave their bail out program at the end of this year! WOW!
So much for all those that say austerity doesn't work eh?
The currency strategists over at Goldman Sachs certainly think the euro will continue to move higher. A report released last Friday by strategists in London said the euro would strengthen to a 14 month high of $1.37 in the near term. It always gives me a 'warm and fuzzy' when the boys over at Goldman agree with our thoughts, as Goldman Sachs is still in charge of the global financial system.
The other big mover in Friday's currency markets was the continued slide of the Japanese yen which reached its weakest level since June 2010. The new Prime Minister continues to push the Bank of Japan for further stimulus measures in order to boost the stagnated Japanese economy. Abe will probably get the BOJ to adopt the 2% inflation target which he as been advocating; double their current 1% target. This would allow the BOJ and Abe's government to get even more aggressive in their attempts to stimulate their economy. The yen continued lower Friday after the Japanese announced they would spend 10.3 trillion yen in new stimulus plans.
The weaker yen has made the return of the 'carry trade' very profitable for investors. Readers may recall I spoke about the return of this carry trade a few months ago, just when the Japanese yen began its slow spiral down in value. Data compiled by Bloomberg showed carry trades funded by the Japanese yen returned an annualized 77 percent in the past three months. This compares to a 7.8% gain for carry trades funded by the dollar, and a loss of 4.3% for those trades funded with euros.
The Japanese economy continues to be stuck in a funk, but the rest of Asia is recovering. According to data I found on Bloomberg, Asian economies are expected to expand an average of 4.8% during 2013 compared to just .65% growth in Japan. This higher growth should continue to benefit the currencies of China and Singapore, both of whom tend to use their currency as a tool against higher inflation which typically accompanies higher growth rates. We have pointed out Singapore's use of their currency as a means to combat inflation in many of the presentations we give to interested investors. While many central banks choose to combat growing inflation pressures with increased interest rates, the export driven economies of Singapore and China put more focus on using their currency levels to combat inflation. As the global economy continues to heat up, raising inflation expectations, the central banks of Singapore and China could continue to allow their currencies to appreciate.
The commodity currencies were slightly lower over the weekend, but the moves lacked any real conviction. Both the Aussie and Canadian dollars fell from their strongest levels in over a quarter, and the pull back was largely seen as an adjustment after the recent moves. Positive news out of the Chinese economy has bolstered all of the commodity currencies recently. A report released on Friday showed inflation accelerated more than forecast to a 7 month high. Chinese inflation rose 2.5% in December from a year earlier, compared to an increase of 2% gain in November. The increasing inflation data has caused some investors to worry that China's recovery could overheat again.
Does anyone else feel this is just a bit ridiculous? We have stories one month stating the Chinese economy is heading for a 'hard' landing, and then the next thing you know we have other stories claiming the Chinese economy is at risk of overheating. I guess all of these knee jerk reactions should be expected since most investors don't feel they can trust the numbers coming out of China. More transparency in the Chinese financial markets could go a long way toward smoothing out some of these volatile reactions to data releases, but that will take time.
Reports on Friday showed the US trade deficit which unexpectedly widened in November. The deficit swelled to $48.7 billion from October's $42.1 billion shortfall. This widening surprised the markets, and our oiwn Chuck Butler who felt the deficit would probably narrow as oil prices moved lower. But imports actually increased 3.8% with purchases of foreign made cars and parts leading the surge. Exports also increased, but could only manage a 1% move during the month of November. The future does look a bit brighter for the trade deficit though, as a falling dollar and recovering global markets should lead to an increase in exports. This is one of the 'silver linings' of the devaluation of the US$, our exports get cheaper and can better compete in the foreign markets. But as Chuck pointed out during a conversation on the desk last week, the US really doesn't export anything anymore, so any positive impacts of a falling US$ will probably be minimal.
Then There Was This. Bud Conrad over at Casey Research, put his own viewpoints on the recent Budget Deal aka the Fiscal Cliff deal... I couldn't agree with him more! here's Bud... "I had been trying to ignore the massive, blanketed coverage by our media of this political circus. I knew ahead of time what the result would be from this deficit-cliff exercise. When it comes to holding the line against more government deficits, spending, and taxing, our government is dysfunctional. This event is more seminal than the results indicate: we can expect the politicians to repeat this process in a couple of months, and so on until there is a major loss of confidence in the dollar. There will be no return to fiscal responsibility. My point is simply this: we are already beyond the point of ever returning to a sensible, balanced-budget system. We may be distracted by wars, some crazy or false-flag terrorist event, or by even a natural disaster, but the conclusion is already inevitable: The US dollar will be toast; Treasuries are a dangerous investment; interest rates will start rising; and even the massive Federal Reserve manipulation supported by the banking cartels will be unable to overcome that. We will likely start in a slow fashion his year and will escalate out of control in the decade ahead."
Thanks to Chuck for pointing Bud's piece for me to include in today's Pfennig. Chuck also sent me an update regarding the trillion dollar platinum coin he mentioned last Friday. I was a bit amazed that many people were actually pushing this idea to the White House, but the Treasury department came out with a news alert carried by the Wall Street Journal over the weekend stating that they won't pursue the idea of the platinum coin. Maybe they heeded Chuck's warning on just what that coin would mean for the dollar!
To recap. The euro vaulted through the $1.33 level and reached a 11 month high of $1.34 on 'good vibes' sent out by Draghi and Goldman Sachs. The Japanese yen continued to move higher (dropping in value) after the new PM pushed for even more stimulus measures. Rising inflation expectations should boost the Singapore dollar and Chinese currencies. And reports out of the US on Friday showed the trade deficit unexpectedly widened in November.
Currencies today 1/14/13. American Style: A$ $1.0566, kiwi .8413, C$ $1.0153, euro 1.3363, sterling 1.6076, Swiss $1.0906. European Style: rand 8.6994, krone 5.5136, SEK 6.4582, forint 222.15, zloty 3.0836, koruna 19.1676, RUB 30.228, yen 89.32, sing 1.2260, HKD 7.7524, INR 54.50, China 6.2203, pesos 12.6545, BRL 2.0324, Dollar Index 79.539, Oil $94.04, 10-year 1.84%, Silver $30.76, Gold $1,668.95, and Platinum $1,656.50.
That's it for today. Did you catch any of those football games this weekend? While last week was a bit of a yawner for games, this week certainly had some great last minute lead changes. Our spring like weather which had spoiled us a bit last week moved away over the weekend and the 60 degree temps were replaced with wind chills in the single digits. But it made it a perfect weekend to make a fire and watch the playoff games. Hockey is baaaaack. The St. Louis Blues took to the ice this weekend and there were over 6,000 fans who attended their first practice since the end of the lockout. The Blues will begin their season this weekend at home against the Detroit Red Wings; GO BLUES!! Hope all of you had a great weekend, and thanks for reading the Pfennig. Have a Marvelous Monday!
Chris Gaffney, CFA Vice President EverBank World Markets 1-800-926-4922 1-314-647-3837


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Products from the Pyrex® Flame range are made out of vitroceramic, a heat resistant material so strong, that it was originally developed in partnership with the American space agency, to be used as elements on the outside of space shuttles!
Needless to say that products from this range are ultra-resistant and suitable for all types of cooking oven and hob (except induction) and can withstand very high temperatures and for a long time. Ideal for simmering! Oven , microwave, dishwasher and freezer friendly
Item Number: P27A000
Case pack: 3


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Mayor Rahm Emanuel still wants to raise Chicago property taxes as part of a plan to shore up city pension systems, but he no longer is asking state lawmakers to do the dirty work.
Faced with blistering criticism from Gov. Pat Quinn and significant reluctance from state lawmakers, the mayor on Monday revised his pension proposal to ensure that the politically unpalatable task of a property tax hike instead would fall solely to the Chicago City Council.
That change makes it easier for lawmakers to vote for the city pension bill and could help Emanuel score a big political victory this spring. But approval of the measure still would do nothing to solve the most immediate financial problem at City Hall — a $600 million increase next year for the pension funds of police and firefighters who would not be covered by the legislation in Springfield.
The flurry of movement on the city pension situation started with Quinn, who last week declined to weigh in on the mayor's plan. On Monday, however, the re-election seeking Democratic governor, who would have to sign the bill into law, announced that he didn't like the property tax increase.


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Boys 4 - 5 mix
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Light and airy 5-bedroom semi-detached Edwardian house on a quiet leafy road.
A double fronted Victorian villa with original period features and a warm eclectic, bohemian feel. N16
Beautiful London townhouse with bold, colourful, stylish decor. W2
3-bedroom family home with a bright kitchen, in a quiet area. SE10
Light, neutral family house with spacious open-plan layout and beautiful wooden kitchen. W6
A warm family home with period features and a bright modern kitchen. W11
Double-fronted Edwardian family home with neutral decor, period features, and an open-plan kitchen extension. N21
A unique grand design property with light-filled living spaces and a subterranean swimming pool. NW1
5-bed 1930s semi-detached house with modern open-plan kitchen extension and large garden. SW18
Stunning family home with white, light-filled interiors and touches of Scandi design. N5


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10 Creative Nichrome Wire Gauge Chart Collections
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10 Creative Nichrome Wire Gauge Chart Collections - I've mentioned above that some of these cord kinds appear hard to find at b&m stores, but all are comfortably to be had on line. Lightning vapes is a reliable ebay supplier, and kanthal can be bought from temco immediately, or on ebay. Been vaping subohm for nearly 2 years, and i've these days found a new hobby…. Rdas and coil constructing lol there may be so much to study, and it is able to become overwhelming. Simply wanted to permit you to realize i appreciate your article, and it is precisely the easy breakdown of wire types, their uses and sizes i've been looking for in furthering my information. Brilliant writing! Hold up the good work!.
The "penalty" whilst the use of clapton wire is that you may probably need to run the construct at higher wattage than a unmarried strand coil of the identical resistance – the bigger mass of the clapton is more cussed when heating and could require additional wattage to warmness speedy – which means that your battery will run down faster. Chrome steel wire is an alloy composed in the main of chromium, nickel, and carbon. There are many variations (grades) of chrome steel, expressed numerically. Again, within the name of simplicity we won't get into the variations between grades. The motive is to examine and contrast with other sorts of vaping cord. I in my view use 316 that is the clinical, pharmaceutical and food grade.
Nickel twine may also nevertheless be very popular with tc enthusiasts and is easy to locate regionally but for me, nickel twine is simply not worth the hassle. As with something, it's a private preference. Nichrome behaves very much like kanthal, but has a decrease resistance and heats faster that the same gauge in kanthal (faster ramp time). Like kanthal, it is simple to coil and holds its form properly whilst wicking. Nichrome has a decrease melting temperature than kanthal, so you want to be cautious whilst dry burning your coils — they'll burn open in case you aren't careful, and i've carried out it. Begin low and pulse the coils. Don't rush into it and hit them with max wattage at the same time as dry.


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In a recent post I was complaining about how I have been struggling to find any men to date lately. Now I'm feeling a bit inundated and it is proving difficult to keep up with them all! I'm doing a Project Management course at uni at the moment and I'm seriously considering scheduling my chats, txts, emails and dates into a GANTT chart (what a nerd….).
Tomorrow night I have a first date planned with a guy I met on RSVP. We had exchanged a few emails on there and I generally only like to email back and forth about 3 or 4 times. After that I'm getting bored of the usual 'how was your day', 'how was your weekend' and 'what do you like to do for fun' questions and I need to move it to real time chat.
I gave him my number and we txt'd a little and decided on the Thursday night date. He is new to Sydney having moved from interstate a few months back, but he still wanted to plan the date and said he'd investigate somewhere to go. I'm kinda diggin' his style so far! I can't stand guys that do the 'I don't care where we go, you pick'. I like them to take a bit of control and be 'the man' in the relationship from the start!
We spoke last night on the phone for the first time and the conversation flowed well. We are off to a Tapas restaurant tomorrow night and I've been in a real Tapas + Red Wine mood lately (for say the last 2-5 yrs haha) so even if the date is bad, it should be a pleasant evening regardless.
Alongside this I have 5 other guys I'm emailing on RSVP. A few are being a bit slow on the replies, some I can't keep up with them. I also joined back up to eHarmony over the weekend and I'm emailing two there. And I've got one Tinder one on the go too….
In the offline world, I've also got 2 girlfriends attempting to set me up! Which never happens. Ms S, has been talking about a guy at her work that she met and immediately thought I'd fall in love with. I've Facebook stalked the shit out of him and he is totally gorgeous!! Also, over a dinner catch up recently, Ms K disagreed with me on my Nathan theory and tried to convince me that I just hadn't met the right Nathan yet. Turns out she works with a lovely Nathan and she is trying to get us in touch.
I had lunch with Ms A today and filled her in on all of the above. She said she had a very good feeling about all of this and that something good will come of it. I told her not to count her chickens too early as we've been here before (Dating Palooza Weekend), but I do like my glass to be half full. Especially when it's half full with red wine ;p
PS – Earlier this week I had my first ever hate mail on my blog. Check it out in the 'Comments' section of my About page! It means you're doing a good job as a blogger if your writing compels someone to call you the C word right? 😉


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More Radio's Child of Sussex Awards 2019
The More Radio Child of Sussex Awards are designed to celebrate the achievements of the county's most precious asset: its children.
The More Radio Child of Sussex Awards this year will be at the Brighton Hilton Metropole Hotel on Friday 6th December 2019.
Previous awards have been full of emotional and uplifting stories that truly reflect the amazing qualities of our Children.
This year there are 10 Awards that cover all aspects of a child's life.
Nominations for this years awards have now closed. We wish the very best of luck to all the shortlisted nominees.


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Mobile shower commode chair
Request A Quote
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Bonn commode Specs
Bonn commode Colours
March 26th 2020
Latest Coronavirus update from Australian Mobility Equipment:
AME is continuing to monitor the current pandemic updates very closely. The situation continues to evolve rapidly and many Perth businesses are having to adjust their policies and procedures to reduce the spread to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Our priorities are to minimise any health risk to our staff and their families, customers and suppliers, whilst continuing to offer what services we can in a safe manner: and reduce the community spread of the virus.
At this stage our office remains open Monday – Friday 8.30am – 4.30pm, however for the health and safety of all visitors our automatic doors are now locked. Please knock at the door and one of our staff will assist you.
Appointments at AME for Trial of equipment:
We feel the safest option for everybody moving forward is that for the foreseeable future all trials will need to be booked in with a consultant and conducted at AME's offices. This allows us more control over our environment than attending client's homes etc.
All trials will have conditions that AME and clients must meet before the trial can commence. These rules may change day by day and we will adjust accordingly as we are advised to do so.
We must abide by advice given to us from the State and Federal departments of health whilst also trying to still provide a service to our clientele.
This is an extremely difficult task with social distancing rules that are in place but we will try as best as possible.
• There is at no point to be more than three people in the AME's therapy room (including the product consultant)to comply with the latest government restrictions.
• Anyone attending the appointment must not have been overseas within the last month, or have been in contact with anyone recently returned from overseas.
• All therapist and carers attending the appointment must not have been overseas within the last month, or been in contact with anyone recently returned from overseas.
• Anyone with any flu like symptoms, sore throats, fever or shortness of breath etc will not be permitted to enter AME • Everyone that enters the building must supply their own face mask and anti-bacteria gel their hands upon arrival as we cannot get enough masks etc to supply.
• At no point will we be able to place any clients in our chairs at AME: and until further notice trials will basically be of a "viewing only" nature.
• Only trial requests for equipment by an Organisation, A hospital or Indigo (formerly The ILC) will be permitted so as we can ensure proper cleaning will take place.
• Any equipment that leaves AME's premises for trials must be returned thoroughly cleaned and sanitised/disinfected • New chair deliveries which require adjustments will need to be undertaken over a skype style phone call with a therapist or carer or following the guidance above mentioned, at AME.
• We are still providing a pickup and drop off service at this stage • We have a sub-contractor still available for onsite service however he will require safe and healthy working conditions.
• Any decision the sub-contractor makes whilst carrying out the repair or service to equipment to undertake work will be decided by him and not by AME directly
• All AME staff have been asked to remain at home if they have any flu like symptom's
We understand that this is a challenging time for everyone and we sincerely apologise that we are unable to offer our full level of customer support we are renown for and we appreciate your understanding whilst we get through this difficult time. On behalf of all AME's staff, stay safe and we look forward to returning to normal once we are instructed to do so by the State and Federal Health departments.
Yours Sincerely
Lisa Howard
Managing Director


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Omaggio ad uno dei padri spirituali di "Subliminal". Riteniamo infatti che Caragiale non avrebbe mai intrapreso questo tipo di scrittura senza l'esempio letterario di William S. Burroughs (5 febbraio 1914 – 2 agosto 1997), in particolare de "Il Pasto Nudo".
Di seguito il suo famoso "Advice for Young People", ovvero come uno dei cattivi maestri della letteratura mondiale possa dare dei consigli ai giovani.
"I am sometimes asked if I have any words of advice for young people.
Well, here are a few simple admonitions for young and old, man and beast.
Never interfere in a boy and girl fight.
Beware of whores who say they don't want money. The hell they don't.
What they mean is that they want more money; much more, these are the most expensive whores what can be got.
If you're doing business with a religious son of a bitch, get it in writing; his word isn't worth shit, not with the good Lord telling him how to fuck you on the deal.
If, after having been exposed to someone's presence, you feel as if you've lost a quart of plasma, avoid that presence. You need it like you need pernicious anemia.
We don't like to hear the word "vampire" around here; we're trying to improve our public image. Building a kindly, avuncular, benevolent image; "interdependence" is the keyword -- "enlightened interdependence".
Life in all its rich variety, take a little, leave a little. However, by the inexorable logistics of the vampiric process they always take more than they leave -- and why, indeed, should they take any?
Avoid fuck-ups. Fools, I call them. You all know the type -- no matter how good it sounds, everything they have anything to do with turns into a disaster. Trouble for themselves and everyone connected with them.
A fool is bad news, and it rubs off -- don't let it rub off on you.
Do not proffer sympathy to the mentally ill; it is a bottomless pit. Tell them firmly, "I am not paid to listen to this drivel -- you are a terminal fool!" Otherwise, they make you as crazy as they are.
Above all, avoid confirmed criminals. They are a special malignant strain of fool."


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|"I found him trying to fight off a fox. It turned tail when it saw me, but Scree was badly wounded. I stayed with him that night and tried to help him, but he died before morning."
|— Leaf to Firestar, explaining what happened to Scree in Firestar's Quest, page 306
Scree is a tom.[2]
In the Super Editions
Firestar's Quest
- He does not formally appear, but Leaf mentions him when she tells Firestar that it is hard for old cats and kits to live alone. She tells a story about Scree, who was an old tom living by a dead willow tree, and that one day she found him trying to fight off a fox. Being old, it was difficult and exhausting for him to fight off the fox, and even though when Leaf appeared the fox ran away, he was badly wounded. Leaf stayed with him that night, and though she put hard effort in to help him, he died before the next morning from his wounds. Leaf realizes that this could happen in a Clan, but no cat fights alone in a Clan.
- Firestar's Quest † (First appearance; mentioned only)
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Revealed in Firestar's Quest, pages 305-306
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 306
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.


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Khadi & Co Ramsey Wool Coat in Ivory
The Khadi & Co Ramsey Coat is a beautiful coat. Well-tailored and made of 100% Himalayan wool this coat is fully lined in cotton. Our model Christie is 5'10" and wearing the size small
True To Size- Small, Medium, Large
100% Wool Outer, 100% Cotton Lining
Bess Nielsen was trained in fine arts in Copenhagen. She has worked with Indian weavers for 30 years and has created her brand and established her unique style. Khadi is a textile that is spun and woven by hand. Its origins are connected to the first cotton crops that appeared in India more than 400 years ago.
All sale items are final sale and cannot be returned or exchanged. Please feel free to email us with any fit questions at email@example.com and we will be happy to help with sizing.


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The primary function of gutters is to take rain water away from the house. Most of the time, they do their job well. However, if the gutter gets clogged with leaves, water can pool on the roof or pour onto the ground, destroying flowers and anything else that might be near the house. Over time, water that doesn't get pushed away from the house because they gutters are clogged can damage the home's foundation.
Do-it-yourself Gutter Cleaning
Many homeowners clean their own gutters. It can be a messy job and if the roof is high, they have to be very careful. There are a few things a person will need before they get to work on their dirty gutters. The first thing is a scoop to lift the debris out of the gutter. Most people wear long rubber gloves to protect their hands and arms. Since this job is typically only done once a year, the debris they pull out of the gutter may be thick and slimy. Taller homes will require a sturdy ladder and a tarp on the ground can protect the lawn from whatever the homeowner pulls out of their gutters.
Professional Work
Because the job of cleaning gutters isn't pleasant, some people hire a professional. As long as the gutters are properly maintained, the task only takes an hour or so and it is relatively affordable. Roofing companies typically charge around $100 to clean gutters. For those who don't feel comfortable climbing a ladder or who think the gutters might need to be repaired, hiring a professional is well worth the expense. A professional will inspect the gutters to make sure their aren't any leaks and give the homeowner advice for keeping them clear throughout the year.
Home ownership requires a lot of messy tasks. Keeping the gutters clean can help prevent very expensive problems with a house. The roof will last longer when the gutters are properly maintained and the homeowner won't have to worry about water from the roof damaging the foundation. This is not a task that can be ignored. Homeowners who don't want to do it themselves should hire a professional to clean their gutters once a year.


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July 4th, 2013 at 4:31 pm
AUTHOR: Robert
|Tagged With: benchmark, feature, gaming, gaming pc, Intel, online, pc, pc build, performance, PNY, Recommended, review, SSD, SSD Feature, tech, tech reviews, XLR8, XLR8 PRO SSD
PNY is a company who has been around for a long time, and was an extremely reliable name in flash memory and most of all, RAM. For a while, their popularity and product lines decreased, however, the company bounced back with new graphics card offerings, as well as a number of gaming and extreme high end enterprise SSDs. Today we have their extreme gaming SSD, the XLR8 PRO, let's see how it fares!
COMPARISONS: We will be running our SSD COMPARISON ARTICLE after all SSDs have been reviewed individually. This comparison will compare all our SSD samples, so, this article will not contain any comparisons with other drives. We hope you return to read our full SSD comparison, to see which drive comes out on top!
The XLR8 PRO is PNY's top of the line gaming SSD, however, they do have some extreme performance enterprise SSDs at the even higher end but at a premium price. This SSD uses the ever popular SandForce SF-2281 controller, which was the best consumer SSD controller at the time the SSD first released. PNY pride themselves in the fact that their SSDs are completely assembled in America, with parts being sourced both domestically and abroad. The drive comes in capacities of 120GB, 240GB and 480GB, however, we, as usual, are reviewing the 240GB offering today (to keep all comparisons between drives fair).
PNY's drive uses Intel NAND, and, as you know, anything produced by Intel is made to last. Sixteen 3K P/E 25nm synchronous NAND packages, each with 16GB of storage (for a total of 256GB, with 16GB deserves as nCACHE) are attached to the PCB on the interior of the very stylish metal case which adorns the PNY XLR8 PRO SSD logo in silver, with the capacity of the drive engraved below it. In the US, registering the drive on PNY's website will earn you a 5 year warranty, which is great for heavy users of the drive. Unfortunately, this offer is not extended to European users and they must stick with the standard three year warranty.
The SSD comes in a barebones format, however, versions with drive mounting kits are also available. Our review sample had simply the SSD and a short SATA cable. As you can see, the box shows the quality of the drive with a nice design and a clear layout of specifications. The 3K promise by PNY means that the company guarantees the drive will last for at least 3,000 cycles of the NAND. At 3,000 cycles, most consumer SSDs will have deteriorated and they will usually need to be upgraded for stability (of course, there are exceptions). PNY are guaranteeing that the drive will fully perform until at least 3,000 cycles.
On the back of the box, the company advertise up to 550MB/s sequential read speeds and 520MB/s sequential write speed, so, even though the drive has been released for quite some time, it is still competing with most high end drives on the market today. The company also showcase rather impressive 4K random read and write IOPS, both lying at up to 85,000 IOPS. PNY also state the MTBF (mean time between failures) stands at 1,200,000 hours and the power consumption is at a typical 2.5W with the drive using 50mW in sleep mode. The drive feels very solid and well built and is heavier than most SSDs. Unfortunately, the drive comes in a 9mm form factor, ruling out ultrabooks.
In regards to pricing, the 240GB version of the drive is currently available Amazon UK for £191.49, so, it is at the high end pricing for SSDs on Amazon UK. On Amazon US, the drive is available at a better price, retailing at $204.29 (both figures as of time of writing). This prices the drive at just under £0.80 per GB taking the Amazon UK figure, and $0.85 per GB, taking the Amazon US price. Both of these prices are at the high end, but does the PNY XLR8 PRO perform at the highest rate to match the considerable price premium? Let's see…
It's time for some benchmarks. Again, please note, all comparisons with other drives will be carried out at the end of the feature in our SSD comparison article.
ATTO Disk Benchmarking Tool
8192KB Read – 555.72MB/s
32KB Read – 451.66MB/s
Sequential Read – 506.1MB/s
512K Read – 429.8MB/s
4K Read – 34.4MB/s
4K QD32 Read – 266.9MB/s
SiSoftware Sandra
Sequential Read – 532.7MB/s
So, while the PNY XLR8 PRO may come at a bit of a price premium, the fact it includes the 3K guarantee, plus a 5 year warranty if you buy the product in the States make the drive very good value. The drive performs above its maximum rated speeds, and is consistent across the board. While it may have dipped in CrystalDiskMark, it is still performing at very impressive rates and the fact this product is still matching new release SSDs in performance makes a great impression. I think I'll award the drive our gold award, as it is a great performing, durable drive, suitable for high end gamers.


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Dupressoire, Charlotte and Vande Put, Aurélie and Emile, Philippe and Archambeau-Mirguet, Claude and Peraldi, Raphaëlle and Monceau, Daniel. Effect of nitrogen on the kinetics of oxide scale growth and of oxygen dissolution in the Ti6242S titanium-based alloy. (2017) Oxidation of Metals, 87 (3-4). 343-353. ISSN 0030-770X