text: SOS Children's Village Ostuni The SOS-Children's Village is erected in terraces. Each of the 9 family houses has its small terrace. In addition there is one large terrace where all the children of the SOS-Children's Village can play. Besides the family houses, the Children's Village established a multimedia room (Library, P.C., Internet, DVD, Hi-fi), an administrative block and a Village Director's house. Ostuni SOS-Children's Village, in June 2001, realized a new project for the "prompt welcome", called SAMO Project (Servizio Accoglienza Minori in Osservazione). This service has been entrusted to professional collaborators (Psychologist, Neurologist, Pediatrician, Pedagogist) that observe and appraise children coming from families with notable difficulties. In Ostuni town, not far from the Village, there is the SOS Youth House, where the teenagers live during their training and preparation for independence. The main attraction in the SOS-Children's Village is the "trullo", a traditional cone-shaped, one-roomed building with an opening for airing purposes on its highest point. Such kind of buildings are characteristic for this region.


text:
Click Here to use our Free Truck Rate Calculator
What is a truck rate calculator?
A truck rate calculator is a tool used by truck owner operators and trucking companies. It's primary purpose is to determine if transporting a load will be profitable or not. The truck rate calculator integrated into our trucking software does an exceptional job calculating all load expenses and determining a profitable rate.
How does the truck rate calculator work?
The short answer
- You enter your fixed expenses for one month. They only need to be entered once unless the amounts change.
- You enter the expenses of transporting the truck load such as fuel price, driver pay, broker fees etc.
- Our truck rate calculator provides you with all the financial details of transporting the truck load.
- Subscribe to the truck rate calculator today! No Contracts!
The long answer
Our truck rate calculator examines your fixed expenses and variable expenses when calculating the profitable rate for each truck load. Fixed expenses are expenses that are the same each month such as rent and insurance. The total fixed expenses is then divided by the number of truck loads transported each month. The resulting number is your fixed expense per load.
Variable expenses are the expenses related to transporting the truck load. Variable expenses include fuel price at the time of transport, number of miles per gallon for the transporting truck, distance in miles from the origin to the destination, driver's pay, broker fees and more. In addition to capturing variable load expenses we also capture them in the format that you typically have to work with. This means that the truck rate calculator will let you enter some expenses such as driver's pay and equipment rental as either a flat rate expense, a per mile expense or a percentage of the load value. The truck load calculator then asks you for the transport rate you were offered or you can enter the transport rate you believe the load is worth. If you know of the net profit amount that you would like to receive after all expenses simply enter it into the truck rate calculator and your desired net profit will be included in the truck load rate calculation.
Truck Rate Calculator Usage Example
The quickest way to see an example of a truck rate calculation is to view the screenshots of the truck load calculator. Click here to see the truck load calculator input screen. Click here to see the truck load calculator output screen.
Calculator Input
Our truck rate calculator starts saving you time the minute you start to use it. The first step is to enter the origin and the destination. You can enter the destinations by city and state or by zip code. The distance calculator will automatically populate the distance field with the total miles from the origin to the destination. You are able to edit the distance field to change the mileage if necessary.
You are able to view and modify your fixed expense per truck load, if necessary. Our trucking software asks you for your fixed expenses once. Since they are fixed expenses there is no need to modify them with each truck rate calculation. While entering your truck load expenses you are able to see your fixed expense per truck load. Simply click the link to edit your fixed expenses if a fixed expense changes or the number of loads you transport per month changes.
Next you enter the miles per gallon for the transporting truck, fuel price per gallon, driver's pay, loading fees, broker fees, permit fees, equipment rental fees and other expenses. The broker fee, permit fees, driver pay, equipment rental and other expenses can be entered as a flat rate, a percentage of the truck load rate or as a per mile rate.
Calculator Results
Once our truck rate calculator work it's magic you are presented with a report of valuable information about the finances related to this truck load. You will instantly know how many gallons of fuel will be required to transport the load as well as the total fuel cost. Broker fee, permit fees, driver pay, equipment rental fee and other expenses are converted to a flat rate dollar amount even if it started out as a percentage of the load expense or a per mile expense.
You are given a total expense dollar amount that includes all fixed and variable expenses for your truck load. Of course the truck rate calculator results include a cost per mile dollar value.
The bottom of the truck rate calculator results display the rate you were offered to transport the load and compares it to the expenses of transporting the truck load. You quickly see the rate per mile, total profit if you transport at the offered rate and the percent of profit in the offered transport rate. Next to the offered rate data is the profitable rate data. The profitable rate will include all expenses plus your desired net profit if entered. If you don't enter a desired net profit then the calculator will create a net profit on its own. Please keep in mind that the profitable rate is only a suggestion. Only the business owner determines the final rate to transport a load.
When your finished reviewing the truck rate calculator results you will have the option to add another leg to your trip, create a quote or to create an invoice. You can create a quote from your calculations. The quote can be emailed to the shipper from our trucking software. Later, the quote can be converted to an invoice with the click of a button. All data is transferred to the invoice. You only need to add any miscellaneous expenses and to check the total. The invoice can be emailed to your customer at the time of creation if you wish.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Teams bring out the Classic gear for Stage 3 cobbles
Race tech: Tour de France, July 6, 2010
213km-long (132mi) Stage 3 encompasses just 13.2km (8.2mi) of Northern Classics pavé spread across seven secteurs. Though conditions at the start were warm and sunny, teams and riders were taking few chances equipment-wise after yesterday's crash-filled fiasco with expectedly conservative setups that would help ensure rider safety – and hopefully, bike survival.
Most teams – including Astana, Team Radioshack, Quick Step, Garmin-Transitions, and Cervélo TestTeam – opted to run their usual machines but augmented with some of the usual tricks to better handle the bumps. Common practice included a mix of wider tubular tires measuring up to 27mm (and run at lower pressures), sturdier alloy bottle cages, and a few sightings of double-wrapped bars. Larger inner chainrings were fairly common as well.
"In the Tour de France, [our] riders use the S3 the day before and after so generally they prefer to stay on the same bike for stage 3 if possible," said Cervélo TestTeam race engineer Damon Rinard. "Remember there are only a few tens of kilometers of pavé, all near the end of the stage, and plenty of normal roads beforehand. So the added pavé can be dramatic, but we know the dramatic part doesn't take away the racing they have to do to get there."
Rim selection looked split roughly down the middle between alloy and carbon, though, with HTC-Columbia and Radioshack even choosing their usual deep-section wheels. However, it's also worth noting that the support cars for those teams – and the bikes mounted atop them – were mostly stocked with Classics-style wheels.
BMC was one team that mostly went the carbon route.
"We're using an assortment of our classics wheels," said team mechanic Ian Sherburne. "We will have Easton SLX (shallow 24mm carbon rim), SL (medium 36mm carbon), and aluminum box section rims, all with Continental 25mm tires."
Still, a few teams pulled out the big guns such as Saxo Bank, Team Sky, and Liquigas-Doimo – perhaps a nod as to how important those teams considered those short sections of pavé to be during the course of the stage.
Saxo Bank pulled out their full-blown Paris-Roubaix bikes, with Andy and Fränk Schleck, Fabian Cancellara, and Stuart O'Grady riding Specialized's latest S-Works Roubaix SL3 and the rest of the team on their specially prepared Roubaix SL2s. Zipp 303 carbon rims were mounted throughout, wrapped with fat 25mm-wide FMB Paris-Roubaix tubulars.
Likewise, Sky opted for the Pinarello KOBH 60.1 bikes they used in Paris-Roubaix instead of their usual Dogmas, deciding that the more stable handling, softer ride, and more generous tire clearances were necessary for the day's parcours. Cushy FMB tubular tires were again put into play but here they were mounted to Shimano's latest C35 carbon wheels.
Liquigas riders were mostly on the softer and more stable Cannondale Synapse but Ivan Basso and Roman Kreuziger were on their usual SuperSix Hi-Mods. Mavic wheel choices were split along similar lines with the Synapse framesets matched to either handbuilt Open Pro box-section tubulars or the carbon-spoked R-Sys, and the two team leaders sticking to their lighter and speedier Cosmic Carbone Ultimates.
One of the most interesting equipment stories of the day belonged to the AG2R-La Mondiale squad. Those riders set off on perfectly reasonable mid-section Reynolds MV32UL/T carbon tubulars and standard-width tubulars (shod with Michelin logos, though the company only currently offers clinchers) but we're struggling to figure out the team's choice of spares.
Most of the wheels mounted atop the team car were aluminum DT Swiss clinchers with 23mm-wide Michelin Pro 3 Race tires. Moreover, two of team leader Nicholas Roche's spare bikes were also equipped with 23mm-wide Michelin Pro 3 Race clincher tire wrapped around even-deeper Reynolds DV46UL/C carbon rims.
Whatever options they ultimately chose, adding to the teams' decision-making processes was a recent UCI rule update that prohibited teams from staging support staff along the cobbled sections with spare bikes. Teams could still place staff roadside with spare wheels but complete bikes had to come from atop a team car, meaning a replacement could be long delayed depending on the race situation and position of the support vehicles – not exactly a good time to gamble with durability.
Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*
Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets
After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59
Join now for unlimited access
Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1


text:
Retro Party In The Usa Jersey 4Th Of July Jersey 4Th Of July Shirt America Patriotic Jersey.
Introducing our Custom Baseball Jersey for Youth: The Perfect Outfit for Every Game!
Are you looking for a unique and stylish Baseball Jersey that is perfect for youth players? Look no further! Our Custom Baseball Jersey is designed with the utmost attention to detail, allowing you to create a personalized outfit that stands out on the field.
Made with high-quality materials, our Baseball Jersey guarantees durability and comfort throughout the game. The breathable fabric ensures excellent ventilation, keeping young players cool and dry even during intense matches.
But what sets our Baseball Jersey apart is the customization options it offers. With our easy-to-use online design tool, you can create a one-of-a-kind jersey that reflects your individual style. Choose from a wide range of colors, fonts, and patterns to customize your jersey. Add your team's logo, name, or even your favorite player's number to make it truly unique.
Our Custom Baseball Jersey is not only stylish but also functional. The relaxed fit allows for easy movement and flexibility, ensuring players can swing, pitch, and catch with ease. The lightweight fabric enhances mobility, making it the perfect choice for youth players who want to perform their best on the field.
Whether you're part of a school team, a little league, or a recreational group, our Custom Baseball Jersey is an ideal choice for outfitting your youth players. They will not only feel proud wearing their customized jerseys but also enjoy the comfort and performance it provides.
Don't settle for ordinary Baseball Jersey when you can have a custom-designed one that truly represents your team's spirit. Order our Custom Baseball Jersey today and elevate your game with style and confidence!
Retro Party In The Usa Jersey 4Th Of July Jersey 4Th Of July Shirt America Patriotic Jersey Product information
All Over Print Baseball Jersey
Make your sporty outfit more unique and fashionable with AOP Baseball Jersey Merchize now! We got all of what your customers expect with our custom baseball jerseys.
- Boxed flatback mesh fabric of the custom baseball jerseys offers outstanding durability, insulation, and wrinkle resistance.
- Our baseball jerseys can do machine wash in cold with similar colors/no bleach/low iron.
- The baseball jerseys are breathable, durable, and easy to care for, polyester is the ideal material for athletes everywhere.
- Feel free to create a design with our custom baseball jerseys. You can put the player names or logo on our great quality baseball jerseys.
- Moisture-wicking.
- Our baseball jerseys are prepared with full Button Down Closure. Color of buttons are random black or white.
- You can wear our baseball jerseys in many different occasions such as hanging out with friends, going to sporting events, or even wear them as custom baseball uniforms if you are in uniform needs with your team, etc. We do provide special offers for big orders FYI.
Baseball Jersey Without Piping
Baseball Jersey is loose-fitting on both men and women. It's good for daily casual wear, sports, and outdoor activity.
- Boxed flatback mesh fabric offers outstanding durability, insulation, and wrinkle resistance. This fabric is breathable, moisture-wicking, comfortable to wear, and easy to care for – Perfect material for activewear
- Full Button Closure. Color of buttons are random black or white.
- Without piping
- Top-stitched sleeves and necklines. Straight bottom hem.
- Machine washes in the cold with similar colors/no bleach/low iron.
Custom Baseball Jersey is perfect to wear to the field during sports events or when you participate in the sports yourself. More than just a piece of activewear, a Baseball Jersey is versatile and can be worn outside the sport-related circumstance.
You can style this top with jeans, layer it over hoodies for a casual look, or wear it unbuttoned over a crop top to create a playful and urban twist.
Retro Party In The Usa Jersey 4Th Of July Jersey 4Th Of July Shirt America Patriotic Jersey Shipping information
- Production time: 1-6 business days.
- Shipping time: standard shipping United States takes 5-10 business days, EU takes 10-15 business days, ROW 15-20 business days. This time is from the date that it is shipped out, not the day the order is placed. *Due to Covid-19 it maybe take 2-6 business addition days*
- Return and exchange: if for some reason you are not happy with your purchase, we will happily work with you to correct the problems. View our full return & refund policy here.
- Tracking number: when available, we will send you the tracking number with the confirmation email so that you can track the package online.
- Worldwide shipping available. Shipping fees and delivery time depend on the country and total weight of items in your order.
- Tip: Buying 2 products or more at the same time will save you quite a lot on shipping fees.


text:
It turns out that the Great Value ice cream sandwiches sold by WalMart don't actually melt — at least not fully, in the way that something with "ice cream" in the name is supposed to.
WXYZ Detroit, the ABC affiliate there, actually tested Great Value ice cream sandwiches alongside Haagen Dazs and Klondike bars, to see if they'd melt. Haagen Daz melted immediately (no surprise there, considering Haagen Dazs is actual ice cream), the Klondike bar melted most of the way, and the Great Value bar kinda sorta partially melted, but was by far the most solid of the three.
The reason why is because of certain specific ingredients that, when taken together, have the net effect of creating un-cream. Calcium Sulfate is a firming agent. Guar Gum and Carrageenan are thickening agents. Hydrogenated oils (which show up in the ingredients list as "Mono-And Diglycerides") act as emulsifiers. They'll still partially-melt over time, but chunks of them will stay disturbingly solid even if left out overnight.
True story: I actually have a really weird hang-up about melted ice cream where it freaks me right the hell out. I get really uncomfortable around melted or partially-melted ice cream. I'm not actually making a joke, here; when people talk about how they love letting their ice cream melt and then eating it like soup, it activates my gag reflex. So in a weird way, I might actually PREFER ice cream that doesn't melt. Well, if they weren't made out of ingredients that WalMart had to go out of their way to stress were "deemed safe by the FDA."
Image via Photology1971/Shutterstock.


text:
Salomon XA Pro Mid GTX W
A summer mountaineering boot that's armor-tough
Brand: Salomon
Model: XA Pro Mid GTX W
Summer Mountaineer
Extreme durability, big-load support, ankle protection, and breathable water resistance. That's what one tester, an Alaska-based NOLS instructor, says she looks for in a summer mountaineering boot. This model has all of those essentials, plus minimal break-in—rare in such a burly boot—thanks to flex points provided by cut-outs in the one-piece leather upper.
That upper is made of 2.8-mm-thick, silicon-impregnated leather from Italy's 230-year-old Perwanger Tannery. It's armor-tough and functionally waterproof. The upper has no membrane, making it exceptionally breathable. Testers reported dry feet in standard wet-hiking conditions—even stomping up a stream in New York's Adirondacks (the boots will eventually leak if submerged for a long period). A honeycomb grid in the midsole creates shock-absorbing air pockets that didn't break down under the heaviest pounding, like the EVA used in lighter boots will, and it's covered with a high-density nylon plate that provides torsional stability.
"It's plenty stiff for big-load support and crampon use," says a tester, "but it has enough rocker for striding on long, flat sections of trail." Testers praised the under-toe climbing platform for its no-give edging on technical step-ups. And unlike with some big boots, testers reported no shin-bang (thanks to tongue padding) and no toe-bang (due to D-ring locking laces that secure heels and fine-tune fit). Verdict: Summit counters, better pack a calculator. $270; 4 lbs.; m's 38-48, w's 36-43


text:
SSR 65-57: SECTION 218(s). -- STATE AND LOCAL COVERAGE -- COMMISSIONER'S RULING ON STATE'S REQUEST FOR REVIEW
- Pursuant to the State's request for review under section 218(s) of the Social Security Act, the Commissioner affirmed assessments made on the basis that services performed by cooks hired, paid, and supervised by sheriffs of Allen County and Vigo County, Indiana, were performed as employees of the counties and not as personal employees of the sheriffs, and thus, were covered under section 218 of the Social Security Act and the Indiana agreement for coverage of State and local employees.
Section 218(s) of the Social Security Act, as amended, provides that where an assessment of an amount due by a State under a Federal-State agreement has been made pursuant to section 218 or a State's claim for a credit or refund of an overpayment under such agreement has been disallowed, or a State has been allowed a credit or refund of an overpayment under such agreement, the Secretary shall, upon written request filed by the State within a stipulated time, review such assessment, disallowance, or allowance and shall render a decision affirming, modifying, or reversing such assessment, disallowance, or allowance stating the basis therefor. The Secretary has delegated to the Commissioner of Social Security authority to make reviews and findings and to give notice of his findings as required by section 218(s).
The State of Indiana timely requested a review pursuant to section 218(s) of the assessments made pursuant to findings that services performed by certain cooks at the Allen County and Vigo County jails were performed as employees of the respective counties and covered under the Federal-State agreement made pursuant to section 218.
The facts in the matter are that the individual cooks were employed by the county sheriffs; the sheriffs were required by State law to feed prisoners in their custody; the State law further provided that allowances be given to the sheriffs based on the number of meals served; the salaries of the cooks were paid by the sheriffs; the sheriffs had the right to discharge and to direct and control the activities of the cooks; the positions required services to be rendered 7 days a week; some cooks worked on a full-time basis and some on a fill-in basis for the remainder of the week, on holidays, during vacations, and during periods of illness.
The Administration found that the cooks were engaged to assist a public officer of a political entity who is authorized expressly to hire others to assist him in the performance of his duties. Therefore, the Administration determined that these individuals are employees of the political entity.
The Commissioner reviewed the assessments made and determined that these services as cooks at county jails were performed as county employees and covered under the State's section 218 agreement which covers employees of that political entity.


text:
Applying for a New CDL in California
If you're considering driving a truck for hire, whether as a career or just for a short term, you will need a commercial driver's license (CDL). There are strict state and federal regulations for driving a commercial vehicle that require drivers to take specific steps in order to be eligible for a commercial driver's license in California.
Per new federal entry-level driver training requirements effective February 7, 2022, the CA Department of Motor Vehicles now mandates new CDL applicants complete an entry-level driver training course through an authorized provider. You'll need to complete this training prior to applying for your first commercial driver's license, upgrading your existing CDL class, or applying for a HAZMAT, school bus, or passenger endorsement.
CDLs and CMVs in California
Commercial driver's licenses, or CDLs, allow drivers to legally operate a commercial vehicle. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulates CDLs for all states. Drivers seeking to obtain a commercial driver's license must pass a written as well as a behind the wheel skills test in order to qualify.
Commercial Vehicles
The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) defines a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) as one that is hired for transportation of either people or products. Other specifics that identify a commercial vehicle include:
- Weight: Must have a GVWR* of at least 26,001 lbs.
- Size: Must have the capacity to safely hold more than 10 passengers, driver included.
- Towing ability: Can either a trailer or another vehicle with a GVWR* of at least 10,001 lbs.
- Materials hauled: Is legally certified through signage to carry hazardous materials.
*GVWR is gross vehicle weight rating.
CA CDL Eligibility Requirements
According to federal regulations, a driver must be at least 18 years old before they can apply for a commercial license. You'll need to be a minimum of 21 years old if you intend to:
- Drive across state lines.
- Transport HAZMAT materials.
Applying for a CDL in California
Step 1: Commercial Instruction Permit
Applying for a commercial driver's license starts by applying for a commercial instruction permit. There are multiple steps in this process.
To apply:
- Submit:
- A California Commercial Driver License Application.
- A 10 Year History Check (Form DL 939), if required.
- This is only applicable if you've had a driver's license in any other state within the past 10 years (whether under your current name or any other).
- A Medical Examination Report (Form MCSA-5876) that has been completed by a qualified medical professional.
- A Self-Certification Form (Form DL 694) declaring the type of commercial driving you intend to do (see Federal Self-CertificationRequirements below).
- Acceptable proof of:
- Social Security number (ex. Social Security card, U.S. Armed Forces ID).
- Birth date and legal presence.
- The CA DMV website provides lists of acceptable documents to prove SSN and birth date/legal presence.
- Provide your thumbprint.
- Have your photo taken.
- Pass both a vision exam AND a written test applicable to the class of CDL you are applying for. You will be allowed 3 attempts.
- Pay the appropriate fee for your license class.
Once all of the above has been completed, the DMV will issue a commercial instruction permit. With this permit, you can drive with another driver who possesses a valid California driver's license in the same class.
Step 2: Commercial Driver's License
Once you've got your commercial permit in hand, you'll need to apply for your full CDL by passing the skills and driving test.
To apply for a CDL, you'll need to:
- Make an appointment at your local CDL office.
- Bring the appropriate class of vehicle that you intend to drive.
- The vehicle must pass a pre-trip inspection conducted by the DMV, with 3 attempts to pass.
- Pass the driving skills test (you likewise have 3 attempts to pass).
- Submit a Certificate of Driving Skill (Form DL 170 ETP) signed by yourself and your employer. Only an employer that is authorized by the DMV to conduct a driving skills test may complete this form.
- Pass the driving skills test (you likewise have 3 attempts to pass).
Once you've passed the skills test and submitted all the appropriate forms, you'll receive an interim commercial driver's license that expires after 60 days (or once your valid CDL arrives in the mail).
After you receive your photo CDL, you're free to start your adventures driving commercial vehicles.
Federal Self-Certification Requirements
You must self-certify your type of vehicle operation with the California DMV. This means you must self-certify one of the following driving categories:
- Non-Excepted Interstate
- Excepted Interstate
- Non-Excepted Intrastate
- Excepted Intrastate
- 10 Year History Record Check
- Include with California CDL applications and renewals if you%u2019ve held any driver's license in a different name OR a different state.
- Certificate of Driving Skill
- Form is filed with the DMV to certify your commercial vehicle driving skills as evaluated by an examiner. Only for those in ETP.
- Medical Examination Report
- You must submit this medical form when applying for a CDL OR other special vehicle classes (e.g. school buses or farm vehicles) in CA.


text:
Delivery Driver
- Job Number: R23_0000000166
3351 Trickum RdWoodstock,GA
- Posted Date: 2/16/2023
Have you ever thought about driving for one of those ride sharing companies? But, on second thought, you really don't want to make idle chit chat with a random stranger in your car. And, maybe a better idea is to look for a company that has fun, offers benefits to help pay for college, career advancement opportunities and discounts on pizza! If this describes you, come join our pizza team! We've never met a pizza that tries to make uncomfortable small talk. (Although, it's totally fine to talk to your pizza. ""You're so yummy. I love you pepperoni, sausage and extra banana peppers. You get me."")
Pick your location and pick your favorite pizza 'cause you're going to be eating a lot of it.
Perks? Glad you asked! Take advantage of our Dough & Degrees program - we'll pay 100% of tuition for undergraduate and graduate online degree programs through Purdue University Global for eligible corporate team members. Some of the other things we offer: Tips and mileage reimbursement paid out nightly, affordable health insurance options, flexible hours, pizza discounts (of course), corporate discounts on things like cell phone service, car maintenance and opportunities for career growth.
Critical Ingredients:
You need to be at least 18 years old with insurance and an acceptable driving record. Hilarious knock-knock jokes are a plus, but not a requirement. Apply, interview and start!
It is the policy of Papa John's to provide equal employment opportunities for all applicants and team members without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status or civil partnership, national or ethnic origin, pregnancy or maternity, veteran status, uniformed service (as defined by 10 U.S.C. §101 (a)(5)), protected disability status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender reassignment, or gender expression, or any other characteristic protected by statute or law.


text:
As a side note, I'm realizing I'm going to need to make room to display some of these photos (along with the billion others I'm taking myself!). Any advice from the mommies on this one? Id like something that can grown with her but I don't want my house to be a baby shrine either.
The New Us
As a side note, I'm realizing I'm going to need to make room to display some of these photos (along with the billion others I'm taking myself!). Any advice from the mommies on this one? Id like something that can grown with her but I don't want my house to be a baby shrine either.
29 comments:
Lovely photos of a lovely family. Agatha just gets prettier and prettier.ReplyDelete
I'm not a mom, but I think using some picture frame trim to block out a rectangle on the wall and switch out favorites (whether Instagram or another type) as you go on. If you haven's checked out Print Social, I recommend it. 48 prints for $12! I did this on my wall and love it. I stuck the prints up with washi tape so they're removable.
She is beautiful!ReplyDelete
These are so beautiful and I hear you about making time stop. It just goes so fast. As for displaying I say choose you faves from each time and pick a display wall and just know it will fill up. It's how it is. Shows a well lived life.ReplyDelete
First of all, Agatha is just gorgeous.ReplyDelete
I am a new mom. My son Max is 6 months old and I have an embarassing abount of photos of him (on my phone, computer, Instagram, memory cards...haha). I don't want my house to be a baby shrine either. I enlarged a few of my favorite photos to about 16 x 20, matted and framed them. They are hanging in his room and have big impact. They make me smile every time I look at them. Since it's pretty inexpensive to order them on Shutterfly, I change the photos periodically since babies change so quickly.
Another option would be to get a good size digital frame and display them all in one place :)
Was so great to get together after all of these years and an honor to photograph your new family. Agatha is gorgeous. Next time we see each other, we should plan for some cocktails ;-)ReplyDelete
amazing photos! she is absolutely perfect, congrats!ReplyDelete
Gorgeous Mrs. Limestone! Agatha is just so darn adorable. I would do a dedicated picture wall, and like Picky said, just switch out the pictures every once in a while.ReplyDelete
What a doll! Seriously, she really does look like a doll. I've been having the same problem with the million+ pictures I have of our 14 month old. I'm so scared that once I start printing/framing pictures that I won't be able to stop and our house will turn into "Shrine O' Charlie"!ReplyDelete
Oh, she is SO sweet! As for the photos, I'm working on a wire display (sort of like a criss-crossed clothesline) for my family room ceiling to clip black and white photos of my little ones (and a few other pretty things) to. You're so creative and I can't wait to see what you come up with. Hurry it up before I put 50 nails in my ceiling. hehe! (KIDDING, of course.)ReplyDelete
What beautiful pictures!! She has such stunning eyes.ReplyDelete
We did professional pictures at birth, 6 months and a year. So glad we did! Best investment ever!! What I did, because there were so many from each shoot that I loved, is printed one or two of my favorites to display on the wall and did the rest in an album (blurb is my favorite) and dated it with the age and date. Almost like a wedding album to capture that day. I figured this way, I have them printed and can save them for baby. For the rest of the pictures I would take, I did yearly albums of trips to the zoo, random pictures of milestone, etc.
These are beautiful. She is absolutely gorgeous. We haven't displayed a ton of photos yet. I have one big canvas over the fireplace, and some in our gallery wall, one over our bed and a couple frames on our bookcases. I need to find some better ways to display them as well.ReplyDelete
One thing I did was take all of the professional photos we had done of Halle (we have a newborn session, a 3 week in home session that our photographer gave us, 7 months and 1 year) and made a photo book of her first year. I love that book so much... and I know you're a photo book person, so I'm sure you've already thought of this! ;)
My photos of my son are in two specific places in our Brooklyn apartment: his room so that he has photos of himself with grandparents, aunts, uncles, mama and papa, and one table in the living room. In terms of public places, they are really just on that table in the living room. We don't have any enormous pictures, just 4x6 and 5x7 in frames. I am planning on rotating pictures as he (and his sibling, due next month!) get older so that there are not too many - but just enough!ReplyDelete
These images are GORGEOUS!!!!ReplyDelete
Your baby girl and your photos are simply divine.ReplyDelete
I like a ledge where you can rotate out photos; stock frames with a decent mat will make them all look like a million bucks. Varied sizes make it interesting.
I also had a great time framing Santa and Easter Bunny pix in silver frames and displaying them on the FP mantel during those seasons.
Enjoy! You can never take too many pictures of the life swirling by you, IMHO.
I have four children....and yes, its hard to find a balance between displaying their photos and other artwork! Believe me, it gets harder as they keep growing! Memory/ bulletin boards help...ReplyDelete
Such a cutie pie!!ReplyDelete
My advice is this.....DIGITAL PHOTO FRAME!! They come in different size and styles! Why limit yourself to a few (dozen) when you can have endless pictures of your sweet girl?
Love the photos, some real gems there. Though I also love the little pink stripey ones on the - Yes, I'm one of "those people" now post. Enjoy this sooo special time!ReplyDelete
She is just precious.ReplyDelete
Not sure if this would be helpful, but when my son was born, I set up a Shutterfly Share site. I add monthly narrative updates at each monthly anniversary (1 month old, 2 months old, etc) and keep digital photo and video albums for each respective month. I update the photos at least weekly (using the Shutterfly app on my iPhone). I share the link with my family and friends who want to stay up-to-date on what our son is doing. You can also password-protect it if you want. Its great for avoiding emailing/texting photos to people individually, which can be a huge time suck.
We have 3 kids, so you can imagine the photos...and most were taken before the digital age...I used to keep an album a month. When I just had one tiny baby, our house WAS a baby shrine...but that does change and you kind of adapt.As far as display, We have a photo wall for the "fancy ones" like photo shoots etc. I had a special photo shoot done of each child on their First Birthdays and had those framed professionally and that set will be out forever. Then I rotate frames ones. I also have two end tables in the living room that have pieces of glass on top, and so I keep collages of mis matched, under the glass, just happy fun, kids learning to walk, sleeping whatever floats my boat. Here is the thing...don't sweat it...whatever you do now WILL change, as she changes, you life changes...It is a natural process...it will happen organically. TRUST that when the time comes, you will just as aware and able to trouble shoot as you are now. She is absolutely beautiful.ReplyDelete
Row 3 of photos is my favorite (OMG- that foot! And the 2 of you kissing her face is so tender and meaningful, plus her expression is a delight.) Agatha is simply going to love these photos when she grows up.ReplyDelete
Digital picture frames keep the photo clutter down.
My most cherished photos are of my children which are framed and were hung in a hallway. Now I have my favorite photo in my kitchen which I see every day. I light a candle each day for them to shine on. They grow fast. A baby shrine or one spot devoted to Agatha is certainly good feng shui. I made that up but I bet it's true. Why not create a corner in your home or a shrine with oranges and incense. Honor her and love her.ReplyDelete
Congrats, she is beautiful! You will now spend the rest of your life trying to figure out how to stop time.ReplyDelete
As for displaying photos, let me know what you figure out. I need help with that myself!! :)
What beautiful photos and I love the name Agatha, how lovely.ReplyDelete
Just discovered your blog and am really enjoying it :)
She is gorgeous!! What a sweet little family you have. :)ReplyDelete


text: Continue the epic story of the castaways of Isola in Virtual Villagers: The Lost Children. Guide your tribe as they rescue a group of lost children and help them survive new adventures. Your villagers need to become farmers, builders, scientists, healers and parents, and will make decisions about unpredictable "Island Events" that happen from time to time. Lead your villagers as they solve all new puzzles and hidden mysteries of the west shores of the island. Will your tribe survive?


text:
Last Updated: 5/23/18
Our Commitment to Privacy
Your privacy is important to Mobility Designed Incorporated ( "we", "us", "our", or "Mobility+Designed"). To better protect your privacy, we provide this notice explaining our online information practices and the choices you can make about the way your information is collected and used. To make this notice easy to find, we make it available in the footer of every page on our site, https://www.mobilitydesigned.com (our "Website").
Information Collected
This notice applies to all information collected or submitted on the Website. You should note that some of our third party service providers (including the third party service providers listed below) collect data from you when you order our products, submit payment information, and make other requests. This information may include:
This information is collected and stored by our third party service provider's through one or more links to or plugins contained on our Website, as well as through their own websites and web applications.
Occasionally, we will collect some data from you when you register to receive information or updates about our products and services. This type of information may include:
Information Stored
In order to engage with our customers and provide access to our products and services, we partner with a variety of third-party service providers who may collect the information noted above, as well as additional information. These partners include:
If you are interested to review any personally identifiable data collected by our third-party partners, please review their privacy policies and contact them directly.
Your Use of This Site
Using this Web site, you signify your agreement to the terms and conditions of this Privacy Policy and our third party service providers' use of your data. If you do not agree to these terms and conditions, please do not disclose any personally identifiable information though this Web site. This policy may be modified from time to time, and changes will be communicated promptly on this page. Please contact us for more information on this policy.
How We Use Information
We use your shipping information you submit when placing an order only to complete that order. We do not share this information with outside parties except to the extent necessary to complete that order. By ordering a product through the Website, you are consenting to Mobility+Designed sharing your data with one or more of the third party service providers listed above.
We use your e-mail address to answer questions you send to us and to send you updates about our company and products, when you sign up to receive our newsletter (discussed in more detail below). Your email address will not used for any other purpose and will not be shared with outside parties, unless you provide it to them separately.
You can register with our website if you would like to receive our newsletter as well as updates on our new products and services. Information you submit on our website will not be used for this purpose unless you fill out the registration form, and this information will not be used for any other purpose.
Finally, we never use or share the personally identifiable information provided to us online in ways unrelated to the ones described above without also providing you an opportunity to opt out or otherwise prohibit such unrelated uses. In any event, we only keep personally identifiable information for as long as it serves the purpose the data was collected for.
You should note that by providing personally identifiable information to Mobilty+Designed to receive updates from the company, to ask questions, to purchase products, or to become a part of our newsletter, you are providing information through one or more internet connections that may not be secure, and are consenting to the storage of your information on one or more servers or databases that may not be maintained by Mobility+Designed.
By using our Website and placing orders through our Website, you are also consenting to the transfer of your data to or within the United States and to third party service providers of Mobility+Designed and acknowledge that you understand the risks of these transfers.
You may withdraw this consent at any time by sending an email to email@example.com stating your intention to withdraw your consent for Mobilty+Designed to use your data. Should you withdraw your consent, Mobility+Designed may not be able to process one or more orders or sales and you therefore release Mobility+Designed from any breach of contract or other legal or equitable theory arising from Mobility+Designed's failure to fulfill any order after your consent has been withdrawn.
Our Commitment to Data Security
To prevent unauthorized access, maintain data accuracy, and ensure the correct use of information, we have put in place appropriate physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online. However, you should understand that, despite our efforts, no security can be guaranteed as impenetrable and that safety and security of your information also depends on you. Where we have given you or you have chosen a password for access to certain parts of the Website, you are responsible for keeping this password confidential.
Our Commitment to Children's Privacy and California Privacy Rights
Protecting the privacy of the very young is especially important. For that reason, we never collect or maintain information at our website from those we actually know are under 13, and no part of our website is structured to attract anyone under 13.
California Civil Code Section § 1798.83 permits users of our Website that are California residents to request certain information regarding our disclosure of personal information to third parties for their direct marketing purposes. To make such a request, please send an email to email@example.com.
How to Access, Correct, or Delete Your Information
You can access all your personally identifiable information that we collect online and maintain by emailing firstname.lastname@example.com. To protect your privacy and security, we will take reasonable steps to verify your identity before granting access or making corrections. We use this procedure to better safeguard your information. You can correct factual errors in your personally identifiable information by sending us a request that credibly shows error. If you desire to delete any personally identifiable information stored by us on our servers, please email us at email@example.com.
Unsubscribing from Communications
You can unsubscribe from our marketing communications by clicking on the "unsubscribe" link located on the bottom of any of our emails.
How to Contact Us
Should you have other questions or concerns about these privacy policies, please send us an e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
Choosing our parts means you get high quality, but you also get parts that are OE-engineered and tested to fit right the first time and perform for the long haul.
With the growth of new technologies, such as hybridization and active safety systems, the electronic content will only continue to increase. If independent garages are going to be able to repair these vehicles efficiently, the scope and power of the diagnostics tools and test equipment they use must match the complexity of these systems.
Workshop Solutions
Support and services for Delphi Partners
Visit the Newsroom and browse the latest news articles and press releases to find out more about Delphi.
About Us
With a presence in more than 150 countries, and a global network of over 2750 service centres, Delphi aftermarket provides OE specification end-to-end solutions from components to sophisticated software solutions.


text:
The Valley of Dry Bones
1There hath been upon me a hand of Jehovah, and He taketh me forth in the Spirit of Jehovah, and doth place me in the midst of the valley, and it is full of bones, 2and He causeth me to pass over by them, all round about, and lo, very many are on the face of the valley, and lo, very dry. 3And He saith unto me, 'Son of man, do these bones live?' And I say, 'O Lord Jehovah, Thou -- Thou hast known.' 4And He saith unto me, 'Prophesy concerning these bones, and thou hast said unto them: O dry bones, hear a word of Jehovah: 5Thus said the Lord Jehovah to these bones: Lo, I am bringing into you a spirit, and ye have lived, 6and I have given on you sinews, and cause flesh to come up upon you, and covered you over with skin, and given in you a spirit, and ye have lived, and ye have known that I am Jehovah.'
7And I have prophesied as I have been commanded, and there is a noise, as I am prophesying, and lo, a rushing, and draw near do the bones, bone unto its bone. 8And I beheld, and lo, on them are sinews, and flesh hath come up, and cover them doth skin over above -- and spirit there is none in them. 9And He saith unto me: 'Prophesy unto the Spirit, prophesy, son of man, and thou hast said unto the Spirit: Thus said the Lord Jehovah: From the four winds come in, O Spirit, and breathe on these slain, and they do live.' 10And I have prophesied as He commanded me, and the Spirit cometh into them, and they live, and stand on their feet -- a very very great force.
The Vision Explained
11And He saith unto me, 'Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel; lo, they are saying: Dried up have our bones, And perished hath our hope, We have been cut off by ourselves. 12Therefore, prophesy, and thou hast said unto them, thus said the Lord Jehovah: Lo, I am opening your graves, And have brought you up out of your graves, O My people, And brought you in unto the land of Israel. 13And ye have known that I am Jehovah, In My opening your graves, And in My bringing you up out of your graves, O My people. 14And I have given My Spirit in you, and ye have lived, And I have caused you to rest on your land, And ye have known that I Jehovah, I have spoken, and I have done it, An affirmation of Jehovah.'
One Nation with One King
15And there is a word of Jehovah unto me, saying, 16'And thou, son of man, take to thee one stick, and write on it, For Judah, and for the sons of Israel, his companions; and take another stick, and write on it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and all the house of Israel, his companions, 17and bring them near one unto another, to thee, for one stick, and they have become one in thy hand. 18And when sons of thy people speak unto thee, saying, Dost thou not declare to us what these are to thee? 19Speak unto them, Thus said the Lord Jehovah: Lo, I am taking the stick of Joseph, that is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his companions, and have given them unto him, with the stick of Judah, and have made them become one stick, and they have been one in My hand. 20And the sticks on which thou writest have been in thy hand before thine eyes, 21and speak thou unto them: Thus said the Lord Jehovah: Lo, I am taking the sons of Israel, From among the nations whither they have gone, And have gathered them from round about, And I have brought them in unto their land. 22And I have made them become one nation in the land, on mountains of Israel, And one king is to them all for king, And they are no more as two nations, Nor are they divided any more into two kingdoms again. 23Nor are they defiled any more with their idols, And with their abominations, And with any of their transgressions, And I have saved them out of all their dwellings, In which they have sinned, And I have cleansed them, And they have been to Me for a people, And I -- I am to them for God.
24And My servant David is king over them, And one shepherd have they all, And in My judgments they go, And My statutes they keep, and have done them. 25And they have dwelt on the land that I gave to My servant, to Jacob, In which your fathers have dwelt, And they have dwelt on it, they and their sons, And their son's sons -- unto the age, And David My servant is their prince -- to the age. 26And I have made to them a covenant of peace, A covenant age-during it is with them, And I have placed them, and multiplied them, And placed My sanctuary in their midst -- to the age. 27And My tabernacle hath been over them, And I have been to them for God, And they have been to Me for a people. 28And known have the nations that I Jehovah am sanctifying Israel, In My sanctuary being in their midst -- to the age!'


text: Thank you for downloading my font! All fonts are totally free, whether it be for commercial purposes or not. I only ask that you send me an e-mail telling me how and where you used it. That's it! If you want to redistribute my font, please include this readme text with it and a link to my page would just peachie. Thanks for taking time to read this! Have a nice day. -Ben firstname.lastname@example.com All images and fonts Copyright 1998 Font-a-licious Fonts. All Rights Reserved.


text:
When all else fails, turn to the back-up plan.
There are no reviews yet.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Your review *
Name *
Email *
Copyright © 1998-2019. All rights reserved.
Disclaimer : Reproduction strictly prohibited. Check our No Spam Policy & Privacy Policy.
The site where entrepreneurs and CEOs of smaller businesses go to find answers to address the day to day challenges and crises."


text:
When you're looking at long-term, revolutionary-type investments, you're obviously trying to find markets and companies that are growing quickly with huge potential in front of them. There are two types of growth, secular and cyclical. Cyclical growth happens when a company and/or a market see upside along with the broader economic cycle. Energy companies, metals markets, chemicals, housing and many commodities fall into this type of category. That is, when times are good, so too will their businesses likely be good and when times are bad, all the boats sink together.
Secular growth, on the other hand, happens when a nascent industry is taking off, about to grow into revolutionary proportions as it displaces old business models and technologies. Two factors contribute to secularly growing industries — they create entirely new demand and they steal demand from other industries. Netflix, YouTube and other web/app video sites, for example, are contributing to more people consuming more video than ever before. But people are also spending some of the time that they used to spend watching network and cable television on Netflix and YouTube. That's a double shot of growth for the web/app video industry.
Likewise, wearables, robots and drones are going to be secularly-growing, eventually reaching new revolutionary proportions, creating new end-markets, consumption habits and prosperity for our economy as well as our society at large.
How many wearable computing devices do you own right now? None, is the most likely answer. How many times a day do you interact with a drone right now? Unless you're in Afganistan, Syria or somewhere like that being targeted by the RepublicanDemocrat Regime or a hobbyist with a quadcopter camera, your answer is most likely, never.
And robots? Factories are filled with robots, but our day to day consumer doesn't interact with robots much just yet.
Meanwhile, over the next five to ten years, billions of new wearable gadgets in hundreds of new form factors with millions of new applications will be sold to consumers and enterprises around the world. Drones — from Google's and other's driverless cars to pilotless aircraft to quadcopter package delivery — will be everywhere in our daily lives within the next decade too. Facebook and Google will be using Drones to deliver Internet access. Robots, which, if they're fully mobile, would also be known as drones, are going to sell us routine tickets, provide safety checks and who knows what else over the next decade.
The wearable/drone/robot revolutions get even better for investors who are willing to do their homework because each and every one of those wearables, drones and robots needs ever more computing power and sensors.
The first iteration of the iPhones and Android smartphones had about three sensors each, including accelerometer, proximity and light sensors. Today's smartphones and tablets have ten to fifteen sensors each, including all those three already mentioned along with 3- or 6-axis gyroscopes, fingerprint, gesture and even heart-rate sensors.
Each wearable, drone and robot will likewise have ten times or more as many sensors as these early versions of wearables, drones and robots that we see coming out today.
So if you can find a market that will grow from almost nothing currently to selling billions of units a year in the next decade, you're probably onto some good investments. But if you can find component plays in that industry that will sell ten or twenty or a hundred components into each one of those units, you're probably onto the kind of investment that Intel was when PCs were nascent and before it went up 1000-fold from 1970s to the 1990s.
I'm building a portfolio of these kinds of stocks right now, knowing that I'm probably still a year or two ahead of the demand curve that's building for these companies right now. So far I've started with toe-hold positions in Invensense and JDSU, both of which have got sensor/component products that should do well in these new industries over the next five to ten years. I'm still researching all of this and trying to put it into something we can analyze, quantify and grasp. Stay tuned and if you're got some plays on these revolutionary trends, let me know.


text:
Register for this free CME course here: https://www.coursera.org/learn/covid-19-what-you-need-to-know?edocomorp=public-health-free-courses
COVID-19 is a global pandemic that has already resulted in hundreds of thousands of infections and thousands of deaths, with many more anticipated. This course is a go-to resource that will be regularly updated with all of the current information put forth by the CDC, WHO, and other leading agencies and covers the basics, personal protective equipment, diagnostics, and other material.
As a healthcare professional, you can earn CME credit and help to #RaiseTheLine by becoming prepared to treat COVID-19.


text:
CONCORD, N.C.— Michael Waltrip Racing will run only two full-time cars next season because of the loss of sponsor NAPA, part of the fallout from its attempts to manipulate a race to get Martin Truex Jr. into the Chase.
Truex, crew chief Chad Johnston and 15 percent of the workforce were notified Monday they are free to negotiate with other teams. Team co-owner Rob Kauffman said the cuts were across the organization and not limited to Truex's team.
The car Truex drives will be repurposed into a research and development team next season. It will run a partial schedule beginning with the Daytona 500 with team co-owner Michael Waltrip behind the wheel depending on sponsorship, Waltrip said.
"Today was about doing what we had to do, not what we wanted to do," Kauffman said. "It was important to let those whose jobs were affected know as early as possible, and a majority of those will remain with MWR through the end of the season."
Truex has been talking to Furniture Row Racing about the seat being vacated by Kurt Busch. MWR is undecided if it will use Truex's No. 56 on the third car next season, and how many races the car enters will be based on sponsorship.
Also, Ty Norris' title position will change from general manager of MWR to executive director for business development. Norris has been on indefinite suspension from NASCAR for his role in the Richmond scandal.
"He will no longer be involved in competition and no longer be a spotter, and will focus strictly on the commercial side of the business," Kauffman said. "He's good at that and that's the skill set that's most helpful for the company. We have other folks on the competition side."
The meetings between Kauffman and Waltrip and their employees Monday were interrupted when driver Brian Vickers informed the owners that a blood clot had been found in his right calf. He was placed on blood-thinning medication that will prevent him from finishing the season in the No. 55 Toyota.
The team had previously planned to use co-owner Waltrip in this week's race at Talladega, and said it will decide later on its driver for the remaining four races.
Vickers was scheduled to participate in a Monday test at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but MWR had Brett Moffitt ready to drive.
It made for a dizzying and difficult day for MWR, which has been fighting for its survival since the Sept. 7 race at Richmond.
"We are taking the challenges we are faced with and trying to use them as a way to get better, and when you have to let some folks go and change direction, that upsets the apple cart and you feel for those folks," Waltrip said. "And then when Brian walks in this morning and tells you he has a health issue and the doctors won't let him race a car, I'm a race car driver and I just can't imagine a man at the prime of his career having to be faced with those challenges.
"So I think it's important to never, ever get into 'Why me?' That's not a very professional or positive way to look at things. I just like to use at is motivation to get better."
MWR went into Richmond with driver Clint Bowyer ranked second in the Sprint Cup standings and Truex on the bubble of making the 12-driver Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. But in the closing laps, as it became apparent Ryan Newman was going to snag the final spot in the Chase field, MWR schemed to get Truex the final berth.
It began when Bowyer deliberately spun to bring out a caution, setting in motion a chain of events that led to a widespread NASCAR investigation.
NASCAR fined MWR $300,000, suspended Norris indefinitely and replaced Truex in the Chase field with Newman, who was headed to the race win that would have given him the Chase berth before Bowyer's spin.
In punishing MWR, NASCAR ruled that the only thing it could prove was that Norris intentionally called Vickers down pit road in the closing laps to adjust the finish.
NAPA, a longtime partner of Waltrip's, then said it was pulling its multimillion-dollar sponsorship of Truex's team with two years remaining on its contract because it "believes in fair play and does not condone actions such as those that led to the penalties assessed by NASCAR."
As part of the changes announced Monday, MWR said executive vice president of competition Scott Miller will continue as crew chief of the No. 55 team into the 2014 season. He'd been interim crew chief since Rodney Childers was taken off the pit stand in August when he said he was moving to Stewart-Haas Racing next season.
Kauffman, who had been in Europe during the Richmond race and remained there for the two races that followed, returned after Bowyer sponsor 5-Hour Energy said it would return to the team in 2014. Kauffman temporarily relocated to North Carolina and began a review of MWR, which set in motion the organizational changes announced Monday.
"If you lose a third of a third of your revenue, you are going to have to reorganize your business and that's what we've done," Kauffman said. "What we are trying to focus on is using this opportunity to not only survive, but use this reorganization to make us better. We made a mistake, we paid a heavy price and we are adjusting to a new reality."
MWR shrinking to 2 teams


text:
Well, it's a foregone conclusion that UBragg has won the middle third of the puzzle season. Congratulations! Mr Customer comes in 2nd, essentially flip-flopping the previous prize-time rankings.
So UBragg, this is what you've won: your choice of either the chance to create a puzzle for your fellow puzzlers sometime in the last third of the season, or the lovely media guide pictured below, courtesy of SoSG Orel:
Mr Customer, you get what remains. Here are the full rankings:
(800 possible points)
|Player (Wins)
|mr customer
|j steve
|josh s
Others receiving votes: erin 135, mlasf 134, loney fan 130, keven c 130, neeebs 90, fred's brim 90, karina 80, gil gamesh 75, wicks 70, msti 60, ll cool l 50, midnightdrive 50, awesome 35, rbnlaw 35, dangarion 30, dusto magnifico 25, brandon 15.
...and did somebody say...graph?
What's that? Nobody said 'graph'? Too late. Here are my observations:
- UBragg and Mr Customer were neck-and-neck through Puzzle #7. Starting with #8, UBragg created modest but consistent separation between himself and Mr C, who himself had modest but consistent separation from the rest of the field. But with this last puzzle, UBragg shut the door on everybody.
- Fanerman is Mr Consistency. Consistently very good, but can he be great?
- BWrightson is rocketing up the rankings at an unprecedented pace. But interpret his steep upward curve with a grain of salt, for as a relatively new puzzler, he has yet to encounter the rolling 7-puzzle-methodology succubus enchantress that has brought veteran puzzlers to their knees. Oh, she's coming for you, BWrightson. Oh yes. She's coming for you.
- Quad is Mr First Half. Last year he dominated the first half, then faltered (relatively speaking) in the 2nd half. This year he led through the first 5 puzzles, but when he was barely edged out for a prize spot at Puzzle #6, he nosedived before staging a moderate recovery the last 2 puzzles. What will the last third of the season bring?
So them's my thoughts. UBragg, please let us know which prize you want, either in the comments or via email. And tune in for SoSG Orel's debut puzzle offering on our next off-day, Thursday, July 23, 7am!


text:
Wagyu Steak with Pickled Jalapeno & Green Tomato Chimichurri
- Prep Time 20 minutes
- Cook Time 12 minutes
- 1 large green tomato, cut in 1/2-inch slices
- 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 cup chopped white onion
- 1/2 jalapeno, chopped with the seeds
- 1/2 cup of pickled jalapenos, drained and chopped
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley
- 3 small pepperoncini peppers, chopped
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- Juice of 2 limes
- Wagyu Steaks (Buy Now)
- Olive Oil
- Salt & Pepper
Grill the green tomato.
- Set a grill pan to medium-high heat.
- Brush the tomatoes with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Grill until tomatoes soften and grill marks appear, about 2-3 minutes per side.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool. Once cool, dice into small pieces and transfer to a mixing bowl.
Make the chimichurri
- Combine remaining ingredients with the grilled tomatoes and season with salt and pepper.
- Cover with plastic wrap and keep in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Cook the Wagyu
- Preheat a grill pan.
- Brush the meat with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Grill about 3 minutes per side until medium rare.
- To check for doneness, insert an instant reading thermometer in the thickest part of the meat.
- The temperature reading should be 130 to 135°F for medium rare.
- Transfer to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes.
- Carve the meat into 1-inch slices crosswise against the grain. Arrange the slices overlapping
- slightly on a platter and serve with pickled jalapeno & green tomato chimichurri on the side.


text:
By Dhananjay Mahapatra, TNN | Jan 15, 2013, 01.20 AM IST
"Imposing a dress code on women and asking them not to use mobile phones, are such orders not socially retrograde? But these are also against the law. How can anyone ask women not to carry a mobile phone," a bench of Justices Aftab Alam and Ranjana P Desai asked while hearing a PIL which sought protection of young couples marrying inter-caste or within the same gotra from the wrath of khaps.
The bench said this after taking note of the presence of many elders, sporting colourful turbans and belonging to different khaps of UP and Haryana, in the court's visitors' gallery. A large number of khap members were also present in the court room in response to the bench's desire to hear their views on socially retrograde diktats and honour killings.
But the Sarv Khap Panchayat, a conglomerate of 67 khaps in Haryana's Rohtak district, nonchalantly told the court that it was the family members who lynched girls and boys who marry outside their caste or within the same gotra, unable to resist social pressure and taunts of relatives. Regulating the khaps would not reduce honour killings, it said.
"Such incidents happen only in the peace loving and law abiding people of the village and normally not in mischievous families," the panchayat said in its written submissions to the court.
The bench questioned the inspector general of police (Meerut zone), additional director general (law and order) of Haryana along with superintendents of police of Rohtak and Jind districts on khap-dictated honour killings. All the police officers said khaps sometimes adopt socially retrograde resolutions but there had been no instance of their members being involved in honour killings.
The cops said it was the family members who indulged in killings of youth who defy caste and gotra barriers. Amicus curiae Raju Ramachandran explained, "Once the khaps issue an order of censure on matrimonial alliance, the family of the involved boys and girls face the prospect of being socially ostracized. To overcome this, they resort to killing of the couple who defied the khap-imposed social barriers."
The bench wondered why the police of UP and Haryana were "so anxious to give a good conduct certificate" to the khaps but additional advocates general of both states – Gaurav Bhatia and Manjit Singh – sought time to file a proper affidavit on behalf of the police. But counsel for the khaps said in unison, "What the police officers are saying is correct."
When additional solicitor general Indira Jaising said "the Sarv Khap Panchayat of district Rohatak has admitted that it adjudicates all matters relating to marriage and family", the bench said, "That means they are running parallel courts."
The court came to the rescue of Jaising, who was being shouted down by the counsel for khaps seeking time to file their response to the PIL by NGO Shakti Vahini. The NGO's counsel Ravi Kant said, "Though khaps are directly not responsible for the honour killings, their orders vitiate the atmosphere. There are many instances where the girl's family had been excommunicated or the girl's head had been tonsured."
Jaising said, "There has been a failure on the part of the police to provide security to couples marrying against social norms fixed by khaps." The bench asked the khaps to file their written submissions not exceeding 10 pages by February 18 and posted the matter for detailed hearing on March 5.
Related articles
- #India-Khap bans jeans and T-shirts for girls in #Haryana #Vaw #moralpolicing #WTfnews (kractivist.wordpress.com)
- Khap panchayats oppose marriage in same gotra to control landholdings #Vaw #Honorkillings (kractivist.wordpress.com)
- Honour killings: Law panel says no to death penalty #Vaw (kractivist.wordpress.com)
- #India- Khap bans DJ in 42 Haryana villages #FOE #Music #censorship #wtfnews (kractivist.wordpress.com)


text:
Watch: Cars that scream America
You'll often hear cars called "iconic"just because they're easily recognizable. But to be truly iconic, a car has to stand for something. It has to be the sort of car that, if you were a cartoonist, you draw to indicate a certain type of person, a certain era or an idea.
This car, the 1971 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda, is iconic because it functions as a perfect stand-in for every high-powered muscle car that ever shredded a set of back tires. When someone says "muscle car" this is probably the car you picture inside your head.
Now, being "iconic" does not mean a car is necessarily good or desirable. There are cars that stand for things like "uncool," "utter flop," or "selfish boor." For me, these are the cars that came to mind when I try to think of the most genuinely iconic American cars ever made. Feel free to play along. I'm always open to suggestions.
Not all these cars have model years associated with them. In some cases, any year will do.


text:
If you needed any further proof that you don't need the most cutting-edge camera equipment to take beautiful photos, check out these shots by Jason Bognacki who attached a 1919 Piccolette Contessa-Nettel folding camera to his 5D Mark II.
The results obviously have a soft, old-timey feel to them, but the camera's lens was still able to resolve incredible details when placed closer to the subject. In this case, his dog's nose.
It didn't fare quite as well outdoors with the sun in frame—the lens flare tended to blow out the image quite a bit— but since everyone's obsessed with creating retro results through apps like Instagram anyways, it shows that older camera equipment still has some life left in it. With a little bit of hacking. [Today's Tomorrow via Notcot]


text:
Download Podcast | iTunes | Podcast Feed
On today's edition of Coffee and Markets, Ben Domenech is joined by John Garen a professor in economics at the University of Kentucky and adjunct scholar at the Bluegrass Institute to discuss what lessons can be learned from the state of Kentucky where one in five people are enrolled in Medicaid as costs skyrocket and quality of care plummets.
We're brought to you as always by BigGovernment and Stephen Clouse and Associates. If you'd like to email us, you can do so at coffee[at]newledger.com. We hope you enjoy the show.
Related Links:
An Unsustainable Path: The Past and Future of Kentucky Medicaid Spending"
More Medicaid Delusion
Kentucky looks at Medicaid concerns
Beshear close on Medicaid plan but misses deadline
The Bluegrass Institute
Follow Brad on Twitter
Follow Ben on Twitter
Domenech: Well, thanks for joining me today, John. It's a pleasure to talk to you.
Garen: Okay. Well, it's my pleasure to be here.
Domenech: I wanted to first off start by asking you to outline for us this most recent study you've conducted, looking at the effects on Kentucky of a number of different factors when it comes to their share of Medicaid spending.
What are the things that you found and how did you go about studying this issue?
Garen: Well, can I preface that a little bit?
Domenech: Sure.
Garen: One thing that, I actually gave a presentation on this the other day. Kind of two things that folks in sort of the free market, think tank slash policy world, I think, emphasize is the importance of embracing markets or market-like policies to deal with problems. And but secondly I think most people, even free market oriented people, understand that there is a role for some sort of a social safety net. And my working through a lot of this literature on Medicaid indicates that Medicaid just doesn't do well in either one of those. It interferes with good market provision of healthcare, good low cost affordable market provision, and it's not really a very good safety net anymore. There's got all kinds of problems with it.
So, what I did with this study is we sort of worked through kind of the historical spending patterns on Medicaid, both for the U.S. as well as Kentucky, specifically since this was for a Kentucky based think-tank, the Blue Grass Institute. And of course, the patterns for the last 25 years are, you know, just rather markedly upward. And that has kind of led us to where we are today with, you know, at least part of our entitlement crisis. And then sort of looking forward, you know, I did some very simple, you know, of trends continue sort of thing. Even the trends, even with some modest buffering of what trends had been in the past. I mean, the line still goes up in terms of expenditures, in terms or enrollees and what not.
And then we took a lot of the research that had been done on, you know, why this has happened and sort of the effectiveness of the increased expenditure on Medicaid. And on the effectiveness side it's really disappointing for a number of reasons. One is that a lot of the expansions in Medicaid during the late '80s and most of the '90s, and into the 2000s, the increased eligibility as well as increased enrollment has been associated with a decline in private insurance coverage of this group. And so what's been going on is a lot of people have been declining to take private insurance, but instead going onto Medicaid. And you know, that's not really the point of the program, in my view anyway, that if people can purchase their own health insurance, in my view that's better. You know, we're embracing the market. The market has ways of satisfying their customers at low cost, that's what we ought to be doing. And so that was one of the things that really struck me as frustrating about the Medicaid program, is that its growth has at, a lot of it has come at the expense of private sector insurance.
But related to that, a lot of the study suggests that these additional, if you look at sort of the health outcomes of these additional enrollees through most of the 1990s and the early 2000s, that there really is no market increase. Actually it's pretty minimal in an increase in health status outcomes of new enrollees. And a lot of that is likely to do with the fact, a lot of these folks are dropping private insurance where they've had some access to healthcare and they're picking up Medicare or Medicaid, I'm sorry, with some access to medical care.
So, we've had this massive ramp up of spending and it seems like, you know, we're missing part of the target. A lot of the target population. We're going to groups outside the target population, and as a result we're not really getting better health outcomes. And the, you know, the prospective for, I mean there's nothing legislatively that his happening right now, at least that has passed legislation, that is going to change that. I mean, if we look at the healthcare reform bill at the Federal level. I mean that just really does nothing to fundamentally change the way Medicaid works and simply adds another layer of eligible folks in.
Domenech: Well, tell us a little bit about the picture specific to Kentucky.
Garen: Yeah.
Domenech: What's the kind of burden, not just on Kentucky's current budget, but in terms of the population that's there, what percentage or what number of in terms of the population is currently on Medicaid?
Garen: Well, we're actually above the US average. We're about 21% as the latest, I guess reliable figures that I have are actually based on 2009 and then it was about 21%. It's probably around that, perhaps slightly higher now. One in five. I mean, that's a huge number in my mind anyway. And I think nationally the numbers are around 16 or 17%. We are, I guess, Federal and state spending combined we're about $5.5 billion, Federal and state combined spending. And if you just sort of move those making some simple projections, mostly just looking at what's projected for medical cost increases. And then some slight increase in enrollments which I don't know if they'll happen or not, but you know, these are not crazy projections by any means. I think they're pretty cautious. You know, we would go up to over eight million under one of the projections and nine billion with another. You know, from five and a half to eight or nine billion by the end of this decade. So, I mean, those are —
Domenech: Those are pretty daunting numbers, yeah.
Garen: They really are.
Domenech: And I wonder if you could, you know, outline for us what your expectations are when it comes to not just the, the sort of the expansion of the numbers of eligible people naturally, but also the effect that President Obama's healthcare law could have in terms of both the newly eligible people and those who were previously eligible who may have, as we've seen from other studies, sort of an out of the woodwork effect of coming onto the plan.
Garen: Yeah.
Domenech: What were your expectations in that regard?
Garen: Well, I expected that to have a non trivial effect, a fairly significant effect. And as it turns out, of course, most of the effect is going to be on the Federal share because most of that will be borne by the Federal Government, which of course, just means that taxpayers in the whole US, including Kentuckians, will be paying part of that. But yeah, there is a significant number of folks, based on, I've looked at the American Community Survey data set for 2009 to get a feel for how many people currently are eligible for Medicaid, but have not taken it up. And then looked at this new slice of eligibles to see how many folks would be eligible. How many of those are uninsured and we, I assumed that those folks would take up Medicaid. And then there's a group of folks who already have private insurance who were in that newly eligible group which based on previous findings we assumed would, some of those would drop their private and go onto Medicaid.
And so what happens as we get about another, when you assume those things would happen and you project forward, we get an increase of spending, again Federal and state combined, from about $5.5 million up to about nine, I think it's $9.5 billion. Excuse me, these are in billions of dollars. Rather than $8 billion we go up another billion or more. Now, I think that too, that also is pretty cautiously low because, you know, if this all happens and we have the mandate come in with the Federal exchanges, I think they'll probably be, maybe you would have a view on this as well Ben, there will probably be an even further collapse of the private sector.
Domenech: You know, I think that that's certainly going to be a real possibility. In fact, Peter Orzag (phonetic sp.) has written in his latest piece in Foreign Affairs, that that's a possibility that was considered, even though it was never really something they acknowledged during the process of passing that legislation. And he acknowledges that if employers, in particular, game the system which I think it makes financial sense for them to do so, you know, that where it does, the effect could be just an unsustainable level of people. And I think that that's something that many others are beginning to acknowledge and Orzag admitting it is, I think, a real step forward in terms of honesty and you kind of wish he'd said it before.
Garen: That's right. When he had some influence over this, yeah.
Domenech: Exactly.
Garen: But yeah. I mean, that will sort of, you're piling more people onto the exchanges as well as there will probably be more people pick up Medicaid as well. So, we're busting the budget in two ways here.
Domenech: Let's talk a little bit about the outcome side of things.
Garen: Okay.
Domenech: I'm curious about, you know, anything that you found in terms of the Kentucky experience on that count or extrapolating from other experiences. Obviously there have been a number of studies recently regarding the inability of children in particular to receive access to care.
Garen: Yes.
Domenech: I wonder if you could talk to us a little bit about that problem.
Garen: Yeah. Well, actually there was a study that just came out actually, and that I did not include in the report because I had written it just like days before this —
Domenech: Sure. Sure.
Garen: — the study came out, but this was a study, I think it was based in Illinois actually, wasn't it?
Domenech: Yeah.
Garen: Where they, there were phone calls to physician office's, will you take me as a patient and I have Medicaid versus I have private insurance. And basically the answer is I think something we, there had been other indications of this in the past that the Medicaid people say they have Medicaid, very hard to find a doctor who will take them in. And there's actually a study that I have referenced in my paper here published, I think it was by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, indicating that, it's a survey of physicians indicating that it is a real serious factor as to why physicians decline Medicaid patients. It's the reimbursement and sort of the delays in getting reimbursed.
So I mean that is really, I mean, that's a serious hole. If we really want to have a sensible safety net, I mean that's just crazy to say okay, you have this coverage, but then you don't really have the coverage because nobody will take you as a patient. So, that's a big problem. And I think that is sometimes the politician's way to deal with budgets is to say oh well, let's cut reimbursement rates.
Domenech: Sure.
Garen: But that never works.
Domenech: So, let's close with this then. When it comes to solving these problems and addressing the challenges within the Medicaid system, what are the solutions that you would recommend or things that you've seen considered elsewhere that states could look to to adapt to their experience?
Garen: Yeah. Well, there's a host of sort of a piecemeal things that folks do. My own preference is a more fundamental reform where we look to markets more extensively. And I think one thing that people sometimes overlook is that, you know, healthcare markets and health insurance markets are incredibly heavily regulated. And to overregulated I would say, to the detriment of competition and to the detriment of encouraging entrepreneurial ideas, to both in terms of healthcare itself as well as health insurance. And I think the more we can encourage a competitive market in both of these, both healthcare as well as health insurance, the more that's going to help poor people in terms of buying their own insurance and having, you know, maybe modestly high deductibles with some co-pays and what not. That type of insurance is fairly inexpensive, but yet, you know, there's nothing wrong with it.
So, I think embracing a more competitive market would simply enable more people to buy a good health insurance plan. I mean, it's just like with any other competitive market. You know, automobiles, or stereos, or TVs, or clothing, or what not. If we have a competitive market we get better lower prices, better quality, more access to everyone, including the poor.
But then on top of that I advocate, and a lot of other people do too, a use of what's, some people call premium support. Another name I guess would be a health insurance voucher, where we, you know, award a voucher to low income folks based on their income and perhaps their health status, that enables them to go out and shop for and buy a health insurance policy, and then go out and shop for physicians that they want to go see. And this, I think, would really integrate low income households into sort of the mainstream of medical care rather than just kind of being treated as second class citizens under the Medicaid program.
And then the third thing that I talk about in the report, and many others have discussed this as well, is using block grants to states rather than the matching where, you know, the Federal Government matches expenditures that the states do on Medicaid. And in Kentucky it's an incredibly high match rate. It's about, normally it's about 70%. We're above that now. But so, I mean, this just encourages states to sort of game the system to say okay, we put in $.30, we get $.70 from the Federal Government. And that sounds like a pretty good deal, but you end up growing the program beyond, you know, what it really needs to be.
Domenech: Well, thank you so much for weighing in on this, John. I appreciate your insight and I think that in terms of, you know, this problem going forward it seems clear that a pretty significant response will be needed in order to achieve anything in terms of a system wide reform, which sounds increasingly necessary.
Garen: Yeah. I agree.
(End of Podcast)


text:
An Egyptian company that launched North Korea's first 3G cellular network and attracted as many as 3 million subscribers has revealed that it lost control of the operator despite owning a majority stake.
The plight of Orascom Telecom and Media Technology in North Korea takes place against a backdrop of rapid telecom modernization and a public eager to adopt a new technology. It's ultimately a lesson in the perils of getting into bed with a government that's not known for respecting international law.
When Orascom announced plans to launch the 3G service in 2008 it met with skepticism. The North Korean government severely limits its citizens' ability to communicate and has jailed or killed anyone who speaks out against the regime. The regime has regularly threatened war against its foes and was under sanctions at the time for a 2006 nuclear test.
But Orascom Chairman Naguib Sawiris saw something else: a land that technology had forgotten. He'd successfully built cellular networks in other developing countries, and North Korea seemed a perfect candidate, especially with its low fixed-line penetration.
After months of talks, Orascom secured an agreement to form a joint venture with the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications. Orascom held a 75 percent stake in the company, known as Cheo Technology, and the ministry owned the rest. The service was sold under the brand Koryolink.
Early Success
In its first two weeks of operation, in December 2008, Koryolink signed 6,000 subscribers — not bad for a country whose citizens need government approval to get a cell phone and where they needed foreign currency to buy minutes.
Subscribers grew steadily over the next few years and Orascom expanded coverage to major cities, highways and railways.
In 2011, things were going so well that Sawiris met personally with reclusive North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, and state-run media lauded the company's success in modernizing its telecommunications system.
Additional services were added, like MMS picture messaging, and subscriber numbers passed 2 million users (North Korea's population is around 25 million). Visitors to Pyongyang remarked on how common it had become to see people on cell phones, and TV news carried reports about new phones.
Success brought profits, which was good news for Koryolink but ultimately bad news for its Egyptian owner.
Profits Bring Problems
Orascom's efforts to get its profits out of North Korea have been unsuccessful, partially because of international sanctions imposed on the country but mainly by the government's refusal to let the money go.
To transfer money out of North Korea, Orascom needs permission from the government and it hasn't been granted, despite it being a partner in the joint venture.
The government hasn't acted because it can't afford to.
The profits are held in North Korean won, but the currency isn't traded internationally and the government's official rate is set artificially high, at 100 won to the U.S. dollar. At that rate, Orascon's holding at the end of last year was worth $585 million.
But at the black market exchange rate, which is effectively the real value of the currency in North Korea, the cash is worth only $7.2 million. And therein lies the problem. The government can't afford to pay the money at the official rate, and it can't be seen to officially recognize the black market rate. So the two sides have spent months locked in talks about what to do.
The End Game
The issue came to light in an auditor's report in June, and a month later Orascom dropped a bombshell: It said the North Korean government — supposedly its close partner — had set up a second carrier to compete with Koryolink.
With its options limited, Orascom entered merger talks to combine Koryolink with the new carrier. The North Korean government has agreed to the move in principle, but so far nothing has happened.
What's more, the North Korean government has apparently proposed that it be the majority partner in any new venture that's formed.
That led to a dramatic statement from Orascom when it reported its financial results Monday — "in the group management's view, control over Koryolink's activities was lost."
Sawiris appears to hold out hope, but he might be out of moves.
"We are very proud of the success of our operation 'Koryolink'," he said in a statement. "We have around 3 million people today carrying our phones in the DPRK. We are still hopeful that we will be able to resolve all pending issues to continue this successful journey."
Orascom did not respond to a request for further comment.