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Rubber Bullets & Stupid Reporters the Ignorance is Deafening
Recent events in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson, Missouri have captured the nation's attention.
Violent protests, looting, police deploying with armored vehicles, teargas, and military-style weapons and uniforms, all spurred by the fatal shooting of a young man in the middle of a busy street in the middle of the day.
Reporters have flocked to the area, as have professional rabble-rousers like Al Sharpton.
The situation has been tense and the reporting has been dramatic; tending to be long on speculation, rumor, and hype, while lacking much in the way of solid information or useful facts. Reporters have become an integral part of the story as freedom of the press has clashed with police demands for obedience.
Many questions have been raised by these events, and hopefully we can soon start finding some answers; about the shooting, the response, and the role the media plays in calming or exacerbating these situations.
I'm not going to try to answer any of those questions here beyond saying that I feel the violence and looting are inexcusable, as is the excessive, authoritarian reaction of police, and the sloppy, sensationalizing of the media. What I do want to talk about is a very minor side-note that came out of this story a few days ago, and why this small detail should be looked at and taken seriously.
What I'm talking about is a Twitter post from Huffington Post reporter, Ryan J. Reilly:
I called my 7-year old grandson, Tyree, in from playing outside. I showed him the picture and asked him what the things were. He immediate responded "Earplugs." When I told him that a reporter had thought they might be rubber bullets, my grandson said "Really? What's wrong with that guy?"
Obviously this was just a stupid mistake made by a reporter unfamiliar with these types of earplugs. Many people have had a great laugh at this poor guy's expense, and it has been an ongoing source of embarrassment and frustration for him – and rightly so.
If a 7-year old can identify earplugs from a photo, why can't a bona fide reporter recognize them in real life?
Granted, my grandson is exceptional in every way, but the fact is it's not superior intellect or critical thinking skills that allowed him to identify these things, it's experience. Ty has been to the range with me. He's watched me shoot, and he's fired a .22 rifle himself. Along with other safety rules, Ty has been taught the importance of protecting his eyes and ears when shooting. The point is, Ty recognized the earplugs because he's familiar with them. More importantly, the reporter didn't recognize them because he was unfamiliar with them. Why is someone who doesn't know the difference between earplugs and bullets being paid to cover police actions in Missouri? Why is it acceptable and routine for reporters to write about which they know absolutely nothing?
Over the years I have given many examples of politicians saying silly things about guns out of sheer ignorance or intentional deception. The hit-parade includes Rep. Carolyn McCarthy's (D-NY) babbling claim that she thinks a barrel shroud (something she identified as a feature of guns she wants to ban) is "the shoulder thing that goes up…", Rep. Dianne DeGette's (D-CO) claim that magazines can't be reused and that by illegalizing future manufacture and sale of "high-capacity" magazines, gun owners would eventually shoot them all up, and the ultimate in ignorant diatribes from California State Senator Kevin DeLeon in his press conference rant about "Ghost Guns" and their ability to empty "a 30-magazine clip in half a second."
It's not surprising that politicians might be ignorant about guns – even guns that they are writing legislation about – because politicians do that sort of thing. To them it's just another political issue. What's frustrating and inexcusable is that when politicians say patently ignorant or untrue things about firearms, and reporters don't call them on it, but instead just repeat the nonsense without question or correction.
When gun owners point out the inaccuracies and errors, reporters usually ignore our comments or actively dismiss them as irrelevant.
If a politician makes an erroneous statement on almost any other subject, reporters will at least question it – unless they are operating under their own political motives. When it comes to guns, the combination of political predisposition, along with an inordinate level of ignorance on the subject, means reporters almost never get the facts straight – and there is no excuse for it. There are numerous online guides specifically designed for writers and reporters to educate them about firearms and firearms related issues. There are also dozens of knowledgeable people like me who are more than happy to answer questions to help reporters understand technical, legal, and political issues surrounding our issue.
Ryan Reilly's mistake of thinking earplugs were rubber bullets is symptomatic of a widespread failing among professional journalists – a failing that they show no inclination to correct. I'm a columnist. I'm supposed to come at issues with an opinion and advocate a viewpoint. Reporters are supposed to provide unbiased and accurate information about events. Intentional distortion and willful ignorance about the subjects they're covering is inexcusable.
©2014 The Firearms Coalition, all rights reserved. Reprinting, posting, and distributing permitted with inclusion of this copyright statement. www.FirearmsCoalition.org.
The Firearms Coalition is a loose-knit coalition of individual Second Amendment activists, clubs and civil rights organizations. Founded by Neal Knox in 1984, the organization provides support to grassroots activists in the form of education, analysis of current issues, and with a historical perspective of the gun rights movement. The Firearms Coalition is a project of Neal Knox Associates, Manassas, VA. Visit: www.FirearmsCoalition.org
Read more: AmmoLand
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution


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The draft analysis continues to come in, and the Jacksonville Jaguars did not receive a glowing review of their 2012 Draft from Sports Illustrated, who gave the Jags a "C-" grade.
They appreciated how the Jaguars were able to get Justin Blackmon with the No. 5 pick, yet the amount of reaches, including taking punter Bryan Anger in the third round, drew ire from SI and draft analysts everywhere.
"Things seemed to be going so well - the Jags moved up to get Blaine Gabbert a star wide receiver in Justin Blackmon (6) and Jacksonville pounced on DE Andre Branch (38) - and then, BAM!, punter. OLB Brandon Marshall was a gigantic reach at 142. Grade: C-plus"
There is obviously some concern among the fan base with the panning of this draft by many, although it will take years for the results to truly show.
For more on the Jaguars, visit Big Cat Country.

subset: commoncrawl


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It's the first day of the year and an excellent time to take a first look at home sales and home prices in Iowa City. If you're thinking of listing a home in Iowa City this market snapshot will give you an idea on how the Iowa City real estate market is trending as we move toward the peak selling season of the year.
In a nutshell, home prices show the most impressive increase for the year in Iowa City. Home sales in Iowa City are about even in 2017 compared to 2016, at least according to data on the MLS today. (It is the first of the year and the number is likely to go up a little as agents enter more sold listings into the MLS system after the Holidays).
Homes Sold in Iowa City January – December 2017
Home Sales & Home Prices in Iowa City January – December 2017
- Home Sales are even with last year. 1103 Homes sold in Iowa City January – December 2017 compared to 1101 homes sold in the same time frame in 2016.
- The absorption rate is at a very low 1.5 months, that's 47 days on market
- There are currently 142 homes showing as Active Listings on the MLS and 75 homes are currently showing as Contingent or Sale Pending – That translates into a 35% contract to listing ratio – That means there are a good number of buyers out writing contracts on homes in Iowa City.
- Average Price for homes in Iowa City January – December is UP ~ The average price is $295,046 in 2017 compared to $269,959 in 2016
- Median Price for homes in Iowa City is also UP ~ Median Price is $262,750 in 2017 compared to $229,950 in 2016
If you're thinking of selling your home in Iowa City this spring, now is the time to start thinking about your strategy. Knowing what to expect of the market for your specific home in your specific neighborhood is key to your success. Detail oriented and with in depth knowledge of the Iowa City real estate market, we can help with that. Call Denise at 319-400-0268 for insights and advice on getting your home sold in Iowa City this spring!
Data provided via the Iowa City MLS January 1, 2018


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There are many carpet cleaning methods to choose from out there. Most professional carpet cleaners offer the hot water extraction for carpeting that is highly soiled and not maintained. Not only does this cleaning method remove 96% of soil build-up in the carpet, it is the preferred cleaning method recognized by carpet manufacturers for maximum soil removal. The hot water extraction offers a deeper cleaning for carpeting leaving much less residues, and helping restore carpet back to its original state.
Our hot water extraction method works by applying heated cleaning solution to the carpet fibers, agitating using our state of the art Rotovac 360i while extracting the soils at the same time. This process is much more effective for removing stains, allergens, build-up, and odors. Temperatures for this cleaning process can range anywhere from 190 degrees to 250 degrees. Advantages of cleaning carpet at this temperature is not only that it removes the bulk of the soils existing in the carpet, it sanitizes the carpet fibers, killing dust-mites on contact, leaving your carpeting fresh and restored.
If it has been a while since your last professional carpet cleaning service, this is the recommended cleaning method of choice. This cleaning method is recommended annually for maintaining and maximizing the life of your carpeting. Even if you've skipped a couple cleanings, we guarantee we can bring life back into your carpet with this cleaning method. For a professional carpet cleaning service contact us today at 951-787-8787 serving Riverside, CA and surrounding areas. If we feel we cannot restore your carpeting using our hot water extraction method, your estimate is free.


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as a blog photographer who shoots mostly with fashion bloggers, i've learned a thing or two about choosing outfits that photograph well. you want to make sure that your outfits will look good in photos, but you also want to make sure that they will help you look your best in your photos! i shared a few tips here about how to have a flawless senior session. but one big tip from that post is to choose outfits that you feel comfortable in. & while comfort is important, so are the following five tips:
1. choose outfits that are flattering to your body type
you want to choose outfits that truly flatter you. each body is different, so what may look good on one person may not look best on YOU. make sure that your outfits flatters your body & that you feel comfortable. one of the biggest mistakes people make when choosing outfits for photos is that they choose an outfit that they don't feel comfortable in (ie: they're pulling at their skirt or constantly checking to make sure everything is where it's supposed to be) and they look uncomfortable in their photos. their smiles are strained & they look a little stressed. so choose clothes that are flattering to you that make you feel like the confident rock star you are.
2. choose outfits that you can move in
the best photos are the ones that show emotion. a lot of photographers use movement to help draw out natural emotions. make sure that you can move in your outfit choices. ALSO (bonus tip) choosing clothes that are flowy (think chiffon dress or skirt) adds more natural movement (emotion) to the photo. and movement is always good!
3. choose outfits that you feel confident in
you want to feel confident. remember in tip number one when i talked about how people choose outfits they don't feel comfortable in & then they look strained? it's hard to feel confident in clothes that you don't love or feel make you look your best. confidence is key to looking your best. so choose the outfit that makes you feel like your absolute best!
4. choose outfits that are simple
you don't want your outfit to overshadow your photo. choose simple outfits that model your personality. the main focus of the photo should be YOU, not your outfit, not the location, not the pose, but YOU.
5. choose outfits that make you feel like your best self
i can't stress this enough. when you feel like your best self, your photos show that. choose outfits that make you feel like a million bucks & then act like it, because you ARE a million bucks!
hair & make up by a dash of sparkle


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- NETVIGATOR Email Setup
- Frequently-asked questions
NETVIGATOR EMAIL SETUPHow do I set up an email client on a mobile phone and/or computer?
Simply refer to the following table to configure the incoming and outgoing mail servers, and to manage your NETVIGATOR mailbox via email clients such as Microsoft Outlook or on an intelligent device.Configuration guide
Select the incoming mail server and email client
- Email Setting
- Android
- iOS
- Windows
- Mac OS
- Outlook
Incoming Mail Server ActiveSync
(Not applicable to Microsoft Exchange Server)
Server: em.netvigator.com Domain: netvigator.com or hkstar.com Use SSL: Yes Enter username (not including @netvigator or @hkstar.com) and password IMAP Server Server: imap.netvigator.com Authentication: Yes Use SSL: Yes Port: 993 Enter username (@netvigator.com or @hkstar.com) and password POP Server Server: pop.netvigator.com Authentication: Yes Use SSL: Yes Port: 995 Enter username (@netvigator.com or @hkstar.com) and password Outgoing Mail Server Server: smtp.netvigator.com Authentication: Yes SSL: Yes Port: 465 Enter username (@netvigator.com or @hkstar.com) and password
NETVIGATOR Email Exchange ActiveSync on Android
1. Open "Settings"
2. Select "Users & accounts"
3. Click "Add account"
4. Select "Exchange"
5. Enter you NETVIGATOR email address and click "Next"
6. Enter you NETVIGATOR password and click "Next"
7. Enter the following information and click "Next"
Server: em.netvigator.com
8. Click "OK"
9. You may give this account a name, and click "Next" to finish setup
You can now receive NETVIGATOR push emails on your Android device
NETVIGATOR Email Exchange ActiveSync on iOS
1. Open "Settings"
2. Select "Accounts & Passwords"
3. Select "Add Account"
4. Select "Exchange"
5. Enter you NETVIGATOR email address and click "Next"
6. Select "Configure Manually"
7. Enter you NETVIGATOR password and click "Next"
8. Enter the following details:
Server: em.netvigator.com
Domain: netvigator.com
Username: (your NETVIGATOR Login ID, do NOT include "@netvigator.com")
Click "Next"
Note: Use "hkstar.com" for Domain if your email address is firstname.lastname@example.com
9. Enable sync for all options (refer to figure above), then click "Save" to finish setup
You can now receive NETVIGATOR push email on your iOS device
NETVIGATOR Email Exchange ActiveSync for Windows 10/11
1. Click "Mail" on "Start" screen
2. Click the icon at upper left-hand corner to open selection menu
3. Select "Accounts"
4. Select "Add account"
5. Select "Advanced setup"
6. Select "Exchange ActiveSync"
7. Enter the following details:
Email address: (your NETVIGATOR email address)
Password: (your NETVIGATOR password)
User name: (your NETVIGATOR Login ID, do NOT include "@netvigator.com")
8. Enter the following details:
Domain: netvigator.com
Server: em.netvigator.com
Click "Sign in"
9. Click "Done" to finish setup
Your Windows OS can now receive push email
NETVIGATOR email IMAP setup for Mac OSX
1. Open the mail app, select "Add Other Mail Account" and click "Continue"
2. Enter your NETVIGATOR email details, but with an incorrect password, then click "Create"
3. Enter your NETVIGATOR email address and the following details: Password: Your NETVIGATOR email password Account type: IMAP Server address: imap.netvigator.com Click "Sign in"
4. Click "Done"
5. You are now able to receive NETVIGATOR email
NETVIGATOR Email IMAP setup for Windows 10
1. Click "Outlook 2016" on "Start" screen
2. Enter your NETVIGATOR email address and click "Connect"
3. Select "IMAP"
4. Enter the following details:
Incoming mail
Server: imap.netvigator.com
Port: 993
Encryption method: SSL/TLS
Outgoing mail
Server: smtp.netvigator.com
Port: 465
Encryption method: SSL/TLS
Click "Next"
5. Enter your NETVIGATOR password and click "Connect"
6. Click "OK" to finish setup
Your Windows OS can now receive NETVIGATOR email
NETVIGATOR EMAIL FREQUENTLY-ASKED QUESTIONSGeneral FAQ
Function & Operations
1. How do I change my password?
After logging into webmail, go to the upper right-hand corner and select "Change Password" in the drop-down menu.
Or go to https://cs.netvigator.com/eng/, then select "Change Password" in the left-hand column under "My Profile".
2. What should I do if I forget my password?
Submit an inquiry by clicking "Forgot Password" at the NETVIGATOR Email login page, or at https://cs.netvigator.com/eng/. Or call Hotline 1000 for help.
3. What should I do if I forget my login?
Submit an inquiry by clicking "Forgot Login ID" at the NETVIGATOR email login page, or at https://cs.netvigator.com/eng/. Or call Hotline 1000 for help.
4. Can I still keep my email service/address if I terminate NETVIGATOR broadband service?
No. NETVIGATOR Email Service is available only to NETVIGATOR broadband customers.
5. Will my mailbox continue to receive email if my broadband line is suspended because of non-payment?
Your NETVIGATOR Email account may be suspended by us, which means you will be unable to send/receive messages.
6. How long will my stored email are kept after service termination? Can I get it back?
Your NETVIGATOR Email mailbox will cease to exist the instant your broadband service is terminated. Mailbox content cannot be retrieved after termination.
7. Can I keep stored email if my email address is changed?
No. Email in your old NETVIGATOR Email account cannot be moved to a new account.
8. Are any email content constraints in force – eg affecting those of a political or erotic nature?
No such specific constraints are in force in respect of your incoming/outgoing email. However, incoming email may be classified as spam and filtered to the junk folder if you have subscribed to MailGuard Plus, or if the Enhanced Junk Filter is switched on.
9. I want to send email to my friends, is there any restriction to what I can send?
We're glad you asked, because to cut down on "SPAMMING" and "JUNK MAIL", and possible "overflowing" of email boxes, NETVIGATOR, has put into place a few limits.
Technical Support
1. How much email storage capacity do I have?
Your NETVIGATOR email account comes with expandable storage capacity, so it increases according to use.
2. Is email storage capacity unlimited?
Storage capacity will expand according to use.
3. Is Disposable Email Address storage capacity unlimited?
No separate capacity exists for emails received by a Disposable Email Address. Your NETVIGATOR email account storage capacity applies.
4. What's the biggest email I can send?
You may send email, includes attachments, with full size ranging on or below 35 Megabytes.
5. Can I send/receive email when storage capacity is actually being expanded?
You should be able to send/receive email while mailbox storage is being expanded, because it is undertaken at the system's backend.
6. How many email filters can I create?
Normally, up to 100.
7. Is auto-reply/forward functionality available?
Yes. For auto-reply function, log into webmail then go to "Settings". Select "Out of Office" to activate an auto-reply message and conditions.
For auto-forwarding function, log into webmail and go to "Settings". Select "Accounts", and tap to display all the sessions under your email account, then enter the appropriate destination email address in the field under "Access your mail elsewhere".
8. How many recipients can I send at most via NETVIGATOR SMTP?
To provide NETVIGATOR customers a safe internet environment, we have a non-disclose limit set policy for senders not sending high volume of emails via SMTP .
1. What is the system requirement when using NETVIGATOR webmail?
Here are the basic browsers requirements for using NETVIGATOR webmail:
Windows: Chrome 96.0, Edge 95.0 or Firefox 95.0
Mac: Chrome 96.0, Edge 96.0, Firefox 95.0 or Safari 13.1.2
iOS: the latest version of Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari
Android: Chrome 96.0, Edge 96.0 or Firefox 95.2
2. Can I check email when using Windows 10 and Edge?
Yes. Simply login and access your NETVIGATOR email account using the "Open with Internet Explorer" feature of the Windows 10 Edge browser.
3. How do I recover a deleted email?
Deleted email messages are moved to trash, so you could recover by moving them back to the inbox or another folder. However, email cannot be recovered once deleted from trash.
4. Will NETVIGATOR back up my email data? Can you retrieve messages for customers?
In the interests of privacy, we do not back up email after it has been deleted. We are therefore unable to retrieve deleted email for customers.
5. Can I login to my email account using more than one device at the same time?
Yes. You can log into your NETVIGATOR email account simultaneously via multiple devices.
6. My friend sent me an email, but I can't find it in my inbox. What should I do?
If you have subscribed to MailGuard Plus, or if the Enhanced Junk Filter is switched on, incoming email could be classified as spam and filtered to the junk folder, so please check. Alternatively, email could be delivered to other folders, especially if you have a Disposable Email Address and/or mail filter in force.
7. My friend has sent email messages to me but I never receive them. What can I do?
To investigate the problem, we need the message delivery report which will usually return to the email sender if the message cannot reach the email recipient. The reason for the email return can be found on this report.
8. Where will an email go if a specified folder is deleted?
If you delete a whole folder, it and all email contained therein will be moved to trash.
9. My NETVIGATOR email account receives many spam/phishing emails.
Would NETVIGATOR remonstrate with email service providers subscribed to by the senders, in order to stop such activity?
NETVIGATOR always contacts a spammer's service provider to inform them about such activity when spam/phishing cases are reported by our customers. In addition, we suggest customers should activate the Enhanced Junk Filter feature.


text: It was such an incredible pleasure meeting and speaking with everyone from the Boards at Botcon this year. I very much look forward to getting together again next year to get to know everyone better. Oh, and since Hooters was the dinner event this year, its "Jockstraps" for everyone next year. Nite everyone! Neo


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Launching PSTAM Forums
I had forums on this site a very long time ago but nothing ever really happened with them. After the prodding of Andrew McCuller (a Mac Genius at an Apple Store, among other things), I've decided to give forums another whirl. I went with bbPress for its tight integration with WordPress and lightweight footprint. I still have a lot of editing to do but it's up and running.
As for my intentions with the forums, I don't want them to interfere with the insightful comments and discussions that happen within my blog posts, but rather have it be its own community for discussing anything and everything tech, and then some. You'll be able to find out about posts in-the-works, such as an upcoming audiophile-worthy speaker upgrade, as well as give and receive tech support (and hopefully take it out of my inbox). If you're interested, you can quickly register here. Registering also means that you will be able to use that same account to comment here, so you don't have to keep typing in your name, email and url when you comment.
Sidenote: I didn't plan on posting about the Apple news today, but iTunes 8 and the Genius playlist maker is pretty spiffy. :-)
Update: Yeah that didn't last long. I took them down for a number of reasons, ranging from low activity to being a spammer's haven.


text: Don't get your cord in a knot over cooking, here at CRUX we are giving you one less thing to worry about with our CRUX Cordless Immersion Blender and whisk attachment. Grip more with our ergonomic grip for easy operation and additional safety lock feature. This cordless blender has a 7.5'' stainless steel blending arm attachment making blending in tall pots a cinch. 8.4V rechargeable lithium battery allows 15 minutes of blending in a single battery charge with a battery-life indicator LED light. The LED light prompts you to return the unit back to its stylish and convenient charging base that also doubles as a storage unit. Bonus 24oz BPA-free blending beaker and dishwasher safe removable parts for easy effortless cleaning. Your new Immersion Blender will allow you to blend anywhere, anytime! Truly a classic, revamped.


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"Miracles" is a meticulously reasoned, shorter than average book of theology by the great C.S. Lewis. Although the book doesn't really lend itself to clever quips, it has more than a few profound quotes in it that deserve to get out to a wider audience. Enjoy!
Those who wish to succeed must ask the right preliminary questions. — Aristotle
Bacon warned us long ago that 'the human understanding is of its own nature prone to suppose the existence of more order and regularity in the world than it finds. And though there be many things which are singular and unmatched, yet it devises for them parallels and conjugates and relatives which do not exist.'
If we are to continue to make moral judgments (and whatever we say we shall in fact continue) then we must believe that the conscience of man is not a product of Nature. It can be valid only if it is an offshoot of some absolute moral wisdom, a moral wisdom which exists absolutely 'on its own' and is not a product of non-moral, non-rational Nature.
The supernatural is not remote and abstruse: it is a matter of daily and hourly experience, as intimate as breathing. Denial of it depends on a certain absent-mindedness. But this absent-mindedness is in no way surprising. You do not need — indeed you do not wish — to be always thinking about windows when you are looking at gardens or always thinking about eyes when you are reading.
The grounds for belief and disbelief are the same today as they were two thousand — or ten thousand — years ago. If St. Joseph had lacked faith to trust God or humility to perceive the holiness of his spouse, he could have disbelieved the miraculous origin of her Son as easily as any modern man; and any modern man who believes in God can accept the miracle as easily as St. Joseph did.
Men of sensibility look up on the night sky with awe: brutal and stupid men do not.
If events ever come from beyond Nature altogether, she will be no more incommoded by them. Be sure she will rush to the point where she is invaded, as the defensive forces rush to a cut in our finger, and there hasten to accommodate the newcomer. The moment it enters her realm it obeys all her laws. Miraculous wine will intoxicate, miraculous conception will lead to pregnancy, inspired books will sufer all the ordinary processes of textual corruption, miraculous bread will be digested. The divine art of miracle is not an art of suspending the pattern to which events conform but of feeding new events into that pattern.
The historical difficulty of giving for the life, sayings and influence of Jesus any explanation that is not harder than the Christian explanation that is not harder than the Christian explantation is very great. The discrepancy between the depth and sanity and (let me add) shrewdness of His moral teaching and the rampant megalomania which must lie behind His theological teaching unless He is indeed God, has never been satisfactorily got over.


text:
By David Pendered
The Atlanta Audubon Society has embarked on addressing a housing crisis encountered by the once-common chimney swifts – a lack of nesting places in tree cavities and the chimneys that gave the birds their name.
As trees with cavities fall or are cut down, and as chimneys are capped, chimney swifts are running out of places to call home. And not just in Atlanta.
The number of chimney swifts in the United States fell by 53 percent between 1966 and 2007, according to a report by audubon.org. The current population is thought to be about 15 million, nationwide. The situation in Canada is more dire – the chimney swift population has dropped by 90 percent during the same period.
The Atlanta Audubon Society has broken ground on a chimney swift tower that's to stand 24 feet high. It's located in Piedmont Park, in the Piedmont Commons, as part of the Bird-Friendly Habitat Educational Exhibit being built along Clear Creek in the Native Plant Demonstration Garden.
The tower will join a small but growing number of chimney swift towers arising in other cities. The Wake Audubon Society, in Raleigh, N.C. opened a 30-foot tower in 2015 that was expected to house 5,000 chimney swifts, according to a report. The Texas A&M sells a do-it-yourself guide on how to build a backyard chimney swift tower. The book is priced at $12.95.
The Atlanta Audubon Society is fully funding the project at Piedmont Park. Proceeds come from a private donation and a National Audubon Society Burke Conservation Grant.
The habitat exhibit is being built through a partnership of the Atlanta Audubon Society and the Piedmont Park Conservancy. The project is to be complete in September and dedicated in a ceremony that coincides with the first Georgia Grows Native for Birds Month.
"The Bird-Friendly Habitat Educational Exhibit at Piedmont Park is an exciting demonstration of how Atlanta Audubon and parks groups can work in partnership to meet the needs of both people and wildlife," Nikki Belmonte, Atlanta Audubon Society's executive director, said in a statement.
"The installation of a native plant garden and Chimney Swift tower will bring visitors to this serene area of the park, offer multiple educational opportunities, and provide relevant and necessary conservation actions for our birds," Belmonte said.
The tower is being designed by John Monnat, a Seattle-based architect with experience in parks and recreation. Pierre Coiron, with Decatur-based Stability Engineering, is collaborating with Monnat.
Once the tower is complete, Piedmont Park Conservancy and Atlanta Audubon intend to develop interpretive signage and educational programs to accompany the project. One such program could be a chance to watch the chimney swifts as they gather in large flocks before entering their roosts in the tower.
This program is envisioned to be part of a broader offering at the new habitat exhibit. The exhibit is to have two components – a garden of native plants that is to provide a quality bird habitat in the park, and the tower, which is being built specifically to house chimney swifts. The two components are to provide educational opportunities as they speak to the importance of urban greenspaces in promoting biodiversity, according to the statement.
Chimney swifts are regarded for their acrobatic flying skills as they seek food – up to 1,000 insects a day including flies, mosquitos, wasps, ants, and other insects caught in flight.. The migratory birds breed in Georgia in springtime and summer, according to the Atlanta Audubon Society.


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Original Ayn Rand Poster in her own words. Image made of Ayn Rand's Quotes!
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There are increasing reports of animals in the news for a variety of reasons. The most alarming are the reports of animal attacks. We're seeing reports of attacks from animals that we don't normally hear about. And the unprovoked attacks are occurring in unusual places too - including people's own property!
The other big change in animal news reporting comes from the sighting of wild animals in urbanized areas. The reports started mainly with deer when I first noticed the trend. But the news has quick morphed into much more serious encounters with bears, cougars and huge snakes, to name just a few.
You really get a sense of the impact of these increased reports when you see the events mapped.
Then the seriousness of the issue comes to life quickly.
The map is not comprehensive. It is only updated with news reports I come across and update as I have time. You can help though, by adding your own reports. See below for where to add your report...
Animal News - Intro
Animal News Map
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Instructure Stock: This Could Be the Top IPO of 2016
Can New IPOs Even Make It in This Market?
Instructure Inc (NYSE:INST) is like any other initial public offering (IPO) to hit the market. It's expensively priced, the company is still at an early stage of development, and investment risk for shareholders should be considered at a maximum. But despite these disadvantages, investors should keep a close eye on INST stock.
However, in any market, there are businesses that are growing—providing goods or services that are in demand, helping customers operate more efficiently and more effectively.
It's been a tough start to the year and investor sentiment is shaky. What the equity market really needs is the most important news going: financial results. Earnings season can't come soon enough. This market is just plain cranky.
Instructure is a micro-cap technology company out of Salt Lake City, Utah. The company recently sold just over five million common shares at $16.00 apiece, with the full exercise of 660,000 additional shares to cover overallotments. Big name investment banks were behind the deal. Instructure stock is beating the market already.
The company's stock chart is featured below:
Chart courtesy of www.StockCharts.com
What Instructure does is it sells software that enables organization-wide training and online learning. Say, for example, you were a university or a major retailer with students or employees countrywide. It's expensive and time-consuming to get everyone together for a training session, so why not do it online? It's quick, much more efficient, and a lot less costly than travelling.
Instructure has a burgeoning customer base (more than 1,600 as of September 2015) in more than 25 countries. These include universities and colleges, K–12 school districts, and corporate customers.
In 2012, the company's total sales were $8.8 million. They were $26.1 million in 2013 and $44.4 million in 2014. For the first nine months of 2015, the company's revenues came to $51.4 million. This business is still very much early-stage; net losses are expected for a while, as the company continues to invest in its expansion.
Naturally, being an emerging company, it is a 100% risk-capital equity security. As a business, Instructure will very likely need to sell more shares to the marketplace to finance its operations going forward and there is seasonality to its sales.
So far, Instructure stock is off to a good start. The company's subscription order backlog is growing and Utah Business Magazine just named it one of Utah's best companies to work for in 2015, three years running.
As mentioned, this IPO is at an early stage of development and losses are expected for upcoming periods.
But genuine new business growth is a tough thing to come by these days and institutional investors will bid consistent outperformers.
Instructure stock has a lot of potential going forward. A good read of the company's offering prospectus yields a tremendous amount of useful information, making INST stock at least worth a second glance.


text: Getting In and Around Colorado Springs SHARE THIS TWEET THIS SHARE THIS COMMENT LOVE THIS 1 E-mail You definitely need a car to explore the beautiful outdoor attractions of the city. There are several car rental agents located in the town or you can hire one from the airport. Or perhaps, you can take your adventure in two wheels, as Colorado Springs is quite a bike friendly city, with a plenty of bike lanes and miles of bike trails (paved and unpaved). If your tour is restricted into exploring the downtown area or Manitou Springs town, all you need is a comfortable pair of foot wears and let your own feet take you around. Of course beyond these, to reach tourist spots, like Pikes Peak, Seven Falls, cave of the Wind etc., you can only rely on vehicles. As far as public transportation is concerned, the city has cheap and convenient local bus system with eighteen routes. The public transit serves well the locals to run their daily errands, but tourists cannot solely rely on it as they have limited after wee hours and services. Check out the top shopping centers in The Springs! Image by David Shankbone via Wikimedia Commons Travel to Colorado Springs by AirThe Colorado Springs Municipal Airport serves Colorado Springs and its surroundings. Colorado Springs Municipal Airport (COS) is a public civil military airport, owned and operated by City of Colorado Springs. Located in El Paso County, COS is the Colorado state's second busiest airport. At present, the airport hosts non-stop flights to eleven cities of the United States. Some of the major airlines that operate to and from COS, include American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Express, Alaska Airlines, American Eagle, Delta Connection and Allegiant Air. Address: 7770 Milton East Proby Prkwy, Colorado Springs- 80916, COPhone: 1 719-550-1900Website: www.flycos.coloradosprings.gov To/From the airportThe Yellow Cab: The cab runs its service from the airport to city center. Approximate fare is $30.Phone: 719-777-7777 Travel to Colorado Springs by RoadGreyhound: Greyhound buses connect Colorado Springs to Denver everyday. The one way bus fare is around $11 to $14. There are also daily bus services between Cheyenne and Pueblo. Address: 120 S Weber StreetPhone: 719-635-1505Website: www.greyhound.com Major Highways in Colorado SpringsInterstate-25: This is north-south route that runs through Colorado. I-25 enters the city from south of Circle Drive and stretches for 18 miles, exiting north of North Gate Boulevard. the highway is called Ronald reagan Highway in El Paso County.US 24: It runs through the city, across the central mountains, and onto the plains. It follows west to east route in Colorado Springs and follows the western part of the Midland Expressway and Cimarron Street, portion of Fountain Boulevard and outside city limits to the extreme eastern part.State Highway 21: It is also called Powers Boulevard and serves as a semi-expressway for the eastern side, linking from Black Forest to Fountain. State Highway 83: It is a north-south route, connecting Denver to northern Colorado Springs.State Highway 94: East-west route, linking eastern Colorado Springs to western Cheyenne County.State Highway 115: The route starts from Canon City and runs all the way up to Nevada Avenue. Getting Around Colorado SpringsThe public transportation in the Springs is served by a bus system called Mountain Metropolitan Transit. The city uses meter for all street parking, so make sure to carry lots of quarters if you have a car. By public TransportationMountain Metro runs 18 bus routes, connecting all the major corners of the city. It provides all information regarding schedule, route maps and other details. A day pass is available for $4 and daily bus fare costs around $1.75. Click on the link below for more information.Weekdays bus service: From 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. (depending on the route);Weekends: Saturday has limited service and many routes are un-operational after 7 p.m. **Buses do not run on SundaysWebsite: www.springsgov.com On Foot Walking around the city is quite an easy and fun feat. Due to the city's compact size and grid pattern layout, it is quite convenient to walk around the city and explore the many shops, boutiques, galleries and restaurants. Especially Old Colorado City, Downtown area and Manitou Springs town are very walkable. By CarColorado Springs attracts millions of visitors to its top attraction that are located outside city limits. So, you need a car to reach such destinations and complete your trip. You can straight away rent a vehicle in the airport or else, get to the town for better deals. Some of the notable taxi services available in Colorado Springs are-Enterprise Rent-A-Car Address: 1540 Auto Mall Loop, Colorado Springs, CO 80920, United StatesPhone: 1 719-531-6220Thrifty Car Rental Address: 7770 Milton E Proby Prkwy, Colorado Springs- 80916, CO, USPhone: 1 877-283-0898U-Save Car & Truck Rental Address: 232 N Circle Drive, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80909, United StatesPhone: 1 719-634-1914Avis Car Rental Address: 7770 Milton E Proby Prkwy, The Springs Airport, Colorado Springs- 80916, COPhone: 1 719-596-2751Budget Car Rental Address: 384 E Garden Of The Gods Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80907, United StatesPhone: 1 719-598-3344National Car Rental Address: 7770 Milton E Proby Prkwy, Colorado Springs- 80916, COPhone: 1 888-826-6890Zippy Rent A Car Address: 508 Don Juan St, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80909, United StatesPhone: 1 719-575-9477 By TaxiThe city offers many taxi services and is easily available to your service. But for everyday travel, it is advisable to rent a car instead to cut down on your expenses. Some of the notable taxi services available in Colorado Springs are-Yellow Cab Address: 4625 Town Center Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80916, United StatesPhone: 1 719-550-9300Taxi Colorado Springs Address: Colorado Springs, CO, United StatesPhone: 1 719-822-2888Alans Transport & Taxi Service Address: Colorado Springs, CO, United StatesPhone: 1 719-323-6629Colorado Springs Shuttle LLC Address: 3003 Williamette Place, Colorado Springs, CO 80909, United StatesPhone: 1 719-687-3456Ramblin Express Address: 3465 Astrozon Pl, Colorado Springs, CO 80910, United StatesPhone: 1 719-590-8687Your Chauffeur Address: Colorado Springs, CO, United StatesPhone: 1 719-648-7038 On BikeColorado Springs is a bike friendly town and its streets feature miles of bike lanes, paved trails and unpaved mountain bike trails. You may rent road or mountain bikes from Ted's Bicycles and Criterium bicycles. The rental fee is around $40 to 450 per day.Other bike rentals in Colorado Springs are-Colorado Kite & Ski Address: 2820 W Colorado Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, United StatesPhone: 1 719-633-6227Bicycle Village - Colorado Springs Address: 2450 Montebello Square Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918, United StatesPhone: 1 719-265-9346Ascent Cycling Address: 5928 Stetson Hills Boulevard, Colorado Springs, CO 80923, United StatesPhone: 1 719-597-8181 Map Guide of Getting Around in Colorado Springs


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Order 2017 Tax Return Transcript
IRS Tax Transcript Information
Requesting Tax Return Transcript Online **This is the quickest and easiest way to get a transcript**
On June 7, 2016, the IRS announced the relaunch of its Get Transcript Online tool, which is available at www.irs.gov under the "Tools" tab by clicking "Get a tax transcript" and then "Get Transcript Online." The Get Transcript Online tool allows the user to immediately receive an online PDF version of their IRS Tax Return Transcript or, if appropriate, a verification of non-filing. The Get Transcript Online tool uses a new enhanced two-step, multi-factor authentication process that requires the user to register before submitting a transcript request.
To use the new Get Transcript Online tool, the user must have (1) access to a valid email address, (2) a text-enabled mobile phone (pay-as-you-go plans cannot be used) in the user's name, and (3) specific financial account numbers (such as a credit card number or an account number for a home mortgage or auto loan). Note that the IRS Get Transcript Online registration process will not result in any charges to the card or to the financial account.
During the new Get Transcript Online registration process, the IRS will send the user a confirmation code via email and an authentication code via text. The IRS email and text will contain a one-time code that the user will use to finalize the Get Transcript Online registration. Note that the IRS will never request log-in information or personal data via email or text.
A tax filer who is not able to successfully register for the Get Transcript Online, will be able to request a tax return transcript using one of the other methods discussed below.
Requesting Tax Transcripts by Mail, Paper, or Phone **Use this method if you are unsuccessful at the online request**
A tax filer may also obtain a tax return transcript by electronically submitting a transcript request using the IRS Get Transcript by Mail option at www.irs.gov by submitting a paper Form 4506T-EZ or 4506-T, or by calling 1-800-908-9946. These request methods will result in the IRS mailing a paper transcript to the address on file with the IRS. Unless the tax filer has formally changed their address with the IRS (through the IRS change of address processes), the address on file with the IRS is the one used on the individual's last filed tax return.
IMPORTANT: The IRS does not accept requests for transcripts at its Taxpayer Assistance Centers.
Verification of Non-filing **Do this step if you or your parents didn't file taxes**
Individuals who did not file an IRS tax return for the relevant tax year will, if they successfully register for Get Transcript Online, receive a PDF page indicating that the IRS has no record of a tax return being filed for the requested year.
Individuals who are not able to successfully register to use the Get Transcript Online tool will need to request a Verification of Non-filing (VONF) letter using IRS Form 4506-T. A VONF letter is not available through the online Get Transcript by Mail or through the automated phone request process.
If you have any questions about the relaunch of the Get Transcript Online tool or any other IRS product or service, please visit www.irs.gov.


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Our major Mud Project is now completed! Below are pictures showing our completed MUD project: Before, During, and After. This was a major undertaking to solve a perennial and major problem at Wilderwood — and we did it!
We have also completed our Tack Room project, with before and after pictures below to share with you, also.
So much work is being completed in preparation of our opening. We are excited and very thankful!


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Three teachers have been honored by Salina USD 305. The district has honored its Master Teacher of the Year, and Horizon Award winners.
The Salina USD 305 Master Teacher is selected by members of NEA-Salina. Salina USD 305 presents a Horizon Award to teachers who have demonstrated excellence during their first full year of teaching.
2016 Master Teacher – Nikki Chamberlain, South High School
Nikki started her teaching career in 2003 at Salina South High School. Since then she has taught chemistry, physical science, and AP chemistry classes. Nikki earned a bachelor's degree in biology and secondary education from Kansas State University, as well as a master's degree in curriculum & instruction with emphasis in ESL (English as a second language).
Eleven years ago, she started the Lab Chicks Club at South High School. The mission of the club is to develop young girls' interest in science and to enter careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). To achieve that goal, she organizes a Quirkles reading program at district elementary schools and provides science lessons with patrons at Choices Network. The hallmark event is Girls in the Lab Day, coordinated and implemented by Nikki each of the past nine years. Over 250 young people participate in programs provided by the lab chicks on a yearly basis.
Nikki has been a member of National Education Association (NEA) for the past 14 years and a member of the Kansas Exemplary Educators Network for 11 years. She served as the Kansas State University Upward Bound Math & Science Coordinator, on the USD 305 Teacher Advisory Council, USD 305 Technology Committee, USD 305 LIFT Committee, and is a teacher representative on the South High Design Team for the 2014 bond project. Nikki also serves as the South High Representative for the Salina Education Foundation.
In 2011, Nikki was the USD 305 Secondary Teacher of the Year and won Kansas Regional Teacher of the Year. She was recognized as a Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) Teacher of Promise and named a KSDE Horizon Award Recipient. Nikki received the KSU Patrick Distinguished High School Chemistry Teaching Award. In 2008, she won the UD114 Instructional Award.
Nikki's strongest belief in teaching is that relationships are more important than content. Students don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. She works hard every day to build relationships with her students and knows that when she does, content knowledge will follow. As a chemistry teacher, she wants her students to gain an understanding of the world around them. She provides students with a variety of authentic, hands-on, inquiry-based activities to foster their ability to problem solve and think critically. Nikki's goal is for students to leave her class curious to learn more about the natural world.
2016 Secondary Horizon Award – Kim Gaede, South Middle School
Directly after a successful student teaching experience at Cottonwood, Kim Gaede was hired at South Middle School. Her work ethic was apparent when she voluntarily came to her future workplace to observe the sixth grade classrooms in action during the last two weeks of the school year. Before her teaching contract even started, she helped with the basketball camp and prepared her classroom for the upcoming 6th grade teaching assignment. She even agreed to fill in for the cross country coach who had to take a leave the first year the sport was offered. Fearless determination to conquer new challenges is a strength that sets Kim apart.
From the first day of school Kim has had a remarkable ability to control her classroom, encourage her students, and provide them with a clear direction for their learning. She is patient and calm yet has an air of positive authority with her students.
Kim is confident, interacts enthusiastically with students on a personal level, and is both firm and gentle as needed by her students. She enables students to find an entry point into learning math and then moves them forward confidently. She pushes her reading students with challenging texts, good instructional guidance and strong doses of encouragement and celebration.
2016 Elementary Horizon Award – Mary Plott, Oakdale Elementary School
As a Horizon teacher, Mary is in her second year of teaching – though you would not be able to tell this when observing her classroom. Mary has an intuitive aptitude for building strong, lasting relationships with students. She is a self-starter who aims to get things done right the first time, seen in her unmatched attention to detail.
A believer in frequent communication with parents, Mary keeps them well-informed so that they aren't surprised with news of success or concern. This also helps parents play an active role in their child's education. Mary's commitment to her families extends beyond the school day. Several times she has responded to after-hours emergency situations and even visited parents and students in the hospital.
Mary is a lifelong learner who invites coaching and feedback. She consistently works to improve her teaching strategies and effectiveness. An excellent collaborator, Mary easily strikes the delicate balance of making suggestions yet ensuring everyone has a chance to contribute.
Students in Mary's class know she is available to them and are able to build trusting relationships with her. She is fair, consistent and sincere in her interactions with students. As students thrive in her classroom it's not uncommon to see them experience unprecedented levels of respect and effort.


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By Maz45
United Kingdom
my cordyline has dropped and has an orange gue around the base of the trunk. please can you give me some advise.
- 20 Feb, 2011
Hi Maz and welcome! I'm sorry I have bad news. The orange gunk means that the trunk is rotting - it was badly damaged by frost. You'll need to cut off the trunk below the place the goo is coming from to stop the rot spreading, and hope that the plant regrows from the roots. The good news is that there is a pretty good chance that it will regrow, but you may need to wait until about June for that to happen.
You are not alone with this problem - we get asked this at least twice a day! So all over the UK there are people with their fingers crossed, hoping their Cordyline has a future.
20 Feb, 2011
Hi Maz. My 2 cordylines have the same problem. after reading an article in a recent magazine, i have cut them right down as Beattie suggests, and then i have placed fleece over the top of the them to try and protect the crown from any further frost damage.
20 Feb, 2011
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« thankyou seaburngirl very helpfull maybe i can reclaim my kitchen now even if only...


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Bears coach Lovie Smith said eight-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker Brian Urlacher will be ready for the team's regular-season opener Sept. 9 against the Indianapolis Colts at Soldier Field.
Urlacher, recovering from sprained ligaments in his left knee he suffered in the season finale on Jan. 1 against the Vikings, has not practiced since July 31 — that's 26 days ago and counting. He had arthroscopic surgery on the knee on Aug. 14.
Asked if Urlacher and punter Adam Podlesh — who is recovering from a hip injury –is on pace to be ready for the opener, Smith said, "Yes, and they are making progress.
"Once you break training camp, the practices aren't as hard as they are down there, so you have the time to make some ground as far as the injuries are concerned. Guys are getting treatment, and yes, everyone is on pace the way we thought they would be."


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The Michigan company thinks it can turn out as many as 2.3million units of the new, low-cost transmission by 2013. A lofty goal, for sure, but such volume will definitely help to keep per-unit costs down. The new system, named DualTronic, will help BorgWarner reach its goal of increasing transmission production by 500%, reports Automotive News Europe. The company claims the new transmissions will be cost competitive with the latest 6sp automatic transmissions, however will likely still remain more expensive than the 4sp and 5sp gearboxes still common on the cheapest cars.
The dual-clutch system allows gear shifts to be completed without interrupting power to the tires, by preselecting the next gear while the current gear is still engaged. The performance benefits are obvious, which is why the system has proliferated in the sports and luxury categories. However, many makers see its 13% efficiency advantage over regular automatics as relevant to the low-cost car segment as well, especially for the burgeoning small-car markets in India and China.
The first prototypes of the new transmission are in test cars now.


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SANTA FE, N.Mex — New Mexico's Legislature has approved the legalization of recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older in a bill that the governor plans to sign, extending the legal cannabis market across the American Southwest.
The state House concurred with Senate amendments Wednesday to provide the Legislature's final approval. A companion bill would automatically erase some past marijuana convictions and reconsider criminal sentences for about 100 prisoners.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham called a special legislation this week to push for legalization of marijuana in efforts to spur employment and a stable new source of state income.
She is expected to sign a package of bills that provide a regulatory framework for recreational marijuana sales, expungement procedures and $6 million in initial state spending on oversight and enforcement.
New Mexico is poised to join 16 states that have legalized marijuana, mostly through direct ballot initiatives. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a legalization bill Wednesday, and a proposal in Virginia is awaiting the governor's signature.
New Mexico flirted with cannabis legalization in the 1990s, when then-Gov. Gary Johnson challenged taboos against decriminalization in defiance of Republican allies. A medical marijuana program founded in 2007 has attracted more than 100,000 patients.
The Democrat-dominated Legislature has been reticent to legalize until now. Several hardline opponents of legalization in the state Senate were voted out of office by Democrats in 2020 primary elections, in a shift that paved the way for Wednesday's historic vote.
Under the advancing legalization package, New Mexico would levy an initial excise tax on recreational marijuana sales of 12% that eventually rises to 18%. That's on top of current gross receipts on sales that range from roughly 5% to 9%.
Possession of up to 2 ounces (57 grams) of marijuana would cease to be a crime, and people would be allowed six plants at home — or up to 12 per household.
The reforms would eliminate taxes on the sales of medical marijuana and seek to ensure adequate medicinal supplies.
"The United States of America is in the midst of a sea change when it comes to this," said Democratic state Rep. Javier Martinez of Albuquerque, who has ushered legalization bills four times to House endorsements. "This bill begins to repair the harms of prohibition."
State oversight would largely fall to the governor-appointed superintendent of the Regulation and Licensing Department that would issue licenses for a fee to marijuana-related businesses. The agency initially would have the authority to limit marijuana production levels by major producers — a lever over market supplies and pricing.
The bill would create a cannabis control division to oversee 10 types of industry licenses. Those include micro-licenses with low annual fees for small producers to grow up to 200 marijuana plants and also package and sell their products.
Bill sponsor Martinez says that provides an important measure of equity, within a bill designed to support communities that suffered from criminalization of marijuana and tough policing.
Past drug convictions don't automatically disqualify applicants for marijuana business licenses. The odor of marijuana or suspicion of possession are no longer legal grounds to stop, detain or search people.
Recreational sales would begin in April 2022.
Legalization bill co-sponsor Rep. Deborah Armstrong says New Mexico will respond to early pitfalls of legalization in other states as it mandates child-proof packaging for marijuana products.
Lawmakers discarded a Republican-sponsored bill from Sen. Cliff Pirtle of Roswell that emphasized low taxes in an effort to stamp out illicit weed and would have provided low-cost licenses to small pot farmers by linking fees to the number of plants in cultivation.
Local governments cannot prohibit pot businesses but can regulate locations and hours of operation, under the Senate-endorsed bill. Bill sponsors say that sheriffs and police want consistency from town-to-town on rules and enforcement.
Attanasio is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues. Follow Attanasio on Twitter.


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Date: March 3, 2013
Byline: Margaret Backenheimer, Special to Tribune Newspapers - See more at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/ct-trav-0303-big-events-march-travel-20130303,0,1720033.story#sthash.vX321Xnf.dpuf
Big events for March
Sports fans, there's athletic action on the calendar, with a sumo tournament in Japan, a cross-country ski race in Norway and a rowing regatta on the Thames.
Through March 17: Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, Australia, melbournefoodandwine.com.au. Fill up at 300 events, including "World's Longest Lunch."
March 8-10: Yuma Lettuce Days, Yuma, Ariz.; 800-293-0071; yumalettucedays.com. "World's Winter Lettuce Capital" gets chopping with celebrity chef Ben Ford.
March 8-10: American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, New York, crosswordtournament.com. 36th edition goes down and across, with Will Shortz presiding.
March 8-17: South by Southwest, Austin, Texas; 512-467-7979; sxsw.com. Crest of the wave for musicians, filmmakers, technophiles and thinkers.
March 9-May 27: "American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell Exhibition," Bentonville, Ark.; 479-418-5700; crystalbridges.org/exhibitions/rockwell. Rockwell retrospective covers early days of the Saturday Evening Post.
March 10-24: Osaka Sumo Tournament, Japan; 212-757-5640; japan-guide.com/e/e2080.html. Traditional wrestlers throw their weight around.
March 15-24: International Cherry Blossom Festival, Macon, Ga.; 478-751-7429; cherryblossom.com. Spring blooms at the "Pinkest Party on Earth."
March 16: Birkebeinerrennet, Rena to Lillehammer, Norway; 212-885-9700; birkebeiner.no/english/rennet. Backpacking Nordic skiers by the thousands take on a 54-kilometer course.
March 16: St. Patrick's Day Parade, New York; nycstpatricksparade.org. A quarter-million marchers turn the Big Apple green.
March 20-24: Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival; 800-990-FEST; tennesseewilliams.net. French Quarter hosts poetry slam, writing marathon and one-act play contest.
March 21-April 6: Savannah Music Festival, Savannah, Ga.; savannahmusicfestival.org. Breaking the sound barriers with Daniel Hope, Masters of Bluegrass and fado star Ana Moura.
March 21-April 20: Festival of Houses and Gardens, Charleston, S.C.; 843-722-3405; historiccharleston.org/festival. Elegant private properties invite public inspection in "a city set in a garden."
March 22-24: Denver March Powwow, denvermarchpowwow.org. 39th intertribal gathering of Native American drummers, dancers, singers and flag bearers.
March 23: Head of the River Race, London, horr.co.uk. A tidal wave of rowers tests the Thames.
Dates may change; always check in advance to confirm.


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about the brand
Based in Saigon, Pilgrim sources fabric from her travels all over Asia to use in her designs. Her pieces are handmade, small batch and limited edition. To help give back to the planet, Pilgrim plants 1 tree for every notebook sold at Humanity Hanoi through the organization One Tree Planted.


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© 2019 kimyfa
West from Flores
19 Nov This entry was written by kimyfa, posted on November 19, 2019 at 9:17 pm, filed under Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post. Both comments and trackbacks are currently closed.
Older: Sunset over the Colne Valley
Shot with my Parrot Anafi drone, a series of 7 bracketed shots combined in Aurora HDR to get that perfect image.


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Usoro-Brown stars as England Netball cruise to opening Commonwealth Games victory
By James Toney in Birmingham
Birmingham's Eboni Usoro-Brown helped get England's defence of their women's netball title off to flying start at the Commonwealth Games.
Four years after their last gasp win over red-hot favourites Australia on the Gold Coast, the Roses were back in action, brushing aside Trinidad and Tobago 74-22 in their opening group match at the National Exhibition Centre.
Usoro-Brown shared defensive duties with Geva Mentor while Eleanor Cardwell top scored with 30 goals, supported by Gold Coast heroes Jo Harten and Helen Housby.
Tracey Neville coached England to glory in Australia but was succeeded by Jess Thirlby in 2019. They arrive at their home Games ranked third in the world behind the Silver Ferns of New Zealand and the Australian Diamonds.
And Thirlby wants them to seize their chance, three years after winning bronze at the World Cup in Liverpool.
"For us to be afforded the chance to have another big tournament on home soil so soon, probably will never happen again in our lifetimes," she said.
There's only 6⃣ days to go until the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games! #B2022#TNLAthletes from the home nations met up to thank #NationalLottery players for their support and to celebrate the countdown to the Games. 🤞#MakeAmazingHappen [1/2] pic.twitter.com/Bfz6InsQff
— National Lottery Good Causes (@LottoGoodCauses) July 22, 2022
"It's really important to embrace it. That's easy to say but I really trust in this group, that they will use that to build energy rather than for it to defeat them."
Thirlby knows this is a long tournament with games coming thick and fast, with Saturday's opponent Malawi, less than 24 hours after this game.
She utilised all her 12-strong squad against Trinidad and Tobago and insists it'll a key tactic of the days ahead.
"I think it's really important," she added.
"You can't pre-plan too much, but I think we'd be missing a trick if we didn't take the opportunities to give players chances.
We did it with meaning – we expect people to make a difference to our performance. It'll be a great settler for the group – there are a lot of smiley faces.
"We inserted some people and made some changes during the game, which we afforded ourselves the chance to do. Trinidad and Tobago are tricky to play against – they're great at disrupting our flow, which we struggled with in patches.
"But in the main, what I saw was great impact off the bench and us problem-solving with real purpose."
National Lottery players raise more than £30million a week for good causes including vital funding into sport – from grassroots to elite. Find out how your numbers make amazing happen at: www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk and get involved by using the hashtag: #TNLAthletes.


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Cai Davies shared his Hive – Physical Bookmarking project with us, along with a note: "My project Hive, uses an array of products produced by
Adafruit, including – Neopixel Rings, Capacitive touch sensors and the Adafruit thermal printer."
Hive is my final project at University, the culmination of 3 years work. It is an experimental project based around physical computing – providing an alternative to current methods of using and distributing data.
What is Hive?
Hive is a project that aims to provide a new way to store information, through physical bookmarking. It gives the user the ability to physically grab information from their computer, using a Leap Motion, hand tracking device and storing that information into a Hive node, through touching the top of the Hive.
Upon storing information on a Hive, it will start to 'breathe'. Lights inside the Hive indicate the amount of information that is held upon it. The more information stored upon the Hive, the faster it 'breathes'.
When wanting to extract the information from the Hive, the user can simply 'pull' on the chord, to print out the details from a thermal printer, which provides a Title, description, tiny url, date and time….
Featured Adafruit Product!
Mini Thermal Receipt Printer: Add a mini printer to any microcontroller project with this very cute thermal printer. Thermal printers are also known as receipt printers, they're what you get when you go to the ATM or grocery store. Now you can embed a little printer of your own into an enclosure. This printer is ideal for interfacing with a microcontroller, you simply need a 3.3V-5V TTL serial output from your microcontroller to print text, barcodes, bitmap graphics, even a QR code! (read more)


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Products description
No 8 of the legendary Natrix series - Clips A to E - a flooded dancefloor makes the girls hot, girls in sexy tight jeans (one very ripped) and skirts goes wet and soaked. Some Jeans and skirts are white, hehe!
Video Film: Each clip appr. 21 min., WMV Format for PC, 4:3, Stereo
Pleas select clip A (336 MB), B (343 MB), C (343 MB), D (343 MB) or E (345 MB).
Please click the checkmark box at the selected clips which you wish to buy – one, several or all – to put them into the shopping cart. Notice the first Rebate (-10%) level is reached when selecting all clips!
For format detailinfos klick HERE .
© Akunavideo 2005
Customers who bought this product also bought the following products:
This Product was added to our catalogue on 13/12/2011.


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A transit planner looks at the top 50 cities with the most zero-car households:
If I then look across the whole list and try to identify factors that seem to explain, in different mixtures, each city's presence on the list, it seems there are three: age, poverty, and dominant universities.
But also:
It looks like the most common path to low car ownership is to be an old city. Many big cities on this list seem to be ranked by the sequence of urban settlement: northeast first, then midwest and south, then west coast … An American city that reached its present shape by 1940 is going to be similar in form to a lot of European cities of the same age, both in the range of urban ideas expressed in the city's design and in the transport modes for which it was optimized.
Urban form determines whether owning a car is essential, or just helpful, or a nuisance. Obviously, urban forms that make car-free life easy are found most reliably in cities built when nobody owned cars.
Even though I've been with Zipcar since 2003, still hoping for my hometown, which falls at some of these intersections, to become a low-car city.


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One of the most rewarding events in my life is happening tomorrow (Tuesday, February 24th), and I wanted to personally thank my dear friends who have supported me for so many years and made this event possible. I guess you could even say it is perhaps the biggest event in my career as a baby nurse. I could not have done it without all of you, and I am truly grateful.
My new book, "Eat, Play, Sleep – The Essential Guide to Your Baby's First 3 Months" is coming out through Atria Books, A Division of Simon and Schuster, Inc. and will be available wherever books are sold. I am so thrilled because it gives me the opportunity to share my experience as a baby nurse since I started my career in 1965 in my home country of Brazil.
The great love that I have for newborn babies and the extraordinary things that I have learned can now be shared with new mothers and fathers and help them with their infant care. I hope that it helps many new parents around the world.
We have so much great news about the release of this book, and we have gotten some incredible press already!
Julie Chen mentioned the book on her CBS Show, "The Talk":
USA Today gave us a "New and Noteworthy" mention:
Publisher's Weekly reviewed the book:
Over the next few weeks, we'll have more press to announce so please stay tuned. I'm also very proud to introduce my new website:
It shows where you can get order my book:
And – it also has some great baby tips for infant care:
My baby tips can also be found on my very own YouTube Channel:
I would especially like to thank Cindy Crawford for writing the forward to my book, Julie Chen for presenting the book on her CBS Show, "The Talk", Leslie Moonves, Chairman of CBS, for helping to get the book published, Ryan Murphy, Executive Producer of "Glee", Dana Walden, Chairman of 20th Century Fox TV, Laura & Casey Wasserman, Marco Pennette and Steve Rabiner, Liana Gottlieb, Christa Miller & Bill Lawrence, Liane & Richard Weintraub, and all of my beloved clients over the years. Without your support, this book would not have been possible.
I have dedicated my book to Dani Michelle Jaffe, one of my precious children.
This newsletter is the first of many that I will be sending out. Future newsletters will keep you up-to-date on what's happening in every aspect of infant care, and will even include some great baby tips and recommended products for the care of your newborn.
Again, thank you all for making my book, "Eat, Play, Sleep" possible. If you know of a mother or father with a newborn who would benefit from this newsletter, please have them sign up here:
It would be great if you could help spread the word tomorrow (Tuesday, Feb 24) on Twitter: @LuizaBabyNurse and become a fan on my Facebook fan page:
https://www.facebook.com/babynurseluizadesouza. Feel free to use #eatplaysleep in your posts. Thank you SO much!
Much Gratitude and Love to You All,
Yours Truly, Luiza Desouza


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|Permute 2.3
|Permute.zip (20.98 MB)
Name: Permute 2
Version: 2.3
Release Date: November 10, 2016
Languages: English, Belarusian, Czech, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Swedish, Ukrainian
Developer: Krystof Vasa
MAS Rating: 4+
Mac Platform: Intel
OS Version: OS X 10.11 or later
Processor type(s) & speed: 64-bit processor
Web Site: http://permute.charliemonroe.net
Mac App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/app/permute-2/id731738567?mt=12
Permute is the easiest to use media converter with it's easy to use, no configuration, drag and drop interface, it will meet the needs to convert all your media.
Easy to Use
Built from the ground up, Permute is a perfect example of what a Mac app should be. With a gorgeous interface and drag & drop simplicity no need for complicated options.
Insanely Fast
Permute was engineered to be incredibly fast. Let us take care of the hard stuff. Just select the video format you want and it'll be done faster than you can say "Antidisestablishmentarianism".
Everything Included
It doesn't matter if you're converting home movies or processing images. Permute can do it all. We support nearly every format and have plenty of device presets to choose from.
What's New in Version 2.3:
New: Redesigned preferences, mainly preset preferences.
New: iPhone 6 and iPhone 7 presets.
Improved: ISO name when using DVD preset.
Many, many other improvements.


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Podiatrists are frequently some of the first clinicians with the opportunity to diagnose a 'Rheumatologic disease'. Awareness of the multisystem nature of the more common rheumatologic conditions will assist podiatrists in making the appropriate diagnosis. The specific joints affected, the temporal pattern of joint involvement, and the distribution of affected joints give indications to the diagnosis. Knowledge of the current treatment for rheumatic diseases as well as early referral for evaluation by a medical physician is essential for the appropriate care of patients with systemic arthritis.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Video 1.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Video 2.


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Egypt Rising Some ancient secrets should remain buried. An American teenager in Cairo finds herself in the middle of the Egyptian revolution fleeing militant Islamic extremists. She leads her worst enemy and the boy she thinks about much too often on the adventure of a lifetime. When she discovers an ancient artifact that was buried for thousands of years, she learns that very powerful people will stop at nothing, including murder, to learn the secrets of a long-dead civilization.
Praise for Egypt Rising From the first page, and quite possibly the first sentence, I was hooked on this refreshingly different YA read that is suitable and enjoyable for all ages! ~Dii
Author Stan Schatt
Stan Schatt has written thirty books on a wide variety of topics including a chapter book for children, a YA novel, biographies of Michael Connelly and Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., and books on technology and career changing. His love for teaching is reflected in outstanding teaching awards he received from the University of Southern California and DeVry Institute of Technology. Rather than having one career, Schatt has had several. He has worked as an autopsy assistant, an English professor, a software trainer, a law enforcement administrator, a market research executive, and a sales manager.
BookBlast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 10/25/13
Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author.


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(HealthDay News) – For patients with severe bacterial meningitis, hypothermia does not improve outcomes and may be harmful, according to a study published online Oct. 8 in the Journal of the American Medical Association to coincide with presentation at the annual meeting of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine, held from Oct. 5–9 in Paris.
Bruno Mourvillier, MD, from the Université Paris Diderot, and colleagues conducted a multicenter randomized trial involving 98 comatose adults with community-acquired bacterial meningitis to examine whether induced hypothermia improves outcomes.
The trial was stopped early due to concerns over excess mortality in the hypothermia group (51% of patients vs. 31% in the control group; relative risk, 1.99). The researchers found that there was an unfavorable outcome at three months in 86% of the hypothermia group, compared with 74% of controls (relative risk, 2.17; P=0.13). Mortality remained higher, although not significantly so, after adjustment for age, score on Glasgow Coma Scale at inclusion, and the presence of septic shock at inclusion (hazard ratio, 1.76; P=0.10). Similar results were seen for patients with pneumococcal meningitis.
"Our trial does not support the use of hypothermia in adults with severe meningitis," the authors write. "Careful evaluation of safety issues in these future and ongoing trials are needed."
The study was partially funded by IST Cardiology and Covidien.


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Barbarian Queen (1985)
And that is, really, all Barbarian Queen is. It simply looks like someone went down to the local gym, grabbed a bunch of women, made a stop at the hairdresser and filmed the movie over a weekend in their back yard and during the off-season where they hold the local Renaissance fair.
Amethea (Lana Clarkson) and Argan (Frank Zagarino) are preparing for their wedding when their peaceful village is attacked by forces led by the evil Arrakur (Armando Capo). Most of the survivors are taken into captivity. Amethea's sister Tiniara (Susana Traverso) is raped and captured by two of the raiders, while Estrild (Katt Shea) and Taramis (Dawn Dunlap) manage to evade capture. Amethea kills several of the raiders herself before hiding in the basement of the royal hut. Vowing revenge, the women manage to rescue Tiniara, and head to Arrakur's city to free the rest of her people.
Along the way they meet a group of rebels who are planning Arrakur's overthrow, but they are reluctant to aid Amethea. Disappointed, she and her band decide to take matters into their own hands. However, Tiniara leaves, and appears to join Arrakur as his concubine. Amethea herself is captured and, after rebutting Arrakur's advances, is sent to be tortured for information regarding the rebels.
Meanwhile Argan has been sold into the life of a gladiator. Estrild manages to infiltrate the royal harem, who mainly exist to entertain the gladiators, and inform Argan of Amethea's plans for an uprising. While some of the gladiators are faithful to Arrakur, the uprising goes forward.
So, what we have in general is a bunch of "barbarian" women in various states of undress, with huge '80s hair, slicing and dicing bad guys. At least, that's what it seems on the surface. Though it would in no way make this a good movie, it would at least be a bit more enjoyable. Lana Clarkson is the one bright spot here, and it is unfortunate that she is more known for being murdered by Phil Spector than for her acting career. Too bad she, like most of the rest of the female cast, is just there to be repeatedly raped for "motivation."
It's a problem I have with a lot of the '80s movies that Roger Corman produced. Rape is treated either with humor or as a lazy plot point. The scene in Barbarian Queen that is often mentioned is when Amethea turns the tables on her torturer by putting him in a Venus grip before pushing him into a pool of acid. While better than what happens to most of the women in here, just the fact that it seems that even a woman of her strength and standing is considered a plaything in the eyes of the filmmakers is disturbing. Add to the fact that the torturer looks like every negative Jewish stereotype (he's even wearing a yarmulke) and it crosses a line to where you don't know if the people behind the movie are really disgusting human beings or if this is supposed to be some kind of satire. If the latter, then I fail to see it.
Even more confusing is the fact that this was made by Héctor Olivera, an Argentinian director whose next film dealt with the disappearances of political opponents in his country while it was a military dictatorship. In fact, he is a rather well-regarded director, and it seems this may have just been done to get some money together for his real projects.
Yes, I know. Either way it is objectification of women, but the truth is that heterosexual men do like to see naked women. However, there is really no enjoyment in watching a film that bills itself as titillation but then focuses largely on female brutalization. No one (no one I would want to be within spitting distance of, at least) watches I Spit on Your Grave for the nudity. They watch it to see the guys murdered at the end for the horrors they force upon the protagonist. Barbarian Queen, however, was billed a cheap, exploitative entertainment. There are so many more directions they could have gone and been more successful.
Barbarian Queen (1985)
Time: 72 minutes
Starring: Lana Clarkson, Katt Shea, Frank Zagarino, Armando Capo
Director: Héctor Olivera


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Jon Anderson
Kent Haines, a seventh and eighth grade mathematics teacher at Simmons Middle School in Hoover, is one of 11 leading educators who has been awarded a place as a 2016 Heinemann Fellow.
Heinemann, a division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, has selected this accomplished group from a host of highly qualified candidates.
Kent has spent the last six years as a middle school math teacher with a focus on pre-algebra. He is passionate about changing the way middle school students think about mathematics and encourages students to solve equations more creatively by helping them move beyond memorized rules in math practice.
"I want to work towards creating more coherent, long-term units of study for middle school math teachers so that teachers who want to give their students a conceptual understanding of math don't have to create their own curriculum from scratch," said Kent Haines.
As part of the two year Heinemann Fellowship program, members will have the opportunity to enhance their own schools and communities through collegial interaction with other fellows. The group will meet regularly through their fellowships to share findings and feedback. Together, they will refine data gathering, inform further research plans and help interpret results. Their work will then be shared through Heinemann's publication channels.
– Submitted by Meghan Daly.


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Zebra 5319 Performance Ribbon
Zebra 5319 Performance - The Zebra 5319 Performance Wax is a best-in-class, performance wax ribbon formulated for high-quality printing on both Zebra coated and uncoated paper facestocks. Offers unmatched printing for both visible light and infrared scannability. Recommended for use on tough-to-print uncoated and uneven tag stocks, including Tyvek. Prints at speeds up to 8 inches per second. UL recognized and CSA component acceptable when used with Zebra approved labels.
Get help from a Barcoding Expert!


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The Cities of Seattle and Sacramento have put forward two arena deals; one City is trying to regain what it lost five years ago, and the other is trying to save what it already has (for the third time in the last three years). Not only do these Cities have solid arena deals, they also have solid ownership groups; and now it is up to the NBA to decide who wins and who loses…well there is a win-win-win scenario out their, but it remains unknown if the NBA will choose it.
Despite the fact that we have to wait until April 18th for the Board of Governors makes the decision, there is still plenty to talk about. One of the things that can be talked about are the two arena deals that have been sent to the NBA. That is exactly what we are going to do in this post, well kind of.
All you are going too see is a table comparing the two arena deals, that's it. I will not be adding my commentary because this is just an informational post. So anyway…ON TO THE TABLE!!!
|Total Arena Cost (millions)
|Public Investment (Millions)
|Private Investment (millions)
|Responsible for Cost Over Run
|Private Investors
|Private Investors
|How will the bonds be paid back?
|Already existing admissions tax on events in WA.
|Leasing the parking structures owned by the City.
|Arena Ownership
|Private, unless owners go bankrupt
|The City Of Sacramento
|Current Owners of the Proposed Site
|Chris Hansen
|JMA Ventures
|Legal opposition
|Longshoremen's union, I-91 objection
|None, term sheet needs to still be approved by the City Council.
Status of Environmental Study
|Mid-study, should be completed by November
|Again, City Council still needs to approve the Term sheet. California also has an expedited EIS process
Categories: Sacramento Kings Relocation Saga, Seattle Arena


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Corporate boards often say that succession planning is their top priority, but at publicly traded companies, directors rarely get to turn that planning into action: The average CEO tenure at S&P 500 firms is nearly 10 years. That's in sharp contrast to the private equity world. PE firms hold investments in dozens of companies, and after making an investment, they nearly always replace the CEO. As a result, although a typical public company director might help hire a CEO a few times in a career, veteran PE executives hire multiple CEOs each year and many dozens over the course of a career, giving them a far greater ability to observe trends and learn from successes and mistakes.
To tap this expertise, Jeffrey Cohn, of the executive search firm DHR International, and J.P Flaum, of the consulting firm Green Peak Partners, surveyed and interviewed the managing partners of 32 private equity firms (including Blackstone, Carlyle, KKR, and Silver Lake) about their CEO search process and how it has changed over time. Among the surprises: Executives said they've learned to pay less attention to attributes such as track record and experience, the criteria typically most prized by recruiters, and to give more weight to softer skills. "There's a big difference in philosophy, economics, and process" between PE firms and public company boards, Cohn says. "The private equity firms have a lot more skin in the game—so they feel the burn if they make a bad selection."
The researchers drew five conclusions:
Experience is overrated.
When filling a CEO position, there's comfort in hiring someone with prior CEO and industry experience. But the first criterion can dramatically narrow the pool, and the second can yield candidates who are so familiar with the industry that they're hidebound or likely just to recycle the strategic playbook from their last job. Similarly, overemphasizing quantifiable success in prior positions can be misleading, because results are often a function of "right place/right time" or organizational or team factors rather than one individual. And even within an industry, different competitive positions can demand very different skills—cost cutting versus product innovation versus business model change, for instance. The researchers write, "Past accomplishment and current challenge is rarely an apples-to-apples comparison." Many of the interviewees said that over the years, they've become more open to "nontraditional" candidates who lack degrees from blue-chip schools and haven't checked the usual boxes in a career progression. One put it this way: "You need someone who can come into a new situation and pick up the fundamentals quickly. A great athlete…is more important than someone with years of experience in an industry."
"We're Looking for Player-Coaches"
Team-building skills are paramount.
Of the 13 attributes included in the survey, the highest ranked was a candidate's ability to assemble a high-performing team. That makes sense, because many PE investments involve turnarounds in which the new CEO must completely rebuild the C-suite. And, because PE portfolio companies are typically smaller than publicly traded companies, CEOs spend more time in the trenches working alongside subordinates rather than providing autonomy with loose supervision. To avoid leaders who won't excel at building teams, PE execs say, they watch out for candidates who use "I" too much when talking about accomplishments or who display so much intellectual horsepower that they come across as arrogant, which can inhibit hiring and developing A-level talent. One executive told the researchers, "We ask questions like 'How many people followed you from your last job to the next one?' One CEO we interviewed had pulled 31 [former colleagues] into his portfolio company, and it has been a big part of his success." (See the Spotlight on Managing Teams, in this issue.)
Urgency outranks empathy.
PE firms operate with strict timetables for when a company should be improved and the investment recouped through sale or IPO. (The typical goal is five years.) This ticking clock means that a portfolio company CEO can expect close oversight and faces heightened expectations about the speed with which cost cuts or revenue growth will take place. The researchers write, "Many CEO wannabes will balk at a PE-driven pace, particularly those who have grown accustomed to plusher, more heavily resourced environments." While this doesn't mean that a CEO shouldn't listen to customers or show concern for employees, it does require moving decisively and without regrets. One PE executive said, "I am not down on empathy, but [often] empathy needs to take a back seat to urgency. Some highly empathetic leaders are not able to make the tough personnel decisions that need to be made."
Resilience is a must.
Parents understand that building resilience in children is important to character; PE types, too, cite it as an important leadership virtue. They've become skeptical about candidates who have skipped seamlessly from success to success. "PE firms want to see that a candidate has faced setbacks, made errors, and run adrift—yet lived to fight another day," according to the researchers' report. This attribute is especially important because in turnaround situations, leaders are likely to encounter some negative results. "Business plans never go the way you think they will," one respondent said. "If the CEO does not adapt, you are going to be in trouble."
Authenticity, translated as candor, is also key.
Like "resilience," "authenticity" has become so overused that its meaning can be vague. The researchers drilled down and found that PE executives use it to mean candor and a willingness to deliver bad news quickly and honestly. In a public company, sharing negative information is a delicate process—it's likely to move the stock price—but in a PE company, real-time sharing takes precedence. One interview subject said, "I need my CEOs to have the confidence to be transparent with their PE sponsor—about their team and anything bad that is happening in the business. I hate when they just try to 'manage up' or act out of fear."
A final difference between private equity and public company CEO hiring: PE execs tend to judge very quickly—usually within nine months—whether a new hire is working out. Compared with public company directors, they are quick to engineer a failing CEO's exit—and when they think back, they often wish they'd moved even more quickly.