text:
120. I am not looking for Harry Potter, I am
looking at the Bank of England's Governor and the Deputy Governor.
I am not asking for anything magic, Mr King, I am just very quietly
saying tell us what you intend to do, because Mr Beard asked,
Kali Mountford asked and we got the answer "There is nothing
much you can do except ensure macro-economic stability".
(Mr King) Look at what we have done. We have brought
down interest rates seven times this year. That has maintained
an overall balance in the economy. Unemployment has fallen steadily
over the last eight to nine years, as the Governor said. Some
sectors will decline, other sectors will expand. Overall, employment
has continued to rise. Is that not the main contribution that
the Bank of England can make?
121. I would like a balanced economy. Manufacturing
seems to me to be a very key part of that balance and it is continuing
to decline. Your answer was that it will decline but that it will
be replaced by something else. So you do not see anything the
Bank should be doing or the country should be doing to at least
arrest that decline, if not turn it round.
(Mr King) We, too, would like a more balanced growth
path. We have said that publicly. We have one instrument, the
interest rate, and we have used that to ensure that the economy
as a whole has remained balanced and that total employment has
continued to rise. That is the use to which we have put our one
instrument. We would also wish we had a second instrument that
would enable us to change the exchange rate, but we do not. I
think it is unlikely that the exchange rate will continue at its
present level, but there is nothing we can do to change that,
and nor is there any certainty about that. I think that is an
honest answer.
122. There is nothing you think you can do to
actually help the North West. If you have been to Newcastle I
would advise you to go a bit further up the coast and just walk
about and see how the people are living. It is far different from
the picture you are painting, I can assure you. If you come to
Bradford and inner city Leeds, it is quite a shocking experience,
Mr King. That is why complacency is not appreciated.
(Mr King) There is no complacency here, Mr Mudie,
let me tell you that. Inner city London also has the same sort
of problems and these problems are not ones that you can redress
by changing the interest rate.
123. What measures do you suggest, Mr King?
A lad in Brixton is hanging on your answer because his future
(Mr King) With great respect, the aim of the Monetary
Policy Committee, which has been given one interest rate to maintain
124. I am not speaking about the Monetary Policy
(Mr King) But you are. We are here as the Monetary
Policy Committee.
125. Can I just make it clear, Mr King? I came
away from Ms Barker because I am speaking to you as Deputy Governor.
So it is not the Monetary Policy Committee, it is the Deputy Governor
of the Bank of England. What measures do you suggest we take to
make the North West as prosperous as the South East?
(Mr King) The role of the Monetary Policy Committee
is to maintain a balance in the economy so that you, as politicians,
can take measures that you are elected to take to do with regional
policy. We are not here to implement regional policy. We have
been given a remit by elected politicians.
126. Why do you have regional representatives?
Why do you call for a report
(Mr King) We do not have regional representatives
on the Monetary Policy Committee.
Chairman: The Governor wishes to come
(Sir Edward George) I am very glad Mr Mudie can distinguish
between me and Harry Potter.
127. You are slightly older.
(Sir Edward George) I really do think that you have
to address these kinds of questions to the political circles.
We are given a mandate by Government to achieve 2.5 per cent RPIX
inflation. That is very precise. That is a political decision
and they have delegated the technical implementation of that decision
to the people you see before you today. That is our job. The reason
that they have done that is because they believe that macro-economic
stability reflected in stable inflation is the best help that
they can give to the country as a whole. The result is that we
have unemployment which is lower than it has been for 25 years
in this country, not just for the country as a whole but in every
region of the United Kingdom, up until the recent upturn. We are
beginning to see a softening in the labour market because of the
international environment and the impact that is having on us.
Frankly, it is very easy for you to say "What are you going
to do about these very severe, sectoral problems, regional problems
and problems of deprivation and poverty right next to us on our
doorstep?" Frankly, we say that we are responsible for monetary
policy and we are doing everything that we can to deliver the
stability which delivers low unemployment. Frankly, there is nothing
more that we can do.
128. Do you think that emphasising the inflationary
aspects of the correction in the exchange rate, Deputy Governor,
is the most helpful way of addressing these imbalances?
(Mr King) I think when we have discussed the consequences
of a change in the exchange rate we have actually looked at all
aspects of that correction, one of which would be a change in
the trade picture, a change in the balance between domestic demand
and net trade, and, hence, a change in the balance between manufacturing
and services. There might be a short«run inflationary consequence
of that, but we have to look at all of those things together.
I do not think we looked at any one rather the other.
129. I would like to take you back, Sir Edward,
to about four years ago, to the independence of the Bank of England
and the first time I ever met you (so you may not remember it),
discussing the terms of reference of the independent Bank of England.
In looking at the inflation rate, I remember quite distinctly
you discussing the importance of employment and unemployment overall
in making judgments. We are now seeing a rise of 4,300, I think
it is, and when we look at the manufacturing sector we can also
see that the rise in unemployment is fairly similar to the loss
in manufacturing. Do you not think, in your terms of reference,
you do have a very significant and particular duty to look at
(Sir Edward George) Our terms of reference are absolutely
quite clear. They are to achieve 2.5 per cent RPIX inflation on
average over time. The reason that the Government has set us that
objective is because they believe, as I believe, that actually
achieving the stability between overall demand in the economy
and the supply potential of the economy, which will deliver that
low, stable inflation, is actually the best means of maximising
the sustainable level of employment and the lowest sustainable
level of unemployment in our economy over time. I have to tell
you that achieving the 2.5 per cent inflation target is tremendous,
but what really gives me satisfaction is the fact that unemployment
is now lower than it has been for 25 years, or was until, as I
say, the last month or two. I just think that that is as much
as you can ask from monetary policy.
130. I can ask you one more thing and that is
whether you think the trend will continue?
(Sir Edward George) In the short-run, because of the
very severe slow down and recession that we are seeing in the
rest of the industrial world, it is going to be extremely difficult
to sustain that, and I have said that before. That is what we
are trying to do. Others in the committee were suggesting that
we were rather rash to try and do it, and that it would be better
not to have kind of stimulated consumer spending. Frankly, I think
that this is the real objective underlying the low inflation target;
that over time we will have the economy growing faster, we will
have more employment, less unemployment and for the economy as
a whole we will have rising living standards. It is not saying
"That will, in an optimistic way, spread through the economy";
it has spread through the economy. The unemployment figures were
lower in the summer in every region than they have been for 20,
25 years.
131. This is a very interesting debate and I
would love to prolong it. As a strong supporter of Bank of England
independence I would only chip in that there are some dangers
in exaggerating the extent to which monetary policy directly affects
the unemployment level or can make a huge contribution to conditions
for long-term growth. The unemployment level, I think you would
agree Governor, is primarily determined by the supply side labour
and market conditions and reform. I think if you take too much
credit on the upside, when things are going well and unemployment
has fallen, you are going to find yourself in frame for falls
in employment, over which you do not have much control.
(Sir Edward George) I am quite sure that is true.
We absolutely anticipate that if the economy does not do as well
in future as it actually has done in the past then the people
will say "It is not such a good idea, is it". We operate
on the demand side of the economy. There is not much we can do
directly about the underlying growth on the supply side of the
economy, and that does depend on all of the things that you debate
all the time in Parliament. It depends upon education, it depends
upon health, it depends upon the labour market regulations and
all the details of tax and spending decisions as well as the kind
of basic endowment of a country in terms of resources. What we
can do is to try to ensure that aggregate demandtaking
external demand and domestic demand togetheris kept broadly
in line consistently over time with the sustainable rate of growth
of supply. That is what we are trying to do. So that I do think
monetary policy can affect unemployment. If demand falls short
of the sustainable growth rate then I do think unemployment will
rise. What we are trying to do is to reduce the risk of that happening.
132. I will settle for that. Going back to the
relationship between the UK economy and the global economy, most
of this documentand certainly the growth forecastis
predicated on the view that the balance lies in the likelihood
of some reduction in the exchange rate and, also, that the UK
will benefit from a pick-up in global economic activity as a consequence
of the loosening of fiscal and monetary stances that have been
put in place around the world, particularly the United States.
You said right at the beginning, I think, in your introductory
remarks that September 11 could not have come at a worse time,
and that the effects of September 11 will be to deepen and prolong
the recession. How do you reconcile that view, with your view
that you think there will be a pick-up in the middle of next yearand
I think you also said that the pick-up would be likely to be stronger
than previously thought?
(Sir Edward George) Somewhat. I am not talking about
a kind of real boom, but we were looking for a very, very gradual
pick-up from the United States. Largely, I thinkand I have
to be jolly careful because I got terribly misreportedif
you actually stand back and you look ahead to 18 months, two years,
three years, and you say to yourself "What has actually happened
on the supply side of the global economy which would mean that
we could not sustain, not the crazy 5, 6 per cent growth rates
that we saw in the United States for a period but something stronger
than we saw in the early 1990s?" I find it very difficult
to think. You can point to some supply side effectsthe
security impact which may have a dampening effectbut, by
and large, I believe that the growth that was coming from the
spread of technology through the United States' economy and the
application of technology through the United States' economy has
got further to go. I think that can spread to Europe and to the
United Kingdom to a degree which it has not as of now. So that
the supply potential, looking out, is quite encouraging. Once
we have got over the adjustmentand that has already gone
quite a long wayand once we have absorbed the over-hang
on investment, then I think over that kind of timescale we will
get back to above what we would normally regard as trend rate
of growth for the industrial world as a whole and the global economy.
If we are now pushed down somewhat below where we thought we were
going to be, then there is the prospect that you will have a somewhat
more positive pick-up to that situation when the pick-up begins.
I think I would say two other things. One is that there is an
awful lot which is very positive about the industrial economy
right now. We do have low inflation and that provides more flexibility
for policy stimulus. We do have robust financial systems, which
mean that the pressures that come with this kind of slowdown are
not exaggerated by the financial problems to the degree that they
were at times in the past. I think these are reasons for not being
excessively pessimistic. We have had a very strong policy response
everywhereobviously particularly in the United States because
that is where the thing struckand that has been on the
monetary side but also on the fiscal side and they are talking
about more fiscal stimulus. However, within the Euro zone, too,
there was a point where there was some doubt as to whether they
would even allow the automatic stabilisers to operate on the fiscal
side within the Euro zone, but they decided that they had to do
that. They have given a monetary policy stimulus just as we have.
So that I think it is absolutely wrong to take the view this is
all gloom. I think what we are talking about is the performance
over the next twelve months or so. After that there is every reason
to suppose that we will get back to a growing trend rate. You
do after recessions.
133. You are saying that there is going to be
quite a sharp bounce-back.
(Sir Edward George) No, I am saying somewhat stronger
than we expected before.
134. Stronger than you previously thought. You
already had one built into your forecast, and it is now going
to be stronger than you thought. You think that the underlying
conditions for that coming to pass are good. There is, is there
not, quite a fundamental difference of view within the MPC on
this? If I take some other quotations from today, Dr Wadhwani
said that when bubbles burst the effects on declines in output
tend to be quite long-lived. (I think that was your phrase but
I may not have it absolutely right.) Kate Barker said that the
weakness in the global economy will have a greater impact on the
UK than previously thought. So we have quite a difference of view
in the MPC. Have I got that right?
(Sir Edward George) Yes, there are differences of
degreeabout most things, actually.
135. Can I ask you a semi-historical question,
to which I do not know the answer myself? We now have the three
largest economies in the world either in recession or very close
to recession, with most of the relevant arrows pointing downwards.
When was the last time that those sorts of conditions prevailed?
(Sir Edward George) 1973-74.
136. There is a rider to my question, but by
all means answer that first.
(Mr King) I think what is different now and what I
think does change the outlook is the fact that all members think
there are real downside risks to the world economy. What is different
about the present situation, which has never occurred before since
quarterly data were first constructed in the mid-1950s, is that
if it is true that the US is in technical recession with two negative
quarters of growth, that has never happened before without the
UK having had a quarter of negative growth at the same time.
137. That is just the US but now we have got
Germany and Japan.
(Mr King) In other words, the link between the US
and the UK looks very different now than it has done at any point
in the past. That reflects the imbalances. There is very strong
domestic demand growth in the UK, which is offsetting what is
happening in the rest of the world. The rest of the world is going
through a very severe downturn, there is no doubt, and the outlook
for Japan is particularly worrying because in both Europe and
the United States the thing that I think does affect the committee's
judgment is that in both areas there has been a significant relaxation
of policy in the past few months which will, at some point, come
138. Are you saying that for the first time
in modern, post-war economic history, the worldand particularly
the UScan sneeze and we will not catch a cold?
(Mr King) If you look at what has happened so far,
it is the case that the latest growth figure in the UK over the
last twelve month period is 2.1 per cent, at a time when the US
is showing virtually zero. That is very unusual, but it is true.
The next few quarters may well be very weak. The latest numbers
still show pretty robust consumption growth in this country, and
again that is unusual given the world context in which this is
taking place. So there is enormous uncertainty here. The two factors
which are important in thinking about what will happen to the
world economy and, hence, to the UK, are, first, and far and away
the most important, the very significant policy easing that has
taken place during the course of this year, and, secondly, the
fact that one of the views that we took following September 11
was that the consequence of that was a significant increase in
the degree of uncertainty that would affect investment decisions
for a period but then that uncertainty would be resolved. One
of the factors which explains this weaker profile for the next
two or three quarters and then a slightly sharper pick-up than
before is a switch, in our view, as to what will happen to investment
expenditure, and we do see a sharp slowdown in investment expenditure
in the short-run, but then some picking up further out as the
uncertainty is resolved. However, as Sushil has emphasised today,
there is just enormous uncertainty about all of these things.
We are not saying anything will happen, we are always talking
about a balance of probabilities.
139. That is what worried us at the start. We
are quite happy to go with the remark that there is enormous uncertainty
and we are very happy to go along with the balance of probabilities,
but when the probability is shown in tables as a 1 per cent chance
of recession some of us tend to get a little bit jumpy. We do
not mind even taking the Governor's view that the difference between
1 and 5 per cent is negligible, but to write it in at such negligible
levels is a cause for concern for those of us who watch these
things, even if it is backed up by a group of other commentators
whose forecast you have also published in the same document. I
wonder whether Dr Wadhwani could add to that. Do you agree with
what I have just said?
(Dr Wadhwani) Which particular aspect?


text:
CCI - Training requirements
Training requirements for the speciality of Allergy and Clinical Immunology within General Internal Medicine
Training requirements for the speciality of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
within General Internal Medicine
1. Definition of the specialty
Clinical Immunology is that section of general internal medicine which specializes in disorders resulting from defects or abnormal functioning of the immune system. Specific disorders are: immune deficiencies, autoimmune diseases and vasculitides, and diseases related to hypersensitivity reactions. This last category has traditionally come under the sub-specialty of allergy. Transplantation Immunology is also classified under Clinical Immunology. The specialty is also concerned with correct treatment indication and with the interpretation of immunology laboratory results for diagnosis and follow-up, and responsible application of immune-modulating therapies. Given the broadness of the specialty there is a varying amount of overlap with other specialties within general internal medicine, and also with other specialties, in particular Rheumatology, Dermatology, Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT) and Pulmonary Diseases. For professional and organizational reasons it is desirable that the relationship between Clinical Immunology and Allergy should be as clear as possible. The training programme for the specialty of Allergy and Clinical Immunology includes a common component and two specializing streams, subsequently referred to as Clinical Immunology and Allergy respectively. In order to make the sub-specialties recognizable to patients and other medical disciplines, these two specialist physicians with sub-specialties are referred to as 'physician specializing in clinical immunology, with a demonstrable interest in allergy' and 'physician specializing in allergy, with a demonstrable interest in clinical immunology' respectively.
2. Description of the tasks of a physician specializing in Allergy and Clinical Immunology
A physician specializing in Allergy and Clinical Immunology has in-depth knowledge of the structure and function of the normal immune system and the pathophysiology of diseases caused by disorders of this system. He or she also has knowledge of allergic reactions in various organ systems and the specific problems that accompany them, and knowledge of allergy-related aerobiology. He or she has specific expertise relating to immunology laboratory diagnosis, the techniques used in this context and the interpretation of results in relation to clinical questions. He or she also has knowledge regarding the execution and interpretation of allergy provocation tests. He or she has expertise relating to the treatment of the immunologically mediated disorders described above and has understanding of and experience with immunomodulatory therapies. He or she is a partner in discussions with other specialties which frequently require expertise relating to Clinical Immunology and Allergy, such as Rheumatology, Neurology, Pulmonary Diseases, Cardiology, ENT, Ophthalmology and Dermatology.
3. Training programme
3 a. Previous training
The trainee must have completed at least four years of the training programme for physicians, including the compulsory internships in consultative work, outpatients' clinic, pulmonary diseases and intensive care. The 'free year' in the internist's training programme may not be included.
3 b. Compulsory internships
The programme must include the following components:
- A four-month laboratory internship at a medical immunology laboratory and functional laboratory for allergies to become familiar with laboratory techniques and laboratory diagnosis for disorders relating to Allergy and Clinical Immunology and with monitoring immunomodulatory therapies.
- A four-month internship involving in-patient and outpatient work relating to Clinical Immunology. Specifically this will entail the diagnosis and treatment of immunologically mediated disorders such as immune deficiencies, autoimmune diseases and vasculitides. During this period the trainee will be responsible for the daily care of the in-patients. In addition, during the entire period he or she will carry out outpatient and consulting work relating to Cinical Immunology for other specialties as well as internal medicine. There should also be an opportunity at this stage for the trainee to be present during case discussions at a transplantation ward.
- A four-month internship involving in-patient and outpatient work relating to allergy medicine. During this period the trainee will gain experience in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with allergic disorders. If a training institute is unable to provide an internship, another accredited training programme in Allergy and Clinical Immunology may provide the internship or in consultation with the Board of the Division an allergy specialist or clinical immunologist not designated as a trainer may be asked to provide an internship as a temporary solution.
For the remainder of the programme the two specialties follow separate paths:
- The trainee 'physician specializing in Clinical Immunology with a demonstrable interest in allergy' goes on to work in clinical immunology on hospital wards and at outpatient clinics for 12 months. During this period the trainee will follow an internship on a rheumatology ward - if he or she has not already done so - in order to gain optimal training in the diagnosis of joint disorders. The trainee must also be provided with an opportunity to do an internship of about four months on a transplantation ward.
- The trainee 'physician specializing in allergy with a demonstrable interest in clinical immunology' goes on to do a 12-month internship on hospital wards and at outpatient clinics, during which he or she gains experience in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with allergy disorders. During this period he or she does a two-month internship on a dermatology ward accredited by the Medical Specialists Registration Board (MSRC)( and a two-month internship on an MSRC-accredited ENT ward. During the entire outpatient period of the training programme the trainee will also maintain intensive contact with the functional examination department.
During the entire period the trainee internist must participate in multi-disciplinary case discussions and discussions about laboratory diagnostics and must also be actively involved in discussions of literature.
3c. Short courses
During the programme all trainees will receive theoretical training organized not only through the normal routes (academic associations) but also through national courses in each of the specialties, for example an annual course which alternately examines all aspects of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
3d. Scientific research
The training programme must include patient-based and possibly also fundamental immunological research. During his or her training, the trainee specialist must publish an article relating to allergy or clinical immunology in a national or international journal and must present a paper to an academic society. At least twice during the training period he or she must participate actively in a national and an international course or conference. Preferably the components of the training programme should be completed during one consecutive period. Programme components may be split or combined, provided the duration and relative difficulty match the criteria set out above. If the trainee in question is doing a PhD in clinical immunology or allergy, the programme components may be spread over a longer period, but about 50% of the trainee's time must be spent on the training programme.
4. Training department and staff
4a. Training department
The training department must have outpatient facilities for patients with immunologically mediated disorders at its disposal. The department must also have access to inpatient facilities for these patients. The department must have access to a medical immunology laboratory, or to laboratories where immunological diagnostics are conducted, and to a functional examination laboratory for allergy diagnostics. Arrangements must be made with these laboratories for a training programme for the trainee allergy specialist or clinical immunologist. The department must have a library at its disposal with a number of standard works and academic journals relating to allergy and clinical immunology. Literature discussions must take place at least once a month. The hospital where the training department is based must have accreditation for training in general internal medicine for at least four years.
4b. Staff
The training department must be headed by a physician specializing in Allergy and Clinical Immunology. At least one other physician specializing in Allergy and Clinical Immunology must be present. Training in one of the specific sub-specialties will be in the hands of a trainer who has had training in this sub-specialty (specifically, allergy training will be provided by an allergy specialist and training in Clinical Immunology by a clinical immunologist). A physician specializing in clinical immunology will be responsible for the clinical immunology internship in the allergy sub-specialty. A physician specializing in allergy will be responsible for the allergy internship in the clinical immunology sub-specialty. The staff members of the department must publish in scientific journals and regularly attend conferences and meetings relating to clinical immunology and allergy. If a training institute is unable to arrange an internship, an allergy specialist or clinical immunologist from elsewhere who has not been designated as a trainer may provide the internship as a temporary solution. However, Division Management must approve this arrangement. See also 3b.
5. Recognition of the programme
A department may be recognized as a training department for the specialty within internal medicine of Allergy and Clinical Immunology if it meets the requirements set out in 4a and 4b. It is possible for a department to be recognized for one of the two sub-specialties.
A department must apply to the Board of the Dutch Society of Physicians for recognition, and recognition is granted by the Concilium Medicinae Internae, on the recommendation of the Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology within Internal Medicine. Six months before the visitation of the Internal Medicine programme, the training programme for the specialty will undergo visitation by two members of the Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. If neither of the assessors is a member of the Concilium, a member of the Concilium will be added to the visitation committee. If possible a trainee in the specialty will also participate in the visitation. The Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology consists of the academic trainers in Allergy and Clinical Immunology trainers plus two peripheral physicians specializing in Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
6. Registration, certificates
A physician who has completed a training programme meeting the training requirements for the specialty of Allergy and Clinical Immunology set out in 3a-3c above may register as a 'physician specializing in Allergy and Clinical Immunology within internal medicine' ('internist met het aandachtsgebied Allergologie en Klinische Immunologie binnen de Inwendige geneeskunde'). Recognition is granted by the Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, on the recommendation of the allergy and clinical immunology trainer. The physician's name will be entered in a register kept by the Dutch Society of Physicians. As proof of his or her registration, the allergy specialist-clinical immunologist is given a certificate. In view of the fact that the Central Board has granted title protection to the title of 'Physician specializing in Allergy', this protection remains in full force for a specialist with the sub-specialty of Allergy. Registration is renewed every five years by the Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology provided the conditions set out in 4.7 have been satisfied. For members of the Netherlands Society of Physicians registration and re-registration are free of charge; for non-members there are charges.
7. Refresher courses
A physician specializing in Allergy and Clinical Immunology will remain registered if the following requirements are met:
1. the specialist works at a centre with sufficient outpatient and inpatient facilities for the
diagnosis and treatment of allergic disorders and disorders relating to clinical immunology, while participating actively for at least 12 hours a week in relevant patient care.
2. the specialist has access to a centre with a laboratory which actively follows developments in
medical immunology and participates in national consultation and quality assurance
programmes regarding laboratory research in medical immunology.
3. the specialist must prove to have participated in sufficient refresher activities relating to
Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Apart from postacademic training this may include attending reference meetings at university training clinics or participating again for a few days at a university training clinic.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Well, my new year's goal of blogging twice a month hasn't quite panned out, but hey--I still have six months left this year to do it, right? ;) Plus, I've got some really good excuses (aka "news")...
#1: Our second son was born in March--welcome to the world, Sammy!
#2: My little brother married his beautiful lady love! How does that apply to me? Well...
Hi there! Papa here.
The title implies Farmers Market is a big produce-laden brawl or something, but it's really about as peaceful as you can get on a Wednesday evening--I just say "Round 2" because it sounds exciting!
Last Wednesday I left for work, leaving Mama and Baby at the homestead, not knowing what I would find in downtown Grand Blanc when I got off work (I had seen the demo stand set up temporarily in our living room with the assorted decorations, but it's not quite the same as the real thing). When I got to the market, it was so fun to see my wife and son in their aprons, busying themselves around the supplies. When I saw the "Sweet Home à la Mama" banner and the cash register all set up, I couldn't believe it all really materialized.
Tomorrow will be a busy day for both Mama and me. At 6AM, I'm going running with a friend of mine who wants to get in shape and needs some motivation. I also realized I need to start running again when I got winded the other day going up a flight of stairs! After that, it's a full day of work, and then off to the market to help wrangle Baby--erm, I mean, sell granola.
What will tomorrow hold? Will it rain? Will it be windy? Will it just be a sunny day? Will there be enough Biscotti after people see this appetizing picture?!
Until next time,
Sweet Home à la Mama
Hi there!
Welcome to Sweet Home à la Mama, a blog about home-sweet-homemaking!
Mama here.
I'm Daria, the spunky gal who writes the blog posts. New reader? Click here!
November 2013


text:
By James Grubel
CANBERRA (Reuters) - Prime Minister Kevin Rudd revived a plan to move Australia's navy north and out of its eastern base in Sydney Harbour on Tuesday, just three months after a major review of defense strategy ruled out the shift.
Rudd, who is campaigning for re-election on September 7, said he wanted to resurrect the plan to base new missile destroyers and amphibious assault carriers in the northern city of Brisbane. That would allow faster deployment to potential hotspots or humanitarian disasters in the South Pacific.
The move would enable the government to close its Garden Island navy base in the busy Sydney Harbour, which could then be used by cruise ships which jostle for limited space in a popular destination for cruise liners.
"This would include a major strategic decision to deploy the navy's most important ships where they will be best-placed to protect Australia's interests and quickly respond to challenges," Rudd said in an election speech in Sydney.
The idea was recommended by a 2012 review of Australia's defense posture, which said Brisbane would be a better base for the major naval ships because it was closer to the South Pacific.
But a defense White Paper, released on May 3 and drawn up while former leader Julia Gillard was prime minister, ruled out Brisbane. [ID:nL3N0DK00Q] It cited problems with dredging, land acquisition and an estimated A$6 billion ($5.43 billion) cost.
"All suggest that establishing a fleet base in Brisbane would be challenging and require significant continued investment for it to remain sustainable," the white paper said.
Rudd said he would set up a task force to advise within two years on the Brisbane naval base and he would expect the relocation to be completed by 2030. Australia's other main naval base is at Perth on the Indian Ocean.
The two 27,500-tonne assault carriers, known as Landing Helicopter Docks (LHDs), will be the largest ships ever commissioned for the navy, with the first to arrive in 2014. Australia is also buying three air warfare destroyers, to start operations from 2016.
Both are designed in Spain by state-owned Navantia, although they will be partly built in Australia. The destroyers will be capable of supporting a future ballistic missile defense shield.
Lowy Institute military analyst James Brown said he agreed that Australia's strategic interests were increasingly to the country's north, but Rudd's new plan would be too costly at time when the defense budget was already under strain.
"Rudd's plan to fundamentally transform our naval posture would imperil other efforts underway to rebuild the navy," Brown said.
"More importantly, we are already struggling to fund our defense budget to the level both Rudd and his Defense Minister Stephen Smith would like, and we're also struggling to fund even modest infrastructure upgrades called for to enhance U.S. force posture arrangements."
President Barack Obama has announced a stronger focus on the Asia-Pacific region, including the rotation of U.S. marines through northern Australia, in a move which entails more cooperation with Australia's military and facilities.
Rudd, who toppled Gillard in a Labor Party vote to return as prime minister on June 26, is well behind in most opinion polls and is widely expected to lose office to the conservative Liberal-National Party coalition on September 7.
($1 = 1.1050 Australian dollars)
(editing by Rob Taylor and Ron Popeski)


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Labels are for cans, not people.
~Anthony Rapp
I was having dinner last night with some friends, and the conversation moved to political stances, neo-hippies labels, and driving cars. One of them even told me that he can see who I am referring to when I write in this humble media.
I assure to my rich readers (breaking the 150 a day record!) that I never have someone in mind when writing, unless I actually say so. The interesting part of the conversation was when another friend asked me how do I label me. "I am above labels" I answered, "everybody has a label" she replied.
According to one test I took in Facebook, I am a class-3 liberal. That means nothing when you can be a Class-10 liberal, or even a Class-10 conservative (Horror!). But I find more often than not that lot of people like to put labels on themselves, and those labels, though providing a sense of belonging, limit their ability to think (note: I stopped talking about my friends here, do not send me hate e-mail!). I find people in the streets that join causes just because they are liberal, or because they are perceived as "just", without further thinking. Can you be a liberal and a conservative at the same time? Can you be a leftist with a brain, and a rightist with a heart? Let's ask ourselves the following questions:
- Can you be pro gay marriage but against abortion?
- Can you be socially liberal but fiscally conservative?
- Can you support the efforts in Afghanistan but be against the Iraq campaign?
- Can you give money to the World Wildlife Foundation while hoping that the guys at Greenpeace get soon real jobs?
- Do you support welfare programs but are against a big government?
- Can you drive a car but at the same time be an ecologist?
- Do you think that a biker that rides on the side walk, run red lights, and go against traffic is actually worse person than a driver that obey the law?
- Can you support genetically enhanced crops and still think that organic crops have a place on the market?
- Can you be a meatarian but support vegans?
- Can you work on Bay St (Canada's Wall St) and still support the ideals of Mohammed Yunus about banking to the poor?
If you answer to YES to more than three questions, I welcome you to the unease world of thinkers that do not know all the answers, but actually may make a difference. The world is more complex than simple labels make us think!


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The Lucky Few from The Lucky Few Book on Vimeo.
These are the faces that call me "mom," the three children who made me a mother.
When I started my journey into parenthood I never thought it would look like this. I never planned on having three adopted children, and I certainly never imagined that two of them would have Down syndrome. But like most of the things God does, once we stepped into the craziness and confusion of the unknown and unplanned, we quickly realized that we were indeed among the lucky few.
When my husband and I decided to grow our family ten years ago, we were surprised to find that getting pregnant was not as easy as we had thought it would be. And as we navigated the ups and downs of infertility, God led us down the path of adoption. Of course, we would adopt! Not what we had originally planned, but certainly a wonderful option.
But just as we began to get a comfortable grasp on growing our family through adoption, God introduced us to Macyn Hope, a very sick little girl with Down syndrome who desperately needed a family. As we continued to follow God's calling, first with Macyn, and later with Truly and then August, we found ourselves further and further from the comfortable paths we thought our lives would take, and instead moving down some very scary, and often painful roads.
Even though at times His plan seemed terrifying and even downright foolish, little could we have known how much goodness, blessing, and joy would flow out of loving these three little people He's put into our lives. No, it's not been easy: not the open-heart surgeries or the challenges of raising two children with Down syndrome or the complexities of dealing with birth-families or the struggles we've had with the public education system. But through it all, every new and uncomfortable situation has only proven to be another chance to see how very good God's plan is for our lives and how downright lucky we are to be able to live it out.
It's only the lucky few that recognize that the most beautiful things in this life are often found in the differences. What some would see as misfortune, I've learned to see as nothing more than pure luck.
|Heather Avis
|About the Contributor(s)
|Heather Avis
Heather is the founder of the hit Instagram account @macymakesmyday, which is enjoyed by and inspires people from all walks of life from every corner of the world. Heather is a wife to her loving and supportive husband Josh, and mother to Macyn, Truly, and August. They live in Southern California.
|Release Date
|Mar 21, 2017
|Weight (lbs)
|Length Unit


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One of the pearls of wisdom that filtered through Groucho Marx's thick moustache is this: Time flies like an arrow, but fruit flies like a banana. Yes, that's right. It hits you after a few moments, depending on the speed of the processor in your head. But have you ever heard something so exquisite, so profound, in the English language?
I have no legitimate reason to start this story with this immortal line other than the fact that this is a banana-shaped car that flies like an arrow. Tenuous link maybe, but what the hell, it's true. After AMG has been through Mercedes-Benz's oxymoronically named four-door coupe, it has become even more slippery than the slipperiest banana and cuts through the wind to touch 100 kph in a ridiculous 4.5 seconds and 200 kph in 15.1 seconds. And an electronically limited top speed of 250 kph. Remember, it weighs close to two tonnes. And is a luxury car, mind you.
It's so well-built and well-appointed that the AMG 6208cc V8 and the related exhaust note, which in the SL 63 AMG sounds like Satan clearing his throat, sounds like distant thunder in the CLS. So much so that you check the rear view mirror expecting to see dark clouds. There is this muscular burble that emerges from the four oval exhaust pipes even when you are just puttering about, and when you rev the engine, it barks like er, Satan's three-headed dog or even Cerberus. And it's this soundtrack that makes you feel that you are in a special car and not in an ordinary CLS, if there was one. But does the CLS, which is a genteel car (and the very reason for its existence is to just look good), need AMG to fettle it? It's a bit of overkill, don't you think? Well, I do think so, but that's not going to stop me from going for several hot laps in it. Because it's no use arguing about such trivial stuff when you have 507 bhp at 6800 rpm and 64 kgm at 5200 rpm from a naturally aspirated 6208cc eight-cylinder motor waiting to explode.
Explode it does. One moment, it's just standing there, looking pretty and calling attention to itself like a dazzling woman, and then, in what feels like microseconds, it's doing some crazy three-digit speeds like a hound from Hades (Cerberus!). At this moment, all I can do is hold the steering wheel tight, try not to look like a dribbling village idiot and whip it some more. The shift from crazy three-digit speeds to highly ridiculous three-digit speeds is instantaneous, the power delivery just does not flag. It is at moments like these – when the surrounding scenery is blurring rapidly, when the road sign becomes road signed and when the car in front is the car at the back – when I ponder about various inconsequential things in life. Like: wonder what's for dinner, when do I fit a new battery in my Tintin watch? Hope the raddi-wallah comes tomorrow, etc.
Maybe it's caused by this immense rush of adrenaline that you detach yourself from the madness and think of other harmless aspects of your life. But the point I am making is that unlike in the SL 63 AMG (elsewhere in this issue), in the CLS 63 AMG, you can think. It is frighteningly fast, but doesn't feel so simply because you are so cosseted inside, except of course for the howl from the exhausts. Just don't look at the speedo, that's all. And when trying to break the sound barrier in the CLS, don't even by mistake look at the dial on the left of the speedo. It's a clock and in that speed buzz you may mistake it for something else and slam on the brakes in alarm. Just joking. For a car that revs like kingdom come, it's not a handful in traffic and is actually pretty docile. The reason is that about 80 per cent of the torque – 51 kgm – is available at as little as 2000 rpm. There's something about V8s, I tell you. However, the best part I liked about the CLS is not its straightline acceleration, but when it's time to corner hard. Matching every beat of the V8 is that AMG Speedshift Plus 7G-Tronic. You have both Comfort and Sport mode in automatic and the M manual override function. And while you are in M mode, you can hold the revs and it doesn't upshift or downshift automatically. This gearbox has been tuned by the magic-makers at AMG to handle the performance available on tap. And they have gone one further. Like in the Nissan 370Z (only in the manual), the transmission actually blips the throttle automatically when you are downshifting in preparation of tackling a corner. While it just takes the entire experience a notch higher, what it does is allow you to keep the same intensity before you approached the corner. Without this function, the CLS would have perhaps balked and taken away the smoothness of exiting a corner.
The CLS is actually a big car. It's made to look like a coupe, but it's a four-door coupe, remember. Mercedes-Benz did a clever thing by using the last-gen E-Class platform and creating this one of a kind (before the others got into the act) and priced it close to the S-Class. Still, the AMG CLS does not feel that large, it is, er, coupe-like and cosy. What that translates to is a large car that you can actually feel one with, it's built around the driver and shrinks around him. The reason is that AMG sports suspension that does this shrinking trick. Based on the Airmatic air suspension with an adaptive damping system, the whole shebang adjusts to the road conditions and the speed automatically. You can keep it in any mode that you want depending on your mood, including a showboating comfort setting (hey, it's a Mercedes-Benz and comfort is its middle name). The sport setting obviously lowers the body of the car and stiffens the suspension even more. It is best felt while you are cornering the CLS, it becomes nimble and gives the car a degree of precision that's frankly brilliant. Combined with the superb steering setup and grippy 19-inch rubber (255/35 at the front and 285/30 at the rear), you can apex corners as if you were a racing driver. Yes, the CLS 63 AMG makes you feel like one, despite, as I have mentioned earlier, its bulk.
In this test car especially, we had the optional AMG performance steering wheel, which is smaller in diameter compared to the regular one and the bottom section of the wheel is flattened. This is a must-tick on the options list and completes the sensory experience. What I however don't like about the CLS, even if it's the AMG version, is the vast panel of wood on the dash that won't be out of place in a 1930s Merc. Mercedes-Benz may say it's classy and stylish, but I feel that it's more of an after-thought to fill up the acres of dash with something other than HDPE or PVC or whatever they use in dashboards nowadays. Suggestion: instead of wood (let it be in the regular CLS), use brushed aluminium, black metal or maybe even real carbon fibre in the AMG CLS.
As far as the car's looks are concerned, it still remains the best-looking of all the production Mercs around, despite being over five years old now. Maybe it's that eternal banana shape. Time really flies like an arrow, doesn't it?


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At the La Sierra University Church our mission statement begins with grace. We see grace as summarizing for us the character of God. Grace is the founding principle of God's interaction with human beings. It is the key to understanding God's self-revelation.
"God's character is grace. We can know nothing more important about God."
"Grace is not something God Himself gives us, it is the way God gives us Himself."
"The central theme of the whole Bible is the triumph of grace in the salvation of sinners."
From the genesis of the human story in the first book of the Bible to the closing scenes of earth's history so dramatically portrayed in the book of Revelation, God's persistent, enduring, everlasting love is portrayed in the multitude of stories, in the exalted themes of the Scriptures, in the Bible's counsel and instruction.
We believe that grace is "the great truth around which all other truths cluster" (Gospel Workers, 315). We want grace to be "the burden of every sermon, the theme of every song" (Testimonies to the Church, vol. 8, 287), "our platform, the very life of our faith" (The Review and Herald, August 31, 1905).


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Quick Reference
(b Norwich, 1948).
Eng. composer. Comp.‐in‐residence Greenwich Fest. 1987. Programme dir. SPNM 50th anniversary season 1992–3. Came to prominence with Missa Sancte Endeliente at St Endellion Fest., Cornwall, 1980. Works incl. opera The Albatross (1987); orch. works, choral and vocal mus., chamber mus., pieces for org., and some works involving tape.
Subjects: Music.
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Writer/Actor Danny Hoch Talks Broadway, Gentrification, People With TVs In Their Heads: Gothamist:
Do you feel like it's more of a challenge to connect with the audience? It seems like when I go to a Broadway show, it's more like watching a movie than the theater I normally go to see downtown or in Brooklyn.
Well, I've been doing a little analysis of the audiences in this show versus audiences in Off Broadway theaters and regional theaters around the country. I think the majority of the audience that comes in on most nights—not all nights, but most nights—actually thinks they're coming to see a movie. And some of the reactions are as if they're watching a movie!
Audiences are weird. I think sometimes there's this mythification that happens with any kind of celebrity, and I think automatically people say, "there's this celebrity" and "there's that celebrity" and all of a sudden, what they're seeing is on a movie screen. It's not real even if they stop them outside the theater to ask them for an autograph. I've seen it happen. You can't often have a conversation because people are...they have a TV screen in their head, and nothing is really real. But that's not all audiences. Some audiences are really, really intimately engaged in a very different way and we can tell as a cast which audiences are sort of smarter and more sophisticated and really connected, and which of the audiences are just watching a movie. Those are a dead giveaway, when the curtain comes up and people are laughing immediately. Like nervous laughter, it's like "Oh, that's the TV crowd."


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Headquartered in Athens, Georgia, Landmark Properties was founded in May of 2004 by Wes Rogers and James Whitley and has already become one of the foremost developers and managers of off-campus student housing throughout the United States. Through strategic development and management, Landmark is focused on maximizing property value while providing the very best college living experience for its residents. Through 2016, the Company's track record is unparalleled with over 19 new construction lease ups at 95% occupancy or greater, and an overall company-wide historical occupancy rate of over 97%. In addition, Landmark currently manages a large portfolio, which includes owned and third party assets.
Auburn, AL
Expected Delivery
August 2019


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PHILADELPHIA — Lucy would have been proud of her master, Billy Connors, the other day. The Cubs` visceral pitching coach had watched his ace, Rick Sutcliffe, struggle to a defeat at Montreal. Connors paced, bit his tongue, chewed some tobacco. Finally, he could contain himself no longer.
``He throws a sinker to Tim Raines!!`` Connors recalled. ``A sinker!!
Hadn`t thrown a sinker all spring, so he experiments with it there, and Raines hits a double, one bounce off the wall. A sinker!!``


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Music and fashion have always gone hand in hand, and as a band, fashion is an important part of our performances - The Band Perry.
Nashville, TN (PRWEB) February 13, 2014
The Band Perry will be the featured entertainment for the 2014 Symphony Fashion show, to be held Tuesday, April 29, at Schermerhorn Symphony Center. Presented by Lexus and sponsored by Gus Mayer and the Nashville Symphony Orchestra League, this event supports the Nashville Symphony's education and community engagement programs, which annually serve 100,000 children and adults across Middle Tennessee.
Nashville's largest runway show will highlight Christian Siriano's Fall 2014 collection. A red-carpet experience precedes the show, and guests will be invited to celebrate the evening of fashion and music with a tented dining experience following the show.
Since releasing their self-titled debut album in 2010, The Band Perry has ascended to dizzying heights. Fronted by Kimberly Perry and rounded out by her younger brothers Neil and Reid, the band has notched four No. 1 singles, including "If I Die Young" (which climbed to No. 1 on Billboard's Country and AC charts), "All Your Life," "Better Dig Two," and "DONE." (which marks the first No. 1 for Reid and Neil Perry as songwriters). They've also enjoyed sold-out tours and a showering of honors, including multiple ACM, CMA and CMT Music awards, as well as GRAMMY®, Teen Choice, AMA, ACA and Billboard Music award nominations — all of which have cemented the sibling trio as one of the hottest acts in recent history.
"Music and fashion have always gone hand in hand, and as a band, fashion is an important part of our performances," said The Band Perry. "We are excited to be part of the 2014 Symphony Fashion Show and can't wait to see Christian Siriano's collection."
Featured designer Christian Siriano attended the Baltimore School for the Arts and interned with industry legends Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen. The Christian Siriano Collection debuted in 2006 and is shown each season at New York Fashion Week and presented to retailers in New York City and Paris. Known for his whimsical and show-stopping design – from fantasy evening gowns and cocktail dresses to tailored sportswear, as well as intricate shoes and accessories – the collection can be found at specialty boutiques and department stores around the globe.
Jazz pianist Kory Caudill will make his Nashville debut at the Symphony Fashion Show, performing original music before the runway show in Laura Turner Concert Hall.
Tickets for the Symphony Fashion Show include reserved seating and an elegant cocktail buffet after the show. Past designers for the event have included Oscar de la Renta, MARCHESA, Monique Lhuillier and Isaac Mizrahi. For more information or to request an invitation, please visit http://www.nashvillesymphony.org/fashionshow.
About Nashville Symphony: The GRAMMY® Award-winning Nashville Symphony has earned an international reputation for its innovative programming and its commitment to performing, recording and commissioning works by America's leading composers. The Nashville Symphony has released 19 recordings on Naxos, which have received 14 GRAMMY® nominations and seven GRAMMY® Awards, making NSO one of the most active recording orchestras in the country. With more than 100 performances annually, the orchestra offers a broad range of classical, pops and jazz, and children's concerts, while its extensive education and community engagement programs inspire 100,000 children and adults each year.


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Newsletter Editor: Audrey
Recipe Ideas
It can often be difficult to come up with meal ideas or to keep your palette excited. I'll send you hand selected recipes from some of the most exciting food blogs out there on a daily basis. Along the way, I hope you find some new foodie bloggers to follow! Photo by: Paul Keller
See past issues


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Because it's Friday, here's a video of former Knicks first-round pick and Nuggets swingman Renaldo Balkman nailing a full-court heave in a nearly empty gym. You're welcome, America.
Raptors hire Spurs video coordinator, who just happens to be Kawhi Leonard friend
Jeremy Castleberry played his high school ball in Riverside, California, on the same team as Kawhi Leonard. When Leonard went on to San Diego State for college, Castleberry went too and was a walk-on for that team.
When the Spurs drafted Leonard, it was not long before Castleberry was a video coordinator and on the staff in San Antonio. Now Leonard is a Raptor so… you know what's coming. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN explained it well.
The Toronto Raptors are hiring San Antonio Spurs staffer Jeremy Castleberry — a close friend of Kawhi Leonard — to a position on their coaching staff, league sources told ESPN.
Castleberry has worked with Leonard as a Spurs staffer and played with Leonard in high school and at San Diego State, where he was a walk-on.
Is this alone going to keep Leonard a Raptor next summer when he's a free agent? No. But this is how the game is played — make the star player you're recruiting feel comfortable, wanted, a key part of everything. Bringing in a friend to a new city for him fits right into that plan.
The smart money is still on Leonard bolting next summer to go to Los Angeles, but if the Raptors are able to change his mind — ala Paul George — it will not be one big thing but a thousand little ones. And a lot of wins. But hiring Castleberry is a start.
Brandon Jennings signs to play in Russia next season
Brandon Jennings has just never been the same since his 2015 torn Achilles. He hasn't shot over 40 percent from the floor for a season since then, he hasn't moved well defensivly, and he had a PER of 19.3 the season it was torn and it's never been above 13.7 for a season since then. In the past couple of seasons he has played in the G-League and China, and he played 14 games at the end of the season for the Bucks last campaign.
This summer, there were no offers. He is now headed to Russia, according to multiple reports, including EuroHoops.net. He will play for Zenit St Petersburg.
He's only 28 years old, there is time for him find a way to make his game fit into the NBA landscape again. He's just not there yet, and maybe the opportunity in Russia will lead him there. If not, he's still getting paid to play at a high level.
Some owners reportedly want access to mental health files of players
If you read one thing NBA related today, it should be the first installment of Jackie MacMullan's brilliant series at ESPN on the mental health of players and staffs in the NBA, and how the league is handling it. MacMullan not only got Kevin Love and Paul Pierce to open up about their challenges, but she also got into the challenges the league faces in confronting this issue head-on.
One such challenge: Owners wanting access to players mental health "files."
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, players union executive director Michelle Roberts and their respective teams are reportedly working on a new mental health policy for the league. Privacy is going to be a big part of that. From MacMullan:
Yet there remain many obstacles to confront, chief among them the stigma attached to mental health that prompts many players to suffer in silence. The union also insists that mental health treatment be confidential, but some NBA owners, who in some cases are paying their players hundreds of millions of dollars, want access to the files of their "investments." That is not, however, the league's position. "The NBA fully supports protecting the confidentiality of players' mental health information and, accordingly, committed to the players association that any mental health program we undertake would do so," NBA spokesman Mike Bass says.
Confidentiality, says Love, has to be non-negotiable. Without it, he says, he never would have become comfortable enough to announce from that All-Star dais that he was seeking treatment.
Those files must be private. This is different from a torn knee ligament or sprained ankle (and on those we have HIPPA laws for good reason). For one, this is something more unpredictable in treating. Second, it comes back to the stigma of mental health issues and how the information about them might be used.
That stigma still exists, both in society and the NBA — McMullan gets into the players and their wives talking behind Love's back All-Star weekend, and the players currently seeking treatment who do not want it public. The "real men don't talk about this" mentality is everywhere, but it has fertile ground in professional sports locker rooms where players see themselves as invincible.
That mentality, that stigma will be the hardest thing to change in altering the culture of mental health issues in the NBA. There are no easy answers here. Does anyone think the owners who want access to those files wouldn't use against the player in negotiations (never underestimate an owner's effort to gain leverage)?
The players' union will not allow that in whatever the framework is for the leagues' new mental health policy. Nor should they.
Love, DeMar DeRozan, Royce White and others broke barriers stepping forward into the spotlight to discuss their challenges. But there are a lot of barriers still up, and a lot of work for both the NBA and society to do on this front. And privacy must be part of that.
Rebuilding Hawks add depth by signing Daniel Hamilton, Alex Poythress.
ATLANTA (AP) — The rebuilding Atlanta Hawks have added depth by signing guard-forward Daniel Hamilton and forward Alex Poythress.
Poythress was signed to a two-way contract, so the former Kentucky player will split his time with the Hawks' G League Erie team.
Hamilton is on a fully guaranteed one-year contract after impressing the Hawks playing for the Thunder Summer League team. He averaged 2 points in six games with Oklahoma City last season while on a two-way contract with the Thunder. He spent most of the season with the G League Oklahoma City Blue.
Poythress averaged 1 point in 25 games with Indiana last season. He began the season on a two-way contract.


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Dec. 30, 2006
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -JaMarcus Russell - all 6-foot-6, 257 pounds of him - was hunched over in a shaky-looking chair, his legs squeezed awkwardly under the table, when a pain began shooting through his left thigh.
"I'm getting a cramp," he announced Saturday to anyone willing to listen.
LSU's behemoth of a quarterback struggled to his feet, hunched over to grab the back of his leg and began looking around for someone to fetch him some water. His teammates looked on with uncaring bemusement, chuckling at Russell's animated pleas.
"They've got me in these little bitty chairs," he said. "I need the cameras off me. I can't stand up."
After a few minutes, the pain subsided. Russell was able to sit back down, the whole incident a somewhat fitting metaphor for his up-and-down career with the Tigers.
Sometimes, it seems that Russell gets more kudos from around the country than he does in his own backyard. Just listen to Notre Dame, which will be facing this quarterback trapped in a linebacker's body in Wednesday night's Sugar Bowl.
"I was watching film of the Tennessee game," linebacker Travis Thomas mused. "Their defensive end hit Russell at full speed and he didn't even move. That really opened our eyes to how big he is."
The numbers show just how good he is. Russell has a brilliant season for the fourth-ranked Tigers: 2,797 yards passing, 26 touchdowns, only seven interceptions, an astonishing 68.5 percent completion rate.
Still, there's a perception among the LSU faithful that Russell can't win the crucial games and - more delicately - that he's not smart enough to run the offense.
The first of those charges is baffling to coach Les Miles. Didn't Russell throw a touchdown pass in overtime to knock off unbeaten Alabama last season? Didn't he rally the Tigers to a last-second victory at Tennessee this year?
"Who says he can't win the big games?" Miles asked. "I can't imagine someone saying that about him."
The other issue is even more contentious. Russell is a man of few words, especially around the media, which created a perception that he's not intelligent. Nothing could be further from the truth, according to LSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher, who predicts that his junior quarterback will score highly on mental tests whenever he makes the jump to the NFL.
Then there's the color of Russell's skin, which just happens to be black. Undoubtedly, there are still those clinging to the racist notion that whites are better suited to handle the complexities of playing quarterback, who are quicker to criticize when someone black makes an ill-timed throw or fails to pick up a blitzing safety.
When Russell couldn't play in last season's Peach Bowl because of injuries to his wrist and shoulder, Matt Flynn (who is white) led the Tigers to a 40-3 rout of Miami. That only intensified the Bayou debate over who should be the No. 1 quarterback.
Fisher never had any doubts that Russell was the right choice.
"You can tell him something one time and you never have to tell him again," the coordinator said. "But sometimes people stereotype based on their first impression. JaMarcus is media-shy. He doesn't go out seeking attention. He doesn't go around seeking glory."
In some ways, Russell's immense talents have worked against him. There are times when he believes he can make any throw, when he's convinced he can escape any defender. He's had to learn to use all those talented players around him, not try to do it all himself.
"I don't have to be Superman," he said. "Well, sometimes it takes Superman to make certain plays, but not always. You just have to do what it takes to win."
Russell has done plenty of winning during his career, going 24-4 as a starter (10-2 this season), and his size is downright intimidating. He's taller than any of Notre Dame's defensive starters, and easily outweighs everyone in the linebacking corps and secondary.
"You've got to wrap him up and hope the other guys rally around to help you out," said Thomas, who checks in at just 218 pounds. "That's your best shot at bringing him down. A kill shot? I don't think that's going to happen."
As for those who disparage, Russell insisted over and over that he doesn't let it get to him. If people want to focus on the three interceptions he threw in Knoxville and not the 4-yard TD pass to Early Doucet with nine seconds remaining that bailed out the Tigers, so be it.
"My momma always taught me, 'What doesn't kill you will make you stronger,"' Russell said. "Well, I'm still here."
How much longer he will be in Baton Rouge remains to be seen.
After the Sugar Bowl, Russell will talk with his family and consult with Fisher on his NFL options. He certainly would go in the first round if he decides to turn pro. Then again, he would probably go into 2007 as the Heisman favorite on a national championship contender should he return for his senior season.
"Sometimes it goes through my mind," Russell said. "But my main focus is on this game."
While Fisher said one game is unlikely to have any impact on his quarterback's plans for next season, it's clear that Russell wants to make a big splash in the Sugar Bowl. The Fighting Irish have Brady Quinn, a more beloved quarterback with equally dazzling numbers.
"JaMarcus wants to go out and show the world how good he is," LSU receiver Dwayne Bowe said. "He's going to have a great game. He's really on the money in practice. You can see that he wants to outdo Brady Quinn."
Maybe that would be enough to silence Russell's critics.


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Sparx Systems is proud to announce the beta release of Enterprise Architect 11, which includes hundreds of new enhancements and Technologies.
Further Info
Sparx Systems is pleased to officially announce the release of Enterprise Architect 11
CRESWICK, AUSTRALIA April 30, 2014 - Sparx Systems today released the newest version of its flagship Enterprise Architect software, a versatile visual-modeling tool used worldwide by software developers, enterprise architects, business analysts and others involved in planning, designing and developing large corporate systems.
Sparx COO Tom O'Reilly said changes to Version 11 are wide-ranging: "a reflection of our diverse user base and the versatility of the tool."
He said the common thread linking all the current improvements is a focus on shortening the development cycle and giving project teams better ways to communicate, share data and track changes. "Our developers set out to boost productivity and make sure our software keeps up with constantly-evolving best practices - while still giving users the comfort of a familiar look and structure."
O'Reilly said the new release offers "something for everyone," but the benefits vary depending who is using the software and their role on the development team. "An architect uses a different set of features and tools compared to an analyst, and an analyst doesn't use all the same features as a project manager.
"Our software supports more than a dozen specific roles and activities in the development process," he said. "People in every role who tested Version 11 loved the changes.
"Some new features, like a capacity for cloudsharing the full project repository, can be helpful to pretty well everyone using Enterprise Architect, regardless of their role on the project team."
O'Reilly said Enterprise Architects who pre-tested the release were especially enthusiastic about the new Charts and Dashboards feature and the new Element Discussion window - two features that will also be useful to other team members.
Charts and Dashboards enable users to instantly convert project-related statistical data into easily understood visual graphs that provide team members with 'at-a-glance' views of key performance indicators. The Element Discussion window enables team members to hold conversations at the most granular level around each and every element in Enterprise Architect, an improvement that enables architects to bring a more precise focus to their discussions, questions and requests for feedback.
O'Reilly said Software Developers who tested the new release were "delighted" with its new ability to capture some application logic while auto-generating compilable source code from State Machine diagrams. Earlier versions of Enterprise Architect were able to generate code, but without including any details about methods.
"This one change saves developers a tremendous amount of time by automatically creating complex code directly from a state machine," said O'Reilly. "And by 'complex', I mean code that includes advanced constructs like deep history and, when programming in C++ , providing full support for UML constructs like parallel regions."
He said a lot of the early feedback from Business Analysts singled out the new Specification Manager. "It gives them a better way to add information to models," said O'Reilly. "This strengthens their capacity to capture and document the kinds of nuanced, detailed background needed to support a project, and that capacity is really important to most analysts."
He said Sparx introduced the Specification Manager to Version 11 after "repeated requests" provide a way to link blocks of descriptive text to specific elements in the model. "We actually take it one step further and integrate the text with other related information like tests, project management data, team discussions, existing documentation and traces to other elements in the model," he said.
O'Reilly said many of the changes in the new release were suggested by members of Sparx' community: its user base and its resellers and consulting partners.
"I think one of the reasons we've grown ten-fold in the past decade is because we do listen and we do act on what we're hearing," he said. "Our user-base is so diverse in the way they use our tools and so dispersed around the world we really have to listen carefully if we want to stay in the game."
Sparx currently has a registered global user base of more than 300,000 licensed users. This user-base is supported by a global network of Sparx' consulting partners. These partners provide end-users with value-added mentoring, training and on-site technical support.
Enterprise Architect 11 Released!
We invite you to preview this milestone release of Enterprise Architect!
Sparx Systems is proud to announce the beta release of Enterprise Architect 11, which includes hundreds of new enhancements and Technologies.


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- Video on First Slide
- loan officer section
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Motivated Sellers bring all offers. First Texas Home with Grand foyer with high ceilings and wrought iron staircase to the second floor adds to the openness of the home. This home offers 5 Bedrooms, 3 Full Baths, 1 Half Bath, Game Room, and a Media Room. Why go with the new construction when you have this MOVE IN READY upgraded home that includes wood flooring, granite throughout, butler in the kitchen, tile shower, wood garage door and wood front door. Energy Star certified with radiant barrier, blown insulation and 16-Seer AC. Seller's are offering a $3000 flooring allowance.
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Homeowners Association (HOA)
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The information contained herein is furnished by the owner to the best of his/her knowledge, but is subject to verification by the purchaser, and agent assumes no responsibility for the correctness thereof. The sale offering is made subject to errors, omissions, change of price, prior sale, or withdrawal without notice. In accordance with the Law, this property is offered without respect to race, color, creed, national origin, sex, familial status or disability. This is not intended to solicit property currently listed.Listing Agent:Nikki Hall
Broker:Ebby Halliday, REALTORS
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Originally posted by cloudwatcher
reply to post by NewAgeMan
So, Newage, do you know something about this pink liquid and rebirthing place? This is the part that I can't quite settle my mind on.
Sometimes our experiences are more for others and not just ourselves.
Throughout my life, I know, I took Him for granted. Expecting Him to be there for me and yet I only cried out to Him in troubling times. After my NDE... I live, breathe and acknowledge His existence. For one day, I know... I will be home with my Savior for all eternity. A place of complete love, joy and beauty.
Do I understand what exactly they could have been,no.
Originally posted by cloudwatcher
reply to post by theprofessionalnyc
It is hard for me to put into words the changes that I have gone through. And a few paragraphs on here is hardly enough to describe these changes in me. I do feel more aware, awake, and better informed somehow. My memory is sharper than it had been and besides knowing that I would be leaving my children behind, I am not afraid to die. I see humanity as a whole. A wonderful creation, one of many with so much potential for good and evil. It is just too difficult to put into a few words on here.


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Wife of S.D. Hunt
Sept. 6, 1865
Jan. 2, 1915
Contributed on 11/15/06 by schumaker4
Email This Contributor
Record #: 4605
On this site you can upload gravestone photos, locate ancestors and perform genealogy research. If you have a relative buried in Ohio, we encourage you to upload a digital image using our Submit a Photo page. Contributing to this genealogy archive helps family historians and genealogy researchers locate their relatives and complete their family tree.
Submitted: 11/15/06 • Approved: 11/15/06 • Last Updated: 8/13/15 • R4605-G0-S3


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Tottenham Hotspur (Spurs) Football Club is located in North London. The club is also known as Spurs. Tottenham's home ground is White Hart Lane. The club motto is Audere est Facere (To dare is to do).
MARTIN Jol and our press officer John Fennelly certainly did more than their bit for charity the other week. As part of BBC's Children In Need, Barclays offered to give £100 for every cliche used by a sports presenter or personality. Martin and John got together to produce the narrative below and with Martin throwing in a few more for good measure, it cost Barclays a tidy £1,000!!
Martin said: "It was a game of two halves against Arsenal and, at the end of the day, we were disappointed not to get back on level terms. We would have been over the moon at the end had we managed to hit the back of the net just one more time. I wasn't really as sick as a parrot at the final whistle because it's early doors as yet and it's a funny old game. We did well in the first half when it was one way traffic and they had 10 men behind the ball. Defoe scored a great goal for us - the boy's a bit special."
A BBC spokeswoman said: "Martin was everybody's favourite at the BBC and Children In Need and Spurs everyone's favourite club. It was hilarious and so good of him to do it."
MEANWHILE, congratulations to John - it is 20 years to the day that he first joined the club after a distinguished 'early doors' career in the regional and national press.
CLIVE ALLEN has revealed the secret behind his reserve team's magnificent recent run in the Barclays Premier Reserve League. The lads had put together a winning sequence of six in a run of eight wins in nine games to take them to the top of the Southern Division before Fulham grabbed a 1-1 draw at Stevenage on Monday night. So it's now one defeat in 10 and seven unbeaten and Clive explained: "They are under pressure now because as soon as they lose I get the choice of films on the bus and the music in the dressing room." Scoop isn't sure of Clive's music of choice, but as a 20-something in the 1980s, could a Phil Collins CD be tucked at the back of his kitbag? We'll keep you posted.
THE FA YOUTH Cup is looming and midfielder Stuart Lewis was holding court outside the Academy changing room the other week telling Scoop and a couple of assembled teammates exactly what team Pat Holland should be sending out to play Nottingham Forest at the Lane - and in what formation too! As Stuart was reeling off the names and positions, little did he know that Academy coach Jimmy Neighbour was creeping up behind him. He stuck to his guns and completed his line-up before Scoop enquired of Jimmy whether the team was a winner. "These kids," sighed Jimmy. "They haven't got a clue..."
LEDLEY KING is a well-known lover of his kip - King of the Kip, you could say. Now Ledley admits that the arrival of little Cobi King into the world is not doing his sleeping pattern of whole lot of good and he sounded just like a young mother when he revealed that when the baby sleeps, he too puts his head down. The problem with this, Ledley went on to explain, is that the baby often awakens five minutes later. "Five minutes is no good for me," protested Leds. "More like five hours!"
THERE WAS AN eagerness about Erik Edman as he dashed away from the training ground on Thursday - and he was not rushing home to bed. The Swedish full-back was off to Ikea, although not to do a spot of furntiture shopping for his new pad. Scoop discovered the Erik was heading to the food section of the Swedish superstore to stock up on a few treats from his homeland for Christmas.


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Tuesday, November 9, 2010
I am trying to start this thing up. It will for-sure be up within the next month, but I am finding it increasingly difficult to get it started without home internet. Hold tight, though! I will get it rolling, and hopefully have some recipes, photos of my very first interior design project, and maybe even a give-away within the next 2 months!
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Unique in perspective, this book summarizes the achievements, problems, and prospects for theory in the field of international politicsawith a focus on the theoretical and epistemological issues that divide the major theorists. It summarizes major theoretical approaches starting in the Middle Ages, places them in theoretical traditions, and suggests how theory evolves over time. It ends on a cautious noteapraising the growing interest in the subjective dimension of the field while criticizing the wholesale rejection of empiricism by postmodernists, public choice theorists, and others. Paradigms and Theoretical Growth in Global Politics. Values and Paradigm Change in Global Politics. Changing Norms and Theory: The Middle Ages to Machiavelli. The Vicissitudes of Norms and Theory: Realism and Idealism. The State as an Obstacle to Understanding Global Politics. The Uncertain Bounds of Bounded Rationality. Quo Vadis Foreign Policy? The Challenge of Anarchy and the Search for Order. The End of the Elusive Quest? The Quest Continues. For anyone interested in international politics.aquot;Constructivism: A Usera#39;s Manual.aquot; In Vendulka Kubalkova, Nicholas Onuf, and Paul Kowert, eds., International Relations in a Constructed World, 58-78. Armonk, NY: M. E. Sharpe, 1998. Oren, Nissan. When Patterns Change: Turning Points in anbsp;...
|The Elusive Quest Continues
|Yale H. Ferguson, Richard W. Mansbach
|Pearson College Division - 2003
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Investigators Monday released a sketch of a man suspected in the killing of Jeffrey Carpenter at Sun Key apartments in east Orange County.
Two men approached Carpenter, 31, and his girlfriend as they waiting for a friend at the apartment complex off Goldenrod Road Friday about 11:30 p.m., and one shot him, the Sheriff's Office said.
The sketch, created based on the description of the girlfriend, is not of the gunman, deputies said.
Investigators say they don't know why Carpenter was shot.
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RESEARCHING MYTHOLOGYYour essay should not be a "report" of what the supposed experts have to say: that's why theyąre called secondary sources. Yours is the new voice here and the one we want to listen to. The purpose of secondary sources in your writing is to authenticate your interpretation of the literary piece within the context of a sort of ongoing discussion about the work by other (consider them lesser) interpreters.
To track down scholarly publications related to your humanities topic or literary work, you need a valuable search tool. At Washington State University's library, the Griffin system will get you to books about the work or author, but in many cases, these sources may be too sprawling to help with your focused topic. Finding articles published in scholarly journals should also be your goal. Therefore you want to enter Article Indexes.
Next you need an appropriate index for humanities or literary studies. The overused ProQuest works better for social "issues," not literature. A general index, such as Arts and Humanities Index, may help, but covers so much in breadth that one wonders what is being left out in depth. (You should, by the way, be acquainted with the general and specialized indexes for your major fields of study -- which, I daresay, probably do not include English.)
Best for literary research is the MLA International Bibliography which is available online and, reliably and I sometimes think more logically, in print form in the Reference Room with call number Z 7006 M64. (For the latter, with the Author Index volume of each year, you can find what has been published regarding your own selected author by turning to the proper nationality first, then time period, and then scanning alphabetically by last name.)
If using the online version, realize that your author or work should be treated as the "keyword." (I could not understand why nothing on the playwright Euripides was showing up until I realized that the index considers "author" to mean the person writing the article on Euripides, who, being dead and all, hasnąt been publishing much of a scholarly nature lately.)
You may be able to print or e-mail yourself the relevant sources that show up. In any case, you desperately need the bibliographical information to find the articles and document them later: journal name, volume and issue, pages. If using the hardcopy bibliography, you may need to check journal abbreviations at the beginning of the MLA volume.
Then treat the journal title like you would a book title to see if our library carries the subscription: that is, go back to Griffin for call numbers. Head off to microfilm or the stacks and test your map skills. Don't you impress yourself with your own scholarliness?


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Mrs. Claus Tea
A cranberry/cucumber syrup subtly mellows the stonger orange, tea and spice flavors in this this hot toddy, making it a perfect warmup on a crisp winter day.
1 oz. Citadelle gin
1/2 oz. Mathilde Orange X.O.
1/4 oz. Cranberry/Cucumber syrup
6 oz. orance spice tea (e.g. Constant Comment)
Cranberry/Cucumber syrup:
1 med. cucumber
6 oz. fresh cranberries
1q. simple syrup
Cranberry/Cucumber syrup:
- Muddle cucumber with cranberries.
- Add the hot simple syrup and allow the mixture to cool to infuse the flavors.
Mrs. Claus Tea
- Combine gin, orange liqueur and cranberry/cucumber syrup in a 10 oz. mug.
- Add fresh brewed hot tea.
- Garnish with cinnamon stick and serve.


text: Carie McKenzie Dobson 04.09.2013 Knowing "Why" When It Comes to Custom Application Software #SoftwareDevelopment As a custom application software developer, I'm often knee-deep in requirements and working out the how. That's what we do, and we are good at it. It is our job after all, to build custom software solutions that improve business processes. Many times however it's helpful to not only understand what a client wants, but why, as it gives us clarity and helps iron out some of the nuances in custom application software design and architecture. And sometimes, it even saves our client money. I have two young children, and "why" is one of their favorite words. I think my 3 year old asks me "why" at least a dozen times a day. We all did it as kids. As we get older though, we tend to stop asking that question so much (perhaps because of our parents' begging). It is mildly irritating to have to explain everything, but I have to admit, it does force me to think, particularly when each answer gets drilled down with yet another inquisition. Many times I hit a dead-end and shell out the old standby, "because that's how it is." That's fine if we're making spaghetti, not so fine if we're building custom application software architecture to support your business. When working with our clients, we often hear needs and wants, feature lists and functionality requirements. It's human nature to go with what you know, and improve upon that. So it makes sense that we'll begin our custom application software design process based on the current method of operation. However, in stepping back and asking you "why," we just might uncover some new information that can get you to your goal even faster or put you in a better position in the future, perhaps eliminating some steps that were necessary before, but are no longer necessary. What seemed like the perfect plan might be overkill – or insufficient. Working together with the understanding of what's fueling your need, your passion, and your mission, we can all get a little more clarity on your objectives and do more than deliver good code; we'll provide a custom application software solution that takes your business to the next level.


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Palo Alto California Wedding Frequently Asked Questions
Q-1.Are there discounted room rates if my friends and family want to stay at the Hotel?Answer: We are happy to offer a discounted room rate for you and your wedding guests in attendance.
Q-2. Do I need to get a wedding planner?Answer: We do have a professional wedding coordinator on site that can guide you through the event planning process from start to finish. If you wish to also have an additional day of planner, we are happy to partner with them to further ensure your wedding day is seamless.
Q-3. Can I use my own vendors?Answer: Yes, you can, however we recommend that you consider the professionals on our Preferred Vendors List as we know them to offer quality, value and great customer service.
Q-4. How many hours can my event last?Answer: Ceremony and reception are given six hours of event time and reception is given five hours. We want to make sure you have plenty of time to include all the traditions that are an important part of your celebration. Should you wish to extend past the standard time, fees may apply.
Q-5. How early can my vendors arrive and start setting up?Answer: We will guarantee 2 hours of set up time for your vendors to prepare in advance for your event.
Q-6. Is there plenty of parking for my guests?Answer: We have a large Hotel parking lot to accommodate up to 300 spots, there is also some street parking nearby and we also have a Valet parking company that we can recommend as well.
Q-7. Is there a shuttle for my guests to get back and forth to my ceremony site if I get married somewhere else?Answer: There are outside vendors that we are happy to recommend for Shuttle service.
Q-8. Do I need insurance?
Answer: We don't require you to have insurance to have an event here however we do recommend that all of your vendors be licensed and insured. If you would like information on personal wedding insurance we can recommend a company to you.