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Security Awareness
Internet Scams
Be alert to common internet scams.
Phishing is an internet scam that involves an email which appears to be from a legitimate company, bank, or government agency. The emails typically warn of a potential problem with your account and request that you follow a link and provide personal or account information to update your information. You should NEVER reply to these emails, open any attachments, or follow any of the links provided.
Pharming is a type of fraud that involves redirection from a legitimate site to a site that appears to be legitimate but has been created by fraudsters in an attempt to gain your personal or account information. Always be sure to access our internet banking by typing in the URL, https://www.firstharvey.com/ into your browser.
Email Security
Email has become a quick and easy way in which to communicate with others, however, email is NOT SECURE. Never include personal or account information in an email as it can be intercepted and read by anyone having access to the servers on which it resides. Emails are like sending a postcard through the US Mail system.
First State Bank of Harvey will never ask you to provide any personal or account information via email. Remember, the bank has your account information so there would never be a need to request it from you or ask you to update it.
Login ID and Password
Your login ID and password for your online banking should be protected just as you protect other personal confidential information.
- Do not write down your login ID or password.
- Do not use the same password for your online banking that you use for other websites.
- Use a complex password that is not easily guessed. Do not include full names or information that is publicly available on public sites such as Facebook.
- Do not share your password with anyone.
- Change your password on a regular basis. The system automatically prompts you to change it every 6 months. You may change it more often by clicking on the "Options" button once logged into the site.
- Avoid storing or saving your password in software or applications.
- Be certain you are only entering your login credentials on our website, http://www.firstharvey.com/.
PC Security
It is important to use and maintain up to date anti-virus software and install updates as they become available for your operating system. Ensure you also regularly patch Java and Adobe products. These items are frequently updated because of vulnerabilities that have been found to exist within the software.
In addition to being protected by using up-to-date anti-virus software, you should also regularly use software to remove any potential spyware from your computer. In some circumstances, this can compromise your PC security. Current anti-virus software does not catch 100% of every virus.
Use a firewall. This can protect against potential hackers and prevent access to questionable connections.
Internet Security
Password protect your wireless internet connection. Be vigilant if you use public wireless internet access as hackers and identity thieves have the ability to monitor these types of unsecured networks.
When undertaking any banking on the internet, check that the session is secure. There are two indicators that will tell you if the session is secure. One is the presence of https:// in the URL. The other is the presence of a digital certificate represented by a padlock or key in the bottom right hand corner or to the right of the URL text box at the top of the screen. If you double click on this icon it should provide you with information about the organization with which you have entered into a secured session.

subset: commoncrawl


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Ceiling Lights
Outdoor Lights
Welcome to Danlar Lighting
Danlar Lighting is a name that builders, designers and homeowners have trusted for nearly two decades. Our lighting showroom has received national acclaim and our staff of designers and lighting experts has over 65 years of combined experience in the industry.
Our goal is to offer the same level of personalized assistance our showroom customers receive when they visit us locally. Contact us at 1-800-462-5288 (or Live Chat at the top of the page) and discover why Danlar Lighting has quickly grown to become one of the largest and most reliable Progress Lighting distributors in the nation.


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|0.4375 lbs
written by HH Danavir Goswami and other IKSCON authors
Includes a tribute to the late disciples of Çréla Prabhupäda, His Grace Gopéparäëadhana Prabhu and Yamunä devé däsé. Also includes a tribute to Purnacandra Goswami, "Milk Comments" by HH Danavir Goswami. and a special recipe section by HG Yamunä devé däsé. (125 pages, 5.5 x 8.5 in, softbound)
|0.4375 lbs
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The following is part of Pivotal Events that was published for our subscribers Thursday March 25, 2010.
Bonfire Of The Inanities
The following quotations were used in our October 23, 2008 edition that was looking for that phase of the crash to complete in November. It is a record of a remarkable difference between actual markets and theories about markets. The reason such a difference exists is because those who have confected interventionist theories have had little knowledge of market history. Indeed, in the 1970s Hayek stated that he was astounded by Keynes' "ignorance of economic theory and market history".
Our own view has been that anyone who thinks that the economy can be managed through always wise manipulations of interest rates has to be ignorant of market history and market forces.
Well the financial and business rebound out of the first post-bubble crash has run for some six months longer that we expected, but the important item is to understand that the "good times" are just a rebound. It is also worth understanding that the "good times" are fully discounted by the markets, which for centuries have been implacable to interventionist ambition.
The following quotes and notes outline one of the greatest intellectual failures in history. The interventionist community is again celebrating Keynes's genius in "preventing Depression 2.0", as Krugman phrased it.
"No One Wants to Burst Greenspan's Bubble"
"Those close to Mr. Bernanke believe he can handle any worrisome economic conditions given his academic pedigree. He scored 1590 out of a maximum of 1600 on his SATs, has an economic degree from Harvard, and a doctorate from MIT. He has taught at Princeton for 17 years."
- That was from the February 1, 2006 edition of the Financial Post, which included a comment from Robert Frank who wrote a textbook with Dr. Bernanke:
"I'll bet on Ben's ability to see what is coming around the next corner over just about anybody else."
Some perspective on power and monetary madness is provided in an observation made by Mayer Rothschild in 1836:
"Give me control of a nation's money, and I care not who makes the laws."
In 2002 there was an event to honor Milton Friedman, and Bernanke's address included:
"I would like to say to Milton and Rose: Regarding the Great Depression you're right, we [the Fed] did it [caused the depression]. We're very sorry. But thanks to you [Friedman] we won't do it again."
In so many words, Bernanke claimed that the Fed had learned its lessons. The problem is that those (including Friedman) who have claimed that the post-1929 contraction was caused by a policy blunder have been wrong.
With adequate research anyone would conclude that great contractions are caused by great financial manias.
In the summer of 2006 there was a droll review of corporate ambition. It might have been titled "Bonfire of the Inanities":
"Corporate executives are increasingly turning to debt for the cash they need to feed stock investors with share repurchases, dividends and empire building."
- Wall Street Journal, July 11, 2006
Even as late as last December 2007 academic boasting continued:
"How to Avoid Recession? Let the Fed Work"
"The truth is that Fed governors, together with their crack staff of Ph.D economists and market analysts, are as close to an economic dream team as we are ever likely to see."
- Gregory Mankiw, Harvard economist and textbook author,
New York Times, December 23, 2007
* * * * *
Signs Of The Times
This Year:
"The fact that the world hasn't slid into another Great Depression is because governments bailed out financial institutions and allowed their budget deficits to grow."
- Bloomberg, March 24, 2010
The quote was by Robert Skidelsky, who has written a three-volume biography on Keynes.
Obviously, Neo-Keynesians have been jumping to delusions again. One can't help but wonder if their assumptions now will be as reliable as they were in the last eruption of establishment confidence.
Ignorance or understanding of money is nothing new. In 1526, Copernicus, in his Monetae cudendae ratio (On the Minting of Coin) observed "An excessive quantity of money should be avoided."
"ObamaCare will eventually 'control the people'."
- Representative John Dingell (D. Michigan),
Breitbart, March 23, 2010
As the bill works its way through the Senate, one of the Republican amendments will include the requirement that all federal politicians will have to suffer the same health care as all Americans.
The nationalization of health care will dislocate much of the economy and is another excuse for runaway deficits. So much so that US Treasury debt will be downgraded.
* * * * *.
Last week we asked the question "Are we there yet?", and answered "Almost".
Part of that conclusion was in how we got to here, which was in our February 4th edition: "It is worth looking for some positives". These included a rebound in crude oil and base metal prices that could run through March.
This has worked out on timing as well as in enthusiasm for stocks, corporate bonds and commodities. And last week, this was matched by pessimism in the US dollar and the drop in the gold/silver ratio. Some of the items with the rally, such as the latter, accomplished enough momentum to end the move. As noted, the declining gold/silver ratio was "so essential to the stock market rally".
Yesterday was an important day in all markets. The financial world is discovering the hazards of unlimited government as administered by the White House and Congress, with very little of the traditional checks and balances. The mainstream media have applauded the ambition of Obama and did not criticize the budgetary nonsense that was fabricated to get ObamaCare through. It was a politically brutal weekend and the spinmeisters claimed it was a "win" for the Democrats and a "loss" for the Republicans.
Eventually, this loss of free markets and political freedom will be seen as an immense loss for global prosperity. The loss of prosperity would accompany the long post-bubble contraction anyway. The radical administration will accelerate the usual pace.
Keep in mind that radicals don't want to have a better economy. They want to wipe out middle class prosperity and the independence of the bourgeoisie that has always been resistant to the ferocious beliefs of radicals.
It is going to be interesting and the next big push will be the nonsense of man-caused global warming. Not because the climate can be altered, intentionally or unintentionally. But because "climate change" is a rallying cry for an inordinate increase in taxation and regulation.
Consider that even with majorities in the two legislative houses, the health bill could not be passed without brutal measures. It is also extraordinary that Democrats would go against opinion polls for so long. It is no longer government by consent but by corrupt Chicago power politics.
Popular resistance to this is growing and will become even more motivated. But as welcome as less government will be, the struggle will be a political battleground that won't be friendly to the financial markets. This on top of an administration that is hostile to business and the constitution makes notions about traditional investing rather hazardous.
In today's world, the "flight to quality" can take some interesting twists. Traditionally, a real flight to quality is to the most liquid items, which have been short-dated bills in the senior currency. Traditionally, the senior currency was convertible into gold. In the continuing world of experimental policymaking the main currency is no longer convertible so the "flight" has been to US bills and gold. This is less efficient as it offers two possible transactions. Tradition was more efficient as safety and liquidity required only one transaction.
The reckless experiment by financial adventurers in policy may be coming to a justifiable end. In the meantime we might just as well enjoy some of the absurdities.
The last wrong-way "flight" occurred in late 2008 as that part of the crash culminated. The street bought the long bond and drove the price from 112 to 142 in only five weeks. Fundamentally and technically the ChartWorks identified the significance of the top as well as the opportunity.
The bond plunged to 112, which must have been disappointing to "flighters".
This week the bond market stepped into the twilight zone.
First of all is the discovery that the drive to unlimited government will prompt unlimited demand for funds. The health-care bill has ended complacency in long treasuries and two-points down yesterday with follow through today could be marking the return of the Bond Vigilante.
Wednesday's jump in yield for the thirty-year from 4.60% to 4.72% is noteworthy, particularly with the drop in yield for junk from 11.80% to 11.75%. Now, junk can decline in yield as the stock market goes up and treasury yields increase. But, with the stock market down yesterday's action suggests that junk could be the new "flight to quality".
This may not last long as Washington's mania for unlimited government will not only be accompanied by unlimited demands upon the treasury market, there will be unlimited demands upon corporate and individual taxpayers. The economic recovery could be rolling over now; unlimited government demands will accelerate the decline in business.
Obama's implementation of the New Deal, or Fascism, or whatever you want to call it should be compared to President Roosevelt's efforts in the last post-bubble contraction. Roosevelt also found that the constitution seriously hampered his personal ambition and packed the Supreme Court with statist judges. It took a few years but Obama's ambition is not accompanied by such patience, as from day one he had packed the White House with radical advisors and political operators.
Fortunately, residual American regard for the constitution and the freedom it represents has inspired the independent Tea Party movement that has been gaining influence. By the November elections this will be a formidable force.
Then, if this really is the justifiable charge by the Bond Vigilantes the bond market could deny the Democratic Machine the life-blood of other people's money. Then the Tea Party will deny them electoral advantage in November.
We have been considering that when this rally in stocks, commodities and corporate bonds tops out around late spring it could lead to another great post-bubble bond revulsion.
So far, junk has declined in yield from 13.23% in early February to 11.75% for a very good return. The low yield was set at 11.85% in January and we have been considering the action as a big test. That junk has become the "flight" target may not last too long and on any price decline the "carry" will have to be unwound.
With Portugal's downgrade sovereign debt took another deserved hit, which emphasizes the overall risk. In 2007 the sub-prime mortgage bond market failed, but was considered as "isolated", or could be "contained" by government policy. The next step was the massive failure in the corporate bond market from 2008 until March 2009. Now it is the failure in sovereign markets.
It should be emphasized that the action since March a year ago has been a huge rebound and the momentum reached is now cautionary.
This also applies to most commodities and as they roll over it will indicate a decline in pricing power of most business and commensurate decline in earnings. Bond rating agencies will follow with downgrades.
Unlimited demands by an unlimited federal government are even more of a threat.
Link to March 26, 2010 'Bob and Phil Show' on Howestreet.com: http://www.howestreet.com/index.php?pl=/goldradio/index.php/mediaplayer/1596
Maxine on the health care bill:
Let me get this straight. We're going to be gifted with a health care plan written by a committee whose chairman says he doesn't understand it, passed by a Congress that hasn't read it but exempts themselves from it, to be signed by a president who also hasn't read it and who smokes, with funding administered by a treasury chief who didn't pay his taxes, to be overseen by a surgeon general who is obese, and financed by a country that's broke.
What the hell could possibly go wrong?
The following points are outrageous:
Total household debt outstanding shrank by an annualized 1.2% in the fourth quarter, as total business debt outstanding declined at a 3.1% annualized clip.
Combined, total household and business debt outstanding dropped to $24.535 trillion reflecting an annualized decline in the fourth quarter of 2.1%.
State and local government debt outstanding grew by an annualized 4.7% in the fourth quarter, while federal government debt outstanding increased at an annualized rate of 12.6%.
Combined, state, local, and federal government debt outstanding soared to a record-breaking $10.168 trillion reflecting an annualized increase in the fourth quarter of 10.7%.


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In reading back through her blog, it was interesting to note the ways Rachael's art has evolved. She studied creative photography in college and for the past several years has been using recycled materials and found objects to create collages and altered books.
Paper cutting has been her focus this winter. A love of nature finds its way into her work, as she often cuts waves and leaves.The shadows cast by these sculptures add another layer of interest.
Rachel doesn't draw a design first, but instead cuts a repetitive shape freehand, obviously with much control. This pyramid is separate paper cuttings adhered to one another, unlike the box-shaped sculptures that are one piece.
While the word Art is not 3D, Rachael created it after visiting paper artist Elsa Mora's new site Art is a Way. She shares how she went about cutting the design here.
Typography is not an area of interest for Rachael normally, but she enjoyed combining it with paper cutting. Her perfectly cut crescents result in lovely letters and I hope she'll continue.
Visit Rachael's Etsy shop to see her collage work and follow her enjoyable blog that she updates regularly with new work, gallery exhibits, and commissioned designs.


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Those of you who know me may want to be sure you're sitting down when you read this entry.
I made fettucini alfredo tonight. Me. I cooked the whole thing. I made the sauce from SCRATCH!! It was delicious! Last week I did ribs in the crockpot and they came out awesome! I had to scoop them out with a big spoon because they were so tender they slid right off the bone when I tried to pick them up. Just call me Chef-girl-ardee :)


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Do your kids (& you) LOVE Peeps? Me too! Instead of just sticking the packs in their Easter baskets this year, make them pretty with lollipop sticks or skewers & cellophane bags... how cute would these be peeking out of your baskets?
Or check out Martha's tutorial on how to fold your Easter dinner napkins into bunny ears... because you know you'll totally have time to do this with a bunch of people coming over & your toddler &/or baby screaming :)
Did you make a bunny ears headband when you were in elementary school? Help your littles make their own for the Easter egg hunt... click here for the tutorial for the one pictured below or here's a printable version:
Click here, here or here to print out some free coloring & activity pages to keep the kiddos busy & help remind them of the true meaning of Easter...
And finally, check out this super-cute free printable banner... the perfect finishing touch for your mantel, doorway or Easter dinner table!


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What is the best 529 plan for me? (Script)
What is the best 529 plan for me?
Watch video
The best 529 plan is the one that provides the greatest return on your invested dollars by the time you need the money to pay for college and gives you the fewest hassles or unpleasant surprises along the way. The problem is that it is impossible to know your investment return in advance or to anticipate surprises. But you can improve the odds a selecting a 529 plan that will provide a good return and deliver few surprises by doing some homework up front. For example, find out if your state provides you with a state income tax deduction that you don't get by using an out-of-state return. The extra return afforded by the tax break is 100% guaranteed. But also realize that the deduction might not outweigh the impact of high fees or below-average investment options. So what do I mean by hassles and surprises? Well, some 529 plans are less flexible than others. If you look to transfer account ownership in the future, you may be surprised to find out that your 529 plans does not permit account owner changes. If you wish to roll over your account to another 529 plan in the future, you may discover that your 529 plan will not transact a direct trustee to trustee transfer. There are many other examples found among different 529 plans. For many people, these restrictions are not important because they will never seek to transfer ownership, or roll over their account, or do whatever else is being restricted. The bottom line is that the best 529 plan for one family is not best for everyone. Use the tools available at savingforcollege.com, including the quarterly 529 performance rankings, the 529 fee study, and the plan comparison tool to help you in your research.
Find the best 529 plan for you.
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It seems to me like the days are getting hotter and hotter - Summer must finally be with us!!
Not only are we being treated to some glorious weather at the moment here in the UK, but the likes of Hotel Chocolat are us treating us to their summer ranges. Over the past few months I have brought you all several reviews of their summer offerings - including their fantastic Eton Mess and Banoffee Slabs (See HERE). After those initial reviews, several of you asked me if I could take a look Hotel Chocolat's Marbles range, and my contacts obliged by quickly sending some along. See Hotel Chocolat's site HERE
Both these Marbles varieties came in 140.0g servings bags which I would say included around 20-30 pieces within each. Whenever there are Hotel Chocolat products around, the rest of my family seem to never be far away - you can expect some of their opinions in my write ups below :D
Hotel Chocolat Blueberry & Apple Marbles
'Blueberry chocolate and apple flavoured white chocolate balls'
These looked the more visually striking out the two and looked wonderful with half light and half dark coloured layers. Their fruity sweet scents were a little less to my liking compared to the Caramel & Praline marbles, though they still provided good insight in to the taste that followed. Speaking of the taste, these marbles started off very cream rotted with a smooth milky set of flavours. As the nicely sized ball melted softly in the mouth, the red berry elements came through with increasing strength, fast establishing a fresh and fruity flavour base. My only slight disappointment with these was that the apple element didn't come to the party. When I fed these to my other family members in a blind taste test none of them managed to pick the apple flavours out. Despite this they were still very much enjoyed by all that tried them - Hotel Chocolat sure do make some fantastic white chocolate.
8.4 out of 10
Hotel Chocolat Salted Caramel & Praline
'Salted caramel chocolate and milk chocolate praline balls'
The packet of these lasted a matter of minutes once opened - we loved them! Formed half of 40% house milk chocolate and half caramel chocolate it wasn't like they were ever not going to go down well was it!? Although these weren't as interesting aesthetically, the aromas of cocoa and toffee that emanated from the packet were simply divine. Upon placing the first piece in my mouth I was instantly impressed by the instant cocoa and cream flavours that came to the fore. As these flavours developed the taste took several turns with notes of caramel, hazelnut and butter all taking the opportunity to make an impression. The melt of the lighter coloured chocolate was noticeably faster than that of the darker side, the latter of which left a deliciously moreish salt lick in the mouth with each finish. These were insanely tasty, but not the richest of chocolates ever - a very dangerous combination.
8.5 out of 10
Overall these aren't the most innovative of products that Hotel Chocolat have come up with recently but they were both still very tasty. In terms of taste my preference would fall with the Salted Caramel & Praline, however I would happily concede that the Blueberry & Apple are slightly more suitable for the summer season as they are a tad more refreshing. One slight issue that I had with the Blueberry & Apple Marbles was the fact that the apple element was somewhat missing from the taste. Looking at the at the back of the packaging this seems to be somewhat explained by the lack of apple listed in the ingredients list!? I wonder if they just forgot :D Regardless, both of these are worth a look at if you fancy buying some summer themed chocolates. If you have tried them be sure to let me know what you think.


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Professional Liability Offerings:
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Life & Health Offerings:
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We know you'll be pleased with the personal service and dedicated professionals you'll find at the Medical Society of Virginia's Insurance Agency.
Call us at 877-226-9357 or email us today.


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The media were up in arms last week, as the story broke that 27 year old Emily Slough had dared to breastfeed her eight month old daughter Matilda in a public place in the middle of Rugeley, Staffordshire.
Not that this would normally have made the national news – on this occasion it became a huge story as an unnamed member of the public was quick enough to take an unsolicited picture of Emily and her daughter from across the street, then thoughtfully posted it on a Facebook page, accused Ms Slough of 'letting your kid feast on your nipple', and labelled her a 'tramp'.
Cue the predictable social media storm which inevitably follows any stupid thing anyone does online these days. Within a few short days, mass protests were taking place around the country as mums publicly breastfed their babies in force to support the rights of breastfeeding mothers everywhere – the right to feed their baby anywhere without prejudice, ridicule or humiliation.
This shouldn't still be necessary. But even in these relatively relaxed times where most public establishments would state that they are happy to allow breastfeeding on their premises, there is still the feeling that some would really prefer you to do it elsewhere, lest you send the other customers running in horror from the small person having lunch. Organisations may be more accepting of the practice, but there are still plenty of individuals who feel inexplicably queasy at the whole idea of nature's nutrition, and would rather you feed your baby in the toilets, or just never leave the house, so that they don't have to see your depraved act for themselves. The attitude of our Facebook-posting friend will not be an isolated one.
When it comes to breastfeeding, which seems to be constantly shrouded in a cloud of controversy anyway, mums are damned if they do, and damned if they don't.
Women are told from the second their pregnancy test shows positive that breast is best, and that breast milk alone is all that your baby could possibly want and need. Filled with the perfect combination of nutrients and packed with immunity-building antibodies, any other option would be akin to feeding your newborn with a bottle of Coca-Cola. Who would possibly consider a synthetic, man-made alternative?
Well, I would, actually. Because it should be my choice. And a lot of women don't actually feel like they have one.
Breastfeeding is a wonderful ideal, but not something all women find easy or appealing – a viewpoint that breastfeeding advocates find difficult to understand. If breastfeeding was that simple, there would be no need for community peer support groups, or infant feeding coordinators, or specialist hospital nursery nurses to help new mums get the hang of this apparently most natural of practices.
Midwives and maternity services do their utmost to promote breastfeeding as the best and healthiest option for babies, and they rightly should as there are undeniable benefits to it, particularly very early on, but this should be done sensitively in such a way as to provide alternative options to women and allow them to make a personal choice they are happy with, and more importantly, not to punish themselves if they find breastfeeding too hard. An unsatisfied baby and a stressed out, worried mummy do not make for a good combination.
It breaks my heart when I read stories and comments from mums who feel they have somehow failed their baby by not succeeding at breastfeeding; that they have not been able to provide the best for them; that they are being negatively judged by breastfeeding mums for relying on formula instead of what nature intended. However bad breastfeeding women have been made to feel by not being accepted in a public place, or by the odd disapproving look of an onlooker, imagine how it feels for those mums pulling a bottle filled with formula out of the changing bag – somehow appearing more acceptable to passers-by, but being maligned and judged by their peers, and racked with guilt that they have gone against the advice of their maternity care providers in not giving their baby the best they could.
I tried to breastfeed; I intended to – but I just couldn't make it work. With a new baby born at 37 weeks, and only a few grams over the threshold for low birthweight thanks to the growth restricting effects of pre-eclampsia, I was feeding my son on a hospital postnatal ward for four days after he was born. Like clockwork, every three hours, day and night, I was woken by the nursery nurse who would help me get him attached, and would leave him to have his fill. He was also supplemented with ready-made formula after every feed to ensure he was getting enough nutrition as he was so small.
I was given an electric breast pump on the ward to try and encourage my milk flow, but I found it difficult to use, noisy and hugely uncomfortable. I was worn out after a traumatic delivery and sore enough already without feeling like a cow attached to a milking machine. I couldn't use it.
Once at home, I persisted with breastfeeding but Joe just never seemed satisfied with it. His weight had dropped and we had a real concern he wasn't feeding enough. He would suckle contentedly but would cry with hunger just a short time later and we were convinced something was wrong. Almost in desperation, we gave him a little bottle of the formula he had been given in the hospital that we had brought home with us. He drained it dry and slept like the proverbial baby.
From that moment on, he was formula-fed; I continued to put him to the breast every day up to about six months of age, but it was for comfort more than anything else, both his and mine. I loved the closeness it brought, it eased some of the guilt, but knew I wasn't giving him much. He needed his bottles. And in the face of everything we are told about the pitfalls of formula, he thrived. He put on weight steadily and at three and a half is now a healthy height and weight, and is an intelligent and lively boy who is rarely ill. Not bad considering I couldn't give him 'the best'.
The very formula brand that satisfied my son so well has to advertise its own product on TV with the disclaimer that 'breast milk is the best food for your baby, and nothing compares to it'. No other type of product has to tell its potential customers that they are the second best option available. But this is how formula feeding mums are made to feel. Letting the side down. Settling for the mediocre. Not concerned with the wellbeing of their child. This is neither fair nor right.
From a purely scientific perspective, the huge amount of sometimes questionable research into breastfeeding available on the Internet cannot conclusively prove all of the lauded benefits and there are a couple of interesting articles here and here among others that cast doubt on whether some of the claimed good effects can be attributed to breastfeeding alone.
Ultimately mums are damned by the moronic individuals in society who think breastfeeding is something which should be conducted behind closed doors and damned by the judgmental attitudes of those who think formula feeding is something to be ashamed of. Is the latter viewpoint really much better than the first? Being holier than thou about infant feeding is in my opinion just as bad as being ignorant about it.
It is not up to me how other women choose to feed their baby, or indeed how they have to. It is none of my concern. No mum should feel guilty, or judged, or have to put up with the disapproving stares of others, regardless of whether her baby has a nipple or a bottle in its mouth. Mums need support and acceptance as they find their way with their little one – and if members of wider society won't provide this, we need to help each other, not turn on each other.
At the end of the day, love, not milk, is the most important nutrient of all.


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The left's all-out, concerted attack on the right, accusing conservatives of perpetrating a "war on women," was obviously calculated to target potential – and now certain – Republican nominee Mitt Romney. And the campaign has been wildly successful. According to the most recent ABC News/Washington Post poll, Obama leads Romney by a margin of 57-38 percent among registered female voters; Romney holds a 52-44 lead among men. Overall, Obama leads Romney by a margin of 51 to 44 percent.
Obama didn't do well on many issues in the poll, but he bested Romney by 19 points on "women's issues" – presumably abortion and birth control.
The "war on women" narrative got off the ground with George Stephanopolous' odd January 7, 2012 question in the Republican debate, in which he asked the candidates about whether there was a constitutional right to contraception. There was no reason for that question to be part of the debate – contraception has been legal in all 50 states since 1965. But it led off a concerted assault by the left on the right over this issue, culminating in the left's attacks on Rush Limbaugh for his comments about stealth leftist advocate Sandra Fluke. Now, every conservative who comments on anything any woman does is slammed for participating in this supposed "war on women."
The media has been complicit in this assault, parroting the Obama administration, which says the same thing. The talking points are distributed via groups like Media Matters, which leads secondary boycotts on advertisers on conservative outlets. And after weeks of this same pounding, women have gotten the message.
Obama has known for months that he was outpolled significantly by Romney among men. He had to get his favorables up among women quickly to outpace Romney's lead. And he found the easiest way possible: he slandered his opponents. Some of those opponents – Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich in particular – made that slander stickier. But the effects of the "war on women" narrative may fade with time – Romney is certainly the least alienating candidate for moderate to liberal women in the Republican field. As we move into the general election, the "war on women" meme may have significantly less traction than it has during the Republican primaries.


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Calera, AL Rental Homes and Apartments for Rent
Search rentals in Calera, AL. At RentalGuide.net, we have comprehensive rental listings to help you find Calera apartments for rent. You can also find rental houses and condos. Click on a listing to view details, or refine your search for Calera apartments to search by price, beds and other criteria.


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3-Year and 5-Year Sporting Licenses Proposed in Executive Budget
Conservation Fund Advisory Board Correspondence
The following is a web version of a Conservation Fund Advisory Board correspondence letter. A printable PDF Version (51KB) is also available to view.
March 6, 2014
Basil Seggos
Deputy Secretary for the Environment
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224
RE: Executive Budget
Dear Mr. Seggos:
The Conservation Fund Advisory Board (CFAB) recently had their monthly meeting and voiced support for the Executive Budget Environmental Package. This package included improved access, hatchery work, crossbow implementation, lowering distance limits for archery and crossbow and a proposal for additional sporting license options and lower fees for those licenses.
After acquiring more information and reviewing the aspects of the proposed 3 year and 5 year licenses and privileges for residents and non-residents the Conservation Fund Advisory Board would like to express its concerns with this part of the Executive Package. In January the licensing system was changed over to e-Licensing. On February 1st a changeover to a new sporting license option and fee structure was implemented. This license and fee structure was approved in the 2013 -2014 budget for implementation in February 2014. The changeover has had problems causing frustration with many issuing agents. DEC and Accela have been working very hard to address the issues agents are having with the e-Licensing system but there are a number of issues that still exist. We have lost numerous issuing agents for a variety of reasons in recent months.
The concerns the CFAB has with the 3 year and 5 year licenses are:
- The reason for the fee and license restructuring last year was to reduce fees and simplify the license structure by lessening the options available. The new proposal creates 24 new license options.
- The new e-Licensing system continues to have issues. Numerous licensing agents have dropped out (roughly 200 out of about 1500). The CFAB is concerned that issues that could arise with the addition of more license options could frustrate existing agents, agents that are listed but are not yet trained on the new system and possible new replacement agents that have expressed an interest in becoming agents. Accessible licensing agents are obviously a huge part of license sales.
- The cost of implementing and administering the 3 and 5 year licenses is yet to be determined. Lowering of fees and the direct impact it has on the Conservation Fund (CF) is always a concern of the CFAB. When the new fees were established in last years budget that went into effect in February 2014 the projections that were done gave the CF about a 5 year "crossover" point. There have been additional staff and more proposed burdens put on the CF that were not part of that projection.
- The new license structure and fees approved in the 2013 -2014 budget have just been implemented there is no data on what the impact of that change will have in sales and revenues. The CFAB feels it is very important to have factual data from this change before implementing new licenses and more reduced fees.
Therefore, it is the advice of the CFAB that although a 3 and 5 year license proposal may have potential merit, this proposal within the Executive Budget be delayed and revisited at a time when the data from the recent license changes is documented and the new e-licensing system has stabilized. We feel this will make for a more solid financial decision and less potential loss of licensing agents both of which are important to the financial success of the Conservation Fund. CFAB would like to emphasize that it is very clear this administration taking numerous steps to enhance the opportunities for the sporting community and those efforts are greatly appreciated.
Jason Kemper
Chairman, NYS Conservation Fund Advisory Board
CC: NYSDEC Commissioner Joe Martens
Mark Grisanti, Senate Encon Committee
Robert Sweeney, Assembly Encon Committee


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The simulation used the soccer engine in EA's "2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil" video game.
Brazil's Neymar wins the Golden Boot with six goals according to the simulation. Spain, meanwhile, beats Portugal 3-1 in the third-place game.
Germany's journey to the virtual final includes a 2-1 win over Argentina in the quarter-finals and a 5-4 penalty shootout victory over Spain in the semifinal.
Brazil beat Uruguay 4-3 in a penalty shootout in the quarter-finals and earned a 1-0 semifinal win over Portugal.
In the other simulated quarter-finals, Spain defeats England 2-0 and Portugal edges Nigeria 4-3.
in 2010, EA Sports' simulation correctly predicted a Spain win.


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The Connecticut State Police Department is asking for the public's help in locating a man reported missing Nov. 14 out of Mansfield.
Jared Governale, 32, is a white male, with brown hair and eyes, who is 5-foot 9-inches tall and weighs about 180 pounds.
State troopers learned his ATM credit card was used Tuesday at approximately 5 a.m. at a Pennsylvania gas station on Route 80. Pennsylvania State Police have been notified.
Governale is possibly in need of medication. He was last seen operating a 2009 Honda Civic LX, Connecticut registration 274WEA.
Anyone who knows of his whereabouts or comes into contact with him, is asked to contact Connecticut State Police Troop C at 860-896-3200 or dial 911.
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If the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) has its way, federal regulators would not wait for Congress to create national servicing standards, but instead write such rules as part of risk retention guidelines set to be released soon.
The agency's idea has divided the banking agencies, with the Federal Reserve Board and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) arguing risk retention is not the place for new servicing standards. But FDIC officials said that with all the problems in the servicing industry, regulators must act now.
"We shouldn't wait for legislation," said Michael Krimminger, FDIC acting general counsel, in an interview. "In Dodd-Frank, Congress instructed us to apply the risk retention rules to help ensure high quality risk management practices, and servicing standards are critical to achieve this. If Congress wishes to adopt further servicer standards that may be a good thing, but we have a rule in Dodd-Frank that applies across the board."
Regulators largely agree on the need for new servicing standards, but disagree on how and when to create them. Fed Gov. Dan Tarullo first called for such standards at a Dec. 1 hearing, and the concept has been endorsed since then by Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and lawmakers such as Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass.
FDIC officials argue the risk retention rules are the perfect opportunity to write servicing standards.
The Dodd-Frank Act orders the Financial Stability Oversight Council to write rules that would require lenders to retain at least a 5% stake in any loan they sell to the secondary market, unless the loan meets a test for "qualified residential mortgages." Regulators have until April to finalize risk retention rules, but the agencies have so far delayed releasing a proposal.
"There are mixed views on how best to approach this among regulators," Krimminger said. "Our concern is we have the statutory vehicle to do it now, and it is critical to ensuring that risk retention can accomplish the goals set by Congress. We shouldn't do it by separate rules adopted regulator by regulator because that creates opportunity for arbitrage."
For example, the FDIC said regulators could create standards to realign compensation incentives for true loss mitigation and limit monthly payment advances by servicers unless there is a process other than foreclosure to repay the servicer for the advances. The FDIC is also seeking to require servicers to conduct their business for the benefit of all investors, rather than a particular class or tranche.
Although OCC and Fed officials declined to comment for this article, sources said that they question the legality of using risk retention to write new servicing standards. They would prefer to use another rule to craft such standards or leave the issue to Congress.
But other regulators may be leaning toward the FDIC's view. Sources said the Securities and Exchange Commission and Treasury are both favorable to the FDIC's plan.
Lawmakers are also weighing in. Rep. Brad Miller, D-N.C., a member of the House Financial Services Committee, is circulating a letter to colleagues that urges regulators to add servicing standards to the risk retention rule.
"The rules adopted pursuant to section 941 must, of course, require rigorous underwriting standards for 'qualified residential mortgages' or any other mortgages excepted from the risk retention requirement, but underwriting requirements are not enough," the letter said. "The rules must also address the servicing of securitized mortgages."
In an interview, Miller said he expects outgoing Financial Services Committee Chairman Frank, among others, to sign the letter. He said it is clear servicing standards are linked to risk retention.
"It is hard to imagine that there would be effective regulation of securitization that does not address servicing issues," he said.
The banking industry, meanwhile, said putting servicing standards with risk retention rules is a mistake.
"Generally we are supportive of servicing standards but there is so much to do on risk retention that adding servicing standards is premature," said Paul Leonard, vice president of government affairs for the Housing Policy Council.
The American Securitization Forum (ASF) "would not be supportive of including national servicing standards in the risk retention rules proposal," said Tom Deutsch, executive director of the ASF. "That seems to be mixing apples and oranges. The legislative intention of the risk retention was really to create and better align the incentives between the issuer and investor. It was not intended... indicating that they were looking at it or approaching it for national servicing standards."
Pete Mills, a principal at Mortgage Banking Initiatives, said regulators are reaching if they attempt to combine the two ideas.
"There's no statutory framework for servicing reforms in the risk retention provisions of Dodd-Frank," he said. "So the agencies would essentially be writing new rules out of whole cloth. It just feels like it's a real bootstrap to me... For the regulators to move on this issue on their own, without any guidance from Congress, would be a real power grab. I also think it delays the risk retention rule unnecessarily."
Laurence Platt, a partner at K&L Gates, agreed.
"The statutory purpose of the [risk retention] rule is to encourage quality underwriting, which has nothing to do with quality servicing," Platt said. "There is nothing in the statute or the legislative history that supports the view that loan servicing and risk retention should be tied together."
But Miller said lawmakers intended to tie risk retention with servicing standards.
"This is all one in the same," he said. "The biggest problems in the foreclosure crisis and all the turmoil it has created in the housing market with homeowners, with the investors in mortgage backed securities, has been not just the poorly underwritten mortgages but the manner in which they were serviced."
The FDIC is gaining support for its plan among other industry players.
A group of 51 academics, financial analysts, and former regulators sent a joing letter to regulators supporting the FDIC plan.
"New securitization standards should be adopted now," the letter says. "The rules under the Dodd-Frank Act relating to disclosure and risk retention for securitizations, which apply to all market participants, are the place to start."
Josh Rosner, managing director of the research firm Graham Fisher & Co., signed the letter and said it was logical to combine risk retention with servicing standards.
"If the qualified residential mortgage rule and risk retention are intended to be the gold standard and Congress created the Dodd Frank Act for that purpose and left it to the regulators to define the right rules, this is entirely the right place to do it," Rosner said. "To do it here will create an industry standard securitized or otherwise. It creates the standard and they are not going to run two different sets of servicing platforms."
Ellen Harnick, senior policy counsel for the Center for Responsible Lending, said several problems could be addressed immediately, including conflicts of interests between servicers and various investors, different interests among the classes of investors, and confusion of servicer authority to modify loans.
"It's pretty urgent to get this in place and this is a logical vehicle to put it in place," she said. "Dodd-Frank does direct the regulators to consider mortgage attributes that either increase or decrease default risk and there is little question servicing problems increase default risk or increase the losses associated with defaults."
But Karen Shaw Petrou, managing director of Federal Financial Analytics, said risk retention rules wouldn't cover all mortgages.
"Not all mortgages are securitized and servicing is a significant issue," she said. "I thought their goal was to do a broader set of national servicing standards whether securitized or not and do that through other provisions of Dodd-Frank."
She said that regulators could pursue servicing standards in other rulemakings, including proposals governing systemically risky activity or settlement and clearing activities.
Jeffrey Naimon, a lawyer at BuckleySandler, said there are a number of other ways servicing standards could be done but called risk retention the "single worst one." He said the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau could write new servicing rules, for example.


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Attitudes of Patients to Medical Student Participation: General Practice Consultations on the Cambridge Community-Based Clinical Course
Jones, Steve
Oswald, Nigel
Date, Jan
Hinds, Di
Bibliographic Citation
Medical Education. 1996 Jan; 30(1): 14-17.
The clinical medical students on the Cambridge Community-Based Clinical Course (CCBCC) derive part of their training by taking part in consultations between patients and their general practitioners. Patients' attitudes to this arrangement and their support for student training in a general practice setting are an important factor in the development of community-based education. A postal questionnaire seeking information from patients achieved an 84% response rate. Both the numerical results and the patients' comments are presented. Patients proved generally supportive of the community-based course and some identified positive benefits to themselves from this provision. The large majority of patients did not mind the presence of medical students during consultations, although there are some areas in which patients are less willing to involve students.
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Attitudes of Patients to Medical Student Participation: General Practice Consultations on the Cambridge Community-Based Clinical Course Jones, Steve; Oswald, Nigel; Date, Jan; Hinds, Di (1996-01)
Statewide Tuskegee Alliance for Clinical Trials: A Community Coalition to Enhance Minority Participation in Medical Research Fouad, Mona N.; Partridge, Edward; Wynn, Theresa; Green, B. Lee; Kohler, Connie; Nagy, Steve (2001-01-01)
Ethical Issues in Community-Based Participatory Research: Balancing Rigorous Research With Community Participation in Community Intervention Studies Buchanan, David Ross; Miller, Franklin G; Wallerstein, Nina (2007-06)PROBLEM: Concerns have been raised that community participation might compromise scientific rigor in community-based participatory research (CBPR). PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to identify potential sources of ...


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Was just wondering if it is worth the money to go pro+? Thanks for any feedback
Thx for the reply. Yeah I tried a couple tonight but I think the pro+ has more to offer as far as real trainer voices and more programs and stuff. Idk maybe I'll try it for a few more days and decide.
Sounds good. I think I'll give it a try and work on getting in shape for summer!


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The Walking Dead Scoop: Rick's Journey, Andrea's Choice and More!Matt Richenthal at . Comments
The Walking Dead opened PaleyFest 2103 last night with an in-depth panel discussion that featured all our favorite cast members.
From Rick's craziness to The Governor's dark side, various stars and crew member spoke on various Season 3 topics. We run them down below...
Andrew Lincoln on Rick's dark journey: "The characters are always growing. One of the big attractions when I first spoke to Frank [Darabont] about [the role] was that: You start in one place and end somewhere else. The journey this season has been incredible. To push one of the central characters off the cliff's edge like that is really bold. But I'm running out of mad gags. I hope [Rick] comes back from the brink soon."
Norman Reedus on the clashing siblings: "The Dixon brothers fight because they have to fight. Their backs are against the wall. There's a sensitive side to Merle and you'll see it in an upcoming episode, it's really great.'
Laurie Holden on Andrea's view of The Governor: "When she goes back and sleeps with him again it's not because she's having a weak female moment and thinks he's handsome. She thought she could follow through with Carol's plan. Andrea thought she could do it and tried to do it.
"I think sleeping with him disgusted her. Then she woke up and it's one thing to kill someone in self defense but it's another to stand over with them a knife while they're sleeping. She couldn't do it. You could call that weak or you could call that strong. But Andrea has never killed anyone before. She wants to find the humanity in both these men."
Producer David Alpert on The Governor: Is he pure evil? "I don't think any one character can be summed up that way. All the characters have elements of good and bad and evil in them. The Governor and Rick are both facing the same problems. They're both leaders, both trying to keep their communities alive. Right now the Governor is actually doing a better job at that. There's a part of him that's good. He wants to be that father figure. But the darkness has allowed him to grow and prosper."
Producer Robert Kirkman the future for Carl: "Carl is one of my favorite aspects of the comic and the show. [We] watch him grow and evolve from this kid who's almost a burden to a child soldier. Where we're gonna go with this kid is some pretty exciting places. This season is really just the beginning of his journey."
The Walking Dead Season 3 resumes tomorrow night with a new episode on AMC. Visit TV Fanatic the moment it concludes for a detailed recap and review.
Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.


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This chapter examines the positive and negative impact of democracy and internal change on the prospects for India's emergence as a great power.
Rapid economic development has begun to improve India's relative standing in the international system, but weak national leadership, political fragmentation, and a defensive strategic culture suggest India might not be able to take full advantage of a positive international environment. Even suboptimal outcomes for India's grand strategy still might be large enough to make a difference to the evolution of the international system.
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Last edited by Kyle; 28-09-2009 at 02:15 PM.
Pre-conditioning can help prevent most injuries. You can no more blame a lack of fitness for Smith getting cramp than you can blame a failure to warm up properly for someone pulling a hamstring, for example.
I don't know the details of this, but I'd have thought you'd allow the batsman a runner.
In any case, it might have been in England's interests to allow Smith a runner. When runners come on, confusion and run-outs often seem to follow. And I'd have thought that it would be pretty easily foreseeable that it would be a strong motivation to Smith if he was refused a runner.
Whatever the rights and wrongs of this morally it was a pointless decision by Strauss that gained him nothing and will probably come back and bite him on the arse at sometime in the future.
Think Strauss was in the right on this one. I dont think runners should be allowed, except in the case of genuine on field injuries. A cramp does not qualify.
Its weird that it tends to happen in ODI cricket, perhaps because of the conditions? But I dont see batsmen being given a runner in tests just because they have been at the crease for 5 hours iin hot conditions, are cramping up, and are nearing a double hundred. I think the same should apply.
There is a difference between being sporting and giving the opposition a leg up. In this case it was the latter.
Last edited by JBH001; 28-09-2009 at 04:11 PM.
Dont know about substitute fielders rulings, although in my view that is also happening far too much of late (and not just for toilet breaks and on field niggles and the like). But in that case, Shah was in the wrong and should have stayed on the field. I did notice too, that soon after that 'ruckus' Shah returned to the field and took a catch (Smiths?). So Flower probably, and quite wisely, sent him out. Regardless, it is another area of the game that needs clamping down.
What the hell, how has this thread reached 5 pages?
Having a runner for cramps is the most ridiculous pile of BS I've heard all week
Cramps are short and sharp, and although they may reoccur, any team physio worth their salt would be able to sort it out and relieve any pain.
They aren't an 'injury'.
England in moralising-on-runners-while-themselves-spurning-spirit-of-the-game-with-sub-fielder shocker.
WWCC - Loyaulte Mi Lie
The modern conservative is engaged in one of mans oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness." - JK Galbraith
#408. Sixty three not out forever.
No, he shouldn't. Cramp is NOT the same as an injury such as a hamstring tear or, in Ryder's case, an abductor muscle injury.
We played against a guy over a few seasons who had a long-standing muscle disorder/issue which caused him to cramp after batting for 30 overs. The first time we played him, we weren't aware, and allowed him a runner. But after we'd been advised of his issues during the next game that season, he wasn't getting a runner if it was the last thing we did.
I realise this is a very different situation to the one involving either Smith or the fella you're talking about, but I wonder whether it comes down to the level you're playing at when deciding these things.
From my understanding, the law is pretty clear. Smith should not have had a runner.
I think the umpires possibly forfeited some responsibility here and foisted it on Strauss, who was well within his rights to take the stance he did.
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St. Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Francis of Assisi was a poor man who astounded and inspired the Church by taking the gospel literally—not in a narrow fundamentalist sense, but by actually following all that Jesus said and did, joyfully, without limit and without a mite of self-importance.
Serious illness brought the young Francis to see the emptiness of his frolicking life as leader of Assisi's youth. Prayer—lengthy and difficult—led him to a self-emptying like that of Christ, climaxed by embracing a leper he met on the road. It symbolized his complete obedience to what he had heard in prayer: "Francis! Everything you have loved and desired in the flesh it is your duty to despise and hate, if you wish to know my will. And when you have begun this, all that now seems sweet and lovely to you will become intolerable and bitter, but all that you used to avoid will turn itself to great sweetness and exceeding joy."
A few people began to realize that this man was actually trying to be Christian. He really believed what Jesus said: "Announce the kingdom! Possess no gold or silver or copper in your purses, no traveling bag, no sandals, no staff" (see Luke 9:1-3).
Francis' first rule for his followers was a collection of texts from the Gospels. He had no idea of founding an order, but once it began he protected it and accepted all the legal structures needed to support it. His devotion and loyalty to the Church were absolute and highly exemplary at a time when various movements of reform tended to break the Church's unity.
He was torn between a life devoted entirely to prayer and a life of active preaching of the Good News. He decided in favor of the latter, but always returned to solitude when he could. He wanted to be a missionary in Syria or in Africa, but was prevented by shipwreck and illness in both cases. He did try to convert the sultan of Egypt during the Fifth Crusade.
During the last years of his relatively short life (he died at 44) he was half blind and seriously ill. Two years before his death, he received the stigmata, the real and painful wounds of Christ in his hands, feet and side.
On his deathbed, he said over and over again the last addition to his Canticle of the Sun, "Be praised, O Lord, for our Sister Death." He sang Psalm 141, and at the end asked his superior to have his clothes removed when the last hour came and for permission to expire lying naked on the earth, in imitation of his Lord.
Source: The American Catholic; http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Francis/Who_Was.asp
Lord, Make Me an Instrument of Thy Peace
Though attributed to St. Francis, recent research points to his not having written this popular prayer. The prayer was apparently written in France during World War I, perhaps by a Catholic Priest, Father Bouquerel.
It is commonly known as the Peace Prayer of Saint Francis because it was often seen printed on a small card that had a picture of Saint Francis on one side and this prayer on the other side. However, the card did not make any claim that the prayer was written by Saint Francis. The first known appearance of this inspiring prayer was in 1912 AD when it was published in the French magazine La Clochette.
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.


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Why a Baby-Seat Brand Wanted to Be in The Hangover Part II, and Budweiser Did Not
The C-word is fine for baby gear, but underage drinking is no good for a beer.
Watching all the product placement in the gross-out The Hangover Part II, one has to wonder if brand managers ever weigh content when deciding what they want their products to be associated with. After all, what were IHOP's thoughts when signing up one of their restaurants as the setting for Bradley Cooper appalling diners by screaming the C-word? "IHOP: Come for the fruit compote, stay for the profanity!" (An IHOP rep declined to comment.) Of course, this is probably a stupid question, one which can easily be answered in the form of grosses: The movie made $140 million domestically, which is a hell of a lot of exposure. In other words, bring on the C-word, just make sure the Rooty Tooty Fresh and Fruity is showing!
Particularly incongruous were the baby brands that popped up in Hangover II: As Cooper's Phil departs the IHOP booth in disgust, the camera dotes lovingly on his toddler, resplendent in her Itzy Ritzy car seat, and then zooms in close on his "BeHip" floral diaper bag, with its prominently displayed Ju Ju Be logo. A spokeswoman for Ju Ju Be and Itzy Ritzy, Geneva Wasserman, said that "while the scene is not appropriate for non-mature audiences," the company was nonetheless "happy to have been included in it and would do it again even knowing the subject matter of the scene." Wasserman also later e-mailed Vulture to note that "a customer from Itzy Ritzy commented on their Facebook page that 'it was cool to see a familiar product that isn't made by a huge Corp (coke, GM, Ford, etc.) in a mainstream film.'"
We did find one brand, however, that wanted to distance itself from the film: Budweiser. When the Bangkok buds gather 'round a beach bonfire, Phil brings out a six-pack of what he proudly calls "American beer: Budweiser" — which, of course, triggers the film's required alcohol-fueled amnesiac bender that includes drunken, unprotected anal intercourse with a transsexual Thai stripper. However, Budweiser's iconic red-white-and-blue labels have been painted out of the scene at their request. We'd assumed that Anheuser-Busch didn't want to be seen as the entire catalyst for such a debauched adventure (let alone to be part of a movie called "The Hangover" — that would be like Marlboro signing on for a movie called "Smoker's Hack"). But the reason for their lack of participation was more specific: "The brother-in-law in that scene was underage," explains Mike Bulthaus, director of marketing communications at Anheuser-Busch. "We invest a lot of money in our efforts to combat underage drinking. It's an issue we take seriously."
Indeed, according to Warner Bros.' own market research, a surprising 13 percent of the opening-weekend audience for The Hangover Part II was under the age of 18. But how many of them were under 14 months and were tempted to buy the car seat?


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One for the sleeveface Hall Of Fame!
Too cool!
This is hands down the best sleeve face I have ever seen. Well done
Brought a tear to my eye.
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So comfy and light you'll want to wear them every single day, the Women's Nike Sportswear Gym Vintage Jogger Pants feature a laid-back silhouette and ultra-soft blended fabric. Inspired by retro sweats, these elevated classics boast an exposed drawstring waist, slightly tapered legs and cuffed hems. Loungy and easygoing, these sweatpants are a must have closet staple.
Model height 5'7", waist 23.5" and wearing size Small.
Product sizing may vary from brand to brand.


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Getting Dirty at Dawes Avenue School Garden!
We are busy here at Dawes Avenue School (Somers Point, NJ) eating as many fruits and vegetables as we can so we can feed the worms in our worm farm. Students are learning that we depend on the "lowly" worm to both help our plants get sufficient water and nutrients and to decompose our leftovers so we don't end up knee deep in garbage.


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Ray Bradbury Quotes About JoyQuotes about: Joy
This afternoon, burn down the house. Tomorrow, pour critical water upon the simmering coals. Time enough to think and cut and rewrite tomorrow. But today-explode-f ly-apart-disint egrate! The other six or seven drafts are going to be pure torture. So why not enjoy the first draft, in the hope that your joy will seek and find others in the world who, by reading your story, will catch fire, too?
In my later years I have looked in the mirror each day and found a happy person staring back. Occasionally I wonder why I can be so happy. The answer is that every day of my life I've worked only for myself and for the joy that comes from writing and creating. The image in my mirror is not optimistic, but the result of optimal behavior.
I've never worked a day in my life. The joy of writing has propelled me from day to day and year to year. I want you to envy me, my joy. Get out of here tonight and say: 'Am I being joyful?' And if you've got a writer's block, you can cure it this evening by stopping whatever you're writing and doing something else. You picked the wrong subject.
I am a dedicated madman, and that becomes its own training. If you can't resist, if the typewriter is like candy to you, you train yourself for a lifetime. Every single day of your life, some wild new thing to be done. You write to please yourself. You write for the joy of writing. Then your public reads you and it begins to gather around your selling a potato peeler in an alley, you know. The enthusiasm, the joy itself draws me. So that means every day of my life I've written. When the joy stops, I'll stop writing.
Ray Bradbury
- Born: August 22, 1920
- Died: June 5, 2012
- Occupation: Writer
- Cite this Page: Citation


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Sandra Bullock Deciding If She Wants Another Oscar Nod
Having been offered a part in Holocaust film 'Never Forget.'
Sandra Bullock has reportedly been offered a part in Never Forget, a Holocaust movie based on the documentary On Moral Grounds, about the legal struggles of survivors trying to get restitution from insurance companies after WWII. (Fun fact: Previous feature films with the title Never Forget include a 1991 TV movie about a Holocaust survivor confronting a Holocaust denier, starring Leonard Nimoy and Dabney Coleman, and a Lou Diamond Phillips thriller about a man accused of murder ... with amnesia!) Bullock's been selective about the roles she's taken since The Blind Side (and the implosion of her personal life), but given the academy's predilection for honoring Holocaust films — in the immortal words of Kate Winslet and Ricky Gervais, "If you do a film about the Holocaust, you're guaranteed an Oscar" — she might want to mull this one over. [Hollywood Insider/EW]


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Judge Prevents Auto Makers From Concealing Data
Judge William Sessions III has denied the auto makers' motion to seal 121 exhibits in the U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont, and ordered them to make a separate filing for each item they wanted to keep confidential.
"Only in the most extraordinary situation will this court justify closing a trial to the...
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Fully improved lots ready for your proposed construction! TR-6 zoning allows single family, duplex or townhouse-styles. Lots are perfect for zero entry homes, which are very popular. Join this growing community of newer homes!
Features Land
|Lot Size:
|Approx Acres: 0.35
|School District: Shawano
|High School:
|Middle School:
|Elementary School:
|Taxes: $191
|Tax Year: 2016
|Body of Water:
|Lot Description:
|Subdivision: Natures Way


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Pantera DI6400 is an advanced high-pressure DTH drill designed to meet the mining industry's future needs in terms of safety, increased production and full automation options.
It is designed for vertical and inclined drilling of 115–203 mm diameter blastholes up to 45 meters deep, for wall control, pit development and production drilling.
Features and values
Designed for mining – better stability, reliability and longer service life.
Performance and Profitability – higher penetration rates and drilling capacity, optimized use of power, lower fuel consumption.
Safety and Ergonomy -better stability and safety in all applications and conditions, improved safety and better operator performance, easier access to service points, faster and safer maintenance.
Automation – Improved operator performance and safety, better process control and optimization, planning of maintenance, and availability
Sustainability – Better reliability and longer service life, optimized use of power, lower fuel consumption
Key specifications
Hole diameter: 115–203 mm (ø4½–8")
DTH hammer range: 4 – 6″
Drill pipe diameters: 89–140 mm (ø3½–5½")
Transport weight: 35 700 kg (78 700lb)
Major components
Engine output: 399 kW/1800 rpm
Air delivery: 28 m³/min (1,000 cfm)
Air pressure: Max 35 bar (Max 500 psi)
System platform: Sandvik SICA
Certificate: ROPS and FOPS


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Though you can't buy Kim Kardashian's new fragrance until February, you can get a sneak peek at Sephora.com and be notified when it's available for purchase.
The essence evokes Kim's sultry style with crisp top notes, lush mid notes, and a sexy drydown. Gorgeous, voluptuous florals reflect her allure, while soft jasmine, tuberose, and gardenia mirror her femininity. Tonka bean, jacaranda wood, and sandalwood add a warm, sensual base.
The Kim Kardashian fragrance collection includes: 1 oz Eau de Parfum Spray ($35), 1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray ($50), 3.4 oz Eau de Parfum Spray ($65), and .33 oz Eau de Parfum Rollerball ($16).
So, will you buy Kim's fragrance in February?


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The feeling of love at first sight describes the way that I felt when I first saw the Amber Rose Print Maxi Dress from BoohooPLUS. I instantly knew that I just had to have it. I'm sure that I don't need to go into too much detail as the dress really speaks for itself... I'll just give you a minute to appreciate how beautiful it is.
Available from Boohoo in sizes 18 to 24, this dress is a real head turner and will be the envy of many women regardless of their size. The dress has a roomy fit with plenty of stretch in the fabric as well as an elasticated band under the bust to ensure an accurate fit and comfortable wear. It is floor length on my 5ft 5" frame, which gives it a beautifully elegant look and makes it as equally suited to an evening celebration as it does to a day time occasion like when I strutted down Brentwood High Street shopping in it last week.
If you're looking for a dress that will get you noticed for the right reasons at events, gain you plenty of compliments and most importantly, make you feel a million dollars then this is the dress for you. I'm a big believer that we should all aim to feel happy and comfortable in our own skin regardless of our size. Every day I like to strive to be the best me that I can be and while it all starts on the inside, I do love to dress up and find that a great feel good dress like this can not only transform my look but my mindset for the day as well.
The plunging wrap over V shaped neckline is super flattering and provides ample room in the bust for those with a bust far larger than mine and the black colour makes this dress so wearable for many.
My favourite part of this dress however is the vibrant floral pattern of the skirt part of the dress. It is simply stunning and so eye catching. I love floral designs anyway but to see them with such a gorgeous bright colour palette is fantastic. I feel so happy and smile from the inside out whenever I wear this dress and I cannot recommend it to you all highly enough.
The shoes that I'm wearing are the Truffle Collection Heart Toe Post Sandals that I actually bought on sale at ASOS. They're still available on sale here and you can take a closer look at them in the photos on the website. Essentially, they're flip flops with a huge black and gold heart on the toe post but they're so much more than that as they're incredibly comfortable thanks to the spongey yet supportive sole.
I had a cream and gold pair of these that I wore throughout the whole summer last year so when I spotted them online in different colours, I knew that I needed to order them for this year. I've already had so much use out of these already and April isn't even over yet!
The bag that I'm carrying is my gorgeous Lulu Guinness Lips Clutch. I have wanted one of these for YEARS and finally took the plunge last year and ordered one. They're currently available here on ASOS and I'd definitely say that they're worth it.
Out of all of my bags, this is the one that people comment on and compliment me on the most. Its a little bit quirky, a little bit there but the black keeps it looking sleek and sophisticated. It is the ultimate night out bag for me and the perfect accompaniment to this fun dress from Boohoo.
Boohoo have been going from strength to strength in recent years but they really came on my radar when they launched their fabulous plus size line which ticks so many of the right boxes for me. It is all about celebrating style at any size and is very much an extension of their standard line which is what many plus size women have been looking for in clothing stores for years.
BoohooPLUS have just launched an exciting new collaboration with blogger and model Nadia Aboulhosn who has co-designed her own capsule collection together with the boohoo design team. The collection comprises of 20 trend-led pieces that strongly reflect Nadia's own style from some sports luxe inspired androgynous separates through to minimal glamour pieces that are available in a variety of colour ways.
I'm sure that the collection is going to be a hit with high fashion lovers. Check out the pieces below and click on the images of the ones you like to be taken directly to the page.
What are your favourite pieces from Boohoo?


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wastewater disposal Applications
Disposal and Cleaning Equipment for Waste Water Industy
Drinking water is not the only area requiring flow monitoring. The disposal and cleaning of waste water also requires flow meters. Waste water used to be dumped directly into the soil or an open channel. As awareness has increased, most discharges are now treated to assure long term sustainability. Modern water treatment plants are highly complex systems that require the use of flow sensors to monitor flow velocity in open channels for waste water discharge. Likewise facilities for waste water collection...
By HydroVision GmbH based in Kaufbeuren, GERMANY.
Industrial wastewater solutions for vibratory grinding wastewater
Using innovative recycling technologies in vibratory grinding processes. Rinse water from vibratory grinding processes ca be contaminated with heavy metals, oils and, depending on the process, even a variety of chemicals. It cannot be discharged into the public sewer system, and usually requires to be disposed of with specialized waste management companies expensivly. But there are alternatives: Vacuum distillation with VACUDEST evaporators is an economical, resource-friendly method for treating this industrial...
Wastewater: Suitability of the quality of water
When the wastewater from a process cannot be disposed of to the sewerage line or through normal channels because the solids content of the waste water is higher than allowed by the local authorities, the installation of an AZUD filtration system can reduce the solids level, allowing an acceptable quality of waste water to be disposed of.
By Sistema Azud, S.A. based in Alcantarilla, SPAIN.
Zero Liquid Discharge wastewater solution
Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) describes a process that completely eliminates liquid discharge from a system. The goal of any well-designed ZLD system is to minimize the volume of wastewater that requires treatment, process wastewater in an economically feasible manner, while also producing a clean stream suitable for reuse elsewhere in the facility. Interest in ZLD technology has grown in the industrial manufacturing sector over the past decade. Companies may begin to explore ZLD because of ever tightening...
By ENCON Evaporators based in Hooksett, NEW HAMPSHIRE (USA).
Spent coolant wastewater solution
Waste coolant or spent coolant wastewater is one of the more common applications for ENCON Wastewater Evaporators. The most common type of coolant is made up of water-soluble oils, but water-soluble synthetics or semi- synthetics are also used. The coolants are used to cool the tool and part to minimize overheating during machining and grinding applications. The coolant is collected in sumps and continuously recirculated. In time, the coolants break down and become less effective. The coolants, now spent, must...
By ENCON Evaporators based in Hooksett, NEW HAMPSHIRE (USA).
Evaporators and concentrators for waste disposal
Wastewater with high levels of pollution load, saline wastewater, concentrate from reverse osmosis, spent oily emulsions.
By Eco-Techno s.r.l Vacuum Evaporation System based in Busnago MB, ITALY.
Industrial wastewater solutions for stainless steel pickling wastewater
VACUDEST vacuum distillation systems. Premium technologies for stainless steel pickling. through stainless steel surface pickling processes, protecting the stainless steel from corrosion. This generates rinse water whose toxic contents make it impossible to discharge. It must either be treated or disposed of at high cost.
Thickening and dewatering of sludges for water and wastewater industry
By BELLMER KUFFERATH Machinery GmbH based in Düren, GERMANY.
Odour and corrosion treatment solutions for wastewater treatment industry
By QM Environmental International B.V. based in The Hague, NETHERLANDS.
Aeration and mixing technologies for oil and gas wastewater treatment
As more hydraulic fracturing wells come into operation, the stress on surface water and groundwater supply increases. The expanding volume of wastewater created needs to be captured, disposed of, or recycled in an environmentally sustainable manner so the EPA continues to increase regulations. We will work with you to create a comprehensive solution to treat your wastewater, meet increasingly strict governmental regulations, and support long term water life cycle management.
By Aeration Industries International (AII) based in Chaska, MINNESOTA (USA).
Recirculation systems for filtration
The appropriate quality of water supplied to a process with a re-circulating system allows for the following: Savings as a result of the amount of water used. Increases the amount of water available. Decreases costs of waste water disposal (and unwanted spills). Maintains a high quality of product.
By Sistema Azud, S.A. based in Alcantarilla, SPAIN.
Process Belt Meshes for Dewatering / Pressing with Belt Presses
By GKD - Gebr. Kufferath AG based in Düren, GERMANY.
Industrial wastewater solutions for vehicle and transport cleaning waterReliable and effluent-free: VACUDEST in vehicle and transport cleaning. Means of transport have to be one thing above all else: Safe. That's why the vehicles regularly undergo strict quality checks. They are thoroughly maintained, serviced and repaired, and this of course also includes careful cleaning. Effluent is produced which, due to the high degree of contamination, cannot be discharged into the public sewer system. It contains oil, grease, detergent and other impurities. This effluent is very...
Wastewater treatment solution for the mining & power generation industries
By Schwing Bioset, Inc. based in Somerset, WISCONSIN (USA).
Aquatech Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR)
By Aquatech International Corporation based in Canonsburg, PENNSYLVANIA (USA).Premium
Water Treatment Solutions for Uranium Removal
AdEdge provides treatment systems for for Uranium removal using AD92 an anion exchange media that is ideal for use in potable water as well as non-potable and environmental remediation applications for removal of naturally occurring uranium. The high efficiency AD92 can selectively remove the negatively charged uranium anion (most often in the form of uranyl carbonate) to below the existing EPA MCL of 30 ug/L. The AdEdge AD92 systems can deliver the needed performance in two ways: (1) via regeneration type...
By Adedge Water Technologies, LLC based in Buford, GEORGIA (US) (USA).
Industrial and commercial water filtration for municipal & industrial waste water
Whether your specific water usage is for Industrial, Commercial or Municipal purposes all application have one thing in common-waste. Hydro-Gen's range of industrial/commercial water filtration systems suit a wide range functions allowing you to reduce overall water and industrial waste-water disposal costs.
By Hydro-Gen Engineering Ltd based in Widnes, UNITED KINGDOM.Premium
Anaerobic water purification systems for TSS removal/membrane filtration
Many wastewater streams contain suspended solids that need to be disposed of or cause problems in 'downstream' wastewater treatment systems. Effective TSS removal is an important step to purify water sufficiently for reuse, thereby lowering the requirement for fresh water.
By Paques B.V. based in EL Balk, NETHERLANDS.
Need help finding the right suppliers? Try XPRT Sourcing. Let the XPRTs do the work for you


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The Sinai natural gas pipeline explosion over the weekend that caused Egypt to temporarily suspend the flow of the fuel to Israel, which relies on it for as much as one-fourth of its electricity, was the result of a terrorist incident, an Egyptian investigator concluded today (the head of Egypt's natural gas company had asserted the incident was related to a leak).
Increased uncertainty for Israel's energy situation is one of the less heralded but still important consequences of the Egyptian unrest. In response, Israel is speeding up exploration of its massive new offshore natural gas fields (which Lebanon has bellicosely contested); considering increasing quantities from its fields in the south; and even exploring the production of fossil fuel from shale. Perhaps most remarkably, Prime Minister Netanyahu, couching his proposal in the language of Palestinian economic improvement, suggested commencing talks with Palestinian negotiators about developing an offshore field off Gaza's coast. Of course, given that Gaza is ruled by folks whom Netanyahu doesn't (publicly) talk to, this proposition may prove tricky.
So already you can begin to grasp the potential consequences of what's going on in Egypt—increased Israeli desperation? further Lebanese tensions over the offshore fields? rapprochement, or the reverse, with Hamas driven by mutual economic and energy interests? a shaky situation in Jordan turned shakier by energy shortages (Jordan also relies on Egyptian natural gas)? And all this merely in the less obvious dimension of energy. This is what people mean when they describe the remarkable past weeks as "an earthquake."
Gas Pipeline Explosion Was Terror Related, Probe Finds [JTA]
Natural Gas Supply to Israel Cut Off After Blast at Egyptian Terminal [WP]
Israel: A Controversial Shale Project and Energy Security [Babylon & Beyond]
Israeli Leaders Suggests Palestinian Gas Talks [WSJ]
Earlier: Lebanon Passes Oil Law


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Bath House shaving balm is a unique blend of ingredients designed to perfectly sooth and restore your skin leaving you refreshed and soft. Lightly fragranced with the Bath Hours classic Spanish Fig & Nutmeg scent.
Allantoin - A natural cell regenerator
Cedar - Stimulating and revitalizing with natural antiseptic properties
Clove - Stimulating and natural antiseptic
Fig - Known for its restorative benefits to the skin
Glycerine - To soothe and moisturize
Nutmeg - A natural stimulant and exfoliant
Patchouli Oil - A natural anti-bacterial agent
Size: 100ml
Made in the UK
Click on any of the below videos to start playing our Shaving101 videos about After Shaves.
Differences in After Shaves
5 Tips to Improve Your Shave
The Benefits of Wet Shaving:


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My last two blogs have covered the most critical time of year for us – our miscanthus harvest, so now I probably need to explain why we started the move into growing miscanthus ten years ago.
Up until 1985 my grandfather and father had farmed a 430 acre mixed beef / sheep and arable farm in Warwickshire. Our rotation here had been a traditional wheat / barley / oats / beans and OSR in varying proportions, on a heavy clay soil.
After my grandfather's death my parents took the opportunity to move to a 500 acre farm in Shropshire, leaving behind the stock element of farming and becoming a wholly arable farm – except for a few ponies! This farm came with both sugar beet and potato quotas and was split between peat and sandy soils. We continued to farm this again on a traditional rotation, occasionally trialling different crops such as linseed and sunflowers, until around 1993 when, due to ill health, my father undertook a contract farming agreement. This continued until 2004 when, as a family, the decision was taken to move over to biofuels.
Why did we change crops? The arable and potato prices dropped and it became necessary to do something different with the marginal fields that were not profitable within the contact farming agreement. We took these fields back in hand and after researching different options decided to move to miscanthus, eventually coming out of the contact farming agreement and committing the whole arable area to it. By bringing the whole farm into miscanthus over a period of about five years it was easier to weather the fact that your first saleable crop isn't produced until year 3.
Our peat land lies very wet with a little rain and where it is sand it can become arid in a short space of time. The peat land is an agronomists dream as it provides a constant source of weeds in need of managing, gaining a consistent yield at harvest can involve a lot of investment in sprays and fertilisers and on occasions all for a crop you can't get in – in effect you 'buy your crop yield'. Additionally, we were looking for a low maintenance crop that could be managed by my father single-handed. Miscanthus answered a number of these points:-
- It was used to living and thriving in wet and dry conditions.
- After planting, it's in the ground for 20 years before it needs to be replanted.
- It requires spraying in its first year to help it gain establishment but after that its own leaf fall acts as mulch and very little chemical intervention is required.
- Planting and harvest are done by contractors, being outside of the traditional harvest time finding a Heston baler in March is not an issue.
All of our miscanthus was planted under the Energy Crop Scheme which helped significantly with the cost of planting. We currently sell our crop under contract, a year at a time and this year it is going to IEC, who use it for chicken bedding and biofuel. There are a number of other companies in the UK that take miscanthus for pelleting for use in biomass boilers; some are even offering index linked payments for 10 year contracts.
So, what are the benefits we have from this? Well, it allows the farm to continue to be farmed as a working farm (and therefore maintains the tax advantages this brings), with very low input costs after establishment; the soil structure is improved, weeds reduced, in particular blackgrass and it still qualifies for the Single Farm Payment. It requires minimal labour input, while increasing the diversity of bird life and it holds pheasants well as it is warm within the canes.
What are the disadvantages? – beating a 40 acre field of miscanthus is not the best of experiences if you are 5'6" unless there are rides cut in it!
In short, it's a crop that works for our family on our farm. I am sure it's not everyone's cup of tea but there are certainly some merits in looking at it on less productive land and considering it as part of a long term rotation.
So are we mad?