text:
From humble origins as a natural gas distributor, Enron became a trading operation with the Midas touch. It made bets on oil, water, Internet traffic, even the weather. Wall Street's brightest worked there. Its stock tripled in two years.
Virtually no one knew how it had made so much money.
Ten years ago Friday came the answer: It hadn't.
Enron's bankruptcy on Dec. 2, 2001, revealed a fraudulent illusion. Investors swore they would not be so profoundly deceived again. But it was only the beginning of a decade when so much in the economy was not as it seemed.
Can't-lose Wall Street guys turned out to be cheats. Home values did not go up forever. Promising signs of recovery after the Great Recession turned out to be nothing, and hard times endure.
The theme was shredded faith _ that and debt, the more the better.
"We have faith in the big score," financial historian Charles Geisst says, trying to explain why Americans have, time and again, believed in what was too good to be true.
In the simple story of the past decade, a journey from corporate scandals to a housing bubble, then to a collapse and a frustratingly slow recovery, the villain is Wall Street and the victim Main Street. The reality is more complicated.
One reason people didn't know how Enron made money was that it was an amalgam of 3,000 private deals that came to light in its collapse, partnerships with names like Raptor, Condor and Chewbacca.
Behind those obscure names, Enron shunted billions of dollars of debt off its books. Investors were safe as long as they didn't ask too many questions. The company borrowed from Wall Street banks, mutual funds and insurers, pledging its hot stock as collateral.
The collapse wiped out $11 billion in stock value, nearly 10 percent in the 401(k) retirement accounts of Enron employees.
A month later, an outspoken, Harley-riding CEO with an uncanny ability to pull profits out of a seemingly dull New Hampshire manufacturer appeared on BusinessWeek's list of top corporate managers. His name was Dennis Kozlowski. By the end of 2002, he was indicted for stealing $150 million from shareholders, and his company, Tyco International, was bankrupt.
Several other heroes of capitalism toppled after him. Bernard Ebbers drove WorldCom into bankruptcy after misleading investors in his high-flying company in an $11 billion accounting fraud. John Rigas, who turned a $300 purchase into a cable TV empire, was convicted of fraud after prosecutors said he ran Adelphia Communications like a "personal piggy bank," including using $26 million of company money to buy timberland next to his home to preserve his view.
Martha Stewart, who built her cooking and decorating business on an image of homespun goodness, faced a grilling from regulators that suggested a life more tawdry than tidy: She had dumped shares of a drug company on what appeared to be an illegal tip from her Merrill Lynch broker. She was convicted of lying, though never accused of insider trading. The amount the one-time billionaire saved by selling early was $51,000.
It was a time of plummeting stocks, trashed retirement accounts, lost jobs and lost trust. One headline from 2002: "Scandals Shred Investors' Faith."
Regulators cracked down, offering hope. Congress created a board to police the accounting industry. It also passed the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, requiring executives to sign off on financial statements so they could be criminally liable for posting phony numbers.
Investors were thought more vigilant, too. But they got sloppy again, and almost immediately.
Around the time of Enron's collapse, press reports detailed how Italy, years earlier, had struck complicated "currency swap" deals with banks so it could borrow money without having to recognize the debt on its books. Later, Greece was shown to have camouflaged its debt in a similar way.
In 2002, no one seemed to care. By the end of the year, Italy was paying about 4 percent a year in interest on its national bonds, roughly what the U.S. was offering and a sign that few investors were worried.
In 2003, as jurors heard how Kozlowski got Tyco to pitch in $1 million for his wife's birthday party, featuring an ice sculpture of Michelangelo's David that urinated vodka, the seeds of a new crisis were being planted.
American consumers had run up debt to record levels by the end of 2003, and more of them than ever were filing for bankruptcy. Yet the stocks of companies extending mortgages to the riskiest borrowers, so-called subprimes, were rising fast.
Subprime was a euphemism for people who had too little income, too much debt, a bad record of paying lenders back _ or all three. As home prices rose, worry that they would not meet their mortgage payments was replaced with faith that, even if they couldn't, they could always sell the home for more than they borrowed and return the money.
Lenders eventually grew so cocky that they seemed willing to give money to virtually anyone who wanted a home. They also offered mortgages on top of mortgages _ so-called home equity loans that allowed people to tap their magically rising values to raise cash for flat-screen TVs or Caribbean vacations. Or to pay their credit card bills.
"If your home keeps appreciating, why not use the equity," Robert Cole, CEO of mortgage lender New Century, said at the time.
If the lenders were duping Americans, they made easy targets.
Long before the housing boom, Americans were borrowing more, saving less and increasingly convinced they would not suffer the consequences. In the 1980s, Americans saved more than 6 percent of what they earned each year in income. Their debts totaled 70 percent of take-home pay. By 2007, they were saving nearly nothing, and debt had exploded to 140 percent of income.
"People were using their homes like automated teller machines," says David Rosenberg, chief economist at Gluskin Sheff & Associates and a big critic of lending during the boom. "At some point, people have to own up to their mistakes."
Stoking all this borrowing was the Federal Reserve, which had slashed benchmark interest rates to 46-year lows after the 2000-2001 tech-stock bust, pushing the cost of loans lower. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-sponsored companies that buy mortgages from lenders, played a role by targeting ever-riskier loans.
The biggest, most sophisticated Wall Street firms fooled themselves, too.
Banks bought subprime lenders whole. Elegant mathematical formulas from their "risk management" departments told them their gambles were fine. Standard & Poor's and other credit rating agencies provided reassurance by slapping their highest ratings on bundles of risky mortgages.
Wall Street was gripped by what chronicler Roger Lowenstein called a "mad, Strangelovian" logic. Not content to bundle thousands of subprime mortgages into mortgage securities, banks bundled the bundles into something called collateralized debt obligations, or CDOs. Next, they created bundles of bundles of bundles, called CDO-squared.
They created something known as synthetic CDOs that didn't even contain mortgages but merely referenced them, exchanging cash between two parties taking opposing bets that a mortgage lender unconnected to them would get its money back.
Adding to the confusion, it wasn't clear which financial firms held many of the original mortgages on which everyone was betting. They had been bought and sold so many times among investors that no one could follow the paper trail.
By 2006, the men who had wounded a nation's faith in capitalism were finally getting justice. Enron's former president, Jeffrey Skilling, began serving 24 years in prison. Kenneth Lay, the chairman, died before he could be sentenced. Rigas, the cable titan, got 15 years, Ebbers and Kozlowski 25 each.
But we were about to discover that the lies we tell ourselves can be more damaging.
In 2007, subprime lenders went bust, one after another. Then all the mounting debt, made possible by years of half-truths and self-deceptions, turned the fall of a single industry into a worldwide financial crisis.
In March 2008, investors fearing bad mortgage bets at Bear Stearns pulled money out of the bank, leaving it to collapse into the arms of a rival.
Unable to untangle the web of mortgage risk, they began to wonder who was next. They focused on Lehman Brothers, and as that bank teetered, it became clear that the danger of complexity wasn't the only lesson from Enron that had been ignored.
Lehman had hidden debt just like Enron.
Using a financing technique called Repo 105, the bank had borrowed money in a series of deals structured to make it seem as though it had been "selling" assets to raise money. Lenders demanded money back, triggering a run on the bank and leaving ordinary investors scrambling to understand just how much the company had borrowed.
Lehman's bankruptcy in September 2008 froze credit worldwide and helped turn the U.S. recession into the worst since the Great Depression. Stocks eventually fell to 12-year lows, retirement accounts were devastated, and many Americans' biggest asset, their home, plummeted in value.
By the end of 2008, Bernard Madoff was arrested for lying to investors in a $60 billion Ponzi scheme over two decades. A few months later, President Barack Obama started talking up the strengths of the economy, but that soon proved a bit of a mirage, too.
More than a year later, the White House announced its "Recovery Summer," a series of public projects to goose economic growth. But a year and half later, the unemployment rate is stuck at 9 percent and economic growth uninspiring.
A sad footnote: After an overhaul of Wall Street rules last year, broker MF Global turned to the same Lehman-like Repo 105 deals to fuel its bet on indebted European governments. The heavy borrowing helped send the firm run by ex-New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine into bankruptcy, throwing 1,000 people out of work and creating chaos in markets as brokerage customers scrambled to get their money back.
A month after the firm's collapse, regulators still can't find $1.2 billion of customer funds.
Now Europe is paying for years of using government debt to fund early retirements and long vacations that its citizens really couldn't afford. Streets are choked with protesters, governments are toppling and interest rates rising, some to crippling highs.
Rosenberg, the prescient housing critic, sees trouble for America, too.
Frightened investors are buying Treasury bonds, which is making it cheaper than ever for Washington to borrow despite its trillion-dollar-plus deficits. The danger is that low rates could lull Americans into believing that, even if they themselves can't borrow recklessly, it's OK for their government to.
"A government debt bubble is already creating misery in Europe," Rosenberg says. "If we don't watch out, we'll face the same problem."
Stocks have barely moved in the decade of lost faith. On the Friday before the Enron bankruptcy, the S&P 500 closed at 1,139. Last Friday it closed 19 points above that. The incomes of many middle-class Americans haven't kept up with inflation. Home prices are still falling.
Pretending we were wealthier has made us poorer.


text:
Crackdown On Spam Continues With Tough Sentence in Virginia
from the oh-the-places-you'll-go dept
Although there are still a lot of spammers running around here in the U.S., their numbers are going down, thanks in part to more criminal convictions. One spammer in particular could be going down for a long time: Jeremy Jaynes, who was indicted over a year ago and recently convicted in Virginia for blasting people with 10 million unwanted emails a day. Looks like the judge got one too many Viagra come-on himself, as he has now accepted a jury's recommended sentence of 9 years in prison. Sounds pretty harsh, even for an insidious spammer. But surprisingly, the defense argued that the sentence was too long because Jaynes is an out-of-state resident being charged under a new law. Huh? Perhaps this is just a legal technicality with the same underlying idea that the punishment might not fit the crime. Still, it certainly sounds like he's admitting that the sentence would be fine if he had been tried with a similar crime in his home state of North Carolina. It's being appealed, and it's likely the sentence will get reduced. Here's hoping that he sees at least a little bit of jail time. Just don't give him access to email or the mail room, or prisoners will be start getting messages about penis enlargement.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Benedetta Tagliabue is a renowned Italian architect established in Barcelona for more than twenty years. Born in Milan, she completed her studies in Architecture in Venice and New York. In 1991 started her collaboration with Enric Miralles with whom she founded Miralles Tagliabue EMBT studio in 1994. She just completed the Spanish Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo 2010 and received the prestigious RIBA International Award for Best International Building last May. Among her achievements, she completed the Scottish Parliament, which is now one of Scotland's most visited buildings, the Park Diagonal Mar, the market and quarter Santa Catarina in Barcelona etc. She currently directs the studio EMBT, whose work has been exhibited in MOMA, Centre Pompidou and in many others monographic exhibition around the World.
Benedetta Tagliabue is constantly teaching and giving lectures in architectural forums or universities all over the world; this year has been teaching in Columbia University. Miralles Tagliabue EMBT has a main office in Barcelona and a branch in Shanghai, operating all over the world.


text:
Portfolio Maestro TradeStation
Website: www.tradestation.com/trading-technology/tradestation-platform/analyze/portfolio-maestro
System Requirements: Operating System: Windows Vista, Windows 7 or Windows 8 (32-bit or 64-bit)
Processor: Minimum — 1.5 GHz single-core; Recommended — 3 GHz dual-core or better
RAM: 2 GB minimum, 4 GB recommended
Hard Drive: 300 MB free space
Internet Connection: Broadband with 6Mbps or better recommended
Rating: 4 out of 4
The biggest factor in navigating the opportunities in today's market is that the individual has an overall trading approach to match his own personality. But, the dilemma that you face is backtesting and then optimizing the key factors of your trading style, trade management and risk control in an effective manner that maximizes opportunities with respect to risk, while matching your own temperament. Even if you have a working framework, it does little good without a way of measuring its effectiveness in the real-world. Like two sides of a coin, reliable trading system and risk management are essential components of successful trading, and one cannot be done without the other.
Worse, for those who hope to diversify their approach with multiple trading systems with the goal of smoothing out their equity curves against the back-drop of a volatile market, there is, unfortunately, very little light down that path. Without a way to get hard data on how the systems work with each other or determine the optimal money management rules, the results are hidden from view and are hit-and-miss at best.
To accomplish that, Tradestation introduced Portfolio Maestro.
Recognizing that the small individual traders needed the same type of tools that the large billion-dollar institutional traders had at their disposal, Portfolio Maestro's goal is to help you cut your learning curve on achieving your performance goals by allowing you to gather the quick, hard facts on how to combine trading systems with different money management rules to maximize their returns while controlling downside risk.
With this new feature, you are able to get access to data on how much of your portfolio to allocate to each trading method that you intend to implement in the pursuit of your trading objectives with respect to your own temperament.
For example, if you have both a trend following system and a breakout trading system, you can combine the two approaches within a sample portfolio size. Each trading system is a "Strategy" within Portfolio Maestro's framework that can be combined for a "Strategy Group," then placed under the umbrella of a "Portfolio."
Once you have that set up, you then can customize the Position Sizing to either a fixed amount or a percent model, add money management rules and profit taking rules, and backtest the results of the combination of trade systems and custom risk model. This, in effect, goes beyond the standard backtesting that has been commonplace and gives you the ability to go beyond the constraints of system-only backtesting to help you gain a comprehensive perspective on what works, or not.
To test the program's ability, I decided to run a test based on the markets current sideway's price action. Because the market had been without a confirmed trend lately, I chose to test two of PM's trade strategies on file, the Bollinger Band Long Entry and Bollinger Band Short Entry trade systems, on the stocks that make up the Dow Jones Composite Index.
In addition, I would use one of PM's stop loss systems, the ATR Targets & Stop LX and ATR Targets & Stop SX, to round out stop and profit targets.


text:
Porsche Design New Black P'9981 BlackBerry
The luxury brand tax refund garnishment is unveiling the new-look P'9981 tax layers Smartphone. The new version features a striking, completely black, design, further emphasizing the iconic essence of the brand. The P'9981 Black will be available from the mid of January 2013 in Porsche Design stores all over the world and in the luxury brand's buy viagra las vegas.
The black look creates a stylish new take on the product's outstanding design and high-quality materials. The P'9981 Black consists of a stainless steel frame encased in black plastic with a hand-applied leather backing. Additional highlights include a special black QWERTY keyboard and a crystal-clear touch-screen display. Just like the first P'9981, the black version features an exclusive user interface and an own BlackBerry-Messenger-PIN.
Porsche Design New Black P'9981 BlackBerry is a post by Brian Farmer on Highsnobiety.


text:
SQL Server 7.0 has made replication easier than ever, but to maximize your expertise, consider all your options. You can use replication wizards, Data Transformation Services (DTS), the SQL Distributed Management Objects (SQL-DMO) interface, or even binary code if you want to. But if you're already comfortable with T-SQL, consider learning how to use custom stored procedures for copying data. In this article, I show you how and help you understand when to use this method.
According to SQL Server Books Online (BOL), replication copies and distributes data and database objects from one database to another, and certain types keep the copies consistent with the sources. Snapshot replication makes static copies of your choice of tables, columns, and records; transactional replication starts with a snapshot but periodically copies changes in the source tables to the target tables, making it dynamic. Because snapshots aren't updated regularly, they usually don't have performance problems. However, transactional replication keeps a log reader process running continually. This process tracks which changes have been copied and which changes are waiting for the next update. Because the log reader process uses system resources, the more changes users make to the source tables, the heavier the log reader's performance load is.
For transferring data, you can create custom stored procedures that combine some of the best features of snapshot and transactional replication, while avoiding some of their weaknesses. I refer to these custom procedures as transfer-deltas, because transferring only the changes to data is one of their most important features. Unlike when you use standard replication through the Enterprise Manager or directly execute some of the hundreds of replication procedures in SQL Server 7.0, when you write and maintain these custom stored procedures, you use T-SQL code.
Coding your own procedures has several advantages over using Enterprise Manager or system procedures to set up and maintain your replication needs for read-only destination tables (except in cases that require merge replication). First, like transactional replication, custom transfer-delta procedures move only data that has changed. But like snapshot replication, transfer-delta procedures require minimal processing overhead. (The custom procedures don't need a log reader process because they don't have to maintain information about which records have moved or need to move.) Second, like synchronization, these procedures can make all records match every time the procedure runs. Transactional replication only makes sure that records are moved once, which might be exactly what you need. But if you need destination records to always match the source exactly, transactional replication won't work. If records are changed on or deleted from the destination table, transactional replication doesn't make the changed records on the destination match the source, nor does it replace deleted records on the destination table. Another advantage with custom transfer-delta procedures is that source tables can undergo design modifications without requiring troublesome replication administration. Also, you can control the updates through conventional job scheduling.
Of course, custom code isn't always better than other types of replication. The performance advantage of these custom procedures over transactional replication diminishes the more frequently you need to transfer the data. For example, when you need constant updates to a hot backup server, running custom procedures repeatedly is a poor alternative to the performance of the log reader agent that transactional replication uses.
If your updates aren't too frequent and you want to try custom replication, start by deciding whether to push or pull records, and create a link for the remote server. If you execute the stored procedures on the server that holds the source tables, you're pushing the changes; if you execute them on the server that receives the records, you're pulling the changes. Create the link to the remote server by using sp_addlinkedserver or Enterprise Manager to add that server to the local server's linked servers list (SQL Server Group/servername/Security/Linked Servers). You can put your source and destination tables on the same server, but the examples in this article assume you have separate servers.
A typical transfer-delta procedure contains three parts. The first part deletes obsolete records in the destination tables, the second part modifies changed records, and the third adds new records. This order is important because it prevents the procedure from unnecessarily evaluating obsolete and new records.
Let's look at an example that shows the three parts individually. Listing 1 puts the three parts together into a complete procedure. The example uses a source table named Publishers that resides in a local database (the Publishers table in Microsoft's Pubs database) and a destination table, also named Publishers, in a remote database on a server named Server2. The table has a one-column primary key, pub_id, and four attribute columns: pub_name, city, state, and country.
The first part of the procedure consists of a DELETE query to remove any record that exists in the destination table but that no longer exists in the source table. If a table has more than one column in its primary key, this DELETE query must compare every primary key column against its match in the destination table. You could also use NOT IN with the correlated subquery, but doing so could make multicolumn key situations more complex. If you want to make the destination table a historical record instead of a duplicate, simply leave out the DELETE query.
The second part consists of an UPDATE query. If the source and destination tables have a timestamp column (set every time the source table is updated), this query only has to compare the primary key and timestamp columns to check whether destination records need updating. If the table has no timestamp column, the query must compare every attribute column in the source table with its matching column in the destination table (as a commented section in Listing 1 shows). If the timestamp column's value (or any attribute column's value) doesn't match its counterpart, the query updates the value for all attribute columns and the timestamp column, if one exists.
If the source and destination tables have more than one column as part of the primary key, drop the JOIN/ON clause (as Listing 1 illustrates), separate the table names with commas, and add key-column comparison statements to the WHERE clause. Listing 2 shows examples for tables with and without timestamp columns.
When you use a transfer-delta stored procedure for an intersection (many-to-many) table whose primary key comprises two columns (each a foreign key) and no attribute columns, you don't need an UPDATE query because only attribute columns get updated. Likewise, if the key has attribute columns, you need an UPDATE query.
The third and final part of a transfer-delta procedure is an INSERT statement that copies records to the destination table if the source table has a record with a primary key that isn't in the destination table. The statement copies every column, whether primary key or attribute, and must use every column in the primary key to compare the source and destination tables. When multiple columns make up the primary key, you can concatenate them to compare them all, as Listing 3 demonstrates.
You can modify the basic form of Listing 1 in variations to cover most situations. For example, Listing 3 is a pull procedure that uses casting and concatenation to combine two primary key columns with different data types. CAST (and CONVERT) changes a column's original data type to a different data type in the result set. Concatenating joins two or more values into one value, but their data types must be compatible. For instance, to concatenate values from a date column, a numeric column, and a text string, you need to change the date and number values to text by using CAST or CONVERT.
Custom transfer-delta stored procedures can also scrub and merge data as it's moving. For simple scrubbing to make data forms consistent, you can cast or convert data types, concatenate to combine multiple columns into one, or use CASE statements to conditionally replace values. You can accomplish simple merging by having multiple sets of source tables and one set of destination tables, omitting DELETE queries from your transfer-delta procedures. For example, if you have two Sales databases that you want to keep separate, but you want to combine historical sales records in a third location, you can use procedures that copy records from the two sources into a CombinedSales table. If one source table spells out state names and another abbreviates them, you can use a CASE statement in one table's transfer-delta procedure to make it match the other table's convention.
When you have a set of these procedures for each table, you can run them all by calling one global procedure. Listing 4 is an example global procedure, which expects individual table procedures to be named sp_TransferDelta_tablename. This approach can be useful during development and debugging. However, when you're scheduling a job to automate the updates, you assist future troubleshooting if you make each transfer-delta procedure a separate step, rather than calling a set of them from a global procedure.
When you're creating a new transfer-delta procedure, you can use the following query to generate a comma-delimited list of the column names that you'll need for the INSERT queries:
SELECT column_name + ',' FROM information_schema.columns WHERE table_name = 'publishers'
To maximize your expertise and discover more advanced options for custom stored procedures, study the replication system stored procedures and extended stored procedures in the Master database. You can generate a list of them by running the following query:
"SELECT DISTINCT Name FROM SysObjects WHERE (Type = 'P' OR Type = 'X') AND (Name LIKE '%agent%' OR Name LIKE '%repl%' OR Name LIKE '%dist%' OR Name LIKE '%publ%' OR Name LIKE '%merge%' OR Name LIKE '%subs%' OR Name LIKE '%sync%') ORDER BY 1"
If you can't see the Master database in Enterprise Manager, you can make it appear by right-clicking the server name, selecting Edit SQL Server Registration Properties, then selecting the Show system databases and system objects check box and clicking OK.
Note that the procedures in the Master database's Extended Stored Procedures folder are compiled objects (including some that start with sp_), so you won't be able to study their source code by double-clicking them as you can with other stored procedures. Fortunately, they all appear in BOL, so you can learn something about them.
You can create transfer-delta procedures when you need the benefits of customization, or you can use them as a base for even more sophisticated custom procedures. Developing your ability to go beyond the wizards built into SQL Server will give you more flexibility in transferring data and expand your options when you need the benefits of replication.


text:
Best Undergraduate Teaching
I have just finished reading the "In Brief" section of the fall/winter issue and was very pleased to learn that U.S. News & World Report ranked Beloit in the top 10 on its list of colleges with the best undergraduate teaching.
During my four years at Beloit, I remember fondly the many talented teachers I had as an undergraduate. They included Professors Adams, Hodge, Irrmann, and Osen in the history department, and Professors McAllister, Crom, and Ray in other departments.
Perhaps they served unknowingly as role models since I became a school teacher the year after I left Beloit, and taught for the next 36 years in Milwaukee and Brookline (Mass.).
Now I am retired from teaching school but teach tennis at the Boston Sports Club and supervise student teachers from Emmanuel College in Boston.
I never realized how much these men influenced me in choosing a career. I am convinced that many of the Ivy League schools with their fancy reputations could not match the outstanding teaching that goes on at Beloit College.
Thanks for showing me how it is done.
Rob Miller'74
Newton, Mass.
Remembering Scott Crom
I was sorry to read about the death of Scott Crom. I showed up at Beloit in the fall of 1975 loving science fiction and wanting to find faculty members who were as enthusiastic about it as I was. I found two: librarian Clyde Peterman and Scott Crom, who at the time kept 20 years' worth of Fantasy & Science Fiction magazine in his office. F&SF was (and is) my favorite science fiction magazine, so I took all the courses he offered, which led to my adding a philosophy major to the history major I was already planning to obtain.
As a teacher, Crom was both very kind and very demanding. He made you study the great philosophers very closely, but repaid the effort by closely analyzing your arguments and poking holes in them. In his advanced seminars, he'd typically give you back a 10-page paper with five single-spaced pages of notes. As a nonfiction writer who often has to explain complicated subjects, I had no better training at Beloit than Scott Crom's philosophy courses.
Martin Morse Wooster'80
Silver Spring, Md.
Life and Financial Planning
I was so excited to see the article about Warren Palmer and his life and financial planning workshop in Beloit's magazine this quarter. I smirked and remembered that he told me to show up to the dealership to haggle for my first car (loan) with a calculator! It totally worked; for intimidation, too.
Jess Carey'07
Oakland, Calif.
I want to comment on how happy I was to see the life and financial planning course offering at Beloit. I was not financially savvy coming out of Beloit back in 1986 but was lucky enough to meet my future wife whose father was in the investment business. I learned about investing; the power of time in the market and the magic of compounding interest from him years later. I am grateful every day that he not only taught me well but also modeled most of the behaviors that Warren Palmer laid out in his 10 tips. I have cut them out and put them on my refrigerator so that it will be a reminder to my kids as they get jobs and begin their adult lives. Keep up the great work.
Andrew Sennett'86
Burlington, Wis.


text:
Click, Clack, and Car Talk
NPR's Tappet brothers are wrong about the societal costs of car phones.
Click and Clack, the Tappet brothers of NPR's Car Talk, have declared war on drivers with cell phones. Their weapon is moral suasion, in the form of bumper stickers that say, "Drive Now, Talk Later." (The Tappets claim that NPR's management vetoed their first choice: "Would You Drive Better If I Crammed That Cell Phone Up Your Keister?") The bumper stickers are aimed not just at drivers but at legislators. The Tappet brothers want a ban on cell phone use by drivers in all 50 states. So far, they've met their goal in exactly zero out of 50.
Talking while driving is deadly. Of this there is much evidence and little doubt. Cell phone use increases your accident risk by almost 400 percent. But so what? It's a big and unwarranted leap from "talking while driving is deadly" to "talking while driving is bad." After all, lots of things are deadly without being bad. Take driving itself, for example. Just getting behind the wheel (as opposed to staying home in bed) multiplies your accident risk by far more than 400 percent, but so far the Tappets have not proposed to outlaw driving.
Presumably that's because they recognize that the benefits of driving exceed the costs, even though the costs include tens of thousands of fatalities every year. In other words, the Tappets implicitly recognize that cost-benefit analysis is a legitimate basis for public policy. So you might think they'd welcome a cost-benefit analysis of cell phone use by drivers, at least as a starting point for a discussion. Instead, when just such an analysis came along, the Tappets responded with vitriol, lies, and slander.
The analysis is courtesy of Robert Hahn, Paul Tetlock, and Jason Burnett of the AEI-Brookings Joint Center for Regulatory Studies. They conclude that drivers' cell phones are indeed deadly but nevertheless (on net) a good thing. On their Web page, the Tappet brothers describe that work thusly: "Here's an economic analysis that shows the enormous value to the economy of driving and talking. (As long as we don't factor in the injuries, lost lives, pain and suffering of all those accidents, that is!)"
That description is a slanderous lie. The AEI-Brookings study is all about factoring in the injuries, lost lives, pain and suffering of cell phone-related accidents. The researchers estimate that in 1999, driver use of cell phones caused about 300 fatalities, 38,000 nonfatal injuries, and 200,000 damaged vehicles.
In a 1999 letter to the New York Times, the Tappet brothers refer to one of those 300 fatalities—a 2-and-a-half-year-old girl named Morgan Lee—and ask, "What price has Mr. Hahn plugged into his nice, clean economic model to account for the misery and tears that such outright selfishness has wrought?" If they'd bothered to read the research they're so quick to criticize, they'd have found the answer: The price is $6.6 million, a widely used standard based on Harvard law professor Kip Viscusi's analysis of how much people are willing to pay to preserve lives in a variety of contexts.
Pricing out the fatalities at $6.6 million each, and adding in the costs of injuries and vehicle damage, Mr. Hahn and his colleagues estimate that in 1999, cell phone use by drivers caused $4.6 billion worth of damage. That's the cost of letting drivers use cell phones. But to prove something is bad, it's not enough to calculate the cost. You've got to also calculate the benefit and see which is bigger.
Here's how Hahn and his colleagues do that: They figure the value of a call is equal to what you're willing to pay for it minus what you actually pay for it. They estimate willingness to pay from demand studies and actual charges from real-life cell phone bills. They factor in the truism that some calls are more valuable than others and conclude that the cell phone calls made by drivers in 1999 had a total value of $25 billion. That $25 billion benefit beats the $4.6 billion cost, so cell phones for drivers are on net a good thing.
Actually, I don't buy it, and here's why: Drivers make a lot of calls that could easily wait for the next rest stop. Those calls shouldn't count as benefits of legalized talking-while-driving because they'd get made even if talking-while-driving were banned. So—as Hahn et al. acknowledge in a note near the end of their paper—the true benefit of talking-while-driving is probably far less than $25 billion. They still believe it's well over $4.6 billion, though. For the sake of argument, let's suppose it's $10 billion.
Then what would the Tappets' cherished ban accomplish? Drivers would give up $10 billion in benefits to prevent 300 deaths (plus some injuries and property damage). That's a lousy deal. The same $10 billion invested in, say, firefighting equipment would save substantially more than 300 lives—conceivably (using Viscusi's numbers) about five times as many. Instead of taking away drivers' cell phones, we could confiscate $10 billion, use it to buy fire trucks, and do the world a lot more good.
Or maybe not. The AEI-Brookings study is hardly the last word on the matter. Maybe a more thorough study, with more precise numbers, will show that a cell phone ban does make sense. Or maybe the next study will confirm what Hahn and his colleagues believe. Either way, Click and Clack won't trouble themselves to read the next study. Their minds are already made up.


text:
Doctor in Hariom Dog Clinic 2
Dr. Vishnu Prajapati
Veterinary Services
Treatments For Birds
Veterinary Treatment
Neurosurgery In Dogs And Cats
Services For Birds
Pet Grooming
Veterinary Surgery
Veterinary Pharmacy
Treatment For Reptiles
Veterinary Chiropractic
Feline Medicine
Veterinary Crematorium
Veterinary Dental Prophylaxis
Veterinary Surgery Soft Tissue
Submit Feedback
Submit a review for Hariom Dog Clinic 2Your feedback matters!
Sir mere pass buffalo h uske pero m problem h usse 2-dino se khda nhii ho pa rha h yha koi animal doctor nhii h sir please help me.
Dr. Ji my female American Bully ki hai vo AK baar dog sey meeting karvai thi to concive hogi thi Or 8 pup diye the fer agli three heat par dog sey meeting karvai to female conceive Nahi hui please koi jankari dey Dr. Ji.
Hello, My dog is 11 years old, recently he fell ill. His treating doctor after examining his blood work informed us that his liver has failed because of Jaundice. Please help is there any treatment for this? Where we live (Jamshedpur) we don't have any treatment for liver failure in dogs and the doctor said there is nothing much that he can do. He has stopped eating or drinking water from past 15-20 days. Please Please need urgent help and advice.
Hi, My Chicken's comb turns purple from red ' is there any prob? Is there any disease? Eating is fine. Is there any medicine?
The use of herbs and spices has been important through the course of history. Modern scientific research has shown that many herbs and spices offer various health benefits and are known for their medicinal properties even before they were used for cooking.
- Cinnamon: Helps in regulating blood sugar levels. Cinnamon is widely used in various types of culinary creations, particularly baked goods. Cinnamon is rich in a compound called cinnamaldehyde, which endows the herb with its medicinal properties. This spice contains the highest level of antioxidants than other spices, which helps in fighting inflammation and has been proved to lower down levels of triglycerides and cholesterol in the blood. Many studies have also shown that cinnamon can lower down your blood sugar level by slowing down the breakdown of carbohydrates as well as improving insulin sensitivity.
- Sage: Helps in improving memory and brain functions. The name "sage" is derived from the Latin word Salvere, meaning "to save." In recent times, several researches have been conducted that show the efficacy of sage in improving functions of the brain and memory, particularly in individuals who are suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Other studies have indicated that sage can improve the function of the brain, both in young and old.
- Peppermint: Aids in reducing nausea. Peppermint is well known for its medicinal usage, which makes it a critical component of aromatherapy. Many studies have shown that use of peppermint oil helps in alleviating the pain caused by irritable bowel syndrome. There are some studies that indicate peppermint can also help in fighting the problem of nausea among women in labour.
- Turmeric: Endowed with anti-inflammatory properties. Turmeric is a popular spice that is used for giving the yellow colour to the curry, but it also contains several medicinal properties. Turmeric is rich in curcumin content, which is an anti-oxidant that not only helps in preventing damage from oxidation, but also boosts the body's own antioxidant enzymes. It also has strong anti-inflammatory properties, which can match to that of many anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Holy basil: Helps in fighting infection. Basil, one of the sacred herbs in India, is known for inhibiting the growth of numerous bacteria, molds and yeasts. It can also reduce the blood sugar levels, both before and after meals. Holy basil also aids in fighting anxiety and depression.
- Cayenne pepper: Aids in controlling appetite. Those individuals who are looking to lose weight can use the cayenne pepper as it not only helps in controlling appetite, but also increases the amount of fat burned. This is the primary reason why it has been included in many commercial weight loss supplements. Some animal studies have indicated that the capsaicin content in cayenne pepper also helps in fighting liver, lung and even prostate cancer.
All the herbs and spices come from different parts of the plants such as flowers, fruits, barks, seeds, leaves, and roots as well. These essential parts of the plant not only make the dishes taste better, but also aid in preserving them for a longer span of time. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!
Hi, I have purchased a dog last week and he is 3 months old and he bit me 2 days back, Before me he was with another family and owner parents were ill so if this dog Lick that owner's parents and if he lick and bit me as well so can he spread the diseases. Also I have another dog so can I use the same syringe for vaccination for both dogs? Please help me to clear my confusion.
Hi Sir, For a veterinary doctor, my cat 3 years old has anaemia and dental problems too (haemoglobin and platelet low), the veterinary doctor in my place advised me to give Cheri syrup 100 ml bottle (2 ml once a day), but please note cheri syrup is basically a human medicine, my cat's creatinine level is also on higher side 1.6 (reference range .6-1.6).can I give my cat the full bottle of Cheri syrup or will it have any adverse impact on his health?
Your body cannot sustain without food and nutrition because it needs to be productive and healthy. What you consume on a daily basis will determine how your health will be in the present and future. But the current generation, despite knowing so much about healthy eating follow extremely unhealthy diets. One of the biggest reasons why the young generation has such unhealthy food habits is because they are busy almost all the time and this serves as an excuse for not having proper meals.
The percentage of young people eating unhealthy food has risen by 35% and overall obesity by 44%. The kind of food you put in your body when you are young will mostly stay on for the rest of your life. So, it is incredibly important to follow a healthy and nutritious diet.
Complications and dangers due to lack of good nutrition
Lack of poor nutrition translates into making your body vulnerable to a host of illnesses. It will greatly affect your overall health and lead to a lot of health complications which you may not be able to undo once you get older. Some of the health risks are:
- Type-2 diabetes
- Weak teeth and tooth decay
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Inflated blood pressure
- Increase in cholesterol level
- Obesity
- Stress
- Depression
- Bone decay leading to osteoporosis
- Eating disorders such as bulimia, anorexia, pica, rumination and binge-eating disorder
- Acidity or heartburn
- Improper sleep
- Long standing ailments such as arthritis and cancer
Why following a nutritious diet is beneficial for you?
Following a healthy diet can go a long way in ensuring that you stay in optimal health not just when you are young but also when you get older. What you consume today will have a direct effect on your body in the future. Some of the benefits of a nutritious diet are:
- Immune system- Good diet will strengthen your immune system, which in turn means you, will have to deal with less illnesses. Consuming proper amounts of vitamins B, C, E, A, iron, selenium and zinc helps a lot in ensuring this. You will feel stronger and healthier and will have a lot energy.
- Healthy and strong teeth and bones- Calcium is an ingredient that helps in maintaining, developing and having strong teeth and bone health. You can get calcium not just from dairy products but also from fruit juices, salmon, sardines, broccoli, soya products and kale. Vitamin D rich foods like fish oils can also give you a lot of calcium since this type of vitamin helps in your body in absorbing calcium.
- Lowers risk of type-2 diabetes- Eating high-fibre and low-fat foods contribute towards decreasing your risks of getting type-3 diabetes and also helps in preserving a healthy weight and BMI (Body Mass Index).
- Management of weight- Having a lot of fruits, vegetables, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and healthy fats helps in controlling your weight. Having nutrient-rich food keep you full and stops you from binging on things that are high in sugar and fats.
- Cardiac health- Fishes like salmon, hilsa, anchovies etc., filled with omega-3 fatty acids are heavily beneficial for ensuring a healthy heart. These foods also cuts down the risks of heart disease. Apart from oily fishes, low-fat milk products and fruits and vegetables also help in keeping your cholesterol and blood pressure in check.
No matter how much you exercise, nothing can substitute a good and nutritious diet because as you get older you may not be able to work out but if you follow a proper diet, it will ensure that you stay in good health and good spirits. You can have junk food once in a while, but always remember that a good diet will always enrich your life and health.


text:
March 26. 2014 7:37PM
Officials still looking for cuts to school budget
By BARBARA TAORMINA
Union Leader Correspondent
NASHUA — The board of education has rescheduled the final public hearing on the 2015 school budget for April 9 in order buy some time to make cuts and close the roughly $1.5 million gap between the district's plan and $99 million the city has proposed.
Board members have been working with Superintendent Mark Conrad's revised $101 million budget recommendation and an additional list of recommended cuts of teachers and staff that would shave another million dollars from that bottom line. Although they have cut about $450,000 in classroom supplies, technology hardware, library books, professional development for teachers, secretaries, and salaries for new positions, members are now facing the prospect of laying off six high school teachers, two middle school teachers and several guidance and career counselors.
On Wednesday night, board members raised concerns about David Murotake's tabled proposal to raise athletic fees to cover 35 percent of the more than $1 million athletic budget. The district currently charges fees that were set in 2010 in order to raise 25 percent, or about $250,000, of the cost of the athletic program. Those fees have generated only about $150,000 in revenue.
Although students who qualify for the free and reduced lunch program are exempt from athletic fees, members felt higher fees would be a hardship for many families, and some worried participation in sports programs would decline.
In response, Murotake amended his original motion and proposed raising fees enough to cover $91,600 of the sports budget which would free up enough money to save the jobs of two middle school teachers.
"We have an extensive program that covers a variety of sports that you often find only at private schools," said Murotake. "I have no doubt the athletic program has tremendous benefits of keeping kids in school."
Still, Murotake said that because the board was facing budget problems, and because members were trying to keep the impact on taxpayers to a minimum, it was time to consider some type of increase.
But other members felt there was no way to guarantee the district would meet that revenue goal, and the board voted against the amended proposal.
"We have an athletic fee that's working," said board member Robert Hallowell, who added a small increase of existing fees might be acceptable. Students currently pay $50 for track, $150 for football and $500 for ice hockey.
Most of those fees seem reasonable," said Hallowell. "I know there are other districts where fees are much higher, but I don't want to go there."
Board members did agree to scrap plans to hire a part-time guidance counselor for elementary school children but the vote was not unanimous. Vice Chairman Kimberly Muise voted against eliminating that position, saying that the district needs to consider the "whole child" and do whatever is possible to protect the health and well being of students.
Board members also disagreed on eliminating a curriculum specialist with an annual salary of $78,900.
Murotake argued that with the Common Core standards-based assessment tests starting in the spring of 2015, eliminating a specialist to help tailor curriculum to prepare students would be a mistake.
"The reason the Common Core standards are better is because the rigor is raised and new things are added," said Murotake, who has repeatedly called for a delay in starting those tests. "It is a fantasy to believe you can eliminate that position. What we need is not to skinny down curriculum specialists but to add more."
Fellow board member Steven Haas agreed.
"I think we need all hands on deck, and I don't believe we can afford to remove a curriculum specialist," said Haas. The majority of the board, however, voted to approve that cut.
At one point, Sandra Ziehm suggested sending the budget as is to the board of aldermen and letting them make the cuts, but fellow board members said the aldermen would just reduce the bottom line and send it back to the board of education to make the tough choices.
The board is scheduled to meet again on April 2, at 6:30 p.m. at Nashua High School North to continue looking for ways to reduce the budget without forcing significant sacrifices on students or teachers.


text:
Prices, specials, features and availability subject to change.
Sunpointe Townhomes is the perfect place to come home to. Our brand new, spacious two and three bedroom townhomes include all the features you want while our comprehensive service plan takes care of all those maintenance chores you don't want.
At Sunpointe Townhomes, you'll find a life made easier.
Leases: 12 months. Call for pet policy.
Pets Accepted. Call for service animal policy.
160 units
Contact Propertyor call
This is a really nice community to live in.
January 11, 2014
Thank you so much for the 5 stars and the great review!
Sunpointe Team
The atmosphere at Sunepoint is great. Very friendly neighbors. I don''??t have pets but those who do are res Read Morepectful of others lawns and driveways. The kids in the neighborhood are cool too. The staff courteous and will go above to satisfy your needs.
December 13, 2013
Hi Donna,
Thank you so much for your great review and the 5 stars! We are always here to help out if you need us!
Sunpointe Team
Having a great experienece so far. Staff has been more than accommodating. Hoping to have the gym finished soo Read Moren.
January 25, 2015
We appreciate your kind words, the Community Center and Gym are progressing smoothly and hope to be open very soon.
My family and I have been residence for over 2 years and has never had any issues. The town homes are really n Read Moreice, spacious and comfortable. I also like the upgrades that are being done within our community. In my experience, if and when maintenance was needed, they were very timely with assistance. Sunpointe is a very nice place to live.
January 24, 2015
We love that you and your family have chosen to live and continue to live here at Sunpointe, we look forward to you staying with us for a long time and strive to have excellent customer service and maintenance staff.
My home is amazing.. Management is extremely accommodating when it comes to getting things done.
January 24, 2015
We thank you for your kind words, and strive to have amazing customer service and maintenance staff.
Monday-Friday: 9:00am-5:30pm
Saturday: Call for appt
Sunday: Closed
Sunpointe Gardens LLC
Your message has been sent. This property will be saved on My Saved Properties.
Don't have a Rent.com account? Create one.
Creating an account allows you to acccess your saved and contacted properties on any device. Already have an account?
Log In
We are experiencing technical difficulties at the moment. Please try again later.


text:
Quintiles…..navigating the new health
Inclusion and Global Diversity
The best and the brightest individuals don't come from the same mold. We know that great performance comes from all different directions and is enriched with multiple viewpoints. The Quintiles community reflects a worldwide tapestry of cultures, ethnicities and lifestyles, expressed through our 24,000 professionals in over 60 countries. It is this rich mix that encourages fresh thinking, open collaboration and constant innovation.
Every hiring decision is based on qualifications for the job and merit, and we are proud to offer equal opportunities to all qualified individuals. We'll beyond hiring, Quintiles fosters a supportive environment where ideas from all corners are welcomed and appreciated. So you'll be a part of our success from your first day on the job. It's the kind of place where the best in you can flourish. Come join us as we continue on our quest to shape the new health landscape.
Our expertise as the industry's leading ally comes from our four Pillars of business:
Smarter clinical development. Executed brilliantly.
Solutions that set your products apart.
Where Insights Meets Execution.
Empowering success through innovative alliances.
Quintiles is the only fully integrated BioPharmaceutical services company offering clinical, commercial, consulting and capital solutions worldwide. With an established global network of 24,000 engaged professionals in over 60 countries, we collaborate with an unwavering ethical commitment to patients and safety. By navigating risk and seizing opportunities, Quintiles thrives on the realities of constant change to make people healthier through our alliances. Our market differentiation is revealed in our successes: Quintiles has helped our allies develop or bring-to-market all of the world's top 30 best-selling drugs, and 9 of the top 10 biologics.
Quintiles is an Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.


text:
Would you like to try this ice cream treat?
Well you can't. Not ever.
This is Ben & Jerry's NYC ice cream, a flavor created for its City Churned campaign and served at a "pop-up party" at Pier 17 in Manhattan, near W. 14th St., between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. today.
City Churned is a multi-city campaign in which Ben & Jerry's uses a little bit of crowd-sourcing and a little bit of random hocus-pocus to invent a flavor that expresses a city's essence, I guess. But not really.
For New York City, Ben & Jerry's set up turnstiles in Williamsburg for people to walk through. If they picked one side, that meant coffee, the other side meant chcolate. They set up basketball hoops. If people shot into one hoop, they were selecting marshmallows, if they shot in the other, that meant they wanted brownies.
But they also had the city itself decide, sort of. They counted the number of trains that departed on time (spoonable caramel), and those that were delayed (waffle cone pieces). They looked at the number of photos posted from Central Park (caramel corn) and those from the Highline (vanilla cake pieces).
"So it was a little bit of conscious voting and unconscious voting," Michael Hayes, Ben & Jerry's associate digital marketing manager, explained to me as I tasted the ice cream, for which I stood in line.
Pictured above is half of the line. It curved along the pier. So it wasn't a short line. But the woman in back of me asked me to hold her place while she checked to make sure we were in the right line (we were), and she came back with barbecue chicken wings from Fletcher's, a barbecue joint that was handing out free food at the party. I'd been meaning to try Fletcher's, so that killed two birds with one stone. The wings were tender and tasty, and came with a small cup of spicy sauce that tasted of strawberries.
My line neighbor left again and returned with Fletcher's smokey pork-laced baked beans.
Why does Ben & Jerry's create these City Churned flavors, I wonderd. In fact, I'd asked one of their publicists before tha party.
"The point of a one-time flavor is to create excitement, and let the Ben & Jerry's consumer choose their own flavor, instead of having us choose it for them. It's a unique opportunity for Ben & Jerry's fans to create and taste a flavor that is custom made," she wrote in an e-mail.
What The Customer, or New York City — but really Ben & Jerry's after giving us a narrow range of either/or options, most of which we didn't know about and couldn't control — ultimately created was a Six Point Brewery (from Brooklyn) three-bean vanilla ice cream (which tasted like a pretty hoppy beer) with a butterscotch swirl from Spoonable Caramels (a local company, of course) and brownies from Greyston Bakery (not just local but dedicated to hiring ex-convicts and others in need of a new or fresh start, and also a supplier of Ben & Jerry's for the past 23 years), topped with caramel corn from another local company, Liddabit Sweet.
It tasted like it was made by someone who doesn't like New York, or, at the very least, doesn't really understand it.
Unlike New York, a city whose diversity melds into a gritty, spicy, often bitter but ultimately, in its way, sweet sort of harmony, like my single-serving relationship with the woman in line with me, this ice cream was a bunch of sweet things with a little salt dipped in creamy beer — really kind of a gastronomic cacophany.
But it was also ephemeral — an ice cream to be tried once and only once.
Maybe they'll have better luck next time.


text: Native American Indian Month in Tennessee Biggest Pow-Wow in Tennessee This Weekend By Shawn Anfinson • Oct 19, 2012 NAIA MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT) -- The Native American Indian Association is hosting its 31st Annual Pow-Wow and Fall Festival this weekend. The gathering coincides with Native American Indian Month in Tennessee and serves to raise money for the organization's projects and charities. NAIA President, Sally Wells, is thankful for the public's past support and attendance. With a long-time goal just within reach, she's hopeful for another good turnout.


text:
Feedback and evaluation
The Sydney School of Education and Social Work values your observations and suggestions about your learning experience. As a result, students are encouraged to provide unit/program feedback on both a formal and informal basis. Please consult the menu bar on the left-hand side of the screen for more specific information.
Focus groups
Student representatives from each program are invited to provide feedback on matters relating to learning and teaching at bi-semester focus-group sessions. Student responses at these focus group sessions have directly led to a number of school initiatives, including the development of the Standardised Unit of Study Manager and Organiser (SUMO).
To volunteer to participate in a focus group session, please contact your unit coordinator or .


text:
Rio Rancho's high school teams may be rivals on the diamond, but they're one in sharing the game with people of all abilities.
At the Friday, April 14 Rio Rancho High/Cleveland High varsity baseball game, students from both schools' Best Buddies programs took the field to celebrate America's traditional pastime and recognize the programs at both schools. Best Buddies students were invited on the field to throw out the ceremonial first pitches. Players, students and faculty sold commemorative t-shirts and raised $3,600, with all profits going directly to the Best Buddies program.
The Best Buddies program's purpose is to bridge the gaps among students by minimizing differences and including individuals with disabilities in classes and activities. The program aims to create a culture that accepts everyone for who they are and provides opportunities for one-on-one friendships, integrated employment, and leadership. The goal is to end the separation between individuals who have disabilities and those who do not.
Just for the record, the game was a thriller, as Rams/Storm games almost always are, and the Rams won 5-4 on their home field. But the real winners were the students of all abilities and their families who had such a great time at the game.


text:
Transforming the Industry through Innovative Solutions and Collaboration
At the International Trade Partners Conference — ITPC 2010 — industry leaders from all over the globe convene to discuss and collaborate on global manufacturing, technology and trade issues for the semiconductor and adjacent industries. The conference offers keynote presentations and executive panels on the industry's most critical issues.
ITPC is one of the few industry conferences with an audience as influential as the presenters. Many of the people you meet at ITPC are the powerhouses in the industry… they are the motivating force behind the changes coming in the next ten years.
ITPC 2010 Sponsors—
Conference Keynote Speaker
Yoon-Woo Lee
- Keynote: Technology Innovation and Future Society
- Innovative Solution of Semiconductor Device Manager
- Collaboration for Advance of Memory Technology
- Collaboration in a High Stakes Game
- Moore with Less: Collaboration in An Era of Efficient Innovation
- Semiconductor Innovation for China's Electronic Industry
- Latest Progress of Nitride-based LEDs and Laser Diodes
- Thriving on Heterogeneous Integration
- A Preview of the Next Decade
Executive Panels
Pan-Asian Economics Panel
Moderator: Richard Hill—Novellus Systems
Adjacent Markets Panel
Moderator: Pat Lamey—Applied Materials
Semiconductor Technology Panel
Moderator: Masao Fukuma—Semiconductor Industry Research Institute Japan
25th Anniversary
Since 1984, ITPC has earned a stellar reputation for bringing together industry leaders to learn, network, and collaborate on compelling issues that face the industry. Executives who attend ITPC meet high-level executives from all over the world.
Who Should Attend
Decision making, high-level executives in the semiconductor equipment, materials and device communities, and related industries
Please call designated SEMI Staff in your region if you have any questions about the conference.


text:
Holiday Accommodation close to a ski resort in Wales
We have found 1 properties to book, based on your search for Holiday Accommodation close to a ski resort in Wales.
Tan Yr Allt Self Catering Cottage Barmouth Wales >
Holiday Cottage in Barmouth, Gwynedd, Wales
This Grade II listed house is located in Barmouth in North Wales and sleeps eight people in four bedrooms, two doubles and two twins. A truly delightful Barmouth holiday cottage se...
£ 553.00 - £ 2,719.00 per week
Sleeps: 8Pet & Dog Friendly Pets Welcome
Online Booking AcceptedBook Online
Please wait while loading...


text:
New Haven and the problem of change in the American city
The American city has been seen as problematic at least since the time of Jefferson. Crowded, noisy, inflamed by dangerous ideas, harboring eccentric strangers, welcoming wave upon wave of unwashed immigrants, vulnerable to epidemic, notorious for crime and corruption, the city has been the object of endless moralizing, social engineering, and academic condescension. And yet, for all that, the American city has been wonderful: our nations great wellspring of creativity, its great site for intensive production, its laboratory for the technological and organizational means by which national wealth has expanded at breathtaking speed. New Haven is one such city, and this course is designed to examine its problems and promise within the larger historical context of American urbanism. New Haven is a fine model for the larger issues of city life. A leading location for urban scholarship across several generations, and small enough to learn well in a short period, New Haven is a great place to learn about the great saga of city life in the New World.
This interactive teaching tool contains a growing collection of images, interactive maps and data sets related to the City of New Haven.
Collection questions/comments:
Professor Douglas Rae
A Yale University Library
ELI Project
Site technical questions/comments:
Michael Friscia
, Digital Library & Programming Services
This site best viewed using Microsoft Internet Explorer
Some image content provided courtesy of the New Haven Museum & Historical Society
Site Credits
© 2006 Yale University
Last modified: 10/16/09


text:
Add The Shawn Carter By Hublot Watch To Your Shopping List
Listen out for the tick-tock of Jay Z's newest moneymaker. The business-savvy rapper collaborated with his favorite Swiss watchmaker to design the Shawn Carter by Hublot Classic Fusion. The limited edition watches, which come in yellow gold and black ceramic, are set to launch exclusively at Barney's with the rest of his A New York Holiday Collection starting on Wednesday, November 20th. There are 250 black model pieces in total, selling at $17,900, and 100 yellow models at $33,900. Flip through for more pictures of the watch.
Photo Credit: hodinkee.com


text:
Montshire School Partnership Initiative
If interested in participating or supporting the School Partnership Initiative, contact Greg DeFrancis at firstname.lastname@example.com.
- - - - -
The Montshire Museum's School Partnership Initiative strengthens the study of science in rural K-8 schools in Vermont and New Hampshire.
The initiative, run by the Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich, Vermont, works with teachers and school districts to improve science education in rural schools. "Many of the rural school districts found in Northern New England are too small to support the infrastructure needed for outstanding science programs. They are committed to a high-quality science programs but simply don't have the resources to hire professional staff dedicated to developing and coordinating a high-quality science curriculum," said Greg DeFrancis, director of education at the Montshire Museum.
Listen to the audio story produced by Ari Daniel Shapiro for the Noyce Foundation.
[at left] Ari Daniel Shapiro interviewing a student in Thetford, VT.
Why Focus on Youth Science Education?
Science education is critically important to the region and the nation. The STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math) have a major impact on the economy, the environment, health, international competitiveness, and technological innovation. But according to multiple assessments, such as the Program for International Student Assessment, the United States is no longer the leader in science education.
Through a longitudinal study of more than 3,300 young people, Dr. Robert Tai, a researcher at the University of Virginia, found that an interest in science, inspired before the age of 13, is more important than test scores in predicting a future career in science. Experts agree that a hands-on, inquiry-based approach can have a lasting impact on students' attitudes and enthusiasm toward science and learning.
Rural School Districts Present Unique Challenges in Science Teaching
Northern New England's small, rural school districts face ongoing challenges. Many districts don't have the resources to hire staff dedicated to coordinating a high-quality science curriculum. Underfunded school systems are less able to invest in curriculum materials and teacher development.
Montshire's School Partnership Initiative
The Montshire Museum developed its School Partnership Initiative (SPI) to support science education in the region's rural K-8 schools, and to improve the learning experiences of individual students. The initiative brings together the Museum's expertise in inquiry-based science learning and the schools' sustained relationship with students and their families. Montshire provides its partner schools with a series of carefully crafted services and programs that will strengthen the entire school's infrastructure and capacity to offer a high-quality science program to children in their critical early years.
The goals of the SPI are to improve student learning and their interest in science, to support schools in building their capacity and infrastructure to provide high-quality science education experiences for their students, to grow leadership for science within the partner school's faculty and staff at the K-8 level, and to increase community and family involvement in science education.
Participating Schools
Ten schools in five rural districts in Vermont and New Hampshire are currently participating in the Initiative. "This type of support is exactly what schools need to increase the quality of science learning at the elementary level," comments Jeff Valence, Principal, Lyme School, Lyme, New Hampshire.
"Two-years ago, one of our teachers told me how she often avoided teaching science, it was her hardest subject to teach," said Tammy Russell, 7th/8th grade science teacher and SPI teacher-leader, Walden Elementary School, Walden, Vermont. "After 18 months in the Montshire School Partnership program, she now tells me she loves teaching science and it is one of her favorite subjects! She did a complete 180!"
Initiative Details and Future Plans
Annually, the Montshire Museum of Science's services to partnership schools include workshops for faculty and staff, model teaching and technical support in the classroom, free access to the Museum for the faculty, and a special Community Science Night for the school's community at the Museum. The schools, in turn, commit to releasing faculty members for curriculum workshops and training; involving Montshire project staff in programs in math, science, and technology offered through the school district; and increasing the amount of classroom time dedicated to science education.
Over the next three years, Montshire will work to strengthen the links among faculty and administrators at the partner schools, while continuing to collect and analyze data on the impact of the School Partnership Initiative.
Participants in the School Partnership Initiative are confident that the lasting relationship being built between rural schools and the Montshire Museum will have a significant impact on student learning and excitement about science.
If interested in participating or supporting the School Partnership Initiative, contact Greg DeFrancis at email@example.com.
The Donley Foundation, the Kettering Family Foundation, Hypertherm HOPE Foundation, and the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation help support the initiative, making possible a variety of activities and services in the classroom and at the Museum.


text:
ATLANTA (AP) - It's been a while since either the team played a truly meaningful game.
The Los Angeles Dodgers took control of the NL West with an amazing 2 1-2-month stretch and could let off the gas over the final weeks.
The Atlanta Braves won the East going away, their commanding lead not at all threatened by a losing record over the final month.
Now, it's time to get serious again.
The teams meet Thursday night in Game 1 of the NL division series.
Los Angeles knows slugging outfielder Matt Kemp is out for the postseason with an injured left ankle, and Andre Ethier is hobbled by his own ankle issues and won't be playing the outfield.
They won't get any sympathy from the Braves, who lost seven players to season-ending injuries.
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)


text:
American Bandstand Dancers
By: Legacy Staff
6 years ago
Television icon Dick Clark, who died April 18 at age 82, entered the national spotlight as the host of American Bandstand on ABC-TV in the mid-1950s.
The teen dancers, many of whom made their way from their respective high schools to the televised dance party daily in the early days, became the equivalent of "reality TV stars" with their own fan bases.
According to the Associated Press obit, Clark made rock music acceptable because he knew how to make wary adults welcome this odd new breed of music in their homes.
Reporter Lynn Alber included an old Clark quote that revealed part of his strategy: "The boys wore coats and ties and the girls combed their hair and they all looked like sweet little kids into a high school dance," he said.
Clark outlived many of the early Bandstand dancers, who ended up living all across the United States and followed a variety of careers. Among those who died in the last few years are:
Richard Pierce, a Vietnam War veteran, who died Jan. 19, 2009, at age 64, settled in Anchorage, Alaska, in the early 1980s and worked for Anchorage Chrysler . . . as a mechanic specializing in air conditioning and electrical, according to the Anchorage (Alaska) Daily News. His family wrote that Rick was one of the first ASE certified mechanics in the United States.
Being a man of many talents, he lived to hunt and fish and at one point was a commercial halibut fisherman and a gunsmith. Before moving to Alaska, he was involved with the National Hotrod Association (NHRA). He raced from the late 1960s into 1981 as an owner and driver of his own Rick Pierce Funny Cars.
Sandra Mae Dawson, who died Feb. 25, 2008, at age 66, was the first female car racer at Cecil County Drag Strip, according to the obit in the Delaware News Journal.
She worked as a nurse at Riverside Hospital for over 30 years. . . After she retired she relocated to Rehoboth Beach, DE where she volunteered for Hospice.
Charlie Hayes, who died Sept. 6 at age 68, became an entrepreneur, U.S. Air Force veteran, and mayor of Tolleson, Arizona, according to the obit in the Arizona Republic.
Hayes was also an ardent supporter of the Boys & Girls Clubs and helped build the club in Tolleson. And his obituary offers some excellent advice: Charlie would like everyone to know that he loved life, that you should always greet each day with optimism and an open mind, and finally, the one those closest to him heard the most, listen with your ears, not your mouth.
John Martin Lance, 67, who died Dec. 24, 2010, formed a popular local singing group that was known as the "Royal Lads," after dancing on Bandstand, according to the obit in the Bridgeton News at NJ.com.
As a young adult, Lance joined his father and brother in the operation of the family farm which included over 50 acres of peach trees, corn and melons. After many years of farming, Johnny changed careers and entered the world of fashion where he became a dress cutter and pattern maker.
He later founded "Marlo's" retail clothing store in Millville, N.J., which grew into a small chain of three stores.
Richard John Gotham, 61, died Jan. 4, 2008, in Las Vegas, where he had for 30 years and was a dealer, according to the family-prepared obit published in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. His greatest love was golf, having played on the Golden State Mini Tour, his family wrote. He also loved teaching golf and making clubs for his friends. One of Rick's most memorable times was dancing on American Bandstand for three years, way back when . . .
This post was contributed by Alana Baranick, a freelance obituary writer. She was the director of the Society of Professional Obituary Writers and chief author of Life on the Death Beat: A Handbook for Obituary Writers before she passed away in 2015.


text: Student Profiles Linzee Troubh '09 Linzee Troubh '09 Hometown: New York City Major: History Why did you choose to come to Bowdoin? I knew that I wanted to come to a small college because I had been at the same school since kindergarten and I couldn't imagine not recognizing at least every face I saw. I am much more comfortable when I'm surrounded by a strong feeling of community and this struck me immediately at Bowdoin. Since my grandfather and aunt and uncle attended Bowdoin it was an obvious choice for me to come tour, and after I did I knew it was where I wanted to be. My tour guide and interviewer, both students, treated me with so much respect, paid genuine attention to what I had to say, and had so much pride in their own answers. I did not feel like just another high school senior who comes through the admissions office, but rather they took the time to find out what my interests were and tell me how Bowdoin could fulfill them. It was absolutely the students I met who made my decision easy and it has gotten better and better since. Why did you choose your major? ? I signed up for a Japanese history course my first semester here and was hooked. Professor Tom Conlan (who is now my current advisor) offered us the dates and names of particular people and events but kept a focus on the overall theme and significance of these facts. This approach was different from high school and is what stands out about the Bowdoin history department for me. In all my history classes, we would look at how a society changes over time, instead of fragmented snapshots of its story. History is such a broad subject because you simultaneously learn about religion, politics, geography, sociology and literature. Studying history has given me a general knowledge about so many eras and areas of the world but, more importantly, has taught me how to think critically about events, both in the past and today, and what they reveal about the values and trends of the time period. I always say that history is a "Life Major" because, even if I don't go on to be an East Asian history scholar, the way I have learned to think and approach events will stay with me. And I like being really good at Trivial Pursuit. What has been a course you especially enjoyed at Bowdoin?? The tougher question would be, "Has there been a course that I haven't enjoyed at Bowdoin?" The one that sticks out the most is Carey Phillips' sub-100 biology course called From Conception to Birth. I have always been a self-professed humanities type, but I had to take a science class to fulfill distribution requirements. I ended up both understanding and enjoying everything, which was a great surprise. We learned about the applications of developmental biology on a practical level; we learned about how sight, hearing, and taste works, but not necessarily on the more intangible cellular or microscopic level. Professor Phillips made an otherwise difficult subject, especially for a (formerly!) "non-science" person, extremely accessible and I still remember most of what I learned. I have since encouraged many of my fellow humanities majors to take this class and have gone on to tackle sub-100 classes in both chemistry and physics. Linzee performing in Bowdoin's twice-yearly Dance Concert. What professor or professors have especially inspired you during your time at Bowdoin? Gwyneth Jones, my dance professor is the first who comes to mind. I have taken six dance technique classes with her, and have performed her choreography four times for the biannual dance concerts presented by the dance department. Dance is an academic subject that is approached from a completely different perspective and it always wakes up my brain after a long day of lectures. There is a relationship between our mind and our body that is exercised in dance class that I do not get in other classes and I think it is really valuable to use different parts of my brain. Gwynnie is completely in touch with her students' needs, strengths and weaknesses and is always in-tune with every one of her students individually. She nurtures our brains and bodies both inside and outside of class and since I've met her I just can't stop dancing. What extracurricular or work experiences have you had at Bowdoin? I was a proctor in a first-year residence hall for two years before I decided to live off-campus as a senior. I loved being part of the residential life family and getting to know so many people, especially first-years, that I may not have met otherwise. I have also broken out of my comfort zone by participating in a few theater productions, mostly student directed, which I love. I now cannot imagine how I was ever nervous about performing in front of an audience. Last year I finally got the guts to audition for The Improvabilities, Bowdoin's improvisational comedy group, and was lucky enough to make the team. Our performances are always completely packed and the energy the audience gives off is the best feeling in the world. I have met some of my closest friends through improv and have inadvertently learned skills I can apply to interviewing and other non-performing opportunities just from knowing how to make people laugh. Another creative outlet I have on campus is through dancing. I am part of the ballet group on campus, Arabesque, and have performed two independently choreographed duets. Bowdoin's dance program provides a space for anyone who wants to dance to be able to and I spend more time in the studios than one would think possible. I have also been involved with V-Day, which is an international organization to end violence against women and girls. I became a part of this group after I auditioned for The Vagina Monologues as a first-year. Now I am the head of Bowdoin's V-Day division and am co-directing the show for the third time this February. Last year, we raised more than $6,000 for Sexual Assault Support Services of Midcoast Maine and hopefully we can surpass that this year. I have more recently been involved in other sexual assault awareness and prevention campaigns, and have sat on various committees with heads of other student advocacy groups and staff members. Did you study abroad during your time at Bowdoin? ? No, I decided to stay at Bowdoin during my junior year while many if not most of my friends studied away. I spent time abroad in high school so I felt that I had already gotten my fix, and I just couldn't imagine leaving Bowdoin! Junior year is actually when I feel like I found my niche here and I feel lucky to have had a full semester to meet new people, try new things, and get to Bowdoin and Brunswick more. What have you done during your summers? The summer after my first year I went back to the all-girls sleep away camp I attended myself for seven years. After sophomore year, I went back home and had an internship at Central Park SummerStage, a summer long free concert series in the heart of Manhattan. My responsibilities included working in the office of the Director of the Arts Program of City Parks, the organization that runs SummerStage among other programs. I got to know the inner workings of venue management and non-profit administration, and more excitingly got to spend three days a week working the VIP list at the concert site. I heard promising new bands, jammed to classic rockers like Bob Weir and Levon Helm, and even got to meet some celebrities. Even though I have always been into the arts and have spent much of my extracurricular time participating in the arts at Bowdoin, my experience at SummerStage solidified my desire to pursue a career in the entertainment business. This past summer I interned at Chicago City Limits, an improvisational comedy company in New York. I got to watch improv a few times a week, take classes, watch and critique short films submitted to their monthly First Sundays festival, stage manage shows, and designed and implemented a new software program that the company used. Chicago City Limits is New York's longest running comedy revue and being around the historic paraphernalia around the office was so exciting, especially for an improv junkie like me. I brought back so much of what I learned to The Improvabilities this year and the internship furthered my knowledge of what I hope will be my future career field. What is your best Bowdoin memory? Last Ivies, Bowdoin's own celebration of the return of spring, many of my friends ended our evening over nachos at Super Snacks. Super Snacks is when Thorne dining hall opens up late every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night and snacks are provided for the entire student body. There was a great setup in Thorne, the overhead lights were flashing and loud music was playing. Students started dancing on the tables, and Security Director Randy Nichols asked them to get down, and of course, they respectfully complied. I proceeded to start a "RANDY, RANDY!" chant, a familiar motto during Ivies, and he responded by waving and throwing his Bowdoin security hat into the adoring crowd. I've told this story over and over to demonstrate the mutual respect between students and security that keeps Bowdoin so safe. And where else is the head of Safety and Security the biggest rock star on campus? What are your plans for after graduation? To put my education to good use while doing something I love and having fun. I guess the next step is finding employment that will fulfill these criteria. Right now I want to get the most out of my pre-graduation time! What advice would you give to a prospective student or first-year about the Bowdoin experience? If you have questions, just ask. Though the learning curve at Bowdoin is steep, even as a senior there are many secrets worth discovering. Everyone here loves to talk about the school we love so much so if you need to know where a building is, what classes to take or anything else, just speak up. What quirky or fun thing did you wish you know before you came to Bowdoin? Racer X, Bowdoin's very own professor-fronted '80s cover band. Nothing brings college students together quite like '80s music. And I can't imagine that kids at most other colleges voluntarily spend their Friday nights listening to their professors. Story posted on November 24, 2008 « Back | More Student Profiles | Go to News Home


text:
RE/MAX Alliance Colorado
Finding your next home in Colorado is easy with our comprehensive property search tools. Search all available homes for sale along the Colorado Front Range area, with accurate, up-to-date information. View price changes, open houses, and sign up to rece..
See this content immediately after install
Get The App


text:
LocationJacksonville, FL
1577 Wells Rd
Orange Park, FL 32073
New 2018 Coachmen RV Clipper Ultra-Lite 21FQ
As you step inside model 21FQ towards the rear notice the kitchen straight ahead, and the refrigerator just to your immediate right. The kitchen allows you to easily prepare and cook light meals and your camp favorite foods. There is a three burner range with overhead microwave oven, and double sink along the road side. You will also find ample storage for your daily kitchen items like dishes and pantry products as well.
Once you've created a meal enjoy it seated at the booth dinette next to the refrigerator. This is also a great place to play your board games or cards, and the overhead cabinet is quite handy for keeping things neatly tucked away when not in use. Opposite there is more seating to enjoy with the sofa which also features overhead storage. Both can easily double as sleeping space for overnight family members or friends.
In the very front you will find a bedroom space with a queen size bed between two wardrobes. There is also an overhead cabinet across the head of the bed. A semiprivate entry door makes it easy to access from outside, and also puts you close to the pass-through compartment where you can stow away all of your extra camping gear.
The rear of this Clipper Ultra-Lite model features a complete bath including a tub/shower in the curb side corner, a vanity with sink and overhead medicine cabinet opposite, plus a toilet, and so much more!
Like most: Dear Steve, Thank you for being our salesperson. I am very happy that we are getting a new camper. I am also happy that we chose General RV Center as our main RV store. Without General RV Center, we would of never found "the perfect camper". I found out that we are going to Indiana! I will write it down! We will see Amish people! I just wanted to say Thank You. From, Jennifer - Art from Fenton, MI
You Save: $5,857
Sale Price: $13,888
Stock# 160883
|25 ft 6 in
|Ext Width
|8 ft
|Ext Height
|9 ft 10 in
|Hitch Weight
|414 lbs
|Gross Weight
|6414 lbs
|Dry Weight
|4164 lbs
|Fresh Water Capacity
|40 gals
|Grey Water Capacity
|31 gals
|Black Water Capacity
|31 gals
|Tire Size
|Furnace BTU
|20000 btu
At Coachmen you will find a rich history of commitment from our Team Members. This commitment extends to our owners and in the pride we have for our brand. The close relationship that we share with our owners and our dealers is a quality that others have been trying to mimic over our 50 year history. Our goals and principles remain well in focus.
Coachmen RV products have been on North American roads and in North American campgrounds since 1964.
With over five decades of building Recreational Vehicles and over 600,000 RVs built and sold we know how to design and build a reliable RV with exceptional value, dependable design, practical innovation and the comforts and features you desire.
General RV Florida is not responsible for any misprints, typos, or errors found in our website pages. Any price listed excludes sales tax, registration tags, and delivery fees. Manufacturer-provided pictures, specifications and features may be used as needed. Inventory shown may be only a partial listing of the entire inventory. Please contact us at 888-436-7578 for availability as our inventory changes rapidly. All calculated payments are an estimate only and do not constitute a commitment that financing or a specific interest rate or term is available.


text:
Effective File Search 6.8.1
From time to time any user needs to search for some essential files.
Effective File Search is a real replacement for the build-in Windows Search utility. Effective File Search automates routine operations, speeds up the searching process and lifts it up to a new level. It provides a more flexible and faster search than usual built-in Windows Search Utilities. A user just needs to enter the date, size, keyword, and combine these attributes using AND/OR/NOT operators. Effective File Search has an improved support of folder names (e.g. C:DOCUMENTS200?*REPORTS ). It also supports regular expressions for advanced searches. <p> Effective File Search can look up for any file located on hard-drive, floppy-drive, CD, network, etc. All popular file formats are supported (MS Office files, PDF, RTF, OpenOffice files, HTML and many other text and binary files). Script language is supported too. The program has flexible administration features. Thus, a user can forbid searching in certain folders. In order to perform searches of any complexity with just a few mouse clicks, the utility enables a user to create custom templates. <p> After the search, a user can perform different actions with the search results: copy, delete, rename, etc. Search results are displayed with file icons and you can use Windows context menu (copy, cut, paste, send to commands are supported). Found files can be sorted by their names, path, size, date and type. Results and parameters can be saved to a file. If a user needs a copy of the search report, it can be easily printed. <p> Effective File Search has a user friendly graphic interface, plus it's multilingual. English, German, Italian, Chinese, Russian and other languages are supported. It's easy to install and simple to use, so no tutorials, or extra training of corporate users is required. Effective File Search is a handy tool for any PC user, saving lots of time and efforts. It is a shareware and works on Win9x/ME/NT/2000/XP/Vista/7.


text:
For young, civic-minded entrepreneurs, luck can play a big role in success, and so can the city of Portland.
For weeks, my daughter and a few of her friends from the Portland Parks and Recreation after school program have been planning a bake sale to benefit the The Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland.
A fire in the laundry room at the league in January destroyed most of the toys and linens used for the animals. Luckily, no animals were hurt.
The after school program makes sure my kids – and thousands more in Portland – have a safe, secure and educational place to go after school. The city program promotes good health and being a good citizen.
The girls came up with the idea of a bake sale on their own, but the program coordinator was incredibly supportive and encouraged the kids to make a plan.
And, boy, did they.
These 9- and 10-year-old girls weren't content with a bake sale at the school. The earning potential was too low.
Instead, they were determined to hold the bake sale at Payson Park, a popular sledding and ice-skating destination not far from their school.
They set the date of Feb. 10 back before a heat wave cleared all the snow out of Portland.
The girls were undaunted.
Last week, they applied for and received a permit from Portland to hold their bake sale. The city staff was friendly, fast and encouraging. I believe they went out of their way to be helpful.
And then, on Friday, it snowed. It snowed a lot. And the business plan of the young entrepreneurs paid off.
On Sunday, the sun came out, the wind died down, and the sledders arrived in great numbers.
The cookies and hot chocolate flew off the tables, and the girls raised more than $250 for the animal shelter – not a bad days' take considering the rice crispy treats were frozen hard as a rock.
The kids had a good time; they learned a little bit about permits and pricing; and they raised money for a good cause.
And, it turns out, their experience in Portland tracks with the results of Portland's Economic Scorecard, which was released this week by the Portland Community Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Portland Regional Chamber.
The scorecard looks at the city's and the region's economic health and decides whether they are meeting certain benchmarks, exceeding them or holding steady.
It's a good report card.
"Portland and our region look good compared to the rest of Maine, and compared to New England. That's true over the short-term and the long-term," the report says.
The report cites the region's well-educated workforce and level of higher education attainment, its lower unemployment rates in comparison to the state, New England and U.S., and its retail sales.
The population of the region is growing and so are earnings and household income.
And regional food services sales growth is keeping pace with benchmarks, and I bet that doesn't even include the wildly successful Sunday bake sale.
The report also identifies areas where the region is lagging.
The city gets dinged for the size of its municipal workforce, for its general fund debt and for its property tax rate.
My property tax bill came last week. And it's steep, higher than the average in Maine and most of the municipalities used for comparison.
But I believe I get my money's worth.
The city has debt because it invests in infrastructure, including a major project to separate storm water and sewer that will make the beach and the water healthier.
Despite a historic storm, my street was plowed four times – twice in each direction – by 10 a.m. on Saturday.
On Monday, garbage and recycling were picked up on time.
And the positive experience getting a permit for a bake sale has been repeated with most of my interactions with the city, whether it's voting, turning in candidate signatures or registering my car.
Knock wood, I can't think of a single bad experience.
The chambers' report on Portland is one of the best I've seen. We are hit with numerous reports about the quality of the government, and most of them are grinding an ax.
The Portland report, along the lines of the Maine Development Foundation's Measures of Growth, is different and worth a read.
Portland isn't perfect. No place is. The property taxes are high.
But if you want to live in a city that's clean and safe, where the garbage gets picked up on time, the snow gets plowed and bake sale permits don't require congressional intervention, I'd put in a good word for Portland.


text:
Ever look at all the information provided by Klyn Nurseries catalog and want to see exactly what the wonderful plants described look like? Our Illustrated Catalog contains the descriptions from our catalog that you've come to trust, along with up to five or more pictures to illustrate the beauty of the plants we carry. Plus, this makes the whole catalog searchable, right from your computer!
Please be aware that some of these photographs may not be of our current crop and are for reference only. Please always contact the nursery for current availability and crop information!
ARUNDINARIA giganteaView Details