text:
Added school surplus reduces need for cuts
On Tuesday night, the School Committee met to approve a budget for next year, utilizing a $2.5 million surplus. However, cuts still needed to be made to cover the full $3.4 million deficit.
It was initially estimated by Chief Budget Officer Anthony Ferrucci that the surplus would be around $1.3 million. However, following the close of the fiscal year, more funds were made available than expected.
"It was a perfect storm in our favor," Superintendent Richard D'Agostino said yesterday describing savings on a number of budgeted expenses. They included a reduction in out-of-district tuitions for special education students and salary savings resulting from retirements.
Because of the added surplus, many of the proposed cuts from the June 27 School Committee meeting were re-instated. As described in the budget proposal, cuts were re-instated based on highest priority.
Re-instated items include interscholastic sports, out-of-district tuition, charter school tuitions, transportation, music and art equipment, technology-related hardware and extracurricular activities.
Cuts that remained include fuel cuts, a number of staff positions and the ALAP program.
D'Agostino explained that cuts to staff were necessary due to declining enrollment at schools.
"As we continue, our numbers tend to go down, as well as the need for instructors for those children," said D'Agostino. He did not have the exact number of eliminated positions available at press time.
ALAP, or Accelerated Learning Activities Program, is often proposed to be cut because it does not affect a large population of students. ALAP is a specialized program for advanced students and includes three staff members.
Jacqueline Harris-Connor, a member of the Long Term Facilities Planning Committee, responded to a comment on the Beacon's Facebook page regarding the elimination of ALAP.
"In order to save ALAP, there were members of the School Committee who were willing to extend the walking distance for some of the students and not give them bus services at all," wrote Harris-Connor, adding that this would take away bus service from those in the elementary schools in particular.
She referred to ALAP as a quota program that does not benefit all of those qualified to be in it.
"Unlike resources that are available to ALL learning disabled children in Warwick, only a small percentage of children are invited into ALAP every year because there is limited availability," wrote Harris-Connor.
Harris-Connor added that unless the program was extended to all qualified students, like remedial resources are, it should have been stopped.
"Maybe down the line it will be brought back in a broader sense," she wrote.
A broader sense is certainly what D'Agostino is thinking about when it comes to ALAP.
"We hope to go in a different direction [in terms of ALAP]," said the superintendent.
By providing increases in professional development and classroom materials, D'Agostino believes they will be able to integrate the advanced learning components of ALAP to students directly in their regular classrooms.
Students in ALAP are brought out of their regular classroom to work on their advanced work, but D'Agostino believes it is the responsibility of the classroom teacher to provide for all students, regardless of their performance level.
"I think we can reach more kids that way," said D'Agostino.
Beth Furtado, chairperson of the School Committee, said the revised budget featuring reinstatements from the $2.5 million surplus passed with amendments.
D'Agostino said the amendment regarded the use of custodians following extra-curricular activities.
Other amendments such as the reinstatement of the full-time librarian at Gorton Junior High School and the reinstatement of ALAP all failed, according to the superintendent.
Great, cut ALAP. The kids are gifted, they will find someway to entertain themselves while their sixth grade teacher instructs the class in how to count to ten and which is the big A and which is the little a.
We are doomed, Charlie Brown, doomed.
Great vote by the majority of the school committee......gifted kids are penalized but Healy and Company gives raises to WISE union etc.
How about the contracts to Hsorsack and Flood? Another Healy masterpiece.
Hey Backus.....you don't think we notice d that you didn't have the guts to cast a vote.....that vote will come back to haunt you....that is a promise.
In regard to Harris-Connor's comments about services being available to ALL with learning disabilities, that is because it is federally and state mandated. It is not an item that can be cut. Services for those identified as gifted are not federally mandated and RI is in the minority of states that does not mandate services for gifted.
Would she advocate cutting services for those with learning disabilities entirely if it wasn't mandated? If it was an item up for budgetary consideration would it make sense if there was not enough money for every single child with a learning disability that we then provide no services?
Differentiated education training sounds great, exactly how will that work in practice? Will all the 3rd to 6th grade elementary school teachers be provided with this training and the materials for this by start of school? We are asking them to bring up NECAP's to minimum proficiency for all and to now absorb all advanced curricula as well...
I also want to note mrs Bachus' abstention in this vote. I was more angry at that than the no votes. If my 10 year old daughter had the courage and conviction to wait over 2 hours in that auditorium and stand up and speak to the school committee in front of everyone, Mrs. Bachus owed it to her to at least have the courage to vote instead of just letting ALAP reinstatement fail without going on the record with the tough decision.
Lastly, I would like to see some clarification of the dollar figure saved by canceling ALAP, the figure seems inflated as it assumes 2.5 top step teacher's being eliminated, it is my understanding that the outstanding ALAP teachers will still have jobs within the school system so step savings, longevity etc are not truly changed.
@ Justanidiot: Just because a child is not in ALAP, doesn't make them stupid. My son is a very smart sixth grader, who is not in the ALAP program, but probably knows a lot more than you. Your name "Justanidiot" seems fitting to me. How dare you. Why don't you keep your comments to yourself!
Here is a fact for you. 22 days after being elected, SC member Karen Bachus, without looking at the budget got together with 2 other members of the school committee and voted to give the WISE union a raise of 1 1/2%. The committee had not even had a regular meeting yet. 2 members of the school committee did not even know they were in negotiations with the WISE union as the contract was 9 months away from ending and 2 new members were just elected to the board. The WISE union supported Ms Bachus financially and this can be viewed on the Secretary of State website on her financial disclosure forms. They gave her money to run for the committee, they stood out at all the polls for her and the first things she did was give them a raise. Is this surprising to me, NO. In return for the raise the WISE union agreed to no concessions. The Raise was a total of $300K annually. I must point out that this program served 300 students, 7.5% of the elementary population. The cost of the program was stated by administration to cost $325K, (I served on the SC for 4 years and I would estimate the cost at 200K). So, the raise this SC gave to the union without deliberations, without concessions, without thought, for union "peace", I would just call it what it is, a payback for getting Bachus elected, is equal to the cost of this great program that was cut.
I will agree that ALAP serves approximately 300 students and there is a well defined cut off for getting into the program so it doesn't serve every student. When the funding is cut to the program, the money will not be used to serve any students either. It is being given to the WISE union in return for union peace. So... how does that serve the students? I am not saying the staff members of the WISE union do not deserve a raise but the committee should have found cuts or received a concession in another area to pay for the raise. Instead, they made a quick decision and the students are paying for it.
If every student wanted to play an instrument, would the schools be able to provide it for them or provide instruction for every child? The answer is no. There are not enough teachers to have every student play an instrument. Should we get rid of band all together and just have chorus because we can not provide the service to every student? ALAP has a motto, it is raising the bar. We have just lowered the bar and are now striving for the status quo, as usual.
I will tell you now, kids who didn't make it into ALAP in 3rd grade, tried harder and got into the program in 4th grade. Kids that were in, got bored and left. It was not the same kids every year and many were offered the opportunity and chose not to do it. It was not an exclusive program. 4 years ago they cut a position from 3 teachers to 2.5 teachers. If people wanted more kids in the program, they should have fought for the program to be expanded to more teachers.
I can guarantee 2 things. One, The money cut will not go into the schools for ALL the kids to have more enrichment, it is already gone for salaries. Two, at a time when we should be putting in more programs like this to attract more families to Warwick, we will have more leave because they are sick of paying more money for less services. It is a lose- lose situation for taxpayers, parents and our students.
Bachus abstained from this vote because she didn't want to vote to actually cut the program because it would mean cutting union jobs. She is gutless and a coward. She is also the vice president of the SEIU. This is the same group that got the Governor to sign the Day Care Workers UNION bill.
One of the most troubling issues for me the night this program was cut was the fact that the schools did not put "ALAP program is being cut" on the agenda. Each year prior, it was openly discussed and ALAP was on the agenda to be cut. Fifty to Sixty Parents turned out to voice their opposition. This year, in my opinion, they were sneaky and did an involuntary transfer of the ALAP teachers. ALAP was not even on the agenda. Many parents probably didn't even know ALAP was possibly being cut.
I wanted to let all parents know that I spoke with several SC members after the meeting. The School Committee does not want to cut this program but they feel they have no choice but to cut it to make up the deficit.
It is a fact that families choose to live in a city based on the school system. The fact the Warwick has this program is very attractive to families.
The State sends approximately $8000 in student funding to Warwick for each student who attends school in Warwick. I explained to the school committee tonight that for every student who is in the ALAP program, the schools receives this $8000. The administration stated tonight that ALAP costs $325K. If this is the case, if 41 ALAP Students leave Warwick schools, the schools would save no money. There are 300 students in ALAP throughout Warwick. I believe that ALAP Costs approximately $200K.
There are 2.5 full time teachers who teach ALAP. Their combined salaries and benefits are approximately $250,000. THESE teachers ARE NOT being laid off, they are being returned to the regular classrooms. The schools do not save their salaries. They do NOT save $250,000. They save the cost of the 2.5 most recently hired teachers. These teachers make approximately $60,000 each including benefits. At 2.5 teachers this is $150,000. I add in $30,000 for in class materials. If Alap costs $180K, and 22 students leave, the schools saved no money by cutting the program. Administration suggests that ALAP costs $325K. If this is the case, if 41 Students leave Warwick schools, the schools would save no money.
Please draft a short letter and send it to the School committee. The letter should simply state that with the ALAP program being cut, you will be considering placing your child in another school system and ask what steps must be taken to transfer to a private school. If they receive a stack of letters and it is more than 40 letters, they will realize they have made a bad decision.
I do not believe this is a bluff. I truly believe that parents will take their students out of the schools if they believe they will not be getting an appropriate education. One of the most important things to realize is that education in RI should be Free and Appropriate. I do not believe that my student will be getting an appropriate education if this program is cut. If this program is cut, I will be working for a voucher program to allow my child to attend a school that has an appropriate education.
Administration will be forced to act on this situation. If many students leave one school, administration can lay off one teacher to resolve the issue. They know that ALAP is spread across all Warwick elementary schools and they will not be able to resolve the loss of State funding by laying off a teacher. If we can make them realize that by cutting this program, there is the potential to see NO savings, then why would they cut it?
We need every ALAP Parent to know there is still a chance to save ALAP. I would suggest also calling every member daily until they respond. They cut $170K from the budget tonight and didn't put it any where. They found within a month that they had a surplus of $1 Million. They may find another $150K- 200K within the next month. 2 members of the committee worked hard to get ALAP reinstated. They were one vote away from reinstating it. With a little work, within the next month, it can be saved for another year. This program should not be cut. While on the surface, it looks like cutting it will save money, there is a very real potential to save no money.
Here is the School Committee Members contact info. You can reach each member by emailing them.
Remember, they are not the enemy, they really do want to save the program. Help them realize how important this program is to them.
Bethany A. Furtado, Chairperson
18 Cardinal St, Warwick, RI, 02886
M. Terri Medeiros, Vice Chair
5 Lyndon Avenue, Warwick, RI, 02889
Jennifer Ahearn, Clerk
Eugene A. Nadeau
15 Killdeer Road, Warwick, RI, 02888
Karen Bachus
208 Burt Street, Warwick, RI, 02886
Richard D'Agostino, Ed.D.
I do want to add that in addition to getting State funding for Warwick, our ALAP students provide much to the schools by way of their achievement on the NECAP testing. My child usually scores in the 98-99% on the necap, this off sets a student score that is low.
My daughter was very sick several years ago and was out of school during Necap testing. The principal called my house personally and asked if I could bring my daughter in for testing even though she was very sick so she could take the necap test. I explained she was sick, he asked if she could just come for the morning because that was when testing was. "Couldn't she just make it for the morning? " I was livid. Would you ask a 4th grader who was sick to come in for a test? He was afraid the schools would get a zero necap score for her. She went in after a few days and made up the test. She scored a 99%.
If ALAP is not put back into the budget, I will be seriously considering pulling her from Warwick Schools. In the very least, I will not be having her take the NECAP test. They can record a zero for the test. She misses NO education instruction during NECAP testing. It is 2 weeks of learning nothing. My daughter needs the ALAP program to stay interested in school. For many students it is the same way. If our students are not engaged, they will lose interest in school.
Let the school committee and administration know how you feel. It is not only the right decision to make, it is the financially responsible decision to make and as one gifted and talented ALAP student student said tonight, the "forward thinking" decision to make.
Sincerely, Patrick Maloney Jr
I was wrong, the raise the WISE union received was $437,000 not $300,000. The money saved by cutting this program is not put into additional enrichment for all students as they claim, it is being used to pay for the WISE union raises that were given out at the beginning of the year.
Just 22 days after being elected, SC member Karen Bachus, without looking at the budget got together with 2 other members of the school committee and voted to give the WISE union a raise of 1 1/2%. The committee had not even had a regular meeting yet. 2 members of the school committee did not even know they were in negotiations with the WISE union as the contract was 9 months away from ending and 2 new members were just elected to the board. The WISE union supported Ms Bachus financially and this can be viewed on the Secretary of State website on her financial disclosure forms. They gave her money to run for the committee, they stood out at all the polls for her and the first things she did was give them a raise. Is this surprising to me, NO. In return for the raise the WISE union agreed to no concessions. The Raise was a total of $437K annually.
In regard to Katogni's comment...Please don't mistake my intent. I know ALAP has served many students well, and with funding it would continue to do so. My feeling is if the WPS can't provide that same service for ALL who qualify, as it does with other programs, then they should not have it at all. Heck, if the WPS is going to give the advanced learners an extra service such as ALAP, why not give the average learners free tutoring sessions as well? Plenty of families who do not have children in ALAP pay the same in taxes as you and me, yet their typical "B-C" student does not receive any extra services to help them. Extra-curricular activities in public schools are not limited by quotas..they are limited by skill and by funding. If a student does not meet the criteria to be in an activity, then they are not invited into it. With ALAP (following the cuts years ago) even if a student meets the criteria and is recommended by a teacher, they may not get into it because of limited available space. Regarding remedial services..yes they are mandated and should always be mandated. No question about it. Can an a child who is a high achiever be successful without additional services? Do children who are not in ALAP go on to be in honors classes and AP classes? Yes and Yes! Do they go to universities and colleges and on to successful careers? Yes! What the children in ALAP gain are valuable tools and they are tools that can, and should be, learned in the classroom everyday.
It is the responsibility of all teachers to reach all of the kids in the classroom. How will you make this happen? You still don't have an evaluation system. These kids will not get additional instruction. One teacher in the ALAP program brought up a good point at the meeting, when the ALAP kids are out of the classroom, the kids who are in the classroom get more focus from the teacher and answer more questions and it allows the kids to be the leaders in the classroom.
As far as reaching more children by cutting this program, there will be less children here as parents who live in Warwick will see programs being cut and will move their children to other schools. Parents of children who are looking for a place to live in RI who might have chosen Warwick will look at the car bill, tax rate and now a lack of an advanced elementary program and decide they may want to live somewhere else.
This is a smoke screen. Let's push for a voucher program for all students so kids can get the education they deserve at the school they think is right for them, charter schools for everyone.
Jackie. When the ALAP students are pulled from the classroom, all of the remaining students have a better teacher-student ratio so the B-C students ARE getting more focused learning from the teacher. Are you suggesting that all students regardless of their capabilities all be placed in the classroom? Then there should also be no self contained classrooms and all children regardless of their level should all sit in the same class. If this happens, which kids would you like the teacher to focus on? I will tell you which kids the teacher will focus on, they will focus on the ones that need the most help especially if their job depends on it. In fact, their job will depend on it as their evaluation might be tied to the NECAP testing.
I disagree that extracurricular aren't quota... Can every student who can play baseball well be on the varsity team? No. I think you are speaking of cutting off the proverbial nose to spite the face. As the previous poster said, students who do not make it into ALAP can retest and get in the next year, it is not merely a quota system it is skill based as well. Where exactly do you think that the political will and money will come from to expand this program if it is completely cut now? I personally think RI should mandate gifted education services, it is a shame that it is not! I think that the theory that the skills and the advanced learning opportunities will be given while the already stretched teachers do everything asked of them sounds nice but in reality will rarely be delivered.
If there was some sea change in mandates and special Ed was no longer mandated hypothetically would you then support cutting it entirely for every child with a learning disability if every year there were a small number of kids who while being identified as learning disabled didn't get into a program?
Throw the baby out with the bath water it seems.
Why not advocate for expansion of a program you think was great and serves a need instead of cutting it entirely...
The superintendent says, "By providing increases in professional development and classroom materials, D'Agostino believes they will be able to integrate the advanced learning components of ALAP to students directly in their regular classrooms." I will tell you now and you can go back and look at EVERY budget from the last 5 years... The first thing cut from every budget when they need money is PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE TEACHERS". The teachers will not get the professional development he is suggesting they will get to enrich the classroom experience. Well, I should say that they are mandated to have professional development and if you remember many stories in the Warwick Beacon, the teachers show up for 1 hour of non-mandatory professional development and then they are done for the day. So, in the one hour of professional development that the teachers get, they will learn all about how to enrich their diverse classroom? Is that after the first coffee break or after the second coffee break when they leave?
Lost in both this article and the posts is the fact that the School Committee did not vote to fund the junior high librarian position. So our junior high school students will share two librarians among three schools. This is among the most stupid decisions i've ever seen the Warwick School Committee ever make and I defy them to find any other district that has done this. With all due respect to ALAP, which serves a small number of students, library effects all students. They claimed the position cost $75K.They reallocated $170K from other areas of the budget and yet the opted to not fill the position. Karen Bachus's lament about tough choices rings incredibly hollow when she turns around and abstains from voting! In my twenty years of going to these meetings, I don't think I've ever heard members abstain from voting, until the election of Ms. Bachus. It should also be noted that Teri Medeiros has also abstained from many votes over the past few months. Why on earth seek the seat if you're not prepared to make tough choices? Supposedly, the departments original plan was to have one librarian cover Aldrich and Gorton, while the Winman librarian stayed put. One could draw a conclusion that this was simply retribution to those who fought to keep Gorton open for one more year until the district developed a long term plan. Maybe. Now they're saying that 'two librarians will cover three schools'. Well, that could still mean that one librarian would cover Aldrich & Gorton and the Winman librarian stays put. While I think ALAP is a priority, having a full time librarian at each junior high is a higher one, a non-negotiable one to me. 'Roving librarians' - you just can't make it up.
If they had more computers, they could teach all the kids how to do research right in the classroom. Why shouldn't a teacher teach how to do research in the classroom? The administration spent money buying ipads (ipad I to be exact). They don't use them, they are probably still in the boxes. I know they were configured but I also know the programs they needed to run on them wouldn't run on a Generation I Ipad. At least they got it with grant money, you know, free tax money? When will the kids be getting technology in the classroom? We could give the research to the teachers to do with all of the differentiated teaching and learning they will have in the classroom now.
Maybe they are cutting to two librarians for 3 schools because they will be cutting to 2 schools soon. In the 2 years my daughter was at Aldrich, I never had her mention the library or librarian once. My wife always took her to the Warwick Public Library and she used our computer to do research. She learned all of her research skills in the ALAP program. She did NOT learn it in the classroom.
Maybe they are cutting to two librarians for 3 schools because they will be cutting to 2 schools soon. In the 2 years my daughter was at Aldrich, I never had her mention the library or librarian once. My wife always took her to the Warwick Public Library and she used our computer to do research. She learned all of her research skills in the ALAP program. She did NOT learn it in the classroom.
If a kid tries out for varsity baseball and meets the criteria for varsity baseball...he or she makes the team. No one is saying that a child who is NOT qualified to be in ALAP should be in ALAP. No..they cannot simply retest the next year and get in..there has to be a space available too. Regarding political will? You and other parents are the best advocates for your children. The reason Special Education is so heavily funded is because parents fought for it..for years and heavily advocated for their children. They continue to fight for their kids even though the resources available are better than in years past. Organize and advocate, through PTA and other advocacy groups you can voice your concerns, and demand better for your kids. Your fight should not be with me...I'm just a Mom like you. Please understand..I would love to see a program like ALAP continue...if it is available to ALL those students who qualify.
Maybe they will be closing two schools soon, who knows. My kids used the library in junior high. Pat, it sounds like your discounting the value of a librarian. One of my daughters was in ALAP and another wasn't. My ALAP daughter did not have research skills that were any better or more effective than my non-ALAP daughter.
My fight is not with you, by challenging your expressed opinion that the program should have been discontinued, by speaking at that meeting along with my daughter, by writing to school committee members and administrators I am advocating for my daughter and more globally for the appropriate education of all students. It is certainly difficult to advocate a point of view and belief if you won't engage those on a public forum who express the opposing view, it isn't about you, or my daughter, or just the ALAP program it is about appropriate education for kid's varying needs.
Sports teams are skill AND quota based. There is not room for every capable and willing student, that is why their are try outs and cuts...I haven't looked into how many students who needed gifted programs and qualified by the rubric in Warwick were denied entrance due to slots available nor do I know if that information is available, do you?
I am advocating here putting forward what I believe to be true regarding gifted education, I believe it should be mandated, I doubt I will overturn that on a state or federal level anytime soon, but will continue to advocate that even when it doesn't effect my child anymore.
I still don't understand why you think ALAP should continue under a certain set of circumstances but not as is...I certainly wouldn't fight for varsity sports to be cancelled just because there weren't enough slots for every athletically inclined child to make the cut. It either seves an actual educational need or doesn't...
It's really a shame that the lack of funding to the Warwick School system is resulting in all this finger pointing while the Mayor and City Council are let off the hook for what they have done to the school department over the last 8 years.
Take a look at the figures, try to understand where the real issue is, namely that the schools have been underfunded for years while the city has taken almost all new tax dollars collected and increased its spending.
Since 2008 the city has received over 6 times more local property tax dollars then the school systems. The facts don't lie. Copy and paste this link into your bowser and educate yourself. Then contact the mayor and city council members in addition to the school committee members.
If this is true what Backus did to gain election by pandering to the WISE union than it is time to start a recall petition to get her off the school committee. Listening to her speak, she is an insult to the citizens of Warwick.
Check out the Campaign Finance records for Bachus, Karen
Copy and paste the link below.
It was actually 18 Days after taking her seat, Bachus votes to give supporters a raise. I don't know how she did this when she had not had a full meeting yet, 2 members of the committee didn't know they were in negotiations, and she had not been through a budget cycle yet.
A person going by the screen name "mother22cs25" posted this on the election results webpage. http://rhodybeat.com/stories/Election-Results-2012,76495
"On 12/14/12 at 05:38 AM, mother22cs25 wrote:
Karen Bachus was elected to school committee even though she was facing felony breaking and entering charges during the election to give notice of which is required by all school committee members and candidates....she has now been charged with the that involved her destroying the belongings of a 6 month old girl!! What a great candidate for school committee!! I am disgusted that this woman who is obviously mentally unstable could be in charge of making decisions regarding our schools....and that she is also allowed to work with children at her job for dcyf when she could maliciously destroy the property of a young child!! What is our world coming to??"
I followed up on the information in this post and found the following Warwick Police Report 12-5688-OF:
Copy and paste the following link:
I talked to John Howell, editor of the Beacon, and emailed him about it and this was his reply in an email to me.
"Patrick I had heard something about this shortly after it occurred and asked the chief what was the story. He said they were investigating and it seemed like a dispute between the two of them. Thanks for sending this along. John"
So the Beacon knew that 11 days prior to the election Karen Bachus had been charged with Felony Breaking and Entering and Misdemeanor Vandalism and Malicious Injury to Property but decided it was something people would not want to know. The Beacon did not do a story about a person running for office that had a report about a Felony and a Misdemeanor 11 days prior to the election.
What was the outcome of Backus' felony charged.....if she was convicted she should resign immediately. Just listening to her it is easy to ascertain she is a union hack.
As an ALAP teacher for the past 14 years I would like to clarify some misconceptions and untruths.
First, unfortunately Ms. Harris-Connors has been misinformed, There has NEVER been a quota set for the number of students invited into the ALAP program. EVERY student that meets the requirements is accepted and picked up for services, regardless of the number of students currently enrolled in the program. We have even accepted Home Schooled and Private school children that met the requirements.
Second, up until four years ago ALAP WAS a broader program! The ALAP teachers went into the regular classrooms for inclusion purposes. We provided enrichment for the whole class. I personally worked in 6 - third grade classrooms as well as provided pull-out services for identified students each week. The other ALAP teachers did the same. In addition to this we all worked with classroom teachers providing materials, strategies and support for the identified ALAP AND ALSO above average learners in their classrooms. At that time the ALAP program consisted of three full time teachers servicing students in ALL the WPS elementary schools (20). Since then the ALAP staff has been cut back to 2.5 teachers with a $0 dollar budget. We were still able to be a resource for the classroom teacher but were not able to continue with inclusion.
Third, the regular classroom teacher has the benefit of support from the ENTIRE Special Education Department in each elementary school when she/he services special needs students in the regular classroom. There is no such department to support the classroom teacher of gifted special education students any longer.
Thank you Ms. Scarpellino for the additional information. I was not aware that you had a $0 Dollar Budget. If this is the case, then cutting the program would mean a savings of only the salaries of the 2.5 teachers. I am aware that you and the other ALAP teachers will be transferred to the classroom so the full savings is in the 2.5 teachers who started with Warwick most recently. As I stated above this is a savings of approximately $150,000-$180,000. How can the administration possibly say that this program costs $325, 000? How could the sitting school committee members not know or demand this information?
Good grief. I do not know why the Beacon chose my remarks to focus on, but they did. I have no influence, nor do I have anything to do with policy making in this City. If I am "misinformed" regarding ALAP being a "quota" program, then I stand corrected. However, it is the School Committee you need to convince to save the program, Ms. Scarpellino, not me. If you read my remarks, you will see I was troubled by the fact that some ADULTS on the School Committee were willing to take transportation away from young children in order to keep ALAP. The older kids already walk quite a distance each day on unsafe roadways..have you seen the kids walking down the middle of Warwick Ave. or Post Road in the winter following a storm? Younger children will have their walking distance increased, which would mean elimination of services that they need in order to be safe. Not every parent can drive their kids to school. What I didn't mention in my remarks, was that when a librarian could have been reinstated to the Gorton Junior High School, the School Committee voted not to, and the cost for the librarian was a fraction of what it would cost to save ALAP. Librarians do serve a great need at the secondary level (all levels really) and yet, we saw that position being shelved too. Sadly, it's a sign of the times and until the City Council gets their priorities straight we will continue to see valuable programs and services cut.
Shirley, it was a comment about education in general. Let's not challenge our students, let's teach to the lowest common denominator. That way we can insure grades stay up so kids can qualify for football and other necessary things.
Trying to fix our education system like this is doomed.
We are ignoring the fact that the industrial school system we have is outdated and inflexible. Instead of closing down more factories and getting rid of different products (that means closing down schools and getting rid of programs) the time has come to revamp the entire system. Restructure the entire thing from pre-K to high school.
Warwick could be at the front of that if they had bold leaders and administrators. What do we have now? Milquetoasts who do the bidding of the Unions and State Education Department.
Cut ties with the state, get back to what schools are for, educating the youth of today for the opportunities of tomorrow. Toss out the Union contract. Get rid of layers of administration. Make teachers responsible for their classes and students. Reward the teachers who do handsomely. Make a teaching job in Warwick a high level professional and esteemed position. Make it so the best and the brightest want to come to Warwick to teach.
Will this happen? I doubt it. The citizens will bemoan everything that goes on and then go press the master lever to return their masters to the gravy train.
We need an educational revolution, and why not make Warwick the spark of that revolution?


text:
3536 Hyatt Lane
Connie J. Bagot 8/28/2012 7:04:14 AMLovely scene and the colors are wonderful! #1482975
The Judges at BetterPhoto.com 9/24/2012 2:42:36 PMBeautiful misty image. #10337314
Merna L. Nobile 9/27/2012 1:31:18 PMI heard the good news and could not be happier for you! CONGRATULATIONS, Merna #10343873
Julianne Bradford 10/2/2012 9:56:45 AMWhat a lovely image! Congratulations on your Gold :-) #10350707
JO ANN CLEVELAND 10/2/2012 12:33:13 PMI thought we would see this awesome image again Ed..and I loved the fog!
Big congratulations on this great 2nd Place Gold winner!
jo ann c. #10351185
Lydia Williams 10/2/2012 3:46:55 PMCongratulations on your fantastic winner! #10351761
Patrick Rouzes 10/2/2012 4:03:36 PMCOngrats on this amazing Winner, Ed!
Phyllis H. Burchett 10/2/2012 6:34:32 PMCongrats on this gorgeous winner! #10352211
Usman M. Bajwa 10/8/2012 4:16:53 AMBig CONGRATZ on the Gold Winner!!
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
single image exposed 3 times and processed in Photomatix Pro
Uploaded on 7/14/2012 7:11:58 AM
Camera: Canon EOS 7D Digital SLR Camera
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Architectural drawing of Circus Circus (Las Vegas), toilets plan, elevations and details, April 5, 1968
- Title
- Architectural drawing of Circus Circus (Las Vegas), toilets plan, elevations and details, April 5, 1968
- Group Creator
- Description
- Toilets plan, elevations and details for the construction of the Circus Circus casino from 1968. Includes general notes. Printed on parchment.
- Source
- Drawing ID: 1968 Circus Circus Plans, Sheet 19, April 5, 1968
- Original Collection
- Original Date
- 1968-04-05
- Site Name (standardized)
- Site Street Address
- 2880 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas; Clark County; Nevada
- Type of Site (AAT)
- Drawing Components (AAT)
- Drawing Type (AAT)
- DC Type
- Genre (TGM)
- Language
- Is Referenced by
- sky000977; http://digital.library.unlv.edu/objects/sky/579
- Rights
- This material may be protected by copyright. Personal, including educational and academic, use of this material is without restriction but acknowledgement of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, University Libraries is requested whether the use is oral, web or in print. Commercial use of any portion of this material requires permission from the University Libraries. For further information please contact Digital Collections: http://digital.library.unlv.edu/contact
- Digital Publisher
- University of Nevada, Las Vegas University Libraries
- Digital Collection
- Digital ID
- sky000992
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text:
Mcleod Shelby GT500 RXT Street...
Mcleod 2010 GT500 RXT Street Twin Disc Clutch Kit (Street) Includes: Mcleod RXT Clutch Mcleod Lightened Steel Flywheel NOTE: The 2010 GT50...//Shop Now
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text:
Each year as residents make contributions to The Dispatch's Empty Stocking Fund the stories that validate your money is going to a worthwhile cause are abundant.
Each year as residents make contributions to The Dispatch's Empty Stocking Fund the stories that validate your money is going to a worthwhile cause are abundant.
Take the family with three children whose dad must provide for all the household's needs. This year his son would like for Santa to come to their house and bring some dinosaur toys and a toy train. The boy asked Santa to bring his little sister a doll house, crayons and a coloring book. The third sibling has speech problems and has to attend therapy three times a week. Therefore, the mother cannot work because she has to take care of and transport the child to therapy.
Making a donation to the Empty Stocking Fund will ensure these children and hundreds more have a good Christmas. The fund has been bringing cheer to the underprivileged children in Davidson County since 1981. Just a little over 800 families received some kind of assistance from the Empty Stocking Fund this past year as the community contributed more than $34,000.
More than 800 families again have made requests for assistance this year through the Salvation Army of Davidson County. Over 1,600 children of all ages are on the list for Christmas presents.
Applications have already been reviewed by volunteers. Donations are accepted the whole year although the main drive starts the day after Thanksgiving.
Donation forms for the Empty Stocking Fund run periodically in The Dispatch and can also be sent in on a sheet of paper. All donations should be mailed to The Dispatch, Empty Stocking Fund, P.O. Box 908, Lexington, NC 27293 or delivered to the office at 30 E. First Ave. Checks should be made out to the Empty Stocking Fund.
Please include the following information, typed or clearly written, with donation checks: donor's name, amount of donation and if the donation is in honor or in memory of someone. Donors can remain anonymous if they so choose.
Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or at email@example.com.


text:
Costco (NASDAQ: COST) is the largest warehouse club retailer and the second largest general retailer in the United States. Costco sells food and general merchandise, including appliances and other household goods, in bulk and at heavily discounted prices. Costco's two main competitors are Sam's Club and BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ), both of which have similar business strategies to Costco.
Costco's business strategy providing items in bulk and at low prices help the retailer maintain positive growth during slow economic times. Price conscious consumers gravitate toward discount retailers like Costco, hoping to get the most out of their money. As a result, Costco's bottom line has fared well since the economic slowdown. Costco's biggest concern is over expansion and cannibalization of existing store locations. As a result, the company has announced it will slow its domestic expansion plans. Costco will instead look to international markets for future growth.
Costco's merchandise categories include:
The sluggish economy and weak housing market caused many companies, especially department stores, to vacate space in shopping malls. As a result, Costco has stepped in and has been buying up these empty spaces previously occupied by department stores. Although this mall strategy is in contrast to Costco's current strategy of big box retailing in stand-alone stores, Costco stands to benefit from the switch. First, it allows Costco to expand at a quicker rate because the company won't have to worry about setting up infrastructure or have to deal with community opposition in building warehouse stores. Second, it brings Costco's stores to more generally populated areas and to high-traffic areas like malls. So instead of having to drive a long distance to a strip-mall to get Costco's low prices, consumers will now have easier access to the low prices while still being able to shop at other stores under the safe roof. Costco's bottom line stands to benefit from higher traffic and more sales.
Consumers prefer not to have to travel to different places in order to shop. One of the biggest reasons why giant retailers like Wal-Mart (WMT) are successful is because their stores are more than just a place for people to buy food -- these stores provide ancillary services like places to eat or get a hair cut. Many of Costco's stores already provide ancillary services like in-store food service, one-hour photo centers, optical dispensing centers, pharmacies, gas stations, hearing-aid centers, printing/copy centers and car washes. Costco uses these services to attract customers into their stores for more than just buying bulk items and improving on these services will help to increase traffic flow into Costco stores and will help generate sales.
Stands back from the keyboard in amaezemnt! Thanks!


text:
Purchases of new U.S. homes unexpectedly dropped in December, indicating the U.S. housing rebound will take time to develop after the industry completed its first year of recovery.
Sales declined 7.3 percent to a 369,000 annual pace following a 398,000 rate in November that was higher than previously estimated and the strongest in more than two years, Commerce Department figures showed today in Washington. The median estimate of 77 economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for sales to reach 385,000 last month.
Even with December's slip, 367,000 new homes were purchased for all of 2012, the most since 2009 and the first annual gain in seven years, showing the housing market is on the road to recovery. A dearth of previously-owned properties in the U.S., mortgage rates near record lows, healthier job prospects and a rising number of households should stoke demand for newly- constructed homes this year.
"2012 was the first year we've seen a sustained recovery in housing," Celia Chen, a housing economist at Moody's Analytics in West Chester, Pennsylvania, said before the report. "This year will be even better. On the supply side, inventories are pretty tight. On the demand side, things are definitely improving, and that's because job growth is in place."
Economists' estimates ranged from a sales rate of 340,000 to 406,000. November was previously reported as showing sales of 377,000 at an annual rate.
For all of 2012, new home sales increased 19.9 percent, the biggest jump since 1983 and the first gain since 2005.
Higher Prices
The median price of a new home increased 13.9 percent last month from a year ago, climbing to $248,900.
In December, purchases decreased in three of four regions, led by a 29.4 percent slump in the Northeast. Sales also fell 11.1 percent in the West and 8.4 percent in the South. They rose 21.3 percent in the Midwest.
The housing data for last year show the market gained vitality in 2012. Construction of new properties rose last month to a 954,000 annual rate, the fastest pace since June 2008, according to Jan. 17 Commerce Department figures. The December print capped the best year for homebuilding since 2008.
Today's report showed the supply of new homes at the current sales rate climbed to 4.9 months from 4.5 months in November. There were 151,000 new houses on the market at the end of December, up from 149,000 the prior month.
There were 1.82 million previously-owned homes on the market in December, the fewest since January 2001, according to National Association of Realtors data earlier this week.
Copyright 2014 Bloomberg. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


text:
UNH's InterOperability Laboratory makes sure latest innovations workBy GRETYL MACALASTER
Union Leader Correspondent
September 17. 2013 10:02PM
DURHAM — The InterOperability Laboratory is referred to by some as one of the best kept secrets at the University of New Hampshire.
For 25 years, the independent test site for new networking technologies has been employing students, working with industry leaders from IBM to Microsoft and bringing engineers and company representatives from around the world into Durham.
On Monday, the UNH-IOL held an anniversary party at their 121 Technology Drive office, tucked inside the giant Goss International building at the west edge of campus.
"Our work here is always exciting, but we're really thrilled to share what we do with the broader UNH and New Hampshire community," UNH-IOL director Erica Johnson said.
The IOL is focused on helping companies test how their technology interoperates with other technology and how different systems work together, or interoperability.
Cisco started using the UNH-IOL around 2003, and senior product manager Ric Chavez said at that time the IOL was really establishing itself as an industry leader.
He said Cisco continues to work with the lab because it has a significant impact on their business.
"We know there is a real return on our investment," Chavez said.
Cisco has 19 separate districts that pay out of their own budgets for memberships to the IOL.
Chavez said they interviewed and compared hundreds of labs "and when the decision was made, far and away it was an easy choice."
"The business model of bringing in students is key to the work," he said, because Cisco knows they can manage the scale of testing they need.
The California-based company recently celebrated their 100th product tested at the IOL.
"Those 100 products literally represent some of Cisco's highest revenue products," Chavez said. "We don't do it just for fun. This is real business for Cisco."
The UNH-IOL is self-funding and employs about 120 undergraduate students in the 32,000-square-foot space. The students are mentored by industry leaders, faculty members and older peers.
There is a plan in the works to move the UNH-IOL downtown, where it will be more visible and where Durham's amenities will be more accessible to the many visiting engineers and company representatives that use the lab.
Bob Russell is a professor of computer science at the university but said the IOL provides opportunities for all kinds of students. Student employees at the IOL are often computer science or electrical engineering majors, but they also come from other disciplines, including at least one zoology/psychology major.
"We don't expect they know much about the innards of networking, they just have to be interested in it," Russell said. "We put them to work and we train them."
It provides a good, full-time summer job for students and flexible opportunities during the academic year.
Students are involved when engineers from different companies connected through similar technologies come in to test and compare.
"Most students get jobs before they even graduate and when they go to industry they don't need to be trained," Russell said.
He said given the constantly evolving technology, he thinks there will be a role for the IOL for the foreseeable future.
UNH sophomore Jeremy Hochschwender, 19, of Rye, chose to attend UNH because of the IOL, and began working there the summer before he began college.
"I wanted somewhere I could get real world experience with real world companies," Hochschwender said.
He said it has been an "amazing experience" working with different mobile technology companies on emerging technologies and expects to work in the field when he graduates.


text:
Why Nerium? And Why Now?
~by Betsy Smith
Timing is everything. But without the complete package timing is irrelevant.
What do I mean? I was in a start up with a fantastic product with tons of science, but the company folded. I learned a lot from that experience and realized too late that our leadership did not have the know-how or knowledge to make it work. The compensation plan was lacking. And there was no real strategy or vision.
That is why when my friend called to tell me about Nerium International, another start up, I had no interest. But I did the best thing I could and let him educate me on the company and why this was different. And I joined!
Now the timing is even better! We have a proven track record. We posted over $100 million in sales in our first full year and in just 2 years sales will be over $300 million mostly with just one product.
We are about to go global and bring out additional products at our International Convention in St Louis in early April. The future is bright.
So what makes this THE opportunity to join?
Beauty and especially anti-aging is the fastest growing segment and the most successful companies in this industry are in this vertical.
We have REAL science, and an exclusive product line using our patented extract.
We have a 30-day product money back guarantee and a $5,000 guarantee on the Business opportunity!
Nerium has the most lucrative compensation plan that includes executive type cash bonuses ranging from $25K up to $1 million.
We have a program called Nerium Gives Back where we send FREE inventory to all of our Brand Partners.
And we have a state of the art back office that includes our own cloud and the ability to run your business from your smart phone. A truly portable business!
Want more info? Call me at 847-431-3536 or email email@example.com
Our team is exploding! Join us for the fun.


text:
Margaret R. "Margie" Adams, age 75, of Lake Ariel passed away Monday, April 15, 2013 at Geisinger-CMC in Scranton after an illness.
Born in Honesdale, she was daughter of the late William J. and Rose Kilgallen Gogard. She was a member of the Queen of Angels Parish-St. James Roman Catholic Church in Jessup. She was a former member of the St. John's Parish, Honesdale and the BVM Queen of Peace Parish, Hawley, where she was active in the Altar and Rosary Society. Margie graduated from Honesdale Catholic High School in 1955. Prior to retirement, she was the site manager of the Hawley Senior Citizens Center for 23 years for the Wayne County Area Agency on Aging. Prior to that, she worked for the BVM Queen of Peace Parish. Margie was the Citizen of the Year for the Hawley Rotary Club. She was Hawley Chairperson of the Daffodil Days for the American Cancer Society.
Survivors are her loving husband of 54 years, Gerard J. "Rod" Adams Jr.; children, James and Sharon Adams of Honesdale, Joseph and Kathryn Adams of Lake Ariel and Sarah and Michael Cory of Noblesville, IN; a brother, John Gogard of Honesdale; grandchildren, Cortney and Ryan McNelley of London, England, Chelsey and Jordan Ubertini of Honesdale, Cale Adams of Honesdale, Lauren Cory and David Cory of Noblesville, IN; and great grandchildren, Isla McNelley and Brazlin Ubertini; and many nieces and nephews.
Margie is remembered as an incredibly loving, caring and giving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, friend and community member. She provided hundreds of birthday cakes for all family, friends and patrons of the Senior Center for more than 40 years. Margie was always lending a helping hand to others and was a woman of great Catholic faith. As an organ donor, her lifelong commitment to helping others lives on. She will be dearly missed by all.
A Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, May 10, at 5:00 PM at BVM Queen of Peace Roman Catholic Church, 314 Chestnut St., Hawley, with her close family friend, Father William Blake, officiating.
Interment will be at the private convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association NEPA District, 613 Baltimore Dr., Suite 3, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702.


text:
|2012-12-16, 17:15
|Link #3541
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: classified
Though I admit I could be wrong about that.
Of all the contenders I've seen to replace Hilary, Kerry seems like a fine choice.
|2012-12-16, 17:44
|Link #3542
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: East Cupcake
Kerry is a good choice, though, and I expect many would support his acceptance even if they couldn't convert his Senate Seat.
|2012-12-20, 18:25
|Link #3543
books-eater youkai
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Betweem wisdom and insanity
CNN Poll: Are GOP policies too extreme?
|2012-12-21, 06:53
|Link #3544
Shougi Génération
Graphic Designer
House Republicans defeat their leader's 'Plan B' proposal.
So after Filibustering their own measures in the Senate, good to see the House keeping the dream alive...
|2012-12-21, 11:40
|Link #3545
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Central Texas
Age: 34
|2012-12-21, 11:56
|Link #3546
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Age: 32
I'm not sure if the examiner is right wing biased, but it sure reads that way. And no, I'm not talking about content, but the way they word the content is so aggressive and starts being derogatory to fact checkers, saying things like "Even..." followed by some not Rupert Murdoch owned thing that supposedly said something that agreed with them, and saying those things "admitted" rather than stated. As if, since there's a big GOP machine, there's some big socialist machine or something.
Also seems to cherry pick statements from its sources. For example, they're like "This one admits that there is little evidence that deregulation was the problem!", but they ignore the fact the article states that it was "unregulation", ie: not enough regulation, that allowed Wallstreet to find loop holes.
And wow, yeah, they just said "non-Fox media". That's definitely a very right wing biased site, or at least writer. Seems it's the writer, at the very least:
|2012-12-21, 18:44
|Link #3547
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
In some of the comments there people are wondering why Obama is even negotiating with Boehner when it looks like he can't even get his party to go along with him.
|2012-12-21, 19:12
|Link #3548
Logician and Romantic
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Within my mind
Age: 37
If Boehner can't deliver support in the House, then he isn't the guy Obama should be talking to.
Obama is doing the negotiations because the Democrats would back him up. But without a leader on the opposing side who has any power to pass legislation in the House, there can't BE a negotiation.
It seems until the GOP decide who they would follow in their own party, the Democrats are on their own.
|2012-12-31, 22:58
|Link #3550
Join Date: Feb 2006
Age: 35
So, with an hour to go to the New Year on the East Coast .. an agreement has been reached on the fiscal cliff!
Estate taxes are up, income tax cuts maintained to those making up to $400k a year, capital gains and dividend taxes up for post-$400k a year
|2012-12-31, 23:03
|Link #3551
The Comet has Come
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Republic of California
Age: 41
There wasn't anything about it, but I assume the electoral votes were cast as scheduled.
Also any word on Puerto Rico's statehood bid? (Or the District of Columbia for that matter).
|2013-01-01, 00:40
|Link #3552
Logician and Romantic
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Within my mind
Age: 37
Now, next up; debt ceiling again.
|2013-01-02, 05:04
|Link #3553
Logician and Romantic
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Within my mind
Age: 37
So essentially this is what happened that caused House to pass the bill; Boehner knows the preferred option of the Tea Party is to add spending cuts and send it back to the Senate. So he checked if there was enough Majority in the GOP House to essentially support a Plan C. It does not. So Boehner then put the unamended Senate Bill up for a up-or-down vote.
The fact is no matter how much the Tea Party protests, they aren't going to pass anything by themselves. Boehner made it clear that they are STILL only a minor faction. But we will see if that holds political consequences for him.
|2013-01-02, 05:30
|Link #3555
Obey the Darkly Cute ...
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 61
Aye, whatever merit the Tea Party may have originally had in the eyes of some of its members --- as it exists now, its a dangerous fiscally irresponsible disaster composed of what appear to be mostly idiots, buffoons, and puppets of billionaires who just might not be quite sane depending on how you analyze their behavior.
|2013-01-02, 05:33
|Link #3556
Join Date: Nov 2007
Age: 29
GOP seems to adhere to the Mary Poppins philosophy of sugar helping the medicine go down - they aren't facing the fact that medication regimes are unpleasant at the best.
|2013-01-02, 07:56
|Link #3557
Logician and Romantic
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Within my mind
Age: 37
This whole event seem to give Obama ideas of how to handle the next four years; (House is unlikely to change much). Essentially, the House would have no ability to support Obama even if they wanted to. So Obama would need to engineer the political landscape so that something would happen if the House don't act. To make a "No" vote something that matters.
To make the government's wheels turn, Obama is going to have to make the House pay for doing nothing.
|2013-01-02, 09:36
|Link #3558
Join Date: Nov 2007
Age: 29
The US market just opened about an hour ago. It went up.
Usually the first day of trading dictates how the rest of the year will go, but I am holding my breath because this thing is nothing more than the postphonement of some doom, namely their social budget.
Unless the US start making REAL money (excluding all those arms sales to the China-terrified states around the globe), we will find a repeat of this year 364 days later.
|2013-01-02, 10:54
|Link #3559
Logician and Romantic
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Within my mind
Age: 37
But of course, there are other sources of cheap labour. After all, China was simply the replacement after Japan stopped making cheap goods. That job market will never stay still as it is self-defeating. Give people jobs, and soon they would want to demand a raise.
Now, I understand that Free Market and Trade Barriers don't mix. But the fact is Free Market only makes the Multinationals rich. If you are not the cheapest supply of labour on Earth, you are going to lose out in a Free Market. There are two things America set up trade barriers for; Food and Weapons. Both are of strategic importance. But it is interesting that these two are the industries that still survives in America just fine.
I guess what want to say, is that Free Trade is fine if two nations want to swap commodities with each other. But if it leads to only one side giving money to the other for goods, then you have issues.
America needs protectionism to save their local industries. But that cuts into profits of large international industries so there would be near impossible resistance.
|2013-01-02, 11:03
|Link #3560
Join Date: Feb 2006
Age: 35
^ Yeah, it's not quite that simple .. But let's not get bogged down in the economics of it all. The U.S. has ultimately overspent over the past several decades. Both the consumer and the government have overspent -- which is unfortunate as you'd likely want only one to be occurring at a time -- so a prolonged period of tepid economic growth with one or the other retrenching in turn is pretty important.
As for China, I have some (somewhat distant) relatives that own several factories in mainland China and they have been struggling with wage and cost inflation for several years now, and have been working on R&D avenues to branch out their production. They specialize in plastics so they make toys and other simple products for multinationals. From their perspective the main avenues to profit now in the mainland is producing goods for domestic consumption, but there is such a huge rift due to the social landscape:
The relatively poor tend to scrape by with the cheapest most generic essentials (with negligible margins) and the big splurge purchases are only of foreign luxury items.
The rich almost exclusively consume foreign products.
|Thread Tools


text:
Vegas, baby! Headed out to that glittering desert town anytime soon? If so, you'll want to know which of the many shows to see. We've combed our archives for our reviews of the biggest, most popular, long-running Las Vegas shows, from "Viva Elvis" to "Ka." And we've now put them all where you can find them easily, in the right rail on the Theater Loop page.
In the future, we'll keep it up to date. Given the many other opportunities to lose all your money, at least you'll spend wisely on entertainment.


text:
Because he puts a high premium on learning, Todd Finklestone has immersed himself in making education possible for African orphans.
Finklestone, who earned a BS and a Master of Science in Ethics and Public Policy from Suffolk University, is the co-founder of CameroonONE, a non-profit organization that sponsors the education of orphaned children in the Republic of Cameroon.
Today, two years after finishing graduate school, Finklestone is making major decisions for his organization, working on program development, raising money to help support children's scholarships, and organizing supply drives for school gear, medical equipment and clothing.
"One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is knowing the real impact our organization has in the development and security of these children," he says. "It's pretty special to be involved in helping to support and improve the lives of others."
Finklestone and his CameroonONE team recently expanded their mission, having launched a project designed to take parentless children out of their orphanages and place them in the households of surviving relatives who would otherwise not be able to afford to take in their own kin.
Finklestone credits the opportunities created by Suffolk University – in and out of the classroom – for his successful entry into the professional workplace.
One of his most memorable experiences was participating in a London internship with a non-governmental organization that works to keep weapons out of developing countries and war zones and lobbies governments to practice sensible arms sales.
"The knowledge I gained at Suffolk has helped me in every phase of my job," he says. "If it weren't for my education, I wouldn't be where I am right now."
Finklestone has branched out in his fund-raising efforts; he is illustrating the children's book Fooling Ewe, with the proceeds going to CameroonONE.
He also is training to be a response team member for ShelterBox, a British organization of first-relief responders to global disasters.
"I need to be connected to helping other people," he says. "It's who I am and what I'm all about."
Finklestone shared the story of his career of service with other young alumni who were recognized for their career accomplishments at a "10 Under 10" reception in April. All 10 of the alumni honored earned their Suffolk University degrees within the past decade.


text:
Moving house
I've moved the Ear Conditioning blog to http://earconditioning.wordpress.com/
It had to be done.
See ya there....maybe.
To get our message across, it has become necessary to ill some people.
I've moved the Ear Conditioning blog to http://earconditioning.wordpress.com/
It had to be done.
See ya there....maybe.
Posted by d.wattsriot at 02:04 4 comments
Labels: Wordpress
Posted by d.wattsriot at 13:45 1 comments
Labels: Jerry Dammers, Sunhole radio, The Specials
There's a new MC in town.....used to be known as MC Nomad, but now called MC Run-with- yer-money!
Checked in with our man DJ/Rupture over at Mudd Up! an hour ago, and bam, one heavy post about Charles Holgate, who was hired to do publicity for the Uproot album in the UK.
Posted by d.wattsriot at 01:33 0 comments
Labels: Charles Holgate, MC Lame-Ass, MC Nomad, Publicity, Thief
Posted by d.wattsriot at 19:23 0 comments
Labels: M14, Puerto de Granadilla
Posted by d.wattsriot at 18:07 0 comments
Labels: 'ism, field negro, Filastine, Ketamine, Simon Reynolds, skism, Zomby
Posted by d.wattsriot at 09:53 0 comments
Labels: Get Crazy, Ghislain Poirier, Mr Slaughter, Ninja Tune
One of my first jobs at Virgin Records in London was in the A'n'R Dept., booking cutting (or mastering) appointments at mastering facilities such as the Townhouse, CBS in Whitfield Street, or Porky's, to name a few.
Posted by d.wattsriot at 21:55 0 comments
Labels: Basic Channel, Dubplates, Mastering, Rashad Becker, Robert Henke


text:
RAVENSWOOD - At Tuesday night's city council meeting, the main draw for citizens was a "vote of no confidence" for Mayor Michael Ihle, which was requested by City Recorder Kathy Garrett.
After taking care of city business, Ihle read a prepared statement to council expressing his opinion about the waste of time on Garrett's agenda item, as the vote of no confidence has no legal standing and cannot be used to remove a government official from office.
He advised those at the meeting that they could make a comment. However, those who continued to talk out of turn would be removed from the meeting by police officers.
"In the August 27 meeting of the common council of the City of Ravenswood, Recorder Kathy Garrett expressed the desire for council to conduct a vote of no confidence in me, Mayor Michael Ihle.
"Buried amongst the rational containing a whole slew of half-baked accusations with the usual grain of truth: an admission that a vote of no confidence possesses no legal standing. To be blunt the motion only serves to air dirty laundry over personal differences.
"I find it deeply insulting on a personal level. Worse it is unnecessary and embarrassing to every one involved. It serves as a distraction from the more important issues facing Ravenswood.
"This is a political stunt designed to create yet more drama and yet more controversy. Most significantly, this is a motion that council has no confidence in the judgment of the citizens of Ravenswood.
"It's nothing new; I'm simply the most recent target in a series of trumped-up gossip generated from the coalition of conspiracy that exists on this council. The people of Ravenswood are intelligent enough to know what is going on here.
"They have sat back and observed the bickering and infighting that has taken place, long before I was on the scene. At the same time they've helplessly watched as all kinds of businesses pack and leave, while others constantly choose to locate in our neighbor city, which never seems to have the problem of getting alone as we do.
"Everyone but council seems to notice the cause and effect of the constant barrage of pseudo scandals prevents the City of Ravenswood from ever moving forward. It blocks the ability of principle leadership from ever being able to govern, it saps the energy and willingness of volunteers to serve to serve their fellow citizens. It destroys the ability of well-intentioned individuals to improve the lives of the people of Ravenswood.
"It ruins Ravenswood's reputation as a good place to live, work and worship and play. It is a cancer eating out the soul of our community. Instead of attacking the cancer, you're about to hear a pointless litany of accusations against me. Each of which contains that grain of truth and a pack of lies and distortions. But I am not without fault, and I freely admit it. I overlook things. I often don't connect with people on a personal level.
"But perhaps my biggest flaw has been my failure to fight for the right to carry out my lawful duties as Ravenswood's chief executive officer. In my flawed attempt to be compromising and accommodating with this council, I have allowed myself to be railroaded into submission. That ends now. At the end of the day the people of Ravenswood elected me to do a job. I am the mayor. There is nothing else anyone else can do about it. And I'm going to do, whether anyone else likes it or not
"Council can either work with me-which I have tried and failed at doing over the last 14 months, or I'm going to work around them while staying within the confines of the law, the choice is theirs.
"Regardless of the choice they make I extend a hand of forgiveness to all involved. I'm ready to wipe the slate clean and move forward. But, so there may be free and unfettered debate on my alleged lack of my merit, I'm stepping down as the chair of this meeting at this time and leaving the room."
Councilperson Sue Quillen expressed her feelings and her desire for council to consider that Ihle is young and didn't have a government background. Quillen asked council what was the job of council members in this case. She stated that the job of council is to help Ihle.
Councilpersons Judy Wiseman and Gary Cross, Quillen pointed out that both were former teachers and should use their experience be able to find a way to work with Ihle. She went on to say that everyone makes mistakes and requested that the vote of no confidence be taken off of the agenda.
Council members decided to table the issue for three months before revisiting the vote.
Vote of no confidence goes nowhere
RAVENSWOOD - At Tuesday night's city council meeting, the main draw for citizens was a "vote of no confidence" for Mayor Michael Ihle, which was requested by City Recorder Kathy Garrett.


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Find Our Latest Video Reviews on YouTube!
If you want to stay on top of all of our video reviews of the latest tech, be sure to check out and subscribe to the Gear Live YouTube channel, hosted by Andru Edwards! It's free!
Friday July 11, 2008 1:57 pm
Extravaganza Vending Machine
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Misc. Tech
We don't know why we obsess on vending machines, but we assume Japan does since they seem to have a large assortment of them. Their latest is a fresh veggie type they call Extravaganza that dispenses bok choy and bean sprouts with the push of a button. With all the E. coli scares going on in the States, we doubt they will ever make it here. Besides, it just doesn't have the same feeling as going to an outdoor market and purchasing fresh local vegetables.
Read More | <3 Yen
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March 02. 2014 10:45PM
Bedford crash closes part of Route 101
BEDFORD - Police are on the scene of a serious accident that has closed a portion of Route 101 in Bedford.
State police say officers are at the scene of what is termed a serious accident involving a head-on collision between a tractor trailer unit and a car.
Route 101 between Jenkins and Wallace roads is currently closed to all vehicular traffic.
No further details are available at this time.


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Tag Archives: Vertigo (1958)
Wednesday's Book Review: "Hitchcock: The Making of a Reputation"
Hitchcock: The Making of a Reputation. By Robert E. Kapsis. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1992. The recent movies that have been made about Alfred Hitchcock—Hitchcock (2012) and The Girl (2012), both of which deal with obsessions and misbehavior in … Continue reading


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Bear Fish Hunting Cornhole Board Vinyl Decal Sticker Graphic Bean Bag Toss
Bear Fish Hunting Cornhole Board Vinyl Decal Sticker Graphic Bean Bag Toss
Fully customizable, custom text, custom color per board!
Give your boards the professional painted look. Our decals are sharp, crisp and easy to install they will look like you spent hours on the detail but you only spent minutes. Fully customizable send us an email if you're looking for a custom set. Have one board one color and the other a different color.
This is for a set, you get enough decals for both boards.
Bear Decals Measures 22" wide x 18" Tall
Custom Name Text is 22" w x 3" h
Rings are 1" thick. 8"x8"
We use Oracal 651 vinyl in a high gloss finish , rated for 6 years. Best for smooth flat surfaces.
Check out our online gallery of finished boards.
Measures as shown, sometimes found on second image. There is no background to the decals everything with measurements is the decal the rest is the color of your boards.
We may also need other information such as custom text. Please include all the information so we may ship your decals asap. Custom text is only available if shown and in the size that is shown. Make sure to include your font choice also.
Comes with semi-clear transfer tape for easy installation. Instructions included with decals, EASY to install.
We ship USPS Priority Mail with tracking information supplied.
If you are not happy with your decals please contact us, we want you to be happy and will to make it right. If you want to return your decals you can up to 14 days after purchase, decals must be returned in sellable condition, return shipping charges will be paid by the purchaser.
Custom Work
We can design a custom graphic for you, just email us. Let us know the colors and what you would like to see, we will send you a proof.
We Also Recommend
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Bears Football School Spirit Mascot Cornhole Board Vinyl Decal Sticker Custom Text Bean Bag Toss MA02


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NEW YORK (AP) — The play "The Heiress" ends sadly for almost everyone, but the producers of the Broadway revival starring Jessica Chastain are happy: They'll make their money back.
The show's producers said Monday the production will recoup its $3 million capitalization by the time the show closes on Saturday. By then, "The Heiress" will have played 27 previews and 117 regular performances.
The revival, based on the Henry James novel "Washington Square," also stars Judith Ivey, David Strathairn and Dan Stevens of "Downton Abbey." Moises Kaufman directs.
Chastain is currently riding a popular wave, having earned an Oscar nomination for "Zero Dark Thirty" and seeing her new horror story "Mama" open strong.
Other recent shows to recoup include the Al Pacino-led revival of "Glengarry Glen Ross" and Disney's "Newsies."
Online: http://www.TheHeiressOnBroadway.com


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The match cannot end too soon for Brazil. Not only is Colombia rallying, but Neymar takes a knee in the back and is carted off on a stretcher in the 87th minute.
Fortunately for Coach Luiz Scolari, one substitute remains in his back pocket, and Neymar is replaced by an able body. Colombia has used all of its reserves, and the fresh legs are bringing life into the attack. Neymar would be sorely missed in an overtime period and, especially, a shootout.
But Brazil endures five agonizing minutes of added time, though not before Colombia aims a free kick into the box that is converged on by multiple players on each side. The ball bounces over the goal, and the final chance to tie goes awry.
Brazil advances to a semifinal against Germany with a 2-1 victory over Colombia.
Colombia's James Rodriguez finally gets loose and drives the ball into the box, then deals to teammate Carlos Bacca.
Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar ventures out from his post and brings Bacca down while closing in on the Colombian, resulting in a penalty kick. The young Rodriguez outguesses Cesar, who was shaken up by the contact, and tallies on the penalty kick to revive the Colombians in the 79th minute.
They nearly equalize moments thereafter, but Bacca's head-flick on a crossing pass barely misses.
An uneasy sequence in the 58th minute gives Brazil pause when Fred and Thiago Silva drop to the field with possible injuries. Both pop up soon after, and a choppy second half that can be blamed partly on excessive fouling resumes.
Spanish referee Velasco Carballo, who could not find his whistle in the opening half, is blowing it incessantly in an effort to rein in the rough stuff. Carballo's reluctance to issue a yellow card through two-thirds of the match compromises any efforts at deterrence.
The dumbest foul of all could have repercussions. Silva interferes with the Colombia keeper David Ospina on a goal kick and draws a yellow that would mean a suspension for the semifinals against Germany.
The yellows start to come out, one against Colombia's James Rodriguez on a tackle. A direct free kick by David Luiz from well outside the box confuses Ospina, and the keeper arrives late to a ball in the upper right corner, giving Brazil a 2-0 lead in the 68th minute.
First half
Brazil gets some relief from the enormous expectations that comes with being the favorite and host country on a quick strike in the seventh minute.
Neymar earns a corner kick when his nifty run down the left side ends with the ball knocked across the goal line. From the corner, he pops the cross above and over the mass of players in the center of the box. At the far post, Thiago Silva slips behind a distracted Colombian defender, cleans up the pass with an extended leg and nudges it into the net.
Colombia suddenly finds itself in a familiar and undesirable situation -- trailing in the tournament for the first time.
Colombia keeper David Ospina has handed off goal-kick duties to a teammate, which suggests a mild injury. But Ospina looks fully fit with two bang-bang saves on close-range shots by Hulk and Fred in the 20th minute.
Ospina rebuffs Hulk again in the 27th minute as the Brazilians are fulfilling their reputation as executors of the "beautiful game."
Colombia shows some verve, too, but Brazil's attention paid to the versatile James Rodriguez contributes to keeping the underdogs off the board through the first half.
Brazil's one-goal lead is forged on ball possession (60%) and a rugged defense that spares goalkeeper Julio Cesar from requiring to make a single save.


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On October 11, we'll be embarking on an 8 Night Classic Mediterranean Voyage with our friend Simon, from the #CruiseChat Twitter chat. In addition to hosting a LIVE onboard Twitter chat, we'll be sharing fun updates throughout the day on Twitter and Instagram, as we explore some of Europe's most beautiful cities.
Hide & Tweet
Each day, following along as Jill, from the Azamara social media team, plays Hide & Tweet. Here's how to play:
We've picked out some of the best gifts for travel lovers as the Hide & Tweet prizes. Take a look!
A year-long subscription to AFAR Magazinre.
A beautiful book on Florence art and architecture.
A year-long subscription to Conde Naste Traveller Magazine.
A Moleskine Voyageur Notebook.
National Geographic's new book.
A Fujifilm Instant Camera.
An Olloclip camera lens for iPhones.
A Kindle Paperwhite.
If you're located in North America, don't forget to factor in the time change! Look for our Hide & Tweet updates in the morningtime. Later on that day, we'll post a blog updating you on the team's adventures that day, and announcing the Hide & Tweet location!
Note: You can submit your Hide & Tweet guesses via Instagram or Twitter. If more than one person correctly answers at the same time, a name will be randomly drawn. There will not be a round of Hide & Tweet on Friday, October 16, as it is a sea day.
Other Blogs You May Like...
Seven Things To Do in Tuscany
Ten Incredible Photos Of #AthensByNight
#CruiseChat is coming to Europe with Azamara Club Cruises!
Are you excited for your next Azamara voyage?
Enter your email address below for exclusive offers, updates, and news. Don't miss out!


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Contact: Jerry Horn, 540-220-0095
"Our brave men and women in the military are there to defend and save lives," declares Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life. "I agree with the House. The military shouldn't be deployed against unborn babies."
Fr. Pavone's comments are in reaction to the defeat Thursday in the House of Representatives of an amendment by New Jersey Democrat Robert Andrews to require military hospitals to provide abortions for any reason. The amendment lost on a 237 to 191 vote, continuing a policy set by Congress in 1996.
"Soldiers protect our nation," states Fr. Pavone. "We should protect their children."
Priests for Life is the nation's largest Catholic pro-life organization dedicated to ending abortion and euthanasia. For more information, visit www.priestsforlife.org.


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CLEVELAND (AP) — The ringleader of 16 Amish found guilty in beard- and hair-cutting hate-crime attacks on fellow members of their faith in Ohio asked an appeals court Wednesday to overturn his conviction.
The attorney for Sam Mullet Sr., 67, of Bergholz near Steubenville, filed the notice of appeal with the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati.
The appeal cited issues including the judge's refusal to delay last year's trial in Cleveland or to release Mullet on bond. The appeal also cited testimony about sex involving Mullet and women in his community.
Thirteen defendants have appealed their convictions. The judge said defendants have until Friday to appeal.
They were convicted in five attacks in Ohio Amish communities in 2011 in apparent retaliation against Amish who had defied or denounced Mullet's authoritarian style in the insular community, which shuns many facets of modern life and is deeply religious.
The jury sided with prosecution arguments that the defendants should be found guilty of a hate crime because religious differences brought about the attacks. Amish believe the Bible instructs women to let their hair grow long and men to grow beards once they marry. Cutting it would be shameful and offensive.
Mullet was sentenced Feb. 8 to 15 years in prison, while family members convicted of carrying out his orders got sentences ranging from one to seven years.
The defendants had challenged the constitutionality of the federal hate crimes act as overly broad, but the judge rejected the claim before their trial.
Mullet's appeal cited the Dec. 6 decision by U.S. District Court Judge Dan Aaron Polster denying Mullet a new trial.
The defense had said there was insufficient evidence linking Mullet to the attacks. The judge rejected the claim.
While Mullet didn't physically participate in the attacks, "There was extensive evidence showing he was a member of the conspiracy, the object of which was to commit them," the judge wrote in December.
The request for a new trial also had cited the decision allowing testimony by Mullet's daughter-in-law about her sexual relationship with him. The defense said the testimony was unfairly prejudicial.
Polster said the testimony was allowed at trial because it showed the extent of Mullet's control over the members of his community, "which was directly relevant to counter his defense that he had nothing to do with any of the attacks."


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Open Letter to All Moms from Kid President [Video]
First of all..Happy Mother's Day!! Kid President is a little guy who has big dreams for the USA, and he tries to spread the word in his videos. Today he puts out an open letter to all moms. Prepare to have your hearts warmed.


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National Event
2018 National Small Business Week Virtual Conference
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IP Licensing in the Entertainment World and Beyond
October 23, 2014, 1:00pm EDT
This webinar will help entrepreneurs and small businesses better understand the different types of IP. Read more


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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A man who set himself on fire in the heart of the U.S. capital as tourists and joggers watched in horror has died from his injuries, a Washington police spokesman said on Saturday.
The man who set himself on fire on Friday afternoon died that night, D.C. police spokesman Araz Alali said.
"Due to the severity and the nature of his injuries, he's not been identified," Alali said.
Police responded to an emergency call on Friday on the National Mall, which is lined with Washington's famed Smithsonian museums and national monuments.
Bystanders used their shirts to tamp down the flames on the man, police and witnesses said.
The man was conscious when he was taken to Washington Hospital Center. A helicopter landed in the middle of the Mall to transport him.
The apparent self-immolation in the heart of Washington's tourist area rattled the city a day after a car chase that began at the White House ended in a fatal shooting outside the U.S. Capitol.
(Reporting by Noreen O'Donnell; Editing by Greg McCune and Vicki Allen)


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Under Armour is a sportswear company that has built a leading brand name in the emerging market for hi-tech athletic gear [1]. The company uses patented synthetic fabrics in its apparel, marketing its products as perfomance-enhancing alternatives to traditional cotton or mesh gear as UA products are designed to wisk away moisture, regulate body temperature, and improve comfort. Under Armour's brand has captured share in the hard-to-reach demographic of 18-35 sports-oriented males, and established itself in the youth market as well. UA has been traded as a public company from November 2005. [2]
The company's traditional focus has been on compression (tight fitting) performance attire, but the company has also begun to offer a more comprehensive array of products-- "LooseGear" in an effort to appeal to customers looking for a more conventional relaxed-fitting apparel that still provides exceptional performance [3]. As Under Armour has expanded its retail offerings, the company has also seen rapid financial growth. [4][5]
Increases in UA's revenue over the last five years is due more to an increase in popularity of hi-tech gear rather than Under Armour capturing market share from competitors. Yet the increasing gap between revenue and net income is due to Under Armour's attempts to break into new markets as well as its reliance on third party distributors. Under Armour is spending more on merchandising to break new markets as well as dealing with distributors. cody bennett
Under Armour's apparel products are separated into three different categories, ColdGear, HeatGear, AllSeasonGear. [6] In 2006 Under Armour added a fourth segment, footwear, entering this market with their performance cleats for football, baseball, and softball. The company quickly signed a contract with the NFL the same year to be their official footwear supplier.[7] Under Armour also produces a number of accessories such as gloves for football, baseball, and golf, as well as socks, bags, and eye wear. [8]
HEATGEAR: Designed for hotter temperatures and humid environments, HEATGEAR is the original Under Armour product. Its microfiber design helps the body breathe and gets rid of moisture quickly, allowing the athlete to remain light and dry. [9]
COLDGEAR: COLDGEAR is the most expensive product line of Under Armour and the most popular. Its design is similar to the HEATGEAR, with microfiber material getting rid of moisture. However it is also not designed to trap heat and keep the body warm. Its popularity helped to Under Armour's profits increase dramatically in late 2007 and earl 2008.
ALLSEASONGEAR: This product line is designed differently from other Under Armour products as it does not use microfiber. Rather it uses technical fabrics that are good for both hot and cold temperatures. Examples of ALLSEASONGEAR include tights, jackets, and long sleeve shirts.[10]
Recovery Gear: Under Armour's product offerings contain the Recharge compression suit, which is designed to relieve aches and pains after workouts, shortening soreness time and re-energizing the body. The company says the suit's high price tag ($200) is offset by the product's uniqueness and niche high-income market. [11]
Roughly half of Under Armour Products are produced in Asia, a quarter in Central America, and a quarter in Mexico.[12] Central America and Mexico are unstable regions of the world and have witnessed much political violence in recent history. Such violence could directly effect Under Armour as factories shut down or are destroyed, shipments are delayed or confiscated, or employees are attacked or leave their posts. As a result Under Armour would be unable to distribute in the United States.
Under Armour's attempts to penetrate the shoe market have been fairly successful with their performance cleats. The company is the official footwear sponsor of the NFL.[13] The move into the footwear market marks another step in competition with Nike, with future plans to expand into the basketball, tennis, and soccer footwear markets.[14] [15]
Roughly one third of Under Armour's sales were to Dick's Sporting Goods (DKS) and Sports Authority.[16] If either of these companies were to suffer, Under Armour's sales would be affected. Also the company does not enter into long term sales contracts with any of its key customers, relying on a good faith policy.[17] Due to the lack of any contracts, these customers can take away business from Under Armour whenever they feel the need to. In addition, the vast majority of the company's wholesale distribution is through large format national and regional retail chains. [16]
Over 80% of Underarmour's net sales come from the United States, and less than 10% of net sales came from outside the US and Canada. [13] In contrast to Nike and Adidas, which have large presences in international and emerging markets, UA at present is dependent on the US for sales growth. While it is a small company and has the potential for expansion, short term declines in US consumer demand have the potential to negatively affect the company's bottom line.
Under Armour's pen main competition comes from large and well established apparel and footwear companies, such as Nike (NKE) and Adidas AG (ADDYY). These companies have international appeal and resources to match. Thankfully, Under Armour competes with them in a market that they specialize in. Therefore the company has been able to be both competitive and very successful despite the fact that their competitors have far more resources. Also, Under Armour competes with other sportswear focused companies, such as Columbia Sportswear Company. These smaller companies, while more of a match for Under Armour in terms of resource, they too appeal to a larger base than Under Armour and are competing with the company in only one market. In their primary market, athletic apparel, Under Armour can claim 74% of the market share, with Adidas and Nike struggle to catch up.[18] In the terms of the overall athletic market, Under Armour claims 31% of the market share, Nike 36%, and Adidas and other athletic companies claiming the remainder.[19]


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Ok this one confuzes me to d e a t h.
I am on an unreal tournament clan. The leader is havin problems connecting to webadmin. I always have with firefox, it will timeout and its really hard to actaully use when you have to refreash all the time. I played with firefox settings, times outs w/e you name it. Nothing helped, at all. Well his IE has the same problem and i had him tweak some timeout settings and it didnt help at all.
He said when he is downloading music and or porn it works ok. That tells me basically that the server is crap and slow anyways but that in a few words, the internet is too fast for the server.
Any ideas m8's?


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Would Fashion Copyright Have Made Kate Middleton's Knockoff Wedding Dress Illegal?
from the oops dept
Mr. Kolb said that Kate Middleton's wedding dress would probably be a good exampleInteresting. Except... as Johanna Blakley points out, it turns out that Kate Middleton's dress... was a knockoff itself!
We'd all like to think that we can recognize newness and originality when we see it, but it's actually quite hard to do. Even Steven Kolb, who is completely immersed in the fashion world, had trouble choosing a good example of a dress that is different from all designs that have preceded it.And, of course, there's really nothing new under the sun in many of these cases. For example, some people have pointed out that both dresses appear quite similar to the dress worn at another famous royal wedding... over fifty years ago. See the photo below of Grace Kelly marrying the Prince of Monaco:


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Roasted red potatoes tossed with parmesan cheese, garlic, olive oil and fresh rosemary.
Salty, savory, strong ingredients that can't help but love potatoes. Potatoes love them right back. Making for one crave-able side dish.
Red potatoes are rock stars in the potato world. Famous for their rich flavor, they are one of the best varieties for leaving the skins on.
The skins add extra crispness to these oven-browned beauties.
Crusted with parmesan, garlic, and rosemary with creamy, starchy middles that you will utterly miss when the very last potato cube disappears.
I've been there.
This recipe will easily become a go-to family favorite. You'll understand why when you overhear your family clamoring for the leftovers.
Where are they? Who ate them? I wanted them! You better save me some!
They have an unforgettable way about them that will whittle a place right smack dab into the middle of your potato-lovin' heart.
I've been there.
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for greasing pan
- 5 - 6 cups red potatoes with skins on, cut in ¾" - 1" cubes
- coarse salt and fresh black pepper
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 big cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped rosemary
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Grease a large baking sheet.
- Place the potatoes on the baking sheet and drizzle with 2 tablespoons of the oil. Use your hands to toss and coat the potatoes. Spread out across the baking sheet and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper.
- Bake 25 minutes. Remove from oven and drizzle the remaining tablespoon of oil over them. Sprinkle the parmesan, garlic, and rosemary over top and toss gently. Spread them out so they're not too crowded.
- Bake about 15 minutes longer or until potatoes are tender and browned. Serve immediately.