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Scorpion is back tonight on CBS at 10/9c for the penultimate episode of its third season. Ahead of tonight's episode, CBS Local's Matt Weiss caught up with Robert Patrick to discuss his role as Cabe Gallo and what lies ahead for the members of Scorpion Team.
MW- Good morning Robert! How are you doing today?
RP- I'm doing good! Having a lot of fun.
MW- Awesome, well let's keep that up here. So first question, you've had a pretty astounding career, a lot of very successful roles including previous work with CBS on The Unit, you were T-1000 in Terminator 2, what's your process for looking at a role and what was it about the role of Cabe Gallo that appealed to you?
RP- Well that's a great question. My process for taking a role is to try to find something that I'm interested in, something I feel I can get a good hook into, something I have an understanding of. Sometimes I take a role based on what I can learn from the role, but there has to be something that is appealing to me to do it. That can be financial, it can be who you're working with, it can be the script itself. That's where I've been with my career and it's added to the longevity. A lot of times I've taken roles and not been compensated very well for it but they've turned out to be, creatively, some of the best decisions I've ever made.
So at times I've taken art over money, you kind of walk that line. I have to support myself, but I also have to try to find the best work, it takes you in and out of different mediums. When I started I was doing movies only, then I realized there was some great TV out there as well. I did a pilot with CBS early on, I think it came to the attention of Mr. Moonves (CEO of CBS) and that lead to The Unit, now here we are on Scorpion. It's great writing that kind of lead me to TV but right now I go back and forth. Scorpion came to me at a time when I was looking for something that would keep me in Los Angeles, keep me close to home.
The great thing about signing up for a show that shoots for nine and a half to ten months out of the year is you're going to be there for nine and a half to ten months out of the year. You're not constantly looking for the next job.
MW- Now your character Cabe has been through a lot this season. He gained a love interest, he lost a love interest…
RP- …And he lost that love interest over the fact that she did something he didn't agree with. He thought it would look bad for what he's been trying to teach the group of kids. If he let it slide, they'd lose respect for him, so he had to let her go. That was an interesting thing and I love the integrity that they've given Cabe Gallo. I really love everything about the character that they've created, it's really something that I have a lot of fun doing.
MW- You mentioned Cabe's integrity, is that something you've enjoyed portraying more this season?
RP- I think Cabe, the way they write him, he embodies an image of a guy that we're all looking for. He's heroic, he's rough, he's tough, but he has a heart of gold and he allows the geniuses to be geniuses. He gives them enough rope yet it's almost like the way you raise kids. You have to allow them to fail, you have to allow them to try but you can't over-parent them. That's the cool thing about Cabe, I think there's a lot of wisdom there. I don't want to get over-grandiose here but there's a certain nobility to him and I think that's what comes through to the audience, that you can trust him and he's got the kids' back.
Certainly another thing I've enjoyed about playing Cabe is how much we make fun of Cabe. We make fun of his age, we make fun of the way he wears too much bro cream in his hair. They have so much fun poking at me that it keeps things real.
MW- That parent-child relationship, is that how you approach things when you're interacting with the rest of the cast?
RP- Absolutely! Both on and off set. I have the utmost respect for everybody I work with, they're all wonderful professionals and very talented actors, but I feel that I have that role to play for them as well. I'm the oldest of all of them, Eddie (Kaye Thomas) started so young that he's been working for a long time but the rest of them, some of them this is their first job. You try to show a good example for them on and off camera.
MW- Two episodes left in this season of Scorpion, without giving too much, what can you tell us about the final two chapters of season 3?
RP- Well, what starts out as a mission that was also going to serve dual purpose as a honeymoon for Toby and Happy, is going to have a tragic ending, in the sense that we crash on a deserted island. We have to figure out how to A) survive and B) how are we going to get off the island? Then what are we going to do now that we're all trapped on this island together? We start to divide and fracture and go off on different teams. There's competition and jealousy and all sorts of things going on so we're really fractured. Then we slowly come back together in an effort to get off the island by the end of the final episode.
Was that giving away too much?
MW- I think that was just enough, the stage is definitely set for an exciting wrap up for the team. Now one last question before I let you go. If we had Scorpion Team vs T-1000, who comes out on top?
RP- That is probably one of the most interesting questions I have ever been asked about the Scorpion character. Hmmm, I think that the Scorpion Team would eventually figure out that there's only one way to slow this guy down and that's to freeze him in liquid nitrogen and throw him in a tub of molten steel. But I think they would figure it out.
MW- So Scorpion Team would slay T-1000. Well thank you Robert, it's been great talking to you this morning and enjoy the rest of your day!
RP- Thank you sir, thank you so much.
Scorpion airs Mondays at 10/9c on CBS, check your local listings for more information.


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About Uffie
With her girlishly playful yet stiff delivery, her raunchy lyrics, and the spare electro beats that surround them, Uffie draws comparisons to female MCs of the '80s like the ladies of L'Trimm and Salt-N-Pepa. Born Anna-Catherine Hartley in Miami, FL, Uffie moved a lot during her childhood, living in places including Hong Kong and Fort Lauderdale; by the time she was 15, she and her father had settled in Paris. She became involved in the city's dance music scene after dating DJ Feadz (whom she met when she booked him for a party). The pair began making music together and released their songs via Uffie's MySpace page starting in 2005. The following year her first single, Pop the Glock/Ready to Uff, was given a limited-edition release by the Arcade Mode label before one of France's most prominent dance labels, Ed Banger, distributed it more widely. The A-side was produced by Feadz, while the B-side was produced by Mr. Oizo, on whose "Half an Edit" Uffie appeared later that year. Hot Chick/In Charge leaked to blogs before its official 2006 release, building the buzz around her music and image. In 2007 Uffie made a cameo on Justice's "Tthhee Ppaarrttyy," which appeared on their debut album, Cross; contributed the song "Dismissed" to the Ed Banger compilation Ed Rec, Vol. 2; and released the 12" single F1rst Love/Brand New Car. Her first full-length album was expected in 2008. ~ Heather Phares
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SongsSee All
Pop the GlockPop the Glock (Remixes) - EP 2009
Spaceship (feat. Uffie)Galantis 2018
Babygirl (feat. Uffie)Charli XCX 2017
Pop the Glock (Mirwais Pop Remix)Pop the Glock (Remixes) - EP 2009
Pop the GlockEd Rec, Vol. 1 2006
Spaceship (feat. Uffie) [MOTi Remix]Galantis 2018
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Name: Stephani
Gender: Female
Age: 19
Location: Texas
Does sex hurt the first time?
I assume you mean fucking — penis/vagina — sex, right? The reason I ask is that there are lots of other sexual behaviors that people can engage in that don't involve intercourse. I'm gonna give you some credit and trust that you already know this. If you don't you have a whole bunch of remedial work to do, darlin'.
Fucking, even first time fucking never needs to hurt. One thing for sure, lots of lube is essential — first time and every time.
But there is so much more you can do to prepare yourself (and your partner) for your first fuck. Begin by knowing your body and your sexual response cycle. Is it safe to assume, even though you are a virgin to full-on fucking, that you are familiar with masturbation? If not, honey, that's where you should start. If you enjoy pleasuring your body to orgasm, you will likely know the kind of stimulation you need to achieve full arousal. This is precisely the information you will want to pass on to your partner before the first fuck-fest begins as well as throughout the event.
The more you know about your body and the mysteries of your particular sexual response cycle the smoother things will go for you and your partner. Nowadays there is absolutely no need for anyone to come to their first partnered sexual encounter uninformed about sex in general and his or her sexuality in particular.
Most women experience pain during fucking (for the first time or anytime) because of one of three basic reasons: 1) She is inexperienced, 2) Her partner is inexperienced or unversed about mutual pleasuring, 3) She is not fully aroused. Right away you can see how a familiarity with your body in general and your pussy in particular will short-circuit at least two of the three basic reasons right away. And while you can't account for the sexual prowess of your partner, you will be able to direct him/her on how to touch and make love to you. And that, my dear, takes care of the third basic reason.
One other thing, a lot of women don't relax during sex…thus discomfort…because they worry about becoming pregnant. If you're not well acquainted with all methods of contraception and actually practicing at least one of them, you're not ready to have sex.
And one other thing, sexually transmitted infections ought to be a concern of both you and your partner. Don't be a fuck-up; if your partner has a penis, he ought always use a condom.
Good luck


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Cheese of the Month Club: Crafting a Memorable Experience
The premise of the Formaggio Kitchen Cheese of the Month Club is pretty simple – each month, I pick a selection of cheeses to mail out to club members across the country. At the heart of the program is our love of sharing our favorite cheeses with customers passionate enough to sign up for our regular deliveries. For most, this means three different cheeses per month and for Connoisseur Club members, it's four cheeses and a pairing condiment.
Although the Cheese Club is a lot of work, I get to be a bit of a hero each month – I send a personalized collection of our finest cheeses to every member!
Mid-month, I get together with Kurt, our lead cheese buyer, to pick the club cheeses. First and foremost, we pick cheeses that are showing their best at that particular moment. We also consider seasonality and we aim to have a nice diversity of flavor, milk type and texture.
Lastly, we consider what cheeses we've recently sent to prevent any redundancies and to make sure people get the broadest possible exposure to our amazing selection.
Sometimes, we'll make a selection based on a theme – Italian cheeses, for example, or spring goat cheeses when the weather warms up. Usually, our selection includes a cheese from each of the most common milking animals – cow, goat and sheep. From time to time and frequently in our Connoisseur's Club, we include a blue cheese, which people usually love (if you've never had a well-made blue cheese, it's a real treat). After thinking about all these factors, we make our choices.
Once the cheeses are picked, we have one more decision to make – the condiment for our Connoisseur members. We carefully consider the cheeses we've picked, and select a condiment that makes them shine.
After selecting the cheeses, it's time to cut them into half-pound pieces for shipment. At times, this means cutting hundreds of pieces of cheese. To keep the cheeses in their best condition, I cut them as close to shipping as possible and wrap them in our special cheese paper. Each piece of cheese is given a label, indicating the cheese's name, milk type, and where it's from, and then carefully packed with cold packs to keep it at the proper temperature during shipping.
With each shipment I include descriptions of each cheese along with serving recommendations and often a recipe or two.
My goal is to get people looking forward to receiving our packages each and every month and the best sign of a successful cheese club is the feedback we get. Lucky for us our customers have plenty of good things to say about the club and many renew their memberships each year.
I invite you to join the club!
Adam Centamore is in charge of Formaggio Kitchen's mail order operations, is a passionate student of wine and is a Queso Royale winner (he's famous at the shop for his amazing ability to find unusual pairings for cheese!).


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Five (Classy) Halloween Treats from Martha Stewart
We have to say that Halloween isn't our favorite holiday. We find lot of the ghoulish tricks and treats more gross-out than good fun. But there are always creative ways to celebrate the darkness of fall and the colors of harvest, and since Halloween is only a couple weeks away, here are five classy treats from Martha Stewart's holiday issue that we found appealing.
• 1 Friendly Ghost Cake - This cake's sweet, slightly timid-looking ghosts are charming and rather Miyaziki-esque. Plus, they don't look hard to make!
• 2 Guacamoldy with Creature Chips - Guacamole is universally popular, and these chips are easily made out of tortillas.
• 3 Invisible Pops - These homemade lollipops have real creative potential! We like this Halloween version, but we could see mini versions on birthday cakes, or Christmas varieties with swirls of red-hot candies.
• 4 Frightful Bites - Lovely chocolate cookies, with a template for the Gothic lettering. These are easy even for the icing-challenged among us.
• 5 Swamp Sangria - A grown-up party drink, with a sophisticated touch of pear eau-de-vie.
Do you have plans for Halloween treats yet?
Related: Happy Halloween: Dinner Party Inspiration
(Images: Martha Stewart)


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Andrew wrote:Nice work once again on the video. Shame there's no Edit Player to ensure that he was #15, but that's just a minor detail in the grand scheme of things. Great angles, very well put together.
Andrew wrote:Awesome mix; I'm obviously biased, but I'd say that's my favourite so far.
ThaLiveKing wrote:My last video for this year's games, I tried to be consistent as possible!!! Enjoy
NBA Live 15 & NBA 2K15: The Commencement - Cavaliers vs Warriors - FINALS
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Employers who added 288,000 jobs in June showed they might be taking a more serious look at resumes from the long-term unemployed, who last month accounted for the smallest proportion of U.S. jobless ranks in five years.
Those out of work 27 weeks or longer made up 32.8 percent of unemployed Americans as the overall unemployment rate dropped to an almost six-year low of 6.1 percent, according to Labor Department data released this morning in Washington.
"You'll see more and more businesses start to hire the longer-term unemployed and that's going to put some downward pressure on wages as well," said Ryan Sweet, senior economist at Moody's Analytics Inc. in West Chester, Pennsylvania, who was among the most accurate forecasters of the drop in unemployment.
The share of long-term unemployed remains more than twice the historical average of 15.1 percent in data going back to 1948. Other measures of labor market health, including underemployment and participation rates, haven't returned to pre-recession levels, according to a dashboard of indicators that Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen has said she monitors to judge the economic outlook.
Copyright 2014 Bloomberg. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


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Workers pulling for ex-Market Basket CEO's buyout bidBy MICHAEL COUSINEAU
New Hampshire Union Leader
and CASSIDY SWANSON
Union Leader Correspondent
July 24. 2014 9:06PM
MANCHESTER — Market Basket workers said Thursday they hope the company's board accepts an offer from the family faction led by ousted CEO Arthur T. Demoulas to buy a controlling stake of the supermarket chain and end a widespread customer boycott.
Casey Belanger, an assistant manager at the Elm Street store in Manchester, said that would mean stores could return to normal.
"It's not nice to come in to work and there's nobody," Belanger said. "We want our customers back."
Belanger said only three cashier lanes were open Thursday morning, compared to 16 normally.
Market Basket employees from around New England plan another large rally Friday in Tewksbury, Mass., before the company's board meets in Boston this afternoon.
The company co-CEOs "need to leave their positions and get Arthur T. back and get things back to normal," said Manchester store manager Peter Gulezian. "It might take a week or two."
Workers are urging customers to boycott the stores until Arthur T. Demoulas is returned to power after he was ousted in a family dispute. A statement said the ex-CEO's coalition wants to buy the remaining company shares.
'Full and fair' offer
"The Arthur T. Demoulas side of the family has made an offer to buy the 50.5 percent of shares in Demoulas Market Basket Supermarkets we do not own," the statement said. "We believe that our offer is a very full and fair one and should meet or exceed a seller's expectations of the value of the company."
Last December, Forbes estimated that Market Basket, which operates about 30 stores in New Hampshire, brought in annual revenue of $3.55 billion. Other published estimates placed that number in excess of $4 billion.
Lean shelves
Gulezian, whose Market Basket tenure dates back to his days as a part-timer bagger in 1984, said employee absenteeism was normal this week with employees picketing along Elm Street during their off hours.
At the Manchester store, customers couldn't buy a pork chop or chicken breast Thursday but still could find a gallon of milk, lamb chops or a carton of ice cream. Many dry-goods items, including toilet paper, pasta, cereal and soda, remained in stock.
"The shelves are holding up well because there's nobody in here to purchase (the items on) them," Gulezian said.
He said business Wednesday was down probably 70 percent.
Gulezian said the store hadn't received shipments of produce and meat for a week. Some meat on sale Thursday came from store coolers.
Edline Edouard of Manchester, who didn't know about the company infighting, found shopping frustrating.
"It's annoying," she said. "Can't find anything."
Offer celebrated
At the Bedford location, employees were out in full force for their beloved Arthur T.
Sailo Sellappah of Salem has worked for Market Basket for 11 years, since he was 15. He started as a bagger and is now a manager. He has worked at both Salem stores and the Bedford location, where he assisted with hiring and training that store's employees.
"I don't have to say why I love working here; you can here see why I work here," Sellappah said, gesturing toward the crowd of employees, who cheered each time a passerby honked at them.
Sellappah added that he thinks Arthur T. Demoulas is "a great man," that he has met him personally, and that he is loyal to him "110 percent."
"He cares about his employees, his customers — a simple man, just a great guy," Sellappah said.
He said Arthur T.'s offer to buy half the company was "the best news we've heard in a while."
"The board of directors, they have a fiduciary responsibility to do [what's in] the best interest of the company, employees, vendors, and customers," Sellappah said. "Bringing Mr. D. back would be in the best interest of the company."
Wayne Mullin of Atkinson, who has worked for Market Basket for 18 years, said that Arthur T.'s offer was "fantastic" news for the company.
"It's the right thing to do and it's going to solve this thing once and for all, which is what everyone wants — the people that work for him, the customers who shop here," Mullin said. "Everyone just wants everything to go back to normal, uninterrupted. Just let him do what he does best without any restraints or restrictions or anything else."
'Fascinating development'
Rhena Prince of Bedford was shopping at Market Basket on Thursday. Prince said she is a longtime customer and that she signed a petition inside the store to bring back Arthur T.
"I think it's wonderful that the employees and the management are sticking up for a person that is so well-liked and treats his employees so well," Prince said. "That doesn't happen very often, and I really commend them for doing that ... They're not even union, and that's such a big statement."
Prince said she was pleased at the news of Arthur T.'s offer.
"I would love to see him back in charge, any way he wants to do it," she said.
Marc Dixon, an associate professor of sociology at Dartmouth College who has written about the labor movement, called it a fascinating development in the high-stakes family dispute."That would be an amazing turn of events if that would happen," Dixon said.
The return of Arthur T. Demoulas would make for an easier return to normal than if an outside buyer came in, he said.
The Market Basket situation, he said, may serve as a model for workers at other companies to copy.
"I do think the interesting sort of alignment of management and rank-and-file employees seems to be resonating with people ... and is powerful to the extent workers in other settings facing problems can do it," Dixon said.
mcousineau@unionleader; email@example.com


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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama wants to draw attention to the income gap between rich and poor in an economic address meant to both spur short-term congressional action and help set the agenda for the remainder of his presidency.
The White House says Obama in a speech Wednesday will renew his call for increasing the minimum wage, arguing that growing income inequality and stagnant wages threaten upward mobility and retirement security. Polls show the economy remains the single biggest concern for Americans, despite recent focus on problems with the health care law.
Obama also is expected to call on Congress to make a deal on 2014 spending, pass a farm bill with enough money for food stamps and extend unemployment insurance for the long-term unemployed before the end of the year.


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July NPD: NCAA Football 12 leads; overall retail sales down 26%
The NPD Group releases its July 2011 numbers, which indicate a 26% drop in retail sales.
Market research firm NPD Group's retail-only data for the month of July has been released, with Electronic Art's latest college football entry, NCAA Football 12 taking top honors. NCAA 12 sold the best this July, "realizing a 15% increase in unit sales versus NCAA 11 in July 2010." That aside, "video game sales in the new physical retail channel suffered its lowest month since October 2006," noted NPD Analyst, Anita Frazier. New sales are down four percent, year-to-date, with a projected year-end sales figure that's two percent less than last year.
Total game sales fell to $687 million versus $855.3 million during the same period last year.
Software "saw a 10% decline in unit sales versus last July," which isn't entirely surprising given that last July saw 29 new title releases, whereas this July, only 17 new titles were released.
Average sales per new release (excluding NCAA Football 12) were up 42%, however.
Compared to last year, console sales suffered the greatest dollar decline, which the report attributes to "a decrease in unit sales as the average selling price for console hardware was essentially flat to last year." July also marks the first month since December of 2009 that the Xbox 360 saw a year-over-year decline in hardware sales, though it's worth noting that the slim-form Kinect-enabled Xbox 360 was introduced last July, thus improving overall sales during the same period last year.
Growth in other areas such as "digital sales of full games and add-on content, mobile games, and social network gaming" could "result in 2011 showing growth over 2010," despite the decline in physical retail sales, the report surmises.
- NCAA Football 12 (X360, PS3)
- Cars 2 (NDS, Wii, X360, PS3, PC)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops (X360, PS3, NDS, Wii, PC)
- Lego Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game (X360, PS3, Wii, NDS, PC)
- Just Dance 2 (Wii)
- Major League Baseball 2K11 (X360, PS3, NDS, PSP, PS2, PC, Wii)
- Zumba Fitness (X360, PS3, Wii)
- Fallout: New Vegas (X360, PS3, PC)
- New Super Mario Bros DS (NDS)
- Mortal Kombat (360, PS3)
Top Ten U.S. Retail Titles (All Platforms) - Reporting period 07/03/11 - 07/30/11
(Note: The NPD Group no longer lists software for individual platforms. Sales for all platforms will now be combined when listed in the "Top Ten" and no figures will be released to the public from the NPD Group. Listing counts new physical retail sales only.)
From The Chatty
Jeff Mattas posted a new article, July NPD: NCAA Football 12 leads; overall retail sales down 26%.
The NPD Group releases its July 2011 numbers, which indicate a 26% drop in retail sales.


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May you have a great birthday! Okrzyki!
I have a picture: You and Noodles. I will send you. hello hello
Awesome! So, we may need to exchange numbers or something just to be sure we meet Are you going to wait for us at the station or do you want to meet somewhere else?
We're arriving on Tuesday and some of us are staying in a hotel for a night, so be prepared for some after-party too! Pity not all cz/sk members can come, but there will be a couple of us. I've never experienced it either, it's gonna be an awesome feeling
Hey there! Me and some other slovakian people from the forums will arrive to Prague at 12:19 on the main station, so we can meet there somewhere and go for a beer Other people will probably come later and call me or something. It's gonna be really great, probably we will be the first lucky people to hear a brand new song!
Chryste - bo nie jestem pewna, czy dobrze zrozumialam - kupilas sobie ten sos?
Thanks for the birthday wishes! I'm just getting back home. I had a great time!
Hej Alu,
U mnie wszystko w porzadku..
W poniedzialek wracam na wyklady uniwersyteckie
We Wloszech zimno sie zrobiolo i strasznie pada.... brrr
W ktorym punkcie kuli ziemskiej jestes obecnie???
Wow, that's pretty exciting! What's going on in Bulgaria? Well, I'm glad you had a nice big party. And I'm sure I don't even have to ask if you had any good drinks.
Ehhh, as for me, still not good. Better than a few weeks ago, so I guess I can be thankful for that. I'm trying to start my band back up. Maybe that will do a lot of good.
Happy Birthday Girl !!! I hope that you have a fantastic day
•●quietly going mad●•
it's an omen
Off with her head
there's no tomorrow
YES sober
Disclaimed Member
Offsprincess member


text:
Customer Reviews
All reviews are from people who have redeemed deals with this merchant.
What You'll Get
The road less traveled is often the more fulfilling one, especially when it bypasses Robert Frost's tiger pits. Diverge from a rote route with this Groupon.
Choose Between Two Options
- $159 for a two-day backpacking trip in Point Reyes, including equipment, breakfast, and dinner (a $329 value)
- $159 for a two-day backpacking trip in Castle Rock State Park, including equipment, breakfast, and dinner (a $329 value)<p>
As trekkers hike throughout their chosen locale, knowledgeable guides elucidate backpacking skills including navigation in backcountry, wilderness safety tips, "leave no trace" principles, and backcountry cooking skills. Point Reyes lets backpackers drink in views of the aqua coast, cascading waterfalls, protected wildlife, and possible glimpses of migrating whales, whereas Castle Rock State Park grants journeys through the Santa Cruz mountains amid sparkling views of the Monterey Bay and glimpses of Castle Rock's distinctive sandstone features. Hikers are treated to gourmet backcountry breakfast and dinner throughout the journey. No hiking experience is required for either trip, but they are designed for those in good physical condition and aged 12 and older. Hikers should expect moderate to strenuous hiking while carrying a 40- to 50-pound backpack. The provided equipment includes a backpack, a tent, a sleeping bag and pad, a headlamp, meals, a camp kitchen, a water-purification system, a first-aid kit, a map, and a compass. Hikers should bring quick-dry clothing, warm layers, hiking shoes or boots, a bathing suit, personal-hygiene supplies, a camera, and a pocketknife. See the schedule for Point Reyes and Castle Rock State Park trips.
The Fine Print
Promotional value expires Aug 8, 2013. Amount paid never expires. Limit 1 per person, may buy 2 additional as gifts. Limit 1 per visit. Valid only for option purchased. Online reservation required; subject to availability and weather. Must sign waiver. Must be 12 or older. Merchant is solely responsible to purchasers for the care and quality of the advertised goods and services.
About Treks and Tracks
Surrounded by craggy peaks, three men in bright red helmets stand in the midst of wilderness, surveying the mountains around them as their group of hikers break for a snack on the rocky ground. This interface with the majesty of nature is all in a day's work for this trio of adventurers: Paul Mangasarian and Jakob and Daniel Laggner. Still, their passion for open-air exploration grows with each expedition they lead. Paul, Jakob, and Daniel cofounded Treks and Tracks with the dream of orchestrating excursions into nature that combine ancient means of travel—such as sailing, horseback riding, and hitchhiking on a centaur—with modern sports ranging from surfing to rock climbing. Though they focus on introducing novice outdoorsfolk to unspoiled wilderness around the world, Treks and Tracks' cofounders also strive to leave the awe-inspiring surroundings they visit as pristine as they found them by rigorously upholding practices of environmental stewardship on each expedition.


text:
Phil Mickelson praised the new greens at Quail Hollow Club, saying the changes made over the past year have greatly enhanced one of his favorite courses.
Mickelson said called the greens "stupendous" after an opening 5-under 67 on Thursday at the Wells Fargo Championship that left him one shot behind leader Angel Cabrera.
"The greens match up well with the beauty and simplicity of the design," Mickelson said. "I really believe it is one of the best golf courses I've played."
Mickelson said the greens are rolling great and the design is "just perfect."
That's a far different reaction than players had last year when the course was besieged with bad publicity when the bent grass greens were predominantly bumpy and spotted with unsightly patches of dirt. Nine players withdrew before the start of the 2013 tournament.
Shortly after last year's event, Quail Hollow began making major renovations, replacing the greens with Bermuda grass in advance of hosting the 2017 PGA Championship.
"Overall, they're great," said Martin Flores, who also shot 67. "I know they're brand new (but) they're very firm which is making the golf course a lot harder. You have to pick and choose when you can fire at them and when you can't."
Added Stewart Cink: "I think this is going to be a great long-term change for the course."
EAGLES HAVE LANDED: Martin Kaymer pulled off the rare feat of back-to-back eagles on Nos. 7 and 8 before bogeying the ninth to finish with a 69.
Kaymer said after his round it's the eagles he'll remember from the opening round, not the bogey. The 29-year-old German said he had never had back-to-back eagles before.
"I told my caddie to keep the ball," Kaymer said. "It's very rare when you make two eagles in a row."
Kaymer was at even par when he sank a 17-foot eagle putt on the par-5 seventh to turn the momentum. He followed that up by chipping in from 67 yards.
CABRERA CADDIE: Cabera returned to Quail Hollow with an old caddie.
Ruben Yorio was on the bag when the Argentine won the 2009 Masters, but it wasn't long before they parted ways. Cabrera has used his son, his stepson and most recently Jose Luis Campra, a golf coach and caddie from Cordoba.
Yorio said Cabrera called out of the blue and asked him if he wanted to caddie for a few weeks. Then again, it might only be this week. Yorio said Cabrera's son, Angelito, was due to arrive this week and work The Players Championship.
A WISE MOVE: Rory McIlroy was hopeful of squeezing a few more birdies out of his round of 69. He hit a mediocre bunker shot next to the green on the par-5 seventh and a chip from in front of the green on the short par-4 eighth that ran 10 feet by the hole.
But he also took his medicine.
On the third hole, McIlroy pulled his tee shot and it struck a tree and went some 30 yards deeper into the woods. It looked like he had no shot but to pitch 50 yards back to the fairway, except that the 24-year-old thought he saw a way out.
He was so far left that he could hit a low punch down a road that ran behind the corporate tents. He had caddie J.P. Fitzgerald run down the road to get a yardage. The idea was to hit it beyond the row of trees and past the tents to leave a chip onto the green.
Fitzpatrick returned, gave him a scouting report and talked him out of it.
"Once we get past the trees, we're fine," the caddie told him. "Realistically, we're going to make 5. So it's probably not worth it."
McIlroy took his advice.
"I can still make 4?" he said.
"Yes," Fitzpatrick said.
He pitched out, hit about 30 feet below the hole and missed the putt to take bogey. But it could have been worse.
McIlroy shot 69.
FREE AS A BYRD: Jonathan Byrd started the season on a major medical exception due to a wrist injury, but has battled to get his Tour card.
Byrd, who shot 68 Thursday, said that has left him feeling a lot more relaxed.
"I felt like I was carrying a boulder around the golf course," Byrd said. "It's freed me up. You still have issues that you always have but it's been a lot easier playing golf. It's hard playing when you know what you have to make."
THE NOT SO TOP 10: Only two of the world's top 10 players teed off at Quail Hollow — Mickelson and Justin Rose. That's a bit unusual considering the tournament hosted the entire top 10 in 2007 and 27 of the top 30 ranked players in the world.
AP Golf Writer Doug Ferguson contributed to this report.


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Message Board
Alfred Steinberg Message Board
Talk about the novels, new and used books that Steinberg has written!
Author Steinberg's Book Reviews
Daniel Webster
Daniel Webster was born on January 18, 1782, and was the ninth of ten children. His father, Ebenezer Webster, was a veteran of the Revolutionary War. His father taught him about the importance of the Union between the states, telling young Daniel that nothing was as important as preserving the Union. Daniel was able to go to college, and become a successful lawyer, becoming so famous that many people began to tell him that he should run for office. ...


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File Returns, Make Payments
Update Information and More
A Tax preparer who is registered as a Third Party/Bulk Filer (TPBF) can use the Taxpayer Service Center (TSC) to file, pay, and administer client's information.
Third Party Bulk Filers (TPBF) are tax preparers who prepare returns for multiple clients or multiple locations for the same client. These preparers have registered as a Third Party Bulk Filer with DRS and been assigned the ability to file tax returns on behalf of other taxpayers. If you have been assigned the access rights of a TPBF, you will have the option to key in the information for one client at a time, upload a file for multiple taxpayers, or submit a combined filing for multiple withholding tax payments (CT-WH) for your clients with a single logon using the same bank account. You will need to log into the Taxpayer Service Center (TSC) to bulk file returns.
If you are registered as a Third Party Bulk Filer, click the blue button to go to the Welcome Screen and login:
If you have not yet registered but would like to become a Third Party Bulk Filer, click on the link below to download the application form.
Third Party Bulk Filing requires pre-registration.
Dynamic Web Import (DWI)
In choosing this option, you will be uploading a file to DRS. DWI is a file import process that allows you to dynamically define a file. You will prepare a spreadsheet with your clients figures. Each column of your spreadsheet will represent a line item from a return you will need to report and each row will represent a different taxpayer. You can arrange the columns in any order, but then you must verify the layout is correct when you upload the file through the TSC. Once uploaded, we will review your file for errors, and provide confirmation numbers for all accepted returns. If a return does have errors, we will provide you a list of the failed records with an explanation. Simply correct the file and resubmit only the failed records that you did not receive a confirmation number for. By clicking on this link https://drsbustax.ct.gov/ErrorCodes.htm you will be provided with a list of the DWI Error Codes.
Key and Send
Selecting this option allows you to key in the information for your clients one at a time. If they owe money, you will be both filing and paying for a clients return one at a time. This process closely resembles how an individual business taxpayer would use the TSC to file and pay their taxes due.
Combined Filing (eligible form: Form CT-WH)
This bulk filing option is limited to the Form CT-WH only. This feature allows up to 25 different tax registration numbers to have payroll withholding taxes submitted with a single logon. You will enter the tax registration number, date payroll was paid, and the CT tax withheld for each client. Note: You must use the same bank account number for all tax registration numbers entered.
Information on filing Forms W-2 and 1099 Electronically
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Important Phytonutrients for Robust HealthApril 2010
Lignans contain powerful agents that assist in cancer1-23 and heart disease prevention,24-36 and help maintain bone strength.
New research illuminates the many ways these largely unheralded dietary components help maintain optimal health. Some of these include: reduction of chronic inflammation,37-39 thwarting viral infection,40,41 improving glycemic control among diabetics, and decreasing insulin resistance.26,42 The data regarding cancer protection are particularly compelling. As one researcher noted, "Experi-mental evidence in animals has shown clear anticarcinogenic effects of flaxseed or pure lignans in many types of cancer."43
Join us as we explore the often overlooked benefits of these important nutrients.
More than 500 lignans are known to exist in the plant kingdom.
The Lowdown on Lignans
Lignans represent one of the four major classes of chemical compounds referred to collectively as phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens are plant-based compounds structurally similar to estradiol, which is the primary estrogen hormone in humans. Phytoestrogens weakly engage estrogen receptors, figuratively flipping certain cellular "switches" on or off. These switches, or receptors, stud tissues located throughout the body, in both men and women. They affect everything from arterial health, to brain function, sexual maturation and reproduction. Under certain conditions, they play a direct role in promoting, or defusing, aggressive cancer growth. It is hypothesized that the interplay between natural estradiol and other estrogens, and plant-derived phytoestrogens, is a prerequisite for optimal health.44 Although much remains to be investigated, a preponderance of evidence indicates that dietary phytoestrogens exert positive, protective effects in humans.
Isoflavones, for instance, are another major class of phytoestrogens. Together, isoflavones and lignans are the most common phytoestrogens in the diet.45 Numerous studies have documented the link between a high intake of soy isoflavones and a reduced incidence of heart disease, osteo-porosis and certain cancers.46-53 Soy phytoestrogens have been shown to significantly reduce total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglyceride levels. And a high intake of phytoestrogens—particularly lignans—has recently been associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer among premenopausal women.16 Another recent study found that Scottish men with the highest intake of lignans have the lowest incidence of prostate cancer.7 Animal studies have generally echoed these findings. While there is still some controversy regarding the overall role of phytoestrogens in health, scientists generally acknowledge that a higher intake of phyto-estrogens appears to be associated with a reduced risk of various diseases.7, 16, 48, 54-59
Lignan Lineage
Significant quantities of lignans are present in foods ranging from whole grains (rye, wheat, oat, and barley) to berries, vegetables, legumes, and other fruits.60 Sesame is a rich source of the lignan, sesamin. And new research indicates that a "novel synergistic effect" of newly discovered lignans interacting with vitamin E accounts for "the anti-aging effect of sesame." The lignans evidently help prevent the decomposition of sesame tocopherols (vitamin E compounds), preserving the antioxidant potency of the vitamin E. According to a Japanese review of sesame research, "Sesame lignans also showed other useful functions, such as acceleration of alcohol decomposition in the liver, antihypertensive activity, immunoregulatory activities, anticarcinogenic activity, and others."61
The primary lignan in flaxseed is secoisolariciresinol. Other lignans bear equally tongue-twisting names, but only two lignans are of ultimate significance to human health: enterodiol and enterolactone. These biologically active lignans are known as enterolignans, or "mammalian lignans." They are formed in the human digestive tract through the interaction of gut-dwelling bacteria with dietary lignans. Plant-based lignans are considered precursors, then, to the bioactive mammalian lignans.
Anti-Cancer Activity
While extra virgin olive oil is widely recognized as a heart-healthy oil, it also contains lignans, which further contribute to the beneficial nutritional profile of this functional food. Recently published research indicates that olive oil lignans, among other olive oil chemicals, may play an active role in protecting against breast cancer. This was demonstrated recently by Spanish researchers working with breast cancer cells that overexpress a protein known as Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2 (commonly abbreviated as HER2/neu).62,63 HER2 is a protein associated with highly aggressive growth by certain breast cancers, so thwarting this protein is especially desirable. In fact, Spanish researchers wrote recently, "…Humans have safely been ingesting…lignans as long as they have been consuming olives and olive oil, [supporting] the notion that…these phytochemicals might provide an excellent and safe platform for the design of new HER2-targeting agents."63
Diets including plenty of whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, fruits, and vegetables are loaded with lignans, and such diets have been consistently associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.
One well-studied lignan, podophyllotoxin, is so effective at targeting cancer cells for destruction it has been modified for use in chemotherapy. Its semi-synthetic derivatives, etoposide, teniposide, and etoposide phosphate, are routinely used to combat deadly lung cancer, among other malignancies.5,64 Korean researchers showed recently that a lignan derived from an Asian medicinal plant, Daphne genkwa, arrested growth and induced apoptosis of promyelocytic leukemia cells in the laboratory. The lignan, researchers concluded, "may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of cancer."13
In animal models of human breast cancer, dietary lignans, which are converted to entero-lactone, have been shown to inhibit or delay the growth of breast cancer.2 This effect is believed to be due to enterolactone's ability to modulate estrogen signaling. This protective effect evidently extends well beyond breast cancer, however. Experimental evidence suggests that dietary lignans also offer significant protection against tumors of the liver, prostate, skin, colon and other organs.1,5,6,8,11,19-22,64
A Dutch case-control study found a clear association between a high intake of lignans and a reduced risk of colorectal adenomas, which are considered to be precursors to colon cancer. "We observed a substantial reduction in colorectal adenoma risk among subjects with high plasma concentrations of enterolignans," investigators concluded.14
Of course, animal models are one thing, while actual effects in humans are another. But a variety of studies on human subjects support the conclusion that dietary lignans protect us against numerous cancers. For instance, French researchers conducted a prospective study of more than 58,000 postmenopausal women, who were followed for an average of 7.7 years. Statistical analysis revealed that a greater intake of dietary lignans was clearly associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer. "High dietary intakes of plant lignans and high exposure to enterolignans were associated with reduced risks of estrogen receptor- and progesterone receptor-positive postmenopausal breast cancer…" researchers concluded.23 A Swedish study reached a similar conclusion. After studying nearly 52,000 women, researchers concluded: "A significant 17% risk reduction for breast cancer overall in the high lignan quartile was observed…"11


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I aspire as always to have my song adaptations recorded by talented performers, and those include the lyrics I adapt into ancient/classical tongues. Given that the demographic overlap between classicists and singers is probably so tiny as to create a needle-in-a-haystack situation, I will most likely have to forget about classical interest as a criterion, just enlist singers based solely on talent, and simply teach them the pronunciation.
To that end, I decided to create a user-friendly pronunciation guide for classical Attic Greek that I could use and re-use in any future recording projects. One of the challenges I faced was that there doesn't appear to be a single standard reconstruction. There are instead a prestigious few that tend to disagree mildly among themselves, particularly on the vowels (even if it's clear that you're dealing just with Attic rather than Homeric or Koine).
The model I ended up with (http://www.hsmespanol.com/Archaia_Hellenike_Phone.jpg) is based mostly on Allen's Vox Graeca as cited on Wikipedia, but I made a few tweaks based on other sources (such as H&Q's text, Batts and Henry's Teach Yourself Complete Ancient Greek, or my own intuitive experience with how long/short vowel pairs tend to work). In combining traits from multiple pronunciation systems, the goal was to approximate a sort of neutral, balanced compromise while still maintaining reasonably high accuracy as well.
I was wondering if anyone might have any thoughts on what I've come up with, so I'd like to share it in case anyone's interested. Constructive critique is welcome, both for the accuracy and balance of the information and the clarity of presentation. Thanks in advance!


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Manchester resident interrupts burglary
June 17. 2013 3:21PM
MANCHESTER – A woman interrupted a burglar Friday afternoon when she returned home to her Varney Street apartment.
Police said Cynthia Acorace, 43, of 25 Varney St., went out for several hours, but when she arrived home she noticed a woman pushing a baby stroller standing near her apartment building and acting suspiciously.
Acorace pulled into the rear of her building, got out of the car and started up the rear staircase when a man came down the stairs, hopped onto a maroon 10-speed bike and quickly rode away. The woman with the stroller followed him.
As Acorace headed up the stairs, she found her laptop computer on the second-floor landing. She proceeded to her third-floor apartment where she found a window wide open and a small black zip wallet containing several cards missing from inside. The credit cards were immediately canceled.
The thief is described as a 5-foot-10 white man in his late 20s with a thin build. He wore a light-colored T-shirt and black sweatpants and was riding an older-model 10-speed bike.
The woman, who police said appeared to be acting as the lookout, is described as white with long black hair in a pony tail. She was pushing a stroller carrying a chubby-cheeked toddler.
Anyone with information about the burglary is asked to call police at 668-8711 or, to remain anonymous, Manchester Crimeline at 624-4040 or online at manchestercrimeline.org.


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Brand Label: Liz Claiborne
Available for Purchase Online at GlassesSpot for $99.90Pin It
Liz Claiborne Liz Claiborne 242.
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This item was published for sale online by GlassesSpot on March 9, 2016 1:44 pm and last updated by us October 31, 2016 12:54 pm.
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Jul 21st Scheduled Maintenance -05/AUG/2016 SSD Disk add-on for BS4
Maintenance type: Hardware UpgradeTime: 10PM to 11.00PMDate: 2016-AUG-05Action to be taken: We will Add new 600GB SSD Disk to this serverEstimated downtime: 30 MinsWe understand the necessity of uptime for you, and our technicians will be working as quickly as possible to complete this task. As of now our admins estimate about 30 minutes ... Devamını Oku »
Feb 3rd cPanel Shared Hosting Servers PHP 5.5 Upgrades [COMPLETED]
This notice valid for all users on our cPanel shared web hosting servers.This maintenance was delayed due to limitations with old joomla websites PHP 5.5 compatible issues . Most customers will not be affected as the changes will be limited to some specific use cases (New Wordpress, Joomla, etc are already PHP 5.5 compatible) If you still ... Devamını Oku »


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Chroma Haiku: 4\" Paring Knife
Free Shipping
- Chroma
- Standard
- Chroma Haiku: 4 Paring Knife H13 A paring knife has a plain edge blade that is ideal for peeling and other small or intricate work (such as deveining a shrimp, removing the seeds from a jalapeno, or cutting small garnishes). It is designed to be an all-purpose knife, similar to a chef's knife, except smaller. In Japan we use only the sharpest knives to insure the most precise and finest cut. HAIKU knives are extremely sharp please take special care when using them. (Keep them away from children.) Never wash HAIKU knives in the dishwasher, the aggre ive detergents and heat damage the steel and the honoki wood. Please wash the knife in warm water and dry it by hand after every use. Such care insures life-long reliability of HAIKU. Please do not cut bone or another hard materials with our HAIKU knives. A cleaver should be used for such tasks. HAIKU knives stay sharp a long time, but depending on how often you use the knives, they will need to be sharpened at home. Japanese HAIKU knives are designed for quick and easy sharpening. Use the HAIKU whetstone for best results if necessary another ceramic whetstone may be used. In a desperate situation, draw the knife's edge over the bottom of an unglazed porcelain bowl to sharpen. Please never use a sharpening-steel, as it will damage the fine HAIKU edge.
Ships from and sold by a Bluefly Marketplace Partner.
Availability: Usually Ships in 1 Business day
Return Policy: 14 days
Style # 339020901


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Industry, Educators Build In-roads to Stem Success
Industry, Educators Build In-roads to STEM Success
Source: U.S. News
By: Vince Bertram (President and CEO of Project Lead the Way)
America has a crisis. First, of the 3.2 million students who earned high school diplomas this year, at least one third of those who attend college from this group will require remediation. Second, while the news is better for students earning diplomas, over 1 million students who should have graduated in 2012 did not. These underprepared and disengaged graduates and dropouts are part of a crisis in the United States. If our nation is to maintain or regain its economic and leadership status in the world, it must address the threat of poorly educated and underskilled young people.
As was noted at the recent U.S. News STEM Leadership Summit in Dallas, a crisis exists and Americans must act now to address the gap in jobs and available talent. Estimates show the U.S. will have over 1.2 million unfilled jobs in science, technology, engineering, and math by 2018. The crisis we face pits these unfilled jobs against a population that is not qualified or prepared to do them.
The data is clear. Students prepared in STEM-related disciplines enjoy higher starting salaries and lower unemployment rates than the population at large. The benefits of a quality STEM program transcend gender, ethnicity, geographic region, and education level. Many communities recognize the value of STEM education for regional economic development and are forging meaningful partnerships between schools and nonprofits as well as business and industry leaders. The time for action is now, and the work in California and Kentucky exemplifies real, scalable solutions.
Project Lead The Way, Chevron, and Linking Education and Economic Development are working together to address the STEM jobs gap in Californiaan issue of critical importance to Chevron, a California-based company that relies on some of the world's smartest scientists and engineers to solve the challenges facing us today and in the future. Through the partnership, Chevron aims to get kids excited about STEM fields and subjects. To that end, the company has increased student access to PLTW's project- and problem-based curriculum. Chevron's support has touched 2,500 students and more than 60 teachers with programs in more than 20 schools in the last three years. Additionally, LEED's involvement has helped teachers share successful practices and encouraged legislators to know and do more about improving STEM education. Further support has created extracurricular opportunities including the Chevron Engineering Design Challengea competition for student teams centered around a design problem. This collaborative effort is affecting thousands of students with incredible potential for scalable impact.
Toyota, Bluegrass Community and Technical College, the University of Kentucky, the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers, and PLTW present another example of a scalable solution addressing the STEM education and workforce needs of Kentucky. The University of Kentucky trains teachers and supports the 100+ PLTW schools in the commonwealth. Toyota actively recruits from these schools so it can access the workforce it needs. PLTW students who are recruited to Toyota enter the Advanced Manufacturing Technician program and start working toward a two-year degree on the Bluegrass Community and Technical campus, specially designed for more effective technical education. Toyota and the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers have outlined a model that not only works for Kentucky but is being expanded to other states with Toyota operations. By working together, these industry and educational leaders are meeting local and regional needs for education and economic development.
Communities can and must prepare students more effectively for both post-secondary education and workforce experiences. The examples in California and Kentucky are replicable and proven, and present a much-needed solution to America's STEM education and jobs crisis. The time for action is now. Working together to understand local and regional needs, we can deliver relevant, engaging educational opportunities. When we do this with proven programs like PLTW, students stay connected to meaningful learning and leave high school prepared to compete in the global economy.


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Chase ends as car slams into home
Chase ends as car slams into home
Two people are in critical condition after crashing their vehicle into an abandoned house.
The crash brought to an end a police chase that began just before 11 p.m.
The home at 23rd and Capitol streets was abandoned.
Both passengers had to be cut from the vehicle.
A Des Moines police report says the driver was 22-year-old Ryan Cornelius.
Cornelius was listed in critical condition at Methodist Medical Center.
His passenger was 28-year-old Michael Disney, who is listed in fair condition at Mercy Medical Center.


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There's a great scene in the book _Cheaper By the Dozen_ (which had almost nothing to do with the recent movie Steve Martin was in, although there's a fairly good old one) in which Lillian Moller Gilbraith, mother of 12 (11 surviving) is offered by a joking friend as the ideal host for a Planned Parenthood organizational meeting. The PP representative, who has been told that Gilbraith is a model organizer, a professional woman and a leader in her community – but not that she has 11 kids. "Within 15 Miles of Organizational Headquarters!" announces the representative of Planned Parenthood in despair!
I felt a little bit like Gilbraith when I was asked to participate this year in the Global Population Speak Out. I wanted to make sure this wasn't a joke – and there's some measure in which it looks like one. Yes, even in the Peak Oil and Climate Change movement, right in the midst of things, is someone with more than two kids! (Actually, there's a bunch of someones, but I'm still waiting for Rob Hopkins and a few others to pony up and share the load ;-)).
And yet, I was also glad – because the reality is that population is an issue that is spoken about mostly from extremes – the voices either come from those who argue in favor of no limits on the right or those, mostly men, mostly affluent white older men, who make absolute statements about reproduction, and who will never have a device inserted in their body, or an abortion, or give birth or go through pregnancy. I've been in the environmental movement long enough now to have watched a lot of white men sitting there talking about what women's bodies should be doing to save the planet for them.
But if we're ever to have an honest and productive conversation about limits, including reproductive limits, the middle, the people who don't want to talk about population because they are afraid they will be reproached for having children, the people who are tired of the same old extreme arguments stay away. I'm glad that the imperfect thoughts of a woman with four children were actually solicited – despite the fact that my comments section is going to be extremely annoying for a while ;-).
As my long time readers will know, Population is a major issue for me – my doctoral work focused on issues of demographics in the 16th and 17th century, and I feel very strongly that we have to address population issues. There's a full chapter on the subject in each _Depletion and Abundance_ and _A Nation of Farmers_., and I've written a number of articles and done interviews on gender, reproduction and the politics of population. At the same time, I get tired of the subject devolving into my personal reproduction – which is inevitably the result of any discussion. I have four biological children, not as many as the mother in the story, but enough that my personal reproductive habits are the subject of considerable scrutiny, given the issues I engage with. It isn't even that I mind, it is that I mind saying the same thing over and over and over again ;-).
What I say is simply this – like most people, I've done a lot of things that aren't environmentally responsible over the years – flown for pleasure, driven miles I didn't have to, consumed irresponsibly, and I've also got more children than represents a biological fair share. In a perfect world I'd have always lived the life that is most ethical and rightest, but like everyone else I start where I do. That said, impact is consumption multiplied by population – my family of six (hopefully soon to be augmented by additional children, by adoptiong) consumes, as a whole, about 1/5 the resources of an ordinary American household. The average American household is 2.6 people. That doesn't mean I'm not responsible for my actions, just population is not a single factor – it doesn't change the fact that this is one of the few places where I'm no one's role model – but that's how it is.
We do have to talk about population – we have to talk about it honestly and clearly, and with an eye to the real complexities of the issue. We have to put it on the table and stop being afraid of it. We have to have these conversations even when they are difficult, personal, emotional and when they are hard.
At the same time, I'm not prepared to make some of the claims made by my fellow science blogger, Martin Rundkvist over at Aardvarchaeology – I don't think it is unethical to have more than two children, at least among the world's poor. You can reasonably say that a middle class woman in the Global North like me doesn't have these justifications, but the reality is that in a whole host of ways, population is simply tied up with too many other issues to make such a bald statement, particularly for the world's poor. The fact is that we can address population honestly only when we address the issues that are tied up in our reproduction – and those are extraordinarily complicated. It would be easier to just say "no one should have X number of babies" – but also less truthful.
Consider the fact that a woman in rural India has to have 5 children during her lifetime in order to be sure that one of them will survive to adulthood to support her in her old age – and that there are few measures of other support for poor Indian women, or that a child in Nigeria, born to a desperately poor family begins to produce more than he eats by the age of six and brings in as much food as an adult by 12. In cultures that lack support networks of any kind, children are the only form of wealth and security available to the poor. The answer to their problems is certainly to enable the demographic transition by enabling them to have fewer kids – but also by supporting at every stage the networks of social supports that enable that. If our support for them not having babies isn't matched by our support for elderly Indian women or for enabling the world's hungry feed themselves, we are the ones suffering from ethical challenges.
Reproduction is one of those things that is both simple and complicated even in the Global North. Consider a little of my own experiences as a parent of a severely disabled child is the observation that social supports even in our own society are tremendously lacking – I didn't have my children to provide support in adulthood for my disabled oldest – by the time he was diagnosed I had already had most of them. But I do sometimes ask what kind of future my son would have after my husband and I are gone without his brothers?
Indeed, my niece, who is the same age as Eli but was adopted by a relative who is the same age now as my parents, has severe disabilities. Someday, my husband and I will be her guardians, and after us, my sons – because she has no siblings. My sons will eventually inherit responsibility for two seriously disabled family members. The thought of passing that responsibility on to my one other child, had I only had the "ethical" two is something that would have weighed with me when we chose to accept the guardianship of my niece. And yet, who would care for her when her parents were gone if we had said no? In a culture that doesn't nurture strong extended families, and encourages smaller ones, where do the disabled and the elderly get their care? How can we create the kind of social systems that enable people with disabled children to have fewer children and be sure that they will be cared for well and equitably?
What does a culture of population limitation do to the idea of a woman's right to choose? Does it change it only into the right to have an abortion? What strategies and pressures do we place on women, like me, who see birth control fail? Do we pressure them into abortion? Is that compatible with a belief that reproduction is truly a matter of women's choice? What happens when women choose more children? How do we respond as a culture?
We know that educating women makes them more likely to have fewer children – but how does it change our story if we are educating women *in order to* reduce the number of children they have? What culture emerges if the education and political empowerment of women becomes a means to a reproductive end, rather than a good in itself?
My husband is an only child – and like many baby boomer parents, his are divorced, as our mine. We have 7 parents between us – my responsibilities will be spread over my two sisters and myself, his will fall entirely on him. How do we create societies that are growing poorer, using less energy, consuming less – and still providing social supports to its aging population?
None of this is an argument against population limitation. It is merely an argument against a conversation about population limitation that begins from the assumption that the issues are simple and can be addressed shallowly.
When you tell women "it is ok to have only one or two children" because your children will survive to adulthood, how do we ensure this by access to health care? What is the obligation of a state or a people who demand that women and men choose fewer children – what do they have to do to make this possible? Do we allow states to take our surviving offspring away from us to fight wars? What is the relationship of a state that wants less reproduction to a people who fear the loss of their sons and daughters on the altar of foreign policy?
The late, great Donella Meadows of _The Limits to Growth_ and many other articles offered, I think one of the clearest ways of starting to talk about population in a way that takes ordinary people into account in her essay "Who Causes Environmental Problems" She wrote:
The IPAT formula has great appeal in international debates, because it spreads environmental responsibility around. The poor account for 90 percent of global population increase — so they'd better get to work on P. Rich consumers need to control their hedonistic A. The former Soviets with their polluting factories, cars, and buildings obviously should concentrate on T.
I didn't realize how politically correct this formula had become, until a few months ago when I watched a panel of five women challenge it and enrage an auditorium full of environmentalists, including me.
IPAT is a bloodless, misleading, cop-out explanation for the world's ills, they said. It points the finger of blame at all the wrong places. It leads one to hold poor women responsible for population growth without asking who is putting what pressures on those women to cause them to have so many babies. It lays a guilt trip on Western consumers, while ignoring the forces that whip up their desire for ever more consumption. It implies that the people of the East, who were oppressed by totalitarian leaders for generations, now somehow have to clean up those leaders' messes.
As I listened to this argument, I got mad. IPAT was the lens through which I saw the environmental situation. It's neat and simple. I didn't want to see any other way.
IPAT is just what you would expect from physical scientists said one of the critics, Patricia Hynes of the Institute on Women and Technology in North Amherst, Massachusetts. It counts what is countable. It makes rational sense. But it ignores the manipulation, the oppression, the profits. It ignores a factor that scientists have a hard time quantifying and therefore don't like to talk about: economic and political POWER. IPAT may be physically indisputable. But it is politically naive.
I was shifting uneasily in my seat.
There are no AGENTS in the IPAT equation, said Patricia Hynes, no identifiable ACTORS, no genders, colors, motivations. Population growth and consumption and technology don't just happen. Particular people make them happen, people who shape and respond to rewards and punishments, people who may be acting out of desperation or love or greed or ambition or fear.
Unfortunately, I said to myself, I agree with this.
Suppose we wrote the environmental impact equation a different way, said the annoying panel at the front of the auditorium. Suppose, for example, we put in a term for the military sector, which, though its Population is not high, commands a lot of Affluence and Technology. Military reactors generate 97 percent of the high-level nuclear waste of the U.S. Global military operations are estimated to cause 20 percent of all environmental degradation. The Worldwatch Institute says that "the world's armed forces are quite likely the single largest polluter on earth."
Suppose we added another term for the 200 largest corporations, which employ only 0.5 percent of all workers but generate 25 percent of the Gross World Product — and something like 25 percent of the pollution. Perhaps, if we had the statistics, we would find that small businesses, where most of the jobs are, produce far less than their share of environmental impact.
Suppose we separate government consumption from household consumption, and distinguish between household consumption for subsistence and for luxury, for show, for making us feel better about ourselves. If we had reliable numbers, which we don't, we might be able to calculate how much of the damage we do to the earth comes from necessity, and how much from vanity.
So ok, let's put population on the table. Let's start talking. But let's have real conversations worth having.


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WEST CHESTER, OHIO -- I went to IKEA to get my daughter a new "big girl bed". We decided to get the pink Mammut bed after looking at it on the website. This item is not available for purchase online so we made a day trip to the nearest IKEA store (which was 2 hours away). Looking at the product online, the description implies that the bed frame is included, and in the online price it is included, but "packaged separately".
We drove the 2 hours to the store and picked out the bed and mattress, and a few other things for her room. We spent nearly 2 hours in the store, trying to make sure we had EVERYTHING because a return trip was not an option due to not having a store close by. At checkout, I specifically asked the IKEA employee if the bed slats were in one of the boxes for the bed. There were 2 boxes on the shelf where the bed was stored. I got both and was assured by the IKEA employee that the slats were in the second box.
When we got home and assembled the bed, the slats were nowhere to be found. I then called the customer service line and was told that the slats were packaged in a THIRD box and were an additional $9.99. Since the employee failed to mention this to me when I specifically asked her, I did not get the third box and subsequently was not charged the $9.99 for the bed slats. IKEA then REFUSED to send me the slats, because they were not on my receipt (due to the store and employee "misinformation").
I also was told that I could NOT order them because they were not available for purchase online or through home shopping. The ONLY way to get the slats was to drive the 2 hours back to the store or to call one of only 3 stores that would allow phone orders. I was given the number to the Pittsburgh store's home shopping line but when I called this number only got a recording asking me to leave a message with my name, number, and reason for my call.
So now I am left with a bed that is unusable, my daughter is sleeping on a mattress in the floor because we cannot put it on the bed without the slats. I am out over $200 for the bed which we can't use and mattress which only fits IKEA beds. So now my only choice is to either drive 4 hours round trip and spend $50 on gas to pick up a $10 item or wait however long it takes to get through their "home shopping line" and then pay to have the slats shipped to me all because their employees are either idiots or liars.
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK -- The post-traumatic stress was not worth the low prices. Recently moving to Manhattan from the West Coast, I needed to furnish my apartment, and was thrilled to learn about the free water taxi on the weekend to IKEA Brooklyn. Not having been to IKEA in years, I didn't realize my joy would stop there. I roamed through the store writing down the silly Swedish furniture I wanted to purchase. When I asked a sales associate how I get the big ticket items, he told me that they would print me out a paper and I was to give that to the cashier.
With this information, I filled up a cart with smaller items, breezed through the Self-Service section thinking that was for people who wanted their furniture today, and cruised to the checkout line. When I gave the women my print-outs from the sofa and bedding section, she looked at me like I was crazy. She told me I needed to load these items onto a cart and physically push them through the checkout line, and then proceed to Home Delivery. That is when I looked at her like she was crazy. This woman expected me, a small 22 year, plus one female friend to lift a queen mattress, a queen MDF bed platform AND a sofa? Yup, as confirmed by another employee, she did.
SO, I pay for my items in the cart, leave them stranded with my friend, and go back to the Self Service section, and TRIED to recruit an IKEA team member to help me. I found one, and they radioed on what obviously must have been a toy radio because it did not work to another employee to help me. I was instructed to wait in the aisle, and they would come immediately come to assist me pull the huge furniture on to the small cart. Well, IKEA's socialist politics must obviously transcend boundaries because at Ikea we are all equal. Nobody came to help me. Nobody. I was so pathetic trying to pull the mattress that New Yorkers took pity on me.
After having help getting the mattress and bed platform on the cart, I pushed the cart (I must have run over a couple of children in the process because the lack of visibility pushing this thing was absurd) to the checkout line, and left it with my friend to push through the line as I got the sofa on a second cart.
I tried the "customer service" method again, which did not work, again, to get the sofa. I waited for more kind hearted civilians to help me, but this time I was out of luck. Then, magically, MAGICALLY, I just happened to see the exact sofa I wanted on a cart and completely abandoned in an aisle. Out of desperation I took the cart. I apologize to whomever's cart/sofa I stole. It was wrong. I'm sure the sofa will be a giant form of bad karma sitting in my living room. At this point, I thought my luck was going to change. No.
I return to my friend in line with my bed and the cart is broken stuck in the middle of the checkout line. Nobody is helping. People are obviously annoyed that this is blocking two checkout lines. The woman at the register is telling my friend that she needs to get the bed off the cart and get another cart, and THEN push it through the line. Seriously. This is when I threw a fit. After a number of f-bombs and other words I shouldn't have said in front of small children, one female employee came to help us push the bed (Thank you whoever you are.).
Eventually, we made it through the checkout line and to the Home Delivery department, where we were promised I could ship everything (including the small items I bought the first time through the line) for the 99 dollars. When I asked the man here to ship my dishes, glasses and coffee press, he came back with a box and said, "Here." Bubble wrap? Nope. Packing peanuts? Nope. Just put it in the box and cross your fingers that it makes it home in one piece. Needless to say, I ended up lugging my 20 dollar dishes and cheap glasses on the water taxi. After all the sweat equity I put into that, they are now my fine China and crystal stemware.
Fast forward a week later: The eve of my delivery. I was supposed to receive a phone call the day before to confirm a delivery time, which I did not. I call IKEA's contracted shippers, and they don't have my record in the computer. They transfer me to their warehouse. Nothing. They transfer me back to the movers. Nothing. They'll call me later. They do, and the woman prefaces the conversation with, "Well, there are two problems." Problem 1: The weather. It is supposed to snow the next day around 2:00 (true), and this is problematic for delivery. I can see that. Problem 2: We can't find your order in the warehouse (AKA the real problem).
She further says even if they do find the order tonight there is no way in hell they could get it on a truck tonight. She assures me that they could definitely get me the order the day after POST the six inches of snow that is supposed to fall. Yeah right. I freak out... badly. Throughout the majority of my freak-out the woman is adamant that there is no way I will get my order. After complaining, and complaining, and complaining, the lady finally says she'll see what she can do. She calls me 15 minutes later, and MAGIC, she found the order and it's on a truck and it'll be there in the morning.
Moral of the story (if anyone is still reading this rant), no IKEA. No Saab. No H&M. No Swedish meatballs. Nothing. Just don't do it. It's not worth the pain and suffering no matter how low the prices are or how clever the storage solutions are.
COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA -- I have received various responses from IKEA about my concerns and none have acknowledged all of my concerns. I was even blamed for one of my concerns. I have filed a complaint with the BBB. IKEA did respond and now I will file a complaint with the Attorney General's office.
I have 3 issues. The first is that face that I purchased a Hopen queen bed frame in September 2009 for $249. I received an email from IKEA, an ad, that indicated the $249 price was last year's price and this year's price is $179. I called IKEA about this and the representative said IKEA's new year starts with the catalog. I said the catalog came out in August. She did not have a response. I emailed IKEA and here it is along w/their response:
"Hello. Thank you for taking the time to contact us. There are several reasons why there may be a price difference from store to store. An IKEA store offering the lower price may not be selling the item anymore due to a range change. It is also possible that the item may be overstocked and is taking up too much space. Each IKEA store also has the ability to deviate from normal pricing based on the local market conditions. We do hope this information has been helpful, and we thank you for your inquiry. "
Here is my response: "Thank you for your response to my inquiry. With all due respect, the price differential from store to store or IKEA's inventory concerns to influence a price change is not my question and frankly does not influence the intent of my letter. I am reading the verbiage indicated specifically in the IKEA advert and it simply states in black and white that the $249.00 price for the Hopen queen bed frame "is last years price," and the price now is $179.00. Therefore, I should not have paid last years price of $249.00 as the advert suggests."
The advert is misleading and misrepresentation of the facts. The advert suggests that this year's price is $179.00 by claiming last year's price was $249.00. Again, if last year's price was $249.00 I should not have been charged $249.00 3 weeks ago, this year, since IKEA was still charging last years price this year.
Since this is IKEA's response, I have filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau which is now not limited to this original inquiry but also, my experiences with Ikea. If my request is not addressed appropriately, my next step is to file a complaint with the State of California's Attorney's General's Office. "I look forward to hearing from you soon with a resolution. I have included the image of the ad sent to me along with the complaint I have filed with the Better Business Bureau listed below."
The point is the ad indicates this was last year's price. It does not indicate a price reduction due to inventory or of locale. I am the consumer and I read an ad that states what I paid was last year's price and last year was 2008. The ad claims this year's price is $179- 2009. That is my point and that is what the ad states. IKEA should place their disclaimer in the ad as stated in the Ikea email response otherwise, don't tout last year's price in comparison to this year's price. I filed a BBB complaint:
"In late September of this year, I purchased a Hopen queen bed frame from Ikea in Costa Mesa for the price of $249.00. Two days ago, in my email sent from Ikea's mailing list, I received notification that the Hopen bed frame is actually $179.00."
"The advert touts last year's price was $249.00 and this year's price is $179.00. If last years was $249.00, I should not have been charged $249.00 this year. Ikea should not tout last year's price in their ad while charging last year's price this year to consumer's such as myself. It is misleading and unethical and wrong because they were and have charged last year's price- this year, to me."
I am disappointed with IKEA. I have already had to return a defective item 3 weeks that was damaged. Also, this bed frame I am referring to requires a bar in the center to support a mattress. No one told me that it was required in order to get this bar to complete the assembly of this bed frame. After spending hours putting it together so I could place my mattress in the bed frame, I was unable to do so. I had to go back and purchase the bar for the bed frame when I could have purchased it initially.
I am not too happy with the fact that I had to return a defective product out of the box. I am not too happy that I was told by the Ikea representative that I only needed the bed frame and mattress and not the bar of which I did require and had to make an extra unnecessary trip back, and now I am upset I was incorrectly charged last year's price this year.
Resolution Sought: I want IKEA to refund me the difference of what I was charged. I was charged $249.00 (plus tax) last year's price- this year, and this year's price of $179.00 (plus tax). I would like the difference of this amount refunded to me. I would also like IKEA to not make false claims in their adverts. True, last year's price may have been $249.00 but that was also this year's price until apparently October 20, 2009. As a consumer, this is misleading along with confusing. It is deceptive.
IKEA's response to my BBB complaint does not acknowledge my defective item I had to return. Great customer service! Here is Ikea's BBB Complaint Response: "Hello, Thank you for taking the time to bring your concern to us. As stated we have recently changed the price of several items, including the bed in question. As many stores have done, we have looked at the desires of the market and have worked hard to lower prices on items to allow the 'many' to purchase them. Any of our new items will have the advertisement that states something on the lines of 'New lower price', including last year's price, and this year's price.
"You are claiming that it does not make sense that you bought the item this year, but are paying last year's price when you should be paying this years price. You bought your item late September 2009. Last year would have been late September 2008. If you would have purchased the bed when it went on sale, (around 11/20/2009 let's say) you would have paid $179.00, compared to the price of $249.00 if you would have bought it 11/20/2008.
In regards to the bar that is needed to properly use the bed, there are numerous signs communicated in the showroom, and in the warehouse that indicate you need this item. Also, on each items tag that indicates where to pick up the item you would like, there is a list of items included in the complete item (which the metal bar is listed on). Initial Response Summary: IKEA has made no false claims. We will not be refunding any additional monies to customer. We will also continue to advertise as we do now."
I am insulted because I failed to see any "signs" in regards to the beam that goes along with the bed frame, separately sold I might add. I called IKEA the next day about the beam after I realized, after spending two plus hrs putting the bed together, that it was missing. The representative on the phone told me this is common. She suggested they get phone calls like this consistently and she even suggested that the beam should be packed with the bed frame- because it is necessary.
Also, this conversation was reinforced when I returned the defective drawer at Ikea's Return Dept. The representative there said the beam issue is common. People are not informed or aware it is required. The thing that gets me is that I am told there are signs about this beam. Are the signs of relevance when I was assisted by an IKEA employee who helped me pick out the bed and mattress and who advised me which items I needed and which aisle to go to. Perhaps instead of blaming me for this - I missed the consumer Ikea mandatory training session- the representative perhaps is the one who should see the signs and get proper training.
I will answer their response with the CA AG's Office. I was told in order to get the price differential I will have to go in and purchase the same bed and then haul it over to the return department when I called the store- as a workaround to this issue. How inconvenience and stupid is that? The advert is still misleading. Again, don't tout last year's price when you were charging last year's price this year!
WEST CHESTER, OKLAHOMA -- We ordered a bedroom furniture set including a bed, dresser, night stand and armoire. The delivery and installation team arrived outside of the delivery window reserved. The delivery team also forgot to load the mattress for the bed at the warehouse, so they needed to return to the warehouse to retrieve it and then return to our building. This caused us to have to re-reserve the freight elevator.
While assembling our dresser, the delivery team tightened down one of the screws too tight, causing a crack on the top panel of the dresser. The delivery team explained that we could either reject the piece and they would dismantle it and return it to the warehouse, which would require a claim process, or we could negotiate a discount with Ikea. We needed a dresser and could live with the crack, so we decided to pursue a discount.
Three weeks and several phone calls later, Ikea has informed us that they do not offer discounts. We asked why then the delivery team told us that we could pursue a discount? They responded by telling us that some stores do offer discounts on furniture damaged during assembly, but this particular location does not. We asked why these delivery people told us that since they clearly work for this particular store, and they could not provide an answer. They just kept telling us that we should have declined the piece. Essentially the delivery personnel blatantly lied about the discount policy in order to avoid having to disassemble and return the piece.
Also, the armoire was discovered to be damaged upon opening the box. We did decline this piece and it was never assembled. However we still had to include this in our claim (including the damaged dresser) and it has taken weeks and multiple phone calls to get credited for this piece, even though we declined to accept it. Last but not least, the assembly charges were never prorated, even though one piece was declined and didn't require assembly and a second piece was damaged during assembly. Ikea refused to refund any of the assembly fees. In addition, Ikea customer service has been rude and uncooperative.
PLYMOUTH MEETING, PENNSYLVANIA -- We went to IKEA, first had some dinner with the kids, found out to my horror that they are now using plastic plates, plastic utensils and paper cups so much for looking out for the planet. The young girl at the cash register looked really worn-out and she informed me she had been there since 8:30 this morning it was now 8pm at night, I thought IKEA would be a little more caring about the employees as it is a Swedish company where 12 hour work days are almost criminal. We bought 2 bedside cabinets/ tables $99.00 each.
The next day still having a good weekend until my dear husband puts the cabinets together and after 3 hours sees that the finish on both is spotty, so he takes them apart again and I bring them back to IKEA (not my husband, he is a little grumpy so say the least) not an "I'm sorry" or anything just your credit card and driving license and do I want to get new ones? I ask if they are going to be damaged or ok as I already have put enough time into this. They reply with nothing just a blank look, so I say I will just return it then but I have to produce my husband's credit card as he paid for it the night before they state they won't credit back mine, even with the receipt & id.
Do you really have to stick to your company rules when somebody is having such a bad experience with your product, I can't check the item when I buy it. I have to trust you IKEA (so poor factory in china I have read now) that they make it correct, yet when I feel screwed because your product is crap and you don't know if the next box will be good or bad I have to hear the company policies, do they really don't want my husband here right now with his visa as they have already ruined his day with the crap they sell.
IKEA listen up... when you treat your customers with no respect and enforce the same rules regardless of the situation as a way to save money you will damage your name slowly. But when you push the bottom line so hard by selling cheap product that are far below your own set standards you will lose your name fast!!! I have enjoyed shopping at IKEA for years but this was like a K-mart experience.
DALLAS, TEXAS -- We bought a sultan hanestad twin mattress in 2011, and let me just say this, you'd better attach your receipt to the mattress or your 25 years of warranty is worth nothing. Our son's mattress is less than 5 years old and has a nasty bump, because it seems one of the coils is out of its pocket and pushes up. I contacted customer service multiple times, but since I do not have the original receipt nor do I have a credit card statement from 2011, ikea did not want to cooperate at all. Well, who else sells "sultan hanestad" mattresses? Ikea, du sugar!
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK -- I purchased the Mandal Bed about two months ago and am very happy with it. It is only a $350.00 bed, but the main parts of the bed are made of birch and the particle board parts are strong enough to support the bed. The four storage drawers are as large as a the full sized bed and can hold a lot of clothes. I would not put anything heavy in the drawers - the bottom part of the drawer does not seem strong enough to hold anything heavy.
I have purchased IKEA products over the years and are happy with them considering their low prices. This is one of their higher quality pieces of furniture since it is made with birch and is very stable. It also looks great for the price if you like a modern contemporary look. It took some time together, but it was my first piece of furniture that I personally put together by myself and I would do it again. I hope to see more furniture coming out of Ikea that is a bit higher quality than most of their furniture.
Knowing IKEA's low prices were that way for a reason, I was expecting my bed to have problems maybe after a year or two from buying it. I'm an expert at putting IKEA furniture together by now. My friend and I assembled the Hemnes queen bed perfectly as per instructions. The headboard and footboard already came assembled, FYI. As we moved the bed into place, the headboard practically disassembled itself. We quickly noticed that the headboard wasn't even held together with real metal screws; just the wood ones. I couldn't believe the designers thought that would hold.
There is a part to the bed where you attach little metal rods that stretch from the middle of each sideboard to the footboard and headboard. The IKEA manual for the bed does a pretty good job at communicating that these rods are to keep the bed square. So we made a special point to make sure the rods were at the correct position. All said and done, the front piece of the rods bent completely when 135 pound me sat on the bed.
The bed bows out regardless and the platform bed slats (purchased separately) keep falling through the frame. I either have to figure out if they will refund me the bed, or at least exchange it, or if I had to add bracing brackets to the headboard and screw in the slats. This is a pain. I would rather have settled for a metal frame with a boxspring. At least I know it's safe.
SCHAUMBURG, ILLINOIS -- We bought a bed called Odda for my daughter. It was assembled as instructed very well with a power screwdriver, etc. However, the particle board it was made from was so cheap it couldn't really hold screws very well. The wheels on the trundle portion continually fell out. One day she sat on the bed and the wood slats gave way and she fell through the bed. Luckily for all she wasn't seriously hurt but I didn't want the junky bed in my house, so I called IKEA, took the bed apart, and brought it back. It was beyond the 90-day return.
They did give me a refund on the bed, a store credit on the mattresses (they don't accept mattress returns), but they stuck me with the headboard because according to them it was a separate stand-alone item. Considering they sold a dangerous product, they should have taken back the headboard as well. I mean, what am I going to do with the headboard. It was just an overall really nasty experience. It was a very expensive bed (approximately $700) and the materials were so cheap. I would never buy another product from them.
EMERYVILLE, CALIFORNIA -- We bought a bed frame and mattress from IKEA for an exchange student who would be living with us. After a few months, he started to complain about what seemed to be bug bites. We couldn't imagine where it could be coming from. No one else in the house was experiencing it. Finally, we saw a bed bug. We paid $1000 to buy mattress and pillow encasements for all the beds in the house, since bed bugs like to live there (and the encasements keep them from getting out or back in). We also used a steamer and put other things in a hot dryer (high temperature kills bed bugs). But the problem recurred. So, we took the bed apart.
There, we found clear evidence of bed bugs and their eggs in the slats of the bed. This whole process obviously took some time to figure out. So, by the time we did, and I called IKEA, they refused to do anything about it, since it was more than 90 days past the purchase. I was only asking them to replace the slats (not an expensive thing), but they reiterated that there was "nothing we can do." I guess my only recourse is to make sure that people know to always check their products for signs of bedbugs.