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Ideally, the Georgia Bulldogs would receive their SEC Tournament Championship Rings at half-court before tonight's game against the Yellow Jackets in Alexander Memorial Coliseum.
It seems reasonable that a return to the site of one of our greatest hoops moments would include a nice ceremony. Maybe they'll hang a banner for us. We've certainly won championships on that floor than Georgia Tech has over the past 10-15 years.
Neither team is good right now, and both coaches desperately need a win tonight to keep the natives from getting truly restless.
There are still tickets available to the game, and they start at $30. They are available via RamblingWreck.com. Tickets are also available via Georgiadogs.com for Saturday's game against Tennessee.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Journalists Killed in 2009 - Motive Confirmed: Ian Subang
- Document source:
January 2010
Socsargen Today
November 23, 2009, in Ampatuan, Philippines
In the deadliest event for the press ever recorded by CPJ, 30 Philippine journalists and two media support workers were ambushed and brutally slain on November 23 as they traveled in Maguindanao province with a convoy of people who intended to file gubernatorial candidacy papers for a local politician. In all, 57 people were killed in a shocking display of barbarism apparently motivated by political clan rivalries. Most of the bodies were dumped in a mass hillside grave in the town of Ampatuan.
A fact-finding report by four local press organizations – the Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, MindaNews, and the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism – said most of the victims had worked for Mindanao-based newspapers, with some employed by radio and television outlets. "The massacre claimed nearly an entire generation of journalists from the small print and broadcast communities of General Santos, Koronadal City, and nearby areas," said the report, noting that most of the victims were married and had children.
The entourage was on its way to Shariff Aguak to file documents in support of local political leader Esmael Mangudadatu's candidacy for provincial governor. Having been warned of a possible ambush, Mangudadatu did not travel with the group but instead sent female family members and supporters, and invited the press to go along, in the belief that women and independent witnesses would not be attacked, according to local and foreign media reports.
Police quickly identified Andal Ampatuan Jr., mayor of Datu Unsay in Maguindanao and son of the provincial governor, as a prime suspect behind the killings. Ampatuan surrendered to authorities but proclaimed his innocence. Investigators said that about 100 heavily armed men loyal to Ampatuan abducted the group, took them to a more remote hillside, and then opened fire. Reuters quoted one of its photographers at the scene as saying that many bodies had both bullet and machete wounds. Some of the victims had their hands tied behind their backs, and one of the female victims was pregnant, Reuters and other sources reported.
The journalists were not directly targeted for their work, but were the victims of a long- running feud between two rival political clans competing for supremacy in the area. The massacre was not linked to Mindanao's decades-old guerrilla battle between Muslim secessionist and the Philippine army.
In their fact-finding report, the four local press groups highlighted a number of concerns about the initial police investigation. The report said the crime scene had not been well preserved and that personal belongings were still strewn about several days after the massacre. The recovery effort, which relied on the use of excavation equipment, compromised forensic evidence, it added. The report also expressed concern that potential witnesses – seemingly many since a number of homes and a mosque overlook the crime scene – had been intimidated into silence.
The report, quoting retrieval team members, said the pit where many bodies were buried might have been dug several days before the massacre.
The massacre occurred just 300 meters (1,000 feet) from a detachment of the Civilian Armed Forces, a local government militia. Members of the unit initially claimed to have seen no convoy, even though the vehicles were intercepted in a nearby spot that would have been clearly visible, the fact-finding report said.
No single event has claimed as many journalists' lives in the 18 years since CPJ began compiling detailed records. According to CPJ research, the deadliest prior event for the press came in Iraq on October 12, 2006, when 11 employees of Al-Shaabiya television were killed in an attack at the station's Baghdad studios.
Medium: | |
Job: | Publisher / Owner |
Beats Covered: | Politics |
Gender: | Male |
Local or Foreign: | Local |
Freelance: | No |
Type of Death: | Murder |
Suspected Source of Fire: | Government Officials |
Impunity: | Yes |
Taken Captive: | Yes |
Tortured: | Yes |
Threatened: | No |
Disclaimer: © Committee to Protect Journalists. All rights reserved. Articles may be reproduced only with permission from CPJ.
This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.


text:
The Hurricane Post Office and subsequent stage station for the Butterfield Overland Mail Company were located In the vicinity of present-day Atkins.
History, Old World charm, unsurpassed scenic beauty, modern sophistication – it's all here in the Arkansas River Valley. You'll find pretty little towns such as Ozark and Russellville on the Arkansas River, and you'll find European flavor in the Altus area, the heart of Arkansas Wine Country. Three family-owned wineries dating back to the 1800s and one new one in the area offer tours, tastings and insight into the art of viticulture. You'll find another winery at nearby Paris.
Throughout the valley, the Arkansas River provides exceptional recreation. Lake Dardanelle in the Russellville-Dardanelle area is one of the most popular lakes in the state. The unsurpassed beauty is best viewed from one of "The Tri-Peaks" that dominate the valley – Nebo, Petit Jean and Magazine. Atop the first two, you'll find state parks that proudly proclaim their Civilian Conservation Corps heritage with 60-year-old-plus housekeeping cabins at both parks and a lodge at Petit Jean. Also at Petit Jean is spectacular Cedar Falls, the park's trademark. Another lofty state park is under development for Magazine, where some of the state's most unspoiled landscape can be found. Currently, you can sightsee and hike, with new facilities opening this fall. These include 18 campsites with water, electric and sewer hookups; a bathhouse; a pavilion and a visitor center with exhibits.
Modern sophistication blends nicely with Old West history at Fort Smith. The state's second largest city is also one of its most historic. At the Fort Smith National Historic Site, you can discover what life was like on the lawless frontier. And across the river, the refinement of the Victorian era is preserved in all its glory in venerable Van Buren, a mecca for arts, crafts and antiques.


text:
Doctors are seeing such cases around the world: About a third of COVID-19 patients go on to develop "long-haul" neurological or psychiatric conditions months after being infected, new research shows.
The findings suggest a link between COVID-19 and a higher risk for later mental health and neurological disorders, researchers report.
The new analysis of data from more than 236,000 COVID-19 survivors focused on 14 neurological and mental health disorders. It found that 34% of patients were diagnosed with such disorders in the six months after infection with the new coronavirus.
Most commonly, these disorders ranged from anxiety disorders to substance misuse disorders, insomnia, brain hemorrhage, stroke, and (much more rarely) dementia.
For 13% of those patients, it was their first such diagnosis.
"Sadly, many of the disorders identified in this study tend to be chronic or recurrent, so we can anticipate that the impact of COVID-19 could be with us for many years," Jonathan Rogers, of University College London, wrote in an editorial accompanying the new study. Both were published April 6 in The Lancet Psychiatry.
One U.S. expert who was not part of the study agreed.
"Services and resources will need to be allocated for this care," said Dr. Andrew Rogove, medical director of stroke services at South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore, N.Y.
The new study was led by Paul Harrison of the University of Oxford in England. His team looked at electronic health records to track outcomes for 236,379 COVID-19 patients, mostly from the United States.
About a third did go on to experience some kind of neurological or mental health issue within six months of their coronavirus infection. Anxiety (17%), mood disorders (14%), substance abuse disorders (7%) and insomnia (5%) were the most commonly diagnosed disorders, the team said.
Overall rates of neurological problems were much lower, including 0.6% for brain hemorrhage, 2.1% for ischemic stroke, and 0.7% for dementia.
Neurological conditions were more common in patients who had been seriously ill with COVID-19. For example, among patients admitted to intensive care, 7% had a stroke and almost 2% were diagnosed with dementia, Harrison's group reported.
Neurological and mental health diagnoses were more common in COVID-19 patients than in flu or respiratory tract infection patients over the same time period. That suggests COVID-19 has an impact that's unique among viral infections, the study authors said.
"These are real-world data from a large number of patients. They confirm the high rates of psychiatric diagnoses after COVID-19, and show that serious disorders affecting the nervous system [such as stroke and dementia] occur, too," Harrison said in a journal news release. "While the latter are much rarer, they are significant, especially in those who had severe COVID-19."
Just how COVID-19 affects the brain remains unclear. "We now need to see what happens beyond six months. The study cannot reveal the mechanisms involved, but does point to the need for urgent research to identify these, with a view to preventing or treating them," study co-author Max Taquet, from the University of Oxford, said in the release.
According to Rogove, the study highlights an "increased risk for neurological disease and diagnosis in COVID-19 infected persons with further increased risk in hospitalized and critically ill COVID-19 infected patients."
All of this means "there will be a great need for more neurological care following COVID infection," Rogove added.
Brittany LeMonda is senior neuropsychologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. Reading over the findings, she theorized that "the virus may 'unmask' or accelerate the presentation of certain underlying psychiatric and neurologic conditions."
In other words, "it's possible ... that an individual has underlying risk factors predisposing them to development of these conditions and the virus stresses the system enough so that these symptoms become clinically significant," LeMonda said.
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on the long-term effects of COVID-19.
SOURCES: Brittany LeMonda, PhD, senior neuropsychologist, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City; Andrew Rogove, MD, PhD, medical director, stroke services, South Shore University Hospital, Bay Shore, N.Y.; The Lancet Psychiatry, news release, April 6, 2021


text:
ETCSLtranslation : t.2.4.2.02 |
1-10. To make his name famous for all time until distant days, and to transmit to posterity and the days to come the praise poems of his power, the songs of his might, and the lasting fame of his exceptional intelligence, King Šulgi, king of Urim, has brought the songs' latent wisdom before the mighty son of Ninsumun. He praises his own power in song, and lauds his own superior native intelligence: 11-20. I am a king, offspring begotten by a king and borne by a queen. I, Šulgi the noble, have been blessed with a favourable destiny right from the womb. When I was small, I was at the academy, where I learned the scribal art from the tablets of Sumer and Akkad. None of the nobles could write on clay as I could. There where people regularly went for tutelage in the scribal art, I qualified fully in subtraction, addition, reckoning and accounting. The fair Nanibgal, Nisaba, provided me amply with knowledge and comprehension. I am an experienced scribe who does not neglect a thing. 21-38. When I sprang up, muscular as a cheetah, galloping like a thoroughbred ass at full gallop, the favour of An brought me joy; to my delight Enlil spoke favourably about me, and they gave me the sceptre because of my righteousness. I place my foot on the neck of the foreign lands; the fame of my weapons is established as far as the south, and my victory is established in the highlands. When I set off for battle and strife to a place that Enlil has commanded me, I go ahead of the main body of my troops and I clear the terrain for my scouts. I have a positive passion for weapons. Not only do I carry lance and spear, I also know how to handle slingstones with a sling. The clay bullets, the treacherous pellets that I shoot, fly around like a violent rainstorm. In my rage I do not let them miss. 39-51. I sow fear and confusion in the foreign land. I look to my brother and friend, youthful Utu, as a source of divine encouragement. I, Šulgi, converse with him whenever he rises over there; he is the god who keeps a good eye on my battles. The youth Utu, beloved in the mountains, is the protective deity of my weapons; by his words I am strengthened and made pugnacious (?). In those battles, where weapon clashes on weapon, Utu shines on me. Thus I broke the weapons of the highlands over my knees, and in the south placed a yoke on the neck of Elam. I make the populations of the rebel lands -- how could they still resist my weapons? -- scatter like seed-grain over Sumer and Akkad. 52-55. Let me boast of what I have done. The fame of my power is spread far and wide. My wisdom is full of subtlety. Do not my achievements surpass all qualifications? 56-76. I stride forward in majesty, trampling endlessly through the esparto grass and thickets, capturing elephant after elephant, creatures of the plain; and I put an end to the heroic roaring in the plains of the different liona, the dragons of the plains, wherever it approaches from and wherever it is going. I do not go after them with a net, nor do I lie in wait for them in a hide; it comes to a confrontation of strength and weapons. I do not hurl a weapon; when I plunge a bitter-pointed lance in their throats, I do not flinch at their roar. I am not one to retreat to my hiding-place but, as when one warrior kills another warrior, I do everything swiftly on the open plain. In the desert where the paths peter out, I reduce the roar at the lair to silence. In the sheepfold and the cattle-pen, where heads are laid to rest (?), I put the shepherd tribesmen at ease. Let no one ever at any time say about me, "Could he really subdue them all on his own?" The number of lions that I have despatched with my weapons is limitless; their total is unknown. 77-80. Let me boast of what I have done. The fame of my power is spread far and wide. My wisdom is full of subtlety. Do not my achievements surpass all qualifications? 81-94. I am Šulgi, god of manliness, the foremost of the troops. When I stretch the bowstring on the bow, when I fit a perfect arrow to it, I shoot the bow's arrow with the full strength of my arms. The great wild bull, the bull of heaven, the wild cow and the bison bellow. As they pass across the foothills of the mountains, I shoot barbed arrows at them with my powerful strength. 95-113. When a burly wild boar (?) is running across the plain, I pierce its lungs with an arrow. With only one shot of mine I bring it to the ground; no single clansman from my regiments can surpass me in archery. I am a man with sharp eyes. When I lead the …… of the crack troops, I know best of all how to cast the throw-stick, running as quick as light radiating from heaven. What I hit no longer rises from its place. 114-117. Let me boast of what I have done. The fame of my power is spread far and wide. My wisdom is full of subtlety. Do not my achievements surpass all qualifications? 118-130. I, the king, am the Land's most excellent fighter against the enemy. I, Šulgi, am respected for my immense bodily strength. I am mighty; nothing resists me; I know no setbacks. My barges on the river do not sink (?) under me (alludes to a proverb (?)) ; my teams of asses do not collapse under me. Striding forward like my brother and friend, the youth Utu, as if with the legs of a lion, I am the good groom of my dust-making asses that bray like lions roaring. Like that of a stallion, my strength is unwavering during the running-race; I come first in the race, and my knees do not get tired. I am fearless; I dance with joy. My words shall never be forgotten. Praise for me because of my reliable judgments is on everyone's lips. 131-149. I am a ritually pure interpreter of omens. I am the very Nintur (creator deity) of the collections of omens. These words of the gods are of pre-eminent value for the exact performance of hand-washing and purification rites, for eulogy of the en priestess or for her enthronement in the ĝipar, for the choosing of the lumaḫ and nindiĝir priests by sacred extispicy, for attacking the south or for defeating the uplands, for the opening of the emblem house, for the washing of lances in the "water of battle" (blood) , for the taking of subtle decisions about the rebel lands. After I have determined a sound omen through extispicy from a white lamb and a sheep, water and flour are libated at the place of invocation. Then, as I prepare the sheep with words of prayer, my diviner watches in amazement like an idiot. The prepared sheep is placed at my disposal, and I never confuse a favourable sign with an unfavourable one. I myself have a clear intuition, and I judge by my own eyes. In the insides of just one sheep I, the king, can find the indications for everything and everywhere. 150-153. Let me boast of what I have done. The fame of my power is spread far and wide. My wisdom is full of subtlety. Do not my achievements surpass all qualifications? 154-174. I, Šulgi, king of Urim, have also devoted myself to the art of music. Nothing is too complicated for me; I know the full extent of the tigi and the adab, the perfection of the art of music. When I fix the frets on the lute, which enraptures my heart, I never damage its neck; I have devised rules for raising and lowering its intervals. On the gu-uš lyre I know the melodious tuning. I am familiar with the sa-eš and with drumming on its musical soundbox. I can take in my hands the miritum, which ……. I know the finger technique of the alĝar and sabitum, royal creations. In the same way I can produce sounds from the urzababitum, the ḫarḫar, the zanaru, the ur-gula and the dim-lu-magura. Even if they bring to me, as one might to a skilled musician, a musical instrument that I have not heard before, when I strike it up I make its true sound known; I am able to handle it just like something that has been in my hands before. Tuning, stringing, unstringing and fastening are not beyond my skills. I do not make the reed pipe sound like a rustic pipe, and on my own initiative I can wail a šumunša or make a lament as well as anyone who does it regularly. 175-189. I bestow joy and gladness, and I pass my days in pomp and splendour. But people should consider for themselves -- it is a matter to keep in one's sights -- that at the inescapable end of life, no one will be spared the bitter gall of the land of oppression. But I am one who is powerful enough to trust in his own power. He who trusts in his own exalted name may carry out great things. Why should he do less? Since it was for my true mother Ninsumun that my mother together with her actually bore me to bestow joy and gladness, lovingly she cherished my unborn fruit. She did not endure scandal from anyone's mouth. Before she released her little one, this lady passed her time in my palace in the greatest joy. 190-205. Before Utu son of Ningal, I, Šulgi, declare that in my long life in which I have achieved great things since the day that my kingly destiny was determined, in my life in which everything was richly provided in contentment, I have never lacked anything. Until the distant future may this song bless the name of me, the king, with a life of long days. As I am musical, as I am eloquent, I am a heavenly star of steadfastness. It is an awe-inspiring brow that establishes palaces, just as a peg and a measuring cord are the builders of cities. With the awesomeness that radiates from my forehead, which I make the foreign lands wear like a nose-rope, and the fear-inspiring lustre, my personal weapon, which I impose on the Land like a neck-stock, I am able to root out and undo crime. I have the ability to reconcile great matters with one word. 206-220. When I …… like a torrent with the roar of a great storm, in the capture of a citadel in Elam ……, I can understand what their spokesman answers. By origin I am a son of Sumer; I am a warrior, a warrior of Sumer. Thirdly, I can conduct a conversation with a man from the black mountains. Fourthly, I can do service as a translator with a man of Martu, a man of the mountains ……. I myself can correct his confused words in his own language. Fifthly, when a man of Subir yells ……, I can even distinguish the words in his language, although I am not a fellow-citizen of his. When I provide justice in the legal cases of Sumer, I give answers in all five languages. In my palace no one in conversation switches to another language as quickly as I do. 221-243. When I pronounce a completed verdict, it is heartily welcomed, since I am wise and exalted in kingship. So that my consultative assemblies, sitting together to care for the people, inspire respect in their hearts when the chief herald sounds the horn, they should deliberate and debate; and so that the council should decide policy properly, I have taught my governors to deliberate and to debate. While the words at their dining tables flow like a river, I tackle crime, so that the foundations are securely established for my wide dominions. I vanquish a city with words as weapons, and my wisdom keeps it subjected just as violence with burning torches would. I have taught them the meaning of the words "I have no mother". My words can be words smooth as the finest quality oil; I know how to cool hearts which are hot as fire, and I know how to extinguish a mouth set on fire like a reedbed. I weigh my words against those of the braggart. I am a man of the very highest standards of value. The importance of the humble is of particular value to me, and they cannot be counter-productive to any of my activities. By command of An and by command of Enlil, prayers are said for the life of the Land and for the life of the foreign lands, and I neither neglect them nor allow them to be interrupted. 244-258. I also know how to serve the gods, and I can cool the hearts of the Anuna gods. I am Šulgi, whose thick neck becomes fat (?) in majesty. Grand achievements that I have accomplished which bring joy to my heart I do not cast negligently aside; therefore I give pride of place to progress. I give no orders concerning the development of waste ground, but devote my energies to extensive building plots. I have planted trees in fields and in agricultural land; I devote my powers to dams, ……, ditches and canals. I try to ensure a surplus of oil and wool. Thanks to my efforts flax and barley are of the highest quality. The thirst and hunger of the gods are a cause of the greatest anxiety to me; I, Šulgi, am the life of Sumer. 259-269. I have no equal among even the most distant rulers, and I can also state that my deeds are great deeds. Everything is achievable by me, the king. Since the time when Enlil gave me the direction of his numerous people in view of my wisdom, my extraordinary power and my justice, in view of my resolute and unforgettable words, and in view of my expertise, comparable to that of Ištaran, in verdicts, my heart has never committed violence against even one other king, be he an Akkadian or a son of Sumer, or even a brute from Gutium. 270-280. I am no fool as regards the knowledge acquired since the time that mankind was, from heaven above, set on its path: when I have discovered tigi and zamzam hymns from past days, old ones from ancient times, I have never declared them to be false, and have never contradicted their contents. I have conserved these antiquities, never abandoning them to oblivion. Wherever the tigi and the zamzam sounded, I have recovered all that knowledge, and I have had those šir-gida songs brilliantly performed in my own good house. So that they should never fall into disuse, I have added them to the singers' repertoire, and thereby I have set the heart of the Land on fire and aflame. 281-296. Whatever is acquired is destined to be lost. What mortal has ever reached the heavens? At some time in the distant future, a man of Enlil may arise, and if he is a just king, like myself, then let my odes, prayers and learned songs about my heroic courage and expeditions follow that king in his good palace. He should take to heart the benefit that has been conferred on him; he should exalt the power of my odes, absorb the exuberance of my songs, and value highly my great wisdom. Just as a strong person can consider on an equal basis even those things which he has not brought about by his own efforts, let him applaud and welcome my achievements. Let him call upon my good name. 297-307. But if his heart devises treason against me, and he commits violence against anything of mine, may Nanna then adjudicate against this rebel, and let Utu the torch catch him. Wherever that king's path may lead, his word shall be wiped out. Until he has completed the days of his life, he shall do everything in his power to keep the hymns in their proper form. Through becoming familiar thereby with me, the king, he will speak of me in awed amazement. Because of my extraordinary wisdom and my ancient fame as a master, he should choose my hymns as examples, and himself beget heavenly writings. 308-319. In the south, in Urim, I caused a House of the Wisdom of Nisaba to spring up in sacrosanct ground for the writing of my hymns; up country in Nibru I established another. May the scribe be on duty there and transcribe with his hand the prayers which I instituted in the E-kur; and may the singer perform, reciting from the text. The academies are never to be altered; the places of learning shall never cease to exist. This and this only is now my accumulated knowledge! The collected words of all the hymns that are in my honour supersede all other formulations. By An, Enlil, Utu and Inana, it is no lie -- it is true! 320-336. Furthermore no one will assert under oath that to this day there is any mention in my inscriptions of a single city that I have not devastated, or wall that I have not demolished, or land that I have not made tremble like a reed hut, or praise that I have not completely verified. Why should a singer put them in hymns? An eminent example deserves eternal fame. What is the use of writing lies without truth? For me, the king, the singer has recorded my exploits in songs about the strength of the protective deity of my power; my songs are unforgettable, and my words shall not fall into oblivion. I am the best king of the Land. From the very first origins until the full flourishing of mankind, there will never be any king who can measure himself against my achievements whom An will let wear his crown or wield his sceptre from a royal throne. 337-353. I am gifted with power, insight and wisdom. The high point of my great deeds is the culling of lions before the lance as if they were garden weeds, the snapping of fierce felines like reeds as if under the carding-comb, and the crushing (?) of their throats under the axe as if they were dogs. Great powerful wild cows, indomitable bulls, cattle on their way to their mountain pastures, which were killed in the plain, were …… the mountains. That the hills were impenetrable and inaccessible …… -- those are pure lies. Where, in important words on tablets, my wisdom and my power 354-357. I am a warrior whose might is enormous might. I am Šulgi, whose shadow lies over the mountain lands. I am the king, the weapon and the downfall of rebel lands. Thus I have spread far and wide my everlasting renown. 358-373. Now, I swear by Utu on this very day -- and my younger brothers shall be witnesses of it in foreign lands where the sons of Sumer are not known, where people do not have the use of paved (?) roads, where they have no access to the written word -- that the firstborn son is a fashioner of words, a composer of songs, a composer of words, and that they will recite my songs as heavenly writings, and that they will bow down before my words as a …… 374-385. For that house, I am the right man to step over the threshold. I am the man whose name has been chosen by Nanna. I am the steward of Enlil's temple, the domestic slave of An. I am Šulgi, and my house E-ḫursaĝ is the palace of palaces. My royal residence is above all praise; I made it tower up like a lapis-lazuli mountain. Inana, the queen of the gods, the protective deity of my power, has perfected the songs of my might -- the foremost among kings -- in respect of everything in the whole world. It is good to praise me. Praise be to Nisaba. |
© Copyright 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 The ETCSL project, Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford |


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Julian Castro, San Antonio's Relay Star
Castro is a politician in not too much of a hurry. This does not mean the 38-year-old mayor of San Antonio lacks ambition.SAN ANTONIO — Julian Castro is a politician in not too much of a hurry. This does not mean he lacks ambition.
The 38-year-old mayor of San Antonio, which has boomed into the country's seventh-largest city, came to national attention much as Barack Obama did, with a first-rate keynote speech at last year's Democratic National Convention. He spoke affectingly of life being not a marathon but a "relay" in which each generation lifts up the next.
His metaphor didn't have the instant punch of Obama's 2004 red-and-blue America oration, but it does have staying power, just fine for a man playing the long game.
He is looking toward easy re-election in May to his third two-year term, and you can expect him to resist entreaties to run for governor in 2014. Demographic change is not likely to turn red Texas purple until the last part of this decade. "No question it will be more hospitable" to a Democrat, Castro says with a smile.
As it happens, he hits the city's mayoral term limit in 2017, nice timing for a governor's race in 2018 or a run against first-term GOP Sen. Ted Cruz. Castro rules nothing in or out, but he's not cagey. He sees a way up, and many Democrats hope he'll take it.
And his "relay" metaphor was more than a rhetorical device. It describes his political life, and that of his twin brother Joaquin, a member of Congress.
What makes Mayor Castro especially interesting is the interaction of his own pragmatism with the early radicalism of his mother Rosie, his first political mentor. She was a founder of La Raza Unida Party — she eventually returned to the Democratic fold — and a poster from his mom's unsuccessful 1971 city council race hangs proudly in the mayor's office.
Between his mother's past and his own present, Castro embodies the full range of progressive impulses, from the most activist and visionary to the most practical and middle of the road. Castro says in an interview that it's not surprising that his approach is different from his mom's.
"I had the blessing of opportunity," he says. As a result, he sees a balance in what is required to achieve change. "You need the folks in the boardroom who have consciences and the people in the streets who can picket at the right time."
Then he gets to his own role: "And you need public officials who can listen. I see myself as a bridge-builder who can understand both sides."
His goals for San Antonio certainly square with the objectives of any Chamber of Commerce member: "to create a brainpower community that is the liveliest city in the United States." The jobs he wants to attract, Castro says, are "the 21st-century jobs in information technology and security, new energy, aerospace."
In keeping with his own trajectory through Stanford and Harvard Law School, Castro wants San Antonio's poorest teenagers to think big when it comes to college. One of his favorite initiatives is the nonprofit Cafe College, where parents and kids can get college advice and, in particular, help in filling out financial aid application forms. He notes that high schoolers who complete the standard Free Application for Federal Student Aid are "350 percent more likely to go to college."
Castro is ahead of the curve on one major national issue, and has very hardheaded things to say about another.
Obama has made universal pre-kindergarten a national priority, but Castro got there earlier, winning a one-eighth-of-a-cent sales tax increase in a referendum last November to provide about $31 million for pre-K programs.
And Castro makes a case for comprehensive immigration reform rooted in the down-to-earth concerns of a big city mayor. Moving undocumented immigrants to legal status, he says, would mean "more children enrolled in school," less use of hospital emergency rooms, fewer unreimbursed ambulance fees, and greater public safety because "people will not be afraid to interact with the authorities."
Yet however much local business people have come to like him, Castro is still Rosie's son. He remembers what it's like to be marginalized.
"The only part of my mother's experience that still gets to me," he says, "is the way she and people like her were looked down upon for asking America to be America, for asking for full and equal participation in our democracy."
Castro has pursued a methodical path to Rosie's dream. And he is earning himself the chance to push it even further than she might have imagined.
E.J. Dionne's e-mail address is ejdionne(at)washpost.com.
© 2013, Washington Post Writers Group
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This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. All opinions are my own.
Okay, let's just get right to it. These are kids' spaces. Kids need and want to use their space for playing, right? They don't want their precious floor space crowded with boxes of their own toys! But heaven forbid they actually have to give up any of those toys!!! So what's a mom to do?
First, I have to say that I'm a big fan of the "rotate" idea. If you remember when I built our toy boxes, I built three of the huge beasts. But only two of them reside in the playroom. One of them stays in attic space, and the kids get to rotate toys in and out of it every 3 or 4 months or so.
I find this helps my kids realize just how LITTLE they play with certain toys and helps them let go of them later on. If they can see that a toy hasn't been "in play" for the last two or three rotations, it's probably time for it to go to another home, so another child can enjoy it.
That being said, the next thing moms are going to look for are space-saving and utilizing ideas. That's what we'll be looking for today!
Let's start with this great idea from Ana White. I'm the founder of the I {heart} Ana White fan club. She's amazing! While building may sound daunting to many, I can assure you, it's not as bad or hard as it seems. And you can always simplify an idea to suit your own skill level. Like, for instance, using pre-built shelves but attaching them to the back of a closet door instead of building this entire thing!
Ana White - Grace's Closet
And if you're really afraid of building (or are renting and don't want to put holes in closet doors), what about using a good ol' shoe organizer to store those barbies or action figures?
The Container Store found on Amazon
Also a great idea for keeping track of art and school supplies. This comes from Jamie at Something to Do.
Another area that gets neglected or goes unused is under the bed. Or perhaps it's used...just not like you want it to be! Well, one of my blog bff's has come up with a great storage solution that's easy for kids to roll out, but won't require you to build drawers (I've helped build some drawers, and I'll admit I don't love it.)
These are an excellent and simple alternative! Go visit Jaime (That's My Letter) and tell her hello. :)
Via Vickie Howell on Flickr
If your kids are a bit older, and you love a good knock-off project, Ana White has some great plans for a similar teen storage tower. I haven't seen these in person, but I'm not sure I'd recommend them for smaller kids due to stability (and my children's affinity for climbing). But perfect for a teen girl's room! Here's a link for Ana's plans.
And here are the lovely originals from PB Teen:
This is from House on Ashwell Lane:
Can we talk about stuffed animals for a minute?
Does your child have a serious stuffed animal problem? Just go ahead and throw them in the trash. No, really! Did you get the memo that industrial is in?! What's more industrial than a metal garbage can? This one was created by Rebekah Merkle on her blog rebekahmerkle.blogspot.com, but I guess she is no longer blogging, and the link to her site doesn't work. :( She actually used it as a garbage can in her home, but I think her "scrunchy" looks like a cute liner, and I can envision my 7-year-old having a good time putting all her buddies in the trash at night. I'm not sure what sizes are available, but this size seems more suited for older kids. It would just make the little ones really mad. ;)
No kids' room organization list would be complete without a classic "stuffed animal net"! This great tutorial is from Lemon Squeezy Home.
This one doesn't have a tutorial, but they seem simple enough to make! You can see the whole room tour at Bees Knees Bungalow.
This is another cute knock-off project with a good tutorial. I think my kids would love this one! You can see the tutorial at On the Banks of Squaw Creek.
Yes, yes, I KNOW this is a shower caddy. But can't you picture some cute little stuffed animals chilling on those shelves, tucked away in a corner?? You can find more ideas at BHG.com.
And this one is kind of a combination of the trash can and the animal zoo! Very cute! See more pics at Prudent Baby.
We can't neglect those small toys, though, right?
These clear toy storage bags from Make It and Love It are excellent! Kids can open them on their own, and they can see exactly what's in the bag, thus lessening the "throw it all out to see if my favorite toy is at the bottom".
And more fabulous storage ideas from Make It and Love It. These ones are fabric storage boxes, and I am in love with the coordinating fabrics!
Love the color organization by I Heart Organizing in her playroom!
This site has free printables for these canister labels. She's used them on Folgers canisters, but I've been saving up my large cashew canisters, and I think something like this would be perfect! Great that the kids can easily see what's in the can! Visit Heart of Wisdom for the free printables!
Are you cheap like me? What about taking some of those heavy-duty diaper or wipes boxes and covering them with cheap burlap? This has held up extremely well over the last year of use and even during our move across the ocean! Not bad for a $1 box. :)
Let's not forget all those board games! Beckie at Infarrantly Creative is a craft genius! Why not turn your usable board games into fun, colorful wall art? All the pieces are stored in the framed boxes! Excellent!!
And here's one last art supplies idea. Also from Ana White.
And on to books!
The Ardent Sparrow blog has a good little round-up of some book storage ideas if you want some more ideas.
Remember when we talked about utilizing your space wisely? This is such a good idea from On the Banks of Squaw Creek! Be cautious if you have little climbers, though! ;)
This is adorable, so I had to include it. My kids would probably drag that thing all over the place! But so cute! I originally got it from the site Cory Conner Designs, but it looks like the site is no longer functional. :(
This lovely pic is from Therese Hagstedt on Flickr. These shelves are called "spine" shelves, and you can find them on Amazon for pretty cheap. Or it looks like a simple DIY. Looks like a 1x10 cut in 10" pieces and screwed to a 1x3, and the whole thing is screwed to a stud in the wall. Not sure how much weight it would hold on each shelf without a bracket, but you could add a bracket below each shelf as well...
And if you prefer sewing vs. building, these book slings have also become pretty popular! This one is from Domestic Adventure.
Turn an Ikea bookshelf on its side, put some legs (or wheels) and a cushion on it, and call it a day! Image from Better Homes and Gardens via Apartment Therapy.
And here's another one that I think is just beautiful, but I'm not sure of the practicality for a kid's space. Perhaps if you need something mobile? There's a good tutorial on Country Living from Halligan Norris Smith.
Or bring the shelves up off the floor! Inspiration at Homespun Toronto!
Now on to paperwork and school!
Do you have some little artists in your house? Do you have a hard time getting rid of thsie masterpieces? Maybe you'd feel more warm and fuzzy if you did something like this and scanned the artwork and shrunk them to fit in cute artwork?! This display is just gorgeous! Truly--I LOVE this!! Visit Jen's Thousand Words for more details on how she made them.
Need some tips on going through school paperwork? Click on over to get some ideas from I Heart Organizing.
Or visit these cute "command center" boards from Delightful Order.
And these chore charts were purchased from an Etsy shop, but I LOVE the idea of using magnets for chores! More great pics at The Clay Family blog. We've done sticker charts, and I get pretty sick of getting the stickers down for every little thing. I like that they could do this all on their own!
And if you're really looking to maximize kids' space, I recommend looking UP! Kids are so small. Do they really need 8' ceilings? Nah. Consider building in play areas or bunk beds if you live in a home and area that will almost always attract families (for resell consideration).
And I really love this one from designer Erica-Lynn Huberty featured on Apartment Therapy.
And with three girls, I have to talk about hair stuff, right?
Here's how we organize our stuff:
And all our pretty clips go on this fun DIY project.
Or if you have some cupboard space in your bathroom, a simple tension rod, some clips, and some zip-top bags are an easy storage solution!
And here are just a couple little tips from me that work well in our house that I thought might also help you!
Do your kids make a huge mess of their dresser drawers trying to find matching pj tops and bottoms? Or do they just end up wearing mismatched pj's instead? My kids used to just wear mismatched pj's, but maybe I'm a little OCD because it kind of bugged me. Nevermind the fact that I wear sweats and "paint shirts" to drop them off to school every day... But I just like it better when they match!
So here's what the good doctor came up with as a solution (he's brilliant, people!):
Folding pj tops and bottoms together! Duh!! This makes it so easy for the kids to just grab a pair and go!
And my next tip is another simple one. AND it also involves clothes.
With three girls (3, 5, 7), we have lots of clothing rotations and hand-me-downs going on around here. I used to have some stored in boxes, some in plastic tubs, and lots that didn't really fit, but I just kept them in their drawers was such a tedious process. I hated "wasting space" if one of those plastic bins wasn't completely full with one size, so there was lots of combining and mixing of sizes, and it was just a disaster.
When we made this last move (and after I emptied every single box and put our house together in 6 days), I decided it was TIME to do something about the clothing chaos.
I emptied every single bin and box we had into a huge pile in the middle of the toy room. YIKES!!
I had purchased some of these comforter storage bags from the Dollar Tree, and I decided to see if they might work for clothes. When I put the first few items in, I thought, "There's NO WAY all these clothes are going to fit in here!" But I stuck it out and kept squishing and cramming, and I was amazed at how much actually fit in them. Unlike the big plastic bins, since these are smaller, and the zipper only opens half way, it compresses a lot of the air out, so you have a nice, tight fit. Like those vacuum bags...but no vacuum.
Every single bag, I thought the same thing, "There's no way these are going to fit." But they did!
So I ended up using 10 of the storage bags. Grand total of $10.
UPDATE: I've had many readers tell me their Dollar Tree doesn't carry this item. I've found a similar one on Amazon that I'm sure will work just as well.
Here are a few things I love about them:
* Since a lot of the air is squished out, it saves lots of space vs the bins
* Since they're smaller sizes, I can give each clothing size its own bag and not feel guilty about "wasting" space in a plastic bin.
* I can SEE the clothes! I considered putting labels on each bag for the different sizes, but since I can see the clothes, I know exactly what size is in it (after three kids wearing the exact same things and washing them a gazillion times, I'm VERY famliar with every single item of clothing in there)
Here's how mine are separated (in case you care):
1) 0-3 months
2) 3-6 months
3) 6-12 months
4) 12-18 months
5) 18-24 months
6) 4T (our 2T, 3T, and 5T+ are all in use)
7) Shoes
8) Soft shoes and socks
9) Winter coats and bibs
10) Receiving blankets
These two stacks take up an area 40" wide x 28" tall x 18" deep. Not bad for 2,000,000 items! ;)
If all else fails, just hide their messes with a cute curtain. ;)
You can visit our playroom reading nook HERE.
But be warned, sometimes it looks more like this:
Ha ha!
And there you have it! Over 50 ideas to help get your littles organized.
If you're looking for more organizational ideas, please visit my ORGANIZATION Pinterest Board.
And for kid craft ideas, my KID STUFF Pinterest Board is a great resource. :)
Any other tips on how you keep your own kids organized? I'd love to hear in the comments!
If you're looking for other organizational tips, check out these great posts:
Bathroom with HomeMadeville
Garage with CondoBlues
Maximizing Storage Space with Mural Maker
Thanks for visiting and aloha!


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Come with me, if you will, back to the beginning of this season, a time when most pundits graced us with their opinion that Arsenal were the club most likely to drop out of the top four positions in the Premier League, having spent very little and sold two of their established stars. With the team now virtually assured of third place, you would therefore think that this was cause for celebration, but most fans still feel a sense of disappointment. The humbling by Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-final was followed by defeat in the North London derby (the first time that Spurs had beaten Arsenal in the Premiership for over a decade) and the desperate collapse against a feeble Wigan side.
If it wasn't evident before, it has become abundantly clear that Arsenal need to strengthen the side during this summer's transfer window. We are not talking about a major rebuilding programme, but most supporters know where the priorities lie. First, no team is ever going to win the title with goalkeepers of the calibre of Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianksi. There could also be significant changes to the central defence. The hapless Mikael Silvestre should be allowed to leave, while William Gallas' contract is due to expire and at the age of 35 Sol Campbell cannot be a long-term solution, despite his sterling efforts since he returned. The squad would also benefit from another powerful defensive midfielder to cover for the much-improved Alex Song. After crashing out of the Champions League, even the loyal Arsene Wenger admitted that his side needed reinforcements, "We have to add something, for sure."
"Good arguments for strengthening the squad"
The club has always maintained that it has the funds to compete in the transfer market and this was confirmed by chief executive Ivan Gazidis when commenting on the most recent accounts, "We have money available to invest in the transfer market when we can identify the right players to add into the mix that add something to the squad." A couple of weeks ago, chairman Peter Hill-Wood gave an explicit green light for a spending spree this summer, "We have got more money than we've had for a long, long time and we would like to spend it. But we want to spend it sensibly. There is plenty of cash, although not in comparison to Manchester City." His normally circumspect manager was just as bullish, "We can match Chelsea and Manchester United in any bid. They can't buy all the top players."
But exactly how big is the transfer budget? For obvious commercial reasons, the club has not divulged how much money it has, but you would expect a considerable surplus to be available from playing in a 60,000 sold-out stadium with some of the highest ticket prices in the world, especially when the club's wages to turnover ratio is among the lowest around. The newspapers certainly appear to be completely confused. The Daily Telegraph announced this week that "Wenger gets £18m war chest", though did not bother to explain how they arrived at this figure in the accompanying article. The Daily Star typically went big with "Arsene Wenger's £60m spree", while the Sunday Times was more oblique, "If Wenger wants to sign two £20m players on £80,000 per week this summer, he has the means to do so". Even John Cross at the Mirror, normally so authoritative on all Arsenal matters, seems unsure, saying that "the club has £50m plus to spend" last October, only to reduce this to a "£30m plus budget" this month.
"Time to open the cheque book"
So, let's take a look at the accounts to see if we can work it out, as the Beatles once said. The starting point is an impressive cash balance of £101m, but that includes £22m which must be maintained on deposit as security that future payments of interest and principal can be made to bond lenders, leaving £79m. Much of this will have come from season ticket money paid in advance, which will be needed to cover operating costs in the second half of the accounting year. As we do not know when expenses are incurred (or other income is received), we cannot say for sure how much cash is required for this. Your guess is as good as mine, so let's just take the estimate of £35m from the esteemed Arsenal Supporters' Trust, which would leave the club with net cash of £44m - still pretty good by most standards.
Half of this came from last summer's profitable player trading. The annual report boasts "all proceeds from player sale transactions are made available to Arsene Wenger for re-investment back into the development of the team". This is reinforced by the terms of the stadium financing deal, which states that 70% of all net sale proceeds must be used on buying players or placed into a ring-fenced Transfer Proceeds Account (TPA). This protects lenders by ensuring that the club continues to invest in its core asset, i.e. the playing squad. The sales of Emmanuel Adebayor (£25m) and Kolo Toure (£16m) to Manchester City less the purchase of Thomas Vermaelen (£10m) from Ajax produced a net surplus of £31m, so £22m went into the TPA.
"Pointing the way forward"
Importantly, this fund can also be used to improve players' contracts and this has become key to Wenger's approach to investing in the squad. Most fans probably do not appreciate that the manager controls a budget covering both transfers and wages, so just because money is available to him does not necessarily mean that he will use it to purchase new players. Instead, he can allocate cash to increase the wages of the existing squad, which is a route he has clearly followed. The interim accounts highlighted an £8.6m rise in player wages, despite the departure of Adebayor and Toure, who were on very high salaries. This reflected the re-signing of 17 first-team players on long-term contracts, which the chairman described as an "investment in a very talented group of players" and as the "best means of protecting the value of one of our most important assets".
That may well be true, but it implies an annual wage bill of £120m, which is admittedly £30m less than Chelsea, but is now over 50% of turnover. Although that's lower than most other clubs, you would not really want to push it any higher, even though there will be pressure to do so for a number of reasons. This month's increase in the top income tax bracket from 40% to 50% has compounded the currency effect of Sterling's weakness against the Euro, making England a less attractive proposition for foreign players, which can only be compensated by increasing gross salaries. At the very highest echelons, the market might also continue to be artificially inflated by the presence of extremely wealthy benefactors like Roman Abramovich and Sheikh Mansour, not to mention the Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona.
"Money talks"
Hence, the so-called "golden handcuffs" deal to keep Cesc Fabregas away from the Catalans' clutches, which not only increased his salary from £80,000 to £110,000 a week, but actually back-dated it for two years, resulting in a "signing-on" fee of £3m. It is strongly rumoured that Wenger's first addition to the squad this summer will be Moroccan forward Marouane Chamakh from Bordeaux. This is presented as a free transfer, but he will reportedly be on a five-year deal worth £50,000 a week, which is a £12.5m commitment. See how important wages are to the overall cost of buying a player? A straightforward point, but one that Harry Redknapp did not seem to grasp at "pay up" Pompey.
What might be worth considering is whether the allocation of the wage bill is the right one, as much of it is currently given to younger players, who earn more at Arsenal than other clubs. In one sense, this is a shrewd policy, as it protects the players' value in terms of future transfer fees, but it does mean that there is less money available to improve the first team squad. If the balance were fine-tuned, this could facilitate the purchase of the players who would make the difference between challenging for and winning trophies.
From a purely financial perspective, it is difficult to criticise Arsenal's transfer strategy, as player trading has proved to be a very profitable activity in recent years. In the four seasons since the club moved to the Emirates, their net transfer spend has been a negative £35m. As a comparison, the net spend at their North London rivals Tottenham was £78m, even after the big money sales of Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane, which is an incredible £113m more. Of course, any sales this summer would increase Wenger's transfer pot and there has been media speculation about some departures, such as Eduardo to Lyon for £8m and Tomas Rosicky back to the Bundesliga for a similar sum. However, one potential barrier to clearing out some of the dead wood is the relatively high wages paid to the likes of Almunia, Eboue, Diaby and Denilson. Which other clubs would be willing to match their salaries?
"All in the past?"
On the other side of the coin, the club has provided £9m for "probable" additional transfer fees payable to other clubs after existing players make a certain number of appearances. It is not clear exactly when these payments will be made, but the prudent approach would be to deduct this from the available cash. On top of that, there are another £11m contingent liabilities for similar performance-related clauses, though these payments are considered less likely.
The really good news in the last set of accounts came from the property side. Although there had been considerable uncertainty arising from the market downturn, Peter Hill-Wood confidently announced, "It is clear that the next couple of years will see our property activities deliver excess cash", while Ivan Gazidis confirmed, "We will soon be delivering a profit back into the football side of the Group".
At the time the interims were published, 524 of the 655 private apartments at Highbury Square had been sold and recent reports indicate that there is only a limited number still available. We do not know how much money they sold for, but we can estimate the value of the 131 remaining apartments as between a conservative £33m (using the on-line starting price of £250k) and £54m (based on the average price of sales to date of £414k), which would produce net proceeds of £20m to £41m after clearing the outstanding debt of £13m (at the time the accounts were published). It's a bit rough and ready, but if we take the mid-point for our calculations, that would produce £30m, though we do not know when the money will be given to Wenger. As Hill-Wood said, "This is very good news, although I would not want to speculate on the exact quantum or timing of this."
"Welcome to Highbury"
Furthermore, the club's other three property assets (Queensland Road market housing, Hornsey Road and Holloway Road) are now free of debt following the sale of Queensland Road social housing, so any future sales here represent pure profit. I have no idea what that could be worth, but let's say £15-20m. The reason that I have guessed those figures is that it would result in total once-off property gains of £45-50m, which is in line with the £45m estimate from the Arsenal Supporters' Trust and the £50m "surplus from sales" expected by the Times. Everyone seems to think that this money will be produced "over the next two years", so it is far from certain that it will be on tap in the next transfer window. While we are being cavalier, let's assume that half of the Highbury Square money is available now, leaving Queensland Road as future music, which would give Arsene another £15m now.
Given that Arsenal made a £5m profit from the core football business in the last six months, having stripped out player trading and amortisation, we could potentially add this to the transfer budget, but let's be conservative and leave that untouched, so it can be used to cover other costs.
After all that, how big is Arsenal's transfer budget? Well, we start with £44m cash, having allocated £22m to the security deposit for lenders and deducted £35m for second-half running costs, and then should reserve £9m for probable additional transfer fees, leaving us with £35m net cash. To that, we could add the estimated £15m from property development, giving us a grand total (drum roll) of a nice, round £50m.
The most obvious potential for revenue growth is in the commercial area, where Arsenal's income lags way behind their peers, according to the Deloittes Football Money League 2010. Arsenal's commercial revenue of £48m is much lower than the other teams in the so-called "Big Four" (Manchester United £70m, Liverpool £68m and Chelsea £53m). Understandably, Arsenal tied themselves into long-term deals with Emirates (stadium naming rights until 2021, shirt sponsorship until 2014) in order to provide security for the stadium financing, but recent deals by other clubs highlight the size of the opportunity, which is probably worth another £20m a year.
Gazidis is well aware of this and has recently restructured and strengthened his commercial team to explore new partners and overseas markets in order to "unlock value" (in his terms), though the thorny issue of more lucrative pre-season tours to America or Asia is on the back-burner until the club has a clear strategy for these regions. Arsenal's transfer activities are also relevant to this area, as a new star would generate more shirt sales à la Ronaldo, Messi, Torres and Rooney.
"Gazidis unlocking value"
Other revenue streams are relatively fixed, though we know that broadcasting income will rise by £7.5m a year following the new Premier League deal for overseas rights. It is also difficult to see how match day revenue could be increased, given that Arsenal's ticket prices are already among the highest in Europe, and there are some slightly worrying signs that demand at the higher end is not as strong as it has been. This is important, as the 9,000 premium seats generate approximately 35% of match day revenue. This may well have resulted in pressure on the manager from the board to buy some established stars, in order to improve the team's chances of success, thus reducing the risk of a drop in crowds.
How about a spot of cost cutting? There certainly seems to be scope for some judicious efficiencies, as the annual costs of £55m for "other operating charges", i.e. excluding salaries and amortisation, is actually higher than the total costs at seven Premier League clubs. Unfortunately, the club does not provide much detail for these costs, but they must include items like stadium operating costs, travel and training. What we can see is that these costs represent 25% of football turnover, which seems on the high side to me.
Hang on a minute, don't Arsenal have a huge amount of debt to pay off? Yes and no. The astonishing advances on property sales have enabled the club to reduce net debt by circa £160m in the last twelve months to around £175m with the property developments now being essentially debt-free. This represents gross debt of £275m less £100m cash with the remaining debt being for the Emirates stadium, via a mixture of fixed rate and floating rate bonds that are due for final repayment in 2031. Total annual cost to service these loans is £20m (£15m interest and £5m principal reductions). It's not clear whether it would be possible for Arsenal to pay off this debt early in order to reduce the interest charges, but my guess is that they are in no hurry to do that, as Gazidis has argued that not all debt is bad, "The debt that we're left with is what I would call 'healthy debt' – it's long term, low rates, very affordable for the club, and it's effectively a mortgage on our stadium, which generates revenue."
"Money spinner"
You might therefore conclude that all the funds will be invested in the team, but Peter Hill-Wood struck a slightly contrary note (not for the first time), "In addition to investing in the team, I think we will examine investment in club projects and infrastructure … into the next phase of growth." Not sure what that might mean, but it inspires visions of adding a new tier to the Emirates like the San Siro before the 1990 World Cup – though somehow I doubt it.
Those fans that would prefer to see the club put money into the "Arsenalisation" of the team rather than the stadium, would be comforted by Gazidis' comments after the results, "We have delivered a profit before tax of £35m for the first half of the year, but it's important to note that this isn't our primary objective. The reason we run a responsible, profitable and self-sustaining business is so that we can deliver success to the club and invest in the club and ultimately deliver success on the pitch." While Arsene Wenger believes he "would not be doing his job well if the club lost money", he is at pains to emphasise that "the sporting side is always the most important thing."
There is no doubt that the move to a new stadium has limited Arsenal's transfer budget over the past few years, which Wenger finally admitted this week, "The construction of the Emirates Stadium meant that for many years we could not spend a lot of money. Our financial situation has greatly improved. We are finally able to buy the players we think we need". This is a much more transparent response than the previous obfuscation, but there is still a suspicion that Wenger would prefer to build rather than buy, so much of the low spending was out of choice.
"How much?"
Every summer, Wenger has repeated the mantra: "We are not short of money. I am not scared to spend money. We have a squad that is good enough to compete. I will spend for a player that we need." Even though he clearly has money this year, Wenger seemed to be preparing supporters for another summer of low spending, when he told the club's magazine, "I feel we have made huge steps forward this year compared to last year", while also pointing out the dangerous consequences for the club's wage policy of buying a top star on top dollar. Last summer, he also showed his hand when discussing Real Madrid's galactico policy, "In my opinion, to recruit more than three new players in a transfer window, as Real plan, is taking a technical risk." Wenger may feel vindicated after the lack of success for the Spaniards (and indeed Manchester City) this year, but critics would point to the improvement shown in the Champions League by Bayern Munich and Lyon, who were among the biggest spenders last summer.
There are two other factors that might influence Arsenal's transfer targets. First, injuries have been a major dynamic this season with key players being lost at different stages (Robin Van Persie, Cesc Fabregas and Alex Song in particular) and the squad suffering a barely credible seven fractures. If they all return hale and hearty, that will be like making several "new signings". Second, the Premier League has introduced a new home-grown player rule, which means that all clubs must register a squad with a limit of 25 players of which eight must be aged 21 or under and qualify as home-grown. The consensus seems to be that Arsenal are well placed to satisfy these quotas, but it might influence the club's manoeuvres in the transfer market.
"Mind over matter"
Whatever signings Arsenal make, we can expect them reasonably soon, if you believe Wenger's comments to the club magazine, "I have definite transfer targets and have been talking to people, but I will not tell you who. I believe the earlier you settle your teams the better it is and the less anxiety you have." While some might cynically note that this announcement neatly coincides with season ticket renewals, there is a precedent for this approach, as he signed Rosicky before his goal scoring feats for the Czech Republic in Germany (and before his price was artificially inflated). It should also be noted that Wenger is going to South Africa to cover the World Cup for French television.
One final factor is that Arsene Wenger's own contract expires next summer. The chairman has reiterated his support for the enigmatic Frenchman, "We want him to stay for as long as he wants, and we hope that will be for a considerable time yet". Wenger's sense of moral decency would not allow him to go on a spending spree if he felt that he was likely to leave, as a new manager will usually want to bring in his own players. From this perspective, the arrival of several new players would be doubly pleasing to the majority of Arsenal fans.
However, a few supporters are getting restless at the lack of trophies and reluctance to spend big in the transfer market, because Wenger's reign has been like the proverbial "game of two halves", winning three Premier League titles and four FA Cups in his first nine years, followed by nothing in the last five years. He is an outstanding manager, probably the best that Arsenal has ever had, but he might need to modify his transfer policy to ensure that he goes out with a bang.


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Ecovero Crepe Pants Havva
Free Shipping from 250€ | Free returns in the EU
Product Details
• Pants Havva have slits at the bottom front part and fake pleats over total leg length
• Side pockets, one pocket in the back
• Button and belt loops at waistband
• The fabric has a matte surface, and is very comfortable and stretchy due to its material composition
• The manufacturing of ECOVERO fibers generates up to 50% lower emissions and water impact compared to generic viscose. CO2 emissions and fossil resource usage are approximately half that of the industry average. So Ecovero is a more sustainable alternative to conventional viscose
• Made in Serbia, in our own factory under fair working conditions
Size & Fit
• High waist pants with Straight legs that are slightly flared at the bottom.
• Runs small, take one size up
• Full length: 110cm from waistband to hem
• Model is 175cm and wearing size S
Material & Care
• 27% Ecovero Viscose 63% Recycled Polyester 7% Cotton 3% Elasthane
• Do not wash, do not bleach, low iron, do not tumble dry, suitable for delicate dry cleaning
1) Do you ship internationally?
We ship to almost everywhere with some exceptions. You can check which countries we don't ship to in our "terms & conditions" - "shipping Policy" on our website. Items from the Forever Pieces Collection include worldwide free shipping.
2) If I order today, when will I receive my item?
Germany: 2-5 Business Days, EU: 3-5 Business Days, outside EU: 5-15 days. Depending on the delivery Country you will receive a confirmation email containing the tracking code after your order has been shipped.
3) How do I return an item?
You can return your items 30 days after receiving them. For orders within Germany, the package will include a return shipping label. If you are outside Germany, but within EU: Fill out the return form that was included in your shipment and send us an email to email@example.com and we will create a return label for you. Mykke Hofmann offers free returns (for EU countries) so you don't have to pay anything.
4) Can I swap an item?
If you wish to swap an item for a different size then fill out the Return form that was included in your shipment, and send us an email to email@example.com we will then create a return label for you, Mykke Hofmann offers free returns so you don't have to pay anything. We will refund your money via the original payment method & you will have to place a new order regarding the desired pieces / sizes.
5) I made a mistake, can I cancel or change my order?
Unfortunately it is not possible for you to cancel your order by yourself, but our customer service can do that for you in case we haven't packed and shipped the item yet! Send us an email to email@example.com immediately and we will cancel your order & refund your money to the original payment method. If you wish to have changes made to your order we would have to proceed the same way by cancelling your current order. You will then have to place a new order.
6) How do I find out about new product drops?
Sign up to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram & you're all set :) P.S. By signing up to our newsletter you'll receive a 10€ voucher for your next order!
7) How do I sign up for your newsletter?
You can either follow the link in bio in our instagram profile or just visit www.mykkehofmann.com and you will see a pop up window offering you to sign up.
8) When will I receive my refund?
If the return is approved, then your refund will be processed in the same way as the original method of payment within fourteen (14) days from the reception of the returned item. We shall refund the original price that you have paid for the purchase of your item.
9) How do I find out my size?
You can find a size chart on every product detail page in the Mykke Hofmann online shop. If you are stil unsure, you can allways send us an email to email@example.com and qe will be more than happy to assist you in finding the correct size for you!
10) How do I use the discount code that I received?
You can enter the discount code at checkout right after you placed the item(s) in your shopping cart and clicked "checkout".
11) In what currency can I pay?
At the moment, all orders in the Mykke Hofmann online shop can only be paid in Euro €
12) What payment methods do you offer?
At the moment we offer payment by Credit card, Klarna and Paypal
We are a female design collective founded by Jelena Hofmann in 2017. Our collections translate the essence of Jelena's hometown Belgrade to fashion - combining urban style and clean lines with muted palettes, organic forms and geometric patterns.
We are self-made and 100% sourced in Europe, and fair - all our items are produced in our own manufacturing site in Belgrade, where workers enjoy fair working conditions and wages. The greater part of our fabrics is "sustainable" - certified by GOTS, GRS and RWS and sourced in Europe. For further details check out our Ethics page


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∞ BC to 1 BC
This page is a member of the Uncyclopedia Timeline. If an event isn't listed in the timeline, it most likely happened.
Represented here are the time periods from the beginning to quite a few years ago
In the beginning there was nothing - nothing, that is, except for God.
But where did I come from?
God has always been there.
But how did I-
Shut up.
No u!
Don't ask questions
Resistance is Futile
Anyways, God, deciding that nothing was boring, opted to create the universe. Although scientists are not sure how the universe came to be, there are many theories. Following Runescape, the most commonly accepted theory is the divine fart known as Big Bang, less commonly referred to as the Big Wang.
The creation of the universe[edit]
After science was made, scientists finally developed a plausible theory for the creation of the universe. The theory states that God, after going on a 0-note streak during a Nothing Hero marathon, celebrated by making himself a home made nothing-steak. This did not go so well, and he spent the night on the nothing-toilet. Finally, the main course dropped, and the universe was born - but just the smelly parts. The rest is unknown. A powerful stink odor, colloquially known to scientists as "Cosmic Background Radiation", is a result of the really bad dump.
The Earth[edit]
Shortly after creating the universe, God decided it would be fun to create a bunch of little people to torture at his leisure. So, he gathered together dust, stars and everything nice to create the Earth.
After creating the Earth, God made creatures gradually adapt new forms over billions of years, a process known as revolution. Slowly, (no, even slower than that!), after billions of years, humans began to appear. The first ancestors of humans, believed to be contemporaries of Neanderthals, (e.g: my ex-wife) were a species called Creationus Youngearthicus. Although their lifestyle is difficult to construct, scientists believe that, after gathering grain in the field, they would gather around the campfire and tell stories of the stars in the sky, like "The Man with Only A Hook for an Arm" and "Debbie does Jerusalem", which they believed to be the cumshots of the gods. (Holy run-on sentence!)
Adam and Eve[edit]
After evolving humans over hundreds of thousands of years, God created the first two humans, Adam and Eve.
But how would they be the first humans if-
Are you God?
Um... yes...
Then stop questioning Your word.
God created the Garden of Eden for Adam and Eve to live in. However, he instructed both of them not to go near the forbidden tree, because that was where God kept his stash of pirated Facts of Life episodes.
For a while, they were happy, but then a talking snake came along and told Eve to check the tree out. Looking behind it, she found several amazing DVDs, including a video of Tootie and Natalie getting it on. She and Adam watched a few of the videos, but when God came along, they turned off the DVD and switched to the next channel, which happened to be the Yankees' game. Realizing that no human being would willingly watch the Yankees without being tortured, God thought that something was amiss. God looked behind the forbidden tree and was horrified to find that most of his DVDs were gone, including his five-hour cut of The Facts of life reunion!
Enraged, God expelled Adam and Eve from the garden, and they wandered the Earth, eventually giving birth to two sons, Cain and Abel. Then, after hundreds of years, they finally died. I know, I don't understand it either.
Cain and Abel didn't like each other: Abel was always getting more girls then Cain, and Cain was always hogging all of the pizza. Finally, Cain decided to take down Abel once and for all. When he wasn't looking, Cain took a rock and beat Abel to death. Eventually, God arrived on the scene. Biblical scholars believed the showdown when something like this:
God (noticing Abel's body): Oh... my...SELF! CAIN!
Cain: Who?
God: Cain, did you kill your brother?
Cain: Huh? I'm not Cain.
God: You're not.
Cain: Nope. I'm... Abel.
God: Abel.
Cain: Yeah.
God: ...
Cain: ...
God: You're really fucked now!
Cain: Balls
For killing his brother, God put Cain in hell, where he was forced to watch Freddy Got Fingered for all eternity.
Noah's Ark[edit]
After this, God eventually decided that people had gotten out of hand. So, he decided to flood the world over a period of 40 days.
But how did I get it all to go away?
Before pulling a Katrina on the Earth, God decided that he would find the one man on Earth who was still righteous (he did not, however, choose to find someone who was gnarly). He decided on Noah, and he instructed him to build an ark. On that, ark, God said, Noah should bring two of each animal and a whole lot of video cameras. After Noah set sail, God summoned the waters of the Earth and did some serious fucking flooding.
But wait. What about all the animals living in the sea?
For 40 days, it rained, and Noah was very bored. Finally, God received the Water bill.
But if I'm God, why would I have to pay water bills? I mean, couldn't I just like, raise the oceans above land or something?
The Jews[edit]
After a while, a race would emerge that would become God's chosen people for getting him out of debt - the Jews. To lead the Jews, God chose Moses, and gave Moses ten rules to obey:
1. Thou shalt not wear a condom.
2. Thou shalt not root for the Chargers.
3. Thou shalt keep thy religion to thyself.
4. Thou shalt watch cartoons.
5. Thou shalt worship no other Gods before me, except for Zeus and Douglas Adams, and occasionally Bacon.
6. Thou shalt eat only kosher fetuses.
7. Thou shalt not drink and drive.
8. Thou shalt not be a fan of the men's ballet.
9. Thou shalt not trust the government.
10. Thou shalt smoke weed all day.
10.5 Thou shalt not listen to Celine Dion.
With these rules, the Jews prospered. Eventually, however, they were enslaved by the Egyptians. Moses begged the Pharaoh to give him a spliff, but he wouldn't listen. Finally, God sent several plagues on Egypt: he made all of their Xboxes have a certain red ring, and, worst of all, he made the first-born sons play soccer, which sucks. Finally, the Pharaoh agreed to let them go.


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