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A nearly $6 billion infusion from Proposition 30 and a Democratic supermajority in the Legislature are a welcome pre-holiday gift to public education from voters, but it also could set the stage for battles between those laboring for education reform and suddenly fortified unions protecting teacher interests.
"Proposition 30 is a bandage on the current system," said former state Sen. Gloria Romero, an outspoken education reform advocate. "We got no reform for the investment."
She and others cite the urgent need to raise student achievement, modify the rule of teacher seniority, dismantle the Byzantine school finance system and ensure the teacher pension fund stays solvent.
But those backing that agenda will run smack into the California Teachers Association, whose notion of reform on some issues is markedly different.
"We're not opposed to education reform," CTA President Dean Vogel said. "We're opposed to stupid reform."
He downplayed talk that the election elevated the CTA to superpower status, pointing out that in the Legislature Democrats like Romero have been among the loudest voices for change.
Still, some say that with imminent financial disaster removed, pressure for reform has flagged.
"I'm concerned now that we've gotten past the fiscal cliff, we're going back to business as usual," said Eric Hanushek, a professor at Stanford's Hoover Institution, who has studied student achievement and education economics.
To improve student performance, he said, schools need an effective teacher evaluation system and need to be able to get rid of the worst teachers and to reward the best ones. But he said there's no movement toward either of those.
As Hanushek said, "Everybody in the state would like major changes without really changing." And, he said, the cost is that "California is at the rock bottom in student performance, and it's dragging down the nation."
The difficulty in changing teacher evaluations is illustrated by the fate of a reform bill, which last summer was modified with CTA backing to force districts to negotiate teacher evaluations with unions and to prohibit unannounced classroom visits. The bill was withdrawn at the last moment after a storm of opposition from school districts, which protested it would cost them millions.
Vogel insists that evaluations should serve primarily to improve how teachers teach. He said unions will vigorously oppose efforts to review members based on how much students learn in a school year, as measured by annual STAR tests.
And so far, that so-called "value-added" metric for teachers, that some reformers prize, hasn't been among Gov. Jerry Brown's priorities.
He has, however, clearly said that the state needs to revamp how California funds schools, a system so complicated that school districts contract with lobbyists and consultants to explain the state's budget and its fiscal requirements.
"The current system is broken," said Mike Kirst, head of the state Board of Education. "It's so convoluted and complex and inequitable that it can't be fixed."
Brown almost surely will include in his January budget proposal a new formula for how much the state gives individuals school districts, based on student need. That is, he'll suggest -- as he did earlier this year, but then withdrew -- that the state will pay more to districts with low-income, English-learning students, who cost more to educate than do upper-middle-class students.
"This is a priority of the governor," Kirst said.
But teachers believe before adjusting funding formulas, the state needs to ensure adequate -- meaning more -- funding for schools, Vogel said. And what the governor likely won't touch is the system's inequitable two-tier foundation. That system allows school districts serving high-value properties, like Palo Alto, to collect more per student than the state pays other districts.
Regardless of how the state re-slices up the education pie, state taxpayers face a looming liability in unfunded teacher pensions.
The California State Teachers Retirement System isn't making anywhere near its optimistic 7.5 percent rate of return -- last year it earned a 1.8 percent return rate -- yet no law forces it to adjust its intake to compensate. "There's an imminent problem," said Ed Ring, executive director of the California Public Policy Center, which advocates for pension reform.
If the state fully funded CalSTRS, California would rise to the middle among states in per-capita education funding, said Marcia Fritz, a retired CPA and pension reform advocate. And for every year of delay, it costs the state $500 million more, she said. She cited the need to educate teachers that their retirement system will be insolvent without a huge infusion. Instead of asking for more money for schools, she said, "They should realize they've got to be grown-ups, and money that might ordinarily go to them will have to go to the pension system."
Brown's pension reform deal signed in September affects only new members and doesn't cover the existing ballooning obligations. Ring said that to really reform the teachers pension system, "Democrats are going to have to do it. And the only way Democrats are going to do it is to stand up to the unions."
Romero is skeptical that the Democratic supermajority will muster the will to fight on behalf of those suffering most from the status quo -- poor students and parents. Instead, she pins hope on change coming through court challenges. As for what Sacramento rolls out, "Just put some lipstick on it and it will be called reform," she said. "But it's like rearranging the chairs on the Titanic, rather than really putting students first."


text:
"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." (Epicurus - Greek Philosopher)
Hey, Everyone. And since we know Carol peeks in once in awhile - HI, CAROL!!
Arla - Enjoy the clean air.
First day of vacation - so far so good. 4 EZ miles this a.m. in very windy conditions, which worked great when the wind was at my back. Now I'm watching the season premiere of "Burn Notice," then it's off to do some transcription.
Leslie Living and Running Behind the Redwood Curtain -------------
Trail Runner Nation
2018: Mendocino Coast 50k - April 21
Queen of 3rd Place
Leslie - your staycation includes doing transcription?? No rest for the weary!
OK, so I'm trying a stunt. I need about 68 miles per week to catch the darn 2000 mile pace bunny. It's stupid and pointless, but I'm giving it a go. Doubles are my friend. I think my body is up to it, it's just making the time, especially with the holidays scheduled.
Another thing I have scheduled is...ahem...a colonoscopy. Maybe TMI but we're all in that AG. It's for 7 am on Dec 17, does anyone know if I would be able to run late that afternoon?
Ex runner
Trails are hard!
Arla—I'm going to go with no. You will have had close to 24 hours with no nutrients and most likely some REALLY good drugs. But then, you may feel fine based on your fitness level. We're all experiments of one, right?
i would have to do 26 miles a week to beat the 1000K pace bunny. I'm betting you have a better shot at yours, since i don't think I even hit 30 during my best half training cycle.
Need a fast half for late fall. Then I need to actually train for it.
flatland mountaineer
Arla guessing no from me also. It seems as they restricted my activity for a day after but they did both ends on me. Mine was in the evening and I remember scarfing down a whole tray of yucky hospital food as soon as I could eat then going home and sacking out as the prep had kept me up most of the previous night and still groggy from the anesthesia. The prep is annoying but otherwise not a big deal. Hope you lasso that pace bunny and reel him in.
Leslie hope you don't have too much "homework" to do on vacay,
Easy 2, gut bug is gone, trying to take advantage of a shrunken stomach and reduced appetite to lighten up.
The whole world said I shoulda used red but it looked good to Charlene in John Deere Green!!
Support Ethanol, drink the best, burn the rest.
Run for fun? What the hell kind of recreation is that? quote from Back to the Fut III
Stumpy and Jim - thanks! I'll plan on no or very few miles that day. I've heard the prep is no fun and the drugs make you feel GREAT. A friend of mine who just got his said he could see why people abused those drugs.
Jim - doesn't sound like the recommended way to go on a diet, but take what opportunity you can!
3 + 6 today, feeling fine. I think doing the very easy (11 min per mile pace) am run does wonders, I was able to fly (for me) through my afternoon run at about 9:30 pace, which is actually a little too fast, but I figure when the sproinky legs fairy comes to visit I might as well enjoy it.
Top 'O the World!
Hey Folks! Popping in to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!!
Leslie - you come up with the most "interesting" avatars...... try to enjoy some of your staycation, K?
Arla - avg 9.7 miles per day for the next 6 wks? Sounds almost like the backend of the advanced marathon/ultra training schedule I have on my wall - that I've never hit very well due to time constraints....of course, just like dieting (sorry Jim) you could "bank" a few miles to get through your Doc appt in Dec - plenty of time to sort that out....I'm leaning towards expecting the day off
Stumpy - that calculation puts you at 3.71 per day....or, just under 2 in the morning + just under 2 in the evening
Jim - Hope you're all recovered by turkey day! I totally get the schedule intrusions - although, I'm pretty sure that my work schedule is never as intense as yours!!
As I have absolutely nothing to do today (pies, salads, whole house once over...) my DH has just called to see if I can run a few errands for him (stuff he keeps forgetting to do on the way home & is now out of time on...) so I'd best get Mairead out & about so I can get with the program.
Hi All
Hey Carol! Good to see you again.
Enjoy your vacation Leslie.
Hi Stumpy.
Jim- good luck with the little belly.
Arla- I just did the math. If I ran 9.15 miles per day, I can get there.
Good luck! The worst part of that procedure was drinking the stuff the night before. Yuk!
Cindy- good luck with your program!
Taking some time off from running. Just getting ready for a bunch of peeps coming over tomorrow.
Much to be Thankful for this year!!
Enjoy !!
Ok, forget the time off running. My ever expanding belly is reminding me that time off is detrimental.
Soooo, on tonight's run I decided I'm going to go for it. 2000 miles or bust.
10.75 m @ 9:47's tonight.
OK, Joe, let's do this thing! If I can do it, so can you!
Happy Thanksgiving to all. Hope all your runs are fast and your turkeys tasty!!
Took advantage of a 5K turkey trot around our lake this morning. It starts about a 1/4 mile from home, so left home about 10 minutes before the start--no standing around getting cold. Guess I don't run in a crowd very often--I can't claim Toms claim of seeing someone that he knows at every race.
I did manage to do my fastest 5K since last Thanksgiivng--27:16 by my garmin. I was very happy with that after only about 3 weeks back to regular (semi) running.
Well, getting 500 miles for the year seems pretty likely (491 at the moment), but that 621 seems like a long shot, but I'm going to give it a try. good luck on your quests. Just went back and ran a graph for yearly and found I hit 650 miles in 2010, so I won;t set a new standard, but will do better than last year.
Hi, Everyone! Looks like everyone is percolating right along.
Arla - The Hub had a colonoscopy and I've had endoscopy. I doubt either one of us could've done much running afterward. As the others said, nutrition deprivation from the day before and residual drug hangover, not to mention the docs saying rest.
And 68 miles a week?!?!? Holy cow. Good luck! I'll get close to 2000, but won't make it. However, this will be my biggest mileage year yet, so I'm pretty proud of that.
I didn't run Tues., even though I was suppose to, so am having to do 4 days in a row. When I got up Tues., it was pouring buckets and the wind was fierce. Not a good combination. So what happened within an hour of getting cleaned up for the day? The rain and wind stopped and it ended up being a gorgeous day! The Hub was home, though, so we hung out together. We made a couple of loaves of persimmon bread without killing each other, and I even went with him on a job. He wielded his hedge trimmer while I cleaned up. Chalk up another point for me as The Good Wife.
Yesterday it was 7 miles with 6 strides, and today was 4 EZ miles and about 30 min of lower body and core work. Although looking at Arla's EZ - 11:00 m/m - my EZ's aren't EZ. I need to close down on those days, really slow down.
No big plans for today. The Hub's working for a couple of hours, and I'm . . . well, I'm sitting on my butt hanging out on the 'net. Will have my dad up for dinner on Sunday.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all.
OK, Joe, let's do this thing! If I can do it, so can you!
You're on!
Nice race Stumpy!
good going Leslie. Happy your home life is back together.
Had 15 peeps for dinner last night which was quite a feat since neither DW nor myself can cook much. We discovered something called "catering".
It worked out very well!
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! I did the rounds of relatives homes and a lot of dishes and maybe a little too much eating.
Stumpy - nice racing! Must have felt great. Our local Turkey Trot tends to bring out a different group of runners than the usuals, no surprise that you didn't see familiar faces.
Leslie - there's easy (9:45 - 10 min/mi) and then there's "jog" (trying for 11 or slower). Most of my miles are still easy rather than jog. It's really hard to jog!
Joe - catering sounds like a good plan! I have also been known to go the paper plate route for big groups, it's no fun to have a big crowd come over if you're working your patootie off.
Sending good thoughts to ev, and R2 and Carol and Mtn and everyone else out there who pops in on occasion.
Speaking of patooties, it sounds like the consensus is no running after patootie peeking. OK then.
3 + 4 + weights yesterday, 3 this am with 6 + stretching on tap for this afternoon. So far, so good, but I'm worried about the 2+9 and 16 over the weekend, might be some slow going.
Speaking of patooties, it sounds like the consensus is no running after patootie peeking. OK then.
Good luck with all those miles, Arla.
Thanks, Joe. My home life is one the things I am most thankful for. It's been a long time coming.
4 EZ this a.m. Ended up with about a 10:48 pace, so that's better than what I normally do for EZ.
We didn't have any kind of a gourmet meal yesterday 'cause we'll have my dad up Sunday for dinner. However, I did make oven baked French fries - the recipe called for too much oil and I paid the price later - and brownies from scratch - which are like chocolate heroin and I'm not sure we'll be able to eat them. So all in all, a success!
I'm worried about the 2+9 and 16 over the weekend
I'm worried about the 2+9 and 16 over the weekend
Me too. But we've been through worse.
12 miles at 9:17 today. Have to front load the weekend runs. It's dark here now at 4:30pm and getting colder. Weeknight evening runs will be more of a challenge. Also, the boardwalk, which is my favorite place to run ( lighted ) is now gone. That gym treadmill maybe getting some Joetime.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Despite low milk prices and rising costs, the majority of dairy producers continued to milk cows last year. What remains to be seen is how the recent depressed economic conditions, both on the income and expense side of the ledger, will affect long-term dairy farm numbers.
For the moment, last year's 2,185 drop in dairy operations with permits to sell milk represents the second smallest drop in actual numbers. It was last year's drop of 2,003 dairy farms that set the low mark for losses since milk permit tracking began in 1992. On a percentage basis, dairy farm numbers dropped only 3.8 percent from the previous year. That's the fourth-smallest-ever percentage drop since count began.
Since 1992, the drop in licensed or so-called commercial dairy farms has been 76,567, from 131,509 to 2009s 54,942. That's a drop of 58 percent during that time. The farms counted in this survey are those that have a permit to sell milk. This number differs from another USDA estimate . . . operations with milk cows. That total now is 65,000 and has declined 103,500 or 61.9 percent since 1992.
For only the second time since the survey began, the West led all regions for the largest share of farms losses at 5 percent. With the West's higher than usual losses, it was the first time since 2002 that the Southeast didn't lead the nation in dairy farm losses. Since 1992, however, the Southeast's operations fell from 12,057 to 3,845 . . . a drop of 8,212 or 68 percent.
For a full report, check out page 167 of the March 10 issue which will be in the mail shortly.
Click here for the complete report.


text:
Lavarnway struggling to find groove at plate
By Ian Browne / MLB.com
Heading into Monday night's game against the Yankees, in which Lavarnway was in the lineup as the designated hitter, he was hitting .170 with two homers and 12 RBIs.
"Well, he's working every day," said manager Bobby Valentine. "I saw him in Spring Training, and he hit OK, but they said that wasn't quite his swing, so I've been waiting. I'm a little surprised he hasn't hit better. I want him to feel good somehow before the season ends about his approach at the plate."
Despite the struggles Lavarnway has had, Valentine remains a believer.
"I haven't drawn the picture of what kind of hitter he can be, so I don't want to put it in the wrong box," said Valentine. "I think he's going to be a Major League hitter and a Major League player."
"I think he needs work, but from what I gather, he's improved an awful lot," Valentine said.
Pedroia has fractured finger but will play
NEW YORK -- Dustin Pedroia has not taken his final swing of 2012. The Red Sox second baseman was written into the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Yankees, one day after an X-ray on his left ring finger revealed an avulsion fracture.
General manager Ben Cherington said Monday that the injury should "heal on its own and activity to tolerance."
Pedroia suffered the injury while getting caught stealing on Sunday in Baltimore. He didn't play on Monday. He was down to bat second and play second base on Tuesday.
"He couldn't swing before the game," manager Bobby Valentine said Monday. "We'll see how he is tomorrow. No one goes to the post like Dustin. If he's able to play, I bet he'll be in there tomorrow."
Though Pedroia was on the disabled list from July 4-18 with a right thumb injury, he has been one of the few Boston players to be a mainstay in the lineup for the majority of the season.
In 139 games, Pedroia is hitting .288 with 15 homers, 64 RBIs and a .344 on-base percentage. He has stolen 19 bases in 25 attempts while playing consistently excellent defense.
The Red Sox were also without Jacoby Ellsbury, who was getting a rest, in Monday's 10-2 loss to the Yankees. Ellsbury had been out for six games with an undisclosed injury before returning on Saturday and Sunday.
Hand healing, Sweeney expects normal offseason
NEW YORK -- Though a fractured bone in his left hand ended Ryan Sweeney's season on July 30, the outfielder expects to have a normal offseason, one that will have him ready to go by the start of Spring Training.
"I'm slowly working back into it. I'm just playing catch and stuff right now," said Sweeney. "I'm right where I need to be to start my workouts for the offseason. It's just that last stuff that needs to heal. I'm OK, but I'm still sore in the knuckle where they had to drill the screw in. I've been grabbing a bat, and it feels OK doing that."
In fact, Sweeney plans on hitting even earlier this winter than he usually does, probably taking his first swings at some point in late November.
For a while, Sweeney dwelled on the self-destructive nature of his injury. It happened when he punched a door following a bad at-bat, but he knows that negative thoughts aren't going to help his recovery.
"It's tough," Sweeney said. "Nobody wants to sit. It's unfortunate what happened. It's just something I've kind of put behind me and I'm just trying to get healthy for next year. It's been a tough couple of months for the team and the injury side of things, having a lot guys have to be shut down for the year."
Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Brownie Points, and follow him on Twitter @IanMBrowne. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
Replacement of the Human Heart: Personal Experience
Date of Online Release: February 12, 2009 Date of Original Presentation: December 16, 2008 Credits: N/A
This presentation by Dr. Denton A. Cooley gives a brief history of cardiac transplantation surgery.
At the conclusion of this presentation, participants should be able to appreciate and discuss the history and beginnings of cardiac transplantation surgery.
Denton A. Cooley, MD President Emeritus & Surgeon-in-Chief Texas Heart Institute Houston, Texas
This audio/visual presentation will open in a new window. Click on "Course Materials" to begin.
We value your comments; please send your suggestions and comments to the office of continuing medical education at Texas Heart Institute.


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Python 2.5 or newer
Twisted Python Module


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text:
It is a pleasure to appear before you today - not only because New Orleans is one of my favorite places to visit, especially just before Mardi Gras, but also because this is my first opportunity to address a labor organization since passage of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 1998 ("OSRA"). This act, which went into effect on May 1, 1999, significantly altered the Shipping Act of 1984, the primary statute used by the Federal Maritime Commission to oversee the ocean transportation industry.
During the course of consideration of OSRA, there were several proposals to abolish the FMC, to merge us with the Surface Transportation Board, or to place us in the Department of Transportation. Thanks in no small part to you in labor, I stand before you today as chairman of a strong, independent FMC. I believe that most knowledgeable transportation people are pleased with this result, and I thank you for your efforts.
As most of you know, OSRA has dramatically changed the way business is conducted in the ocean transportation industry. An increasing amount of cargo is moving under service contracts which are being negotiated between individual ocean carriers and shippers. And certain terms of these contracts, particularly the rate charged, are no longer public knowledge. Indeed, carriers and shippers can agree to keep their deals confidential from their competitors. Moreover, conferences cannot restrict or prohibit their members from entering into service contracts on their own. Although ocean carriers have retained the right to obtain antitrust immunity for certain concerted activities, it appears that in many trades rate-setting conferences are becoming a thing of the past, replaced by discussion agreements.
I share your concerns about the cutthroat nature of competition in the international maritime industry and in particular, the measures that some countries feel are necessary to protect or enhance their own maritime industries. I would like to discuss the Commission's tools to address unfair or discriminatory practices of foreign governments and to give you some examples of recent actions we have taken.
But before embarking on that discussion, I would like to note one development that may affect how the Commission approaches foreign shipping restrictions in the future. This is, of course, the recent acquisition by foreign companies of several traditional U.S. carriers. As you know, American President Lines was recently purchased by Neptune Orient Lines, Sea-Land Service by Maersk, and certain of Crowley's operations by Hamburg-Sud. As an aside, I note that it is ironic that it took the infusion of foreign capital to retain these carriers under the U.S.-flag. Nonetheless, I further note that the maintenance of a strong U.S.-flag fleet continues to be a top priority for national security and defense purposes.
As the Persian Gulf War revealed, there is an important role to be played by U.S.-flag container vessels during the sustainment phase of a military sealift operation. And there is a continuing and increasingly critical concern about how we will assure the availability of sufficient numbers of skilled American seamen to respond to future crises. That pool has traditionally come from U.S.-flag lines. It seems clear then that the U.S.-flag requirement and the programs that support it remain critical. The importance of a viable U.S.-flag fleet is not dependent on what country the stockholders live in, but whether American seamen and U.S.-flag vessels will be available when their country needs them. In this regard, I would note that one of the Commission's policy mandates, unchanged by OSRA, is to encourage the development of an economically sound and efficient U.S.-flag liner fleet capable of meeting national security needs.
The Commission has the authority to address restrictive or unfair foreign shipping practices under section 19 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1920; the Foreign Shipping Practices Act of 1988, or the "FSPA"; and the Controlled Carrier Act of 1978. Section 19 empowers the Commission to make rules or regulations to address conditions unfavorable to shipping in our foreign trades; the FSPA allows the Commission to address adverse conditions affecting U.S. carriers in our foreign trades, that do not exist for foreign carriers in the U.S. And, under the Controlled Carrier Act, the Commission can review the rates of foreign government controlled carriers to ensure that they are not below a level that is just and reasonable.
As I mentioned earlier, almost all U.S.-flag container ships are now used in services operated by large foreign-owned carriers. This will obviously impact the way that the Commission analyzes foreign shipping restrictions in the future, but the Commission's role will continue to be an important one.
Under Section 19, the Commission is charged with protecting the interests of U.S. shipping generally - not just the U.S.-flag fleet. The term "shipping" covers a wide range of U.S. interests including the U.S.-flag fleet, U.S. importers and exporters, and other U.S. companies involved in trade, including non-vessel-operating common carriers ("NVOCCs") and ocean freight forwarders. In the future, when looking at foreign practices under Section 19, we will carefully identify and weigh the U.S. interests involved. For example, if a carrier shows that restrictive practices undermine the competitiveness and growth of the U.S.-flag fleet, FMC action would be warranted, regardless of what carrier is operating those ships. Similarly, if U.S. shippers show that their interests are harmed by foreign restrictive practices, there would again be a strong basis for FMC action, regardless of what carriers or what flag vessels are involved.
In addition, I believe that shipping disputes will become increasingly complex in the future. For example, a particular Asian restriction might impact U.S.-flag vessels, European-owned carriers, and shippers from around the globe. Nonetheless, the FMC will remain a strong advocate and defender of any particular U.S. interest at stake in these disputes.
In August 1998, the Commission initiated a proceeding to investigate whether the laws, rules or policies of the Government of the People's Republic of China might have an adverse impact on U.S. shipping and warrant action under section 19 or the FSPA. The Commission sought information from interested parties including shippers, ocean transportation intermediaries, vessel operators, and others in the ocean transportation industry on Chinese policies and practices regarding port access, the licensing of multi-modal transport operations, and the establishment of representative and branch offices.
The responses indicated that Chinese laws and regulations discriminate against and disadvantage U.S. carriers and other non-Chinese shipping lines. For example, non-Chinese carriers are barred from opening wholly-owned companies or branch offices in China in areas where the carriers' vessels do not make monthly calls; they are barred from performing a number of vessel agency services for themselves; there are restrictions on their freight forwarding services; they must obtain governmental permission before beginning or changing vessel services. Also, proposed rules under consideration could result in the disclosure of confidential service contract terms and further restrict non-Chinese carriers' ability to offer multi-modal transport services in China. Recently, the Commission issued further information demand orders to two more parties: China Shipping Container Lines, a new Chinese government carrier in our trades, and A.P. Moller Maersk, which just took over Sea-Land's substantial U.S.-flag China services. In addition, it is our understanding that many of these issues will be included in maritime discussions between the Maritime Administration and the State Department and China to be held in Beijing later this month. The Commission will continue to assess this situation and will take appropriate action as necessary.
Recent activities of the Government of Brazil also raised serious concerns with the Commission. A Brazilian law appeared to provide unfair tax and duty exemptions to vessels enrolled in its second register and, in late 1998, U.S. ocean carriers were denied access to Brazilian Government reserved cargoes and subject to discriminatory duties. The FMC signaled that it was preparing to take action during the course of several meetings and press releases. Subsequently, as a result of favorable maritime consultations between the U.S. and Brazil, Brazil agreed to take corrective action to address the Commission's concerns. The unfair tax benefits for the second registry are now being phased out and the application of laws restricting access to government reserved cargo and levying discriminatory duties were suspended. The Commission is naturally pleased that our efforts were helpful in attaining a prompt resolution to this crisis.
Perhaps one of the most highly-publicized Commission actions in recent years involved restrictive port practices in Japan. I know this was probably the first and last time that the FMC appeared in the evening news with Dan Rather. In any event, the Commission took action under section 19 against a series of restrictive conditions in the harbor services industry in Japan, including a system that required carriers to receive permission before making any operational changes, that disrupted business operations, required the payment of unwarranted fees, and imposed burdensome operational restrictions. As a result of these conditions, both U.S. carriers and U.S. trade were burdened with unreasonably high costs and inefficiencies.
The Commission ultimately issued a final rule imposing a fee of $100,000 per voyage on Japanese ocean common carriers entering U.S. ports. The FMC subsequently compromised on fines after government negotiators reached an accord on a timetable for Japan to change its system, as we hoped. Our purpose in imposing the fines was not to create further disruptions and impediments in the trade, but rather to motivate Japan to improve its system, with the adoption of written rules, more open decisionmaking and arbitration processes, and the possibility of licenses for new terminal companies. As the Washington Post said in an editorial praising the FMC efforts, sometimes it takes a sledgehammer to capture the attention of foreign government officials. In May 1999, the Commission issued a notice removing the final rule, but imposing semiannual reporting requirements on U.S. and Japanese lines to keep us apprised of the process. The first of these reports was received in August 1999. The Commission will continue to closely monitor developments in Japan that affect our shipping interests.
As mentioned earlier, under the Controlled Carrier Act, the Commission can review the rates of government owned or controlled companies to ensure that they are just and reasonable and are not used in a predatory manner. In fact, OSRA recently "beefed-up" this provision by removing the loophole which allowed these carriers to flag out and avoid FMC scrutiny. OSRA also expanded coverage of the Controlled Carrier Act to the bilateral trades.
The continued need for this authority is underscored by the recent entry into our trades of a new player - China Shipping Container Lines. This carrier, controlled by the government of China, launched one trans-pacific service in December and plans another in April. According to news reports, its parent company has announced plans to build eight 5,500-TEU container ships and time-charter four similar sized ships. When controlled carriers make decisions on investment, pricing and services, they are not answerable to private shareholders or lenders; rather, they may be responding to the directives of government officials. We can't assume that these companies will behave like private firms and must continually oversee their pricing practices to ensure that they don't act in ways that could threaten the stability of the market or the viability of their privately-owned competitors.
In March of 1999, China Ocean Shipping Company ("COSCO") petitioned the Commission for an exemption from the Controlled Carrier Act to enable it to reduce its tariff rates with immediate effect. The statute requires that there be a 30-day waiting period before a controlled carrier may lower any tariff rate, although service contract rates can be lowered with no delay. COSCO's petition and the comments thereto are currently before the Commission and should be acted upon in the near future, probably after the latest round of maritime talks between China and the United States.
One aspect of OSRA that might be of particular interest to you is what we refer to as the "labor provision." Thanks to the efforts of hard-working labor representatives in Washington, a provision was inserted in the service contract section of the 1984 Act that allows labor organizations to obtain information from ocean common carriers pertaining to who is responsible for certain work at dock areas and within port areas in the United States. Ocean carriers must disclose such information if they are subject to a lawful collective bargaining agreement and must provide the information within a reasonable time.
In its rulemakings implementing OSRA, the Commission proposed regulations dealing with ocean common carriers' duty to disclose information to labor organizations. In response to comments, the Commission defined a "reasonable period of time" as two days if cargo is due to arrive in less than five days, but four days if it was due to arrive more than five days from receipt of the requests. The Commission declined to adopt special procedural rules in this area and will instead rely upon the affected parties to bring any problems to our attention. To date, we have not received any complaints, formal or informal, concerning a carrier's refusal to respond to a request. We can only assume that, if requests are being made for such information, the exchanges are occurring smoothly. If not, the Commission stands ready to address any problems.
In conclusion, I would like to touch on one area that may heat up in the very near future - antitrust immunity for ocean common carriers. As you know, when Congress enacted OSRA it consciously chose to continue to permit ocean common carriers to obtain antitrust immunity for certain concerted activities among themselves, subject to FMC filing and review. Congressman Henry Hyde, the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, has introduced a bill that would do away with antitrust immunity for ocean common carriers, thereby subjecting them to the full reach of the antitrust laws. The bill has the support of some NVOCCs upset with their inability to offer service contracts to their customers. It is likely that Chairman Hyde will hold a hearing on his bill sometime late in March. We expect that all segments of the ocean transportation industry will be invited to testify and we will stand ready to offer our views, if requested.
This site is an official U.S. Government Website


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Original URL: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/06/20/keyboard_dishwash/
Woman cleans keyboard... in dishwasher
Keyboard survives to type the tale
Posted in Personal Tech, 20th June 2007 15:41 GMT
You've got a desktop keyboard. And it's stained, grimy and filled with crumbs - not to mention the odd short, curly hair that really can't have got there through natural means. What do you do? You put it in the Whirlpool, that's what.
At least, that's what Michele - the US' answer to our very own Hardware Widow by the sounds of it - from Chicago-based consultancy Coudal Partners did. You can see the results on the company's website here, but here are some tasters from the movie she made:
Step 1. Remove the keys
Step 2. Securely bag up the USB connector
Step 3. In it goes...
Step 4. Apres la deluge
Step 5. Recover the keys
Step 6. Refit the keys after thoroughly drying them
Step 7. Type away!
Says Michele: "Just like with socks in the laundry, somehow a couple of our matching keys disappeared in the process. Luckily they were F10 and F11. We never use those anyhow."
Want to try this yourself? Proceed at your own risk - don't blame us if it totals your keyboard and/or dishwasher/washing machine...


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Second British Racehorse Trainer Admits to Steroid Use
- Apr 29, 2013
- Topics:
Britain's anabolic steroid scandal continued to spread April 29 when Newmarket, England, trainer Gerard Butler admitted to using steroids on his own horses, according to a report by British newspaper The Independent.
Butler has said he didn't think the medication was a problem because he included the injections, given for injured joints, in his medical records that had been reviewed by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).
"It did not cross my mind that there could be any problem with this medication," Butler also told The Independent. "And, judging from the fact that the BHA said nothing about it when they saw my medical book, it does not seem to have crossed their minds, either."
The medication given is known as Sungate and contains the anabolic steroid stanozolol. While Butler admits he made "a terrible mistake," he also said the he was assured by his veterinarians that the medication was widely prescribed in Newmarket and has been given to more than 100 horses stabled there.
Butler said he treated a gelding named Little Black Book in June. The Irish-bred son of Shamardal, owned by A.D. Spence, ran on Aug. 4 and then won a one-mile handicap a couple of weeks later at Kempton.
"So they would have known he was clearly in training at the time," Butler told The Independent. "In the medical book, I signed that I had authorized use of the drug, and my vet had countersigned for its administration. Sungate had for some time been widely used in their practice, with very beneficial results for joint injuries."
The BHA did notify Butler of a positive test result after it conducted an unannounced sampling taken at his stable on Feb. 20. He said he immediately told the BHA of four other fillies that received the same treatment.
"I am not trying to defend myself, just to explain what happened," Butler told the newspaper. "And I must emphasize that I was advised in good faith by my vets."
The paper also reported that last month the BHA placed a notice in the newsletter of the National Trainers' Federation, advising that Sungate contained the prohibited substance, stanozolol.
Originally published on BloodHorse.com.
About the Author
The Blood-Horse Staff
The Blood-Horse is the leading weekly publication devoted to international Thoroughbred racing and breeding. Since 1916, the staff of The Blood-Horse has served the Thoroughbred community with the highest standards of journalistic excellence to provide comprehensive and timely editorial coverage and analysis.
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As part of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, a Jubilee for Deacons will be celebrated in the Diocese of St. Augustine Aug. 10 —... Read more
School readiness screenings
School readiness screenings will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. today at the Main Library,... Read more
Bridge Club
The St. Augustine Duplicate Bridge Club hosts bridge games throughout the month in addition to offering classes for beginners.... Read more
League of Women Voters
A nonpartisan political organization, the St. Johns County League of Women Voters encourages informed and... Read more
THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, a nonpartisan political organization,... Read more
Polo Club meeting
The Amistad Marco Polo Club will meet from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Feb. 27 at 67 San Marco Ave., Suite A in St.... Read more
The last week in February wraps up Junior Fund Month. GNT nationwide qualification games continue through March with GNT Finals plus Sectional on... Read more
Poinsettia Garden Circle meeting
The February meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. today at the garden center. The program is a speaker... Read more
The monthly meeting of the Ancient City Game Fish Association is at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Bozard Ford. On the agenda will be the July King Fish... Read more
THE ST. AUGUSTINE ROTARY CLUB meets at noon Mondays at the Casa Monica. The speaker will be Glen Moore, with a "Glimpse of his... Read more
EWLI roundtable
Trevor Crovitz, manager of The Wildflower Clinic, will be speaker for The... Read more
EMMA Guild meets at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Southeast Branch of the St. Johns County Library, 6670 U.S. 1 South. Call 797-5997 or 460-9488. Read more
P.E.O. Chapter DC meets at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the home of Judy Wollenberg. Pat Philcox and Maggie Barbieri are co-hostesses. The program: "An... Read more
Card party
The GFWC Women's Club of St. Augustine will host its 23rd Annual Card Party on Nov. 2 at Memorial Lutheran Church... Read more
A St. Augustine Navy League delegation visited the Clyde E. Lassen State Veterans Nursing Home in August, presenting a copy of "Hornet's Net," a... Read more
■ The St. Augustine Rotary Club meets at noon Mondays at the Casa Monica. The program will be an overview of Rotary committees.
■ The St.... Read more
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Organic kibble? All-natural chow? Fido and Fluffy don't know it, but their owners want them to eat better — and they are forking... Read more
Cancer benefit
American Legion Auxiliary Unit 37 will host the fourth annual Breast Cancer Fundraiser (Men In Bras For The... Read more
Open house
The Ancient City Lions Club is hosting an open house and membership drive at noon Thursday at LePavillon, 45 San... Read more
Laura Lee Smith, author of "Heart of Palm," and Sarah Symons, author of "This is No Ordinary Joy" will discuss their books Thursday at AAUW... Read more
Wine tasting
The Hibiscus Circle of the St. Augustine Garden Club is hosting its annual Wine & Cheese Fest... Read more
■ Hibiscus Garden Circle meets at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the home of Mary Converse, 2890 N. 2nd St. A program on gourds will be presented by Deborah... Read more
Opera friends
The Friends of First Coast Opera's first meeting of the 2013-14 concert season will be held from 1 to 3 p.m.... Read more
Democratic fundraiser
The Democratic Women's Club of St. Johns County holds its fall fundraiser, "A Portrayal of Mother... Read more
Newcomers of North St. Johns will gather at 11 a.m. Oct. 15 at Alhambra Dinner Theater, 12000 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville. Current members and... Read more
Field trips set
Members of the Ancient City Chapter 2232, United Daughters of the Confederacy are dividing their forces... Read more
Laura Lee Smith, author of "Heart of Palm," and Sarah Symons, author of "This is No Ordinary Joy," will discuss their books Oct. 24 at AAUW... Read more
Holiday tour
Tickets are now on sale for the annual Christmas Tour of Homes, sponsored by the Garden Club of St. Augustine... Read more
BlueCross BlueShield representative
The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association meets at 11:15 a.m.... Read more
The Democratic Womens Club of St. Johns County holds its Fall fund-raiser,
"A Portrayal of Mother Jones" by prominent professional actress... Read more
Steve Zackroki will be installed as president of the Kiwanis Club of St. Augustine when the club conducts its 90th annual installation Tuesday at... Read more
Tea Party
Karen Scheon, radio speaker on Agenda 21 and founder of Agenda 21 Today-Agenders, will address the St. Augustine... Read more
Saturday dance
Women of the Moose 1101 will hold a country western dinner and dance at the St. Augustine South Improvement... Read more
AAUW program
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) will host Jennifer McDaniel, STEM Camp director at the 11:... Read more
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) will host Jennifer McDaniel, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Camp director at... Read more


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Boardman, addressing the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, said that in fiscal year 2012, ending Sept. 30, 2012, the federal government covered just 12% of Amtrak's operating costs, while Amtrak generated 88% with ticket sales and other revenue.
The figure compares favorably to Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), often held as a model of railroad efficiency by many rail experts and observers. SBB routinely posts a revenue-to-cost operating ration in the 80-percentile range; for its 2011 fiscal year, SBB, which handles both freight and passenger operations, reported it received 29% of its income from "public-sector payments." Traffic income, real estate revenue, and other income sources helped SBB reach a revenue-to-cost operating rate of 81%.
SBB's standard notwithstanding, Congress over the decades has often urged or demanded that Amtrak become "self-supporting" and cover 100% of its operating costs.
Boardman said Amtrak's success also can be attributed to the federal government's commitment to invest capital funds for the Amtrak national network . Capital investment helps to reduce operating costs, supports the existing system, funds solutions to reduce future costs, and provides the infrastructure and equipment to sustain ridership and revenue growth, he said.
"Previous federal capital investment levels have sufficed to keep the system going, but they are not going to be adequate in the future," Boardman stressed. "If we are to realize rail's potential, we will need much higher levels of federal capital funding."
Boardman countered recent criticism of Amtrak's long-distance trains, saying they serve a by connecting rural communities to larger cities and major urban areas. They also serve passengers with disabilities, the elderly and rural populations that are losing scheduled intercity air and bus service.


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Aaron Paul, Josh Wiggins Debut Sundance Film 'Hellion' (Video)
In their new film "Hellion," which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, Aaron Paul ("Breaking Bad") and Josh Wiggins play Hollis and Jacob, an estranged father and son who struggle to find their way back to normalcy after the death of the family matriarch. When the youngest in the family, Wes, is taken from child protection services, Hollis and Jacob do whatever it takes to get him back.
In real life, Paul, 34, and Wiggins, 15, couldn't be more cozy with affection and admiration for one another. "This is his first job, but he's just so pure and honest," Paul said of Wiggins, who makes his debut with "Hellion." "I truly believe he's going to be one of the greats, one of the actors that people talk about."
"Hellion" was directed by Kat Candler and grew out of a short film that previously played at Sundance. Paul and Wiggins sat with us to discuss giving these characters their humanity, Paul's post-"Breaking Bad" career, and what's next for Wiggins after the breakthrough role.


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It certainly looks like Amanda Seyfried is enjoying the dog days of summer!
The Lovelace star was spotted with two loves of her life: new boyfriend Justin Long and dog Finn on a coffee run in Los Angeles. The actors also spent some time together in a L.A. park.
Seyfried, 27, and Long, 35, who will have a recurring role in the new Anna Faris-Allison Janney sitcom Mom, have been inseparable as of late.
They cozied up to one another at the New York premiere of Lovelace and then were seen dining together at a West Hollywood restaurant, where an observer told PEOPLE that "they seemed happy, and you can tell they are newly dating. She looked like she was very into him. They are very cute."
Although the two both have had famous exes – Seyfried has been linked to Ryan Phillippe and Dominic Cooper, while Long previously dated Drew Barrymore – the new couple appear to have a new "leash" on life with each other (and Finn, of course).


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ADEA's Commission on Change and Innovation in Dental Education Summer Liaisons Meeting provides an opportunity for ADEA CCI Liaisons to convene with their colleagues, explore new concepts, and expand their capabilities to serve as change agents in their home institutions.
Forty-six dental schools sent more than 115 faculty members to participate in a meeting of ADEA Commission on Change and Innovation in Dental Education (ADEA CCI) Liaisons, June 28-30 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. "The ADEA CCI Liaisons are engaged like never before," said Dr. Eugene L. Anderson, Associate Executive Director and Director of the ADEA Center for Educational Policy and Research, "and with our support can develop their projects and grow the effort."
The theme for the meeting was "Engaged for Change: Strategies for Moving Forward," and the goal was to explore the future of dentistry as a profession and how external forces like new oral health professionals, health care reform, information technology, and interprofessional education are forcing the profession to change.
Highlights included a panel discussion by academic deans on "Building Consensus: How to Move the Change and Innovation Agenda Forward at Your School." Also, ADEA CCI Liaisons representing seven different schools presented their group projects. The meeting also provided a chance for small-group discussions, strategy development, and networking sessions.
The ADEA CCI Summer 2010 Meetings also included a June 30-July 1 meeting of the ADEA CCI Oversight Committee.
—From the Bulletin of Dental Education.
Date: June 27 – 30, 2010
Hyatt Regency Cambridge
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Agenda: Engaged for Change: Strategies for Moving Forward
"Learning Without Limits": University of Maryland (Note: this is a large
file that may take several minutes to download)
"Learning Without Limits": University of Michigan
Building Consensus: Moving Your Curriculum Change Agenda Forward
Development of a Comprehensive Patient Care
Clinical Portfolio
Pacific Dental Helix Curriculum
Enhancing Methods to Evaluate Students in their
Assessment of Comprehensive Patient Care
Preparing Students for Critical Thinking: Accessing
and Appraising Biomedical Evidence
Curriculum Reform in Law Schools
Moving Forward
Download a folder containing all above presentations (note: this is a large file that may take several minutes to download).


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I always knew this day would someday slap me on the head and present itself with magnitude and razor-sharp severity, but I had hoped it was at least 15 years into the future. It is with great sadness and remorse that I confide with my blog followers and the rest of MLBlogs.com that this blog, my 1,242nd submission will be my final posting on this website.
I leave Rays Renegade silent from this moment on after basking in the warmth and knowledge I may have done good. Brought the "Rays Way" to people away from the Tampa Bay area, possibly given information and photos that made you feel like you were there, or upset you missed such an event. In the end, I am leaving for me, not because of anything or anyone associated in the wide scheme of things. It just seemed like it was time.
This final moment is happening not because my life has become "complex", but for the odd reason that I have run out of things to say. The decision might seem a bit rash and rushed, but it has been in the back of my mind for some time this Spring.
I thought it was just some sort of odd mind blockage because usually my mind is like a river with overflowing ideas and story bullet points that flood my brain, but as I drove back North after the Saturday contest, my mind seemed empty and unable to process the events of the last few hours with clarity.
I will miss this daily posting and the comments and page views that have thrust my ramblings and muses to the top-tier of this site. Of the great baseball friends I have made and will always be a part of me, but it is time to transcends to another part of my life. Leave the follies of my extended youth to another, become transparent in regards to the game.
I have enjoyed and loved every moment on this site. From the finding of new blogs and giving advice to commenting on old friend's pieces and feeling a rush of excitement in their writings that also flowed into mine, but today that static is missing, so the end is here. I have to cut the ties deep and swiftly or it could crumble what is left inside me at this moment.
If you wondered what the symbol in the title meant, that was the symbol taught to me back in school when I first fell in love with writing and journalism. It's a symbol used at the conclusion, the finite end of a story or article to let the editor know the story has ended, the final conclusion submitted.
P.S. yaD s'looF lirpA yppaH
8 Comments
OMG Cliff!!! you had me going!
C'mon Cliffy. I appreciate the humor but long time visitors to your site know the routine. Every April 1st…
Sorry to hear you're unhappy with the lack of comments on your posts. I'm one of the guilty. I appreciate your efforts but seldom comment because of time restraints. I love me my baseball and our Rays but feel my limited spare time is better spent doing other things. Hopefully you continue doing what you do because YOU enjoy doing it. For what it's worth, I'm sure others enjoy what you do too.


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Brownbag Lectures: Edwards Trace at 200: Old Tales and New Discoveries
Presented by David Brady, Illinois Historian
The first part of this presentation will outline the history associated with Edwards during the War of 1812 and going back further in its history to Native American, European, and Anglo-American and the possibility of prehistoric use and the geography of Illinois in which created it.
The second part will be an interactive online web-site using the Esri, ArcGis software program. Mr. Brady will show an overlay of Edwards Route of 1812, the 1816 Stephen H. Long survey and the 1819 Jacob Judy Map and the Ft. Clark Road and geographic and historical sites within its corridor. With the use of new and old technology LIDAR/TIN imagining, GPS, USDA photographs, historic plats and Government Land Office Maps, topography maps David can show extant sections of the trace and historic sites within its corridor.
One of our Brownbag Lectures
Weekly lectures held at the Museum's Research and Collections Center. Lectures are usually held during lunchtime on Wednesday. The RCC is located at 1011 E. Ash Street in Springfield. Access to the building is from 10 ½ Street (between Ash and Laurel Streets), where there is ample visitor parking in the west parking lot. For more information, please call 217-785-0037. Brown Bag Lectures are free and open to the public.
Also, if you want to be informed of upcoming lectures by email, you can sign up for the brownbag announcement list.


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Current Ithaca College community members may contribute stories and comments as well as view additional topics by logging in.
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Emeriti Fall Workshops - You Are Invited!
Contributed by Tanisha Malone on 10/14/13
Would you like to better understand your Emeriti benefit? Come join us to learn what Emeriti is and how it can benefit you!
Monday, October 21, 2013
NOTE: RSVP by October 16th at firstname.lastname@example.com or (607) 274-8000.
You need only attend one workshop. The morning session will run from 10 am - 11 am, and the afternoon session will run from 3 pm - 4 pm.
If you cannot attend either workshop and would like to learn more about the 2014 Emeriti health insurance options, you can join a teleconference on Wednesday, November 20, 2013 at 3PM EST or Wednesday, December 4, 2013 at 3PM EST. Dial: 1-866-692-3580, Conference ID: 6163967 OR contact Emeriti at (866) 363-7484 or visit emeritihealth.org for more information.
PLEASE NOTE: It is necessary to RSVP for this event by October 16, 2013 at firstname.lastname@example.com or (607) 274-8000. More information is also available on the BENEFITS website.
Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact Deb Merriman at (607) 274-8000. We ask that requests for accommodations be made as soon as possible.
© Copyright Ithaca College. All rights reserved; unauthorized use prohibited. All material on this server is produced by our community but, except for designated pages, is neither approved nor verified by Ithaca College.


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Hannahan already endears himself to teammates
Well-liked infielder's spring locker neighbors former teammates from Cleveland
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- As luck and numerology would have it, the three former Indians players acquired by Cincinnati over the winter locker side by side in the Reds' Spring Training clubhouse.
The Reds assign lockers by numerical order at camp, so third baseman Jack Hannahan (No. 9) is next to utility infielder Jason Donald (No. 16), who is next to outfielder Shin-Soo Choo (No. 17).
"We've been getting a hard time from everybody else," Hannahan joked on Tuesday.
Hannahan already had a friend in Reds left fielder Ryan Ludwick, a former Triple-A teammate from the Tigers' organization.
"This guy will be easy to deal with. He's a good guy," Ludwick said. "One of my favorite Minor League teammates."
Hannahan, a free-agent acquisition for Cincinnati this winter, also commanded respect from his ex-Cleveland teammates. Not only were they his friends, they gave him an incredible gift of generosity two seasons ago.
In August 2011, after the Indians completed a night game against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, Hannahan learned that his wife, Jenny, went into labor and was about to deliver their first baby -- three months premature.
It was around 11 p.m. ET, and there were no more commercial flights to Cleveland until the next morning. That would have been too late for Hannahan be there for his wife and an excruciating wait to learn the fate of his newborn in distress.
The only solution for Hannahan was to charter a private plane home, but they aren't cheap. A one-way flight cost $35,000, and even though Hannahan was earning $500,000 that season, it was still too expensive. Hannahan made the Indians that year as a non-roster invitee to Spring Training and he was approaching another round of free agency after already spending time with four different organizations.
That had Hannahan resigned to staying overnight in Boston -- until his teammates stepped up. In a very high-priced form of "pass the hat," Indians teammates -- veterans and younger players alike -- collected enough money to foot the bill and get Hannahan on a private jet arranged by the team's traveling secretary.
"It was pretty hectic and crazy. I remember that it just happened so fast," Donald recalled. "I didn't know what was going on. But family definitely comes first before baseball. I think everybody there had an understanding that when something like that happens, you have to do whatever you can to be there. It's good to help a guy out, especially a teammate and such a good guy like Jack."
With only 15 minutes to spare, Hannahan was in the delivery room when John Joseph Hannahan V was born at 3:11 a.m. on Aug. 5, 2011. Nicknamed Johnny, he weighed in at only 2 pounds, 11 ounces.
"It's a gift I will never forget," Hannahan said. "My wife will never forget and my son will never forget. Being able to see your firstborn, it's an unbelievable gift. I've never been one who was good at receiving gifts. Usually I give the gifts. It was weird to actually receive a gift like that. You can sit back and look at it from a different perspective on how much it meant to me and my family. It was a good jump start to being a father."
Johnny spent two months in neonatal intensive care, but is now healthy, doing well and as his father called him, "just a normal baby."
"So far, so good," said Hannahan, a native and resident of St. Paul, Minn. "He's had some good checkups. He's been checking out like a normal 1-and-a-half-year-old. It's crazy to see his transition from when he was born until now. I can't believe how small he was."
Back at the ballpark, Hannahan is now grateful to be with his new team and a new set of teammates. In December, he signed a two-year, $4 million contract to be a left-handed bat off of the bench and a backup third baseman. The 33-year-old hit .244 with four home runs and 29 RBIs in 105 games last season.
"It's a team that's built to win," Hannahan said of the Reds. "They have all the tools a team needs to not only make it to the postseason, but get to a World Series. That was very attractive for me."
Hannahan can also play first base, second base, and even shortstop, if needed, and came recommended to Reds manager Dusty Baker from multiple sources.
"He has great hands, I know that," Baker said. "We got some word out of Cleveland that he was as sure-handed a guy as they've ever seen. They say he's a good team guy. I think he's going to enjoy our league. In the American League, if you're an extra guy, you don't play much because there are no double switches. Unless you start, you don't play."
"He's a grinder and a hard-nosed player," Donald said. "He shows up every day ready to get after it. That's one thing I really respect about Jack. No matter how things are going, he's the same guy every day."
Hannahan realizes he will be bouncing around the field because versatility is coveted in the National League.
"I've been taking groundballs all over the infield," he said. "Whatever my role is, it's fine with me. I've always played this game to win and compete."
Attributes that would earn Hannahan respect in his new clubhouse, with or without former teammates nearby.
Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Mark My Word, and follow him on Twitter @m_sheldon. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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WORD OF THE DAY® – Fab Fragment
Day 17 of 31 Days to a More Effective Compliance Program-Managing Your Third Parties
Compliance Man Goes Global - Episode 8: Tough Questions
Day 16 of 31 Days to a More Effective Compliance Program-the Third-Party Risk Management Process
Day 15 of 31 Days to a More Effective Compliance Program-How Do You Evaluate a Risk Assessment?
Day 14 of 31 Days to a More Effective Compliance Program- Risk Assessments
Day 13 of 31 Days to a More Effective Compliance Program
Day 12 of 31 Days to a More Effective Compliance Program-Financial Incentives for Compliance
This Week in FCPA-Episode 84, the Playoffs are Here (for the Patriots) edition
Across the Board-Episode 12, Prudent Discharge of Board Compliance Obligations
View of Venture Capital and Emerging Companies From New England Venture Summit
Compliance into the Weeds-Episode 65-The Trouble with Non-GAAP Metrics
Day 10 of 31 Days to a More Effective Compliance Program-The Use of Social Media in Compliance
Compliance Report-International Edition, RS Legal Strategies
Day 9 of 31 Days to a More Effective Compliance Program-360 Degrees of Compliance Communications
Employment Law This Week®: Changes at the NLRB, New Tax Bill, EEOC Wellness Rules, New California Laws
Day 8 of 31 Days to a More Effective Compliance Program-Internal Controls and Compliance
FCPA Compliance Report-Episode 365, David McLaughlin on QuantaVerse's new Chief Audit Check Up
Compliance into the Weeds-Episode 66, Salary Sanction for Corporate Misconduct
Shook Partners Lindsey Heinz and Katie Gates Calderon, with Associate Hillary Nicholas, have authored an article for Law360 discussing regulations related to the use of photography during a U.S. Food and Drug Administration...more
Executive Summary: The most important Park doctrine case in over forty years may be heading to the Supreme Court – but not if the federal government has its way. The Responsible Corporate Officer doctrine ("RCO doctrine"),...more
In the internet of things (IoT), new opportunities for efficiency continually bring new cyber risk. If a device in your winery or vineyard connects to the internet, it is vulnerable. And so is the rest of the system connected...more
Developments in 3D Printing: A Sector by Sector Overview -
This report explores recent developments across a number of sectors as it relates to 3D printing and its impact on each sector. We've limited our scan to the...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: In a challenge brought by trade associations for the farm supply and fertilizer industries, the D.C. Circuit vacates OSHA memorandum narrowing the retail exemption from the PSM standard.
The U.S....more
The Department of Justice ("DOJ") sued this week to stop Deere & Co.'s acquisition of Monsanto Co.'s Precision Planting, explaining that the deal would harm farmers. The companies make high-speed precision planting systems,...more
Last week, a federal court dismissed claims brought by three California cities against Monsanto that were aimed at forcing Monsanto to pay for polychlorinated biphenyl ("PCB") contamination in San Francisco Bay.
Kellogg will voluntarily label its GMO-containing products. On March 23, Kellogg Corp. became the latest major food manufacturer to announce that it plans to voluntarily label those products that it sells that contain GMOs....more
This regular publication by DLA Piper lawyers focuses on helping clients navigate the ever-changing business, legal and regulatory landscape.
Four major companies announce voluntary GMO labeling. Four major food...more
On November 27, 2015, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published the final rule on Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP) for Importers of Food for Humans and Animals under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act...more
On December 19, the World Trade Organization (WTO) concluded its 10th Ministerial Conference in Nairobi, Kenya. The Ministerial Conference, which typically is held every two years, is a meeting of the decision-making body of...more
Companies from a wide spectrum of industries have obtained a Section 333 Exemption from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that permits them to fly Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), commonly known as "drones," to...more
Sultani Decrees -
Sultani Decree No. 34/2015 promulgating amendments to some provisions of the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Control Law.
Sultani Decree No. 35/2015 promulgating the law regulating the...more
In late July, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act. The controversial legislation, as passed by the House, creates a national voluntary standard for the labeling of foods with GMO...more
In Canada, plant breeders' rights are a form of intellectual property under the Plant Breeders' Rights Act of 1990. The intent of the 1990 act was to encourage plant breeding in Canada by strengthening the protections for new...more
Bennett Jones LLP represented Feedlot Health Management Services Ltd. (FHMS) in the recent Tax Court of Canada proceeding, Feedlot Health Management Services Ltd v The Queen (2015 TCC 32). The case concerned certain...more
Last month, Archer Daniels Midland Co. ("ADM") joined a slew of corn exporters and other stakeholders who have sued Syngenta based on allegations that China rejected these exporters' products because Syngenta's genetically...more
Most will be aware by now of the recent US Supreme Court decision, Bowman v Monsanto Co.,569 US (2013). One question that remains is what would have been the outcome if like facts had arisen in Australia and were considered...more
As a new round of nuclear talks involving American, European, and Iranian leaders commence this week in Vienna it appears that the first-step deal agreed upon in January has already led to significant changes in OFAC' s...more
In This Issue:
• Judgment of Infringement Entered as Sanction
• Patent Exhaustion Does Not Apply to Harvested Seeds
• Judges Disagree on § 101 Standards
• Litigation Is Not a Domestic Industry
- Excerpt...more
This case involved an Indiana soy bean farmer who, for his first crop of the year, bought Roundup Ready Soy Bean seed from an approved Monsanto dealer. After harvesting that crop, the farmer planned a second, and because of...more
The Supreme Court in Bowman v. Monsanto Co. ruled unanimously that a farmer's replanting of harvested seeds constituted making new infringing articles. While the case is important for agricultural industries, the Supreme...more
The Supreme Court ruled unanimously yesterday in favor of Monsanto in Bowman v. Monsanto, a case involving Monsanto's recombinant, Roundup Ready® seeds. The opinion rejected the arguments from petitioner, Indiana farmer...more
On May 13, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that patent exhaustion does not bar an infringement claim in a case involving a farmer who reproduced patented seeds by planting and harvesting second generation seeds...more
In Bowman v. Monsanto Co., the Supreme Court held that the doctrine of patent exhaustion does not give a farmer who has bought patented seeds the right to "reproduce" them through planting and harvesting without the patent...more
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text: Does anyone string their PS Ltds at 50 or lower tension? If so, what strings and what's your observations in the playage with that setup? Sorry if already stated here, too much backreading. I've tried with RPM 16 at 58 and it played well for a few sets then went dead and everything sailed. I've also tried with NRG 18 at 58-59, which played pretty well. I'm eager to go pretty low with a thin multi and try to increase dwell time, but worried about control and sailing factor. Please let me know your views. Thank you.


text:
Matix Marc Johnson Stretch Corduroy PantsThe Marc Johnson Stretch Corduroy pants are made out of 99% cotton and 1% lycra. They sport the Matix Gripper fit, which has a regular rise waist and slim straight legs that opens up around the ankles at 15 inches wide.
Sorry, this product is currently not in stock. Below are colors we've previously had. Email email@example.com with any questions.


text:
Judy Spadys letter regarding the Second Amendment (Herald, Dec. 24) is so full of poorly interpreted or absolute misinformation that I had to respond.
She starts by saying the gun-control lobby is exploiting the tragedy in Connecticut. It is many of the victims families who are the most vocal about getting assault weapons out of the hands of the mentally unstable.
Do I even need to respond to her statement about God-given rights? Would Jesus ever traffic in AR-15s? God is not behind you on mass murder of 6-year-olds.
Spady seems to think that her most convincing argument is that the 1996 assault-weapons ban in Australia has made that country more dangerous. She cites a rise in assault statistics as proof. While it is true that for one year the assault rate went up 49.2 percent, the director of the Bureau of Crime Statistics states the changes to the crime rates most likely are due to rates of heroin use. Furthermore, while assault rates went up, the murder rate dropped 31.9 percent during the assault-gun ban.
While I dont want to be assaulted by a heroin addict any more than I assume Spady does, I am pretty happy to know he wont have an assault rifle when he does it. The ban was enacted after Australia suffered a mass murder by a troubled young man with a Colt AR-15. Spady may be interested in knowing the number of mass shootings that have taken place in Australia in the last 16 years since the gun ban is exactly zero. Australians still have all their hunting rifles, shotguns and pistols; they just dont have to worry about a lunatic walking into a public space and spraying hundreds of rounds per minute at children.
Spady noted that our Second Amendment is to keep us free from tyranny. What does endangering small children from mentally disturbed people with dangerous weapons have to do with protecting me from my government? We can and must do better than this. The Second Amendment mantra just doesnt hold water.
Greg Rossell


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What is most surprising is Garrosh's behavior at the beginning of the event, signaling the beginning of his lack of control. Supplies are running low, support is running thin, and each of the various nations of the Horde are having trouble paying their dues. Silvermoon, it seems, is in a precarious amount of debt. Garrosh's patience with his allies is wearing thin, and his brashness might be taking over a bit too suddenly.
It's open warfare between Alliance and Horde in Mists of Pandaria, World of Warcraft's next expansion. Jump into five new levels with new talents and class mechanics, try the new monk class, and create a pandaren character to ally with either Horde or Alliance. Look for expansion basics in our Mists FAQ, or dig into our spring press event coverage for more details!


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COURSE: 16-250 Introduction to Athletic Training (3)
Students are introduced to the Allied Health profession of Athletic Training. Topics include the history of athletic training, injury prevention, mechanisms and classifications of sport injuries, emergency procedures and the healing process. Prerequisite: concurrent enrollment or completion of 16-196. Offered: Fall and Spring.


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http://shopandcomparerates.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/redlogo.png 0 0 ratecomparison http://shopandcomparerates.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/redlogo.png ratecomparison2014-04-10 18:09:142014-04-10 18:09:14United American Insurance CO - Tucson - (520)321-0868
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text:
The Demons came away from the Chris Severy Cross Country Invitational on Saturday in Aspen with more than individual titles and team honors last weekend.
The Durango High School cross country team also was awarded the coveted Team Spirit Award at the Aspen meet.
The invitational is held annually to honor the memory of Severy, a former state track and cross country champion at Aspen High School who went on to be an All-American at the University of Colorado.
Severy, the valedictorian of his high school class known for his relentless toughness, was killed in a cycling accident in Boulder just before he was scheduled to enter medical school.
It was in his spirit that the Demons went to compete, Aspen head coach David McMillan said in an email to The Durango Herald.
All in all, this was great preparation for our regional and state meets, McMillan said after the DHS boys won the team title at the Chris Severy Invitational. The DHS girls finished third in team scoring.
Shannon Maloney won the girls varsity race.
Older brother Joe Maloney finished second in the boys varsity race on the hilly course.
McMillan said Shannon Maloney slowly moved through the pack to take the lead just before the one-mile mark in the 5-kilometer (3.1 miles) race.
From there, it was nothing but onward and upward as she dominated a strong field, he said. She finished in 21:44, just 44 seconds off the course record.
Emily Schaldach placed 17th in 24:08, nearly 45 seconds faster than her time from last year.
Mariah Dorsey moved up to the varsity and placed 28th in 24:50.
Carly Pierson was 29th; Emily Fogel was 40th.
In the boys race, Joe Maloney took the lead at the mile mark.
Maloney eventually crossed in second place in 18:41 20 seconds faster than his time last year.
Nicholas Turco, a freshman, finished eighth in 19:16. Gordon Gianniny was next, running a minute faster than last year.
Sean McLlaughlin finished in 12th place (19:44).
Collin Francom finished 23rd in 20:28.
Benji Lachelt, a freshman, moved up to varsity and finished 25th in 20:34.
Trent Andrews added a 28th place in 20:57.


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Executive Education
Alumni HUB,
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Recruiting, Partnerships,
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Profiles, Centers,
Fields of Study
Leadership, Tepper Quad,
The Swartz Center
The central idea of the institute is to form partnerships with companies, government agencies and foundations to develop pioneering design, management, manufacturing and regulatory processes that can improve environmental quality and product quality while enhancing economic development. Carnegie Mellon researchers are working to address the regulatory issues that shape the global marketplace.
View the Green Design Institute website.


text: Hmm,....you say I should only use Amsoil 75W140 for my final drive? Disregarding BMW's probably vast knowledge and testing of proper fluids? Disregarding the 175,000 miles I have on my original, untouched rear final drive on my 94 RS, all run with synthetic 75W90 gear lube, and no problems? Thanks just the same but I know what works for my bike.


text:
Remember When Lesbian Kisses Actually Meant You Were a Lesbian?
If you're a female celebrity and you haven't gone girl-on-girl before a crowd of roaring, adoring males, you're probably gay. Last night, Sandra kissed Scarlett as revenge on Jesse. How did lesbian kisses become the ultimate mainstream display of hetero-desirability?
Looking good is no longer the ultimate revenge, nor is dating someone younger, taller, and better looking. The ultimate post-break-up revenge for a heterosexual lady is to make out with another lady, preferably on a stage. Here's Sandra Bullock doing it at the MTV Movie Awards:
Back in 1995, "I Kissed a Girl" was a song by a lesbian folk singer about being gay. Eight years later, Madonna caused a media shitstorm by kissing the resolutely straight Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera on an MTV stage. Seven years after that, a former Christian rocker turned "I Kissed a Girl" into a anthem of straight girl titillation. Now America's middle-aged sweetheart is locking lips with ladies on another MTV stage to prove she's as hetero-lovable as ever. And tween queen Miley Cyrus says the girl-on-girl near-kisses in her choreography are "nothing" and shouldn't imply gayness at all.
Plenty of ink has been spilled about what straight girls kissing other girls means for gays, bisexuals, feminism, sex generally, and sexy Maxim spreads specifically. (Only the last one has a conclusive answer.) Let us now consider what straight lesbian kisses mean individually:
- Sandra Bullock: I've still got it, Hey Jesse, remember the time you asked me for a threeway and I said 'no'? Cry into your pillow, asshole, and Will this make my new baby smarter?
- Britney Spears: I'm ready to graduate from Disney
- Miley Cyrus: I'm ready to graduate from Disney. (Seriously.)
- Madonna: I'm in charge
- Katy Perry: Look at me.
- Christina Aguilera: Look at me, look at me.
- t.A.T.u.: Look at us.
- Megan Fox: I'm a sexy fantasy.
- Amanda Seyfried: I'm a sexy fantasy, I'm a serious actress.
- Sarah Silverman: I'm funny and sexy.
- Lucy Liu: I'm never getting a role for anything other than sex appeal, am I?
- Courtney Cox: I've still got it.
- Jennifer Aniston: Please say I've still got it.
- Angelina Jolie: This is my rebellious phase.
- Dakota Fanning: I'm an adult now.
- Kristen Stewart: Please don't make me kiss Rob Pattinson forever.
- Meryl Streep: I'm hip to stuff kids are doing these days.
- Snooki & J-Woww: Duh.
Got more? Add them in comments.
[Photos via X-17, Splash, and Getty]


text: First of all, he is a normal person. Secondly, all of your arguments are dumb. It's amazing. If you were to tell me which posters posted in this thread, I could pick out which would say that he should be able to compete, and which would say that he shouldn't be able to compete.


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A man and a woman were arrested late Sunday after a sheriff's deputy searched their car and found drugs and about 130 forged car registration tags, the Monterey County Sheriff's Office said. Alicia Lopez, 39, and Arnoldo Guerrero, 37, both of King City, were booked into the Monterey County Jail on drug and forgery charges in Greenfield, Sheriff's Cmdr. Lisa Nash said.
The sheriff's deputy stopped a vehicle containing Lopez and Guerrero at about 9:45 p.m. near Apple Avenue and El Camino Real in Greenfield after witnessing several traffic violations outside the small city. After reaching the vehicle, the deputy noticed what looked like a registration tab inside on the center console and later determined the vehicle was not registered, Nash said. The deputy had both suspects leave the car and during a search, the deputy found 130 car registration tags for 2013 but in a color that was not as brilliant as those issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles, Nash said.
The deputy reported that it looked as though some of the tags had been on a single sheet of paper and someone had been cutting them, Nash said. The suspects were also booked on drug charges after the deputy also found methamphetamine and methamphetamine smoking pipes in the vehicle. Lopez is being held on $10,000 bail, while no bail has been set for Guerrero, who is on an immigration hold.
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If our GM is worried about making sexy picks and not about whats best for our teams future than we are in serious trouble.
I have no reason not to trust Idzik, therefore whatever he decides to do ill give him the benefit of the doubt that he did his HW and knows what hes doing.
I wouldnt argue selecting two OL in this draft. Seems like a lot of players in this draft are high risk high reward players.
In a draft we absolutely HAVE to hit on, id be okay with solidifying our OL for a long time with two very safe picks.


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Bay: Classic builds Canadian baseball
Red Sox left fielder will again lead Team Canada in March event
Like many players, Jason Bay wasn't sure what to expect from the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006, but he's been waiting for the second edition of the event ever since Team Canada was eliminated in the first round of the first one.
In 2006, Canada defeated South Africa and provided a stunning upset of the U.S. team. But a loss to Mexico combined with tiebreaker rules to keep the Canadians from advancing to the second round.
"It was disappointing that we didn't get out of the first round, but we beat the U.S. pretty handily in a game nobody expected us to win," Bay said Wednesday of Canada's 8-6 win over the U.S. when asked in a conference call to discuss Team Canada's prospects for this year. "That game did more for baseball in Canada than if we had gone on to the next round."
Team Canada hosts the United States in opening-round play in Pool C at the Rogers Centre in Toronto on the afternoon of March 7. Italy and Venezuela square off that evening. Bay said playing at home should be an advantage.
"I fully expect that place to be pretty packed," said the Boston Red Sox left fielder. "I got a taste of the playoffs last year and I've got a pretty good feeling it will be something like that."
Last year, Bay played in the postseason for the first time following a July trade from the Pirates to the Red Sox.
In '06, Bay went 5-for-11 with five runs scored in the Classic as part of a potent lineup that again will include Justin Morneau of the Twins and Matt Stairs of the Phillies (Stairs was then a member of the Royals). Canada will get a boost from the addition of All-Star catcher Russell Martin of the Dodgers.
The right-handed hitting Martin will be welcome on a roster that three years ago included just two players to hit from that side of the plate, including Bay. That's a reflection on the tendency of many young Canadian athletes to shoot hockey pucks from the left side.
As recently as a decade ago, there were only a few Canadian big leaguers, such as Stairs and Larry Walker. Walker, a former star with the Expos, Rockies and Cardinals, will serve on manager Ernie Whitt's coaching staff for the Classic.
"There are so many impact players at the Major League level now, and that's opening more opportunities for players in Canada," Bay says. "Before, people looked at [baseball] as something fun to do to get ready for hockey. Now they take it a little more seriously."
Some of Team Canada's biggest names, especially among pitchers, will be missing from the WBC. Erik Bedard of the Mariners is recovering from shoulder surgery. Jeff Francis of the Rockies is battling a strained shoulder. The Cubs' Ryan Dempster, though healthy, pulled out of the event to focus on the upcoming MLB season.
"We don't have the depth that a lot of teams do," Bay said. "We're going to need some big-time performances."
Pete Williams is a freelance writer based in Safety Harbor, Fla.
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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SALISBURY – The city is looking to become more developer friendly, as the City Council voted this week to decrease capacity fees by 60 percent.
On July 16, the City Council held a work session discussing water/sewer capacity fees and an updated financial forecast was presented. At that time the council was in consensus to move forward with an ordinance setting capacity fees lower.
According to the ordinance that was presented on first reading this week, the new Capacity Unit Fee is proposed to be $3,392 per EDU, and any amount collected on or after July 1, 2012, in excess of the new rate shall be refunded. The current Capacity Unit Fee is $8,508.
Public Works Director Teresa Gardner explained that the Capacity Unit Fee calculation is based on the growth-related projects contained in the current Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and the unpaid balances of recently constructed improvements.
Gardner furthered that the capacity fee program was intended to pay for capacity in Salisbury's water and/or sewer system.
"When the fee was developed, the economy was booming and the city's position was that 'growth should pay for growth'," Gardner said in March. "Because of the drastic decline of the economy, the slow recovery and the financial burden the wastewater treatment plant has placed on the city, Public Works has been re-evaluating how we do business. We have been examining our debt and developing a reduced CIP program that is based on a more realistic estimate of our ability to borrow."
Brad Gillis, representing the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce, spoke in favor of the decrease.
"In the face of continuing economic slowdown realizing fees for construction will help put people back to work, a message to the business community must be the whole community welcomes expansion of existing businesses and the location of firms who will enhance our community," he said. "The reduction of the costs of capacity fees by $5,000 will definitely help convince developers and local business people to invest in Salisbury."
Council President Terry Cohen reviewed the process over the last few months to get to the proposed figure.
"We have gone over the numbers, we have gotten the information we were looking for out of the administration, the next step will be to keep an eye on it as things develop in Salisbury," she said. "We don't want to get behind the curve again because while it is important to make the numbers available for people to build at the same time if you let that get too far ahead then you find the people that already paid their dues are now paying somebody else's dues …"
With the council voting unanimously, the ordinance will have its final reading on Aug. 13.


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Gluttonous Thresher
The Gluttonous Thresher is a powerful boss faced during the 'Bright Lights, Flying City' Story mission after he ingests a beacon that will help put Sanctuary back on the Fast-Travel Network. His weak points are his eyes, three of which are on either side of his face.
A good tactic for this battle is to keep your distance, stealing pot-shots with a Sniper Rifle while the Thresher and the Hyperion Loader Robots duke it out.
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