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With dozens of companies having reported quarterly results, we're in the heart of earnings season. The key to making smart investment decisions with stocks releasing their quarter reports is to anticipate how they'll do before they announce results, leaving you fully prepared to respond quickly to whatever inevitable surprises arise. That way, you'll be less likely to make an uninformed, knee-jerk decision.
Let's turn to 3M (NYSE:MMM). With its gain of 17% easily outpacing most of its compatriots in the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES:^DJI) in 2012, the conglomerate has done a good job of navigating a tough economic climate. Let's take an early look at what's been happening with 3M over the past quarter and what we're likely to see in its quarterly report on Thursday.
Stats on 3M
Analyst EPS Estimate
Change From Year-Ago EPS
Revenue Estimate
$7.19 billion
Change From Year-Ago Revenue
Earnings Beats in Past 4 Quarters
Will 3M move the markets?
Analysts have kept their estimates of 3M's earnings relatively stable since the company released its third-quarter report. Recently, though, investors have gotten increasingly optimistic about 3M, and the stock has soared in the past month to give shareholders a return of about 5% since mid-October.
3M has been massively successful over the decades at providing customers with innovative products. Yet concerns have arisen that the pace of innovation at 3M has slowed down, leading to slower organic growth and increasing the company's reliance on acquisitions. For 3M to reverse that trend, new CEO Inge Thulin needs to demonstrate his ability to lead the company forward, using his status as a longtime company insider to restoke the creativity that has led to so many successful products in the past.
Still, 3M's acquisitions will be important growth-drivers going forward. 3M's buyout of Ceradyne, which closed this quarter, will give the company a chance to use Ceradyne's industrial-ceramics expertise to improve existing products and spearhead new ones. Adding Ceradyne customers Petroleo Brasileiro (NYSE:PBR) and Cummins (NYSE:CMI) to the 3M fold could potentially help both those customers and 3M, as a broader relationship could lead Petrobras and Cummins to take advantage of more 3M products to their mutual benefit.
3M needs to keep its eyes on its competitors, though. In particular, General Electric (NYSE:GE) has returned to its industrial roots and now challenges 3M with stronger organic growth and a healthier financial condition. Having recovered fully from the financial crisis, GE will inevitably butt heads with 3M repeatedly as both seek to expand into high-growth areas of the economy.
3M investors should look for signs in this quarter's report that the company is returning to its historical focus on innovation. Without that long-term view, any of 3M's shorter-range results lack the context you need to accurately assess their future impact.
Click here to add 3M to My Watchlist, which can find all of our Foolish analysis on it and all your other stocks.
Fool contributor Dan Caplinger has no position in any stocks mentioned. You can follow him on Twitter @DanCaplinger. The Motley Fool recommends 3M, Cummins, and Petroleo Brasileiro. The Motley Fool owns shares of Cummins and General Electric. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


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The history of Hoosier Tire is one of an American Dream come true for two young, Indiana entrepreneurs who turned a personal vision into a reality.
It all began back in the early 50's when Robert "Bob" Newton, along with his supportive wife Joyce, began a successful racing career on the small asphalt tracks of northern Indiana. Bob, like many of his fellow drivers, was not satisfied with driving on street tires with their limited sizing options and uniformly hard tread compounds. It was during these early days of "eating bologna sandwiches and sleeping on a creeper under his racer" that Bob had a vision to produce his own tires specifically designed for racing.
So, in 1957, Bob and Joyce decided to begin producing their own race tires by re-treading street tires with softer compounds. They began their business in an old abandoned horse barn in South Bend, Indiana, selling their tires to local racers. The "Hoosier" name was chosen for their company to reflect the origin of Bob's racing roots on the short tracks of the Midwest. The company color of purple came from Bob's #4 race car.
While the company had just two employees at first, it wasn't long before the business began to grow. Soon family members, friends and neighbors were being recruited to re-tread tires. As the fledgling company began to master the available tire-making technologies, they set their sights on producing their first race tire specifically designed for racing. And so, in 1962, Bob Newton did just that through an arrangement with the Mohawk Rubber Company in Akron, Ohio. For the next 16 years, Bob commuted from northern Indiana to Akron to design, engineer, compound and oversee the production of his tires.
Then, on Thanksgiving weekend in 1978, the Newtons were delivered news that could have ended the ever-expanding business that their small work force had worked so hard to develop. Mohawk was closing the Akron plant and, as a result, was about to end their ability to produce new race tires. Faced with this potentially devastating news, Bob and Joyce made a decision that has changed the face of racing forever. With their long association with the local bank, they were able to mortgage their home and Hoosier Tire to raise the capital needed to build the world's first and only factory solely devoted to the production of racing tires. Located in Plymouth, Indiana, just down the road from the corporate office in Lakeville, the factory began production in 1979 with just a handful of employees under the name "R & J Mfg. Corp." (for Robert and Joyce).
During the early years of R & J, the secret rubber formulas required to produce Hoosier tires were still being produced by outside suppliers. Finally, in 1985, as the business continued to grow, the Newtons were determined to eliminate the need to rely on outside rubber suppliers by developing the company's own in-house rubber production capabilities. So, it was back to the bank to obtain financing for the first million dollar mixing plant to produce rubber compounds strictly for racing tires. The equipment purchased included the latest computer controlled "Banbury" to mix the complicated racing compounds as well as the components for an advanced testing and technology center.
The Hoosier name, while well known in the racing community by the late '80s, was not yet a nationally or internationally recognized name. Then, in 1988, the company went Winston Cup racing, taking on the "Goliath" of the tire business. Hoosier, in its first year of competition in the series, went on to capture 9 victories and worldwide fame. The following year, Hoosier tires were on the winning car in the grand-daddy of all races, the Daytona 500. While this success was on a bias-ply tire, work had already begun at Hoosier on producing a radial tire that would work in racing applications.
In 1991, after three years of research and development, Hoosier introduced its own radial race tire into the Busch Grand National series with great success. That same year, Bob took his vision of complete in-house control of the manufacturing processes needed to produce Hoosier tires one step further. The company purchased a multi-million dollar, one-of-a-kind, new four-roll "Z" calender to go into an equally new state-of-the-art calendering facility next to the existing mixing plant. This innovation allowed Hoosier to apply rubber directly onto its own specially woven fabrics while maintaining the very tight tolerances that their engineers needed to build tires that would perform under the extreme speeds and high heat of racing.
In 1992, Hoosier took another bold step and decided to build its second tire building plant in preparation for the company's return to NASCAR's Winston Cup series. This tire plant was solely devoted to the manufacture of tubeless radial race tires constructed with inner safety shields and designed to run on super speedway tracks at speeds in excess of 200 mph. In 1994, after three successful seasons in the Busch series, the company made the move up to the premier NASCAR Winston Cup series where it went on to enjoy its most successful season to that time. In that year, the talented Geoff Bodine claimed victory on Hoosier's innovative radial race tires four times in the #7 Exide Battery / Montgomery Ward "Auto Express" Ford.
The following year, Hoosier attempted to have NASCAR waive its "tire count rule" which required all participating tire manufacturers to bring enough tires to every race to supply the needs of all of the cars in the field. With this rule in place, Hoosier was required to produce roughly 2000 tires a week to sell only a few hundred during each event. This rule eventually proved too costly for the company to endure, so a financial decision was made to exit the top two NASCAR series, much to the displeasure of many racing fans. Despite this setback, Hoosier's overall success and growth in the industry continued.
In 1995, Hoosier was chosen as the sole supplier for all series events for the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA). This allowed Hoosier to continue developing tires for super speedway tracks. Also, the funding which had been used in the Winston Cup and Busch series was now available to assist an explosive growth plan which the company initiated at this time. Over the next several years, additional professional staff were added, including more engineers, compounders, product managers and track support personnel. The company financed further plant expansions and added more equipment. More production personnel and administrative staff were hired. All of this allowed the company to continue participating in its existing racing venues even as it penetrated additional markets while still assuring all of its customers a reliable supply of high quality racing tires.
In 1998, Bob and Joyce made the decision to re-name "R & J Mfg. Corp.," the manufacturing side of their growing company, as "Hoosier Tire & Rubber Corp." This removed the shroud of secrecy which the company had maintained within the community and industry concerning its manufacturing base.
In 1999, 15-time Pennzoil World of Outlaws champion Steve Kinser signed a 2-year agreement to exclusively run Hoosier tires in 2000 and 2001. "The King of the Outlaws" went on to capture an unprecedented 16th series championship his first year running the Hoosier brand. This also allowed Hoosier to lay claim to their first Pennzoil World of Outlaws championship title in the history of the company. The success of Kinser and Hoosier during the 2000 campaign was recognized by the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Museum with Steve Kinser being awarded the "Driver of the Year" award while Hoosier President and CEO, Bob Newton, was awarded the "Builder/Manufacturer of the Year" award.
The turn of the century also saw Hoosier Tire & Rubber Corp. complete a massive multi-year plant consolidation and upgrade program which brought all operations together into one sprawling complex. Through the dedication and hard work of countless people within the Hoosier organization, the 3-year project was completed in just 18 months.
In 2012, the decision was made to bring both the manufacturing arm in Plymouth and the sales and marketing arm in Lakeville together under one corporate identity. It was at this time that the manufacturing facility (Hoosier Tire & Rubber Corp.) was renamed Hoosier Racing Tire Corp.
Today, Hoosier Racing Tire Corp. is the largest race tire manufacturer in the world and all Hoosier race tires are still proudly "Made in the USA." The company continues to be privately owned and operated by the Newton family, co-founder Joyce Newton along with many of the Newton family members remain actively involved in the day-to-day operations of Hoosier. Hoosier has grown to be one of the largest employers in Plymouth, Indiana producing over 1000 different types of race tires. The company has its own 300-mph test wheel; a technology center; state-of-the-art, fully-integrated production facilities recently adding a high-tech mixing plant, with enough capacity to produce not only for Hoosier Racing Tire, but to have the ability to produce rubber for additional entities; not to mention a model sales and distribution network in Lakeville, Indiana which others seek to emulate.
The pride that exists among those associated with Hoosier "family" continues to be the focal point of the success the company has enjoyed over the years. Joyce and the Newton family, as well as others involved in the racing industry, marvel at the success and growth of the original business the Newtons started almost 60 years ago. At Hoosier, we know that if you build a company with talented, hardworking people who care, and produce a product that performs at an affordable price, you will satisfy the needs of your customers and both you and they will be winners. This philosophy has been, and will continue to be, the secret behind Hoosier's success in building "Tires Designed for Champions."

subset: commoncrawl


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Personal Best Charity has partnered with Patriot Place to hold its 22nd annual Turkey Trot on Oct. 14 at Patriot Place, 2 Patriot Place, Foxborough.
This is the major fundraising event for the Turkey Brigade held in November, a community service event that assembles baskets of food to feed families in need of a Thanksgiving meal.
Initiated in 1995, the Turkey Brigade has grown from feeding 69 families in 1995 to surpassing feeding 29,000 families over its 21-year history. As part of the organization's ongoing commitment to teaching character education, students from Personal Best Karate take part in raising money for the charity by collecting pledges and participating in the Turkey Trot. The students are represented from each of the Personal Best Karate Schools, located in Norton, Foxborough, Easton, Norwood, Medfield and its newest location, Raynham.
This year, there will be three starts: the Ranger Run, for children up to age 8, which is a 100-yard dash; for children aged 9 through adult, a one-mile run; and a 5K. Interested residents can sign up to participate in advance by emailing email@example.com or by coming that day by 7:45 a.m. to register.
Approximately $75,000 is needed to be raised to hit the goal of feeding 3,000 families a full Thanksgiving dinner this year. Raffles and a silent auction will also start at 8:45 a.m. at the Turkey Trot to raise more funds. The winners will be drawn at 10 a.m.
Personal Best Charity is accepting monetary donations as well as donations for its silent auction and raffle. To make a donation to the Turkey Trot, make checks payable to Personal Best Charity and mail to 250 East Main St., Norton, MA 02766. To contribute a silent auction or raffle item, email firstname.lastname@example.com. Personal Best Charity is a 501c3 corporation.
The Turkey Brigade packaging of the dinners will be held on Nov. 18 and deliveries will be the following day. All volunteers are welcome to participate in packaging on Saturday or delivery on Sunday. Residents interested in assisting can email firstname.lastname@example.com. The majority of the meals are delivered directly to families in the immediate area.


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Join today as a new Demonstrator and receive $26.95 in products for $25 including free shipping and GST!
Click here to join now
Starting today, Stampin' Up! is offering a special $25 Starter Kit to celebrate the 25th Anniversary (your choice of up to $26.95 in product, Free Shipping and GST included) which will only be available for purchase through October 21. This is your chance to celebrate with 20% savings on all future orders until April 30, 2014.
So, for only $25, you can save on all you future orders or start you own business! What are you waiting for?! Please contact me with any questions,
You can choose any combination of products up to $26.95 with this promotion. Here are some suggestions for $26.95:
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Wood #130294 Wood #129123


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Hi my name is Maisie. I have a 16year old daughter newly diagnosed with ASD,she hasn't had a full assessment so it's all a bit vague at the moment. It wasn't until she had mental health problems last year that it became clear that there was more to her problems with socialising than just being a shy teenager.
New And Confused
Started by Maisie , Jan 23 2016 08:58 PM
4 replies to this topic
Posted 23 January 2016 - 08:58 PM
Posted 24 January 2016 - 09:12 PM
Hi Maisie nice to meet you. I am sure you will find lots of support here. Welcome
Posted 24 January 2016 - 09:29 PM
Hi and welcome.
Posted 25 January 2016 - 04:47 PM
Hi Maisie, welcome x
Posted 27 January 2016 - 08:24 PM
Hello & welcome to ASDf
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Thursday, September 29, 2016
Breaking News! FBI Director Admits Cover Up of Clinton Evidence Tampering!
Earlier this week FBI Director James Comey was called to once again testify before Congress in connection to the Hillary Clinton email imbroglio. This round of questioning would focus mainly on the odd decision that the FBI made to grant immunity to five persons of interest in the email scandal. The immunity deals were odd because the FBI ended up declining to prosecute anyone for anything… even though the case was serious enough that five individuals (who all pled the 5th Amendment under oath before Congress) were granted immunity for whatever actions they took as the email controversy unfolded......To Read More and See Video and Listen to Rep. Jordan....
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Food for thought on the first day
We've just arrived in Singapore and the local fixer suggests that we head off to film in a city centre food court. We're here to shoot a series about the cities of the future, but as we all know, cities are made up of people, and people like to gather around food. It's the perfect start to our shoot, especially as one of our aims is to bring out the human story in these programmes, and that means filming some of the locals going about their daily lives. The mix of races and cultures is extraordinary, a true melting pot that very few cities have, and the atmosphere is buzzing as we come towards the end of office lunchtime, with groups of Indian IT workers gobbling up handfuls of rice and curry next to families of Singaporeans threading their chopsticks around bowls of noodles. We're allowed to film – we'd been worried about security, but the guard turns out to be friendly enough – and so we capture some of the action as steaming rice and dumplings are ladled onto plates by Chinese chefs. We try some sweet and sour fish that's full of ginger and garlic, and some large, plump dumplings of spicy pork meat. One of the reasons we're here is to talk about energy usage, and energy efficiency, and it's interesting to note that this hugely popular, old open-sided food market is not air-conditioned. There are fans blowing powerful shots of hot air around the hall, and in fact the temperature seems quite acceptable, with the air constantly flowing around us, blending the aromas of food flowing from left and right.


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Saturday, March 20, 2010
Specialites de la Maison
I managed to get a sneak peek at some of the charmingly simple, old-fashioned recipes in the book and I was especially taken with Mrs. James Roosevelt's method for making Moules Mariniere. Today, the weather is officially hitting the 70s for the first time in what seems like years, and all I can think of is a little town on the tip of Long Island called Montauk, where I like to spend my summers, and digging into a steaming bowl of light, buttery, delicious mussels eaten right on the beach during a perfectly breezy sunny day.
Try the recipe. It's a keeper.
Moules Mariniere
6 dozen medium size mussels
8 chopped shallots
Chopped parsley
1 ladle Hollandaise sauce
1/4 lb. sweet butter
1 pt. dry white wine
1 lump butter
1 pinch cayenne
Juice of 2 lemons
Wash and brush thoroughly mussels. Put them in a pan with butter, shallots, and wine. Season with a pinch of salt. Cook on stove 15 minutes, then remove from fire. Open mussels and put on platter on their half shells. At the same time let the liquid boil until it simmers to half its former volume. Add a pinch of chopped parsley. Remove again from fire, add a lump of butter and Hollandaise sauce, and mix briskly with a whip. Complete the seasoning with cayenne pepper and lemon juice. When ready to serve, pour that sauce over mussels and sprinkle some chopped parsley on top. Serves 4.
Mrs. James Roosevelt, Hyde Park, New York
5 comments:
love this, i made moules marinieres last weekend. dipping a good crusty baguette in the sauce is the bestReplyDelete
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شركة نقل اثاث بالدمام التفاؤل شركة نقل اثاث بالخبر كما انها افضل شركة نقل اثاث بالجبيل نقل عفش واثاث بالجبيل والخبر والقطيف والدمام
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text: Hi guys, I'm a recent Linksys convert from Netgear (who were also very good). I have an AM200 in half-bridge connected to a WRT54GL running v24 of DD-WRT, and WOW! We like those :biggrin: 1.5 megs/sec higher SYNC and 0.2MB/sec (aka 200 KB/sec) higher throughput, and stable as a rock. Great! The only thing is, I'm switching from UK Online (PPPoA ADSL2+ Annex A) to Be Pro (Annex M) soon. I can't find ANYTHING on the Annex M capability of the AM200, and although I can use Be's own "BeBox" (rebadged Speedtouch) in half-bridge, I really don't want to lose the AM200!! So, will the AM200 work OK on Annex M? That is, with an upload of 2.5 Mbps. A couple of people have told me no (looking at the "Annex A" on the box), but others have said "Yes" because "Annex M is basically an extension of Annex A" The only Be customer I know who happens to use an AM200 doesn't have Annex M enabled, so couldn't answer my question (typical!). Does anyone here know? Thanks in advance, and thanks for having me (the site/forum looks great!). Cheers, Lee


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Status: Open
Know more about this business than we do? Cool! Please submit any corrections or missing details you may have.Help us make it right
Ccw/cpl classes held weeklyhandgun & machine gun rentalyour home & personal defense speciality store109930attr:rental
Welcome to Target Sports, your premier source for all of the best brands in the firearms industry! We are a complete Gun s...hop with qualified instructors and a shooting range for many kinds of gun sport enthusiasts. From the inexperienced newcomer to the practiced enthusiast, we have everything you're looking for all in one place! We carry the brands that you know and rely upon, ensuring...
3240 Orchard Lk Rd, Orchard Lk, MI 48324. *Guns - Ammo - Holsters
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*Gun Cleaning (Handgun/Long Gun)
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As a hobbyist, I find this shop the best place for me to go. They sell different sports equipment that I need and the price is just right. Certainly a highly recommended one.
***if you want to read where I get shot/grazed, skip to paragraph 3*** Well, well, well, what can I say. I actually got shot at this range today. Literally!!! When I first walked in and walked around I immediately saw that mostly everything was overpriced. I was actually amazed at the insanely high …
Target Sports is a gun shop and shooting range located on Woodward just South of 13 Mile. It carries an extensive variety of guns and ammunition and offers CCW certification classes. The indoor shooting facility features state-of-the-art bullet trap backstops and a high quality HEPA air filtration system. Visit the Web site for more info on the facility and its products.
Royal Oak Range & Gun Shop can be found at Woodward Ave 30482. The following is offered: Weapons. The entry is present with us since Sep 8, 2010 and was last updated on Nov 12, 2013. In Royal Oak there are 2 other Weapons. An overview can be found here.


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Guinéenews has two articles (here and here) on rioting in the western mining city of Fria. The city's residents took to the streets to protest against the 'castastrophic state' of the roads and broken promises to improve them. Protesters dislodged big stones and used them to erect barricades on the city's main arteries. The mayor intervened and the situation appeared to calm.
However, Guinéenews reports that the following day, the 'forces of order' invaded two schools (the lycée Cabral and collège Tito) and proceded with what observers described as "excessive force and arbitrary arrests" against students (and teachers) who were in the middle of class. After these incidents, students marched to the center of town were engaged in violent battles by soldiers who'd been sent from Conakry. Shots were fired into the crowd and several were seriously wounded, according to Guinéenews.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
[Guinean news] Protesters shot in Fria
Posted by Communications Director at Wednesday, December 06, 2006
1 comment:
We vacated Fria with armed guards to the safety of Conakry Tuesday 5/12/06 leaving all our belongings at a nearby hotel. We were advise that to enter the City to recover our belongings even with armed police and military would be unwise, therefore we left with just our Passports. Hopefully to return when the protesting stops. I would like to say that indeed the roads are in a terrible state of repair and that the hard working, friendly local people deserve a better deal from all who i think may be exploiting them.
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Showing 1 - 1 of 1 speakers.
Senior Lecturer for Bitcoin and Blockchain, MIT Sloan School of Management; Former Senior Advisor for Mobile and Data Innovation, The White House
Types: Entrepreneur, Futurist, Male, TED, University Professor
Bio Info
From Iraq to the White House, Brian Forde has helped to educate heads of state, Fortune 500 CEOs and thousands of others as they race to get up to speed on bitcoin and the blockchain before this new technology disrupts their organizations.
Showing 1 - 1 of 1 speakers.


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At Southeast Tech, we're ok with being different than the average college. We're ok with doing things differently and focusing on working for you. Our goal is to give our graduates the tools and the skills to be successful and relevant in our local economy. And, every one of our more than 50 degrees can be completed in 24 months or less at a fraction of the cost of a traditional four-year degree.
While others hesitate at change, we embrace it. We work with industry leaders to strengthen and revitalize our curriculum every year. The result is exciting. Our placement rates are amazing and our alumni are successful. In fact, an incredible 96% of our graduates are employed within six months, 94% in their field of study!
At Southeast Tech, we specialize in advanced technology every day. Each one of our faculty members is an industry expert who has done the job and is excited to teach it through hands-on instruction with innovative equipment.
We don't overlook or underappreciate our students either. Proud to be in the top three largest South Dakota college graduating classes, our faculty and staff know our students and work to ensure they succeed both on campus and off.


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Pamela Stephenson's Strictly worries
- Bang Showbiz
- 21 December 2010
Pamela Stephenson decided to openly admit she had a crush on 'Strictly Come Dancing' partner James Jordan so people didn't think she was having an affair with him
Pamela Stephenson was worried people would think she was having an affair with James Jordan.
The 61-year-old psychotherapist - who is married to comedian Billy Connolly - decided to openly address her crush on her 32-year-old 'Strictly Come Dancing' partner so fans of the BBC One show didn't speculate on whether they were enjoying a raunchy affair.
She explained: "I believe at some level people knew I was relishing the opportunity to have a sanctioned mini 'affair' with him - unconsummated of course - that provided an intriguing subplot for our so-called 'Strictly' story. I didn't hide my feelings, and chose to be quite open about my temporary crush on James.
"If I had not, I fear that, despite our age difference, there might have been speculation about the possibility of a little granny-s***ging going on behind the scenery!"
Being the oldest contestant to have ever reached the 'Strictly Come Dancing' final, Pamela admitted she was "extremely proud" to fly the flag for people in their sixties.
Writing in G2, she said: "Frankly, in my younger day I was one of the people who held the common prejudice that sexagenarians could not be athletic, fun-loving, vital, sexy and passionate and I would be thrilled if I did indeed help to change that tune.
"I feel extremely proud to be a flag-flier, and profoundly grateful for the way people of all ages supported me, voted for me and willed me to succeed."


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In this section you can search in alphabetic order for the main acronyms, terms and definitions used in the field of research, innovation, SMEs.
- Cash Flow
- The amount of cash derived over a certain period of time from an income-producing property. The cash flow should be large enough to pay the expenses of the income producing property (mortgage payment, maintenance, utilities, etc.).
- CEECs
- Central and Eastern European Countries.
- Cluster
- A grouping of complementary or interdependent companies of various sizes with joint interests, needs and constraints, who decide to cooperate in one or more fields of activity.
- Collaborative Research Agreement
- The contract document setting out the purpose, objectives and conditions of an intended collaboration research project or program of projects.
- Cooperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research.


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Red Penn
The GOP plan to split electoral votes is folly.
Pennsylvania Republicans won big last November, taking both the governorship and a majority of seats in the state House. (They already held the Senate.) Now they're looking to capitalize on those victories by giving the GOP a boost in presidential politics. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports Gov. Tom Corbett has endorsed a proposal to change the way the state allocates its 20 electoral votes, all of which currently go to whichever candidate receives the most votes statewide.
Under the GOP plan, 18 electoral votes would be split between the candidates, with one going to the top vote-getter in each U.S. House district. The remaining 2 votes, which correspond to Pennsylvania's U.S. senators, would go to the statewide winner. If the system were applied to the state's vote in 2008, Barack Obama would receive 11 electoral votes to John McCain's 10 (the states lost one House district, and hence one electoral vote, in the 2010 reapportionment).
Maine and Nebraska already allocate their electoral votes by congressional district, but since both are small and neither is a swing state, the effect is minimal--though Obama did carry one Nebraska district in 2008. But big, swinging Pennsylvania has gone Democratic in the past five presidential elections. Thus the scheme seems almost certain to benefit Republicans.
Some liberal commentators are apoplectic (granted, that's a sentence we could write most any day of any week). "There's no legitimate reason for this," splutters Mother Jones's Kevin Drum: "As recently as a couple of decades ago this would have been a bridge too far for most of the party's mandarins. . . . But now we live in the era of Lee Atwater and Karl Rove and Tom DeLay and Fox News. There's really no one left who might object to this merely out of a decent respect for institutional integrity and fairmindedness." Lee Atwater died in 1991.
Drum wants conservatives to "condemn" the effort, but he marched to a different drummer back in 2004, when he blogged for The Washington Monthly and Democrats tried something similar in Colorado. That year, an initiative on Colorado's ballot proposed to divide the state's electoral votes by proportion to the popular vote, "which means, say, that if George Bush wins Colorado in a squeaker he'll get 5 electoral votes and [John] Kerry [the haughty, French-looking Massachusetts Democrat who by the way served in Vietnam] will get 4, instead of Bush getting all 9," as Drum explained at the time.
The prospect left Drum decidedly blasé: "If the election is close, a court fight over Amendment 36 could be this year's Bush v. Gore. Wouldn't that be fun?" That contrasts even more sharply with this week's comments from Drum's successor at the Monthly, Steve Benen, whose rage over the Pennsylvania plan outdoes even Drum's. He calls it "an ugly scheme . . . an obnoxious scheme . . . to shamelessly rig an election" and concludes: "Republicans are simply out of control. They know no limits; they have no shame."
Actually, the GOP plan is perfectly legitimate, for the Constitution gives state legislatures plenary power over the method of selecting presidential electors. The popular-vote winner-take-all method has been the norm since about 1824, but various states at various times have chosen electors by congressional district, by vote for individual electors rather than a partisan slate, or by vote of the state legislature.
Yet for several reasons, the Pennsylvania plan is unwise even though it is legitimate. For one, as Dave Weigel notes, it is not in the interest of Pennsylvania, which, as a large swing state, is "heavily campaigned-in every year." The plan would take most of the state's electoral votes out of play. In 2008, McCain carried two Pennsylvania districts by fewer than 1,000 votes and two others by 3%. The closest margins in the remaining districts were 9%. Thus the state's influence would decline precipitously even if it helped the party that currently controls the Legislature.
And the plan could easily backfire on Republicans, as the New York Times's Nate Silver, a smart liberal, argues: "The relative order of states shifts a little bit from election to election, and Pennsylvania is close enough to the razor's edge that it could flip from Democratic-leaning to Republican-leaning." If that were to happen, the GOP plan could end up handing electoral votes to a Democrat.
Colorado's vote-split plan was designed to help Democrats, and had it passed, it would have handed Kerry four electoral votes in 2004. But had it been in effect when Obama carried the Centennial State in 2008, McCain would have received four votes instead of a goose egg.
There's one other problem nobody seems to have thought of. Imagine this scenario: President Perry has a rough first couple of years. Republicans suffer a 2006-style shellacking in 2014, so that Gov. Corbett is turned out and Democrats gain control of both houses of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. But in 2015-16, Perry bounces back sufficiently that the election is very close. Pennsylvania narrowly goes Democratic, but Republican districts give Perry just enough electoral votes to put him over the top.
What's to stop Democrats in Harrisburg from changing the rules back and allotting all 20 electoral votes to the statewide winner? They would have a patina of political legitimacy in doing so, inasmuch as they could plausibly claim to be representing the will of a majority of Pennsylvanians. Wouldn't that be fun?
Stuck on Stimulus
"President Barack Obama has had a lot to say in recent days about his new jobs package, though he's tough to pin down on one important fact: the number of jobs it will create," The Wall Street Journal reports with magnificent understatement:
Private economists have offered a wide range of estimates, with some saying the plan would have little impact and with others saying it could create between 1.3 million and 1.9 million jobs next year. The White House has avoided offering a public forecast. An earlier prediction that the 2009 stimulus package would hold the unemployment rate below 8% still haunts the administration. The unemployment rate is now 9.1%.
"We just don't do official job estimates," Jack Lew, Mr. Obama's budget director, said this week. Mr. Obama's jobs plan, he emphasized, will have a positive impact on GDP and job growth.
But the White House is promoting job-creation figures in state-by-state "factsheets." A review of the state-by-state data shows the White House anticipates Mr. Obama's plan would generate at least 1.7 million jobs. The White House created the factsheets for local and regional reporters, and has only distributed a few to a wider group of reporters to make the case for the package's benefits.
A senior Obama administration official said it is misleading to add all of the figures in the state-by-state factsheets because the proposals generate different types of jobs that aren't comparable.
Wow, that sounds almost honest--essentially an acknowledgment that they have no idea how many jobs if any Stimulus Jr. would create. Reason's Peter Suderman, reporting on a study by economist Daniel Rothschild, points out that the numbers the administration generated for Stimulus Sr. were equally bogus:
In some cases, for example, firms that received stimulus money were instructed by their federal overseers to count jobs created by taking the total amount of money they were given, divide it by some predetermined per-job salary figure, then report the result as the number of jobs created.
Essentially, they were told to assume in their reports that if they got the money, they created jobs--regardless of whether or not any jobs were actually created.
Meanwhile, the New York Times editorial page reassures its gullible readers: "The problem with the stimulus bill is not that it did not work. The problem is that neither the administration nor Congressional Democrats ever persuasively used the evidence of its positive effect on jobs."
The Times opines: "For Mr. Obama to win public support for this effort, Americans need to see him attack the Republicans' opposition and to forcefully get his party in line." And Obama does seem to be taking the advice and stepping up the vehemence, as evidenced by this clip from Breitbart.tv:
I get fed up with that kind of game plan, and we've been seeing it for too long. Too long. We're in a national emergency. We've been grappling with a crisis for three years, and instead of getting folks to rise up above partisanship in a spirit that says we're all in this together, we got folks who are purposely dividing, purposely thinking just in terms of how does this play out just in terms of this election.
Unemployment has been above 9% for most of Obama's presidency, and suddenly now "we're in a national emergency"? The real emergency is that his re-election prospects are dimming, and he wants taxpayers to make a half-trillion-dollar campaign contribution.
Fill It Up, and They've Got a $3.06 Billion Stimulus
"Portugal Finds $1.53 Billion Hole"--headline, The Wall Street Journal, Sept. 16
Great Divide?
From CNN.com, here's an especially amateurish example of media bias:
The Republican Party is split right down the middle between tea party movement supporters and those who do not support the two-and-a-half-year-old movement, according to a new national survey.
And a CNN/ORC International Poll released Thursday also highlights the differences in demographics, ideology, and temperament between the two camps. According to the survey, on some issues, the two wings of the GOP are in accord, but tea party activists and supporters do not speak for the entire Republican Party on issues such as the deficit, global warming, evolution, abortion, gay marriage, the Federal Reserve, the Department of Education, or Social Security. . . .
According to the survey, roughly half (49 percent) of Republicans and independents who lean towards the GOP say they support the tea party movement or are active members, with roughly half (51 percent) saying that they have no feelings one way or another about the tea party or that they oppose the movement.
See the problem? They're arbitrarily lumping voters who are neutral about the Tea Party with opponents in order to swell the latter's numbers. One could just as easily write: "An overwhelming 74% of Republicans and GOP-leaning independents either support the Tea Party movement or have no feelings one way or another. Just 26% oppose it."
Those numbers, we should add, are hypothetical: The "full results" don't even give the actual breakdown.
Flirting With Disaster
On Tuesday we noted that in 1996 or 1997, future Enron adviser Paul Krugman likened Social Security to a Ponzi scheme, just as Gov. Rick Perry has done more recently. In a post on his New York Times blog, the former Enron adviser now says that he didn't mean there was anything wrong with Social Security, only that Paul Samuelson was cute:
Notice what I didn't say. I didn't say that the system was a fraud; I didn't say that it would collapse. I said that in the past it had benefited from the fact that each generation paying in to the system was bigger than the generation that preceded it, and that this luxury would be ending in the years ahead.
So why did I use the P-word? Basically because Paul Samuelson had done the same; he was basically just being cute, and I was emulating him--which now turns out to be a mistake.
We guess it's safe to infer that Krugman doesn't think Rick Perry is cute.
- "The thing that I found, Savannah, that really surprised me, was that the people who know her best like her least."--Joe McGinniss, author of "The Rogue: Searching for the Real Sarah Palin," to NBC's Savannah Guthrie, Sept. 15
- "I think I was as fair as I could possibly have been, given the fact that she told all the people who were closest to her not to talk to me."--McGinniss, same interview
Homer Nods
Yesterday's lead item (since corrected) should have referred to "Atlas Shrugged," not "Atlas Shrugs."
He May Be Across the State Line
- "Serial Toe-Sucker Hunted in Arkansas"--headline, WMAQ-TV website (Chicago), Sept. 16
- "Fox News Political Analyst Dick Morris to Speak at Rep. Carr Fundraiser"--headline, Daily News Journal (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), Sept. 13
Better Than 100%
"Obama: Election Odds Better in 2012 Than 2008"--headline, ABCNews.com, Sept. 15
To Serve Man
"Sentence for a Plan to Eat Obama: 5 Years"--headline, Philadelphia Inquirer, Sept. 15
Could It Be Magic
"Barry Manilow on Ron Paul: 'I Agree With Just About Everything He Says' "--headline, DailyCaller.com, Sept. 15
At Least Service Will Improve
"Postal Service Move Would Delay Mail by a Day"--headline, USA Today, Sept. 16
It Wasn't Brain Surgery
"What Got NASA's New Rocket Moving? Maybe Clumsy 'Sabotage' "--headline, Huntsville (Ala.) Times, Sept. 15
Joe Versus the Volcano
"Southern U. Faculty Members May Be Burned for Agreeing to Sacrifice"--headline, Chronicle of Higher Education website, Sept. 15
Questions Nobody Is Asking
- "Is Al Gore Now a Help or Hindrance to the Global Warming Cause?"--headline, Guardian (London), Sept. 15
- "Will ''Star Wars' Online Video Game Ask Your Child to Engage in Same-Sex Relationships?"--headline, BigHollywood.Breitbart.com, Sept. 15
- "Where Are the Compassionate Conservatives?"--headline, Washington Post, Sept. 16
- "John Fund: What if a Committee of Prominent Dems Approached Obama and Asked Him Not to Run?"--headline, HotAir.com, Sept. 15
Answers to Questions Nobody Is Asking
- "What America's Geithner Will Be Telling His EU Counterparts"--headline, Guardian (London), Sept. 16
- "Why Men Should Fear Babies"--headline, Washington Post website, Sept. 15
Too Much Information
- "Issa Probing Fannie's Big Mortgage Buy"--headline, TheHill.com, Sept. 15
- "Weiner Gets 'Brush'Off"--headline, New York Post, Sept. 16
Someone Set Up Us the Bomb
"Republican Union Kings Cave on NLRB Vote"--headline, Washington Examiner website, Sept. 15
Everything Seemingly Is Spinning Out of Control
"Mitsubishi to Auction the Final Eclipse"--headline, WSJ.com, Sept. 15
News of the Tautological
"James Carville's Flawed Advice for Obama"--headline, New York Times website, Sept. 16
News You Can Use
"How to Talk About Solyndra"--headline, MotherJones.com, Sept. 16
Bottom Stories of the Day
- "Buffalo's Top Two Grocery Chains Not Part of Canteloupe Recall"--headline, Buffalo News, Sept. 15
- "Huntsman to Be Endorsed by Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge"--headline, TheHill.com, Sept. 16
Come Again, Flotus?
"It's not often that right-wing bloggers actually disprove their own point so publicly and spectacularly in less than 24 hours," writes Eric Boehlert of MediaMutters.org:
But they managed to do exactly that by whining about an Obama re-election initiative to ferret out smear campaigns while they launched a new smear campaign against Michelle Obama. . . .
This week we saw the collective freakout over the new AttackWatch website. . . . But is AttackWatch necessary? The right-wing blogosphere quickly answered that question by (surprise!) launching a nasty smear campaign in which bloggers condemned the First Lady based on what they think she said (yes, lip-reading was the basis for the attack), while recently attending a solemn Ground Zero memorial on Sept. 11.
Boehlert apparently is so tone-deaf that a horselaugh sounds to him like a whine. But what was this smear of Mrs. Obama? His post was the first we'd heard of it. It turns out that there's video of the Obamas at a flag-folding ceremony during the 9/11 anniversary commemorations. Mrs. Obama says something to Mr. Obama and rolls her eyes, but there's no audio, so we don't know what she said. One fringe blogress thought the first lady was saying: "All of this for a damn flag."
Fortunately, as Boehlert notes, the Obama campaign now has AttackWatch.com to fight the smears! So we went over to the site to find out what Mrs. Obama actually said, and . . . we couldn't find anything about the incident. That doesn't necessarily mean Mrs. Obama said something invidious. Boehlert could even be right that AttackWatch is "necessary." But at the very least, it proves beyond doubt that it isn't sufficient.
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Columbus Interim Public Works Director Casey Bush fills out paperwork Thursday at the Public Works facility. Photo by: Nathan Gregory/Dispatch Staff
June 17, 2013 10:08:34 AM
Some know him as a mainstay at Columbus' public works department, which he now leads on an interim basis. Some know him as a minister of Greater Mt. Zion Church, where he has led the congregation since 2008. In either case, leading is something Casey Bush has a great deal of experience with, something he says it's only possible through his faith.
Except for a two-year stint in Canton, where he worked at the Nissan production plant from 2004-06 and Metal USA in Columbus for a short time, the 46-year-old Columbus native has been with public works since 1991.
While the direct correlation between his faith and maintenance of the city's infrastructure isn't obvious on the surface, Bush says prayer and faith are crucial in his everyday life.
"This can get to be a very stressful job, if you allow it to get to you, so it is great to have faith in a God that can comfort you, someone that you can talk to for guidance. I like meditating in the mornings before I come and because we're faced with all kinds of stuff when you get here to public works," Bush said. "You've got to have faith in God, and that's the way I've always taken on any job that I've been on. I really rely on my faith now more than ever, I would say."
In his role, Bush oversees the rubbish landfill, street and ditch repairs, drainage improvements and other various maintenance duties. Taking care of the public needs of Columbus' residents is a job Bush said he takes great pride in, and his favorite part of the job is being with his employees.
"I have a great group of guys that work for me," he said. "I would say the fun part of it is working with the guys. And getting up every day and looking forward to the next challenge."
One of the biggest among those challenges is making improvements to the drainage system, which he said are much needed.
"With our drainage, when we get a good downpour of three to four inches of rain, we're backed up in some areas of town, and I'm actively trying to work on that as far as re-piping," he said. "I'm budgeting right now for us to get a washing machine to clean out the pipes, which would help us tremendously."
He came to his current position last month after the sudden passing of his colleague, former public works director Mike Pratt. Bush said he also relied on faith to come to terms with the loss of who he said was a fine leader and friend.
Pratt died unexpectedly on Saturday, April 27.
"I couldn't believe it. I had spoken to him that Friday. And the relationship we had was great. We worked well together," Bush said. "Any time you're dealing with someone five days or four days a week, 10 hours a day, you're not going to agree on everything, but overall we agreed on a lot and wanted to try to take the city forward and the public works department forward. "
Settling in at his new role hasn't been that difficult to do, Bush said, in part through working so closely with Pratt.
"It's not that much of a transition. And the reason me and Mike had a close relationship as far as work-wise is because if he had something for me to handle, I knew about it. So the transition is a lot smoother than someone else that really doesn't know about the department," he said. "The only thing I do regret is that (Pratt is) gone. That's very unfortunate."
Bush, a 1988 graduate of Caldwell High School, said another key to his success is his ability to work easily with others.
"I'm a people person, and I believe that I always treat people the way I want to be treated regardless of the situation," he said. "It carried me a long way as far as communicating with people."
Nathan Gregory covers city and county government for The Dispatch.
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● If school has been closed due to road conditions, you can assume that the weekday Mass is canceled and that the offices will be closed.
● You are not required to shake hands at the sign of peace; you may offer peace to
those around you verbally.
● You are not required to drink from the cup. However, keeping in mind Lord's sacramental presence, you should offer a brief bow of reverence as you pass by the cup during the Communion procession.
A FOOTNOTE: Along with being mindful of germs/viruses, we must also be mindful of those who have allergic reactions to fragrances. Please show restraint and moderation, when applying cologne or perfume in preparation for Mass. We thank you for your consideration.
Fr. Greg
APRIL 07, 2017: Soon we will be launching the 2017 CSA campaign. By way of review, CSA stands for the Catholic Services Appeal. Through the collecting of pledges, CSA generates support for ministries, services, and departments, some of which are local, some national, and some even international. For example, your CSA pledge helps to fund the local Catholic Human Services agency here in Grand Traverse County. Your pledge provides assistance for various Native American missions across the United States. When you read about Catholic Relief Services (CRS) responding to a disaster somewhere around the world, this means that your pledge is also having an impact on the global level. And furthermore, many important departments within the diocese are maintained through CSA funding. As a pastor, I find myself depending upon these departments almost continually. I regularly call upon the Tribunal so that annulment cases can be processed in a timely and graceful manner. I have called upon the Catholic Schools Superintendent's office on many occasions. And there have been times when I've sought direction from the Diocesan Human Resources Department. Additionally, we all appreciate having a Vocations Department, through which seminarians can receive direction and be nurtured along in the path to priesthood.
Speaking in practical terms, we need everybody to play a part. On average, if every household could pledge between $12 to $15 per month, we would safely reach our target. That's roughly $3.50 per week. Even though our parish target may sound unreachable ($123,125), it ends up being very reachable...as long as everybody plays a part. Some households will be able to pledge more than $15 per month, while some others will have to do less. But for the sake of the cause and for the sake of your parish, I ask that you each do something . When parishes suffer a shortfall, is it because the pledges were too meager? No, it's because of the pledges that never get made. So please commit yourself to making the 2017 CSA campaign a success for this parish. We plan to have volunteers available after the Masses, ready to assist you in making a pledge. This will happen on the weekends of May 6th/7th, May 20th/21st, and possibly June 3rd/4th. Remember that you do not have to pay anything up front. You can spread your pledge out over the course of the following months. Furthermore, you have the option of pledging through the mail or through the diocesan website (www.dioceseofgaylord.org). I thank you for your past, present, and future generosity. May you enjoy the Lord's continued blessings.
While today's decision by the Supreme Court redefines how our civil authorities view marriage, it does not change our understanding of the sacrament of marriage within the Catholic Church. Since the beginning of time, the natural law established by God has determined how each of us is created, requiring the unique relationship between one man and one woman. We will continue to hold fast to our faith and teachings with regard to the vocation of marriage. We pray that this decision, and any that may follow, will not compromise our own right to religious liberty and to practice our faith in accordance with our deeply held beliefs and teachings.
While we strongly disagree with the Court's ruling today, it also does not change the primary tenet of our faith to honor and uphold the dignity of each human person. It is my hope and prayer that neither today's decision nor our expressed disappointment becomes an opportunity for further division in our nation, but that we might continue to discuss these issues in an environment of love and mutual respect.
I ask all of the faithful in the Diocese of Gaylord to join me in prayer for our country as these coming days unfold and the implications of today's decision become more fully understood.


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I know people are always saying "don't look back, you're not going that way," but I think it's a good idea to take stock of what went wrong (and right!) in the previous year so you can make the necessary changes – unless you are happily content, and in that case, what's your secret?? Is it possible to be content and restless at the same time?
Anyway, if I could say one thing about 2015 it's "thankful" … that it's over!
I don't think I'm alone in being grateful that 2015 has taken its final bow. It seems that 2015 was especially hard on a lot of people for all kinds of personal reasons, and this post was originally filled with all the ways 2015 sucked (Debbie Downer, much?), but I'm really trying to remain positive in 2016 to continue to help keep my depression at bay! I think that should include finding the nuggets of joy and gratitude from this past year, even when things seemed to be spiraling out of control.
So here are the highlights and lowlights of 2015 – may they inspire me towards a greater 2016!
Low: 2015 started with my uncle passing away after battling cancer for several years.
High: ??? I'm just going to let January go…
February, March, April, and May
Low: I have no idea where these months went – it appears I literally worked my life away.
High: I'm grateful to have a well-enough paying job that allows me, as a single woman in out-of-control-over-priced-Portland, to afford my own apartment and pay all my bills, including the unexpected ones.
Low: I was hit by a van while walking in a crosswalk. I haven't talked about it yet because my claim is still open, and my elbow is still not healing properly. Also, when your body gets hit by a car, your insurance won't pay for it. You have to pay out of pocket (or try to get your car insurance involved even though your car wasn't involved!) then ask for reimbursement from the other guy's insurance. It's a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad system!
High: Getting hit made me realize how happy I am to be alive, and was a wake up call that I have more life to live — if only I can figure out what that looks like.
I honestly don't remember July – I was probably high on "I'm so glad I'm alive!" juice. Doctor appointments, healing, probably took a couple long weekends… we'll call July good.
High: Camping vacation with my parents! A very needed and enjoyable refresh!
High: One of my best friends got married – yaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!
Low: One of my cats started acting funny and I spent $850 to find out he had bladder stones and opted to try to treat with special (expensive) food instead of surgery.
High: Busy season at work again and still grateful to be employed!
Low: I turned another year older with nothing to show for it while everyone around me seemed to be getting married, buying houses, having babies, and traveling the world.
High: Still super happy to be alive and grateful for my life even if it's not going the way I thought it would!
Low: My cat had to go back for another $850 vet appointment to find out that the special expensive food wasn't working and I had to immediately choose between $2,000 major surgery or putting him to sleep… I chose the major surgery (and additional debt). His three weeks of recovery was pretty much the worst, most constantly stressful weeks of 2015, and I'm certain that my hair turned even greyer.
High: I'm thankful I was able to work from home, and take PTO, to take care of him. I'm also grateful that I live near my parents and my mom could help me at 6am when my cat got his cone-of-shame stuck on his teeth… she also brought me food. Thanks Mom!!
Low: it went by way too fast and I realized that I'd gained 20 pounds since June. Apparently just being happy to be alive does not keep the weight off.
High: My niece's 2nd Birthday (she's the cutest niece ever!) and two weeks of vacation to spend with family at Christmas, and end the year with lots and lots and lots and lots of glorious naps!
Final thoughts for 2015:
In writing (and rewriting) this post I realized how much I have to be grateful for even if the year was full of stress that I had no control over. Not being in control (or at least not know what's going on) is also in and of itself a huge stress point for me, so I guess 2015 was a good lesson in letting go.
I'm still working on breaking down my goals for 2016, which I will share later, but for now I am reminded that I can make all the plans I want, but I am not ultimately in control. Goals and plans are good things, but we also need to be prepared to take a different path if needed.
God is still working on me, and for that I am extra grateful!
Did you have a good 2015? Have you set some goals you like to accomplish in 2016?


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Sunday, October 23, 2011
My First Homemade Vegan Chocolate Bar
16 comments:
Wow, that's so awesome. I've never made my own chocolate bars but now I think I'm going to have to!ReplyDelete
These look so incredible!ReplyDelete
They look amazing! I love chocolate bars, I bet it's much more economical to make your own too!ReplyDelete
Wow, that is amazing!ReplyDelete
yum!!! the bruleed marshmallow is really smart.ReplyDelete
I'm going to look for silicone molds tomorrow!ReplyDelete
Looks amazing! Wish I could eat one (or 5).ReplyDelete
Genius! They look absolutely brilliant.ReplyDelete
What a brilliant and irresistible use for the dulce de coco! I love it!ReplyDelete
awesome, these look delicious. I love the way you prepared the Dandies in these.ReplyDelete
This recipe looks like so much fun! Do you store the bars at room temperature--does the chocolate stay solid? Thanks!ReplyDelete
I ended up storing them in the fridge then let them warm up a bit before trying to eat them!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 13, 2012 at 11:28 PM
Dulce de leche would be the bomb in this as well!! Wish I didnt have to order it online.. ahh he great mid-west..ReplyDelete


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The San Diego Lapidary Society is a member organization dedicated to the advancement of Earth Science by stimulating interest in and encouraging the study of Geological and Mineral Science, and Lapidary related Arts. Come and join in the fun and see what all of our members are doing.
Definition: lapidary (the word means "concerned with stones") a lapidary is an artisan who practices the craft of working, forming and finishing stone, mineral, gemstones, and other suitably durable materials (amber, shell, jet, pearl, copal, coral, horn and bone, glass and other synthetics) into functional and/or decorative, even wearable, items (e.g. cameos, cabochons, and more complex facetted designs).


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Home > Back to Search Results > Babe Ruth's first home run as a Yankee...
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Babe Ruth's first home run as a Yankee...
Item # 646849
May 2, 1920
THE NEW YORK TIMES, May 2, 1920.
* Babe Ruth's 1st Home Run
* 1st season w/ New York Yankees
* Historic MLB Baseball item
* Best title to be had (rare)
The sport's section (page 20) has a one column heading: "RUTH DRIVES BALL OVER GRAND STAND" with subheads that include and subheads: "Colossal Clout of Home-Run King Helps Yankees in Their 6 to 0 Victory Over Red Sox" "Bob Shawkey In Fine Form" & more. (see) First report coverage discusses Ruth's tremendous blast mentioning in part: "The only other citizen who has ever slapped the ball over the stand was Joe Jackson, a few seasons back." This was Ruth's first homer as a Yankee. Summary also mentions the fine base running by Ruth. Always nice to have notable events in history reported in this World famous publication, especially on this event. Very rare as such.
Other news of the day. Complete 1st section only with all 24 pages, some damage at the spine causing a little unrelated text loss but not affecting the Ruth report at all, otherwise in good condition.
Category: The 20th Century
Available Now


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This was to be a day dominated by some white water kayaking, not something that I have experienced that frequently whilst paddling in Greenland. It finished with our entry into the inner part of the Pakitsoq fjord. A considerable area, which differs in numerous ways from the rest of the kayaking, which is experienced off the west coast of Greenland. It was the start of a couple days of memorable experiences
Preparing to depart after breakfast. Our early morning porridge was made slightly more interesting due to the fact that as we sat on the rocks, our friend Yann, from southern Brittany paddled past. Sea kayaking really is a small world.
Alex heading south in Ata Sund. Quite a bit of the ice from the previous day had disappeared.
We arrived at the entrance into the inner section of Pakitsoq, slightly early, so the tide was still ebbing with some force.
Jim heading out into the current, for a bit of play time.
Toby crossing into the main stream. Once the tide reached a certain level the rough water disappeared really quickly. It was an interesting 90 minutes of play in the white water, which is in total contrast to most of the kayaking experienced in Greenland.
Passing through the narrows into Pakitsup ilordlia. It was strange to think that we were still paddling on the sea.
Once through the narrows a totally different environment is revealed. The ice cap is just visible through the dip in the skyline. The complete lack of ice bergs also meant that we didn't have to carry our kayaks so far in the evening, to avoid any possible waves generated by calving bergs.
A delightful campsite, made even more enjoyable by the complete lack of insects.
On evenings like this there is always the temptation to leave the tent door open.


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Lentil Soup with Bulgur (Bulgurlu Mercimek Çorbası)
Lentil soups are very common in Turkey. This one is traditionally made with red lentils. However, I like the taste of bulgur more with brown or green lentils. For this one I used French lentils. The peppery taste of French lentils along with dried mint was simply perfect for this winter soup. To try the traditional Turkish recipe, just replace French lentils with red lentils.
3 tbsp butter
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup French lentils
1/2 cup bulgur (I used fine bulgur, but coarse is fine, too)
2 tbsp tomato paste
2 tbsp flour (I used whole wheat)
6-7 cups of stock
2-3 tbsp dried mint flakes
2 tsp thyme
2 tsp red pepper flakes
-Saute onion with butter until soft.
-Add flour stir constantly for 1-2 minutes. Add tomato paste, stir another 1-2 minutes.
-Add lentils, bulgur, stock, and salt.
-Cover and simmer until lentils are cooked for approximately 30 minutes.
-At this point, if you want a smooth soup use a blender.
-Add mint, thyme, and pepper flakes.
Dried mint flakes definitely brightens up this soup remarkably. For the power of dried mint flakes, this recipe is my contribution to Weekend Herb Blogging which was founded by Kalyn and is hosted this week by Anna's Cool Finds.
21 comments:
Thanks, Lisa!ReplyDelete
Simona-the combination of bulgur and lentils is really good.
Kalyn-I want to try every single lentil soup recipe. I love all legumes and from your posts I can see that you are like me , too.
Lydia-that's a good questions. I think color and leaf size are the most important ones. Look for greener leaves. If they look pale green or yellowish, it means they've been dried a long time ago, summers ago. Big leaves are also a good sign. Plus, try to find ones that do not have accumulated dust at the bottom of the container. You want to buy dry mint that was dried in a clean environment, you cannot wash them.
This soup looks wonderful! And I have a box of French lentils on my pantry shelf that I just didn't know what to do with...ReplyDelete
This looks wonderful. I love lentil and bulgur soup and recently made the red lentil (Ezo Gelin) variety (and linked to your blog as authority for its use as a hangover cure and availability in kebab houses - thank you!). It's really good. Now I'll have to try it with green lentils. Like you and Kalyn, I love pretty much anything with legumes in it.ReplyDelete
When you fall in love, it's hard to pass the dinner table. People recall the first time impulse that comes to him kissing his girlfriend is: I was crazy about looking at her meal with relish. Her lips are so cute and sexy; I love to become her Italian pasta. This could be the delicate relation between food and love.ReplyDelete
The Valentine's Day is about to come. There's a local feast brewing with love and food which held at food for VooEasy. There are beautiful stories, great music and nice friends. Also heard that there chefs are unique, their food can not only make people salivating, but also with magic. It can make your lover with joy at dinner, and also it helps to convey your love and open your lover's hear.
They called the event "Love is so Delicious", let's go for a look~ (you can click the link below to join)
Chef of the Team 'Love is so Delicious'
Thanks for taking time to read this message. We really appreciate your join.
What an amazing site you have. I've been looking into Turkish food lately to get ready for a dinner my friends and I will cook together and you site is the best information I've been able to locate! It's extremely well written, the photos are gorgeous, and the food looks delicious. Thanks so much! I can't wait to see which recipes I'll choose. They'll be posted on my site in about a week and I'll let you know how it goes...Thanks again.ReplyDelete
I think I died and went to heaven! I'm a Hungarian vegetarian, who must have been Turkish ina previous life, because I just love the food. I've been to Istanbul once, for 10 days, it was amazing.ReplyDelete
Anyway, this soup is cooking on my stove as I am writing this, and I have already linked you on my blog.
So keep it up, pls, thi sis lovely! And I can't wait for the price of eggplant to drop slightly!
Best wishes,


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An Exhibition of Paintings in Oil and Watercolour
by TOMAS KINGThis year Tomas's annual exhibition during the Wexford Opera Festival will take place at Trimmers Lane, Wexford from the 21st October - 2nd November 2011, 10am - 6pm each day. The exhibition will feature works in Oil and Watercolour together with a range of limited edition prints. For further information follow the link to contact the artist.
Painting featured above:
Home and Dry, Watercolour on Paper.
Post published by Tomas King 6th Oct. 2011
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


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There's a good chance upcoming regulations will catch many eCommerce store owners by surprise next month. With the possibility of getting slammed with a penalty of 4% of annual revenue, now is the time to start preparing for the new requirements.
GDPR, which can be seen as a 'suite' of privacy regulations from the EU, will go into effect May 25, 2018. If you don't sell any products to customers in the EU, congratulations, you don't have to worry about compliance with GDPR. However, it should be noted that many of the requirements are generally consumer-friendly privacy practices that you may want to consider nevertheless. Continue reading "A brief review: WordPress eCommerce plugin preparations for GDPR"


text: Photographing events and conferences are a big part of my business. Event clients include Telus, Shaw, TD Bank, City of Calgary and the U of C, just to name a few. Some of the conferences covered last year – 2018 Cement Conference, Energy Summit, AMBA Mortgage Brokers Conference and The Art of Women's Leadership(images featured … Continue reading Calgary Event and Conference Photographers


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Frequently Asked Questions
Q. When can I register online?
A. You can register now through December 31, 2018
Q. Is this offer good for all ages?
A. Yes! Kids, moms, dads, grandma, grandpa, anyone can celebrate their birthday with a free Unlimited Fun Pass at Boondocks Food & Fun.
Q. What kind of proof of birth date do I need to show at Boondocks Food & Fun ticket sales counter?
A. driver's license, passport, or government issued ID including a photo and date of birth. For children, an original or certified copy of a state or hospital issued birth certificate. School IDs or kids security IDs are not deemed government issued and will not be accepted.
Q. What hours can Unlimited Fun Passes be used?
A. Unlimited Fun Passes are valid Monday through Friday 4pm-close, and Saturday, Sunday, specific holidays and summer break,10am-close.
Q. If I can't come on my birthday can I use my FREE Unlimited Fun Passes on another day?
A. Unfortunately, no. The free Unlimited Fun Pass offer is valid only on your birthday in 2018. The reason for this is if we let guests come within the week or month of their birthday most everyone would choose to come on a Saturday, and it would be too crowded for an enjoyable guest experience. The only exception would be If your Birthday falls on a Sunday or a Holiday when Boondocks Food & Fun is closed, you may choose to redeem your FREE Unlimited Fun Pass on the following day.
Q. Can I give my birthday FREE Unlimited Fun Passes to someone else?
A. No, the Unlimited Fun Pass is only for the birthday person to use.
A. At Boondocks Food & Fun ticket sales counter on your birthday.
Q. Is there an age requirement for online registration?
A. Yes, you must be 13 years of age or older to register. If you're under 13 please have a parent or guardian register themselves first, then sign you up as a family member.
Q. What if I am booking a birthday party package at Boondocks Food & Fun?
A. If the birthday party is on your actual date of birth then the birthday person will be free for whichever party package you choose. If the party isn't on your actual birthday you can come to Boondocks Fun Center on your birthday to use your Free Unlimited Fun Pass, maybe for a family celebration. Either way, be sure to register online and bring proof of your birth date when you come.
Q. What if I can't register online or print out my confirmation sheet?
A. You can bring proof of your birth date and fill out a Birthday Registration Card at Boondocks Food & Fun ticket sales counter.
For any questions not answered here please e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com or call (801) 838-9800 ext 400.


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Benefits of Pre-paid legal plans
Pre-paid legal services can be a really attractive alternative to hiring alawyer for many people. You need to consider the value and relativepriority of these benefits due to your very own legal needs.
Exactly what are the benefits going pre-paid compared to standard hire oflawyers?
Advantage Number 1: Cost-Effective
Pre-paid legal strategies can take the sting out of working with a legal representative. Legal representatives' fees are excessive for most people: you can run expenses of thousands ofdollars and this is just out of reach of many working and middle-classfamilies.
With pre-paid strategies, exactly what you get charged is more in line with what youpay for your health or house insurance coverage. Plans begin as low as $9 per monthand normally do not surpass the $30 mark.
Advantage Number 2: Simplicity
There is a number of extremely complex set of charges lawyers charge: contingency fees, flat fees, hourly rates and statutory costs. In the caseof contingency and statutory fees, you have to get into the intricatedetails of how these charges are calculated– say for a contingency fee howmuch is the attorney's commission?
The other two types of charges can be similarly as complex. Increasingly, lawyers choose to include any overheads they incur, like secretarialexpenses, parking charges and travel costs into their hourly and flat costs.
They can likewise set a minimum number of billing units, like 3 tenths ofan hour (18 minutes), irrespective of how long it takes them to deal withyour problem.
Contrastthis with the simplicity in which pre-paid legal services are priced andfurnished. The procedure is simple and basic: you sign an agreementto pay a fixed regular monthly charge and that's about it.
Benefit Number 4: Pre-emptive Law
Pre-paid strategies provide unrestricted phone consultation and guidance. The majority of legal issues you are likely to deal with in your everyday lifecan be resolved if you take the essential actions in line with the law.
There is a number of very complicated set of fees lawyers charge: contingency costs, flat fees, per hour rates and statutory costs. In the caseof contingency and statutory costs, you have to get into the intricatedetails of how these costs are calculated– say for a contingency charge howmuch is the legal representative's commission?– and their regulative nature– whoregulates the statutory charge and how do I know if these fees are in linewith regulative guidelines? The procedure is uncomplicated and easy: you sign an agreementto pay a fixed monthly cost and that's about it.


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xtencilate wrote:Not sure how many of the old 760 crew is here, but thought I'd stop in and say hey to DeftOne and ParVo at least. Been a long time guys
xtencilate wrote:I still noodle at the indie thing a few nights a week, but nothing serious. This is my current wip http://i.imgur.com/h3feHSV.png
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6 Ways To Beat Writer's Block
Some writers never have to worry about writer's block. Ideas and words seem to flow endlessly for these creative souls. They move seamlessly from one project to the next, with perfect fluidity.
Then there are the rest of us. All too often we stare at a blank screen for hours on end, searching for the words to get started. Often we already have a great idea for our article or story but just can't find that perfect first sentence.
If you spend too much time trying to figure out how to beat writer's block, you'll never actually get the words on the page. If you're having a hard time getting started, try one of these tips to get the words flowing again.
Just Write
Write something, write anything. Some writers find the blank page intimidating, and others see it as being so filled with possibilities that they just don't know where to start. All that pristine white space begging for some ink, the cursor blinking at you in anticipation, sometimes it helps to just get some words on the page to break the ice. Write out your favorite recipe, the lyrics to your favorite song, whatever pops into your head. Many times, that will be enough to break the writer's block and unlock that stubborn brain.
If that blinking cursor intimidates you, try going old school. By keeping a pen and pad of paper on hand you can jot notes or start your piece by writing it out by hand. Many writers find their creativity again by actually feeling the words flow from their hands like this. My personal favorite combo is the old stand-by composition tablet and Ticonderoga #2 black pencil.
Get Descriptive
Sometimes a little visual input is all that's required to get around writer's block and get the words flowing again. Go to your favorite writing space and get comfortable. Pick a random object and describe it in detail. Whether it's a book on a shelf, the family pet, or the room itself, write about it. Describe the color, shape, or whatever comes to mind. You could even write about the blank page in front of you and why you think the blinking cursor is mocking you. If you still can't put words on the page, have a look at Amazon.com. Pick a random item and describe it. This is a simple exercise to get your brain warmed up to the task of writing, but it's well worth the effort.
Dump Writer's Block
Write a Dear John letter to writer's block. It may sound silly, but it works for a lot of writers. Sit down and write a breakup letter to writer's block. Begin with "Dear Writer's Block", and write a heartfelt letter explaining why the relationship is over. Remember, writer's block doesn't take rejection very well, so be firm!
Create Your Own Audience
This is especially helpful for copywriters. If you're writing copy for a specific product or service, don't just write to a target audience. Instead, create a single member of that target audience. Pick a name for your imaginary reader. Think about what they look like and describe them. Write about their job, where they live, the kinds of issues they face in their daily life, where they shop; create a whole life for them. If you just can't find the words to do this exercise, pick a friend or relative instead of trying to create a character from scratch. The point is to have one specific person in mind.
Now that you have your audience member, write your copy to that person and that person alone. Don't tell them how your product will solve all of the world's problems. Tell them how it will solve their particular problems. This whole exercise should help to break your writer's block and spark your creativity; and by writing to that one person, your writing will be more focused and carry much more impact.
Know When To Quit
If you've done everything in your power to get started but aren't getting results, come back and try again later. Sometimes your brain has set other priorities for you and there's nothing you can do to change it. Forcing yourself to write will not help the situation, and may even make it worse. Besides, forced writing is no fun for the writer or the reader.
Instead of forcing the words onto the page, take a break. When it comes to writer's block, the old adage that the best way to solve some problems is to stop thinking about them is especially true. Try getting out into the fresh air. Take a long walk to clear your head; you never know where you'll find inspiration.
As long as you're out in the world, think like a writer! Try to notice everything around you. How does the air smell? What color are the flowers? Take everything in and describe it in your head.
Find A New Angle
If you're trying to make money writing, chances are good that you'll occasionally find yourself writing on topics that hold no interest for you. When that happens, try to find an interesting angle on a boring topic. Whether you've found a high paying keyword about corn flakes that are shaped like US states, or a client has asked for a report on the aerodynamic properties of fruit flies, you're going to have to find a way to make it more interesting to you if you want it to be interesting to your reader (or your client!).
The truth is, there are very few topics that are completely boring from start to finish. Instead of looking at the whole topic, break it down and look at one or two aspects of it. You're bound to find something that sparks your interest.
Take the oddly shaped corn flake topic, for example. Did you know that a corn flake shaped like the state of Illinois was once sold on eBay for $1350? It's not Earth shattering news, but it does raise a question or two; not the least of which is "Who would pay $1350 for a corn flake?" Finding an unusual angle or adding little factoids like that not only helps you write on an otherwise boring topic, but also keeps the reader interested in what you have to say.
Keep Writing To Beat Writer's Block
Try one of these tips, or try them all, but they won't help a bit if you don't write. By writing something every day, no matter how long or short it may be, you can keep the words flowing and leave writer's block behind for good. Whether you write an article, a short story, or just do some journaling, making the time to write something every day will keep your brain engaged and your writing fresh.
It also helps if you can make it a habit. Pick a time of day that you are usually free and make that your writing time. If it becomes a habit, your subconscious mind knows when it will be called upon to write and it may put up less of a fuss.
I feel satsified after reading that one.
Very helpful and insightful tips that all of us writers can use. There have been times when I have had writer's block and would have been nice to have had something this handy at my beckon and call. Voted Up and useful! Also, saw you on RedGage :) --Best Regards--Deb, GoldenThreadPress
Awesome tips! Thank you for this. As a Language Arts teacher and a writer, I can say that your tips are very useful and effective.
I saw you on RedGage. : )
Thanks for sharing this hub. I would definitely try to write something everything, whatever comes to my mind just to get over the block. I love writing but spend a lot of time on planning what to write, then feel frustrated about not having written anything of much worth. When I feel depressed, sad or don't feel upto anything, I stop writing though I feel an inner urge that I need to write. I think I'll try to take some of your tips and start afresh!


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