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European Commission
Brussels, 5 December 2012
Youth employment: Commission proposes package of measures – frequently asked questions
(see also IP/12/1311)
Why has the Commission proposed a Youth Employment Package?
The Package has been proposed because the youth unemployment rate (under 25 years old) in the EU is more than twice as high as the rate for adults in most Member States (22.7 % as against 9.2 % in the third quarter of 2012) and has dramatically increased over the last four years.
The percentage of young people under 25 who are neither in employment nor in education or training (so-called NEETs) is rising. In 2011, 12.9 % of youth were NEETs, 2 percentage points more than four years earlier and corresponding to 7.5 million young people.
The dramatic situation of youth unemployment results from the economic crisis, but also shows structural problems, and has an immediate economic cost, in terms of benefits paid out, tax revenue and earnings foregone , has been estimated by Eurofound at over €150 billion per year, or 1.2% of EU GDP. The cost for some countries, such as Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia and Poland, is 2% or more of their GDP.
Young people not in employment, education or training (NEET) - EU Member States, 2008, 2010 and 2011 (Source: Eurostat, Labour Force Survey)
Long-term youth unemployment is on the rise: on average, 30.1 % of the young unemployed have been jobless for more than 12 months. The long-term unemployment rate increased by 3.7 percentage points (to 7.3 % of the young labour force) between 2008 and 2012, compared with a 1.8 point increase for adults (to 4.3 %). At the same time, overall employment rates for young people (15-24) fell by almost five percentage points over the last four years (from 37.3 % to 32.8 %) — three times as much as for adults (25-64).
Additionally there are significant differences between Member States in terms of their youth unemployment rates and their measures to tackle them.
What is in the Youth Employment Package?
The Youth Employment Package addresses a number of problems affecting youth employment and proposes remedies and EU-level actions:
1. Youth Guarantee
What is a Youth Guarantee?
The Youth Guarantee is a fully efficient tool developed in Finland and Austriathat ensures that young people receive a good quality offer of employment, continued education, an apprenticeship or a traineeship within a certain time after having left school or become unemployed.
The Commission has developed a comprehensive Youth Guarantee to be financially supported by the European Social Fund and to be integrated in employment policies of Member States. As outlined by the Commission, the Youth Guarantee should be activated for young people within four months of leaving formal education or becoming unemployed.
Why does the Commission think a Youth Guarantee is effective?
The Youth Guarantee's main objective is to ensure smoother transitions from school to work and requires that all concerned stakeholders are engaging in strong partnerships to deliver such schemes. The Youth Guarantee will help to reduce the current number of NEETs and prevent more young people from falling into this category. The comprehensive Youth Guarantee designed by Finland is a good example of this. A first evaluation recently published by Eurofound shows that 83.5% of young job seekers received a successful intervention within three months of registering as unemployed in 2011. The Finnish youth guarantee notably accelerated the pace at which personalised plans were drawn up, and had resulted in a reduction in unemployment (leading either to employment or further training). Eurofound also comments on the Swedish "job guarantee scheme": 68% of all participants below the age of 25 had some sort of employment 90 days after they completed a New-Start-Job, indicating that the reform is an effective door-opener into the labour market.
Besides the Finnish and the Swedish cases, a variety of initiatives exist in other Member States that would support the success of a fully implemented Youth Guarantee. An overview of these measures is compiled in the Staff Working Document accompanying the proposal for a Council recommendation.
What will be the cost of putting in place a Youth Guarantee?
A Youth Guarantee has a fiscal cost for Member States, but this cost is much lower than the cost of inaction.
First, the cost depends on national circumstances: it will be lower in Member States where supporting measures are well developed (e.g. well-trained Public Employment Service (PES) staff to address young people's needs). Second, it depends on the way in which the scheme is set up and implemented. Third, it will be greater in countries with high rates of NEETs or of youth unemployment. .
In July 2012, the ILO estimated that the total cost for establishing Youth Guarantee schemes in the eurozone would stand at 0.45% of the eurozone's GDP, or €21 bn. The ILO analysis is based on the Swedish model of "special job-search support", estimated to have an annual cost of €6,000 per unemployed young person plus administrative costs (in terms of resources needed for Public Employment Services to serve the programme) at €600 per participant.
However, these costs should be compared with the costs of unemployment, inactivity and lost productivity. The costs of benefits paid out to unemployed young people, foregone earnings and taxes , are estimated by Eurofound to be the equivalent of 1.21 % of GDP, i.e. an annual loss of €153 billion for the EU. In addition, for young people themselves, being unemployed at a young age can have a long-lasting negative 'scarring effect'.
These young people face not only higher risks of future unemployment, but also higher risks of exclusion, of poverty and of health problems.
Further information on the cost-benefits of the Youth Guarantee can be found in the Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal for a Council Recommendation.
Why is the European Commission proposing a Council Recommendation?
So as to give Member States a clear benchmark and precise guidelines for establishing their own Youth Guarantee scheme, that will be effective in helping young people to make a successful transition from school to work and that will also enable Member States to make best use of Cohesion Funds, and in particular of the European Social Fund, to support the scheme.
The proposal recognises that different situations in individual Member States (or at regional or local level) could lead to differences in how the scheme would be set up and implemented.
The implementation of the recommendation will be monitored by the Commission, as well as the results on the ground.
Moreover, the implementation of Youth Guarantee schemes in individual Member States has been integrated in the Commission policy guidance to Member States in the AGS 2013. Implementation will therefore also be monitored thgh the European Semester and possibly addressed through Country Specific Recommendations.
How would Member States be able to put in place the Youth Guarantee given their different situations and limited fiscal room for manoeuvre?
First, the proposal for a Council Recommendation recognises that Youth Guarantee schemes need to take into account the diversity and different starting points of the Member States as regards their levels of youth unemployment, institutional set-up and capacity of the various labour market players. It also recognises that supportive measures should be geared to national, regional and local circumstances.
Second, the Commission considers that a Youth Guarantee would generate positive returns on Member States' economic situation in the long run and therefore constitute an investment, in the same way as education. In the 2013 Annual Growth Survey (see IP/12/1274) the Commission considers that investments in education should be prioritised and strengthened, while ensuring the efficiency of such expenditure. The 2013 Annual Growth Survey also explicitly indicates that particular attention should also be paid by Member States to maintaining or reinforcing the coverage and effectiveness of employment services and active labour market policies, such as Youth Guarantee schemes.
Third, not all measures are expensive in terms of public expenditure. Building up partnership-based approaches for example does not require large budgets, but would significantly contribute towards the success of the Youth Guarantee.
How would EU funding support Youth Guarantees?
The Youth Guarantee can be supported by EU Structural Funds and in particular the European Social Fund.
Examples of Youth Guarantee activities/interventions that can be supported by the ESF
How much money will be available from the European Social Fund after 2014?
The proposed ESF Regulation for the next programming period 2014-2020 includes a dedicated ESF investment priority targeting the sustainable labour market integration of young NEETs. Member States facing high youth unemployment rates are thus expected to identify young unemployed persons as a specific target group for ESF funding. Member States' Partnership Agreements and Operational Programmes for the period 2014-2020 are expected to focus on school-to-work transitions and the possibility to introduce Youth Guarantee schemes, as well as on labour market integration of young people.
During the negotiations between the Commission and Member States about the future Operational Programmes will define specific amounts allocated to these priorities. The Commission expects adequate funding to be allocated to youth guarantees. However, the exact amounts will be determined in the negotiations with Member States.
What happens with the Recommendation now and when does the EC expect it to be implemented?
The Commissioner is due to present the proposed Recommendation to the EU's Council of Employment and Social Affairs Ministers on 6 December 2012. Negotiations in the Council working group will start immediately with a view to adoption of the proposal at the Council on 28 February 2013. The Commission will urge Members States to implement the Youth Guarantee as soon as possible, preferably as from the start of the 2014-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework.
2. Traineeships
What exactly is the Commission proposing?
The Youth Employment Package includes a Commission Communication launching a second stage consultation of European social partners on a quality framework for traineeships. The Communication1 outlines the main results of the first-stage social partner consultation, as well as recent evidence about quality problems related to traineeships. It goes on to set out three options for EU-level action:
To help the social partners prepare their replies to this consultation, this Communication is accompanied by an analytical document giving background information and analysis (e.g. a definition of traineeships' types, their benefits and costs, reporting stakeholders views, problem definition and policy objectives)2.
Why is this necessary?
Traineeships can be very useful to ensure a smooth transition from education and training to the world of work, but do not always live up to their role: they sometimes fail to help young people to gain the skills and knowledge necessary on the labour market, they lack a proper learning content; trainees are sometimes exploited and used as cheap or free workforce.
The recent study on a 'Comprehensive overview of traineeship arrangements in Member States(see IP/12/731) confirmed that young trainees face different problems during their traineeship(s) in most EU Member States. These problems mostly relate to the lack of a high quality learning content, low or no remuneration, poor working conditions other than remuneration/compensation (e.g. lack of proper social protection coverage, long working hours, no equal treatment etc.) and – as a consequence of the previous problems combined with the differences in national traineeship legislations – a relatively low level of intra-EU mobility of trainees.
A quality framework for traineeships could contribute to ensuring that traineeships really help smooth school to work transitions and do not replace regular jobs.
What would happen if social partners did not agree to negotiate?
Social partners have six weeks to decide whether to enter into negotiations on a quality framework for traineeships. The possible outcomes of this procedure are the following: social partners can enter into negotiations, and may reach an autonomous agreement or they may ask the Commission to make a legislative proposal based on their agreement. If social partners fail to agree or decide not to negotiate, the Commission has to assess the situation and decide whether to present its own proposal on a quality framework on traineeships.
3. Apprenticeships
Why is the Commission advocating apprenticeship schemes?
Company-based apprenticeship schemes (also known as 'dual' or 'twin-track' apprenticeships) enable a young person to gain work experience and practical skills through a work-contract in a company as well as acquire theoretical knowledge, often through an educational institution. There are good examples in the EU of how to use apprenticeship schemes optimally to smooth the transition from education to work.
In 2012, the Council addressed Country-Specific Recommendations to seven Member States on apprenticeships and to three on vocational training. Even in the other Member States, much could be done to improve the functioning of the apprenticeship system, and to make better use of ESF funding to this end.
How is the EU going to support Member States in the field of vocational education and training?
Given the need to improve the supply and quality of apprenticeships and to support Member States' cooperation in the field of vocational education and training, the Commission will set up a European alliance for apprenticeships. This alliance will bring together stakeholders from authorities, business and social partners, vocational education and training researchers and practitioners and youth representatives. It will pool the various streams of existing actions under a common umbrella and promote the benefits and ways of successful apprenticeship schemes and ways to build them up.
The Commission will also promote national partnerships for developing dual learning. These will bring together business representatives, authorities responsible for education and employment, ESF managing authorities and social partners in order to work out how the role of apprenticeships in the Member State's labour market and education system can be strengthened and how national ESF allocations can be drawn upon in the design and implementation of dual-learning systems.
4. Mobility
How can mobility benefit young people?
The substantial differences existing between youth unemployment levels, coupled with a rise in vacancy rates in some Member States, highlight that intra-EU mobility can give young people access to more employment opportunities. Transnational traineeships and apprenticeships offer many advantages in this regard, together the possibility of trying out working in another country without immediately committing to long-term employment. However, they are not yet widespread. This is in direct contrast to the openness towards mobility generally shown by young people and to the success enjoyed by programmes aimed at studying abroad, such as Erasmus and Leonardo da Vinci.
What is the Commission proposing to improve mobility for young people?
The Commission launched its first specific initiative on supporting through financial incentives youth mobility with the preparatory action 'Your first EURES Job' (see IP/12/492). The action helps young EU nationals aged 18 to 30 to find work in other Member States by combining customised job-matching and job placement services with EU financial incentives (contributions to travel expenses for job interviews, pre-job training and work, integration activities). As it is testing a new concept, EU resources (€11 million 2011-2013) and its overall target (5,000 placements by 2014) are limited.
As part of its November 2012 decision to modernise and improve EURES, the pan-EU job search network (see IP/12/1262) by inter alia supporting targeted mobility schemes for young people, the Commission will launch in the first half of 2013 a consultation with stakeholders on developing a EURES jobs for young people programme. This will be part of the future EURES axis of the Programme for Social Change and Innovation, which would build on the lessons learnt with Your First EURES Job and those in the area of education (Erasmus and Leonardo da Vinci).
COM(2012) 728 of 5 December 2012.
SWD(2012) 407 of 5 December 2012.
Side Bar


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Allison Sampite-Montecalvo
Allison covers Chula Vista, National City and Imperial Beach government in the South County. She previously was a general assignment reporter for The Star-News in Chula Vista for nearly three years, where she won first-place awards for news stories covering public safety. Prior to that she wrote features as a freelancer for Uptown News. She is a proud former page and copy editor for the Southwestern College Sun newspaper, where she won numerous awards for her writing. She has a B.A. in journalism from Humboldt State University.

subset: commoncrawl


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CROWD-FUNDING & PRIZES: INNOVATION IN FUNDING INNOVATION. (Week's best posts)
If you follow my Twitter feed (@nickdemartino), you will have seen a distinct tilt towards news and stories that explore new fundraising models for start-up businesses and creative projects. How do we stimulate innovation? It's a question I am obsessed with, and so with fair warning, I'll be taking a dive into the topic over the coming months.
But First: Speakers (including me) were announced this week for two upcoming conferences. : Henry Jenkins' Transmedia Hollywood 3 on April 6 at USC in Los Angeles and WyrdCon, June 21-24 in Costa Mesa CA.
See why serial entrepreneur Jason Calacanis calls AngelList and Kickstarter "the two most important startups in the world." This is a manifesto on disruptive fundraising models, and, notwithstanding the author's posturing, is a really interesting dive into why the "wisdom" of the crowds should justify risk by all, not just a select circle of "investors."
Just this week, AngelList launched a tool that could lead to the standardization of pitch decks for startups. Why? "Most investors (and journalists) receive hundreds of pitches every month, so finding (as he says) crisp yet complete ways to express your startup's vision, impact, traction, and so on can be the difference between going on to success or finding yourself in irrelevance."
Of course, the Kickstarter model is itself an innovation -- donors do not get equity like traditional investors, and yet, millions of dollars have been raised for a dizzying array of projects. And, indeed, for-profit businesses may turn to the crowd-funding model. For instance, here's a post that urges start-up businesses to consider crowd-funding their capital needs.
And recently CrowdBackers launched to bring Kickstarter-style crowd sourced financing to the world of early-stage start-ups.
Meanwhile, with three $M-plus projects in just the past month, Kickstarter is on a roll, entering its growth stage that success brings. More projects need to understand how the modle works. Here's a useful tip sheet on how to launch campaigns in Kickstarter (and smaller crowd funding site IndieGogo)
Even more interesting is this post that analyzes the performance of different Kickstarter "perks" in raising money.
A completely different model for stimulating innovation or novel solutions is the cash-driven competition or prize, examined in some depth in a NY Times piece just this week..
The Knight Foundation has been running its "News Challenge" online for several years, a variation of the competition model for innovation in news and journalism in the digital era. This year the foundation has restructured, with the first of three cycles launching now through March 17. Even if you are not working on an eligible project, the model for stimulating solutions through competition is fascinating.
Entrepreneurs of all stripes will benefit from the launch of Cofounder.tv, a video-based learning site comprised entirely of talks from investors and founders. The site is a passion project by Rony El-Nashar, a VC at SeedStartup, according to this post at Arabnet.
Finally: These models argue for the democratization of innovation, but Jon Gertner's piece in the NY Times reminds us that the centralized corporate research model, as epitomized by Bell Labs, produced an astonishing volume and range of innovation during much of the 20th Century, much of it forming the foundation for innovations that we see today.
The battle of prognosticators over whether cable TV is collapsing or thriving continues with posts that flat-out contradict each other. You decide. My friend Seth Shapiro debunks five theories on the death of cable TV on Media Shift. "Goodbye Cable TV" is Business Insider's story, occasioned by 2.3 million cancelled subscribers since 2010. Which of course is contradicted by Paid Content's post entitled "Cord Cutting Can Wait," triggered by a surge of nearly 350,000 new subs in Q4. You decide!
Meanwhile, the future of cable TV, as I've written, is better use of data. Check out Mark Phillip's app, called "Are You Watching This?" or RUWT, which points to a future that leverages viewing and channel data in service to nice audiences, in this case, sports as a bellweather category that could impact all of TV.
All you ever wanted to know about Twitter (perhaps), in this exhaustive profile from Business Week. One of our smarter digerati, Brian Solis, offers his thoughts on the "state of the Twitterverse," c. 2012.
All Things D interviews YouTube chief Salar Kamangar.
The Guardian offers a very nice overview of "how apps have taken over the world" since Apple created the platform in 2007.
Henry Blodget deconstructs Apple's financials to see what it would take for Apple to go to $1,000 per share.
"Why Are Harvard Graduates in the Mailroom?" asks Adam Davidson, as he explores the "lottery system" of labor economics, and worries that the whole economy is shifting to this cutthroat model with no Plan B.
Broadcasters sued Aereo, the start-up that brings over-the-air TV to the Internet. It took less than 2 weeks.
Congrats to Moonbot, the Louisiana based animation startup that won the Oscar for best animated short film, "The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore," a form of which also debuted as an engaging iPad app. Venture Beat interviewed Brandon Oldenburg, a partner (and Oscar winner). I met Brandon at the Dallas Video Fest and have been so impressed with Moonbot's strategy for sustaining creativity in the new digital marketplace.
If you're a Godard freak (me), you won't want to miss these remixes of his classic Alphaville. Thanks to Anne Thompson (@akstanwyck), whose commentary is a lovely lecture in itself.
ZED.To is an 8-month immersive narrative adventure chronicling the end of the world in Toronto, currently raising money on IndieGoGo.
Transmedia LA members have launched the "Miracle Mile" ARG, which will roll out this spring and summer. The first draft of a storyline has been posted on FB here, though the group is by invitation only.
Meghan Gargan discusses "what Facebook's Timeline means for Transmedia"
Graphicly is a publishing platform born to support the needs of graphic novels. With the tools and especially analytics it has developed, the company is now expanding to other types of books. Take a look at the value proposition.


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lucene-dotnet 220.127.116.11.20100803
Lucene.Net is a source code, class-per-class, API-per-API and algorithmatic port of the Java Lucene search engine to the C# and .NET platform utilizing Microsoft .NET Framework. Lucene.Net sticks to the APIs and classes used in the original Java implementation of Lucene. The API names as well as class names are preserved with the intention of giving Lucene.Net the look and feel of the C# language and the .NET Framework. For example, the method Hits.length() in the Java implementation now reads Hits.Length() in the C# port. In addition to the APIs and classes port to C#, the algorithm of Java Lucene is ported to C# Lucene. This means an index created with Java Lucene is back-and-forth compatible with the C# Lucene; both at reading, writing and updating. In fact a Lucene index can be concurrently searched and updated using Java Lucene and C# Lucene processes.
- 188.8.131.52.20100803 - August 03, 2010 (115.0 KB)


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The winds blew so hard on Friday that I had to lean into the railing of the Woods Hole drawbridge as I took this photograph looking out towards Martha's Vineyard. By the weekend, the bitter Canadian winter had settled over our little village and I worried about pipes freezing on the construction site, not to mention my cheeks as I took my afternoon walks.
But that did not slow the pace of renovations at the Woods Hole Inn. Oh no, we have our eye on the proverbial prize as reservations are rolling in for summer and beyond (book now if you want to be sure and get in summer 2012) .
The place is swarming on the inside with people. One of the things you learn quickly as you renovate an old property is that the stuff required to make it "new" again is pretty high tech, read expensive. I walk around the site and I see dollar signs: ruby-red foam insulation, diamond-encrusted lighting and platinum sprinkler pipes. Even the pipe fittings glitter in the sun like precious jewels.
One notable change is that in past winters when the wind howled (over 50 MPH this weekend I heard), the old Woods Hole Inn groaned and creaked, shuddering with the big blasts and swaying like a salsa dancer in the smaller gusts.
But up on the top floor on Friday, I was struck by the stillness of new windows, and the hush of firm framing. All those new connections — the spider web of wood and joinery which will be hidden by plaster — makes the building sturdier. As sad as I was to see the old lathe walls in dumpsters, this new development reminds me that a renovation of this magnitude will help the building survive another 130 years, well beyond my lifetime.
Ruby red insulation…
low-voltage, recessed lighting …
sprinkler pipe coated with platinum ….
and all the trimmings for sprinkler installation…
The parts that people can actually see look good too, all closed up from the winter winds with nothing needed but a coat of paint:
Which leaves me with this parting thought: You get what you pay for.


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Newsboys 'Restart' Album Review – The Perfect Sounds to Reach a New Generation of Believers
The Newsboys just released their 17th studio album since 1985, Restart, and the band thinks this record is "the best Newsboys record we've ever penned and recorded."
The Newsboys approached Restart wanting to "take music further" by challenging the negatively perceived view of Christian music being lifeless. Drummer Duncan Phillips told the Christian Post this album was about the art of music and being something that can stand up next to anything and still provide a message.
"I believe Christian music should be better. We shouldn't be copying one another, and this album (Restart), that is what we did. I'm incredibly proud of this record. I think it's going change the face of our fans, but hopefully changes the face of CCM in general," Phillips said.
The album opens up with "That's How You Change the World," a EDM infused pulsing song that really showcases the new direction the Newsboys are heading towards. This song escapes the conventional pop-rock Newsboys sound and dabbles in electronic and even dub-step elements.
"Restart" again enters with a pulsing electric drum beat and synth. The upbeat song talks about getting a second chance with God, and Him hitting the "restart" button in our lives.
Anothr track is their current single, "Live With Abandon." This track is a little more stripped of the intense synths and electric sounds but still manages to make it the key of their sound. "I want to live with abandon, give you all that I am, every part of my heart Jesus, I place in your hands," lead singer Michael Tait proclaims.
Later is "One Word." This is the first song on the album where it sounds like non-processed regular drums were used. It also has more of a worship feel as it talks about Jesus being able to change the world with "one word."
Restart closes out with "We Believe." It's soft and slow piano and synth intro brings in the smooth voice of Tait. The lyrics of this song make it powerful: "We believe in God the father, we believe in Jesus Christ, we believe in the Holy Spirit / We believe in the crucifixion, we believe that He conquered death, we believe in the resurrection and that He's coming back again." A choir then takes the song out singing the chorus; it's a very simple but powerful way to close the album.
Restart was a pleasant surprise from the Newsboys and certainly fits the title. The album sounds like nothing they have ever put out before, and yet feels right for the direction they are going in. The album surely will infiltrate the mainstream as far as sound, and amazingly manages to make every song feel like a potential radio single.
They stick to the same formula and conventions of eletronic pop and borderline rock with strong lyricism and Christ-centered focus. The theme of the record is recognizing faults and having God reshape a life that so desperately needs Him. Restart also shows the power of God as a creator that is aware of his creation and believers understanding that nothing is too big for Him.
Tait has been quoted as saying he feels this album is the Jesus Freak record of this generation as far as the coming together of music and the message put forth. While some may disagree with that and the claim of this being the best Newsboys record, Restart is unequivocally the best Newsboys album of the 2000s. This is not the same Newsboys of old, this is a group heading into the future that knows what sound is perfect for this generation of believers and seekers.


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Upscale home furnishings, furniture and unique gifts fill this newish Old Town store, which owner Carrie Davich says has a "westside/Santa Barbara vibe without the westside prices." Light and airy, full of vibrant colors, it feels like a French country house with all the trimmings. Davich, who used to be a clothing designer, named the store Maude Woods for her artist great-grandmother, and the store reflects an artist's sensibility, with just enough respect for Pasadena classicism.
Staples: Such great gift lines as SALT, a fine silver collection inspired by yesterday's decorative arts; Roost's succulent candles, mango wood bowls and desk lamps; and whimsical painted French ceramic bowls and plates from SUD and Co.
Don't Miss: The antique and custom furniture, like the coffee table made from a bowling-alley lane (which Davich says can be also made into a dining table).
We Like: The ceramic dishware that looks like paper goods, and the softest of hand-loomed Peruvian cotton blankets.
Furniture, Housewares & Gifts | 55 E. Holly St., Old Pasadena | 626.577.3400, maudewoods.com


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Greta's Not Pink-and-Girly Room
Name: Greta
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Greta is our fourth child, third girl (in fact, our last baby boy Lewis' nursery was also featured on Apartment Therapy!) We have done the pink and girly thing before so I wanted something different for this room.
This is a tiny little sun room off of our room that used to be the back porch of our 100-year-old bungalow. When the previous owners added on, they closed it with two walls of windows. It is a wonderful little space, but honestly, I was really worried about how to make it work. It came together perfectly, and I'm actually kicking myself a little for not using this space as a nursery for any of my previous babies - it's so close and convenient.
I decided to go with white walls and lots of bold, bright colors and patterns. A big obstacle in this room was figuring out a way to cover the nine windows in the room. We originally ordered pull down blinds, but when they came we realized that neither an inside nor an outside mount would work on the windows and opted instead for curtains. I am so glad we did! The red and white polka dots are perfect, and the IKEA fabric is thick enough to keep almost all of the light out.
The Pendleton blanket hanging above her crib adds a big punch of pattern and color as well. I purchased the mushroom pouf from Anthropologie, as well as the rug and the two animal busts on the wall above the vintage rocker that I had recovered. The cuckoo clock is by Decoylab and has the cutest details. The crib is the Bam model by Argington.
This is our last babe, so I have been really treasuring our time together in her tiny just-for-her space.
Thanks, Amy! To see more of Amy, visit her blog - All That I Love.
(Images: Amy/All That I Love)


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We've already gotten a taste of what Vista's Sideshow feature can potentially do (both on remotes and on laptops), but now Korean manufacturer Soundgraph is hoping to beat MS to the punch with its own Sideshow-like feature called Front View. Front View consists of a front-mounted display on your Media Center PC that shows local weather, media info, and news headlines. The concept sounds very similar to Vista's Sideshow, but with one complication.
What good would a 3-inch screen on your MCE PC be if it's tucked away in your A/V cabinet or if you're sitting far away from it? Otherwise, the concept is very much a Sideshow rip off.
Supplementary Display for Media Center PC Front View [AVING.net]


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People in Estes Park are talking. While that may be nothing new, who is talking and what they are saying, is. Representatives of many governmental and community entities are coming together and conversing about how to create something from something, using land, money, opportunities and facilities to expand the museum and add the senior center onto a community center proposed for the old elementary school building location.
While similar balloons may have been floated before, now they seem to have some wings. At the school board work session Monday afternoon in the administration building, representatives from three town organizations told the school board what is different this time around and why they are encouraged.
With master plans being considered for Stanley Park, the museum and the senior center, representatives from the fairgrounds (Bo Winslow), the senior center (Lori Mitchell) and the recreation district (Skyler Rorabaugh) have been talking with other town officials and with the Park R-3 school district and members of the community about the best way to serve the community and the options that are available. So far, community members have expressed have expressed the desire to keep the museum where it sits on the corner of 4th Street, expanding it, and to encompass the senior center within a community center, located at the old elementary school building, school superintendent Patrick Hickey said.
He has seen three different plan designs for Stanley Park, which have included such things as a fire pit, a movie theater and a concrete skate park and said he has provided feedback about the locations of those components. He would not want to see them located so close to campus that students would be encouraged to attend them, rather than school, he said.
There has been overwhelming support for a senior center, located within a community center, at the old elementary school site. That would be an ultimately efficient and effective use, Hickey said. As to whether the building could be repurposed, he said there are too many issues involved and starting from scratch would be better.
School board president Todd Jirsa asked Skyler Rorabaugh, executive director of the Estes Valley Recreation and Parks District (EVRPD), if his view has changed on what is needed over this last year.
Rorabaugh replied that the process has slowed down, a variety of partners has been added and the planning process has started, presenting new opportunities and changing his views a bit. It's fortunate "we're all discussing (things)," which gives a connectivity and complements ideas. The vision has gotten a little bit larger, he said. The Estes Park Medical Center is onboard as an official partner. Rorabaugh reported there will be a meting next month with the town and the EPMC, as a final step before making a feasibility study. Look for announcements about the intergovernmental (IGA) agreements.
Rorabaugh said, concerning what the community wants, "you hear so many things. I try to have as many conversations as I can."
He wants to find out what the community needs to be, long-term and what will help get there. He has been attending IGA meetings every two to three months and has noticed a "lot of positive response in general." He expects there will be a lot of key stakeholders at the table, once the feasibility study is released.
"I see a lot of collaboration," Rorabaugh said. "I'm very optimistic. A lot of people are getting together, planning together. That hasn't occurred in the past. There are a lot of opportunities. There have been a lot of changes in (various) boards. We're working together to create (a similar) project."
Jirsa asked about the funding mechanisms. Will the recreation district be picking up the tab for the whole thing?
Rorabaugh assured Jirsa the recreation will not be picking up the whole tab. In a step-by-step process, he said, the feasibility study will be done first. He is contacting philanthropy foundations and GoCo. The project will be a multi-million-dollar work, so it is necessary to be resourceful with capital financing, he said. The question of construction will go back to the voters, he said, but he hopes to raise 25 percent of the funding first.
Hickey said he has been pleasantly surprised by the amount of public participation on the master plan presentations so far.
Lori Mitchell, director of the senior center, told the school board that she began talks with Rorabaugh, knowing the senior center was already bursting at the seams. The town board directed her to look at options, and the community center was added as an option. The public feedback has provided an interesting and overwhelming shift to the positive, a shift she has not witnessed in 33 years here, she said. The dynamics and response of the community are changing, she added.
"There's a big shift in mind-set," Mitchell added.
With looking at large grants for funding possibilities, the momentum is gaining, the atmosphere is positive and Mitchell said she is very excited to see everyone working together.
"It's very refreshing," she said.
Bo Winslow, special events manager, said it was "frustrating," with everybody working in "our own silos, for many years." Having everybody come to the plate and lay their cards on the table is a good thing, he said.
Jirsa asked how many people the senior center serves; Mitchell replied there were 34,000 visitors last year. There were more than 500 responses to a survey on what is needed for the senior center, she said. Jirsa wanted to know if the population really understood what a move to a community center environment would be. Mitchell replied they definitely knew. There has been a shift in people at the center, which serves even a 19-year-old, in the Zumba class. There are no age restrictions, Mitchell said, so it's "more of a community center already." There's the 50-660 group; the 65-75 group, and the "old, old folks are still coming….I do believe they all get it….They know it needs to grow. The intergenerational (idea) is more appealing," Mitchell said.
Jirsa asked Winslow how the vision of the plan ties together with the fairgrounds. Winslow said it's a campus approach, with the whole facility providing 80 acres and the school, walkways and pathways, so visitors and residents can get around easily. The Stanley Park Master Plan now has two buildings, 60,000 square feet, which will begin construction in June, he said. Another building is slated for the Barn W area.
"That will build out "our 40 acres," Winslow said. "The whole thing is a campus feel."
Jirsa said he is glad to see it's not just about the community center, but that everybody is trying to work together.
"That's what make me excited now," he said.
The hospital, school, recreation district, senior center and the town will come together to create a plan. It will cost a lot of money, and that will go to the voters.
"I like the approach to funding," Jirsa said.
Rorabaugh believes it will be ultimately successful, because of the collaboration.
"This is something new, nobody's ever done it before," he said.
The multigenerational, active/passive activities will add more to the sustainability of the community in years to come, he added.
Jirsa noted that, while it is imperative to provide a facility for visitors, it's also important that we "start doing something for ourselves."
Contact Trail-GazetteJuley Harvey at 970-586-3356 or firstname.lastname@example.com


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Judge delays start of Arias penalty-phase retrial
PHOENIX (AP) — An Arizona judge on Wednesday granted Jodi Arias' motion to delay the start of her planned Sept. 8 penalty phase retrial.
Arias briefly addressed the judge Wednesday morning before the courtroom was closed to the media and public. The judge then granted Arias' request, setting a new retrial date for Sept. 29.
Defense lawyers and prosecutors declined to comment.
FILE - In a Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014 file photo, Jodi Arias, right, looks at her defense attorney Jennifer Wilmott during a hearing in Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix, Ariz. An Arizona judge on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2014 granted Arias' motion to delay the start of her planned Sept. 8, 2014 penalty phase retrial. (AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, Tom Tingle, Pool,File)
Arias, who is now serving as her own attorney, argued that she needed more time to interview an expert witness she plans to call during the retrial.
The 34-year-old former waitress was convicted of murder last year in the 2008 killing of her ex-boyfriend, but jurors couldn't reach a decision on her sentence. Under Arizona law, prosecutors have the option of putting on a second penalty phase with a new jury in an effort to secure a death sentence.
If the new jury fails to reach a unanimous decision, the death penalty will be removed as an option. The judge would then sentence Arias to spend her entire life behind bars or be eligible for release after 25 years.
Arias has acknowledged killing Travis Alexander at his suburban Phoenix home, but she said it was self-defense. He was stabbed nearly 30 times, had his throat slit and was shot in the head.
Prosecutors argued it was premeditated murder carried out in a jealous rage when Alexander wanted to end their affair.
Judge Sherry Stephens previously granted Arias' motion to serve as her own attorney after conflicts arose with one of her two court-appointed lawyers over trial strategy. Attorney Kirk Nurmi then sought to quit the case, noting in a motion that "a completely fractured relationship between counsel (and client) now exists."
Stephens denied his request. Both lawyers will remains on as advisers.
A hearing in the case is set for Sept. 4.
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Andreoli on Oil and Fuel: Considering a natural gas powered fleet? The devil is in the details
The natural gas market outlook has been a frequent topic covered in this column over the last two years. Over this time, I have consistently argued that although natural gas is abundant, natural gas prices will inevitably rise because the costs of production do not support the "glut" prices that have resulted from the fracking boom.
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The natural gas market outlook has been a frequent topic covered in this column over the last two years. Over this time, I have consistently argued that although natural gas is abundant, natural gas prices will inevitably rise because the costs of production do not support the "glut" prices that have resulted from the fracking boom.
Natural gas prices matter, of course, because the price differential between natural gas fuels and diesel presents an opportunity for some—not all—fleets to enjoy significant net savings by replacing diesel powered trucks with natural gas powered alternatives.
My colleagues at Mercator and I have developed a model that calculates the net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR) for potential investments in natural gas powered trucks. Before describing the model, I will first review how the natural gas and diesel markets have developed over the last twelve months.
It's certainly no secret that a glut of natural gas emerged toward the end of 2011, and this glut lasted through 2012. Signs that the market was beginning to work through the natural gas glut began to appear in the early months of 2013, however, and as the amount of natural gas in storage declined from a five-year high to the five-year average between January and April, Henry Hub spot prices jumped 38 percent, rising from roughly $3.20 to $4.40 per Mcf (thousand cubic feet).
Since then, spot prices have oscillated, but overall the average since April has been $3.80 per Mcf. And at these low prices, it does not make sense to drill in anything but the most productive sections of shale plays, so we should expect prices to rise in the future.
At $3.80, the average price over the last six months has been 38 percent higher than the average price through all of 2012. Of course, the wellhead price of natural gas is just one component in the retail price of compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Regarding the latter, LNG is currently only readily available in California.
Currently, on a diesel gallon equivalent (DGE) basis, California's prices for LNG range from just $2.19 to $4.09; this amounts to a difference in excess of 87 percent. Outside of California, pump prices are even more wide-ranging. One DGE of LNG can be purchased for $1.99 in Houston, but the same quantity will send you back $9.64 in La Crosse, Wisc.
Never will you find such a disparity in diesel prices within the same city because markets are well developed (high competition). And unlike LNG, which literally boils off and is lost to the atmosphere if it sits for more than a few days and its temperature rises above -260 degrees Fahrenheit, diesel is stable. Clearly, LNG price volatility has both a geographic and temporal component that is not matched by diesel.
By comparison, CNG is far more readily available than LNG, and unlike LNG, CNG is stable. Once compressed, it can be stored for decades. Similarly, retail CNG prices are more stable than LNG prices. That said, even within a region, there is significant price variation. In the greater Los Angeles area, current natural gas prices range from $2.26 to $3.59 on a DGE basis, a difference of 59 percent. Again, you are not likely to see such a disparity in diesel prices within any particular region.
The average CNG retail price across the Los Angeles region is $2.91 on a DGE basis. At the national level, the average price is closer to $2.50 (DGE). The retail price for CNG is comprised of eight main components: the commodity price; transport to the utility's city gate; the local gas company service fee; taxes and special assessments; compression (using electric pumps); maintenance and repair of the compression/retail facility; the amortized cost of capital and equipment; and the retail markup.
Each of these components varies by location, and the wellhead price component is the only variable cost. On average, the commodity price component only accounts for 20 percent to 30 percent of the retail CNG price. Consequently, CNG prices are far more stable than natural gas spot prices. The same is true of diesel prices, which are far less volatile than oil prices.
Since January 2012, CNG prices have fallen into a fairly narrow band, especially considering the volatility shown in the commodity price. According to data from the Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report, that reports average prices every two or three months, CNG prices varied by only 4 percent from the minimum price to the maximum price.
By comparison, and according to the same data source, the maximum diesel price was 10 percent greater than the minimum. Given the timing of the data, we can expect that both CNG and diesel volatility was greater than reported; however, the lesson is that CNG prices are, in fact, less volatile than diesel prices. In short, while retail CNG and LNG prices may be more stable on average, geographic variability can be extreme and should be considered in any investment analysis.
In addition to CNG prices being less volatile, CNG is consistently less expensive on an energy equivalent basis than diesel. Since January of 2012, the average retail price differential was $1.65 per DGE, and the minimum and maximum price differentials were $1.49 and $1.85, respectively.
Of course transitioning to a CNG (or LNG) powered fleet is neither without risk nor without cost. On the risk side, there is a not insignificant chance that the price differential between natural gas fuels and diesel could narrow rather quickly—and, in the process, turn a good investment bad.
On the cost side, natural gas power plants are more expensive. And because the energy content (Btu per gallon) of CNG and LNG is significantly less than the energy content of diesel, for a CNG or LNG alternative to achieve the same range as a diesel truck requires that for every gallon of diesel, 3.7 gallons of CNG must be carried and 1.72 gallons of LNG must be carried.
The larger and more complex CNG and LNG tanks are notably heavier than the diesel equivalent and significantly more costly as well. In some cases, the additional weight of the tanks will decrease the payload capacity.
In addition to having different tank configurations, CNG and LNG have different refueling requirements. Because LNG is cryogenically liquefied, drivers must use protective gear (facemask, gloves, closed-toe shoes) and receive specialized training. Because CNG tanks must be filled through pressurization, and pressurizing a gas causes the temperature of the gas to increase, which in turn causes its volume to expand, fast-filled tanks achieve maximum pressure when the tanks are less than totally full.
In order to completely fill the tanks, a slow fill technique that can take six to eight hours is required. Consequently, if you don't have your own refueling facility, the practical tank volume is decreased by as much as a quarter.
The investment model developed at Mercator and referenced earlier generates an incremental discounted cash flow forecast and estimates the payback period, net present value of the investment, and the internal rate of return for the investment using nearly twenty user-defined inputs including:
- Incremental natural gas spot prices and diesel prices, which vary by region
- Type of power plant (CNG or LNG) and displacement
- Tank size and configuration
- Fleet characteristics including number of trucks/tractors, average payload, average miles per year, average trip distance, and average fuel economy (for diesel, the model estimates the natural gas equivalent)
- Fueling technique (slow or fast filling CNG)
- Financial considerations such as the discount rate, the price differential between truck/tractor models, salvage period, residual value, and the incremental cost of capital
Running various realistic fleet and pricing scenarios through the model produces intriguing results. We find that for some fleets, the decision to switch to natural gas is almost risk free—meaning that the net present value of the investment is positive under most likely fuel price scenarios. We also find that for other fleets, transitioning from diesel to natural gas will not provide a positive return on investment even under pricing scenarios weighted to favor natural gas alternatives.
Evaluating natural gas powered alternatives to diesel-powered trucks and tractors is a complicated task, but in some cases, the financial rewards for making such a transition can be significant. But even in such cases, the value of such an investment must be weighed against competing investment opportunities, which is typically accomplished by comparing the internal rates of return between competing investments.
Depending on where and under what conditions your fleets operate, natural gas powered trucks/tractors may make a terrific investment, but the devil is in the details.
About the AuthorDerik Andreoli Derik Andreoli, Ph.D.c. is the Senior Analyst at Mercator International, LLC. He welcomes any comments or questions, and can be contacted at
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Brad and Terri Serwa watched their daughter take part in history Tuesday as the first-ever medals were won in an Olympic women's ski cross competition. Gutsy 20-year-old Kelsey Serwa finished just off the podium in 5th place, while her Canadian teammate Ashleigh McIvor captured gold.
Brad Serwa, on his feet and clapping wildly in the stands at Cypress mountain, was willing his daughter down the course, repeating "keep going, keep going" under his breath. As Terri looked on in disbelief, Brad yelled "oh no" as Kelsey fell short on her semi-final heat by the smallest of margins.
She would go on to win the "small final" heat, which determines the competitors who will end the day in fifth through eighth place.
The family from Kelowna is fiercely proud of Kelsey, whose rise in the entertaining, fast-paced event has been meteoric: she switched from alpine racing to ski cross just two years ago, and went into Tuesday's race ranked third in the world.
"I'm really proud of her. It was a half a breath that she lost that semi final by, it was so close, so close," Terri said.
"I spoke to her right after the race. I just gave her a hug and told her how proud I was of her.
She was still smiling from ear to ear. She's having a great time."
Despite her disappointment in not medaling, the young Kelowna native has already set her sites on competing in the next Winter Games.
"When I was going up on the chair to the small final I was thinking, 'Oh crap, now I've got to wait another four years to get on that podium,'" Kelsey said.
"I wanted to be in the final with Ashleigh, but I did the best I could. I won the small final and that's the best I could do in that situation."
After the event, her father Brad said his daughter, nicknamed K-Ser, gave the race everything she had.
"We were cheering her on. She nailed all the starts and she just cased [missed] one jump. That's how close it was. One jump that the two other girls got past her and she just couldn't catch up," he said. "But we're very proud of her, very happy. And we [Canada] did get a gold.
"This is ground-breaking history," Brad smiled.
If the raucous response from the packed crowd at Cypress is any indication, then the fast-paced ski cross event will become an Olympic favourite. Friends and family of McIvor and Serwa were seated beside each other in the bleachers and waved banners, rang cow bells and chanted loudly for all four Canadian women in the race.
"Just to get this far so young is so remarkable. It's like: Pinch me. Are we really here? It's remarkable," Terri said. "She is only 20. She has a lot more [competitions] ahead of her."
Kelsey was born to ski, as she and her two older siblings grew up on the slopes. Their grandfather Cliff Serwa was a co-founder of Kelowna's Big White Ski Resort. Her father Brad is a technical delegate with the FIS (International Ski Federation), and is part of the team making sure the alpine course in Whistler is in good shape. Her mother Terri is the jury secretary for the FIS.
In early 2008, after a disappointing finish at an alpine race, Kelsey phoned her mother with unexpected news.
"She said, 'I'm really not happy with my skiing this year, so I'm jumping to ski cross. You always said I should have a backup plan,'" Terri recalled. "I said, 'University was to be your backup plan.' She said, 'Mom, I can always go to university but I can't always go to the Olympics.'"
For many parents, the hair-raising sport -- in which four skiers battle each other at high speeds as they fly over jumps and careen around curves – would cause a lot of sleepless nights. But the Serwas know the ski world well, and they were confident in their daughter's skills.
Brad noted Kelsey was once clocked at 128 km/hour while alpine racing, so he is used to her traveling fast on the slopes.
Terri is generally laid back about the possible injuries in the sport, but admitted she is more calm when she is watching a race in person. During the X-Games competition in Aspen in 2009, Kelsey had a devastating crash; the parents couldn't see the event on TV and the only information they had was cell phone calls from friends who were at the race.
"That was the longest 10 minutes waiting for her to call," recalled Terri, adding her daughter had been uninjured.
The 2009 season was her first year on the World Cup circuit. Kelsey entered her first race, in Austria, ranked 67th and finished 3rd. And the rest of the year would be just as successful.
"In a new sport, she's adapted very well," Brad said.
Indeed. Don't be surprised to see this young B.C. woman competing for Canada in the 2014 Winter Games.


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Google+, the search giant's latest shot at a social network, has been available in beta form via invitation for almost two weeks. It has generated an impressive amount of buzz among those who've been able to secure access. Most of that buzz has been positive.
But it should also be noted that many of the people currently on Google+ are early adopters and techies, the types who jump in feetfirst and embrace the joy of being on the cutting edge. But not everyone who signs in thinks it's so wonderful. Take, for example, science writer Kayt Sukel, who also blogs on chron.com as a City Bright. She grabbed an early invitation and, after a few days of use, seemed mystified, posting this to Twitter:
As nicely executed as Google+ is, Sukel's comment shows it faces a real problem if its goal is to become the dominant social network. It must give users a compelling reason to abandon the investment they've made in existing social networks. A clean interface and cute animations may not be enough to lure users away from communities where they've already laid down solid roots.
In other words: If Twitter or Facebook works for you and your friends, why should you shift your attention from there to Google+?
Google+'s inability to answer this "why" question is also one reason I've not yet written a full review of the service. I don't feel like I've got a handle yet on what Google+ is trying to be. Maybe it's because Google+ is a work in progress – company executives say there's a lot more to come, and all the pieces may not be in place.
That said, here are a few thoughts on Google+'s pros and cons.
• Circles – Google+ lets you sort your contacts into groups it calls Circles. You can create new Circles to hold friends you want to put in specific categories. Essentially, these are nothing more than lists, but the process of adding friends to a Circle is kind of fun, which makes the whole scenario seem like something new and different. You find people who have a Gmail account or a Google Profile, then drag and drop them into an assigned Circle.
You can create new Circles, as well as use a Circle to block users. When you go to share information on Google+, you can assign it to specific Circles. For example, if you only want your family to see something, you can limit an item's visibility to that particular circle.
• Hangouts. So far, this is the most interesting part of Google+, and what may be its "killer app". Hangouts lets you do a group videochat with up to 10 people. You can see and talk to each other, as well as share a YouTube video with the group. I've done this a few times and it's a lot of fun.
Of course, it requires that you have a webcam available and a decent amount of bandwidth. I've been on relatively high-speed connections each time I've participated, and the experience has been quite good. I'm curious what it might be like on a slower connection.
• Stream. Here's the center of Google+, analogous to Facebook's Wall or Newsfeed. This is where you'll see what your friends are sharing or saying. It suffers from the same problem that bedevils Facebook – you see a lot of things shared by your friends that may not interest you, as they share items shared by their other contacts.
You'll also see comments made by people who aren't in your Circles, as they comment on items posted by your friends. In the image above, you can see an item posted by my buddy Ed Bott, followed by comments from people I don't know. While those comments are just fine, that's not always the case.
At the moment, Google+ lacks the ability to mute users from appearing in your stream. You can block a user, but that's a nuclear option, walling them off from you completely. Google+ needs a way to "prune" the stream that's a little more gentle.
• Profiles. Google has offered its Profiles feature for some time, but it's become a crucial part of Google+. Your profile must be public before you can participate in Google+, and at the end of this month, Google will delete all private profiles. disable the ability to make a profile private (My profile was private until I decided to participate in Google+.) This makes a certain amount of sense, but it feels Draconian. It will be interesting to see if there's a backlash when privatized profiles are suddenly revealed. My guess: There won't be.
I plan on doing a full review of Google+ in an upcoming Always On column. In the meantime, I'd like to hear from those who have gained access: What do you think of Google+? If you're on Facebook or Twitter, do you prefer it to either of those services? Or are you struggling to justify why it should become a part of your social networking world?


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A child�s first pair of baby booties, a picture of a beloved pet, and handmade ornaments only a mother could love often adorn Christmas trees during the holiday season. But what about an ornament portraying your hometown?
This year, Ralph Scott Life Services is selling commemorative ornaments depicting a local institution for $15.95 as a fundraiser for the agency�s programming for developmentally disabled individuals.
Bennie Kidd, director of fund development and property management at Ralph Scott, said he hopes this initial fundraiser can become an annual one each Christmas season � just like the ornament fundraiser held annually by a nonprofit in his hometown of Lynchburg, Va.
�That�s where I got the idea,� Kidd said. �I decided that Zack�s is a pretty good landmark for Burlington and Alamance County.�
The solid brass, 24-karat gold-plated ornaments are laser-cut to depict the restaurant at 201 W. Davis St., down to the painted trees and bushes, with tiny red flowers.
�To me, it was a lot of trouble to get all those details in,� said Zack Touloupas, restaurant owner.
While other Burlington ornaments have been sold before, this is the first one for Ralph Scott Life Services.
�I feel kind of honored that we�ve been chosen to be the first landmark of Burlington,� said Touloupas.
Kidd said he�s ordered 400 ornaments to start.
�I�ve sold about 60 so far,� he said.
Some of those who�ve purchased the ornament live outside the area, including folks in Myrtle Beach, S.C. and in Texas, but who call Burlington their hometown.
�That�s one thing we�re hoping for,� Kidd said. �(For) people who live out of Alamance County (to) hear about it.�
He said shipping is available for those out-of-towners, and varying prices correspond to the number of ornaments ordered and shipped.
Currently, order forms are available at a display in Zack�s Hot Dogs, and Kidd plans to sell the ornaments outside the restaurant during the Burlington Christmas parade and Holiday Magic: A Dickens Christmas in downtown Burlington.
�A bunch of them have been going out the door with my customers,� Touloupas said.
Order forms can also be picked up at Ralph Scott Life Services at 408 W. Trade St., or they can be requested by emailing Kidd at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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HANG TIME HEADQUARTERS — Transcendence for NBA players is an interesting concept. Does a player who starred in the 1950s or 1960s have any chance of being the same type of player today? What would the stars of this day and age look like if they plied their trade in the 1980s or 1990s?
Just because you ruled the basketball world in one era doesn't guarantee you could do it again in every other era. Just how relevant a player is from one era to the other, however, is a debate that will rage on for generations. Where would the stars of yesteryear rank today?
Just because you score a career-high and franchise-record 61 points against the Charlotte Bobcats, as LeBron James did Monday night, doesn't mean Hall of Famers like Dominique Wilkins are going to be impressed.
We gave it a good run this week on Episode 150 of the Hang Time Podcast featuring The New York Times bestselling author and fellow hoops head Jeff Pearlman, whose definitive work on the "Showtime Lakers" is available now and absolute must-read. The story of the origins, Hollywood roller coaster that Dr. Jerry Buss, Magic Johnson, Pat Riley, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the rest of the Showtime Lakers took us on was one of a kind. The back story on how the dynasty was built and maintained is one that you won't want to miss.
We frame the discussion with some great stories about guys like Kurt Rambis, Michael Cooper, Mike Tyson (yes, Mike Tyson) and so many others who played a role in the Lakers becoming arguably the most famous franchise in NBA history and one of the most storied in all of sports.
Our friends at NBAE also provide us with a fantastic look back at Allen Iverson's top 10 career plays, fresh off of his jersey retirement ceremony in Philadelphia Saturday, in Sounds of the Game. And the leader of the pack remains on his throne in this week's edition of Braggin' Rights.
Check out all of that and more on Episode 150 of the Hang Time Podcast Featuring The New York Times bestselling author Jeff Pearlman …
As always, we welcome your feedback. You can follow the entire crew, including the Hang Time Podcast, co-hosts Sekou Smith of NBA.com, Lang Whitaker of NBA.com's All-Ball Blog and renaissance man Rick Fox of NBA TV, as well as our new super producer Gregg (just like Popovich) Waigand and the best engineer in the business, Jarell "I Heart Peyton Manning" Wall.
– To download the podcast, click here. To subscribe via iTunes, click here, or get the xml feed if you want to subscribe some other, less iTunes-y way.
VIDEO: The Starters talk LeBron's big night and its place in history


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Alistair Green
Flowers - S02Eps5
IMDb: 8.1
30 min
Dark comedy about the eccentric members of the Flowers family. Maurice and Deborah are barely together but yet to divorce. They live with Maurice's batty ...
Country: UK
Actors: Olivia Colman, Julian Barratt, Will Sharpe, Sophia Di Martino, Daniel Rigby, Colin Hurley, Leila Hoffman, Georgina Campbell, Angus Wright, Desiree Akhavan, Alistair Green, Geoffrey Burton, Zita Sattar, Helen Cripps