text:
No two readers are alike. No two mothers are alike. And the only way to really find out what might be a good book to get your mother for Mother's Day is to ask her what she likes to read.
My own mother's reading habits have always been a bit of a mystery to me. I don't remember her reading many books when I was growing up in L.A. as the son of Guatemalan immigrants. She was a single mom, working a series of clerical jobs and raising an only son, and she never had much free time.
So I got on the phone and called Guatemala — my mother retired and moved back to Latin America two decades ago — and asked her: "¿Cuáles son sus libros favoritos?"
My mother is perfectly bilingual and her reading habits, it turns out, reflect her journey across borders, from the world of Spanish to English, from Guatemala to the United States, and back. In a sense, her life story is in the list of books she gave me.
She began with two books that couldn't be more different: "The Diary of Anne Frank," and the Mayan creation story known as the "Popol Vuh." Those two books are, in their own way, perfect bookends on her journey as a Guatemalan woman who came to the U.S. at 21 and lived the kind of independent life none of her female ancestors could have possibly imagined.
Next she threw me a curveball, and named two authors I would never have imagined she liked: "Emily Dickenson, even though it's depressing to me sometimes, and Sylvia Plath, even though she's even more depressing." I remembered a very dark time in our family history, after her divorce from my father in 1971 — was she reading Plath and Dickenson then, I wondered?
I've been a writer for a quarter century and not once have I talked about poetry with my mother. I felt ashamed for not discovering this fact about her earlier. Today, in the mail, I'm sending her a copy of Pablo Neruda's wonderful "Elemental Odes."
Next she named two books about contemporary Guatemala. The first is one that many Guatemalans read as a rite of passage, "Guatemala: Occupied Country," a history of the dictatorship imposed by a CIA-backed coup, written by the poet and essayist Eduardo Galeano. It's a book that I'd read myself in college. The second is Francisco Goldman's excellent account of the 1998 murder of Bishop Juan Gerardi: "The Art of Political Murder."
My mother also likes to read a lot of biographies — "Golda Meir's life story, I really liked that" — and a lot of self-help books. "I had low self-esteem, and I didn't know it, until I read Wayne Dyer," she told me.
And finally, she mentioned a book that I had recommended to her, my father and my in-laws many eons ago (and which they all now own): Jon Lee Anderson's excellent biography "Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life."
"That book caused me some problems with a lady from the church who came to visit me," my mother said. The book has an oil painting portrait of Guevara on the cover, and the church lady had seen that image and spread the word that my mother was a radical (which she most decidedly is not).
Later, I wondered what my mother might have found of interest in Guevara's life. Perhaps it was the impact that book had on her only son, who went on to become a writer. Or maybe it's the powerful Argentine woman who is the star of the first section of that book: Celia de la Serna, Guevara's strong-willed, bohemian mother.
My mother asked if I might send her the Spanish version of that book, because the English was a bit hard for her. So I'll add "Che: Una Vida Revolucionaria" to Neruda in my gift package to her.
David Foster Wallace's 'This Is Water' comes to video
'The Great Gatsby' review (the book, that is, circa 1925)


text:
Laurel Hall School -- Hagerstown and Frederick
Special Education Services Program
Laurel Hall School is a non-public school designed to provide education services
to special needs students. These special needs may include emotional disabilities
or multiple handicaps that require a setting of sophisticated, highly structured
and individualized special education services as well as any needed psychiatric
support services.
The program is viewed as part of a continuum of services provided by the Washington
County Board of Education and Frederick County Board of Education. Students are transitioned back into their home
school as quickly as possible.
Our Program
The non-public school is part of the continuum of mental health services offered
by Brook Lane. The program provides special education and related services
consistent with each student's Individualized Education Program (IEP).
The program serves both male and female students ages 5-21 in grades 1 through
12. Students with secondary disabilities may be served. Accommodations will
be made for individual learning styles. The student capacity is 90 students in Hagerstown and 45 students in Frederick.
Laurel Hall School is a member of MANSEF (Maryland Association of Non-public
Special Education Facilities).
The school has been developed to maximize teaching English, Language Arts,
Social Studies, Math, and Sciences in a manner consistent with each student's
ability. Credits earned meet requirements of the Maryland State Department
of Education and will be transferred to the student's local education
agency for graduation and issuance of a diploma.
The program is designed to foster social and emotional growth and development.
A comprehensive array of treatment services is available. All students will
receive weekly individual and group therapies.
Admission to Laurel Hall School begins with an IEP process. The local education
agency IEP team will identify students with emotional disabilities and/or multiple
handicaps. If the student is also in need of a high level of structure and
extensive intensive support services, a referral to Laurel Hall is appropriate.
A Laurel Hall representative will meet with referring educational agency representatives
and the student's parents/guardian to assist in developing the IEP. Individualized
Education Programs will be reviewed at least yearly.
Our Staff
The program employs certified special education teachers, behavioral specialists,
clinical social workers and nurses. Related services include psychiatry, psychology,
art therapy, addictions counseling, family therapy, and speech/language on
an as-needed basis.
Our Settings
Laurel Hall School is housed on the main campus of Brook Lane. The school
consists of nine classrooms, a library, curriculum resource room, office suite,
and a recreational area. Meals are provided in the dining hall.
Laurel Hall School in Frederick is housed at 4540B Mack Avenue. The school consists of five classrooms, a library, curriculum resource room, and an office suite. Meals are catered and served in a cafeteria on site.
Students may be recommended for dismissal from the program for a major behavioral
violation or parental non-compliance. Major behavioral violations can include
assault, carrying weapons, selling drugs or alcohol, and sexual misconduct.
A dismissal may also result from agencies or other service providers not complying
with an agreed upon component of the student's IEP.
In the event that dismissal is warranted, both parents and the local education
agency will be notified immediately and an IEP will be held. The student's
placement shall be maintained during the due process proceedings.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Osama bin Laden is dead and General Motors is alive. That was Vice President Joe Biden's message for Republican Mitt Romney in a campaign speech Thursday that blended a robust defense of President Barack Obama's foreign policy record with a harsh attack on the presumptive Republican presidential nominee's positions.
Appearing before 500 students at New York University Law School, Biden said Romney approaches foreign policy with a Cold War mentality and is uninformed about the challenges facing the U.S. abroad. He said Romney lacked vision and had "distorted" Obama's record in a way that has been counterproductive to U.S. interests.
"If you're looking for a bumper sticker to sum up how President Obama has handled what we inherited, it's pretty simple: Osama bin Laden is dead and General Motors is alive," Biden said, arguing that Obama's decisions on both foreign and domestic policy had made the U.S. safer.
RECOMMENDED: Romney's Top 5 attacks on President Obama
Biden cast the former Massachusetts governor as an inexperienced foreign policy thinker who would delegate decisions to staff and advisers. He also criticized Romney as having a reputation for flip-flopping on issues.
"We know that when the governor does venture a position, it's a safe bet that he previously took or is about to take an exactly opposite position," Biden said, noting that Romney had originally supported setting a time frame for pulling U.S. troops from Afghanistan only to criticize Obama's plan to do so by the end of 2014.
Biden repeatedly used Romney's own words against him, such as when Romney downplayed the significance of capturing bin Laden and when Romney said Russia was the United States' gravest geopolitical foe.
"As my brother would say, 'Go figure,'" Biden said to laughs.
In response, Romney adviser John Lehman accused the president of a "gross abdication of leadership" that could have practical and political consequences.
"Why is the United States under Obama abdicating its leadership for keeping stability in the world?" asked Lehman, Navy secretary in the Reagan administration, during a conference call Romney's campaign arranged with reporters before Biden spoke. "This is a serious crisis and perhaps could be the central issue in the campaign."
Lehman continued: "The Obama administration, in a very studied and intentional way, is withdrawing from leading the free world and maintaining stability around the world — what Obama calls leading from behind. But the reality is it's opening up huge new vulnerabilities."
Obama has not described his foreign policy as "leading from behind." Republicans used the phrase to chastise Obama for his handling of last year's uprising in Libya.
Biden recited Obama's foreign policy achievements, noting that he ordered the attack that killed bin Laden and fulfilled a campaign promise to end the Iraq war. He said Obama repaired alliances with other nations, particularly with geopolitical partners in Europe and Asia.
He also pushed back particularly hard on Romney's attacks on the Obama administration's handling of Iran and Israel, two areas where Republicans have been sharply critical of the president.
On Iran, Biden said Romney's call for crippling sanctions and a U.S. military presence in the Persian Gulf to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon simply mirrored Obama's approach.
"The only step we could take that we aren't already taking is to launch a war against Iran. If that's what Gov. Romney means by a 'very different policy,' he should tell the American people," Biden said.
On Israel, Biden said Obama has stood firm in support of the Jewish state — often alone and facing criticism from other allies. He noted that Romney had accused Obama of "throwing Israel under the bus."
"The governor is falling back on one of his party's favorite tricks of late — distort and mischaracterize your opponent's position. Keep repeating the distortions and mischaracterizations over and over again," Biden said.
Biden said Obama had adhered to President Teddy Roosevelt's admonition that, on foreign policy, a president should speak softly and carry a big stick.
"I promise you, the president has a big stick," Biden said.


text:
Fuzhou Kaiyuan Temple built in the Southern Liang Taiqing three years (549 years) is higher than existing ancient temple in Fujian Province. This temple was originally called "Lingshan," after the words "Great Cloud Temple", also known as Early Longxing Monastery, Tang Kaiyuan 20 years (735 years) changed its name. Temple of the amount of "Kaiyuan Temple," the words, from the Tang Dynasty calligrapher Ouyang Xun hands were on display in insurance strength,
Fujian Province, referred to as "Min ", the provincial capital Fuzhou, southeast China's coastal provinces. Located in the north latitude 23 ° 33 'to 28 ° 20 ', longitude 115 ° 50 'to 120 ° 40 ' between adjacent Zhejiang Province, northeast, west, northwest and bordering Jiangxi Province, Southwest China and Guangdong Province is connected, and east of Taiwan Strait, and across the island. Most things for the 480 km wide, up to about 530 km north-south, the land area of 124,000 square kilometers. Administrative divisions Fujian Province, the Matsu Islands (Matsu), Kinmen Islands (Kinmen County) and Wuchiu Island (an Putian County, Kinmen County hosting), the actual effective control by the Taiwan authorities.


text: Development and Rehabilitation Expert care in an environment just for children When a child faces a medical or therapeutic issue, Legacy Health is here to provide outstanding care in a child-friendly environment. Legacy is a regional leader in children's development and rehabilitation, providing services to children in the inpatient and outpatient settings. We treat all ages, from the youngest babies — even those born prematurely — through teens up to 18 years old. Our staff understands that children have different needs than adults, and all of our professionals are fully licensed and specially trained in pediatrics. We've designed our facilities for babies, children and their families, with kid-friendly waiting rooms and size-appropriate equipment with the most advanced technology. Our dedicated providers work to help children gain new skills and abilities that they aren't able to learn on their own and/or help children to return to their previous functional status. We strongly believe in family-centered care and value input from parents. We believe that parents are our partners in their child's care, and we willingly incorporate caregivers' goals into treatment sessions. We involve the whole family in all phases of care to help their child realize their fullest potential. Our goal is always to promote high-quality service and a wide range of integrated care for children with special needs and their families. We're dedicated to maximizing our patient's potential and nurturing their strengths. Learn more about the services we provide and the conditions we treat. Referral We require a referral from a primary care provider. Locations Randall Children's Hospital at Legacy Emanuel Pediatric Development and Rehabilitation 2801 N. Gantenbein Ave., Suite 2225 Portland, OR 97227 Phone: 503-413-4505 Fax: 503-413-4719 Map/Directions Campus map Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center Pediatric Rehabilitation 19250 S.W. 65th Ave. Medical Plaza Office Building 1, Suite 125 Tualatin, OR 97062 Phone: 503-692-1670 Fax: 503-692-1669 Map/Directions Campus map Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center Legacy Children's Center–Salmon Creek Pediatric Rehabilitation 2121 N.E. 139th St. Medical Office Building A, Suite 200 Vancouver, WA 98686 Phone: 360-487-1777 Fax: 360-487-1779 Map/Directions Campus map


text:
Login | Checkout | My Account | Shopping Cart Now in your cart 0 items
Nut Milk & Sprout Bags
LARGE Nut Milk Bag - Rectangle-shaped
The rough size of this nut milk/juicing/sprout bag is 9" x 12".
This is a high-quality nut milk and sprouting bag, handmade, and therefore the size may not be exact. It is quality tested to ensure that you receive the finest product. This bag is ideal for any number of straining or sprouting uses. Fine mesh material minimizes sediment and allows for sprouting of even the smallest of seeds and grains, while bias cut, surge sewn construction ensures durability.
This nut milk bag is reusable. It can be used for nut milks and straining juices. It's so much easier and faster than using a strainer. The drawstring means you can just hang it and let it do its own thing!
For nut milks - just blend your choice of nuts, water and a sweetener of your choice, (agave, dates, honey) and blend in a blender. Then strain through the nut milk bag for silky, smooth, creamy milk that can replace any diary or soymilk for drinking or in recipes.
Juicing: You can place the pulp from freshly squeezed juice in this bag and squeeze. You'll be amazed at how much more juice comes out! Also when traveling and you don't have a juicer handy, you can blend fruits with a little water in a blender and strain through the bag. Voila! Fresh juice!
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.


text:
Research reveals that one out of three Americans is obese, making overfatness nothing short of a national epidemic. In spite of the fact that over $30 billion is spent annually on diet programs, the incidence of obesity has increased by 25 percent in the last 15 years. What's wrong with this picture?
First, exercise works, but too few people are doing it. Second, everyone is dieting, but diets don't work. Well, not everyone is dieting, but research reveals that one out of two American women and one out of four American men are presently on a calorie-restricted diet.
Why don't diets work? If you cut down the number of calories you consume, you should lose weight, right? Yes, and you definitely do lose weight on calorie-restricted diets. But your weight loss is almost always short-lived. Studies on calorie restriction and weight loss show that 95 percent of all dieters regain all of the weight they lost within the following year. Whatever happened to willpower?
Actually, willpower has very little to do with whether or not the lost weight is regained. It's more a matter of physiology than psychology. About 25 percent of the weight loss is muscle tissue, and less muscle results in a lower metabolic rate. In other words, you have less vital tissue to service, so you burn fewer calories daily. Meanwhile, your body adjusts to the low-calorie diet by slowing down your metabolism even further.
You may not notice the detrimental effects of a slow metabolism while dieting, but as soon as your calorie intake is increased, which must happen for you to survive, you will be surprised at how quickly that weight you lost comes back.
So why do people work so hard on something that works so poorly? Primarily because diets do produce satisfying short-term results. With exercise, short-term changes in total bodyweight are relatively small because exercisers typically add lean weight and lose fat weight at the same time.
For example, in a classic study conducted at Tufts University, 12 senior subjects were placed on a basic program of strength exercise. They performed about 30 minutes of strength training three days per week for 12 weeks. As a result they added 3 pounds of lean (muscle) weight and lost 4 pounds of fat weight. Although their bodyweight changed by one 1 pound, they actually made a 7-pound improvement in body composition.
What's more, to keep the participants' bodyweight relatively constant, the researchers had to increase their caloric intake throughout the study period. During the last few weeks of the study, the exercisers were eating 15 percent more calories every day to maintain their bodyweight. Unlike dieting, the strength exercise resulted in more muscle and the need for more calories as the subjects lost fat. Of course, if the subjects had not increased their calorie consumption throughout the study, they would have lost even more fat weight.
In our own larger study, 383 men performed 25 minutes of strength exercise and 25 minutes of endurance exercise two or three days a week for eight weeks. This combination exercise program produced a 6.4-pound fat loss and a 3.7-pound muscle gain, for a 10-pound change in body composition.


text:
Quality AC Repair Contractor In Superior, CO
Trust the #1 Choice For AC Repair Companies Near Superior, CO - SAC Mechanical!
You count on your air conditioner all summer long; when suddenly faced with a failing AC unit on a sweltering summer day, your family's comfort is on the line and any wait for an AC service technician can seem too long. Whatever your air conditioning needs, SAC Mechanical Heating & Air Conditioning's team of skilled technicians is ready to help at any time of the day or night. SAC Mechanical is a family-owned business operating in the Boulder, Colorado area for almost 35 years, and we take customer satisfaction and honest, quality service very seriously as any of our thousands of happy customers can attest.
Facing a failing air conditioner in the middle of summer can seem catastrophic for many homeowners. SAC Mechanical's quick response and guaranteed same day service means that you'll never be left waiting for your AC repair technician to show up.
SAC Mechanical AC Services:
Repair & Maintenance
Our team of professionals will perform an inspection and test on your AC unit, shortly after that we will be able to determine the issue with your system and come up with a solution that will give you the best performance while keeping the use of energy low. It's crucial to keep your air conditioner energy use under control so that you can save money and use less energy for the environment.
At SAC Mechanical we use top of the line AC equipment for your choice of technology that will be best for your home or business. If you need help with this decision, we are able to come evaluate your property, check the energy use patterns and cooling needs to determine what would be the best AC system for you.
Technology is always changing, we are able to replace and enhance your AC system at any time! When you have a better quality system you will reduce energy use - trust the experts at SAC Mechanical with your next AC System upgrade.
Top-Quality AC Repair Contractors In The Superior, CO Area!
Your air conditioner is only useful as long as it is reliable, and dealing with an AC unit in need of repairs during the hottest months of the year can be frustrating. At SAC Mechanical, we understand the need for AC repair service that is both quick and dependable. Our team of experienced AC service technicians can be at your home quickly whenever an issue arises, no matter the time of day or night.
SAC Mechanical's repair specialists are skilled and have expertise with all makes and models of HVAC equipment, ensuring that our service will completely address and repair the problem. After we fix your air conditioner, you can rest easy knowing that your home will be cool and comfortable all summer long.
Honesty, integrity and customer satisfaction. These principles motivate SAC Mechanical's AC service team to provide the highest quality service for any AC repair issue. Our thousands of satisfied customers can attest to our commitment to fast, reliable and long-lasting air conditioner repair service.
Reviews About our AC Repair Work:
We enjoy keeping our customers satisfied, take a look at some of the kind words they have to say about our services.
Most helpful. SAC installed an Aprilaire 800 whole house humidifier in our home in Boulder. Their estimate was considerably less than their competition; they were able to complete the install in less than a week after we agreed to hire them. The crew and salesman were all prompt, courteous, knowledgeable and easy to deal with - no extraneous marketing or upselling. I would highly recommend them for any HVAC related job and will be calling them the next time we need service in that area.Geoff U.* Boulder CO
I've dealt with several people from the company and they have always been extremely professional and beyond friendly. We had a new furnace put in and also a hot water heater installed. It was done quickly and efficiently. I will be using SAC for all my future HVAC needs including servicing and maintenance.Chris B* Longmont, Co
Impeccable. These people installed a fairly comprehensive HVAC system in my home. They were attentive and the owner and Rich and Jeannie and everyone I can't remember were awesome. These people are all on the same page and just took care of me. Rich even returned to my home and installed my CO monitor so I could pass inspection. I cannot express in words my appreciation for the worry-free operation they run.Sherelyn J.* Boulder CO


text:
Mysterious YouTube videos that reportedly show Mitt Romney addressing high-level donors at a private fundraiser have started to circulate around the Internet this week, and the contents could be very damning for the Republican presidential nominee.
The videos — which feature an audio of Romney dismissing Obama voters as entitled freeloaders and lamenting his problems with Hispanic voters — were apparently all taken at the same fundraiser, and were first posted on YouTube by two anonymous users. Today, David Corn of Mother Jones reports that he has seen the whole video, which he said was taken sometime before the convention, but after Romney was the presumptive nominee.
The most inflammatory line from the videos refers to 47 percent of Americans who, according to Romney, "will vote for the president no matter what."
"All right, there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent on government, who believe they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you name it. That's an entitlement. And that government should give it to them."
It is possible that Romney is referring to the 47 percent of Americans who pay federal income taxes either because they do not earn enough, they are retired, disabled, or myriad reasons that qualify—a number often cited by conservatives when discussing tax reform.
Obama campaign manager Jim Messina wasted no time slamming Romney for the remarks:
"It's shocking that a candidate for President of the United States would go behind closed doors and declare to a group of wealthy donors that half the American people view themselves as 'victims,' entitled to handouts, and are unwilling to take 'personal responsibility' for their lives," Messina said in a statement. "It's hard to serve as president for all Americans when you've disdainfully written off half the nation."
We've contacted the Romney campaign to verify that the videos are real and will update when if we hear anything back.
Watch the clip below, courtesy of Mother Jones. The images on the videos obtained by Mother Jones have been blurred, apparently to protect the filmmaker's identity, but the voice definitely sounds like Romney.
In another video, Romney says, when describing his dad, that "had he been born of Mexican parents, I'd probably have a better shot of winning this."
"I say that jokingly, but it'd be helpful to be Latino," he adds.
Read the full Mother Jones story and watch more videos here >


text:
I've been showing you all the cover of my new book, Preserving by the Pint, for months now. I thought that since today is its official release date (though Amazon makes such things mostly moot by shipping pre-orders as soon as it has them in stock), it might be fun to show you what it looks like on the inside.
This book is full of tiny batches and was written with farmers market shoppers, CSA subscribers, and container gardeners in mind (though truly, if you're not among those groups, the book is still for you). All the recipes start with either a pint, a quart, or a pound (or two) because those are the units of measure that so many of us end up with after a trip to the green market, grocery store, or farm share pick-up.
Instead of giving away your excess produce, or worse, tossing on the compost pile, you can preserve it. Make pesto from that giant bundle of Thai basil. Cook excess zucchini down into a creamy, garlicky butter. And transform those alien-like heads of kohlrabi into crisp, tasty pickles.
Unlike my first book, which was arranged by type of preserve, Preserving by the Pint is set up seasonally. The idea is that you can start at the beginning with Spring and preserve your way through both the year and the book. As someone who did essentially that while writing the book, I can promise, you'll end up with a delightfully varied assortment of things in your pantry and freezer when that year is up.
One thing you'll start to notice about this book is that while all the recipes do preserve the season, they don't all do it through canning. A generous handful of the recipes are designed for refrigerator storage and yet others are best frozen. I made the storage choices I did in order to create the best finished product possible.
These marinated sugar snap peas, for instances, are a quick pickle because if you were to process them in a boiling water bath canner, all those spritely peas would lose their snap and crunch. Kept in the fridge, they last a respectable amount of time and are far more delicious.
This quick tomato sauce is one of my very favorite recipes in the book. Most years, I buy a 100 pounds of tomatoes and spend a week preserving them whole or as puree. However, throughout the summer, there are often small deals on cracked or otherwise marred tomatoes at my local market that I hate to pass up.
This sauce makes it possible to spend a dollar or two, invest a little time peeling and cooking, and end up with two half pints of glorious, flavorful pizza sauce from each batch. Because I make four or five batches over the course of the summer, I end up with enough sauce to last all year, but it doesn't feel like any work at all and costs nearly nothing.
In writing this book, I also worked hard to come up with recipes that solved problems. I often hear from people that they wish they could can caramel sauces. While this sweet pear caramel doesn't have the creamy mouthfeel of a batch made with heavy cream, it's a really delicious sauce that can be used in place of traditional caramel drizzles (and if you don't like pears, try it with peach or raspberry puree).
I am really proud of how this book turned out and am so grateful to Running Press for helping me turn an idea into a beautiful, useful thing.
Finally, it's time for the weekly giveaway to return. I have three signed copies of Preserving by the Pint, liberated from my stash of author copies, to give away. Here's how to enter:
- Leave a comment on this post and tell me what you think about the new book. Or, if you're not ready to share your thoughts, tell me about your favorite small batch preserving project.
- Comments will close at 11:59 pm on Saturday, March 29, 2014. Winners will be chosen at random and will be posted to the blog on Sunday, March 30, 2014.
- Giveaway open all.
- One comment per person, please. Entries must be left via the comment form on the blog at the bottom of this post.
P.S. The new book has gotten a bit of love from some of my local media outlets. Here's what the Philly's Citypaper, Geekadelphia, and Table Matters have to say.


text:
action wrote:i hope the brits get out. they are too discriminatory against belgies
Growing old disgracefully
Growing old disgracefully
Kes wrote:The pros are the trade benefits.
The cons are being told to stick to silly rules by people who might not actually intend on doing it themselves because the rules restrict your competitive edge.
Growing old disgracefully
fairydandy wrote:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34770875
I can't understand why we are 'negotiating'. What's to negotiate here? We should be telling the rest of Europe that these are our conditions to stay and there will be no discussion around it.
Anyway, it's not a club we need to belong to, for heaven's sake let's just get out.
Growing old disgracefully
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


text:
Just as we begin to feel the cooler breezes on these late summer evenings, things are beginning to heat up at the Statehouse. A quiet but bitter battle is being fought over potential changes to the Ohio severance tax on the emerging shale industry in exchange for a cut in Ohio's income tax. Let's start with the basics of what the actual proposal looks like: Severance taxes are levied by states on many extracted or mined natural resources. Currently, natural gas and oil are taxed volumetrically in Ohio; 20 cents on a barrel of oil and 3 cents per thousand cubic feet (MCF) of natural gas. There is no specific tax on natural gas liquids. The proposed changes to the severance tax will be based on the sale price of the resource. For natural gas, the tax rate will be 1%. For oil and natural gas liquids, the rate will be 1.5% for the first year, rising to 4% in year two or three depending on the rate at which the driller is able to recover the initial capital costs of the well. (If cost are not recovered in the first year, the imposition of the 4% rate will be delayed a year.) But who pays the new severance tax rates is where it gets a little complicated. Conventional wells, generally defined as vertical wells, will continue to pay the old rates. Only the higher-volume, horizontally-drilled wells will be subject to the new rates. The final twist to the new tax rates is that a well producing less than 10 MCF of natural gas per day will pay no severance tax. Interestingly, this eliminates severance taxes on nearly 45,000 wells representing about 90% of the current wells in Ohio. Not overly complicated, the new severance tax proposal is termed a modernization. The new high volume, horizontal well industry is barely a decade old in the region and less than five years old in Ohio. In addition, the proposal addresses the issue of natural gas liquids (ethane, butane, propane) not here to for part of the tax structure, and expected to be in abundance in the Ohio shale play. In fact, it is the liquids that most analysts cite as the key reason for growth in the Utica and Point Pleasant shale play. Gov. John Kasich's proposal is then focused on devoting this new revenue source to a reduction in the overall Ohio income tax rate. It is this usage of the new revenue to reduce the income tax rate that garnered a neutral stance by the powerful conservative group, American's for Tax Reform. Through spokespeople, ATR has said that the governor's plan doesn't violate the "no new taxes" pledge that so many Republican candidates and officials have signed. Even The Wall Street Journal has jumped into the mix with a late-summer editorial praising the Governor's concept as "a creative Ohio plan to trade levies on income and energy." However, a new group to the political scene is attempting to put up credible opposition to the governor's plan. Ohio Rising has proposed a new tax pledge for legislators who pledge to vote against any changes to Ohio's severance tax. The group has not released the names of their organizers or financial supporters, but their key spokesman has been the head of Ohio's Tea Party movement. Interestingly, Americans for Tax Reform are also linked to Ohio Rising despite the fact that they are on record as saying that those who have signed their own "no-new-taxes" pledge are free to support the governor's proposal. To date, the group has yet to release the name of any legislators to take this new tax pledge; in the meantime, stories have surfaced about legislators who won't be supporting Ohio Rising's efforts. Across the aisle, a number of key Democrat leaders have been talking about an imposition of the tax, but instead of reducing the income tax (which they say would unfairly help the highest income earner most) they are talking about diverting the tax to make up for other budget cuts the governor has made, specifically for local governments. Not an endorsement of the governor's plan by any means, it is interesting to see the discussion centered not around a ban on drilling and the process of hydraulic fracturing as in New York, New Jersey and Vermont but rather the opportunity presented by new tax revenue. Although outnumbered and nearly irrelevant at the Statehouse at vote-counting time, they may potentially cast some key votes before the end of the year. The argument continues that a regulatory or tax structure out of sorts with the industry could slow the growth. So are these policy debates in Columbus having an impact in the field? It may be too soon to tell, but drilling permit counts continue to increase and completed wells are on a steady rise. In November 2011, 61 total horizontal permits had been issued by the state with a handful of actual wells drilled. As of last week, there were 352 horizontal permits and 125 wells drilled. Although some may say the numbers are still small, a 600% increase in less than a year is one indicator that the looming possibility of a severance tax (first raised in March 2012) and recent swath of new regulatory measures (passed in July) are having little damper on the industry in the field.
SHALE Blogs
Shale and taxes are a volatile mix in Columbus
Recommended for You


text:
Advanced Search
Virtualization | News
An academic department at the University of California Berkeley has shifted to a cloud solution in order to give students virtual access to statistical applications. The Department of Statistics adopted the use of Phoenix NAP Cloud Services in the spring 2014 semester in order to reduce the amount of time faculty had to spend helping students run the same software directly on their devices. The new approach allows users to access stats applications such as IPython and R remotely in a desktop session from their own computer instead of grappling with the software downloads, patches and plug-ins necessary for running the software locally. Or students can choose to use departmental computers.
"We looked at some of the larger vendors, but no one was able to provide us with the flexibility and support we needed to provision servers in the cloud, while working within the constraints of the campus' financial system," said Systems Manager Ryan Lovett.
That included the ability of the company to accept a university purchase order, he added. "From Phoenix NAP's cloud solution to its customer support right on down to its billing department, we've received the best experience as we provide a better learning environment for both professors and students."
The company's public cloud service allows organizations to run applications for multiple users on an as-needed basis; the customer pays for resources used. The feature set includes a dashboard summary to display an overview of resources used, virtual machine setup and management, network storage and firewall functionality.
About the Author
Dian Schaffhauser is a senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal and Campus Technology. She can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com or on Twitter @schaffhauser.
View More Webcasts
View More Whitepapers
Sign up for our newsletter.
I agree to this site's Privacy Policy.


text:
Icaro Rebolledo |KF18 | Peru
Whether it is the Greek/Egyptian elections, Rio +20 meeting or the 2012 Eurocup (c'mon England!)…all the people involved have something to learn from our local Father's Day football tournament here in Chiclayo- Northern Peru. Yes, we won the tournament!… and how great it feels to be the champions (and score plenty of goals!). Yet, the real enjoyment happened when everyone came together to share the prize (a few too many bottles of beer); if you saw the dancing you would certainly understand! It is crucial for as many people as possible to be able to enjoy the benefits of individual success in order to create a sense of community and strive towards a common goal; political, environmental or any other
Indeed, during my first week as a Kiva Fellow in Peru, I have started to understand that this is precisely Kiva's goal. At a global level, its lending platform together with its network of microfinance institutions serve as the means to create a community-like link between lenders and borrowers, in order to contribute towards the empowerment of hard working people in developing countries. Moreover, it leverages on its ability to provide cheap funding by incentivizing local microfinance institutions to lend to communities previously excluded from any kind of access to capital.
The way I see it, people are social by nature. This characteristic is something that Kiva embraces and understand in order to create a global community working together towards the improvement of the living conditions of people from often difficult backgrounds, in a way that is ultimately self-sufficient and sustainable. (to see another great example of strong community building, please see Ward´s blog post with great details on our Kiva fellows' training week in San Francisco!)
I have not yet started visiting the people who ultimately benefit from this. Yet, having spent only a week in my host microfinance institution in Northern Peru, Edpyme Alternativa, I have been able to meet a bunch of honest people within the organization with very strong work ethics. Moreover, the advantage of being in a relatively small city, is that in your day to day life you come across a variety of inspirational stories from hard working entrepreuners who set up their own small restaurant, bakery or own their own motorcycle-taxi (if you saw their driving, you could argue they are even risking their own lives!). This attitude is key for people to feel they have ownership of their own destiny; by fostering the inclusion of individuals into having formal access to capital, I believe Kiva's mission is even more powerful than perhaps explicitly stated.
One of the strongest examples of the power community building has and change it can foster is the Arab Spring. Here, despite the lack of platforms for social interaction determined citizens came together to topple long standing dictatorships. This has inspired millions in the region to stand strong together against social injustices. Surely, this example together with our football tournament and the rest of stories of community building, can also inspire us to start thinking about how we can contribute to this process (whether it is by lending through Kiva, donating to an NGO's or through our own work) or it may even help England to finally get their act together and win the Eurocup!!! (if this fails, they should just contact a fantastic football player which would certainly solve all their problems… see picture above for details)
Icaro Rebolledo is a Kiva Fellow, working in Peru this summer with Kiva partner Edpyme Alternativa, a microfinance institution in Northen Peru. Find out how you can become a Kiva Fellow or just more information on kiva and microfinance in general on kiva.org.


text:
NCLB Flexibility Package
Twitter Town Hall
Mapping State Standards
ARRA Obligations
Grant Awards
Odds and Ends
Quote to Note
Upcoming Events
NCLB Flexibility Package
On August 8, with the new school year fast approaching and still no bill to reform the No Child Left Behind Act, the President directed his Administration to provide a process for states to seek relief from key provisions of the education law. "America's future competitiveness is being decided todayin classrooms across the nation," stated Melody Barnes, Director of the Domestic Policy Council at the White House. "With no clear path to a bipartisan bill in Congress, the President has directed us to move forward with an administrative process to provide flexibilitywithin the lawfor states and districts that are willing to embrace reform." She emphasized that such a process is "not a pass on accountability. There will be a high bar for states seeking flexibility. We'll encourage all states to apply, and each one will have a chance to succeed. But, those that don't will have to comply with No Child Left Behind's requirements until Congress enacts an education law that will deliver change to all 50 states."
The Administration's Blueprint for reauthorizing the law calls for college- and career-ready standards, more great teachers and leaders, robust use of data, and a more flexible and targeted accountability system. At a briefing, Barnes and Secretary Duncan noted that the final details on the flexibility package will reflect similar goals. The specifics of the package will be made public in September.
"There is no magic bullet for fixing education," stressed the Secretary, "and the best ideas will always come from the local levelfrom the men and women in our schools doing the hard work every day to educate children. We are still hopeful that Congress can continue its work in the fall. In the meantime, states and districts have an opportunity to move forward." (Note: The Secretary blogs about the President's directive, and answers to five questions about NCLB flexibility are available online.)
Twitter Town Hall
On August 24, at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time, Secretary Duncan will participate in the first-ever #AskArne Twitter Town Hall. Veteran education journalist John Merrow will moderate the event, which will also be broadcast live on the Department's USTREAM channel. Twitter users can submit questions to the Secretary using the hashtag #AskArne. The Department uses several Twitter accounts to share information and speak with the education community and the public. For general news and information, follow @usedgov. To keep up-to-date with the Secretary, follow @ArneDuncan. For more information, please go to. (Note: A complete list of the agency's Twitter accounts, as well as Facebook pages and YouTube channels, is posted online.)
Mapping State Standards
The Department's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), which is part of the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), has released a report comparing the relative rigor of state proficiency standards in reading and mathematics using the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scale as a common yardstick. Each individual state develops its own state assessments in reading and math and sets its own proficiency standard. As a result, states vary widely in the standards they set for students. By using NAEP as a benchmark, it was possible to compare state proficiency standards. Among the findings:
- Most states' proficiency standards were at or below NAEP's definition of "Basic" performance.
- For those states that had made substantive changes in their assessments between 2007 and 2009, most (62%) moved toward more rigorous standards, as measured by NAEP.
- For those states that had made substantive changes in their assessments between 2005 and 2009, more showed decreases (51%) than increases (32%) in the rigor of their standards, as measured by NAEP.
- Between 2005 and 2007 and between 2007 and 2009, changes in the proportion of students meeting states' standards for proficiency were not corroborated by the proportion of students meeting proficiency, as measured by NAEP. In other words, the state assessment and NAEP reports showed changes in percentages of students meeting the state's standards that were significantly different from each other. In most cases, states' results showed greater positive changes than NAEP results.
In addition to report, NCES's mapping web site supplies profiles of proficiency standards for each state, frequently asked questions, and earlier reports. (Note: Secretary Duncan's statement on the report is available online.)
ARRA Obligations
In a letter to the nation's governors, Deputy Secretary Tony Miller urges states to review their balances for funds awarded by the Department in Fiscal Year 2009 under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Under the Tydings Amendment, states and subgrantees, if applicable, have an additional fiscal year to obligate funding after the year the funds were made available for obligation. These specific ARRA monies were made available for obligation through the end of FY 2010 and remain available for obligation through the close of FY 2011, which ends on September 30, 2011. The Department is committed to working with states to ensure that available ARRA funds are being used appropriately and effectively with minimum risk of waste, fraud, or abuse. The Department has also posted a table to ensure the public is aware of the status of all awards with a September 30, 2011, obligation deadline.
Grant Awards
This month, the Department announced grant awards under three different programs. First, 16 grants of $75,000 each were awarded to 11 small businesses to conduct research and develop technology that makes life and learning easier for individuals with disabilities. For example, one grantee will develop a low-cost computer graphics screen-reader for the vision-impaired; another will develop and evaluate an accident prevention system for manual wheelchairs; and another will design and develop a foot-operated mouse for computers. The Small Business and Innovation Research (SBIR) Program has two phases. Phase I determines the scientific or technical merit of the idea, with awards made for up to six months and a maximum of $75,000. Phase II expands on the previous results, with awards made for up to two years and a maximum of $500,000. Second, 12 states and districts will receive Advanced Placement (AP) Incentive Program grants to help low-income students have greater access to and succeed in AP courses. These grants, totaling $6.6 million, were awarded to promising programs, specifically increasing student access to rigorous courses in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM). All the grantees include at least one persistently lowest-achieving school. Third, more than $5 million in grants were awarded to 19 [special education Parent Training and Information (PTI) Centers in 13 states and Puerto Rico. With the new grants, the Department funds 71 special education PTI Centers. Every state has at least one special education PTI Center, which assists parents as they work to ensure their children receive a free, appropriate public education as guaranteed by federal law.
Also: Last fall, in its new strategic plan, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) identified research as a mission-critical goal. Reflecting this new emphasis, the NEA has announced the availability of grants to conduct research into the value and impact of the U.S. arts sector, whether on individuals or communities. Grantees may use either existing or newly established datasets to conduct their research, including some of the longitudinal datasets from NCES. The NEA anticipates awarding up to 25 grants in the range of $10,000 to $30,000. The deadline for applications is November 8.
Odds and Ends
Are you a visual learner? This week, the Department released the July 2011 edition of "School Days," its monthly video journal. This casual look back covers a dozen large and small events featuring Secretary Duncan and other senior officials, all in just a few minutes.
On August 9, the Secretary addressed Parade's All-American Service Team and commended them for bringing hope and inspiration to their local communities.
One day later, the Secretary joined key educators, policymakers, and business leaders in Tennessee for a White House Rural Council roundtable. The roundtable focused on education reform efforts being made in rural areas across the nation and how these reforms can lead to a highly skilled workforce and stronger economy. These conversations guide the work of the council and help government foster investment, support communities, and spur rural job creation.
The percentage of U.S. high school graduates meeting all four of ACT's College Readiness Benchmarks increased from 23% in 2007 and 24% last year to 25% this year, even as the "pool" of students taking the ACT continued to expand (up 25% since 2007). Based on the actual performance of successful students in college, these readiness benchmarks specify the minimum scores needed on each ACT subject area test to indicate a student is ready to succeed (a 50% chance of earning a "B" or higher or a 75% chance of earning a "C" or higher) in a typical first-year, credit-bearing college class in that subject area. Lack of college readiness is again most evident in the areas of math and science; just 45% of ACT-tested 2011 graduates are ready for college-level algebra, and only 30% are ready for college-level biology.
The federal government's web portal, USA.gov, has a Back to School landing page, with resources and tips to help students, parents, and educators prepare for the new school year.
The National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB), which sets policy for NAEP (also known as The Nation's Report Card) is seeking nominations of qualified individuals to serve as board members for a four-year term starting October 1, 2012. NAGB is soliciting the broadest representation to fill positions in five areas: testing and measurement expert, state legislator (Republican), local board of education member, non-public school administrator, and general public representative. The deadline for all nominations is September 30.
Quote to Note
"Our job is to support reform that is good for students at the state and local level. We need to get out of the way wherever we can. We need to be tight on the goals but loose on the means of achieving them, providing as much flexibility as possible while also maintaining meaningful accountability for improving student outcomes and closing achievement gaps. No Child Left Behind (NCLB) got it backward. It was loose on the goals but tight on the means, and, today, it's forcing states into 'one-size-fits-all' solutions that just don't work. The President understands this and has directed the Department to move ahead in providing relief in return for reform."
|Secretary of Education Arne Duncan (8/8/11), announcing President Obama's directive on NCLB relief
Upcoming Events
On a weekly basis, the Secretary's public schedule is posted online.
Every other Thursday since July 14, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time, the Department has been hosting "Summer Seminars at Six," a four-part summer information series for teachers. The last seminar, titled "Leading Their Profession: Teachers and Education Policy," is scheduled for August 25. Video and related materials from the first three seminars are available online.
Next week, the Department will exhibit at the Blacks in Government (BIG) National Training Conference in Boston (August 22-25) and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Partners in the Dream Public Exposition in Washington, D.C. (August 25-29). If you are attending either of these events, please stop by the Department's booth.
Credits, Subscribe & Unsubscribe
Please feel free to contact the Office of Communications and Outreach with any questions:
Director, Intergovernmental AffairsStacey Jordan, (202) 401-0026, email@example.com
Program AnalystAdam Honeysett, (202) 401-3003, email@example.com
To be added or removed from distribution, or submit comments (we welcome your feedback!), please contact Adam Honeysett. Or, visit http://www2.ed.gov/news/newsletters/edreview/index.html.
This newsletter contains hypertext links to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. These links are provided for the user's convenience. The U.S. Department of Education does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this outside information. Furthermore, the inclusion of links is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed, or products or services offered, on these sites, or the organizations sponsoring the sites.


text:
You're about to switch to our dst country Shopping Experience. If you currently have items in your shopping cart, it will be emptied. Do you want to continue ?
Black watch with multi-layer dial, 66 mm
WARRANTYFeaturing an intricacy-redefining multi-layer dial, four time zones and a fresh case update, Mr. Daddy 2.0 delivers cutting-edge design elements so far ahead of the curve, there's no point in trying to catch up. Inspired by tactical gear and gauge read-outs, this groundbreaking style is fully equipped with aggressive lug shapes, unique hardware and a highly complex dial with more dimensions and graphics than ever before.
Place an order of 400DKK or more and receive it for free within 2-4 working days.
Don't love it? Return on orders over 400DKK it's free within 15 days from the delivery date. Simply use the provided pre-paid label.


text:
LeTourneau University's Sting" Precision Flight Team placed 13th overall in the nation at the 2013 National Intercollegiate Flight Association SAFECON flight competition hosted by Ohio State, in Columbus, Ohio. Last year, the team placed 17th.
The competition attracted 378 competitors on 30 teams from universities all over the country. LETU placed 10th in Flight Events and 10th in Ground Events.
The team of pilot Ethan Pearce and drop master Bryan Stankovich were LETU's highest placing competitors, placing 3rd nationally for the Message Drop Competition. The team of pilot Gregg Williams and drop master Justin Sutton placed 10th.
Flight students Gregg Williams (pilot) and Justin Sutton (co-pilot) placed 5th in the Crew Resource Management event. Daniel Tou won 7th place in Ground Trainer IFR simulator. Patrick Harney placed 20th in Short Field Landings.
"I'm very happy with the results of our team this year," said Brad Wooden, the NIFA team sponsor. "We have not placed in the top 10 in both flight and ground events since 2008."
Team members of the 2013 Sting Flight Team competing at nationals included captains Patrick Harney, Justin Sutton, and Daniel Tou and competitors Kyle Gould, Whitney Brouwer, Cameron Hamilton, Ethan Pearce, Luke Sjoblom, Gregg Williams, Jacob Weeks and Bryan Stankovich. Coaches were Brad Wooden, Chad Mertz, and Andrew Robinson.
Categories: (none)


text:
Reflections on Family Tree Circles
view: full | list
Journals and Posts
Looking for Ancestors of Thomas Constant Paget MORTON and Eliza Thomson May CHAPPELL
Thomas Constant PAGET MORTON (1788 - 1867) and Eliza THOMSON MAY CHAPPELL (1795 - 1867) were both born Appledore, Devonshire England and died Port Macquarie NSW Australia. Thomas, Eliza and family immigrated to Australia in 1833. Thomas was a retired Naval Commander by then and some of Eliza's family also served in the Royal Navy. They were married in 1814 Northam, Devonshire England. If any one has any information on their ancestry in England it would be greatly appreciated. I have quite a lot of information on their descendants.
Looking for ancestry of Alexander HENDERSON and Agnes GRAHAM
Alexander HENDERSON was born in Scotland 16 Aug.1796 and was named John Alexander Henderson? Possibly the son of James Henderson and Agnes CAIRN or CAIN.
Agnes GRAHAM was the daughter of George GRAHAM and Mary COLTART? According to the Parish Records of Kirkunzeon, Scotland Agnes was baptised 9 Sept.1802.
Alexander and Agnes HENDERSON (Nee: Graham) were married in 1820 at Kirkunzeon, Scotland. Indications are that Alexander was also using the name HETHERINGTON around this time?
Alexander was a teacher of music in Edinburgh in 1834 and by 1851 the family were living in Kensington, London. Here his occupation was
that of Classical Tutor/Teacher/Teacher of Languages.
Looking for the ancestry of Alexander HENDERSON and Agnes GRAHAM.
Looking for information on the DEAN family
Looking for Mary DEAN (1849 - 1914) the daughter of George DEAN and Elizabeth SPARGO. Mary was born Windsor NSW Australia and settled in Glen Innes NSW after her marriage in 1874 to Thomas DAVY (1853 - 1937). Any information on Mary's family would be much appreciated.
Carl William SCHULZ/SCHOLZ
Looking for information on Carl William SCHULZ/SCHOLZ (son of Vilhslm SCHULZ and unknown)born in 1865 Hannover West Germany. Carl immigrated to Australia and at the time of his marriage (in 1888) to Christina Wilson COSH was a schoolmaster at Broken Hill, NSW. He was naturalised in Australia and then became more commonly know as Charles Leslie SCHOLZ.
Carl was also a Consulting Engineer and Mining Inspector Ph.D. and many years later left Australia for England and set up a business in London . . . and in this capacity travelled the world. He was last heard of during the latter part of WWI. What happened to him then remains a mystery to this day.
Any information with regards Carl,his early life, his parents and/or siblings (or other family) would be much appreciated.
- Displaying 1-4 of 4 Journals
- 1
- of1


text:
British hip-hop star Dizzee Rascal, who proved a live hit at two Big Day Outs, is returning to Auckland - and he's bringing his own mini festival with him.
Rascal will be the headline act at Vector Arena on March 1 in an extended superclub-styled show which will feature a raft of DJs and rising New York singer-rapper Azealia Banks.
The acts are playing here before heading to the Future Music Festivals in Australia, and are the latest the transtasman crossings by acts playing the Oz event - others include the Stone Roses and Fun.
Rascal and Banks' live performances will be supported by Dutch House music star Hardwell, rising French DJ Madeon, Belgian DJ duo and brothers Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike, and Canadian world champion turntablist turned remixer-to-the stars, A-Trak.
Rascal comes here ahead of the expected release of the long-awaited follow up to his last album 2009's Tongue N' Cheek, which he has recorded in his new home base of Miami.
US hip-hop It girl Banks is due to release her debut album entitled Broke With Expensive Taste this year after a string of attention-getting singles, EPs and videos following her breakthrough 212 from late 2011.
Her rapid rise in profile via the music and fashion press hasn't all been smooth sailing. She recently came under fire after calling gossip blogger Perez Hilton a "messy faggot" in a series of tweets, and initially refused to retract the remark, adding "As a bisexual person I knew what I meant when I used that word."
Banks eventually apologised " to anyone who was indirectly offended by my foul language".
The show's promoters say it won't be like a usual Vector Arena show but a will be "a full-on seamless night of music and djs" with the venue allowing free flow for the audience between the floor and seated areas.
The show is likely to start at 8pm and go through to the wee small hours.
Tickets go on sale on Tuesday.
- TimeOut


text:
Currency Displayed in
Hover over image to zoom
1 Year Warranty
Write review
We promise to never spam you, and just use your email address to identify you as a valid customer.
This product hasn't received any reviews yet. Be the first to review this product!
Copyright 2019 Ligas Enterprises Store. All Rights Reserved. Sitemap |
All prices are in USD.
Compare Now
Click the button below to add the Cisco SPA122 ATA with Router to your wish list.


text:
It has a new take on the Pacific—and on its own waterfront.
Hi, tourist, new in town? For a long time just about the only people with Long Beach on their radar screens either were in the navy or ran container ships. Things have been changing down in Iowa-by-the-Sea recently.
The biggest addition is the new Aquarium of the Pacific, its undulating form anchoring one end of the equally new waterfront park/promenade, Rainbow Harbor.
The aquarium people say the new facility has an area greater than three football fields. Its wavy form suggests the sea and complements both its purpose and setting. The aquarium is the joint venture of Hellmuth, Obata & Kassenbaum and Esherick Homsey Dodge and Davis. Across the street, the parking garage, not by HO&K or EHD and D, hints at architects in a jolly frame of nautically postmodern mind.
Latest of several big aquariums to appear along the West Coast in the last few years, the Aquarium of the Pacific takes as its theme the entire Pacific Ocean. That's a big ocean; this is a big aquarium. Created by the same people who did the Monterey Bay Aquarium, AOP makes its broad scope manageable by dividing it into three main regions: southern California/Baja, northern Pacific, tropical Pacific.
Large preview exhibits for each of the three main regions, plus a full-size whale replica hanging from the ceiling, make the lobby an introduction for what's to come in the almost cave-like exhibit areas. That's where 17 large tanks exploring major habitats and 30 associated tanks focusing attention on specific aspects of the main habitats put you at eye level with a broad selection of exotic animals.
While organization and thoroughness are evident, there's also a fairly sensual artistic aspect. You can take things on your own terms. The building itself is of nearly organic curves accentuated by color. Individual exhibits, most glowingly lit and colorful, are full of often jewel-like forms that seem not to know or care they're being ogled.
A few highlights: the three-story predator exhibit with its "top of the food chain" animals (such as sharks); gracefully aimless jellyfish; sea otters; tank of camouflage experts; giant spider crabs; coral reef.
Take it in order; see how these animals interact with each other and their surroundings, how diverse regions meld into one another to form a whole ocean. Then wander through at random; take it as a sumptuous display of color, form, and motion.
There's color, form, and motion of a different sort outside the aquarium, too, where the newly created Rainbow Harbor's flower-decked promenade winds along the water to Shoreline Village, a collection of old-timey-looking but modern shops and restaurants arching around a marina. And across the harbor, the Queen Mary'sincongruously stately presence strikes a vaguely surreal note.
Sun, sand, sea—and bankruptcy. Those were the leading characteristics of Long Beach's first whack at development as a vacation spot, in the 1880s. Later,the city did manage to attract fun-seekers, perhaps most famously at its gatherings for people either from Iowa or who were Iowans at heart. Recently Long Beach embarked on its current recasting of the downtown waterfront.Today, two of the oldest attractions are still with us: getting out on the water and taking a boat to Catalina Island.
Shoreline Village is a good place for a pre (or post-) aquarium lunch (Tequila Jack's Beach House Cantina, Parker's Lighthouse Restaurant, 250 kinds of beer on tap at the Yard House). And if your time in the aquarium inspires you to some personal communing with the Pacific, you can rent Jet Skis, kayaks, and sailboats there, or sign up for the harbor tour.
As you noticed at the aquarium, fish gotta swim and birds gotta fly—but you don't have to drive to see the other sights in Long Beach. It's a bicycle-friendly place—level and with a Class I bike path along nearly the entire shoreline.
The town is serious about bikes. Its Bikestation, "America's first full-service bicycle facility" is hard to miss on the transit mall. With valet bike parking, rentals, gear, repairs, and a café on offer, the station is a work of functional art, a bright red-and-yellow creation of corrugated angularity surrounded by bikes and umbrella tables.
The Bikestation is near the actual, if not geographic, heart of town: the intersection of Pine and Ocean. The first few blocks of Pine offer boutiquey shopping and some unusual dining. Jillian, for example. It's a night spot created in a recycled bank, where you can dance in the vault.
Just up the street, Mum's (named in honor of the founder's mother) offers upscale dining and, on weekends, an additional "Four Rooms of Pleasure" in a 1930s-inspired ambience. Among the pleasures: Cigar and Billiards Lounge (retro-puff among well-dressed people, green felt, fragrant atmosphere), Martini Lounge (retro-tipple), Rooftop Garden (retro dine), and a disco room (lots of decibels from the band Polyester). They hold special events through the year, too. For example, after attending a sunrise service you might try their Easter "Gospel Brunch." Mum must have provided quite a role model.
On Ocean Boulevard, above The Breakers, the Sky Room is a more traditionally elegant restaurant. In this black-and-white deco room it's easy to believe the claim that German spies used to loiter in the hope of encountering loose lips. The spies are gone (so's the navy, for that matter), but one still can begin the beguine in the Sky Room's atmosphere of big band music; pricey, traditional menu; rooftop cigar smoking; and good views.
Thirteen floors below, Ocean Boulevard follows the shoreline all the way to the end of town. Along the route you'll pass the Art Museum, W.C. Fields' former home, Belmont Shore, and Naples.
Early monied Long Beachites built some nice homes along Ocean. Among them is W.C. Fields' place, Weathering Heights, at 3065. Another now is the Long Beach Art Museum, a large craftsman bungalow at 20th Place, where there's an exhibition of Federal-era furniture scheduled for this fall.
Just offshore, those suspicious-looking islands with palms and oddly proportioned buildings actually are disguised oil wells. The monied do not like looking out on oil rigs. The ride along Ocean Boulevard shows there really is a very long beach in town—it's a classic Southern California stretch of pure, white sand except that, due to a breakwater, hard-core surf has been replaced by a lake-like lapping at the waterline.
Visione Veneziana? Nope. Long Beach built its canals and floats its gondolas in Naples. Gliding among canals in the crepuscular haze has its romantic aspects—and gondoliers have tales they could tell. There is a Venice not far from Long Beach; it lacks both canals and Vesuvius. However, Long Beach does have an actual long beach—several miles worth—with a broad bicycle trail. Annette and Frankie might add to their frustrations here—surf's never up thanks to a wave-inhibiting breakwater.
Beyond Bluff Park's long, thin strip of green overlooking the beach you reach Belmont Shore. It seems an entirely different town than the Rainbow Harbor/Pine Street part of Long Beach. This low-rise, if densely built, beach neighborhood has its own low-key shopping strip along Second Street, and, right on the beach, a king-size pool left over from the 1968 Olympics. It does offer freshwater bathing and a three-story diving tower, but has its coals-to-Newcastle quality. You'll find whale-watching and fishing charters at the adjacent Belmont Pier. And for low-key beach dining, try the patio at Belmont Brewing Company.
In Southern California, Naples, not Venice, is where you find gondolas. You find beach characters in Venice. Canals wind through neighborhoods of very nice homes in the Naples section of Long Beach, adjacent to Belmont Shore. They pass beneath arched bridges. They form lagoons. And they boast authentic Italian gondolas with authentic Southern Californian gondoliers.
Romantics consider evening gondola cruises a golden opportunity to pop the question. Others find that with only a little coaxing, gondoliers will tell amusing tales of such moments gone awry, including instances of vocal critics on shore expressing dissatisfaction with hearing yet another rendition of "O Sole Mio." Not all gondoliers sing; be sure to request a vocalist in advance if such is your cup of Chianti.
The distance from Naples to Southampton isn't great in Long Beach. There's a big piece of England—bigger than the Titanicand probably just as luxurious—floating opposite the aquarium. It's the Queen Mary,the world's oldest luxury liner (maiden voyage, 1936). From Rainbow Harbor, the decidedly conservative lines of the Queen'swhite upper decks and three black-and-orange stacks have a time-machine aspect as they rise behind the palm trees and grassy hill of Lighthouse Point. The effect is heightened by a huge dome, formerly home to the "Spruce Goose" and now used by movie studios, that forms a Bucky Fulleresque moon looming behind the liner.
Today, the Queen is a luxury hotel, with first-class staterooms looking much as they did when a long list of the swank and soigné traveled on her between New York and Southampton. Her public rooms, their high-deco inlaid wood panels, etched glass, and metalwork intact, are open for tours even for those not guests at the hotel.
They've just parked a recently decommissioned Russian submarine beside the Queen.After you've sampled how the upper crust traveled in the 1930s, try for a bit of Red Octoberby touring the sub.
Although both of these vessels float, you don't really get out on the water in them. Long Beach has terminals for the ferry ride to Catalina Island if you have all day. And, if you have 90 minutes, there's a good harbor tour.
For all its newfound tourist atmosphere near the aquarium, Long Beach actually is the busiest port on the West Coast and the number one container port in the U.S. The tour reveals that much of its huge harbor manages to preserve a film noir aspect. You churn past miles of cranes, containers, freighters, heaps of scrap, and industrial architecture so pervasive it seems unlikely whatever it is that constitutes the postindustrial era ever will penetrate. It's a contrast.
An even greater contrast is the difference between today's urban/beach city and the desert/wetland area this was not long ago. Long Bech was part of two huge ranchos in the Mexican era. You can get some idea of what pastoral Southern California was like at Rancho Los Cerritos, where the large adobe, in more-or-less continuous use since the 1840s, once was headquarters of a cattle ranch run by a family with Cartwright aspirations. Now a museum, the unusually posh adobe gives a good picture of local life as it evolved over the 19th century.
Before cattle baron wannabes and the influx of Iowans, the Southland was part of Latin America, a fact not lost on the energetic people at the Museum of Latin American Art.
Devoted to exhibiting contemporary art from all over Latin America, MOLAA has just completed an ambitious expansion; in September it inaugurates its wealth of new space with "Omnia," an exhibition of "spiritual, mysterious, and magical" paintings and other works created in Oaxaca by Laura Hernandez. As much an experience as an art exhibition, "Omnia" explores the ancient Mayan cultural concepts of motion, space, time, and man.
Photography courtesy of Clinton Steeds/Wikimedia Commons
This article was first published in September 1998. Some facts may have aged gracelessly. Please call ahead to verify information.


text:
Words containing aerobiologica
Found 2 words containing aerobiologica. Browse our Scrabble Word Finder, Words With Friends cheat dictionary, and WordHub word solver to find words that contain aerobiologica. Or use our Unscramble word solver to find your best possible play! Related: Words that start with aerobiologica
- Scrabble
- Words With Friends
- WordHub
- Crossword


text:
For courses related to the Health Professions and RHOP programs select Biology, Chemistry, or Physics.
Can't find a course you need at Chadron this term? Check the online course schedules for Wayne State and Peru State. Before registering, be sure to visit with the Dean of your School regarding applicability to your program.
Need help finding what textbooks you need for your course? Click Textbook Information.
*Please note that course schedules are subject to change without prior notice.


text:
Item 1 of 2
Item 1 of 2
Item 1 of 2
Item 1 of 2
Product Details
Light the way with your friend Olivia!
- Item
- 5004251
- VIP Points
- 80
- Ages
- 5+
LEGO® Friends is a worldwide hit! But until now, Olivia has never shined so bright! This character key light has two bright LEDs in the bottom of her feet to provide the lighting assistance you need in the dark. Take Andrea with you by attaching her to a keyring set, backpack, purse and more! Collect all 5 LEGO® Friends minidolls: Andrea, Emma, Mia, Olivia, and Stephanie.
Building Instructions
- LEGO® Friends minidoll key fob
- Momentary switch saves battery power
- LED light emitting legs
- Over 2" tall
- Age 5+


text:
Get Wet This Summer
Longer days and lighter nights are the ultimate cues of summer and the Great Lake Taupo region does summer well, according to local blogger Lisa Laity.
With the largest fresh water lake in the southern hemisphere and crystal clear rivers weaving their way throughout the region, it's not surprising that visitors flock to the district in their thousands as the mercury rises in search of the perfect holiday spot and plenty of options to cool off on those balmy summer days.
Fortunately thrill seekers too are in luck, as the warmer weather lends itself beautifully to a number of iconic regional adventure activities.
Home to New Zealand's highest water touch bungy, the crew at Taupo Bungy and Cliffhanger offer a unique way to combat the temperature spikes this summer. Why not take the plunge opting for the refreshing water touch option. Either dip your fingertips, or go the whole hog and ask for a full submersion. There's nothing quite like a cool dip in the clear waters of the mighty Waikato to get your blood pumping.
If you'd rather be on the water, there are a number of operators who can provide you with an experience to wet your appetite (excuse the pun). Scenic lake cruises or guided kayak tours take you to the base of Lake Taupo's stunning Maori rock carvings, only accessible by boat and allow you to explore majestic Lake Taupo like never before.
If you're in the need for the speed, jump aboard one of the three jet boat operators churning up the waters of the Waikato River. You can be assured a refreshing spin and an adrenaline rush to boot.
A little further afield at the southern end of Lake Taupo, you'll be spoilt for choice, with a number of white water rafting companies just waiting to show off their breathtaking playground, the picturesque and famous trout fishing haunt, the Tongariro River.
Whether in search of action and adventure or just a spot to pull up and cool off, the Great Lake Taupo region has you covered. Join the masses on the Lake Terrace, grab an ice cream or gelato and get amongst the action this summer lakeside, or grab a floatie and head down to the Waikato River for a cruisy river float. Whatever you choose, we've got the perfect spot for you to cool off.
Article by
Taupo Bungy
New Zealand's Highest Water Touch Bungy Jump - located 47 metres (154 feet) above the Waikato River, check out the stunning views before taking the plunge into or towards the crystal clear waters below. Only 5 minutes from Taupo township.


text:
|MLBPA Press Release
Greinke, 26, finished the season with a record of 16-8 and 242 strikeouts for the Royals, earning 25-percent of the teams 65 victories. His strikeout total placed him second among all AL hurlers (Justin Verlander/Detroit/269), while his 2.16 ERA led all Major League pitchers. Selected by the Royals 6th overall in the 2002 June Draft, Greinke is now 29-18 over the past two seasons, and his six complete games this season placed him second in the Majors behind Torontos Roy Halladay (9).
Wainwright, 29, led the National League with 19 wins (19-8), 34 starts and 233 innings pitched in helping guide the Cardinals to the NLs Central Division title. During the second half of the season, Wainwright tore through the opposition and posted an impressive 9-3 record and a 2.10 ERA. A native of Georgia, he was originally drafted by his home state Atlanta Braves, 29th overall, in the 2000 June Draft, and was traded to the Cardinals in 2003. He made his Major League debut in 2005, and over the past three seasons he has compiled a record of 44-23.
To listen to a podcast of the Players Choice Awards announcements and player interviews, please click here.
Players Choice Awards annually recognize the best player, pitcher, rookie and comeback player in each league. The Player of the Year and Marvin Miller Man of the Year awards bestow top honors without regard to league. Balloting of all Major League players for the Players Choice Awards was conducted in September under the supervision of accounting firm KPMG.
Each 2009 Players Choice Award winner will recommend the charity of his choice to receive a grant from the Major League Baseball Players Trust. Since 1992, the Players Trust has contributed more than $3.5 million dollars to charities around the world in honor of Players Choice Award winners.
The 2009 Players Choice Awards finalists are [winners in bold & underlined]:
American League:
Outstanding Player: Derek Jeter (NY Yankees), Joe Mauer (Minnesota), Kendry Morales (LA Angels of Anaheim)
Outstanding Pitcher: Roy Halladay (Toronto), Zack Greinke (Kansas City), CC Sabathia (NY Yankees)
Outstanding Rookie: Elvis Andrus (Texas), Gordon Beckham (Chicago White Sox), Jeff Niemann (Tampa Bay)
Comeback Player: Russell Branyon (Seattle), Aaron Hill (Toronto), Scott Podsednik (Chicago White Sox)
National League:
Outstanding Player: Prince Fielder (Milwaukee), Albert Pujols (St. Louis), Hanley Ramirez (Florida)
Outstanding Pitcher: Chris Carpenter (St. Louis), Tim Lincecum (San Francisco), Adam Wainwright (St. Louis)
Outstanding Rookie: Chris Coghlan (Florida), Tommy Hanson (Atlanta), J.A. Happ (Philadelphia)
Comeback Player: Aaron Boone (Houston), Chris Carpenter (St. Louis), Nick Johnson (Florida)
Either League:
Player of Year: Joe Mauer (Minnesota), Albert Pujols (St. Louis), Hanley Ramirez (Florida)
Man of the Year: Curtis Granderson (Detroit), Torii Hunter (LA Angeles of Anaheim), Albert Pujols (St. Louis)
ESPN Radios broadcast schedule for the 2009 Players Choice Awards:
Monday, October 26 AL & NL Outstanding Rookies Winners: Gordon Beckham (AL)/J.A. Happ (NL)
Tuesday, October 27 AL & NL Comeback Players
Wednesday, October 28 AL & NL Outstanding Pitchers
Thursday, October 29 AL & NL Outstanding Players
Friday, October 30 Marvin Miller Man of the Year & Player of the Year


text:
Man crushed under dry docked boat
Vessel rolled from small trailer during move
An unidentified man was airlifted from Valdez on a medical emergency flight Friday night after receiving extensive but unspecified injuries after he was pinned under a large boat that had rolled off a boat trailer at the Small Boat Harbor lay down yard.
"Thanks to the public this guy might live," Rodney Walters said.
Walters was one of an estimated 25 to 30 people that rushed to the scene of the accident that could easily have taken the victim's life according to rescuers.
"This is probably the worst accident I've seen in the boat harbor for 15 or 20 years," Walters said.
Walters, who lives on a boat with his family in the harbor, was working in the lay down yard at the time of the accident.
"We were working here when the accident happened," he said. People that work or spend a great deal of time in the area had been sneaking looks at the men working to load the 34 foot boat, the Donny Brook, onto a small trailer. Then something went terribly wrong.
"Someone screamed out 'this guy is dying! We've got to do something!'" Walters said.
"People came out of nowhere."
Witnesses say 25-30 men took turns trying to lift the wooden boat to save the victim, who was reportedly unconscious and had turned blue from the crushing weigh on his chest.
"He was hurt very bad," Walters said. "The bow of the boat was flat on his chest."
When it looked as if time was running out for the victim, the volunteer rescuers were able to move the vessel enough to save the man's life.
"You couldn't believe it," Walters said of what he called a very scary event. "We were able to pick that boat up to get him from out underneath it."
The man began breathing and regained consciousness after the boat's weight was removed from his chest.
Numerous witnesses say they'd been watching two or three men trying to load the Donny Brook onto a boat trailer that appeared too small to contain the large, deep-keeled vessel. In fact, one witness, who asked not to be identified, said the team moving the boat appeared very amateurish in their attempts to load the boat and many working in the lay down yard that day were keeping their ears open in case the boat fell.
"It's one of the reasons they got such a good response," the witness said.
Harbor habitué Delbert Ferrier was more blunt.
"I warned him about the… trailer," Ferrier said. "I told them it couldn't fit on that little trailer."
Ferrier, who has a boat dry docked next to the Donny Brook, was critical of the actions of the boat's handlers prior to the accident.
"They modified that trailer," he claimed.
Photos taken after the accident show large timbers placed horizontally along the length of the trailer.
"One of the wheels was flat," Ferrier said. "The other was almost flat."
He also believes the Donny Brook would not have stayed put on the trailer if it managed to leave the lay down yard.
"That boat wouldn't have stayed on that trailer," Ferrier said.
Harbormaster Steve Waller, who participated in the rescue, said the boat's original owner had died and the men attempting to move the boat were there at the behest of its new owner. Its final destination is unknown at this time.
"He was so lucky," Ferrier said of the victim. "He was dying as we were speaking."


text:
Remodel restores love of cars
Staff writer
Rodney Williams has never entered his 1927 Buick into a car show and driven back to his Florence home without a prize.
It's easy to see why it's won at shows in Marion, Florence, and Burns. It's a boxy, black and blue beauty. Its honeycombed grill, circular cursive drawn Buick logo, varnished wooden wheel spokes, and wooden steering wheel beckon the viewer back to a time when there were way more dirt roads than paved roads in Kansas — and a trip to Kansas City took six hours.
That last sentence holds the reason why the '27 Buick is not Williams' favorite restored vehicle.
"It's slower than a seven-year itch," he said. "Forty miles per hour is the top speed."
Williams stayed true to the original '20s era engine. Sure, parts had to be replaced or fixed, but he kept the workings as authentic as possible.
He tinkered quite a bit more with the engine of his refurbished 1960 Pontiac Ventura. Although the burgundy colored Ventura is built like a landlocked boat, the car can do 80 mph, like most vehicles putter around at 20. The engine of the Ventura is still made of mostly '60s era parts, but Williams doubled the horsepower.
A 1960 Pontiac Ventura was Williams' first car. He has fond memories of challenging all comers to races on country roads. He does not remember losing. He felt a considerable measure of pride in his first car. He's transferred that pride to his adult passion of remodeling cars.
That passion takes a lot of money and a lot of work.
Williams said it is easy to drop $30,000 on an engine. As a rehabber goes through a list of necessary parts, it's not uncommon to pay $1,000 here and $2,000 there.
The work is more substantial. When Williams gets a vehicle, it is a husk of its former self. Along with his '60 Pontiac and '27 Buick, a fire-engine red 1939 International D-model truck resides in his personal Florence garage. That truck had been through a fire and showed the holes of several gunshot wounds.
Like all of his remodeling jobs, Williams had to strip, pound out, and sand the frame. A few pieces of filler were necessary in the body. Everywhere else, Williams pounded out every dent. The only one of his cars that didn't need filler was the '27 Buick.
Engine work is Williams' favorite part — it's what he does for a living at Williams Service in Florence, although in those cases it's on semi trucks. It is also the piece of the job that requires some homemade parts: things like bearings, valves, and valve rings. Williams bought machines from George Waner when the machinist retired.
It's the little touches that people see, Williams said. On the back hatch of the International truck, there is an International logo inlaid into the metal. Williams said that piece alone took 30 hours.
The Ventura was originally a four-door car. He welded the back two doors in to make it a sleeker two-door.
For the honeycomb on the '27, Williams individually banged all those bars straight.
It's pride in his work that drove Williams to develop those little touches — work he loves. It's the same reason he says no project is ever complete. The '27 needs shades for is back windows; the '39 truck needs a head light ring.
Even though a job is never really done, he is about ready to remodel a 1936 C-Model International truck parked in his driveway. The rusted hunk of metal will need a lot of work.
Even at 77 years old, Williams is up for the challenge.
Last modified Jan. 30, 2013


text:
Posture and Spinal Health
Is your office chair or yard work affecting your posture? Learn how your posture affects your overall spine health in this article.View Article
You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.
|Chiropractic Care and Healthy Living
To be healthy it's important to cover all the bases. We want to exercise and we want to eat right, not just one or the other. We want to get enough rest and we want to have a positive mental attitude, not just one or the other.
Regular chiropractic care is also part of this equation. To reap the full benefits of all the other good things we're doing, it's important to make sure that our nerve systems are doing their part, too. The nerve system is the body's master system, coordinating the activities of all the other systems. The nerve system tells our digestive system what to do with the good food we're eating. The nerve system tells the muscles, tendons, bones, and ligaments how to benefit from the exercises we're doing.
With regular chiropractic care, the nerve system is able to make sure that all our other body systems are doing their jobs, at the right time, in the right amount, and in the right place. Regular chiropractic care helps keep us vibrant, healthy, and well.


text:
Code: HB0021
Rod Hutchinson Legend Flavours: Chocolate Malt: 50ml
Rod Hutchinson Legend Flavours:Chocolate Malt 50ml
Worldwide known classic flavours that enhance the attraction of any bait.
Ideal for use in boilie mixes or stick, method mixes and ground baits.
Highly concentrated for maximum quality.
Wide selection for every imaginable situation.


text:
Summer hasn't technically begun yet, but Warner Bros. may already be itching for a vacation.
Hollywood's biggest film studio has started the season with a rare series of setbacks. First, Warner Bros. released the Adam Sandler-starring "Blended," which has grossed a disappointing $45 million worldwide since bowing May 23. Then the studio delayed hoped-for blockbuster "Jupiter Ascending" just six weeks before it was to be released.
Now, its most recent film, "Edge of Tomorrow," recorded a weak $28.7-million domestic opening over the weekend. The sci-fi action picture, which stars Tom Cruise and cost $178 million to produce, finished No. 3 on the weekend behind fellow newcomer "The Fault in Our Stars" and the blockbuster "Maleficent."
"I think all we can control is to make great movies with the best, most talented people," said Greg Silverman, Warner's president of creative development and worldwide production. "If we do that consistently, we've always proven that you win in the end."
The studio's summer slate looked risky from the start because it was lacking in big franchises. In years past, Warner Bros. relied on action films and comedies based on tested intellectual property — such as comic books or toy brands — which tends to be a safer bet at the box office.
"Godzilla," the studio's only traditional franchise film of the summer, has performed well since being released May 16. The picture, which stars Bryan Cranston, has taken in about $400 million worldwide.
Although they feature A-list stars, films such as "Edge of Tomorrow" and "Blended" are inherently riskier than sequels or other projects with brand recognition, said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at entertainment data firm Rentrak.
"People always talk about the lack of originality in Hollywood, but by and large people don't show up for those original films," he said. "Audiences now are so conditioned — they almost expect there is going to be a brand they know and love and understand before they plunk down their money."
Warner Bros.' biggest hit of 2014, "The Lego Movie," was based on a well-known children's toy line. The film has taken in more than $460 million worldwide.
The studio has gone through other recent rough patches and bounced back.
Warner Bros. started last year by releasing five films in a row that underperformed at the box office, including "Jack the Giant Slayer," a roughly $195-million production that flopped.
The studio's 2013 fortunes improved considerably over the summer, when it released a handful of big sequels and pictures based on iconic intellectual property, including "The Hangover Part III" and "Man of Steel."
Warner Bros. ultimately finished the year No. 1 in box-office market share. The studio has finished first or second in market share in nine of the last 10 years.
Silverman said that Warner Bros. would not shy away from making new films that it hopes have franchise potential.
"You have to have a mix of original and branded material," he said. "This studio has such a rich history of creating franchises and I don't want to give up on that."
With a budget of $178 million, and marketing costs of tens of millions of dollars more, "Edge of Tomorrow" has a long way to go in order to become profitable. But the studio is touting a strong opening weekend overseas as reason for optimism. The movie, which was co-produced by Village Roadshow Pictures, has grossed $110.2 million internationally.
Bruce Nash, president of film industry research firm Nash Information Services, said that "Edge of Tomorrow" could be helped by the strong reviews it has received. But he believes the movie's "absolute peak" at the domestic box office is $100 million.
"It's not impossible — 'Edge' could play through the summer," he said.
The movie's opening weekend performance in the U.S. and Canada was in stark contrast to the successful domestic debut of "The Fault in Our Stars," an inexpensive film based on a popular young adult novel. The 20th Century Fox movie beat analysts' expectations by taking in about $48 million. The domestic gross of "Edge of Tomorrow" was in line with experts' predictions.
Dergarabedian said that the success of "The Fault in Our Stars" and Walt Disney Studios' Angelina Jolie-starring "Maleficent" illustrate the value of appealing to female audiences.
"The paradigms are shifting," Dergarabedian said.
Warner Bros.' next film, "Jersey Boys," opens June 20. The project, based on the hit musical of the same name, was directed by Clint Eastwood. The film was inexpensive to make, but according to those who have seen pre-release audience surveys, it could gross in the range of $10 million over its debut weekend.
"Tracking is really all over the place in terms of accuracy," said Silverman, adding that audiences have responded positively to the film in advance screenings. "Early word is really good."
In July, Warner Bros. will release "Tammy," a comedy starring box-office draw Melissa McCarthy. The studio has high hopes for the picture, which is based on a script co-written by McCarthy.
Meanwhile, "Jupiter Ascending" was supposed to have premiered July 18. Warner Bros. delayed the $150-million sci-fi epic, directed by Lana and Andy Wachowski, so that it could have more time to work on the project's visual effects. The film will now be released in February.
"Obviously, moving 'Jupiter Ascending' is disruptive to their summer, no question," Nash said. "But they still have 'Tammy' coming out in July — they have a lot of chances to catch up."
The studio's other forthcoming high-profile releases for the year include "Horrible Bosses 2" and the final film in "The Hobbit" trilogy.
Both are sequels to hit movies — and in line with a strategy outlined by Silverman.
"To get to a sequel you have to make a great original movie," he said.