text:
NOTICE: The opinions posted here are
subject to formal revision. If you find a typographical error or
other formal error, please notify the Supreme Court of Virginia.
Carrico, C.J., Lacy, Hassell, Keenan, Kinser, and Lemons, JJ., and Compton, S.J.
Record No. 020060
Record No. 020070
November 1, 2002
John J. McGrath, Jr., Judge
These two appeals arise from a single action for damages alleging breach of an employment contract. The central question is whether the trial court erred in refusing to rule that the contract was clear and unambiguous, and in submitting to a jury the interpretation of the agreement.
To set the stage, relevant facts, mostly undisputed, that furnish the background and details of this controversy must be reviewed. In 1993, plaintiff Phillip T. "Chuck" Hiers commenced work as a sales person for defendant Cave Hill Corporation in its division, Atlantic Fabritech, located in Rockingham County. The defendant manufactures above ground storage tanks, primarily for use in the oil and lubrication industry.
On September 9, 1998, the plaintiff and defendant, through its president and sole shareholder, Walter M. Hopkins, executed the one-page contract that is the subject of this dispute. The agreement was "composed" by plaintiff and Hopkins, and was typewritten on a page of Atlantic Fabritech stationery.
The contract is labeled:
EFFECTIVE DATES: August 14, 1998 – August 1, 2003″
In a preamble, the writing stated: "This work agreement established on August 14, 1998 between Cave Hill Corporation, d/b/a Atlantic Fabritech and Phillip T. Hiers is based on the following conditions."
Paragraph 1 provided for a $25,000 annual salary plus a cost-of-living increase.
Paragraph 2 provided, in part, for a two per cent commission to be paid plaintiff "on Atlantic Fabritech tank sales quoted, processed, generated and sold by Chuck."
Paragraphs 3 and 4 provided for use of a company vehicle and for an expense allowance.
Paragraph 5 provided: "Thirty (30) days' notice will be given by both the employee and the employer in the case of leave or dismissal."
Paragraphs 6 and 7 provided for a vacation period, and for medical and dental insurance.
The agreement concluded with an unnumbered paragraph delineating plaintiff's job responsibilities.
During the negotiations for the contract, Hopkins told the plaintiff that one Stacey Sinnett, a former Cave Hill employee, would be reemployed. The plaintiff understood that Sinnett was to work for him in sales and in product development. However, the plaintiff learned the day after the contract was signed that Sinnett was to be the general manager of Atlantic Fabritech and that the plaintiff would have "to report to" Sinnett.
Thereafter, disagreement between plaintiff and Hopkins developed over job duties, commissions on sales, and plaintiff's overall performance of his assigned work. Specifically, plaintiff contended that, under the employment agreement, he was entitled to commissions on all sales, that is, not only on sales that he made but also on sales that Sinnett made. Hopkins took the position that the plaintiff was not entitled to a commission on Sinnett's sales.
During the period from September 1998 to May 6, 1999, the disagreement continued, with Sinnett issuing "warnings" to plaintiff about the performance of his duties. Finally, Sinnett recommended to Hopkins that plaintiff's employment be terminated because of "the way he handled several volume accounts .?.?. not making as many sales calls .?.?. as he should, not travelling as much as we needed .?.?. [and] not having his office organized." Hopkins had observed that plaintiff "repeatedly" was late for work and that he was "working on other projects," including "selling guns and cars .?.?. during company business time." Additionally, according to Hopkins, plaintiff was unable "to get along with" Sinnett, would not conform to new policies established by Sinnett, and "fell out with some of the customers."
Eventually, plaintiff was discharged. In a May 6 letter to the plaintiff, Sinnett wrote: "We find it necessary to terminate your employment with Cave Hill Corporation as the Sales Manager for the Atlantic Fabritech Division effective this date. You will receive your salary for the month of May, which we will give you today."
Subsequently, plaintiff filed the present action seeking damages for breach of the employment contract. In a motion for judgment, plaintiff asserted that he improperly "was denied payment of commissions based on sales negotiated and approved by Sinnett;" that he was criticized "with unjustified and untrue accusations of inadequate job performance;" that he had been guaranteed "a fixed term of employment to run from August 14, 1998 to August 1, 2003;" and that he had been "terminated without just cause."
In a grounds of defense, defendant denied plaintiff had been employed for a fixed term. Defendant also filed a counterclaim seeking damages from plaintiff for breach of another agreement between the parties; the plaintiff had promised not to disclose certain confidential and proprietary information and not to compete with defendant upon termination.
During an August 2001 jury trial, the trial court permitted the plaintiff to testify extensively, over defendant's objection, to his "understanding" of many of the terms of the employment contract. For example, plaintiff said his "understanding" was that he "would be paid 2% commission on .?.?. all tank sales" not "just 2% of what [he] personally sold to a customer." Also, plaintiff testified about "the intent of the parties" as set forth in the final paragraph of the agreement relating to job responsibilities.
The trial court, over defendant's objection, permitted the jury to interpret the contract, ruling that the agreement was unclear and ambiguous. The court instructed the jury that it "must determine whether the contract is for a definite term of employment or whether it is a contract for employment that is terminable at will." The court also told the jury that just cause was required for an employer to terminate a fixed-term employment contract prior to the end of the term.
The jury found in favor of the plaintiff on his claim, fixing the damages at $260,000, and denied the counterclaim. Subsequently, in an October 2001 judgment order ruling on defendant's motion to set the verdict aside, the trial court ordered remittitur to $100,000, and otherwise entered judgment on the verdict in favor of the plaintiff.
We awarded the defendant an appeal of the court's judgment for the plaintiff. We also awarded the plaintiff an appeal of the court's action in ordering remittitur.
Although the parties dwell upon the admissibility of parol evidence with regard to those portions of the contract dealing with commissions and job responsibilities, the core of these appeals is the question whether the trial court erred in refusing to rule, as urged by defendant, that the contract was clear and unambiguous in establishing an employment that was terminable at will. Stated differently, the crux of the controversy upon review is whether the trial court erred in determining that a jury issue was created regarding the nature of the contract.
Settled principles are applicable here. "In Virginia, an employment relationship is presumed to be at-will, which means that the employment term extends for an indefinite period and may be terminated by the employer or employee for any reason upon reasonable notice." County of Giles v. Wines, 262 Va. 68, 72, 546 S.E.2d 721, 723 (2001). However, when the employment is for a definite period, the presumption of at-will employment is rebutted and an employee may be terminated only for just cause. Progress Printing Co. v. Nichols, 244 Va. 337, 340, 421 S.E.2d 428, 429 (1992). And, when there is a conflict in the evidence concerning the terms of an employment contract, the question whether the employment is at will or for a definite term becomes one of fact to be resolved by the jury. Miller v. SEVAMP, Inc., 234 Va. 462, 465-66, 362 S.E.2d 915, 917 (1987).
In the present case, the trial court submitted the interpretation of the contract to the jury because the court rul
ed that its terms were ambiguous. "An ambiguity exists when language admits of being understood in more than one way or refers to two or more things at the same time." Renner Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. v. Renner, 225 Va. 508, 515, 303 S.E.2d 894, 898 (1983). However, "[c]ontracts are not rendered ambiguous merely because the parties or their attorneys disagree upon the meaning of the language employed to express the agreement." Doswell Ltd. P'ship v. Virginia Elec. and Power Co., 251 Va. 215, 222-23, 468 S.E.2d 84, 88 (1996). And, "[e]ven though an agreement may have been drawn unartfully, the court must construe the language as written if its parts can be read together without conflict." Id. at 223, 468 S.E.2d at 88.
On appeal, the plaintiff contends the trial court did not err in permitting the jury to interpret the agreement. He argues there was a conflict over the contract's terms and their meaning. In particular, he maintains he "presented evidence and argument that the Contract was for a definite term of five years ('Effective Dates: August 14, 1998 – August 1, 2003' .?.?.) and that, therefore, the Contract was terminable only upon just cause and with termination effective only following thirty days notice." We do not agree.
We hold that the contract was clear and unambiguous. In plain terms, the contract was effective for a designated period of time. Nevertheless, the agreement specifically was subject to certain "conditions," as mentioned in the preamble. The significant condition relevant here is that either party could terminate the contract upon 30 days notice, according to the clear terms of paragraph 5. This notice provision trumped the effect of the designated time period.
Nowhere in this writing is there any reference to a "just cause" requirement for job termination by the employer. In order to find such a requirement, one would have to insert words into the writing contrary to the elementary rule that the function of the court is to construe the contract made by the parties, not to make a contract for them. See Wilson v. Holyfield, 227 Va. 184, 187, 313 S.E.2d 396, 398 (1984).
Consequently, we hold that the trial court committed reversible error in refusing to decide as a matter of law that the contract was one terminable at will and in permitting the jury to interpret the agreement. Because plaintiff was an at-will employee, the defendant properly terminated him upon giving 30 days notice, and the defendant's conduct in this regard is not actionable.
In view of the foregoing ruling, the parol evidence question becomes a subsidiary issue. It necessarily follows from what we already have said that the trial court also erred in admitting extrinsic evidence of the plaintiff's "understanding" to explain the terms of the agreement relating to commissions. "Parol evidence of prior or contemporaneous oral negotiations are generally inadmissible to alter, contradict, or explain the terms of a written instrument provided the document is complete, unambiguous, and unconditional." Doswell Ltd. P'ship, 251 Va. at 222, 468 S.E.2d at 88 (quoting Renner, 225 Va. at 515, 303 S.E.2d at 898).
We address the parol evidence issue only because the plaintiff did have an employment contract, albeit one that was terminable at will. Thus, he had a potential claim for failure of defendant to pay commissions due under the contract. However, we hold that paragraph 2 plainly provides for commissions on "tank sales quoted, processed, generated and sold by Chuck," and not upon such sales sold by Sinnett. Therefore, plaintiff, as a matter of law, was not entitled to recover any sum for commissions on Sinnett's sales.
Consequently, the judgment in favor of the plaintiff will be reversed and final judgment will be entered here in favor of Cave Hill Corporation. This ruling renders the other appeal moot, and it will be dismissed.
Record No. 020060 – Reversed and final judgment.
Record No. 020070 – Dismissed.


text:
3 Bedroom Villa - Private Pool - Wifi - Sea & Mountain Views
Villa with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and private pool in Stroumbi, Cyprus
Booking cost: £0.00
Pay onlybooking deposit
From £700 per week
Villa to rent in Stroumbi, Cyprus
Villa overview - owner's description
This lovely villa is situated in the traditional hillside village of Stroumbi. The villa is situated in a commanding location on high ground with amazing panoramic views.
This lovely villa is situated in the traditional hillside village of Stroumbi. The villa is situated in a commanding location on high ground with amazing panoramic views. This 3 bedroom/2 bathroom villas benefits from beautiful swimming pool and terraces from which you have superb uninterrupted views of the rolling countryside and distant sea views.
Sun beds, parasols, tables and chairs set in a delightful garden offer you a great setting for a family BBQ or sundown drinks!. Stroumbi is a beautiful, quite village approximately 15 minute drive from Paphos town, 25 minutes drive to Kato Paphos tourist resort and approx 20 minutes drive to Polis Town and the Latchi Tourist Resort,
Property type Villa
Location type Stroumbi village. 20 minutes drive to beach
General Air-conditioning, cleaning service.
Kitchen Dishwasher, freezer, fridge, hob, microwave, oven.
No. of bedrooms 3
Entertainment Satellite TV (limited channels), DVD, CD player.
Swimming pools 8m x 4m Private Swimming pool.
NB: Prices may be subject to change at the advertiser's discretion.
Meet & Greet is included within the price.
Welcome packs can be supplied on request.
Car Hire can be arranged
Transfers to and from the airport can be arranged.
Please contact me for any queries you may have regarding any additional services you require.
Stroumbi Village
Stroumbi has a taverna, kiosk, bakery and coffee shop of it's own, and it is only 15-20 minutes drive from Paphos or Polis with their multitude of shops, restaurants, banks & large supermarkets. Ideally situated for golfing, walking & horse-riding with easy access to the coast and beaches at Polis, Paphos, Coral Bay and the Akamas. Perfect choice for those seeking a high quality home in the open countryside. Spectacular, breathtaking views of rolling countryside down to Polis Chrysachou Bay and across to the Troodos Mountains. The fishing village of Latchi is just a further 5 minutes drive where you can take a boat trip round the unspoilt Akamas peninsular, try your hand at the numerous watersports on offer or just relax in one of the harbour-front fish tavernas.
Paphos harbour and castle provide a central point for visiting the fascinating Roman mosaics. Close by are the famous ruins of the Tombs of the Kings and the Catacombs of St. Solomi. From Stroumbi, the roads provide easy access to Cedar Valley, the wine-tasting areas of Kathikas, over the Akamas and across to Peyia, Coral Bay and Lara Bay. Just as easy to reach by car are Polis & Latchi, Argaka and beyond past to Kato Pyrgos.
The Paphos region
The climate in the Paphos region is for long dry hot Summers where temperatures can reach up to 40c with 13.0 hours of sunshine and temperatures falling nicely down in the evening to lows of 22c-24c. The Winter months of Dec, Jan and Feb bring rain but temperatures still remain about 16-20C with an average of 5.0 hours on sunshine and sometimes with colder, fresher nights.
Whatever you desire, activity, tranquillity, good food, fine wine, golf, spas, walking and nature, the upper class Paphos region offers it all. The charming west coast town of Paphos focusses around an attractive little harbour whose picturesque open air fish restaurants line a quayside of fishing boats and laid back life. The historical and magical area of Latchi/Polis is unmissable to anyone looking for sun, sea and serenity.
For keen walkers and cyclists, the very nearby Akamas National Park offers a paradise of endless walks and cycle ways, 4*4 driving, wild animals and birds, fauna, fantastic sea views and secluded coves for snorkelling and swimming. Akamas is included in the official UNESCO world's heritage list of cultural and natural treasures. Please note cycles, mopeds and cars can all be hired locally in Latchi. A visit to the Troodos mountains and some of the famous monasteries is a must where you can view all of the West side of Cyprus.
For golfers, there are three quality , panoramic , courses within an hour's drive, all open to visitors, namely the Aphrodite Hills, Secret Valley and Tsada Golf Clubs.
The Polis / Latchi area
About 20 minutes drive from the villa lies the small town of Polis with its attractive main square where it is a pleasure to linger with a cool drink and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere. The town offers many restaurants, bars and cafes as well as a bank, post office, pharmacy, hairdresser and many interesting shops. Just a few kilometres further west is the small town of Latchi with its attractive harbour and well known restaurants serving a wide choice of food including many varieties of freshly caught fish. There is a water sports centre and boat hire.
There are lots of activities in Polis and Latchi ranging from water sports, boat trips, fishing, go-karting, mini golf, nature walks, historical sites such as the Baths of Aphrodite, Bowling, Safari's, Sunbathing on the natural beaches, Cycle routes and much more.
The picturesque harbour, the many tavernas serving everything from local specialities to standard meat and fish dishes. The supermarkets where you will find everything you need to cook your own barbeque or gourmet meals at home are right on our doorstep. As are the crystal clear waters of the Latchi beaches complete with sun beds, umbrellas, beachside pubs, water sports, boat rides and diving lessons. You do not need a car to reach any of these.
Close by are the baths of Aphrodite with an exhilarating view over the bay. According to legends the baths are where Aphrodite took her beauty baths in a pool of a natural grotto shaded by a fig tree.My villa is situated about 3km out of the Akamas national park, the Akamas peninsula is an area of outstanding natural beauty. Sandy bays, deep gorges with varied landscapes.
Watersports and diving can be done in this area with 2 Padi diving schools located in Latchi and Paphos.
Jeef safari tours are incredibly popular within the Akamas peninsula.
With wine tasting and mounting biking there is sure to be something for everyone.
There are lots of activities in Polis and Latchi ranging from water sports, boat trips, fishing, go-karting, mini golf, nature walks, historical sites such as the Baths of Aphrodite, Bowling, Safari's, Sunbathing on the natural beaches, Cycle routes and much more.
Latchi & Polis boasts a multitude of shops, coffee shops, restaurants, bars and night clubs.
This villa does not have any reviews but the agent has 6 reviews for their other properties.
This villa is:
Local activities
Sights and attractions
Show more Show less
Outside this villa in Stroumbi, CyprusThis villa is in the countryside and in a quiet area near the mountains. It has a pool, a balcony, a barbecue, outside lighting and a garden. Car hire is necessary as the renter will need a car to get about for shopping, eating out and the beach; however parking is available if required.
Prices and availability
Updated 2 February 2018
- Unavailable
- Your booking
- Available start/end date
Select your travel dates on the calendar
Changeover days and minimum stays
- 1 May - 31 October 2018: the minimum stay is 7 nights.
- 1 May - 31 October 2019: the minimum stay is 7 nights.
- 1 May - 31 October 2020: the minimum stay is 7 nights.
Refundable Breakage Deposit
£250.00 per booking, paid locally
3 bedrooms, Sleeps 6:
- 1 double bed and en suite
- 1 double bed
- 2 single beds
2 bathrooms including 1 en suite, 1 Separate WC
Swimming pool
Private pool, Size 8m x 4m, Depth 0.6m to 1.8m
CD player, DVD/Blu-ray player, Internet / WiFi, TV Languages in English, Satellite / cable
Living area seats 6, Dining area seats 6, Air conditioning throughout property, Central heating, Clothes drier, Iron / board, Towels / linen, Washing machine, Car hire essential
Cooker, Crockery, Cutlery, Dishwasher, Fridge, Freezer, Glassware, Kettle, Microwave, Oven, Pots / pans, Toaster
Balcony or terrace, Barbecue, Outside lighting, Parking, Private garden, Sea view
Suitable for
Children, Infants, Single gender groups
Agency From Limassol, Cyprus Member since Nov 2015
Past bookings: 21 bookings
Response rate: 100%
Response time: within 32 minutes
Last logged in: 15 days ago
Number of properties: 62

subset: commoncrawl


text:
February 24, 2008 Written by Paul Andrew
There are many pros and cons venturing into Freelance, don't think of it as freelance, but as you setting up your own Design Studio. That to me is a lot cooler.But the truth of the matter is I have completed my transition, I am a Freelance Web Designer/Developer. And couldn't be happier.
53 Steps to becoming a Freelancer Web Designer/Developer1. Set a realistic date for starting officially as a Freelance Designer.
(When I say realistic, I mean six months+, and not weeks). Stick to this date.
2. Write out a plan-of action for your new business.
(Always remember it is a business you are building).
Further Reading: Creating a Plan of Action.
3. Save as much money as you can in that six months.
(You'll need money for stationery, lawyers, accountants, hardware, software…).
4. Make an appointment at your local bank to discuss a business account..
(If you can try to avoid asking for an overdraft, do that. Same with a Credit Card).
5. Familiarize yourself with what your and your clients legal obligations are, then speak to a lawyer about a Contract Draft.
(When it comes to legalities you can't afford any mistakes,the expense is worth it).
Further Reading: Legalese for Freelancers: Creating a Contract.
6. Design a logo that can be easily identified.
(This is who you are from now on).
Further Reading: Top 50 Logo Design Tutorials.
7. Design letterheads for your stationery, have them professionally printed.
(Order about 200).
Further Reading: Create Letterhead Templates in MS Word.
8. Design a business card, again, have them professionally printed.
(Something memorable that reflects your logo).
Further Reading: Art of the Business Card.
9. Build contacts with other designers in your local area.
(They may pass you work, and vice versa).
10. Build contacts online with other designers.
(As above).
11. Register your new Domain Name.
(Be quick with this, don't allow the pirates to buy it first!).
Further Reading: Register Domain Name.
12. Get an excellent Web Host.
(Try to get a host with the best reputation and the most features. This is an expense that you should not spare.).
Further Reading: http://www.besthostratings.com/.
13. Plan your Online Presence, and plan the Marketing for it.
(Were will I feature my work? Will I have my portfolio on my own site or will I have it on a Social Site).
Further Reading: 3 Freelance Marketing Tips From The Company Behind Billion Dollar Brands.
14. Get a Gmail Account using your new domain name.
(Don't you already have one?).
Visit: Google Mail.
15. Open a Pownce account.
(This to me is better than most Instant Messengers).
Visit: http://pownce.com/.
16. Open a Tumblr account.
(Its all about exposure).
Visit: http://tumblr.com/.
17. Make sure you have an Instant Message account.
(Some clients will like this).
Visit: Cspace.
18. If working from home, designate an area specifically for work.
(Attempt to keep your working life separate from everything else).
19. Check your hardware, do you need a new computer, printer…
(A laptop is a must).
20. Invest in a copy of Adobe Creative Studio.
(Having the best software won't make you the best, it will just make you prepared).
Visit: Adobe Creative Studio Homepage.
21. Invest in acopy of the latest Microsoft Office. Build your contact list with Outlook.
(Expensive but worth it).
Visit: Microsoft Office Homepage.
22. Check your desk / workstation.
(Is it big enough? Is it adequate? Is it clutter free?).
Further Reading: 12 Ways to Pimp your Office.
23. Invest in a filing cabinet.
(Keep all the paperwork, from your clients, lawyers, banks and accountants).
Further Reading: Five Things To Do To (Or For) Your Accountant At Tax Time.
24. Is your chair comfortable?
(Lazy-boy Ecliner would be perfect, wouldn't it?).
Further Reading: 12 Ways to Pimp your Office.
25. Get a new phone line installed purely for business.
(You don't want the kids answering the phone to potential clients, would you?).
26. Speak to an accountant, and familiarize yourself with tax laws.
(Anything to do with taxes, I would rather leave to someone else).
Further Reading: Out-Law Part 2.
27. Give at least a months leaving notice at work.
(And make sure you complete and leave no unfinished business at work.).
Further Reading: Leaving Notice Template.
28. And, for Gods sake, leave your job on good terms.
(You might need to go back).
29. Write a thank you letter to your previous employer and thank them for the experience and knowledge they have given you.
(They may pass you work).
Further Reading: Thank You Letter Help.
30. Type out your contracts with Word, and print on your new letter headed paper.
(Reread it, and reread it again. Ensure you haven't made any mistakes from your lawyers original).
31. Write out a proposal template for your potential clients.
(It will save you a lot of time later).
Further Reading: Design Proposal Template.
32. If your target is local business, have a look at the standard of web design in your area.
(Make sure you can match or super seed these standards).
Further Reading: The Monster List of Freelancing Job Sites.
33. If your target is Worldwide, register with as many Designer Listing sites as you can.
(Its all about exposure, making yourself available).
Further Reading: ">http://webdesignfinders.net/.
34. Design your portfolio/homepage and launch.
(Nothing to complicated, just appealing and accessible).
Further Reading:5 Tasks You Should Stop Putting Off.
35. List all the services that you offer on your portfolio/homepage.
(Be Honest.).
36. On your contact page insert a simple form, and all other means of contact ( instant messenger, tumblr, Pownce…)
(Better than an just an email link.).
37. Email all your contacts and let them know that you are intending launching in X amount of weeks.
38. Post a letter (stating who you are and your services), with your business card, to some prominent businesses in your area.
(Get your name out there).
39. Speak to some local Newspapers, and enquire about the price of advertising.
(Cheaper isn't always better).
40. Try advertising online.
(If you have the money, you could try this route).
41. Any enquiries you receive, be prompt with your replies.
(Be professional).
Further Reading: Building Credibility: 11 Ways to Show You're a Professional (Mason Hipp).
42. Decide wether you will charge hourly or by project.
(Maybe both).
Further Reading: Nine Factors to Consider When Determining Your Price(Collis Ta'eed).
43. Work out how much money you need to make in a year to make ends meet.
(Taking into account business expenses as well as living expenses).
44. Don't set your prices too high nor too low.
(Too low makes you look desperate).
Further Reading: Top Ten Signs You May Be Charging Too Little (Jack Knight).
45. Speak to your accountant about your yearly plans, and monthly funds you hope to have at your disposal.
(Its all about planning).
46. Speak to friends and family and warn them that you maybe going to work long hours.
(Make sure you always allocate time for them, all the same).
Further Reading: Balancing Work & Family (Allan Branch).
47. Advertise.
(This is the beginning).
48. Don't take on too much work, too soon.
(You may rush projects, lowering the quality, thus your reputation).
Further Reading: Top 5 Freelancing Mistakes.
49. Take regular breaks.
(A breathe of fresh air and a coffee will do wonders for the mind).
10 Productivity Tips are Better Than 101 .
50. Remember your customer services skills.
(Clients are always good for referrals and repeat business).
Further Reading: How to Deal With Upset Clients.
51. Most of your new work may not be a full Site Design.
(It maybe some small tweaking or developing for another design agency).
52. Don't design too adventurously with conservative companies…
(They will probably just want something simple for there users).
53. …On the other hand try to enjoy your work and be CREATIVE.
(You will still have to work hard).


text:
Washington, D.C., January 16, 2003 -- Continuing their joint efforts to ensure that investors are charged the correct sales loads on their mutual fund transactions, the Securities and Exchange Commission and NASD have launched a multifaceted action plan.
The SEC and NASD are seeking reports from all NASD member firms on the adequacy of their policies and procedures to ensure that larger mutual fund investors receive promised sales load charge reductions. Additionally, NASD is surveying all of its members to obtain data on their mutual fund sales. These actions follow up on the SEC staff's alert to all brokerage firms and NASD's Notice to Members, issued on Dec. 23, 2002, urging firms to conduct an immediate review of the adequacy of their existing sales load policies and procedures.
Currently, the SEC and NASD, along with the New York Stock Exchange, are conducting examinations of selected firms that sell front-end load mutual funds. The examinations are designed to determine whether mutual fund purchasers are receiving promised sales load reductions for making larger investments. The investment levels required to obtain a reduced sales load are commonly referred to as "breakpoints."
The SEC and NASD expect to issue a joint statement of the examination results and firm responses in early February.
In addition, SEC Chairman Harvey L. Pitt, in a Jan. 15 letter, asked NASD, the Securities Industry Association, and the Investment Company Institute to convene a working committee under NASD's aegis to explore and recommend ways in which the mutual fund and brokerage industries can prevent abuses and eliminate errors in the calculation of sales loads, make operational changes to ensure the accuracy of and assist brokers in calculating sales loads, improve investor education on sales loads, and simplify or enhance disclosure of sales discounts.
"This is an issue that demands swift action by regulators, as well as the focused attention of the mutual fund and brokerage industries, others knowledgeable about the issue, and consumer advocates, to protect the investing public," Pitt said.
Both the SEC and NASD have alerted investors to this issue and placed additional information on their Web sites. Investors can learn more about reduced sales loads by going to www.sec.gov/answers/breakpt.htm, www.nasdr.com/alert_breakpoint.htm, and www.nasdr.com/fundcalc/expense_analyzers.asp.
Chairman Pitt's letter to NASD, SIA and ICI is available at www.sec.gov/spotlight/breakpoints/letter011503hlp.htm. The SEC letter to NASD members is available at www.sec.gov/spotlight/breakpoints/letter122302n-r.htm. The NASD Notice to members is available at www.nasdr.com/2610_2002.asp#02-85.


text:
Almost 350 cancer patients in Herts were given grants by the charity Macmillan to help them with costs relating to their treatment.
A total of £97,000 was dished out across the county to help with clothing costs, heating bills, transport and practical household items.
Across the UK, Macmillan awarded more than £9.6 million to patients.
The money is used to meet urgent practical needs.
"Our latest grants figures are evidence of the financial isolation that can seriously impact people living with cancer," said Dr Fran Woodard, Macmillan Cancer Support director for England.
"To feel unable to buy the clothes you need to keep warm, for example, is an unacceptable reality for thousands of vulnerable cancer patients at a time when, on average, their income halves and their outgoings rocket."
Applications for grants are made by patients via health or social care professionals who complete an application form on their behalf. Grants are targeted to people who have a lack of resources to fall back on and patients must fulfil certain financial criteria.
To find out more about how Macmillan can help call freephone 0808 808 0000 and to donate to the charity call 0300 1000 200 or click here


text:
From The New American by Bob Adelmann, October 8, 2013
As the Supreme Court opens its review of pending cases this week, there is substantial risk of constitutional mischief in many of them.
The court will be ruling on the constitutionality of Obama's recess appointments dating back to 2012, the constitutionality of the present caps on individual political contributions, the constitutionality of restricting protesters at abortion clinics, the constitutionality of ObamaCare's mandate that employers provide insurance coverage for contraception, the authority of police to search the cellphones of people they arrest, and whether or not the practice of the city council of the tiny town of Greece, New York, to open its legislative sessions with prayer is constitutional.
Photo of U.S. Supreme Court building
In National Labor Relations Board v. Noel Canning, the court may confirm the District of Columbia Court of Appeals' unanimous ruling that the president's recess appointments were, in fact, unconstitutional. Writing for that court, Chief Judge David Stentelle concluded that
An interpretation of "the recess" that permits the President to decide when the Senate is in recess would demolish the checks and balances inherent in the advice-and-consent requirement [in the Constitution] giving the President free reign to appoint his desired nominees at any time he pleases, whether that time be a weekend, lunch, or even when the Senate is in session and he is merely displeased with its inaction.
This cannot be the law.
Although the president withdrew his nominations for Richard Griffin and Sharon Block to the National Labor Relations Board, such a ruling to confirm the lower court's decision could seriously dampen the enthusiasm for future presidents to attempt to exercise such excessive authority in making recess appointments while the Senate is still in session. It also would confirm the present president's disregard for limitations placed in the Constitution to prevent just such excesses.
On the other hand, failure to confirm would validate the president's usurpation of powers delegated to Congress which no doubt future presidents would be only too happy to exercise.
In McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission, the Supreme Court has a chance to revisit its decision in Buckley v. Valeo in 1976, in which it invalidated several provisions of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 that restricted political contributions, but let stand a restriction on individual contributions for fear of "corruption or its appearance" reflecting the danger of a "quid pro quo" deal whereby political influence is bought through the support of a candidate who agrees to taking "certain actions in exchange for the contribution." Two present members of the court, Justices Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia, have argued that this decision should be overturned on the basis of the First Amendment, stating that such contributions are expressions of free speech guaranteed by that amendment.
However the Supreme Court rules, the First Amendment is at risk unless the court carefully and clearly defines the line between the support for a candidate and the ownership of him.
In McCullen v. Coakley, the court will have the opportunity to determine whether the Massachusetts First Circuit Court erred in upholding the state law that makes it a crime for citizens other than "employees or agents … acting within the scope of their employment … to enter or remain on a public way or sidewalk [within 35 feet of] a reproductive health care facility … under the First and Fourteenth Amendments," as the Scotusblog explained it. The court will also have the opportunity to revisit another case, Hill v. Colorado, decided in 2000, which ruled, 6-3, that an eight-foot rule was deemed constitutional.
That case was decided by two justices since retired, Sandra Day O'Connor and David Souter, who said that the ruling had nothing to do with free speech but instead was to prevent "unwanted approaching" designed to protect vulnerable citizens from unwanted communication with protesters opposed to abortion. In the minority at the time, Justices Scalia and Thomas wrote that "this law is not content neutral," that "protecting citizens from unwanted speech is not a compelling state interest," and that it "removes one of the few outlets in which peaceful and civil pro-life citizens could get their point across to women considering abortion; now only inappropriate bullying groups will be heard."
Here the Supreme Court could right a wrong by striking down the Massachusetts law and reversing Hill v. Colorado. If it fails to do so, the First Amendment once again will be allowed to be compromised by the dictates of unelected judges.
In Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action the court will consider whether the state of Michigan violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution when it amended its state constitution to prohibit race- and sex-based discrimination or preferential treatment in public university admissions decisions. Will the Supreme Court let stand Michigan citizens' decision as expressed through the state's amendment process, or will it override those efforts in favor of the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause?
The one case most likely to catch citizens' attention is Greece v. Galloway, as the court will determine, as it did in 1983 in Marsh v. Chambers, that the practice of opening legislative sessions with a prayer is constitutional and doesn't violate the First Amendment's "establishment clause" as Susan Galloway claims it does.
Susan Galloway, who is Jewish, and Linda Stephens, who is an atheist, protested that the town of Greece, New York, was allowing "Christian clergy [to] deliver explicitly Christian prayers" at the start of each city council meeting. They enlisted the help of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, whose legal director, Ayesha Khan, complained:
A vast majority of the time, the Christian clergy have delivered explicitly Christian prayers. Meanwhile, the people in the audience are there to petition their government, receive honors or take the oath of office and they are asked to stand or bow their heads for these kinds of prayers that their conscience doesn't permit them to participate in.
The case wound its way up to the Supreme Court, where Greece is being represented by David Cortman of the Christian advocacy group Alliance Defending Freedom. Cortman responded that if the Supreme Court rules in favor of Galloway and Stephens,
It would have to abandon prior precedent, it would have to abandon hundreds of years of practice going back to the founders of our country, and [it would] put in jeopardy the many practices and events that reflect our religious heritage throughout the country….
The folks who have volunteered to pray before the meetings are merely reflective of the demographics of the town. Just because a town may happen to be more Christian that a different religion doesn't automatically create a constitutional issue….
[If the court decides in favor of Galloway and Stephens] the new test would be: "If I see or hear something that may offend me, and it happens to be religious, that creates some sort of constitutional violation."
We would have challenges to all of these [traditions]. That would create not only more disarray but not reflect the true meaning of the Constitution.
If instead the court rules in favor of Greece, it would be following the precedent set in Marsh v. Chambers that such prayers are constitutional because of the "unambiguous and unbroken history" of legislative prayer dating back to the very first Congress.
As the Supreme Court opens its session, it's helpful to remember that each decision is "of the case" and doesn't automatically become "the law of the land." That power of creating laws resides firmly in the legislative branch of the government, not in the judicial. It's also helpful to know that the case selection process by which the court determines which cases to hear by necessity leaves out many that deserve to heard, but won't be.


text:
Children and the Power of Optimism
by Alyssa Kluver
Faculty advisor: Dr. Wind Goodfriend
In the life of a child, having an optimistic outlook may make all the difference when dealing with life stressors. The purpose of this study was to determine if priming a child to think optimistically about tomorrow will decrease the child's score on depression and anxiety. One group of participants wrote a short story about something that could happen tomorrow (control condition), while another group of participants wrote a short story about something exciting that could happen tomorrow that would make them happy (optimism condition). Participants then completed three scales: optimism (Albery & Messer, 2005), depression (Beck, Beck, & Jolly, 2001), and anxiety (Beck et al., 1988). Results are expected to show that children primed to view tomorrow optimistically will have lower scores on both anxiety and depression compared to those children not primed (a main effect of condition). In addition, regardless of condition, boys are expected to rate higher in optimism, while girls will rate higher on the anxiety scale in both conditions (a main effect of participant sex). Finally, a positive correlation between depression and anxiety is expected. With an increasingly complicated world, finding a mechanism to decrease childhood anxiety and depression is essential.


text:
"Yes, there were some good passages of play.
"I'm not a firm believer that you takeplayers
The clubs are Zonta Club 1, 11, 111, 1V, and Zonta Club of Chittagong.
Former Awami League lawmaker Monser Ahmed inaugurated the conference.
They chanted slogans like 'save us from starvation'.
"We advise British nationals against all but essential travel to Saudi Arabia.
A baby should be able to-
-Turn her or his head towards a hand that is stroking the child's check or mouth.
-Bring both hands towards her or his mouth.
The festival


text:
NORTH NEWTON, KAN. – Almost exactly a year ago, Bethel College was completing a successful experiment at the Mennonite Youth Convention in San Jose, Calif.
Instead of spending money on promotional items, staff from Bethel's admissions, alumni and church relations offices, who co-sponsored the college's booth in the youth convention display area, decided to emphasize service. Each day for four days, the young people who stopped by Bethel's booth were invited to leave tickets in a tumbler. Bethel donated a dollar – that would otherwise have gone toward buying giveaway items – for every ticket, up to $1,000 a day, with the total to be divided among three service agencies from the Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference regional area and one youth group, which got to choose its charity. The youth also signed canvas banners to be given to each of the organizations.
On July 11 this year, Dave Linscheid, Bethel's director of alumni relations, visited Cornerstone Christian Academy in Philadelphia to deliver the last San Jose check. Harrisonburg (Va.) Mennonite Church's youth group won the fourth-day drawing at the youth convention. They chose to give the money to Cornerstone, the location of their summer service trip this year.
The other recipients of checks from the San Jose fundraiser were Goldensun Peace Ministries, Glendale, Ariz., Hopi Mission School, Kykotsmovi Village, Ariz., and LA Urban Corps, Los Angeles.
Cornerstone Christian Academy began after the 1980 Philadelphia teachers' strike and subsequent distress in Philadelphia schools, when attorney James Sweet and evangelist Tony Campolo began investing themselves in the lives of children in southwest Philadelphia. The school was born in 1988 with 40 children in grades K-3. It is located in the heart of southwest Philadelphia and has now grown to 230 students in grades K-8.
Cornerstone is one of several mission programs and ministries with which Harrisonburg Mennonite Church has a long-term connection. "They serve at these institutions on a rotating basis," says Linscheid, "rather than doing one-time service that doesn't allow relationships to build."
The group of youth and sponsors, organized by youth pastor Peter Eberly, did volunteer work at Cornerstone July 10-15.
Bethel College is a four-year liberal arts college affiliated with Mennonite Church USA. Founded in 1887, it is the oldest Mennonite college in North America. Bethel is known for its academic excellence and has been named a Top Tier college by U.S. News & World Report every year since 1998. For more information, see the Bethel Web site at www.bethelks.edu.


text:
Lapel Pin Review, 5/16/08: Obama, Patriot. McCain, America Hater
Just for kicks, let's set aside our reason for a moment and grant the Republicans their fashion talking point: that the central determinant of one's patriotism is the jewelry one wears.
Here's a photo of Barack Obama making public remarks today:
Is Barack Obama wearing an American flag lapel pin? Yes! Barack Obama is a patriot.
Here's a photo of John McCain making public remarks today:
Is John McCain wearing an American flag lapel pin? NO! McCain is missing the jewelry needed to be a patriot. Therefore, John McCain is no patriot. He is a traitor to the patriotic cause of loving one's nation through jewelry.
Why does John McCain hate America?
I expect every citizen who has defined a candidate's patriotism according to the presence of a lapel pin to answer that question. Yes, I do.


text:
Our professional advisers assist undergraduate students and faculty with forms, schedules, curriculum petitions and other university documents. We have advising resources to help you when you meet with your adviser. We have resources to help you succeed academically.
Contact the Advising Center for Undergraduates at 515 294-9926 or email@example.com. Visit the center at 382 Town Engineering Building 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays. Please note: the Advising Center for Undergraduates is closed from 11:50 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. daily.
Advisers (click on photo to contact)
Student Forms and Academic Planning Information
Civil Engineering (CE)
Construction Engineering (ConE)
Registration and Graduation
University academic calendar
Civil engineering courses
Construction engineering courses
Register for classes
Graduation information
Academic policies
Learning Communities, Centers and Help Rooms
Civil Engineering Keystone Learning Community
Construction Engineering Cornerstone Learning Community
Academic Success Center
Writing and Media Center
Tutoring Services
Supplemental Instruction Sessions


text:
A Credit Card From Apple: Here's What It Would Look Like (AAPL)
Published 8:51 am, Wednesday, December 19, 2012
The people at Credit Card Compare came up with an odd idea: A credit card from Apple, Inc.
The best part about the idea isn't actually the idea.
It's the mockup Apple marketing materials Credit Card Compare made for it.
It looks just like Apple.com after a big product announcement.
"It's the most amazing credit card yet," and all that.
See for yourself:
Please follow Business Insider on Twitter and Facebook.
Join the conversation about this story »


text:
|Oracle FAQ
|Your Portal to the Oracle Knowledge Grid
Home -> Community -> Mailing Lists -> Oracle-L -> Re: Import thru pipe if .gz possible?
} I have got a file that is gzipped. Is it possible to do a database
} through a pipe from a .gz file? Does anybody have a script for doing
} I am having a space issue and need to import the data but if I unzip the
} file first than I don't have enough disk space so I am wondering if there
} a way to keep it .gz but still import.
mknod exp_pipe p
gzip -d < dumpfile.gz > exp_pipe &
imp file=exp_pipe ...
-- http://www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-lReceived on Thu Mar 15 2007 - 11:20:28 CDT
Original text of this message


text:
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
179Luphawk, we need to do something!
True but I�m afraid I�ll have to leave you soon. I suggest sending a message to the other guys who have been posting hear to rally them.179
I reject this suggestion as silly You don't need other guys TL177
Page created in 0.566 seconds with 25 queries.


text:
Unstuck in Time
Report abuse
This page viewed 941 times.
This page viewed 941 times.
In which Trinity is unstuck in time and revisits old memories... Music is by the wonderful Bon Iver-Holocene. I do not own this song.
Join the DiscussionThis video has 1 comment. Post your own now!
Justin said...
Mar. 31, 2012 at 11:26 am
Mar. 31, 2012 at 11:26 am
Amazing. Lovely memories and the music rocks!


text: foreclosure President Promotes Mortgage Program in Las Vegas, NV Creative Commons via neontommy.com President Obama kicked off his western tour on Monday with a stop in Las Vegas to talk about housing. Foreclosures By Elaine Baumgartel • Oct 6, 2011 KentBrumm.com Thurs. 10/6 at 8am: Are you having trouble paying your mortgage? Do you have friends or family who have lost their homes to foreclosure? What does the recent increase in foreclosures mean for New Mexico? On the KUNM Call In Show this week we'll discuss foreclosures and what some organizations are doing to slow the trend. We'd like to hear from you! You can send us an email at firstname.lastname@example.com, or call in live during the show: 277-KUNM or toll-free 1-877-899-5866.


text:
Thongs, flippers, slip slops…jandals? Perhaps you've heard the Kiwi term for the ubiquitous flip flop, but I hadn't until I heard of Four Jandals, adventure travel blog of one of the worlds leading independent adventure travel blogging couples, Cole and Adela. (Phew!) They've been slipping and slopping, flipping and flopping, around the world since 2009.
"Our main goal is to inspire others to travel. And we do that by providing stunning photos, adventure travel tips and tales to help you step out of your comfort zone, in comfort." – Cole and Adela, 2013
Sushi or pork roast?
Cole – Sushi! Hands down.
Adela – Definitely sushi.
Coffee or Red Bull?
Cole – Adela is stoked that I have found a passion for coffee in the last couple of years. We love finding cute independent coffee shops on our travels.
Wine or beer?
Cole – Beer in summertime.
Adela – But mulled wine in winter at the Christmas markets around Europe.
Suitcase or backpack?
We usually travel with just a carry-on backpack unless it is just a weekend away city adventure.
Night train or night bus?
Night trains all the way. They feel more comfortable and you can walk around if you need to.
Sleeping bag or bedding?
Adela – Either as long as it is warm.
Cole – I love my sleeping bag, but it has to be unzipped otherwise I feel trapped and tangle easily.
Window or aisle?
Works perfectly for us because Adela likes looking out the window while I usually boring and working next to the aisle.
Diarrhea or constipation?
Cole – While neither is pleasant, I am going with constipation because I would never wish the sickness I picked up in Marrakech on anyone! I lost 10 kilograms in 2 weeks. Horrible.
Malarone or malaria?
Luckily we have never had to take Malarone and haven't traveled to many countries with malaria. Hopefully our luck continues.
tw: Why is traveling so important to you and how would you define your travel style?
FJ: "We like to think of ourselves as slow travellers. And we basically had to leave New Zealand in 2009 to North America because New Zealand is so damn far from everywhere else. We felt that there was no other option but to travel the world. There is no way we could have met so many people, tried new foods or experienced the various cultures if we had stayed there."
Do you plan to travel indefinitely? Do you work while on the road?
"We are facing this exact dilemma at the moment. We both love to travel but New Zealand is home for us. Ultimately our plan is to settle in New Zealand, but it is just figuring out when that might be. Our Mums want it sooner than later!"
After looking around your blog, it seems you're truly an adventurous couple, and each of you have had your share of spills. How do you deal with hospital expenses? Do you have insurance?
"NEVER TRAVEL WITHOUT INSURANCE! That is our one rule. With over 2 months of hospital stays between us in 3 years, we have realized it is a necessity. Especially with adventure travel.
Our biggest bills so far have been:
Coles appendix ruptured in America = US$66,000
Cole had internal bleeding after a snowboarding accident = US$25,000
Adela broke her collarbone snowboarding (4th day of the season) = US$15,000
"Luckily in all of those instances we had insurance and were fully covered. Maybe the moral for us is to stay away from snowboarding in North America!"
Is there anything that you dislike about traveling?
"We used to love the actual act of traveling to a destination by flying. Now we loathe it. We have caught too many planes in the last few years and if we can then we take public overland transport."
What was the strangest food you've ever eaten, and what was the best?
"Haggis is the strangest food we have eaten but we actually LOVE it. It is so delicious and doesn't matter that it is made out of sheep intestines.
And we cannot narrow down the best. We are huge foodies and we can't choose between the food in Italy, Spain, France, Turkey, Egypt, and New Zealand."
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you were truly afraid during traveling?
"We have definitely had our fair share of scary moments. Usually it is adventurous situations we put ourselves in to push our own limits. But we have never felt unsafe. The closest probably came when we were driving across America. We parked in a truckstop outside Vegas and a crazy drugged up manic tried to break into our car while we were sleeping."
Which three items do you not leave home without?
"Jandals, of course. As well as our eBooks and Coles cameras (of which he has 3)."
What is your favorite place in your home country or city?
"Mount Maunganui is our favorite place without a doubt. It has everything to offer in New Zealand from surfing, diving, mountain biking, incredible beaches and the weather to go with it."
Do you have favorite travel blogs that you read regularly?
We like to branch out and discover new blogs all the time but we do have a few favorites such as Hecktic Travels, yTravel Blog and Finding the Universe.
Mountains, beach or city? Beach. Unless its winter then head to the mountains.
Couch-surfing or guesthouse? Ashamed to say we have never couch-surfed.
Cockroaches or rats? Rats… I guess.
Skiing or surfing? Surfing. Skiing. Surfing. Skiing. Both?
iPhone or Android? Android.
Travel tool you find most useful: Camera. Can't have memories without images.
Postcard or emails? Love postcards but rarely send them.
How do you inform yourself about your next destination, and how do you prepare for the trip?
"Cole used to be a big planner and we had all the Lonely Planet guides and books on destinations. Now we are very last minute and often use Google to search and read as many blogs as we can."
Your latest discovery on the Internet?
"Definitely not the latest discovery, but the latest obsession is Instagram."
The best breakfast in the world is…
"Any café in France with fresh croissant, coffee and orange juice."
What is on your bucket list and where you will your next trip take you?
"We really want to cycle around Eastern Europe this summer through countries like Greece, Croatia, Bulgaria and Poland. That may be our next trip although we might be speaking in Dubai before then at a conference."
If you could recommend three places our readers must visit in their lifetimes:
"Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand is left off so many travelers itineraries when they visit. Such a shame as everyone raves about it when they do get there.
So many people are still scared to visit Egypt. We went while there were still demonstrations and never felt unsafe. So much history and culture to experience there.
America. Yes it may sound stupid but how many Americans can honestly say they have explored their own country? We drove 18,000 kms across it and want to go back so badly! There are so many amazing National Parks, coastlines, mountains and deserts that rank very highly in our favourite places. You don't know how lucky you are to be able to travel around your own vast country without a passport."
Four Jandals Adventure Travel Blog
Blogger name(s): Cole Burmester and Adela May
Twitter handle: fourjandals
Facebook: Four Jandals
All photos by Cole and Adela of Four Jandals.


text:
If you received a letter or email that states "pending withdrawal," of your Cal Grant award, it is because Commission records indicate that the school you list as attending for the previous academic year has not confirmed your eligibility to receive your Cal Grant award.
You will need to have your school confirm your Cal Grant eligibility by reporting directly to the Commission that you have received your Cal Grant payments for the term in question. This must be done by the school before the deadline listed in your letter.
If you were not attending any school for the term in question, you will need to request a Cal Grant leave of absence. If you were attending a different school from the one listed for the term in question, you will need to notify the Commission of your new school. A leave of absence or a school change may be requested by completing the Grant Record Change Form for Students or submitting the requests on WebGrants for Students.
If you or your school does not confirm your Cal Grant status by the required deadline listed in your letter, your Cal Grant award will be withdrawn. Please make sure you do this immediately.
NOTE: Please do not send the Commission a letter or transcripts indicating your enrollment. Your schools financial aid office must submit verification that you received your Cal Grant award, or you must submit the Grant Record Change Form for Students or go to WebGrants for Students. to request a leave of absence from the Cal Grant program or to change your school for the term in question.


text:
ERROR: Macro DefaultArticleHeader is missing!
Welcome to the fourth and final "dueling videos" blog post.
First of all, if you're coming in late, the first three posts can be found here, here and here.
Now, on with the blog.
I started writing this series because Josh Fox made a point in "The Sky Is Pink" that hit me, as a journalist, very hard.
Basically, he said it's easy to make journalists into propaganda patsies.
When industries need to stymie public policy, he said, they wage disinformation campaigns. They find experts and conduct studies purporting to show, for example, that cigarettes don't cause cancer.
The experts don't have to carry the day, he said. They just have to create a sense that there's a controversy. Maybe cigarettes cause cancer, maybe they don't. That's enough to stall public outcry, marginalize opposition and delay a solution.
Journalists abet this process, Fox said, by hewing to the norms of "he said, she said" reporting. We interview the experts served up by both sides, report what they say and figure we've done our job. That plays right into the hands of well-funded schemers and cranks.
The criticism stings, and as it happens, I agree with it. A lot of damage has been done over the years by "shape of earth differs" journalism. WMDs in Iraq? Intelligent design as valid science? Global warming? Or, if those examples are too politically correct for your liking, how about the decades of earnest left-wing reporting on the splendors of the Cuban and Soviet political systems?
So, is the debate over natural-gas drilling real or manufactured? I figured the obvious way to answer that question was to find a nonpartisan expert. A couple of calls yielded a promising candidate: Dennis Risser, a hydrologist at the U.S. Geological Survey's Pennsylvania Water Science Center. I called him, and we had a very nice chat. But a somewhat discouraging one.
Risser confirmed the general points made by the Marcellus Shale Coalition's video "Methane: A Natural Element": that methane exists in rock naturally and can migrate naturally or via water wells. But he deferred questions about methane migration caused by deep-well drilling to Fred Baldassare, the researcher and former Department of Environmental Protection stray-gas investigator who appears in the video.
In a followup conversation with Risser yesterday, I asked him straight out: "Where do you stand on these issues?"
"I'm not studying the questions that you're asking, so I'm really not authoritative," he said.
Most of what he knows, he said, he gets second-hand — from news reports, DEP press releases and from research like Baldassare's.
In one respect, Risser's reticence is admirable. Say only what you know — imagine how quiet the world would be if more people followed that rule! But in another respect, it floors me. If a guy like Dennis Risser doesn't feel qualified to comment on this controversy without examining the data first-hand, where does that leave a mere journalist?
It leaves us a lot closer to Josh Fox's despised "he said, she said" journalism than I would like, that's for sure.
Fortunately, Risser's suggestion that I go straight to Baldassare worked out well, as Baldassare proved to be more candid than I expected. He strikes me as a guy who hews to the data, not a party line, and I can't commend him enough for that.
So for now, at least, my opinion on the methane migraton question is Fred Baldassare's opinion. It will remain so, pending further evidence.
I look forward to seeing more research, from Baldassare and others. USGS researchers have proposed a study of baseline water quality in the Appalachian basin, but it hasn't been funded, Risser said.
Even in the world of sequestration, that strikes me as a few million dollars that would be very well spent.
Tim Stuhldreher covers banking, finance, energy and environment. Have a tip or question for him? Email him at email@example.com. You can also follow him on Twitter, @timstuhldreher.


text:
This is the fourteenth installment of a series of interviews I am conducting with academic philosophers about their religious practices. In this series of interviews, I ask philosophers about their religious practices and the influence on their philosophical work. Follow the links for parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13. The contributors are in various stages of their career, tenured and untenured. Interviews were conducted through e-mail and responses are not edited.
This interview is with Michael Rea, Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Center for Philosophy of Religion at the University of Notre Dame. Most of his work to date has been in metaphysics and philosophy of religion. The project that is currently occupying most of his time is a book, and a corresponding set of lectures, on the hiddenness of God.
Can you tell me something about your current religious affiliation/self-identification?
When people ask me about my religious upbringing, I usually say that I grew up in a liberal PC-USA church with a renegade conservative Calvinist youth minister. That characterization is misleading in certain respects, but there is more truth than falsehood in it. Probably the best way to illustrate the divide is with a story. The church was (and still is) located in Redondo Beach, California—just a couple of blocks from the ocean, and just 26 miles by boat from Catalina Island, where we held our summer youth camps every year. Our camp was popular; every year some 100+ high school students attended; many would commit or recommit their lives to Christ around the campfire at the end of the week, and the ranks of our youth group were accordingly swollen for months afterward. Some of the students at camp thought that it would be extremely cool to be baptized in the ocean right there at camp; and so one year, our youth minister—not yet ordained, and not yet even a seminary graduate—obliged them. ("See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?") Predictably, the youth minister was brought before the elders of the church. His defense appealed to scripture: Philip did not wait to be ordained by the Presbyterian Church before baptizing his Ethiopian convert; so why should he? The response from one of the elders was, "Don't bring the Bible into this."


text:
The Bourgeois 0 DB Signature Aged Tone is a jaw-dropper. The cross between its excellent craftsmanship and quality sound makes this guitar flawless. The 0 DB Signature is crafted with an aged tone Adirondack spruce top, offering an endless range of tonal possibilities. It's classic design makes this guitar an instant classic. The guitar delivers a unique voice, unmatchable by any other acoustic guitar.
Other specifications include:
Madagascar back and sides
Aged Tone Adirondack Spruce Top
Signature Wood Rosette
Figured Koa Body Binding
DB Signature Herringbone Purfling
Multicolor Herringbone Back Strip
Square 0 14 fret short scale Head Shape/Neck
Ziricote Head Veneer
Bourgeois Logo
Short Scale 14 Fret Ebony Fretboard Wood
1 3/4" Nut Width
Short Pattern Bone Slotted Squares and Diamonds Fretboard Inlays
Black Fretboard Binding
Tortoise pickguard
Dana Bourgeois Signature Label
Waverly Gold Tuners with Snakewood Buttons
Hide Glue
Aged Tone Finish
Ziricote Belly Bridge with 2 5/16" String Spacing
Hard Case
For more information about the Bourgeois 0 DB Signature please contact us.
All Major Credit Cards, Money Order, Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Wire Transfer, and Paypal
Call for details.
Call for details.


text:
Stories From This Week's Episode
June 15, 2012
News Panel: Budget Update, Bay Area Transit, Fire Season, and more
As home care workers and their clients protested at the state Capitol, legislative Democrats sent their second budget plan to Gov. Brown earlier this week. Though it does not include hundreds of millions of dollars in cuts to welfare and other social programs that the governor demanded, Democratic lawmakers say that both houses plan to vote before the midnight deadline on June 15 to avoid losing their salaries. Republicans boycotted the budget hearing Thursday saying the process lacks transparency. It's been a big week for transportation in the Bay Area. A West Oakland fire shut down BART service on Thursday, creating havoc for East Bay commuters. CalTrans struck back at the Sacramento Bee's allegations of improper inspections on the Bay Bridge's new eastern span structure. Meanwhile, excavation began this week on San Francisco's Central Subway tunnel, despite the fact that federal funding for the majority of the $1.6 billion project is still pending approval. California fire season is off to an early and active start, due to a record dry winter, rising temperatures and gusty winds. Firefighters have already responded to twice as many wildfires as they had by this time last year. According a new UC Berkeley study, the West will be increasingly prone to wildfires over the next three decades, due to the effects of climate change.
- Marisa Lagos, San Francisco Chronicle
- Will Reisman, San Francisco Examiner
- Tom Vacar, KTVU
Climate Watch Conversation: Physicist Richard Muller
Richard Muller is not a climatologist, yet he is one of the most controversial figures in climate science. Until recently, the UC Berkeley physicist was a sturdy skeptic of the science behind global warming. But last fall, after he conducted a comprehensive analysis of more than two hundred years of global temperature data, he emerged an apparent convert. Now Muller's set to publish a new book that could thrust him in the spotlight again; "Energy for Future Presidents" casts a critical eye on many current "green energy" solutions while championing more controversial methods like nuclear power and natural gas fracturing or "fracking."


text:
FAIRBANKS - The city of Fairbanks is considering a program aimed at fighting chronic public drunkenness.
The program would target the sale of high-octane alcohol products, such as Mad Dog 20/20 and Mickey's Malt Liquor. The sales would be prohibited in "alcohol impact zones."
The program bans the sale of cheap, strong alcohol products in certain areas.
Talk of the program emerged Monday night during a Fairbanks City Council meeting. The council formally protested a businessman's request to transfer a liquor license to South Fairbanks, where neighbors say alcohol abuse is most visible.
Fairbanks Mayor Terry Strle said she expects a committee will be formed to review the program.
© 2018. All Rights Reserved. | Contact Us


text:
Welcome to the Americas Best Value Inn of Dayton/ TN. We are located in historic Dayton *Scopes Monkey Trial was held here* in the Tennessee Valley/ and minutes from downtown Chattanooga. Our Inn features 32 ground floor guest rooms nicely furnished with amenities including cable TV with HBO. Our units even offer mini-fridge and microwave in your room along with wireless high speed Internet access. Other property amenities include fax/copy services/ vending/ and ice machines/ and electrical hook-ups for RVs and boats. There is a wide variety of shopping at the many stores and restaurants located only a short distance from our property. Next door/ at our sister property/ take advantage of the guest laundry facilities. Pets are allowed/charges apply. Minutes away from Tennessee Valley Theatre/ TN Aquarium/ the IMAX and downtown Chattanooga. Come relax and enjoy the BEST hospitality in town at Americas Best Value Inn Dayton.
* Property is conveniently located off of US 27 and just 40 miles North of the Tennessee/Alabama Tennessee/Georgia State line and the Alabama/Georgia/Tennessee State line.
1 mi.Pizza Hut
1 mi.Peking House Restaurant
1 mi.Sonic Drive-In
1 mi.Offsite Dining Zaxbys
3.3 mi.Bojangles Famous Chicken n Biscuits
4.7 mi.Waffle House
3.4 mi.Kenny*s Sports Bar and Grill
1.8 mi.Gondolier Italian Restaurant
3.4 mi.Amigo Mexican Restaurant
3.7 mi.China King Restaurant
4.8 mi.Panda Garden
2.8 mi.Cheezee*s Restaurant
2.8 mi.Bimbo*s Restaurant
0.3 mi.MO MO*s Bar BQ
0.4 mi.Hardee*s
1 mi.Long John Silver*s
1 mi.Chicken Scratch Cafe
1 mi.


text:
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the "Pitt" from goal to goal,
I thank whatever gods may be
The Pens are still in a 3 game hole.
In the fell clutch of Crosby's trance
We have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings and rants
Our heads are bloodied, but still proud
Beyond this place of boos and jeers
Looms but the Horror of the 'Burgh
If we can make it through with beer
The Black and Orange yet will surge
It matters not that Malkin's great
Or that that Marc-Andre stops some goals
We are the Masters of the Skate
And o'er the Penguins shall we roll.
Comment policy:
Philly.com comments are intended to be civil, friendly conversations. Please treat other participants with respect and in a way that you would want to be treated. You are responsible for what you say. And please, stay on topic. If you see an objectionable post, please report it to us using the "Report Abuse" option.
Please note that comments are monitored by Philly.com staff. We reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable. Personal attacks, especially on other participants, are not permitted. We reserve the right to permanently block any user who violates these terms and conditions.
Additionally comments that are long, have multiple paragraph breaks, include code, or include hyperlinks may not be posted.


text: Sycamore Township Dog Trainer, Lisa Desatnik of So Much PETential, is partnering with the Care Center Animal Hospital and the City of Blue Ash to offer three week bite prevention programs for children in September and October. Desatnik's three week My Dog's Super Hero bite prevention program is all about strengthening children's relationships with dogs and preventing bites. In a fun and engaging way, she teaches kids ages 6-10 (and parents) how to play appropriately with their dog, how to show responsibility and respect to their dog, how dogs tell us when they are happy or want to be left alone, and how to interact with a dog they do not know. One parent is required to attend with the child for each session. Desatnik will use a demonstration dog so asks that family dogs be left at home. Cost for the program is $45 per child. Space is limited for each program. If these programs fill up, Desatnik will have a list for the next time the program is offered. To register, please visit: http://www.SoMuchPETential.com. Program Facts:Care Center Animal Blood Bank(6995 E Kemper Rd; Cincinnati, OH 45249)Dates: September 16, 23 and 30from 7 to 8 pmBlue Ash Recreation CenterLocation: Blue Ash Recreation CenterCooper & Reed Hartman Hgwy (45242)Dates: October 18, 25, and November 1 9:30 am to 10:30 amAbout Lisa Desatnik:Lisa Desatnik is a lifelong animal lover and caregiver who has been studying the science of animal behavior and how it applies to setting ourselves and our pets up for success for more than 13 years. She is a pet behavior columnist for WCPO and Hyde Park Living. Her individualized dog (and other pet) training consultations focus on using the most positive strategies for effectively solving pet behavior issues. Learn more at www.SoMuchPETential.com. About the Care Center:The Care Center is a 24 hour emergency, trauma and critical care hospital for pets in Cincinnati and Dayton that offers appointments for surgery, critical care, internal medicine, and cardiology as referred by a pet's primary care veterinarian. It also includes an in-house blood bank. Please visit http://www.CareCenterVets.com to learn more about them.


text:
b. Oct. 5, 1899, Ind.
d. Jan. 8, 1955, near Castle Hot Springs, Az.
COD: Natural causes
h/o Martha E. Keller
s/o Laborne Franklin & Miranda T. (Hearne) Keller
Occ: Railroad laborer / miner
Note: Resided in Az. 2 months, last resided in Columbus, Ind.
Pvt. MTR Co Engr. Repl. TNC - WW II
Enlisted: Aug. 21, 1942
Discharged: April 19, 1919
Site # X/003
Hampton Funeral Home, Prescott, Az.
Burial: Jan. 15, 1955
Az. death records /Military records
Contributed on 3/22/04 by jlwight
Email This Contributor
Record #: 5028
On this site you can upload gravestone photos, locate ancestors and perform genealogy research. If you have a relative buried in Arizona, we encourage you to upload a digital image using our Submit a Photo page. Contributing to this genealogy archive helps family historians and genealogy researchers locate their relatives and complete their family tree.
Submitted: 3/22/04 • Approved: 3/24/13 • Last Updated: 3/24/13 • R5028-G0


text: I've just got a quick question for Garalon. With me being fire should I mainly just cleave off the front legs and not focus on the body? I've noticed almost every strategy/post about it says that ranged should stay on his body the whole time. But with 2-3 legs down, I can safely and efficiently stay inside the leg zone for the weak point debuff. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Have had multiple 5-10% wipes, but, would really love to optimize my dps on this fight.


text:
|Hey Mom! Learn more about the Gerber Life Insurance Grow-Up Plan!
|Thread Tools
|Display Modes
Registered Users
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 21
Need super absorbant nighttime diaper...
We've hit a brick wall with a diapering option for my almost 4 year old son. He's a very sound sleeper so it's been hard to train him at night. He's already off all liquids after dinner. He pees before bed, we wake him up to go before we go to bed, and we still have major leaks most mornings.
We were using Goodnights with mainly success, but they started giving him a bad rash so we've switched to cloth. We've tried Eco Posh RaRs and Happy Heinys. The Eco Posh aren't absorbant enough. The Happy Heinys were too poofy and plastic-y. My daughter's Kawaiis don't really fit well. They usually work when triple stuffed, but we wind up with compression leaks or gap leaks.
I know I could use bamboo/hemp to improve absorbency, but I feel like all pockets will be too small. Ideally I would want a pull-up style but I'll take what I can get. He's a 4T-5T, about 42 pounds.
I'm not trying to train him right now, just trying to find something super absorbant so I'm not changing sheets every morning. Thanks!
|Thread Tools
|Display Modes
Threaded Mode


text:
- Posted May 3, 2013 by
- patpatlimbe
Democracy crisis in Malaysia: foreign workers were employed for fraud voting in General Election.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We are the citizens of Malaysia, and hereby we report onthe current pre-election situation to every one of the world. First and foremost, election is a democratic practice; it symbolizes the fair distributionof power which the Constitutional guarantees, hence allowing us to make decisions about a country's future and policies. This includes deciding thecountry's ruling party, the members of parliament and by extension any possible amendments to Constitution.
As many of you are aware, most democratic countries are progressive and have advanced civil awareness. Citizens form their social norms, collective decisions and common responsibilities through their combined voices. They choose their governments according to their own volition through the ballot box. Men are born with free will and rationality; we believe that men will make decisions based on a rational weighing of the benefits to the majority. However, respect and an upholding of rights are also conferred to the minorities as guaranteed under the Constitution, thus ensuring that the social stability can be assured and upheld. An awareness of the Constitution and its statues are crucial to the development of civil society, because only one will carry one's duties well only after clearing understanding one's rights.
While most democratic countries have upheld the principles of democracy, the unpleasant reality is that not all have.Corruption threatens and impinges upon the democratic process, leading to the collapse of civilized society. Through this letter, we would like to report severaluntoward incidents that have plagued the lead up to the 13thMalaysian General Election.
As of lately, we have observed many foreigners being imported into Malaysia. These foreigners are enter presumably as workers and are escorted by police officials. The arrivals of these foreigners are have aroused suspicions as their clothing (shirts and caps) are adorned the logo of Barisan Nasional, the current ruling party. Besides that, there are undisputed and affirmative news reports that these foreigners possess the Malaysian Citizen Identity Card, which is legally speaking, impossible based on our constitution.Our constitution has strict requirements for immigration applications, and the normal process takes years for citizenship to be granted. How can these foreigners obtain Malaysian citizenship, just within few days?
Meanwhile, most of these foreigners have been observed to be Bangladeshis, whereby they are employed in Bangladesh and sent to Malaysia for labor purposes. But unfortunately, these Bangladeshis have obtained Identity Cards illegally and preparing to commit fraud in the voting by supporting Barisan Nasional in the forthcoming General Election. This is contravenes a serious diplomatic taboo under which no country is allowed to interfere in another country's local politics. This is a perversionof a country's sovereignty and independence. We are requesting international solidarity in condemning these incidents in order to exert pressure on the Commissioner of General Election to ensure the forthcoming election is cleaner and more transparent. Our voices are expressed through the petition "Stop your peopleintervene our local politics!" (https://www.facebook.com/notes/kuan-ping-ang/letters-to-transparency-international-and-united-nations-about-fraud-voting-inci/136001233259541#http://www.causes.com/actions/1749459-stop-your-people-intervene-our-local-politics).Currently more than 50,000 Malaysians have expressed their objection and dissatisfaction through this petition.
Furthermore, the outflow Bangladeshi workers are managed by the Ministry of Expatriates, Welfare and Overseas Employment, which underthe direct purview of the Cabinet of Bangladesh. Therefore, we are making an official inquiry to the relevant Ministry with regards to their role, or not,in permitting these workers to be involved in overt political interference. Werequest for a coherent and timely response. Otherwise, we will assume that Cabinet of Bangladesh acquiesces to this incident, and we will request for further international action to be taken against the Cabinet of Bangladesh.
We also request a formal response with regards to allegations that the Ministry has received illicit payments from Barisan Nasional in order to send such huge numbers of Bangladeshi workers. As a corollary, we also request Transparency International to provide necessary assistance for further the investigation.
We hope that the Ministry remains alert and aware ofany worker departure approvals since we hope that Bangladeshis do not become mercenaries become involved in illegal activities that contravene Bangladeshi labor export policy.
Concluding this letter, but not the least, we hope for international support to make our Malaysian general election clean and more transparent through increased vigilance. Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.
Thank you.
Concerned Malaysians


text:
Switching Gears - XSL-FO, Day 1
by Simon St. Laurent
Related link: http://www.cranesoftwrights.com/schedule.htm#pfux
After three days of intensive XSLT, the training has changed over to Formatting Objects (XSL-FO). Instead of thinking about how best to push or pull information through my logic, I'm thinking about how to make boxes line up, trying to remember my CSS properties (since they mostly work in FO), and thinking about how to integrate the logic of FO with the logic of XSLT. Fortunately each was designed with the other in mind.
XSLT, which can seem pretty alien when you're trying to convert from one XML vocabulary to another completely different vocabulary, works a lot more easily in the context of document-to-document conversions. While there are still times in document processing where document order isn't what you want, converting from one document in a particular order to a formatted representation of the same document in the same order is pretty simple.
(Come to think of it, that's not so far off from what I've done with CSS in the past, but dealing with paginated regions is tricky enough that having XSLT to handle odd cases and insert extra information is sometimes convenient, even when we're processing in document order.)
FO's multi-stage processing model is definitely a challenge for my brain, since I need to keep track of how my XSLT stylesheet generates an instance tree which then becomes an FO tree, which is then refined into a refined FO tree, which then becomes an area tree, which is then rendered. (Processors can combine those steps internally, but I still need to keep this pipeline in my head to get results that resemble what I want.)
Fortunately, Ken Holman has enough diagrams, examples, and good humor to keep us moving forward through the maze. It's a maze I've wandered before, but I suspect I'd have to do this repeatedly for the best practices to seem natural. Exercises during the day help a lot, at least in part because they're an opportunity to get things (sometimes horribly) wrong. As the current slide says, "Risk of overlap is borne by the stylesheet writer" - there are lots of risks like that, not to mention the risks of typos in 35-character attribute names. And then there are those ghost-list labels for ghost-list items...
The niftiest things I've discovered today are the combination of
starts-row and
ends-row properties in tables, the conditional nature of their processing, and a nice
proportional-column-width() function. It's been a long time since I've wrangled tables on a regular basis, but I could feel old problems fading away.
Have you had a chance to play with XSL-FO?


text:
Movies in the Park is Back!
Movies in the Park is back and has a new location! Every Wednesday in the month of June, come out for a movie on the lawn at Warner Park on Highway 100.
June 6: The Help
June 13: Shrek
June 20: Twilight: Breaking Dawn
June 27: Captain America


text:
Late error dooms Yanks
New York's rally from 6-0 deficit wasted after Solarte's bad throw in ninth inning
Updated 9:08 am, Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Jose Reyes atoned for a pair of misplays by hitting a leadoff double in the ninth inning and scoring when Yankees third baseman Yangervis Solarte threw away a bunt, lifting the Toronto Blue Jays over New York 7-6 Tuesday night.
The Yankees trailed 6-0 before tying it, then lost their fourth in a row.
Reyes doubled off Adam Warren (1-4) into the right-field corner. Melky Cabrera followed with a sacrifice bunt, and Warren and Solarte seemed to hesitate over who would field it.
Solarte picked up the ball and threw it past second baseman Brian Roberts covering at first. The ball sailed into foul territory down the right-field line and Reyes trotted home.
Casey Janssen (2-0) worked one inning for the victory.
Mark Buehrle came in 1-11 with a 5.84 ERA in 17 career starts against the Yankees, and 0-9 with a 7.07 ERA in 13 games against New York since getting that lone victory while pitching for the Chicago White Sox on April 10, 2004.
The lefty looked to be in line to end his streak as the Blue Jays built a six-run lead through five innings. Derek Jeter homered in the sixth and New York tied it with a five-run, 10-batter seventh.
Reyes made two errors, including a wild throw that tied it at 6-all.
With runners at second and third and two outs in the seventh, Mark Teixeira hit a grounder to Reyes, but the shortstop bounced his throw past first baseman Edwin Encarnacion.
Teixeira's elbow appeared to strike the back of Encarnacion's head in a collision at the bag. Encarnacion went down to the ground and stayed there for a moment while a trainer tended to him. Encarnacion remained in the game.
Dioner Navarro put the Blue Jays in front with a homer into the second deck in the fourth, and Toronto capitalized on a pair of defensive lapses by Jeter to double its lead in the fifth.
Munenori Kawasaki and Reyes both singled to begin the inning and two outs later, Encarnacion was safe on a fielder's choice when Jeter triple-clutched, looking at both second and third before throwing late to first.
Colby Rasmus followed with a two-run double, and Encarnacion came home while Jeter vainly chased Rasmus back to first in a botched rundown.
Jeter led off the sixth with his second home run and first since May 7.
Roberts made it 6-3 with a two-run homer in the seventh.
Buehrle allowed four runs and eight hits in 62/3 innings. He walked none and struck out three.
New York's David Phelps allowed six runs and eight hits in five innings.


text:
Job Seekers, Welcome to UWSVM Career Center
The job you tried to view is no longer active.
See similar jobs below or perform a new job search.
See similar jobs below or perform a new job search.
Sort By
2,796 'veterinarian OR STATECODE:"WI"' Jobs
Clintonville, Wisconsin
VetCor - Clintonville, WI
3 Weeks Ago
North Heights Veterinary Clinic
4 Days Ago
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison Veterinary Specialists and Emergency
1 Month Ago
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Oakwood Hills Animal Hospital
1 Week Ago
Richland Center, Wisconsin
Richland Veterinary Service
2 Months Ago
Somerset, Wisconsin
Somerset Animal Hospital
3 Weeks Ago
Powered By


text:
So, whats the most clueless crap you've heard on internet?
my entry
BJJ is a striking art that focuses on kicks, which btw that didn't derive from Judo which happens to be totally totally ineffective, while wrestling is the ****.oh and Fedor Emelianeko is not worth knowing All said by a self proclaimed expert who claims to have maimed and crippled people by wrestling. I kid you not, all by ONE guy too.
This has to be some sort of record right? I nominate this comment as the most clueless comment ever made in regards to martial arts. Lets hear some gems the others here have come across on internet


text:
Driver Hire Worcester is part of the largest specialist recruitment service in the UK for supplying drivers, logistics staff, specialists and professional roles to the Transport & Logistics industry. The driver hire group has over 30 years' experience and a nationwide network of around 100 offices.
Every day we help to place our candidates, into temporary, permanent and temp-to-perm roles with hundreds of organisations in the Worcestershire area.
We offer a full range of recruitment services, including full, part time and temp-to-perm schemes, driving jobs and non-driving positions: we can also help with managerial, professional and traditional operational roles.
Take a look at the roles that we generally recruit for:
Driver Hire Worcester can fulfil all your temporary staffing requirements and help optimise the smooth running of your organisation whatever time of the day or night. Our temporary recruitment process is as follows:
1) Take a full job brief and person specification from you: Details of role, type of person, licence requirements, vehicle type ⇒ This will allow us to find a perfect match for you.
2) Search our extensive database for suitable candidates All our candidates have passed an extensive assessment process in order to be able to work for us: Referenced, competency assessed, licence and medical history checked, face to face interviewed, briefed on safety and AWR issues, and trained. Whatever the role, you can count on us to supply well briefed, professional and motivated people that will help you achieve your organisation's objectives.
3) Match those candidates to your specific requirements
4) Brief candidates about the specifics of the assignment in accordance with your own HSE and working practices
5) Conduct an appraisal at the end of the assignment to ensure our compliance and your satisfaction. We also have bespoke IT services in place to manage your drivers correctly.
Your organisation can save money using temporary labour supplied by Driver Hire (Hereford & Worcester).
Our tried and tested permanent recruitment process will help you find the perfect candidate for your organisation. We have so much confidence in the success of our recruitment process, that we offer you a customer guarantee and a no-success no-fee policy.
Our permanent recruitment process is as follows:
1) Take a full job brief and 'person specification' from you
2) Search our extensive database for suitable candidates
3) Advertise (as appropriate)
4) Interview and reference all candidates (and carry out competence assessments, licence and medical history checks etc as appropriate, all to ISO 9001 standards)
5) Match candidates to your specific requirements and provide you with a written short list
6) Brief candidates about the job, ensuring their interest and commitment
7) Arrange an interview programme at a time to suit you
8) Liaise between you and each candidate through to job offer, acceptance and commencement on your payroll
9) Post-placement follow-up with candidate
Our permanent recruitment service can save you money and ensure you get the best candidate for the job.
Driver Hire is the UK's leading provider of Driver CPC training. Click here to find out more about our training services in Worcestershire.
Since we are part of a genuinely nationwide network, we are able to offer a range of specialist services to customers who operate on a multi-site, regional or national basis. Simply ask us for more details.
As a Driver Hire Worcester customer you will benefit from:
Give us a call today to find out what we can do for you!


text:
RFV discussion[edit]
The following information has failed Wiktionary's verification process.
Failure to be verified may either mean that this information is fabricated, or is merely beyond our resources to confirm. We have archived here the disputed information, the verification discussion, and any documentation gathered so far, pending further evidence.
Do not re-add this information to the article without also submitting proof that it meets Wiktionary's criteria for inclusion.
"Someone who is afraid of change to the point of total inaction. (From a book by Spencer Johnson, M.D., Who moved my cheese, about a character who was always against change.)" See [1] Equinox ◑ 23:56, 21 December 2009 (UTC)


text:
Members of the EU Parliament's energy committee have supported reform of energy markets to restrict subsidies for dirty fossil fuel power plants, but failed to reject new gas infrastructure, in two important votes on climate and energy today.
CEE Bankwatch Network, Counter Balance, Friends of the Earth Europe, 350.org
The European Investment Bank (EIB) voted today to hand out one of Europe's largest ever loans to one of the EU's largest fossil fuel projects, the contentious Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP).
The European Commission today announced new subsidies for fossil fuels, with nearly €200 million for gas projects, as part of a larger package of energy investments for 2018.
Fossil Free Europe victory for Norway
The Norwegian government has announced that the arctic Lofoten islands will be protected against oil and gas drilling for at least the next four years. This marks a significant victory for a Fossil Free Europe.
Peter Kodde, a long-time Dutch eco-activist, will be showing us what strong NVDA looks like.
We interviewed Kaya Thomas, who will be running a workshop on food sovereignty at our upcoming summer camp. Check out what she had to say below!
Natasha A. from Centar za zastitu zivotne sredine /Centre for environment Banja Luka, Bosina
It is 7:30 am and I am sitting on a wooden chair at the most beautiful lake I have ever visited. I am at Lake Belgika in Bulgaria at the Young Friends of the Earth Europe Summer Camp. I would like for you to see, because it is impossible to describe with words.
Yesterday at the UN Climate talks, Young Friends of the Earth Europe took part in a number of actions to highlight that coal can play no role if we seriously want to stop climate change. The actions took place to coincide with the launch of the People's Declaration on Coal, and in response to the failures of governments at the talks to listen to people's concerns, over the demands and pressure of the fossil fuel industry.
Young Friends of the Earth Europe is a grassroots network of young people and youth organisations working collectively for social and environmental justice on a local, national and European level. We organise events and inspire young people to take action on issues ranging from climate change, food and agriculture and education for sustainability – to ensure the voices of young people are heard in Europe and beyond.
We campaign for sustainable and just societies and for the protection of the environment. We unite more than 30 national groups with thousands of local groups and are part of the world's largest grassroots environmental network, Friends of the Earth International.
Copyright Friends of the Earth Europe
Plant-based fuels from agriculture. Also known as biofuels
Genuine, just solutions to climate change
Energy efficiency and its benefits
Oil and gas exploration, and mining
Delivering a just transition to a 100% renewable, no nuclear, super energy-efficient, zero-fossil-fuel Europe by 2030
Clean alternatives to fossil fuels
Differing and competing interests in the EU institutions
Making companies accountable for harm they cause anywhere in the world
When EU and international policy-making is overly influenced by business and interest groups
The weakening of vital protections to please big business
Lobby registration, ethical practice, and access to documents
What's at stake in negotiations for EU-US and EU-Canada trade agreements
Getting banks to take responsibility for social and environmental risks
EU Structural and Cohesion funds, principally for central and eastern Europe
Food and farming in Europe and its global impacts
Genetically modified crops and organisms
Measuring Europe's land footprint and tackling the drivers of land grabbing
Standing up for our right to nature
Reducing, reusing and recycling resources
Europe's consumption of land, materials, water and carbon