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A lot can be said about the culture of a franchise and what it can do to both the confidence of the players and the fan base. The best example unfortunately comes from the Bronx where we find the Yankees who are almost synonymous with winning. In Queens though, things never seem to go as well. I don't want to flat out call it a culture of mediocrity, but watching the fan base embrace the notion of "finishing strong" almost makes that point for me. However with that said, there is certainly some value in the way things have played out this season.
The team's strong first half allowed the fan base to dream for a few months. Was there more talent here than originally thought? Any thing is possible, right? Well, while its fair to say that anything is possible, I think everyone can conclude that this roster doesn't have the talent necessary to make a legitimate playoff push. That should be important to a fan base which is trying to implore the team's front office to make moves this off season. The period of evaluation should have come to a close in recent months as the Mets fell flat on their face in the second half of the season. While the future of the pitching staff still looks strong, the farm system finds an absence of quality prospects elsewhere. If this second half has finally solidified that notion for the front office, then I think their is value in what we've endured in recent months.
Two months of doldrums, comprised of poor execution on the field and some bad baseball decisions from the dugout, turned talks of a contract extension for Terry Collins into questions about his future employment. Would consecutive second half slides put the Mets' manager on the proverbial ropes heading into the final season of his current contract? If I had to guess, had the Mets continued down the path they were on in early August, Collins would have found himself on the hot seat this winter. However the team's recent play, albeit only a week of inspired baseball at this point, probably puts those thoughts to rest. Terminating Collin's time with the team would add only another hurdle for the franchise to navigate in this rebuild. Fortunately, at least for the time being, that seems to be off the table.
You see depending on your point of view, there is a certain necessity to this team's second half mediocrity. I, like every one of you, ultimately yearns to see the Mets bring another World Series title to Queens. And while I'm sick of waiting for the turn around, sick of wading through another season with no apparent direction, sick of the lack of transparency from the team's upper management, I know that there is value in things working themselves out. The way things have gone this year, should highlight failures in the organization's decision making.
The path the franchise chose in 2012, didn't work. The reasons for that path, whether it be their ill-fated belief in their home grown players or simple financial restrictions, really aren't important. What is important is that it hasn't worked and changes are necessary. Recent quotes from Sandy Alderson indicate that he acknowledges that. Is that just lip service? I hope not, but I have to think that both the front office and the team's ownership group has to recognize that they again run the risk of further alienating their greatest asset, the fan base, if this path doesn't change in short order. So while the second half of 2012 hasn't been fun and won't inspire any dreams of playoff baseball, it should ignite the wheels of change for the Mets going forward and therein lies the silver lining of the Mets' second half.
Follow me on Twitter at @RobPatterson83


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Continental AG Raises 2012 Forecasts as Supply Costs Fall
Continental AG (CON), Europe's second largest auto-parts maker, raised forecasts for revenue and profitability this year after a decline in raw-material costs and growth in sales helped second-quarter profit.
Revenue will rise more than 7 percent to exceed 32.5 billion euros ($39.8 billion), while adjusted earnings as a proportion of sales will beat the 2011 figure, Hanover, Germany- based Continental said in a statement today. That compares with previous targets of boosting sales 5 percent to more than 32 billion euros and matching the 2011 profit margin.
The manufacturer, which is also Europe's second-biggest tiremaker, is selling more electronic products to luxury-auto manufacturers such as Bayerische Motoren Werke AG and Volkswagen AG (VOW)'s Audi unit, the top two in the industry. The strategy is protecting Continental from a drop in Europe's car market, which may fall to a 17-year low in deliveries in 2012.
"All in all, it was a very good set of numbers" with adjusted earnings and cash flow beating estimates, demonstrating "very good underlying earnings quality," Daniel Schwarz, an analyst for Commerzbank AG in Frankfurt with a buy recommendation on Continental stock, said by phone.
Adjusted Earnings
Second-quarter earnings before interest, taxes and financial effects from the 2007 acquisition of Siemens AG (SIE)'s VDO unit rose 26 percent to 948.3 million euros, led by a 40 percent jump at the rubber-products division, Continental said. Unadjusted Ebit increased 30 percent.
Revenue rose 8.7 percent to 8.19 billion euros. Net income jumped 65 percent to 520.3 million euros. The adjusted-Ebit margin increased to 11.7 percent of sales from 10 percent a year earlier. The full-year margin in 2011 was 10.1 percent.
"Our international orientation plays a major role in our current success," Chief Financial Officer Wolfgang Schaefer said in a phone interview. "This allows us to more than compensate for the weak European market."
Continental rose as much as 2.3 percent to 75.49 euros, the highest intraday price since April 27, and was trading up 1.5 percent at 10 a.m. in Frankfurt. The stock has gained 56 percent this year, valuing the company at 15 billion euros.
Market Forecasts
For the second half of the year, Schaefer said he assumes that "market dynamics will generally continue." The U.S. market will probably continue growing, although at lower rates, while "South America was weak in the first half but will pick up, and China is still showing good growth rates especially for the international manufacturers producing locally," he said. Europe's market will "remain at low levels."
The component maker expects to return to Germany's benchmark DAX Index (DAX) in September. Continental was dropped from the 30-company gauge after family-owned industrial-bearing manufacturer Schaeffler AG gained control of more than 90 percent of the stock in a takeover effort in 2008.
Schaeffler has since reorganized the holding and currently owns 49.9 percent of Continental stock directly, with another 10.38 percent maintained by B. Metzler Seel. Sohn & Co. and M.M. Warburg & Co. on behalf of the Herzogenaurach, Germany-based company.
"We are fulfilling the necessary criteria in trading volumes and free float" to regain a place on the DAX, Schaefer said today.
Raw Materials
Continental scaled back its forecast for raw-material cost effects by 60 percent today, saying they will add 100 million euros to spending this year. The company estimated in May that the effect of higher rubber and rare-earths prices would amount to a combined 250 million euros.
The manufacturer is working on reducing debt, which was pushed up in the acquisition of VDO, to 6.5 billion euros at the end of 2012, Schaefer said, reiterating an earlier target. Net debt as of June 30 totaled 6.88 billion euros. Continental's credit ratings are below investment grade.
The company has ruled out larger acquisitions, though it's looking for smaller assets to expand the ContiTech division, which produces tubes and conveyor belts, to gain more independence from the automotive industry.
Continental is teaming up with Seoul-based SK Innovation Co. to develop and manufacture battery systems for electric automotive powertrains. The partners want to become the leading global provider of lithium-ion battery packs with deliveries starting in 2015. Continental already supplies Audi with electric-drive components for the carmaker's compact Q5 hybrid sport-utility vehicle.
The German component maker is also providing parts for the renewed version of Volkswagen's best-selling Golf compact model, which will reach showrooms before the end of the year.
Demand for safety applications, such as emergency braking systems, as well as powertrains to comply with more stringent emission regulations and information technology, has been growing, Schaefer said.
"We've been getting tailwinds from focusing on future technology trends," Schaefer said.
To contact the reporter on this story: Dorothee Tschampa in Frankfurt at firstname.lastname@example.com
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Chad Thomas at firstname.lastname@example.com

subset: commoncrawl


text: Linux Format forums Help, discussion, magazine feedback and more 2012-09-24T19:20:38+00:00 https://linuxformat.com/forums/feed.php?t=15125 2012-09-24T19:20:38+00:00 2012-09-24T19:20:38+00:00 https://linuxformat.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15125&p=108008#p108008 You take this information and use it ENTIRELY at your own risk.I hold no responsibility for any errors either in this text or with your electronics capabilities…BEST VIEWED IN PURE TEXT MODE!The reason I have given this away is/was because I needed an audio input for a simple MacBook ProPython Audio-Oscilloscope I am developing.Machine:- Apple MacBook Pro 13 inch.OSX 10.7.5...Vintage:- August 2012.Common 3.5mm Mic/Ear socket cable for external MONO audio input, (and stereo audio output)…Plug required, (or similar)...http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-5mm-Mini-Ja ... 0770305756Resistor, 2K2, 1/8 W, 10% tolerance...This is the wiring for the auto-switching of the Mic input to external…Pins. Wiring.----- TIP ------- 1 ----> O <----- Left Audio Output +ve. 2 ----> H <----- Right Audio Output +ve. 3 ----> H <----- Mono (Mic) Input, Active. 4 ----> H <----- Common To All Inputs And Outputs. --- | | | |______ |__________|=========For the auto-switching capability a 2K2 resistor must be connected across Pins 3 and 4. [Mono (Mic) Input, Active and Common]…Test by plugging into the socket and check that the "System Preferences > Sound" switches over to external input and output.You now have two audio outputs at low impedance and an analogue audio input at around 2K2 _impedance_.Do NOT drive the input with more than 100mV AC and do NOT connect to a DC _supply_ either.Do NOT load the audio outputs with less than 33 Ohm resistors.Do NOT assume that Common is connected to GND, Ground, of the computer, aothough it may well be.I am assuming that if you are capable of doing this that you are also capable of doing the subtle level tests etc...(C)2012, B.Walker, G0LCU. (Issued as Public Domain for all.)Enjoy finding simple solutions to often very difficult problems... ;o)Statistics: Posted by Bazza — Mon Sep 24, 2012 7:20 pm ]]>


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- News
- Betas
- Finals
- Systems
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- Browse
Target Corp. this week began selling Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox One 500GB Gears of War Ultimate Edition Bundle with a $30 Bonus in a new sales initiative.
This week, customers who purchase the Xbox One 500GB Gears of War Ultimate Edition Bundle at $349.99 will receive a $30 Gift Card at no additional cost.
The Xbox One 500GB Gears of War: Ultimate Edition Bundle includes the Xbox One 500GB SKU, Gears of War: Ultimate Edition download code, and new Wireless Controller at $349.99.
Microsoft sold 1.6 million Xbox One and Xbox 360 hardware consoles combined in the first quarter.
Xbox platform shipments decreased 20 percent in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the year prior.
Follow us on Twitter @PunchJump, @WeLoveHotDeals, @PreOrderBonus, @SQUARE Gentleman, and visit us at Facebook and YouTube.
Comments are closed.


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John Phillippi-Mine Survivor
Hello.I notice subject individual was a part of today's miracle.Wondered if I have any relatives on this forum.My Phillippi connection is this.Catherine Shultz, daughter of Jacob Shultz and Susannah Lenhart, married Peter Phillippi and had chuldren.Catherine wasb. 1808, d 7/7 1878.Peter b. 4/18/1808, d. 2/14/1885.
Brad Shultz


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Home › Forum › Chat Forum › Old I Tunes transfer, can it be done?
- Old I Tunes transfer, can it be done?
- redtedMember
My laptop went wrong recently and after our resident IT expert looked at it, it has managed to restore to a previous version of my laptop from 18 months ago. The one good thing to come out of all this is that it has an old version and the more logical and preferable (in my opinion)version of ITunes on it.Posted 4 years ago
I now have a new laptop (well an ex employee's) but I am wondering if it is possible to somehow transfer that old version off my old laptop and install it on my new one?
If so, how please and would it remain as that version or just auto update to the latest version?
you can't transfer it, unless you have the installation files – you could can transfer the library very easily though.
If you can get hold of the old installation file, it'll install fine and run as far as I know. There's no auto update, but it will remind you that newer versions are available (with a tick box option to stop it).
Try here for an old version (I've never used this site, just came up on a quick google search)Posted 4 years agocr500domSubscriber
How do you transfer the library ?Posted 4 years ago
I have a number of apple devices all seemingly synced to different iTunes on different computers, id love to get all the content on one machine and snc everything to that one ?
CR that a different question, the library is contain (in windoze) in your "My Music\Itunes" copying that ontop of the new installed itunes folder will move your "music library" over but you can't do that with several copies and expect them to amalgamate…Posted 4 years ago
It maybe you can move certain parts of those folders over, to get them all on one pc, but you'll need to do your own searching to find that out. As it's not something I've ever looked into 🙂SandwichSubscriber
If you have multiple libraries you'll need to import the music, apps, books, videos etc. that isn't on the nominated machine. (You are going to lose the play lists, star ratings and play counts on the imported stuff, don't do it if this is important to you).Posted 4 years ago
Once that's done you can sync the devices to the machine. It will wipe the content from the portable device.
Alternately you could try one of the reverse sync programmes and transfer from the portable device to the nominated PC/Mac, this "may" preserve the star ratings and playcounts etc. You'll still wipe the portable device on first sync to it from the PC/Mac.
If you go at it Z1ppys way use the library consolidate command in the file menu and see if that transfers everything into one place. Copy the separate libraries to the desktop of the nominated computer and consolidate from there.jambalayaSubscriber
I have a Mac but I have transferred and combined libraries many times. You can have an issue with purchased music permissioning but stuff you have ripped yourself should be no problem. Just export the songs / whole library and re-import on new machine via USB drive or similar. For the older version of iTunes I don't see why you can't just copy the executable accross.
It's definitely best to have one master library, on iTunes I have different sync settings for different devices (multiple iPhones and iPad) as they have different memory capacity and different people want different music/movies.Posted 4 years agocr500domSubscriber
Cheers Guys, I`ll have a play later.
I have an Ipod nano (That's due a replacement under recall) with a great selection on it, but that library is on an old pc, so I want to retain the library from that pc, but move it on to my new desktop.
I also have another ITunes on a laptop with a different selection of music ripped to it, that would also benefit from transferring over.
Basically, Ipod nano, Iphone, Ipad, all with different stuff wanted on them.
But to have all the music in one place would be cool
I also have about 500gb of music on separate external harddrives, can I set iTunes to look for music on those drives ?
(I do really hate iTunes as an interface – great on a mac, useless on a pc)Posted 4 years ago
The topic 'Old I Tunes transfer, can it be done?' is closed to new replies.


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Melanoma, while rare, is the most lethal of skin cancers. A difficulty in treating melanoma, as with most cancers, is that it is difficult to target therapeutics to them in a way that does not damage non-cancerous tissue. Melanomas (as well as neuroblastomas) characteristically express the disialioganglioside marker GD2 on their cell surfaces, which can be targeted by the 14.18 mouse monoclonal antibody. I intend to target a therapeutic agent, the naturally occurring protein interferon alpha 2a (IFN), to GD2-expressing cells using the chimeric activator approach pioneered by the lab of Professor Pamela Silver. The approach works by linking together a targeting element (here the 14.18 antibody) which can bind an antigen expressed on the target cell (GD2) together with a cytotoxic active element (here IFN), which has been mutated to reduce its ability to bind. Thanks to this weakened binding, the cytotoxin will have its effect only at much higher concentrations than the wild type. When the targeting element binds GD2, the linked cytotoxin is kept near the cell surface, resulting in a very high effective local concentration, allowing it to bind. Thus, the chimeric activator approach allows the cytotoxic effect to be concentrated at tumor locations, since the therapeutic will be at much lower concentration anywhere the antibody does not bind. I will approach this specificity enhancement through three avenues. First, the original chimeric activator approach, as described above. Second, a modeling and simulation approach which aims to offer insight as to the precise mechanism of increased specificity. Third, an alternate approach to reducing off-target effects where instead of mutating the IFN to weaken it I leave it bound to a weakened form of its receptor. The goal of this research is to develop an effective therapeutic for melanoma and neuroblastoma as well as to pave the the way for further therapeutics following the same approach.
The proposed research involves the development of a novel cancer therapeutic, which would have a direct effect on public health. The goal of the chimeric activator approach to cancer therapeutics is to make the drug design process largely independent of the particular targets to be used which, if proven effective, could allow new therapeutics to be created quickly. This would make it possible both to address known illnesses that have been untreated due to lack of resources and to respond to new developments.
|Robinson-Mosher, Avi; Shinar, Tamar; Silver, Pamela A et al. (2013) Dynamics simulations for engineering macromolecular interactions. Chaos 23:025110


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Good Sports Always Recycle™ is the nation's largest stadium recycling program, sponsored by Eastman, Food City and Waste Connections in conjunction with the University of Tennessee.
GSAR encourages Big Orange fans to reduce their footprint and recycle their waste both inside and outside the stadium by placing items in the designated bins instead of in the trash.
In addition to the on-campus project, GSAR also encourages and honors schools across Tennessee for their efforts in bringing environmental programs into their schools and communities. Each year since 1993, GSAR has recognized schools for their environmental programs by inviting school representatives to a UT home game, where they are recognized on-field, during a pre-game ceremony.
2017 Nomination Form
The GSAR recycling education packet is filled with great resources for teachers to use in the classroom.


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Results 1 to 1 of 1
Loving Family?? Sterling Mother's Heart Locket with Set of 12 Birthstones - Small
List Price: $50.00 Deal Price: $39.99 You Save: $10.01 (20%)This year, make it a holiday to remember! A great gift for mothers, grandmothers, sisters, godmothers and aunties, this touching sterling silver heart-shaped locket features a loving mother-figure and child at the clasp area to serve as a reminder of those held closest to the heart. The filigree detailing on the locket allows the included Swarovski crystal birthstones to shine through. Lovely locket measures 3/4" L x 3/4" W, and can display 4 to 5 of the included 12 birthstones (one for each month). The locket comes ready to wear on a 20" L sterling silver chain. Attractively gift boxed and ready for giving. Our jewelry is proudly American Made in New Mexico, USA with fair labor. We do our part for the environment by crafting our jewelry from recycled genuine .925 sterling silver.Expires Oct 22, 2012
View the Deal Now


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Japanese for kids.
Record details
- Physical Description: 1 online resource (1 video file (approximately 35 min.)) : sound, color
- Publisher: [United States] : Dino Lingo : 2016.
Content descriptions
|Formatted Contents Note:
| Episode 1 Japanese for Kids - Lesson 1.
|Restrictions on Access Note:
| Digital content provided by hoopla.
|Summary, etc.:
| Dino Lingo for Kids learning program teaches the most common 200 words and phrases of a foreign language in 6 lessons.
|Target Audience Note:
| Rated TVG.
|System Details Note:
| Mode of access: World Wide Web.
Search for related items by subject
|Japanese language > Juvenile films.
Japanese language > Vocabulary.
Children > Language.
Japanese language > Study and teaching.


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CARSON >> Barely 10 minutes into the news conference.
The news conference introducing the new coach in a market so new that the team hasn't even moved in yet.
In a venue so new to the NFL that, before Tuesday, the league never had officially been here before.
That's when Anthony Lynn, whose career as a head coach isn't even a week old and who has one whole game on his interim head coaching record, uttered the words that produced shivers – chilly, disturbing, knowing shivers.
"This is not a rebuilding project," the latest Chargers coach said. "This is not a two-year transition. This is long-term, baby."
And I couldn't have been the only person in attendance who immediately thought that this genuinely heartfelt sentiment could one day prove to be Lynn's "7-9 B.S." speech.
From "Hard Knocks" to easy mocks? Why, yes, when you're in a market that suddenly has two floundering franchises after a peaceful two-decade period during which our NFL coach hardly ever was fired.
Sorry, but having just watched the feeble end to Jeff Fisher's time with the Rams, having witnessed a man write and then live his own epitaph, loss after boring loss, it's difficult to not simply lump together all these comings and goings.
It's unfair, naturally, to Lynn, who presents himself as supremely authoritative, prepared beyond question and immensely competent. It's also unfair to the Chargers, who, unlike the Rams, can convert consecutive third downs.
Lynn did say exactly everything he should have said Tuesday, exactly when and exactly how he should have said it.
Well, almost. He did open by expressing the extreme pride he feels in working for the "San Diego" Chargers. Then he corrected himself and said "oops," and everyone laughed.
Lynn also dropped — with several cameras rolling — a rather dirty word into one of his stories and, later, during less formal interviews, showed an impressive ability to employ a variety of synonyms for the human fanny.
But, hey, coaches have been known to swear. Just look at potty-mouthed Mike Tomlin. Besides, Tomlin was talking about the New England Patriots, and who, at least once over the past 15 years, hasn't sworn at them?
It's also ridiculous to link Lynn and Fisher just because they now share a history of NFL coaching in L.A., even if their collective history in that regard isn't long enough to need a two-minute warning.
I mean, Lynn hasn't been on the job long enough to hire a defensive coordinator. Fisher was given 22 years to prove he could be maddeningly mediocre and lose as many games as any coach before him.
Lynn, in fact, claimed he has been so busy attempting to assemble a staff that he's unaware of how the public is reacting to the Chargers' move to Los Angeles.
I'm not sure I believe anyone could be oblivious to the sights and sounds of mob-fueled hatred on display just 120 miles south of here. Amazingly, I saw footage recently of someone even burning Dan Fouts' jersey, the next step presumably being burning Dan Fouts' beard.
But I do buy the notion that Lynn hasn't yet picked up on the initial response of residents in L.A. and Orange County. Just try it for yourself. Shrugging shoulders aren't much of a sight and certainly don't make any sound.
Someone asked Lynn how, specifically, the Chargers could sell themselves as the second team in a market that was perfectly content not buying one team to begin with.
"That's the easiest question I've had so far," he said. "We're going to win. That's the best way to sell."
That's the only way to sell around here, this being a sports market that otherwise is passionate only about turning to something else the instant interest begins to wane.
Lynn's background in working with successful coaches is notable. He referenced Bill Walsh and Mike Shanahan, before talking about his time with Bill Parcells, saying that experience was like going to "Harvard for football."
Lynn also spoke glowingly of his most recent boss, Rex Ryan, though he failed to liken his time with the loosely wound and career-sub-.500 Ryan as going to "Faber College for football."
By the time the interviews were over Tuesday, it was easy to understand why the Chargers hired Lynn. He is that impressive, particularly for a guy who didn't have his first coordinator job until just four months ago.
But then, each move the Chargers make right now has some degree of blind faith attached to it.
"We knew coming up here, it wouldn't be easy," said John Spanos, the team's director of football operations. "L.A. is a market where nothing is given to you. Everything you get in this market, you have to earn it."
The Chargers and their new coach started earning it Tuesday, earning it here by being forced to share column space with Jeff Fisher.
Tough love? Sure, but this is L.A. And if this season taught us anything, it's that the knocks are more than just hard. They're also unforgiving.


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The state exchange is no longer available. If you are a resident of this state, you can purchase health insurance directly from an insurance company (get quotes here) or at www.healthcare.gov
Massachusetts Health Insurance Information, Resources and Access to Online Health Insurance Quotes
As a Massachusetts resident you can choose from health insurance plans offered to individuals and groups by private insurance companies. You may also purchase individual and family coverage from participating private insurers through HealthCare.gov, the federal exchange. If you are self-employed with no employees, you can also use the federal exchange to purchase coverage. You may also be entitled to certain state and federal programs such as Medicaid, CHIP or Medicare.
Massachusetts and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010
Individual Mandate Exemptions
You may be exempt from the individual mandate and tax penalties if:
Massachusetts Small Business Coverage
If you own a small business in Massachusetts (50 or fewer full-time-equivalent employees – FTEs), you can purchase qualifying coverage for your employees through SHOP (Small Business Health Option Program) at the federal exchange, or through a private broker or insurance agent. However, you may qualify for tax credits worth up to 50% of your premium costs if you use the federal exchange. Beginning in 2016, SHOP will be open to employers with up to 100 FTEs. Under the Employer Shared Responsibility provision of ACA, beginning in 2015, all employers with 50 or more FTEs must offer employees at least one plan that is ACA-compliant or face fines of $2,000 per employee.
ACA Standardized Benefits
Plans offered by private insurers may offer additional benefits and individual states may require additional benefits, but all qualifying plans must offer these 10 standardized essential benefits:
Massachusetts Additional Mandated Benefits
Massachusetts currently mandates that the following benefits, which exceed ACA requirements, must be provided or offered by private providers authorized to sell health insurance within the state:
Massachusetts Available Standardized Plans
To help you more easily compare costs and benefits, ACA designates that all qualifying plans be one of four metals: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Each is based on the average amount of healthcare costs the plan will cover shown as a percentage of what is covered by your insurance company and what is paid for by you. All insurers participating in the federal or a state healthcare exchange must offer , at minimum, Silver and Gold plans. All metal plans have a shared maximum out-of-pocket amount that you can be charged in any calendar year.
In addition, if you are under 30 or meet the criteria for a hardship exemption, you can purchase a catastrophic plan that is compliant with ACA requirements.
Carriers may also offer non-standardized products to consumers.
Premiums charged for any of the qualifying metal plans may be based on:
Guaranteed Issue
Under ACA, no one can be denied coverage or charged significantly higher premiums because of past health history (pre-existing conditions) or gender. There can be no look-back or waiting periods imposed. Policies are effective on issue. All coverage is renewable, if you choose to renew it. Plans can only be canceled for non-payment of premiums or fraud. The guaranteed issue provision applies to all non-grandfathered plans.
ACA Financial Assistance
You may qualify for financial assistance in the form of tax credits to help with monthly premiums and subsidies to help with out-of-pocket costs.
Provider Options
The following types of health insurance plans are available in Massachusetts for individuals and families. They may be purchased through private providers or providers participating in Massachusetts through the federal exchange.
Massachusetts Healthcare Resources
Low- and no-cost healthcare for Massachusetts residents include:
Massachusetts Division of Insurancehttp://www.mass.gov/doi617-521-77941000 Washington Street, Suite 810, Boston, MA 02118-6200P.O. Box 517, Frankfort, Massachusetts 40602-0517
Insurance Information Institutehttp://www.iii.org212-346-5000110 William Street, New York, NY 10038
Federal Healthcare Exchangehttps://www.healthcare.gov1-800-318-2596Find local in person enrollment assistance
Healthcare Insurance for Massachusetts Small Businesseshttps://betterhealthconnector.com/get-started/small-businesses877-623-6765
Fast Facts About ObamaCarehttp://obamacarefacts.com


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BRAND: Surya
COLLECTION: Angelo Surmelis - Hudson Park
COLOR: Golden Ochre, Winter White
MADE IN: China
CONSTRUCTION: Hand-Tufted
MATERIAL: 100% Polyester
THICKNESS: 3⁄8" (approx.)
WARRANTY: 1 year - manufacturer
Flawlessly embodying each of the elements of chic, elegant sophistication, the radiant rugs found within the Hudson Park collection by Angelo Surmelis for Surya will envelope your space in a vibrant charm that is truly incomparable. Hand Tufted in 100% polyester, with a series of upbeat colors adorning the canvas' of each of these perfect pieces, each divine design is sure to pop from room to room within any home decor....
Rugs Direct recommends you avoid using your vacuum's beater bar on any area rug. For complete information on area rug care and cleaning, please click here.
Five stars.


text:
Sam Houston State didn't have to look far to find a replacement for track coach Curtis Collier.
David Self, who has been an assistant coach at the school since 2004, was promoted to the head job on Friday.
"We are excited about him being our coach," Sam Houston athletic director Bobby Williams said. "We did go though a national search and in the end felt our head coach was on our current staff which is a great feeling to know."
Self was named the Southland Conference indoor coach of the year in 2008, becoming the first assistant coach to earn the honor. He has coached the women's program to a pair of indoor titles and the 2008 outdoor title.
As assistant coach, Self spent the past five years working with sprinters and hurdlers while also serving as recruiting coordinator.
"Knowing I am the final decision on things will be different," Self said. "We are not going to make a lot of changes. There are a few things I want to do, but we have been very successful over the last few years, so I don't want to start making mass changes. I am looking forward to finalizing my staff and get going with the process."
Collier, who had been the head track and field/cross country coach the past six years, announced in April he was stepping down to focus on his family. Collier will remain at Sam Houston as compliance coordinator for the athletic department.
Under Collier, the Bearkats won seven SLC team championships. He was named SLC coach of the year six times.


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The so-called "nano" homes, averaging not much more than 20 square meters (215 square feet), are becoming the future of Hong Kong's young couples.
In other major financial centers,such as New York or London, more and more young professionals choose to rent tiny apartments near to where they work and entertain rather than buying houses in the suburbs, which their fathers did when they were the same age.
But in Hong Kong, "nano" homes are often the only choice for young people because they simply cannot afford to buy or rent "regular" homes anywhere, not only in the city but also in the satellite towns. Even subsidized apartments in government-built housing estates now sell at prices that have caught up with the market average.
In London, for instance, the average monthly rental for a studio flat with floor space of under 24 square meters in the city is the equivalent of about HK$12,000. In comparison, a studio apartment in a relatively new building with modern amenities in Wan Chai district commands rent of well above HK$30,000 a month.
Obviously the privilege of living near a workplace in prime business and commercial districts is affordable only to the highlypaid professionals in finance and information technology. For the rest of the salary earners with young families, the only alternative is to look further afield for affordable housing.
The reality, harsh as it may seem, is unavoidable for a combination of reasons. The complexity of the market, dominated by the property oligarchy, has consistently frustrated government efforts to solve the housing problem arising from escalating prices.
As a result, sub-divided flats reminiscent of the squalid quarters that provided the backdrops in many 1950s Cantonese movies are making a comeback. At that time, Hong Kong was nothing more than a struggling trading outpost in the region. Now, it is ranked among the world's leading developed economies.
The people of this city certainly deserve better.


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4105 Terra Dr is a single family residence in Indianapolis, IN 46237. Built in 1960, this property is located on 20,430 sqft lot and features 3 bedrooms and 1,648 sqft of living space. The estimated market value for this property is $157,000.
The surrounding community of Indianapolis, IN 46237 has a population of 40,654 residents and 16,660 housing units. Many of the homes in this area were built in 1960 or earlier. The nearby schools are average and include Clinton Young Elementary School, Southport 6th Grade Academy and Southport Middle School. 4105 Terra Dr is located in a neighborhood where the median household income is $57,859.


text:
On Sunday, April 24, 2005, 6:27:33 PM, Bjoern wrote: BH> Dear Scalable Vector Graphics Working Group, BH> http://www.w3.org/TR/2005/WD-SVGMobile12-20050413/struct.html requires BH> that mediaCharacterEncoding and mediaContentEncodings are specified if BH> mediaSize is specified aswell. This does not seem to make much sense if BH> the prefetch element uses same-document references as the implementation BH> would already know character encoding and content encodings (if any). BH> Please change the draft such that these are not required in this case. We agree and have made the change you suggest. Please let us know within two weeks if this does not satisfy your comment. -- Chris Lilley mailto:email@example.com Chair, W3C SVG Working Group W3C Graphics Activity Lead Co-Chair, W3C Hypertext CGReceived on Wednesday, 2 November 2005 11:00:21 UTC
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.1 : Wednesday, 8 March 2017 09:47:05 UTC


text:
I love leaving feedback. Anywhere. Even sitting at a diner, I'll take the comment card from the little stand on the table and search for a pen in my bag to fill it out with while finishing my coffee. I love deciding on whether to circle a 4 or a 5. I sometimes feel a twinge of guilt circling a 1, even if I think that's really the right answer. But, when I circle a 5 or write something really nice about an employee of theirs — I feel happy and hope those words get to them. And maybe they'll even get a raise or a bonus because of it, who knows?
When I moved, I hired Mabey's Moving & Storage because I had exhausted all family members when it came to their moving help. After moving so many times in the past few years, I decided it was time to look elsewhere. Two movers showed up and were efficient and entertaining. They also moved everything without a single scratch. I ran to Dunkin' Donuts and got them coffee and bagels and promised to send an email to Mabey's, commending them. And I did.
So, while I love those little cards on restaurant tables, I also love online surveys.
When I stayed at the Saratoga Hilton for the bachelor auction, I ran into some reservation issues. I used their website to make a reservation for the night of the 12th. When I booked the room that Friday afternoon, I selected my dates — 3/12, checking out 3/13, double-checking the dates as I always do, especially when it involves me giving up a credit card number. I hit "Go" and was brought to another screen to select any preferences I may have. I hit continue and proceeded with the reservation through at least two more screens, finally receiving my email confirmation.
(SN: Get settled, grab a beverage — this is kinda long)
The next morning on my way to my nail appointment, I called the hotel and asked what time I could check in that day. I gave the woman in reservations my name and she told me my reservation couldn't be found. I told her I had a confirmation number. She asked me what it was…sigh. I hung up with her, accessed my email via my BlackBerry, called back and spoke with a different person. After some back-and-forth, it was discovered my reservation was made for 3/11, checking out on 3/12. I was confused. I had double-checked the dates and made sure everything was correct. I guessed it must've happened during the reservation process — and the three or four screen changes throughout the site. I quickly made a new reservation on the phone and wanted to know if my credit card would be charged for the reservation I "made" for 3/11, I was transferred to their corporate office…where I met the nastiest lady. Ever.
After explaining my situation for the third time, Corporate Cranky told me my credit card would "indeed be charged, as a cancellation no-show." Frustrated and annoyed, I told her the term 'cancellation no-show' was redundant and made zero sense. Either it's a cancellation or a no-show. Not both. I fought the urge to use a doctor's appointment as an example when her rude, robotic response was "The hotel reserves the right to bill you for a cancellation no-show" but instead I insisted she transferred me back to the Saratoga Hilton. She huffed and puffed, but obliged.
Getting ready to explain my story for a third time, I was now late to my appointment and feeling hot. I shut the parked car off and opened a window. Corporate Cranky had transferred me to the hotel's main line like the peach she is — so I pressed '0' immediately, not caring at this point who I talk to. David at the front desk answered. I explained my whole story and felt the emotion from my nerves and frustration coming through more than I hoped…my voice began to shake and I even began explaining I was going to be in Saratoga for a charity event. I knew I sounded a little crazy, but David replied with, "I reversed the no-show charge. You'll just be paying for tonight's reservation." Marveling at how professional, calm and nice David was to me made me feel stupid for being so spastic. But relieved, nonetheless.
And slightly victorious since David didn't say 'cancellation no-show'.
As per usual with any hotel stay, the Saratoga Hilton sent a satisfaction survey to my email. I promptly filled it out, detailing everything from not being warned of a 650 kid-fest and my interactions — both bad and good – with their staff.
At the end of the survery, they asked how many people I would be recommending (positively or negatively) the Saratoga Hilton to, including those I already had. I thought of including blog readers, Twitter followers and Facebook friends and the general internet in the number. I mean, hellooo…social media?!
I ran out of space for my 0's.


text:
Welcome back to the nineties,
my restless zombies, please
stop saying your same old apologies.
Please trade in the oldies for the goodies,
new memories. Come as you are, my
sweet American beauties: ladies, kiddies,
rookies, yankees and rednecks. Please
don't cut your wrist, true love does exist
in the sound of music. It smells like a teenage
spirit up in here. Nirvana is rising up once again,
Kurt cobain speaks to the coldest of hearts, a tin man.
Sin isn't cool so don't be a fool by not going to school,
church. Welcome back to the nineties, Tupac is back and Biggie
getting giggy with it once again giving a voice to black power.
Britney Spears stands as tall as tower, never once to be made
lower than the angels. Britney Spears doesn't shed alot of tears
for the golden years are still yet to come for her. N'Sync and the backstreet
boys stand on the world stage turning another page in the story of my life.
I was born in nineteen ninety and yet my age doesn't stop me from dreaming.
I am so young, but I still know the difference between right and wrong. I
am so young, but I still know the difference of what it means to be weak
and strong. I am so young, but I still know the difference between
a bad song and a good song. Long live, Evanescence and Sarah Mclachlan,
their songs help me to survive in this chaotic world of mine.


text:
|The Martian Cat
|The Moogh
|The Oil Price
|Heart of Bone
|All Guy Lane novels are available for free as .pdf files - please consider writing a review
|Fiction Novels
|Guy's Blog
|Book Reviews
|Life Experiences
Guy Lane: sustainability story-teller
Guy Lane's fiction novels show him to be a cerebral world-watcher who tells a
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Guy Lane's novels showcase the ideas of a practitioner and thought-leader in sustainability. He is a strategist, advisor, commentator and entrepreneur.
The novels cover a wide variety of contemporary sustainability themes and the reader is invited to participate through reviews, comments and suggestions.
Keep in touch with the latest news via the occasional newsletter and interact via his facebook page.
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The newsletter is issued ahead of each Full Moon and covers Guy Lane Fiction Writer, Eearth Culture, The Long Future Foundation, Mars Opposition, clean technology, sustainability, spirituality, geo-politics, and sometimes even Pugs.
|The Martian Cat
The Martian Cat is a grim, adult satire that seeks to discredit the crazy idea of sending humans to live on Mars. In the story, space engineer Charlie Darling is the only one of 120 passengers on the Inter-Planet shuttle to arrive at the Mars Resort alive. He finds the resort destroyed, and all but one of the Mars colonists dead. The only survivor is a deranged female medic called Maddy whose driving quest is to prove that the ailment called Martian Madness is cause by fungus growing in the human brain. Driven to despair by this grim situation, Charlie finds solace in the Martian Cat, an emaciated feline who just wants to avoid becoming someone's meal. Charlie and the Martian Cat have little chance of survival, on their own. Will their odds improve if they stick together?
|Read The Martian Cat
|All ebook formats
|ebooks .mobi & epub
In the suburbs, both rich and poor, in this country and overseas, lives a people who see the world differently. Eearth People are guided by a belief in sustainability and happiness, and by those who take the lead. One such leader has only months to live, and he is on a mission to leave behind as much sustainability and happiness as he can, before he goes. Eearth is not just a tense drama that explores the conflicting worldviews that stress today's society: fossils versus photons, and Baby Boomers versus Millennials. Eearth is also your pathway to a unique personal enlightenment, to Eearth Belief, and your contribution to the Long Culture.
Listen to Guy Lane introduce Eearth, the novel. and read Eearth, today.
|A marine science fiction adventure story that sets the oil industry against a popular public aquarium.
Lucy Callahan (38) is known as the Sealioness of Aquaria Bay due to her reputation for risk-taking, showmanship and thinking big. She's the founder of Aquaria, the world's most popular public aquarium and marine science precinct. One day, an oil rig ominously parks offshore. Callahan learns that Expedient Energy plans to drill for petroleum in the Aquaria marine park. The threat crystallises when the oil firm take over the Aquaria board, and the extent of their plan becomes known. Callahan dives into battle, prepared to risk everything – even her own safety - to protect her life's work. However, when her partner, Sam, starts running interference, Callahan realises that winning the battle against the oil firm may come at a personal cost. How will the Sealioness of Aquaria Bay respond to this dilemma? Will she give in to Sam's wishes, or fight to the bitter end, and deal with the consequences.
Read Aquaria
|all ebook formats
|.mobi & epub
|Heart of Bone
Rebecca is a personal assistant to billionaire poison merchant, Gilly Clay, and she's trapped in a ruinous employment contract. Her life flashes past through a mane of ginger hair and stress. Rebecca keeps her sanity through a secret love affair with psychologist and author, Tom Snowdon. Snowdon's new book - Sustainability and the Superclass - gets inside the heads of the powerful men who run the world so badly. One day, Clay adopts an 8-year-old boy, Montgomery Earle, and grooms him as the heir to both the business empire and his defective moral compass. Seeing this, all of Rebecca's certainties slip away and she's forced to make a choice. Will she keep silent and watch the young boy being corrupted, or risk everything by speaking out?
Read Heart of Bone
|all ebook formats
|.mobi & epub
Boer War veteran Corben Plath has nothing to lose when his estranged half-brother (the C.E.O. of the Queensland Coal Board) offers him blood money and a ticket on the luxury cruise liner S.S. Yongala. Aboard Yongala, Prof. Frederick Portland is traveling to Townsville with his young niece, Felicity, and his renewable energy invention, the 'Smoke Engine'. Fearing that the Smoke Engine will ruin them, the Coal Board task Plath with murdering Portland and destroying his machine. Onboard the ship, Plath strikes an innocent friendship with Felicity, not realizing that she is the niece of the man he has been sent to kill. As Yongala steams into heavy weather, Plath learns that there are armed men aboard looking for him. Tired of fighting, he comes to see that his own salvation depends on Felicity surviving the storm.
Read Yongala
|all ebook formats
|.mobi & epub
|The Moogh
When people see the Moogh, they run towards it screaming with joy, believing it to be a messenger of peace and sustainability. Not Maggie Tarp. She keeps her head and now she's the Moogh Reporter for the Fractious News Network. She's embedded with moogh.org, the shadowy organisation that won the UN contract to manage Moogh affairs. Unfortunately, for Maggie, her bosses don't like the stories that she writes about spirituality and Moogh philosophy - they just don't sell. So they pair her up with the hot-shot journalist, Perrin Speer. Sparks fly, and Maggie rejects everything that Perrin tries to teach her. Perrin falls foul of moogh.org when he reveals that they are killing people to hide a deadly secret. As the Moogh Zone descends into chaos, Maggie finds that the Moogh also keeps a secret. But does she have what it takes to get the story?
Read The Moogh
|all ebook formats
|.mobi & epub
Anton Vorlov runs the world's biggest company, Between Destiny, from an island off the coast of Dubai. Officially, he's a billionaire from Ukraine, but he's actually a trillionaire spaceman - and his real name is Zem. He never sleeps, and his vast organisation spends $100 billion a week financing the restructure of the global economy to make it sustainable. Zem is trained to handle complicated international negotiations and the inevitable interference of the oil industry. But he never got taught about Earth women. So, when his personal assistant - a feisty red-head called Megan - decides that she wants his attention, Zem gets right out of his depth. Will Zem complete his mission, or will the Earth people interfere and end up with a destiny of their own making?
Read Intervene
|all ebook formats
|.mobi & epub
|The Oil Price
Danny Lexion is a property developer and he easily meets his two life goals: he looks good and makes lots of money. One night, out on the town, he falls for an unlikely match, Bren Hannan. They call her the Carbon Cop. Bren's mission is to run interference on a ruthless oil company, Peking Petroleum. To do this, she she needs to get to a UN Conference in Dubai. Danny offers to fly her there, thinking that it might lead to some romance in an exotic city. In Dubai, Danny learns that Bren's story doesn't check out. Instead, he finds himself in the cross-hairs of Storm Front, a mercenary security firm protecting Peking Petroleum's interests. As the bullets fly through the streets of Dubai, Danny learns that he is not as indispensable to Bren's plan as he first thought.
Read The Oil Price
|all ebook formats
|.mobi & epub
|Works in Progress
|Canfield Ocean
|Young adult fiction set on the Canfield Ocean, six hundred years in the future.
Kitty lives in a bubble on a dead ocean with her mother and her hyperactive brother, Charlie. When Uncle Lou, the fixer from the ruling Tweedle Family, takes Charlie away, Kitty sets out to rescue him. In so doing, she unwittingly helps to kick start the brooding revolution against the tyrannic rule of the Tweedle Family.
Canfiled Ocean is coming soon.
|The Statue of Liberty
|Set in New York, a satirical story about a misguided social activist (Chaliban) and one of his naive followers (Vince Paltry).
Stock broker, Vinnie Paltry lacks stature but he's not short of pluck. When Wall Street crashes and he loses his job, he teams up with Chaliban, the hot-headed social-activist who's mission is to save America from itself. With Chaliban as his guide, he makes some quick cash by stealing from a rich bank executive. Freed from having to work, Vinnie ventures further into Chaliban's utopian 'Liberty Plan for America'. He soon finds himself mixed up in a crazy deal involving the Statue of Liberty - a deal for which he doesn't have an exit strategy. Will he finally learn to stop being so paltry,or will he end up as one of the victims on the evening news?
The Statue of Liberty is coming soon.
|On War
|A war story inspired by the Arab Spring.
Yusef just wants to run his business and hang out with his mates. He has no interest in the war that rumbles in the neighbouring city. But war is interested in Yusef, and when it reaches towards him, his young sister falls victim to artillery fre. Enraged, Yusef dives into the battle, and is promply blasted back again. Uncle Titan, a war veteran, visits him in hospital and insists that if Yusef is to go back to the front lines, that he should have a tutor and a very narrow and well defined mission. Yusef and Titan go to war with a singular goal, to kill the man who fired the shell. Finding one soldier on the front line proves to be a challenge, and the outcome a great surprise.
On War is coming soon.
|Marshall Cove Scuttles a Clownship
|Adult marine fantasy featuring tuna boats and mermaids.
When Marshall Cove joins the tuna fishing boat Gutter, he finds himself aboard the worst kind of boat there is: a Clownship. He watches the behaviour of the drug-addled crew degenerate into flagrant marine pollution and sadistic acts against the bycatch. Marshall sets murder them all in their sleep, but the Mermaids intervene. They ask him to bring the crew to trial, for they have their own form of marine justice to dish out. To do this, Marshall must take on the dangerous and drugged-up crew on a boat far from land. Can he prevail, or will he end up like the poor barracuda.
Marshall Cove Scuttles a Clownship is coming soon.
|A science fiction story about a beautiful visitor who cares about nature.
ooQoo arrives in a spaceship that bumps alongside the International Space Station. ooQoo forms a bond with Casey, one of the astronauts, communicating with her telepathcially. The ISS crew fall asleep and when they wake, ooQoo has found her way inside the space station. The ISS crew befriend ooQoo and eventually bring her Earth. ooQoo spends months adapting to Earth's gravity and finally escapes and sets up in a zoo. ooQoo communes with the animals, imposes on them not to harm humans, nor to breed has animals released. The police swoop in and massacre all the escaped animals. ooQoo falls into depression and calls upon Casy. ooQoo kisses Casey and tells her to pass the kiss to everyone who believes that nature and humans are equal. She does this. When all the kisses have been passed, ooQoo has her ship depart the space station. As the ship enters Earth's atmosphere, it burns up and releases spores that kill everyone apart from those who shared the kiss. ooQoo wanders into the forest accompanied by 18 Bengal Tigers, her mission complete.
ooQoo is coming soon.
About 'Eearth' the novel
Eearth is a fictionalised introduction to Eearth Culture: an integrated system of belief, knowledge and practice devoted to environmental sustainability and human contentment.
Despite how it may sometimes seem, we humans are not a virus that plagues the Earth, one that will inevitably be wiped-out by the planet's immune system.
Instead, we are simply a species that is not doing its job. And how could we be doing our jobs? We have never received clear instructions about our duties?
Few people realise that we humans have a simple role on this planet: to nurture and protect the natural living systems, and to foster contentment among our fellow humans.
That's why we are here. It really is that simple.
So how do we get millions of people onboard that mission?
Eearth novel introduces the concept of ecophiny – an ecological epiphany. An ecophiny is a emotional, intellectual or spiritual realisation that we humans are a part of nature, and that we must change our ways if we want to live in balance with her. Ecophiny calls us into action. Action that is unique to each individual.
Personally, my ecophiny has been a long, drawn out process that continues to this very day. I have been having ecophinies since my early twenties. My first, I remember clearly; I stood on the bow of an oil exploration ship off the coast of Taiwan, watching thousands of plastic bags drift past. Earlier that day, I had been reading in Newsweek that Taiwan was one of the Asian Tiger economies – and that its 'development' pathway was the economic blueprint for the entire developing world.
I had many ecophines working in the offshore oil industry, as you might imagine. And there have been many more since, including a profound insight that I had during a presentation in Townsville at around 7.15 pm on 2 November, 2000. That was the day that I learned the word 'sustainability'.
This book is about sustainability, and it touches on some of the ideas that can help to bring it about. It is not a textbook that seeks to cover every aspect of the field. Instead, it's an invented snapshot in time and space that seeks to illustrate key themes. It's a story. A drama. An adventure of personal growth.
Eearth, the novel is a fictionalised introduction to Eearth Culture, an integrated system of belief, knowledge and practice that is devoted to environmental sustainability and human contentment, world-wide. Eearth Belief takes the template of Western Society, shakes off the bits that don't make sense, or hold us back; and replaces them with a sustainable version. The prime example of this is Eearth New Year, as you will read, later on.
The global spread of Eearth Culture – or something like it – may be the only thing that stands between the humans and the Short Future that you can sense everytime you turn on the world news, or listen to the analysts talk about abrupt climate change.
I hope that you enjoy Eearth, the novel. Maybe you'll have an ecophiny.
Guy Lane
If this lunk can have an ecophiny, there's hope for us all.
Guy Lane coiling streamer cables on the deck of oil exploration ship Karen Bravo, Taiwan, 1991.
Join Guy Lane's facebook group: Ecophiny Today!


text:
Learn more
UNDP Thematic Trust Funds - 2016 Annual Report
Report highlights approaches and results achieved in addressing development challenges at local, national, regional and global levels under the UNDP Thematic Trust Funds.
A human rights-based response to the Rohingya crisis
I joined the Bangladesh Human Rights Commission in a fact-finding visit, and arriving in the refugee camps, the scale of the crisis is immediately apparent.
Fighting impunity for human rights abuses
Ensuring accountability for violations in the Central African Republic through the Special Criminal Court
Seven reasons why rule of law matters for peace
UNDP has been working to build peace in over 40 crisis-affected countries through our Global Programme for Strengthening the Rule of Law and Human Rights.
Magdy Martínez-Solimán: Statement at the Rule of Law Annual Meeting: Strengthening the Rule of Law for Sustaining Peace and Fostering Development
United Nations, New York
Rule of Law- A key pillar in the UN's efforts to prevent conflict and sustain peace
The high level plenary of the UNDP Annual Rule of Law Meeting outlined priorities for how best to support the rule of law and human rights within the Sustaining Peace agenda, and reflected on…
Rule of Law Annual Report 2016
This Annual Report provides an overview of the first year of implementation of Phase III of the Global Programme for Strengthening the Rule of Law and Human Rights for Sustaining Peace and Fostering…


text:
Italy travel hints and tips
Hints and tips
Below are a few hints and tips to ensure you have a hassle-free vacation in Italy:
· Stay alert while in the cities as theft, bag snatching and breaking into cars is common. Theft is also common on trains – day and night, so keep your eyes peeled. Try to avoid carrying passports, credit cards, travel tickets and cash together in handbags or pockets. Only carry with you what you need for the day and make use of safety deposit facilities in hotels.
· If you're arriving for the ski season then do your homework on weather and avalanche conditions before you travel. It also pays to check the local skiing laws and regulations.
· There is a general threat from terrorism and random attacks could take place in areas frequented by tourists. However don't let this put you off – check your local government tourism advisory board for updated information.
*The small print
We've tried to make this destination guide as accurate as possible but please double check the essentials like visas, health and safety, airport information etc with the relevant authorities before you travel. STA Travel takes no responsibility for loss, injury or inconvenience caused as a result of this guide. All prices listed are in the currency of the destination, unless otherwise stated.


text: Hi, where can I find a list and description of all valid fields that can be used in debian/bug-control or debian/foobar.bug-control ? I know only three of them: Submit-As: Report-With: Package-Status: What I understand is that for 'package-status', the status of the listed packages (and their dependencies/recommendations/suggestions) are included in the body of the report; and so, there is no need to add something as 'dpkg-query -l foobar' in debian/bug-script if foobar is listed in the 'Package-Status:' field. But I've found nothing in Debian Policy or dh_bugfiles(1) or reportbug(1) manpages to know all valid fields and how they are handled. Thanks, quidame


text: Hillyah was a female harvest mouse, wife to Oreal and mother of twins, Irgle and Ralg. Her family moved into the Redwall Abbey Gatehouse to serve as Gatekeepers half a season after the death of Old Gruggle. She assisted Brinty, Girry, Tribsy, Old Quelt and Sister Snowdrop on their riddle quest regarding Green Isle and the High Rhulain when she figured out that T.O.A.L. stood for a book titled Tales of Ancient Life (a book written by Sister Geminya under the name Minegay). She recalled that she had seen it holding up one corner of her bed. Later, Hillyah and Oreal had to defend their twins from a savage gannet that had been wounded and residing in the Abbey attic.


text:
October 2014
Here is a Q&A with Christine on how the scholarship has helped her grow in her career.
Hometown: Lynnfield, MA
College, major and year of graduation: Wellesley College Political Science Major Economics Minor 1995, Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism 1999
Year I won the scholarship: 1998 for my year at Columbia Graduate School of Journalism
How did you hear about NYWICI? Through Columbia's J-School
My favorite Matrix Memory: NYWICI held an amazing reception for its awards winners in Spring 1998 that welcomed me to this group of impressive women.
What was your dream job growing up? I wanted to be an investigative journalist.
What is your current occupation? Staff reporter at The New York Times.
What was your first entry-level job in your field and how did you get it? The first job I tried to get after I received my NYWICI scholarship was at The Wall Street Journal. I attended a spring conference hosted by NYWICI and spoke with The Journal's recruiter. That meeting helped me land a spot as a finalist for a summer internship in the Atlanta bureau. But it sounded like I was unlikely to land the job and The Journal was going to pick a local candidate. So I went to a local student travel agency, found the cheapest flight I could to Atlanta, called the editor and told him I would be in town and asked to meet him. I didn't leave his office until he gave me the internship.
Describe an average day of work. Things move pretty quickly at the Times. The days can start at dawn depending on when news breaks and stretch until after 10 p.m.when pages are shipped, stories are posted online and I tweet updates about news.
What is the best part of your job? Since I started covering the media beat, I also have been able to meet more amazing and inspiring women than I have when covering other fields.
How have mentors helped you? They see things about me that I don't always see in myself.
Who are your role models? Several of my editors at The Times who have successfully balanced having a family and a stimulating career. I had a baby boy in January.
If you weren't in communications, what would you be doing instead? I loved reporting on real estate. So I often wondered if I would enjoy doing something involving that.
The best advice someone ever gave me was: Make your own luck.
Is there a quote or a mantra you live by? I treat sources knowing that if I were to see them walking down the street the next day, that I could still look them in the eye, shake their hand and speak with them even after reporting some difficult news about them.
What is one thing you wish you knew before you started your career? I would be able to achieve all of my wildest dreams. It would just take time and hard work.
What advice do you have for current NYWICI scholars and young women interested in pursuing a career in print journalism? Don't be shy about reaching out to the amazing network of women. Be open to where media takes you because print journalism is changing so quickly.
— Taylor Trudon


text: I have done a few Google searches and found some info but I wanted to come here and see if anyone else could help out. My wife and I are going to Mexico in June. We have been in touch with a woman who runs a charity teaching kids English and we were trying to help out and asked for a list of items that they need. Amongst other things on the list is a digital camera. So I think for under $150 we should be able to find something that is going to be of use to the charity. Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Oh and we are from Australia so we are going to have to order it from Adorama so that it works with the power in Mexico so the camera needs to be available there. Thanks in advance.


text:
POLICE are set to talk to residents about issues involving the large group of travellers on Southwick Green.
A representative from Sussex Police will be at Southwick Green tomorrow at 2pm to provide an update on the situation and inform the public of steps the police are taking to resolve the issues.
Adur Council made the announcement this afternoon, adding: "In the event of the travellers vacating the site before this time, the briefing will be cancelled.
"In the event of a cancellation, the public update will be updated to reflect the cancellation."
An order to remove the first six caravans that arrived on Southwick Green was made this afternoon at Brighton Magistrates Court.
That order does not apply to the larger group, which arrived in the early hours of Wednesday.
A Notice of Direction was served on that group yesterday afternoon.


text:
I am the tour operator of Mandurah Wine Tours and Charters and we can take you anywhere.
timmit hasn't logged any travels yet.
I am a tour operator in Mandurah which is one hour from Perth. I own Mandurah Wine Tours and Charters. If I don't what is around Mandurah I will be able to find out
timmit hasn't been active in the wiki travel guide yet. Have you?


text:
Supported by
China's Fear of Dalai Lama
To the Editor:
Re "Norway's Leaders Snub Dalai Lama in Deference to China" (news article, May 8):
Although I cannot condone Norway's decision to snub the Dalai Lama, I can understand why: The country fears jeopardizing billions of dollars of commerce.
What I do not understand is what China has to fear in a frail 78-year-old Buddhist theologian.
It just goes to show that hard power (military and economic) is sometimes no match for soft power (cultural and moral). And it also goes to show just how far China is from its goal of displacing the United States as the world's most powerful nation — in the context of both soft and hard power.
New York, May 8, 2014


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« The "Hispanic" mirage | Main | Ammo has actually been a better investment than gold »
March 30, 2012
The "Hispanic" mirageThere are Peruvians of Japanese ancestry (and one of them became president of Peru). There are Chinese Cubans.
There are English Puerto Ricans (my motherâs high school teacherâs family, for instance) â and Puerto Rico has a significantillegal alien problem from people from adjacent islands. There are German Venezuelans. There are Irish Argentinians. The Africans that were brought to Latin America from the slave trade are not all from the same areas of Africa and did not follow the same traditions. Even among the native peoples, the Peruvian Quechua are not the Chilean Mapuche who are not the Mayans of Apocalypto. --Revisiting the "Hispanic" mirage | Fausta's Blog
Posted by gerardvanderleun at March 30, 2012 2:31 PM. This is an entry on the sideblog of American Digest: Check it out.


text:
HIGH POINT, N.C. — Look for VIP furniture in your favorite furniture store next fall.
VIP-very important pieces, not matched set furniture-was the big news at the nine-day April International Home Furnishings Market that ended here Friday.
HIGH POINT, N.C. — Look for VIP furniture in your favorite furniture store next fall.
VIP-very important pieces, not matched set furniture-was the big news at the nine-day April International Home Furnishings Market that ended here Friday.
To combat a growing reluctance by many U.S. consumers to buy an entire room of look-alike furniture as did their parents, many manufacturers at this sprawling conclave concentrated on giving buyers unique and interesting individual furniture items that can be bought one at a time to be mixed with furnishings already in a home.
``It`s not a suite of designs,`` observed designer Vladimir Kagan as he surveyed his new introductions at the Directional showroom. ``It`s individual creativity,`` explained Kagan, husband of needlework authority Erica Wilson.
Kagan`s introductions included three new dining chairs, each a different style, but all with a black lacquer frame and a brilliantly colored upholstered seat; a sophisticated seafoam green Ultrasuede swivel chair with a curving swirl of a back; and a stunning ribbon mahogany dining table. The new designs looked nothing alike, yet all might coexist quite nicely in the same home.
This is the kind of furniture consumers have come to expect from high- priced designers, and now more widely distributed lines are trying to offer unique items and mixes with some of the same allure.
Pulaski Furniture, once known for matched-set wood bedroom and dining room furnishings of the kind found in an Ozzie and Harriet-style home, is now a leader in selling unrelated pieces.
Scoring a hit one year ago with a collection called Separates, which is now in retail furniture stores, Pulaski is continuing the attention on individual items with Accentrics, a title that, like the furnishings, fuses accent and eccentric.
The assortment includes an overwrought Victorian dressing table dripping fabric and lace, huge ceramic urns with glass tops for coffee tables and an oversized, hand-carved rosewood Oriental emperor chair.
``Our forte,`` says Randy Chrisley, national sales manager, ``is items.``
At Lane Furniture, a line shopped by such Chicago merchants as Marshall Field`s, Homemakers and Spiegel, the new introducations were a 55-piece eclectic montatge inspired by furnishings spanning the last half of the 19th Century.
Dubbed Hunt Country, some of the pieces are wicker, some wood, some metal. Different style details echo the Far East, the Empire period, the Victorian era and even a touch of Arts and Crafts.
``This is the first time we`ve come out with so many elements in one collection,`` says Doug Lane, national sales manager and grandson of the company founder.
The reason for this added emphasis on great individual pieces with lots of style appeal is the growing recognition that many U.S. consumers, whether because of budget constraints or by choice, are buying furniture one piece at a time. Consequently, retailers shopping here were looking for very important pieces or furniture with another kind of VIP-very important price
(usually lower).
``The economics of our time is that it is better to change a pillow than a sofa,`` observed designer Jay Spectre, who has a collection made by Century Furniture. And while decrying the overused term ``eclectic`` (``we`re desperately in search of a new word``), Spectre nevertheless contends that it sums up the mood of the times.
The result is a new effort by producers that should be good news to consumers. This market was rife with beautiful new products from manufacturers who know they have to offer sharp-looking goods to capture the eyes of first of the retailers shopping here and, ultimately, of the consumer.
Some of the most stunning new pieces were from Union-National, a Jamestown, N.Y., manufacturer that has linked up with the hard-charging New York architectural firm of Shelton, Mindel & Associates.
Created as custom-designed furniture pieces for several of the firm`s architectural projects, the 15 pieces shown here were of cherry, mahogany and oak. Heartbreakingly beautiful, they also come with heartbreakingly high prices.
Although the pieces look comforting familar, they are, in fact, all new designs and are not reproductions of a bygone era. For small-scale spaces, there is a leather-topped occasional table with a lyre motif for about $1,000 or a mahogany and satinwood column cabinet. Only 24 inches wide, the chest of drawers and shelving is 6 1/2 feet tall.
Shelton, Mindel received some competition from another impressive new introduction from another architect, designer Michael Graves. The man who made designer tea kettles a hot-selling item collaborated with Arkitektura, a young manufacturer, to offer retailers variations of furniture designed by Graves for a project in Japan and for the new Swan Hotel at Walt Disney World in Orlando.
Vying with the two newcomers for most impressive new introduction was furniture veteran Milo Baughman, designing for Thayer Coggin.


text:
Please join us in Washington DC at The Italian Embassy to see the Fall 2013 collection by Stevie Mac, celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Lamborghini, and support Fashion For The Cure.
Washington DC 7-7-7 Fashion Series
Click the envelope or the following link to view your save
the date and reply to VIP Exclusive Fashion.
View save the date:
VIP Exclusive Fashion invite you
The Italian Embassy
7-7-7 Fashion Series Show
Saturday June 29th, 2013
V.I.P. Access 6:00 pm
General Admission 7:00 pm
Limited Tickets Tickets
Please reply Party dresses


text:
. . r tere(i April 23, .1903 at PickenH, S. (., a secoud clast maItter, under act of Congress of MDarcb 3, 1879.
a){4v ' Il)
41 "
1h ( LodgeII Full of M;1
iests-T-'lIhe G1
' > nle tilr prt"t the s'er
ier: of onr t .vn1 htvo beeti
utp-gratle and Mastiniy, in part
has ieet (" vy active, 1mt tnr
they havi' the oplrtnnity the
gr'aspoed it, '10nd last ni;;ht tho,
tuted a li;oyal Arch Chapt(.r
23 memb--rll .1.
T Illowin ).g J lrso"ns were
-hv o frttttistod tili--r for ihr
i tntg of t, tomopl, :
:A hmnlr , l;. Iu 1R , T . j-, 7 I,
E. 1 \V -bb, F. I. Cox, TI. J.
dlitn, (i"-i-'rp (;h.Ipmon, \V A.
.1. M . ( ,o tt, J. N. Iflh tn,
1%rre k.B. ai m,J T 11
The IweIr a vl od sound
fir nbly in ti,O TenliiIle, onel
wI~tHIm RaUised inl
(r used.
4ttt(d wit hi '03 Members
it" t1 rr ~ . . "'
Erst eries-Th le Hiaaha vull o1
i ests F i ll of1 En th.u
alldl Good Chever.
.t tr- Hi twalth1, where plates for 50 gucsts
rtt th],uu1 b,'eni Itid! and a splenudid repat
l,was served rs. Harris had the
entire supervioion of prtep) trint; the
w htcollaboration ttnd everyt.hing waE
hac'fuelyv Itprepred and- well served, and
. the baxt,qutler1S were loud in theit
ra",ise of th)e nie"e spread. MIint
bost Harris t"xcelled him)self,antd pro
tu sunt.edS eath g;uest with at handtsona
incon] catrd, done iln f;",d letter"ing,
, I wals iul two parts antd tiedi L)>gethiel
J L'with tinaihl ribbon. The follow
mgtt 'Ii inscription WasH on thtemr:
B ruco.a B A NW ICT
' -
ichtey, L4 (.u.m lwr.:
ire, ROYAL AR CI ' i AS
nr.4 GodCer
.44 l.~ )4,1 4141iiIIWAHA IIOl'E (!41
wui t14berv4llI rh. r w-ars; hdL
e he tie81 i' 4 01 fpe i gtl
I11ol I --- ( 1' PD-k|i4 , a 1 n g41 i t w a t ha
4 th 1'i l Fre ch rea fat I l4( i es rtlc
(co bl . L (ns C iinty a:i
J). . Lmal ia ah
ea;hs '1ItNre New'J iPitaloos
id ron i1n-:4 s .), ..597
ItI <Er,'0 Vaila WFI Flavo
ofthe hobie>rs PacPi
Salted Walnu ts French Coflee
This was at spl)lendidl sp.read. It did
c"lit to 1'icleaty. It was tnuch bet
ter tim an yi that, are given in mn1h)
larg;cr citit-.
After the gtc-sts were served l r.
C. F. (Grauily, acting as toast ililister,
itrodncaeeI (1h orge 1'. 3ry a, T. J.
.\lauldiu, L, N:thlschild, antd J. 1"'.
130;;;, in the: crdler tnanoed. Th1ettr
r,naurks were all timuely and well, bI.ut
Mr. l3oggs brourght down the house
with his local hit, a conversation over
long distatne telephone for medicine
'for a doctor and at the same time
trying to sell a preacher a barrel of
peas. An afterthought was a call on
13. Lewis for a speech. He was, how
ever, not caught napping and his few
well chosen remarks brought the
baiuietters to their feet.
Most of the visitors left on the
morning train for their homes, lotid.
ly singing the praises of Pickens and
all of them were genuinely that
they were given an opportunity to
visit us and partako of our hospital
The local chapter is instituted and
read;, for work. At a called session
to-day they will elect their oflicera.
Pickens' Hospitality.
A Large Crowd Present.
On Saturday, June 1st, the Old
Soldiers held a meeting o re
un111n, comm tnemsorating the death of
JeffIrson Davis. This is ' not his
birthday, but on uccount. of June :3d,
his birthday, falling on Monday. and
that the day for opening the summer
term of court, the Daughters decided
to 1old their commemorative exor.
-cises on Saturday.
The exercises were held in the
courthouse, the Old Soldiers assem -
bling at the Methodist church and
marching ill a body under stirring
nusic furnished by the Easlev mill
bind to the court house, under the
contunand of Wiml. B. A ilgood. They
were all given badges and seated on
the froat, be i eh es, where they c,iutld
t) comfortable and enjoy the exer.
cisies t, tlho fullest extent,. I'lilip
A. P rter was ccoloir-hearer and(c
narch.ed at the head of tho column
bear-ing aloft thle Stiars aind Unrs1-.
This~ companmy of Johnniiay Rebs elicited
iimnehi favorable emntinen(1t an id were
iroundly11 che ered , ind 31w hen the haindl
iendered "'Dixmuithe "H1ebel Yell''
Swas given, ini whlich the spectators
heart,ily joined.
T hhe in vocation was by3 the R.ev.
John T. lei, who ~l( put up an able
prayir for lhe p eace of thle Ol)d Sold
(diers and t he prosperity of the coon
try. '.Then followed the addresm of
welcoime by thle Mayor0 whot, becauseu
of his timidity, bucd this pleaisanIt tastk
iuponl Solicitor .1libuis . lh>ggs, who
is aliways5 remdto I)1a mlk, andl hiis re
tutr-ks were Limnely antd weilh it fact,
nit-y fipokt of 1. ms the best effirt 13f
his hife. Thle (Oh!i Stiltern were wvel.
comned in that r*tyal style and hiospit
a uol(i mi:m8 for which Pitckenis is so
we lcted.l Th'e kt-ys of the~ city'
we-re I:ti:ed over to ilhe Old V-ttiraims
and(1 thi- were tohlin totartake- of our
m ii aits aindI 8ht silhty adl itnouie
htostages: if uis as thmey sawi~ lit. The
tieaitedi u- rotyally, tot hbe pirison-i
(i - of wV 3, andt -htowt''h us thiat t-y
wee-i bonnoil atit heat, becusue thley
gave us oif the tir )l p lur and enii -ijoy.
I mcie timort: than they took amay
We would f:ke to be their" h atatges
oftener. antld in) f hese rPtrmalrk we.
vo,ice the true s(mtiment of the entire
cit.izaiship of 'ickens, and we long
for the return of the day whena we
can again d: ).olior to the bnave and
d"'e' (i oildc buers of the "1,ost
bthwie by% the 1111d was fl"v(lowed
yiv the attmlial address. delivered by
the l.icrv. ,1, F. i lal heson, who s"loko
tituely and well. His address was
full of meat, not only for the Old Sol.
diers, btt, it was tueat for the rising
generation who had heil compelled
to stily sec(sHsion historv fro I at
Nrthern viewloint. le gave facts
and figures which showed much
thought and study on his part,
and frot an educaitional point
of view were astouncling facts
to his hearers, some1 t-tatistics being
unknown, even ta those wvho wore so
proudly the gray. Mr. Miathesou's
address Was a m11ost able ono, Wats
liste3ned to with very m1arked atten
tion, and he wias highly coptulilented
by those who heard himu. ()(r only
regret is that his remlarklt were lige
ly xt"n>peore, alldt we ire nnable to
p'i bl hli tlewi v(erbaitit. I.loweve"r,
if we can get him to give u the giat
of it, we will, in the near future,
publish what we can of it. It con
h,ati a fiir,d of inrformation that is of
lim- all e v;lu l ) t lt e risin gen
r pti.n o Tlh.,.- wi O w(- wre t 1 tle
obe p(n- 1(sdtlt missed t r"tare t fetIt.
Ari mi s it b t he band Iv I 11111 the pr
seltatiol of Weros (s of milr toWok
in)(et,t owing to a dety in the
r,cipt of thei cross s, they havin to
be engtaved with thme name of the
recipient, the ladies pinned rosettes
on t,hasr. who were entith-ed to the
crosses, and at. at Iater day these
souvenirs will be dist.ribu)ted.
The benedict.ion "f God was in
voked upon the audience by 1 ev.
I. 1). JoneB, lfter which the Old
Guard was held together and mnarch
ed to the grove in front of the Metho.
dist ch(lrcl, where i bountiful repast
wits served in picnie st yle.
''he crowd in town that. (113' was a
large (ine, something ike 2,00) peo
ple betun; present, and was at2 o dorly
and well-bwhavted 1(on(e, an1d whllu the
keys of the city wire given into the
inods of the Old Soldiers, lie hnor
of the City was not violated by themu
in a'y particular. r
218 l) di(s andti children c;une to
town thti (ay, ndi the beauty as well
ats the chivaalry of our couty" was
pre:"ent to help) nuak the daay anl
a1U.spiciolsi one. It was ia remiarka 1
1bl0 falch.t tt you2 ng nmi 20 el olks
)ullSJ absent.
Thei dl.y was one 0121 th1 mos 2)t pllels.
tint ever' spen1t by the Oh)I Sohle20rs m2
PI?ckens2, bult there1' could( not but21
stea21l2't 12.r 1us ( the flehng of hladness8
thalt ill coni o32ver the4 IiOl~I t t
ltero were( somle her l'IIIast yea1r whio
were no0t hIere thi year)12. and2( wel won0
derI wh'o of tIll vast. assOemi 2ge that21
wasi here11 thIiis year1 wnill be debarred 214
bly 1the griml reaperU, D)eathI, frlom
with friends onI June1 Ist, ini P~ C<021,
so hve, mlad act, that whomui the( E.lerne
monster102, IDeathi, ealls, t hey 1212 saiy,
"Thy13 will be2 done."'
Alluh oif 11he p)lealsure 2222d en2j(.y.
men'It of thei (OcolnioltWn asui etribu1ted
by Ih p2 iGal ey \l ill BIandI, wholl for
m218hed2 the muIi:0, and12 moeb:l very'
fa:vorledl 0.munen222t was hlea:rd (on al1
lidesi for thieir' gool playing.
As the (eveninlg 1had4.s apltpeared1
oI,ring the we!1wishes of tIhe Pick
2ns people2 and2( the deire. thaIt niext
shtow tIhl am>r)ieciation anid love we
Iave for those who during the trcing
d(}S of of '(1.--41 so nobly boro arms
in the defense of their homes atndi -''
what t.hIey construed to be their in.
alienable rights. And while they
ar(, 'ne by one, droppin." eut of
rankcs, l-t us, with the tnself15hness
1+o feely(IS iiiedI)iI froml1 th1onm, cherish
the n a a howet our lOve and 1 bloss
ing upon theIll, andl(1, inl a measure,
s'ow to h1101 that while, tt the limtio,
tlhey fou;;ht for a "Lost. t':ause," they
did nlot ";o down inl i;~not'iny' and
lufeat, but that their caus is CVeu
more deeply imllbeddcd in the hearts
of their progeny than it Was engrtav.
en on their own hearts. Heroes of
'61, adiau!
School Closing.
The Pickens Graded School closed
its session of 1906-07 last Friday and
[it night the scholars gave an exhibi
tion that did credit not only to them
3elves but to their prectiptors as well.
The siudents all acted their parts
w;ll and displayed at great dal of
tbility and tallont and showed that
much thought had beenit sx ded, on.
L1aeir training.
The progra11me waS not. at very
long oe bit. it. uta ww4ll selch 1 and.
well rer(cu((d antd displayed oh1ilt
Thel( weoath1er1 wast Very) Inc-mllent,
bIut the house V.asH ptcled andl antuk
aIt t('ut"1Oll Was haaidI to tho4 h"o
;raunlne. '.Very1on1 (LigaIged. (lid
5pi:n(li(lly, 1)1 some did except1ion
ally well. The programme was about
two hours long and was as follows;
Prayer hv Iev. I), D. Jones.
Battle Ilymnl of the republie' by
the school.
Ilialogue - Massage Treatmt,nt.
Canltata--Concert of Nations.
Costume 8ong-Timid L i t t I e
Maidens From Japan.
)ialog;te--- Tile Bobtown School.
Wand Dh-ill.
Motion Song -- The Jolly Old Crow.
Sang- iobby Shaftoo.
Son g- L'lag of the Free.
So--T -'en Little Nigger BoyH.
Dialogue A miarial and his Boys.
Song- -Goodbye.
'Ihe Song, 1 obby Shaftoe by Mae
tb+r" I/l LoI e TIhornlev and little MIissos
ittrt atd A ttalway was the best
mutaber renldee(d a11(1 it Met with a
marlty enore.
Ti 'len Little Nigg.r lioys' was
lvill 11nr .and crated a1 grex2a , t
It is Out of0 thet Ill province of tihis pa.
>er' to go ito detaitls for we could
lIt ido ju stica e to the oca21fsion. Hfow
:ver, saallise at. to esay they alhl acted
veil thei(0r part and11 th aere all the hon
T1he schol wvil open~ in Septemn
>er agan ithii '.ibithatering pro)sp(ects,
I 'rot. ,1. WV, Swittenbulrg hasi been11
tender a l th 1supe21Jirin11teinlencey of the~
whI ol 1for an I Iother session1 , and)4 Iih
vill very proably11) ne1cep Jt. lI is ta
1ap!end41id teneb(e2 r and (will have, no
loubat, even1 a1 better' school thuan tIhe
pr enflt 011e. Theii asistat 11,1tehers
will be electd l(141Iater21.
'Th e a wer no,11 grOadIu altes at this
SO- iaa oIf scho' l ' on1(I aIccount o if the
rals tees la'' Inag aIdded furlrthar gr'ad(e.
to the( cours0 r f stuidy and1( nlext seH,
iona i.t wilb pne sahg
Card of Thanks.
To( those who 1( have W bet n1 'vi th utt inr
oura bearealvemena't 1a114 by, kottd wvords
an1d kinliy aicts have t raed to lesse
our so rrow oV4ver' the death1 oi(f ou1r tbe,
lo)ved wvift, we0 extend 14 OIl lCince4'r'
thaunks for thueir' svmtathvy.
xml | txt


text:
Mayor mum on next step for scrap metal
Scrap scandal: Flynn considers plan to outsource transfer station services
Published 11:42 pm, Wednesday, July 20, 2011
STAMFORD -- Mayor Michael Pavia said Wednesday he is formulating his response to the debriefing he received from Stamford police and an outside auditor on the year-long investigation of alleged scrap metal thefts.
"I worked on it all day and I will continue to work on it, and I will let you know at the right time," Pavia said. "I don't want to prejudice what I'm about to say or do."
Pavia said he does not have a time frame for when he will announce his administration's response to revelations that Office of Operations supervisors used money from the sale of city scrap metal to throw office parties. The mayor attended Tuesday night's three-hour Board of Finance meeting, at which Sgt. Peter diSpagna and an outside auditor described their investigations of alleged scrap metal thefts by operations workers.
Director of Administration Fred Flynn said he is looking into outsourcing the entire transfer station in an effort to save money and improve controls of the city's scrap metal handling practices.
"We're just in the formative stages of researching that and plan to develop a (request for proposals) once we explore whether that's a better business approach to managing this type of activity from an operational efficiency, internal control and economic standpoint," Flynn said Wednesday. "Ideally, what you would want would be someone handling the process from womb to tomb. So you have somebody collecting the material, segregating the material, recording the material and then processing the material all under the same auspices."
Flynn said he plans to issue a RFP for outsourcing the transfer station's activities within the next several weeks.
Dan Collelouri, supervisor of solid waste and recycling, said he had not heard of the plan and had no comment. The solid waste division at the transfer station employees 17 workers whose combined salaries total about $1 million, according to the mayor's proposed budget for 2011-12.
City officials and members of the public crammed into the Board of Finance room Tuesday evening for the special meeting. Crowds were turned away after fire marshals determined the room had reached maximum capacity.
The meeting was attended by Pavia, Flynn and all members of the Board of Finance. Also present were Pete Privitera, director of the Office of Policy and Management; Director of Legal Affairs Michael Larobina; Director of Human Resources Emmet Hibson; Police Chief Robert Nivakoff; Assistant Chief Jon Fontneau; Capt. Richard Conklin; Director of Public Safety Bobby Valentine and Pavia's executive assistant, Lynn Arnow.
Collelouri did not attend. Director of Operations Ernie Orgera also did not go, saying Wednesday "I didn't think I should."
The scrap metal controversy has rocked city hall since former Board of Finance Chairman Joe Tarzia and city Rep. Sal Gabriele, R-16, began looking into the possibility that city workers were selling city property and pocketing the cash. An initial police investigation was launched in April 2010 after a highways supervisor delivered $3,149 in cash to Privitera for the sale of city snowplows at LaJoie's Auto Parts in Norwalk. Officers looked into the transaction but did not make any arrests.
Unsatisfied with the police's conclusions, Tarzia pushed for an outside audit of city scrap metal handling. The board hired Kroll Associates, a forensic auditing firm based in New York, in May 2010.
The auditor's investigation cost $150,000 and was unveiled to the public this week. A 40-page report shows auditors identified discrepancies between the amount of cash paid by local junk yards to Stamford employees and the amount of revenue received by the city for metal transactions. Three confidential informants spoke with the auditors and alleged that city workers have used city property for personal use or side businesses. The informants also claimed money obtained from scrap metal sales was used to fund Office of Operations parties and that department supervisors participated in or condoned the activity.
Kroll presented its findings to State's Attorney David Cohen, who eventually instructed Stamford police to conduct a second investigation in May. Police reports from the inquiry show cash from scrap metal sales was stored in "petty cash" jars, in the desk drawers of department supervisors and in a safe that also holds money from city parking meters. Operations workers told police the money was not turned over to the city, but rather used to fund pizza lunches for parks department employees, supplies for Stamford classrooms and Office of Operations Christmas, Fourth of July and birthday parties.
Cohen and the police concluded that diverted metals funds amounted to less than $3,000 a year. No arrests were made.
DiSpagna said Tuesday police interviews did not reveal any evidence a crime had been committed, or that the intent to commit a crime existed, or that city workers might not be telling the police everything. His description of the investigation was met with skepticism from several Board of Finance members about the thoroughness of the inquiry.
"Intent is the acid case," diSpagna said. "If it doesn't pass the intent, then that's where you come up with a crime. I believe that everyone gave us a degree of honesty and sincerity."
Flynn said Wednesday he was disappointed with the second police investigation.
"I expected the investigation to be broader in detail," he said. "I found some of the conclusions puzzling. What strikes me as questionable is how (city workers) could have not pocketed money for personal use. It's hard to understand the basis for a conclusion like that when we still don't know how much cash was diverted and exactly where it all went. I think there are still a lot of unanswered questions."
Flynn said the misappropriation of city scrap metal money by city workers amounts to stealing.
"I do believe this is stealing," he said. "Whether it met the test of larceny per say or not is not the issue in my mind. I believe city employees need to be held to a higher ethical standard than larceny. It was stealing. I don't consider stealing right."
Board of Finance Chairman Jerry Bosak and Republican Scott Mirkin did not return calls for comment Wednesday. Vice Chair Mary Lou Rinaldi said she believes the Finance Board's role in the scrap metal investigation is complete following Tuesday's meeting.
"It will be helpful for the board to hear what the administration plans to do in light of the information that was shared last night, so I look forward to seeing that," Rinaldi said. "The Board of Finance certainly has the ability to conduct audits. We are not the personnel department of the city. We don't hire and fire people, and I think those activities lie squarely with the administration, the (human resources) department and the legal department."
Democrat Tim Abbazia said the board's "exhaustive" review is over and the city needs to move past the scrap metal controversy.
"I think we need to recognize that although there were some Stamford city policies that weren't followed precisely, that generally speaking there was no criminal activity," he said. "There was no intent to steal scrap metal for a profit or individual gain. We certainly need to improve things going forward, we need to always be looking for ways to be more efficient and to safeguard taxpayers' money."
Republican member Bob Kolenberg called on the mayor to hold city workers involved in the diversion of scrap metal funds accountable.
"What is Mike Pavia doing to correct the problem?" Kolenberg said of the mayor, who also is a Republican. "It seems like nothing is being done by the administration and they've got some explaining to do. They should get the resignations from the people who are at the heart of this controversy and the heart of this theft problem."
Independent member Kathleen Murphy said she has little hope for a strong reaction from the mayor.
"I don't expect Pavia will do anything," she said. "I have no confidence that he will do anything that will correct the behavior and get the change that we want."
Murphy said she would like to speak with Cohen about his decision to not issue arrest warrants for city workers who diverted scrap metal funds.
"I think the board should give Cohen a chance to come in and explain what happened here," she said. "And I believe we should very seriously consider taking this to the feds. There is no question in terms of there was a crime. Disciplinary action is not going to be adequate."
Staff Writer Kate King can be reached at email@example.com or at 203-964-2263.


text:
The latest version of marine weather charts for broadcast by the U.S. Coast Guard are available from the National
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Last modified:
Jan 16, 2015
Questions, Comments?


text:
Battling point for Sky Blues
Coventry City returned from Bristol with a point in the bag on Saturday, having led for much of the second-half through David Bell's goal.
Clarkson levelled late on for the home side but the Sky Blues held on to what they had and will now look to build on a useful result with two home games to come next week.
Reaction to follow on Vital Coventry.


text:
Get dining news including restaurant closures and qualify for giveaways.
We had a very satisfying and enjoyable afternoon. The food was excellent, tasty, and fufilling. This restaurant is consistently good every time we go. The service was quick, attentive and professional. Definite value for money.
We were really looking forward to our meal here. We were in for a surprise. With the overpriced menu, the cramp space and the quality of the food we were in for a very disappointing evening. The satay chicken was tastless and with the sickly sweet sauce tasted even worse. Then we had the fish cakes. They were so bad we were in shock. The entrees were only slightly better. All in all it was an extremely negative dining experience. We will not be dining here again!!! We left feeling cheated and still hungry.