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"This isn't America. New Orleans is like a developing country."
In the four weeks I've lived in New Orleans, I've heard this statement from nearly ten different people. Glancing around at the Wal-Marts, the boutique frozen yogurt shops, the SUVs, and the stately houses on St. Charles Ave., it's been hard for me believe the comparison. But the complaints about the city do parallel those I heard about and witnessed in Tanzania: there is rampant corruption. Nothing works the way it should. Everything happens slowly. The labrynthine bureaucracy slows progress. Change is slow to occur, or absent altogether. People are satisfied with the status quo. Poverty is persistent and pervasive. It's not safe. The roads are awful and people are bad drivers. And I mean, really bad drivers.
I've witnessed some similarities myself: abandoned and dilapidated buildings are a common sight. Homeless people walk up and down the medians at stop lights, peering into windows that stay rolled-up, more often than not. It's oppressively hot and there are a lot of mosquitoes (but at least they don't carry Malaria). And don't get me started on the pot holes. But the negative comparisons stop there. And then a flood of the positive. New Orleans is a place where relationships matter. People are friendly, welcoming, generous, and warm. They are talkative. It's unbelievably easy to make friends. The music settles down deep in your chest and won't let your feet stop moving or your body stop swaying. People dance. And they sing. And they eat, a lot. And they are, or at least seem to be, very happy. So maybe these two places, some 8,799 miles apart, really are alike.
The familiar joy in my soul is back. Sometimes I've struggled to communicate to people why I loved living in Tanzania so much, despite the many frustrations and inconveniences, the dangers and the fears. Maybe I should just tell them to come to New Orleans to get a little taste of what I mean when I say that the positives just outweigh the negatives, that sometimes a place can make you feel alive.
Another thing that New Orleans seems to have in common with Tanzania and the developing countries I've visited: it is a tourist destination, rich in culture and history, in local flavor and ritualized tradition. People travel long distances to see a place that resists change, that is unique, that in some ways defies modernity. Perhaps they recognize, subconsciously, that their lives elsewhere are safe and comfortable but somehow sterile, less striking, maybe even stale.
I've been guilty in the past, I think, of idealizing poverty. I've always had the ability to leave. I've never experienced true need or institutionalized injustice or oppression. The odds have very rarely been against me. Where I have failed, I have had no one and nothing to blame but myself. But I have witnessed the resilience and courage of people who are called "less fortunate" than myself, and I do not believe that my admiration of their character has been misplaced. Maybe I am so impressed and moved by what goes on in the lives of the poor because it is with them that I've seen most clearly the triumph of the human spirit, the ability to overcome difficult circumstances with gratitude and persistence.
Somali rapper K'Naan recently wrote an editorial for the New York Times in which he called Somalia "a paradise of paradox," a place of both breathtaking beauty and unspeakable pain. New Orleans, in its way, offers the same confounding combination of opposites inextricably linked. The scars of Katrina are still visible here, as "x-codes" spraypainted on houses by coast guard crews to show which dwellings had been checked for bodies, as credit scores destroyed when livelihoods were swept away, as the grey lines high on the sides of buildings that mark the floodwaters' reach. But bright new buildings and businesses, rebuilt neighborhoods, and continued recovery efforts stand out against those darker backdrops.
The other day I walked in a Second Line, the famous New Orleans tradition of a bass brand parade. A second line usually follows a wedding or a funeral procession. I was told that a jazz funeral second line is a celebration of life; it lets the creator know how much a person was appreciated and loved. I was also told that second lines were a way for New Orleans "pleasure and social clubs" to advertise their life-insurance policies. "If you are one of us," the spectacle would promise, "just look at what a party your funeral will be! We will celebrate you with style!" The music was infectious. Everyone danced together. Dancers twirled fringed and bejeweled parasols. Strangers embraced. Bodies became instruments of beats. But as we shimmied and bobbed down the road, my companions whispered about the violence that sometimes accompanies these joyful events. "A two-year-old was shot last year," one person said. "And make sure you don't fall behind the parade, because that's where it gets dangerous." We had to park strategically so that we wouldn't walk certain irreputable blocks as we left the parade. I couldn't separate my joy from my anxiety; a single river of adrenaline flowed through my body.
As I drove away from the Second Line, I thought of a poem by Langston Hughes called "Let America Be America Again." He articulates the persistent paradox of America, saying:
Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed–
Let it be that great strong land of love
Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme
That any man be crushed by one above.
(It never was America to me.)
O, let my land be a land where Liberty
Is crowned with no false patriotic wreath,
But opportunity is real, and life is free,
Equality is in the air we breathe.
(There's never been equality for me,
Nor freedom in this "homeland of the free.")
For all the dreams we've dreamed
And all the songs we've sung
And all the hopes we've held
And all the flags we've hung,
The millions who have nothing for our pay–
Except the dream that's almost dead today.
O, let America be America again–
The land that never has been yet–
And yet must be–the land where every man is free.
The land that's mine–the poor man's, Indian's, Negro's, ME–
Who made America,
Whose sweat and blood, whose faith and pain,
Whose hand at the foundry, whose plow in the rain,
Must bring back our mighty dream again.
O, yes,
I say it plain,
America never was America to me,
And yet I swear this oath–
America will be!
In a way, I see New Orleans as what America could be. It is a place that is aware that it is in constant flux. Those in the present take stock of a rich past and promising future, while holding an open conversation about the inherent risk and great potential of diversity. The heterogeneity of New Orleans, it's mottled history of Spaniards and Frenchmen, Canadians and freed Slaves, native people and pioneering colonialists, has left a legacy of both conflict and enduring vitality. American culture has reaped the benefits of New Orleans' beautiful, hybrid traditions. And yes, there is a certain uncomfortable paradox at the realization that the jazz and blues traditions that led to Rock 'n' Roll only existed because of the cultural resilience of enslaved Africans. That the enigmatic Mardi Gras Indians marched in their elaborate masked costumes during Mardi Gras celebrations because this was the only time blacks were allowed to "parade without a permit." That the famous 'po' boy' sandwiches were so named because poor people could only afford a simple meal of fried meat on a plain bun. But it's a tribute to New Orleans that the people here have stubbornly and repeatedly turned darkness into light. And into very delicious food.
What all this thinking about New Orleans as a "developing country" has led me to (re)consider is the very language we use to talk about development. We're all familiar with the concepts of the "developed world" versus the "developing world." This paradigm of thought suggests a very real phenomenon: the belief that there are two distinct worlds on one spinning planet. And if there are these two worlds, then the concerns of the one half must be quite different than those of the other half. In fact, individuals in the other world must be very nearly aliens. The racist justifications of slavery and genocide make more sense if we split the earth in two. You might say these are concerns of the past, but the economic exploitation made common and acceptable by the corporate globalized system have replaced old forms of oppression. The work of Kiva, I would argue, is to fight the poverty created by unequal local and global systems and to empower all individuals to participate meaningfully in the market.
So, in our terminology we have divided countries and societies (which consist of people, of course) into those we consider "developed" or "developing." And at this point, the English major in me, perpetually fascinated by language, interjects. These words themselves, what do they suggest? And how do they shape our society? First of all, we only have to look at campaigns for aid and charity to see that those in the developing world are often portrayed as passive victims. Compare this to the "free" people of the West, empowered by their choices, first measured by their ability to choose leaders, religions, and lifestyles, but increasingly guaged by the breadth of their consumer choices. "Buying power" as freedom. But at what point does commodification become it's own particular type of cage? When we measure value in terms of what we possess rather than how we act and what we are able to do for others, what is lost? By promoting microfinance, sharing the personal stories of Kiva borrowers, and connecting Lenders and Borrowers with these stories, Kiva reminds us that people matter more than profits and that making a living is about more than money. When I ask Kiva borrowers how they have used and will use the additional profits gained from their loans, rarely do they mention wanting to buy more things. They talk about providing education and healthcare for their children, better food for their families, and more opportunities for their communities.
So if the United States is a developed country, then why does Kiva have a presence here? Once a country is considered "developed" (modernized, industrialized, democratized, capitalized), then people want to wipe their hands, pat each other on the back, and say the work is done. Institutionalized greed and inequality are given the leeway to exist, because we become convinced we have achieved development and reached an endpoint. The action is completed. Stasis reached. Shouldn't we be satisfied? By bringing Kiva City to the United States, Kiva has made a brave statement about what development means and who can benefit from it.
What I have been getting at from the beginning is that maybe New Orleans should be proud of being compared to a "developing country." Maybe the words we have chosen to describe the project of development should be changed to reflect the fact that all countries are developing. What is alluring about the classification of the "developing country" is that the label reminds us that society is always a work in progress. Until some utopian civilization is achieved, no country can be truly developed. As long as their is homelessness, poverty, inequal access to credit, healthcare and education, a wage gap between genders, etc., then yes, we are still developing.
Many of the people I've met in New Orleans came to volunteer after the storm, intending to stay for a few months, but ended up making the city their home. Even after Katrina killed 1,835 people, destroyed 275,000 homes and 400,000 jobs, caused $81 billion in property damage, and forced the evacuation of 80% of the New Orleans population, over 140,000 have returned to rebuild. All of the Kiva borrowers with whom I've spoken left New Orleans for a while, but each one affirms the same thing: "I always knew I'd come back to New Orleans. There's no other place like it on earth." I've never seen so many people identify with and love their city with such fervent passion, with such abounding joy, and with such commitment to making it better. I'll end with a quote from the Talmud that reflects the spirit and determination of the folks I've met here. I thank them for their hard work and optimism.
"Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world's grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it."
Rebecca Corey was a Kiva Fellow in the 9th class with Tujijenge Tanzania, Ltd. in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. Now, she's back for round two, helping Kiva to launch Kiva New Orleans, the second Kiva City. To learn more about how to bring Kiva to your city, go here. To read about ASI Federal Credit Union, Kiva's financial partner in New Orleans, go here. You can also follow Kiva New Orleans on facebook, join the Kiva New Orleans lending team, or make a loan to one of their wonderful clients.


text: Loading. Please wait. Celebrities Who Don't Use Air ConditioningAir conditioning has become standard for the vast majority of homes and businesses in recent years. In fact, roughly five percent of energy use in the United States is used to fuel air conditioning. To combat this impressive statistic, some celebrities who use their fame for the promotion of environmental or "green" issues either do without air conditioning or use newer technologies instead.Jon Hamm (Mad Men), in a recent interview with Mother Nature Network, said that he and girlfriend Jennifer Westfelt (Kissing Jessica Stein) were trying to decrease their impact on the planet. "We don't use a lot of air conditioning. We open windows," said Hamm. Hamm added that their bill for air conditioning was "getting smaller every day."Melora Harden (The Office) said in an interview with Lifescript that she was looking into alternatives to air conditioning that are more eco-friendly.Sir Elton John, following suit after the Queen of England, has invested in geo-thermal cooling systems to break away from the A/C habit.You may ask, "Why should I care if these people want to sweat it out?" While celebrities generally have more than enough money to luxuriate in perfectly cooled settings, some choose otherwise for the sake of the planet and their health, and many people find this inspiring.While efforts to improve upon the safety of air conditioning have grown in recent years, there are still significant environmental and health-related issues related to its use.For Starters, Global WarmingThere are very few of us who haven't heard of global warming. Whether you believe it exists or not, it's fair to assume that the annual release of 140 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere from air conditioning alone is bound to have an impact. Air conditioning runs on electricity, and most electricity is generated by burning coal, which releases greenhouse gases and creates acid rain. Coal is also often harvested in less than ecologically sound ways. I have a vivid memory of seeing strip mines in upstate Pennsylvania as a child. Even at the age of 9, I realized how devastating strip mining was for the environment.In addition to the pollutants created by the burning of coal for electricity, air conditioners, whether during manufacture or use, still emit chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). CFCs may take a long time to get to the stratosphere, but the end result is the thinning of our ozone layer. A thinner ozone layer leads to higher UVB levels, which in turn leads to more skin cancer, cataracts and impairments to our immune systems.If you are getting rid of an air conditioner for whatever reason, be sure to check with your local authorities regarding how to properly dispose of the unit. Also, if your home or car air conditioner needs repairs, make sure to hire a technician who has been certified by the EPA. The EPA has programs regarding proper recovery of the refrigerant used in air conditioning.Other Health Problems Related to the Use of Air ConditioningThough it might seem like a great relief on a really hot day to immerse yourself in air conditioning, unfortunately, you may be damaging your health. Artificially changing the temperature in your environment is confusing to your body. Our bodies have evolved to synchronize to the temperatures of the season.Plus, air conditioning has an irritating and drying effect on the eyes, nose and throat. Many people experience swollen sinuses, allergies, dry eyes, sore throats and other discomfort when they are in air-conditioned areas. Bacteria and mold can be easily and continuously dispersed by the recycled air, leading to lowered resistance to infections, as well as illnesses such as Legionnaires' disease, asthma and allergies.If you do use air conditioning, it is critical that you clean the filters at least once a month.Simply put: Microorganisms that inevitably are contained in air conditioners have a direct and sometimes severe effect on your immune system and your ability to breathe.Skipping A/C Saves MoneyIn a 2008 Time Magazine article, Lee Shipper of the University of California, Berkley estimated the cost of air conditioning usage to be 20 cents per kilowatt hour. He also estimated a savings of four percent for every degree you push up the thermostat.You can lower your costs by using fans and ceiling fans, opening windows and creating cross-currents to cool your home. Also, use heat-producing appliances such as dryers during cooler times of the day and close your shades during the hottest part of the day.Eco-Friendly AlternativesAn excellent alternative to air conditioning is becoming more affordable – geothermal cooling systems. I became familiar with geothermal systems when the board of a local library decided to go that route with a new building it was having constructed. Geothermal systems can either heat or cool and are powered by the heat stored in the earth. Geothermal systems aren't new. The Romans used geothermal systems (albeit less sophisticated ones than today's) to heat their homes thousands of years ago.Currently, if you decide to buy a geothermal system, you can also apply for tax credits that make your investment even more economical.So, you too can be like some of your favorite celebs and have a healthier life and environment by turning off the AC.

subset: commoncrawl


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This is FRESH AIR. Soul music is often defined as the moment when gospel and blues met and formed a new sound. Ray Charles is often given credit for this, but there were others - most notably, the '5' Royales who had immense success as a live act but never sold as many records as such a pioneering group should have. With the release of the 131 track collection "Soul and Swagger: the Complete '5' Royales," the group has finally gotten the recognition they deserve. Our rock historian Ed Ward is a longtime fan and has the story.
5 ROYALES: (Singing) I was standing by the bedside of a neighbor. Alls well in time - oh, Lord - oh Lord, then I asked him.
ED WARD, BYLINE: If you had a gospel group in the Carolinas or Virginia in 1950, the group to beat was the Royal Sons - four teenagers and a guy in his late thirties from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. They had their own radio program, and the guy who engineered it made some recordings and sent them to Apollo Records in New York. Apollo is a Harlem-based label run by Bess and Ike Berman that issued a lot of great jazz records - Dean Martin's first sides and some blues - and, like many labels, did some gospel on the side. Bess Berman signed the Sons to her standard contract which stated they would record secular music if asked. This clause had caused Apollo's best-selling gospel artist Mahalia Jackson to storm off the label, but the Royal Sons didn't have a problem with it. Apollo continued to release Royal Sons 45's. But a new name, the '5' Royales, appeared on the other records. In 1953, it started with the band topping the R&B charts.
5 ROYALES: (Singing) If what you say is true - that you and I are through - if you leave me pretty bad, I'll have bread without no meat - I've given you all of me.
WARD: Lead singer, Johnny Tanner, sounded like no one else in the business. And guitarist Lowman Pauling turned out to be a prolific songwriter. The group had a two-sided Top 10 hit with "Help Me Somebody" and "Crazy, Crazy, Crazy" next. And the older founding member Otto Jeffries left the group to take over management replaced by Johnny Tanner's 17-year-old brother, Eugene. With originals Obadiah Carter and Jimmy Moore the groups, the group's personnel had solidified. In 1954, the Royales made a bad mistake and walked out on Apollo to sign with King Records in Cincinnati. They, apparently, hoped the King's more modern lineup would be better company, but none of the couple dozen sides they cut did anything - not novelties like "Monkey Hips and Rice", brags like "Women About to Make Me Go Crazy" or gospely tracks like this one.
5 ROYALES: (Singing) Oh, baby, you and me forever. No one can understand us - no, no, no, never - no. That's if you be - be what you are. Takes what's yours - take what's yours through love and faith - through love and faith. Get something out of it.
WARD: These were all superb records, but there was something anyone who's seen the group live would know is missing. When they added it, though, people started paying attention.
5 ROYALES: (Singing) Think - think - think -think. Think about the sacrifices that are made for you. Think of all the times that I spent with you. Think of all the good things that I've done for you. Think of all the bad things I tried not to do. So come on, baby, and think - think - think - about the good things - think - think - think - think - about the right thing.
WARD: Lowman Pauling was a phenomenal guitar player. And once his snaky asymmetrical lines became part of the records, they started to sell. "Think" was a Top 10 hit in 1957, four years after the group had first charted. Then Lowman wrote the song that made him immortal.
5 ROYALES: (Singing) This is dedicated to the one I love. While I'm away from you, my baby, I know it's hard for you, my baby, because it's hard for me, my baby. But the darkest hour is just before day - each night before you go.
WARD: "Dedicated to the One I love," despite getting a lot of attention, never made it to the charts until the Shirelles version in 1959. Besides being a great song, it has two other notable factors - Lowman Pauling was playing one of the first Gibson Les Paul guitars, and the recording prominently features an electric bass - hardly a common instrument in 1957. The '5' Royale's output from 1957 through 1959 is their artistic peak. They fuse what can only be called proto-rock instrumentation with gospel fire and passionate songwriting. They toured constantly, especially in the South, and Pauling's on-stage antics with his low-slung guitar, along with the rest of the group's choreography, left a huge impression on some of the audience - like a young guitarist named Steve Cropper. Everyone who saw them remembered one song, in particular, going on for almost 20 minutes while Lowman soloed in the group cut up.
5 ROYALES: (Singing) Don't try to figure out where I come from. Now don't try to figure out where I come from. I could be a smart guy from Wall Street. I could be the Purple People Eater's son. But I can do the slummer the slum.
WARD: Why this record and was released with the title "the Slummer the Slum" when they're clearly singing stompety stomp is anyone's guess. But with a title like that nobody would play it on the radio. King had no idea what to do with them and, when their contract was up in 1960, let them go. From here, the story gets complicated and sad. The Royales showed up on the Home of the Blues label run out of a Beale Street record store in Memphis. But eventually, members started to leave. Johnny Tanner went back to Winston-Salem and started a dry cleaning business. Lowman went on the road with Salmon Davis, a guitarist, then moved to New York. By 1968, there was a '5' Royales with no original members. And when two of the group went to prison for armed robbery, it ceased to exist. Lowman Pauling who was drinking heavily had a janitorial job in a Brooklyn synagogue when he died the day after Christmas, 1973. In 199, Winston-Salem named a street after them, and there was a reunion with Lowman's son on guitar.
GROSS: Ed Ward reviewed the new box set "Soul and Swagger: the Complete '5' Royales.
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Education: Empowering Africa's Women
"Africa's development as a continent cannot be separated from the development and education of Africa's women,� South Africa's Deputy President said.
[Africa News Update]
The first African Union (AU) Conference of African Women in Science and Technology ended in South Africa with calls for the establishment of more African Women Universities to boost female empowerment.
This high profile conference attracted top women scientists and academics from across the continent. The talks sought to find ways of how best women in Africa can actively participate in the science and technology. Participants believed universities for women will help raise the standards of teaching and learning. Asian countries were cited as success stories; studies there have shown that girls who come out of those institutions have been able to excel.
"We need to change the structural obstacles, which continue to hinder the development of science and technology for the benefit of the poor. We need to overcome barriers that continue to exclude girl children and women from the study of science and technology," said South African Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka at the conference.
She said it was high time that women in Africa pushed for the "demystifying" of mathematics, science and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).
The study of science and technology, she said should not be viewed as the domain of "extraordinary people" and men, but for women as well. "If we wish to change this perception we need to firstly communicate in ways which makes these subjects attractive," Mlambo-Ngcuka said.
"In this way we can create a popular understanding of science, mathematics and ICT, which will not only attract students, but will also, lead to more people understanding how these subjects work and can work in the interest of everyone."
United Nations statistics show that female researchers constitute only 29% of the totals in Africa. On a more encouraging note, Mlambo-Ngcuka added that there is a growing understanding in Africa that women's education, equality and empowerment are vital to ensuring an integrated, developed, prosperous and peaceful continent. "Africa's development as a continent cannot be separated from the development and education of Africa's women," she said.
She is South Africa's first female Deputy President.
Tsiko is The Black Star News's Southern Africa correspondent based in Harare.
To comment or to subscribe to or advertise in New York's leading Pan African weekly investigative newspaper, or to send us a news tip, please call (212) 481-7745 or send a note to email@example.com
Also visit out sister publications Harlem Business News www.harlembusinessnews.com and The Groove music magazine at www.thegroovemag.com
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As OPEC ministers gather in Vienna, they may notice more sport utility vehicles on the streets of the Austrian capital than on previous visits.
Last year, SUVs outsold any other type of passenger vehicle in Europe for the first time, according to auto industry consultants JATO Dynamics. The trend has continued… read more at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-05-30/opec-s-cheap-oil-strategy-lures-drivers-back-into-gas-guzzlers
By Javier Blas
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Working natural gas inventories in the Lower 48 states totaled 3,519 billion cubic feet (Bcf) for the week ending October 11, 2019, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration's (EIA) Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report (WNGSR). This is the first week that Lower 48 states' working gas inventories have exceeded the previous five-year average since September 22, 2017. Weekly injections in three of the past four weeks each surpassed 100 Bcf, or about 27% more than typical injections for that time of year.
Working natural gas capacity at underground storage facilities helps market participants balance the supply and consumption of natural gas. Inventories in each of the five regions are based on varying commercial, risk management, and reliability goals.
When determining whether natural gas inventories are relatively high or low, EIA uses the average inventories for that same week in each of the previous five years. Relatively low inventories heading into winter months can put upward pressure on natural gas prices. Conversely, relatively high inventories can put downward pressure on natural gas prices.
This week's inventory level ends a 106-week streak of lower-than-normal natural gas inventories. Natural gas inventories in the Lower 48 states entered the winter of 2017–18 lower than the previous average. Episodes of relatively cold temperatures in the winter of 2017–18—including a bomb cyclone—resulted in record withdrawals from storage, increasing the deficit to the five-year average.
In the subsequent refill season (typically April through October), sustained warmer-than-normal temperatures increased electricity demand for natural gas. Increased demand slowed natural gas storage injection activity through the summer and fall of 2018. By November 30, 2018, the deficit to the five-year average had grown to 725 Bcf. Inventories in that week were 20% lower than the previous five-year average for that time of year. Throughout the 2019 refill season, record levels of U.S. natural gas production led to relatively high injections of natural gas into storage and reduced the deficit to the previous five-year average.
The deficit was also decreased as last year's low inventory levels are rolled into the previous five-year average. For this week in 2019, the preceding five-year average is about 124 Bcf lower than it was for the same week last year. Consequently, the gap has closed in part based on a lower five-year average.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report
The level of working natural gas inventories relative to the previous five-year average tends to be inversely correlated with natural gas prices. Front-month futures prices at the Henry Hub, the main price benchmark for natural gas in the United States, were as low as $1.67 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) in early 2016. At about that same time, natural gas inventories were 874 Bcf more than the previous five-year average.
By the winter of 2018–19, natural gas front-month futures prices reached their highest level in several years. Natural gas inventories fell to 725 Bcf less than the previous five-year average on November 30, 2018. In recent weeks, increasing the Lower 48 states' natural gas storage levels have contributed to lower natural gas futures prices.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report and front-month futures prices from New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX)
Market Watch
Headline crude prices for the week beginning 14 October 2019 – Brent: US$59/b; WTI: US$53/b
Headlines of the week
Natural Gas/LNG
Amid ongoing political unrest, Ecuador has chosen to withdraw from OPEC in January 2020. Citing a need to boost oil revenues by being 'honest about its ability to endure further cuts', Ecuador is prioritising crude production and welcoming new oil investment (free from production constraints) as President Lenin Moreno pursues more market-friendly economic policies. But his decisions have caused unrest; the removal of fuel subsidies – which effectively double domestic fuel prices – have triggered an ongoing widespread protests after 40 years of low prices. To balance its fiscal books, Ecuador's priorities have changed.
The departure is symbolic. Ecuador's production amounts to some 540,000 b/d of crude oil. It has historically exceeded its allocated quota within the wider OPEC supply deal, but given its smaller volumes, does not have a major impact on OPEC's total output. The divorce is also not acrimonious, with Ecuador promising to continue supporting OPEC's efforts to stabilise the oil market where it can.
This isn't the first time, or the last time, that a country will quit OPEC. Ecuador itself has already done so once, withdrawing in December 1992. Back then, Quito cited fiscal problems, balking at the high membership fee – US$2 million per year – and that it needed to prioritise increasing production over output discipline. Ecuador rejoined in October 2007. Similar circumstances over supply constraints also prompted Gabon to withdraw in January 1995, returning only in July 2016. The likelihood of Ecuador returning is high, given this history, but there are also two OPEC members that have departed seemingly permanently.
The first is Indonesia, which exited OPEC in 2008 after 46 years of membership. Chronic mismanagement of its upstream resources had led Indonesia to become a net importer of crude oil since the early 2000s and therefore unable to meet its production quota. Indonesia did rejoin OPEC briefly in January 2016 after managing to (slightly) improve its crude balance, but was forced to withdraw once again in December 2016 when OPEC began requesting more comprehensive production cuts to stabilise prices. But while Indonesia may return, Qatar is likely gone permanently. Officially, Qatar exited OPEC in January 2019 after 48 years of continuous membership to focus on natural gas production, which dwarfs its crude output. Unofficially, geopolitical tensions between Qatar and Saudi Arabia – which has resulted in an ongoing blockade and boycott – contributed to the split.
The exit of Ecuador will not make much material difference to OPEC's current goal of controlling supply to stabilise prices. With Saudi production back at full capacity – and showing the willingness to turn its taps on or off to control the market – gains in Ecuador's crude production can be offset elsewhere. What matters is optics. The exit leaves the impression that OPEC's power is weakening, limiting its ability to influence the market by controlling supply. There are also ongoing tensions brewing within OPEC, specifically between Iran and Saudi Arabia. The continued implosion of the Venezuelan economy is also an issue. OPEC will survive the exit of Ecuador; but if Iran or Venezuela choose to go, then it will face a full-blown existential crisis.
Current OPEC membership:


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Scientists are working to genetically engineer the immune cells of HIV patients so they become HIV-resistant, according to interim results presented Wednesday at the 18th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Boston.
Dr. Carl June, a gene-therapy expert at the University of Pennsylvania, and colleagues collected CD4 T cells from HIV patients' own blood for the procedure. The team used "zinc fingers" to snip out a single gene in the collected T cells so that they lacked CCR5, a receptor HIV needs to enter the cell. The engineered cells were then injected back into their donor.
The first of nine patients in the study received a single infusion in July 2009. In all nine, the engineered cells remain HIV-free and have multiplied to an average 6 percent of the patients' T cells. No serious adverse events were reported, though all experienced temporary symptoms such as headache, chills or fever.
"It's a big accomplishment because this is the first successful attempt at genetic editing," said June. "It gives us an essential tool."
"This is elegant work, scientifically very sound, and an important 'proof of concept,'" said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. NIAID funded research that was foundational to the study. California-based Sangamo BioSciences, which developed the zinc fingers used like molecular scissors to delete or insert specific genes, is funding human testing of the T cells.
"It's a step," said co-investigator Pablo Tebas. "It's a step in a long process." Plans for a clinical trial of the therapy are underway.


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George S. Morrison, who commanded the fleet during the Gulf of Tonkin incident that led to an escalation of the Vietnam War and whose son Jim was the lead singer of the Doors, died Nov. 17 in Coronado, Calif. He was 89 and lived in Coronado.
He died after a fall in the hospital, his daughter, Anne Chewning, told The Associated Press.
Aboard the flagship carrier Bon Homme Richard, Mr. Morrison commanded American naval forces in the gulf when the destroyer Maddox engaged three North Vietnamese torpedo boats on Aug. 2, 1964. A skirmish and confused reports of a second engagement two days later led President Lyndon B. Johnson to order airstrikes against North Vietnam and to request from Congress what became known as the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, allowing him to carry out further military operations without declaring war.
Mr. Morrison's relationship with his famous son was difficult. Rebellion met blank incomprehension. In "The Doors by the Doors" (Hyperion, 2006), he is quoted as saying: "I had the feeling that he felt we'd just as soon not be associated with his career. He knew I didn't think rock music was the best goal for him. Maybe he was trying to protect us."
George Stephen Morrison, known as Steve, was born in Rome, Ga. His father was a railroad worker. After graduating from the Naval Academy in Annapolis in 1941, he was assigned, as an ensign, to the mine layer Pruitt in Pearl Harbor, where he witnessed the Japanese attack of Dec. 7, 1941.
While at Pearl Harbor, he married Clara Clarke, who died in 2005. Besides his daughter, Anne, of Thousand Oaks, Calif., he is survived by his son Andrew, of Pahoa, Hawaii. Jim Morrison died in Paris in 1971.Continue reading the main story
After taking part in operations in the Aleutians and the central Pacific, Mr. Morrison took flight training in Pensacola, Fla., and flew combat missions over Wake Island and Honshu, Japan, in the last year of World War II. After the war, he was an instructor for secret nuclear-weapons projects in Albuquerque. During the Korean War, he was assigned to the joint operations center in Seoul, earning a Bronze Star for his part in combat operations against North Korean and Chinese forces.
Mr. Morrison took command of the Bon Homme Richard in 1963 and in 1967 was promoted to the rank of rear admiral. In 1972 he became commander in chief of naval forces in the Marianas, which included some of the same islands he had bombed as a pilot during World War II, and where he organized relief efforts for nearly 100,000 Vietnamese refugees sent to Guam in 1975. It was an assignment he called the most satisfying of his career.
Mr. Morrison, who was portrayed briefly in the 1991 movie "The Doors," donated several items belonging to his son Jim to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland for a Doors exhibit that opened last year. These included his school report cards and college diploma and a Cub Scout uniform.Continue reading the main story


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Yesterday I received a weird message on my iPhone 4, it was a completely black screen with a wide green / standard button at the bottom.
It seemed like a kind of broadcasted message.
The message said something about RSVP.
I've never seen a message like this before, wasn't an email, SMS or iMessage. I did a search on Bluetooth apps to see if I could see this type of thing, but didn't find anything.
I dont know if its related, but a few minutes later I heard a sent message noise.
I can't find the message in texts or email either.
It all feels like I've been hacked into some how.


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Mitsubishi's planning to show America its redesigned 2007 Outlander — the same one it unveiled at the Tokyo motor show last year (minus the right-hand drive and penchant for outlandish game shows). The new model, which will appear at the New York auto show next month, gets a new 3.0L V6 MIVEC engine and standard six-speed Sportronic autobox (with paddle shifters on the XLS model). It'll also get a standard Bluetooth phone interface, some kind of "advanced" key fob, and options like a 650-watt Rockford Fosgate audio system with DVD and a new hard-drive navigation system. Dare we say Mitsubishi may have some fight left in it?
Tokyo Motor Show: Mitsubishi to Launch New Outlander [internal]


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Hardeeville City Council's vote to make part of its 2011 Governance Guide an ordinance has raised concerns from Mayor Bronco Bostick.
City Council made the "Administration" chapter of the guide a law at its Sept. 20 meeting. The chapter states that the city manager sets the agendas for meetings, and lays out a code of conduct and procedures for the mayor, city manager and council members to follow.
Bostick said at that meeting that the ordinance weakens his office.
"I believe that the governance guide is helpful for the council, but it was an overkill to make it an ordinance," Bostick said. "Rules and policy change every two years, and even the city manager has changed every two years."
Council has used the governance guide for the past year. Bostick said the guide is a good tool, but he doesn't agree with it when it takes away from the mayor.
"I would say, and always say, the ordinance is a little shaky and needs some clarity," Bostick said. "My bigger problems is that there is nowhere in this state where the mayor is not allowed to write the agenda for his meeting."
Bostick believes that, because the ordinance allows City Manager Bob Nanni to set the agenda, some things will not be addressed in a timely manner.
"I'm very aggressive and I like to see things get done," Bostick said. "The ordinance allows the city manager to set the agenda, and I would address more things - like the local election commission incident - more quickly if I set the agenda."
Nanni said because Hardeeville is under the council-manager government form, the city manager does set the agenda but receives input from all of council.
"There have been no timing issues that I'm aware of in our Hardeeville agenda since I have been here," Nanni said. "I work with the majority of council and they have adopted the governance ordinance, so this is the way we will conduct the government."
Bostick and Mayor Pro Tem Mike Sweeney voted against the ordinance, which passed by a 3-2 vote. Sweeney said the guide needs to be used, but he doesn't see why there was a need for it to become an ordinance.
Residents also voiced concerns at the meeting, asking why the guide needs to be law. Richie Reed of Hardeeville said she has many questions about the ordinance.
"I expressed the fact that I have a lot of questions about the guide being adopted as an ordinance," Reed said. "I'm concerned about a law that is really known as regular procedures."


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Modern volleyball facilities under construction in Haiti
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, February 26, 2014 – The Olympic Center of Haiti, a sport complex that includes one indoor gymnasium with all the standard specifications to play volleyball plus two multi-purpose practice courts, will be inaugurated at the end of May or early June.
Mr. Cristobal Marte Hoffiz, President of the NORCECA Confederation, made the announcement at the conclusion of the annual meetings of all the commissions of the continental volleyball and beach volleyball governing body.
The opening date is being coordinated by the International Olympic Committee's cabinet and that of the President of Haiti, H. E. Michel Martelly.
"The height of the indoor gymnasium was redesigned, to our request, in order to comply with all the international specifications to play volleyball," Marte Hoffiz explained. "That is a key step towards developing volleyball in the country bringing some international competitions of NORCECA."
The complex also includes outdoor multi-purpose courts as well as beach volleyball courts and Marte Hoffiz informed that three outdoor Sport Court volleyball playing surfaces have been donated by NORCECA Confederation this year in addition to one provided in 2013.
The synthetic playing surfaces in the multi-purpose practice halls will be laid as of mid-March with the one in the indoor gym expected to be completed by the end of April or early May.
"We plan to continue helping the neighbor country that was devastated by the terrible earthquake in 2010,"Marte Hoffiz said in reference to Haiti, who shares one third of the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. "We have intensified our support with the donation of sport equipment to Haiti and also with the organization of several courses and clinics in a combined effort with the FIVB."
"Our goal is to change the lives of many young Haitians who love to practice sport," Marte Hoffiz stated. "It is a social responsibility we have with the people living in Haiti under extremely difficult situation."
The International Olympic Committee and several international sport federations are contributing in the construction of the Olympic Center of Haiti located outside of Port-au-Prince, the capital of the country, the poorest nation in the western hemisphere.
The report of progress to donating international federations and National Olympic Committees made on January 31, 2014 states that "constructions are progressing reasonably well though 90 % of the materials have to be imported."
"Most of the donated and purchased sports equipment, maintenance equipment, furniture and other sporting goods have now been received at a warehouse in Miami, USA and will be delivered once the storage spaces are secured with the planned arrival on the second half of March," the report concludes.


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Hi there
Congratulations on your graduation. Please leave your username here for me or OlsBean so we can organise your well deserved graduation badge. we will try not to leave you waiting too long as we know how great they feel when they arrive.
I would like to clarify the position of earning your graduation badge. To get your badge you will of completed the full training podcasts and be able to run for 30 min. It does NOT matter if you can not run 5km, you are a graduate after running 30 min for three times.
So it is fair to everybody please do not ask for your badge until you have completed week 9 run 3.
Realfoodieclub and OlsBean
Every few days I will clear the posts to make way for the new graduates


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You are here
SBA Names Minnesota Encore Entrepreneur of the Year
Walker, Minn. – Jeffrey Morrill, President of CavCom, Inc., based in Walker, Minn., has been named the Minnesota Encore Entrepreneur of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The Encore Entrepreneur of the Year is a newly developed award based on success as measured by sales and profits, increased employment opportunities created by the business, development and/or utilization of innovative or creative business methods, and demonstrated entrepreneurial potential necessary for long-term business success and economic growth. The business owner must have a three-year track record and must have started the business after the age of fifty (50). Gail Leverson, Executive Director of the Cass County Economic Development Corporation, nominated Jeffrey for this award.
CavCom is a privately-held company with manufacturing facilities in Walker, Minn., and regional sales staff throughout the U.S. Started in 2006, CavCom's focus is specialty hearing protection and accessories for 2-way radios. CavCom is recognized for innovation in designing products to prevent hearing loss and improve 2-way communications in high noise and/or respirator environments. Traditional radio microphones and headsets don't work well in extremely high noise or when respirator devices are employed. CavCom products provide optimum hearing protection and comfort where immediate 2-way communication is critical for work safety and product quality. CavCom recognized that employees demand comfort, durability and personal protection as well as clear speech communication.
Jeffrey holds a master's degree in Audiology from Texas Tech University and has been a leading innovator in the audiology field since 1972. From that time until 1998, he founded, built and managed Impact Health Services, Inc. (IHS) in Kansas City, MO. IHS provided mobile occupational health testing and consulting services to over 5,000 manufacturing locations throughout the United States and Canada. This resulted in more than 750,000 employee examinations annually to maintain safe and healthy hearing conditions for workers exposed to loud noise and other hazards in the workplace. The testing services delivered to employees included audiometrics, respirator fit testing and noise analysis. Jeffrey authored and developed the first database analysis system (ECHO) for audiometric measurements in compliance with OSHA noise regulations and innovated on-site analysis and immediate notification technologies. More recently, Jeff invented the CavCom "Talk Through Your Ears" radio communication system. This revolutionary and patented technology received the "Technology of the Year Award" by the Silicon Prairie Technology Association in 1997.
In 1998, Jeffrey sold IHS to US Health-Works, where he would work as President of the Preventive Services Division until 2000. In this role, he managed the growth and consolidation of the new health and safety division for US Health-Works. His responsibilities included acquisitions, integration of companies and services into a single source.
In 2000, Jeffrey turned his attention full-time to developing CavCom products, first with Dooley Tackaberry, Inc., of Deer Park, Texas, and then founding CavCom, Inc. as a privately-held independent company. Jeff was 61 years old when he started this present business. The offices were moved to a new building at the Walker, Minn. Industrial Park in 2006, consolidating manufacturing from vendors in 5 states to Minnesota vendors with final assembly at the Walker facility. During this time, Jeffrey implemented new product development, streamlined manufacturing processes and developed an international sales and marketing campaign. CavCom, Inc. sales have increased steadily through 2012.
Jeffrey has significant experience in the hearing conservation/communications business and is well networked in the industry. He is a member of many professional associations including the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), where he served as the Noise Committee Chairperson. He was Co-editor of the AIHA Noise & Hearing Conservation Manual, Fourth Edition and a former board member and chairperson for the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation (CAOHC) representing the AIHA. This wealth of professional contacts and industry experience enables Jeff to contract and develop new and innovative solutions for high noise and respirator communication applications.
Born and raised in Dakota County, he received his Bachelor's Degree from Mankato State in 1963, taught in the Bemidji Public School system following graduation from Mankato, then worked for the Minnesota Department of Health before leaving the State for a brief 30 years. His wife, Barbara, and three of their sons work in the company,
Jeffrey will be honored at the Minnesota Small Business Week Awards program on May 6, 2013, at the Depot Minneapolis.
For more information:
Jeffrey Morrill
CavCom, Inc.
1872 Industries Lane
Walker, MN 56484


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As the recognized leader for special education professional standards, CEC develops standards, ethics and practices and guidelines to ensure that individuals with exceptionalities have access to well-prepared, career-oriented special educators.
Through the vision and dedication of more than 22,000 members, CEC sets the standard for high quality education for children and youth with exceptionalities. And, CEC is known as THE source for information, resources and professional development for special educators.
Join as a new member
Renew your membership
You'll find professional development offerings to meet the needs of all special educators – including those of you who are time-crunched, cost-conscious or in need of CEUs in order to meet state obligations. Please join us and invite others to engage the potential!
CEC publishes and distributes products designed to help practitioners work more effectively in the classroom. Learn more about CEC's publications and journals.
Special Education Topics includes information about the different exceptionality areas; international special education; hot topics in special education; and professional practice topics such as assessment, evidence-based practices and inclusion.
In recent years, school reform efforts have increasingly focused on ways to evaluate and improve teacher performance. This is in part a response to recent research demonstrating that teachers are the most important school-based factor in determining student achievement. But, just as research has confirmed the importance of teachers, several studies of teacher evaluation systems—the primary method of judging how teachers perform—have found that, more often than not, these systems fail to differentiate between effective and ineffective teachers, are unrelated to professional development, and do not incorporate information about teacher impact on student performance. This, coupled with new federal incentives, has led policy makers to shift their focus in the area of teacher quality.
CEC's Initiatives
In 2009, CEC convened an expert advisory group to consider the current state of teacher evaluation and assist CEC's policy and advocacy team in developing initial recommendations for including educators who work with children and youth with disabilites into teacher evaluation systems. This group included teachers, principals, and administrators from Denver, Colorado; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Guilford County, North Carolina; and Fairfax, Virginia. CEC incorporated its initial recommendations about teacher evaluation systems into CEC's ESEA Reauthorization Recommendations and uses these to guide its work.
In October of 2011, CEC again focused on this issue. At that time, the CEC Board of Directors discussed the current state of teacher evaluation systems and determined that, based on the importance of this topic to CEC members and the field, the organization should develop (1) a report on the current state of research, policy, and practice; and (2) a position on special education teacher evaluation. To draft the CEC Position Statement on Special Education Teacher Evaluation, CEC collaborated with a panel of experts who identified research, policy and practice regarding the current state of special education teacher evaluation and identified challenges and recommendations for the field. CEC also spent time working with our members to understand how to address the unique challenges they face and highlight the unique skills they possess in evaluation systems.
Read Position Statement QA
Read CEC's Special Education Teacher Evaluation Toolkit
Scroll through Teacher Evaluation Position Statement Presentation 10 min
Tell us your thoughts about teacher evaluation systems.


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Last summer, Tales producer Makoto Yoshizumi obliquely tweeted, "Meetings and conferences, sleepiness and struggle, it was a day of live or die." That day has come. The Tales Studio is no more.
The Namco Tales Studio is the developer behind Tales of Phantasia, Tales of Eternia, Tales of Destiny and Tales of Vesperia. The studio was opened in 1986 and is a subsidiary of Namco Bandai. The Tales series has been spun off to anime with Tales of Vesperia: First Strike in late 2009.
Last summer, it was revealed that the studio's debt has piled up so that it has surpassed the studio's total assets, making the developer insolvent. The TaLes Studio accumulated a debt of 21 million dollars and posted an annual loss of one million dollars.
2010 was a rough year for the studio. Early that year, one Tales game was even recalled.
At the time, I thought no way would Namco shutter the Tales Studio. I was wrong. The studio will be dissolved and swallowed up by its parent company, Namco Bandai. The Tales Studio's story is over.
However, don't expect Namco to kill off Tales games. Expect more Tales games. Always expect Tales games.
【速報】テイルズスタジオ解散 [オレ的]
You can contact Brian Ashcraft, the author of this post, at email@example.com. You can also find him on Twitter, Facebook, and lurking around our #tips page.


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I was thinking of doing a "tip of the month" kind of thing to help people learn more about Java or anything related to Java.
Anyone have any suggestions for topics they'd want to see covered? (note, I have a very weak background in web/server stuff, perhaps another member could cover these topics if they are willing)
Some ideas that I've had so far:
Using different features of the Eclipse IDE (like setting up project dependencies, source generation, auto-formatting, etc.)
Little known features of Java (and some common ones)
Algorithms / data structures
How to use different classes in the standard Java SE API to accomplish a task (and possibly external libraries such as JOCL or JOGL)
Getting started with Java


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Thu, 27 September 2007
Alveda King inspires for life. Hod Ben Zvi is a peace activist from Jerusalem. Bill Sammon writes about "The Evangelical President" and the president's spread of moral democracy. Bob Edgar from Common Cause wants public financing of elections. Congressman Steve King wants to re-evaluate the federal funding levels of Iowa's Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).
Direct download: mickelson-2007-09-27.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:21am CDT


text: Remington 700 XCR Long Range Tactical .300 WinMag For Sale from Deweys Pawn Shop | Positive feedback: 100% View | Verified Seller | 333 Completed Sales View Sellers Items /UserImages/5650/967813694 14041048.jpg /UserImages/5650/967813694 14041049.jpg /UserImages/5650/967813694 14041050.jpg /UserImages/5650/967813694 14041051.jpg /UserImages/5650/967813694 14041052.jpg Description: Remington 700 XCR Long Range Tactical chambered in .300 WinMag. Rifle has a 26" 1/10 twist and X Mark Pro trigger. Layaway is available and check our other listings for more fine firearms. 4% fee if paying by card and a 3 day non firing review on all purchases. Read More Condition: Used, Minor Wear Brand: Remington Caliber: .300 Winmag Location: SC Trades Accepted: Some trades considered. Layaway 20% 90 Days. Read More Dewey's Pawn Shop 5900 Augusta RdGreenville, SC 29605Mon-Fri 9:30-6 Sat 10-3We now have an Indoor Pistol Range. All shooting safety equipment for rent or purchase. Glock Factory Rental program. Used handguns for rent. FFL Transfer available in area. Shipping Notes: $50 shipping on long guns, $35 on handguns and scopes. Shipping outside lower 48 is extra. Read More Share Item Item #: 967813694 Stock No.: Log#4921 Deweys Pawn Shop Seller Since: May. 2002 Seller Level: Gold Seller + This seller is an FFL City: Greenville State: SC Price: $895.95 Buy It Now Add To Cart Please Login/Register to Order Login or Register to buy Shipping: $50.00 (or Arrange local transfer) Accepted Payment Methods: Returns: No Returns Send Message to Deweys Pawn Shop You must login or register to send a message to this seller. Contact Seller as Guest Message To Seller Email * That Email Address is already in use. If you typed your email correctly, you are already registered and you should login or click here for the password recovery system. First Name * Last Name * Phone * Address 1 * Address 2 City * State * -State- AK AL AR AZ CA CO CT DC DE FL GA GU HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA PR RI SC SD TN TX UT VA VI VT WA WI WV WY Zip * Already have an account? Login Your Recently Viewed Items


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Wüsthof Gourmet 7-Piece Knife Block Set
In its seventh-generation of family ownership, Wüsthof has been making some of the finest kitchen cutlery in the world since 1814. The Gourmet line features precision stainless-steel blades that resist stains and rust and hold an exceedingly sharp edge.
- A great set for newlyweds or those with smaller kitchens, this set includes four of the most used kitchen knives plus shears, a steel and a 9-slot block.
- The stamped blades are made of high-carbon stainless steel for top performance and durability.
- Triple-riveted high-impact plastic handles provide a secure, comfortable grip.
- Handsome hardwood block safely stores 9 items and is gentle on knives' edges.
- Made in Germany.
7-piece set includes:
- 3" paring knife.
- 4 1/2" utility knife.
- 6" serrated utility knife.
- 6" chef's knife.
- Honing steel.
- Kitchen shears.
- 9-slot storage block.
Please note: Storage block is counted as an individual piece.
Dimensions & More Info
- 3" paring knife: 3"-long blade; 4"-long handle; 1 oz.
- 4 1/2" utility knife: 4 1/2"-long blade; 4 1/2"-long handle; 1.75 oz.
- 6" serrated utility knife: 6"-long blade; 4 1/2"-long handle; 2 oz.
- 6" chef's knife: 6"-long blade; 4 3/4"-long handle; 2.25 oz.
- Honing steel: 9"-long; 4 1/2"-long handle; 6.5 oz.
- Kitchen shears: 8"-long.
Use & Care
- Always use caution when handling sharp objects.
- Avoid cutting on hard surfaces such as stone, metal or glass.
- It is not advisable to use any knife but a meat cleaver to cut through bone, as other blades can be easily damaged.
- Hand-wash with warm water and a mild detergent. Rinse and dry immediately.
- Maintain the knife's cutting edge by regularly using a honing steel.
- Sharpen as needed. With regular use and honing, your knife should not need sharpening more than once or twice a year.
- Sharpen knife at home using a whetstone or knife sharpener, or have it sharpened by a professional.
- Store knife in a safe place to protect its edge and prevent injury.
Gift with Purchase
Receive a $25 Williams-Sonoma Gift Card with your purchase of Wüsthof cutlery. Print Coupon
Registrant: Receive a free gift when you add qualifying Wüsthof products to your registry. Print Coupon
Shipping Information
This item is shipped from our warehouse by UPS to arrive within 3-5 business days of our receiving your order.
Shipping Rates
The shipping rate varies depending on your order total and shipping destination. View Shipping Options and Charges.
Next Day Delivery
For an additional charge of $26 per address, we can expedite delivery to most destinations. This service is not available for some oversize items, items shipped directly from the supplier (including perishable and custom-manufactured items), out-of-stock items and items to be shipped outside the contiguous 48 states.
Orders received by 9:00 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Thursday will arrive the next business day; orders placed Friday through Sunday will arrive on the following Tuesday.
Return Policy
At Williams Sonoma, we take great pride in the quality and craftsmanship of our products. Attention to design, materials, safety and construction are our priority. Upon receipt, please inspect your purchase and notify us of any damage; we will arrange for a prompt replacement.
If within 30 days, you are dissatisfied for any reason, you may return your purchase for a refund of the merchandise value. An original receipt or gift receipt is required for all returns and exchanges. Returns with a gift receipt will be refunded in the form of a Merchandise Credit for the amount indicated on the gift receipt. Returns with original receipt will be refunded in the original form of payment, cash and check refunds over $100 will be issued as a company check (may take 14 business days from time of request).
For all cutlery returns (knife sets, single knives, cutting boards, knife sharpeners, and knife storage) please contact us at 888.922.4108 to initiate the return.
We cannot accept returns on monogrammed, personalized, special-order items, custom upholstery, food, items shipped direct from the vendor, or on items damaged through normal wear and tear. Final sale items ending in .97 or .99 cannot be returned.
For returns of items purchased from your Williams Sonoma Gift Registry, we will gladly provide a refund or exchange for the merchandise within 90 days of your event or within 90 days of purchase, whichever date is later. View Full Returns Policy.
Wüsthof Gourmet 7-Piece Knife Block Set
|Delivery Surcharge
|Wüsthof Gourmet 7-Piece Knife Block Set
|Sugg. Price $298 Our Price $149.95


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Yo, its night time I can't sleep
My pens beggin' me to write rhymes
Cory's a felony despite time
I erase the urge on the tip of my tongue
I taste the words a story is born, my glorious song
Hip hop cannot ignore me for long
I know her last man abused her, I can't refuse her
Alotta niggas used her, treated her like shit even confused her
She had class now she sellin it all for cash
When Marley had her, her face was more pure body fatter
Primo treated her good, made her the queen in my hood
She used to be out in Queens with DMC
And on the rooftp with Big, Fritz, and RP
She was fly she kept her shit tight
Yo if he didn't go to jail dun, she mighta been Slick Rick's wife
Disappeared a few years, she was "Stranded On Death Row"
Dre had her on anotha level in the west coast
She met a lame with with a drug dealer name
He had a lot for a while, then his whole style changed
You know the wisdom is reflected the knowledge when its manifested
If not fed in due time the mind is anerexic
You understand the message
I know I'm gettin to deep for some
Rhyme -- Uncut raw, the beat num
Back to the subject in hand, I called her and said I miss her
Stop fuckin with my fake crew cuz they dissed her
Then along came the R, reminding her of her essence
Rza said she like a sister blessin her with lessons
She was stressed because she missed Pac
She still crying after BIG died askin 'when will this shit stop?'
I love her like a mother, my physical path
She even overlooked the fact about my criminal past
And stayed with me in jail beyond gates visitors passed
No longer is she lettin niggas fuck her just for cash
Whats her name dun? *Echoed*


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Past Simple or Continuous
Both the past simple and the past continuous refer to completed actions in the past.
Most of the time when we are talking about such actions, we use the past simple. This is by far the most common way of talking about the past.
Only use the past continuous when you want to emphasize the continuity of the action.
When we use these two forms in the same sentence, we use the past continuous to talk about the "background action" and the past simple to talk about the shorter completed action.


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261, schiet nou niet bepaald op zo
"If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough."
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2 Guests


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We don't get to spend a lot of time together. His work (including these trips) keeps him quite busy. When he is home, he is exhausted and his eyes close shortly after he settles into his big leather chair. I decided that I would adjust my schedule to allow us a bit of together time when he had to stay awake (at least I hope that he will be awake; he IS driving).
The travel plan for this trip is tight. Lunch for Hubby is often a tuna meal kit in the truck while he is loading at the plant. At the last minute, I decided that a picnic in the truck sleeper would be fun for us. Unfortunately, I decided this after it was too late to gather any picnic supplies. I had to make due with what I had on hand. A survey of the fridge found some eggs, and the memory of an Avocado and Egg Salad that I had once prepared came to me. Yum! That would be great for picnic sandwiches. I prepped some fresh veggies, baked a few cookies from the tub of peanut butter and chocolate chunk dough purchased from a school fundraiser , and had the makings of a picnic underway. It would be a fun trip and provide us both with a little release.
As I am waiting this morning for Hubby to return from his morning chores and start the road trip, a realization has hit me. I am traveling with my Hubby. I plan to feed this man eggs and stay in a very confined place with him for over 300 miles. Pray for me.
1 hard-boiled egg
3-4 tablespoons chopped green onions
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 teaspoon garlic powder
salt and pepper, to taste
1/4 teaspoon lemon juice
Cut ripe avocado into chunks and toss with lemon juice.
Chop egg; add to avocado.
Stir in remaining ingredients.
Spread between slices of whole grain bread for a sandwich, or serve on a bed of lettuce as a salad. (Serves 2)


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Let $\mathbb{P}$ denote the set of all irrational numbers in the open segment$(0 , 1)$. let $K$ be the intersection of $\mathbb{P}$ and the standard cantor set and $H=\mathbb{P}-K$. as you know these sets are zero dimentional.I have three questions about these sets.
Q1.Is it true that the sets $K$ and $H$ are topologically Homeomorphic?
Q2.Is the space $K$ order isomorphic to $\mathbb{P}$ ?(I mean the existence of a monotonically increasing function from $K$ onto $\mathbb{P}$)
Q3.Is $H$ the union of countably many disjoint intervals from $\mathbb{P}$ ?


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Farm Management Pro
Farm Management in your Pocket. Your All in One Farm Management App packed with features to help you manage all your farm Animals (Dairy, Beef Drystock, Sheep, Pigs, Horses, even your dogs), Crops, Fields, Animal Treatments, Tractor and Machinery Service History. Track your Farm staffs Timesheets, farm tasks, even farming notifications. This App has it all. Try it for free, you will never look back.
Feature List:
Farm Task Manager-Plan ahead and never miss a farm task again
Record all you animal Details-Date of Birth to Date of Sale
Record your All Treatment Purchases for Medical Compliance
Manage Animal Event such as Heats
Manage all your Field Details and notes
Manage your Fertiliser purchased and applied to fields
Manage your Lime purchased and Applied to Fields
Monitor Grass growth
Manage and record all chemical purchased and applied
Record all Feed Purchases
Record all Machinery Details and Service History
Record all Farm Workers Time-sheets and costs- Collect your Employees Digital Signature on each Timesheet for Sign off
Farming Reminders-Never Miss a Farm Event or Task Again-Set an Alarm!
Need to brush up your farming skillet? Use the E Learning Videos option to learn a new skill all within the Apps


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The #1 way to create your new and healthy Lifestyle Check out our new Value Plans.
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I lost over 50 pounds † and went from a size 22 to a size 6! The program was very easy to follow, and I liked that I was able to eat real food. I now love to go shopping and even do some modeling on the side.
During the next nine months, I lost over 100 pounds! † Because I saw results every single week, it motivated me to keep going. Medi-Weightloss® taught me healthy eating habits, the value of exercise, and the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. The benefits of being healthy have been priceless!
The results were immediate and I found the program very easy to follow. As the weight came off, my energy level increased and I found it easy to incorporate exercise into the program. Now, 50 pounds lighter † and close to my goal weight, I look forward to entering a maintenance phase and finally the Wellness Phase of the program.


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Center Publication
The New Unemployables—Issue Brief
the new unemployables: older job seekers struggle to find work during the great recession
by Maria Heidkamp, Nicole Corre & Carl E. Van Horn
November 2010—Only 1% of unemployed older workers said they are very optimistic that they will find a job in the near future, while 30% said they were very pessimistic, according to the sobering New Unemployables study by Boston College's Sloan Center on Aging & Work and the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University.
As 2010 draws to a close there are roughly 15 million unemployed Americans continuing their search for jobs. The percent of job seekers designated as "long-term unemployed" – those unemployed 27 or more weeks – has never been higher.
Less likely to find new employment, older job seekers are currently feeling financial pressure:
- 40% rated their financial situation as poor, and 61% said they have adjusted their plans for retirement.
- 41% of older workers (employed and unemployed) indicated they have no health care benefits.
- Over half (51%) of older workers reported foregoing medical care for themselves or their families, compared to 35% of younger workers.
- 30% of older workers indicated that they had more in credit card debt than retirement savings.
- Fully two thirds (67%) reported using money from savings to make ends meet.
In order to land a job, older job seekers have been willing to make sacrifices, including:
- Willingness to adapt to the depressed job market by changing careers (69%).
- Willingness to take a pay cut (77%), compared to 64% of prime age job seekers
- However, only 12% of older workers had taken a class or training course for skills to get a new job, compared to 20% of younger workers.
Overall, older job seekers expressed that age discrimination was a major factor contributing to their failure to find a job.
» Access the Issue Brief—The New Unemployables: Older Job Seekers Struggle to Find Work During the Great Recession—Comparing the Job Search, Financial, and Emotional Experiences of Older and Younger Unemployed Americans


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Confronted with a do-or-die debate on Oct. 3, an energized Mitt Romney surprised America � and that lifeless opponent standing to his left. You knew that President Barack Obama, confronting a similar ultimatum Tuesday night at Hofstra University, would display more energy. Asked and answered.
As these minutes unfolded, though, we tried to look past the reassuring theatrics � yes, this debate engaged both men, and neither stumbled � to explore three hard questions facing voters:
Would Obama talk about Romney or about ... Obama? On Oct. 3, the president spoke four minutes longer than Romney did, but obsessed on trying to undercut his opponent rather than defending his own record. This time Obama offered stronger defenses of his policies and performance and four times accused Romney of saying things that are not true.
For all the jousting, we wish Obama had acknowledged that his plan to raise taxes on high-income Americans would eliminate only about one-tenth of the annual federal deficit. That said, we also wish Romney had offered more specifics on the deductions and loopholes he�d limit to pay for his most ambitious goal, broad cuts in tax rates.
Neither man told Americans about the sacrifices on the horizon: Obama didn�t admit that federal spending, and specifically spending on Medicare and Social Security, is unsustainable without major reforms. Romney didn�t admit that his tax plan includes anticipated revenue increases from a growing economy � a pleasant hope but still a hope � to avoid creating more debt.
Which Romney would take the stage � optimistic and commanding, or flummoxed and remote from his audience?
The presence of a stronger Obama didn�t create a weaker Romney. He was at his best when repeatedly steering attention to promises that Obama had made but hasn�t fulfilled. Romney ticked off a long list: the pledge to halve annual deficits that instead have doubled, the prediction that unemployment by now would be well below 6 percent, the promise to put forth a comprehensive immigration plan in Year One, the assurance that the agony of home foreclosures would diminish, the suggestion that household income would rise. �If you elect President Obama, you know what you�re going to get,� Romney told Americans. �... This is a president who has not been able to do what he said he would do.�
Do voters have a choice of two agendas, or merely of two men? Liberal pundits in particular had goaded Obama to specify fresh ambitions that would justify a second term (�When did Obama lose �the vision thing�?� snapped The Washington Post�s Ezra Klein). But this format proved an inclement place for new proposals. The discussion was spirited, the talking points familiar. Viewers did, though, see both men at their best, taking questions from Main Street Americans worried about issues close to their lives: jobs, gasoline prices, taxes and � the unifying theme � fears for the United States of tomorrow.
We�ll know soon whether Obama stopped the bleeding that began Oct. 3: Romney holds a small but persistent lead in the RealClearPolitics polling averages � thanks in part to a swing toward him among women in battleground states. That trend explains both men�s overt appeals to women voters Tuesday night.
Choose your own winner, then, and be grateful: This month�s debates have animated what had been a dispiriting slog to Nov. 6. The final round comes next Monday in hard-fought Florida.


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St. Patricia Sterling Silver Oval Medal Saint Patricia oval medal-pendant. Solid .925 sterling silver. Detail depicts her wearing a crown and holdi...View full details
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Search Jim Cramer's "Mad Money" trading recommendations using our exclusive "Mad Money" Stock Screener.
NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- We don't know where the market will be when the fiscal crisis comes to an end, Jim Cramer told his "Mad Money" TV show viewers Friday, which is why his game plan for next week's trading included a lot of listening and not a lot of action. Cramer said he's skeptical of positive comments coming from the White House, as he's had his hopes dashed plenty of times before. On Monday, Cramer said he'll be watching Lowes ( LOW - Get Report) and Jack In The Box ( JACK - Get Report). He said Lowes isn't as good as rival Home Depot ( HD - Get Report), which is why he'd use any weakness in Lowes to buy more Depot. As for Jack, Cramer said he'll be listening to see if the weakness at McDonald's ( MCD - Get Report) extended beyond that company and whether it's safe to buy back into Chipotle Mexican Grill ( CMG - Get Report). Next, on Tuesday, Cramer said it's Best Buy ( BBY - Get Report), Heinz ( HNZ) and Salesforce.com ( CRM - Get Report) reporting. He said things at Best Buy could be potentially terminal for that company, as other retailers like Sears ( SHLD) have seen weak sales. Cramer liked Heinz, a stock immune to the fiscal cliff, but said he's in listen-only mode with Salesforce, as nothing that company could report will likely be good enough for the markets. Finally on Wednesday, Cramer said John Deere ( DE - Get Report) will be reporting. He said this company's shares get hit after every quarter, which is why investors need to be careful. As for those ongoing budget talks, Cramer said he's reminded of 1990, when the markets were hinged on whether negotiations with Saddam Hussein would lead to a withdrawal of troops from Kuwait. Back then, everyone was on edge, he said, afraid to be long stocks going into the weekends, and covering their shorts daily. The same appears to be true today, he said, as no one knows when, or how, the budget stalemate will end.


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World Wide Study Bible
a Bible passage
Click a verse to see commentary
62Jesus said, "I am; and
'you will see the Son of Man
seated at the right hand of the Power,'
and 'coming with the clouds of heaven.' "
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Select a resource above
The commentary does not cover Mark 14:62.


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December 06, 2012
Emma's Wish List
Emma's been a good girl this year, so she put together a list for Santa! Just like my own list, I created it on Pinterest for easy linking. I added some of our favorite brands - Baby Gap, Noodle & Boo Bath Products, and goodies from Pottery Barn Kids. And, those Cole Haan driving loafers are the cutest things I've ever seen! If you have any little girls to buy for, it will give you some great ideas! I'll be adding more finds throughout the season...
Emma's Wish List
Labels: emma, emma's christmas, wish list
2 comments:
- Anonymous1:46 PM
Jenny. I am sorry about being a nag, but I was making the ginger cookies last night and they were totally dry. Is the 1/4 cup oil correct or should I add more. Maybe questions should be directed somewhere else than in the comments section??? Please let me know where you prefer to ask questions regarding your recipes. I really want these to turn out like yours in the picture.ReplyDelete
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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Rael Lyra is a concept aritst at Playlore who has also done work for companies like Marvel and BOOM! Studios.
You can see more of Rael's work at his personal site.
To see the larger pics in all their glory (or, if they're big enough, so you can save them as wallpaper), click on the "expand" button in the bottom-right corner.
Fine Art is a celebration of the work of video game artists, showcasing the best of both their professional and personal portfolios. If you're in the business and have some concept, environment, promotional or character art you'd like to share, drop us a line!


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S6 E18 Suicide Is Painless
Callie tells Mark how Arizona's stance on children has upset her. "She doesn't want kids, in her womb, in her house, ever." He urges her to tell Arizona how important it is to her.
Even though Richard is no longer the Chief, no one quite knows how to treat him. Their "I'd hit that," conversations dry up when he comes around and no one wants to sit with him at the cafeteria. When Richard complains, "I'm not a coach anymore, I'm a player," Mark tells him, " It's a sign of respect." Meanwhile, Derek can't eat in the cafeteria at all because he's besieged by people asking for favors. He's also missing the rush of surgery, so when Meredith tells him about a tumor she diagnosed, he steals the surgery from her! Richard advises him to schedule at least one surgery a day so he can keep his hand in. And to eat with someone so people will leave him alone. "You can eat with me," Richard says and Derek thanks him for the offer and the much-needed advice.
Teddy has a patient, Kim, with terminal cancer who wants to end her own life, which is now legal in Washington state. She needs another surgeon to sign off and asks Owen. She's shocked when he disapproves and even more so when he goes to Derek to object. "What the hell is your problem?" she demands. "This patient is exercising her legal right to die." She goes to Mark instead, who gives her the necessary second signature.
Owen doesn't explain why this case bothers him so much: He remembers his time in Iraq and how he and his men's jeep were hit by an explosive device that killed everyone but him and his superior officer, Dan. But Dan is badly injured and begging for Owen to let him die, as no one is coming and the pain is more than he can bear. Owen finally gives in and lets Dan bleed out—just as a helicopter arrives. Owen confronts Kim about why she won't wait for a possible cure and we're wiping away tears as she tells him, "Maybe you have to be dying to understand, but there's a point when death stops being scary. It's hope that's scary."
Kim's husband returns with the barbiturates that will end her life and finds Owen sitting outside. We're so moved when Owen tells him, "There'll be a moment when her face will relax and all that pain will be gone. And you'll feel relief for her and for your. And you'll know with absolute certainty you did the right thing." Owen urges him to hang onto that moment and that anything else he'll feel is just "your own garbage." Owen can't stop thinking about Teddy and their time in Iraq, but Teddy's moving on: After Kim's death, it's Mark she turns to for comfort, and sex.
Callie tells Arizona they need to talk and Arizona thinks she's breaking up with her. "It's not a bad thing," Callie says, then tells her, "I want to have a baby. At some point in my life. I really have to have a baby." But we can see it's a blow to Arizona, who pulls back her hand from Callie's grasp.


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Men?s Golfer of the Week ? No. 2
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Julian Taylor of William Woods (Mo.) has been named the NAIA National Men's Golfer of the Week, the national office announced Wednesday. Taylor, who is the first golfer from William Woods to win the award, was selected based on his performance from March 18 – 24 and was chosen out of a pool of conference/independent/unaffiliated group golfer of the week selections.
Taylor claimed his second individual title of the 2012-13 season with a crown at the Eagle Invitational in Daytona Beach, Fla. The event was played out on the Legends Course at the LPGA International March 18-19. The sophomore from York, England, carded a 70-64-74 – 208 at the 54-hole event to top a field of 63 individuals from 13 teams. Taylor's tournament run was highlighted by a second-round 64, which set course record for lowest round in a competition at the LPGA. Additionally, his performance guided the Owls to a third-place team finish.
Taylor's other individual title came at the Missouri Intercollegiate Golf Tournament in Lake of the Ozarks, Mo., on Sept. 4-5.
The next Men's Golfer of the Week will be announced on April 3. For the complete 2013 Golfer of the Week schedule, click here.
Nominees: Adam Hall, Blue Mountain (Miss.); DJ Adcock, Martin Methodist (Tenn.); Jess Wingett, Concordia (Ore.); Ryan Hargrove, Arizona Christian; Ben Johnson, Bethany (Kan.); Dave Goad, Madonna (Mich.); Travis Cashion, South Carolina Beaufort; Felix Aberg, Northwood (Fla.); Jakob Good, St. Thomas (Fla.); Matt Emery, Lee (Tenn.); Ian McAdams, Belhaven (Miss.); Chase Blan, Mobile (Ala.); Jonathan Kopsell, Embry-Riddle (Fla.); Trevor Smith, Coastal Georgia; Preston Bartley, Rogers State (Okla.); Austin Hieb, Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.); Jared Lambert, Corban (Ore.); Leon Scheepers, Lubbock Christian (Texas); John-MIchael Pilot, Warner Pacific (Ore.); Ryan Odom, Cal State San Marcos.
2013 Composite Award Winners
Week 1 (March 20): Nathan Anderson, Texas Wesleyan
Week 2 (March 27): Julian Taylor, William Woods (Mo.)


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DiskCryptor (free) is a handy encryption program - simple, to the point, and lightweight.
My preference is to encrypt entire drives and partitions, which is the level at which I organize my data these days, and that's exactly what DiskCryptor does--even with your system partition. The program takes that one further and will encrypt ISO files that you may then burn to CD. If you need encrypted container files, look to TrueCrypt or others.
After you install DiskCryptor, it runs as a service in the background with an icon in the system tray. You can set it up to load from your boot sector if you've encrypted your system drive. Click on the system tray icon and you're presented with a plain, down-to-business dialog from which you encrypt/decrypt (AES 256, Two-fish, Serpent) as well as mount and unmount encrypted drives. The program uses only a little over 1MB of disk space installed.
You couldn't get more business-like than DiskCryptor's interface.
There are a few peculiarities with DiskCryptor that you should be aware of. When you unmount an encrypted drive, it's still visible to the system, as well as Windows Disk management, but isn't recognized as a validly formatted or partitioned drive. This could lead someone to think the drive is corrupt and repartition or reformat it.
A hide drive function would be nice. Also, it would be nice to have context menu support so you don't have to go through the dialog for everything. But that's a lot of complaining for a program that's free, easy, convenient, and works extremely well.
DiskCryptor encrypts at the sector, not file level, so converting a drive one way or the other can take a while. In my hands-on, the program worked perfectly and encrypted a 64GB USB 3.0 flash drive in about 20 minutes, or 50MBps on a fast Core i7 system. Decrypting was considerably slower at about 20MBps. Copying files to the flash drive proceeded at about 55MBps - encrypted or not.
DiskCryptor is lightweight, seems reliable, and doesn't seem to noticeably impact system performance. It doesn't offer the same wealth of options as TrueCrypt, but if you need only drive and partition-level encryption, then DiskCryptor's a worthwhile alternative.


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Error messages are an important part of an application. Generally each application/system has a collection of error messages stored somewhere (I would use a dictionary of some sorts). From a UX stand point it's important to phrase and design error messages and dialogs, in a way that tells the user what 'exactly' just happened. There's no point in covering technical issues with a generic error message such as "Service unavailable", when it doesn't do anything to help the user take any action based on that information. Provide them with what to do when a service is not available. Is the internet connection not available? Is your web service down for maintenance? Is it a windows service on user's machine that didn't start correctly on reboot?
Technially it's always possible to go that one extra mile to figure out and tell the user exactly what just happened and provide them with links to help documentation or provide useful actionable information immediately available, most times, right on the Error Dialog may be.
I recently got this Error dialog, when I was trying to activate a tool, I entered my credentials and bam, I got this error.
It could have been more specific, as in I entered my credentials wrong or the web service it used to authenticate is not available.


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Whoops - No Flash Detected.
Send a Link to Yourself to Try from a Computer!
This product is currently only customizable with Flash.
Enter your email address below to send yourself a link to design your own next time you're at your computer!
You can also Shop browsing great designs by other users:
About This iPhone 4 / 4S Slider Case
Design your own iPhone 4 / 4S Slider Case! This case features an easy slide-on installation with a soft-touch plastic finish that feels great in your hand. The plastic is very durable and can protect the phone from common drops or falls. The custom design is printed across the entire back of the case, from edge to edge, professionally in high quality, and the color of the un-printed areas are solid black.
This case has a matte finish and does NOT print around the sides of the case. The sides of the case are black.
Product Details:
- Compatible with the iPhone 4 / 4S
- Protects phone by wrapping around corners
- Durable, hard shell polycarbonate construction
- The design is laser engraved or printed using the Coveroo HighColor process
- Hand-customized by the Coveroo team in San Francisco, CA
This case typically is processed and shipped around 4-5 days from placing the order. USPS estimates domestic US shipping to take 2-6 days.
You're Designing a Custom iPhone 4 and 4S Slider Case
After completing all of the steps above, your custom iPhone 4 and 4S Slider Case will be saved now (to your free profile) where you can share it with your friends on any social network, or by email! Your design will also be added to your shopping cart. Check our homepage for promotions and coupons for exclusive Cats On Things offers and discount codes!
Thanks for using Cats On Things
Contact us if you have any feedback on how we can improve or what products you'd like to see next on Cats On Things!


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Since 1999, Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown has been a staunch advocate for Philadelphia's children. She was one of the city's leading forces in the much needed merger of the parks and recreation departments. A former dancer/company member of Philadanco, Reynolds Brown has been an important voice for the city's arts and cultural communities, and, to this day, she remains active as an ex-officio member of Philadanco's board. Her menu-labeling legislation, requiring chain restaurants to post nutritional and calorie information, has helped to disqualify Philadelphia as one of the fattest cities in America.
That is the Blondell Reynolds Brown that has been a champion to Philadelphians.
But there is another Blondell Reynolds Brown. That is the one who is expected and required to complete accurate and thorough campaign finance reports, where she abides by the law. That Reynolds Brown is not looking so good right now. Only days ago considered to be a front runner in 2015 to become Philadelphia's first female mayor (and its first African-American female mayor), Reynolds Brown is now in the fight of her political life.
This is not Reynolds Brown's first brush with the Board of Ethics. In a candidates' debate sponsored by WHYY in 2011, she admitted in this audio that there's "simply no excuse – we have responsibility to read the documents that come before us. No matter how busy we are, we have to take the time to read before we sign and then to make sure that they are filed on time."
Daily News columnist Christine Flowers shared with me on my open Facebook page thread: "Citing an 'error in judgment' will get you dispensation from a Catholic priest. It is insufficient to excuse what amounts to an ethical violation. Of course, in this city, ethics are optional."
Former City Council candidate and 2015 GOP mayoral hopeful Joe McColgan sent me this in an email: "Mayor Nutter should call for her resignation from City Council entirely, and at the very least he should call on her to relinquish her leadership role on council. Frankly, the entire Council should be doing the same, Republican and Democrat alike. If they don't, we can only assume all the conversation regarding ethics and transparency and reform over the past few years has been nothing more than a lie."
That sounds pretty mayoral to me.
Too many surveys are telling us that the public doesn't trust politicians and that the trust is at an all time low. We are tired of politicians who say, "Do what I say and not what I do." People take notice when politicians exempt themselves from the laws they create.
When Richard Nixon was implicated in Watergate, he had a choice. He could have called in the military and had them protect him from being removed from office. But he didn't do that because this is America – not a banana republic. Americans have a cultural norm of behaving a certain way. Rather than using the army or the police to shield one from physical removal of office, American politicians respect and employ the cultural norm of stepping down when it's time to move on.
The people that contributed to Reynolds Brown's campaign expected that money to be used for the purpose of her reelection. She has admitted that some wasn't used that way. Average Philadelphians who read about this sad case may never again feel comfortable financing candidates' elections. That's unfortunate – because this is not the time, in Philadelphia or in Washington – when we can accept the public's erosion of confidence in government.
Reynolds Brown: Please step down.