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Winning a bid in a tough economy is like squeezing blood out of a turnip, says a Texas electrical contractor. More contractors are competing for less work, which has turned the Dallas market into a feeding frenzy.
"We are probably estimating more aggressively than we ever have in the 20 years that I've been in business," says Keith Bell, president of Intex Electrical Contractors, Inc., Forney, Texas. "Today in the electrical business our conference rooms have turned into casinos. We really roll the dice every job we take, every decision we make, and every bid we put out. My lawyer calls us the last of the Riverboat Gamblers."
Intex shifted its focus from private to public work due to increasing competition in the design-build office warehouse market. The contractor recently wrapped up construction on a power plant and is now wiring five schools. To win the projects, Bell says his company needed to first become the low-cost provider and then devise a way to turn a profit through purchasing, partnering, productivity, and value engineering. Because the jobs are so thin, Bell has to carefully manage every dollar and plan for additional margins.
"In Dallas, there is hardly any negotiated work anymore," Bell says. "It's a dangerous game when the economy gets like this. There are some contractors out there that have to sell the next job because they have to keep the money flowing through the company."
Don Short, president of Tempest Co., an Omaha, Neb.-based estimating and consulting firm, advises his clients to be careful when playing the competitive bidding game.
"In a hard bid situation the low bidder almost always wins," he says. "There is not much of a way to stand out unless you have a goofy low price, and then you don't want to stand out that way. The contractor who is just trying to take work just to keep his people busy is not being a smart businessman. If you continuously bid a job without profit, it is going to cost you your company."
With the number of bidders skyrocketing on individual projects, some contractors are putting out numbers that are below cost, says Victor Salerno, executive vice president of O'Connell Electric Co., Victor, N.Y. But unless contractors make money on their jobs, they face the threat of going out of business. This article offers 10 tried-and-true strategies that contractors should follow in order to win bids without losing their livelihood.
- Analyze your market
Electrical contractors need to do their homework before diving into the bidding process, says Steve Chilton, executive vice president of Cache Valley Electric, which has been in business since 1915. The Logan, Utah-based contractor hired a business development employee to track down leads and meet with potential customers. "We try to be as far ahead of our competition as we can possibly be by knowing about work from the start rather than waiting for someone to call us," he says. "We do strong business development in our area."
- Do some competitive shopping
By learning more about the other bidders on a project, contractors can better understand how they stack up against the competition, says Short, a former president of the American Society of Professional Estimators (ASPE). Companies who want to keep tabs on the competition without divulging their bid information can perform a market bid analysis. By putting together a bid but not turning it in, a contractor can compare his number to other bidders. "They can check the market without anyone knowing about it," Short says.
- Hire a team of quality estimators
An estimator can make or break a project, says Bell of Intex. "If the estimator makes a mistake, you are doomed from the beginning," he says. "That's just the risk there is in this business, and that's why they call it estimating. You have a set of drawings, and one person is sitting down and discerning how many hours and how much material it's going to take to get the job done." To minimize mistakes, Bell says he hires estimators who are detailed, thorough, meticulous, and have previous field experience. "I want my estimator to be a realist," he says.
- Focus your bids
Select projects that best fit your company's market strengths, Short says. As a rule of thumb, contractors typically win about one out of every seven jobs. By bidding everything in sight, a contractor could be wasting valuable time and money. "You have to focus on what your market is," Short says. "You can't just take a shotgun approach to estimating and bidding."
- Make sure you have the adequate resources to do the work
Don't bid a project unless you know that you have enough estimators, project managers, purchasing personnel, journeymen, foremen, and superintendents to get the job done. When you win a project, manage it down to the last detail, Bell says. "Project management has become more of a key because our upfront margins are so thin," he says. "The only way that we are making some decent profits is through cost management and project management."
- Get your financial house in order
Contractors need to be fiscally responsible to weather the financial storm, Bell says. To stay in business, a company needs to be in a liquid position with limited liability and long-term debt. Owners may also consider a contractor's bonding capacity in a negotiated bid situation. For this reason, Short advises contractors to make sure they have adequate bonding to support a project's scope of work. "A lot of people have tightened up their margins so they are not making as much money," Short says. "Because they have fewer assets, they have a reduced bonding capacity."
- Don't count on change orders
Companies who bid at or below cost may no longer be able to recoup their losses through change orders, Short says. "Once you have the bid, then you're faced with trying to perform the work at the lowest possible cost while still meeting the plans and specifications requirements," Short says. "To do that, you have to have good field and office personnel and be able to track and forecast your costs."
- Control labor and material costs
To provide a lower bid, a contractor can look at one of two things — labor or material. One way to lower labor costs is to hire electrical apprentices, Salerno says. "There are apprentices available from the union, and we try to mix them in as best as we can to get the prices as low as reasonably possible," he says. "You have to train the future workforce, and that's one of the ways that you do it." The New York contractor also works closely with its vendors to try to drop material costs. "Some of them are in the same boat we are," he says. "It trickles up and down the line. It's not just the contractors. Sometimes the suppliers are willing to drop their margins, and you have to take advantage of that and pass it on to a customer if you want to get a job."
- Emphasize safety
Contractors who have a strong safety record can often get a competitive edge in negotiated bid situations. O'Connell Electric increased its focus on safety by hiring a safety manager. Salerno says it has paid off handsomely for the company by lowering their workman's comp rates. "It's also a good marketing tool because owners like to see that you feel as strongly about safety as they do," he says.
- Shift to different market segments
Contractors who are continually losing bids may need to expand their reach to other markets, Short says. For example, if a contractor's business is 75% private and 25% public, but the public sector has more activity, they might want to consider shifting their focus to public work. Contractors can also branch into new market segments like home networking or photovoltaics to pump up their profits. Cache Valley Electric started a controls and automation group, expanded its teledata group, and formed a technologies group in conjunction with Qwest Communications and Sprint. "It helps us look to the future and grow our business," Chilton says.
In the past few years, the number of bidders on individual projects has doubled or tripled in some areas, forcing contractors to lay off electricians, reduce margins on projects, or go out of business. The strongest contractors often survive, however, by finding a way to squeeze a little more blood out of those turnips.
Sidebar: Dos and Don'ts of Competitive Bidding
Ask lots of questions prior to bid day.
Thoroughly investigate the jobsite.
Have an open line of communication with your client.
Understand the scope of work.
Make sure you do your homework.
Try to put a bid together too quickly.
Get wildly optimistic.
Get caught up in the reverse auction.
Leave anything out of the bid.
Continuously bid at or below cost to keep your electricians busy.
Sidebar: Recommended Competitive Bidding Practices
The American Society of Professional Estimators (ASPE), which has 2,500 individual members worldwide, recently published a booklet of recommended bidding procedures. Here's a short list of some Q&As as noted in their report.
Q. Should prime bids be received from any prime bidder, or should bids be received only from pre-qualified bidders?
A. Many public owners are required by law to solicit and accept bids from any bidder, which meets the criteria set forth in the bidding documents.
Q. How should a bid be advertised?
A. A typical bid advertisement may be mailed to individual firms, published in newspapers or magazines, or posted in plan rooms. The ad should be circulated 30 days before the distribution of bidding documents and contain a short description of the project.
Q. How much time from the issue of bidding documents should be allowed for bid preparation?
A. Allow three weeks minimum preparation for small projects under $1,000,000 and about four to six weeks for large or complex projects.
Q. How many sets of plans and specifications should be issued to each prime bidder on a project?
A. Each prime bidder should be allowed at least four sets of bidding documents for its use and the use of some of its subcontractors and material suppliers.
Q. Should the architect or owner supply plans to the local plan rooms and plan services?
A. Each local plan room should receive, free of charge, two to four complete sets of bidding documents at the time of initial issue.
Q. Should pre-bid conferences be held?
A. Pre-bid conferences should be organized at the project site at the mid-point of the bidding period, but no longer than 10 days prior to the bid date.
Q. What constitutes ethical practices in bidding and contracting construction projects?
A. Owners should award construction projects to the responsive and responsible prime bidder that submits the low bid on bid day.


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The Salinger of Indie Rock
What happened to Jeff Mangum?
Ten years ago this month, a songwriter from nowhere and his ramshackle band brought out one of the few truly great albums of this generation, a musical curio so gloriously odd that it almost defies explanation. The group called itself Neutral Milk Hotel, and the record, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, is a concept album about Anne Frank in which vocals about lost Siamese twins and semen-stained mountaintops mingle with the sounds of musical saws, fuzzy tape loops, and an amateur psychedelic brass band. It seems like a formula that would blister your eardrums, yet Aeroplane is a gorgeous, much adored work of art. In 2003, the alternative music magazine Magnet dubbed it the best album of the past decade—better than Nirvana, better than Radiohead.
While the record sells better today than ever, you won't see Neutral Milk Hotel onstage anytime soon because, for all intents and purposes, they've vanished into thin air. At the end of Aeroplane's final song, you can hear Jeff Mangum—the band's singer, songwriter, and all-around mastermind—set down his guitar and walk off, and, minus a few months of under-the-radar touring, that's exactly what Mangum did in real life. When the major labels and the glossy magazines and the half-crazed fans came calling, Mangum never responded. There was no breakup announcement, no reason given for the radio silence—he just faded out. After a decade of speculation, sightings, and hoaxes, his story remains a mystery: Why did he decide to disappear? And where has Mangum gone?
Even before his public vanishing act, Mangum was something of an elusive character. Raised in the arts vortex of Ruston, La., he bristled at his hometown's jocks-and-booze ethic and hoped from an early age to unchain his creative spirit. In the early '90s, Mangum and a few friends formed a now-legendary collective called Elephant Six, which grew to encompass dozens of strangely named bands creating eclectic music mostly for their own enjoyment. Yet Mangum himself seldom stayed in one place for long; he constantly hopped from city to city, acoustic guitar in hand. At home in the collective's base of Athens, Ga., or out on his peregrinations, Mangum cut a strange figure: a long-locked, intense-looking man with a gale-strength singing voice who liked to wear garish thrift-store sweaters and embellish the cuffs of his pants with cartoon sketchings.
Because he suffered from night terrors, Mangum often stayed up until dawn working on his songs, sometimes addressing them to the ghosts in a haunted closet. At first, this method produced modest results: His first album, On Avery Island (1996), showed flashes of promise but had its sludgy and spotty patches. One day, Mangum wandered into a bookstore and happened upon a copy of Anne Frank's The Diary of a Young Girl. The book consumed him. After finishing it, he spent a few days crying over Frank's story. As he told a Puncture magazine interviewer before Aeroplane's release, "I would go to bed every night and have dreams about having a time machine and somehow I'd have the ability to move through time and space freely, and save Anne Frank. Do you think that's embarrassing?" The songs and lyrics he started writing about Frank could be so nightmarish in vision that Mangum grew afraid of what was issuing from his brain: verses about "pianos filled with flames" and eating "tomatoes and radio wires." At times, he seems possessed, singing on Aeroplane's title track, "Anna's ghost all around/ Hear her voice as it's rolling and ringing through me."
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea is so expansive in its weirdness that one of its 11 songs is a rollicking bagpipe jam—yet it would be wrong to call it a "cult" record, since that would imply it's some sort of flawed art-school project. Sure, Aeroplane occasionally sounds like a mariachi circus fed through a broken amplifier, but it all weaves together as Mangum guides the proceedings with percussive guitar strumming, singalong melodies, and his booming, emotive voice. The album plays like a document from a parallel-universe version of the 1940s, inlaid with Mangum's haunting lyrics: "And here's where your mother sleeps/ And here is the room where your brothers were born/ Indentions in the sheets/ Where their bodies once moved but don't move anymore." Aeroplane isn't about airtight instrumentation or tricky songwriting—most of the songs have just three or four chords—but about a remarkable range of feeling put into melody. (Mangum recorded his part of the song "Oh Comely" in one scratch take, at the end of which you can hear a stunned band member yell "Holy shit!" in the background.)
When Aeroplane first debuted, sales took a while to warm up. Those who found the record would appear at shows and (to the annoyance of many audience members) collectively drown out Mangum's singing with their own rendition, but this was still indie music's dark, pre-blog era. By the time magazines started paying attention, toward the end of 1998, Mangum already had one foot out the door. Worn down by months of touring, he grew fed up with discussing himself and explaining his lyrics, eventually declining to accept any calls—yet friends say he still fixated on every word written about him. As his bandmates pressed him to capitalize on Neutral Milk Hotel's success, he withdrew more and more. When R.E.M. offered a chance to open for them, he said no. And for the last decade, that's nearly all he's said.
As Aeroplane's legend began to build, Mangum kept himself busy by having a total nervous breakdown. Laura Carter, his then-girlfriend, told the Atlanta alt-weekly Creative Loafing that he spent entire days sitting in his house in a state of near panic, wearing a pair of old slippers and doing absolutely nothing. He became paranoid, hoarding rice for the inevitable post-Y2K apocalypse. Since 1998, Mangum has rejected every interview request save one 2002 conversation with Pitchfork in which he explained his meltdown. "I went through a period, after Aeroplane, when a lot of the basic assumptions I held about reality started crumbling," he said. One of those assumptions was that music would somehow erase his problems. "I guess I had this idea that if we all created our dream we could live happily ever after," he continued. "So when so many of our dreams had come true and yet I still saw that so many of my friends were in a lot of pain … I saw their pain from a different perspective and realized that I can't just sing my way out of all this suffering."
It took Mangum years to rebuild himself after this spiritual crisis—and since part of that crisis was his recognition that music would never save him from his demons, he couldn't very well embark on another record. So he wandered the globe to find spiritual balance, even spending time in a monastery. (Aeroplane's steady sales helped finance the quest; the album still moves a reported 25,000 copies a year.) Occasionally, Mangum flitted ever so briefly into the public eye. He released a disc of field recordings of Bulgarian folk music, then disappeared. Calling himself "Jefferson," he hosted a late-night radio show on New Jersey's WFMU a few times until he was discovered, then vanished once again. Sometimes he'll appear onstage at friends' rock shows for a song, sending the crowd into paroxysms—but when those friends suggest he record his own music, they say he becomes evasive.
Mangum's continued silence has angered some fans, who accuse him of being selfish or "indifferent to his talent," as if musical ability comes with some sort of obligation to society. At least once a year, someone writes a hoax message from Mangum and posts it online—generally throwing in some fanciful verbal junk to bilk fans into believing it's the genius himself wielding the keyboard. Some have announced forthcoming records or tours, while others have revealed the long-hidden sources of Mangum's misanthropy; they've all been debunked. All we really know for sure is this: According to his record label, Mangum now lives in New York City. He recently married filmmaker Astra Taylor. Friends say he still creates art and that he seems "very happy." If he has plans to record more music, he hasn't told anyone.
And if Aeroplane really is Jeff Mangum's final statement to the universe, maybe we should be happy with that—not because of some tired line about going out at your peak (which he likely didn't reach), but because his story is a kind of modern fable. Many fans see his disappearance only in selfish terms: They've been deprived of more great music for no good reason. They can't understand why Mangum would shun success just to shuffle through his days, and, indeed, when musicians abandon this much promise, the culprit is usually drugs or debilitating accidents or people named Yoko. So he must have gone nuts, right? Well, no. After all, what if Mangum is just being honest? What if he poured his life into achieving musical success only to discover that it wasn't going to make him happy, so he elected to make a clean break and move on? We should all be so crazy.
As always, though, hope for Mangum's return still glimmers. Last month brought news that he may play a guy in a lobster suit in a soon-to-be-released conceptual film. But who knows? You can't see inside the suit.

subset: commoncrawl


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Tesla Motors (NASDAQ:TSLA) is widening its search for the location of a new battery factory to three sites, according to chief executive Elon Musk.
Continue Reading Below
In an appearance at Tesla's annual meeting on Tuesday, Musk also said he plans to remain CEO of the company he founded until at least 2018. That would keep Musk behind the wheel through the launch of Tesla's third-generation electric car, which is expected to cost about $35,000 and go on sale at the end of 2016.
Investors are closely watching Tesla's progress toward building the battery factory, which the company has dubbed a "Gigafactory." Tesla has said the plant will lower costs and boost production of lithium-ion batteries starting in 2017.
When it reported earnings last month, the electric car maker indicated it would start work on at least two potential locations for the Gigafactory to prevent any delays after breaking ground.
On Tuesday, Musk said Tesla may begin construction on three sites. A final decision on the Gigafactory's location will be made after the end of this year. Tesla is considering sites in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Nevada, while California -- Tesla's home state -- remains a possibility.
"We're probably going to do two or maybe three states all the way to creating a foundation and completing the plans and getting approval. It might actually be three states we do it in," Musk said during a presentation for shareholders.
Tesla and Panasonic, the company's partner in the plant, believe the automaker can cut battery costs by more than 30%, according to Musk. Panasonic recently said it has not decided how much it will invest in the factory, which would be the world's largest manufacturing facility for battery packs.
Musk said a next-generation roadster could be five years out, while Tesla may consider building electric trucks and a vehicle that costs less than $35,000.
The PayPal co-founder, who also started rocket maker SpaceX, foreshadowed a "controversial" announcement related to some of Tesla's technology patents, saying other automakers have been slow to bring long-range electric cars to market. The remarks ignited speculation that Tesla could release some of its patents.
Tesla shares slipped 80 cents to $204.14 in recent trading on Wednesday. The stock is up roughly 35.7% on the year.


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June 13, 2007
Contact: Robert M. Garsson
(202) 874-5770
Comptroller Dugan Tells House Committee that OCC Supervision Plays Critical Role In Ensuring National Bank Compliance with Federal Consumer Protection Standards
WASHINGTON — Comptroller of the Currency John C. Dugan told a House panel today that OCC supervision plays a unique and critical role in ensuring compliance with federal consumer protection standards, making it possible to identify and fix consumer compliance issues early and swiftly, before they become major problems.
"As a result, our compliance regime is not 'enforcement-only'," the Comptroller said. "Instead, it's better described as 'supervision first, enforcement if necessary' – with supervision addressing so many problems early that enforcement often is not necessary." His testimony pointed to subprime lending problems as clearly demonstrating the distinction: heavily regulated banks have had far fewer problems than lightly regulated mortgage lenders and brokers.
For that reason, he said, the number of formal enforcement actions taken by any bank supervisory agency is a misleading measure of the effectiveness of its consumer compliance regulation.
"Yet when we have needed to take strong enforcement action, the OCC has not hesitated to do so – often providing new standards to protect bank customers," he added.
The Comptroller also announced a new cooperative initiative with state agencies that aims to curb abuses by mortgage brokers.
The initiative involves parallel examinations of national banks, which are regulated by the OCC, and the mortgage brokers they use, which are regulated by the states. If either the OCC or the state agency finds evidence of practices inconsistent with the nontraditional mortgage guidance or the pending subprime mortgage guidance, that information will be shared with the other agency.
"This intersection of our regulatory jurisdictions provides a real and useful opportunity to coordinate our efforts – especially given the recent criticism of mortgage broker practices," he said in testimony before the House Financial Services Committee.
Although still in the early stages and limited in scope, the OCC and the Conference of State Bank Supervisors, which represents state banking departments, "believe this new initiative shows real promise," he added.
The Comptroller also discussed a recent Supreme Court decision dealing with national bank preemption. The decision in Watters vs. Wachovia, he said, doesn't mark a shift in law, but clarifies accountability.
"In particular, it makes clear that federal and state regulators both have important jobs to do, but they are different," he said. "Ours is to regulate and supervise national banks, for which we should be held accountable. Theirs is to regulate state-chartered entities, for which they should be held accountable."
The Comptroller said some have wrongly argued that both federal and state agencies should supervise national banks on the grounds that there can never be too many cops on the beat.
"We believe it's counterproductive for states to focus their finite enforcement resources on national banks that are already extensively regulated – especially when there are exclusively state-regulated entities, like many subprime lenders and mortgage brokers, that clearly have been the source of real problems," Mr. Dugan said.
"You can indeed have too many cops on the same beat if it means leaving other, more dangerous parts of the neighborhood unprotected," he added.
Mr. Dugan said consumers benefit most when state and federal regulators focus on their respective areas of jurisdiction and find productive ways to cooperate. The mortgage broker initiative is an example of such cooperation, as are the agreements the OCC has reached with a number of states to share information on consumer complaints.
The Comptroller suggested a number of improvements to federal consumer protection regulation, including:
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text: The Concord Free Public Library will host author Megan Marshall at 7 p.m. Friday to celebrate the publication of her biography, "Margaret Fuller: A New American Life.'' Fuller was a 19th-century author, social reformer, and transcendentalist. She was a frequent visitor to the homes of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel and Sophia Hawthorne, and served as Henry David Thoreau's editor at a literary journal, the Dial. Marshall will speak on "Margaret Fuller in Love," an aspect of Fuller's life about which little had been known, during the free event at library, 129 Sudbury Road.


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Turn 78 – A Burrito Made of Stories
June 3, 2012 4 Comments
Featuring Joey "Nebula", John "MusiM", Lauren "Literally", and Scott "Artisan002".
Music by MusiM. Buy the music at musim.bandcamp.com
Our intended topic to physically dominant this week are Game of Thrones, Devil Inside, Arrested Development, Bleach Soul Resurreccion, Mass Effect 2, Ridge Racer, Eyes of the Dragon, and Insurgent.
Be sure and email us for the next show at firstname.lastname@example.com!
The direct link to Lauren's story is at http://lunastationquarterly.com/issue-010/lydias-tree and for the entire issue go here: http://lunastationquarterly.com/issue-010


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Ardd + Winter, Inc was founded in 1968 by Bobby Ardd Sr. and Clint Winter. These two independent business men found themselves competing on a daily basis with a very small staff of people and limited line cards. They merged their resources together to form one of the most stable and sustainable manufacturers' representative firms in the lighting industry today. Based on the American dream of business ownership, a lot of hard work, and a competitive entrepreneurial spirit Ardd + Winter has grown through the years to be one of the most respected rep firms in the lighting industry.
Throughout Ardd + Winter's history, its mission has been: "To provide state of the art Lighting Fixtures and Dimming & Lighting Controls to Architects, Electrical Engineers, Interior Designers, Lighting Designers, Electrical Wholesalers, Contractors, and Lighting Showrooms in the state of Georgia.`` We have achieved our reputation in the industry by conducting business with honesty, integrity, and fairness, while respecting and satisfying the interests and needs of our customers, manufacturers and employees.


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This restaurant is located at Loews Ventana Canyon resort.


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Age: 29
USCF: Category 2
Hometown: Colby, WI
Current: Roswell, GA
Profession: Human Resources Consultant
2009 was Kate's first full season of racing. Starting the year as a Cat 4 beginner, Kate successfully raced her way to a Category 2 upgrade. Having competed in volleyball and track and field at the collegiate level (while at the same time balancing an addiction to rock climbing), Kate has found racing to be a fantastic outlet for her competitive spirit. With this inaugural season under her belt, Kate is excited to be joining the Performance Biycle Racing Team & SpokesWomen Syndicate for the 2010 season and to take her cycling to a new level of performance.
1. How long have you been racing?
With any sort of focus, just one year (2009 season). A few summers before that, I'd gotten a wild hair and had done a couple races, but hadn't really trained-i.e., "what's an interval????"- so I suffered a fair amount.
2. Who or what inspired you to start racing?
My husband and I have a great group of friends back in Wisconsin who are all road bike riders. So, when holidays or nice summer days would roll around, we'd get together and have great group rides. That's where I really learned how to ride. My friend Andy Crater is part of that group, and has been a racer for as long as I've known him. He'd casually push me on rides to sprint or to hang on to his wheel when the pace went up, which helped fuel my competitive spirit. But, it wasn't until about 4 years later when my daughter Joslyn was born and we moved to Georgia that I decided to really dive in to racing. Being in the South with such an active race scene, plus the motivation to get back to my pre-preganancy self helped me make the decision.
3. What do you do for a living?
I'm a Human Resources Consultant, working for a Fortune 200 Company in the Atlanta Metro Area.
4. What race are you most proud of?
My first win, at Grant Park in downtown Atlanta, GA. It was the first time where everything "clicked" and I really understood how to apply racing tactics.
5. What do you do for fun when you're off the bike?
Free time is limited these days, but I enjoy backpacking, rock climbing, mountain biking, and spending time with my family.
6. What was your first bike?
A hand-me-down from my sister! It was green and white with the classic brown banana seat. My first true road bike was a Lemond Alp D'Huez.
7. What's your dream spot to go for a ride?
That's a tough one as there's so many beautiful places in the world! Anywhere is great, as long as my husband Pete and I can enjoy the ride together!
8. Any pre-race rituals or routines? Something you can't race without (pre-race meal, warm-up, lucky charms)?
No, I tend to keep things loose and casual. Plus, I'm too absent-minded to be able to keep to a rigid ritual or routine!
9. Favorite music to train to?
Hip-hop and dance music for sure! Lil' Kim, Missy Elliott, Ludacris, Snoop Dogg are a few of my favs.
10. Any nicknames for other team members? For yourself?
I don't know most of my teammates well enough to have nicknames yet. But, I've always been called "KateO" because of my challenging last name:-)
11. What are your goals for this upcoming season?
Have fun, race hard, represent Performance and SpokeWomen well. I really would like to inspire other women to get out and ride, even if it's not competitively.
12. Any advice for an aspiring racer?
Proper training makes a huge difference, so check into getting a coach. You can likely find a coach in whatever budget range you are looking for.
Read more about the Performance Bicycle Racing Team.


text:
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4790 W. 16th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46222
(800) 822-4639 (317) 492-6700 Mon-Fri, 9a.m.-5p.m. ET
November 29, 2017 | By Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Indy Women in Tech (IWiT) Championship will return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Brickyard Crossing Golf Course, August 16-19, 2018. At 2017's inaugural event, Lexi Thompson beat out Lydia Ko by four stokes to win the tournament, a $300,000 winner's check and became the first ever female to kiss the famous yard of bricks in victory.
In addition to bringing 144 of the world's best female golfers to Indianapolis, in partnership with the Indy Women in Tech Foundation, the event will continue to provide awareness and funding for specific women and tech initiatives, particularly those focused on robotics, STEM days and career transitioning for those re-entering the workforce.
Two events that will be returning to IWiT Championship week are the IWiT Summit and The Eureka! Exchange. The IWiT Summit will convene both national and local leaders and decision makers to inspire the continued diversification of the tech workforce in Indianapolis. The Eureka! Exchange will invite 1000+ Indianapolis students to experience the wonders of STEM through engaging hands on activities curated by industry experts.
More events in conjunction with the IWiT Championship to be announced soon. Tickets will go on sale December 1, 2017 at IMS.com or the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Box Office, (800) 822-4639.


text:
It was still winter by the calendar last week in St. Louis, but on the show floor at the America's Center near the famous Arch, a technological Spring was in full bloom, trucking style.
It was just the latest example of how it is no longer accurate to say "trucking is going green" because it already is green-- and is getting greener nearly as fast as we can report it here and in print!
I mean it's gotten to the point that truck fleet managers aren't shocked (no pun intended) by the idea of an all-electric truck, but are more likely to be surprised that a given OEM doesn't offer one yet.
Indeed, that not every truck maker yet offers such wondertrucks has thrown wide a door for essentially brand-new OEMs and assorted system suppliers to drive right into the heart of the light-duty P&D market and the medium/heavy "stationary" (read bucket trucks etc.) work truck market as well.
And, what's more, these new guys at bat are being taken seriously right from their first swings by fleet operators intent on knocking some green balls out of the park, for one reason or another, right NOW.
Managers of such fleets had more green vehicle choices than ever-- and not just electric, of course, but also hybrid, propane, natural gas etc.-- to explore at The Work Truck Show, staged as always by the National Truck Equipmnet Assn. (NTEA).
The show in general was far bigger than ever to my eye (and feet!), consuming all the floor AND meetings space available at the America's Center downtown, including the adjoining Edward Jones Dome, home field of the St. Louis Rams.
Year by year, truck by truck, The Work Truck Show is becoming a de facto Green Truck Show...
The greening of trucking was not only on display on the massive show floor, it was evident as well in the substantial growth in the Green Truck Summit educational program NTEA has been hosting ahead of The Work Truck Show for several years. This year's edition offered a day and a half of speaker-led presentatiomns, panel discussions and breakout sessions on all things related to running green.
NTEA's Green Truck Summit has helped spawn its new Green Truck Assn.
And not only did NTEA announce it has a new co-sponsor for the event-- CALSTART-- it also declared during the summit that it was launching a Green Truck Assn. Just further proof that the greening of trucking is well under way. And no doubt over time this growth will help trucking itself to grow in size-- and in the nation's estimation of what it means to this country.


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Common materials such as sand, gravel, pebbles, shells, etc. are used to represent crustal materials from an unknown planet. Students begin by sorting, classifying, and making observations about the sample. Using that information, they must then... (View More) interpret the geologic and biologic history of the planet. The lesson is part of the Mars Educxation Program series; it models scientific inquiry using the 5E instructional model and includes teacher notes and vocabulary. Next Generation Science Standards are listed. (View Less)
Building Intuition for In-water Optics and Ocean Color Remote Sensing: Spectrophotometer Activity with littleBits™
This activity demonstrates optical properties of water: that different constituents in water affect the transmission, absorption, and scattering of different colors in the visible light spectrum. Inexpensive, off-the-shelf components are used to... (View More) build a light sensor and source, creating a simple spectrophotometer that can measure light absorption. In the second part of this activity, principles of ocean color remote sensing are applied to measure reflectance. Using components that are clearly visible allows students to configure them in different ways. Playing with the instrument design gives students a practical understanding of spectrophotometers, in-water optics, and remote sensing. As an extension of this concept, students are encouraged to think about how ocean color is used to estimate the concentration of chlorophyll to infer phytoplankton abundance, colored dissolved organic matter, and suspended sediments. (View Less)
This series of ten lessons has been developed to teach students about local and global water issues. They are based on NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Mission. The activities are done largely outdoors and include scientific data... (View More) collection and analysis and integrate technology. Many of the lessons involve data collected based on protocols from the GLOBE Program. Each lesson is designed to take one hour; the lessons build on each other, but can also be used independently. Each lesson topic includes a lesson plan, PowerPoint presentation, student capture sheet and capture sheet answer guide. (View Less)
Materials Cost: $5 - $10 per group of students
Each lesson or activity in this toolkit is related to NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). The toolkit is designed so that each lesson can be done independently, or combined and taught in a sequence. The Teacher Implementation Guide provides... (View More) recommendations for combining the lessons into three main strands: 1) Lunar Exploration - These lessons provide a basic introduction to Moon exploration. Note that this strand is also appropriate for use in social studies classes. 2) Mapping the Moon - These lessons provide a more in-depth understanding of Moon exploration through the use of scientific data and student inquiry. The lessons also include many connections to Earth science and geology. 3) Tools of Investigation - These higher-level lessons examine the role of technology, engineering and physics in collecting and analyzing data. (View Less)
Materials Cost: $1 - $5 per group of students
This is an activity about Earth's magnetic field. Learners will construct a soda bottle magnetometer, collect data, and analyze the results to detect magnetic storm events. Ideally, learners should collect data for at least a month. If several... (View More) months are available for data collection, this is ideal. This is the first activity as part of the iMAGiNETICspace: Where Imagination, Magnetism, and Space Collide educator's guide. Instructions for downloading the iBook educator's guide and the associated Transmedia book student guide are available at the resource link. (View Less)
In this activity, participants learn about the atmosphere by making observations and taking measurements. They will go outside and use scientific equipment to collect atmospheric moisture data (temperature, relative humidity, precipitation and cloud... (View More) cover). Students will use this qualitative and quantitative data to understand how water is found in the atmosphere, how the atmosphere determines weather and climate, and how Earth's spheres are connected through the water cycle. The data collection is based on protocols from the GLOBE program. This activity uses the 5E instructional model and is part of the "Survivor Earth" series of one-hour lessons. (View Less)
Materials Cost: $1 - $5 per group of students
In this activity, participants learn about the geosphere by making observations and taking measurements. They will go outside and use scientific equipment to investigate water in the soil by measuring soil moisture, temperature, color and... (View More) consistency. Students will use this qualitative and quantitative data to understand how water is found in many places in the natural environment and how these places are connected in the water cycle. The data collection is based on protocols from the GLOBE program. This activity uses the 5E instructional model and is part of the "Survivor Earth" series of one-hour lessons. (View Less)
Materials Cost: $1 - $5 per group of students
In this activity, students face an engineering challenge based on real-world applications. They are tasked with developing a tool they can use to measure the amount of rain that falls each day. Students will find out why freshwater is important,... (View More) learn about the water cycle, and the need to have a standard form of calibration for measurement tools. They will learn that keeping track of precipitation is important, and learn a little bit about how NASA's GPM satellite measures precipitation from space. This lesson uses the 5-E instructional model. (View Less)
This is a lesson about the solar wind, Earth's magnetosphere, and the Moon. Participants will work in groups of two or three to build a model of the Sun-Earth-Moon system. They will use the model to demonstrate that the Earth is protected from... (View More) particles streaming out of the Sun, called the solar wind, by a magnetic shield called the magnetosphere, and that the Moon is periodically protected from these particles as it moves in its orbit around the Earth. Participants will also learn that the NASA ARTEMIS mission is a pair of satellites orbiting the Moon that measure the intensity of solar particles streaming from the Sun. (View Less)
In this lesson, students will learn about the water cycle and how energy from the sun and the force of gravity drive this cycle. The emphasis in this lesson will be on having students understand the processes that take place in moving water through... (View More) Earth's system. (View Less)
Materials Cost: $5 - $10 per group of students


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|Attention: DocWiki has reached EOL and will be decommissioned January 25, 2019.
Cisco Unity Express -- Custom Script Editor FAQs
From DocWiki
Search the Cisco Unity Express documentation on the DocWiki:
Question: What is the quickest way to start developing custom scripts?
Answer: Starting with Cisco Unity Express Release 3.2, we have introduced script editor in the CUE Administration GUI. Go to System > Scripts > New. See this link: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/voice_ip_comm/unity_exp/rel3_2/administrator/gui/edit_exp.html
For all versions, here is a quick start guide for creating custom scripts: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/partner/products/sw/voicesw/ps5520/products_tech_note09186a008041d950.shtml
Question: Where can I download an editor installer for my Cisco Unity Express version and sample scripts?
Answer: Download the appropriate Cisco Unity Express Custom Script Editor from Cisco's web site at: http://tools.cisco.com/support/downloads/go/Redirect.x?mdfid=278535672
Choose the appropriate Cisco Unity Express version that you are running.
Once you are on the appropriate Cisco Unity Express version software page, download the editor and sample scripts.
- Click Utilities to download the Cisco Unity Express editor and install it on a windows PC.
- Click Sample Auto-Attendant Scripts to download the sample scripts.
Question: How can I capture debug traces/logs when my script is not working as designed?
Answer: Use one of the following methods.
Method 1:
- Make sure the system is idle.
- Run "clear trace" on Cisco Unity Express.
- Run "show trace buffer tail" on Cisco Unity Express.
- Make the simplest call to demonstrate your problem.
- Wait until the logs stop scrolling. This may take 3 to 5 minutes.
- Press CTRL-C to exit.
- Send the logs for the failure case to Cisco.
Method 2: You will need a FTP server.
- Make sure the system is idle.
- Make the simplest call to demonstrate your problem.
- Run "log trace buffer save" on Cisco Unity Express.
- Run "copy log atrace_save.log url ftp://x.x.x.x/...."
- Send the file to Cisco.
Question: How can I record, add, modify, or delete various prompts?
Answer: You can assign a number to the AvT application (in the GUI, go to Voicemail > Call Handling), and record prompts by dialing into the system. You can find documentation at http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/voice_ip_comm/unity_exp/rel3_2/administrator/voicemail/4AvT.html
Question: I am having problems installing or running the Cisco Unity Express editor on Windows XP.
Answer: If you are having problems with the installation, check the install .log file at c:\.
Some other suggestions to follow:
- Uninstall the editor from your machine.
- Remove MSJVM using any suitable tool like http://www.mvps.org/marksxp/Downloads/WinXP/Java/unmsjvm.exe
- Install the editor again.
If the problem persists, do the following:
- Run the editor with the -debug flag. A console window will appear. Send the traces that appeare on this console to Cisco.
- Also send the installation log which is located under c:\CiscoInstall.log to Cisco.
Question: I have Windows 7 and the editor installer does not support it.
Answer: Windows 7 provides a way to run Windows XP on it. The procedure is outlined at http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/install-and-use-windows-xp-mode-in-windows-7. Once Windows XP starts running, you may proceed to install and use Cisco Unity Express editor on it.
Question: I want my script to use dial-by-first name instead.
Answer: It is possible within every new or existing script. If you are using Editor Express then following figure shows the option to switch to dial-by-first name.
Question: I want to create a CME TCL script to perform functions like call queuing, hunt groups and music on hold.
Answer: It cannot be done with Cisco Unity Express customer script. Please get in touch TAC to configure CME or/and design a new TCL script.


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Big Dan (Feat. Chingo Bling) - Lentes [Unsigned Hype]
"Raza stand up. This is a West Coast/Down South collaboration. Mexican's can't be ignored, From the working fields to the recording studio, we are doing it all. "
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Hi there! Hope you are planning to have an amazing day today! There is so much going on in digi-land for this scrapping holiday – you can certainly make a whole day of it! 🙂 Of course we do hope you'll spend some of your time with us in the GS forum.
We have 2 speed scraps scheduled for this evening – one with Connie Prince at 4pm EST and one with Marie H at 9pm EST. Hope to see you there!!! Remember to use those share buttons below and invite your friends to the fun! 🙂
Have a fabulous Digital Scrapbooking Day!


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Moving Forward – (PA up to eleven, please.)
1. If you wish to post at the FF Today Forums, you must play by these rules and guidelines. I can't stress this enough. If you can't or don't want to follow these guidelines then your account will be deleted and you are welcome to find a board that suits your posting style. The FF Today Forums are a great resource for fantasy football discussion but its important for you to follow the rules and guidelines. in order to keep this a pleasant environment for everyone. Playing policeman is no fun, trust me, but unfortunately it must and will be done. Those of you with active accounts, I would strongly encourage you to please re-read the forum guidelines before posting. There will be no warnings for breaking the forum rules.
2. We are currently accepting new registrations at this time.
3. Since we've upgraded to a newer version of the forums software you may experience some issues when trying to login or retrieve information from your account. In most instances, this can be resolved by logging out and logging back in; or clearing your browser's cache. If you are having problems logging in, please send me an email firstname.lastname@example.com and I will assist you as best I can.
Remember, the guidelines and rules of The FF Today Forums are here to ensure that this remains a great resource for fantasy football discussion, so the rules will be enforced. Most of you will have no problem following them. Please use you common sense and if you have a question, ask first before posting and I will do my best to help make the line clearer for you. Communicating on a message board is different from face-to-face communication. Only the words are seen, not your facial expressions or tone of voice. Please pay careful attention to how you use your words.
OK, I'll step off the soap box now and crank down the PA. We will be making some minor cosmetic changes to the boards in the coming days, but with free agency finally underway and peace finally reached on the labor front, its time to talk some football so, let's get to it!
Board Guidelines & Rules
Started by Mike FF Today, Mar 11 2006 09:34 AM
No replies to this topic
Posted 11 March 2006 - 09:34 AM
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Get 15% OFF Your Next Order
The best deals come to your inbox. Sign up for GEMPLER'S emails to get exclusive offers and first dibs on hot new products!
No matter where you walk, Snake Chapz protect your legs from the sharp bite of venomous snakes. Snake Chapz are made of heavy-duty, 1,000-denier nylon with a patented insert system that guarantees snake-proof protection up to a minimum of 18" from the ground. These chaps are cool, comfortable and easily attach to your belt with adjustable clips and strapping. A 15"L YKK zipper on inside of leg makes an easy fit over boots and heavy shoes. Stocky thigh (29 1/2" thigh, 20-1/2" cuff). Waterproof. Tan color. 2.1 lb. Sold as a pair. Specify snake-proof height: short (18"L), regular (19"L), or tall (20"L) from the drop-down menu above.
2018 Reference Guide: Page 388


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Talk about your QPRs!!!
A full liter of GruVe for $9.89.
Crown cap: no muss, no fuss, no capsule....and no cork taint.
The wine: deliciously drinkable, crisp and green veggie/minerally, with a little limeade tang going on. Since we're having a bit of a heat spell here in Sonoma, this was a wonderful wile away the warm evening sipper.
...until my wife got greedy and sucking down more than her fair share, that is. Then I had to keep an eye on her.
This is the kind of simple, straightforward wine that's never going to be spectacular, but does a damn fine job of being good at a low price.


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- All Modify Watches have interchangeable straps.
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All Modify Watches are Made-to-Order. That means we print and assemble your watches here in our office in California as soon as you place your order.
Proud member of SFMade.
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Monday, February 22, 2010
Are you going backwards
I quit my job the other day. Things were, um, unpleasant there. However, I'm going to continue baking bread (it's nice to leave the job but not the entire job category for a change), and will be starting at a new bakery within the month.
8 comments:
- Andrea said...
I think I know the feeling. I finished school a couple years ago and now am back in school getting another degree, not a higher level one. Just another. yeesh.
- February 22, 2010 at 7:28 PM
- lawra♥joni said...
wow, it must really suck in your last work to make you quit it =S
- February 22, 2010 at 8:05 PM
- Rainy Daisy said...
eeek. So sorry. Looking forward to the new job? More obscenely early hours? Beer at 10:30 in the morning?
hehe :)
- February 22, 2010 at 8:30 PM
- Melissa said...
I have no idea if I'm going backwards or forwards at the moment (I'm likely getting laid off in a couple months), but it sounds like you're moving forwards to leave an unpleasant job. Good luck with the new one!
- February 23, 2010 at 3:46 AM
- andrea said...
glad you felt the ability to leave when it got unpleasant! good luck at the new bakery. i hope it works out much better.
- February 23, 2010 at 4:15 AM
- choo choo knits said...
I hope the new job works out for you. Sometimes life doesn't necessarily go forward or backward...maybe just sideways? I feel like I've recently taken some giant steps forward by leaving "difficult" things behind. Had to be done...just like for you.
- February 23, 2010 at 5:33 AM
- Lauren said...
I haven't ever commented before but I've been reading for a while! I just had to say I am right there with you, not knowing if I'm moving forward or backwards. I'll be quitting my job in the near future for similar reasons and there's a job in the works that just feels like... is this going to be any better, really? Good luck with all that happens, and I'll continue to read!!
- February 23, 2010 at 9:52 AM
I'm just going. I had a baby last fall and went back to work part time last month. Life's a gas.
- March 1, 2010 at 6:12 AM


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Liver and onions with other goodies too
I'm deficient in a couple of B vitamins and can't take B supplements because I react badly to supplements of all sorts.
I've been eating lots of organ meats from grass-fed animals to get my B vitamins. I've never been a fan of beef liver but I'm finally getting liver right so that I actually enjoy it when I eat it.
So, I've been experimenting a lot to come up with a recipe that I enjoy.
And I did it this time…YUM…never thought I could really enjoy liver and onions. Really it was the last frontier because I like almost everything if it's cooked right.
I made some liver with lots of browned/carmelized onion, celery, parsley, rosemary, thyme and sage. And at the very end simmered on high with a 1/2 cup of brandy (the alcohol gets completely cooked out)…mmmm, Good.
So here are the ingredients and how I did it:
● 1lb liver sliced in thin strips
● 1 or 2 large onion cut in thin half circles
● 3 cups thin slices of celery (I include the tops and leaves etc)
● 1 bunch of parsley chopped
● I also included fresh rosemary, thyme and sage from the garden — about three tablespoons of the mixture chopped up.Use dried herbs if you don't have fresh. You won't want to put nearly as much of the dried herbs.
● 1/2 cup of brandy
● salt and pepper to taste
I sliced the onion in thin half circles and sautéed them until they were lightly carmelized. Then I tossed in the three cups of celery and sautéed them for about 3 minutes along with the fresh herbs. At that point I put the cooked veggies into a bowl and sautéed the liver in the pan briefly on high. I used ghee (clarified butter) to saute the veggies and the liver. You can use whatever fat or oil you choose to cook with. I avoid industrial seed oils and generally cook with lard from pastured raised animals, ghee or coconut oil. I also use olive oil but not generally for sautéing. (to learn about the problems with industrial seed oils click here and scroll down the page a bit) Good fats are very important for brain health and healing.
Once the liver is lightly browned but not cooked all the way through I put the cooked veggies back in the pan with the liver and tossed it about. Don't over-cook the liver. I then again turned it on high and added the final touch — the 1/2 cup of brandy. Let it simmer madly for a couple of minutes. Toss in the chopped parsley at this point and then turn off the burner and cover the dish for about 5 minutes. Now it's ready to eat.
Another way to get liver and all its dense nutrition is here: Chicken liver pâté


text:
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Its low muscular stance and race-bred lines make the RC F impossible to ignore. And why would you want to miss this stunning 2+2 coupé? The RC F is engineered to provoke a potent physical response in drivers who insist on uncompromising high-performance and unreserved refinement.
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To find out more about this offer, or to book a test drive, contact your local Listers Lexus Centre by filling in the form and selecting your preferred Centre.
*3.9% APR Representative and £2,000 Hybrid Deposit Allowance only available on new retail orders of RC F between 18th December 2018 and 31st March 2019 and registered and financed through Lexus Financial Services by 30th June 2019 on a 42 month Lexus Connect (PCP) plan with 0%-35% deposit.
Lexus Financial Services is a trading name of Toyota Financial Services (UK) PLC; registered office Great Burgh, Burgh Heath, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 5UZ. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Indemnities may be required. Finance subject to status to over 18s. Other finance offers are available but cannot be used in conjunction with this offer. Offer may be varied or withdrawn at any time. 8,000 miles per annum, excess miles over contracted charged at 21p per mile. Lexus Centres are independent of Lexus Financial Services. Participating Lexus Centres. Affordable finance through Lexus Connect (PCP). Terms and conditions apply.
We will only introduce you to a small number of carefully selected finance providers who may be able to help you finance your purchase. We may receive payment from the finance provider if you decide to enter into an agreement with them. This introduction does not amount to independent financial advice. Any information provided by Listers Group Limited or any of its representatives is done so on a non-advised basis. Listers Group Ltd is not a credit lender. Listers Group Limited, Othello House, Stratford-upon- Avon Business and Technology Park, Banbury Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 7GY is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. At the end of a Lexus Personal Contract Plan (PCP) agreement there are three options: i) retain the vehicle – pay the optional final payment to own the vehicle; ii) return the vehicle (you may be charged for excess wear and tear); or iii) replace: part-exchange the vehicle, subject to status.
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In the Matter of
|ORDER INSTITUTING ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(b) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, MAKING FINDINGS, AND IMPOSING REMEDIAL SANCTIONS
The Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") deems it appropriate and in the public interest that public administrative proceedings be, and hereby are, instituted pursuant to Section 15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act") against Dennis J. Oslosky ("Respondent").
In anticipation of the institution of these proceedings, Respondent has submitted an Offer of Settlement (the "Offer") which the Commission has determined to accept. Solely for the purpose of these proceedings and any other proceedings brought by or on behalf of the Commission, or to which the Commission is a party, and without admitting or denying the findings herein, except as to the Commission's jurisdiction over him and the subject matter of these proceedings, and the findings contained in Section III.2 below, which are admitted, Respondent consents to the entry of this Order Instituting Administrative Proceedings Pursuant to Section 15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Making Findings, and Imposing Remedial Sanctions ("Order"), as set forth below.
On the basis of this Order and Respondent's Offer, the Commission finds that:
1. Oslosky is a resident of Delmont, Pennsylvania. During the period from August 1996 to May 1998, Respondent, without being registered with the Commission, acted as a broker or dealer within the meaning of Section 15(a) of the Exchange Act in connection with the sale of securities of Mortgage Bankers Holding Corp. ("Mortgage Bankers") and its subsidiary, Commonwealth Capital Investment Corp. ("Commonwealth Capital"). As part of that conduct, Respondent participated in an offering of Mortgage Bankers stock, which is a penny stock.
2. On August 20, 2004, a final judgment was entered by consent against Respondent, permanently enjoining him from future violations of Sections 5(a), 5(c), and 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, Sections 10(b) and 15(a) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, in the civil action entitled Securities and Exchange Commission v. National Institute Companies of America et al., Civil Action Number 00-CV-1216, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
3. The Commission's Complaint alleged that, in connection with the sale of unregistered securities of Mortgage Bankers and Commonwealth Capital, Respondent made material misrepresentations and omissions to investors concerning, among other things, the risk of the investment, the financial condition of the issuers, and the use of proceeds. The Complaint also alleged that Respondent acted as an unregistered broker or dealer in connection with the sale of those securities.
In view of the foregoing, the Commission deems it appropriate and in the public interest to impose the sanctions specified in Respondent's Offer.
Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED:
Pursuant to Section 15(b)(6) of the Exchange Act, that Respondent be, and hereby is barred from association with any broker or dealer;
Any reapplication for association by the Respondent will be subject to the applicable laws and regulations governing the reentry process, and reentry may be conditioned upon a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the satisfaction of any or all of the following: (a) any disgorgement ordered against the Respondent, whether or not the Commission has fully or partially waived payment of such disgorgement; (b) any arbitration award related to the conduct that served as the basis for the Commission order; (c) any self-regulatory organization arbitration award to a customer, whether or not related to the conduct that served as the basis for the Commission order; and (d) any restitution order by a self-regulatory organization, whether or not related to the conduct that served as the basis for the Commission order.
Respondent be, and hereby is, barred from participating in any offering of a penny stock, including: acting as a promoter, finder, consultant, agent or other person who engages in activities with a broker, dealer or issuer for purposes of the issuance or trading in any penny stock, or inducing or attempting to induce the purchase or sale of any penny stock.
By the Commission.
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Modified: 09/13/2004


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Tomasini Grinover Wins 2014 Melges 32 Miami Winter Regatta
3 March 2014
Miami, Fla. - The last and final day of competition in Miami brought on classic conditions with top honors going to Roberto Tomasini Grinover's Robertissima. Aboard with Tomasini Grinover was tactician Vasco Vascotto, Federico Michetti, Giovanni Cassinari, Gunnar Bahr, Simone Spangaro, Stefano Nicolussi and Nevio Sabadin — they are 2014 Melges 32 Miami Winter Regatta Champions!
Landing second overall is newly appointed Class President Jason Carroll and his Argo team, while third place went to John Kilroy's Samba Pa Ti.
Joe Woods' Red team had a phenomenal regatta taking fourth overall. The last time Woods competed in the class was more than a year and a half ago. He returned to Miami with some fresh, brand new crew proving that his Red Melges 32 has still got it where it counts.
Tony Buckingham on Ngoni, who only just became active over the 2013 racing season, completed the event nicely in fifth overall making this his best finish yet in the Melges 32 Class.
Up next for the North American fleet is the final stage of the 2014 Miami Winter Series — the Spring Challenge taking place on 4-6 April. More teams are expected to attend as everyone ramps up their programs in an effort to capture the top trophy later in the year, that of World Champion. Teams are encouraged to make plans to attend all Miami events sooner rather than later. Miami is busy all year long, so make your arrangements promptly and register now.
The 2014 Miami Winter Regatta was hosted at Miami Beach Marina and proudly supported by Coconut Grove Sailing Club and Melges USA.
The 2014 Melges 32 Miami Winter Series consists of three events — Quantum Key West Race Week (19-24 January), Miami Winter Regatta (28 February - 2 March) and the first ever Spring Challenge (4-6 April). Fifteen teams are currently competing in the Series with Bermuda's Alec Cutler on hedgehog in first place. Cutler won the prestigious Key West Race Week and competed this weekend at the Miami Winter Regatta. This combined participation puts him ahead by five points over Deneen Demourkas' Groovederci in second. Richard Gorranson on Helly Hansen Inga from Sweden is currently ranked third. Fleet newcomers Dieter Schoen on Momo from Germany is fourth and Chris Wientjes on Stormvogel proudly rounds out the top five.
View the Full 2014 Miami Winter Series Ranking
First and foremost, the IM32CA is very thankful for the loyal support every owner gives to the class. In particular, the generosity and kindness expressed by Roberto Tomasini Grinover and Jason Carroll this week was incredible. Thanks to both gentleman for hosting really amazing cocktail parties to officially kick off the season during the Miami Winter Regatta. Special thanks to Alec Cutler, and again to the Argo team, in particular program captains Chad Corning and Jim Condon for enabling the Class access to the race course in an effort to bring everyone back home the latest updates with photos and videos via social media.
Special thanks to all the staff at Miami Beach Marina, Melges USA and Coconut Grove Sailing Club (CGSC). As always, the incredible staff of CGSC has been wonderful — every member of the Race Committee is dedicated to making Melges events unparallelled.
And lastly, but certainly not least, special thanks are in order for the very professional Anderson Reggio as PRO. The originally scheduled eight race series was completed in full over the course of three days.
TOP FIVE RESULTS (FINAL - After 8 Races, One Discard)
1.) Roberto Tomasini Grinover/Vasco Vascotto, Robertissima; 2-1-[4]-2-2-4-2-[7] = 17
2.) Jason Carroll/Cameron Appleton, Argo; 6-3-[7]-1-1-1-4-3 = 19
3.) John Kilroy/Paul Goodison, Samba Pa Ti; 1-[11]-9-9-3-5-4 = 35
4.) Joe Woods/Chris Draper, Red; [13]-2-3-6-10-8-6-2 = 37
5.) Tony Buckingham/John Kostecki, Ngoni; 7-8-8-4-4-6-[11]-1 = 38
View Full Results
View Full Crew List
View Official Yachtscoring Event Website
View Full Photo Gallery - JOY


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Nobody Smiles Like I Do
Dee Cole
Saskatoon Saskatchewan Canada
From: NEW BEGINNINGS, Vol. 15 No. 4, July - August 1998, p. 105
We provide articles from our publications from previous years for reference for our Leaders and members. Readers are cautioned to remember that research and medical information change over time.
I had a beautiful pregnancy. I did not work for the last five months of my pregnancy. I had never felt so healthy in my life. I registered for prenatal and exercise classes and read many books on pregnancy and childbirth. The only thing I didn't do was attend La Leche League meetings—I did not know they existed. If I had known I would have attended all I could.
June 1, 1996, was when it all began. At midnight my water broke (three weeks early) and my doctor told me to go to the hospital, which I did at 3:00 AM when the contractions started. After an hour of admissions procedures including an examination of my cervix, it was announced that my baby was a footling breech. Within seconds I had numerous nurses surrounding me, administering drugs, and starting an intravenous line. Before I knew it, I was in a wheelchair on my way to surgery.
I had prepared for a natural, active birth. My husband was ready to be my coach, advocate, and protector. We were going to do this together. Suddenly all power was taken away from us and we were undergoing an emergency cesarean birth. My husband and I felt helpless.
At 6:00 AM my daughter, Alexandra, was born. She needed resuscitation and had quite a distorted head shape (probably due to the way she was lying in the uterus). It was quite a while before she was brought to me. My husband, Rob, was hesitant to go to her and insisted he would stay by my side. The room was quiet and I felt very sick. Finally they brought a wrapped baby over to me. She was my baby, but I felt indifferent to her. I was in shock—a baby three weeks early and born three hours after I was admitted to the hospital with minor contractions. I presumed Rob was also in shock.
In recovery about half an hour later the staff handed Alexandra to my husband and he immediately brought her over to me. I took one look at her and asked him what he thought was wrong with her. He looked at me and suggested Down Syndrome to which I immediately agreed. We turned to our doctor and asked her if she suspected the same. She nodded, but was not certain. We would have to wait until Monday to find out for sure with tests. It was only Saturday morning.
Rob and I had always thought that breastfeeding was the only option for feeding our baby. I offered Alexandra my breast as soon as I could. She was very sleepy and would not open her mouth. Every three hours she was presented to me to breastfeed, but every three hours she did not breastfeed. The lactation consultant was off duty until Tuesday, but by Monday a considerate nurse suggested finger-feeding her (feeding via a supplemental nursing system with the tube taped to a finger). I had already begun pumping Saturday night. Incidentally, during the weekend my husband was told that she would never latch on and we might as well bottle-feed her now and save everyone some time! We did not. I pumped.
Monday came and there was a definite diagnosis of Down Syndrome. She also had a congenital heart defect, which occurs in 40% of babies with Down Syndrome. The heart defect was very severe and she would need open heart surgery before she was one year old.
For seven weeks I pumped every three hours, day and night, and Rob and I finger-fed Alexandra. We are very proud to say that she did not have a bottle once. At six weeks my resolve was low and I was ready to quit. It felt as if she was never going to latch on.
While attending the Saskatoon Exhibition that week, I came across a small area sponsored by the Saskatoon Chapter of La Leche League that provided nursing mothers a private and comfortable place to nurse their babies. I was pleased to find a quiet, private place due to the paraphernalia I needed to use for finger feeding.
I picked up a meeting notice and a copy of NEW BEGINNINGS from the display and discovered just what I needed. I needed support. All I wanted in the world was for my baby to nurse. Everything else had gone wrong and I just wanted this one thing to go right. It did not seem to be too much to ask. I attended a meeting and found the support I needed from the Leader, June. She came to my house almost every day and spent hours helping Alexandra learn to latch on. One day she latched on a few times, but then quit, much to my devastation. We went back to finger-feeding.
At seven weeks, my daughter went into heart failure and was admitted to the hospital. She underwent open-heart surgery and had many complications. I could do nothing to help her besides pumping my milk for her to have when she was able. She was in the pediatric intensive care unit for 14 days. June visited me every day. When Alexandra finally came off the ventilator and started getting fed breast milk through a tube, the heart surgeon suggested nursing her. I didn't bother explaining our previous problems to everyone, so we tried. She latched on for 45 minutes and fell fast asleep at my breast. I cried.
She continued to nurse. She was fed supplemental formula through a tube, but I insisted (with June's support) on no bottles. So there we were breastfeeding with oxygen tubes, nasogastric tubes, catheters, IVs, and monitors. It was a miracle.
Alexandra is now 11 months old and nursing beautifully. The pump is gone and everything is as natural as nursing a baby should be.
I got my inspiration to get through those last few weeks from La Leche League, from June, and from those mothers who offered moral support. My husband was a great support. He agreed with and supported me and my decisions during those first very trying weeks. My mother was also a support, urging me to continue pumping when the professionals were doubtful that my daughter would ever breastfeed correctly. I wanted everyone to say, "Keep going, she will latch on eventually," but of course they could not guarantee that. Nobody could.
I now nurse on demand, throughout the night, when and where Alexandra wants to and I am proud to do so. June and the other women at LLL meetings look at me when I nurse her and smile. But nobody smiles like I do! I hope other mothers who have babies with special needs will persevere the way my family did. The rewards breastfeeding brings are worthwhile for all babies, but are needed desperately by babies like Alexandra.


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Feb. 2, 2008
BOWDOIN, Maine - MIT women's track and field showcased just enough depth to pass its last dual test of the indoor season. Although host Bowdoin scored a meet-best seven wins, the Engineers totaled 206 points to knock off the Polar Bears (188) as well as Colby (168).
Saturday's meet was pretty even up top, with MIT and Colby each finishing first in six events. The Engineers separated from the field by landing multiple place-winners in nearly every event.
Amy Magnuson and Andrea Bradshaw continued their dominance in the dual setting by nearly setting Institute records en route to their wins on the track. Magnuson, who also won the triple jump in addition to a second-place finish in the long jump, broke the tape of the 55-meter hurdles in 8.40. Magnuson set the school record at the end of last season with a time of 8.37.
Bradshaw, who set the school record in the 800m two weeks ago and then lowered the mark last week, came close to setting another MIT standard. Running away from the field with relative ease, Bradshaw won the 600-meter run with a time of 1:40.96, falling just short of Andrea Bradshaw's record performance from last season (1:40.89).
In addition to Magnuson and Bradshaw, Margaret Leibovic and Emily Hwang also picked up individual victories. Leibovic topped the field in the 55-meter dash with a clip of 7.63 while Hwang cleared 10'6" for a clean win in the pole vault. Leibovic also finished third in the 200m, with Leanne Veldhuis leading a 2-3-4 finish for MIT in the event. For Veldhuis, it was her second runner-up finish on the day as she also took second in the 400m.
MIT also boasted second-place finishes by Aline Thomas in the weight throw, Adrienne Bolger in the 800m and Jacqui Wentz in the mile. Wentz split 5:15.02 to top last-week's season-best time in the event by four seconds.


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JACKSONVILLE - About 3 p.m. Wednesday, the body of an alligator surfaced and police retrieved the carcass of the animal they believe had eaten a woman's dog Tuesday at the Mill Creek Green portion of Henderson Green, at Henderson Drive and River Street.
About 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, officials had fired the third and fatal shot into the alligator, they said.
Police said they were almost certain the shot struck the alligator as it floated in the creek beneath Gruber Bridge and Henderson Drive.
The woman was walking her dog Tuesday when the alligator soon after took the dog.
She was walking the dog about dusk, about the time alligators eat one of two daily meals.
Jon Shaw, district wildlife biologist with N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission said there is no way to be 100 percent sure that the alligator they found is the one that attacked the dog; however, the one they found had intestines wrapped around its head and hanging from its mouth.
�We feel confident that it is dead,� said Jacksonville Police Capt. Randy Nordstrom.
Jacksonville Police Officer Roy Dorn fired the third shot, sending a spray of water around the volley and piercing the animal, which then sank, according to witnesses.
Police officers and N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission officers began searching for the wayward reptile about 11 a.m. Wednesday.
A Jacksonville Police sniper fired three at half-hour intervals between noon and 1:30 p.m.
Officials looked for 30 minutes until they found a male alligator about 12 feet long.
Officials retrieved the body shortly before the Jacksonville Police Department issued a press release at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday.
Police said the body will be given to N.C. Wildlife.
Shaw said officials will bury the carcass at one of the commission's depots, most likely one at Holly Shelter or New Bern because they are closer.
Shaw said the gator was most likely male based on its size, and an older alligator, 40 years or older. He added alligators in North Carolina rarely grow longer than 12 feet.
He added that the decision to kill the animal was based on its size and recent events.
�Trapping an alligator of that size is dangerous in itself,� he said.
He said relocating it would have been most likely futile, because alligators have excellent honing skills, and it would have most likely returned to the spot.
In the end, officials decided to kill it because of its recent aggressive behavior and its size.
Shaw said he believed the alligator was badly wounded after the first shot, but they fired more than one to be sure.
Officials warn residents against feeding the ducks in that area and advise residents to heed municipal leash laws.