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Magento eCommerce Review: Platform Perils and Impressions, Three Months In
By Brandon Ching
On July 31st, 2008
It's been about three months since I broke into Magento for my first project here at Synapse Studios so I thought I'd give my impression on the shopping cart tool having gotten to know it a bit better.
Obviously a free, full-featured, shopping cart and e-commerce solution is great concept. I mean, really, one can't bitch too much about something that is free (notwithstanding, say, venereal diseases or OScommerce…) Magento's feature list is comprehensive: coupons, specials, multiple checkout and shipping options, tiered pricing, layered navigation, etc. Unfortunately, when you are neck-deep into anything, you get a better sense of the minor and major flaws lurking just under the rosy surface. Take a look after the jump at some of its more vexing problems.
- By far, the most annoying thing about Magento is its complexity. If the default installation suits your needs, then Magento is perfect. However, if you need to modify anything (and I mean pretty well anything) like adding new functionality (modules), changing the layout, or creating a custom results (any type of result: users, products, etc) page, then you can expect to spend many, many, many hours digging through the code and fighting the schema. The XML layout method is confusing as hell and custom module creation is, well, good luck.
- The EAV data model is great. It's fast and makes sense when you have many, many possible attributes to assign to a specific object. However, trying to make database-level changes to all or a subset of products is quite a pain in the ass. This is not so much a knock on Magento since the model does make sense given the options to add arbitrary attributes and such. I suppose this goes back to Magento's lack of a well-documented database schema (or decent documentation in general).
- Performance is horrible. Changing a single attribute to a product in the backend takes an average of about a minute to perform, on an otherwise responsive server. AJAX or not, that is entirely unacceptable. The frontend, despite being cached, is not all that much better. I mean, yeah, you're talking about a lot of features here but at the expense of performance to an annoying degree. The latest version is supposed to address certain performance issues, so we'll keep you posted if that situation changes.
- Why slack on viewing images? When viewing a product with multiple images, why the hell does the image open a new popup window? They've built an entire application utilizing AJAX but they can't implement a simple image swapping feature for product details?
- While on the topic of images, since Magento's product entry method requires that you enter each product type as a different simple product, why doesn't the parent configurable product inherit its child images? For instance, if you had a shirt in three different colors, you might think that by entering the red shirt image in the red shirt simple product that it would automatically show when viewing the parent configurable product. NO! Instead, you have to add all three color shirt images into the parent configurable product. Seems like a serious break of the inventory/product entry methodology that Magento flaunts.
Still, aside from a seriously steep learning curve, lack of meaningful image features, and poor performance, Magento is a very decent product. Again, for free, you really can't beat it. And it's leaps and bounds ahead of OScommerce. We've just found it to be a very heavy solution to a complex problem. That's not always a bad thing, but certain problems can make working with it to customize it rather a nightmare.
Tagged with: ajax, e-commerce, EAV, magento, reflection, xml
Posted in: Development, Reviews
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Discussion on this post
Have you found the latest version(s) to be any better, performance-wise?
Wow, I was getting all excited about this new software until I found your post. I had narrowed my search down to CubeCart, Squirrel Cart or Magento. My past experience was with OSCommerce as well though so I'm still hopeful based on your experience and comment about OSC :)
If you have had an opportunity to install and test the most recent version of Magento, I'd love to hear about whether it's improved at all. I'm going to give it a shot and maybe write a short review from a designer/user interface, non-programmer perspective.
Thanks for taking the time to let us know about your experience with it—it sure helps!
Barndon – thanks for this informative review. I think the point of using magento should be to go 'Amazon'- like due to complexity. If not – go for something less complex.
I find your points interesting and as Zach (and yourself) adresses later releases/updates should deal with the performance issues.
Any news on this?
Brandon, thanks for this great quick review on Magento. I was very excited about Magento before it was launched in beta. I signed up for their newsletter and downloaded it as soon as it became available.
My first impressions of the beta was that it offered a ton of features at the sacrifice of unsuitable performance and unnecessary complexity. I was hoping Magento would be polished with its 1.0 release. However, after reading your review and browsing the forums, it appears that the same the hold ups that prevented me from going with Magento in the first place are still present.
As you stated, we do not have much to complain about since Magento is free, however, I am disappointed with the product and plan on using a much simpler shopping cart product.
for a non-technical author selling books and owner of a small business, I was told that magenta would be perfect. It's extremely difficult and i've spent hours. Is there a simple shopping cart that would be easy to use for the non-technical to sell my few books and maybe 20 other others?
Linda, you might try Super PHP Cart, which is ridiculously easy to implement, especially if you have an existing design.
Linda, have a look at Presta Shop. It's also new eCommerce platform, even beta release but it should work well. It's not as big and flexible as Magento… but it's just what you're looking for.
I have implemented three separate installs of Magento with the newer versions (1.1.6) and have found the performance to be greatly improved. The largest factor in Magento's performance is who you host it with. There are some specific web hosts that have pre-configured plans for Magento and they work great.
See for yourself: http://shop.specialopspaintball.com/ and http://www.flyaoamedia.com/
The "complexity" of Magento's template design is due to the fact that they're trying (and doing a good job) to avoid monstrous spaghetti PHP that plagues other shopping cart software. Yes, there's a learning curve, but there's good reason for it. We just did an e-commerce site that had different page layouts for different categories, products, etc, and Magento allowed us to implement it very easily.
It's a little bloated, but performance has been very reasonable for us. You're always going to take a performance hit when dealing with such a robust, configurable product, but if you tune your server & database it shouldn't be a problem.
The only thing in your post I agree with is the popup window for product images – no idea why they didn't do an image swap on those. But, like everything else in Magento, it's easy to change.
I'm in the beginning stages of creating a intergration between Magento and eBay, using their API and the Jitterbit intergration tool. I have been getting up to speed on the latest versions of Magento and it has been slow going, but from all of the Free eCommerce packages I've tried, it is very flexible and solid.
I guess I'll have to rely on a tool (DBDesigner4) I've used in the past to reverse engineer the database schema. It's done fairly well for me in the past, getting up to 90 percent correct on the joins and such.
If anyone wants it after I'm finished, shoot me an email.
[email protected]
Thanks for the feedback, everyone. I have another project coming up and am considering another Drupal/Ubercart install or Magento. Have any of you used Magento and Drupal/Ubercart? How do they compare?
I agree with Jim Keller.
We're switching to magento now and I couldn't be happier. Yes there's a learning curve, but what will take me 2 weeks to learn and implement would have taken me 6 weeks on oscommerce and I can scale up my store to carry more product and more categories very easily.
You can implement a relatively simple jquery image gallery I'm fairly certain… we plan on doing this and I do believe there are ways to mass enter products via xml or spreadsheets, not entirely certain on that.
Sounds like most of you guys are in or have a background in web development. What are the chances of a relative novice in development/e-commerce setting up a site using magento? (when I say novice I actually mean no clue about coding or scripts the and last [front-end] site I designed was with Dreamweaver 4 about 5 years ago!)
Sandy, have you succeeded in Magento integration using its API and Jitterbit?
>> I'm in the beginning stages of creating a intergration
>> between Magento and eBay, using their API and the Jitterbit
>> intergration tool
we encountered some issues and want to make sure if Jitterbit supports such an API, or maybe we are doing something wrong.
We are looking into implementing Magento for our customers. We have noticed the performance issues ourselves and have eliminated any thought of using it in a shared hosting environment.
That said, it's really powerful and looks great right out of the box. For small shops, it may be better to look at something really simple to implement like CubeCart. The handling of some on-screen elements still requires altering code. However, the changes that must be made are fairly easy to do and do not require much, if any programming knowledge.
We are looking forward to many of the improvements on the road map as well. It's hard to remember this is new software.
Good post, its good to see some other frustration with the use of Magento. We develop a lot of wordpress sites and we're just starting to use magento for a few small e-commerce sites. Our installations and site building has been a little rocky, but we've been able to solve the problems and produce 2 quality sites. Keep up the good work and we'll all look forward to the next release for some fixes.
Your analysis of Magento sounds right for me as I try to modify the interface and the structure of it. In french we should say that it is "une usine à gaz" (gaz-works) because of its complexity but it is a complete tool (the EAV data model is effectively well designed), open source one !!!, usable rapidely in its default installation.
The modifications the developpers do on it (magento templates or on line sites) seems to be very restrected (did you find one?).
Its complexity seems to go against the ajax philosophy.
In particular I would like to lighten the site loading the product detail (images, description, price…) in a light popup. What would be rather simple with js and an ajax request becomes a real headache.
According to you, Brendon, what would be the best e-shop solution (complete and adaptable).
Magento Version 1.3.1 Now Available at magento officla website
You dead right on many things – it is a great package, but trying to do anything that's not 'straight out of the box' is a pain in the backside. However, there really isn't a lot out there that is better IMO.
It's pretty easy to modify the style though – which makes regular e-Commerce installations quite painless.
This is exactly the experience I had with Magento. I have done an analysis here:
Magento, as any other shopping cart out there, has some drawbacks. But all these small things can be forgiven as the advantages of this shopping cart overweight them.
If you also want to join the number of magento users you may switch fm your shopping cart to magento with cart2cart web service. This service automates data migration (www.shopping-cart-migration.com)
Nice and informative one.
Magento is good but don't use for production without magento expert because ratio of errors is very high.
I agree 100%, Magento is still not very user friendly, try out open solutions Quick Cart, no database required…
Yes magento admin is too difficult for the layman
you will have to carefully go through the magento user manuals to progress.
Also out of the box , there are some hard to fix bugs
You can try out opencart which is a better software when customizations are needed
we have also developed a social shopping mall for open cart .
This is quite useful for a multi seller system
Good Luck
Karan Ahuja,
Very Good article
Magento Go is a joke. Practically zero support.
After signing up with their $25 / month plan I sent a ticket to them asking to be qualified into the $1 million stimulus program. You know what happened? They DELETED my ticket without responding in any way.
I paid $99 for SSL setup – that's right, just for setup, you have to provide your own SSL purchased from a 3rd party. At first I thought it's for the SSL for the first year, but it's not. And I was told to send in the SSL certificate files so I attached it to the ticket and sent it to them. After 24 hours, no response. So I logged back in to see how it went. Again, you wouldn't believe what happened.
They DELETED my ticket again without responding in any way AT ALL.
Then I tried to reach them at the collaboration community and got an reply saying that they sent an email to me at [email protected] but I never got back. Of course I didn't got back, because that's NOT MY EMAIL, not even close…..
Now someone tell me if this is the most ridiculous tech support or what……..
I just asked for a refund of the $99 I paid for my SSL setup which by the way is still hanging there, NOT installed. And they haven't replied to my ticket after 5 hours.
Read my full story and review here: http://www.kavoir.com/2011/09/magento-go-test-drive-review.html
Magento Developer
Magento is best tool to build complete eCommerce website. Magento has a lot of functional related to eCommerce use, lot of store owners even developers doesn't aware of this futures. but those are really useful. If you don't know structure then you cant develop a website using Magento, if platform is big then we have to be clever and have to learn the things instead saying its tough to solve the problem in Magento.
I am myself a Magento developer, and i love to work on it, even i also feel complex to code, but i am concentrating on the issue, not on the post.
Magento ecommerce solution has become the most demanding open source platform of today's online retail store businesses since it provides a tremendous advantage. With Magento Ecommerce Platform, online store owners are being given the capability of handling multiple stores and facilitate a more systematized browsing of items for sale. Improved management of customer's orders and having more developed promotional or advertising tools also comes possible with Magento Ecommerce.
Magento is a feature-rich, expert open-source eCommerce solution that provides suppliers finish flexibility and control over the look, material, and performance of their online store.
Good informative post. Thanks for the share.
It has very high scalability & flexibility
Nice post


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Date: Thursday 10th August 2017
Time: 19:00
Shanty Baba's
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Give yourself the luxury of stepping into the world of adult performance storytelling with master storyteller, Shanty Baba.
Horror, occult, supernatural, murder and suspense stories.
Its a twilight zone where nothing is quite what it seems and the shadows are very, very dark!
Suitable for brave kids.
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Tickets in advance :
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Shanty Baba
Shanty Baba
Shanty Baba is a professional storyteller, performer, animator and toy theatre impressario based in St Ives.
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subset: commoncrawl


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It is Girl Scout Weekend at Pat's Peak in Henniker, N.H. on Saturday, March 6 & Sunday, march 7. This event is offered by the Girl Scouts of Central & Western Massachusetts Council for Scouts in grades 6-12. For additional information visit www.patspeak.com/scout.htm
Event: Two days of snow, slopes and thrills! Sleepover accommodations are available: Girl Scouts in one location and Boy Scouts in another during this Scouting Weekend!
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Welcome to the Office of Judicial Affairs web site.
Through the disciplinary hearing process, our office works to address alleged violations of the Code of Conduct in support of the mission and core values of Aurora University. Students interacting with Disciplinary Hearing Officers will find that they are treated with individual courtesy and respect. While we make decisions as quickly as reasonable, we always ensure that we take the time to gather all possible information, consider all options, and make decisions that are consistent and fair.
All Aurora University students are expected to adhere to the standards of behavior detailed on this web page. It is important for students to realize that they are held accountable for their behavior and that consequences exist if they choose not to abide by University policies and procedures.


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Real Property Attorney - What is the real estate lawyers role?
The role that the Real Estate Attorney plays in the selling of your home by for sale by owner makes him/her a necessary addition to your team. Like any other aspect of the law, real estate law should be left to the professionals. Unless you are legally entitled to practice Real Estate law in your State/Province you need professional help. Below are some of the details that your Attorney/Lawyer will take care of.
Your Attorney/Lawyer will review the contract of purchase and sale and advice of potential problems. The seller is typically responsible for preparing the transfer, which is the document that transfers the title of the land from the seller to the purchaser.
They will review transfer documents received from the buyers lawyer, which includes the statement of adjustments which shows credits and debits for seller and buyer, for items such as purchase price, property tax, strata fees where applicable, water account, tenant rent or damage deposits, commissions to be paid to Real Estate Agents, down payment paid by buyer and transfer of title.
They will converse with the buyers Lawyer if necessary and resolve any problems or concerns regarding title issues and or accuracy of figures. Obtain a mortgage balance statement from the seller's mortgage lender to determine the amount necessary to pay and clear the mortgage balance on the day of closing.
If you are selling one property and purchasing another property with closings on the same day, you may need to arrange interim financing. This is a temporary loan to ensure that monies are in place to complete your purchase.
As you can plainly see the Attorney/Lawyers role is vital to the sale of your home. Make sure you have one on your team before you attempt to sell your property.


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gailw on Family Tree Circles
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looking for family members of jan vancleef born 1628.
Need info if Jan VanCleef had more than one wife. If so, who was his first and who was his second wife. Getting conflicting information could you please clear it up?
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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – In the program's 16th straight appearance in the NEWMAC Women's Volleyball Tournament semifinals, MIT fell to top-seed and host Springfield College, 25-12, 25-23, 25-20, on Saturday afternoon. With the loss, the Engineers close their season with a ledger of 22-11.
Freshman Megan Gebhard (Howell, Mich.) paced MIT's attack with 15 kills, followed by eight from senior Tatiana Berger (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.). Freshman Jennie Glerum (Redmond, Wash.) led the way with 14 digs while classmate Tori Wuthrich (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.) totaled 12 digs and two aces. Junior Nicole Gagnier (Atlanta, Ga.) dished out 29 assists as seniors Kristine Bunker (Falmouth, Mass.) and Rachel Hunt (Arlington Heights, Ill.) both had two blocks.
The early stages of the first set were closely played as the score was tied at seven before Springfield capitalized on several errors to go up, 13-8. After a timeout by the Engineers, Berger posted a kill and ace but this was as close as it would get as the Pride closed out the set with a 12-2 run.
Trailing 13-10 in the second stanza, MIT converted a pair of errors and Gebhard kills to go up, 14-13. The tight affair continued as the Engineers fought off four ties before back-to-back miscues gave them a 21-19 edge. Springfield registered a pair of kills to even the frame but that was followed by an exchange of points. A block by Gagnier and Bunker put MIT in front at 23-22; however, the hosts generated the next three points for the win.
Facing a 12-8 deficit in the third set, the Engineers mounted a 9-1 run with Gebhard's block resulting in a 17-13 advantage and a Springfield timeout. The Pride countered with nine unanswered points to reclaim the lead. Two kills from Gebhard and a Bunker strike brought MIT within two (22-20). Springfield replied by tallying the next three points to advance to the NEWMAC Championship.


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8:00 pm
Global Voices "Give Us The Money" How do you change the world? From Live Aid to Make Poverty History, celebrities have become activists against poverty. Bob Geldof and Bono have been the most prominent voices advocating on behalf of the poor. But have their concerts and campaigns really lifted millions out of poverty? Geldof, Bono and Bill Gates speak candidly about how to lobby effectively and how to play to politicians' weaknesses for glitz and popularity. D
9:00 pm
Outdoor Idaho "Canyonlands Calling" Cameras roam desert expanses, narrow canyons, mountains and rock formations of the southwest corner of Idaho. Participants reveal how eight years of collaborative effort among many interests can culminate in the federal Owyhee Initiative that includes many uses, including designated wilderness.G
9:30 pm
Dialogue "Thomas Keneally: Conversations from the Sun Valley Writers' Conference" Host Marcia Franklin talks with the author of Schindler's Ark, the basis for the Oscar-winning movie, Schindler's List. The Australian writer, who is of Irish ancestry, has recently published The Tyrant's Novel, an account of the Irish diaspora.G
10:00 pm
America ReFramed "West 47th Street" Mental illness is a topic rife with stereotypes and misunderstanding. Made with depth and compassion, West 47th Street is an intimate cinema verite portrait of four people struggling to recover from serious mental illness. They've all come to Fountain House, a renowned rehabilitation center in New York City's Hell's Kitchen. D


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The answer to the question of "What do orchardists do in the middle of winter?" has never been a simple one: the tasks include pruning, vehicle repair, and product development, to name just a few.
But suddenly, the answer gets more complex, thanks to three diverse community events planned for the next two weeks. To summarize:
n Shooting basketballs: The first ever "Orchard Shoot-out" will be Friday at the Horizon Christian School Hawks Nest. (Details on page A1.) This event will take place during the halftime of Friday's boys game. Six orchardists and fruit industry representatives will compete in the first-ever fun event.
n Talking history: Randy Kiyokawa of Parkdale speaks Feb. 5 in the "Sense of Place" lecture series, at Columbia Center for the Arts.
n Doing local drama: Mike Oates of Odell performs in a star-studded new local production, the Feb. 14 Valentine's Dinner at Elks Lodge, presented by St. Mary's Church. Also in the cast are Sheriff Matt English and District Attorney John Sewell. (Tickets are available through Feb. 6 — details on page A3.) Oates is an old hand at writing and performing in Lions Follies productions, but Sewell and English are hitting the boards for the first time.
All three events are worthy of support and, any kidding aside, they are a reminder of the wide range of involvement by local business owners and civic leaders, people from all walks of life.
As to the people who are giving their time to diverse examples such as the Orchard Shoot-out, Sense of Place and Valentine's Dinner, the important work of such things as growing fruit, as well as catching and prosecuting criminals, still goes on, but otherwise busy people find the time to contribute to the community.
There are many such cases to be found: the Chamber recognition event and senior meal at Mount Hood Town Hall, described in section B, point to more examples of ways people double up by doing their jobs and doing something in the spirit of service.
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(NewsUSA) – Winter not only brings snow, ice and hunker-down temperatures, but for more than 10 million Americans, it brings bouts of depression. Considering this, a warm-weather getaway might be just the medicine to break up the monotony.
Winter is a peak travel time, and the sticker price of some vacations is enough to make you gag on your latte. But there's one option that won't break the bank — an ocean cruise.
If a cruise line needs to fill vacancies quickly, it will often broker deals with a vendor to cut prices and bring in customers. In this case, you can book a last-minute cruise and save up to 82 percent off the regular price to exotic, balmy locations such as the Bahamas, the Caribbean and even the Mediterranean.
If you have just a little bit of flexibility with your travel schedule, you can take advantage of some great deals. Follow these vacation tips to decide whether a cruise might be just what the doctor ordered:
* Ask the experts. It might seem old school to consult a travel agent, but these professionals have the inside scoop on all aspects of vacation planning. In addition, they can help you select the right cruise ship and cabin, offer flight options and even suggest sightseeing activities. They are a gold mine of information you wouldn't otherwise have.
* Use the Internet. The information superhighway is your best friend when you're looking to save on cruise ship fares. Many sites can help you find cheap plane tickets to get to the dock where your ship is departing, as well as offer discounted cruise rates. Houston-based Vacations To Go, for instance, prides itself on listing more than 21,000 cruises on its site so that travelers have access to one-stop shopping. The company also has a 90-Day Ticker, which compiles all the best markdowns on cruises departing in the next three months, and negotiates special rates for military personnel, interline employees and 55+ travelers.
* Do your research. Consider where you would like to go. Is warm weather calling your name, or are you more interested in cities and culture? When you decide on a destination, look for cruise lines and ships that travel there. And if you have an idea of your budget, be ready to pounce when the right deal becomes available.
Regardless of where you decide to go or when, the mere act of planning a trip might be enough to keep the winter blahs at bay.
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2012: The Year of the Home Office
Freelancers, small business owners and increasingly even corporate folks are skipping the commute, at least for a few days out of the week. Even if you don't get to officially work from home, chances are you're taking some of it with you when you leave the office at the end of the day. The key to being productive at home is having a dedicated work space – no matter how compact.
• Homework: 75 Desks for Back to School
• IKEA Home Offices in Every Style
• Make It Work: 10 Desks for Small Spaces
• Back to Cool: 10 Fresh & Fun Office Accessories
• 10 Space-Saving Wall-Mounted Desks
• Admire It + Acquire It: Calming White Office Nook
• Putting the Home in Home Office
• 12 Accessories to Brighten the Office
• Secret Solutions: Hidden Laptop Desks
• Make Organizing Fun: Home Office Solutions for Cords, Cables and Devices
(Images: See linked posts for full image credits)


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Kristi Yamaguchi, who competed in the 1992 Albertville Winter Olympics with Nancy Kerrigan, says her fellow ice skater is thankful for the support she's been receiving since her father, Daniel Kerrigan, was found dead early Sunday morning.
"I sent her a message, just expressing my sorrow and support to her and she sent a message back saying, she definitely appreciates the support she's been getting," Kristi told Meredith Vieira during an appearance on NBC's "Today" show on Tuesday morning.
Kristi said the entire skating world is behind Nancy during this difficult time.
"I just want her to know that the entire skating community is reaching out and wants to give her all the support in the world that she needs," the "Dancing With the Stars" season six champ continued. "We're certainly sorry to have her suffer with such pain. We're here for her."
Kristi, who has known the Kerrigan family since she her early teen years, said Daniel Kerrigan was always a strong presence in Nancy's life.
"I think in the skating world a lot of dads are typically in the background, [but] Nancy's father Dan was always there right beside her, one of her biggest supporters obviously," she explained. "He was so proud of everything Nancy had accomplished."
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California Melges 24 Calendar Through 2013 Worlds Announced
27 June 2011
San Francisco, California, 25 June 2011 - The U.S. Melges 24 Class Association (USMCA) is pleased to announce an exciting three-year calendar of major events on the West Coast ahead of what promises to be an iconic Melges 24 World Championship in San Francisco the week following the America's Cup Final in 2013.
With growing fleets in Santa Barbara, San Diego, Lake Tahoe, and San Francisco, highlights include:
Seattle Melges 24 US National Championship, June 15-17*
Columbia Gorge One Design Regatta | Pacific Coast Championship, August 3-5*
San Francisco Melges 24 North American Championship, August 22-26
View Full 2012 Calendar (To Date)
Tahoe Melges Race Week | Trans-Tahoe Regatta | Pacific Coast Championship, July 11-13
San Francisco Melges 24 World Championship, September 30 – October 5
View Full 2013 Calendar (To Date)
. . . In the meantime, there is still a lot of great racing in store for us this season! Be sure to join us for:
Tahoe Melges Race Week | Trans-Tahoe Regatta, July 7-9 :Download A Notice of Race (NOR)
Columbia Gorge One Design Regatta, July 29-31
San Francisco Melges Race Week | Pacific Coast Championship, August 19-21 : Download A Notice of Race (NOR)
For more information, visit the West Coast Fleet Website, or follow us on Facebook.


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Happenstance brought a handful of old friends to Napa and unexpectedly, the four of us found ourselves at Rotisserie and Wine, the newly-opened restaurant in downtown Napa by television darling, Tyler Florence. Of more interest to me however, is that Jeremy Fox, a favorite chef of yours truly, has been hired by Tyler to head up the kitchen in this meat-centric, waterfront establishment with a decidedly Southern bent. They have only been open two weeks and already it is jam-packed, but with a full capacity of barely a hundred diners, it is not surprising that without a reservation, there is a bit of a wait. While waiting, the service staff, thematically clad in jeans in plaid, work hard to ensure comfort with drinks and a menu for early perusal. It is the costume of the waiters and overalls and plaid donned by Jeremy which gives the restaurant an almost hick feel to it. The bulk of the space is taken up with the open service area where diners can see Tyler directing the staff. My friends noticed that Nancy Silverton was also waiting for a table with her friends, so even the famous don't necessarily get preferential treatment.
After almost a half-hour wait, the four of us were given a counter spot. While this was not necessarily conducive to sharing the food, it did give a great opportunity to witness the action in the kitchen. While perusing the menu, some corn sticks arrived. I have a feeling these were comped; I didn't see them on the menu and I'm not sure they were offered to everyone. About four inches long, these warm fingers of goodness provided a fantastic start. A crisp, crunchy exterior gave way to a sweet, tender crumb so light and delectable. Sighs were heard as one friend immediately commented, "I could eat these for breakfast every day of the week." This was also my first glimpse at another aspect of the restaurant which charmed me, the place settings. Classic and elegant with a Victorian aesthetic, it is the sort of thing my Grandmother would have swiped to keep and I personally covet.
The menu is broken up into Snacks, items To Share, Fixins, and The Rotisserie. Separate from all these categories was a highlighted offering of something called The Meat Board. Snacks include a handful of individually-priced bites that can be ordered including Kale Chips, Olives, Scrapple, and the two snacks we ordered, Cheese Puffs (gougère) stuffed with bacon Mornay, aged Vella jack cheese, and chives and Deviled Jidori Chicken Egg, a deviled egg made with maple, sherry, celery, and candied bacon bits. The gougères, large with a delicate crust, oozed with rich and creamy bacon Mornay sauce. It would be very easy to eat an entire place of these. The deviled eggs' filling was probably the most creamy and smooth ever tasted. The maple flavor was subtle and slightly sweet. I appreciated the micro greens garnish, giving a crisp bright contrast to the stalwart egg.
Shortly after our three tantalizing "bites," The Meat Board arrived. Unlike most restaurants offering various cured charcuterie salamis and sausages, here it is terrines and potted meats. I would be very interested to know who was the brainchild behind its inception but there is no doubt that it is Jeremy who is adding the final touches which make this platter the shining highlight of the evening's meal. Not only did we have the vantage of watching him cutting and plating and decorating, but the skill and artistry is not lost on the other staff in the kitchen as several stopped to view the master in action. Like watching a Da Vinci with a paintbrush, Jeremy layers slivers of radish into flowers and creates a mille fleur garnish with truffles and slivers of mushrooms. The plating is not just decorative, every delicately-placed leaf, perfectly dotted mustard, and stacked and layered vegetable is a part of a whole creating an incomparable platter of the most stunning terrines I have tasted.
On the platter was a Game Bird Terrine, laden heavily with porcini mushrooms and served with red wine jelly. Rich and earthy, the delicacy of the game meat was punctuated with the porcini but heightened by the truffle mille fleur garnish and red wine jelly. A large slab of country pâté had been carefully dressed with a bit of olive oil and micro greens and consumed with the toasted, country bread from nearby Model Bakery with dots of grain mustard and Moutarde Violette. But it was the Duck Liver Mousse on the board that surprised me the most. With the texture and lightness of whipped cream, concentrated richness of liver was accented with fried sage, frizzled leeks, and decorated with chunks of pickled beets and vegetable crudité. This is a restaurant riding on the laurels of its ability to roast giant hunks of meat, but I have no doubt that the restaurant's appeal and reputation will grow based entirely on this amazing platter of potted meats.
Almost ten items made up the To Share section of the menu and for me were the most intriguing and reasons I want to go back. I am dying to try the Uni Toast with Shaved Pine Mushroom as well as the Sonoma Duck Confit with Cracklin' Waffles. Instead we opted with only a Beets and Avocado salad, made with red quinoa, Fuyu persimmons, and pistachios to accompany our Rotisserie selection, Beef and Bones, prime rib eye saddled up next to a horizontally-severed marrow bone, Yorkshire pudding, and horseradish. I suppose my only complaint about the prime rib is that instead of one, large thick slice of rare meat, two thinner slices were served. Good prime rib is good prime rib and we all wanted to order this more for the marrow which was crusted with bread crumbs. It was all very good, but hardly memorable considering everything else the restaurant has to offer. Other rotisserie meats for potential future visits include Sonoma BBQ lamb ribs, Petaluma chicken, and a stuffed porchetta.
Sadly, no Fixins were ordered on this trip and again, the Fixins and To Share menu options are what will bring me back; Arbuckle grits draped with lardo, Hudson Valley broccoli with pine nuts, capers, raisins and Vella dry jack, Mac & Local Cheeses, and David Little's potatoes...
While I stepped away to take a phone call, my friends ordered dessert. I was only surprised because I was more than full at this point and would have been quite content to call it a night but was more than pleased after taking a few bites of what they ordered; a classic slab of apple pie à la mode and a panna cotta, dressed with Balsamic vinegar and served with cookies. The apple pie is about as great as it comes. The apples were crunchy and perfectly spiced but it was the crust that shines. Too often I am left disappointed by a pie due to a soft or soggy crust and this does not disappoint. The panna cotta is another nice surprise but more for the cookies for me, although the panna cotta was perfectly prepared and made that much more interesting with the vinegar. The cookie we all loved with pig-shaped with a bacon flavor to it. I also greatly enjoyed the gingerbread as we had been sent a complimentary glass of Aloroso Sherry which made for a great combination and a lovely way to end the meal.
That this restaurant is a mere block away from my new job could be my downfall. As part of the revitalization of downtown Napa, it faces the riverfront and outside chairs show that once the warmer summer evenings arrive, outside service will obviously increase the number of people which can be served and will make this a destination for those looking to expand beyond the standard Napa standard of Cal-French or Cal-Mediterranean fusion cuisine. While the name of the restaurant implies that meat and wine is the draw (and I regret that I completely forgot to take a note on the glass of wine which I ordered), it is the Southern cuisine-inspired sides which will tantalize and ultimately please.
Pics on the Blog: http://feast-blog.com/rotisserie-and-...
Model Bakery
610 First Street, Napa, CA 94559
Tyler Florence Shop
59 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley, CA


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Light is an ever ending story in Greece it is as bright as always but somewhat sweeter. It revives the winter colours, whilst the mild temperatures rejuvenate the desire for exploration of Greek beauty. If you believe that visiting the Greek islands is only appropriate in summer, we invite you to think again!
Corfu, the cosmopolitan
Where: The most northern island in the Ionian complex
Why: Stands out due to its refined Italian finesse and the cosmopolitan, Venetian character that impresses throughout the year. Renowned globally as the green island of the Feakes and Odysseus's final stop before returning to his coveted destination, Ithaca. Corfu is one of the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean, distinguished by its rich nature, as well as, wonderful attractions.
What to visit: The famous Old Town of Corfu, with the illustrious Esplanade, one of the prettiest piazza's of Greece, with the Old Fortress on its East and a cricket court on the grounds. Walk through the prominent pathways and admire the unique estates. Enjoy a stroll through the beautiful Liston, adorned by elegant colonnades. Visit the imposing temple of Saint Spyridon, patron saint of the island, with the acclaimed crimson bell tower. Admire the palace of Saint Michael and Saint George, the only "Georgian" style monument in the Mediterranean and the masterpiece, Achilles, 19 kilometers southwest of the city. A trademark locale, is the small island known as Pontikonisi (Mouse island), the brightest gem on the Corfiot crown. We travel through time with Archaeological and Byzantine Museum's and the Banknote Museum's impressive exhibits. In the northern region, is the area of Paleokastritsa, known for Aggelokastro – the commanding remains of a Fortress – which along with Kalami and Kassiopi, are some of the most beautiful areas of the islands. While in the southern region you will be astounded by the traditional village of Vatos, as well as, the exquisite habitat of the Korission Lake.
Evia. Endless beauty.
Where: Stretching across the northeastern coastline of continental Central Greece
Why: Near Athens and with very easy access, Evia is the second biggest island of Greece and the sixth largest in the Mediterranean. Despite its tourism, Evia's charm remains intact, enchanting the senses. The numerous beautiful cities, combined with renowned locations and impressive attractions, make Evia the ideal destination, even during the winter season. Its rich geophysical scenery, surrounded by imposing mountains and beautiful lakes, offers visitors a plethora of activities, such as hiking, biking and horseback riding, thus keeping the momentum going at all times.
What to visit: Beautiful Chalkida, the capital of the island, where you can enjoy a stroll on the beach with a background of the famous bridge. You will be able to admire the Castle's old quarters, distinguished by its architecture, characterized by Turkish and Venetian influences and impressed by the plethora of exhibits in the Archaeological and Folk Museum. The ancient city of Eretria is especially interesting, only 22 kilometers southeast of the Chalkida, which in ancient times was one of the most prestigious areas of Greece, before it's destruction by the Persians in 490 B.C.
Karistos awaits you in the south of the island, 130 kilometers from Chalkida; a historic city, with beautiful neoclassical buildings, decorated by the exceptional Venetian port of Castelo Rosso. The harbor includes scenes of traditional cafes, picturesque taverns, as well as, restaurants offering gastronomical delicacies that appeal to all taste buds. You will also be able to horseback ride and hike in the beautiful nature and of course blaze your own biking trails. In the northern part of the island, tracing back to the depth of ancient Greece, you will encounter the baths of Aidipsos, the most well-known health and wellness center in all of Greece. Also in the north, the settlement of Kymi, with a spectacular view of the sea, is one of the prettiest in the region.
Crete. Enchanting the soul.
Where: The most southern island of Greece
Why: The distinct variety of the geophysical scenery, the mild climate, as well as the innumerable cultures influencing the island, spanning from 6.000 B.C. when the first prehistoric settlements appeared, to 1913, when Crete annexed the rest of Greece, are the decisive factors that created Crete's image today. Spectacular, beautiful and unique, Crete dominates the southern Aegean, full of pride and enchants, all who visit, with its irresistible charm
Where to visit:
Chania: The county of Chania is the most western of the four on the island, characterized by the imposing "White Mountains" and the famous national park that takes up the largest part of the county. Chania is also the capital of the county and is not only one of the most beautiful cities of the island, but of the whole of Greece. The magnificent neoclassical estates, as well as the Venetian strongholds, compose a unique setting. In the harbor you will find some of the greatest attractions, including the famous Maritime Museum and the Turkish mosque, one of the oldest Ottoman buildings on the island. While travelling with children, visit the City Park, which dates back to the 19th century. There you will find a small zoo, as well as, a playground, where you can spend a few carefree moments. You will have the opportunity to enjoy the now world renowned Cretan cuisine, known for its beneficial properties and the longevity it offers. For the nature-lovers, the county's trademark is the Samaria Gorge, which is an ideal destination, mainly in the summer season. Also for nature-lovers is Lake Kourna, the only natural freshwater lake in all of Crete, where you can enjoy a one-of-a-kind evening walk, as well as, a family picnic.
Rethymno: Surrounded by the White Mountains and Mount Psiloritis (Ida) is the county of Rethymno, which is a jewel on the island of the Crete, defined by beauty and history. The old district of Rethymno, also the name of the capital, stands out for its unique architecture and a combination of Venetian and Turkish mansions that bewitch visitors with their every step. Built in the 16th century in order to protect residents from pirate invasions, the famous fortress Fortezza adorns the city's harbor. The archaeological museum's doors are open, helping visitors journey through the city's history. The well-known Monastery of Arkadi awaits you 24 kilometers southeast of Rethymno; a symbol of bravery of the Cretans against the Turkish occupiers. For those who love mountains, 79 kilometers southeast of Rethymno, above Mount Psiloritis, is the breathtaking Nida plateau with its trademark, stone-vaulted, pastoral residences, known as "mitata". Winter escapades and winter sports can be enjoyed at the plateau's ski resort. Built on a rocky edge, at an altitude of 730 meters, you will encounter the beautiful, graphic village of Anogia. Visitors come closer to Cretan tradition, through shops with handmade, colorful weavings and embroidery and for those who love authentic, local flavors; you can experience culinary traditions in the village's taverns. Indulge yourself in the aroma of raki and the Cretan lyra's melodies.
Heraklion: This is the largest and most populated county on the island and has some of the greatest archaeological sites in Greece. The Palaces of Knossos and Phaistos is just one of many sites. Heraklion is also the birthplace of the Minoan civilization, the most ancient civilization of the European continent and one of the greatest civilizations of humanity. This was also the birthplace of one of the greatest artists of all time, El Greco, whose works became a symbol of Renaissance perfection.
In the center of the town, Venizelos Square awaits, surrounded by stores for your shopping sprees and cafes for your relaxation. Standing in command in the harbor is the Venetian castle, which is worth your while to visit. Nearby, in Eleftheria (Freedom) Square, the archaeological museum is a true revelation, as it houses the largest collection of Minoan civilization findings. Two of the most important Minoan palaces in all of Crete lie a few kilometers away from the city; archaeological site of Phaistos is approximately 5 kilometers south of the city, while 65 kilometers southwest of the city, is the impressive Palace of Knossos
Aside from history, outside of the city, one can also enjoy Heraklion's amazing nature. Caves, canyons and green areas delineate the hinterland's scenery and invite explorers to enjoy activities such as hiking and biking. At the same time, well-hidden, traditional settlements and villages, with centuries of history, are waiting to be discovered in vineyards and olive groves, valleys and mountain slopes.
Lasithi: Surrounded by the three seas, Cretan, Libyan and Carpathian, the eastern edge of Crete is characterized by unique natural diversity and intense contrasts that create a charming setting. Famous tourist resorts and luxurious tourist complexes combine perfectly with destinations full of Cretan authenticity, untouched by tourism
The picturesque area of Agios Nikolaos is the capital of the county and is one of the most cosmopolitan areas of the island. The harbor is in the center of the city, which is attached to Voulismeni, a small salt lake with a depth of only 64 meters. The archaeological and folk museums of the city are open to all and offer a journey through time. The city itself is a base for the exploration of interesting destinations, such as, Ierapetra, the most southern city of Europe, with the famous Venetian castle and the Turkish quarters, as well as, the fantastic palm forest of Vai. Located 94 kilometers northeast of the Agios Nikolaos, it is the only palm forest in Europe with over 5,000 palm trees, in an area of approximately 250 hectares. Last, don't miss out on the opportunity to have fun in a traditional Cretan festival. where dancing to the accompaniment of the lyra and feasting on exquisite Lasithian cuisine take central stage. An example of such a festival is that of Agios Antonios on January 17, in the village of Zakros, on the eastside of the county.
Syros. The mistress of the Cyclades
Where: the island complex south of the southern Cyclades
Why: One of the most beautiful islands in the Aegean, today, Syros is the commercial, administrative and cultural center of the Cyclades, an Aegean gem that impresses visitors with elegance, nobility and cosmopolitan character. Its diversity and contrasts, combines with the harmonious coexistence of prevalent Catholic and Orthodox elements on the island, compose the island's unique character. Near Athens and with frequent routes to the island of Piraeus, Syros is the ideal destination for a beautiful, romantic weekend.
What to visit: The splendor of beauty that is Ermoupoli, the largest city and capital of the Cyclades; built amphitheatrically, with amazing neoclassical mansions and imposing temples, it was one of Greece's most important ports in the 19th century. You can get lost in the narrow streets of Ano Syra, on the hill of the catholic church of Saint George that stands out for is medieval character and enjoy a relaxing walk on the hill of the orthodox across the way, with the church of the Resurrection as a reference point. In the lower city you will admire the unique Miaouli Square and the impressive City Hall designed by the German architect, Ernst Ziller. On the left, at the island's archaeology museum, one can enjoy exhibits that go as far back as 3.000 B.C. Nearby, at the Apollo Theater, a miniature of La Scala, one can watch theatrical and musical performances. Approximately 12 kilometers southwest of Ermoupoli you will encounter Delagratsia or Posidonia, one of the most cosmopolitan and tourist areas of the islands, inundated with wonderful neoclassical villas that stand out for their architecture and elaborate gardens. Syros maintains a lively social life throughout the year, with beautiful bars and restaurants, where one can enjoy unforgettable moments.
Visitgreece.gr is the official tourism web site for Greece, run by the Greek National Tourism Organisation, where you'll find information on the main tourist destinations, such as cities, beaches, as well as activities, events and much more!
All content included on this site consists intellectual property of GNTO and you are not allowed to reproduce the whole or part of this work in any way.
For information please contact: email@example.com. All Rights Reserved. GNTO © 2018.


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No. 100,327
In the Matter of the Marriage of
1. When a child reaches 18 years of age and is no longer in high school, the obligation of a parent to pay support for that child automatically ceases under Brady v. Brady, 225 Kan. 485, 592 P.2d 865 (1979).
2. A parent who does not have primary residency of his or her minor children may, under certain circumstances, use the Multiple-Family Application contained in the Kansas Child Support Guidelines § III.B.6. (2008 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 116) to adjust his or her child support obligation when he or she has financial responsibility for other children residing with him or her. One of those circumstances is when the parent having primary residency seeks an increase in support.
3. Under the facts presented here, after the oldest child reached 18 years of age and was no longer in high school, the district court had jurisdiction to determine whether the total child support for the remaining two minor children should simply be reduced by 1/3 or be recalculated under the Kansas Child Support Guidelines.
4. An appellate court reviews a district court's determination of child support for an abuse of discretion. The interpretation and application of the Kansas Child Support Guidelines is subject to unlimited review.
5. When a child reaches 18 years of age and is no longer in high school, a parent's obligation for support of the remaining minor children should be recalculated under the Kansas Child Support Guidelines.
6. Under the facts presented here, the parent having primary residency, in effect, sought an increase in child support when she sought to have support for the two remaining minor children recalculated under the Kansas Child Support Guidelines after the oldest child turned 18 years of age and was no longer in high school. This entitled the parent without primary residency to have the benefit of the Multiple-Family Application contained in the Kansas Child Support Guidelines in making the recalculations.
Appeal from Coffey District Court; PHILLIP M. FROMME, judge. Opinion filed June 5, 2009. Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded with directions.
Craig E. Cole, of Garnett, for appellant.
Monte L. Miller, of Emporia, for appellee.
Before CAPLINGER, P.J., BUSER, J., and BUKATY, S.J.
BUKATY, J.: Steven and Amanda Winsky are the divorced parents of three children. During the relevant time period, Amanda had residential custody and Steven paid child support. When the oldest child reached 18, Steven obtained an order reducing his support obligation by 1/3. Amanda moved to set aside that order and have support for the remaining minor children calculated according to the Kansas Child Support Guidelines (KCSG). Steven objected but then argued at the same time that he should have benefit of the Multiple-Family Application (MFA) in the KCSG since he had children from a subsequent marriage. The district court sustained Amanda's motion and ordered that support be recalculated under the KCSG but without the MFA as Steven requested. Steven appeals the disallowance of the MFA.
This appeal presents us with the issue of whether Amanda's action in moving to set aside the child support order that reduced Steven's support obligation by 1/3 amounted to her seeking an increase in support that would then allow Steven the advantage of the MFA. We conclude that Amanda had, in essence, sought an increase in support and the district court erred in ruling otherwise and in denying Steven the benefit of the MFA. We reverse and remand.
The parties were granted a divorce on January 2, 2002. Amanda received residential custody of the parties' three minor children: Nicole, born February 2, 1989; Stephanie, born June 25, 1991; and Brandon, born June 1, 1997. Steven was ordered to pay Amanda $816 per month in child support through an income withholding order. Steven has two additional children from a subsequent marriage.
On December 6, 2007, Steven filed a motion in the district court requesting that child support be reduced because Nicole had turned 18 years old and had graduated from high school. Relying on Brady v. Brady, 225 Kan. 485, 491, 592 P.2d 865 (1979), he asked that the support order and, of course, his income withholding order be reduced by 1/3 to $544 per month beginning July 1, 2007. The district court signed a journal entry that granted Steven's request on December 12, 2007. The journal entry reflects that Amanda did not appear at the proceeding. Amanda moved to set aside this order a few days later. She claimed she had not been given notice of a hearing on the motion to reduce and Steven had not advised her he was going to court on the matter even though their attorneys had spoken on the phone the same day.
The district court held a hearing on Amanda's motion. She argued she was not given notice of the previous hearing in violation of due process and that the child support was improperly calculated. Specifically, she claimed the court should not have given Steven a simple 1/3 reduction in support, but should have calculated support for the remaining two minor children under the KCSG. Significantly, she acknowledged that use of the KCSG would result in a higher pro rata amount of support per child. As to the MFA requested by Steven, she argued she was not actually requesting an increase and the MFA did not apply.
In response, Steven argued that child support automatically ceases when a child becomes emancipated and that a parent paying support for that child may simply deduct a proportionate share of support at that time without going to court. Because of this, he claimed that notice of the hearing was unnecessary and, because support for Nicole automatically ended at her emancipation, he overpaid support for the months of July through December 2007. He stated that even though it was not necessary, he sent Amanda a copy of his motion. He further argued before the district court that in order for that court to recalculate support under the KCSG, Nicole needed to have first filed a motion to increase child support under K.S.A. 2008 Supp. 60-1610(a).
When an increase in support is sought by a parent with primary residency, the MFA may be used by the opposing parent. See KCSG § III.B.6. (2008 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 116). Steven argued to the district court that if Amanda believed the proportional method of Brady was unfair, she should have filed a motion to increase support, thus entitling him to use the MFA.
The district court agreed with Steven in part by ruling that Brady was "still good law" in that support for a child automatically ceases when that child reaches age 18, that any payments thereafter made on behalf of that child are overpayments applied against the future support order or returned to the payor, that Steven should have a credit for payments made on behalf of Nicole after July 1, 2007, and that Steven did not violate due process by failing to notify Amanda of the hearing since support automatically ceased.
The district court then agreed with Amanda in part by ruling that the new support order for the two remaining minor children be calculated under the KCSG as of July 1, 2007, rather than simply reduced by 1/3 from what it was for three children. It also agreed with her in ruling that Steven could not use the MFA because Amanda did not file a motion to increase support.
We note in passing that Steven argues somewhat inconsistently. He first argues the district court did not have jurisdiction to order the parties to recalculate child support under the guidelines because Amanda did not file a motion to increase support. Then later in his brief he indicates Amanda is entitled to receive the benefit from the increases in his income and the ages of the children that the KCSG would provide but only after the MFA is applied.
In any event, the jurisdiction argument lacks merit. After Steven filed the motion and order reducing his support order by 1/3, Amanda responded by filing a motion to set aside that order. Then at the hearing on her motion, Amanda's counsel argued that the reason it should be set aside was that the reduction was an improper pro rata reduction instead of a recalculation under the guidelines. The motion stated that Steven was not entitled to the MFA. The district court then merely addressed the issues the parties brought before it, namely, what support should Steven pay in support of his two younger children. It is difficult to conclude that the court lacked jurisdiction to do so. There is no question that K.S.A. 2008 Supp. 60-1610(a)(1) provides the district court with jurisdiction to modify issues dealing with support of minor children. In re Marriage of Patterson, 22 Kan. App. 2d 522, 531, 920 P.2d 450 (1996). Additionally, Steven offers no authority for his challenge to jurisdiction.
We now address Steven's primary argument. He argues that Brady is "good law" that has been applied even after the enactment of the KCSG. 225 Kan. at 491. He reasons from this that Amanda's request to the court to recalculate support under the KCSG amounted to a request for an increase in support which now entitles him to use the MFA.
We review an order of the district court determining the amount of child support for an abuse of discretion. Judicial discretion is abused when judicial action is arbitrary, fanciful, or unreasonable, i.e., no reasonable person would take the view adopted by the district court. Patterson, 22 Kan. App. 2d at 526. The interpretation and application of the KCSG is subject to unlimited review. In re Marriage of VanderVoort, 39 Kan. App. 2d 724, 185 P.3d 289 (2008).
We agree with Steven that Brady is still good law to the extent that an order to pay support for a child automatically ceases when that child reaches 18. However, subsequent cases have modified the holding in Brady that support for the remaining children be reduced proportionately. In VanderVoort, this court, while approving Brady's holding that child support automatically ceases, also rejected proportionate recalculation and instead applied the KCSG in determining support for the remaining children. 39 Kan. App. 2d at 730-32. Although the court in In re Marriage of Burton, 29 Kan. App. 2d 449, 450, 452, 28 P.3d 427 (2001), suggests that Brady still permits use of the proportional method, that method was not applied or at issue in that case. Likewise, other cases that have approved the first part of the Brady rule have not applied the proportional method to recalculate support for the remaining minor children. See In re Marriage of Steven, 30 Kan. App. 2d 794, 796, 48 P.3d 1284 (2002); In re Marriage of Kasper, 29 Kan. App. 2d 461, 464, 27 P.3d 950 (2001). In fact, the Kasper court affirmatively promoted the application of the KCSG after an emancipation, stating: "In that situation, the amount of support for the child or children remaining in the house will change based on the required use of different child support schedules where there is more than one child in the home." 29 Kan. App. 2d at 465.
Based on the above, the district court here properly rejected the proportional method and ordered that the parties recalculate support under the KCSG after the oldest child reached 18. Steven does not appear to seriously contest this on appeal. Rather, his more fundamental point is that because Amanda disagreed with the proportional recalculation and requested that the court apply the KCSG, she essentially requested an increase in support, which allows him to use the MFA.
Whether or not Amanda sought an increase in support is significant because, as we alluded to earlier, § III.B.6. of the KCSG provides in relevant part: "The [MFA] may be used only by a parent not having primary residency when establishing an original order of child support or an increase in support is sought by the parent having primary residency." (Emphasis added.)
We agree with Steven that, in essence, Amanda sought an increase in support in moving to set aside the order that reduced his support after emancipation of the oldest child. Steven, therefore, is entitled to the benefit of the MFA.
In reaching this conclusion, we have considered several factors.
We first note that the language of the relevant portion of the KCSG does not require that the custodial parent actually file a motion seeking an increase in support before the other parent is entitled to the MFA. It only requires that "an increase in support is sought by the parent having primary residency." KCSG § III.B.6. Therefore, contrary to Amanda's argument, the fact she did not file a specific motion to increase is not relevant. Amanda's affirmative action in filing the motion to set aside the order obtained by Steven and then urging the use of the KCSG demonstrates she essentially sought an increase in support even though she did not technically file a motion requesting such. To allow Steven the benefit of the MFA here does not allow him to use it as a sword, as Amanda argues, but only as a shield to Amanda's pursuit of an increase in child support.
We digress at this point to mention that the parties have not calculated the new support obligation under the guidelines either with or without the MFA. By virtue of their positions, however, the parties obviously assume that a calculation under the KCSG will result in a higher amount of support for the remaining two minor children than the $544 that resulted from a pro rata reduction from three children down to two. Amanda's counsel acknowledged this in his argument before the district court. The parties also appear to assume the use of the MFA will result in a significant reduction in child support from what it would be without its use.
Returning to the other factors that weigh in favor of our decision, we next note that prior decisions of this court have rather liberally construed in favor of the noncustodial parent the language of the KCSG stating that a custodial parent must first seek an increase in support before the MFA is applied. In State ex rel. Secretary of SRS v. Huffman, 22 Kan. App. 2d 577, 578, 920 P.2d 965 (1996), SRS filed a paternity and child support action alleging that Huffman was the father of a 9-year-old child. The district court ordered Huffman to pay support but allowed him to use the MFA because he had other children at that time. On appeal, the appellate court affirmed holding that the requirement that the custodial parent seek an increase in support does not apply when the case involves the establishment of an initial order. 22 Kan. App. 2d at 580-81. The KCSG have been amended since that decision to specifically allow use of the MFA in that situation, but that does not diminish the fact this court liberally construed the guidelines provision in favor of the use of the MFA before the section was amended. See also In re Marriage of Benoit, 26 Kan. App. 2d 659, 662-63, 992 P.2d 1259 (1999) (held if MFA was previously applied, court can continue to apply it even though the custodial parent did not seek an increase in support and it was the noncustodial parent who brought the parties before the court by filing a motion to reduce support).
Next, we agree with Steven that the district court's ruling resulted in his being treated unfairly different from a noncustodial parent in the same circumstances but who was not paying support through an income withholding order. Steven's support obligation for the oldest child ceased automatically when she turned 18, and he did not have to go to court for that to occur. Yet, under the language of K.S.A. 23-4,111(a), Steven did have to file a motion to modify the income withholding order to conform to the new underlying support obligation. Because of this, Amanda, without filing a motion that specifically asked for an increase, was able to obtain an increase in support by moving to set aside the proportional reduction order Steven had obtained. Had there been no income order in place and Steven had simply reduced his support by 1/3, Amanda would have had to file a motion to increase in order to challenge Steven's proportional reduction. Because she did not have to do this, Steven has been prevented from using the Multiple-Family Application under the district court's ruling even though Amanda apparently has or will obtain an increase in support. This disparate treatment cannot be a result contemplated by the KCSG.
The district court correctly determined that after the oldest child reached 18, child support for the two remaining minor children should be recalculated under the KCSG. However, upon consideration of the particular facts present here along with the case authorities above, we conclude the district court interpreted and applied the KCSG incorrectly in denying Steven the benefit of the MFA.
Reversed and remanded for recalculation of child support under the KCSG with the use of the MFA.
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded with directions.


text: Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums :: View topic - wheat straw, wheat bran Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!" FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in wheat straw, wheat bran Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Food View previous topic :: View next topic Author Message silvertop_10Joined: 19 Dec 2006Posts: 1Location: Karachi, Pakistan Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2006 3:09 am Post subject: wheat straw, wheat bran We export wheat straw and wheat bran, We assure that we are the cheapest source in the world for asian markets. They have many uses for human food, animal food, cattle food, construction etc. Ethanol is also produced by wheat straw. For contact or detail visit http://www.mehranbiz.com_________________Any body can sms at my mobile +92 333 3685566, +92 321 2277577 or visit my web http://www.mehranbiz.com Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Food All times are GMT - 8 Hours Page 1 of 1 Jump to: Select a forum Student Forums----------------ComputersCurrent NewsCultureEnglish SchoolsFamilyFilm and CinemaFoodHealth and FitnessHelp CenterHobbiesHolidaysLearning EnglishLiteratureMaking FriendsMusicOpinionsPetsScienceSportsThe Strange and MysteriousTOEFL and Other English ExamsTravel You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum Dave's ESL Cafe is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling. Banner Advertising | Bookstore / Alta Books | FAQs | Articles | Interview with Dave Copyright © 2018 Dave's ESL Cafe | All Rights Reserved | Contact Dave's ESL Cafe | Site Map Teachers College, Columbia University: Train to Teach English Here or Abroad Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group


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Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's Former Chief Of Staff Sent This Disgusting Homophobic, Racist Email
With eyes on 2016, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has been trying his best to not follow Chris Christie's embattled footsteps. A state court's dump of more than 25,000 emails from an investigation into the use of government money for Walker's campaigns unfortunately hasn't helped the republican's big ticket dreams.
Among other intercepted messages that may have drastic implications for Walker was one glaringly disgusting email sent by Thomas Nardelli titled "The Nightmare." Nardelli served as chief-of-staff during Walker's early political career before becoming one of Walker's full-time consultants. The racist, homophobic, antisemitic and ableist email, which appears to be a forwarded "joke" will leave you with the same face plastered on Walker above.
In the nightmare I found myself nude in bed, and I was looking at a mirror on the ceiling, and I discovered that I am a Negro, and I'm circumcised!
Quickly I sat up, found my pants and looked in the pockets to find my driver's license photo and it was that same color, black.
I felt myself being very depressed, downcast, sitting in a chair.
But it's a wheelchair! That means, of course, besides being black and Jewish, I'm also disabled! I said to myself, aloud "This is impossible! It's impossible that I should be black and Jewish and disabled!" "It's the pure and holy truth," whispers someone from behind me. I turn around, and it's my boyfriend.
Just what I needed!!! I am a homosexual, and on top of that, with a Mexican boyfriend.
Oh, my God .... Black, Jewish, disabled, gay with a Mexican boyfriend, drug addict, and HIV-positive!!!
Desperate, I begin to shout, cry, pull my hair, and Oh, nooooo...I'm bald!!!
The telephone rings. it's my brother. He is saying, 'Since mom and dad died, the only thing you do is hang out, take drugs, and laze around all day doing nothing. Get a job, you worthless piece of crap... Any job!'
Mom? Dad? Nooooo ... Now I'm also an unemployed orphan! I try to explain to my brother how hard it is to find a job when you are black, Jewish, disabled, gay with a Mexican boyfriend, are a drug addict, HIV positive, bald, and an orphan, but he doesn't get it.
Frustrated, I hang up. It's then I realize I only have one hand!!! With tears in my eyes, I go to the window to look out. I see I live in a shanty-town full of cardboard and tin houses! There is trash everywhere.
Suddenly I feel a sharp pain near my pacemaker.... Pacemaker??
Besides being black, Jewish, disabled, a fairy with a Mexican boyfriend, a drug addict, HIV positive, bald, orphaned, unemployed, an invalid with one hand, and having a bad heart, I live in a crappy neighborhood.
At that very moment my boyfriend approaches and says to me, 'Sweetie pie, my love, my little black heartthrob, have you decided what you are going to wear to Washington to see Obama?'
Say it isn't so!!! I can handle being a black, disabled, one-armed, drug-addicted, Jewish homosexual on a pacemaker who is HIV positive, bald, orphaned, unemployed, lives in a slum, and has a Mexican boyfriend, but please, Oh dear God, please don't tell me I'm a Democrat!
Chris Christie's gotta be doing a happy dance right now.
BuzzFeed's Evan McMorris-Santora was the first to post the email, was forwarded to an undisclosed amount of Walker's campaign staff, including deputy chief-of-staff, Kelly Rindfleisch.
(Via BuzzFeed)
Is anyone at home, mentally, these days? This has been the most prolonged period of nothingness, with no cooperation from congress, and nothing offered to benefit the working class citizens of this nation. Week to week, it's simply more dumb ass B.S. to read, like this madness. And still the displaced workers of America suffer with no jobs, or no adequate pay, and no relief in either area in sight. My country tis of thee, ......sweet land of liberty, ......of thee I sing!
Thomas Nardelli is a hack, and I'm not sure how this is indicative of Gov. Walker's views in the least. It was Walker that in the last few weeks suggested his fellow Republicans temper their views on social issues and focus instead on proposals for the economy which, last I looked, still sucks.