text:
Easy to manage, simple to scale, always available
Count on Lenovo for enterprise-grade storage solutions. Our products adapt to your growing virtual environments, fit into your existing budget, and ensure data is ready when you need it.
View Products
Storage-Area Network
Data center, virtualization, cloud, & big-data ready.
Direct-Attached Storage
Powerful direct access storage.
Tape Storage
Tape, backup, & information management systems.
Software Defined Storage
Policy-based provisioning and management of data storage.
All-flash transformation
Accelerate access to data, scale seamlessly from edge to core to cloud, and protect your business with the new Lenovo enterprise class all-flash storage arrays.
Hybrid flash storage
Lenovo hybrid flash solutions seamlessly address your ever-changing business requirements.
Lenovo Services
Accelerate your digital transformation
Lenovo's expert consultants and technicians have extensive industry experience and deep technical expertise to help you transform your data center into a resilient, future-ready IT foundation designed to meet complex business requirements.
Our innovation draws upon a world of knowledge, embracing worldwide collaboration to unlock new thinking and the flexibility to help you capitalize on today's opportunities.
Lenovo products are tested and proven to the highest standards. Designed for the most demanding applications and workloads.
From innovation to design to components, Lenovo data center products yield top-tier performance ‐ so your enterprise can do the same.
Lenovo employs the most stringent security requirements to help you keep your business safe and running - day after day - and keep your data protected.
When you invest in a Lenovo data center product, expect maximum returns. Easy integration, flexible design, and scalable products ensure you get more for your money.
With Lenovo, you get more than a system. It's a team committed to providing services where each interaction, at every phase of the IT lifecycle, gives you the power to innovate.
No weak links in this chain. Industry-recognized, our global supply chain ensures our systems are pre-tested and pre-integrated, and reach you ready to deploy ‐ when you need them.


text: Lombard, David N wrote: > On Tue, Oct 16, 2007 at 11:20:51AM -0700, David Mathog wrote: >> Jim Lux <James.P.Lux at jpl.nasa.gov> wrote >> >>> and, as we all know, real developers >>> use paper: tape, tab cards, or, if they must, teletype rolls. >> You forgot paper tape. (Most people who used it probably wish they >> could forget it too!) > > Let's not get sloppy here, there is (was) 5-hole (Telex) and 7-hole (TWX, > later renamed Telex II) paper tape. > > Back in the early eighties, I had to hunt down an owner of an actual Telex > unit to transliterate a spool of 5-hole to text, so that I could have one > of the secretaries punch that onto 7-hole tape. Early--manual--transcoding :) You mean you didn't know how to read the tape by sight? -- Gerry Creager -- gerry.creager at tamu.edu Texas Mesonet -- AATLT, Texas A&M University Cell: 979.229.5301 Office: 979.862.3982 FAX: 979.862.3983 Office: 1700 Research Parkway Ste 160, TAMU, College Station, TX 77843

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Pulmonary Hypertension Overview
Pulmonary hypertension (PULL-mun-ary HI-per-TEN-shun), or PH, is increased pressure in the pulmonary arteries. These arteries carry blood from your heart to your lungs to pick up oxygen.
PH causes symptoms such as shortness of breath during routine activity – for example, climbing two flights of stairs -, tiredness, chest pain, and a racing heartbeat. As the condition worsens, its symptoms may limit all physical activity.
To understand PH, it helps to understand how your heart and lungs work. Your heart has two sides, separated by an inner wall called the septum.
Each side of your heart has an upper and lower chamber. The lower right chamber of your heart, the right ventricle (VEN-trih-kul), pumps blood to your pulmonary arteries. The blood then travels to your lungs, where it picks up oxygen.
The upper left chamber of your heart, the left atrium (AY-tree-um), receives the oxygen-rich blood from your lungs. The blood is then pumped into the lower left chamber of your heart, the left ventricle. From the left ventricle, the blood is pumped to the rest of your body through an artery called the aorta.
For more information about the heart and lungs, go to the Health Topics How the Heart Works and How the Lungs Work articles.
PH begins with inflammation and changes in the cells that line your pulmonary arteries. Other factors also can affect the pulmonary arteries and cause PH. For example, the condition may develop if:
- The walls of the arteries tighten.
- The walls of the arteries are stiff at birth or become stiff from an overgrowth of cells.
- Blood clots form in the arteries.
These changes make it hard for your heart to push blood through your pulmonary arteries and into your lungs. As a result, the pressure in your arteries rises. Also, because your heart is working harder than normal, your right ventricle becomes strained and weak.
Your heart may become so weak that it can't pump enough blood to your lungs. This causes heart failure. Heart failure is the most common cause of death in people who have PH.
PH is divided into five groups based on its causes and treatment options. In all groups, the average pressure in the pulmonary arteries is 25 mmHg or higher. The pressure in normal pulmonary arteries is 8–20 mmHg at rest. The mmHg is millimeters of mercury—the units used to measure blood pressure.
Other diseases or conditions, such as heart and lung diseases or blood clots, usually cause PH. Some people inherit the condition (that is, their parents pass the genes for PH on to them). In some cases, the cause isn't known.
PH has no cure. However, research for new treatments is ongoing. The earlier PH is treated, the easier it is to control.
Treatments include medicines, procedures, and other therapies. These treatments can relieve PH symptoms and slow the progress of the disease. Lifestyle changes also can help control symptoms.
Source and Additional Information:
What Is Pulmonary Hypertension? (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
For more information:
Go to the Pulmonary Hypertension health topic.


text:
City Hostel
If this is your first or your 100th time in Novi Sad, our hostel makes a great home.
Our hostel is in the centre of wonderful Novi Sad on one of its most beautiful streets.
Whether you're here for sight-seeing, our beaches or the EXIT Festival, we're here to make you comfortable! We have 24-hour reception and hot water, with free shampoo, soap, linen, Wi-Fi, hair dryers, city maps, lockers and use of our iron and ironing board! If you're staying with us for more than seven days you even get free laundry service.
Let us know if you would like us to pick you up from (or drop you off to!) the airport or any other arrival location. We're happy to oblige! There's also public parking in front of the hotel for an extra €0.50/1h.
Petrovaradin fortress is just 15 minutes away from here and offers a gorgeous panoramic view of the city. It also plays host to one of the largest and most famous festivals in Europe - Exit. We're also just two minutes' walk from SPENS, the sports centre where the Davis and Fed Cup are held, and seven minutes from the Strand, the largest freshwater beach in Europe. There's a great vibe to our city, from the university to the numerous cafes.
Come join us and let us introduce you to Novi Sad!
Availability & RatesTo view availability and prices please select dates and click 'Update Dates'
Hostel Facilities & Policies
- 24 Hour Reception
- 24 Hour Security
- Adaptors
- Air Conditioning
- Airport Transfers
- Bar
- Bicycle hire
- Bicycle parking
- Board Games
- Book Exchange
- Breakfast Not Included
- Cable TV
- Café
- Child Friendly
- Common Room
- Cooker
- Credit Cards Accepted
- Currency Exchange
- Dryer
- DVDs
- Express check-in / out
- Free City Maps
- Free Internet Access
- Free WiFi
- Fridge/Freezer
- Hair Dryers
- Hot Showers
- House Keeping
- Internet Access
- Internet café
- Iron / Ironing Board
- Self-Catering Facilities
- Late check-out
- Laundry Facilities
- Linen Included
- Security Lockers
- Luggage Storage
- Meals Available
- Mini Supermarket
- No Curfew
- Non Smoking
- Outdoor Terrace
- Parking
- Playstation
- Reading Light
- Safe Deposit Box
- Shuttle Bus
- Taxes included
- Tea & Coffee Making Facilities
- Tours/Travel Desk
- Towels For Hire
- Towels Included
- Wake-up calls
- Washing Machine
- Wi-Fi
Cancellation PolicyThis property has a 3 day cancellation policy. Failure to cancel within this time will result in a cancellation charge equal to the first night of your stay.
Must-Read Hostel InfoThis property has specific Terms & Conditions.
Please note:
We have a 72 hours cancellation policy
Check in: 12:00
Check out: 11:00
We accept Cash and Credit Cards on arrival
DirectionsShow MapHide Map
How to reach City Hostel?
From the main bus and train station: There's a bus stop just outside the main bus/train station. Take the city bus number 4. Get off the bus at the 6th stop, then turn around, go back and turn left (the way you came by the bus), until you reach the first intersection (the corner of Radnicka and Strazilovska Streets). Our hostel is on the corner on the right side, next to a bakery called "Kod bake". Entrance from the garden in Radnicka Street.
If from any reason you cannot find us, please give us a call.
Located Near
City Hostel is centrally located, right between the towns main attractions. Only a few minutes walk from the city center, walking distance from the beach, the Petrovaradin fortress, the Sports and Conference Center (SPENS) and the University Campus.
It is also well-connected by city bus routes.
Address: Radnicka 21 (corner of Radnicka and Strazilovska Streets)


text:
Monday, February 22, 2010
What I Learned, Part V: On Expected Returns and Diluting the Berkshire Gene Pool
"What is the expected return on capital from Burlington?" asks the shareholder from Hamburg, Germany. "And if you can't buy more railroads would you expand into shipping?"
As Warren Buffett launches into his answer, I muse that this is not the first time a German has asked the best question at a Berkshire shareholder meeting.
In "Pilgrimage to Warren Buffett's Omaha" (McGraw-Hill 2008) I described the one and only question that really challenged Warren Buffett throughout more than five hours on a Saturday morning two years ago—and it was asked by a shareholder from Bonn.
The fact that only one question—out of more than 50 that day—attempted to scratch the surface of the Oracle's brainy-but-folksy demeanor is not as striking as it might appear to those who have only seen Buffett hold court on CNBC, where he dispatches opinions on everything from the inheritance tax to railcar statistics.
Despite the fact that the centerpiece of the annual "Woodstock for Capitalists" is a five-hour, no-holds-barred question-and-answer session with Warren Buffett and his vice-chairman, Charlie Munger, the fact is that in recent years not many shareholders asked questions even marginally related to Berkshire and its businesses.
All that changed at last year's meeting, of course, when Buffett eliminated the first-come, first-served lineup at the microphones and instead selected three financial journalists to pose questions submitted in advance by shareholders and anyone else with an internet address.
The new format eliminated the tendency of past meetings to veer towards "What Would Warren Do?"-type queries from awestruck acolytes asking Buffett advice on how to become a great investor, or what issues Buffett would tackle if elected President, or—and I am not making this up—"Do you know and believe in Jesus Christ, and do you have a personal relationship with God?" (The answer to that one is—well, buy the book and find out.)
Indeed, at the May 2008 meeting only one question related to the businesses owned by Berkshire Hathaway. It was also the only question Buffett ducked. (By contrast, he answered the "Jesus Christ" question as he answered most of the rest: straight ahead, with no irony.)
And that was too bad, because it was a great question that indirectly got to the heart of what will likely become the central issue at Berkshire Hathaway: what happens when Warren Buffett—the best capital allocator in the world—is no longer allocating capital at Berkshire.
Using Berkshire's See's Candies as an example, the Man from Bonn asked whether Buffett would prefer a slower-growing but higher-margin business, as See's is, to a global but somewhat lower-margin business, as Swiss chocolate giant Lindt & Sprüngli has become.
It is a an excellent observation: when Buffett and Munger bought See's for $25 million in 1972, it was a small, west-coast candy company. 37 years and $1.5 billion in profits later, See's remains a small, west-coast candy company.
While that's good news for Berkshire shareholders—after all, Warren Buffett reinvested that $1.5 billion of cash from See's into other high-return opportunities, to the benefit of Berkshire and its shareholders—it's not necessarily good news for See's Candies in a world gone global. (To see how Buffett ducked the German's question, read "The Decline and Fall of the Sainted Seven," Chapter 36 in "Pilgrimage.")
The question asked today by the shareholder from Hamburg is equally good: "What is the expected return on capital from Burlington," he has asked, "And if you can't buy more railroads would you expand into shipping?"
This time, Buffett does not duck it.
"I think the return will be satisfactory but not mouth-watering," Buffett says. "It'll be similar to our energy utilities."
Berkshire's utilities earn decent, regulated returns on investment—not remotely close to the See's Candies-kinds of returns that most investors associate with Warren Buffett—but "satisfactory" nonetheless.
The reason "satisfactory but not mouth-watering" returns are appealing to a guy famed for growing Berkshire's book value at 20% a year for 45 years is simple: the sums involved are so vast ($43 billion, give or take, in total capital for the Burlington Northern deal), that a "satisfactory" return on this elephant-sized investment means a lot of money will be coming in Berkshire's door every year for many, many years.
And any money manager—Buffett, especially—will tell you it is far more difficult to grow large amounts of money than small. In Burlington Northern, Buffett has found precisely the kind of "elephant" he has been hunting for years.
That does not mean, however, Buffett thinks the Burlington acquisition is without risk.
By comparing the railroad business to Berkshire's existing utilities businesses, Buffett makes an important point. For unlike See's Candies, which sells a discretionary consumer product and therefore may raise prices or introduce new products or enter new markets at will, the railroad business is subject to significant oversight from the Feds—less so than in the past, when pricing was regulated, but still significant—much like a regulated utility.
Indeed, at this very moment, Jay Rockefeller's Senate Commerce Committee is considering new rail legislation to beef up regulatory oversight and put the screws to railroads—legislation that the CEO of Union Pacific, Burlington's chief rival in the west, complained about on his company's recent earnings call.
And so it is that Buffett proceeds to discuss the risk this government interference poses:
"We are counting on society to behave well with us in allowing us a reasonable return on capital IF we do our job of behaving reasonably well," he says.
Asked next what would happen if government regulation got "more intense" on railroads, Buffett says matter-of-factly:
"The governments could strangle our utilities… They have the ultimate authority…they could raise the corporate tax rate to 80% or something…
Our basic position is that if we behave well, they'll behave well. Our utility customers oughta feel very sure that when they flick a switch the lights'll go on," he says, adding, "They're gonna need the railroads in this country big time."
Buffett's age (he'll be 80 in August) seems to be catching up with him: despite shielding his eyes from the glare of the spotlights, he can't discern from which microphone in the crowd the next question is coming from. He looks intently at the unused microphone near us while the shareholder asking the question is at the microphone on the other side of the concert hall:
"How would the stock split affect Berkshire's ability to be in the S&P 500?"
It is a bit unsettling to see Buffett continue to stare at nobody, but the spotlights are bright and what the hell, this is Warren Buffett, who cares where he's looking?
Besides, this is a question with big dollars at stake. Berkshire is not in the S&P 500 Index, despite the fact that its market value is larger by far than any other company not already in that index—and bigger than most that are in it.
The reasons Berkshire has been excluded up to now are straightforward: two of the Standard & Poor's Index Committee's five 'admitting criteria' haven't been in Berkshire's favor since the day Buffett took control in 1965—one being trading volume and the second being the amount of stock in public hands.
Before the Burlington deal was announced in early November, a less-than-whopping 40,000 shares of Berkshire "B" shares traded on a good day, not adjusted for today's proposed 50-for-1 stock split. And the volume in "A" shares, through which Buffett controls Berkshire, barely rounded up to a 1,000 a day prior to the announcement.
Answering the question, Buffett observes:
"We're by far the largest co that's not in the S&P 500… the A/B situation creates problems for us, but eventually we'll be in the S&P 500, we'll be so large."
So far, so clear; but it is in discussing the effects of this dramatic change in his shareholder base (over which Buffett was once so obsessed that he used to keep track of how many shareholders lived in his own zip code) that Buffett exhibits the ability to rationalize any particular stance that makes him so remarkable, and, to some investors, so hypocritical:
"If they put us in the S&P, it's good for shareholders," he says, because "if 6-7% of funds are in index funds it's a block of stock that's essentially there forever, which is EXACTLY what we're looking for."
Thus in one easy, plain-spoken sentence the investor who for fifty years has warned against following the herd; has railed against diversification by serious investors ("ass-backwards," his business partner, Charlie Munger, calls it); and has refused to split his stock for fear of diluting the intellectual gene pool of the "quality shareholders" in the Berkshire Hathaway shareholder base, now blithely claims that index funds—big, stupid, mechanical, massively diversified index funds—are "Forever."
If, by "Forever," Buffett means "So long as Berkshire's market capitalization stays proportional to the index," then he's correct.
If, on the other hand, by "Forever" he means "Whatever happens to Berkshire Hathaway," he can't be more wrong.
It is an astonishing piece of rationalization, even for most of the investors seated in this room, yet the prevailing reaction seems to be a shoulder-shrugging 'Warren-will-be-Warren'.
Buffett then rationalizes the effect on the Berkshire gene pool in an equally offhand way:
"By now our identity is pretty well known. I don't worry about downgrading the quality of our shareholders."
He concludes the stock-split discussion with one more remarkable statement:
"We should have done it when we bought Gen Re."
The final question of the day gets to something that's been on people's minds since Buffett first announced the Burlington deal: what kind of hidden assets he sees in the Burlington railroad balance sheet.
To be concluded….
Jeff Matthews
I Am Not Making This Up
© 2009 NotMakingThisUp, LLC
The content contained in this blog represents only the opinions of Mr. Matthews, who also acts as an advisor: clients advised by Mr. Matthews may hold either long or short positions in securities of various companies discussed in the blog based upon Mr. Matthews' recommendations. This commentary in no way constitutes investment advice, and should never be relied on in making an investment decision, ever. Also, this blog is not a solicitation of business: all inquiries will be ignored. The content herein is intended solely for the entertainment of the reader, and the author.
10 comments:
- Anonymous said...
I look forward to all your posts especially re buffett. While I admire him, i think he speaks from both sides of his mouth. In the op-ed piece he says "I've been buying American stocks. This is my personal account I'm talking about, in which I previously owned nothing but United States government bonds. (This description leaves aside my Berkshire Hathaway holdings, which are all committed to philanthropy.) If prices keep looking attractive, my non-Berkshire net worth will soon be 100 percent in United States equities."
Now, I don't know if i'm splitting hairs, but about 2 months earlier to that article on cnbc with becky he says that he bought some WFC when it went down to the low 20's. Yet in the article he says he owned only bonds.
Since that article was written, he has been a net seller of equities in berkshire's portfolio, granted to fund other opportunities, but nonetheless he as been selling equities. The new opportunities were not equities (pfd's, corp bonds, etc) Someone should ask him if his personal account is 100% in equities now. I will bet its not.
While I understand capitalism and all, when WB bought the pfd stakes in GS and GE those firms used his name to sucker people into secondary offerings, who got killed initially and are still underwater in GE. Kudos to GE and GS for being able to do that, WB is out only for himself.
- wroclaw said...
Jeff, so would he expand into shipping?
- Alex said...
I appreciate the analogy linking BNSF to the utility businesses, but I am confused as to the nature of the financing. If the attractiveness of the deal comes from cost-plus earnings on leveraged assets (float + debt), then why is only 1/3 of the transaction financed by interest-bearing debt, and why does Buffett intend to pay back the debt in thirds over the next three years?
Berkshire is still underleveraged, and they can get fairly low rate financing even with the downgrades.
- Alex said...
Sorry to double post, but I speculate that Buffett's changed stance towards the stock split may have a lot to do with his adjusted expectations of Berkshire's performance.
A company that beats its peers by 10%+ a year attracts far more attention than one that may not outperform on any given year, and only modestly outperform over time.
- Anonymous said...
Professor Jeff:
Your post got me thinking: both railroads and utilties are federal and state regulated oligopolies. Both are the sort of "wide moat" businesses Buffett loves to invest in, even with their high capital expenditures. Buffett also invested in a couple of cap ex intensive manufacturers over the last couple of years as well; ISCAR and Marmon Group immediately come to mind. I wonder whether Buffett sees over the next few years these businesses being part of a domestic/global and cyclical economic reovery predicated on a return of capital investment in both energy and transportation? Just thinking out loud, and being this is only my opinion, I could be wrong, of course.
- David Merkel said...
I don't always agree with Warren Buffett, but I do agree here. Index investors are passive investors. Individually, they are dumb. As a group they are smart, because they lower their investment costs.
Warren is also correct on Burlington Northern -- it should be like his utilities, and throw off a growing inflation-protected return over time, allowing him to earn a spread over his cost of funds (negative) that his insurance enterprises generate.
He is still a bright man after all these years.
PS -- I am a Calvinist Christian; the question asked regarding Jesus is not relevant to the short-term running of Berky, but is relevant to an Christian investor who cares about the ethics of the organization. Also, it is relevant to the long-term well-being of Mr. Buffett. The rest of us will have to face the results of that question one day as well.
- But What do I Know? said...
Thanks for having the intellectual honesty to point out the S&P index "rationalization." WB does what he wants and explains away the inconsistencies afterwords--most of us do it (remember the line from the Big Chill) but the thing that annoys me is WB and his acolytes holding him(self) out as exceptional and holier-than-thou.
- Jeff Matthews said...
Aaron, I'm not sure what Buffett's overall view is on manufacturing. Every deal he does is done at a price he believes is rational and will result in a desired return--not sure what the macro view is.
As far as whether Buffett would expand into shipping, stay tuned.
- Colin P said...
As far as the shipping question goes, I bet Buffett gives some sort of noncommittal answer that is of little use to anyone in the investing world. Basically, he'll dodge the question in a friendly way without making anyone angry. Does anyone else agree?
- Joe Keller said...
Hey Jeff,
Next time you talk to Mr. Buffet, hand him a copy of a very fine new book called "Waiting On A Train" by James McCommons.
I believe Mr. Buffet could single-handedly revive the American private rail business.


text:
Sign in or
Location: Photo Gallery
Photo: You're Gonna Need Someone on Your Side
- Report photo
(What's this?What are these tools?
People just like you can add or edit the content on this site.
Read more about photos at WikiFoundry Central.)
Description: None.
There are no threads for this page.


text:
gcdetective needed a new web page design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 19 designs submitted by 10 freelance designers.
We are an up and coming nutritional supplement company.
Men and women who are trying to lose weight and looking for a solution through a supplement.
We need a landing page that looks similar to http://vitabolife.com/vitabolife.jpg except that we want our video to have a prominent place in it.
You can see our video here.
Our video should be to the left of the order form, where the couple is now.
Looking for the most high quality design with creativity injected into it. I don't just want an exact replica of the link above. Needs to be professionally designed and to be targeted towards men and women..


text:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington DC
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- Colorado
- show more States
- Albuquerque
- Amarillo
- Anchorage
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Baton Rouge
- Billings
- Birmingham Alabama
- Boise
- Boston
- Burlington
- Charleston
- Chicago
- Cleveland
- Colorado Springs
- Dallas-Fort Worth
- Daytona Beach
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Lauderdale
- Hartford
- Honolulu
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Jackson Mississippi
- Jacksonville
- Juneau
- Ketchikan
- Key West
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Mackinaw City
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis-St Paul
- Nashville
- New Haven
- New Orleans
- New York City
- Oklahoma City
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Pensacola
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Portland Oregon
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- Santa Fe
- Savannah
- Seattle
- St Louis
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington DC
- Baltimore
- hide Cities
Ports of Call
- Baltimore
- Cape Canaveral
- Catalina Island
- Fort Lauderdale
- Frederick Sound
- Haines
- Hawaii (Hilo)
- Honolulu
- Icy Strait
- Juneau
- Kailua Kona
- Ketchikan
- Key West
- Kodiak
- Maui (Kahului)
- Miami
- Mobile
- New Orleans
- Portland
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- Seattle
- Seward
- Sitka
- Skagway
- Tampa Bay
- Whittier
Key West Port of Call
Key West is an island; part of Key West City, at the very tip of the Florida Keys. This historic vacation destination seamlessly mixes old Victorian houses and placid blue waters into a funky modern tourism hub.
Famous sights in Key West include historic residences such as Ernest Hemingway's and Harry Truman's homes, best seen aboard the Conch Tour Train. For a rare view of the flat island, the Lighthouse Museum is a popular lookout.
Most cruise ships dock at a pier alongside Mallory Square, directly in Old Town. Although cruise passengers are encouraged to spend time in Key West, cruise ships must depart from the pier before sunset and return after dark so as not to impair sunset views. Westin Pier, also called Pier B, is within walking distance, while The Navy Mole, shared with the US Navy, requires a short trolley (tram) ride.
From Mallory Square and Westin Piers, the Old Town is within easy walking distance. Cabs can be hired, although many prefer to buy day passes on the circling trolleys (trams) or shuttles where passengers can hop on and off at their will. Others prefer to hire a bicycle or golf cart.
A popular activity is to jump back in time to the days of Harry Truman and Ernest Hemingway by visiting their respective homes. The southernmost point on of the US is also an attractive destination as is the Lighthouse Museum for a great view. The Audubon Houses & Tropical Gardens (an aquarium, butterfly and nature conservatory) have impressive collections of local species. Several beaches, like Smathers Beach and Fort Zachary, and shopping centres can fill up the rest of one's island time.
The Flaming Buoy Filet Company - fun eatery serving excellent lobster macaroni cheese
New York Pasta Garden - great Italian food in a pretty outdoor setting
Garbo's Grill - cheap and cheerful Carribean-style fast food
Best Dish
Best Dish: Yellow Tail Snapper or key lime pie
The Old Town offers attractive shops, especially at the Harbor Walk and Duval, offering an assortment of artisan crafts, paintings and clothes aligned for casual window shopping. Boutique shops ares also found along the Sunset Waterfront.
Best Buy
Anything key lime coloured
Explore in a glass-bottomed catamaran.
Fly in an airplane tour.
Visit Civil War Fort Jefferson.
Enjoy one of the city ghost tours.
Become our United States Of America Travel Expert
We are looking for contributors for our United States Of America travel guide. If you are a local, a regular traveller to United States Of America or a travel professional with time to contribute and answer occasional forum questions, please contact us.


text:
Important Links
|Beverly Hills Police Department
|Burbank Police Department
|CA Department of Motor Vehicles
|CA Department of
|CA Motorcycle Training
|Federal Bureau of Investigation
|Global Incident Map
|LA Police Department
|LA Sheriff's Department
|Megan's Law
|National Highway Traffic Safety Admin.
|National Security Agency
|Santa Monica Police Department
The Emergency Services Department is designed for individuals who work or wish to work in one of the areas of emergency services. These areas include Administration of Justice, Fire Technology and Corrections. We also offer a 180 hour course of instruction in Emergency Medical Technology [EMT]. The Emergency Services Department offers a variety of degrees and certificates within the Administration of Justice and Fire Technology Disciplines. Our programs offer you the basis for developing technical expertise, courage and compassion to make you a dedicated professional. We also offer Associate Degrees in Administration of Justice and Fire Technology as well as Certificates of Achievement in the same disciplines. Additionally, our department offers a Skills Certificate in Correctional Science.
Todays emphasis on community readiness [floods, earthquakes, tsunamis and other disasters] has created an unprecedented demand for trained professionals that can protect public health, safety and welfare. Public officials and agencies throughout our nation rely on hundreds of thousands of workers to coordinate evacuation and security efforts. The United States Department of Labor has predicted that in up-coming years there will be more than a 30% increase in the demand for employees in areas related to Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Law Enforcement. According to the Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook, the field of Law Enforcement has over one million people at the national level. There is a growing need for workers not only in the traditional fields of police, sheriff and highway patrol, but also in governmental agencies such as the Bureau of Alcohol; Firearms and Tobacco; Bureau of Customs; Bureau of Diplomatic Security and Department of Homeland Security. As a result, there is a significant increase in demand for appropriately trained professionals. As of this writing we look forward to an improved economic outlook.
Emergency Services Department Chair:
|Administration of Justice
|J. Brown
|N. Campbell
|R. Castro
|M. Frias
|R. Gonzalez
|E. Hartman
|W. Hendricks
|K. Hicks
|R. Ordelheide
|R. Parks
|N. Wade
|Fire Technology
|G. Armstrong
|R. Beach
|D. Castaneda
|R. Cavaglieri
|A. Cowen
|M. Kleckner
|R. McCombs
|R. Ramsey


text:
"Do No Harm's" not exactly Jekyll and Hyde. It's a little more like Hyde and Hyde.
The new NBC series offers a contemporary twist on the classic theme of good and evil contained within one man who has two personas: each evening at 8:25, brilliant neurosurgeon Jason Cole vanishes, replaced by a scheming alter ego named Ian Price, a sociopath determined to ruthlessly usurp Cole's existence by damaging his career and reputation – but Cole's no saint, either, and just as determined to thwart his alter's efforts to undermine him.
Series creator David Schulner – who indeed developed the premise from the foundation of Robert Louis Stevenson's "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"– and star Steven Pasquale offer a glimpse into the ongoing struggle between a single man's dual nature.
David Schulner: This show you're gonna want to watch every single week. The stuff that Ian does to Jason and Jason will do to Ian, it's a wild roller coaster ride, and it's just thrilling and fun.
Steven Pasquale: When I read this script, I thought it'd be really hard to tell a classic "Jekyll and Hyde" in a contemporary setting. But what's smart about David's pilot is that it sort of unlocks a similar story, you know what I mean, with something sort of in the flavor of Dissociative Identity Disorder that ultimately could have a lot more layers than just kind of like good versus evil.
Schulner: Ian's a little bit like a cat: the cat wants to play with that mouse. He doesn't want to kill it because what fun would that be? So Ian's going to do a lot of stuff to Jason, and then what's great about Jason's character is Jason's just as smart as Ian is and is sometimes two steps ahead of Ian, so there are traps in place. There are safeguards, there are fail-safes.
Pasquale: The threat should always be there because it informs the rest of the story so, so much. It really is a very real threat of something going very dark. Whether or not it happens will remain to be seen, but certainly that's where all of the tension lies.
Schulner: We are using a lot of those kind of medical anomalies from Dissociative Identity Disorder. When you switch from alter to alter, your brain goes into a fugue state, so when when Jason's not Jason, that part of the brain is literally asleep, and then when he transitions to Ian, the same thing is happening. So while his body's pretty run-down, the mind is okay. And we will deal with that: he's burning the candle at both ends, and that can't last. We've used the ideas of people waking up in surroundings that they have no idea how they got there. They go to work and all of a sudden people are looking at them differently, and they realize, 'Oh, God – What did I do?' That was the kind of stuff that I wanted to tap into. You were a different person last night, and how do you deal with that when you're yourself again?
Pasquale: The really interesting true-life DID cases were, like, one alter has better vision than the other alter. One is left‑handed and one is right‑handed. So there's a lot of really fascinating signs within DID, medically speaking. But what Jason suffers from is a fictitious condition loosely based on DID, not exactly DID.
Schulner: The Robert Louis Stevenson novel, "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," has everything, and if you haven't read it recently it holds up well. So we've used a lot of the stuff straight from the source and tried to incorporate that into the show.
Pasquale: Ultimately what we decided was we didn't want to do the classic thing where one guy's like a monster and really violently different than the other guy. We wanted them to have a gray area behaviorally, so that all the other characters when they intersect, it's really interesting for the audience, because then the audience knows that it's Jason or Ian, but the other people don't.


text:
Jay's hit gives Cardinals another win over Brewers
Milwaukee, WI – Jon Jay hit the go-ahead single in the top of the ninth inning and had a three-run homer earlier for the St. Louis Cardinals, who downed the Milwaukee Brewers, 7-6, Saturday in the third installment of a four-game set at Miller Park.
Jay drove in Shane Robinson with the eventual game-winning run, with Robinson leading off the ninth with a single and advancing to second on an error from Carlos Gomez, then adding to the cause by swiping third base to help Jay easily drive him in.
"When we go out there and we battle, we've got a pretty good offense," Jay said. "We've been winning games. We all believe in ourselves and we just have to have that mind-set every day."
Allen Craig had two hits -- including a solo homer -- and scored twice, while Daniel Descalso had a two-run shot for the Cardinals, who have won five straight.
"We saw a little bit of their relentless approach that helps guys to know that if they stay with it, they can come back," St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said.
Seth Maness (1-0) picked up the win after forcing an inning-ending double play to end the eighth.
"I had two pitchers who were down today so I had to make every pitcher count," Added Matheny. "Maness kept the ball down and got a big double play in the eighth."
Jean Segura hit a two-run homer, Jonathan Lucroy had a pinch-hit two-run single and Gomez added a solo blast for Milwaukee, which has lost four straight overall and nine of its last 12 versus St. Louis.
Tom Gorzelanny had a blown save in the seventh after replacing starter Yovani Gallardo. Jim Henderson (2-1) absorbed the loss, allowing the winning run as well as Robinson's and Jay's singles in the final frame.
"It was tough game to lose," Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke said. "But we still should have won the game. Yovani threw the ball well, but he made a couple of mistakes. They came through with big hits."
St. Louis starter Adam Wainwright allowed 11 hits and five runs over 5 1/3 innings. He also gave up his first two home runs of the season.
Logan Schafer's eighth inning single moved Jeff Bianchi to third base. Norichika Aoki then laid down a sacrifice bunt off Randy Choate to score Bianchi, pulling Milwaukee even at 6-6.
In the seventh, Gorzelanny replaced Gallardo and quickly struggled. He issued a leadoff walk to Jay and then allowed a single to Pete Kozma, although, Jay was thrown out attempting to reach third on the play.
The next batter, Descalso, fell behind 1-2 in the count, but managed to line a two-run shot over the right field wall to give the Cards a 6-5 lead.
The Brewers trailed 4-2 through the top of the sixth, after Craig clubbed a solo shot to right field. Milwaukee, though, plated three runs in the bottom of the frame.
Gomez smacked a solo homer to left-center to close the deficit to 4-3 and Martin Maldonado then followed with a single, before moving to third on Alex Gonzalez's double to left. That's when Lucroy, who pinch-hit for Gallardo, came through with a two-run single to center to give Milwaukee a 5-4 advantage.
In the second, David Freese hit a infield single to short to put runners on first and second. Jay then crushed Gallardo's 2-0 offering deep to center for a three-run blast and a 3-2 Cardinals lead.
Milwaukee jumped on the board in the bottom of the first. Aoki led off with a single and Segura hit the first pitch he saw over the right-center wall to give the hosts a 2-0 lead.
Game Notes
St. Louis announced on Friday that relief pitcher Jason Motte will undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the remainder of the season ... Wainwright has 48 strikeouts this season while walking only three batters in 49 1/3 innings ... Cardinals' reliever Edward Mujica earned his eighth save of the season after tossing a perfect ninth ... Gallardo has not earned a victory in his last nine starts versus the Cards.


text:
|SF based artist, Mars-1, shows "Nuclear Mystic" in NYC along with Nouar. Manuel Bello reports on this amazing show.
Another event filled weekend in Manhattan with Mars 1 showing, 'Nuclear Mystic', at Jonathan LeVine Gallery. It has been 2 years too many since I last saw Mars and while so much has changed, all the goodness remains the same. Not to mention he has been following a new Atlas, that seems to opening up his landscapes to some greener forests and clearer waters.
Without question, 'Nuclear Mystic' is one of the cleanest and most comprehensive shows I have seen to date from Mars. There is obvious progression in this latest batch and clearly some serious work ethic involved. Always super impressed by Mars One (personally and professionally), and somehow he always seems to be one upping himself. Every piece looks very polished, and well balanced with incredible use of negative space framing the cosmic color explosions like science.
Mars 1 is bringing his A-game and always dropping jaws. If you can make it this show you are among the lucky.
Mars 1
"Nuclear Mystic"
Now - 3/21, 2009
Jonathan LeVine Gallery
Technically I started my night from the Upper East side, with my mind on 'Nuclear Mystic'.
At last, 'Nuclear Mystic'... here you are in front of my very eyes. Seriously, always stoked to see what Mars One is up to.
The cleanest Mars One show I can recall.
'Nuclear Mystics' detail. Dang that is just nuts... I wish I was sitting on one of those little spots of land. They looks refreshing!
'Tulpa 1' a large 55x81 on Paper.
'Tulpa 1' detail. Holy crud, Mario done gone and cracked it right open, this is like infinity next level--->
From the happy accident series.... Happy Accidents #5, Happy Accident #3, & Happy Accidents #7.
'Smoke Stacks' Bronze- Green Patina, these are rock solid bad ass little beasts...
The Green 'Electric Monkeyman' from the series with sculptor Brin Berliner, fellow spacecraft enthusiast.
'Pineal Man', also with Brin.
The Chrome 'Electric Monkeyman'.
How many of you guys were in-tune enough with the universe to see this guy roaming around?
Bigfoot One+ Mars One= 2 Artists who I am guessing saw that guy.
This dewd is taking in a little 'Happy Accident #5', 34 x 26.5 on paper.
Martin Wittfooth with Liz and her friend Hansell.
This would be the lovely Mikas (aka Mrs. Mars-1-> agent #: classified) and their son, Atlas.
Atlas representing his father. Do I hear, "My Dad paints better then yer Dad!" Atlas is chill.
It was 'Fashion Week' in NYC and for a bit I would be willing to bet that both Lori Zimmer and Maléna Seldin had other things on their minds.
'Echoes 2' as the backdrop to the hand sculpted Mars One City-Scape.
'Unified Grid #1', 35.5 x 35.5 on Panel.
Sculpted works, at the hands of Mars One. Compliments of the Mars One syndicate.
Left: That would be me, standing in front of the massive 'Tulpa 1'. Right: Reflecting on and in the 'Electric Monkeyman' with some obvious clarity coming my way. Bottom: 'Game Theory', 12.25 x 23... hmm, game theory you say. Sounds fun, let's try!
Scott sometimes believes he is the 4th 'Electric Monkeyman'. The idea of this really takes him someplace else, but I don't have the heart to tell him that there is no flesh tone 'Electric Monkeyman' in existence... Unless!?!?
These chunks of papers are so so nice!
Left: Tim Strazzy and friend. Right: Laura Pinello from the Jonathan LeVine Gallery showing the ropes to the newest intern. Bottom: Mars One dropping a signature for a member of his Army.
'Unified Grid #1' in all is glory, Mars One dropping some true science.
In the Project Room, Jonathan LeVine was also showing, 'You Look Good Enough to Eat', a solo show by Nouar. While I can not say I am as savvy on the art happening of Nouar, I can say that her work also looked very polished. Her use of color is totally 50's retro-pop. This show takes a rad iconic concept that everyone can relate to and runs with it. A couple of my favorites are, 'Happy Fatty Pure Lard', 'Milk Fed Veal' and 'Hot Diggity Dog'... Ya dig! You should keep your eye on this gal, she is definitely putting down some nice paint.
'You Look Good Enough to Eat'
Now - 3/21, 2009
It is always nice to see Nouar.
Spring is coming.
Malena Seldin and 'Hot Diggity Dog'... Like them both!
'Happy Fatty Pure Lard', makes me hungry.
'Mothers little Tater Tots' look pretty tasty too.
Tara Mcpherson always looks smashing.
Travis Louie was snapping some photos.
I see red dots.
But hey that's all folks, lights off, curtain drops.
And we jump to the Mars One after hours thrill ride. Left: Starring Josh Liner, walking the streets. Right: All the people at this table were spending some time and sipping some drinks. Bottom Left. Mario and Esao dropping more after hours science. Bottom Right: Mike and Malena watch as the wheels go round and round.
Laura was calling the shots, and giving out lots of drink tickets too... Many thanks!
It was time to go since bars in NYC close at 4 am. But Mario found a real nice bike in the street, he decided it might not be the best way to get back to the hotel and eventually settled for this more modern, safer method of transport.
And that is pretty much when it went chain-link black... Over!
Words and photos from Fecal Face's NYC correspondent, Manuel Bello. Email him @ manuel(at)fecalface.com
|< Prev
|Next >


text:
Hard-Boiled Eggs
It seems that no matter how I hard-boil eggs, they are always difficult to peel. Any suggestions? —D.P., Denver, Colorado
Very fresh eggs can be difficult to peel. The American Egg Board recommends storing eggs in the refrigerator for a week to 10 days before cooking them. To hard-boil large eggs, place a single layer of eggs in a saucepan and add enough water to cover by 1 inch. Put a lid on the pan and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and let stand for 15 minutes. Immediately rinse with cold water and cover with ice water until completely cool. This will prevent a dark ring from forming on the surface of the yolks. After cooking, crackle the shells all over before peeling by gently tapping on the kitchen counter. Eggshells will usually come off more easily and without tearing into the whites when they are in smaller pieces, rather than bigger ones.


text:
Target to customers: Don't bring your guns
Caught between rifle-carrying demonstrators and a moms group calling for a boycott, Target stores on Wednesday asked customers not to openly display weapons in their stores.
"This is a complicated issue, but it boils down to a simple belief: Bringing firearms to Target creates an environment that is at odds with the family friendly shopping and work experience we strive to create,'' the Minneapolis-based company's interim CEO, John Mulligan, said in a statement.
Target had been the latest in a series of skirmishes between open-carry advocates seeking to normalize weaponry displays and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, which gathered 400,000 signatures in an effort to persuade Target to ban guns.
Other businesses, including Starbucks, have been forced to take sides in the aftermath of the December 2012 shootings at Newtown's Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Last August, gun-rights advocates staged a "Starbucks Appreciation Day," bringing their weapons to the coffee retailer's store on Church Hill Road in Newtown.
In most cases, Connecticut allows legal weapons -- including handguns with permits -- to be carried in public. But Newtown was still reeling from the school shootings less than a year earlier, and the town had become a driving force in the push for greater gun control.
Faced with a potentially ugly confrontation, the Newtown Starbucks closed five hours early on its unsolicited "Appreciation Day," citing sensitivity to the local community.
The following month, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz formally asked all the chain's customers not to bring guns into the company's coffee shops.
Gun-friendly Texas has also been a hot spot in the crossfire that so far has been a rout against the open-carry side, with Chipotle, Jack-in-the-Box and Sonic, among others, also issuing statements telling gun owners not to bring in weapons.
"Moms are thankful that Target responded quickly to the call of nearly 400,000 Americans and asked customers to keep their firearms at home,'' said Shannon Watts, founder of the Moms group. "Moms everywhere were horrified to see images of people carrying loaded assault rifles down the same aisles where we shop for diapers and toys.''
Under the hashtag #OffTarget, Moms Demand Action organized alternative shopping weekends "at stores with better gun policies in place.''
Last month, a Target in San Antonio denied access to a parking lot for a Moms Demand Action "stroller jam,'' just days after an open-carry demonstration at the same location.
Target previously had said that it was simply following "all state and federal laws.'' Under Texas law, open display of rifles and shotguns is permitted, but open carrying of handguns is not.
"Our team has been carefully listening to the nuances of this issue and (we) continue to respect the protected rights of everyone involved,'' said Target spokeswoman Molly Snyder. The ban on guns is "a request rather than a prohibition. Therefore, at this time, we don't have any plans for proactive communication beyond what is being communicated today.''
For the Moms group's Texas chapter, the Target announcement was "very exciting,'' said spokeswoman Kellye Burke, who lives in Houston. "I spend a lot of money at Target and I can finally go back there.''
C.J. Grisham, leader of Open Carry Texas, characterized the new Target policy as "a victory for criminals. The criminal now knows that Target is a gun-free zone.''
Asked to articulate opposition to open carry, Burke said that in an era where mass shootings are more and more common, the sight of a non-uniformed armed individual is unsettling.
"I don't know who you are,'' she said. And as a mother, "I look at the saturation of the gun culture and its effect on boys and men. I don't want the message for my two sons to be that in order to be safe, you have to have a gun.''
Dan Freedman can be reached at 202-263-6400 or email@example.com.
More InformationArea Target stores
Ansonia: 20 West Main St.
Bethel: 7 Stony Hill Road
Milford: 1191 Boston Post Road
Stamford: 21 Broad St.
Trumbull: 120 Hawley Lane
Trumbull West: 5065 Main St.


text:
Terry Collins did what no manager should do, especially one with a career losing record likely to be made a scapegoat for what figures to be the Mets' fifth consecutive losing season.
Collins, who has been erratic and puzzling on several issues this season, took on the exceedingly frustrated Mets' fan base Tuesday night, basically calling them clueless and he didn't care for their perception of his team, which is rapidly falling out of relevance before June.
Not surprisingly, the catalyst for Collins' anger was the lingering Jordany Valdespin issue. Neither Collins nor general manager Sandy Alderson has been able to get through to Valdespin, and both handled his self-glorifying home run and subsequent beaning poorly.
If the Mets were winning, it would have gone away. Because they are not and in the midst of a stretch that could blow up their season, Valdespin is an issue.
After Valdespin's homer last Friday in a blowout loss, Collins alluded to the possibility of the temperamental outfielder getting beaned as payback. Collins spoke of baseball's unwritten code, and how Valdespin's attitude is the norm and he couldn't do anything about it.
Basically, he left it up to the Pirates teach his player a lesson, when what he should have done was rip Valdespin's actions. Collins could have also told Pirates manager Clint Hurdle he would handle Valdespin.
By not doing so, Collins invited the Pirates to throw at his player. After the plunking, Collins pretty much said, "that's baseball,'' and Alderson took the same milquetoast approach.
No Met approached Valdespin after his dugout temper tantrum, and only David Wright offered any verbal support. The perception is the Mets don't have Valdespin's back, and several nameless quotes say he is universally scorned in the clubhouse.
Collins was asked whether Valdespin is on an island and told reporters in St. Louis: "I don't answer to fans. They don't play this game. They have no idea what goes on. They have no idea what goes on in there.
"They have absolutely no idea what it means to be a professional teammate at this level. … I'll tell you one thing: Jordany knew they were going to throw at him. He knew it. And you've got to go take your medicine. That's part of being a big guy in this league.''
If Valdespin knew he would get hit – and his reaction suggests he might be oblivious to the baseball code – then why would he put his player in that position?
Telling Hurdle he would handle things might have prevented the rib-banging pitch.
There are varying perceptions of the incident brought on by how Collins and Alderson handled things. Shipping Valdespin's butt out the next day would have sent a strong message to the Pirates as well as his clubhouse his hot-dogging would not be tolerated.
The perception of that would have been clear and decisive. If nothing else, it would have shown Collins and his front office were in sync.
Instead, Collins put himself in position to handle another question of which its answer could grease the skids on his exit.
"I don't care what the perception is,'' Collins said. "All I know is what goes on here. I've been doing this for 42 years. I don't care what anybody on the outside thinks.
"I know how to get it done in the clubhouse. I've been doing it a lot longer than a lot of people. He's fine. He handled it great, I thought, the way he went about it. He went to first base. He didn't throw his bat any place. … He did it the right way. And now it's over. Now we move on.''
Easier said than done, because Valdespin did not handle it the right way. No, he didn't throw his bat or charge the mound, but he did slam his helmet, which prevents moving on.
Collins then went on to make excuses for Valdespin, saying he had a tough background. He also said Valdespin has to be careful not to alienate his teammates, which might already be the case.
One day, Collins spoke of baseball's code and another made excuses for his polarizing player. You can't help but wonder how Valdespin's teammates might be annoyed by that defense.
Valdespin was not in the lineup Tuesday, and for a team struggling for offense, the perception is clear he's on the outs. So, why is he still here?
Yes, Collins has been in the game for over 40 years, and in that time one would have thought he would have learned a few things.
One, managers are hired to be fired, so don't align yourself with a seemingly lost cause like Valdespin, because by the time he gets it, you'll be gone.
Secondly, this fire keeps on burning because Collins refused to put it out. He knows he could have given a neutral answer with the Cardinals media in the room, then after the session gathered the New York writers into his office for an off-the-record briefing. That way, his ripping the fans never gets out.
Finally, don't take on the fans, as they always have the last word. That word is "boo,'' and Collins will hear it loudly if things don't change fast.
Thoughts from Joe D.
I get emails all day long asking me why don't we let the story die. My answer to them we are not the story, the Mets are the story and we do what we've been doing which is to report and debate things as they happen.
Two weeks ago there were plenty here who told me that it was a non-story when I wrote that there was something amiss between Jordany Valdespin and his teammates in the clubhouse.
I picked up on that during the start of Spring Training when two players came into the clubhouse to find their lockers and said, "Thank god I'm nowhere near Valdespin's locker."
"Joe D. you are reading too much into things."
I commented on the jokes that were made when Valdespin was hit right in the groin and lied on the ground in pain.
Then there was the pie.
All I did is what any rational and reasonable person who reports would do and connected the dots.
Now it's a full blown controversy and the only story that anyone is talking about.
How can you hope it goes away when the General Manager only two days ago added more fuel to the fire by saying he wasn't hung out to dry, and then learning that Valdespin ask out of going to the plate a second time after being plunked the first time. A fact that Collins even admitted to shortly after he ripped into the fans.
The Mets create the stories and it's on the Mets to stop feeding us the stories, not me. I don't have the power to keep players, coaches and management from saying things that are better left unsaid. I can fault the players for saying silly and inappropriate things, but when management does it how can you find that to be acceptable and professional behavior.
I agree with Mike Vaccaro of the New York Post regarding Collins who said:
Collins probably knew, as soon as he said this, he shouldn't have said this. He knows the fastest way to be packing your belongings in boxes — faster than losing games in bunches — is to take on fans. Fans are undefeated. Fans are a franchise's lifeblood. Fans …
Well, fans allow you to stay relevant, long past your expiration date. I've believed, and written, that Collins deserves a full and fair accounting before his time is done here. But Collins has also found trouble in Houston and Anaheim when the losing became too much for him. In both cities, he lost the players, and that's bad enough (and judging from the listless way the Mets mailed in another game with the Cards last night, 10-4, that may be happening again).
My big concern right now is that the Mets are blind to their own problem. That means nothing is being done to keep more incidents like this one from taking place. The best way to fix a problem is to admit you have one. So far management seems to think everything is hunky-dory when it's clearly not.
How many dog houses does Terry Collins have and why was Ruben Tejada apparently in one of them last night when the manager decided to scratch him from the starting lineup before last night's trouncing at the hands of the Cardinals?
That factoid came from Eddie Coleman who is not known for exaggerating the truth and conjuring up false storylines. Eddie is as straight as an arrow.
Is there anyone else residing in these dog houses aside from Jordany Valdespin and Ruben Tejada and when are their parole dates?
I don't make the stories, I just talk about them and ask the tough questions and am usually the first to do so. Ahh… the benefits of having an independent Mets site.


text:
2011-10-20 / Family
Lake – Martz United In Marriage July 16
Alicia Marie Martz of Hustontown and Tyler Eugene Lake of Needmore were united in marriage on Saturday, July 16, 2011, in the flower garden at the home of the groom's grandparents, Donnie and Marna Lake, of Needmore. The ceremony was performed by Pastor Chalmer Hann.
The bride is the daughter of the late Anthony "Tony" Meyers and Tammy Martz of Hustontown. The groom is the son of Rick and Teresa Lake of Needmore.
The couple resides in McConnellsburg with their son, Mason Eugene Lake.


text:
Difficult Dialogues in Personal Finance: African Americans and Financial Literacy (3 of 3)
Each webinar approved for 1 CEU for AFCPE certified professionals.
3 CEUs for entire series.
In honor of Black History Month, AFCPE is pleased to offer a 3-part webinar series that provides important education and training that enables financial counselors, coaches, planners, and educators to better serve the financial literacy and education needs of African Americans. By taking a look at the history of African Americans and Finance from the time of slavery through the present day, financial professionals will be better prepared to support and advocate for African American clients and communities, thus providing more opportunity for economic advancement and lasting financial behavior change.
Speaker: Schane D. Coker, MS, AFC®
Webinar 3: African Americans on Finance: What Financial Professionals Can Do
March 21, 2017 (Rescheduled Date)
Awareness creates opportunity. In the third and final webinar, financial professionals build upon what they have learned about the African American community and learn to apply this knowledge to better communicate, educate and serve their African American clients.
First 2 webinars available on live dates or as recordings after live date:
Webinar 1: African Americans and Finance: From Slavery to Civil Rights
This webinar builds a financial professionals foundation for cultural understanding, by take a deeper look at the economic progression of the African American community from slavery to civil rights, analyzing both the strides and the setbacks made during this time.
Webinar 2: African Americans in Finance: Racial Identity & Money
The second webinar explores the unique connection of money and racial identity. Taking you through the Black Power Movement of the 1960's and 70's and into the present day, as African Americans begin to embrace their economic freedom in American Society.
Non-members: $50 per webinar/$120 for series
Members: $35 per webinar/$84 for series
Schane Coker, AFC, is a Financial Coach for the Financial Coaching Program, an initiative of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), serving veterans, transitioning service members, their family members, and low-income individuals in the Florida counties of Miami-Dade, Broward, and Monroe. Schane holds a Bachelors' in Financial Counseling and Planning, and a Master's in Family and Consumer Economics from Purdue University. He also has 6 years of banking industry experience working at a Credit Union in various positions, including a Loan Officer and Assistant Branch Manager. His research interests include the Financial Capacity and Stability of a Consumer's Household, looking into how an individual or group of consumers making financial decisions based on their Psychological, Sociological, and Economic background and history.


text:
GREENSBORO – The North Carolina A&T freshman running back Tarik Cohen (5-8, 170, Bunn, N.C.) was named MEAC Offensive Player of the Week the conference announced on Monday. It marked the second time this season Cohen has been recognized as a player of the week.
Cohen rushed for 210 yards and three touchdowns in the Aggies 20-13 overtime win over Florida A&M on Saturday. Cohen averaged 6.6 yards per carry and ran the ball on all four of the Aggies' overtime plays and scored the winning touchdown on a 7-yard run. Cohen came needing 157 yards to earn the Aggies single-season freshman rushing record, previously held by Barry Turner at 556 yards in 1990.
Cohen now has 610 yards and four touchdowns on the season. He has started the Aggies' last three games and has compiled a combined 481 yards in those games. Cohen and the Aggies will host Virginia University of Lynchburg 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 2 for their 2013 Homecoming game at Aggie Stadium.


text:
The USA Rice Federation is sponsoring a National Rice Month (NRM) scholarship contest for high school juniors and seniors whose families are directly involved in the rice industry. Following their September NRM activities, students vying for $10,000 in scholarship awards must file a NRM Scholarship Entry Form by Oct. 20, to officially enter the competition.
Students should include pre- and post-event publicity, details of activities and photos when completing the entry forms. For more information and a scholarship contest entry form, see the Industry Affairs page on http://www.usarice.com, or call Randy Jemison (337) 738-7009 or Chuck Wilson at (870) 673-7541.
Completed entry forms should be sent to USA Rice Federation, ATTN: Tony Somers, 4301 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 425, Arlington, VA 22203-1616.
Winners will be notified by Nov. 17.
The NRM scholarship program offers six prizes, one for each of the six major-rice producing states. One state winner will be named the national grand prize recipient and will receive a total scholarship award of $5,000. Winners for the five remaining states will receive a $1,000 scholarship award.
The national winner also wins an expense-paid trip in December with the recipient's chaperone to the USA Rice Outlook Conference in Las Vegas, N.V., for the scholarship presentation.


text:
If news of Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant's underground pipes leaking radioactive water into nearby wells doesn't completely nix Entergy's hope of renewing that plant's license for another 20 years, at the very least its plan to spin off ownership of the plant to an independent company called Enexus should be scrapped immediately.
The full text of this article is only available to online subscribers.
Are you an online subscriber? Click to login.
Click here to learn more about our subscription options.
If you have a print subscription, you can now add an online subscription at no additional charge! Just email us with your name and mailing address to set it up.
Subscribe to Online Edition
Online PDF Print Edition
Copyright 2011 Addison Independent | 58 Maple Street, Middlebury, Vt. 05753 | All Rights Reserved
Site Development by Surf New Media


text:
Nokia announced new Bluetooth headphones at the press conference today as well as a new JBL PowerUp Wireless Charging speaker. This sturdy looking device sports Bluetooth, NFC and wireless charging functionality, which works seamlessly with the Lumia 820 and 920.
Wireless charging enables Lumia 820 / 920 owners to make use of easy top-ups without cluttering a desk or area with more cabling. The speaker -of course- plays music and all that's required is the slightest tap from the Nokia Windows Phones through the use of NFC.
You can check out the speaker (as well as other accessories - including available wireless charging stations) over on Nokia's website.


text:
I don't know what to attribute this too, but in the last three weeks I've received no less than six anonymous messages from people asking about watersports. Some are into it; some are horrified. One person was looking for a way to entice his partner into piss play. Here's an example of the kind of messages I'm receiving.
Name: Paul
Gender: male
Age: 32
Location: Seattle
I hope this isn't the first time you've gotten this kind of question but I've recently discovered that I have a urine fetish. And I guess what I want to know is if among gay men I am in a minority or what? Do you know of other guys out there who share my fetish? Also I'm in a relationship and I don't think my boyfriend shares my interests so I was wondering if you might have some ideas on how to break the news to him. Thanks a lot.
A urine fetish, huh? Ok! Are you talking about what those in the know call watersports or golden showers? I think you're telling me you like to play with your pee, or the pee of other folks, right?
Oh my god, this is like a totally popular fetish, and not just common among the gays, don't cha know. I'm surprised that you haven't encountered it in loads other people before now. Folks of every sexual stripe and persuasion are known to enjoy piss play. There's even a scientific name for it: urophilia. Doesn't that sound fun? Honey, guess what? I'm a urophiliac and you can be one too!
Hell, this is such a popular fetish that it has a full subset of associated fetishes. There are clothes wetting, bed-wetting and diaper fetishes, urinal fetishes and for the BDSM crowd there are humiliation scenes and bladder control scenes just to name a few.
Historically speaking, people have been drinking their own urine as an alternative medicine for as long as…well, as long as there's been pee to drink. Bathing in urine is also very common in some cultures.
Curiously enough, watersports is not necessarily always a sexual fetish, although it can be sexual in nature. Activities where piss is taken internally (swallowed or received anally or vaginally) can be risky. The pee-ee will no doubt ingest any and all un-metabolized drugs — pharmaceutical as well as recreational — which were consumed by the pee-er. In some societies and in some situations, this is the actual intent — for example intensifying and prolonging the effects of a hallucinogenic drug.
Prospective pee drinkers should be aware that there are a few drugs that pass through the body either partly unchanged or entirely unchanged, like those nasty amphetamines and their derivatives. So it's all together possible to get really high from drinking a druggie's piss.
Finally, how do you come out as a pee-queen to your boyfriend? I'm of the mind that the direct approach works best. There's less room for misunderstandings. You could come right out and ask him for what you want. Darling, meet me in the bathroom. I want to show you something really festive and entertaining. I mean, what homo's not gonna fall for that?
A less assertive way would be to visit several golden shower oriented websites, they abound on the internet, ya know. Leave the page open for the BF to find. That will surely stir things up. And unless he's as dense as a post, he'll begin to get the message. You could also "accidentally" download a watersports video. That would, no doubt, open the desired discussion. "Holy cow honey, look what I got up by mistake. You wanna watch it? Isn't this hot? Oh my god, I think I just wet my pants. Wanna see?"
Good luck.


text:
Call it the anti-Bill Gross trade.
A growing number of large investors, including BlackRock and Pioneer Investments, are advising clients to bail out of short- and intermediate-maturity bonds on bets that an accelerating economy will raise questions about the Federal Reserve\'s promise to keep rates low. Doubts about the Fed\'s benchmark rate could hammer intermediate bonds that trade in part based on expectations of when the Fed will hike its key policy rates, they say.
Such calls run counter to the advice of other bond experts like Pimco\'s Gross, who advise that moving toward shorter-maturity debt is a beneficial way of alleviating interest rate sensitivity in bond portfolios during a rising-rate environment.
The Federal Reserve has said it will replace its bond-buying stimulus program, due to begin winding down this month, with a promise to keep its target policy rate near zero until well after the unemployment rate drops below 6.5%. But as signs emerge that the economy is picking up steam, the market is beginning to question the length of time before the Fed jacks up rates.
Read: Investors bet on rate hikes as bond market tests Fed
But the risk is that a heated economy prompts the market to discard the Fed\'s \"lower for longer\" mantra, thereby pushing yields sharply higher and prices lower on intermediate maturity bonds, which vary based on when the Fed will hike rates.
\"How long is the longer run?\" asked Jeffrey Rosenberg, BlackRock's chief investment strategist for fixed income, in an interview. \"This is really impactful to the two-to-five year part of the curve. If you're hiding out in the short duration strategies, make sure you are in the ultra-short duration strategies.\"
BlackRock is advising investors to stay away from bonds with maturities between two and five years, and instead focus either on bonds with maturities that are less than two years away, or longer-term maturities, such as bonds maturing in 10 to 30 years.
Already, we\'ve seen seen some signs of angst in the middle of the yield curve. The 3-year note traded at a yield of 0.82% Wednesday, up sharply from 0.63% on the day in December that the Fed announced it would wind down its bond-buying program, according to Tradeweb.
Meanwhile, the scarlet letter that was placed on longer-maturity bonds like 10-year notes and 30-year bonds in 2013 is beginning to fade. The Barclays U.S. Treasury 10-20 Year Index had rare negative returns of 5.8% over the last 12 months, and the U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Index lost 9.9% during the same time-frame.
\"We don't think we'll see those types of losses in fixed income again. You've got higher yields and better carry,\" said Michael Temple, director of U.S. credit research at asset-manager Pioneer Investments. \"The favored part of the curve is the longer part of the curve.\"
Temple recommends a \"barbell\" approach, which involves buying on the long end and the ultra-short end, but avoiding maturities between three and seven years.
The advice of BlackRock and Pioneer runs counter to the outlook perpetuated by Pimco\'s Gross, who just last week said investors should buy maturities between one and five years. While the asset managers remain positive on the shortest part of the curve — securities maturing in less than two years, when the fed funds rate is expected to remain low — the intermediate sector remains a source of contention. Pimco believes the Fed won\'t begin to hike its key funds rate until 2016 at the earliest, anchoring those intermediate maturities.
Whether or not the Fed keeps rates low for an extended period of time, the market\'s perception is just as important. Jittery traders could perpetuate losses in that intermediate part of the curve if investors dismiss the Fed\'s guidance.
\"Even if the Fed doesn\'t make noise about moving rate hikes closer, investors will begin to interpret everything they say and begin to become fearful of the curve,\" said Temple of Pioneer.
– Ben Eisen
Follow Ben on Twitter @BenEisen
Follow The Tell blog @thetellblog
More from The Tell:
Forex probe deepens with Deutsche Bank.
Gundlach likes gold and gold miners.


text:
Choral Instrumental Pak, Sheet Music Download, Strings. Artist: Roger Emerson. Writer: Roger Emerson.
Song(s) in this release:
- You Are Here - Viola: Printable Sheet Music DOWNLOAD
This sheet music has not received any reviews yet, you can be the first one to write one!
Music44 is one of the biggest online stores to find all the best selections of sheet music, sheet music downloads, songbooks, music books and software for all instruments. They serve the music needs of individual musicians as well as church groups, schools and choirs all over the world. They have a best price guarantee which is called Beat-The-Best-Price-Now(TM) that lets customers purchase sheet music at the lowest prices found on the web.
This store has not received any reviews yet, you can be the first one to write one!


text:
by Sally Cohen
His office desk was more cluttered than usual over the past few weeks, but Chef Al Paris took it all in stride as he pored over the 50 or so entries he received, some as old as 100 years, for the recipe contest he recently conceived.
"I've gotten old Xeroxes, torn sheets of paper," explained Paris, "I can't believe what people sent me! Some of the recipes are really old; some are handwritten family ones, really incredible to look at. It's been overwhelming and humbling.
"Some customers hand-delivered their recipes with a care and reverence I just can't describe," added Paris. "Heirloom recipes to me are living memories. People were handing me something prized and precious from their family, and almost all of the recipes have a story behind them, a tradition. It's been fascinating. From day one that's what Heirloom has been about, our shared food traditions, and I had over 50 of those traditions entrusted to me for this contest —amazing! I never thought we'd get that many recipes!"
One of those hand-delivered recipes came from Nancy Pugh of nearby Erdenheim, who brought Chef Paris a recipe that she had been making for over 25 years of family summers in Ocean City, NJ. "Mrs. Pugh's Summer Lobster Pot" was Paris' choice as winner of the 2012 Heirloom Fine American Cookery Recipe Contest.
And so, beginning June 20, Paris adapted Pugh's recipe for Heirloom and serve up a large bowl of lobster, smoked chicken, clams, mussels, roasted fingerling potatoes and summer corn in a buttery, Old Bay broth.
"We found this recipe, handwritten, tucked in an old family cookbook," said Pugh. "It came from a friend about 25 years ago, and it's become something of an occasion when we make it every summer. We actually schedule the making of 'The Lobster Pot,' as we call it, in advance, so no one will miss it. Everybody loves it!"
"Mrs. Pugh's Lobster Pot really showcases fresh summer ingredients," said Paris, "and I'm honored to be able to put it on Heirloom's Summer Menu. The basic recipe is so terrific, I barely have to tweak it."
Pugh's winning recipe won her dinner at Heirloom for up to eight people, as well as a place on the restaurant's Summer Menu.
There were a host of enticing entries, according to Paris. "We got some really good recipes for meatloaf, pound cake and all sorts of cobblers, bean dishes, dips, carrot casseroles and several versions of chopped liver! We also got a recipe for a pavlova (a fruited meringue cake), and something called 'Pineapple Coffee Chicken,' which I also found interesting. But 'Mrs. Pugh's Lobster Pot' was the perfect recipe to debut on the first day of summer."
Heirloom is located at 8705 Germantown Ave., in the Top Of The Hill Plaza, and serves dinner every night but Monday as well as Sunday brunch. More information at www.heirloomdining.com or 215-242-2700.


text:
February 18, 2011
The Wabash cross country team has been named to the US Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association 2010 All-Academic Team. The Little Giant squad posted a cumulative grade point average of 3.46 to receive the national honors.
Teams must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.10 and compile a team score at the NCAA Division III Cross Country regional race. The Little Giants finished second at the Great Lakes Regional, qualifying for the nationals for the first time in 11 seasons. Wabash took 13th place at the championship event, with senior Seth Einterz finishing 20th overall to receive All-America honors.
The 3.46 cumulative GPA for Wabash tied for 18th-best among the 125 programs recognized as All-Academic teams by the USTFCCCA.