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Wednesday, April 30, 2008
skippy's tuesday nite music club
joe williams & count basie & orchestra - all right, okay, you win
Labels: skippy's music club
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
free scoop day at ben & jerry's
You Are Phish Food Ice Cream
You've been described as gooey and fudgey. Sorry.
Monday, April 28, 2008
skippy's monday nite music club
flying burrito brothers - christina's tune (devil in disguise)
Labels: skippy's music club
down the penrose lane
rip jose simon
"i helped blow the wind into his sails, but it was totally his idea," recalled pritchard, who said he was thrown out of mr. simon's hospital room last week because they were laughing too hard. "it was because he didn't like the idea of a comedy competition. he liked the celebration."
mr. simon was also a founding member of the latin rock group sapo, formed by vocalist richard bean after he left malo. a sapo reunion is planned for may 23 at santa clara's avalon nightclub. mr. simon was practicing on bass for the reunion...
he played in bands up and down broadway, including a group called the four of a kind, which also featured future tower of power vocalist rick stevens and a founding member of santana, conga player michael carabello.
in the bay area, where local comedians are revered as gods, jose was revered as zeus.
and the chronicle goes on:
"jose was a gift," williams said in a statement. "he was the chicano godfather of comedy. he will be missed."
he was generous of heart, and had impeccable taste and timing. the comedy world, and the bay area comedy scene in particular is a little less funny tonite.
godspeed, jose.
Labels: entertainment, passings
Labels: anniversary, aWol, bipartisanship, iraq war
it's not the treasure of the sierra madre
firefighters gained ground sunday against an early season wildfire that slowly chewed its way through dense brush near los angeles, forcing more than 1,000 people from homes in the foothills.
about 500 firefighters attacked the 400-acre fire, aided by two helicopters and water-dropping air tankers, said elisa weaver, spokeswoman for the city of sierra madre. residents evacuated at least 550 homes saturday night and sunday, but none had burned. - ap
pursuant of a formal mutual aid request, the los angeles fire department has assigned two helicopters to assist the sierra madre fire department and allied agencies in their battle against a brush fire in the san gabriel mountains near arcadia and sierra madre, california 20 miles northeast of our city. - lafd blog
oh, boy...this is going to be one long hot crispy summer. wonder if fred c. dobbs is up fighting the fire for a bit o' gold.
Labels: brush fires, los angeles
Sunday, April 27, 2008
skippy's sunday nite music club
ethel merman & donald o'connor - you're just in love
from irving berlin's great show call me madame...ethel merman created her role on broadway, and reprised it in this film version, only one of two she ever did.
the great thing about this number is the counterpoint of merman's theme to o'connor's, which, when sung separately at the beginning, didn't seem to even be in the same tempo, let alone the same song.
Labels: skippy's music club
environmental stories sunday
water failing state's tests. people in 37 small communities across the state are drinking tap water that violates new health standards for radioactive contaminants, according to state records - denver post
jumbo squid invade waters off pacific coast. the jumbo squid now thought to be lurking off the pacific northwest coast could be a threat to salmon runs and a sign of ocean changes that are perhaps brought on by global warming. - wenatchee world
nuclear crossroads. in washington state, a 1-million-gallon plume of radioactive waste is seeping from hanford nuclear reserve toward the columbia river. meanwhile, doe's cleanup budget has plummeted for the fifth year in a row, dropping $1 billion in just the past three years. - high country news
u.s. report urges japan to forget its beef safety. the united states urged japan on friday to eliminate all controls on u.s. beef imports linked to the prevention of mad cow disease and to fully open its market despite renewed fears in japan about the safety of u.s. beef. - japan times
does global warming compromise national security? for senator john warner, climate change is a matter of national security. and his position has helped shift the political landscape in the senate. - time magazine
Labels: climate change, ecology, environment, food safety, nuclear power
say hello
Labels: say hello
happy blogiversary
Labels: blogiversary
why 'expelled' is bad
not 'bad' in the sense of 'bad film making'...that goes without saying.
but sara seltzer over at rh (reproductive health) reality check.org makes the cogent argument that the proponents of intelligent design are closely tied to the anti-abortionist movement:
the filmmakers themselves make that connection for us; by playing ominous music and using shadows over an old planned parenthood poster, they indicate that in their minds, family planning and abortion are direct outgrowths of the so-called-evil ideas of the darwinists'. id advocates and anti-choicers both argue that we are made in the divine image, ignoring the hard science which shows us to be highly-developed animals. both movements encompass this denial of the randomness and fragility of life: an embryo is just a few cells, a person is just an intelligent primate. but there are plenty of people who accept that randomness and that science, and still are able to find purpose and spirituality -- and none of them were interviewed for the film...
this inability to accept rational scientific evidence and the use of rumor and speculation reminds me of anti-choicers who whisper about the motivations of abortionists and promiscuous women, but refuse to confront the hard evidence that the number of abortions actually goes down when it is legal and safe and a full range of reproductive freedoms are available.
you know who else likes to bring up the nazis? anti-choicers, when they're not comparing abortion to slavery. they share steins' desire to use the most vivid horrors in western memory to manipulate people's emotions, ignoring the fact that nazism and slavery were systems which imposed a fanatical amount of control over individual lives and took away people's bodily autonomy -- sound familiar?
Labels: movies, religion, science, womens issues
it' be fine with him
doh! don't you hate it when people use your own words against you?
no intelligence period
friday's receipts for the deceit was a mere $450,000, down 62.8% from last friday's take.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
skippy's saturday nite music club
the pierces - boring
we heard the pierces (two sisters not named pierce) first on the otherwise forgettable canterbury's law...their cute-sounding but deadly serious secret was played as the final court room scene saw some murder defendant get off thanks to great lawyering or some such nonsnese.
we then googled the lyrics to secret and found this very hip and great sounding duo. this song makes fun of the glitterati of the social scene, aka paris and lindsay.
Labels: skippy's music club
a rose by any other name
now we know. they're guarding our supply lines in afghanistan.
pentagoing pentagon
Labels: multi-millionaire media, pentagon
Friday, April 25, 2008
skippy's friday nite music club
toad the wet sprocket - walk on the ocean
Labels: skippy's music club
mad about john mccain
does sadr close on sadrday?
attempting to correct the arizona senator, new york times journalist elizabeth bumiller, the reporter who had asked him the question, said, "uh, senator. i don't think stewart and colbert are the sadrists i was referring to."
but mccain, vigorously reiterating his position, replied, "well, maybe not. but they're two of the most popular out there. ratings are high, kids love 'em. here's some more straight talk - i've been on jon's show but i'll admit i was wrong to do it, and i hope my democratic opponents will have the courage to denounce their associations with him, too. the point is, anyone with military chops knows the best strategy for victory is to cut the snake off at the head. my friends, it's time we take these jokers out."
when bumiller tried to correct him one last time, mccain erupted, "look, i don't come to your office at the times, elbow my way threw that third world newsroom of marxist homosexual terrorists, and stand over your desk telling you how to type! so, please - please - my friend, don't tell me how to win a war!"
it's no us festival
nice line up, including several bands that have been featured on our late night music club, such as
the verve
the breeders
fatboy slim
tegan and sara
sharon jones and the dap-kings
vampire weekend
(somehow we have failed to feature prince, dwight yoakum, roger waters or holy f*ck. we promise to correct that situation in the near future.)
but it sure sounds like coachella will be rockin' the desert this weekend. wish we were there.
Labels: music, skippy's music club
say hello
Labels: say hello
imagine yoko winning ben stein's money
the producers of the film, which features ben stein challenging darwinian theories that prevail in academic circles and suggesting that life could have emerged through intelligent design, said they used only "a very small portion of the song."
"based on the fair use doctrine, news commentators and film documentarians regularly use material in the same way we do," premise media said in a statement. "unbiased viewers of the film will see that the 'imagine' clip was used as part of a social commentary in the exercise of free speech and freedom of inquiry."
ono's lawsuit claims the producers did not ask for permission either because they knew they couldn't get it or because they did not want to pay for the rights. it objects to the way "imagine" is listed in the film's credits, saying it suggested to members of the news media and others that the song's use had been approved.
addendum: thanks to pz and the pharyngulans, we have successfully tipped the scales on the expelled myspace page poll:
yes = 677 votes
no = 34685 votes
why we fight
"And Robert Zelnick, he spent more than 20 years with ABC News and served as their Pentagon correspondent from 1986 to 1994. Today, he teaches journalism at Boston University."
"BOB ZELNICK: I wasn't surprised at all. In fact, when I covered the Pentagon, I often sought information from retired generals and admirals and colonels because I knew they were well-informed."
I knew they kept in touch. I knew they had drinks at the Army-Navy Club. I know they went to Army-Navy football games on special trains together. I knew that many of them were serving as what we called Beltway bandits or consultants.
So I wasn't surprised at all, except by the amount of space devoted to this piece by the New York Times.
And if I were giving advice to anybody, it would be, if you have an admiral on who is or a general who is currently a consultant to the Pentagon, that should be disclosed right at the top of the interview.".............
"BOB ZELNICK: I don't think the Pentagon recruits for ABC News; at least it didn't when I worked there. And I don't think they recruit for Fox or CNN or any of the other networks or cable operations.
I think the term "recruit" was used rather loosely to mean they recommended, perhaps, former generals or admirals to the various networks and, once they had them, they kept them informed.
And I think that's to the good. It meant that more information was available.
If occasionally a general or an admiral or a colonel who was retired and used in this fashion allowed himself to be dictated to, that's his fault. And I think any solid news person or executive editor running one of these programs would have discerned that early on and quit using him."
"BOB ZELNICK: I covered the First Gulf War, and they had just as many military analysts on the networks and the cable shops as they had this time. So it was something that the networks perceived was in their own interest to develop these kinds of contacts.
And it was in their interest. It certainly was in my interest as a Pentagon correspondent."
question: quis custodiet ipsos custodes? - juvenal 6.347-348
answer: it sure as heck ain't abc.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
skippy's thursday nite music club
lefty frizzell - cigarettes and coffee blues
lefty frizzell was the premiere honky tonk singer of his time, and the big hit "if you've got the money honey, i've got the time."
wikipedia tells us that lefty once had four songs on the top ten chart, a record that fell only to the beatles.
Labels: skippy's music club
snipes hunt
mr. snipes, who apologized for his actions before the sentence was announced, showed no immediate reaction to the verdict.
judge hodges allowed mr. snipes and a co-defendant, douglas rosile, to remain free on bond until they were summoned by either the united states marshals service or the federal bureau of prisons.
that's a riot
rush limbaugh:"we do, hopefully, the right thing for the sake of this country. we're the only one in charge of our affairs. we don't farm out our defense if we elect democrats … and riots in denver, at the democratic convention will see to it we don't elect democrats. and that's the best damn thing that can happen to this country, as far as i can think," limbaugh said.is this enough to file charges?…inciting a riot applies to a person who organizes, encourages, or participates in a riot. it can apply to one who urges or instigates others to riot. it does not apply to someone who merely advocates ideas or expresses beliefs, if those ideas and beliefs do not involve advocating violence.the federal crime of inciting a riot carries a possible penalty of up to five years in prison a fine.
Labels: democrats, limbaugh, multi-millionaire media, prez campaign
earth day birth day; or, none of your falcon business
18 stories above the street on top of san jose's city hall, three of four falcon chicks hatched on live tv tuesday morning, as thousands watched from their computers.
click here for the falcon cam 2008
Labels: clinton, hillary, mccain, obama, prez campaign, snark
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
skippy's wednesday nite music club
shorty long - devil with the blue dress on
shorty's version is less rambunctious, and more funky than the mitch rider cover with which you are undoubtedly familiar.
shorty long was one of the original artists signed by motown, and in fact, was the only one besides smokey robinson who was allowed to produce his own recordings.
this was shorty's first of two hits, the other being "here come the judge," which inspired a whole running gag on rowan and martin's laugh-in.
we apologize for the lack of actual video; this youtube clip only shows the cover of shorty's album.
Labels: skippy's music club
the coming depression
the fed has now become a merger and acquisitions specialist for investment banks. after the public has been put on the hook for $29 billion in highly questionable securities in the bear stearns debacle, there is an acknowledgement by the treasury that there should be just a bit more regulation…
the financial sector broadly defined is now over 20% of the economy. the addiction to risk and debt in the financial sector has dragged down the whole economy. miracle returns at some private equity firms and hedge funds are built on cheap leverage. meanwhile, the small investors saving for retirement are like lambs being led to slaughter. when measured in euros since the peak in 2000, the dow has lost nearly 40% of its value. many of those baby boomers can forget about those extended european retirement trips.
iraq remains a quagmire and now we have the secretary of state openly taunting one of the shiite clerics. this is just like george bush and his infamous "bring 'em on." but the administration has managed to keep the war largely off the front page…
but there is little doubt the democratic nominee will have to defeat both mccain and the media in the fall.
Labels: democrats, economy, iraq, mccain, multi-millionaire media, prez campaign
oil be missing you
what is brent crude?
brent crude is a type of sweet crude oil that is used as a benchmark for the prices of other crude oils. brent crude is the brad pitt of petroleum.
like the addict looking for his/her next fix, the us will pay almost anything to satisfy its cravings. and this craving for brent (as well as his cousins dubai crude, arab light and saharan blend) does not come cheap. he is no two-bit hooker, not the kind of guy larry craig would meet in reagan national airport. realizing he is one popular dude, brent has seen his value rise dramatically in the past 7 years, and especially in the past 2 years.
to say the us is dependent on brent crude is the understatement of the millennium. to keep the engine of this country running we are literally transferring our children's future to other governments and national oil companies – including countries that have been training the very people we have been labeling "turrists' who hate america.
it is no secret why we are in iraq – and it has nothing to do with roses and candy, spreading democracy or bush's deep concern with bettering the life of the average iraqi. it has totally do with brent crude.
double digits!
meanwhile, the moderate voice analyzes last night's primary, with views from the mmm and blogtopia and yes, we coined that phrase!
Labels: clinton, democrats, hillary, multi-millionaire media, prez campaign, primaries
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
skippy's tuesday nite music club
alice faye - wild about harry
the beautiful alice faye sings this great eubie blake number in rose of washington square, a story so blatantly based on the real life of zigfeld follies girl fanny brice (barbara streisand played her in funny girl) that ms. brice successfully sued 20th century for invasion of privacy.
alice, or rose, or fanny, is accompanied by the great louie prima as the equally beautiful tyrone power looks on. and yes, that is bert lahr, the cowardly lion at the bar!
Labels: skippy's music club
to quote duncan....
foreclosures spiked across the bay area and california during the first quarter, rising more than 300 percent as home values continued to fall. - sfgate
ed. addendum: via calculated risk, economist robert shiller predicts housing prices could slump worse than the great depression:
"i think there is a scenario that they could be down substantially more," mr. shiller said during a speech at the new haven lawn club.
mr. shiller, who admitted he has a reputation for being bearish, said real estate cycles typically take years to correct.
as of the end of 2007, the case-shiller house price index showed national prices were off 10.2%. i suppose this means shiller is estimating prices fell 5% nationally in q1. very possible.
Labels: california, economy, foreclosure
did you hug it today?
Labels: earth
punxatawney hill sees shadow, six more weeks of infighting
"hillary clinton needs a clear and convincing victory today in pennsylvania if she wants to continue on in this nominating process," democratic strategist tad devine told abc news this morning.
with neither candidate able to get the 2,025 delegates needed to win the party's nomination, tonight's win in pennsylvania will bolster clinton's argument to superdelegates — the 795 democratic party officials and members of congress who may ultimately decide the nomination.
lipchus, the 64-year-old proprietor of simon's restaurant on market street, a little place with a screen door and great omelets, knew more than a year ago that he would vote for clinton. it was personal: she's from here. no obama miracle or clinton mistake would budge him.
"when her dad passed away, we were down on court street at the methodist church to see her at the funeral," said lipchus from behind the counter, wearing, as was his entire staff, a clinton t-shirt…
she mused about her grandfather toiling in a scranton lace mill at age 11, and the happy summers she spent at the family cottage on nearby lake winola. he set one of his many ads here, won the endorsement of native son sen. robert p. casey jr., and ate pancakes at the landmark glider diner.
for their part, scrantonites thoroughly enjoyed the attention. it was the first time in a generation anyone cared what they had to say in a presidential primary, and if things go the way many want, this morning they will pat themselves on the back for giving clinton's campaign yet another reprieve.
"this felt good," said frank tunis, 60, a republican who switched parties just so he could vote for clinton.
Labels: clinton, democrats, hillary, obama, prez campaign, primaries
happy earth day!
creek running north
the biomes blog
snow moon
and our own cookie jill.
Labels: blogtopia, environment
aWol is #1!
in a usa today/gallup poll taken friday through sunday, 28% of americans approve of the job bush is doing; 69% disapprove. the approval rating matches the low point of his presidency, and the disapproval sets a new high for any president since franklin roosevelt.
the previous record of 67% was reached by harry truman in january 1952, when the united states was enmeshed in the korean war.
bush's rating has worsened amid "collapsing optimism about the economy," says charles franklin, a political scientist at the university of wisconsin-madison who studies presidential approval. record gas prices and a wave of home foreclosures have fueled voter angst.
maybe ohio should run for president
john mccain chose to stand in front of a shuttered factory in ohio to tell voters to "reject protectionism" and then went on to draw parallels with the regions economic woes and his own electoral fortunes."a person learns along the way that if you hold on — if you don't quit no matter what the odds — sometimes life will surprise you," mccain said in a speech at youngstown state university after meeting the five remaining workers at fabart, a steel-fabricating factory that had more than 100 employees a few years ago…apparently, he said this with a straight face. in youngstown, ohio. in front of a shuttered factory that used to support families and afforded college educations for the regions children and good-paying union jobs for the residents.
how churlish to make the false-equivalency he made - as if his personal experience with winning the republican nomination in a year when the republican brand is toxic is comparable to the economic malaise that free-trade has brought to the rust-belt.
Labels: economy, mccain, prez campaign
Monday, April 21, 2008
skippy's monday night music club
lipps, inc. - funky town
Labels: skippy's music club
snow business like show business
in fact, that is why i think it was a good choice by cnn. i don't mean that in any ironic snarky way, it just was. look at it this way: snow might be the one, singular high-level bush appointee who showed a basic ability to do his job. he ran the press in circles of bullshit and empty phrases, but one could say that is the press secretary's primary job. he didn't out any cia agents. if the cable channels must pay someone to repeat right-slanted nonsense every few hours, and it's pointless pretending that won't happen, i honestly prefer snow to most of the alternatives.
Labels: cnn, multi-millionaire media, snow
quote of the day
Labels: class warfare, multi-millionaire media, prez campaign
lowered expelled-tations
while we admit that it did only open on a little over 1,000 screens in the nation (which is hardly anything), we are willing to bet that the audience decreases rather than increases. that's the normal trajectory for a film's audeince numbers in these days of big opening weekends. and, as entertainment weekly sez:
expelled not only has to deal with big science and darwin-slanted authority, it also runs up against those damn closed-minded movie critics that dismiss any film that doesn't adhere to the artificial standards of "good," "coherent," and "entertaining."
rotten tomatoes (a aggregate site of national media and cyber critics) gives expelled a mere 9%, meaning only 9% of the reviews of the movie were positive. more specifically, only 2. and one of them was from christianity today.
we predict that, unlike the last temptation of christ, expelled will lose numbers in the coming weeks. but of course, numbers are math, and math is so closely related to science.
and as chaz panzienza said, he blinded me without science.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
skippy's sunday nite music club
rolling stones - satisfaction
this clip is not from the movie, but the song is.
and for tonite's discussion, we ask you, which was the best stones album ever?
Labels: skippy's music club
steamed rice
rockets blasted the fortified green zone compound where rice met prime minister nuri al-maliki and other officials and praised their month-old campaign against sadr's followers.
she had harsh words for the reclusive cleric, who on the eve of rice's visit vowed "open war" if the crackdown continues. sadr has not appeared in public in iraq in nearly a year.
"he is still living in iran. i guess it's all out war for anybody but him," rice told reporters. "his followers can go to their death and he will still be in iran."
oh, wait...
Labels: condaleeza, iraq war, violence
retail sales are booming!
happy earth day....
ecological disaster brought reality check. crude oil blasted nine stories into the air on Jan. 28, 1969, from a pipeline that blew out in the santa barbara channel. for the environmental movement, this disaster was the spark that launched earth day...the story goes that earth day was conceived by senator gaylord nelson after a trip he took to santa barbara right after that horrific oil spill off our coast in 1969. he was so outraged by what he saw that he went back to washington and passed a bill designating april 22 as a national day to celebrate the earth. - CEC
when the santa barbara pipeline burst 39 years ago, crude oil flowed for 10 days, eventually covering an 800-mile square area with a dark sheen. the oil even silenced the tide. with the viscous oil melded to it, the waves no longer lapped at the shore. instead, they landed with a heavy thud . bridgeport connecticut post
santa barbara newspress editor thomas storke:
never in my lifetime have i ever seen such an aroused populace at the grassroots level. this oil pollution has done something that i have never seen – it has united citizens of all political persuasions in a truly nonpartisan cause."u.s. president richard nixon:
it is sad that it was necessary that santa barbara should be the example that had to bring it to the attention of the american people. what is involved is the use of our resources of the sea and the land in a more effective way and with more concern for preserving the beauty and natural resources that are so important to any kind of society that we want for the future. the santa barbara incident has frankly touched the conscience of the american people.go out and hug a tree, ride a bike, take a deep breath, walk through a forest, listen to the birds. show mother earth how much she is appreciated.
Labels: earth, environment, oil, santa barbara
next time i hear a politician say...
Labels: alaska, fish, television
Saturday, April 19, 2008
skippy's saturday nite music club
philip glass - koyaaniqatsi
from the soundtrack of the movie,
Labels: skippy's music club
you read it here second
the cleric says he is giving his final warning to the iraqi government to stop working with the u.s. military against him or he will "declare an open war until liberation."that would also mean that sadr would have to give up any attempts to remain a part of the political process, as general petraeus recently hoped he would. given all that has gone before, including maliki's promise to sideline sadr politically if he didn't disband the mahdi army, i don't see maliki backing down, so...
the threat to lift a more than 7-month-old cease-fire comes amid fighting between al-sadr's mahdi army militia and u.s.-iraqi troops in baghdad's sadr city and the southern city of basra.
the most trusted name in noose
cnn personality richard quest was busted in central park early yesterday with some drugs in his pocket, a rope around his neck that was tied to his genitals, and a sex toy in his boot, law-enforcement sources said.apparently, according to the post, police were able to identify the substance in his pocket as meth, because quest said, "i've got some meth in my pocket."
quest, 46, was arrested at around 3:40 a.m. after a cop spotted him and another man inside the park near 64th street, a police source said...
he was charged with loitering and criminal possession of a controlled substance. his unusual get-up didn't lead to a lewdness charge because he wasn't exposing himself, the police source said...which hotel? the sherry nooserland?
quest's lawyer, alan abramson, had a much more innocuous version of events.
"mr. quest didn't realize that the park had a curfew," abramson said. he was simply "returning to his hotel with friends."
Labels: cnn, multi-millionaire media, scandals, sexscapades
Friday, April 18, 2008
skippy's friday nite music club
whitney houston - i will always love you
dolly parton, who wrote this song, has publicly thanked whitney for all the bucks rolling her way due to the popularity of this version.
it does have the best modulation ever in popular music, at around 3:08.
Labels: skippy's music club
say hello
Labels: say hello
to be fair, mccain is younger than several jokes we've used on this blog
your mother should know
gibson: that is a quote from the beatles drug-inspired anthem "i am the walrus." senator obama, exactly how stoned were you the first time you heard this song? and did the bog hits, combined with the tabs of acid you ingested, make this song less or more enjoyable?
senator barack obama: you know, charlie, i've already addressed my slight dabbling with drugs when i was a confused youth. i think i went through what many troubled youths go through when –
gibson: but how wasted were you the first time you heard "i am the walrus," senator, and did your psychotic drug binge -- which may have caused you to black out for days on end while committing unspeakable acts you don't remember -- add or subtract from your listening pleasure?
obama: again, charlie, i'm not sure how this helps get americans health insurance, brings home our troops, or fixes the economy.
gibson: i'll take your response as an admission that pot and acid do, in fact, make this song better. but shooting heroin and the possible murders you committed during your unconscious fugue state detracted somewhat from the overall listening experience.
george stephanopoulos, abc anchor: senator clinton, if a tree falls in the woods but no one is there to hear it, did it make a sound?
senator hillary clinton: george, that is something which has been debated for centuries.
stephanopoulos: so you admit there was no gunfire that day you landed in bosnia?
peter salinger (the man in charge of election coverage) director, special events & sports 212.456.5105 firstname.lastname@example.com
cristi landesmanager, programming 212.456.5107 email@example.com
wayne fisk director, programming 212.456.5327 firstname.lastname@example.com
jeff fitzgerald executive director, operations 212.456.5554 email@example.com
heidi oringer executive director, entertainment 212.456.5541 firstname.lastname@example.com
jon newman news coverage 212.456.5100 firstname.lastname@example.com
joyce alcantara assignment manager 212.456.5106 firstname.lastname@example.com
jim kane deputy d.c. bureau chief 212.222. 6604 firstname.lastname@example.com
andrew kalb executive director, programming 05.567.2269 firstname.lastname@example.com
robert garcia executive director, news & sports 212.456.5103 email@example.com
Labels: debates, multi-millionaire media, snark
quote of the day
Labels: obama
Thursday, April 17, 2008
skippy's thursday nite music club
young@heart choir - i wanna be sedated
Labels: skippy's music club
debate and switch
please be polite. let the people at the abc switchboard know that you are not upset at them. ask them politely if they would convey to someone in charge how deeply displeased you were with the questions in tonight's debate. let them know that you are distressed that it took the "reporters" moderating the debate a full 45 minutes to ask one single question about substance.
seriously, folks, i've just about had it with our pathetic, petty "press corps." the people who ran this debate deserve to be shamed and humiliated. please help out.
(thanks to...for the number.)
update: a little bird has informed me that when you call, you should ask for news, and then press 2 then 199. then you can leave a message for "other news." also, this is the personal e-mail complaint form. i've lodged a complaint here as well, and i urge you to do the same.
Labels: action alert, debates, multi-millionaire media
hacken stein
he has used john lennon's imagine in his new flick w/o permission. huffpo:
this from the wall street journal:
count slowly to 25 seconds and imagine looking at pictures of nazi death camps and hearing john lennon (evidently where they use the song in the movie.)
which brings me to ben stein.
ben stein works in hollywood. ben stein knows the rules. ben stein has been proud to go on tv show after radio show and print interview after that and discuss the movie.
i would like to ask ben stein how he feels about using john lennon's song without permission.
they're easy to deny
no good faith above him
below it he will lie
the banality of evil
stealing all away
Labels: judicial, movies, music, religion, right hypocrisy, science
not up for debate
but does any of this matter to the washington pundit corps? not one bit. what a bunch of multimillionaire pundits are telling you should be important to you is not your dying neighborhood, or your lost job, or your son in iraq, or the trillions of dollars in debt with which your new grandbaby is going to be stuck.
the fact is, cable networks cnn and msnbc both did better jobs with earlier candidate debates. also, neither of those cable networks, if memory serves, rushed to a commercial break just five minutes into the proceedings, after giving each candidate a tiny, token moment to make an opening statement. cable news is indeed taking over from network news, and merely by being competent.
gibson sat there peering down at the candidates over glasses perched on the end of his nose, looking prosecutorial and at times portraying himself as a spokesman for the working class. blunderingly he addressed an early question, about whether each would be willing to serve as the other's running mate, "to both of you," which is simple ineptitude or bad manners. it was his job to indicate which candidate should answer first. when, understandably, both waited politely for the other to talk, gibson said snidely, "don't all speak at once."
for that matter, the running-mate question that gibson made such a big deal over was decidedly not a big deal -- especially since wolf blitzer asked it during a previous debate televised and produced by cnn.
the boyish stephanopoulos, who has done wonders with the network's sunday morning hour, "this week" (as, indeed, has gibson with the nightly "world news"), looked like an overly ambitious intern helping out at a subcommittee hearing, digging through notes for something smart-alecky and slimy. he came up with such tired tripe as a charge that obama once associated with a nutty bomb-throwing anarchist. that was "40 years ago, when i was 8 years old," obama said with exasperation.
Labels: debates, multi-millionaire media
stephanopoulos on top of us
i am a truly undecided voter who tuned in hoping to hear a substantive discussion of the many serious problems facing our nation and the next president. your questions did not allow either candidate to explain how they are going to address the problems families like mine (approx. family income = $35,000) deal with on a daily basis. i was hoping for questions about the economy and the recent inflation – the worst in thirty years, and if the pledges to bring our troops home are realistic given the likely situation on the ground etc. etc., and instead we got questions about flag pins, obama being "friendly" with ayers, and more beating of the dead horses of rev. wright and bosniagate. shame on you george and shame on abc! your behavior is despicable. is this what you consider being society's watchdog? asking ludicrous sensationalistic questions apparently given to you by none other than sean hannity!? perhaps if you host another debate you could have rush limbaugh come on as a guest moderator. i will tune in on sunday hoping for a sincere apology for that sorry excuse of a debate. i hope it will not be for the last time.
Labels: clinton, debates, hillary, multi-millionaire media, obama, prez campaign
amanda sucks
physioprof explains the importance of graciousness in academia and how it applies to blogging.
Labels: blogtopia
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
skippy's wednesday nite music club
marilyn manson - the dope show
Labels: skippy's music club
the audacity of pope
more than 9,000 guests packed the sun-drenched south lawn as benedict became only the second pope ever to visit the white house and the first in nearly 30 years. he received a 21-gun salute and heard kathleen battle, the american soprano, produce a haunting rendition of the lord's prayer.
master debaters
addendum: enigma4ever over at watergate summer thinks it was the worst debate ever, and has contact info if you'd like to complain to abc.
Labels: clinton, democrats, hillary, obama, prez campaign, primaries
bitter-bing! a joisey boy!
hillary clinton's ad featuring pennsylvanians who are angry about barack obama's "bitter" remark seems to have hit a snag...mainly, one guy in the ad is actually from new jersey. chitrib political blog the swamp:
"it shouldn't be a big deal. i explained it to the campaign," thomas said in an interview. "i see pennsylvanians for what they are. i grew up with the values of pennsylvanians"…
thomas said he was born in scranton, but has lived his entire life in somerville, n.j. he is a 46-year-old unemployed environmental engineer…
asked about the fact that thomas isn't registered in pennsylvania, clinton campaign spokesman mark nevins said: "clyde has deep roots in pennsylvania and is moving back to the state after having voted in new jersey in their primary for hillary clinton."
oliver willis opines:
obama hypothesized that many of the voters he was talking about "cling" to religion because of their frustration with their economic state. but there is no evidence that more religious democratic voters have shifted their support away from obama as a result of his statement. prior to the controversy, 49% of democrats who say religion is an important part of their lives supported obama and 42% preferred clinton. obama maintains a similar five-point lead among religious democrats in the more recent data...
it certainly appears that, as of april 14 interviewing, obama's remarks have not hurt him -- either among the democratic electorate as a whole or among the democratic constituencies obama was referring to. wednesday night's debate may shine a spotlight on those comments and make them known to a wider audience, so the possibility remains that obama has not completely weathered the storm.
conceivably, obama could be hurt more in a general-election context, where voters with the characteristics he describes might already have an inkling to vote republican, and such remarks could nudge them more in that direction. but gallup's general-election tracking data -- like that for the democratic nomination -- have so far shown no deterioration in obama's standing versus presumptive republican nominee john mccain.
in other words, if the cable screeching heads had reported on something else this week...say, something like...oh, we don't know...off the top of our heads, maybe...torture, then the words "bitter" and "economy" wouldn't have echoed so much in people's minds.
instead the tv news has just reinforced what people are feeling...angry at the wealth being redistributed from the middle class to the monied elites.
and they are bitter.
we'd never thought we'd type these words, but we'll leave you with the thoughts of andrew sullivan:
if this pans out in the actual primary, then a very large number of pundits and bloggers and pols are going to be revealed as hopelessly out of touch with the country they are talking about.
Labels: clinton, democrats, hillary, obama, prez campaign
it takes one to know one
"i've served with seven presidents," murtha told a union audience. "when they come in, they all make mistakes. they all get older."
"this one guy running is about as old as me," he said, drawing laughter and applause. "let me tell you something, it's no old man's job."
if elected, mccain would be the oldest man to become president at age 72. ronald reagan became president at age 69, but he served as president for eight years and was just a few weeks shy of his 78th birthday when he left office.
Labels: mccain, prez campaign
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
skippy's tuesday nite music club
guns n' roses - november rain
Labels: skippy's music club
deep in the heart of taxes
verrrry interesting...
the daily show - gaffe-in
Labels: jon stewart, obama, prez campaign, snark
mmm gives props to blogger!
if the mass media ever did its job, brad friedman could go back to his former life, the one before 2004 when election scandals became his full-time vocation.
friedman, 41, who lives in los angeles, used to be a computer programmer.
today, he operates the widely known -- in certain circles -- bradblog.com web site that first publicized william singer's complaints against eslate manufacturer hart intercivic.
"the depth and the detail, i was blown away," friedman said of the lawsuit against hart intercivic, which has supplied voting machines to kane county.
four years ago, bradblog had a few pictures of friedman's cat and some doonesbury cartoons. but the site transformed after a vice presidential debate where dick cheney talked about information later "scrubbed" from the white house web site, friedman said. after john kerry's loss in the 2004 presidential election -- where voting concerns in ohio raised questions -- the site and friedman took on a new persona with a mission to expose election fraud.
Labels: blogtopia vs. mmm
mclame makes a mcstake
speaking monday at the annual meeting of the associated press, mccain was asked whether he, if elected, would shift combat troops from iraq to afghanistan to intensify the search for al-qaida leader osama bin laden.
"i would not do that unless gen. [david] petraeus said that he felt that the situation called for that," mccain said, referring to the top u.s. commander in iraq.
petraeus, however, made clear last week that he has nothing to do with the decision. testifying last week before four congressional committees, including the senate armed services committee on which mccain is the ranking republican, petraeus said the decision about whether troops could be shifted from iraq to afghanistan was not his responsibility because his portfolio is limited to the multi-national force in iraq.
decisions about afghanistan would be made by others, he said.
Labels: afghanistan, iraq, mccain, military
expelling bee
Labels: religion, right hypocrisy, science
i can't believe it's not bitter!
buzzflash sez it was the myth of ronald reagan that lured the working class into economic destruction;
the freewayblogger gives us the transcript from "sean hannity's america" in 1863 where the panel discusses the question "can lincoln survive gettysberg?"
pat buchanan: i'd have to say no sean. right from the start he's set himself up as another liberal elitist, hopelessly out of touch with the voters. "four score and seven..." the number he's looking for is eighty-seven. maybe if he put down his chablis and brie plate for a minute he'd understand how real people actually speak.
laura ingraham: and the whole thing was written on the back of an envelope for cryin' out loud. hey abe, get a clue: it's called "paper." not everybody can use a perfectly good envelope, which as all americans know is meant for mailing things... and he uses it for scratch paper! give me a break!
Labels: faux news, multi-millionaire media, obama
the way to do that is to link to the site using the word expelled.
the ncse site contains detailed refuting of the bogus claims of the movie expelled, on a case by case basis, as well as general discussion of evolution and intelligent design from a scientific standpoint (ie, reproducable results), as opposed to the faith-based (and apparently lie-based) propaganda found in the movie expelled.
also on the site: a look at the movie's dishonest approach to interview techniques and other bad journalistic/documentary practices.
getting the nsce site higher on the search engine rankings is the idea of pz myers, who himself got expelled from the movie expelled.
blue plagiarism special
this past sunday, lauren handel, an eagle-eyed attorney from new york, was searching for a specific recipe from giada delaurentis, a chef on the food network. yet whenever she googled the different ingredients in the recipe, the oddest thing happened: not only did the food network's site come up, as expected, but so did john mccain's campaign site.
on a section of mccain's site called "cindy's recipes," you can find seven recipes attributed to cindy mccain, each with the heading "mccain family recipe." ms. handel quickly realized that some of the "mccain family recipes," were in fact, word-for-word copies of recipes on the food network site.
at least three of the "mccain family recipes" appear to be lifted directly from the food network, while at least one is a rachael ray recipe with minor changes.
of course, the media will probably only report that michelle obama's recipe for tollhouse cookies calls for "bitter" chocolate.
Labels: food, mccain, prez campaign
bitter vote
Monday, April 14, 2008
skippy's monday nite music club
cowboy troy w/big & rich - i play chicken with the train
purists of both country and hip hop will disagree, but cowboy troy merges the two genres...it's more sh*t-kicker than m*therf*cker, but it's still got a beat and you can dance to it, we give it a 10.
Labels: skippy's music club
the radio goddess....randi rhodes
the goddess has truly come home.
following her departure from the liberal air america talk radio network last week, controversial host randi rhodes is bringing her nationally syndicated afternoon drive-time show back to wjno-am 1290 in west palm beach, starting today. - palm beach post
wjno 1290
mon-fri, 3:00pm-6:00pm (live)
sat, 9:00am-noon (best of)
talkline: 866-87-randi
she's blogging over at her new syndicators, nova m radio, too. podcasts are coming soon!
Labels: air america, florida, randi
good ol' boy
language raises it's ugly elephantine head.
....u.s. rep. geoff davis, a hebron republican, compared obama and his message for change similar to a "snake oil salesman."
..."i'm going to tell you something: that boy's finger does not need to be on the button," davis said. - polwatchers and talking points memo
guess davis is now apologizing...
my poor choice of words is regrettable and was in no way meant to impugn you or your integrity. i offer my sincere apology to you and ask for your forgiveness. - firstread msnbcwhy...bless his little heart.
Labels: racism, republicans
like, "duh!"
i have some money down on the hayward fault getting "jiggy wit it."
california has more than a 99% chance of having a magnitude 6.7 or larger earthquake within the next 30 years, according scientists using a new model to determine the probability of big quakes.santa barbara certainly knows earthquakes. "adobe disneyland" got walloped in 1925 with a 6.3 and had about 36 blocks of downtown leveled.
the likelihood of a major quake of magnitude 7.5 or greater in the next 30 years is 46%-and such a quake is most likely to occur in the southern half of the state. - science news
Labels: california, earthquake
poor african americans
scientists using federal grants spread fertilizer made from human and industrial wastes on yards in poor, black neighborhoods to test whether it might protect children from lead poisoning in the soil. families were assured the sludge was safe and were never told about any harmful ingredients.
nine low-income families in baltimore row houses agreed to let researchers till the sewage sludge into their yards and plant new grass. in exchange, they were given food coupons as well as the free lawns as part of a study published in 2005 and funded by the housing and urban development department.
...in the late 1990s the government began underwriting studies such as those in baltimore and east st. louis using poor neighborhoods as laboratories to make a case that sludge may also directly benefit human health.
meanwhile, there has been a paucity of research into the possible harmful effects of heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, other chemicals and disease-causing microorganisms often found in sludge.
..the maryland court of appeals likened the study to nazi medical research on concentration camp prisoners, the u.s. government's 40-year tuskegee study that denied treatment for syphilis to black men in order to study the illness and japan's use of "plague bombs" in world war 2 to infect and study entire villages.
"these programs were somewhat alike in the vulnerability of the subjects: uneducated african-american men, debilitated patients in a charity hospital, prisoners of war, inmates of concentration camps and others falling within the custody and control of the agencies conducting or approving the experiments," the court said. - ap via examiner.com san jose
so..where's the "outrage" over this? where's the concern for the health of the kids who played on this stuff? oh, yeah...forgot. it's not plastic toys made for white kids and we can't blame the chinese.
for shame. and, like, who was "in charge" in the late 1990's?
Labels: government, racism, toxins


text:
Ice Cream and Donuts
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Use the form on the right to contact us.
You can edit the text in this area, and change where the contact form on the right submits to, by entering edit mode using the modes on the bottom right.
236 Haverford Ave
Narberth, PA, 19072
United States
(610) 668-8888
Life is Sweeter in Narberth

subset: commoncrawl


text:
on 'Security'
Chemical Processing Special Report: Secure plan(t)
In the decade before Stuxnet attacked process control systems in Iran, there were just five known supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) vulnerabilities for all control systems in the world, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team (ICS-CERT). In 2011, the year after Stuxnet, that vulnerability count jumped to more than 215. Last year, it reached 248 (Figure 1). No surprise then that Chemical makers are increasingly focusing on protecting their process control systems from intrusion both from the inside and outside. In this Chemical Processing Special Report: Secure plan(t), we take a look at:
How to better protect your control system - "Defense in depth" is crucial, and new and maturing technologies may help
Cyber Security Challenges – learn about countermeasures to protect control systems
Case Study: A vulnerability assessment reveals critical gaps in the security of a natural gas pipeline
How to mitigate security risks in legacy process control systems - several steps can help protect against threats and extend the life of legacy equipment
Learn how to secure your process control systems – and your plant. Download your copy of this Chemical Processing Special Report: Secure plan(t) now.12/17/2013
No More Risky Business With Virtual Patching
Patching process control system software to remove security vulnerabilities is fraught with risk. System issues can be the result of installing a patch, but a system is also vulnerable without patching. Fortunately, virtual patching can improve the process and raise the system's security at the same time.09/21/2012
Cyber Security: A Perfect Storm
As companies and industries increasingly rely on technology, security risks become greater. With growing numbers of Windows machines and increased scarcity of skilled technical resources, a "perfect storm" of cyber threats in production facilities is looming.09/21/2012
Application Whitelisting: Extend Your Security Arsenal
As the security threat landscape continues to evolve, so must your response. With increasing numbers of attempted intrusions, cautionary tales of security breaches and the potential for resulting damages at your site, application whitelisting can be an important addition to your security arsenal.09/21/2012
Surviving the CFATS Site Security Plan – Tips for Inspection and Resubmission
As the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) moves forward with the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS), the program continues to evolve. This white paper describes the ongoing CFATS compliance process (which is a combination of technical, procedural, and personnel security) and also provides insight regarding how to develop or revise a comprehensive Site Security Plan (SSP) and prepare for a CFATS Authorization Inspection (AI). Recommendations are relevant to SSPs for all tier levels and should be considered for a facility's initial SSP submission and/or any required SSP resubmission. Download this white paper now: Tips for Inspection and Resubmission.07/25/2012
The 7 Steps to ICS and SCADA Security
The past two years have been a real wakeup call for the industrial automation industry. For the first time ever it has been the target of sophisticated cyber attacks like Stuxnet, Night Dragon and Duqu.
In addition, an unprecedented number of security vulnerabilities have been exposed in industrial control products and regulatory agencies are demanding compliance to complex and confusing regulations. Cyber security has quickly become a serious issue for professionals in the process and critical infrastructure industries.
If you are a process control engineer, an IT professional in a company with an automation division, or a business manager responsible for safety or security, you may be wondering how your organization can get moving on more robust cyber security practices.
In order to provide you with guidance in this area, Tofino Security and exida Consulting LLC have condensed material from numerous industry standards and best practice documents. They also combined experience in assessing the security of dozens of industrial control systems.
The result is an easy-to-follow 7-step process.02/28/2012
Chemical Processing Special Report: Cyber Security
The technology advances in control systems and open systems have afforded us improved efficiency, productivity and the ability to advance our operations. However, these improved technology advances have also come with risks that threaten these efficiencies. Viruses; an increased dependency on uptime, availability and reliability; operator errors and increased regulations are just some of the threats today's manufacturers need to contend with when managing their operations. In this Putman Media Special Report, we take a look at the cyber security issues today's manufacturers need to contend with; identify control systems vulnerabilities and offer a three-step approach for building better cyber security at your operations.02/09/2012
Maritime Transportation Security Act - Tips & Updates
Remain informed about adjustments to MTSA and learn how the program continues to evolve. This paper provides regulatory updates on the current state of MTSA and information about Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC). Find out about new challenges, such as harmonization with Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS). The paper also covers the current discussion among industry and government officials regarding the differences associated with the MTSA and CFATS programs, including ways to coordinate chemical security regulations. Learn about TWIC reader pilot program updates, as well as practical tips for compliance. Download MTSA Tips & Updates Paper01/11/2012
White Paper: Ten Tips for Completing a Site Security Plan
Working on your Site Security Plan (SSP)? The next stage in the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) compliance process requires covered facilities to submit a SSP. Given the importance of the SSP, covered facilities should address a number of factors while they complete this step in the CFATS regulation. Download this complimentary whitepaper now: Ten Tips for Completing your SSP.03/10/2010
Testimony: Inherently Safer Technology in the Context of Chemical Site Security
David A. Moore, PE, CSP, president and CEO of AcuTech Consulting Group, testified at a June 2006 hearing on Inherently Safer Technology in the Context of Chemical Site Security at The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee01/11/2010
Process Safety Symposium Making Safety Second Nature
This 10-page document discusses how the reference from the Center for Chemical Process Safety -- "Inherently Safer Chemical Processes, A Life Cycle Approach," 1st Edition, 1996 -- was updated in 2007. Inherent Safety has been well received by industry, but there has been significant advancement in the concept of inherently safer design over the last 10 years. This overview highlights lessons learned and best practices in inherent safety.01/11/2010
Emergencey Relief System Sizing Software Methods & Practice10/22/2008
IT Security for Process Control Using Siemens SIMATIC PCS 7
Ensuring the security of industrial control systems is hardly a new topic. The earliest users of modern control systems in power stations and chemical plants saw the need to protect access to vital control functions from unauthorized use. Similarly, in industries such as fine chemical or pharmaceutical where the process is the product, manufacturers have always sought to protect the secrets of their unique processes from the prying eyes of industrial spies. This white paper by ARC describes how the Siemens AG PCS7 Security Concept bundles key security measures in seveal specific areas to create a deep hierarchy of security known as defense in depth.02/25/2008
Cybersecurity: Power Industry Locks Down
The power industry is susceptible to a variety of cyber threats, which can wreak havoc on control systems. Management, engineering and IT must commit to a comprehensive approach that encompasses threat prevention, detection and elimination.03/27/2006
Process Control Network Security
This document provides an understanding of intrusion detection and prevention systems, why they are necessary, how and where they fit in the control system environment, and gives example scenarios.03/27/2006
Process Control Network Security - Reference Architecture
This document describes best practices for the reference architecture for a process control system network and its interfaces to a corporate network. The papers objective is to give the reader an understanding of the techniques utilized to securely connect these networks.01/11/2006
Securing Process Control Network External Communications
In the real world, sharing PCN data with external systems and accessing PCN systems from external sources is fast becoming a business necessity. This paper provides some generic guidelines for enabling secure connectivity between PCNs and external systems.09/16/2005
Hazard Communication Guidelines for Compliance
OSHAs Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) is based on a simple conceptthat employees have both a need and a right to know the hazards and identities of the chemicals they are exposed to when working.08/30/2005
Security vulnerability assessment revealed
Plant security is a key priority at many plants. This 10-page paper provides background what the methodology for a plant vulnerability analysis involves. It covers topics such as how to get started, available tools, and risk assessment.04/21/2005
Methods of determining safety integrity level (SIL)
This 17-page whitepaper discusses the application of two popular methods of determining SIL requirements risk graph methods and layer of protection analysis (LOPA) to process industry installations.04/19/2005


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ALA Ambassadors
- 1 ALA Ambassadors Schedule for Virtual Library Day on the Hill
- 2 ALA Ambassadors Schedule in the Placement Center
- 3 ALA Ambassadors Schedule in Registration Area and Membership Pavilion
- 4 ALA Ambassadors Schedule for the "Dine-Around" Program
- 5 ALA Ambassadors Schedule for Libraries Build Communities
- 6 About ALA Ambassadors
ALA Ambassadors Schedule for Virtual Library Day on the Hill
Ambassadors are invited to help welcome participants in the Virtual Library Day on the Hill on Tuesday of Conference, between 8:00am - 10:00a or from 10:00am - 12:00noon. Volunteers will help participants use computers to write their Members of Congress, to answer any questions they might have, and to hand out T-shirts. Orientation will be provided prior to conference by email.
Ambassadors are encouraged to look at CapWiz before the event.
Please click here to sign up as a VDOHA Virtual Library Day on the Hill Ambassador.
The on-site contact for this event will be Melanie Anderson at email@example.com.
ALA Ambassadors Schedule in the Placement Center
If you are interested in helping staff the welcome desk in the ALA Placement Center, please email the on-site coordinator Beatrice Calvin at firstname.lastname@example.com with your availability. The placement center helps hundreds of attendees locate employment, polish their resumes and work on interview skills. Ambassadors would be on hand to answer general questions about the Conference and to create a welcoming atmosphere.
The Placement Center will be located in the convention center, and will operate during the following days and times at the Conference:
- Friday, June 27, 2008 12:00 Noon to 5:00 p.m.
- Saturday, June 28 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Sunday, June 29 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Monday, June 30 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Many thanks for your interest and for contacting Beatrice Calvin directly.
ALA Ambassadors Schedule in Registration Area and Membership Pavilion
Thank you to all Ambassadors who signed up for space. As of Wednesday June 18, all spots are taken for both the Ambassadors Deskin Registration and the Welcome Desk in the Membership Pavilion, booth 1840 in the exhibits.
Please use these links to verify your time selections: Ambassador's Desk | | Membership Pavilion
The Ambassador Desk in Registration is open:
- Thursday, June 26 - Friday, June 27: 7:30 am - 6:00 pm
- Saturday, June 28 - Monday, June 30: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday, July 1: 7:30 am - 12:00 pm
The Membership Pavilion is open:
- Saturday, June 28 - Monday, June 30: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday, July 1: 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Contact John Chrastka at email@example.com with questions.
ALA Ambassadors Schedule for the "Dine-Around" Program
As of Tuesday June 17, all Ambassador spots for the Dine Around are full.
ALA Ambassadors will serve as conveners for the Dine-Around Program. On Friday, Sunday, and Monday, one conveners per cuisine, plus up to eight other ALA members will meet and go to dinner. Members will be able to sign up on the conference wiki or in the Membership Pavilion at Conference. The restaurant location will be within walking distance from the Convention Center and you may choose from a varied list of cuisines (see below). Reservations will be made under the name Kerri Price. Conveners will be given money for dessert plus an icebreaker kit. Tentatively plan to convene around 6:30pm and arrive at the restaurant between 7 and 7:30pm. Exact details will be coming soon.
Please click here to verify your time selection: Dine-Around Sign-Up
If you have any questions, please contact Kerri Price.
ALA Ambassadors Schedule for Libraries Build Communities
As of Friday June 6th, all Ambassador spots for Libraries Build Communities are full. Ten Ambassadors are invited to help welcome volunteers for the Libraries Build Communities project on Friday of Conference, between 7:30am and 9:00am in the Convention Center lobby. Duties would include welcoming and orienting workers in their job-site groups and facilitating distribution of water and lunches to the groups. Light lifting and moving may be required.
Click here to sign up: Libraries Build Communities Ambassadors Signup
Thank you for helping the helpers. We truly appreciate it.
About ALA Ambassadors
Ambassadors Make the Connection
Nearly 100 long-time attendees have enrolled to be a part of a program to help make first-time attendees at Annual Conference feel more welcome and get more out of their conference-going experience.
If you have signed up to be an Ambassador, please look for an email from John Chrastka, ALA Director for Membership Development, on June 6th with a go-ahead to schedule your 2-hour time in either the Membership Pavilion welcome Desk or the Ambassadors' Desk at Registration. Ambassadors are also needed for the Dine-Around Program, the Libraries Build Communities event, the International Visitors Welcome Desk, and the Placement Center.
About the Ambassadors Program
Ambassadors will be paired up with first-timers in early June 2008 by email. Ambassadors will receive names and contact information of first-timers, along with a template for a welcome email and tips for customizing it to your interest and personality. We will also ask you to schedule your 1-hour time slot at the first-time attendee booth in registration or in the Welcome Desk at the Membership Pavilion (booth #1840). The number of individuals you will be asked to contact will depend on the number of first-timers who register for the service, but will not exceed a 1-hour commitment.
If you have questions about the program or wish to be an ALA Ambassador, please email John at email@example.com.
For First-Time Attendees
ALA wants your first Annual Conference to be extraordinary, so when you register, be sure to check: I am a first time registrant of the ALA Annual Conference You will automatically be signed-up to receive a personal welcome from an ALA Ambassador – an ALA member who is a long-time conference goer. ALA Ambassadors help you make connections to programs, people and places before conference so that your time there can be well spent. Ask the questions YOU need answered before you go. And at conference, ALA Ambassadors can be identified by their Name Tags – stop anyone anytime in the halls to ask.


text:
King Protea II
A photographic King Protea print with soft pinks, greys & green tones.
Scroll through gallery for the black & white version.
Love Your Space wall art is professionally printed with premium inks on high quality matte stock.
You now have the option to add a white border around your image. Adding a white border will not change the overall size of your print.
I recommend that you do not add on a white border if your frame already has a mat insert.
If you are ordering framed prints, then I recommend that you add a white border as my frames do not come with mat inserts.
I offer sizes:
A3 (29.7cm x 42cm)
A2 (42cm x 59.4cm)
50cm x 70cm
A1 (59.4cm x 84.1cm)
60cm x 90cm
70cm x 100cm
A0 (84.1cm x 118.9cm)
Not all of my prints go up to the larger sizes. The available sizes are displayed in the drop-down menu of the product.
If you're using the Kmart 61cm x 91.5cm frame, you can order the 60cm x 90cm print, then pop in the additional information box on checkout that you'd like me to re-size to fit this frame.
If you'd like a custom sized print, simply click here to discuss the size you're after
Framing (Australian customers only)
All frames are made to order. The current framing turnaround time is 2-3 weeks from placing your order.
All frames are made from a high quality sustainable timber in either an oak, black or white finish. Frame dimensions are 2cm width 2-3cm depth. Frames are all fitted with a 3mm shinkolite acrylic (higher clarity than glass).
Please note that my frames do not come with mat inserts, so if you'd like a white border around your print, then please select 'yes' for white border.
Shipping & Returns
Love Your Space ships to...
Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, UK & Ireland
For FREE...AND its FAST.... It also includes tracking.
Once you receive your tracking number, it is your responsibly to keep up to date with your own delivery.
Australia and New Zealand orders take on average 2-4 business days, with some rural areas taking a little longer.
USA, Canada, UK & Ireland orders take on average 2-5 business days, with some rural areas taking a little longer.
If you have not received your order within 10 days from purchase you need to contact me immediately, so I can rectify this.
Framed Prints (Australian customers only)
Framed prints include free shipping with tracking.
All framed art is made to order. It's produced & manufactured in Australia, so please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery.
Returns Policy
If your print has been damaged in transit, please let me know immediately so I can organise a replacement.
If you are not happy with your purchase I need to be notified within 7 days of you receiving the goods, so we can discuss an alternative.
Refunds do not apply to "change of mind" or you have chosen the incorrect size. Refunding goods is at the discretion of Love Your Space.
Custom Sized Print
I can customise most of my prints to suit an exisiting frame or change a print to a square layout.
Click here to send a request.


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Jake Owen talks about 'Beachin'' and his baby girl
Jake Owen has spent much of this week rehearsing for his Days of Gold Tour, which launches March 20 in South Dakota.
He's tired and struggling with allergies, but couldn't be more pumped up about the success of his new single "Beachin' " and the start of his arena tour.
"Hopefully (the tour and song) go hand in hand," Jake Owen said. "We've been putting a lot of time and hours into rehearsal, so I'm excited to see it in full form."
Jake Owen said "Beachin'," his second single from his "Days of Gold" album, is more in line with what country fans expect from his sound. He explained that the album's debut single, the title track, was "musically a little out there" and intended to be polarizing. "Beachin' " is not that song.
"My biggest song I've ever had was 'Barefoot Blue Jean Night,' and I think it's because people understand and see me as that guy," he said. "I was born and raised in Florida. It's kind of what I do and it's how I live my life. 'Beachin' … kind of gets back to what I'm doing. I'm seeing on my Twitter all of my fans saying it's their summer anthem and I'm happy to be that guy for them."
Another thing Jake Owen is seeing is his 16-month-old daughter, Pearl, grow into a toddler.
Jake Owen and his wife, Lacey Owen, said that Pearl is repeating everything they say and climbs into her high chair all by herself.
"She'll say, 'Hey dude, totally,' " Lacey Owen reports.
"She'll say, 'Alright,' " Jake Owen said. "Hey Pearl, you wanna eat? She'll go, 'Alright.' "
"She's wild, not from me," Lacey Owen said. "She must have gotten that from you. I was a very good little baby. You're wild."


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Central banks are presumably so frightened that a growing number of citizens are abandoning rapidly devaluing paper currencies and preserving their wealth through precious metals that governments are now cracking down on the anonymous purchase of gold and silver.
Following the Austrian government's announcement that it was restricting the sales of precious metals to $20,000 a time, an amount which would purchase just 11 ounces, the French authorities have followed suit with an equally draconian new measure to deter people from buying gold and silver.
A recently amended French law states (translation), "Any transaction on the retail purchase of ferrous and non ferrous (metals) is made by crossed check, bank or postal transfer or by credit card, not the total amount of the transaction may not exceed a ceiling set by decree. Failure to comply with this requirement is punishable by a ticket for the fifth class," going on to confirm that any amount over €450 euros or $600 US dollars "must be paid by bank transfer".
"According to independent reports the law was passed to curb the illegal sale of stolen metals like copper, steel, etc. Given the rampant rise in thefts of these metals from telephone poles, construction sites and businesses here in the United States, we can certainly see this as a reasonable assessment for why the French passed this law," writes Mark Slavo.
"However, the fact that no exception was made for gold and silver simply cannot be ignored. The new law effectively makes it illegal to purchase even a single Troy ounce of gold or around 18 ounces of silver in cash."
$600 USD isn't even enough to purchase a half ounce of gold. This guarantees that citizens who are trying to transfer their savings over to precious metals will be known to the authorities, leaving them vulnerable to government confiscation of their gold and silver later on down the line, as happened in 1933 under FDR.
Why are central banks and governments in Europe so eager to make it as difficult as possible for citizens to buy precious metals? It's largely because unlike every other financial commodity, they don't have the market completely under their control, and cannot tolerate the idea of people having true power over their own economic destiny.
Secondly it's because the great foundation stone of the globalists' plan to create a federalized European superstate and the template for a future world currency – the euro – is crumbling amidst the debt crisis that has engulfed the continent. With eurozone members already preparing to abandon the single currency, the last thing the EU wants to see is European citizens of key member states like France doing the same thing by exchanging their euros for gold and silver.
The bottom line is that the central banks which run the world don't like the slaves owning anything that they can't manipulate the value of – it undermines their power monopoly.
In a related development, the London Gold Exchange, an international digital currency trader which has over 100,000 members, announced today that it is "permanently closed for business" due to operational difficulties.
The LGE provided a service whereby it exchanged fiat money for digital currencies stored in online user accounts, including c-gold, Liberty Reserve, Pecunix and v-money.
Article written by Paul Joseph Watson
Monday, September 26, 2011


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If possible, you should begin planning your transfer about one year before you intend to start attending classes at a four-year college or university. Here is a basic timeline designed to give you an overview of the steps you will need to take at each stage in the process.
June – October
• Research schools.• Research scholarships.• Write a general personal essay/statement of academic and career goals.• Write your resume.• Build your budget. Start estimating your expenses at the new school and how you will pay for them.• Ask for letters of recommendation.• Make a first visit to the schools that interest you. Take a tour and gather basic information.
November – February
• Apply for scholarships.• Ask for letters of recommendation.• Request official transcripts from all colleges you have attended.• Apply to your top three choices.• Make a second visit to schools. Visit financial aid and scholarship offices, and meet with an academic advisor.• Do your taxes and apply for financial aid.• Review your budget and determine how much money you will need to save.
March – June
• Watch your mail for admission and scholarship notification letters.• Make a third visit to schools.• Decide which school you will attend and notify that institution.• Review your budget and revise it if needed.• Get confirmation of admission, housing, scholarships, financial aid, etc.
June – August
• Work, save money and get ready.
• Attend orientation at your new school.• Register for fall classes.• Pay for tuition and housing for the first semester.• Start work on campus or start applying for it• Find your apartment and roommates if you will live off-campus.


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Hi Paul hope all is well! This years election scares the hell out of me.
Good morning Paul.
Hey Paul -
I'm sure you've noticed the Cafe is in dire need of revitalization.
I'm thinking that since the new forums has brought us clickable videos -
It's time to start up another music thread.
And ........ It's your turn to start one.
I was think'in of "Blue Monday on......."
Then we could drop a tune in it any day like so:
Senior Member


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About Duluth Kitchen and Bath Cabinets
Duluth Kitchen Cabinets: Providers of Premium Custom Kitchen and Bathroom Cabinets Kitchen and bath areas shine with the addition of new custom cabinets from Duluth Kitchen Cabinets. If you're like many of us, you want your home to reflect your style and taste. If so, it's probably very important for you to showcase your home with beautiful and functional kitchen and bath spaces featuring stylish custom Read More >
Kitchen and Bath Cabinets from Wellborn
Since 1961, the Wellborn family has owned and operated Wellborn Cabinet, Inc., located in Ashland, Alabama. Their goal is to provide you with kitchen and bath cabinets made with the utmost quality and care. They are dedicated to servicing Wellborn dealers with their pledge to shipping accuracy and short lead times. They strive for excellence in this crucial function of their business. The entire Wellborn family of Read More >
Kitchen and Bath Cabinets from Mouser
Since its emergence from humble beginnings in New Haven, Kentucky, in 1955, Mouser Cabinetry has provided the highest quality custom cabinetry for over 50 years. Today, located in central Kentucky, Mouser Cabinetry is marketed throughout the eastern two-thirds of the United States through an expanding network of authorized displaying Dealers. Now, just as it was in the beginning, that same devotion to product quality Read More >
Kitchen and Bath Cabinets from KraftMaid
For more than 40 years, KraftMaid has been committed to the needs of their customers. KraftMaid is an industry leader and one of the largest built-to-order cabinet manufacturers in the United States, helping more customers create the home of their dreams than any other cabinet manufacturer in the world. Their cabinets are assembled here in the United States and satisfy the "Buy American" requirements of the Read More >
Kitchen and Bath Cabinets from Merillat
Merillat Cabinetry is not just cabinets. First and foremost, it's people. The people who create. The people who design. The people who have it in their homes. Together, they each bring their talents, their ideas, and their passions. And collectively, they are "America's Cabinetmaker". Based in Michigan, and part of Masco Cabinetry, Merillat has been providing quality cabinetry since 1946. With manufacturing plants Read More >
Kitchen and Bath Cabinets from Medallion
Medallion Cabinetry by Elkay offers a nearly limitless array of styles, wood finishes and customizable cabinetry to create built-in furniture for the kitchen, bath, and other living spaces throughout the home. Elkay is the fifth largest cabinet supplier in the United States. As a family-owned company in business since 1920, Elkay has a long-standing history of manufacturing innovative products and delivering Read More >
Kitchen and Bath Cabinets Design Classes
Save Time and Reduce Stress with your Remodeling Project. We use the latest kitchen and bath cabinet design software and planning tools. Planning a new kitchen or bath can be quite overwhelming. We use the latest in design software and planning tools to help simplify the Read More >
From the Kitchen and Bath Cabinet Blog
Tips for Remodeling Kitchen Countertops
There are many choices available to you when it comes to remodeling kitchen countertops. You can easily search the Internet for the various materials countertops are made of so we won't go into that here. Instead, this article offers tips to help you decide among all the various types of kitchen countertops available to you. Cost The cost factor alone may make your decision for you when it comes to deciding which Read More >


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Gwyneth Paltrow relaunched the website for her Goop newsletter on Friday, and with the site's makeover came a new addition: The Goop collection.
Each week, according to the site, Goop will debut an exclusive, limited-edition collaboration, featuring clothing, home decor, or beauty products. First up? The Goop tee, done in partnership with Kain Label. The simple white t-shirt features black grosgrain piping on the shoulder and sides, inspired by tuxedo tailoring, and retails for $90. "We like to wear ours untucked," Paltrow suggests.


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|Biosequences .. Software .. Molbio soft .. Network News .. FTP
Postdoc Position Plant Molecular Biology EC funded AG Gene Transfer IPK Gatersleben, Germany The IPK Gatersleben is a public research centre, with the objective to carry out basic and applied research in the field of molecular plant breeding (http://www.ipk-gatersleben.de). The Gene Transfer Group at the IPK-Gatersleben (http://www.ipk-gatersleben.de/englisch/abtl-ags/ipkengt.htm) has efficient nuclear transformation systems for the production of transgenic cereals and grasses in place. The selected candidate for this immediate opening will work in an international team focussing on the incorporation of quality traits in cereals and grasses, using genetic transformation technology and exchange research findings with multiple collaborators in an european network.. The immediate opening will be funded by the European Community for a period of 34 months at the scale BAT-IIa-OST. Development of a plastid transformation system for a selected monocot crop will build on extensive monocot tissue culture and transformation expertise and experience with biolistic plastid transformation in tobacco. The selected candidate will mainly focus on the construction of vectors for the site directed integration of transgenes through homologous recombination and the analysis of transgenic plants. We expect extensive experience with standard molecular biology techniques. Experience with plant tissue culture and -transformation is a plus. Gatersleben is located in the centre of Germany, close to the Harz mountains and the historic city of Quedlinburg. Please send your CV, list of references and intended starting date preferably by e-mail to: Dr. Fredy Altpeter, Gene Transfer Group, IPK Gatersleben Corrensstr. 3, 06466 Gatersleben, Germany e-mail: altpeter at ipk-gatersleben.de Fax: +49 39482 5139 ---


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First, a wildly-hued pair of fingerless mitts:
Susie's Reading Mitts by Janelle Masters
- Yarn: My handspun "Raisin Wannabe", 100% Shetland Wool (185 yards / 113 g per skein), 0.73 skeins
- Needle: US 3 (3.25 mm) double pointed needles
- Size: Smallest
Here's the yarn, before knitting (and the fiber it came from):
The mitts have a fun turned picot hem:
... and a little bit of garter stitch and lace for added interest:
The colors are definitely wild, but I love them in a simple accessory like this:
Happily for me, this was the kind of low-pressure photoshoot that Moana could get into:
Alas, this might have been pushing it a little...
Next, here's another handspun knitted item, that just happens to match Bug's eyes:
Percy Shawl by Sanne Kalkman
- Yarn: My handspun "Mermaid", Wool/Silk/Recycled Sari Silk/Angelina (727 yards / 74 g per skein), 0.91 skeins
- Needle: US 2.5 (3.0 mm) double pointed needles
- Size: 62 inches wide, 24 inches deep at center ( = 8 repeats of Chart A, 3 repeats of Chart B (starting with row 5 and ending with row 27, as the pattern directs), and 1 repeat of Chart C)
The yarn (and fiber):
I love how the different patterns come together in this shawl:
...Chart C
...Chart B
...Chart A
And in silhouette:
...Chart A
...Chart B
...Chart C
The whole thing:
OK, Bug, show us the proof...
Now that's just not fair! Give us a peak... please?
Pretty please, with yarn on top?
Ahhh... That's better!


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Tesla's VP of Worldwide Sales and Service Jerome Guillen was kind enough to take questions after the least eventful press conference I've seen at the Detroit Auto Show, but he "does not know where rumors came from" about a utility or pickup from his company.
Those rumors came from Elon Musk, who I've heard is important to Tesla's operation. He told Business Insider a few months ago that the company might make a truck in five years.
But before I could cite that in retort, the Tesla team revoked my microphone privileges, leading a wave of shaming laughter and finger-pointing in my direction.
As I tearfully stormed away I heard that the only future plans Tesla was willing to reveal were that Model S-based crossover, the Tesla Model X, is "being worked on furiously" and an economical model is planned for sometime in "the next three years."


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The non-owned auto coverage in a garage liability policy does not provide coverage for the vehicle owner when the vehicle is not being used in connection with the insured's garage operations at the time of the accident.
Appeal from Wyandotte District Court; CORDELL D. MEEKS, JR., judge. Opinion filed August 29, 2003. Reversed and remanded.
Robert A. Horn and Bradley M. Dowd, of Horn, Aylward & Bandy, LLC, of Kansas City, Missouri, for appellant.
Laurie Del Percio and Douglas R. Horn, of The Horn Law Firm, P.C., of Independence, Missouri, for appellee Macala Johnson.
No appearances by appellees Danny LaRose and Dalton L. Scheib.
Before BEIER, P.J., LEWIS and JOHNSON, JJ.
JOHNSON, J.: Penn-America Insurance Company (Penn-America) appeals the district court's interpretation of the non-owned auto coverage provision in its garage liability policy. We reverse.
Underlying this action is a tragic accident. Danny LaRose was operating his personally owned tow truck to move his own railroad switch box at a storage facility in Oak Grove, Missouri. The tow truck's boom failed, and the switch box fell onto Kristi Degraffenried, resulting in her death. LaRose would frequently use his personally owned tow truck to perform work for his employer, Lizard Auto Sales (Lizard) of Kansas City, Kansas. However, at the time of the accident, LaRose was not performing work on behalf of Lizard.
The heirs of Degraffenried filed a petition for wrongful death against Lizard and LaRose in the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri. Subsequently, Lizard's insurer, Penn-America, filed a petition in the District Court of Wyandotte County, Kansas, seeking a declaratory judgment that the garage liability insurance policy issued to Lizard did not create any duty to defend or indemnify Lizard or LaRose in any action brought for the wrongful death of Degraffenried.
Both Penn-America and Macala Johnson, a plaintiff in the wrongful death suit and a defendant in the declaratory judgment action, filed motions for summary judgment. Penn-America asked the court to find that the tow truck was not a "covered auto" under Lizard's policy, while Johnson asked the court to find it was covered. Following oral arguments on the motions, the district court denied Penn-America's motion and granted Johnson's motion, thereby declaring that the policy created a duty of Penn-America to defend and indemnify LaRose in the suit brought by the heirs of Degraffenried.
The declarations page of the subject insurance policy contains numeric symbols to show the covered autos, one of which is "29." The Garage Coverage Form, Section 1--Covered Autos, subsection A, describes symbol 29 as follows:
"NON-OWNED 'AUTOS' USED IN YOUR GARAGE BUSINESS. Any 'auto' you do not own, lease, hire, rent or borrow used in connection with your garage business described in the Declarations. This includes 'autos' owned by your employees or partners or members of their households while used in your garage business."
The district court found that the plain language of the policy established only two requirements for the tow truck to be covered under the symbol 29 definition: (1) the vehicle be non-owned by the insured, Lizard; and (2) the vehicle be an auto used in connection with Lizard's garage business. The court found the evidence undisputed that LaRose owned the truck, thus making it a non-owned auto under Lizard's policy. Further, the court said that "[t]he uncontroverted evidence is that Mr. LaRose had used the tow truck in connection with Lizard's garage business before the accident." Citing to rules of construction, the district court opined that it could not read a requirement into the policy that the tow truck had to be engaged in garage work at the time of the accident.
Penn-America asserts that Lizard's garage liability policy only provided coverage for LaRose's tow truck while it was actually being used in Lizard's garage operations. Thus, we are called upon to interpret an insurance contract which is a question of law subject to de novo review. American States Ins. Co. v. Farmers Alliance Mut. Ins. Co., 28 Kan. App. 2d 754, 758, 20 P.3d 743, rev. denied 271 Kan. 1035 (2001).
We agree with the district court's two-part analysis of the non-owned auto definition: (1) the insured does not own, lease, hire, rent, or borrow the vehicle; and (2) the vehicle is used in connection with the insured's garage business. Where we depart is in the interpretation of the second requirement.
The district court opined that it could not add language to the policy to require that the tow truck had to be "used in connection with [Lizard's] garage business" at the time of the accident. However, in order to find coverage for the tow truck, the district court did, in fact, read words into the policy when it found "that Mr. LaRose had used the tow truck in connection with Lizard's garage business before the accident." (Emphasis added.) The policy does not read "previously used in connection with your garage business." To the contrary, the second sentence specifically refers to employee-owned vehicles while they are being used in the garage business.
The district court found that the second sentence does not restrict the meaning of the first sentence or, otherwise, the court opined that there would be a conflict and ambiguity created. We agree that "a reasonable interpretation of 'includes' can also mean 'for example' or 'in illustration of' and that, under this interpretation, the second sentence provides examples of what may be, but is not limited to, a 'nonowned auto.'" Pekin Insurance Co. v. Benson, 306 Ill. App. 3d 367, 373, 714 N.E.2d 559 (1999). However, the illustration would be, at the least, a poor exemplar of coverage which was intended to also cover the personal use of employee-owned vehicles. Instead, the second sentence clarifies that the coverage applies while the non-owned vehicle is being used in connection with garage business.
While interpreting the words used in the policy, we should be mindful that the parties to the contract are Penn-America and Lizard. The contracting parties agreed that Penn-America would defend and indemnify Lizard against claims for which Lizard might become legally liable as a result of Lizard's garage business operations. LaRose only becomes involved in the contract because of his status as a Lizard employee whose acts or omissions in that capacity could result in a claim against Lizard.
We must also be cognizant of the purpose of non-owned auto coverage. "In the case of an employer, the non-ownership provision serves the purpose of protecting [the employer] from liability under the doctrine of respondeat superior arising from the torts of employees using their own personal vehicles in the employer's business." 8 Couch on Insurance 3d §118:43, p. 118-62 (1995); see 6C Appleman, Insurance Law and Practice §4454 (1979). The provision "covers only the liability of the employer, and not that to which the employee is subject because of his or her conduct." 8 Couch on Insurance 3d §118:43, p. 118-63. "[S]ince liability of the insurer is dependent upon the existence of liability of the employer for the acts of its employee, where no liability of the employer exists under the doctrine of respondeat superior, there is no liability of the insurer." 8 Couch on Insurance 3d §118:43, p. 118-63.
In addition to being contrary to the purpose of non-owned auto coverage, the district court's interpretation could lead to obviously absurd results. The court apparently placed no limitations on how often or how recently an employee's non-owned vehicle had to be used previously in connection with Lizard's garage business in order to be covered for the employee's personal use. If an employee occasionally picks up Lizard's mail while driving his or her child's car and the child has an accident in the car after returning to college, does Penn-America have to defend and indemnify the child? If so, how long does Penn-America's duty continue: so long as the child owns the car; so long as the parent remains employed by Lizard; until the expiration of the policy term in which the vehicle was used in connection with Lizard's garage business? We do not believe the non-owned auto coverage was intended to provide free personal insurance to any employee who has previously used his or her vehicle for garage operations.
We have found no Kansas cases on point, even though non-owned auto coverage is not a new concept. Penn-America cites to foreign cases to support its claim that coverage only applies if the accident occurs while the non-owned vehicle is engaged in garage operations. See Dairy Road Partners v. Island Ins., 92 Hawaii 398, 423, 992 P.2d 93 (2000); Pekin Insurance Co. v. Benson, 306 Ill. App. 3d at 374; Henderson v. Maloid, 683 So. 2d 342, 347 (La. App. 1996). However, these cases all involve actions against the insured, not against the employee or vehicle owner. The precise issue before us is not involved, but these cases all appear to accept as a given that in order to qualify for non-owned auto coverage, the accident had to occur while the vehicle was being used in the course and scope of the insured's business. Certainly, such a result would obtain if the policy language is "'construed in accord with the reasonable expectations of a layperson.'" Island Ins., 92 Hawaii at 412 (quoting Sturla, Inc. v. Fireman's Fund Insurance Co., 67 Hawaii 203, 209, 684 P.2d 960 [1984]).
The district court's journal entry directed that "Penn-America Insurance Company is; [sic] therefore, ordered to defend and indemnify Danny LaRose in the underlying wrongful death case." We find the order to be erroneous on two levels. First, Danny LaRose is not an insured to which Penn-America owes a duty to defend and indemnify. Penn-America's duty is to defend and indemnify Lizard to the extent that LaRose's acts or omissions created liability on behalf of Lizard. Secondly, with undisputed evidence that the tow truck was not being used in connection with Lizard's garage operations at the time of the accident, the non-owned auto coverage was inapplicable.
Reversed and remanded with instructions to enter summary judgment in favor of Penn-America.