text:
David Connors necesitaba un nuevo diseño de papelería y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 179 diseños de 50 diseñadores freelance.
Software engineering consultancy needs new design for letterhead, with compliments slips, and business cards
Codify is a software engineering consultancy that specialises in reliable and scalable systems. We have recently run competitions for a new logo and new web site templates to update our branding to be more contemporary.
Our current logo and precise Pantone colour specification information is available here:
We are after a contemporary design.
We threw out thousands of pages of stationery and business cards when we last moved office so this design will refer people back to our web site for key contact information. This idea should mean we never need throw out material again if we move office.
We do not produce a large number of printed letters and so we will be printing letterhead and comp slips on demand on an HP CM2320 (high quality mid-range colour laser).
The design for the letterhead and comp must be such that it can be converted into an EMF and made a part of a standard word template.
- Clean, contemporary design.
- The design must have the following fields on it: - First and Last Name (eg David Connors)
- Job Title (eg Software Engineer)
- E-mail (eg firstname.lastname@example.com)
- Phone: (in the format of +61 (7) 3210 6268)
- Facsimilie: (in the format of +61 (7) 3210 6269)
- Our URL: http://www.codify.com
- something like: For further contact information, please visit https://www.codify.com/contact/
- The above is not very conventional so I'll be interested to see how you can make a design that incorporates this and looks good. Most slick stationery designs are minimalist so how well you can pull off the above will be my key selection criteria.
- The deliverables are: - Template for Letterhead
- Template for "With Compliments" slip
- Template for Business Card
- Specific instructions and advice on the exact instructions to provide to a local printer to print the business cards, OR if you are based in ANZ region AND have a good relationship with an existing printer then you can provide a price for you to organise the printing of the business cards and forward them on to us. Send me an IM if you want to do the latter.
- All files must be provided in a structure format. AI is preferred.
- NOTE WE CANNOT ACCEPT Designs that require edge-to-edge printing on on the letterhead or with-comp slips. Please note we will be printing those on a colour laser so we can't do edge-to-edge printing. Edge-to-edge printing is FINE (and desirable) however on the business cards.
- Designs that require edge-to-edge printing on on the letterhead or with-comp slips. PLease note we will be printing those on a colour laser so we can't do edge-to-edge printing. Edge-to-edge printing is FINE (and desirable) however on the business cards.
- Any images or stock photos
- Any gradients or similar as they will not print faithfully on a colour laser


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Following the great reception given to the cute seal pup featuring in my last post I thought I'd spark off a search for the UK's cutest native species! Visitors to the UK love to discover the richness and diversity of the UK's fauna, and with everything from hedgehogs to dolphins populating the British Isles and its surrounding waters, we have much to enjoy! Although our status as an island has meant that continental species such as the wild boar and brown bear have been hunted to extinction in the British Isles, it is still home to a great selection of native creatures, many of which rank highly in the cute stakes... Dolphins
Swimming with dolphins is on most people's bucket lists, and although you'll probably need flights to Florida in order to actually swim with the creatures and touch them, you can enjoy dolphins from a distance at various locations in the UK. The best areas for dolphin-spotting mainly focus around Cornwall, Devon and Scotland. Prawle Point in Devon, Cardigan Bay in Wales and Moray Firth in Inverness, Scotland are all good spots to catch a glimpse of these amazing creatures.
Otters have been returning to England's rivers since the 1970s thanks to greater controls on water quality and the banning of otter hunting in Britain in 1978. Part of the weasel family, otters are the top of the food chain in Britain's river environments, and carry a healthy dose of charm with it!
Now if these creatures don't warm the cockles of your heart I have no idea what will. The UK boasts colonies of both grey and common seals, which can be seen at locations such as Cornwall, the Moray Firth, Blakeney in Norfolk and the Orkney Islands.
OK so adult swans are generally described as being 'graceful' and 'elegant' rather than cute, but signets certainly fit the bill here (puns aside). Surely making a mockery of the legend of the ugly duckling, these fluffy white creatures are far from it!
Dartmoor Ponies
The Dartmoor Pony is a semi-feral protected species native to Britain, which roams freely across Dartmoor in Devon. The species is a hardy one, and has to be to survive the harsh conditions on the open moors, but is also placid and well-natured, being used as breeding stock for riding ponies.
Certainly not exclusive to the UK, being found in most northern hemisphere countries, but the red fox is certainly a handsome beast. Fox cubs rate well on the cuteness scale, and city dwellers in the UK are probably more likely to spot plucky urban dwelling foxes than those out in the countryside.
These brightly-coloured, dumpy little birds contribute significantly to the UK's birdsong soundtrack, even singing at night around streetlights. Renowned for being the 'gardener's friend', robins are relatively bold and unafraid of humans, and Britain even has its own subspecies - Erithacus rubecula melophilus – which is slightly different from the continental robin.

subset: commoncrawl


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In a heart attack, blood supply is blocked. When the heart suddenly stops functioning because of abnormal rhythms, it is called cardiac arrest.
Cardiovascular disease accounts for nearly a third of all deaths in Canada, but in the past decade, the cardiovascular death rate has fallen more than 40 per cent, due to advances in drug therapies, surgical techniques and prevention efforts.
Still, heart attacks are by far the most common cause of sudden cardiac death in middle-aged men, according to Dr. Saul Isserow, director of the Centre for Cardiovascular Health at Vancouver General Hospital.
Isserow, who is also medical director of UBC Hospital cardiology services and Sports Cardiology BC, said many heart attacks come as a complete shock.
"Unfortunately, this is not uncommon. In over 50 per cent of people with heart disease, the first presentation is either a heart attack or sudden cardiac death. Another way of saying this is that before one of those events occurring, half of all people have absolutely no cardiac symptoms."
In sudden cardiac arrest, the heart abruptly and unexpectedly stops beating efficiently. Blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs, and death usually occurs within minutes if not treated promptly.
"The most common cause of death is an abnormality in the rhythm of the heart, either as a consequence of lack of blood supply to the heart muscle itself or because of a primary problem in the electrical system of the heart," said Isserow.
"The most effective treatment, once it occurs, is bystander CPR and prompt treatment with a defibrillator, either an automatic one or one used by trained individuals such as trained ambulance or fire personnel."
Reducing cardiovascular risk factors is considered the most effective prevention approach. That means getting regular exercise, eating a healthy diet, not smoking, and controlling blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
Isserow said he couldn't say what factors might have led to heart attack that killed North Shore rescue team leader Tim Jones.
For the original article click here:


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If you'd like to play a online game without having to download it well them try PhantasyRPG I will put a link up for it, its free with NO download!! you'll have to sign up for it and the following classes are playable.
Male or Female
Male or Female (Elves, can be also be Dark Elf AKA Drow)
Male or Female (lizard people)
Male or Female (WereWolf, There a good class thats able to make potions, no other class can make potions)
Unknown (you'll have to see if you can find out how to be one)
Please READ & Follow the rules on there!!! it'll help you alot on there and if you have any questions feel free to ask in the chat room, Theres alot of quest on there that are either Easy or Hard to do but you do not have to do any of them though there is a lvl 50 quest that will give you some lvl 50 gear but you have to do the quest that lead up to it. Theres alot of friendly ppl that will help out, the ower has worked VERY hard on the game and if you like it you can donate if you have the money and get some pretty kewl gear by doing so that will help you lvl up fast! also as you lvl up you'll be able to join guilds like Fishing Guild which will allow you to fish after you have bought the needed item's and the best thing is you don't need to buy the high end fishing rod or fishing bait! just buy a fishing rod and basic bait and fish and kill monsters that attack while you fish. or if you want to be a blacksmith you'll need lvl 120 with lvl 30 miner. And yes you can even mine for ore's and use them to make some low lvl weapons and keys at the forge for a small amount of ore's and crown(aka gold) plus theres alot more on there to do so you'll have to check and see if it'll be something you'd like to play, and in closing be sure to READ & Follow the RULES!!! the link below


text:
SofLens Toric
6 Pack
ULTRA and ULTRA for Presbyopia for the digital age.
Bausch + Lomb Professional Relations Consultants are available throughout the country to provide training and advice on all aspects of our lenses including advice on fitting. Contact Bausch + Lomb for more information.
Click to order lenses and solutions.


text:
Email Abbie!
"I would like to open this site for conversation with women of all ages, convictions and styles of life – wherever situated on the gamut of experience. In principle, there is no bar to men joining in, since how one defines women has a lot to do with what it means to be a man. But it is women I invite to pull up a chair at this virtual café table and put their questions and views into the conversation. I can be wrong as often as right, so specific advice will be avoided. What will be sought is light on how best to frame the situation of women, considered as a highly interesting problematic. What kind of hand have we been dealt, as women, and how can we best play it?
Comments are warmly encouraged on any post at any point."
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Tag Archives: reverse migration
Now You See It, Now You Don't
Posted on January 15, 2019 by Abigail
Now You See It, Now You Don't Last night I watched Renique Allen being interviewed on C-Span about her book, It Was All a Dream: A New Generation Confronts the Broken Promises to Black Americans I was utterly riveted by … Continue reading →
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Josaka has closed down as a live music website after 15 years. Jim Bowes and I have struggled recently to find the time to maintain and update the site.
Josaka was about live music in Berkshire. Jim now lives in London and I live in Cheshire so we are out of touch with what goes on in Reading.
Earlier this month the site was hacked in a fairly extreme way. To get it back to where it was looked like a lot of work, so we decided to call it a day and close the site down.
Thank you to all the musicians and fans that made Josaka so much fun for us since 1999. We enjoyed making a lot of friends through the site.
Please feel free to leave goodbye messages below.
Kevin Harrington


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Sunday, 17 July 2011
Le Metier de Beaute Penelope Kaleidoscope Eye Kit
The Kaleidoscope's always consist of an interesting and often unexpected range of shades, mixing cools with warms.
The shadows are top to base:
Blonde Amber – sandy gold with shimmery glow
Pale Satin Amethyst – blue based lilac with satin finish
Bronze Topaz - a metallic bronzy taupe.
Black Emerald - rich emerald green with subtle shimmer.
The shadows are amazingly smooth and silky and have good pigmentation. They are extremely easy to work with as they apply and blend so effortlessly.
The colours are stunning, and have a beautiful glow about them. They layer so well, giving many possible combinations.
This is a really luxurious item in wear and result and is truly a delight to use.
Jeanie bought this from Bergdorf Goodman
25 comments:
This looks beautiful on you. I'm in love with this kit too (and also have the lovely J to thank!)ReplyDelete
You've created some stunning looks there. I have been so looking forward to this post :D. I knew you'd work your magic with it. Jeanie is a legend! xxReplyDelete
Beautiful! My favorite look on you is the one with Black Emerald closest to the lash line.ReplyDelete
You created such wonderful combinations, they all look amazing on you, the colours work so well together. The new Silk Road palette look very nice as well, although not as versatile as Penelope. xReplyDelete
oh wow, your looks with this palette are soooo beautiful! at first i thought the colours were a bit bleh in comparison to, let's say, le cirque caleidoscope, but your eye make ups are stunning!!! i like the last and second last look the best. you're such an enabler!ReplyDelete
Oh WOW!!! These are fabulous combinations you have come up with!! I will definitely be opening up this page for inspiration the next time I use Penelope! Thanks so much!ReplyDelete
One request: would you consider joining Twitter? It would be so great to talk to you more often! Hope you have a great week ahead!
these look stunningReplyDelete
I love how you created so many looks with this palette! It's also wonderful that you were able to get it through jeanie!ReplyDelete
All those looks are equally amazing on you! I'm so glad Jeanie picked Penelope up for you! She is a must have. I keep reaching for this eye kit again and again. It really is amazing how they can put together such an unexpected combination of colours that work so well for such a variety of looks. I should really compose all my looks with Penelope into one post for easy reference like this.ReplyDelete
It's gorgeous on you- I knew it would be. xxReplyDelete
Beautiful looks - I love them all! You blend colors so well :) I swatched this palette in the store a few weeks ago and it is definitely on my wish list :)ReplyDelete
Oh my word! That is sheer gorgousness... I am speechless (for once). That last look in particular has stolen my heart.ReplyDelete
Lucky girl and master blender :)
This Kaleidescope gets me weak in the knees!ReplyDelete
<3 your blog! Gave you an award this morning!
WoW! What amazing eye looks! This is a great post! Really helps you to see how many different looks you can create with just 4 shadows.ReplyDelete
Hi Grace,ReplyDelete
Thank you :) Jeanie is a gem isn't she.
Hi Jane,
I'm really glad you like,especially as I was somewhat indecisive about doing eye photos for this post xx
Hi Zuzu's Petals,
Thanks :) Black Emerald is so stunning, such a rich colour.
Hi Klara,
Thank you so much :)
I've been trying to ignore Silk road, but I am sure I'll lust after that one as well! :)
Hi ketoglutarat,
LOL, well I do like to enable ;) Thank you for the lovely comment.
Hello Lakshmi,
Thank you so much :) I have thought about Twitter but don't really understand the ins and outs of it, it would be nice to chat more, I'll have a look into it x
Hi Lucy,
Thank you :)
Hi Dovey,
It is a really versatile palette, I'm really lucky that Jeanie got it for me, I've meet some lovely people since blogging.
Hi PerilouslyPale,
Thank you :) I completely agree with you about the kits, its exciting to see what new combinations they will bring out next.
You always do such beautiful looks so it would be great to have the Penelope ones in one post :)
Hello Jeanie,
Thank you and thanks again so much for getting this for me xx
Hi Makeup Magpie,
Thank you, it was fun creating them, this would look beautiful with your eyes :)
Hello Nina,
LOL at the master blender, I wish! Thank you for the lovely words, Le Metier really do take things to the next level xx
Hi LauraJean396,
The Kaleidescope's do seem to have that effect don't they ;)
Thanks for the award!
Hello productdoctor,
Thank you, I'm really pleased that the post has been helpful. Le Metier really seems to have been growing in popularity over the last few months in the blogger world, I do so hope that they come back to the UK.
Gorgeous! I really need to invest in some of their shadows, I'm surprised I haven't already.ReplyDelete
Hi lexi920,ReplyDelete
I'm so glad I got it, I do think their shadows are worth investing in ;)
The looks you created are absolutely stunning! All of them are lovely, but the first and last are my favourites, so pretty. I wasn't really aware of the brand until they left the UK, so I didn't get to try any of their products. Really hope they do come back, would love to give some of their products a go! Thanks for the swatches and photos :) xReplyDelete
Wow! Your pictures are absolutely lovely! For the first time, I can really see what the big deal is about. Your eyes look amazing!ReplyDelete
Thanks for the great review and pictures!!
Hi Shannon,ReplyDelete
Thank you :) I think everyone needs at least one Kaleidoscope in their life ;)
These are lovely, I'm going to have to investigate where to find this line in Canada!I especially love that last colour - that would make for an awesome smokey eye!ReplyDelete
Best, Lisamarie
I finally got mine in the mail. I had ordered it over a month ago but then my Neimans ran out and my MA had to track it down since I'd prepaid. Seeing your pictures makes me anxious to photograph and get this baby on!ReplyDelete
Hi Lisamarie,ReplyDelete
Black Emerald is a stand out shade, I bet it would do really well if they sold it individually.
Hi Marcia,
This kit does seem to have been extremely popular, good thing you MA was able to get one for you, I look forward to your post about it :)
I really love the eye looks that you posted here! Very nice looking shadows! I have never tried this brand before. Great post!ReplyDelete
Hi Pammy,ReplyDelete
Thank you :) Le metier is one of my favourite brands, beautiful colours and quality.


text:
A Reddit user went on vacation to Mexico and enjoyed a day's zip-lining, only to find that they might have shared a carabiner, helmet, and/or crotch harness with Kim Kardashian afterward. And that's a privilege few will experience. They shared a photo of a photo kept in the zip-lining company's office, showing off their hot zip-lining instructor and some celebrity clients — a previously unseen snap of Kimye themselves.
Ever professional in front of the camera, Kim's smiling widely... and sad Kanye is not. Sad Kanye cannot be bothered to pretend he's anything other than sad and introspective; he may well have been scared, scarred even, by the whole zip-lining experience. Sad Kanye is spent, mentally and physically, and is ready to head back to his plush hotel room for a cocktail and a nap.
Follow Alex on Twitter.
Photo credit: courtesy of Reddit; Imgur


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ruling(redirected from Advance Determination Ruling)
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Financial, Encyclopedia.
A judicial or administrative interpretation of a provision of a statute, order, regulation, or ordinance. The judicial determination of matters before the court such as the admissibility of evidence or the granting of a motion, which is an application for an order.
n. court decision on a case or any legal question.
rulingnoun adjudication, award, command, court's finding, decision, decree, determination, edict, finding, findings of fact and conclusions of law, judgment, judicial determination, judicial proclamaaion, judicial pronouncement, opinion of the court, order, order of the court, pronouncement, resolution, rule, verdict
Associated concepts: judicial ruling, ruling from the bench
See also: absolute, act, adjudication, authority, award, canon, central, code, conclusion, condition, conviction, decree, determination, dictate, directive, documentation, dominant, edict, enactment, essential, finding, finding of guilt, influential, judgment, mandate, master, measure, omnipotent, opinion, order, potent, powerful, predominant, prescription, prevailing, primary, principal, pronouncement, requirement, rubric, sentence, sovereign, verdict


text:
Kim Zepeda
Class of 2013
GIS Intern
Kim is a senior from Taneytown, MD. A Biology major, she is also a member of the Dance Club/Company, E.R.O.S., and the Photography Club. This is her fourth year working in the GIS Lab. Her projects include: GIS Summer Camp, CAFO irrigation theft and digitizing project for the Eastern Shore and traffic/crime reports.


text:
Special Thanks & CreditsThe Black Vault works with many organizations and other agencies around the world to archive information - most of which has an agreed permission to repost material on this archive, despite existing copyrights. In addition to this collaboration, some material may be copyrighted, but direct authorization to re-use this material is not always obtained, and may need additional permission to re-use. Please see the copyright notice below regarding 'fair use', and contact the appropriate copyright holder for reprint and republish permissions. If you feel your copyright ownership is violated, please contact me immediately and let me know. All known and available information about this case (if any) is as follows:
Originating Organization: UFOs NorthWest
Organization Link: http://www.ufosnw.com/newsite/july-1994-everett-washington-11-pm-1/


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Vassar Clements was born April 25, 1928, in Kinard, Florida, but growing up in Kissimmee, where he first picked up the fiddle, earned him the nickname "Kissimmee Kid." By the age of 21 he replaced Chubby Wise in Bill Monroe's legendary Blue Grass Boys, and went on to work with artists as diverse as Jim and Jesse McReynolds, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Grateful Dead, and Dave Holland, to name a few. Although he got his start playing in string bands, Clements performed masterfully in any setting, and developed his own distinct style which he referred to as "Hillbilly Jazz."
Despite a demanding performance schedule, the Kissimmee Kid still returned to his home state, appearing at the Florida Folk Festival between 1997 and 2004. He often sat in with other Festival musicians, appearing alongside the likes of the Rice Brothers, John McEuen and Jimmy Ibbotson, and Billy Dean.
You can listen to a podcast featuring Clements' final performance at the 2004 Florida Folk Festival in White Springs.
Vassar Clements died of lung cancer on August 16, 2005, at the age of 77. In his 70 years of fiddle playing, he left behind a large body of classic recordings, unique compositions and undeniable influence. Let's enjoy some of Vassar's legacy with his rendition of the Chubby Wise tune " Florida Blues," recorded at the 1997 Florida Folk Festival, and " Salt Creek," from a 2001 performance with the Rice Brothers.
"Florida Blues"
Download: MP3
More Info: Catalog Record
"Salt Creek"
Download: MP3
More Info: Catalog Record


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I remember the first time I tried buttermilk and was surprised to find that it was sour-tasting! But, I've since learned to really like that puckery flavor, and apparently so does Jimmy Fallon.
But is buttermilk really good for you?
I found this tidbit from food writer Peggy Trowbridge Filippone:
"Buttermilk is lower in fat than regular milk, because the fat has been removed to make butter," she writes. "It is also high in potassium, vitamin B12, calcium, and riboflavin as well as a good source of phosphorus."
"Those with digestive problems are often advised to drink buttermilk rather than milk, as it is more quickly digested. Buttermilk has more lactic acid than skim milk."
Buttermilk is also a good source of probiotics.
Do you drink buttermilk?


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I spent the last week on vacation in Wisconsin, but now it's work time: busting cheatin' racers at the Mutually Assured Destruction Of Omaha LeMons race! Here's one of the first things we saw upon entering the state of Nebraska.
Yes, a mean-looking '57 Ford parked in front of Mr. Bill's Bar. Does it get any better than that?
Yes, in fact, it does get better! Just down the street, we spotted one of the greatest street signs of all time.
Then it was time for some Omaha strip steaks and Jack Daniels at a nearby straight-back-to-1961 time-warp steakhouse. This should be a good race!


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|Geneablogger dinner by FamilySearch.org
We were in a lovely section of the restaurant and each table got a Family Search representative all to themselves to ask questions and get to know. Jenn from Climbing My Family Tree, her daughter, Ellie and I had the privilege of sitting with Paul Nauta, the Family Search Public Affairs Manager and enjoyed his company tremendously!
|Paul Nauta, Cherie Cayemberg, Jenn and Ellie Woods
-The RootsTech conference for 2012 is being held in Salt Lake City, UT from February 2nd thru the 4th. If you'd like to receive RootsTech updates to include information on the 2012 conference head on over and submit your email address! (I did!)
-Did you know that since January 2010 Family Search has added 219 million images to their site? That they have 2.2 billion names indexed and 605 historic collections and 141 free online courses?
-Family Search has set a goal of 200 million images to be added annually. They're setting the bar high, but I know that they can do it! Help them out by becoming a Family Search Indexer. It's not difficult and they've got plenty of tutorials online to walk you through it. A wonderful scouting project for boys and girls alike (not to mention us genealogists and family historians)!
-If all that wasn't enough Family Search is pushing to get as many Civil War records/collections online as they can in the next 5 years, to include stories and histories of various regiments/units add to the site and wiki.
So if you haven't checked out the Family Search site recently you are definitely missing out on tons of great information! If you'd like to check out more details on the news from Family Search head on over to their news page and their blog!
|Ginger, Jenn, Liz, Linda, Greta, me & Ellie
After getting all this wonderful news from Family Search we were able to continue to get to know our fellow bloggers. Here are just a few lovely people I spent some time with:
-Ginger Smith from Genealogy By Ginger
-Jenn Woods from Climbing My Family Tree (OK I've known Jenn for years, but she's in the picture!)
-Liz Tapley-Matthews from My Tapley Tree...and its Branches
-Linda McCauley from Documenting the Details, and
-Greta M Koehl from Greta's Genealogy Bog
I was completely thrilled to be able to meet Dick Eastman! I've been a fan of his blog for quite some time and he is most certainly one of my blog and genealogy heroes!
|Me, Jenn & Ellie Woods and Michael J Hall (Deputy C.G.O)
|Ginger, Jenn, me and Ellie with David Rencher (C.G.O.)


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A recent survey by the National Psoriasis Foundation estimates that 23 percent of people who have psoriasis also have a condition called psoriatic arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis is a form of arthritis that causes inflammation, pain, stiffness and restricted motion in and around the joints, particularly the small joints of the hands and feet. It affects men and women equally, and symptoms range from mild to severe. Most people with psoriatic arthritis experience symptoms that come and go; however, some individuals develop severe arthritis that leads to joint damage if left untreated.
Although there is no cure for psoriatic arthritis, there are many treatments that help manage the symptoms of the disease and help you enjoy an active life. By using appropriate medications and lifestyle modifications, most people with psoriatic arthritis are able to control their pain, protect their joints, and continue to do all or most of the things they've always done. Working with your doctor to develop a personal treatment plan is essential to managing your condition and maintaining optimal physical and emotional health.
Controlling Psoriatic Arthritis with Medication
The goal of treatment in psoriatic arthritis is to manage joint and skin symptoms and thus allow you to be more physically active. Treatment typically involves the use of prescription medications. Not every medication works in the same way for each individual, so you and your doctor may try several different medications before finding the best combination to treat your symptoms. Once you find a treatment that works, it's essential to take it as prescribed, even when you feel well. Taking medications inconsistently or taking more or less than prescribed may actually lessen their effectiveness.
The most common medications used to treat psoriatic arthritis include:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and steroids are for joint pain, stiffness and inflammation.
- Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) treat symptoms and may actually slow the progression of psoriatic arthritis. DMARDs include Rheumatrex (methotrexate), Azulfidine (sulfasalazine), and Sandimmune or Neoral (cyclosporine).
- Biologic therapies are engineered to target specific proteins in the body including those related to inflammation. Enbrel (etanercept), Humira (adalimumab) and Remicade (infliximab) have been approved for treatment of psoriatic arthritis and work by blocking a chemical in the immune system called TNF (tumor necrosis factor) that stimulates inflammation.
Many of these medications have some side effects. It may be helpful to keep a written record of any symptoms or side effects you experience and discuss them with your doctor at each visit. By working with your healthcare team, you may be able to reduce or possibly eliminate side effects.
How Exercise Improves Joint Function in Psoriatic Arthritis Patients
Exercise is one of the best things you can do, not only for psoriatic arthritis but for your general health. Being physically active helps reduce pain and stiffness by increasing muscle strength and flexibility and improving joint mobility. Exercise can also help you lose excess body weight, or maintain a healthy weight, which reduces stress on the joints. Finally, exercise will help you sleep more soundly and reduce fatigue, both of which can worsen psoriatic arthritis symptoms.
Too much exercise or the wrong type, however, may make psoriatic arthritis worse, so it's important to consult with your doctor or physical therapist to find appropriate exercises that you enjoy and will make a part of your daily routine.
Experts generally recommend these types of exercise for psoriatic arthritis:
- Stretching or flexibility exercises to help reduce stiffness and improve joint mobility and range of motion.
- Strengthening exercises to develop and maintain muscle tone, endurance and strength.
- Aerobic exercise such as walking, swimming and cycling to improve cardiovascular fitness and help maintain healthy body weight.
Follow these recommendations to ensure safe and effective exercise routines:
- Before you start a new exercise program, check with your doctor to find out the best type of exercise for your symptoms.
- Begin with movement that is easier on the joints, such easy, range-of-motion exercises and low-impact activities such as swimming or cycling.
- Increase your time and intensity gradually over weeks and months to reduce the likelihood of injury.
- Avoid movements or activity that may stress the joints such as sudden twists or high impacts.
- Listen to your body and be sure to rest if your joints feel painful, red or swollen.
- Wear loose-fitting clothing during exercise if your skin is inflamed or irritated.
- If you have nail psoriasis, wear closed-toe shoes to protect your toenails while you exercise.
- Schedule exercise for times when you know you have the most energy and the least amount of joint stiffness. Many people with psoriatic arthritis experience morning stiffness and find that afternoon or evening exercise is more comfortable.
Protect Your Joints with Body Mechanics and Aids
In people with psoriatic arthritis, the immune system attacks the joints themselves. For this reason it''s important to avoid excessive stress or pressure on your joints. Common methods of protecting joints include the following:
Use proper body mechanics. Your body was designed to move efficiently and each joint has an ideal range of motion. Proper body mechanics simply means that you move in a natural way and avoid putting your joints in unnatural or vulnerable positions. Maintaining good posture is one of the easiest ways to make sure you are protecting your joints.
More tips for maintaining good body mechanics:
- While sitting, keep your knees at or slightly below hip level.
- While typing, position your keyboard about two inches below your bent elbows.
- While standing, avoid stooping or hunching. If you're going to be standing for a while, you may want to put one foot on a step or small box and alternate feet every few minutes.
- While lifting, bend your knees and hips to avoid straining your back.
- While carrying objects, hold them close to your chest and cradle them with your forearms if possible.
- Don''t stay in one position for extended periods of time. Whether sitting, standing or lying down, it''s helpful to change positions frequently to avoid stiffness or overuse.
Protect the small joints of the hands and wrists. Most of us use the joints in our hands and fingers extensively each day. To avoid pain and fatigue, it''s important to limit the amount of stress on these joints. Some things to keep in mind:
- Avoid prolonged grasping, typing or pinching. Use a shoulder bag rather than a purse with handles. Hold items in your palms or cradled in your forearms rather then gripped with your fingers.
- Avoid gripping small handles. Consider using kitchen tools that have large, ergonomic handles that make gripping easier and less stressful.
- To protect smaller joints, when you can, try to use the largest muscles and joints for a specific task. For example, when pushing open a door, use both hands or lean your body weight into the door rather than pushing it open with just one hand.
Pace yourself. To conserve energy and decrease stress, it''s helpful to alternate rest with activity. Break chores up into several smaller tasks and rest between each one. For example, instead of vacuuming the entire house, do one room at a time and do another activity between them. Another way to reduce overstressing the joints is to work at a slow and steady pace and take short breaks to stretch and rest.
By using certain tools or devices such as kitchen utensils that have large, comfortable handles, you can make daily tasks easier. Canes and reaching aids are useful for some people with psoriatic arthritis, and splints can help rest your joints. Your doctor or physical therapist can help you find appropriate devices for your situation.
Protect Your Skin and Nails
If your psoriatic arthritis includes skin or nail symptoms, take special care to protect these sensitive areas from irritation or injury. Some ways to protect skin and nails:
- Avoid injuries to the skin that may cause a psoriasis flare, such as sunburn, irritation and minor cuts and scratches. If you do injure your skin, clean and cover the area quickly and watch for signs of infection.
- Protect your fingernails and toenails by wearing gloves while working with your hands and wearing closed-toe shoes to protect your feet.
- If your psoriatic arthritis symptoms affect your feet and ankles, a visit to a podiatrist may be helpful. Wearing comfortable shoes with plenty of room for your toes can reduce foot pain and shoe inserts or special orthotics may also be prescribed.
- Moderate sun exposure may help heal skin plaques and lesions, but be sure to use appropriate sun protection and sunscreen. Talk to your doctor about whether phototherapy is recommended for your skin psoriasis.
- Keep your skin clean and moisturized. After bathing, apply a moisturizer to keep the skin hydrated and provide temporary relief from inflamed or irritated skin.
Heat and Cold Therapy for Psoriatic Arthritis Pain
Heat and cold therapy are often recommended to temporarily relieve the pain of joint inflammation, relax stiff joints and increase range of motion. Applying moist heat to joints reduces muscle tension and stimulates blood circulation. Applying cold packs reduces soreness, inflammation, swelling and joint pain during a flare.
Here are some guidelines for using heat and cold therapy:
Heat Therapy
- Safe heat sources include hot towels, showers or baths, hot water bottles and electric heating pads.
- To prevent burns, do not use heat for excessive lengths of time, and be careful to check your skin for redness often while applying heat.
Cold Therapy
- Avoid applying ice or cold packs directly to the skin.
- Use a bag of frozen peas, or wrap ice in a thin towel before applying to the skin.
- To avoid frostbite, do not apply cold for more than 15 minutes at a time.
- Allow your skin to return to normal temperature and color before using cold again.
How Relaxation and Stress Management Improve Psoriatic Arthritis Symptoms
Living with the pain of psoriatic arthritis can cause a great deal of stress and tension, which often makes the condition more difficult to manage. There are many different ways to manage stress, and what works for one person doesn't necessarily work for another. You may have to try several different methods before you find one that is helpful for you.
Relaxation helps reduce muscle stress, which, in turn, relieves pain. Relaxing activities such as practicing yoga, reading, listening to music, meditation, guided imagery and biofeedback may all reduce stress. You may find that it only takes a few minutes a day of relaxation to help reduce your stress.
It's not uncommon for individuals with psoriatic arthritis to experience depression, and they may need to see a psychologist, psychiatrist or counselor. During these difficult times, cognitive behavior therapy may be very helpful. Ask your doctor for a referral to a qualified therapist.
There may be times when you need to ask for practical help from family and friends. While this can be difficult, don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it.
Finally, a simple deep breathing exercise may have a dramatic and immediate effect on your stress levels. Inhale slowly while you count to five and then exhale slowly as you count to five. Practice this exercise for about one minute several times a day or anytime you feel stress. After a few seconds of deep breathing, you may experience some relief.
Can the Right Foods Help Your Psoriatic Arthritis Symptoms?
No particular foods have been shown to either cause or cure psoriatic arthritis, but eating a well-balanced diet may improve your overall health and help reduce your symptoms. Maintaining a healthy weight has many benefits – it takes stress off of the joints, improves energy levels and reduces fatigue.
Researchers are looking at the possible effects of foods containing omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables on inflammation in the body such as that caused by psoriatic arthritis. Foods with high levels of omega-3 include cold-water fish (salmon, mackerel and herring), eggs, canola and flaxseed oils. Antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables include apples, beets, cranberries, blueberries, kale, spinach, broccoli and oranges. To date, however, no clinical trials have convincingly proven or disproven the effectiveness of these nutrients in psoriatic arthritis patients.
Until there is more evidence that specific foods or supplements can improve symptoms in people living with psoriatic arthritis, a healthy, balanced diet is recommended by most physicians. Specifically, they suggest that you:
- Eat a variety of foods from the four basic food groups: bread, cereal, rice and pasta; fruit and vegetables; milk, yogurt and cheese; and meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs and nuts.
- Avoid eating too much fat, especially saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol.
- Eat adequate amounts of starch and fiber.
- Choose high quality, low fat sources of protein.
- Avoid eating too much sugar.
- Avoid eating too much sodium (salt).
- Avoid alcohol.
More Information About Living Well with Psoriatic Arthritis
For more information about psoriatic arthritis and how to live well with the condition, take a look at these related HealthTalk slideshows:


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Baytowne On Ice, Village of Baytowne Wharf
Event Date: October 27 – February 2
Event Time: Varies – See Daily Hours Here
Event Location: 9300 Baytowne Wharf Blvd, Miramar Beach, FL 32550
Description: Baytowne On Ice at Village of Baytowne Wharf in Miramar Beach. Dust off those skates and get in the winter spirit at The Village of Baytowne Wharf's Baytowne on Ice. For those visitors who miss the cold and ice, our seasonal ice rink is the perfect opportunity to share some of your favorite holiday traditions. Ice rink is open October 27th – February 2nd. Hours vary daily.Â
View All: Florida Beach Events
Via: 01/29/2019 – Baytowne On Ice, Miramar Beach


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Dow at 14,010: Market peak or new leg up?
- Dow tops 14%2C000 for first time since October 2007
- 14%2C000 is where bull market stalled 5 years ago
- Rally suggests sentiment turning positive after years of gloom
NEW YORK -- When it comes to big, round numbers with major investment significance, 14,000 is as big as it gets for the Dow Jones industrial average.
Indeed, Dow 14,000 is back in play and in the headlines after the iconic 117-year-old blue chip index topped that lofty milestone Friday for the first time since October 2007.
The move pushed the world's best-known stock gauge up 149.21 points to close at 14,009.79, for its best level since the 2008 financial crisis. The benchmark index is not far from its Oct. 9, 2007, all-time high of 14,164.53 and the move is prompting talk of a new peak, and even Dow 15,000.
The Dow is now up 6.9% in 2013 and has rallied 114% since the bear market low in March 2009.
STOCKS FRIDAY:Jobs report ignites rally
The Dow's heady rush to levels not seen in more than five years, and potentially to heights it has never seen before, has elicited feelings of renewed hope and cautious optimism on Wall Street.
The sense of optimism comes from the fact that the Dow's rise is reflecting a growing belief that economies, both in the U.S. and around the world, are in a better place and on the road to recovery. Any signs of a sustainable economic recovery will also prove bullish for corporate profitability at a time when U.S. companies in the Standard & Poor's 500 stock index are already on track to post record earnings-per-share of $103.40 in 2012.
"This is just the beginning," says Jeremy Siegel, a finance professor at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He sees the Dow hitting 15,000 or even higher by the end of the year. "I think this is going to be a 20%-plus year for stocks."
Siegel says with cash yielding 0% and 10-year U.S. Treasury notes paying roughly 2% in interest, investors have little alternative other than to buy stocks in search of bigger gains. "Where else are they going to go for returns," says Siegel.
Main Street investors now have $2.4 trillion parked in money market funds, $6.7 trillion in bank savings accounts and $633 billion in low-yielding certificates of deposit, according to Peter Crane, publisher of Money Fund Intelligence, citing Federal Reserve data.
The lingering skepticism on the part of some investors comes from the knowledge that Dow 14,000 is an area where the stock market topped out in 2007 and a level that has acted more like a ceiling for stock prices, rather than a floor.
In fact, the Dow only closed above 14,000 on nine trading days in 2007, including its first-ever close above that psychologically important number on July 19, 2007.
It is not an overstatement to say that Dow 14,000 is the biggest round number the Dow has ever had to hurdle in its long history.
"Rarified territory is a good way to describe it," says Jamie Farmer, managing director at S&P Dow Jones Indices.
And the thinner the air, the tougher the slog.
"We are back to levels where the market has had trouble sustaining highs in the past," says Richard Moroney, editor of Dow Theory Forecasts newsletter.
While the Dow has a good shot at hitting a new high in 2013, it's more likely it will stop going straight up soon and settle into a range that will keep it trading around 14,000 for most of the year, cautions Jeff Kleintop, chief market strategist at LPL Financial. He notes that the blue-chip gauge got off to a rip-roaring start last year and quickly climbed to 13,000 before stalling and not breaking out for good until December.
"Whenever we get to these big milestones," says Kleintop, "it seems to take the market a better part of a year to digest those gains."
A further massive run-up for the Dow right now seems unlikely because the market still will have to confront falling earnings estimates later in 2013 and more turbulence in Europe ahead of key German elections in the fall, Kleintop says. Wall Street analysts expect double-digit earnings growth in the final two quarters of this year, according to Thomson Reuters. But Kleintop says those lofty estimates will have to come down due to a still-weak global economy. Fourth-quarter 2012 earnings are estimated go grow 3.8%, Thomson Reuters says. And 68% of the nearly half of companies in the S&P 500 that have reported have topped forecasts, which is better than the 62% long-term average.
Frank Fantozzi, president and CEO of Planned Financial Services, an independent wealth management firm, is also preaching caution to his high-net-worth clients. "We're being very cautious now," he says, adding that he expects virtually zero economic growth in the first three months of 2013 as the nation adjusts to higher taxes and less government spending.
"If we get zero GDP growth in the January through March quarter, there is no way the Dow will be still at 14,000," says Fantozzi. He says he wouldn't be surprised if the Dow suffered a 3% to 5% price correction.
He also doesn't believe the early signs in 2013 of Main Street investors putting their money back into the stock market will prove long-lasting. Individual investors poured $16.1 billion into U.S.-stock mutual funds in the three weeks ended Jan. 23, according to the Investment Company Institute, the mutual fund industry trade group.
But Fantozzi's view is that this is more of a sign of investors who fled the market late in 2012 amid "fiscal cliff"-related fears returning to stocks, debunking the bull-driven theory of a flood of new money entering the market.
"It's people buying back in after getting out last quarter," he says. More than $9 billion exited domestic stock mutual funds in the week ended Jan. 2.
But records are meant to be broken, and there are reasons why the Dow has been rising and a case to be made that the rally has room to run, and a new record high is within reach.
The Dow's move up, Farmer says, has been driven by a growing belief that headwinds, such as the subpar economy, the November elections, fiscal issues and Europe's debt woes, are diminishing. In short, it says things are getting better.
"What's driving the market narrative right now is a burgeoning sense of recovery and confidence," says Farmer. "The Dow is emitting a signal that sentiment is on the rise."
The Dow's long reputation for reflecting the national mood and acting as a leading economic indicator also bodes well, he says.
"The Dow provides historical touchstones," says Farmer. "When Americans hear the number of points the Dow is up or down, their minds immediately translate that. The 14,000 number has a reference quality to it and has enormous value in itself."
Since its last high in October 2007, the Dow has been powered higher by home-improvement retailer Home Depot, up 99%, IBM, up 73% and fast-food chain McDonald's, up 67%.
One benefit of the Dow's positive news is that investors who have been sitting out the rally, either in cash or bonds, might start funneling more of that so-called "safe money" back into stocks, says Moroney.
"If we can bust out to a new high it will add to the pain trade for those people who are underinvested in stocks," says Moroney.
The Dow also looks attractive from a valuation standpoint, as the stock market is now trading at 14.5 times its trailing four-quarter earnings, a slightly cheaper price-to-earnings ratio than at its prior top in 2007. It sports a P-E that is 50% below where it was during the prior peak in 2000, according to S&P Capital IQ data.
Another plus is investors are far less exuberant than they were back in 2007, when stocks and real estate were flying high.
The so-called Dow Theory is also sending a bullish signal. In short when both the Dow industrials, which is made up of stocks that make stuff like computers and heavy earth- moving equipment, and the Dow transportation average, which is filled with companies that ship goods via rail, ship and trucks, are both in a major uptrend -- as they are now -- it suggests the market is in bull market mode.
While a correction can't be ruled out, the fact the Dow is at five-year highs suggests it is decision time for investors.
"You can't focus on the fact that you missed the rally," says Moroney. "The fact that the Dow was at 6,547 in early 2009 is not relevant. The question is what do you want to do today?"
Moroney says stocks offer a better alternative than bonds and cash.


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Sacred 2: Fallen Angel (PC) review
"This prequel to 2004 Diablo-clone Sacred seems to be suffering from an identity crisis. In attempting to combine in-depth role-playing with hack-and-slash action and odd, self-depreciating humour, Sacred 2 manages to miss the mark in all the key areas, emerging as a horrendously dull and needlessly fiddly release."
Freelance review by Lewis Denby (November 06, 2008)
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Chandler Mike necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 38 diseños de 16 diseñadores freelance.
Looking to create a clean, unique logo/brand for our site.
Arizona Sports Fans Network
By the fans, for the fans
Desired Color Scheme:
I'm wide open, but nothing pink :)
Desired Style:
Like I said above, the design is open...something cool, clean, unique, with a logo we can use, along with the name and abbreviated name as well. Something that says who we are.
Accepted File Formats:
High resolution Illustrator and PSD formats, rendered jpg and gif
We're an Arizona Sports website made by fans, for fans. We have a super busy forum (approx 50,000 hits a day) and a blog, and some other new things.
http://www.arizonasportsfans.com is our website. Take a look, see if it gives you any ideas.
We're trying to plan for the future and to grow and improve upon what we've had going for a few years now.
What we need is a brand/logo for the site that we can use on our Wiki site, on the little favicon.ico graphic for the page, for the website, maybe for t-shirts, etc.
The idea is this:
Something clean, something with a logo as well as the name (so we can use the logo in places where the name is too long), something that brings in the idea of sports, but also Arizona.
I am open to any design, look and feel. I'd like it to be crisp, modern looking, but really, I am totally open. I'll know the right look when I see it.
Our name is: Arizona Sports Fans Network, but we also can go by ASFN for short, so if you want to incorporate that as well, that would be great. A logo, the long name, the short name, etc.
The tagline is optional, but I'd like to see what you guys could come up with.
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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Bob Knight has a new book out next week. It's called The Power of Negative Thinking: An Unconventional Approach to Achieving Positive Results, because Bob Knight is still playing his (lucrative) role as college basketball's senile great-uncle. He sat down with Andrew Goldman for the New York Times Magazine's weekly interview, and this is the first thing he said:
When I first started coaching, one of the worst things that I think I heard was "It will be O.K." I would wonder, How the hell is it going to be O.K.? The worst word in the English language is "hope."
[NYT Mag, H/T @outsidethenba]


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New Menu Helps Garner Top Honor
By Alexander Plummer
Hampton Union, Tuesday, June 26, 2007
[The following article is courtesy of the Hampton Union and Seacoast Online.]
[Photo by Scott Yates]
HAMPTON -- The Old Salt Restaurant was recently named best area restaurant by New Hampshire magazine.
The restaurant was recognized as part of the magazine's annual best of New Hampshire contest, in which the Granite State's best food, shopping and attractions are highlighted.
"Given all the restaurants in the area, I think that we're honored by any kind of award that is given," said Michelle O'Brien, human resources director for the Old Salt.
The restaurant originally opened at Hampton Beach in 1986, but was destroyed by fire in 1999. The Old Salt's owners moved the restaurant to its current location on Lafayette road in 2000, where it is currently attached to the Lamie's Tavern, a home built in approximately 1740, according to historical records.
In 1928, Albert and Madeline Lamie purchased the property and converted it into a restaurant and tavern. Underneath the house sit the kitchen and dining facilities, which form the basis for the restaurant and tavern to this day.
The Higgins family purchased the property as a home for their popular restaurant and the rest, as they say, is dining history.
"I think it's huge to win this," Head Chef Michael Higgins said. "We have won a lot of awards in the past, but to be nominated as best regional restaurant in the state is a huge accomplishment."
The restaurant recently modified its menu to fit current dining trends, and Higgins explained just how important that shift has been.
"The award tells me that we're doing what it takes to give the customer what they want, and we are evolving to help cater to dietary needs," he said. "We now have over a hundred items on our menu."
Higgins said the most important aspect of the change centers on embracing local products, which he feels are healthier and taste better than the commercial products from outside the region.
"We got involved with New Hampshire-made products and we are using a lot of local dairy products," Higgins said. "We have made a change to zero trans Frialator fat oil, and we spent a lot of time researching that change to make sure all of our fried products are cooked without changing the product."
The New Hampshire dairy products have been especially popular as Higgins explained the new milks and cremes are all hormone free, which is significant because the pasteurization process only reaches 170 degrees with the local products, as opposed to the commercial offerings, which are ultra-pasteurized at temperatures approaching 210 degrees.
"Anything over 200 degrees really kills many of the enzymes in the product," he said. "And the enzymes are the good bacteria that you need."
While the product may have changed, the Old Salt Restaurant's community-first attitude has not. As an example, this past March, the restaurant invited area students to dinner and gave a percentage of the night's earnings back to local schools.
"I think that being a community restaurant makes such a big difference," Higgins said. "We are grounded in the town, and we work well with other local businesses to help out the community."


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Hello once again everyone I'm back with more drawing fun. This tutorial that you see before you is going to teach you "how to draw a seal for kids", step by step. There is no real way to make a mistake with this lesson because its going to be so incredibly easy to tackle and replicate. I was going through a list of things to do and the seal was one of them. Drawing animals for kids has become such an exciting task for me to take on because I simply love making all sorts of critters and the seal is one of them. I wanted to make a seal that was not only easy to draw; I also wanted it to be a species that we are familiar with. Baby seals and penguins are probably the most adored from the arctic part of the world. Whenever I make and put up a tutorial on either species, I get so many comments that tell me how cute and cunning the animal looks. All I know is that I feel pretty confident that you will enjoy learning "how to draw a seal for kids" especially if you have a problem with drawing these animals now. Have an exciting experience, and be sure to come back to see who or what will be uploaded next.
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|(Photo: Diana Dyer with her new kale hat!)
WOW - what fun is this! I don't think I typically say much about my family on this blog, but I'll bet at least once I have mentioned on my www.dianadyer.com blog that both of my new daughters-in-law are each amazing women that I just love to pieces. :-)
For those of you out there who want your own knit kale hat, all I can tell you is that it came from somewhere in the Seattle area. Good luck tracking down your own kale hat! I'll keep my eyes open and if I see anyone else wearing one (anywhere!), I'll take your picture and (with your permission) post it on my blog as one more true kale fan.
Where kale is now on my head instead of just my plate!
Diana Dyer, MS, RD


text: G&J PAPER COMPANY LIMITED integrating research, trading and manufacturing, is one of the most professional paper suppliers, which has been familiar with paper market in China for 20 years. G&J PAPER COMPANY LIMITED has built an excellent purchasing network in China and other countries by investing in several big and medium paper-making factories. We can not only provide these factories with raw materials such as pulp and chemicals imported from abroad, but also export these paper and paper products made from the materials we provide. We welcome ... [Details]


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In ancient times, the festive Romans drank a spiced wine that is similar to what we call glögg. Saturnus has over a hundred years experience guaranteeing the taste of all its glöggs, no matter the level of alcohol. Glögg served as a welcome drink has developed into entire glögg parties where snacks and appetizers are served. On these occasions, it's nice to be able to offer guests different varieties of the warm drink, especially with different amounts of alcohol. This drink mix is non-alcoholic.
Glögg drink mix can be made with one part water for a non-alcoholic concoction or with rum or red wine for those who prefer a little kick to their glögg!


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Contact Us
We're here to serve you.
Tumwater City Hall
555 Israel Road SW
Tumwater, WA 98501
Emergency: 9-1-1
City Hall: (360) 754-5855 for assistance, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, closed holidays.
Police non-emergency dispatch: (360) 704-2740
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- See City Facilities for a list of phone and fax numbers.
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Note: All communications with City staff and elected officials are considered a public record and subject to disclosure.
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Who was to blame for the passage of SB 400, the 1999 legislation that led to an explosion in pension obligations in California?
At the conservative site Flash Report, then State Sen. Ray Haynes steps up to take the blame. It was his job to warn colleagues of what was in the bill. But this one got past him.
Haynes writes:
U.S. & World
To understand what happened, I need to explain the Senate process. At that time, as the Republican whip, I was in charge of the Senate Republican analysis and floor operation (it has since changed). It was my job to flag potentially bad bills for my Senate Republican colleagues (and the Democrats if they wanted to listen), inform them of the problems, and let them make their decision about how to vote. If I saw no problem, I would allow the bill to pass through on a "unanimous roll call." I would make the call about whether to allow a bill through with a unanimous Republican vote. If I didn't flag it, my Republican colleagues would think there was no problem with the bill, and because I maintained a pretty tight screen, they trusted my judgment on that matter.
As it left the Senate, SB 400 was an innocuous bill that slightly increased the benefit to the widows and orphans of deceased state and school workers. It was a nothing bill that passed on consent. It was amended in the Assembly on September 10, 1999 to add a substantial increase in the benefits to the CHP (a 3% at 50 benefit) and to state workers (a 2.5% at age 55 benefit), exploding the state's liability to CalPERS. It passed over to the Senate that same day. When it came back, somehow I missed the change. Looking back now 11 years ago, I don't know how, but I did not flag that bill for my Republican colleagues. I allowed it to pass on a unanimous roll call. That was a huge mistake.
That's unusually honest as a confession, by standards, though there is a caveat. Haynes still blames the majority Republicans for the bill's passage -- he's saying he merely failed to warn Republicans.
The story also is a reminder that politicians are often no better than the public. We voters know nothing about how the state works. And our representatives don't know much more because they don't read the bills


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The Great Eastern Cutlery Northfield #81 Bull Moose pocket knife is is a larger knife that features two blades, one on each end. It is a Stockman design with the serpentine shape making it a very nice looking knife. It is well built so you can depend on it for years of use and its great looks will give you a sense of satisfaction every time you use it. With two different blades, you will find it quite useful for a variety of situations. The knife is large enough for some serious work yet easy to carry. This quality made pocket knife has a price that makes it a great value for your hard earned dollar. Made with pride in Titusville, PA. We are an authorized Great Eastern Cutlery Dealer and purchased this new knife direct from them.
The Blade(s):
This #81 Bull Moose pocket knife has a Clip Point blade and a Spear Point blade. Both blades are 1095 steel and have a polished finish. The Clip Point blade has a cutting edge of 2.875" with the Spear Point blade being 2.814". The Clip Point Blade has the "NORTHFIELD UN-X-LD" Trade Mark etched on it. Both blades a feature a long pull nail nick.
The Handle Construction:
The handle length is 4" and provides a solid four finger hold for most people. A Polished Nickel Silver Bolster and End Cap with two grooves adorn each end of the handle. The handle scales are Sambar Stag and the liners and pins are brass. The handle scale edges are rounded and flush with the outside perimeter making the knife more comfortable to hold.
Please note: Since the handle material is a natural product, the weight and handle thickness will vary from knife to knife.


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Mitt Romney's prescription for the sluggish US economy looks to be straight from the traditional Republican mold: Cut taxes to stimulate growth, and cut spending to shrink the federal deficit. Pour more money into defense. Promise to root out waste in government.
And then, the economic road map of the presumptive GOP presidential nominee swerves off in an unexpected direction: means testing for recipients of Medicare and Social Security.
That means well-to-do Americans would eventually get a lesser share of benefits from those big government entitlement programs than they do now. "We don't need Social Security to provide retirement income for upper-income people," says Glenn Hubbard, a top economic adviser to Mr. Romney and the dean of the Columbia University Business School here, in an interview. "The nation can't afford a very large program that's across the board. What we can do is focus on people who really need help."
The solution under Romneyomics? Future retirees who are well off would see their benefits rise at a slower pace than would be the case for current retirees – and at a slower pace than for their middle-income peers, says Mr. Hubbard. Likewise, higher-income Americans might be required to pay for private insurance or to pay an additional premium if they want to remain in the Medicare system.
It may seem an unorthodox proposal for the standard-bearer of the Republican Party, which likes to castigate President Obama for "class warfare" over his desire to end the Bush-era tax cuts for the rich. But to hear Hubbard tell it, the wealthiest citizens of America could expect, under a Romney White House, to see less generous benefits from government programs, including Medicare, and, if Romney could get tax reform through Congress, they would lose many tax deductions and exemptions as well.
"Romney says everything [on tax reform] is on the table, and it has to be done so most of the burden is borne by upper-income people," says Hubbard.
Who would qualify as upper income? That's up to Congress and the president, says Hubbard, declining to name a dollar amount.
Of course, no one would ever describe the Romney plan as an assault on high-income wage earners. Those Americans would benefit, for instance, from Romney's proposal to drop the top tax rate on their income from 35 percent to 28 percent. Mr. Obama, by way of contrast, wants to push the top marginal rate to 39.6 percent – and as high as 43.4 percent on unearned income such as dividends (compared with 15 percent now).
And Romneyomics would certainly pinch people in other income classes. One change would be to raise the retirement age at which workers could collect full Social Security benefits, Hubbard says – a move that would affect most US families.
Making big structural changes to America's entitlement programs and the US tax code, each a complicated and intricate undertaking in its own right, is a huge promise – and possibly unfulfillable, some warn. America has watched Obama grapple with these same underlying issues – debt, deficit, entitlements, tax rates, and economic growth – and extract only small movement from a gridlocked Congress.
Still, "those are the kind of things we need to consider," says Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics.com in West Chester, Pa., of Romney's plan. "But it will be very difficult to get it done legislatively and also to get it implemented effectively."
Economist Joel Naroff of Naroff Economic Advisors in Holland, Pa., calls the means testing for Social Security and Medicare "a backdoor tax increase based on your income." Democrats have been trying to do this for years, he says. "I don't think anyone knows that is what he intends to do."
Romney's priorities
Of all the economic issues facing the nation, government spending – specifically, cutting it – is Romney's top priority, says Hubbard. Cutting back on "big government" while simultaneously cutting taxes is the way to stimulate the economy, according to the Romney plan.
Romney's largest spending cut, Hubbard says, would come in Medicaid, which funnels federal dollars to state programs that supply health care to poor people with no health insurance. Medicaid and Medicare spending is expected to grow 7 percent between 2012 and 2013, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Romney, during a speech May 4, said he would limit the growth of federal Medicaid spending to inflation plus 1 percent each year by making it into a federal block grant to the states. He estimated that the shift – opposed by many governors – would save the US government $100 billion by 2016.
Many health-care analysts also decry that plan, saying it would result in a reduced level of health care for the poor. "What it does not take into account is the aging population and the fact [that] health-care costs grow more rapidly than other things," says Judy Solomon, vice president for health policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a think tank in Washington.
If Romney could manage to force Congress's hand and shrink entitlements and the budget deficit, he would move on to replacing Obama's health-care plan, and then try for a rewriting of the Dodd-Frank financial reform law, says Hubbard. Reducing "policy uncertainty" coming from Washington – such as what the tax rate will be in the future or whether businesses will have to comply with the health-care law – would stimulate the economy and provide 2.3 million jobs within 18 months of Romney taking office, he asserts.
There is something to be said for addressing uncertainty, says Moody's Mr. Zandi. "If you nail down the fiscal outlook, you provide a lot of juice to the economy," he says. "But the same could be said for Obama, too."
A proving ground?
Other Republican chief executives have implemented some of the economic and fiscal policies that Romney espouses. One whose approach comes close to Romneyomics is Gov. Luis Fortuño of Puerto Rico, who has been on a tax-cutting, budget-slicing streak in the US territory since his election 3-1/2 years ago.
"We [in Puerto Rico] could be a microcosm of what could be done at the national level," says Governor Fortuño, during a recent interview in his San Juan office. "What is interesting about our tax situation is that ... we have a mirror image of the federal government tax code."
Comparisons between the financial situation of the island territory of 3.7 million and that of the United States, a global superpower of at least 300 million residents with an economy 213 times Puerto Rico's, need to be taken with several grains of salt. But Fortuño, a Romney supporter, nonetheless sees his fiscal fixes as instructive.
There's little doubt that Puerto Rico was in dire straits in 2008: Bond-rating agencies were poised to downgrade its status to junk, and its budget deficit was the worst in the nation, measured by the share of spending actually covered by revenue.
Fortuño's prescription was to shrink the government workforce by 35,000 jobs (a 17 percent reduction), and to merge agencies, consolidate office space, and computerize services.
He also reduced individual and corporate tax rates – something that is on the Romney agenda. The number of corporate tax brackets shrank from seven to three, and the top tax rate for businesses went from 41 percent to 30 percent. He slapped multinational corporations with an excise tax, though, on their income outside Puerto Rico.
At the same time, Puerto Rico reduced tax rates for individuals by 11 percent the first year and 25 percent this year. Those rates will continue to drop through 2016 – but only if the island has a balanced budget and meets economic growth targets.
Many tax deductions have been eliminated in a bid to do what Republicans call "broadening the base," just as Romney would do. "We had a deduction for the interest you pay on car loans," says Fortuño. "But come on, you shouldn't be allowed to deduct interest payments on the car – it could be a Ferrari."
After three-plus years, Puerto Rico's deficit has shrunk from $3.3 billion to $332.7 million. Within a year, Fortuño hopes to have a balanced budget. He says his goal is surpass the national average in terms of growth. "I believe we can do that," says the governor.
As for Fortuño's targets for economic growth, upon which lower tax rates for individuals depend? There is a lot of skepticism that Puerto Rico will meet them, says Mike Soto, president of the Center for the New Economy, a nonpartisan think tank in San Juan. He gives the governor mixed grades for his handling of the island's economy.
"He has done a good job of getting the fiscal house in order," says Mr. Soto. "But we feel there should be more of a focus on growing the economy."
The spending cuts have been felt on the street. On a recent June day, doctors outside the University of Puerto Rico's medical center held a protest over cuts in their budget – for the third year in a row. "We are asking them [the government] to reevaluate the budget," says Dr. Pedro Vargas, a spokesman. "Doctors are leaving Puerto Rico and going to the US."
Doctors aren't the only ones leaving. The 2010 Census showed that Puerto Rico lost 2.2 percent of its population – the highest rate in the nation – and the exodus continues. Two reasons for the outmigration: The unemployment rate is 14.8 percent – 1.5 percentage points higher than when Fortuño took office – and the murder rate is the highest in the US.
At a small sporting goods store in San Juan, tough times have become worse over the past six months, says Viana Bosque, whose parents own the shop. She works there with her husband, who lost his job in the government layoffs.
"Sales are down, suppliers are low in inventory, credit lines are difficult to get, and security has become an issue," says her mother, Carmen Rodriguez. "The governor has given all the tax breaks to big business. The middle class is left subsidizing the poor."
Tax reform is a hard nut to crack
If the US tax code were to get a make-over on Romney's watch, the changes would have to conform to the Republican tenet of being "revenue neutral." If perchance new revenues did flow into the Treasury, they would go toward paying down the national debt, says Hubbard.
It is perhaps the matter of tax policy on which Republicans and Democrats most differ, making it one of the thorniest to resolve.
Broadening the tax base is tough for any president because interest groups fight to prevent change. Take the largest federal tax exemption: employer-sponsored health-care insurance plans. In theory, subjecting the plans to some level of taxation would most affect the wealthiest Americans, because they have the most expensive health-care plans. But many union workers would be affected, as well, notes Mr. Naroff.
"What people forget is that a lot of unions traded off salary increases for benefit increases," he says.
Other popular tax deductions are on mortgage interest, charitable donations, and payments of state and local taxes. How hard would it be to get Congress to change them?
"It would be really hard," says Pete Davis, who worked on Capitol Hill when Congress approved the last major tax reform act in 1986.
Ronald Reagan was president then, and he supported tax reform. Now, Mr. Davis notes, Congress is much more divided. And the Romney plan for changing the tax code would probably result in 40 percent of taxpayers getting a tax hike and 60 percent getting a tax cut.
"It's not that far from 50-50," he says. "That's why tax reform is so difficult."
Alfredo Sosa contributed to this report.


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In a few hours, cars will roll into the Family Drive-In Theatre and settle into neat lines next to row upon row of waist-high speaker poles. For tonight at least, that is just as it was during the first show in 1956.
"These speakers and posts are getting harder to deal with because there's only one manufacturer that still makes the parts," says James Kopp, manager of the Stephens City, Va., theater. "It's in Kansas City."
Patrons park next to these 4-foot-tall poles and wait for the sun to drop and the movie to roll. They could listen to the movie on FM radio, but some tune in the old-fashioned way. "When they work, that is," Kopp says, with a chuckle.
Would the 7 ½-acre park ever get rid of these throwbacks?
"Heck no. These classic speakers are part of the drive-in theater experience," he says, with a distinctive drawl that turns his R's into ahs.
Kopp is all about keeping alive the drive-in theater experience.
This summer marks the 80th birthday of drive-in movies. The first theater opened in Pennsauken, N.J., in June 1933. (Trivia: There are no drive-ins left in New Jersey.) The number of outdoor theaters peaked at 4,000 nationwide in 1958. Today, there are about 360. But in some rural locales, such as Stephens City, outdoor viewing never went out of style.
"We turned so many cars away last weekend," Kopp says with a wide grin. They had rolled in for the combo of "Fast and Furious 6" and "The Hangover 3." "We sold out Friday, Saturday, Sunday. It was a record weekend for us. $38,000. We haven't done that kind of revenue in the four years I've been running the place." (In the weeks to follow, the theater would score similar sell-outs with "Monsters University," "Man of Steel" and "Despicable Me 2.")
Despite the resurgent popularity, drive-in theaters face a 21st-century problem that's been unreeling for some time: the end of film. Appearing this summer, at drive-ins across America, are the final days of 35mm. To stay in business, theaters will need to convert to digital technology - an expensive prospect for these seasonal operators.
"I have a quote of $139,817 to go digital," Kopp says. "We need two projectors for our two screens. It's expensive."
He walks into one of the theater's two projection booths. Here, a huge reel holding a 35mm celluloid ribbon on its side sits alongside a projector that looks like a prop from "War of the Worlds."
This won't be the scene when the Family Drive-In goes high-tech Aug. 5. Technicians from Christie Digital will come and replace the open metal parts and whirring shutters with two sleek and noiseless "black box" projection units.
This pricey upgrade may prove to be the final reel for other drive-ins. Kipp Sherer, who covers the industry at Drive-ins.com, says as many as 20 percent of America's outdoor screens could go dark next year because Hollywood studios will no longer make celluloid prints for their archaic monster 35mm projectors to run.
"For a lot of the small mom-and-pop drive-ins, it's just too expensive to convert," Sherer says, adding that many owners nationwide are embarking on grass-roots funding campaigns to make the switch. "The studios recently came out with some financing options so that they can continue. Originally, they were only helping indoor theaters to convert. . . . It's a lot less for an indoor theater, which is one reason they weren't doing it for the drive-ins." Projection units for outdoor theaters need to produce four times more light, so the equipment costs more.
The studios thought that drive-ins would die, Kopp says. "They never thought they would go digital. How are you going to get 5.1 digital surround-sound in an outdoor environment?"
In February, the studios agreed to a virtual print fee - a sort of subsidy on ticket sales - to help drive-ins convert. Kopp put his hand out to Hollywood along with other operators across the country, but he's not altogether happy about the terms. "They gave us a short time frame to do it in. It was like, 'Hey, you gave the multiplexes five years to do this, and you are only giving us three or four months. That's not fair.' "
- - - "I'm old school. I like film," projectionist Harold Jett says, standing outside the Family Drive-In ticket booth, waiting for it to get just a little darker. "But we have to do it, no question. The film companies ain't gonna make prints no more."
Drive-ins may need the upgrade to compete. Jimmy Pence, who helps park cars, mentions a new 12-screen theater, run by the Carmike Cinemas chain, over at the Apple Blossom Mall in Winchester. "I think people will feel more at ease here, though," he says. "I think we'll be okay."
John Heidel, another true believer in the drive-in, has already steered into the digital era. While others are putting up multiplexes, he built the Goochland, a park with a 40-by-80-foot screen in Hadensville, Va., halfway between Richmond and Charlottesville. It's one of the most recent drive-in "new builds" in America, established in 2009. "It's the curiosity that grabs them," he says, "and then they are surprised at the good time they have, so they keep coming back."
The Goochland and the Family Drive-In are two of nine outdoor screens in Virginia. Of those, several are icons built during the classic 1950s era, including Hull's in Lexington, the nation's only community-owned nonprofit drive-in, and the Moonlite in Abingdon, which was built in 1949 and sits on the National Register of Historic Places. (In neighboring Maryland, the only drive-in is the vaunted Bengies in Middle River, made famous by Baltimore director John Waters in the film "Cecil B. Demented.")
Most of the regional drive-ins have gone high-tech or intend to. Hull's, the Family Drive-In's nearest competition 120 miles away, has crossed the digital divide, as has the Starlite in Christiansburg and Bengies.
"The thing I didn't foresee are the people who will drive an hour to come," Heidel says. But even at his 350-car lot, which is enjoying record summer turnout, the profit margin is low and dependent on weather and other factors. "We've often gotten by on a wing and a prayer."
- - - Kopp, who fondly remembers his teenage years hanging out at the long-gone Super 29 (now a Costco) in Fairfax, Va., is a self-professed "drive-in nut." He leases the 57-year-old movie park, the only two-screener in the region, from the son of its founder. A lifelong enthusiast, he was resurrecting a Henderson, N.C., theater when he got the offer to take over the Family Drive-In four years ago. "The Family was always my dream drive-in to run," he says, "and Tim Dalke, the owner, knew it."
The Family, like many surviving drive-ins, now screens first-run films, often the latest blockbusters.
"Nowadays, if you don't capture an audience in the first four weeks of the film's release," Kopp says, "you've lost them."
The theater used to show second-run movies because they were cheaper to rent, but now "second-run" means Netflix to most moviegoers.
Many of tonight's viewers have come hours early to strategically place their patio chairs. A four-wheel procession funnels past the ticket booth with patrons waiting to pay $8 each ($4 per child).
Kopp says that teenagers rarely try to sneak in the trunk to avoid paying admission to today's drive-ins. "Not like I did anyway. It's more family-oriented now," he says. "There's not so much of the teenage 'passion pit.' "
Screen one, which fits 240 cars, offers a repeat of the double feature of "Fast and Furious 6" and "The Hangover 3." The second, smaller screen, can hold 144 cars for the animated "Epic" and Owen Wilson's comedy "The Internship."
Knowing what will attract a drive-in audience is an art. It isn't always what sells at the multiplex. Kopp, who sits on the board of the United Drive-in Theatre Owners Association, could tell that "Iron Man 3" and the latest "Star Trek" sequel would be big, but . . . "Harry Potter"? "Not so much," he says. "Those films are good the first weekend, and then they fall off."
He works with a booking agent to get the best titles at the best rate, and he's open to ideas from customers. "Last year, I had a bunch of them that wanted me to show an artsy movie, 'Moonrise Kingdom,' " he says, "and it did very well."
The film is the loss leader, though. Ask any theater manager - it's all about the popcorn.
Kopp steps into the concession booth and introduces the "cast members" that work food service, including his daughter Melissa, who is on funnel cake detail. "This is where your profits are," he says, explaining that the studios take the majority of theater ticket sales. "And that's for indoor theaters, too. We could pay up to 70 percent of our box office, and then we've got film rental costs, so we're getting $2.40 out of $8. To keep the theater alive, I've got to sell a lot of popcorn, soda, hot dogs and things like that."
Since he began leasing the park four years ago, Kopp has hired more staff, instituted a food express lane, beefed up his social media (the Family Facebook page boasts 13,000 "likes") and made sure that credit cards were honored at the ticket booth and concession stand. "There was a time when the theater was cash only," he says.
Pizza is popular, so Kopp struck a deal with Italian Touch Pizzeria, a local joint, to provide the pies. A cheese slice goes for $2.50 or a whole pie for $13.50. Heeding requests for healthful fare, the theater offers GO Picnic meals - with black bean dip, hummus and peanut butter. Admittedly, they aren't flying off the shelves.
Kopp yells out to Sarah Finchan, who has been dispensing refreshments at the Family Drive-In for nine years. "What's our number one seller, Sarah?"
"Fries," she yells back. Running a drive-in can be tough. Kopp had to borrow $1,700 from a friend to start the season. "I don't make a salary," he says. "What money comes in goes straight to the drive-in." He says his staff payroll is about $72,000 annually. "By the time you add the Virginia sales taxes, 9 percent meals tax that is going to go up to 9.3 percent, it's a lot," he says. "People ask me how much did you gross last year, and I say $459,000. But when you start adding up all the expenses . . . I don't think the theater industry has a lot of profit in it."
Closed in winter, the Family Drive-In runs weekends in the spring and fall months and is open seven nights a week from June to August.
"They say that the most successful businesses have to be run with passion," he says, before breaking up in laughter. "But there are times when I think I need to have my head examined!"
Grinning, he explains that he worked for 23 years at the Library of Congress, at one time doing three managers' jobs. "I was busting my butt. But I'm busting my butt more now," he says. "I go to bed thinking about it. I wake up thinking about it, and I'm constantly doing something for it."
Kopp introduces Nancy Pence, who is in the ticket booth, the crew's longest-standing employee, and Jimmy Pence's mom. She came to the drive-in in 1989 with her projectionist husband, Jay (who died in March). "I've been here as long as the second screen," she says.
A man in a baseball cap pulls up in a pickup truck with a cab full of kids.
"How much for a 2-year old?" he asks.
"Nothing," Pence replies. "If I want, I can get the movie online," the man says as he pays for his brood. "I came for the experience. I've never been to a drive-in before."