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Expert Reviews
2012 Buick Regal
The Buick Regal is a luxury sedan born and built in Germany, and it acts like one. Sportier than the other Buicks, the midsize Regal is smaller than the full-size LaCrosse, larger than the compact Verano. Regal is based on the same structure as the European-market Opel Insignia, which earned major product awards when it was introduced. Though quiet like a Buick, its German underpinnings give the Regal a European handling feel.
Regal was redesigned and introduced as an all-new product for 2011. For 2012, the Regal lineup expands to include a broad range of powertrain choices. The 2012 Regal lineup includes an inexpensive model with a four-cylinder engine, a mild hybrid version of the same car called Regal with eAssist, a sporty Regal Turbo, and a high-performance Regal GS.
The Buick Regal models compete with versions of the Lexus ES, Acura TSX, Volvo S60, Volkswagen Passat, Audi A4, and Mazda 6. The Regal uses front-wheel drive and comes with Stabilitrak electronic stability control and traction control.
The Regal is an attractive car, seemingly blending styling elements from American, European and Japanese designs. We're not sure the optional rear spoiler improves its sleek lines.
A welcome refuge on miserable commutes, the Regal cabin is attractive and comfortable, a mix of sporty and luxury much like an Acura TSX. Secondary controls operate with tactile clicks that feel like quality, and the navigation system is easy to use. Doors close with a solid thud. Bluetooth for hands-free cell phone operation and heated front seats are available, but we were surprised to note the absence of a rearview camera or memory for the seats listed among the options. The back seat is suitable for two but not three.
Underway, the Buick Regal is among the quietest cars in its class. We found it rides smoothly, absorbing bumpy pavement, a benefit of its rigid structure. Its fully independent suspension has been tuned for ride comfort, but it handles well on winding roads, and the steering and brakes are up to spirited driving.
Regal comes standard with a 182-hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and 6-speed automatic. This engine, called Ecotec, delivers 19 mpg City, 31 mpg Highway, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
With eAssist, Regal earns an EPA-estimated 25/36 mpg City/Highway. Regal with eAssist is equipped with the same 2.4-liter engine along with a traditional 6-speed automatic transmission, and it drives similarly to the standard Regal. The difference with eAssist is that a small, battery-powered 15-kW motor-generator provides extra thrust when accelerating. Buick says this results in a 25-percent improvement in fuel economy, partly because the four-cylinder engine doesn't have to work as hard. To save gas, the engine shuts off whenever the car is stopped and seamlessly restarts it when the driver steps on the accelerator. Like most hybrids, eAssist uses regenerative braking, a system that recharges the battery whenever the driver steps on the brakes. Some call this light-electrification technology a mild hybrid, but there is no all-electric mode and it costs a lot less than a full hybrid gas-electric powertrain.
The sporty Regal Turbo comes with a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine rated at 220 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. Yet in spite of its dramatically increased performance it offers an impressive 20/32 mpg. As if to highlight their sporty role, the turbocharged models only come with 6-speed manual transmissions. (An automatic is expected to be added soon, however.) The Regal Turbo is intended to compete with the Acura TSX, Volvo S60, and Volkswagen CC.
The new Regal GS features a high-output turbocharged engine making 270 horsepower and 290 pound-feet of torque. It's the highest output engine GM has ever made in terms of horsepower per liter. To manage all this power, Regal GS comes a special front suspension that makes steering quicker and sharper, computer-controlled shock absorbers with three selectable ride modes, heavier springs and stabilizer bars, Brembo four-piston front brakes, and a choice of Goodyear GS-A or Pirelli P Zero tires on alloy wheels. Subtle exterior trim differences include a special rear bumper fascia that integrates the dual exhaust tips.
The Regal GS is quicker and more agile than the standard version. The Regal GS can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 6.7 seconds, according to Buick. At the same, the Regal GS earns an EPA rating of 19/27 mpg. The Regal GS is pleasant for everyday driving, the 6-speed manual shifts well. Drivers who like European sports sedans with manual gearboxes will like the 6-speed manual, but we can't help but think most drivers will prefer an automatic with this car.
Model LineupBuick Regal ($26,670); Regal Turbo ($29,875); Regal GS ($34,450)
Walk Around
The Buick Regal is a world car designed for use in varied international markets and shares all its body panels with German-sister-division's award-winning Opel Insignia. It's characteristic of contemporary sedans with a sloping roofline that's visually extended by the edge of the rear lamp housings and a brief trunk lid with a subtle built-in lip spoiler.
Shiny bits on the sides are limited to the window surround trim and a front fender-mounted turn indicator. There are no rub rails or chrome strips along the side, and a simple character line sweeps down and aft behind the front wheel and carries through the rear door. The lower edge is void of trim but it does get the textured paint protection to minimize stone chips. All the wheels have plenty of spokes yet nothing cross-laced your car wash will abhor.
Regal gets the majority of its Buick-ness at the ends, both slathered with abundant chrome trim. The lengthy nose carries a prominent waterfall grille framed by lamp clusters. On the turbo, the daytime running lights are right-angle segments that look like arrows pointing out and up toward the rear-view mirrors.
A large chrome spear is anchored with big Buick crest on the trunk, and the sweep of the lamps mirrors that of Regal's big-brother LaCrosse.
Regal makes a clean profile. It is six inches shorter than the LaCrosse and is longer than all but one of the cars Buick mentions as potential competitors.
The Regal cabin is a welcoming place where leather comes standard. The Regal feels comparable to other cars in this entry-luxury class. It's comfortable and quiet. Its character changes based on color.
An ebony cabin is mostly black, with light stitching is the seats and trim, a light headliner, some trim matte-finish silver and other chrome, with dash, door and console sweeps done in piano-black trim. With light-cabin trim, the upper and lower doors, lower side pillars and the dashboard are chocolate, the mid-doors, seats and carpeting a light tan or cream color, and the trim sweeps are woodgrain. While the latter is the warmer of the two and gives a more luxurious impression, others will find it busy and prefer the sportier, more monochromatic look of the ebony interior.
The seats are comfortable with good support for long trips. Bolsters are low for comfort and ease of getting in and out. Regal GS comes with special sport seats. Some drivers find the headrests farther forward than they preferred, a common complaint as safety regulations continue to tighten.
Rear seats are quite comfortable for occupants to around 5 feet, 10 inches. The back seat is best limited to two passengers, and we found no center headrest. That sloping roofline, even with a section carved out of the headliner, limits rear headroom, a problem the Volkswagen Passat and Mazda 6 don't have. Rear legroom and toe space in the Regal is good, better than most in this class, the Passat and Mazda 6 being the exceptions. We'll call the center fold-down section an elbow rest because it's wide and short, and note rear passengers do have AC vents and reading lights.
A contemporary control layout places the tip computer/message center between watch-dial-like speedometer and tachometer, and below numbered fuel and coolant gauges; like everything else these are illuminated in icy blue.
The navigation system is easy to use and has a nice display. We found the 7-inch screen easier to read than the Ford systems though it isn't as large as those in the latest Chrysler models. The screen is top center for good line-of-sight use and is as intuitive as any other GM system. The system can be operated by touching the screen directly or by using a more easily accessible multifunction controller on the center console behind the shifter. Surprisingly, no rearview camera is available.
Myriad white-on-black buttons cluster on the center panel for audio, car, and navigation details with left/right temperature climate control below. Behind the ashtray a large piece of chrome frames the shifter and it, like the chrome lips on the gauges and rotary dash controls, readily catches sun glare. The matte-finish sweep around the shifter floats above the console, suggesting it will easily catch and trap detritus or cords for small electronics. Cubby storage is adequate. Some storage is available under the asymmetric center armrest, and the oddly contoured door pockets hold quite a bit. A pair of useful cupholders resides on the center console.
The steering wheel is the most sporting ever found in a Buick and the redundant controls handy on the road. Given the sporty implications we were surprised to not find shift buttons on it, but the shift lever does have a manual gate. The instruments and navigation system are easy to see day and night. Outside visibility is quite good by modern safety-car standards.
The trunk is quite useful, with moderate lift-to-load and lift-to-unload dimensions, flat side walls, securing points and 14.2 cubic feet of volume because it's fairly long. Press the release on the remote and the trunk lid pops open, helpful when carrying an armload. The split rear seats fold down and there's a lockable pass-through though it's a long reach through the trunk to lock it.
Driving Impressions
The Regal is firmly sprung for a Buick yet quiet by any standard. Rough road surfaces admit a little noise from the rear tires and there's a bit of wind noise from behind at speed, but the new Buick Regal has to be among the quietest cars in its class. Even with the engine at maximum it's barely above background noise and doesn't give any audible hint it's working hard.
The Regal rides well, with minimal intrusion from road imperfections. It has a very solid feel, and one of substance in keeping with its weight. Driving it hard or fully loaded at speed will belie that, however. While bred on the autobahn it has been tuned for comfort and the rear suspension damping is quite soft. An Interactive Drive Control System, standard on Regal GS, optional on the Turbo, allows the driver to select different suspension settings and steering sensitivity. Pressing the Sport or GS buttons while cruising along noticeably firms up the shock damping, a good thing to do when driving hard. The normal mode better filters out vibration and bumps in the road, however.
The Regal is an excellent touring car for extended ventures or simply long commutes where the soothing could be beneficial, but it is not a sports sedan. The turbo makes it a sporty sedan, while the Regal GS is more of a sports sedan. It's front-wheel drive, however. True sports sedans are rear-wheel drive.
The 2.4-liter four-cylinder that comes standard provides 182 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. It needs to be revved to get the most out of it, and a 3600-pound Regal with a pair of people in it can use every one of those ponies. It's quite satisfactory around town or on the open road, but you'll be pushing it when climbing a mountain grade or passing a truck on a two-lane.
Regal with eAssist adds to this a small electric motor to assist the 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine in certain situations, boosting the fuel economy rating to an EPA-estimated 25/36 mpg City/Highway. It works just like the standard model except the electric motor gives it a 15-hp shove when taking off from intersections or going up hills, resulting in better acceleration performance and better fuel economy, the best of both worlds. The engine shuts off when you stop for traffic signals, for example, then seamlessly restarts when you step on the accelerator.
The Regal Turbo adds about 40 horsepower but far more important close to 90 pound-feet of torque and at much lower revs. This makes the Regal more relaxed, downshifts happen less often, and it feels much more powerful than the 1-second quicker to 60 mph implies.
With the 6-speed manual gearbox, clutch effort is easy. Shifting is smooth from the short shifter. It reminds us of a manual on an upscale German sedan.
Fuel economy from the standard Regal is an EPA-estimated 19/30 mpg City/Highway. By comparison, the Mazda6 gets 21/30 mpg, the Audi A4 is rated 23/30 mpg, the Acura TSX 21/30 mpg, and the Volkswagen Passat 22/31 mpg.
The steering provides good feedback, feel and directional stability. It doesn't have the crispness or feel of a sports sedan. It's tuned for easier cruising. Brakes are up to the task, and both the gas and brake pedals are calibrated such that they require some foot travel before you get into heavy braking or kick-down acceleration rather than the instant bite of a sports sedan.
The Regal GS delivers 270 horsepower and 290 foot-pounds of torque from its high-output 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with dual overhead cams, four valves per cylinder, direct fuel injection, a complete 3-inch exhaust system, and 20 pounds of peak turbo boost.
The 2012 Buick Regal GS is the first hot-rod Buick to come along in many years, and it's a treat to drive. Stand on the throttle while in second gear at a slow speed and it'll break the front tires loose on wet pavement (if the traction control is turned off). Stabilitrak keeps the front wheels from spinning, however, important in the rain. We were impressed by the quickness and smoothness of the powertrain, the steering response, and the braking power when you really need it. More important, it isn't a hammer. The ride is firm but it isn't harsh. Overall, the Regal GS feels like a refined car.
The Buick Regal brings a stylish alternative to the entry-premium midsize sedan segment. It musters visual appeal, soothing quiet and smoothness, quickly deciphered features, comfort and economy conducive to long drives and a better than average warranty. We find the Regal Turbo deserves strong consideration for the modest cost premium. The Audi 4 and Acura TSX are sportier, the Mazda 6 and Volkswagen Passat are larger, the Lexus ES is more expensive and arguably no better.
G.R. Whale filed his report from Los Angeles; with NewCarTestDrive.com editor Mitch McCullough reporting from New Jersey.


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Two weeks into the final "Lost" season and things are not looking too good for Ben Linus, the baddie everyone loves to loathe.
So much so that even Michael Emerson, the Emmy-award winning actor who breaths life into Linus, feels like it could be curtains for the monotoned menace.
A living Linus as final credits roll "is looking unlikely," Emerson tells Popcorn Biz. "We're already starting to have causalities. Not everyone is going to get out of this alive."
Emerson is working on the 13th of the final 18 episodes. So he does have a better perspective than the average viewer. That said, he swears he doesn't have a clear view for Linus or for many of the other unanswered story strands. He insists he's as lost as the rest of us.
"The biggest pieces are still not there," says a befuddled Emerson. "Huge puzzle pieces are falling into place every week. But I'm not sure where it's going. The path between us and the end is very rocky."
So even he's not entirely clear on where Linus will end up. Perhaps his fate will not be clear. "Maybe Ben will be a loose end, an unanswered enigma," he muses.
One thing is for certain, the show's writers are not giving a clue on anything even if they have a plan in mind. "There's a misconception people have, " says Emerson of the script-process. "We're lucky if we see a script two days before a shoot. They don't have a whole bunch on a shelf, the writers are like a half-step ahead of us."
But one thing is for certain. "Lost" will end after the 18th episode this year and Emerson feels the finality is a "great" thing.
"We suffer in this show business culture from sequel-itis," he says. "Nine times out 10 it's a bad idea."
"This is it," he says. "I think they're really going to stick to it."
Michael Emerson: Ben Linus' "Lost" Survival "Unlikely"
Two weeks into the final "Lost" season and things are not looking too good for Ben Linus, the baddie everyone loves to loathe.

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Medford, Massachusetts
|This article is a stub. Help us to expand it by contributing your knowledge. For county and town page guidelines, visit U.S. County Page Content Suggestions.
Medford is a town in Massachusetts. It was formed in 1630. It can be found in Middlesex county and is a part of the Southern registry of deed district. For more information, contact the county at City Hall, 85 George P. Hassett Dr., Medford 02155. On the attached map, Medford is shown as 33 in Middlesex county.
For information about the state of Massachusetts see Massachusetts Family History Research.


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There are approximately 2000 days between birth and kindergarten. Make them count.
Every child should begin life and begin school healthy and ready to learn. In order to help each child realize his or her full potential, we support parents as their child's first teacher, access to quality early learning environments, and promotion of positive child health.
Vision and Mission
Johnson County is a safe and healthy community in which to learn, work, and live.
Johnson County Empowerment leads the community in removing barriers to a safe and healthy community by:
- identifying needs in education, health, and human services
- maintaining, expanding, and coordinating resources to address those need
- promoting and facilitating collaboration
- evaluating and continuously improving efforts to advance our vision
Community Plan
The Community Plan is the 'roadmap' for the local early childhood system. The plan identifies community assets, common needs, and gaps in services. In cooperation with community partners, other agencies, programs and services, the Johnson County Empowerment/Early Childhood Area Board utilizes the plan to assist in program planning, identifying potential collaborations, and making funding decisions.
Together, we will achieve these strategic objectives:
- Secure and Nurturing Early Education Environments
- Safe and Nurturing Families and Homes
- Children Healthy & Ready to Succeed in School
View the complete plan here: Community Plan
What we've been talking about lately:
FEBRUARY 2020 – Preschool Registration Now Open at Iowa City Community Schools
JANUARY 2019 – Preschool Registration Now Open at Clear Creek Amana Preschools
Johnson County Resource Directory can be found on the Johnson County website on the Social Services Department page. Or just click above!
We are seeking new board members! Click here for the Board App 2018
Iowa ACEs 360 (Adverse Childhood Experiences Study)
In The News – links to product recalls, important announcements, public forms, and other items that may be of interest.
Contact us:
855 S. Dubuque Street, Suite 202B
Iowa City, IA 52240
319-339-6179 (phone)
319-688-5711 (fax)


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Nurture Infant Car Seat
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The Evenflo Nurture Infant Car Seat provides comfort for your child and exclusive convenience for the ultimate value in child restraints. Discovery features an ergonomically shaped CarryRight? handle for a more comfortable carry and a pivoting canopy, to shade your baby. This seat can be used rear-facing only for children weighing 5 - 22lbs. This seat may be used with or without a base. Additional accessory bases available.
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Cradled in comfort...
Specifically for infants - convenience for you and comfort for baby. The Evenflo® Nurture™ Infant Car Seat provides comfort for your child and exclusive convenience for the ultimate value in child restraints. The Nurture Infant Car Seat features an ergonomically shaped handle for a more comfortable carry and an extended pivoting canopy to protect your baby. This seat can be used rear-facing only for children weighing 5 - 22 lbs. This seat may be used with or without a base.
Additional accessory bases available.
Product Details
Child Specs (5-22lbs)
- Weight: 5 - 22 lbs. (2.3–10 kg.)
- Height: 19 - 29 in. (48–74 cm.)
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- Fit: Top of child's head is at least 1 in. below the top of the child restraint seat back.
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- Dimensions: 11 D x 18 W x 28 H (inches)
- Product Weight: Approximately 10.3 lbs. with base, 6.5 lbs. without
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At Evenflo, we continue to go above and beyond government standards to provide car seats that are tested at 2X the Federal Crash Test Standard.
- Side Impact Tested: Meets or exceeds all applicable federal safety standards and Evenflo's side impact standards.
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- FMVSS 213: Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for Child Restraint Systems
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Use & Care
Use & Care
Read all instructions and warnings on the product, product labels, and instruction manuals before use. Consult your vehicle owner's manual to determine proper placement of child restraint in your vehicle and familiarize yourself with your vehicle's components.
Cleaning Instructions
- DO NOT lubricate or immerse in water any part of this child restraint, unless rinsing is permitted
- Plastic and metal parts may be wiped clean with mild soap and water and dried with a soft cloth. Do not use abrasive cleaners or solvents.
- Take care not to damage any labels.
- The harness can be wiped clean with mild soap and water. Allow harness to air dry.
- Machine wash the seat pad separately in cold water, delicate cycle. Tumble dry 10 to 15 minutes on low heat.
- Periodically inspect and clean the restraint's crotch buckle of food, liquids, and other debris to ensure proper latching. Place the buckle in a cup of warm water and gently agitate the buckle back and forth. Press the red button several times while the buckle is in the water. Do not submerge the harness strap. To avoid damage to the buckle, do not clean the buckle with soap or detergents and do not use a lubricant.
Evenflo Nurture Infant Car Seat
us_embrace$80.00Embrace Infant Car Seat$80.00Description
The Embrace LX infant car seat provides your newborn with a comfortable fortress that is easy to carry and to secure with standard latches in the included stay-in-car base.
us_litemax$99.99 - $150.00LiteMax Infant Car Seat$99.99 - $150.00Description
Evenflo continues to redefine industry standards with ROLLOVER TESTED car seats. The LiteMax™ 35 Infant Car Seat is the easiest car seat to carry and is designed with your family's maximum comfort in mind.


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Please select a state for your search.
I understand the physicians shown on this website may be independent practitioners who are not necessarily employees or agents of Methodist, Pekin, or Proctor Hospitals.Please select Yes to accept or No to decline.
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Carefully, in ones and twos, residents of Srinagar emerged from their homes for the first time in a week to pray at small mosques Friday.
Prayers were tense. The city's larger mosques remain blocked by police for the fourth week following the government's imposition of a strict curfew in June, and thousands of Indian security forces were ready to swoop in on any potential protests among pro-independence activists.
Police say only four protests occurred across the Indian-controlled Kashmir region. One protest in Srinagar swelled to 1,000 people, though tear gas quickly broke its ranks. In the village of Palhalan, someone from within the protest crowd shot a police officer twice in the leg.
But separatist leaders and police officials are now warning that the government's apparent strategy of curfews and suppression lacks a political roadmap and could, in the long run, send the current generation of rock-throwing boys back to the gun-and-grenade warfare that dominated the 1990s. Human rights groups say 19 civilians have died since June 11 in clashes between protesters and security officials.
Kashmir back to the future
"You have the environment that you can push the people again toward what had started in the early '90s. But we don't want that to happen," says Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, one of the two top separatist leaders. Both are currently under house arrest. "Today boys are out pelting stones. Tomorrow these are the same boys who will probably pick up the gun. "
He and most Kashmiris say their struggle is not religious at its root, but about self-determination. However, Mr. Farooq warns that the closure of main mosques – smaller mosques have remained open – starts down a dangerous path.
"If the government is not letting the people pray then it's mandatory for the people at a certain time to declare war against the state. And I think this is something the muftis and the religious scholars will have to think about," he says.
What separatists want
New Delhi has called for meetings that would involve a wide range of voices, including separatists. But before any dialogue begins, separatists have demanded an easing of draconian security laws, release of prisoners, and pullbacks of street forces. The two sides appear at a standoff.
Observers say tensions run deep across the region, with the influx of Indian security now immobilizing life in much of the Kashmir Valley.
For weeks, dogs and body-armored men have largely had the streets to themselves in downtown Srinagar, the region's largest city. Residents chalk slogans such as "India Go Back" and "Go India Go" over the roads, hinting at the pervasive frustration here.
The curfew and closure of retail shops has hurt residents, particularly day laborers, which adds pressure each passing day on separatist leaders to urge activists to stand down for now.
"The patience of the people is running out," says Taj Mohudin, minister for irrigation in the Jammu and Kashmir state government. He is among four ministers who form a core group tasked with handling the situation. He says leaders in Delhi from the ruling Congress Party, of which he is a member, "are satisfied with the actions being done."
As an elder politician, Mr. Mohudin says he's seen the full 60 years of the struggle in Kashmir for separation. "They talk of independence," he says. "As a Kashmiri, I feel that first we should be an economically viable state."
What rock pelting boys and young men say
Conversations with half a dozen rock-pelters, however, revealed only optimism about the economic prospects of an independent Kashmir. None of the youths were themselves unemployed and they denied that economics were key to their motivations.
"Because we are not allowed to protest democratically this is a natural consequence," says one youth, a doctorate student. "We are not allowed to vent, so stone pelting becomes a spontaneous way to vent."
None of the youth would give their names for fear of police reprisal. After one interview, police descended on the neighborhood, sending the young men into hiding.
What comes first?
There is a chicken-and-egg situation afoot: Police say they must stop rallies because they turn into rock-throwing mobs, while the rock-throwers say they must throw stones because they cannot rally and, when they do rally, innocents have been killed. Efforts to disperse crowds have resulted in deaths from tear canister shells, bullets, and drownings.
Paramilitary forces are equipped with bamboo shields, face grates, padding, and bullet-proof vests. Police with less. Conversations with members of both forces revealed most had been hit at one point with a stone. Despite their gear, crowds can overwhelm them, particularly from behind.
Police leaders, none of whom could go on record during the tensions, express frustration that they are being asked to solve what they say is ultimately a political problem.
One also warned that the Kashmir valley is a "tinderbox" full of former militants from the 1990s who cannot get jobs because of their past. Estimates range from 25,000 to 40,000 such men, and in recent years they have begun organizing. So far, little has been done to train them or to lift restrictions on getting work.
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The hugely successful MasterChef Ireland returns to our screens on RTÉ Two on Thursday 4th October at 9:30pm when judges Dylan McGrath and Nick Munier start the search forIreland's best amateur cook in the biggest cooking competition on television.
The series promises to have MasterChef fans, foodies and cooking enthusiasts glued to their screens once a week for the next eleven weeks, as sixteen exceptional amateur cooks battle it out every Thursday night on RTÉ Two for the coveted MasterChef Ireland 2012 title and a prize of €25,000.
This season MasterChef Ireland fans can look forward to high drama as these exceptional amateur cooks are faced with a series of increasingly complex culinary challenges from mystery boxes with a twist, mass catering, cooking for a pop-up restaurant, molecular gastronomy taste tests, ice cream, a flying visit overseas and much more. Contestants will be eliminated at different stages of the series until there is one winner, the MasterChef Ireland 2012 champion.
MasterChef Ireland fans will be spoilt for choice as the series airs on Thursdays on RTÉ Two at 9:30pm and, in addition, this year listeners can follow the Masterchef journey on RTÉ 2fm as well. Tubridy will feature extensive extra preview coverage on Thursday mornings between 9am – 11am as foodie Maia Dunphy reports in with exclusive behind-the-scenes features.
On Friday mornings 2fm's The Colm Hayes Show (11am-1pm) will feature the latest Masterchef Ireland news, interviews and updates. Listeners should keep an eye too on the official 2fm, Tubridy and Colm Hayes Facebook and Twitter feeds.
MasterChef Irelandfans will also be able to go behind the scenes on www.rte.ie/masterchef for exclusive photos and interviews with the judges and contestants, updates on each episode, original recipes from the show and great competitions. Follow MasterChef Ireland on Twitter @MasterChefRTE and join the conversation #rtemc; become a fan on Facebook www.facebook.com/rtemc; catch-up with episodes on the RTÉ Player (www.rte.ie/player) and check out the RTÉ YouTube channel for more video content (www.youtube.com/rte).
Judge Dylan McGrath is one of Ireland's top chefs and won his first Michelin star at the age of just 30. His judging colleague Nick Munier is a Dublin restaurateur and Maitre d', who has been in the industry for 23 years working for some of the world's best chefs, including Marco Pierre White and the Roux brothers.
Earlier this year RTÉ Two announced the search for amateur cooks to take part in the highly anticipated return of MasterChefIreland. Hundreds of applications were received from all over Ireland. Hopeful applicants had to make it through a number of rounds to get to the audition stage of the competition, with just 50 people going through to compete against some of the best amateur cooks in the country for a place in the Final 16.
As the series starts we meet the 50 hopefuls chasing a place in the final 16. The outstanding amateur cooks that make it through will be put through a series of intense culinary tasks and challenges testing their talent, skill and determination. Only one will have what it takes to be crowned MasterChef Ireland 2012 champion.
MasterChef Ireland is produced for RTÉ Two by Screentime ShinAwiL
MasterChef Ireland is sponsored by Emirates Airline.


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The libraries at North Carolina Central University provide resources and services that support the university's educational, research, cultural and public service objectives.
Library resources are located in the Curriculum Materials Center (CMC) Library, the James E. Shepard Memorial Library, the Music Library, the School of Law Library and the School of Library and Information Sciences Library. These libraries contain a combined total of more than 850,000 volumes. They subscribe to more than 6,000 periodicals. Access to these collections is provided by an integrated online catalog and circulation system.
In 1994, NCCU became a member of the Triangle Research Libraries Network (TRLN), a cooperative made up of libraries at Duke University, NCCU, UNC–Chapel Hill and N.C. State University, with combined collections of over 10 million volumes. NCCU students can borrow directly from any of the TRLN institutions by presenting a valid NCCU student ID card. Borrowing privileges at TRLN libraries are extended to faculty, staff and administrators who present a current university ID card. Additional library resources are available at the other 13 institutions in the UNC system, where graduate students and faculty have direct borrowing privileges.
The CMC, led by librarian Karen Grimwood, carries videocassettes and DVDs on the subject of education, as well as a small collection of children's literature, kits, games and large-format books. The center has four Dell computers, one Mac, a scanner and a laptop (with cart) that can be checked out for presentations. The center provides lamination services and a binding machine, and the CMC may also be reserved for workshops.
Through the years, the library and its staff have continually adapted to new formats and emerging technologies, all the while maintaining traditional values of helpful, supportive, individualized service.
The James E. Shepard Memorial Library, the university's main library, contains more than 500,000 volumes and 140,000 federal and state documents. Periodical subscriptions total nearly 2,000. Several microform collections and an extensive inventory of full-text electronic databases are among the library's non-print resources. Some of the electronic databases are remotely accessible.
The library also houses significant collections on African-American history, literature, children's literature and culture. In 2001, Information Technology Services designated the Library as the location for the main student computer laboratory. Wireless technology provides Internet access throughout the facility.
Click here to visit the website.
The Music Library, a branch of the Shepard Library, is on the third floor of the Edwards Music Building. It contains an extensive collection of instrumental and vocal music, orchestral scores and recordings, and a carefully selected collection of books in the field of music. There is also a listening/viewing room used primarily for classroom assignments and a reserve room for Music Department materials.
The Law Library at the NCCU School of Law provides information services and resources that promote the performance of high-quality legal research activities by faculty, students, staff and community. The library contains more than 400,000 volumes and volume equivalents. As a member of the Triangle Research Libraries Network (TRLN), it also provides students and faculty with access to the holdings of the other academic research libraries in the Research Triangle. It subscribes to electronic resources that include LexisNexis, Westlaw, Fastcase, Loislaw, BNA and HeinOnline. The librarians provide training and support to users of these and other legal research databases.
The library is open 100 hours per week, and around the clock for five weeks prior to exam periods. In addition, students, faculty and staff can access most of the library's electronic resources from remote locations anytime using the university's Virtual Private Network. The law library's 10 professional librarians have more than 100 years of collective experience. Members of the reference staff hold both law and library science degrees.
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The gold-medal winner, known as the Blade Runner for his prosthetic legs, appeared in a South African court for his second appearance over the death of Reeva Steenkamp.
Prosecutor Gerrie Nel told the hearing that Pistorius shot Ms Steenkamp four times inside his Pretoria home on Thursday. Pistorius, 26, was formally charged with the premeditated murder of his girlfriend.
Mr Nel said the victim arrived at the house between 5pm and 6pm the night before she was killed at 3am. He said she was locked inside the small bathroom and was unarmed. The prosecutor also said the athlete, who broke down in tears during the hearing, had not provided investigators with his own version of what happened.
Barry Roux, defending, said Ms Steenkamp was not murdered, and there were a number of cases where men have shot members of their own family through doors after mistaking them for burglars. He also suggested that Pistorius broke the bathroom door down to help Ms Steenkamp after the shooting.
Prosecutors told the bail hearing that Pistorius had put on his prosthetic legs and walked 23ft (7m) to the bathroom before firing his gun. After the shooting he informed his sister that he thought Ms Steenkamp, 29, was an intruder, the court heard.
Mr Nel said the killing was premeditated because the defendant planned to say that he thought he was shooting an intruder. He added: "It was all part of the pre-planning. Why would a burglar lock himself inside the bathroom?" But Mr Roux said: "We submit it is not even murder. There is no concession this is a murder."
Magistrate Desmond Nair ruled that, for the purpose of the bail hearing, the case was a schedule six offence - meaning premeditated murder - rather than the less serious schedule five.
Mr Nel told the court that Ms Steenkamp went into the bathroom after the couple had been arguing. He said Pistorius then got up from his bed and fired four shots, hitting her three times. Pistorius sobbed as Mr Roux claimed her death was an accident.
The court appearance comes on the same day as Ms Steenkamp's funeral, expected to be a private service, after her body was returned to her home town of Port Elizabeth. Ms Steenkamp was cremated at a memorial service attended by family and friends who had travelled from around the world.
Six pallbearers carried her coffin, draped with a white cloth and covered in white flowers. Her brother, Adam Steenkamp, said after the service: "Everyone is sad, understandably, but at certain points we were smiling whilst remembering Reeva, because we only have good memories of her."
He added: "There's a space missing inside all the people that she knew that cannot be filled again. We're going to keep all the positive things that we remember and know about my sister and we will try and continue with the things that she tried to make better. We'll miss her."


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Choosing What to Plant
Deciding what to plant depends on the season, your site, and of course, your taste buds.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when planning your garden:
- Cost. Growing the highest-value fruit, vegetables, and herbs can be a smart way to save on your grocery bill. Bell peppers and heirloom tomatoes, particularly if you buy organic, can be costly, so consider planting those in your summer garden. Likewise, leaf lettuce and mesclun blends can be harvested repeatedly by picking the outer, mature leaves and leaving the plant in the ground to continue growing. With any luck, you'll be able to strike salad greens off your grocery list for half the year.
- Quality. Sometimes you can't buy the same standard of produce that you can get from the garden. If small, tender okra is nowhere to be found in the grocery store and your growing season is long and hot enough, then grow your own.
- Convenience. If basil is an herb you love and often purchase, you may want to include it in your garden or grow it in a container so that you always have fresh leaves on hand to add to a sandwich or mix into a salad. Lettuce, cilantro, and dill all have an extended season in the spring and fall garden, but they spoil quickly in the refrigerator.
Use our guide for knowing when to plant to ensure you know when to grow certain fruits, vegetables, and herbs.
Research Your Frost Date
Frost dates for spring and fall are the most important dates on a gardener's calendar, as they are the benchmarks for planting. Years of weather records have resulted in fairly accurate predictions of when to expect the last killing freeze in spring and the first killing frost in fall in areas around the country. Consult the chart on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's website to find the spring and fall dates for your area.
In addition to our online plant profiles, you'll find planting instructions (i.e., "plant in spring two to four weeks before the last expected frost") on seed packets and plant labels. It's important to note that a light freeze will not kill cool-season crops. Even lettuce can withstand temperatures in the mid- to high 20s. However, warm-season plants, such as basil and squash, will show damage from the slightest 32 degree frost.
Seeds vs. Transplants
Most vegetables and herbs can be grown from either seeds or transplants, while most fruit (except melons) must be grown from transplants.
When the season is short, vegetable and herb transplants have the advantage because you get a jump start on the growing season with a healthy, sizable plant. If you don't have space to start your own seedlings indoors, it's often easier and more successful to buy transplants. For beginning gardeners, it's best to start with mostly transplants and mix in seeds as you learn.
If the season is appropriate, seeds are always a good idea. They're simply more economical. A seed packet might produce 50 lettuce plants for the cost of one cell pack of six transplants. Some items, such as carrots or radishes, must be grown from seeds.
Availability will also dictate what you choose because your local garden center might not carry the particular variety you want to grow. You'll need to plant seeds directly in garden soil or grow your own transplants by sowing seeds indoors in containers prior to planting outside.


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By Julie van der Poel [1] May 19, 2014 0 [2]
Being Aware of Self-Awareness
First published October 24, 2011.
I just finished reading the phenomenal debut novel by Tom Rachman entitled The Imperfectionists [3]. I found myself particularly drawn to the following quote by character Oliver Ott: "I mean, we all know I don't understand this sort of thing. The rest of the family does. But I seem to be missing it somehow. Missing the chromosome for it. The cleverness gene. I'm faulty. So here's my question, Schop: can I be blamed for my defects? I mean, are my faults my fault?"
While Oliver is never identified by any diagnosis, he clearly struggles with social anxiety. His only friend is his basset hound, Schopenhauer, and Oliver doesn't understanding why he struggles as he does, nor can he convey his anxiety when the situation demands it. While experiencing his character development in the novel, I was reminded of the new IEP goal I requested for Cameron recently. I strongly believe that in order for Cameron to have any chance at independence, he needs to understand and verbalize the challenges he faces because of his disabilities. When you think about it, knowing one's strengths and weaknesses is crucial to anyone's success. It therefore surprised me that my request seemed to be perceived as a unique goal to include in an IEP. I also asked Cameron's psychologist to help Cameron formulate a way to communicate his challenges. The psychologist was going to ask for input from colleagues on a good approach. Why is it such an extraordinary request that Cameron understand himself? Someone going to Weight Watchers gets bombarded with information on the causes of obesity and how it's combated. An alcoholic joining Alcoholics Anonymous quickly learns character traits he has that contribute to alcoholism. So why aren't people with learning disabilities automatically taught the same sort of self-awareness?
Perhaps, and don't hate me for saying this, but perhaps in our efforts to be inclusive with this population, we have overlooked the need for the population to understand what makes them different. Perhaps we've tried so hard to make them just like everyone else; we've forgotten to bring their attention to their unavoidable differences. Or maybe we're essentially saying, "You have autism, so there's no way you can understand what it means to have autism."
I hope that Cameron will learn to understand that his brain works differently than most people's. And as he becomes aware of his differences, I want to assure him his faults are not his fault, as Oliver pondered. Let me be clear that I see self-awareness as a means of Cameron asking for support, but it is not a crutch. In other words, Cameron can't let "I have autism" become an excuse for not learning nor for avoiding self-management. But, maybe if he reaches that IEP goal, Cameron will someday be able to say, "I'm sorry but I have language issues. Would you please speak more slowly?" At the very least, I hope Cameron will learn to ask for help and not be embarrassed by needing it.


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Smoke Break in Ybor City
f8 1/40 sec Tamron 28-300 f/3.5-6.3 XR VC DI
Exif: F Number: 8, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/40 seconds, Flash: did not fire., ISO: 100, White balance: Manual white balance, FocalLength: 28.00 mm, Model: NIKON D60
Uploaded on August 10, 2009
Copyright for this gallery photo belongs solely to Karrel Buckingham. Images may not be copied, downloaded, or used in any way without the expressed, written permission of the photographer.
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Artist description:
ref used
Java Draw Created Jul 06, 2012 640 x 460px Unless noted Copyright 2012 shakeh.
We encourage you to submit a comment and let the artist know what you think of this drawing. Please log in or join to post a comment.
Post a comment
This is so lovely. 5/5h
sweet lil birdie! looks amazing ! 5♥s
Cute birdie!!
awwwwwwwwwww, so beautiful and sweet,great strokes...5/5..and fav..
this is very cute
So beautiful! 5/5 Fav!
Amaaazing!!! Wow such a beautiful bird :) Great drawing!! Its drawn really well :) 5/5


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CHS (CHS) Class of 2012 Alumni List
Help us Update the CHS 2012 Class List by adding any names missing from the list below:
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Reunions and Cloverleaf High School News
More 2012 alumni from Cloverleaf HS have posted profiles on Classmates.com®. Click here to register for free at Classmates.com® and view other 2012 alumni.
The Cloverleaf High class of '12 alumni are listed below. These are former students from Cloverleaf HS in Lodi, OH who graduated in 2012. Alumni listings below have either been searched for or they registered as members of this directory.
While you are reminiscing about the times you spent in high school at Cloverleaf High School, you should also check out alumni photos, yearbook listings and share any reunion info if possible.


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Abstract and Keywords
Various models and theories of adult development exist but they are more assumptions about development than theories. The most popular age and stage theories have lost favor to contextual theories that put more emphasis on interaction with the environment. It has also become recognized that adults are a diverse group and do not follow universal stages of development. The usefulness of chronological age is also questionable as it does not tell us much about any particular person. Instead, we have to know their concerns and the events they are dealing with, and their dreams and aspirations.
Keywords: age and stage theory, contextual model, diversity, ecological system theory, life-span theory, life-course perspective, mechanistic model, organismic model, plasticity, universality
Access to the complete content on Encyclopedia of Social Work requires a subscription or purchase. Public users are able to search the site and view the abstracts and keywords for each book and chapter without a subscription. If you are a student or academic complete our librarian recommendation form to recommend the Oxford Research Encyclopedias to your librarians for an institutional free trial.
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- "Harry had just finished telling Ron what had happened when he'd left the grounds with Professor McGonagall. Ron had a piece of steak and kidney pie halfway to his mouth, but he'd forgotten all about it."
- —Description[src]
Steak and kidney pie is a British dish with a filling of diced beef and kidneys in a thick sauce. Steak and kidney pie was served at dinnertime at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry on 12 September 1991[1] and in September 1995.[2]
Steak and kidney was sold as a meal specialty at the Leaky Cauldron. It was mentioned on a meal sign.
Also, Kreacher promised to make Harry, Ron and Hermione one when they got back from the ministry. But they were unable to return.
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First appearance)
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film) (Seen on a sign as Steak & Kidney)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Notes and references
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 9 (The Midnight Duel)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 13 (Detention with Dolores)
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.


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Click on the red flipper buttons to keep the ball in play. Try to hit all of the numbers with the ball to define a problem. Next, choose the correct answer. A correct answer gives a free ball and an incorrect takes a ball away. Hold down and release the green button to launch the ball! It currently has K-2 subtraction problems.
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By Terry Kovel
Collectors prize furniture that is created by a famous maker, but antique furniture is often not identified with a label.
Experts can "attribute" a piece to a maker by comparing it to other known furniture that has a label or a history of ownership.
John Henry Belter was one of the most famous American furniture makers working in the late 1800s. He invented a way to glue six to eight thin layers of rosewood (with the grain going in different directions) into a large strong piece that could be curved. It was a type of plywood that he patented in 1858.
He was a talented carver and added piercings and carvings of roses, busts of important people, grapes and grapevines, and scrolls.
Belter was born in Germany in 1804, came to New York City in 1833, and made furniture for the wealthy from 1844 until he died in 1863. He specialized in furniture for the parlor, including sofas, armchairs, side chairs and a center table. All were made of rosewood. The chairs had no upholstery on the back just rosewood. He favored the Rococo Revival style with curved legs, arms and tops of backs. Pieces were varnished to look shiny, new and well-cared-for.
Few pieces were marked, but the laminated rosewood, the carvings of heads of poets and the founding fathers, and even the style of the grapevines can be identified.
In the 1950s his furniture was considered garish and in poor taste. But by the 1960s collectors started to realize his furniture is very well made and his designs are the best of the late Victorian period. It became an expensive collector favorite. But all antique furniture is selling for less than it did before 2008.
There is renewed interest in Belter. At a recent auction, a 40-inch-wide table, made about 1850 attributed to Belter, sold for $27,060. It featured carved heads like those on other labeled Belter tables.
Q: I have a 22-piece set of Frank Herschede silverware. It has black, non-metal handles. It's marked Gense Extrastainless Sweden on the backs. The set was a gift from our uncle in the 1960s. Can you give me any information about this?
A: Your set was made by Gense (Gustaf Eriksson NySilverfabriken), a company founded by Gustav Erikson in Eskilstuna, Sweden, in 1856. Gense introduced a stainless steel flatware pattern called "Focus De Luxe" in 1957. Pieces have modern shapes and black handles made of polyoxymethylene. The pattern was designed by Folke Arstrom, the artistic director at Gense from 1940 to 1960. The company became part of the K.A. Rasmussen Group in 1995. Herschede is the name of the store that sold your tableware. Frank Herschede had a jewelry store in business in Cincinnati from 1877 to 1995. Gense still makes stainless steel flatware, but your pattern has been discontinued. It is very collectible today, and pieces have been displayed in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. It is a famous flatware set, listed as one of 100 best designed products in modern times. Your set would sell for about $250.
Q: I have two figurines with "Gold 2Y, Mark Hampton Co. Inc. Marridge Bldg. 1909-1910, New York City, Regfitt HC Fisher" printed on bottom. "Mutt" and "Jeff" are engraved into the bases. Any information you can give will be greatly appreciated.
A: "Mutt and Jeff" was a long-running newspaper comic strip, created in 1907 by Bud Fisher, about two mismatched gamblers. One was very tall, and the other was very short. The Mutt figurine is 9 1/4 inches tall, Jeff is 5 1/2 inches. "Mutt and Jeff" is generally accepted to be the first daily comic strip. A pair of Mark Hampton Co. "Mutt and Jeff" figurines in excellent condition recently sold at auction for $40.
Q: My daughter recently inherited an old "Quick-Lite Lamp Q 307" and separate pump. Can you tell me its value and any other information on it?
A: Your lamp was made by the Kansas-based Coleman Co. They've been making lamps and lanterns since 1900. According to the lamp's tag, yours is from 1928. The Quick-Lite technology allowed the white gasoline-fueled lamps to be lit with a match instead of a torch. At the time, Coleman Co. offered to convert their older desk lamps to Quick-Lite for $3.50. "Q" refers to the model; "307" refers to the ribbed glass shade. A similar Quick-Lite lamp recently sold at auction for $40.
Q: My husband and I attended a surprise party for a friend's 70th birthday. He was a Roy Rogers fan. He was given a Roy Rogers and Dale Evans lunchbox. I'd like to know what it's worth.
A: The first Roy Rogers lunch boxes debuted in 1953. "The King of Cowboys" was winding up his film career and moving into television with "The Roy Rogers Show." Lunchboxes were made by the American Thermos Co, and became an instant hit with children. More than 2.5 million units sold the first year. Original metal lunch boxes are collectible, with price determined by condition and rarity. A complete box came with matching thermos. Your lunchbox, with Roy mounted on a rearing Trigger in front, and eight scenes from Double R Bar Ranch on back, was made in 1955 and 1956. It originally sold for $2.89. Value today: $40-$100, depending on condition.
Tip: Don't wear jewelry when swimming. Both salt and chlorine damage some types of stones, like opals or emeralds. Sand will scratch coral, pearl, opal, lapis, turquoise and other stones. Base metals will corrode.
Sign up for our weekly email, "Kovels Komments." It includes the latest news, tips and questions and is free, if you register on our website. Kovels.com has lists of publications, clubs, appraisers, auction houses, people who sell parts or repair antiques and more. Kovels.com adds to the information in this column and helps you find useful sources needed by collectors.
Terry Kovel answers as many questions as possible through the column. By sending a letter with a question, you give full permission for use in the column or any other Kovel forum. Names, addresses or email addresses will not be published. We cannot guarantee the return of any photograph, but if a stamped envelope is included, we will try. The volume of mail makes personal answers or appraisals impossible. Write to Kovels, (Name of this newspaper), King Features Syndicate, 300 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10019.
Current prices are recorded from antiques shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States. Prices vary in different locations because of local economic conditions.
Toy stroller, cast iron, spoke wheels, original paint, Hubley, early 1900s, 4 1/2 x 4 x 2 inches, $115.
Limoges salad plate, yellow daffodils, lavender scrolled border, gold trim, A. Lanternier, green stamped mark, 1891-1914, 8 inches, $125.
Montgomery Ward catalog, 1954-55 fall and winter, black-and-white and color photos, taupe linen hardcover, Chicago, 1,024 pages, $125.
Yogi Bear cookie jar, American Bisque, Hanna-Barbera, 1961, 13 1/2 inches, $295.
Television stand, dark-stained wood, swivels on four spike legs, gold cutout panels on front, upholstered grill, Universal Woodcrafters foil label, 1950s, 15 x 24 x 18 inches, $300.
Hummel Chapel Time clock, No. 442, girl at chapel door, battery-operated, limited edition, 1986, 11 1/2 inches, $395.
Blinky the Clown toy, eyes light up, head moves, walks and plays xylophone, battery-operated, Amico, Japan, 1950s, 10 inches, $455.
Egyptienne Luxury Cigarettes sign, cardboard, young woman wearing pink bonnet and dress, blue background with packs of cigarettes, self-framed, 1890s, 21 x 17 inches, $775.
Super Sue Ice Cream advertising clock, double bubble, smiling upside-down single-dip ice-cream cone, lighting, 1950s, 16 x 16 inches, $795.
Patchwork quilt, Bear's Paw pattern, white-on-white hand quilting, diagonal alternating blocks of calico colored bear's paws, scrolling vine border, 1860s-70s, 76 x 80 inches, $935.
Keep up with changes in the collectibles world. Send for a FREE sample issue of our 12-page, full-color newsletter, "Kovels on Antiques and Collectibles," filled with prices, news, information and photos, plus major news about the world of collecting. To subscribe at a bargain $27 for 12 issues, write Kovels, PO Box 8534, Big Sandy, TX 75755; call 800-829-9158; or subscribe online at Kovelsonlinestore.com.
Something Old: Appreciating the un-labelled
By Terry Kovel


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wnpa-sec-2018-57 · ZigBee ZCL dissector crash
Name: ZigBee ZCL dissector crash
Docid: wnpa-sec-2018-57
Date: November 27, 2018
Affected versions: 2.6.0 to 2.6.4
Fixed versions: 2.6.5
Wireshark bug 15281
The ZigBee ZCL dissector could crash. Discovered by Mateusz Jurczyk.
It may be possible to make Wireshark crash by injecting a malformed packet onto the wire or by convincing someone to read a malformed packet trace file.
Upgrade to Wireshark 2.6.5 or later.
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Forest Whitaker's true KKK saga 'Burden' and Elisabeth Moss's feminist 'The Invisible Man' Read More »
Actor discusses his starring role in Jack London's classic adventure Read More »
Oscar winner says he plays roles to learn more about humanity Read More »
From Dr. Dre to unsung NASA geniuses, heroes of American history are immortalized in these films Read More »
Movies for Grownups advocates for the 50-plus audience by fighting ageism in the entertainment industry and encouraging films that resonate with older viewers. With weekly news and reviews, nationwide screenings, and an annual awards event, AARP champions movies for grownups, by grownups. Read
Movies for Grownups Radio provides weekly podcasts of celebrity interviews, entertainment news and more. Listen
Movies for Grownups Awards is a way that AARP honors the films and filmmakers who make the movies we want to see. Read


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The world's third-biggest consumer goods company said pre-tax profit rose 7pc last year to €6.68bn (£5.61bn), on turnover up 10.5pc to €51.3bn.
Unilever reported sales growth across all markets, with emerging economies, which now make-up 55pc of the company's turnover, growing 11.4pc.
European revenues grew by 3.3pc, though higher commodity costs meant that gross margin moved into negative territory. The company increased prices across its divisions in order to offset a global rise in costs.
The Anglo-Dutch company said that Britain and France continued to perform well in a sluggish environment, "reflecting the fragile state of consumer confidence and intensely competitive markets."
"These results have been achieved in tough economic conditions, with volatile commodity costs and in an intensely competitive environment," said Chief Executive Paul Polman.
Unilever has benefited from its exposure to emerging markets, contrasting with Ariel and Duracell maker Procter & Gamble, which is shedding jobs, and French yoghurt maker Danone, which may do the same as the European economic downturn weighs on its business.
Last year, Mr Polman warned that Europe faced a decade-long slump unless leaders stopped "watering down" decisions over the future of the eurozone.
"While progress is made the European way I think we're in for at least ten years of slow economic growth, and if you run a business like mine and you would not assume that, I think you're fooling yourself," he said.
Unilever has also adopted marketing strategies used in developing countries in order to drive future growth in Europe, selling some of it products in smaller, cheaper sizes to appeal to austerity-hit consumers.
In Spain, the company sells Surf detergent in packages for as few as five washes, while in Greece, it offers mashed potatoes and mayonnaise in small packages.
The shares rose 2.7pc to 2,518p in early morning deals. The company will pay a fourth quarter dividend of 20.4p a share.


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Fuse Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle
Item Number 2016909
Additional Information
Upgrade your on-the-go hydration container to the Coleman Fuse Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle, 24oz. In blazing summer heat or subzero winter weather, this metal water bottle is a must-have with its durable, double-walled, vacuum-insulated 18/8 stainless steel body, which keeps liquids cold up to 50 hours or hot up to 19 hours. Its 24-ounce capacity will ensure that your thirst is quenched and yet the bottle is easy to stow in your bag, backpack, or cup holder. Plus, its flexible TPU-tethered wide-mouth top with textured grip can be easily opened even while wearing gloves. Add the BPA-free Coleman Fuse Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle to your collection, and you'll be prepared for any extreme temperatures that come your way.
• Durable, double-walled, vacuum-insulated 18/8 stainless steel bottle keeps drinks cold up to 50 hours or hot up to 19 hours
• Wide-mouth top has a textured grip that can be easily opened even with gloves on
• Exclusive, patent-pending design grips tabletops and other surfaces and reduces clanking
• Bolted-on collar stays put for easy carrying
• 100% BPA-free for peace of mind
You May Also Like
Fuse Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle is rated out of 5 by 7.
Rated 5 out of 5 by Bailey from Does the job for half the price of the other guys I've been using this water bottle for a month now and have no complaints. It fits perfectly into my backpack's side bottle pocket and the rubber handle is perfect for simply carrying the bottle, the bottle however does not fit in a standard car cup holder which is expected due to its size. The rubber bottom is a plus so it doesn't scratch the bottle or make any sound when you place it on a tabletop. The bottle is easy to clean and built very well, haven't dropped it yet but I would suspect it would dent like any other bottle. I've used it only for ice and water and it keeps the ice frozen for over 24 hours which is more than enough time to finish the liquid in the bottle. Overall the bottle is a bargain for its functionality and I would highly recommend anyone to purchase one.
Date published: 2018-09-30
Rated 5 out of 5 by Antony from Satisfied Customer I drink a lot of water at work and now I have a water bottle that is big enough, durable enough and clean enough to just fill it up at the water fountains at work. I don't have to spend ridiculous amounts of money buying cases of water.
Date published: 2018-11-11
Rated 5 out of 5 by KristenB from High quality and keeps drinks ice cold all day Love this bottle- I send one with each of my girls to school every morning. Keeps ice all day long and easy for them to carry with the strap. For the value you really can't beat this, super durable and keeps drinks cold. Thanks Coleman!
Date published: 2019-08-23
Rated 5 out of 5 by mcoleman from Keeps hot drinks hot & cold drinks cold for hours Bought this because it was bigger than my current water bottle and it was insulated. Amazed about how long it keeps my Starbucks coffee hot. Best purchase ever.
Date published: 2019-02-06
Rated 5 out of 5 by maxm2368 from Very Durable This is my everyday 40 ounce water bottle and it keeps water cold for over a day. I can't wait to try hot stuff in it when I go skiing in the winter. This is a very durable water bottle. I would recommend it to anyone
Date published: 2019-11-05
Rated 4 out of 5 by ernest from top have trouble getting top on and off every thing else isvery good
Date published: 2019-10-29
- bvseo_sdk, dw_cartridge, 16.1.1, p_sdk_3.2.0
- CLOUD, getContent, 190ms
- reviews, product


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Go see how Todd Lockwood, Dave Seeley, Jeremey Geddes, John Picacio, Donato Giancola, Glenn Orbik, and Bob Eggleton answer the question:
As an illustrator, what was it that drew you to science fiction and fantasy to begin with, and what place do you feel illustration has in the science fiction and fantasy field?
Thursday, March 20, 2008
SF Signal is Talking to Artists
Go see how Todd Lockwood, Dave Seeley, Jeremey Geddes, John Picacio, Donato Giancola, Glenn Orbik, and Bob Eggleton answer the question:
3 comments:
- ces said...
Interesting read.
And yeah, the proposed "Promoting Orphan Works" legislation sucks. I had read about it elsewhere - can't remember where now.
The question is - who do we write to about it? I haven't seen that yet.
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Release 4.8: Features, Stability, Performance
The latest set of KDE releases has been announced. It includes major updates to Plasma Workspaces, Applications, and the Development Platform. Version 4.8 provides many new features, as well as improved stability and performance. Check out the highlights below and read the full announcement.
Adaptive Power Management in Plasma Workspaces
Plasma Workspaces highlights include KWin optimizations, power management redesign, and integration with Activities. Read more...
Faster, More Scalable File Management
KDE applications released today include Dolphin with its new display engine and semantic goodies, new Kate features and improvements, and Gwenview enhancements. Enjoy new Marble features such as interactive Elevation Profile, satellite tracking and Krunner integration. Read more...
More Stability, Performance, Features in the KDE Platform
KDE Platform provides the foundation for KDE software. Platform 4.8 brings easier user interface development and substantial improvement in password management. KDE Telepathy framework reaches its first beta milestone. Resolution of numerous bugs means that stability and performance continue to improve. Read more...
Spread the Word and See What's Happening: Tag as "KDE"
Even though the KDE team has plenty of developers, non-technical users are also critical to success. Report bugs. Encourage others to join the KDE Community.
Please spread the word on the Social Web. Submit stories to news sites, use channels like delicious, digg, reddit, twitter, identi.ca. Upload screenshots to services like Facebook, Flickr, ipernity and Picasa, and post them to appropriate groups. Create screencasts and upload them to YouTube, Blip.tv, Vimeo and others. Please tag uploaded materials with "KDE" to make them easy to find, and so that the KDE promo team can analyze coverage for the 4.8 releases.
You can follow what is happening on the social web on the KDE live feed. This site aggregates real-time activity on identi.ca, twitter, youtube, flickr, picasaweb, blogs and other social networking sites. The live feed can be found on buzz.kde.org.
Comments are moderated based on the KDE Code of Conduct. There will be a delay before they are published.
Thank you!
That's a really nice gift for my birthday!
By Josep Febrer at Wed, 2012/01/25 - 7:38pm
The same for me!
My birthday was on January 19th, and that day I had the 4.8.0 pre-builds!
Love this release.
By Ernesto Manríquez at Thu, 2012/01/26 - 12:58am
Installed the 4.8.0 update (rpm's for opensuse 11.4). I now get an error window at login stating that the ksmserver cannot be started.
By trixl at Wed, 2012/01/25 - 7:47pm
The best place to get support is at forum.kde.org. Software > Workspace > Plasma is probably the best location.
By Carl Symons at Wed, 2012/01/25 - 9:01pm
This is the release in which nepomuk finally works as intended, fast and reliable. Time for every application to take advantage of it.
By nickkefi at Thu, 2012/01/26 - 3:54pm
Actually, there is only one sore spot left.
Akonadi-Nepomuk Feeder, specifically the mail indexing part. You can't disable the mail indexer and the contact indexer (the UI will set the right option in akonadi-nepomuk-feederrc but akonadi_nepomuk_feeder won't acknowledge it), and it will index mail by ~1 day (if you have 40,000 of them like I do). Also, if you have lots of contacts (like anyone with the Google Contact Feeder and the Facebook Akonadi Resource has), you will suffer.
Perhaps we should organize another "Akonadi-Nepomuk Feeder sprint" to seek and destroy all the remaining bugs in Akonadi-Nepomuk Feeder.
By Ernesto Manríquez at Fri, 2012/01/27 - 10:09pm
disable mail indexer
In Kubuntu 11.10, there is a checkbox option to enable/disable Email Indexer. System Settings > Desktop Search
By Carl Symons at Fri, 2012/01/27 - 11:24pm
KMail works again :-)
Since I upgraded to the "new and better" KMail solution in July my e-mail archive has been unaccessible to me. I know there are many users who have suffered my problems.
The good news is: tonight, after upgrading to 4.8 I could start KMail, and it downloaded all my e-mail and has all my old e-mail accessible. My hat off and a thousand times "thank you" to whoever has fixed everything!
By Kjetil Kilhavn at Sat, 2012/01/28 - 11:16pm
performance ?
In opensuse 12.1, I installed kde 4.8 from the release, 4.8 repository. KDE startup takes 25-30 secs now. With 4.7.4 from factory, it used to start up in 10-15 secs ( sometimes < 10 secs) from cold boot.
4.8 seems to have hinting turned off and the fonts look OK. Esp the serif fonts - they look better than with hinting.
By Vasu Muppalla at Thu, 2012/01/26 - 3:59pm
Does it also happen after a
Does it also happen after a logout / login / reboot? After the first upgrade, KDE may need some time rescanning the .desktop file changes.
By vdboor at Thu, 2012/01/26 - 5:16pm
After logout/login, it is quick 5-7 secs. After a reboot, always takes longer.
KDE 4.7.4 was starting quick after reboot esp the factory version (probably closer to 4.7.5). The release 4.7.4 is again slow (bit not as slow as 4.8).
I tried removing .kde4 dir, and all the stuff under /tmp. Then rebooting twice to see if configuration was the problem but even with clean config, it is slow.
By Vasu Muppalla at Thu, 2012/01/26 - 7:09pm
"KDE startup takes 25-30 secs
"KDE startup takes 25-30 secs now"
By nickkefi at Thu, 2012/01/26 - 5:21pm
forum material
sounds like a conversation that would be helpful at forum.kde.org.
Users don't really have a good way to find solutions in the comments of Dot stories.
By Carl Symons at Thu, 2012/01/26 - 7:15pm
Allow me to discus quality
First of all, congratulations! This is another good upgrade, and it has some lovely things. For example: Gwenview's effects (really on par with modern requirements), Dolphin's new view and the power settings are a nice treat. I also love the "email indexing" checkbox in the desktop search settings.
However, something keeps bothering me. That's the perceived quality. I wonder how it can be improved.
Within mere 2 hours, I managed to find so many little nitpicks. Allow me to give some examples:
- Dragging a folder from Dolphin to Plasma crashes the desktop
That's just by clicking around in a newly upgraded system, to see what's changed. Some of the things I'm wondering about are:
Off course, the next release will be better, and the next one after, etc.. yet this keeps coming back. Is there a way to make a leap forward for this?
Apart from the bugs, there are a few other things I would love to see improved. I hope this gives some inspiration:
1. Plasma can use more fluidity (QML?):
2. System settings.
Systemsettings is getting pretty good, but it's not really there yet. It's an app everyone uses, and I think it should be a hallmark of KDE.
Thanks for reading, I hope this post was useful as feedback and inspiration on where to improve things further.
By vdboor at Thu, 2012/01/26 - 5:14pm
-> bugs.kde.org
Well I hope you reported all these in the proper place http://bugs.kde.org.
Bugs there get noticed, blog post comments will not be remembered.
By David Edmundson at Thu, 2012/01/26 - 7:17pm
no, these are not "bugs"
in the conventional sense. I see a lot of issues with this version. The eye candy may have improved but the quality is not up to KDE standards.
Kde wallet has stopped working. My WPA keys are not being retrieved and I cannot use wifi! The wallet manager keeps asking password for every action, even after correct password is entered. This also happened in later point releases of 4.7 ( I believe 4.7.2/3).
And nepomuk has pretty much made the desktop unusable. I finally managed to turn it off but even after it is off, every time I select nepomuk applet and try to bring up the context menu, it takes several minutes to respond.
By Vasu Muppalla at Fri, 2012/01/27 - 3:42pm
More to the story?
Those certainly sound like bugs, so it's not clear why you say that they are not bugs.
There must be more to your situation than the latest release of KDE. I started using 4.8 with the first RC. And have upgraded to the final release version. I have none of those issues.
Are these problems addressed in the forum for your distribution? Or at forum.kde.org? Those are places where problems can be resolved. Maybe you'll help someone else who has similar experiences in the bargain.
It doesn't really improve anything to complain in Dot comments about things that don't work for you.
By Carl Symons at Fri, 2012/01/27 - 4:09pm
it illustrates something
The fact that these examples (and mine above) are posted here illustrate an other problem. Something more global we'd like to address, instead of individual issues. Those are fine for a bug tracker. Stearing the project in new directions does not happen from bugzilla though. That needs discussions on places like these (and the mailing lists to get more in-depth approaches)
By vdboor at Fri, 2012/01/27 - 5:13pm
Understood, and...
Your comment and "no, these are not "bugs'" (above) clearly state something about KDE quality.
Yet the specifics of the latter indicate bug or forum material, particularly in light of many other installations with no such quality complaints. So individual issues are what is being communicated...at least in the "not bugs" comment...under a "KDE quality" false flag. That comment leaves the impression that Release 4.8 is mostly about eye candy, which is simply not true.
You have suggested ways that KDE quality can be improved, and they will probably be considered by KDE developers. (I'm not one and don't speak for them.) However, reporting bugs and participating in applicable forums are ways people can _actively_ affect quality.
By Carl Symons at Fri, 2012/01/27 - 6:09pm
Agreed on forum material!
Hi, your comment about being forum material makes much sense to me. When time allows me, I'll see what I can come up with. This is good to consider for other dot stories as well. Using the forum simply didn't occur to me before.
By vdboor at Wed, 2012/02/01 - 8:55pm
Check for distro bugs.
Not all Nepomuk bugs are upstream bugs. Use a distro that does not amplify upstream issues by using ancient packages or unsupported mixes. Chakra has proved to be a good choice for conscious KDE testing.
In fact, I filed a bug requesting the proper handling of KDE packages in Kubuntu in Launchpad. It has gone unanswered.
By Ernesto Manríquez at Fri, 2012/01/27 - 10:15pm
curious about bug report
Second the motion to check distros. Forum.kde.org and distro forums are outstanding for getting problems resolved and for helping others.
If that truly is the bug you reported, it wouldn't be a surprise that it hasn't been answered. Seems like a tall order.
Kubuntu packaging works fine on 2 computers here and for the machines I support for a few friends. On the other hand, Chakra sounds like a mighty fine distro (http://chakra-linux.org/wiki/index.php/Why_We_Love_Chakra). From the Chakra site..."In my opinion KDE is the finest desktop environment in the world, for any platform, and Chakra provides the smoothest, fastest KDE desktop experience I've ever encountered." Wow! Chakra for President.
By Carl Symons at Fri, 2012/01/27 - 11:37pm
distro forums too
Considering that issues might be distro or packaging related...
It would be good to use distro forums in addition to forum.kde.org. Might help others too.
By Carl Symons at Thu, 2012/01/26 - 8:10pm
Good idea
Its the little things, and as KDE gets better and better, think we all agree on that, its going to be in the little things that will make all the difference.
Its not about bugs per si, it would be about quality making things more polished here and there. After a few sickles I'm sure the perceived quality would see visible improvements...
By pinheiro at Thu, 2012/01/26 - 11:30pm
The things you mention are
The things you mention are very much related to 'polish'. They depend on:
Both are missing. Ok, we get quite a number of people testing, but the number of bug reports coming in is sometimes so big (and the quality so low) that developers get over-run and can't keep up.
The second, polish - fixing these small things is often far less interesting to do in your free time. This used to have people paid to fix those things: at SUSE. But SUSE doesn't do desktop anymore (and since the Novell takeover it would've been GNOME anyway). GNOME still has a company doing this: Red Hat. That's why, despite technically being behind the curve a bit, it has the 'polish'. (Canonical also does a bit on GNOME but they not always contribute upstream).
So how can we solve this? Well, of course if more people test & clean up bugzilla; and if more people fix the boring-yet-important bugs, things will get better. Another way is to wait for a .3 or .4 release until you adopt a new release: we do continue to fix those 'small' things for a couple of months. See for example how KMail has progressed between the 4.7.0 and 4.7.4 release!
Another way is to find money for fixing those things. Maybe the Spark initiative will be able to find that... I'm keeping my fingers crossed for that one, personally.
By Jos Poortvliet at Tue, 2012/02/14 - 7:53pm
First of all thanks very much
First of all thanks very much for this release guys. KDE is really cool!
I'm still having trouble with Kmail2, especially the migrator.
The other thing is the start up. I would like it to start faster.
If these two things could be changed then KDE would be perfect in my eyes ;)
By Bobby at Sat, 2012/01/28 - 1:04pm
KDE Spotlight Alternative?
I love Apple's desktop-wide search feature called Spotlight. The search applet let's you find programs and files from the convenience of your toolbar. I was hoping this same functionality would be available with the development of KDE Nepomuk and Plasma, but I haven't found any way to set it up.
Is anything like this possible with this new release of KDE?
By Kevin Shenk at Sat, 2012/01/28 - 8:42pm
KRunner or kickoff launcher search?
The search bar in the kickoff launcher sounds similar.
KRunner is also a similar search and launch toolset. Alt+F2 drops KRunner (with a search box) from the top of the screen. It does what you describe and more. The wrench icon lets you select additional functions and search parameters. The graph shows system activity.
By Carl Symons at Sun, 2012/01/29 - 1:01am
Make sure you have enabled
Make sure you have enabled Nepomuk File Indexer in System Settigs and the Nepomuk runner in KRunner's configuration.
Personally I prefer fsrunner (http://kde-apps.org/content/show.php/?content=100057) because it shows the path to the files, which lets me differentiate between files and folders with the same name. It only searches filenames though.
By Hans Chen at Sun, 2012/01/29 - 3:27pm
Unfortunately, not even close
Unfortunately, not even close :(
If you are unfamiliar with OS X, here's a basic example:
or in Finder
By gedgon at Sun, 2012/01/29 - 6:10pm
You are right about that.
You are right about that. Nepomuk does have the potential but the feature in Mac OS is more advanced, more refined and definitely cooler. It would be nice if we had something like that in KDE.
Of course I can find my stuff in KDE but a feature like spotlight would be good for the desktop flair.
By Bobby at Wed, 2012/02/01 - 7:06am
Well, the technology is there
Well, the technology is there - technically, Nepomuk should even be able to do quite a few things Spotlight can't. But in reality the GUI is simply not there and it can use some optimizations here and there...
By Jos Poortvliet at Tue, 2012/02/14 - 7:55pm


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Braves a model of efficiency, smart moves
Organization refuses to panic despite potentially season-altering injuries
The Atlanta Braves have had the National League's best rotation by a wide margin this season, and there's absolutely no way this was supposed to happen. Isn't that the beauty of a baseball season with all its twists and turns?
In the span of a few days this spring, the Braves lost two starting pitchers -- Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy -- for the season to Tommy John surgery and a third -- Mike Minor -- for about a month of the regular season because of a sore shoulder.
Suddenly, the math changed for the Braves. They didn't appear to be as good as the Nationals in the National League East, which would leave them scrambling to grab one of the NL Wild Card spots.
What was interesting was watching how the Braves reacted to the bad news. Even though general manager Frank Wren had seen his blueprint blown up, he never panicked. He also never changed his expectations for the club.
He simply had confidence that the organization would figure something out, that there'd be some internal options and perhaps some external ones as well. Perhaps he was reminding the world what a lot of people already knew.
That is, baseball's best organizations have the ability to adjust to setbacks on the fly. Some franchises -- management, coaches, clubhouses -- have a resolve and a confidence that can carry them through tough times.
The Braves suffered potentially season-altering injuries, but the people in charge -- president John Schuerholz, Wren, etc. -- still saw the whole as greater than the sum of the parts. When a team has been to the postseason 17 times in 22 seasons, expectations are unshakable.
Anyway, here's what Wren did. He rushed back into the free-agent marketplace and signed the top remaining starter, Ervin Santana, to a one-year, $14.1 million deal. Santana has made two starts for his new team and allowed one earned run in 14 innings.
At 31, his fastball-slider combination appears to be as good as ever. He has averaged 200 innings the last six seasons, and so the Braves were thrilled he was still on the market.
Late in Spring Training, Wren added another free agent, a surprising one, when he released one veteran, Freddy Garcia, and signed another, 35-year-old Aaron Harang, who'd been let go by the Indians.
Wren was vague about the swap, saying the Braves were more comfortable with Harang. That move, too, has paid off. In three starts, Harang has allowed two earned runs and compiled a 0.96 ERA.
With Minor due off the disabled list by the end of the month, the Braves suddenly face the kind of pleasant decision they never thought they'd have to make.
But the real story of these Braves are the three kids -- Julio Teheran, Alex Wood and David Hale. Hale is 26, Teheran and Wood 23.
They're the biggest reason that Atlanta's rotation has a 1.80 ERA and has been the best in the NL by more than a half-run (0.66) over the Brewers. The Braves have won five of their eight starts, and the three have combined for a 2.47 ERA.
So despite losing Medlen and Beachy and not having Minor, the Braves are off to a 9-4 start and fresh off a three-game weekend sweep of the Nationals.
Wood and Hale began the season with 13 Major League starts between them, and now having responded after being thrown into the mix, the Braves suddenly find themselves with long-term depth and talent.
With left fielder Justin Upton looking like a guy capable of winning a Most Valuable Player trophy and with shortstop Andrelton Simmons looking like one of the 10 or 20 best players in the game, the Braves have a good thing going.
All this comes after an offseason in which they lost catcher Brian McCann and veteran right-hander Tim Hudson to free agency. They loved both players, but when the Yankees and Giants offered more money than the Braves were comfortable paying, they wished both well and said their goodbyes.
The Braves believed Evan Gattis was ready to step in as the everyday catcher and that top prospect Christian Bethancourt wasn't far behind. And even though they loved what Hudson brought them in terms of production and leadership, they knew Wood and Hale might be ready.
Wren also signed free-agent right-hander Gavin Floyd, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery. He had no idea when Floyd would be ready to pitch, but guessed he might be the perfect addition to the staff, say, in the second half of the season. Floyd could be just a few weeks away from returning to the big leagues, and then the Braves would have another option.
This is what they do. They build from within. They don't panic. Their manager, Fredi Gonzalez, runs a clubhouse that is a mixture of accountability and humor.
If these first two weeks have reminded us of anything, it's that the Braves still do things right, that it would be almost impossible to find a franchise operated more smartly or efficiently.
What's different about this season is that those spring injuries seemed so crippling it looked like even the Braves might not be able to recover. We're happy to be wrong.


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Time: 11am sharp (please arrive on time)
Place: iBuild Head Office, Eastern Innovation Business Centre, 5A Hartnett Cl, Mulgrave, 3170
NOTE: Please check in at the rear entrance of the Eastern Innovation Business Centre (green building). Free visitors parking is available at the rear of the building.
Check out the video below to see what to expect:
Limited places available. Book now.
NOTE: To make the most out of the event, please bring a copy of a completed Form CR1 or alternatively, email us at firstname.lastname@example.com. If you need help completing this form, please do not hesitate to see one of our team members at this event.


text: We're seeing state and federal foreclosure relief that looks unfair to taxpayers and arbitrary in its benefits. By Knight Kiplinger, Editor Emeritus April 10, 2012 Q. At the peak of the housing bubble, my brother and his wife bought a house that seemed to be beyond their means, with no money down. It was a financial stretch from day one, and when she lost her job, they stopped paying their mortgage. Ever since, they've used a variety of apparently legal means to stave off foreclosure. Now they're planning to use a new federal program to get a big reduction in their mortgage balance, enabling them to stay in a house they never could afford. Is this ethical?SEE OUR SPECIAL REPORT: Buying and Selling a Home in 2012 Not to me. It would be best if your brother's family surrendered a house that they have paid virtually nothing to occupy and let it be resold to a family who can actually afford it. They are not victims of the housing crisis -- they've lost nothing -- but they are part of the reason it has taken so long to correct. There was a lot of foolish and unethical conduct that helped inflate the housing bubble -- on the part of mortgage lenders and brokers, sellers of mortgage-backed securities, regulators, and congressmen who pressured housing finance agencies to loosen lending standards for risky home buyers, some of whom were duped and some of whom were just naïve. And there were real victims -- honest folks who lost a lot of equity when the bubble burst. Advertisement Now we're seeing state and federal foreclosure relief that looks unfair to taxpayers and arbitrary in its benefits. And it seems especially unfair to home buyers who didn't buy houses they couldn't afford and who have been honoring their mortgage obligations, even if their houses are underwater on value, at great personal sacrifice. No one has a right to continue living in a place he or she can't afford. Foreclosure law has traditionally given homeowners a decent chance to square their accounts, and some jurisdictions have aid for those struggling with temporary hardships. But governmental programs that help homeowners block legitimate foreclosures or force mortgage holders to discount balances owed are unsound both ethically and economically.


text:
Have you ever wondered why ignorant people get elected to political office? The voters know that they will not follow the rules. They know that they will not keep their oath. If enough pressure is put on them, they will vote the way
The latest ignorance coming from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is astounding. In reaction to the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School and the call for more gun regulation, Pelosi said that members of Congress took an oath to "protect and defend. That is our first responsibility."
Protect and defend what? How?
Something's missing. What did Pelosi and other members of Congress take an oath to protect and defend?
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God."
Pelosi took an oath to "support and defend" the Second Amendment since it is part of the Constitution.
Nancy Pelosi can't defend me if an intruder breaks into my house and wants to do me harm. I don't have her private number, and she couldn't get here fast enough to defend me. In fact, without a gun, Ms. Pelosi would be defenseless.
All she could do is tell the intruder that what he's doing is against the law.
"Didn't you see President Obama, surrounded by children, sign 23 Executive Actions that were designed to stop gun violence? Shame on you. Now put down your weapon and follow these new orders from the President."
Writing that made me laugh and cry at the same time.
We shouldn't be surprised that Ms Pelosi is a low-information member of Congress. When she and her fellow Democrats were pushing healthcare reform, she told the world that the legislation needed to be passed even if it had not been read:
"'It's going to be very, very exciting,' Pelosi bubbled, telling the 2010 Legislative Conference for the National Association of Counties that Congress '[has] to pass the bill so you can find out what's in it, away from the fog of controversy.'"
I can't see how passing new laws to curtail my freedom is protecting and defending me. These laws are making me less secure and criminals more secure since they don't obey laws.


text:
Year in Review: 2013 in Pictures
As 2013 draws to a close, take a look back on the past year at the U.S. Capitol through some of our most popular images taken this year — from September's "supermoon" to the titan arum bloom at the U.S. Botanic Garden. You can see more of our photos through our Instagram and Flickr accounts.
Statue of Freedom and the Supermoon
The largest full moon of 2013, a so-called "supermoon" rose over the Capitol on June 22, 2013 lighting the Staute of Freedom atop the Capitol Dome.
Fourth of July
Fireworks over the Capitol on July 4, 2013.
Sunflowers in Bloom at U.S. Botanic Garden
View of the Capitol from the U.S. Botanic Garden during summer in 2013.
Titan Arum in Bloom
The titan arum, also known as the corpse flower or stinky plant, bloomed at the U.S. Botanic Garden in July 2013.
Rosa Parks Statue Placed in U.S. Capitol
On February 27, 2013, a statue of Rosa Parks was unveiled in National Statuary Hall.


text:
The pace of innovation never lets up, as seen from the June crop of hot emerging tech startups saluted by CRN.
Each one offers a new product or service, and some are raking in handsome venture funding to do it.
Continue on and see some of the vendors who will soon be making an impact.