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Supply Chain Management
Ask the Expert: Why we need the right Commercial Model to Drive Collaboration
Published: 19 Feb 2020
Average Rating:
/ 5
Type: Ask The Expert / Thought-Leadership Webinars
Why we need the right Commercial Model to Drive Collaboration?
The benefits of collaboration are legion. In the IACCM research report 'Unpacking Relational Contracts', we see that the role of collaboration in commercial dealings is becoming even more impor...
IACCM Asia Pacific Conference, July 2019
Published: 13 Aug 2019
Average Rating:
/ 5
Type: Conference / Meeting Presentations
Watch some of the highlights from this year's Asia Pacific Conference in Sydney.
Thank you once again to everyone who joined us - delegates, speakers, sponsors, startup hub participants, Leaders of the Future and Awards finalists!
Ask the Expert: Tips for managing vendor-to-supplier-to-customer contract relationships
Published: 04 Oct 2019
Average Rating:
/ 5
Type: Ask The Expert / Thought-Leadership Webinars
Commercial contract negotiation is hard enough when only two parties are involved, but many of today's complex offerings require the co-ordination of multiple supplier solutions to deliver a single customer outcome. In this webinar, contract managers and business leaders ...
Social value on the rise: volunteers needed!
Published: 23 Jan 2020
Type: Commitment Matters Blog
As social expectations grow, organizations are increasingly focused on defining 'purpose'. This was a major theme at the 2019 World Economic Forum and momentum has continued, most notably with the recognition by 181 top CEOs that 'business needs a purpose beyond pr...
Best Practices for Cutting Through Contract Chaos
Published: 31 Jul 2019
Average Rating:
/ 5
Type: Ask The Expert / Thought-Leadership Webinars
Contract processes can be overwhelming, with different contract versions floating through emails, renewal dates approaching by surprise, and opaque approval bottlenecks slowing down workflows. Cut through contract chaos with Scout RFP.
This is an interactive discu...
IACCM Template: Key Performance Indicators
Published: 06 Oct 2016
Average Rating:
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Type: Templates
The contracting process involves a wide variety of activities and a large number of stakeholders. Ensuring speed and consistency is often a problem, but this can be tackled with the help of standard templates.
IACCM offers its members access to a wide range of st...
'Contract Management is more important than Procurement'
Published: 09 Oct 2019
Average Rating:
/ 5
Type: Commitment Matters Blog
This quote, taken from the latest edition of Supply Management magazine, will be welcomed by many as recognition that it's actually the results of an acquisition that matters. For too long, they will say, Procurement has been happy to oversee inputs, ignoring the fact that...
Managing supply ecosystems
Published: 15 Jan 2020
Type: Commitment Matters Blog
Effectively managing suppliers is not easy. In many cases, the tools and systems that support supplier management are at best rudimentary. Indeed, a report released this week by the Supply Chain Research Council reveals that Excel spreadsheets 'remain the most commonly use...
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Kainga Ora-Homes and Communities
2019-06-26 23:26:16
Balanced scorecard
We are in the process to implement a Procurement, Contracts Management and Supplier Performance Management System by implementing four Oracle modules that will support...
We are in the process to implement a Procurement, Contracts Management and Supplier Performance Management System by implementing four Oracle modules that will support our work processes (Sourcing, Procurement contracts, I Supplier portal and Supplier management). I am looking for advice/documents/tools/templates to design a balanced scorecard. Can you help?
Kia ora Hanelie. I'm surprised that you haven't received a response yet. Many of the contract automation software tools in the IACCM/Cap Gemini register on our website have dashboards which report operational contract management i.e. status of contract changes, service level performance, financials, risks etc. So to your Oracle tool? For example, the GovernX tool from ISG is now integrating into 360 degree surveys to also include 'the voice of the supplier', which would also be part of a balanced scorecard. I will reach out to you directly to discuss. Our member meeting in Wellington NZ on 18 July will also discuss this topic. Bruce
Replies: 1
PRS for Music
2019-06-13 09:28:40
Customer survey
Hi, my colleagues and I are putting together a survey for our stakeholders and suppliers. the Objective is to gauge the standard of service and engagement and identify...
Hi, my colleagues and I are putting together a survey for our stakeholders and suppliers. the Objective is to gauge the standard of service and engagement and identify any areas for improvement. Does anyone have any suggestions of good questions to ask of these audiences please?
• Australian Red Cross Blood Service • 2019-06-21 01:28:00
Here are a couple that I just quickly came up with:
1. Can you recall the last time that you engaged with our team. Was it;
a) In the past 7 days
b) In the past 4 weeks
c) In the past 3-6 months
d) More than 12 months ago
c) Who is this?
2. When you engaged with our team, did you know the name of the person you were contacting?
a) No, I had to look someone up using either the contract, website, intranet, LinkedIn
b) Vaguely, I have spoken to a few different people in the course of business
c) Yes, I have regular communications with a consistent point of contact
Replies: 1
2019-06-13 06:49:19
Procurement and Purchasing
Hi all, Can we have a clear explanation for the differences between the terms of Procurement and Purchasing, and also the right position of the Supply Chain, is it a p...
Hi all,
Can we have a clear explanation for the differences between the terms of Procurement and Purchasing, and also the right position of the Supply Chain, is it a part of the Procurement Cycle or not?
Eng. A.A.N
• Fire and Emergency NZ • 2019-06-14 06:59:15
Good evening Abdullah - I'll contribute an observation on the first one. Perhaps others who have been doing contract management and procurement for longer than me might have a different view, or say it more eloquently, but here goes....
Purchasing is a subset of procurement. It is the giving effect to a lot of the procurement work that you've done earlier (i.e. establishing what you want, identifying suppliers etc).
That said, I think that you can purchase without doing procurement, and in fact, I'd go so far as to say that you can even get the same outcome.
However, only by procurement can you demonstrate that you've got the right outcome. If you only purchase, and don't understand your needs, identify the market and consider the offerings against your needs, you can't demonstrate that you've got the best outcome for the business.
And this is where I think we as a group can demonstrate our worth to the business. We can show with procurement the outcomes that we've avoided (goods not matching requirements, getting better pricing outcomes, repetitional damage etc) by running a fair and robust process ensures that the business is better off.
On many occasions I've seen my team has moved someone from their initial fixed ideas into better outcomes by taking the time to show them what's possible and what good looks like. Do that enough times, and you have more and more allies in the business to encourage others to use your services.
Hi, Abdullah,
Check out this article in the IACCM Library, 'Procurement' and 'Purchasing' Are Different:
• 2019-06-14 17:45:20
Having looked at this topic, there is actually already a lot written on the question of the difference between purchasing and procurement. As they observe, for the typical person they are probably the same, but apparently 'the experts' in procurement know the difference! Though once you start reading, there is plenty of contradiction...
When it comes to Supply Management, it is yet another variant and clear as mud whether it is actually different from Procurement. Supply Chain Management is certainly a more holistic activity of which procurement is part, but that's about all you can really deduce.
The net is, these terms are used with a high degree of variability and tend to mean whatever anyone wants them to mean; the only common factor is that they are all associated with the act of buying!
Tim Cummins
• Ginkgo Management Consulting • 2019-06-24 04:21:43
Hi Abdullah
Years ago Procurement and Purchasing were often used interchangeability. These days they have very different meanings. Procurement refers to the end-to-end activities from strategic category management, through to the operational analytics of spend and performance, to the tactical buying and sourcing activities which can happen in-house or in shared services.
As the Procurement function has 'grown up'it has become far more strategic, so although the term Procurement refers to all the activities conducted by the function, it also implies more strategic perspectives. The scope is also overlapping with other related functions like Finance (Accounts Payable as part of the purchase to pay process) and supply chain (Supply Planning, product innovation and supplier performance management). The increasing focus on digital in Procurement is also seeing more collaboration with other functions for example, RPA (Robotic Process Automation) and machine learning, process automation and contract management, and predictive analytics.
Purchasing is clearly the administrative activity of raising a purchase order, managing the goods/service receipt notice and approving to pay. More advanced companies use on-line catalogues to support this along with automated workflow routing and defined delegations of authority. Put simply, Purchasing includes the tactical purchase and approval activities to support buying.
When we speak about supply chain today, we tend to talk about a value chain. Some organizations are now including supply chain and Procurement in one organization given the overlaps, but predominantly they continue to be separate, but related functions.
Supply chain will include demand planning and forecasting, distribution planning, warehousing and logistics, manufacturing (which may also be a separate function), supply planning and often new product development.
Where Procurement gets involved most is in supply planning and supplier performance management, for instance, using contracts to enforce performance, and collaborating with supply chain and marketing for product and service innovation by tracking supply markets and innovations.
Conceptually, the Procurement function has shifted from managing costs to providing value. Using advanced analytics of COGS and SG&A data, digital tools and advanced supplier market research, the function is working far more collaboratively with other functions. As business cadence increases, functions are becoming more linked and lines between which function does what is blurring.
Hope this helps.
Replies: 4
Rogers Communications
2018-12-06 17:48:18
Source Code Escrow Type Protection for non-software
I am brainstorming ideas for a supplier contract where I want to ensure the technology and services to be provided by the supplier for resale to our end-customer over ...
I am brainstorming ideas for a supplier contract where I want to ensure the technology and services to be provided by the supplier for resale to our end-customer over a long term contract do not disappear, either through supplier insolvency or acquisition. If this were a software deal, I'd ask for source code escrow from the supplier. What would an equivalent level of protection be for a hardware/services solution?
Interesting point, Michelle.
I´d strongly encourage you to raise this question also within the IACCM technology network, which is a micro-community, where you will be able to get insights to new trends in this specific field and where I am sure you´ll have the opportunity to share ideas regarding the topic you have brought:
Also, please check our library:
where, you will find some articles about 'escrow agreements' for the software arena and other topics associated with risk management in the hardware world as well. By analogy you will explore ideas regarding hardware coming from best practices and escrow programs with the goal of risk mitigation
Best regards
• 2018-12-29 21:07:59
Hi Michelle - saw your post. For hardware: having a refresh plan with your supplier following a bit of a mutual benchmark, to see how best to provision for your upcoming capacity needs, might give some assurance. For services or subscriptions-based tech: having a documented 'cookbook' of key players and tech needed to recreate the service, including a list of any solutions 'not commercially available' or not easily re-purchased in Canada updated, might also be helpful to gage the difficulty of transitioning off your current tech,if needs be.
Those two governance-type processes, along with the typical supplier obligation to reasonably cooperate with any successor and to provide some mutually-agreed orderly termination assistance, might serve you well (outside escrow for software). Hope that offers some ideas...good luck. Cheers, Robin
Replies: 2
GOM Consulting
2018-06-01 02:11:38
Vendor financing agreements
Some (small and cash strapped) oil and gas operators are resorting to vendor financing agreements with major hardware suppliers / service providers as a way of raisi...
Some (small and cash strapped) oil and gas operators are resorting to vendor financing agreements with major hardware suppliers / service providers as a way of raising the funding for their development projects. Is it really possible for the small operator, who may have limited alternatives for raising capital for his project, to negotiate a fair deal out of such arrangements. Does anyone have any experience of a vendor financing arrangement between a small operator and a major vendor which worked out well for the operator in the long run.
2018-01-24 05:57:07
On boarding of vendors for As a Service offering
Hi There, does anyone have a governance /framework for on boarding "as a service" vendors ? What stand outs that are different compared to the "normal&q...
Hi There, does anyone have a governance /framework for on boarding "as a service" vendors ? What stand outs that are different compared to the "normal" vendor on boarding.? What if there are a number vendors services in the one particular "As a service" offering ? How is this handled for onboarding?
How does this differ from Service integration and Management (SIAM) from a vendor management perspective?
Any feedback would be appreciated
• 2018-01-29 03:12:59
The governance and framework for outsourcing service on-boarding and general service contractor on-boarding would be largely applicable here. The key here is that the SOW's, SLA's and KPI's are clear and complete - but that holds true in any services contract. From what I have seen, SIAM principles are highly relevant here.
• CoreLogic • 2019-05-17 09:19:32
Governance framework for vendor management should be standard, however, level of engagement to manage a vendor varies depending on type of contract and value of spend.
I would recommend at minimum to onboard vendor onto these governance framework discipline:
Contract Administration
Service Performance
Financial Management
Risk and Compliance
Transition Management
Replies: 2
2018-01-06 22:53:15
Exception on a NDA
Hi everyone, I have, like Vladimir Koval, a question regarding the Non- Disclosure Agreement. Imagine the following situation: you have to issue a standardized Non-...
Hi everyone,
I have, like Vladimir Koval, a question regarding the Non- Disclosure Agreement.
Imagine the following situation: you have to issue a standardized Non-Disclosure Agreement to your suppliers, that ultimately your Client will review (and he expect that all documents will look the same). However, some suppliers would be keen on modifying clauses, in order to preserve their own company's interest, which as mentioned could be an issue to your Client at the end, as he is expecting a unique document.
I was therefore wondering when working with multiple suppliers, if the terms of an NDA can me modified for some of them or standardization in this case is the norm.
thanks for any thoughts. I hope I am clear.
• Freeport LNG • 2018-01-08 15:33:22
While standardization may be a noble ambition, achieving it is usually quite difficult. You can improve your odds through the use of mutual NDAs that protect the confidential information of both parties and by having fair and balanced agreements, but expecting all suppliers to sign them as-is may be expecting too much.
Your role is to understand their requested changes and to determine the impact to your company and whether the changes are acceptable, and to advise your internal client accordingly.
Hope that helps. Sincere regards.
• CommonAccord.org • 2018-01-14 10:29:18
Consider whether you might be able to use a "standard" and have each negotiated difference stand out as a specific change. There are a number of ways to do this. The most systematic would be to use a master and generate each of the documents from the master, with a patch for the differences. That's possible in a number of technologies. A broad example is shown here:
• Tata Communications • 2018-02-22 04:33:24
Hi Vladimir,
We have standard NDA template and additional clauses in the clause library if the vendor pushes for Mutual NDA. This helps build the agility in NDA execution. My experience says that we are able to push 80% cases on standard NDA template and the balance needs engagement.
• 2018-03-27 17:30:53
If a NDA is well drafted, clear, fair and equitable then it should be signed without issue.
If the client has specific requirements that are reasonable and equitable they should be acceptable to all parties.
If there is an element of inequity or unreasonableness then expect suppliers to push back. The simplest test is "would I sign this on behalf of my organisation": if not, then why expect the other party to sign?
What could be up for discussion: whether the NDA is one-way or mutual? what law and jurisdiction apply? the length/duration of the NDA and of any surviving obligations? whether personal NDAs/statements are required?
I would have concerns if I have received unacceptable terms in an NDA - it wouldn't bode well for any subsequent contract discussions negotiations.
• Health Quest • 2018-07-12 21:57:19
In my organization we use a Mutual Non-Disclosure and Confidentiality Agreement. I can see where there may be a need for specifics to be outlines, and in that event, I would consider an addendum as a sufficient protocol. The addendum can include the customer specifics that would otherwise present as "sticking points" that tie up getting the project off the ground.
Replies: 5
Najo Enterprises
2017-11-28 12:20:32
Integrated Logistics Solutions Excellence
I am looking to develop a presentation and assessment on Integrated Logistics and wondered if there was an Excellence Model encapsulating what good Integrated Logistic...
I am looking to develop a presentation and assessment on Integrated Logistics and wondered if there was an Excellence Model encapsulating what good Integrated Logistics Solutions look like. Can anyone point me in the right direction?
• ConocoPhillips • 2018-01-10 23:12:32
We have used some consultants in past such as Ryder Logistics and XPO, some actual freight forwarders such as Kuehne and Nagel (and others) also consult.
Replies: 1
2017-07-10 03:50:28
Supplier Managed OCTG Agreement
Currently our team is looking at the strategy for supply of OCTG with option to have the supplier manage all current and future inventory stock of OCTG ie outsource t...
Currently our team is looking at the strategy for supply of OCTG with option to have the supplier manage all current and future inventory stock of OCTG ie outsource the logistics of OCTG
Appreciate any thoughts or best practice for contracting conventions to be applied as we are aware this model is used frequently by IOC and some NOC.
Have you seen the discussion thread started by Andrew McIntosh on 4 July, which is five threads below? There were responses by Mark Filer and Jim Pearson, which provide insights which might be of value to you.
Replies: 1
Surrey and Sussex county councils
2017-05-22 09:45:50
Supplier Contract segmentation
Is anybody aware of any dynamic tools for contract segmentation ? What I am trying to achieve is to segment my contracts by the normal risk, complexity, value etc but...
Is anybody aware of any dynamic tools for contract segmentation ?
What I am trying to achieve is to segment my contracts by the normal risk, complexity, value etc but I then want to overlay service/business unit specific criteria e.g. opportunity to service/business area in things like innovation, whether the relationship is growing in the future, standing still or declining etc
I want to do this dynamically in order for the service/business area to understand the dynamic nature of contract management, the resources demands and potential skills gaps they may have.
Any help greatly appreciated.
Hi Keith, this is a very interesting question and I am glad you are undertaking the exercise.
I haven't come across a dynamic tool that would support the sort of pre-analysis you suggest, although it may be that you could adapt one of the systems used by marketing to undertake customer segmentation. Another approach could be to build relevant questions into whatever requirement definition tools you use, cuasing the business to consider the points you make regarding issues such as innovation, likelihood of change etc
In working with another IACCM member, we have developed a model that looks at three core levels of relationship and then overlays the extent to which there is potential uncertainty which would impact the nature of the relationship / terms required. I'll be pleased to discuss with you and share ideas..
• VicRoads • 2017-05-27 04:24:07
Hi Keith. I'm also unaware of the existence of such tools.
My suggestion (assuming you haven't done so already) is to align your organisational objectives with the business cases, service specifications that were developed during the tender process, justifications for contract variations, etc. Once this has been done, identify the commonalities across the service spectrum and then compare against the performance of each contractual arrangement including the extent to which the service is being successfully delivered and then how this may relate to the business activities of the individual business unit. No mean task!
Understanding contract management within broader organisational strategy and commonality that exists between contracts is likely to yield insights into what you're trying to achieve e.g. innovation, appropriately skilled staff, etc. And by taking such an approach, it may increase the likelihood that decision-makers outside of your own business unit who may also benefit from this work will support your efforts more readily.
You may also find as a result of using this type of analysis, the requirement for knowing whether the relationship is growing, etc becomes less relevant as an end in itself - assuming of course that the appropriate aspects of organisational strategy are being delivered as intended through its contractual arrangements and that risk appetite for further value / profit-seeking under each or multiple contract(s) is not being exceeded, and is being properly managed.
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Replies: 2
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text:
WASHINGTON – Curious about Zumba but don't want to dance in front a class full of people? The popular, calorie-burning dance-fitness craze is now being done underwater.
Aqua Zumba is a cardio class that has participants dancing to Latin music in the pool.
Erick Ruiz is a licensed Zumba instructor at the Washington Sports Club in Columbia Heights. He teaches the class "on deck," meaning he leads from the side of the pool while class members watch and follow from the water.
The Zumba cardio dance classes are in 150 countries and combine different rhythms with easy-to-follow steps for a "party atmosphere" to give the class a fun vibe while still providing an intense workout.
"(It's) so uplifting, so much fun, I just have a such a smile on my face whenever I get out," says Camille Dewalder, who takes the class.
People of any age, size and fitness level can participate. Doing the workouts in water is easier on the joints and is recommended for those who've just had surgery, want to get used to Zumba or are pregnant.
The water provides resistance, which is part of the workout itself. Pushing the water builds strength.
While some might be self-conscious of working out in a bathing suit, nobody can see what anyone else is doing because everyone is in the pool. In addition, all eyes are on Ruiz leading the class.
And, Ruiz promises, no one has to know how to dance.
Robin Levenston says she joined the class because she wanted something different.
"You can't stop smiling. You can't stop laughing. Your body is doing the strangest most bizarre things and nobody can see. And it's great," says Levenston.
Ruiz says he likes to see splashing and hear the class scream. Both mean people are having fun and burning more calories.
The classes are 45 minutes long with a warm-up and a cooldown. Most participants are women.
For those who aren't sure whether this type of workout can make a difference, Ruiz offers himself as proof. When he started Zumba in 2009 he weighed 250 pounds. He is now down to 180.
Anyone can join the classes. They're free with a Washington Sports Club Membership. The club is offering a 30-day-trial membership for $30.
WTOP's Michelle Basch contributed to this report. Follow Michelle and WTOP on Twitter.
(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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text:
Tally Ho Tickets
19 W Market St , Leesburg , VA
For Tickets Call 1-800-840-9227
Representatives available Mon-Fri 7am-12pm, Saturday and Sunday 7am-11pm
100% Buyer Guarantee. Tickets will arrive before event and refunds are given for any canceled event.
Tally Ho
19 W Market St
Leesburg, VA 20175
19 W Market St
Leesburg, VA 20175


text:
Somebody started a thread on the FMS message board explaining why Alice is cool, and I thought we could do the same for why Geejay is cool!
Anyway, he's an excellent artist, he's doing his best to stick to his schedule, he's really nice to his readers, he likes to get fan art, he's damn good writer (pardon my language) and he cares about what we think. After all, he asks for our opinion when he's considering making changes to the site.
Then there's the characters. All of them are realistic. I mean, you wouldn't LITERALLY find them in the real world, but you'd find modern counterparts for each of them. And people like different characters for different reasons. Myself, I like Sephriel cause he's got glasses! (I'm a four-eyes myself ) Also, he's not the typical holier-than-thou priest. He has insecurities and troubles just like any other person. Plus, he's got the gift of Healing! That's my favorite gift for a character to have, cuz it's so useful!
Anyhoo, I think I've rambled long enough. What do you guys think?
Jestana.
------------------
-"What's the point of being able to talk if you gotta keep secrets?" Donkey, 'Shrek'


text:
Keep it coming dot net has a site that lets writers sell their work in small, bi-weekly installments. The work covers a variety of genres and levels of quality.
I haven't used it (and I don't plan to) but I know someone who has. He earned a tiny bit of money from it, had a handful of readers, and was forced to turn out his work on a regular basis to satisfy his "contract."
He wasn't enthusiastic about it, but he admitted to enjoying it a bit.
Anyway, have a look.


text:
Financial Terrorism November–December 2008
Financial News Analysis in Context
Continuation of this report: Financial Terrorism January-February 2009
Also see News Flash Terrorism November–December 2008
Edmund Conway, Definitive proof that the Bank of England saw the financial crisis coming, December 30, 2008
'The report completely debunks the notion that the financial crisis came as a surprise to the City, or indeed the Bank. The Government had been warned explicitly not by some crackpot economist but by its own employees in Threadneedle Street about precisely how the crisis could erupt. Not only this, but the report also revealed that its "war games" plotting out scenarios including a credit crunch revealed that a debt-fuelled crisis could cause a severe UK recession, a 25pc fall in house prices and a wiping out of a third of banks' tier one capital - around £40bn at the time. It is difficult to think how it could have made more noise about the possible risks the debt build-up entailed.'
Gideon Rachman, And now for a world government, Financial Times, December 8 2008
'I have never believed that there is a secret United Nations plot to take over the US. I have never seen black helicopters hovering in the sky above Montana. But, for the first time in my life, I think the formation of some sort of world government is plausible. A "world government" would involve much more than co-operation between nations. It would be an entity with state-like characteristics, backed by a body of laws. The European Union has already set up a continental government for 27 countries, which could be a model. The EU has a supreme court, a currency, thousands of pages of law, a large civil service and the ability to deploy military force. So could the European model go global? There are three reasons for thinking that it might. First, it is increasingly clear that the most difficult issues facing national governments are international in nature: there is global warming, a global financial crisis and a "global war on terror".'
And there you have it, right from the mouthpiece of high finance, the shill for the New World Order, the media asset of the intelligence apparatus, testing the water temperature. This time, the FT's chief foreign affairs columnist lets the full caboodle out of the bag, saying exactly what Project Humanbeingsfirst has been warning about: that the most natural solution to global fictions and global manufactured crises will be presented as "world government". As David Icke had pointed out over ten years ago, there has to come a point at which the devilish conspiracy for world government will need to break surface. But before that time, all references to it must be discredited as 'tin-hatted' conspiracy theories. That breaking of surface has been happening gradually in disjoint bits and fragments for the past few years. Even Congressman Ron Paul blatantly talked about it during the 2008 Republican Debates carried on CNN – something that would have been unheard of in mainstream coverage in the past. But this instance in the Financial Times editorial is the most egregious testing of the waters because it brings all the manufactured global boogiemen together, and exactly posits their solution-space as "world government". It brings to full circle implementation these ominous words of G. Edward Griffin from 'The Capitalist Conspiracy':
"Create conditions so frightful at home and abroad, that the abandonment of personal liberties and national sovereignty, will appear as a reasonable price for a return to domestic tranquility and world peace."
A bit of high-school level few studious nights homework would reveal that all three items on Mr. Gideon Rachman's list are elaborately manufactured fictions. To know that a) global warming, is a politically motivated global fiction, or at best, of a highly contentious nature among scientists themselves and therefore, hardly a scientific fact upon which such a monumental global policy as world-government can be advocated, begin at Steve Watson's short news story 'Over 650 Scientists Challenge Global Warming "Consensus"', and download PDF of the full 231 page report released December 11, 2008, titled: 'U. S. Senate Minority Report: More Than 650 International Scientists Dissent Over Man-Made Global Warming Claims - Scientists Continue to Debunk "Consensus" in 2008'. Or read its Introduction Chapter here. To learn that b) global financial crisis, is deliberately manufactured, the Monetary Reform Bibliography contains sufficient references and perspective which ties it all together. To understand that c) global war on terror, is synthetic and fabricated, read the minuscule compilation of Project Humanbeingsfirst's reports which succinctly unravels it all: The WAR on TERROR 2008 Omnibus Collection (PDF).
After doing one's due diligence and all that homework, where does that leave a bewildered but commonsensical person? It at least leaves one to ponder that such deep intelligence propaganda programs spinning manufactured death in a perpetual war that is intended to last for lifetime, spinning manufactured global financial collapse as happenstance of overspending due to Wall Street shortsightedness, and spinning natural climate changes as manmade – all to create global governance structures piece-meal and through faits accomplis – are being relentlessly seeded into peoples' consciousness, and not one in the worldwide mainstream news media is able to call on it? Are all of them morons? Or are they all sell-outs? How can that be? How does the "Mighty Wurlitzer" accomplish this?
The answer to that can also be easily understood – for we know far too much from recent history, if only one is reminded of it. Notice how Rachman begins his editorial "I have never believed that there is a secret United Nations plot to take over the US", such that in a single opening sentence, he puts to rest why he might now be saying the same thing that the so called conspiracy theorists have been asserting for many years. He presents his version as a new emerging necessity to the global problems. What is this – other than a very sophisticated intelligence psy-op to now make it acceptable to take the conspiracy out of the previously discredited realm of 'tin-hatters' and start discussing it as the preferred solution-space? But coming from a respectable news media like the Financial Times(?) they are hardly a tabloid newspaper, one might ask. Such psyops and disinformation is the norm rather than the exception, as the following two articles disclose: Carl Bernstein's 'THE CIA AND THE MEDIA', and Richard Keeble's 'Hacks And Spooks'.
In addition, the following passage from the court testimony of expert witness Mr. William Schaap on psyops and disinformation, dated November 30, 1999, is very useful in acquiring a perspective that is denied to most Western peoples. Watch his hour long video testimony or read its transcript. This is what he says on 'conspiracy':
"The average American would hear something from the government or hear the news on television and assumes that what they're hearing is the truth unless they're shown otherwise. They assume that almost nothing is ever a conspiracy. In Europe it's very much the opposite. Anything happens. They tend to think it's a conspiracy unless you show them that it wasn't a conspiracy. I mean, after all, "conspiracy" just means, you know, more than one person being involved in something. And if you stop and think about it, almost everything significant that happens anywhere involves more than one person. Yet here there is a -- not a myth really, but there's just an underlying assumption that most things are not conspiracies. And when you have that, it enables a government which has a propaganda program, has a disinformation program, to be relatively successful in -- in having its disinformation accepted. ... But another reason it works is that disinformation is very, very effective over time. The longer that you, whoever you are, can control the spin on a story, the more that spin becomes accepted as the absolute truth. And in this country the government has a great deal of power and influence over that spin."
The conclusion here is best expressed in the 1974 prescriptive words of the CFR author Richard N. Gardner, from his article in Foreign Affairs titled: 'The Hard Road To World Order'. The former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Organizations under Kennedy and Johnson, and a member of the Trilateral Commission, had accurately captured the Zeitgeist which was to exist in the near future – and that future is here today – in which, the import of Mr. Gideon Rachman's editorial becomes clear:
"In short, the 'house of world order' will have to be built from the bottom up, rather than from the top down. It will look like a great 'booming, buzzing confusion' to use William James' famous description of reality, but an end run around national sovereignty, eroding it piece by piece will accomplish much more than the old-fashioned frontal assault."
(If the above link for Financial Times news story doesn't work, access it through Mr. Rachman's Financial Times blog. Also see his two followups after being bombarded by adverse comments here and here.)
Spending yourself to prosperity plan – the miracle of the stimulus package – print all the money you need! By Fred Thompson, December 03, 2008
Observe Mr. Fred Thompson's deafening silence – as he accurately and quite sardonically describes the symptomatic foolishness of this 8 trillion dollar spending spree – on the overarching agenda of why it's being done! He has obviously never heard of a new currency, a new union, a new world order! The clever technique of openly describing what everyone already knows, in the guise of dissent, while staying silent on the real agendas and overarching motivations, is the most common technique of omission for deflecting attention from the DNA of the crimes against humanity in progress. Fred Thompson makes it all sound like it's a profound lack of commonsense and absurdity reigning supreme among those who understand 'money' better than anyone else on the planet. It isn't. See: The Monetary Conspiracy For World Government.
If only someone would draw his kind attention to Project Humanbeingsfirst, as also the attention of all those intelligent peoples who relish in critiquing their own government while diabolically failing to recognize the underlying Machiavellian principles of conquest. Surely they too aren't the victim of "We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false"? We aren't only deserving of the honorific gratuitously bestowed upon us by Mr. Paul Craig Roberts, United States Former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, on Dec 06, 2008: "you are a completely stupid fool, a disgrace to humanity"! We deserve many more accolades from empire's minions as we unravel each one of their deceptions! We are, after all, the plebeian antidote to hectoring hegemons of all stripes! If you know nothing of these matters, please consult the Monetary Reform Bibliography – A self-study guide for uncovering the agendas behind the economics gibberish and Weapons of Mass Deception – The Master Social Science.
U.S. Pledges Top $7.7 Trillion to Ease Frozen Credit (Update3), Bloomberg News, November 24, 2008
'The U.S. government is prepared to provide more than $7.76 trillion on behalf of American taxpayers after guaranteeing $306 billion of Citigroup Inc. debt yesterday. ... The commitment dwarfs the plan approved by lawmakers, the Treasury Department's $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program. ... "Whether it's lending or spending, it's tax dollars that are going out the window and we end up holding collateral we don't know anything about," said Congressman Scott Garrett, a New Jersey Republican who serves on the House Financial Services Committee. "The time has come that we consider what sort of limitations we should be placing on the Fed so that authority returns to elected officials as opposed to appointed ones." ... The bailout includes a Fed program to buy as much as $2.4 trillion in short-term notes, called commercial paper, ... Most of the spending programs are run out of the New York Fed, whose president, Timothy Geithner, is said to be President-elect Barack Obama's choice to be Treasury Secretary. ... The money that's been pledged is equivalent to $24,000 for every man, woman and child in the country. It's nine times what the U.S. has spent so far on wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to Congressional Budget Office figures. It could pay off more than half the country's mortgages. ... "Some have asked us to reveal the names of the banks that are borrowing, how much they are borrowing, what collateral they are posting," Bernanke said Nov. 18 to the House Financial Services Committee. "We think that's counterproductive." '
U.S. Details $800 Billion Loan Plans, NYT, November 25, 2008
"The Federal Reserve and the Treasury announced $800 billion in new lending programs on Tuesday, sending a message that they would print as much money as needed to revive the nation's crippled banking system. ... The Treasury secretary, Henry M. Paulson Jr., made it clear that the new lending facility was just a "starting point" and could be expanded to many other kinds of debt, like commercial mortgage-backed securities."
To appreciate the crafty spin "some investments may prove profitable" – loans $1.7 trillion, Investments $3.0 trillion, Guarantees $3.1 trillion – see essay by George J. W. Goodman for historical context, in order to understand, apart from the astronomical unpayable debt, the hyper-inflationary direction where this solution to the manufactured financial crisis is headed as the premeditated game-plan to crash the dollar enroute to a new currency and a new union, to be presented as the most natural-solution at that time: 'The German Hyperinflation, 1923'
Citigroup says gold could rise above $2,000 next year as world unravels, Telegraph.co.uk, November 27, 2008
'Gold is poised for a dramatic surge and could blast through $2,000 an ounce by the end of next year as central banks flood the world's monetary system with liquidity, according to an internal client note from the US bank Citigroup. ... This gamble was likely to end in one of two extreme ways: with either a resurgence of inflation; or a downward spiral into depression, civil disorder, and possibly wars. Both outcomes will cause a rush for gold. "They are throwing the kitchen sink at this," said Tom Fitzpatrick, the bank's chief technical strategist. "The world is not going back to normal after the magnitude of what they have done. When the dust settles this will either work, and the money they have pushed into the system will feed though into an inflation shock. Or it will not work because too much damage has already been done, and we will see continued financial deterioration, causing further economic deterioration, with the risk of a feedback loop. We don't think this is the more likely outcome, but as each week and month passes, there is a growing danger of vicious circle as confidence erodes," he said. ...'
To forensically understand why "This gamble" of inflationary debt (see figure pg 158) – naked theft – is being gratuitously played against the peoples of the United States, and against the world that holds this debt by carrying the world's reserve currency and US Treasury Certificates, see Press Release This may be a psy-op! This entrenched notion of Public Debt will take a gestalt shift to overcome in a race against time! See Why Bluff Martial Law?
Last Updated
Financial Terrorism November–December 2008 Financial News Analysis in Context


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Ilya Repin. To the 175th Anniversary of the Artist's Birth
The exhibition will feature more than 250 paintings and graphic works by Ilya Repin: recognized masterpieces by the master and his little-kn...
Ilya Repin. To the 175th Anniversary of the Artist's Birth
The exhibition will feature more than 250 paintings and graphic works by Ilya Repin: recognized masterpieces by the master and his little-kn...
Valaam: 200 years in Russian Painting
15 november 2019—13 january 2020
The exhibition for the first time unites the valuable collection of paintings of the New Valaam Monastery (Finland) and works from the Valaam Monastery...
Alexander Tyshler. The Theater in Easel Paintings
28 november 2019—16 march 2020
The exhibition held in the year of the theater in Russia is dedicated to the wonderful, mysterious and strange world of images of Alexander Tyshler ...
To the shores of Antarctica and Arctica. To the 200th anniversary of Antarctica discovery
January 2020 marks the 200th anniversary of Antarctica discovery by Russian navigators F. F. Bellingshausen a...
The exhibition for the first time reconstructs the history of Leningrad Expressionism in the unity and diversity of the ways of the plastic form development. Presented artwork...
Belsky brothers (Ivan (1719-1799), Alexey (1729-1796) and Efim (1730-1778)) were the greatest masters of the painting team of The Chancellery ...
Musical Thursdays in the Stroganov Palace
17 september 2015—17 september 2015 > Russian Museum
17 September 2015 at 7 p.m.
The Russian Museum and XXth International Tennis Tournament St. Petersburg Open
17 august 2015—27 september 2015 > Russian Museum
On 17 August 2015 the exhibition dedicated to the anniversary ATP Tennis Tournament St. Petersburg Open opens in the Summer Garden.
"Byzantine Routes" Photo Exhibition
3 october 2014—2 november 2014 > Russian Museum
On the 4th of October 2014 "Byzantine routes" photo exhibition was opened in Coffee House by the АСЕВ Association and the "Metropoli" Cultural Foundation with the support of the State Russian Museum.
Russia through the train window
9 june 2014—28 june 2014 > Russian Museum
The exhibition «Russia through the Train Window» is a joint project by JSC Russian Railways and the Russian photographer Anton Lange. The aim is to show modern-day Russia through the camera lens of a photographer traveling by rail across this vast country.
The collection of masterpieces, chosen by the Russian Museum will allow you to make a first impression of the collection of the Russian Museum.
Russian Museum - one of the world's largest museums and is perhaps the only country where such a full treasure of national culture are presented.
Virtual tour of the museum complex. 2009 (Rus., Eng., Ger., Fin.)
In the online shop of the Russian Museum presented a huge range of souvenirs, illustrated editions and multimedia disks.
Be informed about news, events and exhibitions of the Russian Museum
© 2015
The State Russian Museum
Site development: Projector.media
The Russian Museum is the exclusive owner of all the interior images and pieces of art of the Russian Museum collection, as well as all the images and text information given on its official site. The usage of the texts and images provided on the site is only allowed with the permission of the Russian Museum.


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Matching: Fruit
A diverse but easily recognizable group of 12 different fruits from around the globe. There are two matching cards for each image, both without words. Each image is hand-painted and printable in high definition.
FORMAT: This is a downloadable product. You will need to cut out and laminate the cards before use.
Approximate card sizes are 3¾" x 3½" (image cards).


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At Work: Passion for music led to unexpected career
- He majored in music in college but got his master's in business administration
- Working in advertising made him miserable
- His father's hobby got him interested in the crafting of mandolins
A man came up to me at a concert the other night and said, "Aren't you Andrea?"
He went on, "I have something for you," dug into his wallet and fished out a business card. It read Kimble Mandolins.
"I finally got into the music business," he said proudly.
STORY:Musicians learn to improvise in careers
MORE:Andrea Kay's column index
He had to remind me why he was so pleased. After all, it had been 14 years since he had come to see me about his career.
He was 30 at the time and now says looking back: "I couldn't have been more disappointed. I thought I was a smart and talented person and that I would have made my mark or at least have some direction I felt good about."
When we first met, he was working in account services in advertising — and not happy about it.
"I wanted a job in the music business and didn't know how to get there," he said.
He remembers me telling him — I don't, but it sounds like something I would say — "If you want to be in the music business, don't settle for something you don't want."
He actually listened.
A little background about Will Kimble. He got his bachelor of arts in music at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
"I loved music so much I wanted to be around it," he says, but "didn't feel I had enough talent to be a musician."
He got a master's in business administration then moved to Franklin, N.C., where his parents had retired. He worked for a startup ad agency, which he called "an incredible fiasco. But it allowed me to be around my dad."
His father makes mandolins for fun, it turns out. Kimble had played one his father made him when he was young.
"It was good, but not as good as what I wanted. I asked him to show me how to build one. We built it together. I immediately become obsessed with building a better one.
"I had no aspirations of building to sell. I only wanted to build for me." After work each day and sometimes weekends, he built mandolins with his father, "making sawdust, gluing and experimenting."
Then he met Lynn Dudenbostel, whom Kimble considers one of the top four mandolin builders in the world. Dudenbostel lives across the mountain in Maryville, Tenn.
From there, "it was explosive growth. It freed me up to experiment radically since I wasn't doing it for a living.
"Then my wife said, 'You've been going to your dad's house every night for three years. This has to change or I'm leaving."
So 12 mandolins later, he quit his day job. By then, his mandolins "had been refined into a pretty darn good product."
He built his reputation and business at bluegrass festivals and music camps.
"You sell them one on one to people because the one you have is better than the one they have."
"We were scared to death going out on our own, but it was obvious that was what I should do. I had a year's worth of orders. The doors kept opening and I kept walking though them. The goal was to build what I wanted to play. In 2007, I had three years of back orders."
He and his father have built 200 mandolins together. The market has matured with mostly serious players or those who need upgrades, and he's working more closely with music stores these days.
Like most who turn their craft into a business, he has had to stand his ground when asked to do things he didn't want to do — putting a Grateful Dead logo on the decorative inlay or building a neck that's too big.
From the start, "I made a conscious decision to build what I want to build, to represent what I'm passionate about," he said.
As it turns out, he built the career he had always wanted based on that same decision.
Career consultant Andrea Kay is the author of Life's a Bitch and Then You Change Careers: 9 steps to get out of your funk and on to your future,www.andreakay.com. Write to her:firstname.lastname@example.com. Twitter:@AndreaKayCareer.


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They played, too
Latinos played a big role in the Negro Leagues
By Jesse Sanchez
Boston Red Sox great Luis Tiant Jr. (pictured) says he watched his father, Luis Sr., pitch in the Negro Leagues in the 1940s.
There's a list of baseball players who graced the diamond last century that reads like a who's who of Latino legends past.
Take one quick glance and you'll find a Cepeda, a Tiant and a Minoso. An even closer look reveals a Hall of Famer -- Martin Dihigo, arguably one of the greatest players who ever put on a glove.
But take a deep breath because this list is unique. For the Cepeda mentioned is Pedro, not his Hall of Fame son Orlando. The Tiant is Luis Sr., not his All-Star heir Luis Jr. And the leagues these elder statesmen played in were not the Major Leagues, they were the Negro Leagues.
Together, Latino and African-American ballplayers have shared a passion for the game of beisbol that spans almost a century. It's a rich history full of competitiveness, gamesmanship and friendship among hundreds of players that precedes Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier by nearly fifty years.
"I remember watching the games from the stands, and sometimes the players would bring me down to dugout," said Tiant Jr., a former Boston pitcher whose father played for the New York Cubans in the Negro Leagues along with Minnie Minoso during the mid-1940s. "There were good games and they had a lot of good players during those years. A lot of those guys were good enough to play in the big leagues, but they couldn't. Not because of their ability but because of the color of their skin."
Watch now>
Award winners
Jimmy Rollins and Juan Pierre accepted Legacy Awards last week from the employees at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
The motives
Branch Rickey had several reasons for signing Jackie Robinson to a pro contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Historian Steve Goldman has the details.
Segregated Baseball: A Kaleidoscopic review
While the very existence of the Negro Leagues was necessary because of the racial divides in the United States, black baseball not only survived -- it excelled.
Traveling show
Barnstorming was common place in the Negro Leagues.
According to Negro Leagues historian and author James A. Riley, the first Latino team, the Cuban All-Stars, squared off against teams from the Negro Leagues in 1900 in an exhibition format. For the next 10 years, the trend continued, but by 1910, the Cuban All-Stars had become a permanent fixture in and around the Negro Leagues of the United States. During the next 25 years the Cuban All-Stars split into two squads, East and West.
"Cuba had the second best quality of baseball in the world at the time, so it was only natural that they come to America and compete against the best," Riley said. "Players and teams from Havana, Santa Clara, and Almendares are regarded as some of the best of all time."
The Cuban teams eventually evolved into what became the New York Cubans, a squad made up of predominately Latino players, in 1935. The elder Cepeda, the most celebrated player from Puerto Rico, was on the roster for the 1941 New York Cubans.
Historically, the NY Cubans were rivaled only by the Indianapolis Clowns, a barnstorming bunch of All-Stars during the 1940s, in terms of having players of Cuban, Puerto Rican, Dominican, Mexican and African-American descent on their roster.
"I don't think the bond was immediate among players, but as far as on the playing field, extremely competitive between the Black and Latin players," said Ray Doswell, curator of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Mo. "Off the field the players would hang out with each other play cards and bond in a non-competitive atmosphere. Reports say they were bitter enemies on the field because of the competitiveness but they were friends off of it."
Minoso, a star with the Cubans in 1945, fondly recalls his time in the Negro Leagues. He should. After all, it was his first taste of professional baseball in the United States.
"It was a great experience because we were like brothers," said Minoso, who went on to become a seven-time All-Star with the Chicago White Sox. "It was 24 brothers traveling together on a crowded bus and all eating the same food. We used to fight to defend each other on and off the field. We took on everything together."
So it should come as no surprise that Latino and African-American players did well as teammates. Players from the Negro Leagues, including Robinson, Satchel Paige, and Josh Gibson, were participating in leagues across the Caribbean by the late-1930s -- first in Puerto Rico and Mexico, and eventually in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic. According to Riley, Robinson signed with Dodgers in 1945 at an airport before departing to Venezuela with his Negro League teammates for exhibition games.
For Latinos and African-Americans, playing year-round baseball in the United States and across the Caribbean had its advantages.
"For the Americans going down (the Caribbean), they were treated better there than in their own country," Riley said. "For the most part, there were no color distinctions or segregation, except for hotels owned by Americans or that had clientele from the U.S. The American players loved it down there because there was little discrimination and you received first-class treatment."
Add to the equation the fact that in order to survive as a professional ballplayer financially, participating in more than one league was almost necessity. As much fun as the players were having, it was also an economic decision to play year-round.
"My dad did not want me to play baseball at all because they did not make any money," Tiant Jr. said. "My dad wanted me to go college and be successful because he said baseball was too hard and there was nowhere to go. My mom finally talked him into letting me play."
For his part, Tiant Jr. did succeed as a Major League pitcher but wishes his father and other players in the Negro Leagues could have done the same. It's a point he'll share with anyone willing to listen.
"As a kid I always heard that I am good, but not as good as my father," he said. "I know that it is too bad a lot of good players were not allowed in the big leagues and for that, I feel lucky I could. I had the opportunity, they did not, but you cannot change the past."
True. Changing the past is not an option, but as long as the history of Latinos and African-Americans playing baseball together in the Negro Leagues and across the Caribbean endures, their feats will not be forgotten.
Jesse Sanchez is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs


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Rick Santorum swept three nominating contests held Tuesday, upsetting frontrunner Mitt Romney and injecting new energy into the former Pennsylvania senator's campaign.
Santorum scored broad victories in the Minnesota caucus and a primary in Missouri, according to NBC News projections. But Santorum's most significant upset came in Colorado, where the state GOP declared him the apparent victor in caucuses there.
Romney made his hardest push of the three states in Colorado, having campaigned there and spent money on advertising. Santorum's upset raises fresh doubts about the breadth of Romney's appeal to Republicans, and abates some of the momentum Romney had built from consecutive victories in the Florida primary and Nevada caucus.
"I don't stand here to be the conservative alternative to Mitt Romney; I stand here to be the conservative alternative to Barack Obama," Santorum told a raucous crowd in Missouri.
See full Colorado results on NBCPolitics.com
Still, the former Pennsylvania senator drew contrasts with Romney throughout his remarks, saying Romney "has the same positions as Barack Obama" on a number of issues close to conservatives. Santorum also made a disapproving nod toward Romney's gaffe last week in which the former Massachusetts governor said his campaign was "not concerned about the very poor."
"I care about the very rich and the very poor," Santorum told supporters. "I care about 100 percent of America."
The Romney campaign had begun to downplay expectations for its finish in Missouri and Minnesota, though the Colorado finish seemed more genuinely surprising to Romney. Throughout the campaign, Romney, the tentative frontrunner, has been dogged by questions about his ability to close the deal with Republicans — questions that will be furthered by Tuesday night's returns.
Romney conceded in remarks just before midnight in the East Coast that "this was a good night for Rick Santorum."
Rick Santorum swept Tuesday's Republican presidential contests in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri, sending a signal to Romney that voters are still skeptical of his conservative credentials. NBC's Peter Alexander reports.
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Santorum had campaigned last week in Missouri, Minnesota, and Colorado — while Romney, Newt Gingrich and Texas Rep. Ron Paul campaigned in Nevada. Since Saturday's Nevada caucuses, Romney has basically campaigned only in Colorado.
While NBC News will not project allotments of delegates based off the results, Santorum's sweep provides a new springboard for his campaign heading into a crucial stretch for the campaign.
The former Massachusetts governor had been seen as a marginal favorite in the contests simply because of his organizational strength. Romney had also won the 2008 Minnesota caucus. This cycle, he fell to third, behind Santorum and Paul.
The winner of Jan. 3's Iowa caucuses by a razor-thin margin, Santorum had focused on winning over the same brew of social conservatives and Republicans not ready to settle for Romney during his campaign efforts.
"Tonight's victory should put to bed the idea that the Republican nomination for Mitt Romney is inevitable," said Stuart Roy, an adviser to the pro-Santorum super PAC, the Red, White and Blue Fund.
The victories, however, are somewhat informal. Missouri will host a separate caucus next month to allocate its delegates, and the Minnesota and Colorado caucus results are non-binding.
NBC's Chuck Todd tells TODAY's Ann Curry that Rick Santorum's sweep of Tuesday's GOP presidential contests was a "rejection by conservatives of Mitt Romney."
Romney had been looking to keep alive an unbeaten streak, which started last Tuesday in Florida and continued through Saturday night's Nevada caucus. But his campaign started to play down expectations for his performance in these contests after signs of momentum for Santorum had begun to emerge.
See full Minnesota results on NBCPolitics.com
"Of course, there is no way for any nominee to win first place in every single contest … and we expect our opponents to notch a few wins too," Romney political director Rich Beeson wrote in a memo to reporters. "It is difficult to see what Governor Romney's opponents can do to change the dynamics of the race in February."
Romney said earlier in the evening that he was "pretty confident" he'd finish first or second in Colorado, which also hosted caucuses Tuesday evening, before adding that he expects to become the GOP nominee when the primary concludes.
Romney's campaign had additionally waged an offensive against Santorum late in the weekend, looking to stymie his climb much as they had done with Gingrich in Florida.
Santorum's late surge undercuts Romney's claim to being the GOP campaign's sole frontrunner. He'd sought to cruise through the lighter schedule in February. By contrast, Santorum had the most to gain from proving he can upset the former Massachusetts governor. Alternatively, had Santorum been unable to beat Romney despite his intense focus on these contests, it would have raised questions about his viability going forward.
"Gov. Romney is uniquely unqualified to take on the most important issue in this election," Santorum said yesterday in Rochester, referring to the health care reforms Romney had supported in Massachusetts. "Gov. Romney is dead wrong on the most important issue of the day and he should not be our nominee."
The Romney campaign saw its best chances tonight in Colorado, where they have spent money on advertising, and where Romney has done most of his campaigning since winning in Nevada.
But having been injected with a new twist, the Republican primary campaign is set to move forward with no ending on the horizon, meaning Republicans' focus will remain more on each other than the general election match-up against President Obama.
Paul has signaled that his campaign will continue to focus on select caucuses, reflecting their sense that Paul is best positioned to pick up delegates in those kinds of contests. The libertarian-minded congressman stressed the delegate battle in remarks late Tuesday evening.
GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul thanks supporters for their effort following a strong showing in that state.
Arizona and Michigan's primaries are the next test for the candidates; Romney was raised in Michigan, where his father also served as governor. He's seen as the early favorite in the Wolverine State.
The biggest point of emphasis, though, will come on March 6 -- Super Tuesday. A number of large states host primaries and caucuses that day, and the candidates are already turning their attention to those states.
Gingrich, for instance, spent Tuesday campaigning in Ohio, the key swing state which hosts its primary on Super Tuesday.
Santorum, meanwhile, is expected to continue on Wednesday to Texas, whose primary date is in flux due to litigation over the state's congressional redistricting map.
© 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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- Date : 18.11.2019 11:26:00
- Category: Spider Plants
Chlorophytum Bichetii
Houseplants for Better Sleep
As indicated by the standards of Feng Shui, vital situation of articles can mean the distinction among wellbeing and ailment. Putting houseplants in the principle living zones of a house, for instance, can improve the stream of vitality through the whole structure. Thus, setting houseplants in the room can mean better rest for the inhabitants of the house.
There are a few reasons why houseplants can advance better rest.
a) Healthy plants are a wellspring of cleaner air; since plants discharge oxygen, they can bring the air nature of a room up a few scores. A few plants deliver more oxygen amid the night; these are wind plants and bromeliads, aloe and orchids. Putting these houseplants in the room will improve evening rest.
b)Most plants expel poisons from the air- - contaminations that are found in houses--, for example, formaldehyde, benzene, xylene, smelling salts, CH3)2CO, ethyl acetic acid derivation. Houseplants can really retain these poisons through their leaves and convert them to innocuous substances. New discoveries recommend that plants can be a decent remedy to the wiped out building "ailment" regularly brought about by our unsustainable cutting edge advancements for accommodation. A solitary insect plant in a shut chamber containing formaldehyde can evacuate 85% of the poison inside 24 hours. Specialists gauge that fifteen houseplants can have an emotional effect on clean air quality in a normal house. A few houseplants appear to be especially successful in engrossing and expelling indoor poisons. These are, to give some examples, Chinese evergreen, dracaena, orchids, brilliant pothos, Norfolk Island pine, red emerald philodendron, insect plant, schefflera and snake plant.
c)Houseplants additionally go about as purifiers of creature bioeffluents- - substances not delivered by materials in a building, but rather by people and creatures. These incorporate carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, methane, liquor and others. Houseplants complete a brilliant activity of changing over these bioeffluents into innocuous substances. Harmony lilies, parlor palms, chrysanthemums, for instance, are brilliant houseplants that filter the demeanor of natural and biochemical poisons. Additionally, the dampness emitted by plants smother the development of airborne microorganisms, accordingly lessening the "allergenic" capability of the room.
d)The green foliage of most houseplants likewise "mellow" the disposition of a room. They can quiet away unforgiving corners, invest an uncovered window with appeal or render a bit of symmetry to strangely outfitted dividers. All in all houseplants give a lovely, mitigating impact to the room, an impact that advances unwinding and rest. They likewise retain scents and vapor, recharge the air with oxygen and stickiness, keeping the temperatures cool and feasible for better rest. No big surprise the most alluring rooms in "Better Homes" magazines are dependably appeared a few beguiling houseplants deliberately put in different spots. What's more, in the event that you are as yet uncertain about the constructive outcomes of plants on human feelings, observe this: an examination by the Washington State University found that individuals with plants in their workplace were 12 percent more profitable and had lower circulatory strain than individuals who did not have plants. There is much help for the possibility that the organic world is inseparably connected to the human mind and that houseplants can advance better rest.
Be that as it may, the air-cleaning capacities of these houseplants are endangered if the plants are debilitated, unfortunate or unclean. Undesirable houseplants are ideal solicitations for creepy crawly invasions which deliver shape spores that are profoundly allergenic. To guarantee that your houseplants will give you better rest, you should keep them cleaned and cut, free of creepy crawlies or parasites as these are simple wellsprings of sensitivities and breathing fits. Too, pick plants that don't shed dust.


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Back in 1981, before computers took over the world of financial number crunching, Hewlett-Packard built the 12c calculator. Even today, it's considered one of the finest financial calculators ever built – the apex of a dying breed. In 2020, we'll probably look at the HTC HD2 in much the same way. Windows-Mobile-based smartphones may be headed for the dumpster, but the HD2 is destined to be remembered as one of the finest ever built – and if you want to live out two more years with it, it might be the best way to do it. Here's how the HD2 stacks up – in tech specs alone – next to its principle rival, Apple's iPhone 3GS.
Winner: HTC HD2
Both the HD2 and the iPhone 3GS both use LCD screens, rather than the increasingly popular OLED tech. But side-by-side, they're like comparing apples, and… well, grapefruits. From a size perspective, anyway. The HD2 uses a whopping 4.3-inch display, while the iPhone has a 3.5 incher, and the resolution to match: Only 480 x 320, compared to 800 x 480 on the HD2. That makes this a no-contest win for the HD2.
Winner: iPhone 3GS
A wise man once said, "With great screen size comes great bulkiness." Or something along those lines. In any case, the HTC HD2 is both heavier and significantly larger than the iPhone thanks to the oversized mini TV on the front, making it a pocket anchor in the truest sense of the word. At 4.8 inches tall and 2.6 inches wide, the HD2 could completely cover the 4.5-by-2.4-inch iPhone on a table, and tip scales its way, too, at 5.5 ounces to the iPhone's 4.8. We will concede, though, that it's technically thinner at just 0.43 inches deep, compared to the 0.48-inch iPhone.
Winner: HTC HD2
The 833MHz ARM Cortex A8 chip in the iPhone is no slouch. But the 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon in the HD2 has it beat, especially considering the iPhone chip is underclocked to 600MHz right out of the box. It's worth noting, of course, that the iPhone also features a PowerVR SGX dedicated graphics processor, which makes up some of the difference when it comes to 3D rendering – like in games.
Winner: HTC HD2
Apple's iPhone once ruled the roost with one of the first touch keyboards to make typing on glass acceptable, but in the years since its introduction, many competitors have successfully copied the formula. Including HTC. The HD2 ditches Microsoft's archaic keyboard intended for styli and instead embraces a revamped version with the Sense user interface. Besides addressing the fat-finger issue with a bigger screen and therefore bigger virtual keys, it includes Swype, which allows users to string together words by dragging across the letters, rather than tapping on them. Not everyone will embrace it, but the option alone – alone with greater size – elevates it to something more than Apple offers.
Winner: iPhone 3GS
Both the iPhone 3GS and HTC HD2 offer 16GB of storage for $200 with contract, but Apple builds it into the phone, and the HD2 carries it on a microSD card. Either phone can handle 32GB maximum, but they each come with their own caveats: The HD2 can be upgraded to a 32GB microSD card, but right now they run $200, putting your total expense at $400. Apple offers a 32GB iPhone for $300, making it a comparative bargain, but because it's internal, you'll have to decide at the time of purchase how much storage you want your phone to have. We love removable storage, but side with Apple on this for the value part of the equation. Until 32GB cards come down in cost, anyone who wants the maximum phone capacity gets a better deal with the iPhone 32GB.
Winner: HTC HD2
Neither camera will really best even a basic point-and-shoot camera here due to pint-sized optics, but the HD2 manages a closer approximation in part because it offers an LED flash to help brighten up night shots. Its sensor also offers 5-megapixel resolution to the 3.0-megapixel shooter on the iPhone 3GS, and side-by-side tests seem to indicate the same.
Winner: iPhone 3GS
As we noted at the beginning of this comparison, Windows Mobile 6.5 is on its last legs. It has looked dated for years, and the iPhone OS puts it to shame in all categories except multitasking. The number of Windows Mobile apps available also pales in comparison to iPhone apps, and when Windows Phone 7 Series arrives this fall, we expect the last remaining Windows Mobile developers to jump onto that platform. Fare thee well, Windows Mobile.
Battery Life
Winner: HTC HD2
The battery life on the iPhone 3GS has never been particularly impressive, so it should come as little surprise that the HD2 will outrun it on both talk and standby time. According to HTC, the HD2 should deliver 6.3 hours of talk time and 490 hours of standby, while Apple only claims 5 hours of talk and 300 hours of standby for the iPhone 3GS.
Overall Winner: HTC HD2
The HTC HD2 outspecs Apple's iPhone 3GS in nearly every vital category, making it a winner on technicalities, but we're still hesitant to declare it the best buy. With an aging, soon-to-be-replaced operating system, it's tough to recommend the HD2 on the merits of hardware alone. The HD2 proves to be the cream of the crop for Windows Mobile devices, but those aspirations of apps, slick sliding menus and full-featured Web browsers should look elsewhere, like at the still-competent iPhone 3GS, HTC Incredible, or Palm Pre.
Check out our other smartphone comparisons:
iPhone 4 vs. Android's Best: Spec Face-Off
HTC Incredible vs. Apple iPhone 3GS
Motorola Droid vs. HTC Incredible
Check out our full iPhone 3GS and HTC HD2 reviews.
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Christmas is best tackled with a sense of humor. Otherwise it's a great occasion for a nervous breakdown or a stroke. I hope everyone will heed William Shatner's holiday advice. This Mennonite has a boring Christmas message (with hypnotic music) about saving the world without spending too much on postage. Here are the Christmas greeting cards you wish you'd received, and the family photos you're happy are not yours.
Rest assured your office Christmas party went better than the Bluth's party. Listen to some Neil Hamburger (w/ Canned Hamm) jokes! Enjoy the full Christmas With the Chipmunks album from 1961, or just forget the whole thing with FEAR.