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Skip to comments.The Answer is in the Works
Posted on 05/10/2005 7:34:34 AM PDT by watsonfellow
The Answer Is in the Works The real negotiations havent taken place yet.
Today begins the fifth year of waiting for confirmation for some of President Bush's nominees to the federal courts of appeals. With the Senate reconvening on Capitol Hill, and Majority Leader Bill Frist preparing to use the "nuclear option" or the "constitutional option" or "Byrd option," as it is also known to end the standoff over Democratic filibusters, the outlines of a possible compromise solution are beginning to take shape.
It's not the quick-and-dirty fix, recently floated in the press, in which both sides would exchange a few nominees and call it a day, with no real change in the way the Senate works. Republicans genuinely, and deeply, believe that Democrats have abused the system by their unprecedented filibusters of an entire slate of judicial nominees. To use the phrase heard most often in discussions with them, Republicans want to "fix the problem going forward," that is, to break through not only today's stalemate but prevent future ones.
What would a deal look like? There have already been two proposed "compromises" in the standoff, one from Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid and the other from Frist. But neither was a final offer; it would be more accurate to see them as starting points, intended to feel out the opposition's readiness to deal. And each offers part of a possible solution.
For the GOP's part, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has proposed a solution that would end the practice of bottling up appellate-court nominees in committee (the key Democratic complaint against majority Republicans during the Clinton years), as well as guarantee 100 hours of debate on each nomination. Reid rejected that offer, calling it "a big wet kiss to the far right."
Reid had originally offered to pass three of four Bush nominees to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals who are not being filibustered but are nonetheless being blocked by Michigan Democratic Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow. They are what is known as "noncontroversial" nominees, meaning Democrats have not raised any substantive objections to them but are blocking them en masse in large part because Levin remains angry that his cousin's wife, Helene White, who was nominated to the bench by Bill Clinton, was not confirmed by the Republican Senate. In addition, Reid offered to allow an up-or-down vote on one of President Bush's "controversial" nominees like Priscilla Owen or Janice Rogers Brown. Frist rejected that offer, saying that all nominees deserve an up-or-down vote.
Based on conversations with three well-connected Republicans call them Republicans A, B, and C it appears that the solution might lie in a combination of the two offers. Frist's 100-hour proposal is a substantial deal. While it would end filibusters, it would mean that Democrats could still effectively block some nominees. "Senate floor time is very precious," says Republican A. "If you have a lot of guaranteed debate time, then effectively leadership will not be able to bring forward every nominee if the minority insists on going through every procedure that is there. If [Democrats] said, 'We want 100 hours on all of them,'" then realistically all of them would not come up."
Privately, some Republicans indicate that they are willing to negotiate further on this point. For example, if Democrats wanted more time, say 120 hours, for each nomination, then "I'm sure we would have that conversation," says Republican A.
More importantly, some in the GOP appear willing to abandon the position that all Bush nominees must have an up-or-down vote if that would ensure that future nominees would not face filibusters. "If you had to sacrifice a couple of nominees," says Republican B, "so that you could save the courts and preserve the principle from now on, it's not like these are the only conservative nominees in the world."
"Who cares about these individual nominees?" adds Republican A. "You care about the process going forward. Frist isn't in this to protect Janice Rogers Brown or Priscilla Owen. He wants to fix this and have a system that works for both sides going forward."
It is important to remember that Democrats already have killed three nominations. Miguel Estrada, Carolyn Kuhl, and Charles Pickering, all filibustered, all chose not to be renominated for their positions. Estrada and Kuhl apparently had enough of the process. Pickering was given a brief recess appointment to the bench but chose to retire rather than face a new confirmation fight. Any count of Republican concessions to Democrats would begin with the number three.
Some Republicans believe there is the possibility of a deal by negotiating the time of debate and the fate of current nominees. Frist has to walk away with a deal in which no one would be allowed to filibuster judicial nominees. And Reid has to have a deal in which Democrats can walk away with some scalps and still retain the ability to block some nominees.
It is entirely possible that neither side will budge and Frist will end the filibusters with the nuclear/constitutional/Byrd option. But the process is not at that point yet. In fact, it is safe to say that, despite the enormous amount of attention paid to the subject recently, many Republican and Democratic senators have not yet thought hard about what they would actually do to end the stalemate. They know some sort of resolution is coming, but it's not quite here yet, and they haven't gotten to the point where they clear away all other concerns and concentrate on the filibusters.
But that time is coming soon. When it becomes clear that Frist is ready to act on the filibusters, then Republicans and Democrats will start thinking hard. Seventy-two hours before such a deadline and 48 hours before, and then 24 hours before lawmakers will begin the kind of intense thinking about the subject that many have not done up to now. "The prospect of a deadline will sharpen the mind," says Republican C. And even though Frist has no obligation to announce the day and hour he might take action, that will likely become clear enough. "The sound of the waterfall will be so great," says Republican B, "that everybody will know when we're approaching the edge."
Call Frist now and tell him "NO DEAL!"
National Review's Beltway Buzz is also reporting that contrary to his press statement yesterday, Lott is negotiating with Nelson. Lott is lying to us.
Just spoke with David DiMartino from Senator Ben Nelsons office. DiMartino tells me that despite the press release from Trent Lotts office claiming otherwise, Senators Lott and Nelson met as recently as yesterday to discuss a possible compromise on judicial filibusters. If you go back and read that statement, youll notice how very careful they were about wording it, DiMartino said.
DiMartino added that Lott and Nelson, along with a handful of other senators from both parties have been negotiating the details of a compromise for several months and have consulted with Harry Reid and Bill Frist on the matter.
Its our belief that we have the six votes needed on the Democrat side. We thought we had the six votes from the GOP or were at least very close. Senator Nelson is going to talk to other Republicans today.
DiMartino said that the compromise talks originated when Senator Nelson had planned to introduce legislation that would allow all judicial nominees to receive committee votes and floor votes without filibusters. Though Nelson is still considering introducing the legislation, the 67 votes required for a rule change makes its chances for success almost impossible.
Call Lott and tell him that his lies will not be stood for!
(202) 224-6253
Southerners are horrible leaders, whether they are Dems or GOP.
And basketball sucks.
Are you just asking for trouble?
What do you know, fool? You can't even spell 'William' correctly.
If true, Frist can kiss any political future goodbye! Stand up to those bastards!
This is the bottom line, for me. If Frist does not achieve this, the Republican Party is useless, and they will no longer have my support. I will not support the Republican Party if all they can deliver is a series of squishy compromise nominees to the Federal Bench and the Supreme Court.
Frist, Lott, Clinton, Carter...
Newt was a better leader before he became Speaker...
Nothing against Southerners, I lived in the South for 15 years and I like Southerners.
They just don't make good leaders.
Sorry, I gotta do it!
You are an ignorant bigot.
I guess you are not a big fan of Bush. I'd have also include Washington, Jefferson, Jackson, Boone, Crockett, Lee and if you ever get to meet him, I'll hope you can say that to Patton's face.
I don't consider Texas the South.
The South is: SC, North FL, GA, AL, MS, (maybe LA and AR), TN, NC and KY.
IE, states with SEC schools.
And, let me clarify...Southerners of the past couple of generations do not make good leaders.
Let me clarify for you... you don't consider.
I'm a damn yankee and I'd never make such a broad sweeping statement about my southern brethren.
Southerners don't make good leaders...
Why has this board become so PC?
you mention 67 votes for a rule change
is everyone in agreement that it takes 2/3s?
We, on this board, are politically active and aware. On the other hand, most people are not. Many people voted for Bush so he could nominate people to the SCOTUS. They don't care about any other court. The Supreme Court is the Holy Grail. So, Frist will not be in hot water with them if he makes a deal, in fact they will applaud it.
I'm sure you meant.." southern POLITICIANS are horrible leaders." And to that amended statement, I agree. There's no defending southern politicians. They pretend piety, they ooze corruption, and they sound like Dogpatch detainees.
Southern belle accents drawled out the pouty mouths of sweet young things is charmin, I've been told. But grown white men with thick southern accents, sound school girl silly, downright sickening, even to other southerners, of which I am one. Silly, sickening...except to southern gay guys who all sound like Scarlett O'Hara on speed!
I think southern men who wind up politicians just might be, (as we say down here), "queer as three dollar bills". (And I'm only half kidding about this. ) Even the married ones are questionable...think John Edwards!
So, let's separate southern politicians from normal southern men, who become the world's finest military and corporate leaders.
PC? not me!
but I did want to acknowledge there are precious few exceptions to any rule of thumb.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.


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Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Birthday Carrot Cake!
17 comments:
wow i those those little carrots were real! they are perfect!ReplyDelete
You are seriously the best friend ever! What an adorable cake. I just love all of the carrots. So cute!ReplyDelete
I thought those were real, too! Amazing job Amey! I too have baked myself way too many of my own birthday cakes. Carrot is my favorite, too! Lucky Nikki.ReplyDelete
You are amazing. That cake is perfect! Can you be my friend?!Carrot cake is my favourite too and my birthday's in a month so I think I'll take your inspiration and make the VWAV one for myself. My Mum did make me a cake last year which was super sweet of her but it was chocolate and I'm not really a chocolate cake girl...not that I'm ungrateful or anything!ReplyDelete
[ Smiles ] Carrot cake is one of the best cakes out there; it happens to be one of my favourates!ReplyDelete
AMAZING JOB. Love those carrots! Happy Birthday NikkiReplyDelete
You're such a good friend, awesome job on the cake. Those carrots look amazing! I thought they were real at first, I didn't realize they were so tiny until the pic with the hand. :-)ReplyDelete
Amazing! She is a lucky girl to have a pal like you. Wish I could taste. Those marzipan carrots are perfection.ReplyDelete
You are such a brilliant friend! The cake looks amazing & your marzipan carrots are seriously awesome!ReplyDelete
I made this cake last weekend for my husband. It is by far the best carrot cake I have EVER made or had! So wonderful I am making again this weekend but in a 9x13 so I can share with a few more friends!! Thank you, thank you - this is now the ONLY carrot cake I will make.ReplyDelete

subset: commoncrawl


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May 06. 2013 10:16PM
Allen Lessels' On Hockey: Kings plan for Morris' return to Monarchs
New Hampshire Union Leader
Manchester Monarchs' Jordan Weal carries his equipment after cleaning out his locker at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester on Monday. The Monarchs wrapped up their season over the weekend, losing to Springfield in the AHL Eastern quarterfinals. (DAVID LANE/UNION LEADER)
MANCHESTER -- THE LOS ANGELES KINGS want Mark Morris back as coach of the Manchester Monarchs.
Morris likes the idea of returning for an eighth season as bench boss of the American Hockey League team.
Now it's a matter of the two sides getting together and working out a deal.
"I expect Mark to be back, assuming he wants to come back," said Ron Hextall, the Monarchs general manager and Kings assistant GM on Monday afternoon from Los Angeles. "We don't have a signed contract, but my plan is to have him back. I'll work on that this week and hopefully we'll get something done."
The Monarchs' season ended with a 4-3 overtime loss to the Springfield Falcons in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals on Saturday night. The Falcons won the series three games to one.
Morris and his staff finished with exit interviews with the players by about noon on Monday.
He tended to some other duties and in the late afternoon was cleaning out his apartment and preparing to head to his home on an island in the St. Lawrence River, just outside Massena, N.Y.
Morris said he had not talked to Hextall since the season ended and that it was premature to talk about his status with the Monarchs going forward. His present contract expires at the end of June.
"I think it's probably best to talk to Ron first," Morris said. "I know he's in the thick of the playoffs and that's probably the last thing on his mind."
The Kings played St. Louis on Monday night in Los Angeles in Game 4 of their first-round Stanley Cup series. The Blues held a two-games-to-one series lead going into Monday night.
"I think it's premature and it's hard to make any comment," Morris said. "But obviously Manchester is pretty near and dear to my heart. It's been good to me."
There's much to like about the Monarchs and Manchester, he said.
"Manchester's a great place to live," he said. "We play in a wonderful facility. I really love the city. The Monarchs organization has been great and treated me with a lot of respect. This has become a second home for me."
There's much to like about the job Morris and his staff have done developing players, said Hextall. He added that he felt Freddy Meyer, the first-year assistant and native of Sanbornville, fit in nicely and hopes he returns to the Monarchs as well.
"Mark's done a real good job," Hextall said. "I look at a coach and always judge a coach by, does he get the most out of his players? Year after year, Mark has gotten the most out of what we've given him. Everyone knows our philosophy is to have young players and develop young players. You look at our (Stanley Cup) championship team last year. We had 14 players who spent significant time in Manchester. That speaks volumes about results."
Hextall cited other examples and talked about the trials - including injuries and callups and losing veterans Richard Clune and Thomas Hickey to the waiver draft - that Morris and the Monarchs endured this season.
He noted, too, the highly productive young line of rookies Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson teamed with second-year player Linden Vey.
"Not too many teams have two first-year guys and a second-year guy as their top line," Hextall said. "They got checked every night. They really did a good job. Linden Vey absolutely grew a ton from the year before in a lot of areas he needed to grow, playing in traffic, playing the defensive game. All three of them did a really good job."
Toffoli was called up to Los Angeles in early March and came back to Manchester for a few games late and helped the Monarchs in their playoff push, but then went back to the Kings.
Led by workhorse goalie Martin Jones, who was recalled to join the Kings on Monday along with fellow goalie Jean-Francois Berube of the ECHL's Ontario Reign, the Monarchs made a late run to get into the playoffs.
There, as the No. 7 seed, they gave No. 2 Springfield all it could handle. Each of Manchester's three losses came in overtime.
Hextall spent a chunk of time around the team near the end of the season as it rallied into the playoffs.
"Let's face it, with three weeks left, people didn't think they'd make the playoffs," Hextall said. "There was a lot of growth on that team. A lot of good things happened in Manchester. A lot of really, really good things."
In the end, the Monarchs went to the playoffs for the fourth straight year and sixth time in seven years under Morris.
If they can work out the details, Morris will be back and try to make it five straight and seven of eight starting in October.


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Fuerteventura Golf Club is an 18-hole course, designed by architect Juan Catarimeau, bearing in mind the effect of the wind. This means that the course has large greens and fairways up to 50 metres wide at driving distance. There are coves and small beaches right opposite the course. It is just 8 kilometres from the international airport, and 14 km from the capital of Fuerteventura, Puerto del Rosario.
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meditation/five khandas
Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2011 9:29 pm
I've been experimenting with meditation on the five khandas, but falls short when it comes to defining and categorizing certain states of body and mind. I have figured out that this might be due to a personal unwillingness to categorize experience, but I have noticed certain side-effects from my experiment that are positive, and thus would like to continue. I've done some research on the five khandas on the Web, but would now like to hear some colloquial definitions/translations from experienced buddhists, as an aid to the traditional definitions/translations.
Metta Metta
Metta Metta


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Note: To clearly show the desired derailleur position, we locked it in place and didn't show the hand. You must pull it back by hand when removing wheels because it won't stay in place on its own.


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You are here
MHA Analysis Details Devastating Impact of Sequestration on People Living with Mental Health, Substance Use Conditions
Mental Health America Analysis Details Devastating Impact of Sequestration on People Living with Mental Health, Substance Use Conditions
Would Put Lives of Hundreds of Thousands of Children and Families at Risk
CONTACT: Steve Vetzner, (703) 797-2588 or email@example.com
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (October 4, 2012)—Mental Health America today released an analysis demonstrating the devastating impact "sequestration" would have on programs and services for people living with mental health and substance use conditions.
Sequestration is the process of making automatic budget cuts to federal government programs. The sequester was included as a budget reduction enforcement mechanism in the Budget Control Act of 2011, which had directed a "Super Committee" to find $1.2 trillion in savings over 10 years in both defense and non-defense discretionary spending. Because the committee failed to reach a deal, automatic cuts of between 8 and 11 percent will take effect on January 2, 2013, unless Congress passes legislation to postpone it or finds other ways to reduce the federal deficit.
These cuts would be further exacerbated if the budget approach advocated by Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan were to be enacted. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities recently estimated that their plan, which would exempt the military budget from sequestration, would result in a 22 percent cut to domestic discretionary spending.
The Mental Health America analysis finds that sequestration would devastate critical programs administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) that protect youth and families, including children's mental health services, homeless outreach programs, and youth violence and suicide prevention services.
"These cuts will be disastrous to communities and individuals living with mental health and substance use conditions and put the lives of hundreds of thousands of children and families at risk," said Dr. Wayne Lindstrom, president and CEO of Mental Health America.
"States have already cut mental health budgets by a combined $4 billion over the past three years—the largest single combined reduction to mental health spending since de-institutionalization in the 1970s. Given that one in every four Americans lives with a mental health or substance use condition, and more than 67 percent of adults and 80 percent of children who need services do not receive treatment, maintaining discretionary federal funding for mental health and substance use services is pivotal to ensure citizens have access to behavioral health care."
The Mental Health America analysis, which assumes a 10 percent cut to all Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) programs and other public health activities and research, finds that under sequestration:
- 684,000 individuals will lose critical employment and housing assistance, case management services, and school-based supports;
- 1.13 million children and adults will be at risk of losing access to any type of public mental health support;
- More than 320,000 children will miss out on coordinated mental health services, early intervention and prevention programming, and other suicide prevention services;
- 230,000 individuals will lose access to treatment and prevention services;
- 169,000 fewer individuals will be admitted to substance use treatment programs.
The analysis also finds that cuts to the National Institutes of Health would equal more than the entire combined budgets for the National Institute of Mental Health and National Institute on Drug Abuse. The sequestration could potentially eliminate 2,300 new and competing research project grants.
The cuts to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) equal more than half the funds it spent on all chronic disease prevention and health promotion ($1.2 billion). Life-saving immunizations would be denied to 30,000 children and 20,000 adults. It would also decrease the number of effective teen dating violence prevention programs that could result in increased psychological and sexual abuse.
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality would experience cuts that equal 62 percent of all funding for investigator-initiated research grants for quality, effectiveness and efficiency research, stalling the discovery and dissemination of new and effective treatments.
"These are essential and cost-effective programs that provide essential care, prevent injury and illness, and allow individuals to achieve recovery and live full and productive lives," Dr. Lindstrom said.
"Allowing sequestration to go forward will only end up costing taxpayers and the government more in the future."
Mental Health America (www.mentalhealthamerica.net) is the nation's largest and oldest community-based network dedicated to helping all Americans achieve wellness by living mentally healthier lives. With our 240 affiliates across the country, we touch the lives of millions—Advocating for changes in mental health and wellness policy; Educating the public & providing critical information; and delivering urgently needed mental health and wellness Programs and Services.


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2014-02-27 / Opinion
Risks Are Worth Taking—and Managing
Living is a risky business and risk increases as you get older. It's just a fact of life, and I have become painfully aware, at the threshold of my golden years, that dangers lurk in places you never considered before. It's not that they haven't always been there. It's just that I never considered them.
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Yet another big name store plans to set up shop in Haverfordwest with Debenhams confirmed as the latest tenants at Withybush Retail Park.
The popular department store will join Marks & Spencer, Next, Boots, Laura Ashley and Sports Direct when it takes over the former MFI unit.
Retail park manager Prupim has leased a 30,705 square foot unit to Debenhams, which hopes to be open by autumn next year.
There would only be one empty unit remaining although concerns about the future of Comet remain.
Rob Hadfield, director of property at Debenhams, says: "The opportunity for us at Withybush allows us to fulfil an active requirement for representation of not only Haverfordwest but also the wider Pembrokeshire catchment. The store will hopefully open in autumn 2013."
Rumours that Debenhams were coming to Haverfordwest were denied earlier this year by the company when contacted by the Western Telegraph.
Local county councillor Mark Edwards said he was "delighted" and said it was "fantastic news".
"If we're going to compete with Carmarthen we have got to get these stores in. I think it's another notch, another big name and we can build on that.
"It's really great that they want to come to Haverfordwest. We can't just be stuck where we are because it's not working, we need to look at other options," he said.
Stephen Gwilliam, asset management director at Prupim, said: "We are pleased to welcome Debenhams to Withybush as a significant anchor occupier alongside strong retailers including Marks & Spencer and Next. This provides a good opportunity for leasing the final unit to a strong fashion brand."


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You are welcome here! Worship exists at the heart of Plymouth life. We believe spiritual growth is nurtured in community. Worshipping together in community offers an experience of the Divine different from private prayer. Sharing our joys and our sorrows, together, we connect with each other and with God.
Experience multi-sensory faith expressions from music and prayer, visual art and story. Artists and musicians offer paths to perceive the message of each service beyond words. Reading Scripture and listening to the sermon are sacred story telling times to remind us who we are and whose we are. We hope you discover the Divine within you and inside the doors of Plymouth Chapel, Hildebrand Hall and Plymouth Sanctuary.


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This week's Love The Look features the wonderfully odd Terrence Koh (artist, fashionisto, sperm-collector, sculptor of crap and other bodily fluids.) Koh has just been made the face of hip label United Bamboo and the ad campaign for this season is an extravaganza of tinsel, blurry shots and classic tailoring with quirky details.
The image above and the rest of the campaign images after the jump will all debut in the Spring/ Summer issue of Fantastic Man.


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Deron MinorFree Agent
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News | Stats | Stat vs. Team | Targets | Injury | Depth Chart | Roster
|Bears | Waive 14 players
Fri, 02 Sep 2011 10:32:55 -0700
The Chicago Bears have waived FB Eddie Williams, WRs Andy Fantuz, Onrea Jones and Jimmy Young, OG Johan Asiata, OT Josh Davis, C Alex Linnenkohl, DE Jake Laptad, LBs Chris Z. Johnson, Tressor Baptiste and Deron Minor, CBs Antareis Bryan and Ryan Jones and P Spencer Lanning.
|Comment (0)
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|| Source: ChicagoBears.com - Larry Mayer
|Bears | Agree with 26 UDFAs
Tue, 26 Jul 2011 17:27:07 -0700
The Chicago Bears announced Tuesday, July 26, that they have come to terms with 26 undrafted rookie free agents. The list includes DTs Corbin Bryant (Northwestern), Jordan Miller (Southern) and Sean Murnane (Central Michigan), DE Mario Addison (Troy), LBs Tanner Antle (Tulsa), Tressor Baptiste (Texas A&M), Dom DeCicco (Pitt) and Deron Minor (McNeese State), CBs Antareis Bryan (Baylor), Mike Holmes (Syracuse) and Ryan Jones (Northwest Missouri State), Ss Winston Venable (Boise State) and Anthony Walters (Delaware), QB Trevor Vittatoe (UTEP), Cs J.C. Brignone (Miss. State) and Alex Linnenkohl (Oregon State), OG Ricky Henry (Nebraska), OT Josh Davis (Georgia), RB Robert Hughes (Notre Dame), WRs Travis Cobb (Arizona), Kris Adams (UTEP), Dane Sanzenbacker (Ohio State) and Jimmy Young (TCU), TEs Kyle Adams (Purdue) and Andre Smith (Virginia Tech) and P Spencer Lanning (South Carolina).
|Comment (0)
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|| Source: ChicagoBears.com - Larry Mayer
|Seahawks | 15 undrafted rookies added
Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:47:10 -0700
The Seattle Seahawks have agreed to terms with undrafted rookie free-agents DT Ladi Ajiboye (South Carolina), FB Dorson Boyce (Washington), DE Jarrett Crittenton (Middle Tennessee State), P John Gold (Texas), CB Jesse Hoffman (Eastern Washington), G Michael Huey (Texas), T Zach Hurd (Connecticut), S Jeron Johnson (Boise State), QB Zach Lee (Nebraska), LB Deron Minor (McNeese State), LB Mike Morgan (USC), OL Brent Osborne (Harvard), CB Ron Parker (Newberry), S Rickey Thenarse (Nebraska) and TE Ryan Travis (West Liberty).
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|| Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer


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|I have been posting articles to help inventors and other entrepreneurs such as yourself learn how to start and run a company based on your invention or new product idea.
For your convenience, here is a brief synopsis and link to each of the marketing-related articles that will help you write a concise-yet-effective marketing plan as part of your overall business plan to guide your business to profitability.
"Why Do Small Businesses Fail and How to Beat the Odds" discloses that 80% of small businesses fail within the first five years because of poor planning and shows you how to avoid the major pitfalls.
"Why Market Research is Important For Your Small Business" shows you why doing thorough market research before you start writing your business plan is critical to the success of your new business.
"Knowing and Marketing to Your Target Audience" discusses the importance of 'niche marketing' in today's competitive marketplace.
"An Education in Market Research – Gathering the Data" explains why gathering marketing data is an extremely important, yet often overlooked step in starting a business. This includes the qualitative data gathering methods of focus groups, phone interviews, computer assisted phone interviews, and web surveys.
"Overview on Qualitative Data Collection Techniques in International Marketing Research" discusses additional qualitative data gathering methods including pure observation, trace measures, archival measures, entrapment measures, protocols, collages, and picture completion.
"Niche Marketing – In 10 Minutes Or Less Learn How to Analyze the Profit Potential in a Niche Market" provides important additional information about niche marketing.
"How Data Mining Can Help in Customer Relationship Management Or CRM?" introduces you to 'data mining' which is now heavily used by companies and more sophisticated Internet marketers. If you have not heard of the term, you should know at least what it is and some basic information about it.
Here are some articles on how to relate to your customers and prospective customers, explaining how to approach development of your products to exceed both perceived and unimagined wants of your customers, like Apple does.
"Beyond Customer Need and Expectation, Perception is King of Market" discusses how meeting customer needs and exceeding customer expectations is simply not enough. Companies need to provide to customers what they never expected or imagined they needed.
"Meeting Customer Needs And Wants" explains why meeting the objective needs and subjective wants of customers drives sales to businesses, and can be enhanced by talking with customers, meeting their expressed needs and wants, and effective follow-up.
"How to Build Profitable Customer Relationships" reveals that since companies are continually driven to grow, marketers are oftentimes too focused on selling to new customers and neglect highly profitable current and past customers.
"Identifying and Meeting Customer Needs" shows you that providing excellent customer experiences is not enough without identifying customer needs through active listening and effective communication.
Here are some articles about putting together an effective marketing plan that can then be integrated into your overall business plan.
"A Short Marketing Plan Helps Entrepreneurs Take Action" discusses how an effective marketing plan is key to the survival of your business and why you are more likely to succeed with a short, well thought-out marketing plan.
"Write a Marketing Plan to Take Your Product From Good Idea to Profits" shows you how to write an effective marketing plan.
"How to Write Your 5-Minute Marketing Plan" explains that many business owners are 'too busy' to follow their marketing plans and how you can write a simple, easy to follow 5-minute marketing plan that you can actually use in the day-to-day management of your business.
"Strategic Marketing Plan – How to Write a Marketing Plan in 60 Minutes Or Less" discusses how your business is ultimately doomed without an effective marketing plan.
"Small Business Marketing Plan – Increase Your Business Profit Without Breaking Your Marketing Budget" discloses seven steps that small businesses can take to increase profits while spending less marketing money.
Why am I placing so much emphasis on market research you ask? Well, it is the number one reason why new businesses fail!
I hope these articles help you to reach your business and life goals.
Best regards,
Brian R. Rayve
P.S. Click here to protect your invention from being stolen with a professionally prepared provisional patent application for only $179.95 (plus $110.00 filing fee separately payable).
P.P.S. Click here to find angel investors to fund your invention.
start businesses starting businesses business articles inventors entrepreneurs inventions product ideas new products marketing articles marketing plans business plans business profitability small businesses why businesses fail market research target audiences niche marketing business education marketing data gathering marketing data qualitative data data gathering methods focus groups phone interviews web surveys data collection techniques international market research pure observation trace measures archival measures entrapment measures picture completion niche markets profit potential data mining customer relationship management crm internet marketers internet marketing new product development customer needs customer expectations customer wants customer relationships customer service active listening effective communications writing marketing plans business management strategic marketing plans small business marketing plans marketing budgets increase profits why businesses fail business goals life goals


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STOCKTON - The state-mandated implementation of virtually national academic standards will begin in less than two years, and Stockton Unified took a step this week toward preparing for that moment.
STOCKTON - The state-mandated implementation of virtually national academic standards will begin in less than two years, and Stockton Unified took a step this week toward preparing for that moment.
The school board unanimously approved a contract, not to exceed $280,000, with the Colorado-based Leadership and Learning Center to help the district get ready.
California adopted the Common Core State Standards in English and math in 2010 and is among 45 states to take the step.
The standards have been designed to try to help American students close what educators say is a growing achievement gap between themselves and their peers in many other industrialized nations. A major aspect of the initiative is to ensure uniformity of education for students who move from school to school or state to state.
Most significantly, Stockton Unified Assistant Superintendent Kirk Nicholas said, under the new approach student success will be measured less by their ability to recite facts than by how effective they are at demonstrating their understanding of what they have learned.
Nicholas gave the example of a rubber band resting on a table. Whereas now a student would be asked to identify the object as a rubber band, a student in 2014-15 would be asked to shoot it into the wind, shoot it with the wind to his back, and analyze the results.
The task now facing Stockton Unified is to adapt its curriculum to the new standards. The Leadership and Learning Center will serve as a consultant in a process Nicholas and Superintendent Steve Lowder say will be driven by teachers.
Lowder said Stockton Unified is "changing from a top-down model to a directive, and the teachers designing the plan."
"It's about honoring teachers making decisions in the classroom about student achievement," Lowder added. "We believe in teachers."
Nicholas said the adaptation of the curriculum to the Common Core Standards is another step in an ongoing effort by Stockton Unified to establish consistent educational practices at the district's 55 campuses.
Earlier this year, the district laid out six measurable goals for its students, among them that all students be able to read and comprehend by the end of third grade, be proficient in algebra by the end of eighth grade and be ready for college or a career by the end of high school.
Preparing for the Common Core Standards is one more step toward reaching those goals, Lowder said, adding, "It's all part of the coherent puzzle we're putting together to improve student achievement."
Contact reporter Roger Phillips at (209) 546-8299 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Visit his blog at recordnet.com/phillipsblog.


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"Four for you, Glen Coco! You go, Glen Coco!"
Make your friends feel as awesome as Glen Coco and send them a Candy Cane Gram! $1 gets you a candy cane and a message. ASB will deliver the grams between 12/10-12/14. All proceeds benefit the ASB trip to the Everglades!


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A step by step guide on how to draw a Bengal tiger, including detailed tips on how to draw heads, paws, and stripes.
DragoArt members upload artwork and drawing tutorials! They are also allowed to leave comments on tutorials, profiles, etc. Many more features, as well; it's way better than just being a boring guest! Register Now!


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Narrative reports
2-Narrative report Update September 2011
3-Narrative report September 2012
5-Narrative report Update 2013
6-Narrative report April - September 2013
7-Narrative report Phase III 2013-2015
The sessions of EuFMD fall into three categories:
General sessions are held every two years at FAO headquarters in Rome and are attended by representatives of all member countries and by outside observers.
The executive committee meets twice yearly in April and November (except in years where there is a general session, when a session is held in November only) and the research group meets once yearly in September. Sessions of the executive committee and the research committee are held at different venues in one or other of the member countries.
Reports of all sessions held since the beginning of 1999 are available through this webpage.
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ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A Turkish cameraman captured by Syrian forces while covering fighting in the city of Aleppo in August has been released and will return to Turkey, the delegation that negotiated his freedom with Syrian President Bashar Assad told Turkish media on Saturday.
Cameraman Cuneyt Unal and reporter Bashar Fahmi — a Jordanian citizen of Palestinian origin — had been missing since August. They were believed to have been captured by Syrian government forces. Both were working for the U.S.-based Alhurra TV.
Turkish legislator Hasan Akgol said Saturday that Unal was in Damascus and would return to Turkey later in the day with a Turkish opposition party delegation, which held talks with Assad and other Syrian officials for his release. There was no information on Fahmi's whereabouts.
Unal told Turkey's NTV television in a telephone interview that he and Fahmi were caught up in the fighting in the city of Aleppo on Aug. 20 that killed Japanese journalist Mika Yamamoto. He said that Fahmi was seriously injured in the fighting.
The cameraman carried his injured colleague into an apartment building where some Aleppo residents tended to his wound. Unal left the building to seek more help but was captured by a group of people who later handed him over to Syrian government forces.
Unal said he had been held locked up alone in a prison cell in Aleppo for the past three months, living on "bread and potatoes," but was not ill-treated. His captors even took him to hospital for treatment when he became ill, he told NTV television.
He was brought to Damascus three days ago.
Unal, sounding emotional, said he was happy to be released but was still "in shock."
"I didn't know I was going to be released until I saw the (Turkish) delegation in front of me. I cried when I saw them," he said. "I missed my wife, my daughter and my family."
In the United States, the Broadcasting Board of Governors welcomed news of Unal's release but expressed concern over the lack of news on Fahmi. The Broadcasting Board of Governors is funded by the U.S. Congress and runs several broadcast networks for foreign news, including the Voice of America and Radio and TV Marti, which broadcasts to Cuba.
"We are relieved that Cuneyt will be reunited safely with his family," said Michael Meehan, the chairman of the Middle East Broadcasting Networks and a member of the broadcast board. "The lack of information on Bashar Fahmi is profoundly troubling."
Akgol told reporters in Damascus that the Syrian authorities were investigating what had happened to Fahmi and would hand him over to Turkey if he is found.
"We also want to take (Fahmi) to Turkey. But we don't know if he is alive or not," the private Dogan news agency quoted Akgol telling reporters. "The Syrian authorities are investigating."


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Missing Halifax woman's disappearance now murder investigation
The body of a missing Halifax woman has been found on a highway median in New Brunswick.
Police located Loretta Saunders's body around 4:30 p.m. AT west of Salisbury, N.B., off of Route 2 of the Trans-Canada Highway.
Halifax police and New Brunswick RCMP closed one lane of the highway to retrieve the body.
Earlier Wednesday, police announced Saunders's disappearance was a murder investigation.
"Investigators have identified suspects in this homicide and they are not looking for anyone else," Const. Pierre Bourdages said.
He also said "charges are anticipated against suspects" and would be laid as soon as possible.
"There's been tremendous support by family and friends here … and we're trying to locate the body of Ms. Saunders so the family can bring her home," Bourdages said before the body was found.
Saunders, 26, went missing Feb. 13 from Halifax and her car was found Feb. 18 in Harrow, Ont., near Windsor, Ont.
Two people were arrested when Saunders' car was found.
Blake Leggette, 25, and Victoria Henneberry, 28, are in custody in Halifax and accused of theft of a motor vehicle, police said.
They had been facing fraud charges in Ontario for allegedly using Saunders' debit card, but those charges were dropped.
Saunders was reportedly pregnant and working on a thesis about missing and murdered aboriginal women.
Saunders' sister, Delilah Terriak, seemed to foreshadow Wednesday's announcement with a post on her Facebook page on Tuesday.
"You all need to turn your heads from these screens and tell your family and friends how much they mean to you because you never know what could happen to those who you figure will always be there," Terriak wrote.


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Your current filters are…
by Adam Stanley
Join this session to explore the exciting development possibilities of the BlackBerry WebWorks SDK for PlayBook. Learn how to use CSS3, HTML5 and JavaScript WebWorks APIS to transform your existing web assets into a BlackBerry Super App!
United States United States, San Francisco
28th–31st March 2011


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It is possible that the main title of the report Ichthyosis, Netherton Syndrome is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.
Netherton syndrome is a rare hereditary disorder characterized by scaling skin, hair anomalies, increased susceptibility to atopic eczema (a skin condition that can result in dry, red and flaky skin), elevated IgE levels, and other related symptoms. Netherton syndrome is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait.
Foundation for Ichthyosis & Related Skin Types
2616 N Broad Street
Colmar, PA 18915
Tel: (215)997-9400
Fax: (215)997-9403
Tel: (800)545-3286
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Internet: http://www.firstskinfoundation.org
NIH/NationaI Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Information Clearinghouse
One AMS Circle
Bethesda, MD 20892-3675
Tel: (301)495-4484
Fax: (301)718-6366
Tel: (877)226-4267
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Internet: http://www.niams.nih.gov/
National Registry for Ichthyosis and Related Disorders
University of Washington
Dermatology Dept. Box 356524
1959 N.E. Pacific Street
Seattle, WA 98195-6524
Tel: (800)595-1265
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Internet: http://www.skinregistry.org/
Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8126
Tel: (301)251-4925
Fax: (301)251-4911
Tel: (888)205-2311
Email: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/EmailForm.aspx
Internet: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD
This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html
The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.
It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.
For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email email@example.com
Last Updated: 4/11/2008
Copyright 1988, 1989, 1993, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information.


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Hobbit is an invention. In the Westron the word used, when this people was referred to at all, was banakil 'halfling'. But..the folk of the Shire and of Bree used the word kuduk... It seems likely that kaduk was a worn-down form of kûd-dûkan [= 'hole-dweller']. The latter I have translated... by holbytla ['hole-builder']; and hobbit provides a word that might well be a worn-down form of holbytla, if the name had occurred in our own ancient language.
You gotta love someone who says "it seems likely" about languages he invented himself.
His holbytla is from Old English hol "hollow, cavern, den", and bytla "hammerer, builder". Hol (and modern hole) is from Proto-Indo-European *ḱel- "to cover, conceal" (which I've talked about before, but anyway).
In Latin, *ḱel- prefixed with *ob- "over" to form occulere "to cover over", and the past participle occultus, and English occult.


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WICHITA, Kan., March 18 (UPI) -- The U.S. Air Force has apparently rejected Beechcraft's latest protest of the LAS program award and is sticking with Brazil's Embraer.
"When it comes to producing aircraft that will help Americans come home from Afghanistan, the U.S. Air Force today concluded that America's 'best interest' now rests on the shoulders of Brazil," Beechcraft Corp. said. "This decision is very misguided. It will lead to the loss of American jobs and substantially higher costs to American taxpayers."
The LAS program is to provide Afghanistan's air force with an initial 20 light support combat aircraft. The contract was originally given to a partnership between Embraer and the Sierra Nevada Corp. for the A-26 Super Tucano, a turboprop combat aircraft in use by a number of militaries.
The aircraft would be manufactured in Florida and the partner companies highlighted the creation of jobs in the United States as a result of that.
Beechcraft offered its T-6 trainer, which would be made in a combat variant.
When the contract went to the Embraer-SNC partnership, Beechcraft launched an official protest with the U.S. Government Accountability Office, citing "bias" in the selection process since Beechcraft was the lowest bidder.
As a result, the U.S. Air Force reopened the competition but decided on the Brazilian aircraft and, with administration backing, rejected the new official protest.
"By invoking this override procedure to outsource American defense jobs, the definitions of national security and the protection of the U.S. aerospace industrial base have been turned upside down," Beechcraft said.
"Moreover, the Air Force's decision to bypass the normal GAO review process deprives the American taxpayer of transparent answers to legitimate and well-documented questions to what has been a very opaque LAS acquisition.
"The correct decision would be to protect our national security interest by selecting the lower cost, American-made aircraft that the air force rated 'Exceptional' and one that is built around an airframe, weapons and systems that are familiar to and under the control of, the United States military."
Beechcraft said it will review its options to reverse the "misguided" Air Force decision.
Beechcraft's original protest delayed the program by more than a year and the Air Force -- with U.S. combat forces leaving Afghanistan at the end of next year -- apparently decided further delays in getting the aircraft to Afghan forces was unacceptable.
In a related development, Embraer Aircraft Holding Inc. on Friday said it has signed a 10-year lease on a 40,000-square-foot hangar in Jacksonville, where the A-29s will be assembled.
Preparation of the facility for the work is under way.
The facility will perform pre-equipping, mechanical assembly, structural assembly, systems installation and testing, and flight testing of the A-29 aircraft.
"We have been looking forward to the day that we can officially establish our presence in Jacksonville and we are ready to get to work," said Gary Spulak, president of Embraer Aircraft Holding Inc. "This important step is the first of many that will solidify the new partnership we have created between Embraer and the Jacksonville community."
Embraer has had its U.S. headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for more than 30 years and has recently expanded operations in the state by opening new production and customer care facilities.


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16"x16" image on 20"x20.5" sheet.
ROBERT MORAN (b. 1952) lives and works off the coast of Maine in the US. His photographs have been exhibited in numerous exhibitions across the US and internationally, including at the Ballarat International Foto Biennale (Australia), The Center for Fine Art Photography (Fort Collins, US), Griffin Museum of Photography (Winchester, US) and the Magenta Flash Forward Festival (Canada) among others. Photographs by Robert Moran are represented in the collections of Cleveland Clinic, the Magenta Foundation and the Fort Wayne Museum of Art.
Series: Relics, 2011-2014.
Signature: Signed, Dated, Numbered on Verso.
Image rights: Robert Moran
Direct from the artist.
About Robert Moran
American, b. 1952, based in Maine, United States
Group Shows


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NXT needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 362 designs submitted by 131 freelance designers.
NXT Nutrition
We are an organization that has been around for under a year that is composed of a group of experienced health and beauty marketers. We are in the process of building out a nutritional supplement brand. Our goal is to build out the highest quality brand in the marketplace. The products consist primarily of workout supplements.
Our target audience is male dominated in the 15+ demographic. The products are work out supplements. The audience targeted has a mind set that staying in shape and fitness are a key element to a healthy lifestyle. This demographic is typically self conscious about their looks and appearance.
An example of a brand that is in our vertical that we are impressed with is OptimumNutrition.com
We want a brand that will appeal to the target demographic that we described that screams quality. We want a very clean, more "Web 2.0" branded product line. We want the design to work on a black or white background.
Example of brands looks & feels we like:
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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Jeff Bridgeman of Carmi has completed a book that contains the statistics on every Kentucky high school team in history.
Jeff Bridgeman of Carmi has completed a book that contains the statistics on every Kentucky high school team in history.
Jeff is a 1980 Carmi Community High School graduate and grew up here, the son of Larry and Kelly Bridgeman. He played basketball, golf and baseball in high school and remains an avid local sports fan, serving as a records keeper and statistician for various local sports teams.
He has compiled a handbook on the local softball team and keeps his own computer records of local sporting events and is employed as a bookkeeper for a local oil company.
But he's done nothing on the level locally of what he has accomplished with Kentucky high school basketball.
The obvious question: Why Kentucky?
"My family is from there," he said. "My dad played basketball there and I was always drawn to their high school basketball system of having no classes."
Jeff explained that Illinois high schools are broken into a series of classes based on the population size of the school. In Kentucky, however, there are no classes. It is a free-for-all, and it is ripe ground for the classic "David vs. Goliath" battles in tournaments and state championships.
Jeff said he has been working on compiling the statistics for the book, off and on, for the last eight or 10 years. He said the most helpful resource was a Louisville newspaper and he would spend many days in a row in Louisville pouring over their archives.
He admitted it helped having a brother that lives in Louisville that he could stay with while doing his research.
Jeff kept notes during his research and said he talked to more than 40,000 people. He recalled one coach in particular that was very helpful. The man had coached at a small Kentucky school that had closed in 1942.
"He knew a lot of other small school coaches to contact," Jeff said.
Every team's record is in the book along with photos of every state champion team dating to 1915.
Jeff also explained that Kentucky has only about 250 high schools, as compared to more than 1,000 in Illinois, as being one of the reasons he has not done a similar compilation on Illinois high schools.
He also said his next project is a similar stats book on Kentucky high school football teams.
The book, "Kentucky High School Basketball Records & Facts," is available at acclaimpress.com and is a 400-page, hardcover book. The cost is $39.99.
Jeff also thanked the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches and the Kentucky High School Athletics Association for their help in compiling the book.


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For many PHP developers eager to apply the object-oriented paradigm in a more thorough and consistent manner, the release of PHP 5 brought a number of handy features that allowed them to achieve this goal in a truly painless fashion. This isn't breaking news, of course, but the inclusion of member visibility and abstract classes, the support for native exceptions and magic methods, to name just a few examples, gave the language the level of maturity that we see in it these days.
In addition, among the features that were added to PHP 5, there exists the capacity for creating user-defined interfaces. This characteristic permits developers to do programming by contract without too many headaches. However, the support for interfaces doesn't stop in "userland," as the language also comes with the Standard PHP Library (SPL). The SPL includes a set of native classes and interfaces that make it easier to tackle common programming problems, such as overloading arrays, traversing directories recursively, and so forth.
Included in the group of native interfaces bundled with the SPL, there are a few that deserve a deeper analysis, as they're frequently used by many developers nowadays. I'm talking specifically about the Iterator, Countable and ArrayAccess interfaces. When properly implemented, these interfaces allow you to traverse different data collections (e.g. database result sets) by using a simple "foreach" construct, as well as going backward and forward across those data, as when navigating regular arrays.
Given the relevance that these native interfaces have for the average PHP developer, in this series of tutorials I'm going to demonstrate how to use them in the development of a pair of concrete classes, which as you'll see in a few moments, will act like an abstraction layer for interacting with MySQL.
Now, it's time to start discovering the actual power behind the Iterator, Countable and ArrayAccess PHP 5 interfaces. Let's jump in!
{mospagebreak title=Developing a basic MySQL abstraction class}
As I mentioned in the introduction, one of the most typical use of the native Iterator, Countable and ArrayAccess interfaces occurs when developing classes that have the ability tor traverse database result sets. In this particular situation, since my goal is to demonstrate how to implement the interfaces in a useful way, in the lines to come I'm going to start building a pair of classes that will work specifically with MySQL.
However, it's possible to use the same interfaces with other popular RDBMS, such as MS SQL and Oracle. In theory you shouldn't have major problems building classes that will work with those database servers, and will probably make use of the standard PDO extension (PHP Data Objects).
Thus, to begin, the first of two classes that I plan to build will be a proxy for the native MySQLi PHP 5 class, and its initial definition will be as follows:
class MySQLiWrapper extends MySQLi
private static $_instance = NULL;
// return Singleton instance of MySQL class
public static function getInstance(array $config = array())
if (self::$_instance === NULL)
self::$_instance = new self($config);
return self::$_instance;
// private constructor
private function __construct(array $config)
if (count($config) < 4)
throw new Exception('Invalid number of connection parameters');
list($host, $user, $password, $database) = $config;
parent::__construct($host, $user, $password, $database);
if ($this->connect_error)
throw new Exception('Error connecting to MySQL : ' . $this->connect_errno . ' ' . $this->connect_error);
// prevent cloning class instance
private function __clone(){}
// perform query
public function runQuery($query)
if (is_string($query) AND !empty($query))
if ((!$this->real_query($query)))
throw new Exception('Error performing query ' . $query . ' – Error message : ' . $this->error);
return new MySQLi_ResultWrapper($this);
// get insertion ID
public function getInsertID()
return $this->insert_id;
// close database connection
public function __destruct()
As I anticipated a moment ago, the previous "MySQLiWrapper" class is a Singleton wrapper for the native MySQLi class that comes with PHP 5. Essentially, all that this wrapper does is implement some straightforward methods, which allow you to connect to MySQL, run hard-coded SQL queries, retrieve insertion IDs, and so forth.
While it's fair to say that this first sample class does perform a few interesting tasks like the ones mentioned above, there's still no clue as to how it can implement some of the interfaces discussed in the introduction. Or is there? Well, if you analyze the implementation of the "runQuery()" method more closely, you'll realize that it returns a new object, which is an instance of an undefined class called "MySQLi_ResultWrapper."
The reason to code this method in such a way is simply the separation of concerns. On the one hand, there's one class that take cares of establishing a connection to MySQL and executing queries, while on the other hand there will be a separate class that will handle database result sets generated by "SELECT" statements. That's quite easy to understand, right?
Since the purpose of the still-undefined "MySQLi_ResultWrapper" class will be manipulating row sets, it becomes a good candidate for turning into an implementer of the pertinent Iterator, Countable and ArrayAccess interfaces. This will allow us to traverse and count table records, as well as navigate easily across them.
Therefore, provided that you grasped the logic driving the previous "MySQLiWrapper" class, it's time to show the definition of "MySQLi_ResultWrapper," which at its initial stage will implement the methods defined by the Iterator interface.
To learn how this brand new class will be created, read the section to come. I'll be there, waiting for you.
{mospagebreak title=Handling database result sets separately}
In the previous segment, I defined an initial abstraction class that permitted us, among other things, to handle connections to MySQL and perform specified SQL queries through a friendly API. Naturally, the most important method to look at here is "runQuery()." It returns an instance of a class called "MySQLi_ResultWrapper," whose definition certainly hasn't been showed so far.
Thus, it's time to reveal the secret and show the initial source code of this class, which will be an implementer of the aforementioned Iterator, Countable and ArrayAccess native interfaces respectively. But I'm getting ahead of myself; for the moment, this class will look like this:
class MySQLi_ResultWrapper extends MySQLi_Result
private $_pointer = 0;
// fetch row as an object
public function fetchObject()
if (!$row = $this->fetch_object())
return NULL;
return $row;
// fetch row as an associative array
public function fetchAssocArray()
if (!$row = $this->fetch_assoc())
return NULL;
return $row;
// fetch row as an enumerated array
public function fetchNumArray()
if (!$row = $this->fetch_row())
return NULL;
return $row;
// fetch all rows
public function fetchAll($type = MYSQLI_ASSOC)
if ($type !== MYSQLI_ASSOC AND $type !== MYSQLI_NUM AND $type !== MYSQLI_BOTH)
$type = MYSQLI_ASSOC;
if (!$rows = $this->fetch_all($type))
return NULL;
return $rows;
// get definition information on fields
public function fetchFieldsInfo()
if (!$fieldsInfo = $this->fetch_fields())
throw new Exception('No information available for table fields.');
return $fieldsInfo;
// get definition information on next field
public function fetchFieldInfo()
if (!$fieldInfo = $this->fetch_field())
throw new Exception('No information available for current table field.');
return $fieldInfo;
// free up result set
public function __destruct()
From the above code sample, it's clear to see that the "MySQLi_ResultWrapper" class is exactly that: a wrapper for the native PHP 5 MySQLi_Result class. In consonance with this, the class implements some proxy methods that allow it to fetch database rows as plain objects, as well as in the form of numerically-indexed and associative arrays. Besides, there are a couple of additional methods that can be used for retrieving information about the fields of a selected table, these don't bear any further discussion.
At this point, the definition of the "MySQLi_ResultWrapper" class is quite easy to follow, but it doesn't implement any of the interfaces mentioned before. Well, as the old proverb says, a long walk begins with a single step, so it's time to refactor the class a little bit to make an implementer of the Iterator interface. This process will permit us to iterate over database result sets via a simple "foreach" construct.
This topic will be discussed in detail in the section to come. Therefore, to get there, click on the link below and keep reading.
{mospagebreak title=Making the MySQLi_ResultWrapper class more functional}
In case you don't know, the native Iterator interface declares five methods called "rewind()," "current()," "key()," "valid()" and "next()." This implies, obviously, that any class implementing the interface must give a concrete implementation to each of these methods. In the case of the previous "MySQLi_ResultWrapper" class, turning it into an implementer of Iterator will make it possible to traverse database result sets using a "foreach" loop, as if they were plain arrays.
Now, it's time to refactor the class in question, so it can partially implement the methods declared by Iterator. After the corresponding refactoring process, the "MySQLi_ResultWrapper" class will have the following definition:
class MySQLi_ResultWrapper extends MySQLi_Result implements Iterator
private $_pointer = 0;
// fetch row as an object
public function fetchObject()
if (!$row = $this->fetch_object())
return NULL;
return $row;
// fetch row as an associative array
public function fetchAssocArray()
if (!$row = $this->fetch_assoc())
return NULL;
return $row;
// fetch row as an enumerated array
public function fetchNumArray()
if (!$row = $this->fetch_row())
return NULL;
return $row;
// fetch all rows
public function fetchAll($type = MYSQLI_ASSOC)
if ($type !== MYSQLI_ASSOC AND $type !== MYSQLI_NUM AND $type !== MYSQLI_BOTH)
$type = MYSQLI_ASSOC;
if (!$rows = $this->fetch_all($type))
return NULL;
return $rows;
// get definition information on fields
public function fetchFieldsInfo()
if (!$fieldsInfo = $this->fetch_fields())
throw new Exception('No information available for table fields.');
return $fieldsInfo;
// get definition information on next field
public function fetchFieldInfo()
if (!$fieldInfo = $this->fetch_field())
throw new Exception('No information available for current table field.');
return $fieldInfo;
// move pointer in result set to specified offset
public function movePointer($offset)
$offset = abs((int)$offset);
$limit = $this->num_rows – 1;
if ($limit <= 0 OR $offset > $limit)
return NULL;
return $this->data_seek($offset);
// reset result set pointer (implementation required by 'rewind()' method in Iterator interface)
public function rewind()
$this->_pointer = 0;
return $this;
// get current row set in result set (implementation required by 'current()' method in Iterator interface)
public function current()
if (!$this->valid())
throw new Exception('Unable to retrieve current row.');
return $this->fetchObject();
// free up result set
public function __destruct()
Definitely, the above "MySQLi_ResultWrapper" class is starting to take shape. It's now an implementer of the Iterator interface, and in consequence it must implement all of its declared methods. For the moment, the class only does this with the "rewind()" and "current()" inherited methods, which internally use another one called "movePointer()" in order to reset the pointer of a given result set and get its current element.
Naturally, if you give the class a try in its current state, you'll get a loud complaint from the PHP engine, since it doesn't implement all of the methods of Iterator. However, this is a work in progress; the remaining methods will be properly defined in the upcoming tutorial.
Final thoughts
In this first chapter of the series, I introduced you to using the Iterator, Countable and ArrayAccess interfaces that come packaged with the Standard PHP Library. This part showed how to implement only some of the methods declared by the Iterator interface within a class that manipulates MySQL result sets via an intuitive API.
In the next installment, things will get more interesting. I'm going to finish building this class by giving a concrete implementation to the Iterator's remaining methods.
Here's my final piece of advice: don't miss the next part!


text:
STAVANGER, Norway (AP) — Norway is considering a request to take the bulk of Syria's chemical weapons stockpile for eventual destruction, an official said Tuesday.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Ragnhild Imerslund told The Associated Press that the U.N. and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, which are working together to eliminate the deadly arsenal, would like to see the stockpile of chemicals destroyed in one country outside Syria.
"But the best solution for them is not necessarily the best solution for Norway," said Imerslund. She said Norway is refusing to handle chemical weapons loaded onto warheads and ready for use, but is considering accepting mixed chemicals and chemical precursors that can be mixed to make deadly nerve agents.
The U.N. has informed Norway that Syria has 50 metric tons of mixed chemicals in the form of mustard gas and some 300-500 metric tons of materials needed to make nerve agents.
Imerslund said her government is consulting with a working group made up of environmentalists, military analysts, lawyers, and other ministries. Norwegian officials have yet to select a possible site for destruction, a decision which could lead to protests from nearby municipalities and regions.
A recent survey by InFact, a pollster, said 48 percent of the population opposed destroying Syria's chemical stockpile on Norwegian soil, compared with just 30 percent who support it.
Jorn Siljeholm, a former U.N. weapons inspector in Iraq, said Norway is capable of destroying the chemicals safely, providing it can be over months or even years. "It is technically feasible for Norway to destroy these chemicals. This is purely a political decision," he said.
Observers said the mid-2014 deadline for the destruction of Syria's arsenal, which was set by the United States and Russia, could also be a problem.
It is "a deadline that would be impossible to meet since Norway at the moment doesn't have any facilities to destroy these chemicals," said Nils Boehmer, a manager at Bellona, a Norway-based environmental group.
Imerslund stressed that Norway would not be forced into meeting any deadlines unilaterally set by other organizations.
Associated Press writer Gary Peach in Riga, Latvia, contributed to this report.


text:
NEW ORLEANS — It's only Week 3 and desperation time is already at hand for the Kansas City Chiefs and the New Orleans Saints.
The loser of their meeting this Sunday in the Superdome will drop to 0-3 and become a playoff long shot before NFL teams have hit the one-quarter mark on their regular-season schedule.
"You just don't want to keep digging that hole because in the NFL, every team is great each and every week," Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassel said. "Is there a sense of urgency about it? Absolutely. We want to get a win, and everybody in this room is working extremely hard to get that done."
The Chiefs are in familiar territory, having started 0-3 last season before finishing 7-9 and out of the playoffs.
The Saints, by contrast, only lost three games during the 2011 season and expected to be in contention for a fourth straight playoff berth this season, even after the NFL's bounty investigation resulted in the suspension of coach Sean Payton.
"I would have never expected to be 0-2," Saints interim head coach Aaron Kromer said. "We are not used to being 0-and-anything. This is a winning organization. It has been a winning organization and we are going to take it back to that.
"All we can do is worry about this one week," Kromer continued, adding that his instructions to his players after last Sunday's 35-27 loss to Carolina were to "look in the mirror, don't point fingers, and move on."
In case they didn't get the message, small round mirrors were affixed to players' lockers at Saints headquarters this week.
"It's the only answer," said Saints right tackle Zach Strief, an offensive captain. "There's literally a danger in guys pointing fingers and becoming cancers and complaining. I think it can be human nature to say, 'Whose fault is it?' ... and that's poison in a locker room, so the only thing that you can do is look at yourself."
When the Chiefs and Saints look at themselves, they see a mixed bag that gives them cause for hope as well as concern.
Both teams are among the league leaders in offense. The Drew Brees-led Saints rank third, while Cassel's Chiefs rank fifth.
Defense is where the problems lie for both clubs.
The Saints are last in yards allowed and tied with the Chiefs for last in points allowed, 75.
Certainly, the oddsmakers see a matchup ripe for a shootout, setting the over/under at 53, higher than any other game this week.
Yet members of both teams would argue that after only two games, the sample size is too small to place so much emphasis on statistics.
In such a short span, a few big plays can skew the numbers for a unit that, if not for a handful of blown assignments or correctable mistakes, could have performed much better, they say.
First-year Saints defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo knows that from his experience as coordinator of the 2007 New York Giants. That team gave up 80 points in its first two games but wound up winning the Super Bowl against previously unbeaten New England while largely stifling Tom Brady and an offense that set NFL scoring records that season.
Spagnuolo said he blamed himself for much of the poor early-season performance of New Orleans' defense, citing overly aggressive calls he made against two quarterbacks — Washington's Robert Griffin III and Carolina's Cam Newton — whose running ability can make blitzes backfire.
But Saints middle linebacker Curtis Lofton said Spagnuolo can't be blamed entirely for blown assignments or missed tackles on the field.
"I'm not going to let coach Spags take the bullet for us," Lofton said. "It's (up to) us as players to go out there and execute."
The Saints have also expressed hope their scheme will be more effective against more conventional drop-back passers such as Cassel.
Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel, who also runs his team's defense, believes that unit isn't as bad as it looks, either, but nonetheless will be challenged to slow down Brees and Co.
"Definitely it is a concern because we haven't done a good job defensively," Crennel said. "We have given up too many big plays and anytime you give up big plays, that's a field position change. That's a momentum change and so we have to try and eliminate those mistakes."
If the Chiefs can turn it around and hand the Saints their second loss in the Superdome — where they didn't lose once last season — New Orleans is going to continue to be peppered with nagging questions about the extent the bounty scandal may have derailed this season.
Throughout the offseason, the Saints said they were built by Payton to weather the adversity they've dealt with in the months since the NFL announced its bounty findings. The only way to back that up is to win, which they haven't done yet. Still, Brees is unwavering in his optimism that the world as the Saints have known it under Payton won't end in 2012.
"We're going to get this thing back on track very quickly," Brees said. "Obviously, (we're) disappointed by the 0-2 start, but there's nothing we can do about it now except learn from our mistakes.
"We know we have the right people in the building — coaches and players — and now it's just a matter of pulling it all together and finding our rhythm."


text:
OSHA to investigate attack in Elliot Hospital's emergency roomBy MARK HAYWARD
New Hampshire Union Leader
July 10. 2013 8:21PM
MANCHESTER — The Elliot Hospital emergency room worker brutally attacked on Monday remained in critical condition in Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston on Wednesday.
Donald Wyman, 52, had his jaw broken in four places, lost four teeth and was having trouble breathing when found Monday morning after he was allegedly attacked by a patient.
When police initially arrived at the Elliot on Monday, hospital workers told them Wyman may not survive his injuries, according to police reports.
The patient, Manchester resident Ansel Kinglocke, 33, had been housed in a psychiatric unit of the hospital emergency room since Friday. He was awaiting admission into New Hampshire Hospital, authorities said.
He faces two felony assault charges; the second charge involves an alleged blow to the face of Melissa Clermont, 33, who suffered a broken cheekbone.
Both were licensed nurse assistants at the hospital.
Meanwhile, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has opened an investigation into the workplace injuries, said New Hampshire Area Director Rosemarie Ohar.
Ohar said OSHA opened its investigation the day of the incident, and under federal law it has six months to investigate and determine whether any standards were violated. Ohar said OSHA investigators were at the Elliot on Monday.
Health care can be a dangerous profession. For 2011, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 592,600 cases of workplace injury in the health care and social assistance field, a number of injuries that exceed injuries in the manufacturing and construction fields.
The bureau also reported in 2009 that eight out of every 1,000 nurses experience workplace violence, according to a study available on the bureau's website.
Kinglocke was scheduled to go before a judge Wednesday for a closed-door hearing on his competency to stand trial.
Crime, law and justice Public Safety Health Labor Manchester


text:
Make-up for the first working day
Super Shopping
Barbie: Colorful Make Up
Baby Snow Date Prep
Talking Angela. Great makeover
Catty Noir. Real Makeover
Monster High. Real makeover
Cleo. Make up challenge
Anna's makeup
Barbie make up
Talented make up artist
Princess Make Up
Create an image of a boy and a girl
Baby Belle. Spa day
Draculaura. Sweet 16 prep
Avril Lavigne
Emma Waston Makeup
Princess Aurora 16th birthday. Spa makeover
Frozen Elsa. Freezing makeover
Hair Salon
Princess Anna. Gorgeous makeover
Ariana Grande makeup
McStuffins makeover
Butterfly fairy makeover


text:
2009-01-02 / Society
John M. Woodward, M.D.
John Maybin Woodward, M.D., 54, died Tuesday, December 23, 2008, in Augusta, Georgia, after a long illness. He was a son of the late Edward Mobley Woodward Sr. and Honoria Kirkland Maybin Woodward. Dr. Woodward grew up in Columbia, S.C., and graduated from A.C.


text:
By PAT GRAHAM
AP Sports Writer
AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AP) - Wes Cobb scored twice on short runs and Cody Getz rushed for 125 yards as Air Force beat Hawaii 21-7 on Friday night to become bowl eligible.
The Falcons (6-5, 5-2 Mountain West) are headed to a postseason game for the sixth straight season under coach Troy Calhoun. The team accepted a bid to the Armed Forces Bowl after the game.
Air Force didn't even attempt a pass all night, relying on a ground game that's ranked second in the country. The Falcons finished with 338 yards rushing.
Jeremy Higgins made his first start for Hawaii and directed a scoring drive to open the game. But the Warriors (1-9, 0-7) struggled after that as they lost for an eighth straight time, the second-longest skid in school history. Hawaii's record is 19 straight losses from 1997-99.
Getz had another big night, eclipsing the 100-yard mark for the sixth time this season. The diminutive back had a 5-yard TD run early in the third quarter to break a 7-7 tie.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
Financial Executives International on Wednesday announced its Hall of Fame's Class of 2014, with three senior-level finance executives earning the honor based on their performance, leadership and integrity.
Robert T. Blakely, Gaylen N. Larson and Robert L. Ryan comprise the class. All three have extensive professional experience over their 20-plus-year careers and have served on numerous corporate and professional boards.
"We are excited to induct Mr. Blakely, Mr. Larson and Mr. Ryan into our Hall of Fame and look forward to celebrating their achievements, which have set an excellent example for our profession," John Wulff, past Hall of Fame inductee and 2014 chair of the FEI Hall of Fame Selection Advisory Council, said in a news release.
Financial Executives International, which is headquartered in Morristown, is an association of chief financial officers and other top-level finance executives. This is the hall's ninth year, and it has now honored 26 financial executives since its founding in 2006.
New 76ers practice hub, offices in Camden among nearly $190M in tax breaks approved by EDA
Pinnacle unveils plans for new $35M hotel project in downtown Montclair
NJBIZ General Counsel winners: Seven top lawyers bring home big awards


text:
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — An improvised explosive device killed a NATO service member in southern Afghanistan on Saturday, the U.S.-led international military coalition said.
In its statement, the coalition did not give further details on where the incident occurred or the nationality of the service member killed.
Saturday's death brings to five the number of coalition troops who have died in Afghanistan so far this month. So far this year, 12 coalition troops have been killed in Afghanistan, according to a tally kept by The Associated Press.
Afghan insurgents have increased attacks in recent months, intensifying a campaign to regain territory as foreign forces draw down ahead of a full withdrawal at the end of 2014.
In a statement commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Soviet withdrawal, the Taliban drew parallels with American forces in the country and called on Afghans to drive them out.
Taliban spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi said the USSR's forces had killed innocent people and "destroyed our country," but that "all our nation stood against them and were able to defeat them."
Ahmadi said that instead of taking that as a lesson, Americans invaded — making them "the same as yesterday's Soviets."
He urged Afghans to "deal with today's invaders as they dealt with yesterday's invaders," adding that "there is no difference between our jihad of yesterday and today."


text:
A couple weeks ago I took the kids to see Bon Jovi in concert. At Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots.
I have a long history with Jon Bon Jovi. Whether he realizes it or not. Sure, he's my age, and yes, it's partly the New Jersey thing, but it's bigger than that.
I was a young RN, maybe 24, working on pediatrics. We got a kid in, a 13 year old with beautiful dark eyes and a horrific brain tumor. Melaina was an only child, and for weeks after her tumor was surgically removed both parents sat by her bed as she slowly returned to consciousness.
The walls in her hospital room were plastered with posters of some new rock band, Bon Jovi. I had never heard of them and, to be honest, from the posters I couldn't easily tell if the beautiful lead singer was a man or a woman, with his long curly hair and smooth baby face.
With all the wisdom of my years I laughed off Malaina's infatuation with this clearly fly-by-night band, whose music I was sure I didn't know, and whose members sported what, even at the time, could only be called really bad 80's perms.
Then one night I showed up for my shift and the unit was all abuzz. It seemed that only hours earlier, completely out of the blue, Jon Bon Jovi and his band mate Richie Sambora had walked onto the peds floor to visit Melaina.
They sat and talked to her and her parents, brought her gifts, and posed for her parents to snap photos. Apparently someone had informed them that their biggest fan was very ill and they'd decided to make her dreams come true.
They came alone and stayed long enough to enchant not only Melaina and her parents, but all the nurses on pediatrics. There were no publicists, no reporters along for the ride. This was long before the internet, but nothing ever appeared in the news. It was clear their visit was no publicity stunt.
I was impressed. However young or androgynous the guy appeared in his poster, apparently he was a genuinely caring person.
After that I started noticing their music. Everywhere. And I liked it. As the years rolled by I bought one album after another. My kids have been singing his lyrics since they knew how to speak.
They laughed at how excited I got seeing him in concert. But they stood there singing with me the whole time. The band was really on that night; Jon Bon Jovi didn't seem to want to leave the stage. Even First-Born Son had to admit the guy, "puts on a great show."
It's fun to imagine what the celebrities we admire might really be like, but we rarely get an actual glimpse of who they are. Jon Bon Jovi probably doesn't even remember that he visited a sick little girl in a New Jersey hospital almost 25 years ago.
But me? I'll never forget it.


text:
Mary Jo Bang Examines Grief's Poetic Form, the Elegy
January 14, 2009
Mary Jo Bang is professor of English and director of the Creative Writing Program at Washington University. Her fifth book, Elegy, which won the National Book Critics Circle Award, examines the pain and grief following the death of her son.
Related Authors


text:
Retirees who owed NH $500k settle, but state withholds detailsBy NANCY WEST
New Hampshire Sunday News
August 31. 2013 11:36PM
The New Hampshire Retirement System has entered into confidential settlements with two retired police officers who had been ordered to repay hundreds of thousands of dollars in alleged pension overpayments.
In each case, NHRS had decided the pensioner took a job that should have required him to pay into the system and stop receiving his pension.
John Egan, who retired as a Meredith police officer in 2001 and is now community services coordinator for Belknap County, had been ordered to repay an estimated $284,248 to the retirement system, according to a Jan. 29, 2010 NHRS notice sent to him.
Because of the confidentiality agreement, it is not known whether he repaid it, or even if he was required to pay anything.
It is also not known whether Brian Loanes, who retired in 2001 and now works as the director of the Belknap County's Restorative Justice Program, had to repay any on the $248,505 he was told he owed the retirement system.
Egan and Loanes declined comment. Both cases were settled last month, according to Marty Karlon, retirement system spokesman, who declined to release details or the settlement documents.
The New Hampshire Sunday News obtained 2010 notices sent to them and several other retirees last year after filing a right-to-know request seeking the names and amounts in recoupment cases involving more than $5,000 for the previous five years.
NHRS told Loanes and Egan that repayment was due because they retired from Group II positions in the retirement system, but immediately accepted new NHRS-covered positions, which required mandatory enrollment in the NHRS. Exceptions included "part-time" employees and those appointed to fixed terms.
Asked why the state wouldn't reveal the settlement details, Karlon responded in an email: "NHRS' only comment on the settlement is: 'The parties are in agreement that, given the particular circumstances of this case, this is a fair and equitable settlement.'"
Attorney Kathleen Sullivan said the public should be given the details of the settlements.
Representing the New Hampshire Union Leader, Sullivan successfully argued to the state Supreme Court that the public has a right to know the names of people who receive public pensions and the amount of their benefits. NHRS has been releasing that information since 2011.
"When public funds are being spent or recouped or even administered as part of settlement agreements or otherwise, the government should be transparent about it," Sullivan said.
"The public has a right to know what happened in these cases."
The recoupment case against Belknap County court supervisor Donald Belyea, seeking $463,758, was dropped in June 2012, Karlon said. More documentation showed Belyea was deemed to be an "official appointed for a fixed term" and was not subject to mandatory enrollment as an active NHRS member, Karlon said.
A retirement system hearing was held Thursday on a pension recoupment case involving Mark A. Pearson, a retired Salem police officer who left his job as Hudson's assistant town administrator for a job in Maine. He had been asked to repay $280,935, but a decision is not expected soon.
NHRS retirees can work any amount of hours for any non-NHRS employer, public or private, Karlon said, and "part time" for an NHRS-participating employer.
Hampstead Fire Chief Michael Carrier, who retired from Londonderry's fire department after 27 years of service, had been asked to repay $78,403. Carrier's case is still pending before the state Supreme Court, Karlon said.
Carrier previously told the Sunday News he didn't believe he was required to belong to the New Hampshire Retirement System in his new position because he was appointed to a fixed term.
Two other retirees who owed less than $20,000 each settled their cases by repaying the retirement system, Karlon said.
The retirement system has two auditors and investigates anonymous tips, Karlon said.
Since Group II retirees are made up mostly of police, firefighters and corrections officers, they may be more likely to seek employment after retiring because they can retire at age 45 after 20 years.
That changed two years ago for new hires to allow for retirement after 25 years at age 52, Karlon said.
There have been no major recoupment cases since May 2012 when the Sunday News sought information on them.
"Since the number of these cases is relatively small to begin with, I don't know if there is any specific reason no additional cases have been identified over the past year," Karlon said.
It is possible that the enactment of the 32-hours-per week definition of part time for NHRS retirees working for NHRS employers in 2011 has raised awareness of post-retirement employment issues among employers and retirees, Karlon said.
"We continue to conduct employer compliance audits and continue to actively investigate any tips we receive," Karlon said.


text:
Outdoor Recon Starter Set
It's time for adventure!
- Survival tools for exploration & adventure
- Kits include binoculars, light, multi-tool & more
- Choose from two kits or get both!
There may be zombies or alien invaders in the woods outside your house. There could be supervillains plotting or time-traveling robots biding their time. Probably not, though. But why risk it? You can explore all there is to see with this recon starter set that will make you the Katniss Everdeen of whatever arena you find yourself in.
The "Binoculars" set includes binoculars and a folding multi-tool, which has wire cutter, screwdrivers, a saw, and can and bottle openers. The "Spy Tek" set includes a knife, ultra-bright tactical LED flashlight, compact folding knife, a rubber-armored monocular, and a locking carabiner compass. Both sets include protective carrying cases.
Product Specifications
- Survival tool sets
- Choose: 8x21 Binocular and Multi-Tool, Spy Tek Set, or save on the complete Recon Bundle
- Binoculars w/multi-tool includes wire cutter, screwdrivers, a saw, and can and bottle openers + carrying case
- Spy Tek set includes folding knife, LED flashlight, monocular, and carabiner compass + carrying case
- For those preparing for or inviting adventure
PRODUCT DISCLAIMER: These products are not intended for any unlawful purpose as defined by applicable local, county, state, and federal laws. By agreeing herein, purchaser acknowledges that he/she is 18 years of age or older. Purchaser also acknowledges that he/she is permitted to purchase this product pursuant to his local, county, state, and federal laws.


text:
For over 60 years builders have trusted Coleman Floor Company to professionally install the floor covering in their new homes, apartments, and commercial projects. A clear focus on quality workmanship and superior customer service has been the catalyst for Coleman Floor Company growing into one of the nation's largest flooring contractors.
We carry the latest styles in carpet, hardwood, vinyl, laminate, ceramic tile and natural stone – all in colors to suit every taste and lifestyle imaginable.
We also think it's important that homebuyers have realistic expectations about the installation, appearance and use of the various flooring options available to them, so we make sure they are armed with product care information that describes how a product will perform in real life.
We also hire the best. From our experienced design center staff to the quality installers we entrust to do the job, we'll finish your project on time and we'll do it right the first time.