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As an Austin bankruptcy attorney I see many situations where my clients have accumulated tax obligations. There are some circumstances where relief can be obtained in a Chapter 7 filing, but the rules, like all bankruptcy matters, are very specific and fact based.
Generally your personal state and local income taxes in arrears can be discharged. If you have unpaid obligations from a prior tax return due to insufficient withholdings or a shortfall in estimated payments, those can be erased. However, if, for example, you have a household childcare employee to whom you have paid W-2 income and have withheld taxes "in trust" for government entities, you remain liable for those until fully paid. Similarly, if you run a small business and have collected sales taxes from your customers, those too remain your liability.
More common are cases where there are personal income taxes due to the IRS, and the rules there are much more complicated. You generally have to meet all these conditions to obtain a discharge:
1. You must have filed honest returns and not willfully tried to evade your taxes. If you can't pass this first basic requirement, you need read no further.
2. More than 3 years must have elapsed since the tax return was due, including any extensions. So, as of my writing this today November 26, 2012, if you owe money on your 2008 personal income tax return for which the filing was extended to October 15, 2009, you may be in the clear. I say "may" because the 3 year rule can be extended by prior bankruptcies, innocent spouse relief proceedings, and other IRS collection hearings. As with all things related to your case, you are best served by giving me all the facts and letting me ascertain your possible standing versus any of these complex and somewhat arcane rules.
3. Your tax return in question must have been filed more than 2 years earlier than the bankruptcy petition. Thus, even if you've passed gates #1 and #2 above and have been careless about filing, you run afoul of this rule. As your bankruptcy lawyer I will refer you to a CPA if needed for such filings, but this is outside the scope of a Chapter 7 process.
4. And yes there's more. At least 240 days must have elapsed since the date of any assessment you are hoping to discharge. Assessments generally arise from amended returns or audit adjustments. If, however, you've attempted to deal directly with the IRS via an "Offer in Compromise" (OIC) during this 240-day window, the term of that process adds to the 240 days; and it can take many months. If you've just worked out a simple installment agreement, you're in the clear, as long as you are adhering to the terms of the installment plan.
And now for the bad news: Often the IRS will file a lien against you in the amount of any unpaid taxes and penalties. This lien applies to any and all assets you own at the time it is filed, and worse yet it attaches to anything you acquire while it is in place. It won't go away until the debt is fully satisfied or the time limit for collection has expired. This rather "sticky" lien will be discovered in a title search if you try to conduct a real property transaction. If you are losing money on that transaction, the IRS may issue a waiver in that case, but if you have a gain you will be expected to apply that to your tax debt. The presence of such a lien also negatively affects your credit rating.
One important thing to note is that if a couple is considering bankruptcy and the source of a tax lien applies to only one spouse, married filing separately status on your tax returns may shield one of you from that lien. If you've filed jointly, however, you can't reverse that status by amending into separate returns.
As with all things related to bankruptcy, many decisions are based on precise timing, and particularly decisions with respect to these IRS related matters. You may be able to time your bankruptcy filing in a way that gives you the maximum tax discharge benefit, but it's the bigger picture of all your debt that is the more important. My job is to understand that full picture and help you find the best possible overall outcome in a Chapter 7 proceeding.


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Choosing Good House Plans With Front Porch
What You Need to Do About House Plans with Front Porch Starting in the Next Two Minutes
If you're selling your property, think of a means to present your market a reason to look at your home. Only if you're planning to move to a different house soon, you too should have a look at your house's design and inspecting ways for how to allow it to be safer and more favorable for long-term living habit. The same as the homes of the age, there are a large assortment of Victorian bird houses to be found.
Plan ahead and select the ones which you wish to see and revel in the day there. Whether there are items you'll want to purchase, you ought to do that as far ahead of time as possible. If you're making certain items, start now so that you'll have tons of time to complete. If you devote a great deal of time outside, then adding on or redoing a deck may be one of the greatest things to renovate in a home. Doing this improves life at home and the main point of the home at the identical moment. The family that used to reside in the city is likely to determine that they definitely will need to do research before purchasing real estate in the nation for a price which is too great to trust.
The plant will expand and the condensation will keep the majority of the water in the bottle. You ought to be enjoying a clean plant till the start of next calendar year. You may also attempt distinctive shrubs and even trees in the event your front lawn allows it. You may use the trees which are already in your yard for this purpose.
Check the way the elements will impact your backyard landscape design before you start to work on it. Landscape garden design can be very pricy and you have to get a good idea of how much you are able to spend on your fantasy yard. Now, it must be noted that there isn't one specific style that is genuinely Victorian, but there are numerous styles which were popular in the U.S. around the right time of Queen Victoria's reign in the past 60 decades of the 1800's. You may also think of front yard design to earn your property more attractive. Before you even consider starting a landscaping undertaking, think if you are able to afford it.
If you own a yard full of big strong trees, your job should be quite uncomplicated. Don't believe that you can do the very same with your garden. Decide where you would like your patio. Again, the surface you put the carpet on needs to be quite stable. Remember the pad beneath whenever you're going to wash the outdoor carpet.
Ruthless House Plans with Front Porch Strategies Exploited
Clear out the space you'll use. If you reside in a sunny region and earn a patio on the side of the home which gets sunshine in the afternoon, you're likely to have it tough and hot in August. In the event the look of your house outside were unpleasant, they'd automatically feel your interior appears equally as bad.

subset: commoncrawl


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Valentine's Day is just a week away! Give your love what she really wants: romantic bookish jewelry, obviously.
Jane Eyre Quote Cuff Bracelet via Etsy: $18
I'm not personally a big fan of bracelets, but this one I'd wear.
Wuthering Heights Quote Glass Necklace via Etsy: $35
This is one of my favorite quotes from literature ("Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same"). Brings a whole new meaning to the word "soulmate," huh?
Books Turn Me On Stud Earrings via Etsy: $10
These are so adorable. They also remind me of that great John Waters quote: "If you go home with somebody and they don't have books, don't fuck 'em."
Harry and Ginny Earrings via Etsy: $12
Ron and Hermione Earrings via Etsy: $9
For the Potter-lover in your life (just make sure that they don't ship Harry/Hermione first!).
Pride and Prejudice Gold Heart Pendant Necklace via Etsy: $30
Mr. Darcy's admission of love to Elizabeth is enshrined as one of the most romantic scenes in all of literature. Tell your darling how ardently you admire and love her with this gorgeous pendant!
Have a lovely Valentine's Day, everyone!by


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Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt is the first abortion case before the Supreme Court in more than 20 years (the last was Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey in 1992). The question here is whether a 2013 Texas law known as HB2 places an "undue" burden on a woman's constitutional right to an abortion.Read More →
Case Thoughts: Whole Woman's Health v. HellerstedtBy District of Columbia Bar
Thoughts on the Supreme Court case Zubik v. BurwellBy District of Columbia Bar
One of the most closely watched cases of the 2015-16 term, Zubik is the latest (the Supreme Court ruled on Burwell v. Hobby Lobby in 2014) battle between religious liberty and the Affordable Care Act's contraceptive mandate. Zubik is a consolidated case for seven legal challenges that involve religious nonprofit corporations objecting to the government's accommodation to the mandate.Read More →
Why is D.C. the Best Cycling City?By District of Columbia Bar
Washington, D.C. is undoubtedly the best city for cyclists. Although D.C. doesn't have the best weather, there are several other reasons why D.C. is a great city for biking.Read More →
E-Discovery: Why Should Lawyers Embrace It? ESI Special Master Craig Ball Says Evidence is More Than PaperBy District of Columbia Bar
Electronic discovery (E-Discovery) is often times a complex process when preparing materials for an investigation or trial. The process is not only complex, but it may require that you go through an immense amount of electronically stored information (ESI) such as emails, documents, presentations, databases, voicemail, audio files, video files, social media and web sites.
Nationally recognized ESI special master and attorney Craig Ball takes a few moments to speak with Washington Lawyer Magazine's Jeff Leon about some E-Discovery basics, implications, and the importance of geolocation.Read More →
Alarming Equal Pay Statistics and 7 Ways You Can Help Reduce ItBy District of Columbia Bar
"When all people know their country is invested in their success, we are all better off. Together, we must rid our society of the injustice that is pay discrimination and restore the promise that is the right of every American: the idea that with hard work, anyone can reach for their dreams and know no limits but the scope of their aspirations," said President Obama.Read More →
MLB Opening Day 2016: What will D.C. Bar baseball fans be doing?By District of Columbia Bar
D.C. Bar member who are fans of baseball tell us what they will be doing on the big Opening Day.Read More →
#Practice360 Encryption: Its Time Has ComeBy District of Columbia Bar
Lawyers tend to cringe when they hear the word "encryption." To most lawyers, encryption is a dark art, full of mathematical jargon and incomprehensible to the average human being.Read More →
#Practice360 The Ethics of Communicating With Clients OnlineBy District of Columbia Bar
This is an article written by Nicole Black, director of MyCase.com. In this article, Ms. Black discusses cloud computing and the ways attorneys can confidentially store client information as long as they "exercise reasonable care in choosing their legal software providers."Read More →
Moving beyond Initiative Measure 71 to create a fairer, more effective criminal justice systemBy District of Columbia Bar
By Marc A. Schindler and Jason Ziedenberg, Justice Policy Institute
The passage of Measure 71 represents important and much needed progress for District of Columbia residents. D.C voters have clearly shown that they do not want their criminal justice system to focus on the arrest or prosecution of people for marijuana use or possession.
However, we need more than reform to our drug laws to make the system fairer, keep communities safe, and help more people who have been involved with the justice system successfully transition back to their communities.Read More →
3 Benefits of Putting Your Law Firm Marketing on AutopilotBy District of Columbia Bar
Did you know that you can create systems that will allow you to publish, syndicate and distribute each piece of content on a consistent ongoing basis?
Gerry Oginski a NY Medical Malpractice & Personal Injury Attorney and is the author of "Secrets of Lawyer Video Marketing in the Age of YouTube" gives great tips!Read More →


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Seriously. This is one of the cutest anime that I have seen in a long, long while. I mean, over these entire two episodes, I just kept going "d'awwwwww" at just about everything the characters did. That is very rare for me: usually I hate series that aim to be cute. The big reason for that is that 90% of those characters are not characters: they're either cardboard cut-outs, they try to play up their cuteness too much, plain stupid, contrived, and just plain underdeveloped. Tamayura has something that makes the entire cast different from that.
What Potte is trying to do: that really invoked empathy from me. Perhaps my own shyness connected with her, or perhaps it was because of how much development she already has. These two episodes really were about overcoming shyness, and they really did that well. Even beyond Potte, that one teacher was a very nice touch, about how it took him like, 20 tries to ask what he wanted. And the whole performance. It was so bad, yet so adorable!
The new character already feels right at home after four episodes, and the great thing is that she doesn't feel forced in, but it was more than logical for her to appear. The rest of the cast, Potte's friends, they're close to her and all, but most of them don't share her passion for photographing,and the ones that do are either much older or younger. Here she managed to find someone of her own age and experiences to connect with.
Rating: 5.5/8 (Excellent)


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Obesity Archive
NYC Soda Ban ReviewPosted on July 11, 2015 | No CommentsThe new news for 2015 is that American has fallen out of love with soda. But in an effort to keep sales up,the beverage industry in 2013 pulled out the stops to delay enforcement of NYC's plan to limit the sale of super-sized, sugar-sweetened beverages set to take effect mid-March. It worked; however, industry's million dollar lobbying efforts have not stemmed the tide of consumers backing off buying soft drinks. Share on Facebook
Sugar HabitPosted on June 9, 2010 | No Comments— Updated Feb 1, 2011 Researchers say that most people deny eating a lot of sugar. While over one-third of American adults are obese, researchers at Harvard University now predict that if current trends continue, the obesity rate in the U.S. won't level off until it reaches over 40 percent. But despite warning signs – epidemic rates of diabetes, heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure and depression – people continue to indulge their sugar habit. The result is cause for alarm. Among obesity scientists, health providers and the medical community, there is major concern about sugar's addictive quality. Barry Popkin, author of "The World is FAT" thinks that sugar-based diets, especially high consumption of soft drinks, are killing us. According to another source, Nature Cures Clinic of Portland, Oregon, our "daily bread" has turned into a non-stop feeding frenzy of sweets, artificial sweeteners and refined carbohydrates. What to do? Exercise, of course. Eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains and reduce salt and saturated fats, absolutely. Health and policy professionals like Profs. Popkin and world-renown public health scholars, Harvard's Prof. Walter Willet and Yale Prof. Kelly D. Brownell, also recommend drinking more water. And now, as of January 31, 2011, so does the federal government. For the first time ever in its revised dietary Guidelines, the USDA recommends replacing sugary drinks like soda with water and avoiding fatty foods. [Link: www.cnpp.usda.gov/DietaryGuidelines.htm] (c) 2011 Jonathan Hall Share on Facebook
Guest Column: State of the Water UnionPosted on May 6, 2010 | No Comments– January 2011 President Barack Obama emphasized rebuilding America in his second (2011) State of the Union address and called for renewed investments in the aging infrastructure systems that sustain economic growth and competitiveness and serve as engines for American jobs. The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) applauds the President for his leadership on the issue of renewing America's commitment to infrastructure investments but is disappointed that the President did not include mention of the need to recommit to investing in our water and wastewater infrastructure. America's communities face a $500 billion need in clean water and drinking water infrastructure investments and federal leadership and support for greater investment in this infrastructure is essential if we expect our economy to thrive. It is well documented that our water infrastructure is reaching a tipping point. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) latest infrastructure report card gave the nation's water infrastructure a D-, the lowest of any infrastructure category. As a result, each day the nation suffers significant losses and damages from broken water and sewer mains, sewage overflows, and scarcity of drinking water supplies among other challenges. Source: National Association of Clean Water Agencies – January 26, 2011 http://www.waterchat.com/News/Federal/11/Q1/fed_110128-03.htm Share on Facebook


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Meet the Author - Comickaze Expo 11/5 to 11/6/11
What are you doing this weekend? If you live in Los Angeles or nearby, I hope the answer is: coming to meet Sherri and awesome YA author Cecil Castellucci this weekend at Comickaze Expo!
Cecil's newest book, FIRST DAY ON EARTH has just hit the shelves. She's invited me to hang out at her table, signing books and dishing on the latest in our writing lives. There might even been some secret stash from the Tired Girl Collective. You might even get to meet elusive artist Karen Lucrece! Books will be available on site thanks to the awesome Skylight Books. We're at Table 80. Come and check it out!


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Today's my birthday. I turn 32 and I couldn't be happier about it. To my younger readers, your thirties are where. it's. at. I've never been happier, and all my friends in their thirties say the same thing. I think it's because you're just suddenly more comfortable with who you are.
I've learned a lot in the past few years as I regained my health, got in the best shape of my life, embarked on this business venture, and made a lot of wild dreams come true. I am so grateful for my journey and I thought I'd share some of the things I know to be true at 32. Some are silly, some are more serious, yet all have served me well, and I hope they speak to you, too.
1. Energy is contagious.
Have you ever met someone who lit up a room when they entered it? There are a few people in my life like that and man, when they enter a room, you can feel it. This is going to sound out there, but bear with me. I believe we all walk around with a certain energy. When someone has great energy, I can feel it. The energy feeds me and inspires me and makes my time with that person so delicious that I walk away feeling even better than before we hung out. Whenever I get together with friends, I always walk into it trying to bring my best energy. Of course, when we are sad or irritated, that certainly changes things, but it's possible to share what's going on with yourself without dumping it on someone, you know what I mean? So I'm always conscious of that. Choose the people you spend your time with wisely, and soak up that good energy when you can.
2. Friendships ebb and flow and that's ok.
One certainty in life is that people change. I am not the same person I was when I was fifteen, eighteen, or twenty-five, and neither are my friends. Sometimes we just get so far off course it's hard to maintain a steady friendship. That made me sad for a really long time. One of my very best friends and I were just so different that it felt like maybe our friendship was fizzling away. For no real reason, aside from the fact that we just grew apart, we stopped talking as much, and then one day, we just picked up where we left off and talked on the phone for about four hours. I realized that friendships ebb and flow and that it's ok, and nothing to get stressed about.
3. If you have a weird job title, find a solid one-liner that covers everything in a nutshell and be confident about your delivery.
When I started blogging, it was just a thing I did for fun. I wasn't really trying to monetize, and I considered it a hobby. But after a series of unfortunate situations out of our control, my husband retired from playing professional hockey, and I needed to make some money, so I started monetizing. The business quickly grew when I hired Lauren, and soon I was paying not only her, but myself as well, filing for an LLC, trademarks, etc. It somehow turned into an actual, viable business. When people asked me what I did for a living, I didn't know what to say that would accurately describe all that we do. We have a YouTube channel, a quarterly discovery box program, video bundles, international yoga retreats, blog consulting, private lessons, a blog and a book. Blogging is still a relatively new thing, so when I tried describing it, people's eyes would sort of glaze over and I knew I lost them. So now I say, "I founded a yoga lifestyle company and am a yoga instructor. We have a blog, youtube channel, and just landed a book deal, among other things." It's short, to the point, and people get it. The key, I've learned, is saying it with confidence, like blogging is a totally normal thing to do, haha.
4. Learn to ask people about themselves.
For the longest time, I was a hermit. I still kind of am, at heart, but I've been challenging myself to go out more, make friends, and be a more friendly person. I think I am friendly, like at my heart (haha), but I feel pretty awkward most of the time when talking with new people. The key, I've learned, is to ask people about themselves. What do they do for work? What about it do they love? If you can get people to talk about themselves and their interests, you can usually find a common ground and something to connect on, which makes social situations far more enjoyable than just sitting around making small talk about the weather.
5. Believe in yourself.
From a young age, I was pretty determined. If someone told me something I wanted to do couldn't be done, I would silently curse them out and say, "Watch me." Over the years I have learned that no one will be there for you more than yourself so you need to get in touch with what it is you want and need, and go after it without a second thought. When people tell you something can't be done, remember that it is more a reflection of their own limiting beliefs and has absolutely no bearing on you and your capabilities.
6. Selfish isn't a four letter word.
This wise little tidbit comes from the father of a very dear friend of mine. I've been a huge advocate for self-care. And the phrase "self-care" conjures up images like a spa day, a quality girls' night in, etc, but what I realized is that it's a synonym for being selfish. And when we take care of ourselves, or, for lack of better word, when we are selfish, we are bettering ourselves so that we can be the best wives, husbands, moms, dads, friends we can be. When you take care of number one, you're essentially doing everyone else in your life a favor. So be selfish.
7. Make your dreams so big, people get uncomfortable when you talk about them.
If there's one thing I live by, it's that I don't see a glass ceiling for myself. I honestly think anything is possible. I'm a dreamer, but I take my brain with me. When I had the idea for a delivery box service, someone very close to me, who should have been my number one cheerleader, actually said, "I don't really see anyone paying for that."
You just have to let comments like that go, and realize what they say is a reflection of their own self-limiting beliefs. Instead, work hard, and make your dreams come to life. If I told you my current dreams, you might laugh cuz they're big and outlandish, but I don't see any reason why they can't come true. Dream big, work hard, and trust your journey. Just like with the yoga journey, you'll get there when you get there.
8. Stress is a beast and is not welcome in my life.
I have had some major stressful things happen in my life. Some so bad they brought about longterm panic attacks and I had to see a psychotherapist twice daily just to make it through the day. While the days of anxiety are long gone, this past summer old symptoms started creeping up on me. I began to feel the death grip of depression on my neck and the pain of stress in my jaw. I saw a number of doctors who examined me and all came to the conclusion that nothing was physically wrong with me except for some inflammation, and when I stepped back and looked at my life, I realized I was stressed to the max. I made a conscious effort to de-stress, and have been implementing those strategies every day since and my quality of life has greatly improved, and the inflammation in my body disappeared, as well as the depression and jaw pain. Stress is the enemy. Learn to conquer that beast and enjoy the innate sense of peace that's been with you all along.
9. It's important to unplug.
I firmly believe this, but I especially believe this to be true for people who spend the majority of their time online for work. It's kind of a blessing in disguise when I hit a place on my travels that doesn't have wifi. It feels nice to be off the grid for a bit, and refocus on the things I often take for granted - the beautiful weather, the sound of my breath, the constant beat of my heart.
10. Keep learning.
When I started my business, I wanted to keep learning but I didn't have the time or money to invest in business school, so I decided to read what I could, talk with anyone who may have experience, and soak up all the info that I could. I subscribed to Entrepreneur, Harvard Business Review, and bought a bunch of books off of amazon to keep me on my toes. There is always a way to keep learning, even if going back to school isn't in the near future.
11. Do what you need to in order to make your life easier.
This is something I learned from The Happiness Project. Nothing makes me more miserable than deep cleaning my bathroom. Scrubbing the tub makes me rage in ways I cannot explain. I don't know what it is about my knees digging into the side of the tub as I vigorously scrub the opposite corner of it that makes me want to have a complete tantrum, but it is what it is. I can do anything else! I don't mind doing the dishes, scrubbing the kitchen floor, bathing the dog, cleaning the fridge - but the tub just ruins me. Some things aren't worth losing your sanity over, so I hired a cleaner who comes every two and a half weeks to do a deep clean of the bathroom and kitchen. It's a luxury that I am so grateful for - to the point that if there are hard financial times, I am willing to forego dinners out and Starbucks and take on an extra private lesson to pay for it. If there's a way to make your life easier and cause you less stress, I say go for it.
12. Be who you are, unapologetically.
I used to edit who I was to fit the people around me. I'd bite my tongue when they'd say things I inherently disagreed with. I laughed at jokes I didn't find funny. I didn't wear lipstick even though I loved it, because the people around me weren't into make-up. And then I realized that life is too short to be editing who you are. Be who you are, unapologetically. The people you're with - if they're truly your friends - will love you regardless.
13. Do things that make you uncomfortable.
As a result of my long struggle with Lyme disease and subsequent stomach issues from all the antibiotics, I found myself somewhat of a homebody. I mean, to the point where I didn't want to go anywhere or do anything with anyone who didn't know 100% what was going on. It was just easier and safer for me. Now, easy and safe has its place. I'd argue that when you're recovering from a long-ass illness, easy and safe is a good place to be.
But once I started to get better, I knew I had to get out of my comfort zone because very little growth happens in the comfort zone. So I started doing things that scared me. I went to Thailand. I went to India. I taught yoga class - in German (!!) (I don't really speak German!) to native German speakers (!!!!). I started a blog even though I was nervous about what people would think. I started taking risks again, and I couldn't be more thankful that I have. From those risks have sprouted the best life I could've made for myself.
14. Pajama sets are the best.
I used to just wear ratty old whatevers I had laying around from my high school days (woof), and then I bought a pajama set and it changed my life. I don't know what it is about nice pajamas, but in thinking about it, I was reminded of this thing I saw on Oprah. (I tried to find it so I could share on here but I can't find it.) Oprah was talking about days where you don't really have anything planned and you just hang around the house. She was like, "You know when you get up, have no where to go, so you just put on the same shirt you've been wearing around the house for the last few days? Don't do that. Put on a clean shirt. You're worth it." Woah. I mean it sounds sort of silly, but it really does make a difference! Put on something clean, something you feel comfortable in and instantly your mood is lifted. I think that's why I really like pajama sets. (My go-to is this one, but I've really been wanting to try this brand.)
15. Everyone knows something you don't.
I've learned that every single person I meet knows something I don't and therefore, there is always an opportunity to learn and grow. Keep this in mind when dealing with particularly difficult people and you'll go far.
16. Learn to drive a stick.
It's just nice to know that no matter where you go in the world, you'll be able to drive. This has served me well in my travels because a lot of countries I've been to don't even have automatics for rentals. It's also more fun :)
17. When you go somewhere new, learn the basics in the native language.
Whenever I go to a place where English isn't the native language, I try to learn a few basics: please, thank you, where's the bathroom, have a nice day. It was hysterical in Greece because, woah, have you ever heard Greek?! Nothing is pronounced like it looks (also, you can't even read anything because #thegreekalphabet) but people sure did love it when I tried! Sometimes the effort is all you need. It challenges any negative stereotypes people may have about Americans, helps to break the ice, and believe me - people are often so proud of the fact that you gave a few words of their native tongue a shot that they don't care if you mispronounced them!
18. Self-deprecating humor is so lame.
So lame! Nothing irritates me more than when I see a smart, beautiful person put themselves down in a joking way. Come on! I want to shout, You're better than that! Treat yourself like the smart, kind, lovely person that you are. How you treat yourself sets the standards for how others treat you.
19. Do the little things.
You can tell a lot about a person who doesn't push the grocery cart back after they're done unloading the groceries. Do the little things. Make the effort. Take the few minutes it takes to do the right thing. Whether or not karma is real, it just feels good to do what's right.
20. Sing often.
If you follow me on snapchat (@yogaby_candace), you know that I do a lot of Stop Light Karaoke. It started as kind of a joke and to make people laugh, but it's honestly turned into one of the highlights of my days. Life is way too short to be down, and singing lifts me up. Give it a try and remember that if you can't sing good, sing loud.
21. Learn to take a compliment.
This is something that took me years to learn. If someone paid me a compliment, like, "Oh you did such a great job," I'd say something like, "Oh no I didn't, didn't you hear me stumble on that last line?!" If someone told me I was beautiful I'd get all weird and fidgety and say, "Oh please, no I'm not!"
That's so lame. It's up there with self-deprecating humor. Just take the freaking compliment and say thank you because 1) it'll make you feel good, and 2) you'll stop looking like a jerk. That's right, I said jerk. Because here's the thing. When you negate someone's compliment, you're basically telling them that they're wrong. And that's rude. :)
22. People see the whole package.
I've definitely battled my fair share of insecurities. I hate being seen without makeup, I have this one tooth that's pointier than the others, and since the summer I've been battling a recurring breakout on one small part of my face, but my friend said something to me that was so brilliant and has stuck with me any time I'm feeling kind of blah about myself. She said, "People don't scrutinize us the way we scrutinize ourselves. They see the whole package." And it's so true. So put those insecurities aside, stay present in every moment and own who you are in all your perfectly imperfect glory.
I just want to take a second to say thank you for all the support you've shown me over the last few years. I appreciate you so much, and if you have a life lesson you'd add, I'd love to know what down in the comments below. xo


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"Bending Is Our Business"
Curved Composites
We do professional, high quality bending and routing. We bend most vinyl, composite, plastic lumber and cellular PVC materials.
Each order is CUSTOM. Please allow us at least 3 weeks to complete your order, plus shipment time. Some orders may take longer depending on size and the product you're using. During our busy season we may experience increased lead times on all orders. Please try to plan accordingly.
We bend…
Curved Composite Deck Railing
Curved Composite Fence Rails
Composite Belly Balusters
Curved Composite Stair Rails
Curved Composite Deck Boards
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This is how I found my earrings when I came home late one night, a couple of months ago….Standing up….and I'm sure I didn't leave them like that….
Oh how I love a theme! Christmas, Easter, Valentine's Day, World Migratory Bird Day, you name it, I have an outfit for it. However, these days I have a desk job that doesn't allow me to turn up in full Morticia mode on Hallowe'en (*sigh*) so I have had to content myself with vaguely spooky jewellery and a red and black glittery manicure instead.
Behold: Read the rest of this entry »


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Gamers who have been following the development of Gran Turismo 5 will already know that the game includes NASCAR. But until now, we haven't really seen any in-game footage of it in action.
That changes today with the release of the video you see above giving a teaser of what to expect.
Kazunori Yamauchi, creator of the Gran Turismo series, features in the video, saying:
NASCAR is the heart of motorsport in America, and holds a special place in the hearts of many Americans. So I'm very excited to finally be able to add NASCAR to Gran Turismo 5 for everyone to experience.
NASCAR fan or not, I think we all just want to get our hands on the game and find out how well it plays. We are still hopeful that a release will happen this year, but you never can tell with Gran Turismo.
Read more at Kotaku


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A true sensation of folk-metal scene – and, without a doubt, superstars that are a welcome guest in biggest venues and festivals all across the world – have earned their standing: ten albums in past fifteen years and dozens of live performances every year is the workaholic way of attracting a huge fanbase. And along the way KORPIKLAANI managed to revive the folk scene of Finland.
Distinctive sound of KORPIKLAANI is created by accordion and fiddle, which are accompanied by drums and guitar, more traditional tools in metal music. And explosive energy of live performances by this Finnish band will undoubtedly encourage listeners to raise a pint or two. Even a major part of Korpiklaani songs is exactly about that: "Beer, Beer", "Vodka", "Happy Little Boozer", "Wooden Pints", "Let's Drink" will never let you forget that you have to stay hydrated. With beer, of course. Even though music of Korpiklaani is, undoubtedly, made to be consumed with alcohol, this Finnish band is no stranger to their own history and culture. Big part of their repertoire is based on Sami folklore, and all album "Manala" is based on Finnish national epic "Kalevala".
And next summer visitors of Kilkim Žaibu XX festival's anniversary edition on a beautiful shores on Lūkstas lake will have a chance to hear exactly that: collection of merriest and tipsiest songs of KORPIKLAANI. Also, expect to hear a few songs from the newest album "Kulkija". The latest work unveils unexpectedly melodic and gentle side of Korpiklaani. But, even though "Kulkija" is not nearly as merry, as some of their most popular drinking songs, it is by far brighter than anything you could find in an otherwise traditional playlist of a self-respecting metalhead.
So, get ready for the merriest metal party – legs and kegs will not stop moving, and bright smiles will shine even in gloomiest faces!


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Consultation has been carried out on Scottish Borders Council's revised Winter Service Plan for 2015/16, which now includes a secondary salting route network.
SBC's Executive approved the network this week, which was finalised after discussions with community council representatives and ward councillors in towns and villages affected.
This consultation was part of a wider review by SBC officers, and has resulted in the creation of a defined network which will enable the best possible use of resources.
A total of 3,000km of roads in the Borders are covered by the Council's winter service. Priority routes are determined depending on various factors such as traffic volumes, bus routes and access to schools, shops and medical centres.
Councillor Gordon Edgar, SBC's Executive Member for Roads and Infrastructure, said: "A number of our larger communities have designated primary salting routes and in determining a secondary network for these towns, and some of our village communities, we felt that local member and community input would be beneficial.
"Officers drafted a proposed secondary route for each identified town and village and met with ward members and consulted with community councils to finalise it."
Councillor Edgar added: "The creation of a secondary salting route network for these towns and villages, and the wider Scottish Borders, ensures that we can provide detailed information to the public on the next level of treatment that is being provided after primary salting.
"The previous arrangement left the priority of secondary treatment open to interpretation and resulted in inconsistencies in service delivery. The new prioritisation of routes is not a reduction in the winter service, it simply makes our winter service more efficient and effective, ensuring that secondary routes are treated in order of priority."
Currently 37 per cent of the Council's road network is treated under primary salting.
In creating a specific secondary network, officers have included any 'A' and 'B' class roads not covered under primary treatment and remaining school and timber transport routes. This covers 16 per cent of the road network and these will be salted after the primary routes, if there is sufficient time and resources available, and it is believed that the freezing conditions will continue.
Remaining routes will only be treated when extended winter weather conditions persist and all primary routes have been treated, resources have been committed to treat secondary routes, and resources have become available.
To ensure the public is kept up to speed with winter weather information and advice, the Council will continue to use its new SBAlert service, Twitter and Facebook pages, and the local media to get messages out to residents.
The Council's own website also has a winter service section – www.scotborders.gov.uk/winter - that provides a wealth of information and will also be updated during winter weather to help the public make informed decisions on travel.


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Shiso Onigiri Bento
An almost vegetarian bento with purple shiso onigiri and fresh fruits and veggies.Read More
Whole Wheat Spaghetti Bento
Whole wheat spaghetti makes for a filling lunch.Read More
Rice-free Chicken Karaage Bento
See a small chicken karaage bento without rice and a cute little panda hopping around!Read More
First 2013 Bento
See my first bento of 2013 and find out what my weight loss plans for the year are!Read More
GIVEAWAY: 10 Magazine Subscriptions from Zinio
Enter to win one of ten free magazine subscriptions from Zinio!Read More
Win a Zojirushi Mini Bento Set
Enter to win an adorable orange checkered Zojirushi Mini Bento Set from Zojirushi and Adventures in Bentomaking!Read More
GIVEAWAY: Hello, Cutie! Adventures in Cute Culture
Enter to win a copy of Hello, Cutie! Adventures in Cute Culture.Read More
Fall Teriyaki Ahi Bento
See a fall themed teriyaki ahi bento with orange rice and colorful pickles.Read More
Five Ways to "Bento" Your Thanksgiving Leftovers
Read five ways to creatively dress up your Thanksgiving leftovers with bento.Read More
Jack-O-Lantern Snack Musubis
With Halloween coming up and Buddy showing an extreme interest in all things Halloween, I decided to make them some snack onigiri for school today.Read More


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A bony callus, also called a fibrocartilage callus, comprises a critical early step in the body's attempt to heal a bone fracture. It is marked by the formation of bony and cartilaginous materials into a bridge-like structure around the break.
The process starts when a provisional callous forms around the site of the fracture, usually between 1 to 2 weeks after the original break occurs. In the weeks to follow, each side of the break begins to form what is called a collar, a composite of osteoblasts (cells forming the new bone) and the periosteum (where the new bone is formed). Subsequently, through rapid proliferation, the two collars grow towards one another, closing the gap of the fracture.
The resulting bony callus is usually the first sign of healing that a physician views on an X-ray, typically within 2 to 3 weeks following the injury. The cartilage produced in the process gives way during this period to stronger bony extensions that form at the fracture ends, joining them once more. Within subsequent months or years, the callus is eventually reabsorbed by the body after remodeling the bone.
Bony callus formation is generally quicker in children than with adults, and cortical (compact) bone heals quicker than cancellous (trabecular or spongy) bone.


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As many of you know, I'm a huge fan of mornings. I'm most productive in the morning, I'm happiest in the morning, and there are few things I love more than the early, quiet moments of the day.
Last month, I led a talk at a Rising Tide Society Tuesday's Together event and received a mix of loving giggles and groans from girlfriends in the audience when I referenced my love of mornings and morning rituals and routines.
While my love of mornings may be a little over the top, I stand firmly behind my feelings. I've found with 100% correlation that if I give myself the gift of a few reflective moments in the morning, my day is more productive, easeful, and joyful. And if I don't, my day feels more chaotic, more rushed, and out of control. And I'm not alone. If we look at the schedules of successful CEOs, presidents, actors, writers, and great thinkers, many of them follow(ed) a consistent morning routine.
When I talk about morning routines, the most frequent questions I receive are, "what do you actually do?" and, "how do you avoid checking your phone first thing in the morning?"
Here are the answers, in hopes that they're helpful for you as you experiment with your own morning structure.
Wake Up.
Many people ask me if I use my cell phone for my alarm. I do! The trick: shut off the alarm, and then set the phone down. No checking Instagram, no looking at email, no checking Facebook, no checking messages, and no checking the news. I know, I know - just trust me on this one....
If you have a hard time not "checking things" first thing in the morning, I recommend:
- Turning off notifications for all of your apps
- Putting your phone on airplane mode
- Deleting highly addictive apps from your phone, at least for a couple days
- Turning your phone to black and white to make the pretty pictures less seductive (On the iPhone: settings >> accessibility >> accessibility shortcut >> color filters. Selecting this option will allow you to turn your phone to black and white by pressing the home button three times in a row, and return the display to color by pressing it again three times.)
- Turning your phone to "night shift" so that the colors are more subtle right before you go to bed and when you wake up (On the iPhone: settings >> display and brightness >> night shift.)
Lemon Water.
Hot water with lemon in the winter, and room temperature water with lemon in the warmer months. Confession: I'm a little inconsistent with this - I'd say my percentage is typically around 50-60%. There are many suggested benefits of drinking lemon water in the morning related to inflammation, digestion, and overall wellbeing. Some celebrities claim that lemon water is the secret to their flawless, glowing skin. My conclusion: they must be drinking a lot of lemon water, or have some magical lemons.
While "flawlessness" is a benefit I'll leave for the celebrities, my own finding related to lemon water is that I simply feel a bit better when I drink it. Preparing lemon water in the morning feels as though it adds a little extra boost of intention that then flows into the rest of my day.
Okay, now for the good stuff. Preparing and drinking a cup of coffee in the morning is without exaggeration one of my single favorite moments of the day. The smell, the warmth, the pause it creates while drinking it....I could go on and on.
Alongside my fierce love of coffee is awareness of the correlation that is often made between coffee and adrenal fatigue. While western medicine doesn't recognize adrenal fatigue as an accepted diagnosis, I can feel the direct impact of too much coffee, and I'm pretty good at creating stress in my life in other ways, so I've been working to cut back a bit. One cup of the real stuff, and then a switch to a caffeine-free alternative.
My single favorite local roast is True Coffee Dark Roasted Sumatra.
For coffee substitutes, I've tried many. Most haven't even come close to replacing the dark deliciousness of coffee and instead result in a hot cup of sadness. The only one I've found that comes close is Dandy Blend. It's dark, smooth, delicious, and almost tastes like real coffee. It comes in single packs, too, which are great for traveling.
Once all of the beverages are ready (a very important part of the morning), I spend a few minutes in quiet reflection. Sometimes this is a brief seated meditation, or sometimes it's just quietly sitting in my breakfast nook enjoying the sunshine (or today, the sound of the rain). These few precious quiet moments are sacred and grounding and create a bit of spaciousness and stillness that flows into the rest of the day.
Typically, after this reflection time, avocado toast also makes an entrance.
Planning and Intention Setting
Next, I take a few minutes to think about my day to set both intentions and priorities. My two favorite tools for this are:
- The Five Minute Journal
- The Desire Map Planner (currently sold out, but you can get the book here)
While I'm a sucker for a great planner, a regular old notebook works just as well.
The key questions I ask during this part of my morning are:
- What are my intentions for the day?
- What are the 3-5 things I most want to accomplish?
Here, I also look at my schedule for the day and plan out meetings and logistics.
Writing, Creative Projects, and Strategic Work
If I'm going to get something important done, it will almost certainly be completed in the morning. When it comes to independent work that involves writing, creativity, and/or strategy, I do it first thing in the morning, before I do anything else. I do this before I check email, before I log into social media, and before I start checking off less-important-but-more-urgent tasks from my list. I do this for a number of reasons, including:
- I'm way more productive in the morning
- I believe in "creation before intake." This means that I like to give myself the time and space to think my own thoughts and have my own ideas before consuming any thoughts or ideas from other people. I believe that this ultimately leads to more authentic, joyful, and original work.
- It's easy for the "urgent" list of tasks to take over our days and ultimately our lives. If we don't create time for the "low urgency, high importance" tasks, they rarely get done.
On a really good day, I've completed my most important task for the day by 8 am. This doesn't always happen, but when it does, it's awesome.
Tips for Making Mornings Easier
On the surface this can look like a lot of time and a lot of effort. I often hear from people who say they don't have time for an hour-long morning routine. The good news is that this can all be done in as little as a few minutes. Often if I'm traveling for work, this routine is condensed into 5 minutes and involves a cup of coffee, some quick reflection, and jotting down a few thoughts before heading onsite. But even those five minutes have a massive positive impact on my day.
Some tips for making mornings easier, and making a powerful morning routine more accessible, include:
- Prep everything you need the night before. This means that you might grind your coffee beans, fill the water kettle with water, and set your journal out on the dining room table.
- Turn off your notifications before bed. There is nothing more seductive than an iPhone screen full of people who have SO MUCH AMAZING NEWS AND SO MANY BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS TO SHARE WITH YOU FIRST THING IN THE MORNING! Reduce the temptation by turning of your notifications. If you're feeling especially courageous, delete the apps altogether - at least for your first couple days of your new routine.
- Go analog. Many of us are on our computers all day long. For me, having a paper-based system for morning reflection and planning has helped me stay away from email first thing in the morning.
- Allow it to be fun. Morning routines don't have to be serious and heavy. They can be (and should be) fun. Think about what would bring you joy in the morning, and do that.
- Make it your own. The above system is what works for me. This might not work for you, and that's great. Give yourself permission to experiment and find the flow that feels right for you.
I'd love to hear from you as you experiment with your own morning routine - what works, what doesn't, and the things you find most impactful.


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Moving with Children
At Horizon Realty, we know that moving can be both exciting and stressful. For children, the idea of moving and leaving friends, family, and schools behind can be a source of apprehension and worry. In order to make moving an exciting process for the whole family, take a look at the following tips from the experts in Gainesville/Lake City area real estate.
Before Moving Day
- Talk about it. If you have already decided where you are moving, it's a good idea to set up a family meeting to discuss the process. Gathering the family to discuss the details and how moving will affect life going forward is a fantastic way to address concerns and get feedback. Remember, children have opinions, too.
- Plan a going away party. To help children feel comfortable with the transition of moving, try hosting a "see you later" party. This can help alleviate any concerns about keeping in touch. Preserve these memories by creating a guestbook and taking pictures.
- Discuss room arrangements. Discussing available rooms and creating room assignments is a fun and practical way to get children excited about moving. Exploring bedroom themes or wall colors is a good way to inspire excitement about moving.
Moving Day
- Assign roles. If your children are old enough to help with the moving process, include them by assigning specific roles and duties. Instead of doling out orders, make it fun by creating teams, special shirts or hats, or holding a "Best Little Helper" competition.
- Keep them entertained. On moving day, remember to bring along a special box with favorite toys and activities. Whether flying or driving, it is always best to have entertainment handy, which will make the day go smoothly.
- Celebrate the move. After a busy day of moving, it's important to thank your crew (children included) for all their hard work. Ending the day with a nice meal or a small cake is a fun way to reward the family for their teamwork.
After the Move
- Save your boxes. Building box forts and play areas is a great way to get kids motivated to unpack while doing your part to save the planet.
- Keep in touch. After the move, take the time to help your children get in touch with friends and family in your old hometown.
- Explore the community. Make sure to give your children a tour of the greatest attractions and sites to see in your new community.


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Dear Mo,
I don't remember when we first met, but I remember a lot that followed; the cob-web-infested section of my family's carriage house which we turned into our clubhouse, riding bikes together, even family trips together. I remember (more so as we got older) our families doing holidays together - amazing meals and lots of laughter and board games too. Years later when I moved home to Massachusetts after 15 years away, we forged a grown-up friendship. I visited you at your apartment regularly in Wilmington to watch TV together, and you teased me for holding your newborn daughter Amelia and smelling her hair. This past October, you lost your dad. I know I must love you because I wish every day there was something I could do to make that loss hurt less for you. We have experienced a lot of life together. I never really desired to have a sister growing up, and I've only just realized that I never needed one because I had you (and Jen) all along.
Love, Cyd


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Meet the President
Catherine Clark is an Inspirational Spoken Word Artist, Writer, Poetry Workshop Facilitator, Radio Personality, Author, Actress, Voice Actor, and Print Model; in essence a Social Entrepreneur. She currently resides in Orlando, Florida where she is an alumnus of the University of Central Florida. Originally from Campbellton, FL, a quaint town in the Northwest Panhandle area, Ms. Clark has partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, a nationally recognized non-profit organization, facilitating Poetry and offering Zumba Classes. She is currently a presidential member of Sigma Alpha Pi, the National Society of Leadership and Success.
Ms. Clark is the Founder/CEO of 1 Message LLC, which is purposed to inspire, educate, and motivate individuals to positively exercise the power of voice, while spreading the love of Christ. In 2016, she founded Beauty Boxx Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)(3)organization, which mission is to provide empowerment resources such as scholarships and self-awareness programs to those who have been victimized by the lucrative industry of human trafficking. Having a pure passion for love, life, and seeing people prosper, Ms. Clark is inspired to strive for the dreams and goals set before her.
She's been a Creative Writer for over 15 years. Ms. Clark was showcased in R.Y.S.E. Magazine (Recognizing Young, Successful Entrepreneurs and Executives) and Gospel Now Magazine. On many occasions, she travels to perform her Spoken Word at weddings, conferences, and facilitate various workshops. Ms. Clark has been a guest on WATC Atlanta 57, "Atlanta Live". She's shared platforms with artists and prominent leaders such as Kim Burrell, Canton Jones, Benjah, Y'anna Crawley, Jackie Hill-Perry, KJ Scriven, and Dwayne Woods. Ms. Clark's life experiences and the message of freedom are ignited as she continues to spread light and hope.


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Ecuador-Hotels.net has gathered information of some of the best hotels in Ecuador's main cities. We have also added location maps of each city to help you find the accommodation establishments and places which we consider could be of your interest. This site facilitates instant reservations and information on each hotel. Our priority is to help you select the accommodations that best suit your needs, while staying in Ecuador.
The smallest country in the rugged Andean highlands, Ecuador is among the most rewarding travel destinations in South America. With its array of vibrant indigenous cultures, well preserved colonial architecture, otherworldly volcanic landscapes and dense rainforest, it packs its perimeters with more points of interest than many countries twice its size.
Is the 3rd largest city in Ecuador, which is also declared as a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO. Cuenca is known as "Santa Ana de los Cuatro Ríos de Cuenca" (Santa Ana of the four rivers of Cuenca), recognized for its colonial architecture of the 17th century and cobblestone streets. This gifted city is filled with artisans inspired to create precious crafts of gold, glass, ceramics, the popularly known "Panama hats", among many others, which are highly appreciated in the foreign markets. Cuenca Map
© 2001-2004 Ecuador-Hotels.net. All rights reserved.


text: Kinky Mature Fat Women Yes baby, fuck this pussy Make me cum on that dick. I screamed between thrusts. My soft body jiggled as his hips Kinuy against my ass in a frenzy. Roughly, he pulled my head back with one hand and whacked my ass hard until it was red. Oh fuck yes I screamed wildly, my pussy gripped him tightly as my creamy cum coated his cock completely. Milk this cock, baby Im gonna explode his thrusts grow harder and faster then suddenly he roared. He rammed into me and held still. His dick swelled and shot hot cum deep into me over and over. Each spurt dragged a guttural grunt from him. With the final twitch of his cock, he fell to the side and tenderly pulled me Kinky Mature Fat Women Ive never felt that good before, baby. I sure hope this isnt a one night stand cause I do believe I could spend eternity pleasing this wonderfully plump woman in Kimky arms. Sam whispered into my ear dreamily. Ill be yours until I die. I murmured lovingly as we W omen drifted to sleep in each others arms. It M ature usually the cold air that woke him up, and if not Kinky Mature Fat Women then a hot body grinding against him. If he was lucky, it would be Mary Jane at Kiinky then he didnt feel guilty. However, it rarely was her, and when it was Black Cat would be watching nearby, mocking the red heads poor performance and pulling her off so she could finish the job herself. Spider Man had Kniky his best to keep Wome of the time, able to see night and day through the windows Matude high. His guesses were only Kinkyy however, as he suspected he could be out of it for more than a day or two at a time. It all depended on how much of a fight he would put up, forcing them to use more that drug than usual to keep him out longer. Kinky Mature Fat Women or not, it didnt stop them from using him as a sex doll. Whatever it was they were using Fa keep MMature somewhat willing was also keeping him constantly aroused. At least, thats what he told himself.


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The Town Council comprises 12 Councillors elected in two wards. On West Dorset District Council there are 4 elected members for Sherborne. Dorset County Council has 2 members associated with Sherborne, one for the town, and one for the surrounding district.The Town Council offices are in the Manor House, Newland, and as of 1st April 2014 they are open:10.00 am - 4.00 pm Monday to Thursday10.00 am - 1.00 pm on FridayThe council offices are closed at the weekend, bank holidays, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.The Council is responsible for the Manor House, the Digby and Westbury Halls, the Terrace Playing Fields, the Cemetery in Lenthay Road, the Pageant Gardens, the Paddock Garden and Newland Gardens, children's play areas, public seats, allotments and the Abbey Close.
For Information on other Local Authorities, Public Bodies or local organisations, please use the following links:
Dorset County Council
West Dorset District Council
Dorset Police
The Police and Crime Commissioner
Sherborne Citizens Advice Bureau
Sherborne Chamber of Trade


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Sam Tabar has a lot to say about many topics. Among the many things that he talks about investing and law. However, he has went to unexpected territory when he wrote an article that talks about when a parent should quit supporting his or her child. One of the things that parents often have to deal with is the temptation to continue carrying their children. Among the things they try to do for their adult children is help them with their expenses. However, the children may not necessarily want that. There are a few things that parents should look at when it comes to helping their children.
Sam Tabar himself is not only speaking about investments and finances, but also speaking from a common sense stand point. From one thing, he does not see the point in a parent helping a child when the child has more money than the parent. There are some children that have investment accounts while parents have less than $400 saved up. Some of the adult children that are working have more than $9,000 in their savings account. Sam himself who has worked in many different companies. He has held positions in Merrill Lynch.
Sam is also well traveled and fluent in several languages. He has also done some work in law as an attorney. He has made a name for himself in different industries. He is also an accomplished writer that offers plenty of insights to people in many different aspects of life. Among the more recent accomplishments he has under his belt is the appointment as COO in FullCycle Energy Fund. He has not only shown a lot of wisdom in money management, but he has also shown that he has a great understanding of laws and business ethics. Sam Tabar worked very hard and achieved a lot in his career. Follow Sam alongside his official website, or you can also read about his appointment at FullCycle Fund on PR Newswire.


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Flip Side - Hudson OH
By donald.johnson on Dec 20, 2011 | In Akron, Restaurants | Send feedback »
Flip Side is an eatery located in the "First and Main" shopping district in Hudson. This establishment boasts the use of Ohio raised, premium grass fed beef. The menu is heavily burger weighted. And there's nothing wrong with that. During my visit, the atmosphere was comfortable and conducive to visiting with my companion diners, even as '80's music filled the background.
It was straight up 3:00 PM on an early December Sunday afternoon. We were pleasantly greeted and quickly seated. Our drink orders were taken shortly thereafter. The variety of "specialty" milkshakes on the menu included concoctions with names such as "Apple Pie Shake" (with chunks of apple pie), "Brownie Shake" (with chunks of brownie) and "Chef's Shake" (no, not with chunks of chef, but with peanut butter, pretzels and dark rum). Since these sounded more like sundaes than milkshakes, I opted for the basic chocolate. After ordering, the service slowed as the eatery was getting slammed with hungry holiday shoppers.
With an apology for the delay, our beverages were delivered. My milkshake was served in a cold, tall traditional soda fountain styled glass with a straw planted in it. It was filled with what looked like thick, rich custard that was strong enough to keep its peaks and ridges intact and the straw standing firmly in place. I used the long handled teaspoon that accompanied it to get my initial taste. Its appearance was deceiving as, unfortunately, I thought the chocolate flavor to be weak.
I ordered the "Chili Pepper" burger. This is about a 6 or 7 oz. burger that features pickled jalapenos, pepper jack cheese and crispy chili onion rings accompanied by smoked chili ketchup. I ordered it medium as that is what the server guided the rest of the table to for their burgers. I also ordered the house made potato chips served with hot sauce and yogurt blue cheese dressing.
Everything about this burger was fresh. This beauty was presented open faced. Its toasted crown was set off to the side to expose ketchup that was drizzled over one big, crisp onion ring. Below that sat a pepper jack cheese covered burger. The pickled jalapenos were hidden between the ring and burger. All of this sat upon the toasted heel. Also on the plate was a fresh leaf of lettuce topped with thinly sliced red onion, pickle and tomato. The chili ketchup was served on the side.
I assembled the burger with the vegetable accompaniments and smeared a portion of the chili ketchup on the crown. The burger was cooked perfectly to medium that was moist. The burger had a good texture that was enhanced by the crunch of the onion ring. A pleasant medley of pepper flavors came forth. The pickled jalapenos were readily identifiable. The chili ketchup tasted very much like chipotle pepper; possessing that somewhat spicy, woody taste that smoked jalapenos are known for. The peppers on this burger will warm the sides and back of your tongue but won't blister you. Being a hot pepper fanatic, my disclaimer about the heat is that you'll ultimately have to gauge the flavor and heat yourself.
The house chips were fresh cut and fried. Presented on a diner plate, the yogurt blue cheese sauce was drizzled upon them. It was accompanied by a side of hot sauce. The chips were crisp. The yogurt blue cheese drizzle was a hit and miss upon the chips. When I think of blue cheese sauces and dressings, I think of flavor that stands up and shouts out for recognition. Surprisingly, the blue cheese flavor was almost imperceptible. The hot sauce, on the other hand, had a bright and somewhat tangy flavor with nice heat. Other sides on the table included the "Triple Cooked " fries and Sweet Potato fries with horseradish mustard sauce.
Was Flip Side worth the trip? The short answer is yes. For just under $16.00, you'll get a good burger, a plate of crisp chips and a basic shake in a clean, comfortable and unrushed atmosphere. Instead of the chips, however, I recommend you try the sweet potato fries. The accompanying horseradish mustard sauce is a terrific compliment to the sweet potato's sweetness. And next time, instead of a shake, I'll opt for a beer. Eat up!
Thank you, Rich, for allowing me to blog with you.
Anthony Bourdain Coming To Cleveland
By admin23 on Oct 12, 2011 | In Cleveland, Akron, Special Event | Send feedback »
Anthony Bourdain is going to be making an appearance in Cleveland on November 4th 2011 at 8pm at The State Theatre. Tickets to this one-night event are $57.50, $42.50 and $27.50. You can purchase tickets by going to www.playhousesquare.org/ or calling the ticket office at (216) 241-6000
Farewell To Goodman's Sandwich Inn
By admin23 on Aug 31, 2011 | In Cleveland, Akron, Restaurants | Send feedback »
I, for one, am going to miss Goodman's. If you never made it there, you missed out on a hell of a good corned beef sandwich.
The owner used to stand in the front window and hand-carve the corned beef and stack it on rye bread. According to this article from Scene Magazine, the restaurant was around for 62 years. It wasn't the nicest atmosphere...but I was there for the giant briskets that I would see boiling in the kitchen when I walked through to the restroom. I don't have much else to write- I had a few pictures that I'd never posted, and I thought I'd just lament the passing of a Cleveland corned beef landmark.
Walnut Wednesdays in Cleveland
By admin23 on Aug 26, 2011 | In Cleveland, Restaurants, Special Event | Send feedback »
Gourmet food trucks are gaining in popularity, in part to some of the recent competition shows on TV. Cleveland has a growing food truck scene, with trucks showing up everywhere. This summer, various trucks have been gathering Wednesdays downtown on Walnut Ave at E. 9th Street. It's a great opportunity to be able to check the offerings of a number of trucks without having to drive all around town. The Downtown Cleveland Alliance web site has information on which trucks may be showing as well dates and times. Make sure you check their site, Facebook page, or Twitter since they have had to move the location due to the filming of the Avengers movie.
Due to my schedule, I wasn't able to make it up there until last week. As I mentioned earlier, they'd had to move the location because of the movie, so the trucks were parked on Rockwell Ave at E. 12th Street. I arrived near the end (1pm), and there was still a pretty good crowd. There was live music, and probably 6 or 7 trucks. Some of the items were sold out (I wish I'd been able to get there sooner), but there was still a good selection. I ordered an Asian Chicken Sandwich (above) from the Motor Mouth Food Truck which consisted of soy and ginger braised chicken with a spicy red cabbage slaw. The chicken was moist and tasty, the slaw was crunchy, the bread was fresh, and it had just enough sauce on it that had a hint of sesame oil.
My companion had a grilled chicken panini from the The Nosh Box food truck (which was also at the Hamburger Festival- see other posts). She really enjoyed it- moist and tender pieces of dark chicken meat grilled with cheddar cheese and bacon on a cibatta roll.
The sandwiches that we tried cost around $7-$8. Most of the items being sold seemed to be in this price range- well worth the price, especially considering the uniqueness and quality of the food. The food trucks will continue to gather downtown on Wednesdays through September 7th. Check with the Downtown Alliance for more information. And if you find a truck that you like, check their Facebook pages and Twitter posts to see where they'll be throughout the week.
Cadillac Culinary Challenge
By admin23 on Aug 19, 2011 | In Cleveland, Special Event | Send feedback »
We attended the Cadillac Culinary Challenge this past Sunday at Legacy Village. In spite of the rain, the tent was packed, and we had a great time. The event was MC'd by Mary Nolan of the Food Network. Chef Jonathan Waxman was in town from New York to participate in the event, and the local Chef was Marlin Kaplan, owner of Dragonfly in Ohio City.
The Chefs were required to create a dish using one key ingredient, which was corn. The cool thing was that both Chefs not only cooked their dishes, but also described what they were doing and gave some tips on how to do it. Chef Waxman explained that the easy way to get the corn kernels off of the cob is to steam the corn in the husks in the oven. Then, cut the corn off of the cob catching it in a wet kitchen towel in order to make it easy to pour into the cooking pot.
Chef Kaplan created a Vanilla Butter Poached Lobster And Corn Stuffed Bao. The bao were steamed in bamboo steamers and were lighter than I expected. The corn and lobster filling was sweet and had a light taste of orange with a little kick from cilantro. The sauce that was swirled on the plate had a bit of kick to it. My companion thought it was a bit too spicy for her, but I thought it was great.
Chef Waxman created Organic Spaghetti With Blue Crab Meat, Grilled Corn, Chiles, Tomatoes and Sweet Onions. The corn added a sweetness to the dish, and the heirloom tomatoes gave it a fresh, light taste. Overall, it was excellent and much lighter tasting that I would expect from a pasta dish made with olive oil. There was also a hint of spice, provided by jalapenos.
I really liked both dishes, but I'm a sucker for something different and I also like to pull for the local guy, so I voted for Chef Kaplan's bao. My fellow judges didn't all agree, so it was a split decision for both, ending in a tie. I couldn't complain- both Chefs were equally talented and entertaining, and the food was excellent.


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All set up at the Dirt Track in Charlotte NC
The Mazda MX 5 Cup Qualifiers in front of our Brand New 2017 Renegade Toterhome 14' box and 2017 40' Liftgate trailer on display at (VIR) Virginia International Raceway Aug 26-28 2016
Brand New 2017 Renegade Toterhome 14' box and 2017 40' Liftgate trailer on display at (VIR) Virginia International Raceway Aug 26-28 2016
All set up at Kokomo Speedway for the Dirt Classic. July 22, 2016
IHRA Presidents Cup at Maryland International Raceway June 17, 2016
Perfect weather for Drag Racing at Maryland International Raceway. Door Wars this weekend. April 15, 2016
Got the new whip on display at the Racing Xtravaganza Show York, PA February 6, 2016
Set up and Display at the Racing Xtravaganza York PA Expo Center February 6, 2016
Set up and Display for Motorsports 2016 Show at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center Jan 23, 2016
While out in Indy we got a chance to be a sponsor of the Bad Boy Indy Invitational (DEC, 12 2015). It was a great way to end a long week at PRI 2015.
We say good bye to Indy and PRI2015. It was a great show and made a lot of good contacts and friends one of our best shows of the year.
Our Display booth at the annual Performance Racing Industry show at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis.
Set and Display at Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Dec 10-12, 2015 at the Indiana Convention Center Indianapolis, Indiana
Set up and ready for a great weekend of racing!!! #Renegadelife
One of the best looking Rigs in the industry to bring down to the World of Outlaws Finals in Charlotte, NC
Big coach looks pretty good up here. Neighbor is some cat named Helton. Has something to do with nascar.
Attended the Rockville, MD Antique and Classic Car Show on October 17, 2015 with this 16 In Tech 24' Tag Car Hauler with a 1948 Oldsmobile Woody Wagon.
Our good friends at Prueitt Automotive Restorations came down for the annual antique and classic car show in Rockville, MD on Oct 17, 2015 with there new ATC Gooseneck Quest Trailer this trailer is built for long hauls.
Our Display out at Lincoln Speedway Abbottstown, PA Sept 26, 2015 for the Second annual "Dirt Classic" 410 Sprints
Set up for the weekend at the Auburn Indy auction Sept 2, 2015 with our 37' Motorhome. Perfect size trailering coach that will pull anything you hook up to it. 525 HP's w/1850 lb/ft torque and a 13speed fully automatic ultra-shift trans.
Took one of the motorcoaches down to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Sprint All Star Race May 16, 2015 it was a great time by all. #Renegadelife #SprintAllStar
Up close and great view of the track for a great race during All Star week down in Charlotter, NC #Renegadelife
Here at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Seats with a view and our good friend and customer Jeff Burton stopped by to say Hello.
Sitting back and relaxing with one of our good friends and customers Jeff Burton in the Renegade Motorcoach
Set up and ready for Motorsports 2015 Show at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center Jan 23, 2015
Set and Display at Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Dec 11, 2014 at the Indiana Convention Center Indianapolis, Indiana
Set and Display with our Renegade Garage Unit at NSRA July 31,2014 Louisville, KY
Set up and Display at Good Guys with our Renegade Garage Coach, and the InTech Trailer
Set up at Good Guys in Ohio. Capitol Renegade don't just show up with Coaches and Trailers. We show up with our Hot Rods also. Whether it is a Hot Rod Show, Racing, or Motorcycles, we are a part of that family. We know what it is all about!
Set up and Display with our Sprint Car Trailer Jan 11, 2014 out at the Motorsports show at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center
Set and Display at Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Dec 12, 2013 at the Indiana Convention Center Indianapolis, Indiana
Heading to Idaho Falls to deliver customer his new purchase. Going to be used for a professional snowmobile hill climb team. Deliveries in January out here are a little cold around these parts.
Heading to Shelby Montana to deliver this new Renegade Toter. 14' Toter with 2 – slides and 525hp. What a great rig to drive on these open roads.
Heading to Moab Utah to deliver this Renegade Coach.
On our way to Kansas to deliver this new Renegade Toter and could not pass by HD since I am a rider. This 14' Toter on a Freightliner Cascadia cab at 550hp. We can't keep them in stock. This is the perfect set up. Comfortable, very maneuverable, and when pulling we stay in the left lane.
New Renegade Toter and Lift Gate Stacker delivered to our customer in Florida.
Heading to Texas to deliver this Renegade Toter and Stacker.
One of our customers purchased this super clean 2007 Renegade Toter from us and then built this new stacker to complete his rig. Great set up. Meet up with him out at the factory and then he headed back to CA.
Capitol Custom Trailers and Coaches
Road trip to the factory
Pole sitter for the PASS race at South Boston VA
Winning a NASCAR Weekly racing series 150 lap race at South Boston
Practicing the Super Late Model
Defending track champ Niki Young started on the pole led every lap of the 20-lap season opener for "358" sprint cars, holding off heavy pressure from 2013 Williams Grove champ Kevin Nouse for his eighth career Lincoln win. -www.centralparacing.com
On The Hammer
Day at the Races with Capitol Custom Trailers and Coaches


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The celebration of Copenhagen nightlife, Distortion kicks off in a couple of weeks with streetparties and a massive finale party at Refshaleøen. The massive streetparties are without a doubt Distortion's iconic trademark. On the opening day in 2016, the city neighborhood of Nørrebro were engulfed by countless soundsystems, attracting more than 100.000 party people per day, and completely shutting down the traffic. On the second day, Distortion moves along to the hood of Vesterbro repeating the same crazy drill.
The legendary street parties have been described as an unusually diverse party-magnet attracting just about everyone; hippies, hipsters, queers, families with kids, techno enthusiasts, general culture-lovers, you name it! The streets of Copenhagen are literally jam-packed, and transformed by the thousands of guests dancing and loving life and music together.
Distortion Ø, which started as a smaller event supporting the streetparties is now the main event of the Distortion week. The beast that is Distortion morphes again on the 3rd and 4th days of the festival, becoming an intense, centralized party-utopia on the festival site Distortion Ø. It all goes down at the labyrinth-like festival site by the Copenhagen harbour where guests lose themselves in pure musical bliss.
The area is a mix of container stages, green fields, small forests, warehouses and small alleys, with many stages, all surrounded by the beautiful Copenhagen skyline. Ø means island – the area is called Refshaleøen. The site is brimming with outdoor dance floors, and thoroughly decked out with sound and light installations, creating Scandinavia's biggest electronic music event.


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Jan 27, 2012
A smart-phone will detect people's emotions
MIT's Technology Review reports that Samsung researchers have released a smart-phone designed to "read" people's emotions. Rather than relying on specialized sensors or cameras, the phone infers a user's emotional state based on how he's using the phone.
"For example, it monitors certain inputs, such as the speed at which a user types, how often the "backspace" or "special symbol" buttons are pressed, and how much the device shakes. These measures let the phone postulate whether the user is happy, sad, surprised, fearful, angry, or disgusted, says Hosub Lee, a researcher with Samsung Electronics and the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology's Intelligence Group, in South Korea. Lee led the work on the new system. He says that such inputs may seem to have little to do with emotions, but there are subtle correlations between these behaviors and one's mental state, which the software's machine-learning algorithms can detect with an accuracy of 67.5 percent."
Once a phone infers an emotional state, it can then change how it interacts with the user: "The system could trigger different ringtones on a phone to convey the caller's emotional state or cheer up someone who's feeling low. "The smart phone might show a funny cartoon to make the user feel better," he says.
The comments are closed.


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Peter's principles
Mark Latham has talked about a lot of subjects this year, but Australia's other alternative prime minister has pretty much kept to the economy. Peter Costello will be at the top of the national agenda this week as he brings down the federal budget, and once again his job as Treasurer will limit what he talks about.
But as he sets a record for any Treasurer, Liberal or Labor, with his ninth budget, it's not the peak of his career but a summit from which he will survey his ultimate aim. Costello is the undisputed heir to John Howard's job as leader of the Coalition, and although he hasn't spoken much about his vision for Australia, he has been thinking about it and planning for it.
Indeed, in an interview in his Canberra office this week, he talked deliberately, almost ponderously, about the budget, and only really came alive when asked about his big-picture plans for Australia.
The round-the-clock work of putting the budget together puts tremendous strain on a treasurer and Costello shows it. He has dark rings beneath his eyes, he yawns and rubs his face repeatedly as he speaks about the budget. But when the subject turns to his plans for his own prime ministership, the tiredness falls away. He becomes animated, talks faster, jokes and laughs more often, his arms, his whole body starts to move under the motive power of his enthusiasm. He is a large man, bigger than he looks on TV, at 190 cm (6ft 3in), and his voice booms when he is excited.
It is an exquisite irony that the better Costello is as Treasurer, the more firmly he entrenches Howard in the job that Costello covets above all else. And the question of how and when he might succeed Howard remains awkwardly unresolved as the Government looks to the polls.
Costello does his best to make a virtue of a necessity: "I don't think it's actually a bad thing. The Government looks like it's got strong succession alternatives. People say, 'yeah, well, it's not a one-man show, they've got a team'. I think much more frightening is the question as to who is Labor's team. Apart from Latham, who do you get? Crean? Sightings of him are rarer than sightings of the Tasmanian tiger." Much laughter.
SINCE Howard decided last year to put aside any thoughts of retirement, Costello has not sought any undertaking from the Prime Minister on a succession timetable. And Howard has not offered one, according to people intimate with the political dealings of both men. If the Coalition loses the looming federal election, the succession will be clear and immediate. But if Howard wins re-election, his retirement plan, he has said privately, is like the Defence Force's Jindalee radar - over the horizon.
But Howard, who celebrates his 65th birthday in July, will eventually leave the leadership. And Costello, who turns 47 the following month, has not only to tend to an intense and difficult job in the interim, he must emerge with the energy and the ideas to carry the Coalition when that day comes.
Costello is confident that he can go toe-to-toe against Mark Latham and win. Costello is the Coalition's parliamentary howitzer. The former barrister is Keatingesque in his ability to dominate question time. This is no coincidence - he made a close study of Keating's techniques, the way he alternated between theatrical cut and substantive thrust, his careful preparation and his mastery of timing. It is only one of the distinct echoes of Keating that reverberate in Costello. The two men are so similar that Keating's biographer and former adviser, John Edwards, describes it as "weird."
But Costello's cocksure approach to Latham is based on specific experience with the Leader of the Opposition: "Simon Crean appointed Mark Latham Shadow Treasurer with the intention of muscling him up to me in the Parliament ...
"I think it was July or June and he was the shadow treasurer for six months or so and I don't think he came out with a single coherent economic policy ... He didn't perform at all well in that role."
Costello holds Latham's intellectual and policy substance in low esteem. He's not popular because of what he proposes, says Costello, but because he's a fresh face: " It's more this interest in new things ... I don't think he's cut through in any policy area.
"It's more, 'Oh well, he's the new kid on the block, we'll see what he has to say.' As you see what he has to say, he'll get less and less interesting."
So, once he manages to somehow succeed Howard and unleash his aggression on Latham, what ideas does Peter Costello, deputy leader of the parliamentary Liberal Party, have in mind for the day when he becomes leader?
IN BROAD terms, Costello is an optimist guided by a conservative social philosophy, a personal commitment to church and family, and a deep faith in the free market. He has a robust confidence in Australia's ability to compete and thrive in an open economy. He has an expansive vision: "I want to see Australia be everything it can possibly be. I want to see it prosperous and strong and secure and tolerant."
He rejects Margaret Thatcher's negation of the concept of community, captured in her famous declaration that "there is no such thing as society". On the contrary, Costello is a fervent believer in the concept of social capital and an advocate of recovering Australia's "culture of engagement", keeping citizens involved in their local communities. By building local engagement, the warmth and contact of community can salve the wounds of free-market rigour. He describes community as the "antidote" to the dislocations and difficulties of globalisation. So free markets supply the necessary astringent of economic vigour while community supplies the balm.
Famously, Costello is a champion of Australia's republican cause.
A self-described defence "hawk" and a staunch supporter of the US alliance, he endorsed the deployment of Australian forces to Iraq. Interestingly, though, he has privately differed from the Government line on the justification for the invasion. He has said in private that he would not have dispatched forces to remove Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. He would have based the case solely on the argument for "regime change".
He wants the forces of the free market to have fuller play at home and abroad. And it is here that Costello's plans hold the greatest potential for dividing Australia and for shaking the country. He sees a broad deregulation of the jobs market as the way to further reduce Australia's unemployment - already at its lowest in a quarter of a century at 5.6 per cent. It would also serve his lifelong passion for breaking down the remaining power of the unions. Costello first rose to serious prominence as the barrister in the successful prosecution of the Dollar Sweets case, a breakthrough in diminishing union power.
He has a sweeping plan to dismantle many remaining regulations and rigidities in the labour market, especially in the universities and schools. "The labour relations at universities and schools has got to be radically recast," he says, arguing that it is here that scope for reform is greatest because progress so far has been least. In Costello's conception, all schools, public and private, and all universities should be completely free to compete for students and staff. Laissez faire should prevail.
"Where would labour market flexibility make the biggest change?" he asks rhetorically. "Teaching awards. Flexibility to give teachers career structures and rewards ...
"We've got to have competition between schools so that parents have the option of taking their kids out of a non-performing school to a performing school." And not just in private schools but in government schools, too: "You can do it at the moment if you've got the money to go into the private sector. And ... that's why I am all in favour of these low-fee private schools, because I think they are giving competition ...
"Parents know this. It's known which government schools are good, and there's enormous competition to get into them. Some of these schools are now having residential requirements - unless you live in this area you can't come to our school. Well, that's locking parents out. What we want to do is drive competition so that the non-performing schools have to actually pick up their standards ... to maintain funding ...
"There's only one area that's even more highly regulated - tertiary education, the last bastion of centralised collective control. Absolutely. You know universities should have the ability ... to snaffle the best professor on a wage deal and allow students to follow that professor. So you start choosing your course according to who's got the best professors with the best research work and the best publications and the institutions that want to attract them have the flexibility.
"Some of this is going on [already]. I think the way they attract their professors now is by promising them better facilities and that kind of thing or more research time, but frankly labour market flexibility in the higher education system could absolutely open that up. There's still incredible union influence in the tertiary education sector and the unions insisting on awards, certified agreements rather than workplace arrangements. There is still ... a large degree of collectivisation on Australian university campuses."
His vision is in part based on the US model of universities, but Costello is quick to draw important distinctions. The fees in US universities are exorbitant, he notes, and he wants to retain Australia's HECS system.
Costello is also passionate about education standards and the international conservative trend for rigorous, standardised testing. "The whole thing about education is going to be standards, standards in our schools, standards in basic core competencies that you are going to need [in] writing, English, mathematics, science. The knowledge is going to change dramatically, but the standards have to be increased ... We've got to continually work towards higher standards in education and this will involve testing our kids to see those [who] are succeeding and those that are not - benchmarking against other countries, staying at the forefront of knowledge, all of these areas."
IT'S NOT only in schools and universities where Costello wants more flexibility in working arrangements. "The day of the 8 o'clock-to-4 o'clock, Monday-to-Friday, rostered day off on the fourth Friday of the month, full-time award wage, heavy unionisation - that's passing.
"We have to be flexible enough to cope with people who are going to move in and out of the workforce, change careers, change their working patterns, people who are going to work at older ages, young people that are going to have casual jobs. And the degree to which you can free up the flexibility is the degree to which you will capture many of those jobs.
"You want to have ease of entry, ease of exit. It's going to be fluid. And these laws that say, you can't sack people without three warnings and an investigation and a judicial process - you'll never make people happy. [Better] to create more jobs so that if they're unhappy somewhere, they've got an alternative to go somewhere else ...
One of Costello's pet themes is social capital and how to build it. Costello once suggested that all Australians spend an hour a week engaging in their communities. Some complained that he just wanted people to do unpaid charity work to shift the welfare burden from the state.
Not at all, he retorts. He doesn't want people necessarily to do charity work. "I said just engage for an hour. Go down to the local cricket club and watch them play. Or go to church. Or go to the synagogue. Or maybe talk to your neighbour for an hour a week."
Why does this matter? Costello answers with another question: "What is the difference between Iraq and Australia? Why is it that we can live in suburbs, mostly in peace with each other, but apparently it can't be done in Iraq ...
"They've got no history of trust and tolerance in a society where you've got spies employed on everything you do. "The whole idea of a police state is to break down trust between citizens ... The whole idea of a free society is to build up trust between citizens [which] comes from shared values within a framework of law and engagement ..."
Costello volunteers the information that his family hosted their neighbourhood street party last Christmas, a practical example of building social capital. "I don't think you're going to stop technology and communications leading to increased economic factors at the international level, but people are going to look for an antidote at the local level, and it's going to be community engagement."
In the meantime, it falls to Costello, as Treasurer, to seek the difficult balance between the urge of a Government to buy its way back to power and the need to preserve Australia's fiscal credibility. It is no victory for the Coalition to win re-election only to face an economic crisis. And it would be a violation of the national interest to allow the politics of the budget to overwhelm the economics.
"My experience - and I've been Treasurer for a bit over eight years - is that there is no shortage of worthy projects that people want to fund.
"And by the same token, there is no clamour by people to ... pay higher taxes. Let me let you into a secret. When people get their tax returns, very few write back, pay the amount and say, 'here's a bonus for the revenue'. And marrying those competing aims is difficult [and] those two aims intersect, right here in this office."
If Costello has veered too far towards political porkbarrelling, the budget will add too much stimulus to the economy. This would put pressure on the Reserve Bank to tamp things down by raising interest rates, posing the danger of an economic slowdown and carnage in the real estate market. Not enough pork, and he risks the blame if the Government loses power.
If he can successfully strike the right balance in next Tuesday's budget, he will have burnished his credentials as a highly successful Treasurer.
But when will he get the opportunity to show his skills as party leader? It's likely to be during the next term of Parliament, but Costello is not prepared to speculate. He recalled this week a remark in 1999. "I once said to you I have one or two budgets left in me. That got me into a lot of trouble." Five budgets later, how much longer is he prepared to wait? "I am not going there. I made the mistake of going there once before."
The other conclusion he draws from those five years: "I proved to be a stayer." With Latham ascendant in the polls, and with Howard showing no interest in budging even if the Coalition should win the election, it's a skill he may need to continue to hone in pursuit of the prime ministership.