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Archive for April, 2011
$10 Challenge: 5 ingredients, 2 different meals
Tomorrow I'm going with a Cooking Matters for Adults class to Aldi for the grocery store trip and $10 challenge. The $10 Challenge is a fun way to put participants' newfound cooking and budgeting knowledge to the test: Shoppers have a $10 budget to buy one healthy ingredient from each food group.
I went to the store today to give myself the $10 challenge and found some great stuff.
I already had an idea to make Asian lettuce wraps because I have leaf lettuce and cilantro at home as well as the seasonings (soy sauce, ginger, etc). I wasn't sure what how to fulfill the other parts of the challenge, though, so I came in with a working list (fruit, low-fat cheese and brown rice) and decided to let prices and stock guide me.
Unfortunately there was no low-fat cheese or brown rice so I changed my game plan, selecting nonfat vanilla yogurt and thin whole wheat spaghetti. I figured I could make a fruit smoothie to drink and make noodles with peanut butter sauce (both recipes are personal faves from the CMA book!). I'm also planning to make sesame-ginger asparagus on the side.
After buying the food I realized I could make a whole different meal with the ingredients: whole wheat spaghetti with turkey meatballs with a yogurt parfait for dessert. I could toss the asparagus in a lemon vinaigrette for a side dish.
Now it's your turn to take our $10 challenge: What five ingredients would you buy and what meal would you make?
Cooking Matters for Teens: Extreme Food Makeover
Cooking Matters in Southeast Michigan was one of the local program partners to pilot Cooking Matters for Teens, which is being revised.
One of the new changes includes a cooking challenge at the end to test the teens' knowledge of healthy cooking. And wow, did they ever deliver!
Big Daddy Chefz planned to lighten up the usually heavy dish of Chicken Alfredo with a fresh fruit smoothie on the side. Their rival, Team Verduras, decided to make a chicken wrap wtih baked chicken and whole-wheat tortilla, served with sweet potato fries and chocolate-covered strawberries on the side.
So whose cuisine reigned supreme?
The judges, which included chef volunteers Ina Cheatem, Stewart McWilliams and Jason Smith, were torn over the dishes. They said both teams did a great job with the challenge. On one hand, Big Daddy Chefz's healthy alfredo was super tasty but lacked vegetables. Team Verduras had a colorful plate packed with vegetables and even a sweet treat but there was no dairy.
In the end, the trio went with the most nutritious: Team Verduras!
Check out more photos on our Facebook page.
The Extreme Food Makeover is so much fun and a great way to get teens cooking. I look forward to more Extreme Food Makeovers!
Volunteer spotlight: Michele Kawabe
Michele Kawabe wanted to be a dietitian to inspire others.
"I was really overweight for many years," says Michele, who became a registered dietitian after graduating from Wayne State University in 2009. "I wanted to be a motivation for others. If I could do it, so could they."
Michele, who lives in West Bloomfield and grew up in Sterling Heights, changed her major from nursing to dietetics, earning a degree from Wayne State University. She first heard about Cooking Matters while she was a student when Rachelle Bonelli (former CM coordinator and current director of program services at Gleaners Community Food Bank) but her schedule was too jam-packed at the time. Once she landed a job in the field, she was looking for opportunities outside of clinical practice and reached out to us.
The desire to help others fits in well with her volunteer work with Cooking Matters. Michele, who works with inpatients with a local hospital system, says the best part about class is when people come up to her afterward to tell her how much she has helped them.
She said she enjoys building relationships with participants over the course of a class series and witnessing their progress week to week.
"The feedback is very gratifying to me," she says, recalling a participant in a recent class at Livonia Head Start where the woman told her she had lost weight by week 3 by adopting some of the positive changes discussed in class.
"Plus, it's fun! Everyone in the class gets a chance to be involved and is able to take something away from the classes, and that includes me. … Recently a participant introduced me to freekeh, which is a grain used in Middle Eastern cooking – plus (I) get the heads up on some great restaurants in the area (had a delicious meal at Chef Stewart's Mind, Body, & Spirits in Rochester not too long ago)."
She was recently accepted to WSU's Master's in Public Health program so she'll be hitting the books again in the fall. Her focus will be in Health Promotion and Education. "I have a very hectic work schedule, but in my free time enjoy gardening, cooking (can't recall meeting a recipe I haven't tried to tinker with and make my own…), and I love to eat! I'm an avid walker (gotta burn it off…), and I've managed to talk my husband into taking tennis lessons with me this summer."
Michele shared with us her recipe for kasha with mushrooms and onions (below). Make sure to check out her variation on this healthy grain recipe!
Thank you, Michele, for all you do for us at Cooking Matters in Southeast Michigan!
Kasha with mushrooms and onions
Recipe courtesy of Michele Kawabe
1 cup kasha (buckwheat groats)
1 egg
2 cups of chicken or vegetable broth
1 tablespoon of butter
1 medium onion, chopped
8 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced
Bring stock to a boil in pot.
In bowl, beat egg with a fork. Add buckwheat and mix well to combine.
Heat sauté pan over medium heat. Using dry heat, add buckwheat/egg mixture, stirring constantly until mixture is dry and separates easily (should take about 3 minutes).
Add buckwheat mixture to boiling stock. Lower heat, cover and simmer until all liquid is absorbed (note: cooking time will vary depending on brand and coarseness of the buckwheat—should take 7-10 minutes but may take longer).
Let stand for 5 minutes then fluff with a fork.
In separate sauté pan, melt butter, sauté mushrooms and onions until tender.
Fold vegetables into fluffed buckwheat. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Variation: instead of mushrooms and onions, try using scallions and nuts. Sauté as above until scallions are tender and nuts smell toasty. The nuts complement the flavor of the buckwheat nicely; I particularly like pecans in this recipe.


text: Chad McGowan of Fort Mill, South Carolina, doubled the size of his home but left his energy bill unchanged with a geothermal energy system. By Susannah Snider, Staff Writer December 1, 2010 Why go geothermal? Last year my wife, Cassie, and I were doing a major renovation and add-on to our house, and we had to replace the existing HVAC system anyway. We realized that with the 30% federal tax credit for installing a geothermal system, the cost for geothermal would be the same as for a high-efficiency conventional system. Plus, the long-term savings were obvious.How much did the system cost? It was $130,000, including $90,000 for the hardware and $40,000 to put in wells. Deduct the 30% tax credit and the net cost was $91,000. The $90,000 hardware price included two water heaters. We also put in three tankless water heaters, each with a tax credit, making our hot-water supply endless and dirt-cheap. Sponsored Content Wow, that's a lot of money. Yes, but our renovated house is large: 9,000 square feet. Our system is more than four times larger than the typical system. Also, we drilled down, doing a "vertical" loop, instead of a more shallow "horizontal" loop, adding $40,000 to the cost. A typical system for an average home is about $20,000 to $35,000 before the tax credit. How much are you saving? We doubled the size of our house, but our energy bill hasn't changed. We run the system for both heating and cooling. An added benefit is that heat also goes into the water heaters and lowers our water-heating cost. Advertisement When do you expect to make back your investment? In about 12 years through energy savings of $600 per month. Typically, these systems pay back in ten to 12 years, our contractor says. And after that, it's like receiving free energy. Do you see geothermal systems appealing to a mass audience? Good group decisions start with good individual decisions. For us, this was a good decision because we get the financial benefit, we use less energy and we pollute less. Who should install a geothermal system? It makes sense for new construction and major renovations. Do you plan on staying in your home for a long time? I'm 39, and my next house will be the nursing home.

subset: commoncrawl


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My Nephew and his Brain, Part 3 – Try to Work Out their Troublesby Karen Flummerfelt, MS | March 17, 2010
Continued from Part 2. After we had been transferred to the large university hospital, the doctors decided to delve more deeply into the specifics of my nephew's brain malformation. The MRIs had told us some things, but not everything, so they scheduled him for a Positron Emission Tomograph, commonly known as a PET-scan. A PET-scan uses radioactivity coupled with a biologically-active molecule and after injection, the biological molecule congregates in the area of interest, in our case, my nephew's brain. The radioactivity attached to the biological molecule then starts letting its extra neutrons go in a process called decay. This decay, through a very complicated process, is read by the PET scanner and brain activity can be assessed. What this very comprehensive scan told the doctors and subsequently us was that the right side of my nephew's brain couldn't send electrical signals properly and this aberrant electrical activity was causing the seizures. Unfortunately, the only way to stop the activity was to take out whatever in the right hemisphere was giving the wonky signals, so my nephew, at the age of four months, was scheduled for brain surgery.
The surgery was on a Tuesday, and all the family we could gather waited with us in the hospital waiting room while the twelve-hour surgery progressed. We received periodic updates from the operating room telling us he was doing well, and after a very-long day, the surgeon came out and told us that it had been successful; they had removed the malformed part of his brain. The unexpected part, however, was that the malformation had not been restricted to a discreet part of the right hemisphere, so instead of taking a section, they ultimately decided to take out the entire hemisphere. But, the doctors were hopeful that this would curtail the seizures because the left side of the brain appeared normal, and my nephew was resting comfortably in the pediatric intensive car unit upstairs, so we were thankful.
After the surgery, they thoroughly examined the hemisphere they had taken out, and at last, we knew why the malformation had happened. In my nephew's case, a non-neuronal cell had not followed the chemical roadmap laid out for it during development and so had ended up in the wrong place, namely the brain, which is supposed to be made up exclusively of neurological tissue. It had started dividing and after a time had developed a cyst in the right hemisphere, which in turn forced the neuronal tissue in the brain to develop around it. This cyst prevented the normal electrical patterns and had caused the seizures. Because this cyst had apparently developed early in my nephew's brain development, the whole hemisphere had formed around it and had been disrupted. But now, the hemisphere was gone, and we looked to a new future for my nephew.
Editor's note: this the third of a four-part series offered by Flummerfelt. Tomorrow, we will reveal the part four. Read parts one and two.
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New 'Brain Games' Exclusive Preview – Times Square Mass Mind Reading
This Sunday February 14th (9 p.m. ET), the Emmy-nominated Brain Games tv-show is back! Wonder junkie Jason Silva returns to our screens, teaming up with... READ MORE →
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WELLINGTON — Tongan Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva, who was being treated for pneumonia at a hospital in Auckland, has died, New Zealand media said on Thursday.
Pohiva, 78, was medevaced to Auckland Hospital on Wednesday, Radio New Zealand said.
The news was confirmed by an information ministry official, although the prime minister's office could not immediately be reached for comment.
The Tongan parliament has been deferred indefinitely as a result, media said. (Reporting by Praveen Menon; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)


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Actor Parineeti Chopra says she wants to see the reaction of audience to her latest film Kill Dill before signing her next movie.
"After Kill Dil releases, I will take a break. I won't be seen on screen for maybe the next 9-10 months," said the actress.
Directed by Shaad Ali, Kill Dil also features Ranveer Singh and Ali Zafar among others.
Parineeti, who is also considered one of the best among the young talent, admits she's reading a lot of scripts but will sign only after watching the fate of Kill Dil.
"I may sign something soon. But I first want to see the audiences' reaction to my performance in Kill Dil before deciding on what kind of a film to do next," said the actress, who was last seen in Daawat-e-Ishq.
Meanwhile, Parineeti has other plans too.
"I am taking a two-week holiday to meet my best friends in Karachi and Dubai," she said.
Is she going to Karachi or Dubai?
"I'd love to go to Karachi. But we aren't meeting in Karachi. And not in Dubai either. I've gone to Dubai so many times that I know every corner of the place. So, no thanks. We three sahelis (friends) will meet up at a fourth destination," she said.


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Not all my Lisbon photos could be included in the TravelThruHistory article of course. Here's a few from my first couple of days in the city and along the riverfront to Belem.
Lisbon Photos
Marc Latham's central site is the Greenygrey (http://www.greenygrey.co.uk), and he has books available on Smashwords and Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/author/marclatham).
38.725274 -9.150049


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In 1996, or close thereabouts, I brought home a thick purple tome from my friendly local gaming store. At that point, I had collected every World of Darkness game line in print, except one, and now it was finally in my hands. That game was Mage: the Ascension, the second edition of the game specifically, and it would go on to be life-changing. In very short order Mage became my favorite game, my go-to game, the game I had memorized perfectly. Its systems changed the way I thought about games, and it's setting changed the way I thought about the world.
Mage was one of the few games out there to have a dynamic magic system. Rather than having long tedious lists of spells with ranges, durations, saves and components, Mage simply had Spheres, broad areas of influence that a given magician could manipulate to create the effect they wanted. A few other games have tried this before – the idea was essentially cribbed from Ars Magica – and since, but Mage remains one of my favorite versions of this system.
Then, in 2000, White Wolf Game Studio decided to update the game into a Revised edition. Many of their popular game lines were seeing a needed revision, although the new revisions would come with some setting decisions that would prove controversial and sometimes unpopular with the long time fan base. I was greatly excited by the chance to buy a new, revised version of Mage. The first book I owned, though well-loved, was riddled with errors, and I was looking forward to something clean and updated, with more content and more possibilities. One of my favorite thing about the setting was the sheer possibilities. It was a game where you could do anything. I couldn't wait to see what they did with it next.
They blew it up.
The Revised Edition as I mentioned before included many changes that proved controversial. Several of these changes had been mandated by a previous developer, and mostly were focused on getting people to play the game "the right way". Spirit realms were closed off to keep games more focused on Earth. The Ascension War, the primary conflict of the setting, was declared to be over; mages should be focused on winning the hearts and minds of the little people and not on petty espionage. Magic was made much harder, and more punishing, even for small effects. The attitude was that ideally a mage never used magick. The last one did it for me. It was a dark time. Flame wars on White Wolf's message boards raged constantly back in those days of a more primitive Internet. It burned me out quickly, and I really just couldn't turn back to the game I used to love. Several more books came out for Mage after that, but the magic had died for me somewhere. In 2003, White Wolf brought an end to their World of Darkness line, and finished Mage with a book entitled Ascension. It was the last book I would buy for the game. Even the developer and writers of that book seemed to admit there still seemed so much left to cover in the Mage setting, but time had run out.
White Wolf was eventually bought by CCP, the makers of EVE Online. In turn, a small studio named Onyx Path was formed, to make something of all the intellectual property that CCP had acquired, and new anniversary editions began to be printed. Last year, a friend of mine graciously helped me to kickstart into the Mage the Ascension 20th Anniversary project, and this spring I received a backer's PDF copy of the book. Maybe this time I would fall in love again. Maybe this could bring the magick back.
The book is quite an impressive overall work, clocking in at 698 pages. This thing is a monster. Almost all of the previous anniversary editions are hefty reads, but this monster is gonna be a table cracker in print. I normally prefer dead tree for all my gaming-related reading needs, but I'm not sure I would be able to lift it. Heft is good; I like heft. So that is a start. It's also in full color, and quite the pretty book.
For the anniversary edition Onyx Path managed to acquire the original developer, Phil Brucato, to do most of the writing, and it shows in a conversational, even flippant, style. It's certainly easy to digest. Concepts come across cleanly when given the proper page space, although the writing may not be for the easily offended, as there is quite a fair amount of cursing and political jokes made.
The first section of the book covers setting material: what is a mage, how does magick work, why is magick spelled with a "k". It's written as a fairly good if breezy introduction to the basic constructs of the game. It's where we also start seeing the "Future Fates" sidebars.
The original flame wars between the 2nd and Revised editions of Mage: the Ascension were quite intense, and the secondary flame wars surrounding the release of the New World of Darkness game Mage: the Awakening were similar if not as intense. The 20th Anniversary edition has quite a job to do in trying to mend the past and be an edition that can service fans of all the different versions of the game at once, and the decision seems to be to make no decision at all: decisions about whether or not to include a given setting element are left from group to group. It's not a bad way of doing things, certainly, but it does seem a bit incomplete at times, as the options seem to range from either "This thing happened" or "this thing didn't happen" with very little in the way of maybe simply doing things differently. Indeed, several things do have to happen for some of the setting elements to make sense. The other odd thing is this is the only one of the Anniversary games to present the idea that time hasn't even passed and the whole game could still be taking place in the Clinton era, which isn't a bad option but does seem an odd choice to include; after all, what is the point exactly of a new edition that doesn't upgrade the setting?
The second section starts getting into one of the most important part of the setting, which is the various factions and groups available for play and as antagonists. Some of the art in this section is really amazing. First we have the Traditions, who were the only playable faction originally and who are made up of a diverse collection of magical practitioners and styles, including pagan witches, Buddhist martial artists, aboriginal shamans, mad scientists and Christian theurgists. That is only a small sampling, and doesn't even cover those groups in their entirety, but I hope it paints the picture. The groups are often presented with two different names. The first name is the name they were originally given in the old setting. These are presented first, largely for intellectual property reasons. The second name is the "new" name for the group, which sometimes improves upon an old name – for example the mad scientist Sons of Ether changed to the less sexist Society of Ether – while others are less impressive – the Virtual Adepts change to Mercurial Elite, which doesn't seem to be all that much of an improvement, and largely seems unneeded. Most of the others seem to be shifts to foreign names that may or may not be improvements, although they do generally seem less descriptive.
Next up in this section we get a brief overview of the Technocracy. Originally the Technocracy were the main villains of the game, but over the years they were rearranged to be a more shades-of-gray PC friendly faction when the possibilities of Technocratic monster hunters and other ideas started becoming more apparent. The only strange thing here is there is a noticeable dip in the art quality. While the pieces for the Traditions and the Disparates, the next section, are very vivid, the Technocracy portraits are much flatter and relatively uncreative.
The next section is the Disparates, and here I'm torn. The Disparates are not a faction from any of the original books. Instead, they are a new faction cobbled together from the old Crafts from the 2nd Edition. Crafts were smaller groups of mages who didn't belong to any of the big factions, and who maintained a certain level of cultural independence and remove from the Ascension War. Ultimately the game makers decided no one knew what to do with them, so the Crafts were removed from the game in the Revised edition. It was one of the previously mentioned controversial decisions. It was also at the time a decision that ended being a little racist in some aspects, as magical style seemed to have less to do with what group a Craft was folded into than the members ethnicity or country of origin. In the Anniversary edition, these various Crafts are now part of a super secret alliance called the Disparates. They seem cool, and it's good the game makers found something to do with them, but here they feel almost a bit redundant. They are the other secretive group of unlikely allies fighting against the Technocracy. It just seems pointless, and in a book this big with so much to cover, there seems like there are more important things to devote word count to than something that could easily be made into a supplement. More on that later.
While the overall descriptions are good in this section, the individual blurbs seem to not quite hammer out how a groups beliefs translate into magical practices. For instance, the Euthanatos/Chakravanti are described as being strong believers in reincarnation -it's basically their whole schtick – but how that translates into magick is very poorly described. I find this especially true in the Disparates section.
We then see a discussion on the factions that are always antagonists in the game: the super evil Nephandi, and the chaotic Marauders. Both of these have been traditionally forbidden for being player characters – Nephandi for being too repugnant, Marauders for being to broken – and the Anniversary edition doesn't break any new ground here. For what's it's worth, both groups feel as if they get quite a lot of coverage in what is really quite a small space.
After a thorough introduction, we've reached character creation. This is honestly where things start to go off the rails for me. First of all, each group gets to start with one "Affinity Sphere". Spheres are your areas of magical influence. The Affinity Sphere is a sphere that you learn a little more cheaply than other Spheres. Most groups get a choice of two or three possible Affinity Spheres, sometimes four or even any – except members of the Order of Hermes, who get one, and only one. Why? Because fuck Hermetics, that's why. It's not a huge game balance issue, but it feels so easy to correct that it's quite irritating.
Then we come to the skills, or Abilities as they are known in classic World of Darkness. Now, old school World of Darkness had a problem, which was the proliferation of Secondary Abilities. These were usually much more specialized off-character sheet abilities that were usually A) Useless, B) Overpowered, or C) in direct competition with one of the existing core Abilities, reducing it's usefulness. The Anniversary editions of Vampire and Werewolf tried to clear that up by adding three new Abilities – Hobby Talent, Professional Skill, and Expert Knowledge – that work as sort of an overskill so huge lists of secondary abilities aren't needed; think of them as similar to the Profession skill from 3.5 D&D or similar such abilities. Mage decided to throw that out the window. Instead, we are introduced to a whole host of Secondary abilities which needlessly pad out the word count of an already huge book. We get such things as:
-Carousing: Why do I need a skill to party?
-Blatancy: Hey, why try to be clever with magic use when I can just roll a skill?
-Energy Weapons: Because Firearms was just not good enough, there had to be a whole exotic Other ability involved
-Bitoech: Why is this not covered under Science/Medicine?
-Phamacopeia/Poisons: WHY IS THIS NOT COVERED UNDER MEDICINE?
The game also includes three unarmed fighting abilities: Brawl, which is the old standard, Martial Arts, and Do. Do is a special schtick for one of the player factions, so I can let it slide here. Martial Arts and Brawl needing to be separate just makes me grind my molars down. What's the difference between the two? Martial Arts gives you supah-doopah maneuvers that you can use, while Brawl gives you bupkiss. So, there is the unarmed fighting style, and the crappy unarmed fighting style no one has any good reason to take.
This all pales to my least favorite thing though, which is the Core Knowledge Esoterica. Let me be blunt: I hate this ability. So as some back story, all World of Darkness games feature a Knowledge called Occult, and it has the unique position of being the only Knowledge that can produce inaccurate information. A successful roll on your Occult skill can tell you vampires are made of potatoes and that all the world's arcane power is being focused in Akron, Ohio. If you want facts about supernatural stuff, then you need an ability called Lore, one of those secondary abilities that crapped on a core ability that I talked about earlier. The writer however didn't feel that Occult was good enough now, so instead of rewriting it he opted to write an entirely new, way better Knowledge called Esoterica. Note that Esoterica is a core ability, so it crowds up the character sheet. It now can be the skill you take instead of Occult, which is now functionally useless.
I called the writer on this, saying it was a stupid treatment of the skill, and no other skill worked like that. He said that was how the Occult Knowledge worked in the other anniversary editions, so apparently his hands were tied. Note that didn't prevent him from changing around skill categories or redefining other skills as he pleased, but Occult having to suck was written in stone by the primal gods.
Finally we move onto systems. We get a very brief overview of the core mechanic, multiple subsystems, and of course, combat quite at length. I will say the combat chapter does do an excellent job of helping to distinguish spells meant to attack versus say, spells meant to aid an attack, and how those affect things like number of actions. It can be somewhat unclear in other games for instance if a spell meant to enhance your punches can be cast at the same time you happen to be punching.
Finally, at the dead end of a book called Mage, we finally get to the magic chapter. I will say this: the new paradigm and focus rules are really good. There is a better defined, more succinct way of describing magical styles, and overall a lot of these concepts make better sense. Old school mage could be tricky with it's foci and ritual tools, because while a gun might be your Forces focus, say, and that was great for zapping people, it was harder to justify how that let you say, see in dark.
The section on the Spheres though, and what you need to perform various effects, is painfully short and confusing. I've read the section was kept short to make adjudication easier, which is the most counter-intuitive thing I have ever heard. Spheres combinations are given with very little explanation why. Many spheres list things that they can do when combined, but not by themselves. It's all very short, and almost none of the original possibilities are apparent from the very brief text. Apparently, the bulk of this material is scheduled to be released in a separate book called "How Do You DO That?". So, a what, $100 book, and you have to buy a different book to tell you how the magic system is supposed to work? No. No no no.
The book rounds out with some sample NPCs and magic items, but frankly, I'm done. There are just too many times the book feels sparse, and like it's word count is wasted on silliness like redundant skills or indulgent sidebars. I was hoping this might be the book to rekindle the magick for me, but tragically it just feels like the same old story. This book may be good for collectors, but it will be too expensive for a more casual RPG fan, and you can likely find a better introduction to Mage, or even a better game. The flame in my heart has gone out, so I'm going cold on this one.


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If this post was given an alternate title, it would be "Alex spends way too much time online window shopping."
Bath and Body Works - Sweater Weather Candle / Sole Society - Talisha Tasseled Heeled Bootie
Kate Spade New York - Cameron Street Candace Satchel / Starbucks Navy Hounds Tooth Travel Tumbler
Kate Spade New York - Cameron Street Candace Satchel / Starbucks Navy Hounds Tooth Travel Tumbler
I'm loving jewel tones for fall. Everyone needs a pair of cute heeled booties, and why not grab them in navy with a cute little tassel? My last purse (you know, the one that was holding all this crap) just bit the bullet and ripped, and I would love to splurge on a gorgeous Kate Spade Satchel. I've been pining for one for months. Whoever decided that bags with handles and straps are fashionable is just the best.
I'm waiting for Bath and Body Works to have their 2 for $22 candle sale. Someone let me know when it is going to be okay? I just got a coupon for a free mini candle, but that is only going to last approximately 10 minutes in my house. And can we talk about the hounds tooth tumbler? This may enable my coffee addiction, but I'm okay with it.
What are you looking forward to purchasing for fall? What do you have on your wish list?
This post may contain affiliate links.


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Betsy Hyatt focuses her trial practice on high-stakes business and legal malpractice litigation. She has been intimately involved in some of the most significant business cases in Colorado courts. She represents a wide array of clients, from individuals to international companies. Betsy has successfully tried bench and jury trials on behalf of entities and individuals. Her practice includes legal malpractice, business torts, fraud, fiduciary duties and contract dispute litigation. Betsy has been named a Colorado Lawyer Rising Star. She lectures at state and national levels on legal malpractice and the practice of law, she has served as a consulting expert, and she has written for several publications on legal malpractice, civil trial practice, and the practice of law. Some of her significant cases:
Betsy was part of the Ogborn Mihm, LLP trial team that obtained one of the largest legal malpractice jury verdicts in recent U.S. history, $12.8 million, against one of the nation's largest law firms, alleging the lawyer mishandled a land-use application for the development of one of the largest swaths of undeveloped land in Summit County, Utah. 910 Cattle Company v. Thomas A. Ellison, Esq. and Stoel Rives, LLP, Civil No. 100907407, Third District Court, Salt Lake County, Utah. Betsy successfully handled much of the pretrial, trial, and post-trial briefing and argument.
When a Fortune 500 Company was sued in Denver District Court in a complex dispute arising out of its $1 billion purchase of a company holding oil leases in North Dakota's Bakken oil fields, the plaintiffs sought hundreds of millions of dollars. Betsy served as local counsel for the national trial firm Susman Godfrey, LLP. She was intimately involved in all phases of the case.
Betsy again teamed up with Susman Godfrey, this time as co-counsel, for the same client in a complex federal lawsuit where the plaintiffs sought in excess of $400 million associated with the plaintiffs' sale of assets to a company her client later acquired. Betsy and her co-counsel successfully defended the plaintiffs' claims of breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, fraudulent concealment, and civil conspiracy, both at the trial court and on appeal. Spring Creek Exploration & Production Company, LLC, et al v. Hess Bakken Investments II, LLC, et al, Case No. 14-cv-134-PAB-KMT (D. Colo.) and 887 F.3d 1003 (10th Cir. 2018).
Betsy (with her former partner, the Hon. Elizabeth Starrs) won the largest civil plaintiff's verdict in memory in Montrose County, Colorado. In Will v. McKenna, et al, Case No. 2008cv192, Montrose District Court, Montrose, Colorado, Betsy and now-Judge Starrs sued the client's former attorney for mishandling an underlying podiatry malpractice case. After an eight-day trial, the jury found the attorney negligent and liable for breach of the contingency fee contract and awarded Betsy's client $1.15 million in damages.
When the senior management of a start-up business that had grown to more than $1 billion in annual sales in less than five years squeezed out the minority investors, Betsy represented the minority investors in a lawsuit alleging breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, securities fraud and other claims. The case resulted in a $3.4 million settlement for the clients before trial. Monarch Health Sciences, Inc. v. Corkin, et al, 2:06-cv-440, U.S. District Court for the District of Utah.
Betsy, Clayton Wire, and Michael Ogborn represented the former president of a health services provider against his former employer in connection with his termination from the company. Kruel v. Active Release Techniques, LLC, et al, Case No. 2017cv30919, El Paso County District Court, Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Ogborn Mihm trial team obtained for its client a jury verdict and advisory jury verdict in excess of $1.26 million on claims of breach of contract, promissory estoppel, conversion and intentional interference with contract.
- Legal Malpractice
- Business Litigation
- University of Colorado School of Law
- Colorado State University, B.A., cum laude
- Colorado
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
- Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals
Publications and Presentations
- Author, Chapter 6, "Conduct of Trial," in COLORADO COURTROOM HANDBOOK FOR CIVIL TRIALS, 2014 Ed. and Fourth Ed. (Lorraine E. Parker Ed., CLE in Colorado Inc. 2014, 2016, 2018).
- Co-Author, with Mihm, M., Chapter 29, "Statutory Legal Malpractice Claims by Clients," in LAWYER'S PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY IN COLORADO, Third Ed. (Michael T. Mihm ed., CLE in Colorado, Inc., 2005, Supp. 2011, 2013).
- Co-Author, with Mihm, M., Chapter 31, "Damages for Injuries or Losses Caused by Legal Malpractice," in LAWYER'S PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY IN COLORADO, Third Ed. (Michael T. Mihm ed., CLE in Colorado, Inc., 2005, Supp. 2011, 2013).
- Contributor: Rantings of a Partner...and Pushback from the Associate (Bart L. Greenwald, Ed., American Bar Association Section of Litigation and First Chair Press, 2011).
- Panel Speaker, "Common mistakes 101: Avoiding Legal Malpractice," American Bar Association Webinar (October 2018).
- Panel Speaker, "Conflicts of Interest: Guidelines for Every Lawyers' Success, "American Bar Association Webinar (July 2017).
- Speaker, "Beginning and Ending the Client Relationship; Engagement Letters and Withdrawal" in 2015 Preventing Legal Malpractice Seminar, Colorado Bar Association (February 2015).
- Panel Speaker, "Perry Mason, Arnie Becker or Denny Crane: To What Generational Beat Do You March and Does It Make a Difference in Your Legal Practice?" in ABA section of Litigation Committee on Corporate Counsel CLE Seminar, Scottsdale, Arizona (February 2008).
- Speaker, "Common Law & Statutory Claims" in 2007 Preventing Legal Malpractice Seminars, Colorado Bar Association, Colorado Springs and Denver, Colorado (January and February, 2007).
Human Interest, Volunteer Work
- Dora Moore Elementary Tutoring Program – Betsy volunteered with this tutoring program for over fifteen years, until it was terminated in 2016. The program provided one-on-one assistance to second through fifth grade students in reading, writing and math. Betsy expects to be tutoring again soon once a similar program is in place at another school.


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Indian women hockey team suffered a humiliating 0-6 defeat in the bronze medal match against England to finish fourth at the Commonwealth Games, here today.
India could convert none of the five penalty corners and their defence line-up cracked under pressure in the final quarter to go out of the tournament on an embarrassing note.
India had beaten England 2-1 in Pool matches but was outclassed today.
It is now third straight time that Indian women's hockey team will return empty-handed from the Games as the last time it stood on the podium was in 2006 when it won a silver.
Sophie Gray stood out with her stellar show as she steered her side to win with her three field goals while Laura Unsworth, Hollie Pearne-Webb and captain Alexandra Danson struck a goal each in England's commendable victory.
Navneet Kaur earned India's first penalty corner in the eighth minute. However, it resulted in causing injury to Vandana Kataria as Gurjit Kaur's furious hit rebounded off England custodian's pads and hit Vandana on her forehead.
The freak injury forced Vandana out of the field. India were given another penalty corner but the England defence was solid.
England captain Danson earned her team's penalty corner, three minutes later, but Savita stood like a rock in front of the goalpost, not allowing the ball to pass through.
Both teams played a measured game with a mix of attack and defence and the second quarter also looked like going barren but moments before the break, India conceded a penalty corner and Hollie Pearne-Webb put England ahead by beating Indian goalkeeper with her hit which went past Savita.
Vandana took the field with a bandage on her forehead and immediately made an impact as India got three back-to-back penalty corners.
However, India could convert none as England goalkeeper Madeleine Hinch and defence line foiled all attempts. Indian players lacked variation and coordination to pull off the equaliser.
England too got its third PC soon but Hanah Martin could not beat Savita this time. A defence lapse could have cost India but Laura Unsworth hit wide off a diagonal pass.
Just two minutes were left in the third quarter when Sophie Bray found the back of the net with a stunning reverse hit from the top of the striking circle, doubling the lead for England.
India had no choice but to go all out and succeeded in getting another penalty corner in the first minute of the final quarter but conversion remained an issue.
Sophie, though, yet again banged on target as she consolidated her team's lead. Sophie trapped the ball which came from Hanah Martin's stick and beat three Indian defenders to slam it home.
Laura Unsworth, Sophie and Danson then put it beyond India by pumping in three quick goals.


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Epicureanist 4 Piece Wine Essentials Gift Set
Features• Set includes: vacuum pump, 2 bottle stoppers, pourer, and corkscrew.
• Organize tools inside the wood storage box
• Makes a fantastic gift!
• Dimensions: 8"W x 8"D x 2-3/8"H
Important information regarding Prop. 65 for CA residents.
Prop. 65 Warning Label


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Barbara Reininger
Barbara Reininger
Barbara Reininger supports TELE as Marketing-/PR-specialist. She is text professional with focus on technology. Concept freak. Together with Roland Voraberger she is the driving force of marketing strategy and implementation. She non-stop delivers technical sound content. Composes press infos, supples website and blog and writes every text needed. Besides she serves the media and prepares technical information about TELE's solutions in a comprehensive form. Enthusiastical she hurls herself into the TELE organizational development and supports the dialogue with her analytical gaze.
Is there anything else that you are passionate for?
I am too a passionate Shiatsu practicioner with a cosy practice in the 9th district of Vienna. At this place I pamper my clients with this fascinating japanese body work/massage and get to the bottom of every little ailment of body and soul.
What is so interesting about that?
Maybe Shiatsu doesn't give you what you want all the time. But Shiatsu gives you, what you need in this moment. So I can give you a peaceful moment on a stressful day. I help you letting go, when holding tight has become an exhausting habit. Observe how you breathe a sigh of relieve. I support you with healing touch where it hurts. And sometimes I can give you a piece of luck, just how it is.


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Good morning! Here's the tech news you need to know this Thursday.
1. Snapchat generated just $3.1 million in revenue last year. That's according to leaked financial documents obtained by Gawker.
2. Uber allegedly hired a convicted murderer who applied to be a driver with a fake name. A complaint filed by the San Francisco District Attorney's office claims there are a number of failings in Uber's background checks.
3. Venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz has added a new General Partner. Alex Rampell joins from TrialPay, The New York Times reports, and will focus on fintech.
4. Hacked extramarital affairs website Ashley Madison's "full delete" option made the company millions. BuzzFeed News reports that the premium deletion service netted the company around $1.7 million in 2014.
5. Amazon is targeting UK customers with a new Amazon Web Services data support centre in London. According to The Financial Times, it will be the first centre outside of the States.
6. Google has lost some data due to a lightning strike in Belgium. A data centre was struck by lightning four times, and some users' data has been permanently lost as a result.
7. Amazon is working on a secretive project called "Amazon Flex." It might be a way to pick up packages at the company's new facility in Kirkland, Washington.
8. Uber has had a big cash injection from a private equity fund in India. Tata Opportunities Fund has invested between $75 million and $100 million.
9. IBM's new computer is the closest thing to a human brain invented yet. With thousands of cores, it is attempting to emulate the complex interactions of neurons in the human brain.
10. PayPal has bought a company run by Obama's election technology chief. It is the payments company's first acquisition since it became a standalone company.


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Welcome to Scallion Bistro
how to get bitcoins Scallion Bistro- Upscale Casual Fine Dining- Chautauqua's Steak and Seafood Bistro - Busti/Lakewood, NY
While in Chautauqua, New York all you have to do is set sail and follow your course to Scallion Bistro Located in the heart of the famous historic district of Lakewood, New York. The "Gem "of casual fine dining (noted by Erie Magazine), Scallion Bistro has been distinguished as one of the top restaurants in Chautauqua County for providing exceptional fine dining, serving fresh seafood, veal, aged steak and pasta in a casual relaxed atmosphere.
Scallion Bistro's name recognition travels far beyond Chautauqua County to all corners of the culinary globe. Known for being innovative and progressive in their techniques and presentation, the dual here has cemented Scallion Bistro into one of Chautauqua's best local restaurants. One of the reasons; only the freshest ingredients are used daily. Ryan and Derrick not only shop daily and partner with local family farmers like Busti Cider Mill Farms, CHQ Local Food Markets and Abers Acers to bring the freshest ingredients to every meal, but they garden themselves all the herbs and spices used in every dish. Their culinary herb garden gives the freshest seasonal flavor to create the creative signature entrees that Scallion Bistro is known for: Halibut Veracruz, Bar Harbor Scallops, and Veal San Remo. Finding growers who can supply great ingredients is a standard of doing business as well as a statement for their 75-seat restaurant. We partner with growers and producers who are both sustainable-minded and committed to the finest quality. We believe you can taste this in every bite.
We offer Free WiFi !!!


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Welcome to IAmGay.co.za
"Don't give up on your goals or dreams because of what other people say. Accept yourself for who and what you are and take one step at a time. Work with a plan, even if it's a 12 month plan. Once you believe in yourself the rest will fall into place. Be consistent and dedicated to what you believe in. You have already won half the battle, just by taking the first step"
- Its FREE, and will always be free.
- We support any individual or organisation who offer services or products targeted at the GLBT community and who do not by any means discriminate through gender identity.
- We support Gay Pride that means: a) a sense of dignity and satisfaction involved in the public admission of one's homosexuality & b) an awareness and history of what GLBT community have faced through violence, discrimination, battles, securing of legal equality in the workplace, housing, marriage rights and child custody.
- Promoting and supporting of PFLAG.
- Stop bulling and stop suicides because of gender discrimination, that include "corrective rape".


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Hello everyone! Yes, we have had a bit of a dry spell out here, but not to worry we are still busy taking pictures and loving life! I am working on a new blog update, as well to spice things up a bit and give this old blog a little make-over since it's going on year three, I believe.
On a side note, I wanted to let you all know we will be closing up shop Friday, March 15 and will open back up Tuesday, March 26th. The kiddos are out of school for spring break and we have some fun things planned for the week. I will be shooting a little and have a meeting here and there but we will not be placing orders or editing images during this time. You can follow me on facebook to see all the fun and to see images from recent sessions just click on the link above.
A post is not complete without an image so enjoy these two cuties I captured last week!!


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As we've all noticed this Summer, heat waves are on the rise. But how can you beat the heat when you don't have air conditioning?
When Summer Turns Sour
It's the time of year you've all been waiting for, but then you get hit with that unbearable sticky, humid heat. It can leave you wondering if you should even dare to be outside. On nearly every newscast, reporters and health officials are encouraging us to stay indoors. That's great for those who can rejoice in their AC, but what about those of us who don't have AC?
Yes, it may come as a surprise to some that people do, in fact, live without AC.
I've been lucky enough that every place that I've ever lived has had it. But, I do distinctly remember visiting my brother and his (now) wife in Milwaukee last summer, during a brutal heat wave.
They don't have AC, and I remember thinking to myself, "this is just awful. I will never take AC for granted again!"
But, other than nearly losing my mind a couple of times, I did learn some great tricks that allowed us live and to fall asleep, even when the thermometer rose above 100 degrees.
Drink Up
This may feel like a no brainer, but it makes a huge difference. Always make sure you're drinking enough water. On hot, dangerous days it is crucial that you stay hydrated to reduce your risk of heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and fainting.
With the heat index rising, the humidity levels make the effects of the temperature even worse. When the humidity level is above 50 percent, it can cause a growth spurt of mildew and mold, which is bad news for your health, and for those who suffer from allergies or asthma. Meet your new best friend, a dehumidifier. A dehumidifier will help reduce the level of humidity in your home, making it feel significantly more comfortable.
You can never have enough fans placed throughout your home! Box fans come in handy as you can place them directly into the windows. This allows the hot air in your home to move around, creating a wind chill effect.
Pulse Points
If you need a fast way to cool down, apply a cold water soaked washcloth to the pulse points on your body. The main points are on your neck and wrists, as well as behind your knees and elbows. In fact, the best way to cool off is to stick your feet into a cold bucket of water, as there are many of pulse points located on the feet and ankles.
Eat Cool
When the mercury tops 90 degrees, who the heck wants to indulge in heavy foods, or even be cooking with a hot stove? Try to avoid preparing meals that require using an oven or stovetop, which can create excess heat in your kitchen and throughout your home. Try fixing a refreshing summer salad instead, or prepare something simple that requires no heat.
Au Naturel
Put your cuddly self on hold for a bit, and remind your equally heat-suffering partner that: Less is more. Sharing a bed when it's hot can create a lot of excess heat, not to mention all the fabric from the sheets and your cute matching pajamas. Instead, try a loose cotton shirt and breathable undies. Or, if you're daring (or beyond caring), wear nothing.
Shower Essentials
A nice cold shower right before bed can help lower body temperature as well as rinse off the sweat build up from the day. Something that I love when the days are scorching is Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Magic Soap. Not only does it smell great, but it leaves your body fresh and tingling from the cooling peppermint. Another after shower essential that I use daily, is baby powder. Liberally applied, baby powder helps keep your skin cool and dry when it's bound to sweat from the heat.
We may be glad that the dog-days of Summer are here, but if you are living without air conditioning, these tips will help you get through the heat of the season, with your cool intact!


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Friday, September 21, 2012
Flash Fiction: Beyond the North Wind
The beam of light painted a rainbow on Julia's eyelids, warming her face, and she fluttered awake. The light emanated from the crystalline ceiling, playing across her prone form.
She shifted to glance at the soft-spoken man seated beside her and nearly fell off the moss-covered stone slab by jerking away from him. His strong brow wrinkled, quickly changing from happiness to concern.
Julia thought it must have been happiness, at least. The utterly smooth white face was hard to read, his pale blue eyes beneath snowy brows cool as ice and not quite settled on her.
His eyes flicked to hers.
A shiver rumbled through Julia as she met his gaze, though the room was perfectly warm.
"Are you well?" the man asked, leaning toward her.
She inched away, her hands pressing into the spongy moss and giving her little to grip.
Julia had never seen moss like this. Had she?
Her muscles ached as if she had slept on them wrong.
"Let me call for the healer," the man said, his voice a steady rumble that seemed overlaid with a musical lilting a pitch higher than the words he spoke. He stood and she realized his colorless chest was exposed, revealing hard lines and toned muscle shifting beneath the almost translucent skin.
Without realizing it, Julia put a hand out to halt him, breathing out the word, "Wait." Her fingers gripped his firm arm. He did not tense at her touch, which Julia knew must be significant.
The man sat back down, concern knitting his arched eyebrows. With the motion, his bone-white hair fell around his neck, framing the strong jaw set in a slight grimace.
Part of Julia twisted to see him upset, but that did not make sense. She shook her head to clear to knock the cobwebs out and finally asked, "Where am I?"
Gesturing with a wide sweep of his hand, the man said, "The greenhouse. We always talked about coming here, but I didn't expect it to be under these circumstances."
A faint tickling at the nape of Julia's neck made her think he was telling the truth, but she did not recall ever conversing about such a place. With his gesture, she could not resist taking it all in, though her eyes chided her momentarily for leaving the broad shoulders of her companion.
Plants sprouted from both the ground and from lines of pots. The earth containers were not in rows like Julia expected, but rather in concentric circles with just enough room in one section to walk through. From her elevated position on the stone slab, the potted plants seemed a playful maze, and yet the space seemed efficiently plotted.
Green dominated, but bright colors splashed the entire garden, reds, yellows, purples, and blues all flaring out from exotic flowers and strange fruits. The yellow-tinted light from the uneven crystal ceiling fell on the plants in soft, precise shafts.
"You like it even better than I had hoped," the man murmured, hand resting on the moss near hers. The warmth of his skin radiated across the inch separating them.
"It's the only place we have that could reasonably aid your recovery from hypothermia," he went on, his smile its own source of refreshing light to Julia. At the same time, a faint memory of pain gripping her hands, feet, arms, legs, and finally clutching about her head and chest before all went numb.
It seemed a dream, or rather a nightmare, and as she reached to recall it, the memory slipped out of her grasp.
Julia closed her eyes, trying to get ahold of her swirling thoughts. The stranger, odd as he may be, was an attracting force. She shut that part of her thinking out for now with an effort of will and focused on the most important thing.
"I don't remember..." she started, then felt unsure how to finish the statement. What did she not remember? It seemed impossible to peg down exactly what was missing. "I don't know how I got here. Or where here is."
"I brought you," the pale man said. "We came together, to Hyperborea." He paused, considering. "I believe that is what mortals of your tongue have called this land in days past."
He reached to take her hand and she reflexively took it away. His crestfallen expression gnawed at her, but she needed her space right now.
"Jules," he whispered. "Don't you remember me?"
A tear slipped down her cheek and she silently chided herself. No time for emotions until the logical side was firmly established. Her mind, her heart, paid this instruction no heed as she shook her head.
His mouth fell open slightly. "I am so sorry, Julia." He slumped and drew his lean legs to a crossed sitting position then took a deep breath. "It's me, Tiresias."
At the name, a swirl of sensations hit Julia. The Arctic expedition, her team scouting across that frozen wasteland for a basecamp site, and a shadowy face of a man. She felt it must be Tiresias. He had joined them at the last minute, but still Julia got the sense they had spent much time together.
Though she tried to root out those hazy memories, another presented itself in stunning clarity: the ice beneath her feet cracking.
Frigid water had washed over her as the field broke apart and she scrambled to get up onto the next chunk of ice.
The chill had quickly turned her limbs numb, and blackness shortly followed.
"My team?" Julia asked in the barest whisper.
Tiresias looked uncertain. "They may be well, but we have not located them yet."
Julia swung her legs over the side of the stone slab. "We have to find them."
Tiresias touched her knee and a jolt of sensation shot through her. "We will," he promised. "Together."
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Setting: The Hollow Earth
Element: Amnesia
Let it be said that combining amnesia with romance and trying to fit all of that into 1000 words is Not Easy. Just for fun, have a setting which is probably interesting enough to warrant its own thousand word description, but is not particularly 'romantic' (though it fits well enough with the 'paranormal' side of things).
I feel like I made a fair attempt, though I know it gets a bit weaker as it goes on. My 'problem' is that I keep thinking in longer works, as if this is the introduction to a novel, so I don't really tell a whole story in the course of the flash fiction piece.
I know it can be done, because I've read some good flash fiction. I suppose it's just something I'll have to develop.
Regardless, these Game of Aspects challenges are fun.
Posted by Unknown at 11:50 AM
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Click here to view our full verified performance history.
Mandatory Disclaimer:
Trading in the Foreign Exchange market is a challenging opportunity where above average returns are available for educated and experienced investors who are willing to take above average risk. However, before deciding to participate in Foreign Exchange (FX) trading, you should carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience and risk appetite. Do not invest money you cannot afford to lose.


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VA Benefits Information
Are you a veteran? If so, did you know that you may be eligible to receive your GI Bill benefits while participating in an OJT or Apprenticeship program?Apprenticeship and OJT programs both offer a great opportunity to earn wages while learning and pave the way for a new career after leaving the military.
*Starting October 1st, 2016 the DVA is not contracting with BOLI for the purpose of facilitating veteran's within OJT and Apprenticeship Programs.*View the Notification Memo View the Procedural Handbook
What is Apprenticeship Training?
Apprenticeship training programs in Oregon consist of supervised on-the-job construction training that is coupled with related classroom instruction. Program duration is generally two to five years in length and requires a minimum of 144 hours a year of related training outside of the construction site.
What is On the Job Training (OJT?)
An OJT program differs from an apprenticeship program, as it is not limited to the construction trades and does not have a related instruction requirement.
Currently, the Division has a number of programs in law enforcement and various private businesses.
If your place of business or employment is not a currently approved OJT program, they may be able to be approved. Benefits may also be cerfitfied for up to a year back.
If you are an employer...
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Continuing our Emerging WordPress Plugins rubric, today we would like to bring to your attention the ORBTR Ping plugin. The plugin helps you track your leads and notifies you by email when a lead returns. Here are some of the main benefits that the plugin provides:
- Tracking for all site visitors and leads
- Real-time email alerts for new and returning leads
- A daily email summary of lead traffic
- A real-time dashboard telling you who is using your website right now
- Integration with Gravity Forms, Jetpack Forms and WordPress Comments for lead identification
- Ability to track leads who click from email campaigns
It is important for every business owner to know how his leads use their website and what brought their attention. ORBTR Ping helps you do exactly that, by tracking the behavior of individual leads and notifying you by email when a lead returns. And all of this happens in real time!
But why is this information so important? When you have a well built website, bringing visitors from different social networking websites, mail campaigns or paid traffic sources you would want to know, which one of those worked best and generated most of your visits. As mr. Brad Campbell (well known marketing expert) says :
"By knowing the precise source for each lead generated, you'll have undeniable, hard data you can use to optimize and scale your traffic with. "
It is worthless to say that this information can save you tons of money by seeing which one of your marketing efforts work and which don't. Just a simple example so you can follow up with my thought:
Imagine you have spent $100 for a side banner to redirect users to your website, but actually your site visitors come from links within the blog article on which the same banner is placed. You will definitely want to rethink the whole banners idea and spent your money for another type of advertising.
Of course this was just a simple example to show why the information generated by the ORBTR Ping plugin is so important. To get started with the plugin:
1. Download the WordPress Plugin to your desktop using this link: this link: http://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/orbtr-ping.zip (It's a zip file)
2. In the WordPress Dashboard, go to Plugins -> Add New. Click 'Upload' in the top menu.
3. Hit the Browse button, then navigate to and select the Ping zip file.
4. Click Activate Plugin to activate it.
5. Enter your API key and account ID.
Note that you will need to register on ORBTR website to get your API Key and account ID required to track your site. You can see a sample configuration below:
And here is a sample of the ORBTR Ping's Dashboard:
We highly encourage you to give that plugin a try and support its developer! If you need any assistance with the setup of this plugin, you can always count on TMDHosting Genius Support Team


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Stories have appeared in the media recently touting the wonders of adult stem cell research, and while adult stem cells are technically pluripotent [a cell that can generate more than one kind of cell when it reproduces], their germinating ability so far is type-limited. For example, an adult stem cell in the skin can produce several kinds of skin and hair cells, and an adult stem cell in the lateral ventricle of the brain can generate neurons for olfactory circuits, and some glial cells. But a skin cell cannot become a brain cell.Furthermore the ban on stem cell testing can be really dangerous for clinical trials and the people who could benefit from the drugs:
So a simple discomfort with the use of one kind of human cell (which does not extend to some questionable genetic altering of animals to be used for testing) delays the development of lifesaving drugs and increases clinical trial risks. It's always frustrating when it seems obvious that the right is obsessed with stem cells and fetuses, but fail to step back and look at the suffering of adult humans.
Once they determine a positive, measurable effect, the drug leads are then tested on more sophisticated, animal cell-based models that represent some aspect of the target disease. With every round of elimination, the funnel's opening grows smaller until those thousands of compounds have narrowed to, say, ten potential drugs. Those drugs are then tested on animals that, in most cases, have been inoculated with the target disease. After the initial testing and refinement process—which can take years—researchers are finally ready to administer the drugs to humans in clinical trials.But there is one catch. These drugs have never been proven on human cells. And drugs that work on animal models of disease can fail in human trials. If researchers could jump ahead and use embryonic stem cells at the level of cell-based testing, Croft notes, "they would know, at a very early stage, that drug candidates worked on the specific types of human cells affected clinically. Research costs and time could, accordingly, drop." In addition, cell-based drug testing requires millions of cells. Using embryonic stem cells, a lab could generate millions of exact copies, without relying on closely replicated mouse cells. The difference between exact and close is a chasm in the controlled world of the laboratory. Thus, cell type specificity, species specificity, and unlimited numbers are important reasons for pursuing hESC research.


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By Terry Shelton, Outreach Director
"We need to find the gems and figure out how to replicate them and take them to scale."
That was the advice of poverty expert Harry Holzer, a Georgetown professor of public policy, at the conclusion of a half-day conference on "Urban Men in Poverty: Problems and Solutions" held April 24 at Marquette Law School.
Holzer was the last of five professors whose research on the issue of urban poverty was featured in the 2015 La Follette Spring Symposium, which was supported by a partnership with the Marquette Law School.
Holzer gave his advice after hearing the data and research of the other four panelists who identified large and urgent problems and a variety of programs that offer solutions. Those gems, he said, are the ones to work from.
The program was kicked off by professor Geoffrey Wallace of the La Follette School, the conference organizer, who provided extensive insights into facts and figures on the issues, including reasons for focusing on men and on urban centers in studying these issues. Wallace described "a mass retreat from employment for less skilled men" in recent times, a trend that is particularly strong among African American men.
Professor Charles Franklin of Marquette Law School then presented data on the high percentage of young men who are arrested and incarcerated by their mid-30s and how that negatively impacts their prospects for employment and stable lives. Franklin, who is director of the Marquette Law School Poll, also presented results from the poll that related policies on providing services to low income people.
Next Professor David Pate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Department of Social Work, reported on his work over more than two decades examining in great detail the lives of men living in poverty. (His original work is going into a series of articles that will contain his slides and specific findings. They are on the webcast but not included in this report at his request.)
Finally, Professor Mike Massoglia of the UW-Madison Department of Sociology described the devastating impact of incarceration and correction policy on neighborhoods.
While much of the sobering tone of research showed deeply ingrained and seemingly insolvable problems that are decades in the making, hope was present, too.
For one thing, the fact that such a gathering occurred was a promising sign, Marquette University President Mike Lovell told the audience of more than 200.
"The only way we're going to face and overcome the problems of urban men in poverty is by working together," Lovell said, noting that the event was the first collaboration between La Follette and Marquette Law School. Lovell suggested this was an example of the kind of partnerships that are needed to create change. He said he was excited so many people with serious interest gathered to show commitment to pursing solutions.
Professor Susan Yackee, the director of the La Follette School, offered similar remarks and recognized the leadership of Law School Dean Joseph Kearney on the issue.
"I can't overstate the effort and concern that Dean Kearney and President Lovell bring to this issue," she said. "We at the La Follette School are honored to work with them on solving one of society's thorniest issues. "
She also acknowledged the work that President Lovell has begun with his Near West Side Partnership and "the exciting prospects of new public and private resources flowing into nearby neighborhoods that easily parallel the issues we are discussing today."
She said she was especially pleased to be able to offer the broad expertise of the La Follette faculty. "Our faculty is known around the country for doing some of the best cutting-edge research and scholarship on social policy and poverty. We are grateful to have a platform to share that," she said.
Concluding the presentations, Holzer offered the most hopeful notes. "Does anything work?" he asked, after describing how factors such as a weaker job market in recent years were making it harder to find paths to an improved overall picture.
He went on to list ideas that he said had had rigorous evaluation and some positive impact. These included social and emotional intelligence programs for youths, youth mentoring, better vocational education for high school age and post-high school age males, and job corps programs. He urged more work on programs to reduce teen age pregnancy and to improve the involvement of fathers in their children's lives. He said some initiatives of the Obama administration on fronts such as managing child support payment arrearages and improving employment services are showing promise.
He said many low-income youths became "disconnected," not involved in either education or work, which leads to trouble frequently. "It's a lot more effective to try to prevent disconnection than to try to reconnect someone who's already disappeared from these roles," Holzer said.
Holzer concluded: "There's a lot of reasons to be discouraged from these numbers, but there's also reason to be at least a little bit hopeful. … For those of you who have spent your careers working on these issues, I salute you for your efforts. Hang in there. We all need to hang in there and keep chipping away at these problems because under the right circumstances, at least some of them can get better."
Alan Borsuk of Marquette Law School contributed to this report.


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This poem is about a girl i love and she used to love me. It's sad but love is never truly a happy nor a sad thing either. ^^
I fell in love with a shooting star,
She was such a beautiful sight,
My breath she stole as i gazed from afar,
My eyes brightened as she lit up the night
I made a wish on the magic of the night,
That she might stay forever in my sky,
But still she moved on until her light,
Went dim and small and then it died
Now i look out at the dark empty sky,
My thoughts take me to someplace far,
Tears fall down but i don't want to cry,
Cos somewhere up there lies my baby star


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Birmingham Airport Parking (BHM)
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(Host) Over the next five years, more than half of all doctors in Vermont are expected to install electronic medical record systems in their offices.
Doctors say the new records will allow instant access to a patient's health history and help reduce medical mistakes, so the quality of care will improve.
As VPR's Bob Kinzel reports, electronic records could change future visits to your doctor.
(Sounds of medical office)
(Burdick) "This chart that I'm looking at right now it's a patient who's 85 years old it's about 3 inches thick so maybe 400 pages or so it's kind of ratty it's been used a lot dog eared."
(Kinzel) Dr. Tim Burdick is a family practice physician at the Montpelier Health Center.
The massive folder he's holding came out of one shelf of one section of floor to ceiling records that fill an entire room.
In today's health care crisis, Burdick sees an opportunity for efficiency. So he's leading an effort at Central Vermont Medical Center to help convert many of the facility's doctors to an electronic system.
He says he can organize a patient's health history, send a patient's records to another doctor, and that the new system will make him a better doctor:
(Burdick) "I can bring up what we call a template and basically a template is a semi prewritten office note specific to a particular issue so in this case I'm going to bring up the diabetes template and this will trigger me to ask a bunch of pertinent questions and we can work through that as I go on and click in different areas to fill in the appropriate information."
(Kinzel) How will patients react to their doctor using a lap top during their office visit? Burdick thinks the reaction will be positive:
(Burdick) "Patients are used to using electronic systems for their banking for on line purchasing for a variety of things in many ways I think they're thankful that finally the medical system is catching up with all the other computer systems we are so used to using."
(Sound of Rutland Emergency Room)
(Kinzel) Electronic medical records are now being used in the emergency room at Rutland Regional Medical Center. Dr. Harry Chen says the system allows him to have direct access to a patient's prescription drug history:
(Chen) "So it really gives me a longitudinal snap shot what's this patient's health been like in the past year that I don't actually have to thumb through a hundred page medical record………In an emergency situation, clearly information is vital. We have to have it and have it quickly and it obviously makes a difference in terms of life and death sometimes."
(Kinzel) Converting to an electronic system isn't cheap. It's estimated that it will cost roughly $60,000 per doctor. That's why only 13 percent of Vermont's physicians currently have one and many of these doctors are specialists.
A group known as Vermont Information Technology Leaders, or VITL, plans to distribute a million dollars in grants to independent smaller practice doctors to help them buy an electronic system.
VITL director Greg Farnum says that while there are some short-term savings associated with these systems, the basic cost should be viewed as a long term investment:
(Farnum) "The cost is substantial enough. We will have to look at this with a longer term viewpoint, that it will take time to pay off the entire system but it is an investment in quality."
(Kinzel) Not all doctors want to fully convert to an electronic system. Montpelier physician Carol Vassar says it will be helpful for test results but:
(Vassar) "I type about 40 words a minute, two mistakes a line so I'm constantly having to correct my errors so it would be cumbersome for me."
(Kinzel) Serious privacy concerns have been raised about the electronic systems. Allen Gilbert is the director of the Vermont chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union:
(Gilbert) "For people to think that a hospital's computer system is not going to be hacked I think is unrealistic. So we want to make sure we have the best security possible. We have continual auditing of the system to make sure that if there is a breach we know about it right away and there have to be very strong sanctions against anybody who uses the information in an unauthorized way or who hacks into the system."
(Kinzel) VITL director Greg Farnum says he understands these concerns. That's why he wants the electronic system to produce an audit record of anyone who tries to access personal health information. Farnum notes that today's paper system has its security problems too:
(Farnum) "Anyone looking at your file having no audit trail of your file being accessed. So both the paper system and the electronic system have risks. I believe you can manage the risks a lot better in a high quality electronic system."
(Kinzel) ACLU Director Gilbert wants lawmakers to create a state ombudsman to oversee the implementation of electronic medical systems so that consumers have someone to turn to if they suspect that an unauthorized person has tried to access their personal health records.
For VPR News I'm Bob Kinzel.


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A November Reminder About Falling
"November is National Family Caregivers Month" – Falling
"Help, I've fallen and I can't get up." Although many people associate medical alert systems with the almost comically morbid commercials that brought them to prominence in the late 1980s, but for the more than 12 million seniors who live alone in the United States, and their families, the security and peace of mind they offer is no laughing matter.
One-third of community-dwelling seniors and 60% of nursing home residents fall every year. More than 90% of hip fractures result from falls, they are the leading cause of injury-related hospital admissions in people over age 65, and account for more than 70% of accidental deaths in people 75 years of age and older. But while these statistics are startling, still they're often not enough to convince elderly persons to wear a medical alert device. ConsumerAffairs understands that talking to an elderly loved one about accepting any form of assistance can be difficult. That's why the consumer news and reviews website tapped its community of reviewers and the thousands of reviews they've left about medical alert devices, for insights and advice on how adult children can have a candid, yet respectful conversation with their elderly parents about getting one.
Reinforce the risks of living alone
For many elderly people, medical alert devices are symbols of the age, dependence and sense of frailty they've worked hard to avoid.
"My daughter feels that I need a medical alert device because I like to go out and work in the yard and do things that she thinks I'm too old to do," wrote Joanne of Spartanburg, SC.
Highlighting the risk of injury is an effective, if not altogether reassuring way of encouraging their aging parents to consider a medical alert device. When seniors and their families decide it is no longer safe to stay at home alone, wearing a medical alert device can help prolong an elderly relatives' independence.
Tell them a medical alert device will give family members peace of mind
Even if your elderly parent insists they don't really need a medical alert device, one effective argument the company found repeated by its users was that the peace of mind it provides is less for the elderly wearer, but for their family and fiends.
"My daughter insisted that I get the medical alert device after I got a pacemaker," said Yvonne of Seattle, WA. " I told her I didn't need it, but she said, 'Well I'm not getting it for you. I'm getting it for me.' She has often said that when I am wearing this, she doesn't have to worry about me."
Martha of Denver, CO, continued: "I resisted and thought I didn't need this, and then realized it is sensible insurance. My adult kids agree. It's the kind of service you hope you never have to use."
Offer to make the arrangements for them
ConsumerAffairs found that if the children take care of all the arrangements the elderly parent is more likely to agree to a medical alert device. The details of payment, ordering and setup can scare them away from taking the next step. A medical alert device could be a great gift. Cost is often a major factor when looking into a medical alert system. ConsumerAffairs' medical alert systems guide offers insights on the different types of companies and pricing options for consumers.
Help them remain independent
Although they may have been reluctant at first, many seniors find wearing a medical alert device increases their confidence and allows them to do things they would have avoided before.
"Now I'm more independent because I go outside an awful lot and I have the security of having the wristband and I know that somebody will come if I have to use it. I feel secure with it," said Theresa of Dayton, OH.
Continued Gail of Clearwater, FL: "I've had my necklace alarm for 3 months and it gives me peace of mind that I am not alone."
The "just in case" aspect can be very convincing when talking to a loved one about getting a device. How reassuring that if you press the device after a fall or accidents help will be there within minutes.
More than 12 millions seniors now live alone in the United States. Caregivers of aging parents or loved ones who are ill may find great relief to know that if an accident occurs, their loved one will be able to receive help quickly. You can learn more in this Medical Alert video
About ConsumerAffairs.com: Listed among the top 600 websites in the United States, ConsumerAffairs.com offers free resources, news and tools for more than 8 million visitors each month. A leader in consumer advocacy, ConsumerAffairs has been featured in a number of prominent media outlets including The New York Times, CNN, Forbes and AARP. For more information, visit www.ConsumerAffairs.com or contact Natalie Donohue at (918) 236-6032.
Category: Articles


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Decorating a Contemporary Apartment
Contemporary design, also referred to as modern design, combines sleek, simple furniture and storage solutions with stainless steel accents, a neutral color scheme highlighted by exciting accessories and pops of bold color. The design style offers a streamlined, uncluttered appearance that complements small spaces and appeals to both sexes universally, making it a great choice for anyone from bachelors to families. Contemporary design allows you to make a bold statement in your apartment without making changes your landlord might prohibit.
One of the common characteristics of contemporary design includes sleek flooring in hardwood or tile highlighted by large area rugs that bring together the room's color scheme or add pattern or color. Even if your apartment comes with the basic beige carpeting, you can mimic the look by adding large area rugs in under your dining room table and living room coffee table. A bamboo or wood-slatted area "rug" offers a way to incorporate a wood-floor look in your carpeted space.
In the case where you are prohibited by time or landlord constraints from painting rooms or accent walls in bold colors, vinyl wall decals offer a temporary, removable solution for adding color and design without paint. Add stainless steel knobs and handles to cabinets in the kitchen and bathroom. Though costly to invest in initially, replacing cabinetry hardware is easy to undo and an apartment modification that you can take with you when you move. Just be sure to use caution when removing and installing, and guard the hardware in a safe place to swap out before returning your keys.
Common contemporary furniture includes platform beds influenced by Japan and European--particularly German and Scandinavian-designer seating and tables made with molded plywood or steel frames. Common characteristics of many contemporary furniture pieces include clean lines and often lower-than- average height. Discount and high-end retailers sell items inspired by famous 20th century designers Mies van der Rohe, Alvar Aalto, Marcel Breuer and others, allowing you to create the look no matter what your price point.
Lighting Fixtures
Modern light fixtures offer a movable upgrade that you can take from one apartment to the next, so long as you guard your landlord's existing fixtures with care. Make a statement over a breakfast bar with Danish-made pendant lights designed by Poul Christiansen. Highlight your dining table with a striking chandelier. For texture, try a geometric arrangement; for color, check out elegant Murano glass. Floor and table lamps in a contemporary style offer a solution if you don't want to go through the hassle of actually installing lighting.
Art and Accessories
Large art pieces mounted on canvas offer a single-nail solution for adding personality to your apartment without making long-term damage. Bathroom accessories such as a soap dispenser, toothbrush holder and shower curtain hooks create an opportunity to incorporate stainless steel elements that can travel from one apartment to the next.
Photo Credits
- modern interior image by Aleksandr zholobov from Fotolia.com


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The slate of films premiering at the Sundance Film Festival in January were just announced, and we've been given a slew of images from a number of films that will have their premiere at the prestigious festival. Higher Ground, screening in the in-competition category, marks the directorial debut of Up in the Air star Vera Farmiga. The actress also stars in the film alongside Joshua Leonard (Blair Witch Project), John Hawkes (Winter's Bone) and Dagmara Dominczyk (Kinsey). Scripted by Carolyn Briggs and Tim Metcalfe (Kalifornia), the synopsis is as follows: A frustrated young mother turns to a fundamentalist community for answers, but after years of dogma and loss, she must find the courage to ask the questions that will help her reclaim her life.
HERE, also screening in the in-competition category, is directed by documentary filmmaker Braden King and stars Ben Foster, Lubna Azabal and Narek Nersisyan. The script, written by King and Dani Valent, centers on an American cartographer who's on assignment to create a new, more accurate satellite survey of Armenia, who forms a powerful bond with an Armenian expatriate and art photographer. Hit the jump to check out the images from both films.
Here are the images from Higher Ground. Click on an image to see it in high-resolution. Expect a lot more Sundance articles very soon.
And here are the images from HERE.
director Braden King pictured below
And here are links to the first images from other films playing at Sundance:
- Another Earth (starring William Mapother, Brit Marling, and Jordan Baker)
- Benavides Born (starring Corina Calderon, Jeremy Ray Valdez, and Joseph Julian Soria)
- Cedar Rapids (starring John C. Reilly, Ed Helms, and Sigourney Weaver)
- Circumstance (starring Nikohl Boosheri, Sarah Kazemy, and Reza Sixo Safai)
- The Convincer (starring Greg Kinnear, Billy Crudup, and Alan Arkin)
- The Details (starring Tobey Maguire, Elizabeth Banks, and Laura Linney)
- The Devil's Double (starring Dominic Cooper, Ludivine Sagnier, and Mimoun Oaissa)
- HERE (starring Ben Foster, Lubna Azabal and Narek Nersisyan)
- Higher Ground (starring Vera Farmiga, John Hawkes, and Dagmara Dominczyk)
- Homework (starring Freddie Highmore, Emma Roberts, and Michael Angarano)
- I Melt With You (starring Rob Lowe, Thomas Jane, and Jeremy Piven)
- The Ledge (starring Charlie Hunnam, Liv Tyler, Patrick Wilson, Terrence Howard, Christopher Gorham)
- Life in a Day (directed by Kevin Macdonald, produced by Ridley Scott)
- Like Crazy (starring Anton Yelchin, Felicity Jones, Jennifer Lawrence, Charlie Bewley, Alex Kingston)
- Little Birds (starring Juno Temple, Kay Panabaker, Leslie Mann, Kate Bosworth, and Kyle Gallner)
- Margin Call (starring Kevin Spacey, Zachary Quinto, and Paul Bettany)
- Martha Marcy May Marlene (starring Elizabeth Olsen, Hugh Dancy, and John Hawkes)
- The Music Never Stopped (starring J.K. Simmons, Julia Ormond, and Cara Seymour)
- My Idiot Brother (starring Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, and Zooey Deschanel)
- On The Ice (starring Josiah Patkotak, Frank Qutuq Irelan, Teddy Kyle Smith, Adamina Kerr, and Sierra Jade Sampson)
- Pariah (starring Adepero Oduye, Pernell Walker and Kim Wayans)
- Perfect Sense (starring Ewan McGregor, Eva Green, and Ewen Bremner)
- Red State (directed by Kevin Smith; Starring Michael Parks, John Goodman, and Melissa Leo)
- Salvation Boulevard (starring Pierce Brosnan, Jennifer Connelly, and Ed Harris)
- The Son of No One (starring Channing Tatum, Al Pacino, and Juliette Binoche)
- Terri (starring Jacob Wysocki, John C. Reilly, and Creed Bratton)
- Win Win (starring Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan, and Jeffrey Tambor)


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Congregational Treasure Hunt & Barbeque
Don't miss the annual treasure hunt and barbeque, hosted by our Ladies' Group. It's taking place on Friday 2nd June.
The treasure hunt will start at 7.00pm and food will be served at the church hall from 8.00pm.
There's two lists in the vestibule - one is simply to get an idea of numbers for catering purposes, so add your name along with the number in your group if you're planning to come along on Friday evening.
The other list is for food for the evening. If you are able to help provide salads or desserts, please let us know!


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5 Ways to Decorate Eggs This Easter
With Easter popping up this weekend, many of us will be buying cartons upon cartons of eggs to boil and decorate with our families. For years we have done the same old boring Easter egg kits from the box stores that come with a few piddily little stickers and not so vibrant colors. I don't know about you, but I'm tired of this, so this year my family and I are going to shake things up a bit. We are going to try unconventional ways to decorate our Easter eggs.
If you want to join us in making this Easter a little bit more creative when it comes to egg decorating, then try one, two or even all of the suggestions below to spruce up your eggs.
Chalk board paint
You can either go buy a small can of chalkboard paint or you can make your own. The good thing about making your own is that you can make it any color you like. All you need is 1/2 cup of paint and 1 teaspoon of tile grout that isn't sanded and mix them together. Paint your eggs, let them dry and then draw creative Easter designs on them.
Cracked egg
This one is a little different than the others. This one is about decorating the inside of the egg instead of the outside. Simply crack your hard boiled egg but don't remove the shell. Now place your egg in the dye. Let it dry. Now peel the egg and the white part of the egg will have beautiful colored patterns from where the cracks were.
Make egg dye as directed. Add a teaspoon of melted margarine to each cup of die. Dye eggs as you normally would. This makes your eggs have little white bubbly streaks mixed in with the bright festive Easter colors.
Shaving cream
Fill a shallow pan with shaving cream. Randomly place drops of food colors in the shaving cream. Gently swirl the colors together. Don't over swirl. Roll your eggs from one end of the pan to the other then place on a paper towel to dry. Gently clean once dried. This gives a nice swirly muted effect to your eggs, almost like a watercolor painting.
Color on your eggs with crayons before you dip them in the dye. You can draw faces, write words or create amazing designs. The dye won't stick to the waxy crayon surface. This allows you to be as creative as you want. You can leave cute little message for your kiddos from the Easter bunny.


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NAHB Settlement Clarifies 'Critical Habitat' for Endangered Species
NAHB and three other national trade associations have reached a major settlement agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service, committing the Services to reconsider two rules finalized by the previous Administration that made sweeping and unlawful changes to long-existing Endangered Species Act (ESA) regulations.
The rules at issue govern the designation of public and private land as "critical habitat," and determine whether federal actions cause "adverse modification" of land designated as critical habitat.
NAHB was joined by the Utility Water Act Group, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and American Petroleum Institute.
The coalition's complaint detailed how the changes to the critical habitat regulations went far beyond the limits Congress specified in the ESA, resulting in burdensome and costly implications for a wide range of commercial activities on private, state and federal lands and waters.
The Services have committed to reconsider the rules and submit any new proposed rules amending the challenged regulations to the Office of Management and Budget within the next 60 days.
This settlement resulted from the coalition's challenge to the unlawful regulations in Utility Water Act Group, et al. v. National Marine Fisheries Services, et al., No. 1:17-cv-00206-CG-MU (Southern District of Alabama, May 11, 2017).
The coalition's complaint explains how the regulations violate the law. For example, the rules allow the Services to designate areas as critical habitat even when they are not actually occupied by a listed species.
To do so, the Services can consider any potential changes to the habitat and whether those changes might result in the species using that area in the future. Those changes could make the property "essential for the conservation of the species."
In turn, that would allow project-altering — if not project-halting — adverse modification findings based on the risk that an impact to an area could potentially become a critical habitat.
The confusing rules impose substantial new burdens, including costs and delays on our members, negatively affecting housing affordability.
The coalition filed the lawsuit to ensure that NAHB members' essential and time-sensitive projects can continue without increased and disproportionate regulatory burdens and costs, particularly since the regulations fail to provide any demonstrated benefit to the species in many cases.
A group of 20 states likewise challenged the rules on the same or similar grounds. As part of the settlement, the coalition has agreed to voluntarily dismiss its lawsuit, but retains the right to refile should the Services fail to address the coalition's concerns in future proposals.
For additional information, contact Tom Ward.
Tags: ESA