text:
ObamaCare has delivered another sucker punch to the middle class. This time it's sticker shock.
Now that most people can get past the tech problems of HealthCare.gov and actually see the real cost of insurance plans available, they are finding that Affordable Care is a big hit to the family budget. And when the family budget gets hit in the solar plexus, guess what happens to consumer spending and the economy?
In California, policies for about 900,000 Californians are being canceled because of ObamaCare's mandates, and about two-thirds of these do not qualify for subsidies, according to The Chicago Tribune. The result: These folks will be paying higher premiums.
In Alabama, premiums have doubled for some middle-class families, like that of Courtney Long, a stay-at-home mother of four. She told WHNT News, "It's devastating. I started crying."
"I mean, we have worked so hard to get out of credit card debt, get ahead on the car loan, transfer our mortgage to a 15- from a 30-year mortgage… and for what?"
In Tennessee, GOP Sen. Lamar Alexander issued an analysis of a White House report and found the following:
- Today, a 27-year-old man in Memphis can buy a plan for as low as $41 a month. On the exchange, the lowest state average is $119 a month — a 190 percent increase.
- Today, a 27-year-old woman in Nashville can also buy a plan for as low as $58 a month. On the exchange, the lowest-priced plan in Nashville is $114 a month — a 97 percent increase. Even with a tax subsidy, that plan is $104 a month, almost twice what she could pay today.
- Today, women in Nashville can choose from 30 insurance plans that cost less than the administration says insurance plans on the exchange will cost, even with the new tax subsidy.
- In Nashville, 105 insurance plans offered today will not be available in the exchange.
In Washington state, ObamaCare will increase the underlying cost of individually purchased health insurance by 34 to 80 percent on average, according to Forbes.
The list goes on and on and includes Texas, Florida, New York, Illinois, Georgia, and North Carolina. But premiums are just the beginning. The deductibles are outrageous, too.
A recent article in The New York Times tells the story of Doug and Ginger Chapman, ages 55 and 54, a middle-class couple "sitting on the health care cliff." Their annual income of around $100,000 a year makes them ineligible for a subsidy in New Hampshire (if they earned under $94,000, it would cut their costs by half). They have to replace their family insurance which includes the two of them and their two sons. The premium cost alone, not including any deductible, is $1,000 a month, or 12 percent of their income.
The Times' analysis found the following:
The cost of premiums for people who just miss qualifying for subsidies rises rapidly for people in their 50s and 60s. In some places, prices can quickly approach 20 percent of a person's income. Experts consider health insurance unaffordable once it exceeds 10 percent of annual income. By that measure, a 50-year-old making $50,000 a year, or just above the qualifying limit for assistance, would find the cheapest available plan to be unaffordable in more than 170 counties around the country, ranging from Anchorage to Jackson, Miss. [The New York Times]
The other group that gets disproportionately hit is the young, according to Forbes. For a 40-year-old, the 2013 average deductible was $4,045, and the monthly cost increased 29 percent to $309. For a 64-year-old man, the monthly cost of a plan with a $3,494 deductible increased 64 percent to $806.
If even a fraction of the middle class and upper middle income earners divert some of their discretionary dollars to pay for health care, it will have a significant impact on consumer spending. What will that mean for the economy? Consumer spending accounts for about 70 percent of the nation's GDP, although experts say that number is likely to decline.
The top 20 percent of income earners account for about 40 percent of all spending in the U.S. When you increase the costs of health care and the new taxes associated with ObamaCare, you can hear the wallets closing.
More from The Fiscal Times


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Long Mountain - Beacon Ring 408m,
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Ballykildea Mountain: A walk in the woods
Summit Comment
Colin Murphy
an hour ago
The route up Ballykildea from the north is mainly through conifer forest, although parts of the walk are enlivened by sections such as this narrow trail though a glen aglow with colourful mosses a...
Ballykildea Mountain: A long approach from the north
Summit Summary
Collaborative entry
Last edit by: Colin Murphy
an hour ago
Although some people have described approaches from the south, there seem to be access issues with some of these routes, unless you're willing to cut directly across farmland. Although an approach...
A long, meandering route to Ballykildea
Track 4841
Colin Murphy
an hour ago
This was perhaps the longest walk I've ever done to bag a single Carn (almost 12km return), but it was enjoyable none... walk, Len: 5.9km, Climb: 422m, Area: Ballykildea Mountain, East Clare (Ireland
Glan Mountain: A Glan rocker......
Summit Comment
3 days ago
Parked at 546993 and walked up track to base of hill. Crossed fence and headed up short slope. Ground here and on summit is a mixture of gorse, burnt gorse and bog. No marker for summit in fl...
Easy walk, with nice views towards Eagle Island
Track 4839
5 days ago
walk, Len: 1.5km, Climb: 16m, Area: Mayo Coastal Hill (Ireland) ||
Sea Hill: Surprisingly good sea views from this hill
Summit Comment
3 days ago
Parked at 515997 with plenty of parking and followed mucky track to end at field. Then I headed south west through two fields to 516991 where there is mucky track to brow of hill. At this poi...
Muckish: Muckish for the Summits On The Air (SOTA)
Summit Comment
2 days ago
Muckish Mountain stands at over 2100 feet in the range of mountains know as the Derryveagh Mountains in North Donegal. The flat top gives a very large activation zone, actually covering two W...
Beenbane: Borreen to heaven
Summit Comment
4 days ago
Parked at 467988 at end of lane. Followed narrow borreen into field and crossed over this to fence. Climb over and through the gate to non descript high point with great views of the cliffs n...
Typical wet North Mayo Coastal Hill
Track 4838
5 days ago
walk, Len: 2.1km, Climb: 85m, Area: Illanbaun Hill, Mayo Coastal Hill (Ireland)...
Slieve Fyagh: Gaiter day out
Summit Comment
5 days ago
Fairly wet underfoot on this One
Carrigshouk: Lovely loop
Summit Comment
a week ago
Lovely loop up one side and down the other . On a clear day you have a great view north and south.
A Cone with a view
Track 4837
5 days ago
walk, Len: 3.2km, Climb: 130m, Area: Cone Hill, Mayo Coastal Hill (Ireland) Con...
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Video display
Welshpool to Hay-on-Wye
More detail
Place count in area: 137,
Highest place:
Great Rhos, 660m
Maximum height for area: 660 metres,
Maximum prominence for area: 374 metres,
Places in area Welshpool to Hay-on-Wye:
Aberedw Hill 451m
Aberedw Hill 451m
Aberedw Hill North Top 432m
Bailey Hill 426m
Banc y Dolau 493m
Beacon Hill 547m
Beddugre Hill 419m
Black Hill 404m
Black Hill 517m
Breidden Hill 366.6m
Brondre-fawr Hill 508m
Bryn 457m
Bryn Coch 518m
Bryn Cwmyrhiwdre 408m
Bryn Gwyn 457m
Bryn Mawr 485m
Bryn Mawr 405m
Bryn Titli 495.6m
Bryn-y-maen 489m
Bryngwyn Hill 466m
Bryngydfa 480m
Burl Hill 428m
Bwlch-y-cefn Bank 400m
Caeliber Isaf 353.5m
Caer Din 403m
Camlo Hill 509m
Carneddau 445m
Carneddau South Top 432m
Carneddau SW Top 436m
Castelltinboeth 406m
Castle Bank 476m
Castle Hill 388m
Castle Hill 449m
Cefn Cenarth 460m
Cefn Lletyhywel 487m
Cefn Nantmel 402m
Cefn Pawl 447m
Cefn Perfa 411.2m
Cefn-crin 456m
Cilfaesty Hill 528m
Coed y Gaer 359.9m
Coety Bank 418m
Corndon Hill 513m
Craig Gellidywyll 445m
Crinfynydd 468m
Crugyn Llwyd 571m
Crungoed Bank 404m
Cwmcringlyn Bank 423m
Cynwch Bank 499m
Domen-ddu 553m
Drysgol 484m
Fishpools Hill 428m
Foel 461m
Foel Goch 461m
Foel Gurig 480m
Gaer 417m
Gamallt 474.5m
Garn 494m
Garreg Lwyd 498.1m
Garreg y Gwynt 428m
Gilwern Hill 439m
Gilwern Hill West Top 410m
Glanfeinion Hill [Craig y Paun] 534.9m
Glascwm Hill 522m
Glog 483m
Glog Hill 408m
Gors Lydan 529.3m
Graig Hill 468m
Graig Iar 408m
Hanter Hill 414m
Hawthorn Hill 407m
Lan Fawr 426m
Little Hill 469m
Little Park 426m
Llan-wen Hill 417m
Llanbedr Hill 479m
Llanbedr Hill NE Top 467m
Llandegley Rocks 436m
Llysin Hill 427m
Llywy 466m
Long Mountain - Beacon Ring 408m
Moel Dod 467m
Moel Hywel 505m
Moel y Golfa 403.2m
Moelfre 429m
Mynd 479m
Newchurch Hill 425m
Oldchapel Hill 426.2m
Pant-poeth Hill 422m
Pegwn Mawr 586m
Pen Cnych Mawr 441m
Pen Craig Dugwm 437m
Pen Fraichwen 407m
Pen Hendre 434m
Pen Llyn Dwr 424m
Pen yr Onnen 465m
Pen-y-clawdd Hill 416m
Pen-y-ffynnon 407m
Pool Hill 516m
Red Hill 509m
Rhiw Gwraidd 442m
Rhiw Gwraidd West Top 442m
Rhos-crug 508m
Shadwell Hill 497m
Stanky Hill 506.6m
The Begwns 415m
The Smatcher 425m
The Van 466m
Ty'n-y-ddol Hill 484m
Tylcau Hill 485.8m
Warren Hill 506.6m
Waun Gaseg 450m
Wennallt 471m
Wennallt 435m
Wylfre 416m
Wylfre East Top 410m
Y Foel 435m
Yr Allt 429m
Yr Allt East Top 424m
Yr Allt West Top 516m
Yr Wylorn 475m
Ysgwd-ffordd 440m
Central Wales - Elan Valley:
Gwastedyn Hill 477m
Gwastedyn Hill West Top 476m
Central Wales - Radnor Forest:
Bache Hill 610m
Black Mixen 650m
Burfa Bank 313m
Coed-swydd 412m
Fron-wen 546m
Great Creigau 646m
Great Rhos 660m
Gwaunceste Hill 542m
Little Hill 491m
Llanfihangel Hill [Colva Hill] 532m
Nyth-grug 538m
Stanner Hill 349m
Whimble 598.8m
Note: this list of places includes island features such as summits, but not islands as such.
Centre on map.
Long Mountain - Beacon Ring
, in
British Marilyn
OS 1:50k
Mapsheet: 126
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View on Hill Bagging (DoBIH)
Longitude: -3.088163, Latitude: 52.645145
, Easting: 326472, Northing: 305822
Prominence: 305m
, Isolation: 4.7km
, GPS IDs, 6 char: LngMnt, 10 char: LngMntnBcn
Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/B2200/
COMMENTS for Long Mountain - Beacon Ring
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Picture from Fergalh : View from Summit
View from Summit
Short walk to summit
8 Feb 2021
Parked to South east on Minor road beside the track that leads to the communication mast. Directly behind that is an ancient hill fort with a minor deciduous copse. The high point is on the edge of that copse and the trig pillar is hidden amongst the trees.
Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/B2200/comment/22322/
Your Score: Very useful <<
(End of comment section for Long Mountain - Beacon Ring .)
Some mapping:
Open Street Map
(Various variations used.)
British summit data courtesy:
Database of British & Irish Hills
(Creative Commons Licence)
MountainViews.ie, a Hill-walking Website for the island of Ireland. 2300 Summiteers, 1460 Contributors, Newsletter since 2007

subset: commoncrawl


text:
As the House winds up for the first hearings of its redistricting maps we thought we'd offer you this helpful video about the terms to know in the redistricting debate produced by ProPublica, the independent non-profit journalism watchdog site. Also check out Pro Publica's interesting piece about the money behind redistricting.
Meanwhile, here's our handy interactive maps on the House districts.


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When corruption meets patriarchy, it usually means disaster for women in developing countries. That's the story of the spread of the veil over the villages of northern Nigeria.
Since the return to civilian rule in Nigeria in 1999, Muslim sharia law has rapidly gained a foothold in parts of the country. Nigeria is roughly half Muslim and half Christian, with the Muslims being concentrated in the north and the Christians in the south. Since 1999, the 12 northernmost Muslim states have jumped to adopt sharia–to the ire of the secularist state governments of the south, who fear the harsh northern laws will spread to southern Nigeria.
In the bloody fallout of this increasing Talibanization of Nigerian politics, women are the most adversely affected. Many of the laws enshrined in Nigerian sharia lower the status of women and are a means of social control within the private sphere. Women, who have always been at a sociopolitical disadvantage, have been thrust even further into powerlessness–and shrouding this denial of rights is the proliferation of the veil, known also as the hijab.
The hijab is traditionally a cultural expression of Middle Eastern women, so despite the northern half of Nigeria being predominantly Muslim it was foreign to the African nation. But starting in the early 1990s, a silent revolution took place in northern Nigeria. If one were to go there today, they would not miss the growing number of women wearing hijabs or even burqas. Veiling, a practice rarely seen in northern Nigeria, is now nearly universal. Some of the Muslim states have even made the hijab a compulsory part of girls' school uniforms.
Under the guise of religion, the veil has become a tool of invisibility and spatial control. The veil is one spillover result of sharia that affects Christian women as well, since their clothing is expected to be more restrictive to match that of their northern Nigerian counterparts. Bystanders in northern Nigerian villages will not stop to inquire about a woman's religion before performing acts of vigilante violence against women who do not wear the hijab. Men are given the opportunity to judge morality in women, both Christian and Muslim, within a federal government that is supposed to be secular.
In addition to restricting the clothes women don, Islamic conservatism has also been aided by the growing popularity of kulle, the practice of secluding wives within the home. Before independence, the least strict form of kulle–which allowed women to leave their houses when escorted by males–was predominant. However, with the tightening of sharia, the strictest version of kulle–which doesn't allow women to leave the house at all–became increasingly observed in northern cities.
Absolute wife seclusion on such a large scale is rarely seen in Muslim societies; it is a characteristic unique to northern Nigeria. The practice of kulle physically traps women in the home and precludes any chance of education or financial independence. 30 million Nigerian women are illiterate, making them the hapless victims of superstition.
Despite the severe curtailment of women's rights in northern Nigeria, the emergence of grassroots activism lends hope to the idea of a women-organized backlash. Though these movements are still in their infancy, they appear to be gaining momentum in Nigeria and in the international community. When the full-scale liberation does occur, it will be led by Dr. Ayesha Imam, a Hausa feminist and Islamist scholar. Imam has been outspoken against sharia since its implementation and founded BAOBAB for Women's Human Rights, a women's rights organization in Nigeria.
Though the hijab has been worn for centuries in other parts of the Muslim world, it is important to remember that it has a very short history in Nigeria. Its sudden spread has little to do with religion and purity, but rather shrouds the masculinist societal aims of a patriarchal society. Aided by their own relative invisibility, women have started empowering themselves, but still have their rights violated and their enormous potential as agents of development ignored. The hijab is the new way of making women invisible under the thin guise of religious identity, and the stakes will only become higher as the veil spreads towards the Christian south, where a resounding clash of gender, religion and ethnicity is waiting to occur.
Photo courtesy of Daniel Zanini H. under Creative Commons 3.0.


text:
Kevin Ashman, a researcher with Georgia Southern University, and his team recently analyzed stream water temperatures at six different golf courses in Greenville, S.C.
Ashman monitored the water temperatures of the streams at each course, specifically in locations where there are continuous, tributary-free and lake-free reaches that pass through the golf course grounds.
"We chose a continuous, tributary-free stretch of stream to make sure that our results only reflected temperature changes caused by the golf course," explains Ashman. "We also chose a lake-free stretch of the stream to show that even without a lake, which could impact stream temperatures, there were still significant temperature increases downstream."
As part of their monitoring strategy, Ashman and his team used HOBO® Water Temp Pro v2 temperature loggers from Massachusetts-based Onset Computer Corporation.
The loggers, roughly the size of a miniature flashlight, were secured to the bottom of the streams at each of the selected courses, and water temperature measurements were taken at five-minute intervals at sites upstream and downstream away from the course.
Data from the loggers were offloaded directly to a laptop and analyzed using HOBOware® Pro graphing and analysis software, which converted the collected data into easy-to-read graphs that reveal spikes in water temperatures.
In addition to water temperatures, the team monitored stream discharge measurements under baseflow conditions, stream length between sampling sites, the extent of riparian cover along the stream banks, and any human alterations to the stream's channel.
"The data revealed consistently higher stream water temperatures on the order of 4 – 10°F during the afternoon hours, and significantly larger diurnal temperature ranges – typically two to three times larger – compared to their upstream counterparts," says Ashman.
According to Ashman, the temperature differences between the up and downstream sites were primarily due to the lack of riparian cover along the golf course reaches, and to a lesser extent, alterations in the stream channel's structure.
"Although the impacts of these temperature modifications on the ecology, biology, and chemistry of the stream system are not known, the magnitude of the temperature change is large enough to be of potential consequence," says Ashman.
This free webinar will inform attendees on the most significant updates and modifications in the new standard, known as E1527-21 Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process.


text:
USS L-9 (SS-49) Submarine
Regular price $17.95
Official Navy Photo of the WWI era USS L-9 (SS-49) Submarine
This is an original photograph from the U.S. Navy. You are purchasing this exact photograph; once it is sold, there is no replacement. The watermark is not on the photograph. Condition is as shown. 8 x 10 black and white photographic print.


text:
Sept. 18, 2012 — -- From world-class sporting scandals in baseball and on the track, performance-enhancing drugs seem to have found a new playing field -- the office.
"It's like a secret. You don't want to let the other guy know what you know," said Oliver Power, 48, an office manager in the San Francisco Bay Area. "You know what I mean? You want to keep that edge going so guys don't talk about it too much."
Testosterone, the steroid hormone banned in sports, has quietly become the newest wonder drug for men in the workplace.
Whether it's in police departments or Fortune 500 companies, the drug is being called "Viagra for the boardroom."
Testosterone: Frequently Asked Questions
Chris Running, 57, president and CEO of Eternal Beverages in Walnut Creek, Calif., said testosterone was the fuel that kept him on top.
He said the little vial he stores in the bathroom enabled him to run four companies at once, lose 30 pounds and gain muscle, and maintain an energy and mental sharpness he hadn't felt since college.
Running gives himself a shot of the hormone in his leg twice a week.
"I think that successful business people want to be more successful," he told ABC News. "I think if they knew how effective testosterone could be for them to have even more of an edge, they'd be all over it."
Testosterone Use Booms
Running and Power, both 48, are part of an explosion in testosterone use among men older than 40.
"It's like somebody came and erased 15 years off your life," Power said.
It affects the metabolism and can lead to increased muscle mass, sex drive and can even help a man's mood but it doesn't affect everyone in the same way and it's not without controversy.
Walk-in clinics have sprung up across the country. According to Bloomberg, prescriptions for testosterone have doubled since 2006. Sales are expected to triple from $1.6 billion in 2011 to $5 billion by 2017.
But there can be serious side effects, including an increased risk of prostate cancer and liver damage, and even aggression in cases where too much testosterone is prescribed. It is the aggression side effect that is now setting off alarm bells in some of the nation's largest police departments.
Amy Brittain, a reporter for the Newark, N.J., newspaper, the Star-Ledger, uncovered that 248 police officiers and firefighters from 53 agencies were tied to a Jersey City physician giving out questionable prescriptions.
"It can basically cause you to make rash decisions, get angry," Brittain said. "It can affect you in a way that's really unpredictable and when you are talking about someone who is carrying a gun that's a pretty dangerous situation."
Through her reporting, Brittain said she found a common theme among officers: "There was almost a sense of a need to feel stronger, faster, to have a better sex drive, to feel better about yourself especially as these men and women are getting older," she said.
In his first interview since the scandal, Jersey City Police Chief Thomas Comey told ABC News that he never saw the problem coming, and that his officers were using testosterone to bulk up, all the while faced with a slew of unknown and potentially serious side effects.
"When we looked at it we determined there really was a health concern," Comey said. "We are one of the few entities sanctioned by this government to carry a weapon and potentially use deadly force. You would like to make sure that isn't impacted by a potential increase in aggression."
But his department is far from alone. ABC News found police departments nationwide, Phoenix to Portland, have begun a new series of drug tests, no longer just for marijuana and cocaine, but for testosterone and other performance-enhancing drugs.
Testosterone is a naturally occurring hormone that diminishes with age. Even though some need a boost as they get older, a 2010 study in the New England Journal of Medicine warned that only about 2 percent of men older than 40 fell into that category.
"It's become a near epidemic proportions, what we're seeing in our clinics," said Dr. Edmund Sabanegh, the chairman of urology at the Cleveland Clinic. "Dating back into the '50s, there were fountains of youth and elixirs that were being advertised and I think it's potentially the same risk here."
Dr. Karron Power, M.D., M.P.H., said that testosterone was misunderstood.
Power is among doctors and experts who call it a life changer -- but only for men who need it. She said she'd had people who probably didn't need the hormone request it from her.
'Leveling the Playing Field'?
Experts said the problem with the hormone was that determining who needs testosterone and how much can be a very gray area. They say the normal man's testosterone range spans 1,000 points in blood tests.
Power and others bring patients up to the top end -- a level that some experts say can be too high for middle-age men.
"But if your levels are low and they bring you back to a normal level, or an optimal level, then aren't I just leveling the playing field?" Power said.
"I would say I look more ripped than I have since I was in college," Running said. "I mean, I like looking at myself in the mirror. I look freaking awesome.
"If I was marketing testosterone, I would be marketing in the Wall Street Journal, Business Week and Newsweek and Forbes," he said. "I'm completely sold. I mean I will never not do this."


text:
Time Flies: Jesus says:
Time flies, which is why Absent Design made this application called Time Flies.. It's quite simple: You can quickly record the things you do, look at the list chronologically and bookmark the most important ones. Brilliant.
Kik Messenger's a no-frills app, but it could easily become your favorite way of keeping in touch. It's a simple cross-platform instant messenger which'll work for you and your friends-no matter which mobile platform or country you favor.
Think of the app as being like BlackBerry Messenger without the mobile operating system limitations.
You'll get push notifications and little S, D, and R indicators showing if a message has been sent, delivered, or read. Simple and basic, but pretty great.
The only genuine annoyance I've encountered with Kik is the lack of an option to turn off message previews on the lock screen. Don't get me wrong, I like knowing who messaged me, but I don't always want the content of the message displayed on the lock screen. But considering the stability and simple awesomeness of the app in general, that's an easily overlooked flaw for now.
The app's free and available in the iTunes store right now. If you've got friends who are Android or BlackBerry users, just point them toward their respective app markets.
Bump: Bump, the app that makes you physically touch the person you're trying to share data with (gross!) has a new update that allows for songs to be swapped via bump. Once shared, users can listen to a full song via YouTube or check out previews and buy the track on iTunes. S'free.
Flavorpill 2.0: Flavorpill's iPhone app is a handy way to check out what's happening in your city (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco for now; London, Miami, Las Vegas, and Dallas on their way) and, crucially, keep track of those events. I'm not so bad at finding things I want to do, but I'm pretty awful at remembering to actually go check them out when they're actually happening. The app, sponsored by PUMA, lets you view your events when you're offline, see where they are on maps, and check out read content from FP's culture blog, Flavorwire. Free.
Beast Boxing 3D: Matt plays lots of videogames. He's something of an authority:
Beast Boxing 3D is in the Punch-Out!! mold of boxing games, which I can't get enough of. It stands out for a few reasons.
It oozes style. The "story" is the tried-and-true Rocky/Little Mac trope-a puny fighter pummels his way through an onslaught of wacky and progressively more difficult fighters-but the combatants are monsters. Mixed with a slick 2D/3D animation style, it simply looks better than most of the other boxing games around.
The simple game mechanics are well-worn-dodge, punch, don't get worn out or beaten into the ground-but the controls are nicely designed for a touchscreen, a straightforward palette of taps and swipes, while you tilt to dodge.
The major thing that's missing is multiplayer, but even as a solo campaign, if you're at all a fan of the Punch-Out!! genre, it's worth considering plunking down $3.
MScribble: The iPhone, we well know, can be a serious music making tool. But what if you're not a serious music making person? Well, then there's mScribble, an app that lets you doodle melodies by drawing with your finger. I have a feeling kids would go crazy for it. $1
NBA Elite 11: Probably the best basketball action you can get on your iPhone at this point, NBA Elite has full 5 v 5 action with current stars and league legends. Good controls and all sorts of season settings. $5.
Trade Nations: Does the world need another freemium micromanagement game?! Well, probably not, and while the gameplay in this one, in which you grow your village into a big old city, isn't especially innovative, it has a very nice look to it. Free.


text:
With countless studies touting its benefits, it's no surprise that olive oil gets all the glory. But now a new study suggests that's not entirely fair: Turns out that corn oil might actually be better at lowering cholesterol than olive oil.
Researchers studied the effects of both oils on 54 healthy men and women. For 21 days, participants were either given four daily tablespoons of corn oil or four tablespoons of olive oil. The results? Corn oil was shown to reduce LDL cholesterol (the bad kind) by almost 11%, while olive oil only lowered it 3.5%. Study participants experienced an 8.2% decrease in total cholesterol with corn oil, compared to just a 1.8% decrease with olive oil.
Why the different effects? Corn oil contains more phytosterols—a group of compounds found in plant cell membranes that help block cholesterol absorption in the digestive system—than olive oil; there are 132 mg in one serving of corn oil, compared to 30 mg in a serving of olive oil.
More From Prevention
But don't ditch your extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) just yet—researchers observed a lower heart rate and diastolic blood pressure when people were eating foods with olive oil.
"Both oils have some favorable affects," says study author Kevin C. Maki, PhD, who performed the research at Biofortis Clinical Research (a research company hired by Mazola Cooking Oil to conduct the study). "I think that people should eat a variety of oils; corn oil and olive oil are both good options."
Sharon Palmer, a registered dietitian from LA, agrees. "This study supports that corn oil can be a heart-healthy fat, which makes sense, as it is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs). However, it's important to remember that the EVOO also promoted positive results in this study, and hundreds of other studies have found benefits with this heart-healthy oil, as well."
The most important thing to keep in mind, says Palmer, is that focusing on unsaturated plant oils overall—about 20 to 35% of your daily calories should come from these healthy fats—is a much healthier diet patten than a diet high in saturated fats or even a strict low-fat diet. Your best bet: "Use a variety of plant oils so that you're getting PUFAs and MUFAs in your diet."
More from Prevention: The Best Cooking Method For Every Kind Of Oil
Kristen Fischer is a writer living at the Jersey Shore. Connect with her on Twitter (@kristenfischer) or visit http://www.kristenfischer.com for more information.


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After successfully making their way through the first round of the Daybreak Town Pokémon Contest, Dawn, Ursula, and Jessilina (a disguised Jessie) all face challenges in Round Two. Jessilina and Ursula are the first to face each other. Ursula and her Plusle and Minun make quick work of Jessilina and her Seviper and Yanmega. Soon, the other Coordinators and their Pokémon get eliminated, so it all boils down to the final round! Dawn, with her Cyndaquil and Mamoswine, face off against Ursula and her Plusle and Minun.
Suddenly, Ursula hits Cyndaquil and Mamoswine with the Encore attack, which allows Pokémon to use only their previous attack! Dawn's Pokémon are getting whipped, but Dawn thinks of a way out. She has her Pokémon attack each other, which sets them free from Encore. With mere seconds left on the clock, Dawn's Pokémon battle furiously...and win!
So, with Dawn's fifth Ribbon in hand, her attention focuses on the upcoming Grand Festival. A clearly bitter Ursula assures her she won't win there. But, in the meantime, it's Ash's upcoming battle at the Sunyshore Gym that's next on our heroes' schedule, as Ash shoots for his eighth Gym Badge!


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Light in the window of Áras an Uachtaráin, Dublin
From the Áras collection
We dedicate this category as Ballinrobe's "Light in the Window" to all our families, friends and the Ballinrobe Diaspora that live and work all over the world.
Wherever you are we think of you, and wish you good health and happiness till we see you again.
This category was inspired by the "Light in the Window" at Áras an Uachtaráin.
Mayo woman Mary Robinson, the 7th President of Ireland from 1990 to 1997, and first female President, was the first to reach out to the Irish 'Diaspora' (the vast number of Irish emigrants and people of Irish descent).
From a speech "Cherishing the Irish Diaspora" in Feb 1995 she says…
"At my inauguration I spoke of the seventy million people worldwide who can claim Irish descent. I also committed my Presidency to cherishing them - even though at the time I was thinking of doing so in a purely symbolic way. Nevertheless the simple emblem of a light in the window, for me, and I hope for them, signifies the inextinguishable nature of our love and remembrance on this island those who leave it behind". …..
Born in 1944 in Ballina, County Mayo, Robinson's parents were physicians. She studied in Paris and at Trinity College in Dublin. She then lived for a time in Boston and graduated from Harvard Law School in 1968. After returning to Ireland, she became Ireland's youngest Senator at the age of 25. She was also the first Catholic Senator in the Irish Senate. During the next 20 years as senator and an activist lawyer, she focused on many civil rights and women's issues. Robinson continues to maintain her popularity since her election in 1990. She campaigned to be a president of "all people." In her inauguration speech, Robinson said she wants to redefine the symbol of being Irish. She wants to work to recognize the extended Irish family and be a working President.
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Squantum co-pastors eventually fulfilled their longtime calling
When Mike and Emmy Robertson began seven years ago as co-pastors of the First Church of Squantum, the picturesque church near the top of the hill was in trouble.
Attendance at Sunday services was down. Membership had fallen. Finances were worrisome and the Congregational parish was in danger of closing.
Today, attendance at Sunday services has tripled. Membership is growing. The finances are stable. A dozen community activities – Scouts, a men's club, yoga, hockey, youth dances – hum along throughout the week. And the church is poised to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2014.
So why are they leaving?
All that has been accomplished, the Robertsons say, makes it a fortuitous time to bring in new, younger leadership. Once a replacement is found, they will move on.
"I have done what God wanted me to do," the Rev. Michael Robertson, known as Mike, said. "I am 77, and that is not appropriate going forward, to guide it to the next level, with more younger families." The Rev. Dr. Emily K. Robertson, known as Emmy, is 70.
The lapel pins this gentle couple chose as their faith message say, "Love kindness." I'd add "transformation." It is the story of both their church and their personal lives.
Each was ordained after previous careers, and when they were over 60. They came to the ministry to fulfill a longtime calling. They married when Mike was 62 and Emmy was 55. He was widowed; she, divorced. They continue to seek new directions together.
He was once a fast-paced business executive who also ran for the U.S. Senate in Massachusetts in 1976 (losing to Sen. Ted Kennedy), served as a selectman in the town of Berkley and on the National Easter Seal Society board. After graduating from Harvard in 1957, he had joined Robertson Factories, the curtain and drapery business started by his father in 1925 in Taunton.
All that time, a quiet but persistent voice was telling him to follow his faith. He was active in the Pilgrim Church in Taunton, but in 1991, he took a job as executive secretary for the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches in Milwaukee. After his first wife, Peggy, died at age 58 of cancer, he threw himself into his work, creating an alliance of an inner city and a suburban church.
Then he met Emmy.
A member of his Milwaukee church, she had worked for Wisconsin universities, for a professional physicians association, and then as an independent fiber artist, in rug-hooking.
With "mystic tendencies" that had carried her through rough times, she felt when she met Mike he "was the one" for her.
"We talked and talked and haven't stopped talking since and it has been wonderful," she said. A month later, he proposed on the ferry from Martha's Vineyard to Falmouth, where he had a home. They married four months later in 1998.
Mike was ordained in 2000, at Pilgrim Church in Taunton, and served as interim pastor at Union Church in Weymouth. Emmy went to Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge and was ordained in 2006.
The message they bring, in casual conversation or from the pulpit, is similar: Each person is on their own faith journey. Help them wherever they are. God leads in many ways. "We don't have a creed but a message: love each other, and it is more blessed to give than to receive," Mike said.
What's next? Their faith and time will show them the way.
"It is a wonderful freeing experience when you know if you do the right thing, you feel right," Mike said. "It helps you rise above the pettiness and you don't worry about a lot of things that so many people do."
Reach Sue Scheible at email@example.com, 617-786-7044, or The Patriot Ledger, Box 699159, Quincy 02269-9159. Read her Good Age blog on our website. Follow her on Twitter @ sues_ledger. READ MORE Good Age columns.


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Rihanna wears some tiny strips of seaweed on the November cover of Esquire, and inside, says of Chris Brown: "It's incredible to see how he pulled out the way he did. Even when the world seemed like it was against him, you know?" She also complimented his work: "I really like the music he's putting out. I'm a fan of his stuff. I've always been a fan." And despite the fact that he punched her in the face and split her lip, RiRi says: "I would never wish anything horrible for him. Never. I never have." [Esquire, AP, Sandra Rose]
You guys, I have watched this animation over and over and I cannot figure out what the hell is going on. Does Beyoncé's baby bump "deflate," as the post claims? Is it just an optical illusion? Is it just the way the fabric folds? Is it a wrinkle in time? A tesseract? What is happening and why do we care so much??? [Juicy]
Unsolicited Uterus Update! Jessica Simpson is preparing to announce that she is pregnant. Which involves, uh, being pregnant and clearing her throat? I don't know. [Radar]
Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore went on a Kabbalah camping retreat over the weekend, during which Ashton apologized to his wife for being a cheater and a jerk, since it was Yom Kippur. Sitting on twigs must have brought them closer together, because Ashton actually tweeted at Demi, wishing her good luck on her breast cancer documentary, which aired last night. She did not respond. [Daily Mail]
"Hey, what did you do today?" "I worked, then I went to the drug store, then I got a love note to Ashton Kutcher tattooed on my back." "Hahaha!" "No, really." "Um…" [E!]
- Kanye West visited Occupy Wall Street yesterday and interrupted to say that the March On Washington was the greatest protest of all time. [NYDN]
- A SWAT team raided the set of Brad Pitt's movie World War Z yesterday. It seems the props for the flick — AK-47s and sniper rifles — had actual ammunition in them. Yikes. [London Evening Standard]
- Shocker: Lil Wayne used to be addicted to sizzurp. ]TMZ]
- Shocker: Weezy has a little Louis Vuitton purse. [TMZ]
- You probably haven't been wondering what Mischa Barton has been up to, but just FYI: She's been posing with raw meat. [E!]
- Denzel Washington went clubbing in a track suit. [TMZ]
- Let us salute pop star Rain, who has officially joined the South Korean army. [OMG!]
- Breaking: Johnny Depp tripped and fell down. [Contact Music]
- Lady Gaga shot a video on Staten Island and had to kick some little monsters off the set. [Gatecrasher]
- Jonah Hill, who lost 40 lbs., has broken up with his girlfriend. They went to high school together, and as this writer puts it, she "loved him before he got rich and slim." [Janet Charlton's Hollywood
- Sharon Stone is starring in a low-budget Mexican movie called The Mule. [Janet Charlton's Hollywood]
- 'It's Time To Watch Arnold Schwarzenegger Fondling His Own Ass." [TMZ]
- "Throughout my career, I've always portrayed characters that were humorous, but also weren't afraid to speak their minds, especially when it came to racy or controversial topics. I think this struck a chord with the LGBT community. We both also share a very strong love for animals. When you combine the two, it's a very strong match."— Betty White says gays luuuuv critters. Honey badgers and unicorns and bears, oh my! [ONTD via Advocate]


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Action taken after arrest of Level 1 sex offender in Wakefield
The Massachusetts Senate backed a plan Thursday to overhaul the state's procedures for classifying convicted sex offenders in response to the arrest last year of a registered sex offender on charges that he sexually abused infants and small children at his wife's unlicensed day care.
The proposal is an amendment to the Senate version of the state budget, and designed to strengthen information sharing between the Sex Offender Registry Board and other state agencies. It goes to a conference committee as part of the budget legislation.
Senate President Therese Murray said the Senate decided to take action after the arrest of John Burbine of Wakefield for allegedly sexually abusing children, ranging from 8-days-old to 3 ½ years and recording the assaults.
Burbine was registered as a Level 1 sex offender, a classification given those least likely to re-offend. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and is being held on $1 million bail.
"I promised at the start of this session that the Senate would re-examine the criteria for sex offender registration," Murray, D-Plymouth, said in a statement.
The Senate amendment allows the registry board to reclassify a sex offender without a new conviction and authorizes the release of information on Level 1 sex offenders to the Department of Early Education and Care. Police also would be allowed to provide information to the Sex Offender Registry Board that is relevant to the assessment of a sex offender's dangerousness or risk to re-offend.
Under the amendment, Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders would be required to register within two days of being released from custody. Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders are currently required to register annually in person but the law does not specify when they must first appear after being released.
The proposal also creates a commission to develop risk assessment protocols for sexual offenders.
Prosecutors allege that between August 2010 and August 2012, Burbine molested children at his wife's day care, which authorities say didn't have a state license.


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Rescued kitten Sir Stuffington becomes Internet star
Look out Grumpy Cat. Sir Stuffington may not be pillaging and plundering his way across the seven seas, but the kitten has stolen the Internet's spotlight with its unique cuteness and face that looks like a pirate.
The 6-week-old kitten's stardom happened when a photo of Sir Stuffington dressed up as a pirate went viral.
The kitten with traumatic facial injuries and his brothers were found and rescued earlier this month near a Troutdale, Ore., home. Sir Stuffington has a permanent pirate snarl from a fractured jaw, and veterinarians had to remove one of Sir Stuffington's eyes to help him recover.
Blazer Schaffer, who lives in the Portland area, took Sir Stuffington in as a foster kitten for the Multnomah County Animal Shelter.
One day, Schaffer said her roommate dressed up the kitten in a hat and an eye patch to make him look like a pirate, and posted the buccaneer kitten's photo online.
"And he's insanely cute to look at. He looks like a little pirate," Schaffer said.
The roommates have since made prints and posted them for sale. The proceeds go toward the animal shelter to pay to treat all animals.
Schaffer said the response over the 6-week-old kitten has been overwhelming.
"I think people just see him and see that he's been through so much in his short little life and he's still positive and happy and wants to live," she said.
Once the cute pirate kitten has fully recovered, he will be put up for adoption.
And luckily for Grumpy Cat, the Internet is plenty big enough for two cute cats. Grumpy Cat still has more than 111,000 Twitter followers and has a Facebook page with more than 1.3 million loyal "likes."
To see more photos of Sir Stuffington, go to facebook.com/Sir.Stuffington.


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While the cast of Outland wait in the wings for their opening night – premieres Wednesday, February 8th at 9.30pm on ABC1! – the reviews are already in. It's like time-travel.
And what do they say?
"A sitcom about a gay science-fiction club might sound niche but this new local effort is warm, accessible and very funny." – Sydney Morning Herald
"Pick Of The Week. Sensational writing, a great ensemble, and universal themes of love, loss, and friendship… a hit…" – The Weekend Australian
"Polished, assured and full of zing" – The Sunday Age TV Guide
"…a comedy that is genuinely hilarious. The premise – a secret club for gay sci-fi fans – might sound as if it's working itself into a tiny niche, but there's broad appeal here… Those in the know will rejoice in background details and genre winks, but the rest of us (OK, the rest of you) can enjoy the snappy banter and comic tangles between a cast of well-crafted characters." – The Weekly Review
"…outrageously funny… We think you'll either love the series for the hidden sci-fi references and innocent geekery, or you'll be googling
the number for the ABC's complaints department." – tvpickoftheday.com
"Must-see television… incredibly slick, campy and fun… performances that cannot be beat… All the actors are sublime, and
the comedy is superb." – guidetogay.com
"…a must-watch program…" – Dark Matter
"(a) much-needed glitter bomb into a stultifyingly straight viewing schedule." – The Monthly
"…it's genuinely funny but it has a kind of sincerity that makes it more than just a comedy… I found it delightful." – Doug Anderson, The Guide
"…very sweetly surprised… such heart… you don't have to be gay to relate to it – you don't even have to like science fiction… it's funny, it's
genuinely funny." – Michael Idato, The Guide
"Outland will delight, scare, entertain and tickle your funny bone in the best of ways." – molkstvtalk.com
"But beneath the sci-fi-inspired double entendres, of which there are many, Outland is a character-driven comedy about relationships – an
affectionate look at how shared passions can make us feel like outsiders but also less alone." – The Green Guide
"The cast is terrific, working with stereotypes but bringing them deliciously to life, and there are some great lines too. It's a really impressive debut and I suspect Outland is only going to get better — and funnier — from here." – Melinda Houston, The Sunday Age


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To answer the questions yourself, visit the 60 Minutes homepage at CBSNews.com.
Kindness: that's the leitmotif of this month's poll. The kindness might not be immediately evident in each case, but seeing kindness not just where it's obvious but also where there's scant evidence of it would be, well, the kind thing to do.
The U.S. Postal Service has in recent years fallen on hard times, yet only 4 percent of those polled said fine, good riddance—while a solid 68 percent thought that limiting service to just five days a week would be reduction enough; we want the Post Office to survive. Nearly two-thirds of us admit that we could never run for public office given some of the choices we've made in our past; in a way, isn't the implied empathy for our flawed elected officials a form of kindness? And how unkind would it be to surf the Web for "as long as you want" while nursing a single cup of coffee at a Starbucks—but how reassuring that only a third of all Americans feel justified in so monopolizing those tables and chairs.
Finally: Do you carry Neanderthal genes? Yeah, you. If you're like most Americans, you'll say no way, despite recent scientific evidence that most of us in fact do. We're not cavemen: it's a kindly view. And it suggests that we're especially kind—why not?—to ourselves.


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Last year approaching Thanksgiving I reprinted an oldie which I had sent to a former office team a while back. Your reaction was kind, and I don't think I can do much better than that at the moment, but perhaps there is merit in sharing some items that are currently giving me reason to smile. Here without extended preamble is the short, unscientific list:
1) We live in a representative democracy where the peaceful and orderly handoff of authority is presumed. As an aside, call me an optimist, but I'm spiritually betting we don't swan dive over the Fiscal Cliff.
2) I get to write and publish this blog. I can pretty much say anything I want without fear of disappearing into the night.
3) Diversity is cool, and increasingly, the law.
4) This year I got to celebrate my Dad's 75th birthday with him, something he didn't get to do with his father. And I got to write about it.
5) My brilliant wife's magical work teaching English as a Second Language and helping immigrants prepare for their American citizenship exams endlessly reminds me that one person can make a difference.
6) I have never run out of reasons to listen to The Beatles, and each one of their songs still makes me wonder how they pulled off that catalogue in less than ten years.
7) Yosemite, just Yosemite.
8) My dog may not see as well as she used to, but somehow she still has plenty of puppy in her.
9) The Giving Pledge will not only fuel a previously unimaginable wave of charity by choice of living billionaires, it can inspire everyday people to give what they can and know each dollar matters.
10) Frank McCourt has been extracted from ownership of The Dodgers and Chavez Ravine has survived as sacred ground.
11) Good health for those who have it. More help for those who need it.
12) I received a generous inflow of emails this past year from former employees telling me how they are still making People-Products-Profits-In-That-Order work hard for them.
13) There is little chance I will run out of interesting stuff to read in this lifetime, new modes to ingest it, or social sharing networks to circulate my discoveries (the trick is not getting distracted by dreck).
14) I have completed a working draft of my novel, which a few of you have even read, and at last connected with a brilliant editor who totally gets it and can help me get it in front of more of you.
15) With modest prodding, yeast consumes sugar in harvested grapes, and with a few artisan touches the juice becomes wine — so much so that two glasses are never the same.
16) The candle count on your birthday cake may be daunting, but the brightness created by all that light does make it easier to see a bit better.
Happy Thanksgiving 2012. Celebrate the joys that are yours. Earn Each Moment.


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This weekend is the first weekend I am spending in Brussels since the beginning of November. While the weather is no different from what it was four weeks ago (Brussels has a tendency to be equally grey and rainy all throughout November to March), there is no denying that Christmas is close – the strings of lights that now connect the buildings on my side of the street with those across the street were the first telltale sign when I came back from my trip to New York over Thanksgiving.
The trip itself was everything I could have asked for and more. I slept more than I had in weeks, I tried out some new exercise classes (it turns out I don't actually hate spinning and Pure Barre is as hard as everyone says it is) and even found a new pair of glasses. But most importantly, I got to hang with my good friend Michelle who didn't say anything when I wanted to have dinner at Semilla just because a random photo of one of their dishes on instagram had me intrigued, who was happy to jump on the subway to travel up to Greenpoint in Brooklyn just so we could visit a bakery my friend Sarah told us to seek out and who was equally excited to overdose on caffeine each day just so we could try as many cafes as possible.
High on my list of cafes to visit in New York was Blue Bottle, not just for their fantastic coffee I had heard so much about but also for their baked goods, especially the Saffron Vanilla Snickerdoodles. I first heard of these via Heidi's blog. And when I finally ordered the Blue Bottle Book, it was the first recipe I turned to.
Admittedly, I was slightly less enthusiastic about the Saffron Vanilla Snickerdoodles once I tried them – it might have been an off day, but the cookie we tried was pretty chewy, very heavy on the saffron and had a strong aftertaste of baking soda – although, having developed a bit of a weakness for saffron-flavoured anything, I am still keen to try the recipe from the book. That being said, I kept on thinking about Snickerdoodles even after we left. While not a cookie I grew up with, I am fascinated by the idea of a rather plain cookie that is rolled in a flavoured sugar before baking (the Blue Bottle version, as Caitlin admits in the book, isn't in fact a traditional Snickerdoodle as it is the cookie itself that packs a punch of flavour and there is no extra dusting of sugar involved) – so many possible variations, including this Chocolate Garam Masala version!
These cookies take their inspiration not just from the Blue Bottle Saffron Vanilla Snickerdoodles but also from some Chocolate Curry and Coconut cookies we saw at Baked the day we were leaving. While Garam Masala has found its way into granola, cookies and even a couronne in this space, it had yet to be paired with chocolate. And now that I have tried it, I am not sure what took me so long. It turns out chocolate is the perfect canvas for garam masala – it tames the slight earthiness and savoury notes of garam masala (thanks to cumin and coriander which are typically included in the spice mix) some might find odd at first in sweet preparations.
This is the third post in my "Goes well with Coffee" series here on the blog and these Chocolate Garam Masala Snickerdoodles fall firmly into the "Chocolate-like" aroma spectrum. These cookies, although not tooth-achingly sweet are rather large (something I came to like while we were in New York where every cookie we tried alongside our numerous coffees was roughly the size of the palm of my hand) and one is the perfect size for those 4pm hunger pangs. If possible, given the bold chocolate flavour and the subtle spice from the garam masala, I would eat these alongside a Turkish coffee – a coffee as rich, dark and bold in flavour as these cookies.
Chocolate Garam Masala Snickerdoodles
Notes: These cookies are very straightforward to prepare. The two things to bear in mind (and this applies to all cookies made with chickpea flour): do not try the raw dough (raw chickpea flour tastes leguminous in the worst possible way) and, for the same reason, do not underbake the cookies – you are looking for crisp edges and a cookie that is nicely puffed up in the oven but that buckles within a couple of minute of being taken out of the oven.
60g butter, at room temperature
50g raw cane sugar or caster sugar
50g light brown sugar
1 egg
120g chickpea flour
30g cocoa powder
Pinch of salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
50g raw cane sugar (or caster sugar) plus 1/4 tsp garam masala for dusting
In a large bowl, beat the butter together with the raw cane sugar, the light brown sugar and pinch of salt until fluffy (3-5 minutes). Add the egg and beat to combine.
In a separate bowl whisk together the chickpea flour, cocoa, pinch of salt and baking soda. Add to the butte mixture in one go and beat to incorporate. Cover the bowl and place in the fridge to rest for 1h.
While the dough is resting in the fridge, pre-heat the oven to 175 degrees and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
In a bowl mix the remaining sugar together with the garam masala.
Using an ice-cream scoop drop tablespoon sized cookies into the spiced sugar. Roll each cookie in the sugar to coat before placing it on the sheet pan, leaving a couple of centimetres of space between the cookies. Bake for 17-20 minutes or until the cookies have puffed up in the middle and are crisp on the edges. Leave to cool for ca. 5 minutes before moving the cookies to a cookie rack (the cookies will buckle and firm up as they cool).
As is quickly becoming clear, I am not just far far far behind on my Christmas shopping, Christmas baking has also taken a bit of a backseat around these parts this year. I am aiming to rectify that over the coming 10 days or so. If you are still looking for inspiration for your Christmas baking session, I am planning to bake a batch (or two or three) of these cookies:
- Heidi's Rosewater Shortbread;
- Heidi's Swedish Rye Cookies (if I get round to baking these, I think I will add a pinch or two of ground cardamom to the dough);
- these Peppernuts I made last year – while the recipe uses Indonesian Long Pepper, Ale brought back some wonderfully fragrant Kampot Pepper from his trip to Cambodia in the summer that would be perfect for this recipe; and
- these Chickpea Flour Gingersnaps (I may or may not increase the ginger hit by folding some crystallised ginger into the dough as well).


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|Peter Brown
|[GNU/FSF Press] Time for nonprofits to leave proprietary fundraising software systems behind
|Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:29:23 -0400
|Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; Linux x86_64; en-US; rv:126.96.36.199pre) Gecko/20100217 Shredder/3.0.3pre
Time for nonprofits to leave proprietary fundraising software systems behind (News item at: http://www.fsf.org/news/nonprofit-fundraising-civicrm) BOSTON, Massachusetts, USA -- Wednesday, April 14th, 2010 -- The Free Software Foundation (FSF) today announced that CiviCRM has earned its recommendation as a fully featured donor and contact management system for nonprofits. The FSF had highlighted the need for a free software solution in this area as part of its High Priority Projects campaign (http://www.fsf.org/campaigns/priority-projects/). With this announcement, the FSF will also be adopting CiviCRM for its own use, and actively encouraging other nonprofit organizations to do the same. (CiviCRM http://civicrm.org/) Nonprofits have historically relied heavily on proprietary or web-hosted "software as a service" fundraising software such as Blackbaud's Raiser's Edge or eTapestry. The nonprofit organizations using them are locked in, have little control over the functionality of the software, and are dependent on the whims of a single company. Nonprofits also face costly migration if they wish to switch to a different proprietary system, never achieving independence. These factors mean that tools intended to enhance organizations' effectiveness have actually ended up restricting their ability to accomplish their social missions. CiviCRM, however, shares its software code so all organizations can see how it works, have the option of commissioning anyone to make customizations to it, and can host it on their own trusted servers. Since the code and the data format are freely available, using the system does not mean being locked into it. Because it runs on the free GNU/Linux operating system, it eliminates the need for another frequent nonprofit proprietary software dependency -- Microsoft Windows. "The features now offered by CiviCRM will satisfy nonprofits seeking to organize their relationships with donors, supporters, and the media. In addition to storing contact information, it handles online fundraising, event registration, membership management, and personalized paper and electronic mailings. Best of all, it's free software distributed under the GNU Affero General Public License, which means nonprofits can host it themselves and retain the freedom they need to advance their missions unfettered," said John Sullivan, FSF's operations manager. Free software ideals encouraging sharing and modification have been central to CiviCRM's growth. Developer Dave Greenberg explained, "The CiviCRM project was started by a group of developers and project managers who had been working together on a proprietary donation processing application. As folks who were passionate about increasing the impact and effectiveness of the nonprofits, we came to realize that there was a need for a CRM application designed from the ground up to meet the needs of civic sector organizations. From the beginning it was clear that this should be free software -- community driven and community owned. On a personal level I find the engagement with our community of users to be intellectually stimulating and rewarding. Seeing folks with expertise in a particular area step up and contribute their time and ideas to help improve the product is quite exciting." In making the switch, the FSF joins other organizations like Amnesty International, Creative Commons, and the Wikimedia Foundation, who have also been using CiviCRM. Executive director Peter Brown described the FSF's use of the software and intent to publicize it: "I look forward to encouraging other nonprofit organizations to escape their current proprietary or 'software as a service' systems and give CiviCRM a try. As a nonprofit, the FSF manages over 40,000 contacts and 15,000 donation transactions per year, a book publishing operation, online store, and several advocacy campaign websites with associated mailing lists -- all with free software. A general purpose donor and contact management system will be the final piece of the puzzle for charitable organizations looking to operate using only free software. We plan to publish a guide offering our experiences as a resource for other nonprofits concerned with the social implications of their technology." Nathan Yergler, chief technology officer at Creative Commons, offered further praise for the software: "CiviCRM is a critical part of Creative Commons' infrastructure. We've seen the application mature and steadily improve with new features and performance improvements coming in every release. CiviCRM's developer community is accessible and responsive, going beyond the normal call of duty to help when needed. I would happily recommend CiviCRM to organizations like Creative Commons looking for a CRM solution." CiviCRM core team member Piotr Szotkowski noted that despite the project's maturity, there is still rewarding work to be done: "We could definitely use more helping hands. Being able to work on CiviCRM gives a lot of non-direct benefits, like the very warm and fuzzy feelings of great satisfaction and fulfillment: knowing that one's code was used to help the Katrina hurricane victims, that it helps organizations like Amnesty International or Front Line fight for human rights defenders, or that it helps organizations like the Wikimedia Foundation better organize their great work on Wikipedia and all their other projects." Further information about downloading, using, and contributing to CiviCRM can be found at http://civicrm.org. An ongoing discussion of comparisons between free software database options is on the FSF's LibrePlanet wiki at http://groups.fsf.org/wiki/Donor_Transaction_and_Contact_System. For a description of the dangers in relying on "software as a service," see "Who does that server really serve?". About the Free Software Foundation The Free Software Foundation, founded in 1985, is dedicated to promoting computer users' right to use, study, copy, modify, and redistribute computer programs. The FSF promotes the development and use of free (as in freedom) software -- particularly the GNU operating system and its GNU/Linux variants -- and free documentation for free software. The FSF also helps to spread awareness of the ethical and political issues of freedom in the use of software, and its Web sites, located at fsf.org and gnu.org, are an important source of information about GNU/Linux. Donations to support the FSF's work can be made at http://donate.fsf.org. Its headquarters are in Boston, MA, USA. About Free Software and Open Source The free software movement's goal is freedom for computer users. Some, especially corporations, advocate a different viewpoint, known as "open source," which cites only practical goals such as making software powerful and reliable, focuses on development models, and avoids discussion of ethics and freedom. These two viewpoints are different at the deepest level. For more explanation, see http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html. Media Contacts John Sullivan Operations Manager Free Software Foundation +1 (617) 542 5942 address@hidden ###
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Aglukkaq says activists hurt Inuit ability to feed families
Health minister says UN food official "ill-informed" and "a bit patronizing"
A federal cabinet minister slammed activist groups who she says interfere in Inuit traditions, blaming them for food security problems in the North.
Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq, who's from a hamlet in Nunavut called Gjoa Haven, met with a UN food security official on Wednesday, but said he didn't understand the real problems faced by the Inuit. She said environmentalists and activists were the problem behind any food insecurity.
"He's ill-informed. I found it a bit patronizing and [just] another academic studying us from afar who's going to make comments about the challenges that we have," Aglukkaq said following her meeting with Olivier De Schutter, the UN special rapporteur on the right to food.
Food security, she said, is "about the fights that we have with groups like [the] European Union that want to stop the seal hunt and/or [the] Pew Foundation who wants to put a moratorium on fishing and/or the polar bear activists."
"We continue to live off the land, eat the seal meat, eat the polar bear meat and whatnot. And the collective implications of environmentalists, activists, whether it be the fish plus the seal plus the bear, leaves very little for us as Inuit and Aboriginal people of Canada's Arctic with very little to eat."
"It's about fighting environmentalists that try and put a stop to our way of life, our way of life and hunting, to provide for our families," Aglukkaq said.
"So it was important that [De Schutter] understood from the circumpolar region the implications of the activist groups that are outside of Canada that try and stop these [traditions] and the impact it has on Inuit people in the circumpolar region."
Immigration Minister Jason Kenney and Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird also criticized De Schutter for spending time in a rich country rather than in one where more people are starving.
'Activist groups' include Coca-Cola
The Pew Foundation says on its website that to protect life in the Arctic, "we must first and foremost work to lower carbon emissions that are the major cause of global warming."
The Conservative government has been criticized by scientists for not doing enough to lower carbon emissions in Canada, eschewing international agreements and moving sector-by-sector to place limits on emissions, leaving the most controversial emitters to the end of 2012.
The organization released a letter last month from 2,000 scientists in 67 countries, 60 per cent of whom are from one of the countries bordering the Arctic, which called for a moratorium on commercial fishing until there's an international agreement on how to manage the ocean that's opened up as permanent sea ice melts.
Pressed for more information, a spokesman for Aglukkaq also pointed to Coca-Cola as an offender. The company has pushed for an end to the polar bear hunt, Steve Outhouse told CBC News.
The company's project, in conjunction with WWF Canada, aimed to preserve polar bear habitat.
David Moran, a spokesman for Coca-Cola, said he was concerned about Outhouse's comments.
"Our effort is intended to integrate scientific research with local expertise and their cultural values in order to help design an effective adaptation and survival plan for polar bears while protecting the cultural heritage and economic needs of local peoples," Moran said in a statement.
Aglukkaq wouldn't say whether she agreed with De Schutter's conclusion that some Canadians have trouble affording or accessing food.
"I don't know how he can make a conclusion. He's not even set foot in my region. Again, I say, you know, he's another academic who is studying our way of life from afar," she said.
Seal products ban 'very negative' for Inuit
De Schutter didn't visit the Canadian Arctic, but said he spent time in remote First Nations communities in Alberta and northern Manitoba.
Aglukkaq said she started the meeting by showing De Schutter a map of Canada.
"We don't have farms in Canada's Arctic because it's the Arctic and that should be obvious, one would assume."
Mary Simon, head of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the national organization representing the Inuit, agreed with De Schutter's call for a national food strategy at a press conference Wednesday. She also took aim at the European Union over its seal products ban, which she said affected northerners in a "very negative way."
Almost 70 per cent of Inuit households in Nunavut were found to be food insecure in a recent population health survey, Simon said, six times more than Canadian national average.
"This is not acceptable in the Canada that I live in. It is posing a serious risk to Inuit wellbeing," she said.
Aglukkaq's spokesman said Simon and Aglukkaq often disagree, and that Simon represents a group that is based in Ottawa.
Simon is in her second term as the elected leader of the Inuit in Canada.


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The Project on Law and Mind Science recently launched a policy-oriented implicit association test (IAT).
The IAT is an experimental method designed to measure associative information that people are either unwilling or unable to report. The test was first published by Greenwald and colleagues in 1998. The IAT builds on the implicit-explicit distinction in memory. It reflects the observation that because much social cognition occur in an implicit mode, measuring unconscious cognition likely provides the "missing ingredient" necessary to support efficient testing and development of psychoanalytic, behaviorist, and cognitive theories.
Development & Status of the Implicit Association Test
In the early 1990s, Greenwald and Situationist contributor Mahzarin Banaji, in collaboration with others, co-authored a number of papers that explored the unconscious operation of stereotyped beliefs, prejudicial attitudes and discriminatory behavior in the context of social groups, personal judgment, and gender. The authors also investigated automatic stereotyping and implicit social cognition generally. Greenwald proposed in a 1990 article that robust attitude effects can be easily discovered when attitude is involved only indirectly. In 1993, Banaji and others refined Greenwald's 1990 proposal, arguing that stereotype information is influential only when the social category of the target makes the information relevant to judgment. For example, whereas priming individuals with stereotypes of aggression influences judgments about men, it has little influence on judgment about women. Alternatively, judgments about women are influenced when individuals are primed with stereotypes for dependence. In that 1993 article, Banaji and her co-authors also argued that an individual's social category influences use of primed stereotype information.
Greenwald, McGhee, and Schwarz first published the IAT in 1988. Since then, "the IAT has been used repeatedly to measure implicit attitudes and other automatic associations." IAT subjects sort stimuli representing four categories using two responses: usually keys on a computer keyboard. Each response is assigned to two of the four categories. The test rests on the assumption that participants will sort stimuli faster where they experience paired categories as more closely associated.
In their 1998 paper, Greenwald and colleagues presented three experiments that showed that when highly associative categories (e.g. flower + pleasant) share a response key, performance on the test is faster than when less highly associated categories share the same key. In the first experiment, subjects were asked to sort stimuli for flowers, musical instruments, insects, and weapons. This experiment tested the hypothesis that associations can be revealed by mapping two discrimination tasks alternately onto a single pair of responses. The results confirmed this assumption– superior performance was observed when associatively compatible categories were mapped onto the same response. The second experiment extended the test to a domain more typically attitudinal than the first experiment: using the test to discriminate differences between Japanese Americans and Korean Americans in their evaluative associations toward Japanese and Korean ethnic groups. The researchers hypothesized that ethnically Korean subjects would find it more difficult to perform the Japanese + pleasant than the Korean + pleasant combination and vice versa. This hypothesis was based on the history of Japanese-Korean antagonism. The results of the IAT confirmed the expected pattern. The third experiment combined the tasks of classifying Black and White names and discriminating pleasant versus unpleasant word. Twenty-six White American students participated in this test. At the end of the test, each subject responded to questionnaire measures for race-related attitudes and beliefs. The results of the third experiment "clearly revealed patterns consistent with the expectation that White subjects would display an implicit attitude difference between the Black and White racial categories. More specifically, the data indicated an implicit attitudinal preference for White over Black, manifest as faster responses for the White + pleasant combination than for the Black + pleasant combination."
Since its initial publication in 1988, the IAT has been applied in a diverse array of disciplines including social and cognitive psychology, clinical psychology, developmental psychology, neuroscience, market research, health policy, business and consumer research, and law.
Policy Application for the Implicit Association Test
Although since its initial publication in 1988, the IAT has been applied in a diverse array of disciplines, application to the legal and policy arenas has been minimal. This is the case even though the dominant schemas that shape law and policy are not unlike attitudes, stereotypes and other forms of implicit cognition that IAT is so often harnessed to measure. In a series of articles, Situationist contributor Jon Hanson and his collaborators have endeavored to identify the dominant knowledge structures, schemas, and categories that shape law and policy. Based on their research, the most influential policy scripts boil down to a very simple two-part proposition: "markets are good, regulation is bad." It seems likely that the IAT can shed light on this dominant policy script.
Hanson and Situationist fellow Mark Yeboah have developed an IAT-based study to investigate the the presence and strength of policy scripts across the ideological spectrum. The experiment hopes to shed light on a number of questions, including the extent to which implicit associations correspond with explicit attitudes about markets and regulation and how those associations might vary across various ideological and political dimensions.
* * *
To participate in the Policy IAT, click here.
To read a fascinating interview of professors Banaji and Greenwald about the history and significance of the IAT, go to the five-part series: Part I is here; Part II is here; Part III is here; Part IV is here; and Part V is here.
To review all of the previous Situationist posts discussing implicit associations click on the "Implicit Associations" category in the right margin, or, for a list of such posts, click here.


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Our Associates
We believe our associates are our most valuable resource. Before they can become a part of our team, each person is screened and trained to provide top-notch services to the seniors in our communities.
Our staff is dedicated to providing the very best medically directed compassionate care for our residents and their families. At Hereford Nursing And Rehabilitation , we pride ourselves on equipping our care centers with the most professional top-quality nursing assistance a care center can provide.
Each member of our nursing staff is committed to excellence and the resident-respect approach to caring for seniors.
It's our goal to provide an environment for our associates to express ideas and concerns to improve the lives of seniors in our communities. Our innovative approach to healthcare sets us apart from other care facilities.
Hereford Nursing And Rehabilitation is continually searching for the highest in quality associates who share a similar passion to care for the elderly community.


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The FCC's FOIA Annual Report for FY 2009 has just been posted as required by the FOIA. This year our report shows improvement in many areas. And new this year, in addition to a PDF of the report, all of the statistics are available in spreadsheets (CSV format) for the public to examine and use.
One interesting point from the report – 94% of the FOIA requests where we had responsive records were granted in whole or in part; only 6% were denied in full pursuant to one or more of the FOIA exemptions.
The FY 2009 report shows that we have dramatically reduced the backlog of FOIA appeals. At the start of FY 2009 we had 30 pending appeals, and we received 14 new appeals during the fiscal year. The Commission disposed of 37 appeals (either by decision or by informally resolving the appeal), leaving only 7 pending appeals at the start of FY 2010.
As we move forward, we aim to do even better. We are trying to process FOIA requests even faster. We are working to process appeals as quickly as possible, either resolving them informally or submitting the appeal to the Commission for decision. And under the President's Open Government Directive, we are making more and more information available on the FCC's website.
So, let me ask – what helpful information about the FOIA could we post that is is not on our website? Our Chief FOIA Officer, General Counsel Austin Schlick, wants to know!


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Tattered denim and silver booties offer a double dose of edgy style.
Photo: Anne Ziegler
More From ELLE
Click here for our complete fall 2010 Fashion Week coverage
Think you are Street Chic? E-mail us your photo and you could appear in ELLE.com's Street Chic Daily.
Follow ELLE on Twitter.
Become our Facebook fan!


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Discover how to properly tame and train any horse easily regardless of how wild or unbroken of a horse he or she is!
Horses learn best from the following types of training:
Understanding How Horses Think Will Make A Huge Difference in Training
Many people think that horses reason and think the same way as people. Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth. Remember, horses are prey animals and their minds are set up completely differently from people's minds. Because of this, its the trainers responsibility to use methods the horse will understand so the horse will make progress.
If you don't understand that horses think differently, you will have a long battle gaining your horse's trust. Even something as simple as yelling at your horse can be detrimental in the training process. For example, if your horse started trotting away and you started yelling at your horse to get back here, you would be thinking "now that the horse knows I'm being serious by yelling, he will run back to me". Unfortunately, the horse will be thinking "That creature is growling at me loudly, there is no way I'm going anywhere near him today".
Losing the Horse's Trust
Again, a big part of having a trained horse is having the horse trust you 100%. If your horse doubts you or your judgement, you will have an uncontrollable horse. One way
Not Desensitizing Your Horses Fears
Since horses are prey animals, they can get scared very easily (as is their nature). Because of this, you will have to desensitize your horse to many of its fears. Below are a list of things that many horses are scared of that they need to be desensitize:
This is just a brief introduction to training horses. For more information on training a horse, we have included everything you need to know into an easy to follow downloadable guide. You can get the guide through the download button at the bottom of the page.
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Bill Would Protect More Than 100,000 Acres in San Juan National Forest, Designate 38,000 acres of new Wilderness
Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and Representative Scott Tipton are introducing a bill to protect more than 100,000 acres of the Hermosa Creek Watershed, an area in the San Juan National Forest north of Durango. The bill would establish management for the Hermosa Creek Watershed based on recommendations from the Hermosa Creek River Protection Workgroup, which included local water officials, conservationists, sportsmen, mountain bikers, off-road-vehicle users, outfitters, property owners, grazing permit holders and other interested citizens. Bennet's bill was introduced today, while Tipton will introduce his bill in the House as early as tomorrow.
"We are lucky in Colorado to be able to enjoy many of the country's most beautiful landscapes in our backyards. The Hermosa Creek Watershed represents some of the best Colorado has to offer," Bennet said. "This bill will protect this land for our outdoor recreation economy and for future generations of Coloradans and Americans to enjoy. It is the result of a local effort that took into account the varied interests of the community, and that cooperation helped us put together a strong bill with the community's input."
"As one of Colorado's most scenic areas, Hermosa Creek has long been treasured by the local community and by countless visitors who have explored all that the region has to offer," Tipton said. "Local stakeholders including snowmobilers, anglers, hunters, other outdoor enthusiasts, elected officials, miners and Southwest Colorado residents have voiced their support to preserve the Hermosa Creek watershed and the multiple use recreation opportunities it provides. In response to this locally driven effort, Senator Bennet and I have joined together to put forward legislation to, without any additional cost to taxpayers, protect and preserve this special place, and ensure that Coloradans as well as visitors to our great state have the opportunity to experience Hermosa Creek's abundant natural beauty for generations to come."
"On behalf of the La Plata County Commissioners, I thank Senator Bennet and Congressman Tipton for their great work for the interests of La Plata County citizens," said Julie Westendorff, La Plata County Commissioner. "This bill protects the clean waters of our Hermosa Creek and promotes the responsible use of federal lands for the recreation that supports our economy and sustains our quality of life."
"We are very excited about this bill. We are hopeful that all the hard work and cooperative partnership that went into the Hermosa Creek Watershed Protection Act will lead to the swift passage of this bill for the benefit of Southwest Colorado and all the visitors to our area." said Pete McKay, San Juan County Commissioner.
"The Hermosa Creek Wilderness bill rests on a foundation of broadly-based stakeholder input," said Dick White, mayor of Durango. "It will protect the watershed while preserving historical and recreational values. In addition, it provides protection for iconic scenic and recreational areas near the City of Durango. The bill will contribute both to the natural amenities that attract residents and tourists to Southwest Colorado and to the economic benefits that they bring."
"It was my privilege to represent the interests of the Southwestern Water Conservation District and San Juan County, Colorado during this process. Interests of the Southwestern Water Conservation District included protecting existing water rights and uses; and, the potential for future water development. The interests of San Juan County included protecting existing water quality, county road access, mineral development potential, forest product harvesting, and recreational uses," wrote Stephen Fearn, President, Jo Grant Mining Company, Inc. "Both the District and San Juan County have voted to support the proposed legislation."
The bill, which is cosponsored by Senator Mark Udall, would designate roughly 108,000 acres of San Juan National Forest land as the Hermosa Creek Watershed Protection Area. Much of the land would remain open to all historic uses of the forest under the bill, including mountain biking, motorized recreation, and selective timber harvesting. Grazing will continue to be allowed in the entire watershed.
In accordance with the consensus recommendations of the Hermosa Creek Workgroup, roughly 38,000 acres of the watershed would be set aside as wilderness, to be managed in accordance with The Wilderness Act of 1964. No roads or mineral development are permitted in wilderness areas; while hunting, fishing, horseback riding and non-mechanized recreation are allowed.
Per the community recommendations the following trails all remain open to mountain biking: Hermosa Creek, Dutch Creek, Elbert Creek, Corral Draw, the Colorado Trail, Little Elk Creek, Jones Creek, Pinkerton-Flagstaff and Goulding Creek. Also, in keeping with the community recommendations, the following trails will remain open to motorized use: Hermosa Creek, Jones Creek, Pinkerton Flagstaff, Dutch Creek and Corral Draw. In addition the bill will allow areas in the Hermosa Creek watershed currently used by snowmobiling to remain open to that use. Also, at the request of Silverton and San Juan County, the bill ensures areas currently open to snowmobiling on Molas Pass will remain open for that use.
The bill contains several provisions to provide for active land management in areas designated by the bill as necessary to control wildfires, insect infestations and disease outbreaks. Finally, per the request of the Durango City Council and La Plata County Commission, the bill would prohibit future federal mineral leasing on Animas Mountain, Perins Peak, Ridges Basin and Horse Gulch.
Supporters of the bill include the City of Durango, the La Plata County Commission, the San Juan County Commission, the Wilderness Society, Trails 2000, Four Corners Back County Horsemen, Jo Grant Mining Company, Inc., in addition to numerous business and sportsmen groups, among others.
In 2011, Bennet wrote an op-ed in the Durango Herald, outlining his plans to seek feedback from interested Coloradans to build on the framework the workgroup set for the bill. The Durango Herald published an editorial in favor of the bill following its initial introduction in 2012.
For more information on the bill and Hermosa Creek, visit Bennet's website at https://www.bennet.senate.gov/hermosacreek/.


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Purple Loosestrife
Purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria
Where did purple loosestrife come from?
- Purple loosestrife is an invasive wetland perennial from Europe and Asia.
- Introduced in the early 1800s to North America via ship ballast, as a medicinal herb, and ornamental plant.
What does purple loosestrife look like?
- Loosestrife plants grow from four to ten feet high, depending upon conditions, and produce a showy display of magenta-colored flower spikes throughout much of the summer Purple loosestrife is an erect perennial herb, with a square, woody stem and opposite or whorled leaves.
- Flowers have five to seven petals.
- Leaves are lance-shaped, stalkless, and heart-shaped or rounded at the base.
- Mature plants can have from 30 to 50 stems arising from a single rootstock.
Why is purple loosestrife a problem?
- Each plant may produce over one million seeds, which can remain viable for several years.
- Seeds can be moved by water, vehicles, and wildlife.
- Loosestrife often spreads to additional wetland sites.
- Loosestrife restricts native wetland plant species, including some federally endangered orchids, and reduces habitat for waterfowl.
How do we control purple loosestrife?
- Purple loosestrife cannot be transported into or within the State of Kansas.
- Small infestations of young purple loosestrife plants may be pulled by hand, preferably before seed set.
- For older plants, spot treating with a herbicide is recommended.
- These herbicides may be most effective when applied late in the season when plants are preparing for dormancy. However, it may be best to do a mid-summer and a late season treatment, to reduce the amount of seed produced.
- Research is currently being conducted to determine possible control by insects.
- Contact your local Kansas Department of Agriculture office for more information.
Early detection of isolated populations may help prevent their spread. Your help to report new sightings and to prevent their spread is vital.
What do I do if I find purple loosestrife?
- If you discover purple loosestrife, note the date and location, and contact your local Kansas Department of Agriculture office, the Emporia Research Office at (620) 342-0658, or email the Aquatic Nuisance Species Coordinator
Images and Recent news
Purple Loosestrife links:
Kansas Department of Agriculture-purple loosestrife


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Welcome to Showdown Muscle Cars
We specialize in 50's, 60's and 70's American muscle cars, classic cars, street-rods and late model highline and luxury vehicles. From GTO's, Chevelles, Roadrunners, Camaros, Mustangs and Grand Nationals to late model Cadillacs, BMW's and Mercedes. If you are looking for your favorite Chevrolet, Ford, Mopar, Olds, Pontiac, Mercury, Buick, Cadillac or DAILY DRIVERS… Showdown Muscle Cars is the place to shop.
Showdown has been in business since 1990 years with owner Sonny Gandee having over 40 years of experience and products knowledge behind him. We are a family owned and operated, licensed dealership with two locations … Florida and Michigan. Our NEW Florida Facility is located in Port Charlotte, Florida, 40 minutes north of Fort Myers and 40 minutes south of Sarasota. Our original Clinton Township, Michigan facility is currently run by our son and nephew. Both locations, Florida and Michigan, are separate entities with separate licensing regulations and restrictions.
Showdown has over 100 cars in inventory and available at all times. We travel coast to coast, North to South and into Canada to purchase our inventory. If we do not have what you are looking for please email us and we will try to help you find it.
Delivery is available and trades are welcome.
Financing is available, terms and interest rates vary, some restriction applies, call for details.


text: To all humans in or around the Jacksonville Beach, FL area --- October 4-7th at Jax Beach Pier will be a contest between Pro/Am surf, SUP and kayak competitions will take place all weekend with over $30,000 in prizes, some from our stellar sponsors such as House of Marley, GoalZero, Salt Life, and more. The Wailers will be joining us as well for a live performace during the Seawalk Celebration on the 6th in the Pavilion. When you aren't in the water, the event will also encompass an art show, eco-village, kidzone, beer garden, food truck village and even a 5k race to wrap up the weekend. Feel free to visit our website and Facebook for more information on the event, how you can get involved and to stay updated. Hope to see you there. SPREAD THE WORD! http://www.facebook.com/flsurf http://www.ussurfingchampionships.com


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Pro Mind Consulting S.A. is a management and corporate strategy consulting company that was founded in 1989 and that is based in Lausanne (Switzerland). Our mission consists in developing the organization by developing the human factor, all this while complying with a strict ethical framework.
Here you will find extensive information on our consulting and training offer, as well as on our tools, partners and publications.
Do not hesitate to use our contact page or to call us at our Lausanne office for any further details. We wish you an excellent visit!
Pro Mind Consulting SA
Ch. du Chaney 87
Pro Mind Consulting SA
Av. du Théâtre 7, CP 1208
Pro Mind Consulting AG
Wingertsheide 43


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$ 11.99
9 x 5" Foam and magnetic fly patch. Included hook & loop/adhesive backer for easy attachment to your boat, truck visor. or cooler.
$ 3.00
The new biodegradable foam has more benefits beyond keeping our waterways cleaner. The new design out-performs the original plastic design in every way.
Quit sacrificing your tapered leaders to the "bobber gods". The Air-Lock Strike Indicator is ultra buoyant, super visible, durable, easy to adjust, and won't render the butt section of your leader a kinky mess.
Available in 1/2", 3/4", and 1" of awesomeness.
*** Bulk 100 Packs are special ordered. If you are interested in a bulk order please contact us directly and we can assist you with the order.
View full product details
$ 3.99
Simple, inexpensive fly box for beginners, ten compartments holds lots of flies, strong living hinge, and snap tight latch.
10 CompartmentsView full product details