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Individual cupcake boxes are getting popular due to the fact that it is an elegant way to present a cupcake while special occasions, these beautiful boxes wouldn't only impress the guests but it will make your party more special for them. No matter what the reason of celebration is, parties are always incomplete without cupcakes. These little boxes aren't very expensive but they can entirely affect your party's standard.
If the party is small and limited friends are invited then you can even make these boxes yourself at home using scissor, tape and cardboard however, if the party is huge then you can buy numerous boxes for very cheap from cupcake boxes wholesale, there are many cupcake boxes manufacturers who sell a great variety of these boxes. If you were going to buy paper plates for your party then believe it these boxes would cost you a lot less than that. Keeping the number of guests in mind you can order the cupcake boxes as the more you order the cheap they'll cost.
If there's any upcoming friend's party then you can surely surprise them by contributing these boxes to their party, it would add charm to their party and make them more close to you. These boxes can be either ordered online or through any local cake boutique or bakery, but buying them from online wholesale stores is the cheapest source as it is their main business. If you're a mother or father then you can help your children by putting these boxes in their parties, they will definitely like it
The most common material used to manufacture these boxes is cardboard as it is very cheap and environmentally friendly, they are strong enough to keep your darling cupcakes safe until pressure is applied on them. If you have a better budget then opting plastic boxes would be better, they are more appealing than cardboard boxes but are a bit expensive and not as common as cardboard boxes are. Another advantage of plastic boxes is that you can even use them again in other parties or lend them to your friends for their parties, as they are washable unlike those cardboard boxes.
These beautiful boxes are a salutary for party throwers and cupcake lovers, just be sure you contact the right manufacturer and compare different companies' quotes to get the best dealer out of them. After looking at the quotes you wouldn't believe that if it is true or not!


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Kidney Replacement Therapy
Diabetes sometimes damages kidneys so badly that they no longer work. When kidneys fail, the person needs to replace their function with either dialysis or a transplant.
Dialysis, the more common form of kidney-replacement therapy, is a way of cleaning the blood with an artificial kidney. There are two types of dialysis: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.
No matter which type is chosen, the person undergoing dialysis needs to work closely with the health care team to keep diabetes under control.
In hemodialysis, an artificial kidney removes waste from the blood. A surgeon must first create an "access," a place where blood can easily be taken from the body and sent to the artificial kidney for cleaning. The access, usually in the forearm, can be made from the patient's own blood vessels or from a piece of implanted tubing. The access is inside the body and cannot be seen from the outside. Usually, this surgery is done 2 to 3 months before dialysis starts so the body has time to heal.
Hemodialysis must be done 2 to 3 days per week, and lasts 3 to 5 hours each time. Blood travels through the artificial kidney, where waste products are filtered out, and the clean blood returns to the body. Only about 1/2 cup of blood is out of your body at any one time.
Usually, hemodialysis is done in a clinic, with many people receiving dialysis at the same time. Hemodialysis can also be done at home, but it requires a partner, such as a relative or friend, and special training.
Hemodialysis is not perfect for everyone. During treatments, people can have high or low blood pressure, an upset stomach or muscle cramps. A special diet is needed to stay healthy. Other problems can develop over time, such as nerve problems, anemia, bone disease, poor nutrition, problems with infection, problems with the access, and difficulty regulating insulin doses. Sometimes, these complications are the result of diabetes, not of hemodialysis.
Peritoneal dialysis
Another form of dialysis is called peritoneal dialysis. The lining inside your abdomen (the peritoneum) becomes the filter. A soft plastic tube is put into the abdomen by a surgeon. When the body heals, cleansing fluid (dialysate) is put into the abdomen through this tube. Waste products in the bloodstream pass through the peritoneum into the dialysate. Then the dialysate, along with the waste products is drained off.
The two main types of peritoneal dialysis are continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis (CCPD). People perform CAPD themselves by attaching a plastic bag filled with cleansing fluid to the tube in the abdomen and raising it to shoulder level. This causes the fluid to run into the abdomen. The bag is then unhooked or rolled up around the waist. In several hours, the fluid is drained out and thrown away. A fresh bag of fluid is then put into the abdomen to begin cleansing again. This is called an "exchange" and takes about 30-45 minutes. It is done 4 or 5 times a day. Between exchanges, the person can move around and perform daily activities.
In CCPD, a machine puts the cleansing fluid into the abdomen and drains it automatically. This is usually done at night during sleep.
CAPD and CCPD may be better treatments than hemodialysis for some people. With daily dialysis, the body does not build up too much fluid. This reduces the stress on the heart and blood vessels. A person is able to eat a more normal diet and have more time for work and travel.
Peritoneal dialysis is not for everyone, however. A person must be able to see well and do each step correctly to prevent infection in the abdomen. Anemia, bone disease, and poor nutrition can occur, just like in hemodialysis.
Your doctor will help you decide whether hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis is right for you. Diabetes control remains important no matter which type of dialysis is chosen.
Please note, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reported that diabetes patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis with EXTRANEAL (icodextrin) may have inaccurately high blood glucose level results with some home blood glucose meters. This could potentially lead to low blood glucose (hypoglycemia) if these inaccurate readings are used to make decisions about insulin or medication doses. If you are a patient undergoing peritoneal dialysis, you should find out if your blood glucose meter utilizes the testing method (GDH-PQQ enzyme) that may cause the problem. To find out, please call the company that makes your blood glucose meter (a toll-free phone number is generally on the back on the meter) to inquire about your meter and possible alternatives.
Kidney Transplantation
One option for the person with ESRD is a new kidney. Transplants are most successful when the kidney comes from a living relative. Another option is a cadaver kidney (a kidney from an unrelated person who has just died).
What is the success rate?
One year after getting a kidney from a living relative, about 97% of people with diabetes are still alive. After 5 years, the number is approximately 83%. For people who get cadaver kidneys, about 93% are still alive after 1 year, and 75% are alive after 5 years.
These numbers may sound scary, but people who have kidney failure will die without treatment. For those who choose dialysis, only about 33% are still alive 5 years later. So although kidney transplantation is a serious operation, it offers people with ESRD their best chance for survival.
The body has a complex system for telling its own parts from foreign parts. To fool the body into accepting the donor organ, doctors try to match the donor and recipient for a blood protein called human leukocyte antigen (HLA) type. A good match is most important when using a kidney from a living donor. The evidence for the value of HLA matching with cadaver kidneys is less clear. Some doctors believe that, at least in African Americans, cadaver kidneys all "take" equally well.
How hard is it to get a kidney?
Unfortunately, there are too few kidneys for all the people who need them. Not enough people sign up to be organ donors. The shortage persists even though each person gets only one kidney at a time. Although the body normally has two kidneys, it can get by with just one as long as that kidney is healthy and working well.
Federal law says that kidneys should be given out in a fair and efficient way. In the current system, a national list contains the names and HLA types of people who need cadaver kidneys. When a kidney donor's kidneys become available, doctors check the list to see whose HLA types best match that of the donor. If there are several people who match equally well, the two people waiting longest get the kidneys. Some people must wait years before a kidney becomes available. Those waiting use dialysis in the meantime.
What about rejection?
Despite the best HLA matching, the body may still not recognize the new kidney as part of itself. For this reason, people with kidney transplants must take certain drugs the rest of their lives. These drugs are called immunosuppressants, because they suppress the immune system to keep it from fighting the new organ. These drugs include azathioprine and cyclosporine A. Despite these drugs, some kidney transplants fail. When the body attacks the new organ as foreign, it is called rejection.
Immunosuppressant drugs pose dangers. Although suppressing the immune system keeps it from noticing the foreign organ, it also keeps the immune system from noticing infections. As a result, the person can get sick more easily. These drugs also have many side effects.
A new kidney does not cure diabetes, and the disease may damage the new kidney just as it did the original ones. But it took many years for the person's own kidneys to fail. If the new kidney does develop diabetic nephropathy, it too will take many years to fail.
What are the risks?
Kidney transplants are safest in people who do not have heart or blood vessel disease. Before you get a transplant, your doctor will check your circulatory system to see if it is healthy enough to risk the operation.
As with any operation, the healthier you are, the better you can withstand the physical stress of surgery. Possible side effects of surgery include bleeding and infection.
Immunosuppressive drugs are hard on the body, but people who get transplants must take these drugs the rest of their lives. Azathioprine and cyclosporine, two commonly used drugs, make it easier for you to get infections and have other side effects. You will need to avoid people who have infections, such as a cold or the flu. Also, you should not be immunized without first checking with your doctor. These drugs can also damage the kidneys. For example, using either of these medicines for many years could increase your risk for some cancers.
Because of these risks, kidney transplants are done only in people whose kidneys are failing.

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Food and Drink Gifts
There are few things that can be exciting, comforting and relaxing, all at the same time. But that is exactly the delectable cocktail of emotions that tucking into a heaving plate of gorgeous grub or sipping a chilled glass of your favourite tipple can evoke.
And with our incredible range of food and drink experiences and days out, you can savour the heady aromas and flavours of cuisine in some of the most unforgettable settings imaginable.
From Michelin-Starred dining at some of London's most luxurious restaurants to wine-tasting days out and the most relaxing afternoon tea experiences at picturesque country houses and sleepy B&Bs, our range has everything you could ever need to tickle your taste buds.
Whether you want to learn how to make the perfect Indian curry, unlock your inner Mary Berry with a pastry course, or simply want to sample the finest whiskeys and beers from around the world, Buyagift have every lick-smacking base covered.
And with restaurants from the likes of Marco Pierre White, along with numerous cookery classes up and down the country from the best teachers in the business, there is a gourmet food and drink experience to please even the most discerning gastronome.
So why not serve up something special for someone you love on their next big occasion, by surprising them with a gourmet experience that will delight the senses and be remembered for years and years to come?
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U.S. producers have told the National Cotton Council they intend to plant 8.11 million acres of cotton this spring, a decrease of 14 percent from 2008 that would continue a trend that began when corn prices hit $4 a bushel in 2007.
The numbers from the NCC's 26th annual Early Season Planting Intentions Survey include upland cotton intentions of 7.97 million acres, also a decrease of 14 percent from 2008, and extra long staple intentions of 142,000 acres. The latter represents a 19 percent decline from 2008.
The results of the survey, which was mailed to producers in mid-December, were announced by the Council's economics staff at the NCC's 2009 annual meeting, which began in Washington Friday, Feb. 13. The Council collected survey responses through the middle of January.
Assuming an average abandonment rate of 9.4 percent, total upland and ELS harvested area would be about 7.35 million acres. Applying state-level yield assumptions to projected harvested acres generates a cotton crop of 12.76 million bales, compared to 2008's total production of 13.04 million bales.
Assuming average seed-to-lint ratios, 2009 cottonseed production is projected at 4.35 million tons, down from 4.43 million last year, according to the survey.
Based on survey results, all four regions could decrease upland cotton planting area compared to last season. The West and Mid-South show the largest percentage drops of 31 and 23 percent, respectively. Smaller reductions of 18 and 9 percent are expected in the Southeast and Southwest, respectively.
More than 50 percent of the U.S crop was reported to have been planted in the Southwest, primarily in Texas, in 2008. The only two states indicating upland expansion were Kansas at 7 percent and Florida at 3 percent.
Some growers believe the Cotton Council number could prove to be low, depending on where grain futures are trading by March or early April. They think the U.S. cotton acreage could be higher due to falling grain prices.
"I think I'm seeing a lot of indecision on the part of our farmers," said one producer delegate to the NCC annual meeting. "Growers won't really know what they will plant until they get closer to planting time this season."
Another producer said many farmers — particularly in the lower half of the Mid-South — are faced with some tough decisions after harvesting a much smaller than expected crop in 2008. Heavy rains just prior to harvest cost many of them dearly.
What are your plans for cotton acreage this season? Share your comments below.
"As growers look at expected returns when comparing prices for cotton against competing crops, they will be influenced by lower fuel and fertilizer costs along with agronomic considerations, such as crop rotation and weather conditions in Texas, California and parts of the Southeast," said Dale Cougot, NCC senior economist.
"Growers will continue to monitor relative crop prices over the coming weeks. USDA's latest grain estimates, showing an increase in stock levels, highlights another major influencing factor this year. Also, the ratio of crude oil at $45 per barrel to corn at $4 per bushel does not foretell profitable ethanol production."
Survey respondents through the Southeast indicated declining acreage, except for Florida at the expense of peanuts. Alabama reported the largest percentage reduction at 33 percent, followed by Virginia at 23 percent and Georgia at 17 percent. These three states' survey responses showed shifts to both corn and soybeans. South Carolina and North Carolina plan cutbacks of 18 percent and 12 percent, respectively, as growers primarily shift to soybeans.
Results for all of the Mid-South states, except for Tennessee's expected 4 percent decrease, signified sharp declines around 25 percent. The majority of growers' intentions are to transfer to soybeans. The largest Mid-South state decreases were seen in Arkansas (-29 percent), Mississippi (-27 percent), Louisiana (-26 percent) and Missouri (-24 percent).
Texas growers expressed intentions of reducing area by 9 percent to 4.5 million acres. The other regions' reductions of relatively more acreage implies Texas' share of the total upland area is expanding, now more than 57 percent, up from 54 percent.
"This will entail a wider variance in abandonment acres as crop estimates are prepared for the season," Cougot said. He noted that only modest adjustments were in Kansas (plus 7 percent) and Oklahoma (minus 2 percent).
The Western region showed a projected 31 percent reduction. California upland planted area intentions presented losses of 55 percent — the largest percentage decline of all Cotton Belt states. This stems from ongoing concerns over water availability, and reflects some producers' opting to change to specialty crops. Survey respondents also revealed that Arizona and New Mexico growers intend to decrease upland area by 7 percent and 40 percent.
Adjustments in the four states producing extra long staple or Pima cotton indicated mixed reviews with declines in California and New Mexico partially offset by gains in Arizona and Texas.
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Pizza Can Make You More Productive At Work...Because Science
For most of us trying to get through a long day at the office, drinking umpteen cups of coffee is considered a great way to remain alert and active and get all our work done. Others choose to nibble on chocolate or sweets for a little energy boost before the clock hits five.
But according to a new study from psychologist Dan Ariely's book 'Payoff: The Hidden Logic That Shapes Our Motivations' the lure of a slice of cheesy crispy pizza is the best incentive to make employee's answer all those emails or file those files.
As an experiment, Ariely organised for factory workers to be offered the choice of pizza, money (around $AU50) or compliments from the boss if they were able to increase productivity, while some workers weren't given any incentive to work harder at all.
Over the course of a week the cash incentive actually dropped in popularity by 6.7% while complementary emails from the boss and free pizza saw an increase in productivity by over 6%
So, if the boss is reading this, feel free to tell me how great I'm going while you drop off a meat lovers supreme on my desk!


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Kingly Conflict
As we will soon see, the mighty kings of Ellasar, Goiim, Shinar, and Elam were no match for Abram, a faithful covenant keeper. Though the kingdoms of this world may rage against the Lord, in the end they will be ...Read More
Lot's Kidnapping
John Calvin comments on today's passage, writing, "The more closely we are connected with the wicked and the ungodly, when God pours down his vengeance on them, the more quickly does the scourge come upon us." We must be ...Read More
Abram Rescues Lot
The church will vanquish the kingdom of Satan (Matt. 16:18), but this does not mean we will be free from setbacks along the way (Acts 8:1–3; 12:1–5). Still, we know we will be liberated from ...Read More
Blessed Be Abram
Abram's tithe to the king of Salem is illustrative of what the people of God must do for the kingdom. Today, review your finances and look at how you schedule your time. Consider giving more of your time and ...Read More
Melchizedek Blesses Abraham
John Calvin comments on today's passage: "The same Person, therefore, who was constituted the only and eternal Priest, in order that he might reconcile us to God, and who, having made expiation, might intercede for us, is also a ...Read More
The King of Sodom
Matthew Henry comments on today's passage: "The people of God must, for their credit's sake, take heed of doing anything that looks wicked or mercenary, or that savors of covetousness and self-seeking." Appearances can be deceiving. We must ...Read More


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As you know, we are studying the great epistle of James. And I want you to open your Bible to chapter 2 of James, a very very wonderful section of Scripture and we're going to begin to look at it tonight. James chapter 2 verse 1 through 13, James 2:1 through 13.
By way of introduction, let me say to you that when we think of the attributes of God, when we think of what God is like, His characteristics, the elements of His nature, what makes up His person, we think of holiness and we think of justice and we think of wisdom and omnipotence and omniscience and omnipresence. We might think of immutability that is that God does not change. We might think of eternality. We might say sovereignty. We might list His love, His grace, His mercy, His faithfulness, His goodness. And you could probably think of more than just those.
But there is another attribute of God that we don't very often talk about and yet is very often spoken of in Scripture and that is God's impartiality. That is that God is absolutely and totally impartial in dealing with people. And in that way He is utterly unlike us. We are very partial. We tend to put everyone in some kind of stratified category, higher or lower than other people. It has to do with their looks. It has to do with their wardrobe. It has to do with the kind of car they drive, the kind of house they live in; sometimes it has to do with their race, sometimes with their social status, sometimes outward characteristics of personality. All of those things with God are non-issues. They are of no significance at all. They mean absolutely nothing to Him.
A person's education, a person's economic status, a person's looks, a person's wardrobe, a person's social relationships, a person's job, a person's fame, prestige, a person's earthly honor, all of those collectively and individually mean absolutely nothing to God. They are non-issues.
In 2 Chronicles 19:7 it says, "There is no iniquity with the Lord our God, nor respect of persons." In Deuteronomy 10:17 it says, "For the Lord your God is a God of Gods and a Lord of Lords, a great God, a mighty and an awesome God." And that is a great statement. Let me read it again. "For the Lord your God is a God of Gods and Lord of Lords, a great God, a mighty and an awesome God," and then it says this, "who regards not persons." Amazing, that verse really amazes me. When Moses wants to say that God is a God of Gods and Lord of Lords and a God who is great and mighty and awesome, he says it by saying God has no respect of persons. That sets Him far beyond any man.
In Malachi 2:9 the Scripture says, "I also made you contemptible and base before all the people because you have not kept My ways but have been partial." God says I judged you because of your partiality, because you had respect to persons.
Scripture speaks of God's characteristic of impartiality many, many times. But just from the New Testament alone, Peter for example in Acts chapter 10 in presenting the gospel to a Gentile was acknowledging that God is impartial with reference to the universality of saving grace to any race. And in Acts 10:35 it says, "But in every nation he that fears Him and works righteousness is accepted with Him because God is no respecter of persons." In other words, because God has no partiality, anyone in any nation who fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. Social status, educational ability, looks, wardrobe, financial bank account, all of that is insignificant non- consequential.
Paul the Apostle also acknowledged that God was impartial with particular reference not so much to the universality of salvation as Peter did in Acts 10, as to the universality of judgment in Romans 2. In Romans 2 Paul says, "Tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek. But glory, honor and peace to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek for there is no respect of persons with God." In the matter of judgment there is no respect of persons. A man will be judged purely on the condition of his soul. In regard to salvation, there is no respect of persons. A man will be accepted purely on the basis of his soul.
Paul also acknowledged that God was impartial with reference to social status in the matter of employment. It was inconsequential to the Lord whether you were a slave or whether you happen to be the slave owner...whether you are the boss or the employee. And in Ephesians 6 where the Apostle Paul writes to slaves, to employees, and masters, employers, he says your master is also in heaven and neither is there respect of persons with Him. He doesn't have greater affection for, love for, blessing for a manager, a President, a vice-president, an executive, a boss then He does for the humblest of all slaves. That by the way is repeated in Colossians 3:25, in Colossians 4:1. In the matter of salvation God is no respecter of persons, in the matter of judgment He is no respecter of persons, in the matter of social status and employment He is no respecter of persons.
Furthermore Paul also tells us in 1 Timothy 5 that in the matter of sin and discipline He is no respecter of persons. Paul says, "Against an elder receive not an accusation but before two and three witnesses." That's no different than Matthew 18, that's the way it should be for everyone. Just because you're an elder in the church doesn't give you any particular privilege to sin. "And the ones that sin rebuke before all that others may fear. I charge you before God and by the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without preferring one another, doing nothing by partiality."
God is not partial when it comes to disciplining sin; God is not partial when it comes to chastening. He looks only at the sin and only at the soul and He holds nothing back because you're wealthy or successful and He adds nothing because you're poor and somewhat unsuccessful by worldly standards. That is a non-issue to Him. So whether you're talking about salvation, judgment, job status, or sin and discipline, the standard is always the same. God deals purely with the soul.
Peter affirms the impartiality of God with reference to His holy standard for all of God's children in 1 Peter chapter 1. Listen to verses 16 and 17. "Be ye holy for I am holy. And if you call upon the Father who without respect of persons judges according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear." In other words, if you're a believer and you're calling upon the impartial God, then conduct your life in a manner that gives Him proper worship for you will be judged by Him on the basis of your heart and that alone, no matter who you are.
Now in our text James speaks to the same issue. Only James focuses on the impartiality of God with reference to a person's social status, economic status. Peter and Paul focused on salvation primarily...primarily on spiritual issues with the exception of Paul's reference to the employee situation in Ephesians 6 and Colossians 3. But James takes a good look at this matter of partiality for economic and social reasons. And he is dealing with us in a very practical way in the life of the church. We don't like to admit it but in the church of Jesus Christ we tend to be because of our humanness and our fallenness very partial to certain people. We are impressed with their bank account. We are impressed with the car they drive. We can be impressed with their wardrobe, their jewelry. We can be very impressed with the job they hold, the profession they're in. We can be impressed with their reputation. We can very impressed if they have a lot of degrees at the end of their name. God is not impressed with any of that. It is utterly of no consequence to Him whatsoever in the matter of evaluating the worth of a soul. It's inconsequential. They're non-issues. God judges and God evaluates and God estimates your worth and my worth and the worth of everyone purely on the basis of the inner person.
To put it simply in Old Testament terminology, man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart. God is not interested in your bank account, your wardrobe, your jewelry as any kind of commendation of your character.
On the other hand, God is not disinterested in you because you are poor or because you don't look so good, or because you don't have so many clothes, or because you have a common job or you don't have any degrees or any reputation or any social standing. He is not disinterested in you because of what you lack, nor is He interested in you because of what you possess. And frankly, we who belong to God and say we are the children of God should certainly manifest these same characteristics.
Look with me for a moment to the Old Testament. Leviticus chapter 19, Leviticus chapter 19 and I want you to understand this attribute of God and in understanding it know what it is that we are to see in our own lives. Leviticus 19:15 and here there are many laws being given, regulations for behavior. And in verse 15 he says, "You shall do no unrighteousness as in judgment." In other words, be just and fair. "You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, you shall not respect the person of the poor nor honor the person of the mighty but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbor." In other words, when you're dealing with truth and justice you take no thought for whether a person is poor or wealthy, that is again I say a non-issue.
Look over at Deuteronomy and I would just have you focus on one verse in chapter 1...Deuteronomy chapter 1. "You shall not respect persons in judgment but you shall hear the small as well as the great, you shall not be afraid of the faith of man for the judgment is God and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me and I will hear it." In other words, here you have Moses passing on to the people the responsibility to judge a just judgment without regard for a person's externals.
Chapter 15 of Deuteronomy enriches our thought along these lines beginning with verse 7, "If there be among you a poor man of one of your brethren within any of the gates in the land which the Lord thy God giveth you, thou shalt not harden thine heart nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother but thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need in that which he lacketh. Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart saying the seventh year, the year of release is at hand and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother and thou givest him nothing." In other words, the debts are all going to be cancelled in the seventh year, you've given something and the next year's the seventh year and he won't have to pay it back...so you hold it against him, you don't give it to him. That would be a sin unto you, he says. Verse 10, "You will give it to him, your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him because for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, in all that thou putest on hand to do for the poor shall never cease out of the land therefore I command thee saying thou shalt open thine hand wide to thy brother, to the poor and to the needy in thy land.
The only issue at stake here is the need. Without regard for social status when we find one in need, we are called to meet that need. Chapter 19 of verse 6...verse 19 of chapter 16 says, "Thou shalt not distort justice, thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a bribe for a bribe that's lined the eyes of the wise and pervert the words of the righteous." And again the emphasis on not respecting persons and that means not being partial, not respecting one person over another for some external reason. Obviously there's a proper place for due respect to a king, to one in authority, to someone who is your elder. But the idea here is regard related only to externals.
Proverbs 24:23 says, "It is not good to have respect of persons." It is not good to have respect of persons. Basic spiritual principle. Proverbs 28:21, "To have respect of persons is not good." Same thing.
So clearly from just those particular passages we are made very much aware of the fact that God does not respect persons, nor are we His children to have respect of persons. Now let me say something to you in reference to James, let's go back to James. We said that basically what this epistle is intended to do is to lay out a series of tests for living faith. James wants you to examine yourself to see if you're for real. He wants you to examine yourself to see if you're genuinely saved, redeemed, born again. If the life of God really beats in your heart. And so James is giving a series of tests for you to determine whether your faith is real.
The first test was how you respond to trials that will show you whether your faith is real. The second test was how you respond to temptation that too will show you whether your faith is real. The third test was how you react to the Word of God that too will reveal the genuineness of your faith. And here is the fourth test, are you partial? What is your reaction to the poor? What is your reaction to the needy? Do you show favoritism? Mark it, folks, every trial that comes through your life is a test. Every temptation that comes through your life is a test. Everything you learn from the Word of God is a test and the poor and needy who cross our paths are a test to demonstrate whether or not our faith is real for if we are the children of God and the life of God beats within our soul, then we will react in a measure like God would react because we're His. John put it this way, 1 John 3:16, "By this perceive we the love of God because He laid down His life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. And whosoever has this world's good and sees his brother have need and closes up his compassion from him, how dwells the love of God in him?" You flunked the test. You can say the love of God is in you but if you don't treat someone in need like God would treat them, then the love of God is obviously not there.
First John 4:10, "Herein is love not that we love God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the covering for our sins." God is love. God has poured His love in us. And then verse 11, "If God so loved us, we ought to also to love one another. And if we love one another, God dwells in us," verse 12, "and His love is perfected in us."
So, how we react to people is a test. And if we are like God we will not be favoring certain people because of their status, education, money, fame, prestige, looks or whatever. There's no place for favoritism in the heart of God and there's no place for favoritism in the heart of His people and therefore there's no place for favoritism in the church.
Now looking at James chapter 2, James is going to divide this section for us into five features, five thoughts. First of all, he will discuss the principle in verse 1, then the example, then speak of the inconsistency, then the violation and finally he ends up in verses 12 and 13 with an appeal...the principle, the example, the inconsistency, the violation and the appeal.
Let's look at the principle in verse 1; this is just really very very helpful. Verse 1, "My brothers, my brothers, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ...literally...the glory with respect of persons." That's the principle. Saying that I hold the faith of Jesus Christ and at the same time having respect for persons is contradictory.
Now to understand the principle we need to understand initially that the greatest number of converts to the faith of Jesus Christ were among the poor, obviously. If you know anything about the New Testament, you know that to be the case. In fact, even if you read materials that are outside the Bible you find many things that mock the church because it was made up of poor people. Around 178 A.D. or so Celsius wrote his diatribe against Christianity and his whole attack on Christianity was based upon the fact that Christians were such common insignificant poor people. He attacked the commonness of believers, portraying them as uncultured, portraying them as ignorant. Not a very complimentary article but it isn't anything different really than what the disciples heard in Jerusalem when they mocked them and here were the disciples proclaiming truth and preaching with great power and they said of them, "Aren't they uneducated Galileans?" Remember that? How could they be having anything significant to offer?
Most of the church was poor. Most of the church was common people. There were many common people. In fact, when the church in Jerusalem was really born on the day of Pentecost, so many of those people were poor that the few that had anything it says in Acts 2 were selling their possessions, getting the money and distributing it to the poor. It repeats that same thing in chapter 4 verses 35 to 37 how that people in the church were selling their goods and belongings and possessions to get money to support the poor. The church was poor. The first big hassle in the church came over the whole matter of trying to supply food to poor widows, remember in Acts 6? Do you remember 1 Corinthians 1:26? Do you remember how Paul defines the church in that verse? Listen to what he says, "You see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble but God has chosen the foolish, the weak, the base." There aren't many mighty. There aren't many noble. There aren't many wise, just the common people.
Look at James 2:5, you're in James 2 look at verse 5, "Listen, my beloved brethren, has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom which he's promised to them that love Him?" The majority of people in the church have always been the poor...the common people.
Now having said that let me say that not everybody's that way. Even in the early church there were some people who weren't particularly poor. Do you remember John chapter 19 verses 38, 39 and it says Joseph of Arimathea being a disciple of Jesus but secretly and so forth...now Joseph of Arimathea was very evidently and obviously a wealthy man. He provided some supplies for the burial of Christ as well as a garden tomb which indicates his wealth. There must have been some wealthy people in the early church because whoever was selling things to get the money to give to the poor must have had something to sell. In Acts 6 verse 7 it says a great number of priests were obedient to the faith when the Word of God began to be multiplied and not all of those priests would have been poor, although the priests for the most part did not have much they wouldn't have been among the beggars of their society.
In the eighth chapter of the book of Acts in verse 27 there was the wonderful conversion of a man of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He was the eunuch, the chamberlain, the financial manager of this queen of Ethiopia. He, too, would not have been a poor man. Cornelius the first great story of Gentile conversion in Acts 10 was a centurion of the band called the Italian band....he, too, must have been a man of some means who owned his own home and had quite a number of folks who were a part of his home. The thirteenth chapter of the book of the Acts would tell us as well in verse 7 there was a deputy of the country, a high-ranking official by the name of Sergius Paulus, a prudent man who called for Barnabas and Saul and desired to hear the Word of God. He believed, it says in verse 12, so there was a believer who was not among the poor. We find in chapter 16 also in verse 14 Lydia, a converted lady was a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira. She, too, undoubtedly operated her own business, not a poor person. Chapter 17 and all the way on through that ministry of the Apostle Paul as he preaches and teaches we can assume that both rich and poor heard the gospel. It says in verse 4 of chapter 17 of the people that believed some of them were chief women, key women in the society of that city of Thessalonica.
And so it goes. Chapter 18, Priscilla and Aquila had their own business. They made tents like the Apostle Paul. So I just say all of that to let you know that not everybody in the church was poor but far and away the vast majority of the people came from the common folks who had very little. And you'll remember that it was necessary for the early church to provide funding and relief. In Acts 11:28 to 30 there was a famine throughout all the world and the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers who dwelt in Judea. The poor saints of Jerusalem were a concern to Paul who was ever and always collecting money for them. Do you remember that all the churches of Macedonia in 2 Corinthians 8; Paul characterized all of them as poor, didn't he? He said they gave abundantly out of their deep what? poverty.
Now I took you on that little trip through Scripture just to point out that the majority of the church was poor but interspersed in the church were those who had means. Aquila and Priscilla, I neglected to say, had a church meeting in their home which means they were of some means to have a place where believers could congregate. But for the most part the church has always been composed of common folks with a few of the uncommon rich.
And so there is the potential in the church for a stratification of people based upon their social standing, economic capability. It's important then that James point out how unlike God that is, and that's what he does with this principle. Let's look more specifically at it.
"My brothers," he uses this particular introduction frequently, very frequently. Sometimes he uses it just for the sake of saying it, such as in verse 5 of this chapter, "My beloved brethren." But very often when he uses it he uses it to introduce a new and forceful exhortation. He's about to say something very strong like in chapter 1 verse 2, "My brethren..." and he launches off into this whole matter of trials and temptations. In verse 16 of chapter 1, "Do not err, my beloved brethren," and then he's got some things to say about how you respond to the Word of God. Now in chapter 2, "My brethren," and a new section dealing with the matter of impartiality. Chapter 3, "My brethren," and a whole discussion about the tongue. Chapter 4 and verse 11, "Speak not evil of one another, brethren," and he launches into an exhortation about how we speak to one another. Chapter 5 verse 7, he exhorts them to be patient, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. So though he uses it sometimes just for its own sake, on occasions in this epistle it appears to be a breaking point about to introduce a forceful and important exhortation.
Now let me tell you how the Greek order in the verse goes, it goes like this..."My brethren," and the next phrase is, "with respect of persons." That's the very next phrase. In the English it comes at the end of the verse, in the Greek it comes at the beginning and the Greek put it in the beginning because it's emphatic so let me talk about it first. "My brothers," he says, "with respect of persons, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the glory." That's the Greek text.
What does he mean by "respect of persons?" Well actually the word means "partialities," plural, it's a plural word. The roots of the word mean to lift up somebody's face, to raise the face of someone, to elevate them, to lift up their face. The idea is to judge someone by the face or to exalt them strictly on a superficial level...superficial evaluation of a person's worth based on nothing but what appears on the outside. People, I can't impress to you enough how we do this. We tend to judge people by what they look like, their clothes, their hair, where they live, what they drive, their economic situation, that's just built into our fallenness. And so the emphatic phrase at the beginning is, "My brethren, with respect of persons...that is with preferential treatment based on race or wealth or dress or rank or social status...hold not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ to the glory." And that's an imperative command. Don't you hold the Christian faith and hold alongside it partiality. In fact, the verb carries the idea of "do not be in the practice of partiality." It is absolutely inconsistent with being a Christian. You see, the whole of our faith is based on the fact that God looks on the heart...the whole of our faith. Everything we know to be true about God is that the value of a person is based upon the value of their soul. And this attitude of favoritism disregards the basic truth of our faith. And the basic truth of our faith is that the gospel is for everyone and God judges everyone on the basis of the heart. The soul of the person is the issue, not their outward appearance. And any favoritism that judges a person on the outside that plays up the people because they dress fine or they're wealthy, any of that kind of thing is sin. James 2:9, look at it, "If you have respect of persons you commit what? sin and you are convicted of the law as a transgressor."
Now the underlying substructure through James...the whole epistle, the underlying substructure on which principles of Christian living are built is a substructure of soteriology, or salvation. Everything is measured against our salvation. In other words, being partial is in total conflict with our salvation, with what our faith teaches. If we are saved, if we are children of God and if we're saved we are, so since we are children of God we ought to act like God acts, and He's impartial and we should be impartial.
Now I know Peter says honor the king. I know Paul says submit to those that are in authority. That's different. Submission and honor to the proper person for their office is one thing, partiality purely on the basis of external appearance is something else.
Now notice how he makes this point very strongly. He says with respect of persons; do not practice holding the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the glory. And he just really emphasizes by giving that little phrase and apposition "the glory." It's tagged on to the end. "Doxa" in reference to Christ speaks of Him as the glory of God revealed. He is the divine presence of God. That's what he's saying to his Jewish writers, they would know what he meant. Glory was Shekinah. The glory was in the garden. The glory was in the tabernacle. The glory was in the temple. The glory was in Christ. We beheld His glory, John 1:14 says. The glory is the Shekinah, the presence of God. And what he is saying is look; you cannot hold the faith of Jesus Christ who is the glory of God and violate the nature of God with your impartial...with your partiality. That's his idea, that's his thought. Jesus came as God in flesh, glory veiled in flesh. He took on our nature, He bore our sin. He took our curse. He was the glory of God in human form. But Jesus truly revealed the nature of God; get this, in that Jesus was without partiality.
Even His enemies knew it. He did not esteem anyone different than anyone else on the basis of their externals whether they were a ruler or a beggar. Matthew 22:16 just listen to it. The Pharisees sent unto Him their disciples with the Herodians saying, listen to this, "Master, we know that you are true and teach the way of God." What is the way of God? "Neither carest Thou for any man for Thou regardest not the person of men." They saw that. It was of no consequence to Jesus whether a woman was a virtuous mother or a harlot in terms of the worth of the soul. It was no consequence to Him whether a man was a high priest or a beggar, whether he was an external religious man or an utterly irreligious man, whether he was a law abiding citizen or a criminal. It made no difference to Him in terms of the worth of the soul whether the man was educated or uneducated, whether he was handsome or ugly, whether he was rich or poor. Those things were of no concern to Him whatever.
And even His enemies saw it. He was the glory of God. And if one of the attributes of God is impartiality then He who is the glory of God, the shining presence of God, would also demonstrate the same impartiality. And He did. He is so impartial. He is so utterly and absolutely and totally impartial that some day when you and I no matter who we are or what we have been in the human sense, when we go to be with Him in glory, 1 John 3:2 says, we will be like Him for we shall see Him as He is. Whatever we are, whatever we've done, whatever we haven't done in the fullness of the grace of salvation, He will make us every one to be exactly like Himself.
Furthermore, we remember the wonderful parable in Matthew 20 where it says the first shall be last and the last shall be first and no matter how long you work, how much work you do, how much of the burden you bear, at the end of the day we all receive the same eternal reward. He's utterly impartial. How then can believers who say they are the children of God and who say they hold the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious God incarnate, ever have respect of persons? And yet churches have racial stratification, economic stratification. There are churches where you will be judged perhaps almost totally on how you look. This ought not to be. This is not just a small problem, this is sin. This is a transgression of God's law.
Let's look at the example. This is very interesting. Verse 2, here's the example, this is a hypothetical situation with a third-class conditional meaning it's possible, it's probable. "For," and the word "for" is leading us into the illustration, sort of justifies the principle of verse 1, "For if there come into your synagogue, "sunagogo," "sunagogos", synagogue, if there come into your assembly," literally the Greek says "a gold- fingered man in shining bright apparel and there come in also a poor man in shabby clothes..." Stop there, here's the picture. Pretty vivid, huh?
Your assembly, as I said, is the word sunagogos, it means synagogue. You say, "Well, does this refer to the church?" Sure. You say, "Well, why wouldn't they use the word "ekklesia?" They do use this word; James does, in chapter 5 verse 14. He uses the word "church," let the elders of the church so he knew that word. What you have to realize is that these are Jewish believers. Their whole heritage understands the assembling of God's people together as a synagogue. It's a word that means a gathering together, sun being the preposition together. But it still refers to a church service. They were Jews and they probably called their church service "church." And emphasizing they were called out they probably also called it "synagogue" in that they were assembled together. This also gives us a good idea that James was written at an early date in New Testament literature because they had not yet fully transitioned over to the use of the word "church." They were still using church as in 5:14 and here they're using synagogue.
So, this is a church, a church meeting. And into the church meeting comes a visitor. The first visitor is a gold-fingered man in shining clothes. Let me tell you about this man's fingers, all right? You say, "How do you know anything about his fingers?" Just listen. Rings were customary among Jews, very customary. Gold rings were not so customary because of their expense but the Jews commonly wore rings. Luke 15:22, you remember the father wanted to put a ring on the son...on the finger of his son as he came back, the prodigal son. But very few poor people could afford a gold ring. So here comes a man the text says who is gold-fingered, not just one ring but he's got them all over his fingers. The most ostentatious of people in the ancient world would wear rings on every finger except the middle finger. I mean the thumb and all the others. And when they really wanted to put on a display, we have sources that tell us there were ring rental businesses where they would go and they would rent rings. Now this is where you showed off your economic status. So here comes Mr. Gold Fingers. He's got them everywhere.
By the way, Clement of Alexander some time later said Christians should only wear one ring and on that ring it should have a dove, a fish, or an anchor to be used as a seal. That was a reaction against some of this abuse. So here is a man with a fortune on his fingers.
Not only that he comes in and he has fine apparel. The word is "lampros," it means bright shining. It can mean loud colors. It can mean glittering sparkling brilliant with ornamentation. It is the same term used of the gorgeous apparel that Herod Antipas wore and which the soldiers put on Jesus to mock Him. It is also used in Acts 10:30 of the shining garments of the angel who appeared to Cornelius. So it's sort of knock-out clothes. Everybody else is wearing their normal drab stuff and here comes a guy with gold all over his fingers in some brazen flashy loud ornamentation in his clothing.
Now there's no problem with that, this guy's an unbeliever. No big deal. You don't stop him at the door and throw a pile of sackcloth on him, you let him in. There's no problem with that. The man is welcome, he's an unbeliever. He needs to hear the gospel. He's not condemned for his dress. That's not the issue here. This is not a section of Scripture teaching about dress. The sin has nothing to do with that. So it's fine for that man to come.
Then also comes another man. This is a poor man in, and this is a real poor man, tokos means he's so poor he has to beg. This is a beggar. Undoubtedly he only owned one. One robe. And my dear friends, a beggar with one robe is not a happy happy sight. He's at the lowest level of social strata. He stinks. Vile means filthy smelly dirty shabby, any of those terms. Here comes this common guy with this filthy thing that's the only piece of clothing he owns. He sleeps in it, he sweats in it, he works in it, he lives in it. And he came in. No sin here. He's not condemned for not dressing up. Nobody stops him at the door and says go home and get a tie or you can't be here. Nobody does that. They didn't throw sackcloth on the rich man and they don't throw some special robe on this guy. That isn't the issue. It is nice to be thoughtful when you come to worship the Lord and fellowship with His people. It's nice if you're clean. It's nice if you dress up with some respect for those you'll be with and even for the Lord so that you've given a bit of attention to the exercise of worship. But when someone comes who has not any option for that, they're just as welcomed. That's not an issue here.
You say, "Where's the issue?" Verse 3, "And when they come you have respect to the one that wears the fine clothing and you say to him, Sit here in a good place." Stop there for a minute. What does it mean to have respect? It means to look upon with favor, to look upon with respect, to look upon with attention. Boy, he attracts everybody's attention. Wow, they're all sitting and saying, "Look at this guy, whoa-wee, look at this guy. Fine clothing, dripping with gold." Somebody rushes over and says, "O Sir, sit here in a good place." This is the kind of guy we need. Boy, maybe we can get something from him." Sit in a good place, comfortable, prominent place of honor.
A little social climbing here. A little hoping for his favor. A little desire to get under his influence, get a little of his money. Give him the seat in a comfortable place with proper deference to him as a guest. You want to know something? There's really nothing wrong with giving him a good seat, nothing wrong with that at all. By the way, in the synagogues and assembly halls of that day there were very few benches. Sometimes there would be benches around the outside wall and maybe a couple of benches in the front and everybody else sat cross-legged on the floor. So to put this man in an elevated seat was something special because most people, as I said, just stood...that's still true in many synagogues...or sat cross- legged on the floor. They had a choice. But this man, they do everything they can to make sure he gets in the very best place. This would be the chief seats which the Pharisees were always wanting to take.
That's not wrong. I think that's nice to do that. You say, "Well, where's the sin if it's not in the outlandish clothes and it's not in the shabby clothes and it's not in giving the rich man a seat, where's the sin?" Here it is. Verse 3, "You say to the poor guy, Stand there or sit here under my footstool." In other words, I don't really care where you go, fella, but please get where you're going to be, will you? Sit there or sit beside my footstool. Just a couple of notes here. When it says "under" the word "hupo" could be translated "beside." It's a little hard to get under a footstool. If the footstool here is really literally a footstool then somebody's got both a chair and a footstool and he won't give the chair to the poor guy and he won't give the stool to the poor guy. He says sit down beside the stool, I want to sit where I'm sitting and I want my feet to be where they are. Just get out of the way, will you? You have a choice, my friend, stand or sit, just do it. That's the sin.
Now why would you do that to a guy just because he had shabby clothes? Because there's something built into our fallenness that's partial to people who look nice, smell nice, and are dripping with gold. It's just how it is. Now the beginning of the example came in verse 2, "If...and here comes the then in verse 4, this is what we call the apodosis and the protasis for you Greek students. So if the man comes in with a gold ring and if the poor man comes in and if you say to the man with the fine clothes, sit here, and if you say to the poor man, out of the way fella, then, verse 4, "Are you not...what's the word?...partial?" Are you not making distinctions in yourselves? Are you not separating? Are you not dividing? And the answer is what? Yes...you're guilty of being partial. You're guilty of favoritism. You're guilty of evil discrimination. And the issue of such behavior is that it's not godlike. God isn't like that. It is serious sin because...look what he says at the end of verse 4..."You have become judges with evil intent." The word "evil" means vicious. You're just like a sinful world. You're motivated to cater to the rich and the prominent and shun and slight the poor and the common. That's anti-Christian behavior. This is the carnality of the flesh. This has no place in the people of God.
Well, this is so basic and so important for all of us. When Paul was concluding Romans, look at chapter 15 verse 5, he said, "Now the God of patience and comfort grant to you to be like minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus." Treat everybody alike. "So that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus," now notice verse 7, "Wherefore receive ye one another," with open arms is the implication, "just as Christ has received us to the glory of God." And how did He receive us? "Without respect of persons," right? The body of Jesus Christ is going to be made up of mostly common folks and a few uncommon ones. It's not...it's not sinful to have much if God has prospered you. May God help you to help those who have little. If it weren't for people who had much we couldn't help people who had little. It's not wrong to have much if you're a faithful steward of it. It's not wrong to have little. God makes no discrimination in regard to those things, nor should we. And if you show favoritism, verse 4 says, you are partial. And that means you are not like God and you are not like Christ. But on the other hand, you have become a judge with vicious intent and your behavior is anti-Christian.
The inconsistency of this will now be pointed out beginning in verse 5 and you're going to see some things that are just rich in understanding but that's for next week. Let's bow together in prayer.
Lord, it seems like time goes by so fast, so many things are on our hearts to say and I ask You, Lord, work in my own heart and may it be that I do not sin the sin of partiality. Help me not to esteem people better than others for any external reason but help me to see the worth and the value of the soul. Help us as a church to love everyone the same, to be likeminded one toward another and to receive one another with open arms even as you have receive us without partiality. Thank You that you're not respecter of persons, that one of the glorious majestic awesome characteristics of your eternal perfection is that you are not partial. Help us, Lord, to be like you. May it be said of us even by our enemies that we care for no man's person. We do not prefer anyone over another because of any external superficial reason. Give us a heart that loves all equally that we may be like you and therefore make you manifest, for the Savior's sake we pray. Amen.
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I've had enough of a break now that I'm ready to get back to reviewing, and I have a lovely stack of things to read and review. I'm not going to give myself a strict schedule, but here's, roughly, what the blog will look like for the next few months:
3 reviews a week, or more
'Top Ten Tuesday' meme on Tuesday
'Letter Box Love' & 'Stacking the Shelves' posts or videos on Sundays.
I can't wait to start sharing books with you again!


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Zichal steps down as climate chief
The White House confirmed Monday that Heather Zichal plans to step down as President Barack Obama's chief energy and climate adviser.
Zichal took over the job in early 2011 following the departure of former climate czar Carol Browner, and has overseen initiatives such as the climate action plan that Obama unveiled this summer.
Story Continued Below
The White House did not name a replacement for Zichal or announce where she's going, although Reuters reported that she will move to a "non-government job."
An obvious candidate is already in the White House: Dan Utech, now Zichal's deputy and a former top adviser to then-Energy Secretary Steven Chu and before that then-Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
( PHOTOS: Obama's second term)
Other names tossed out Monday include Kevin Knobloch, now the chief of staff to Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz but previously the head of the Union of Concerned Scientists; Gary Guzy, the deputy director of the Council on Environmental Quality and a Clinton-era EPA general counsel; and Natural Resources Defense Council President Frances Beinecke.
The administration never fully replaced Browner and ultimately dissolved her old climate and energy office under the Domestic Policy Council's umbrella. "I think the question is do they try to fill Heather's position or Carol's position," said one Democratic source close to the administration.
One observer questioned why the White House didn't find a way to get Zichal to stay. Earlier this year, Zichal had been the subject of speculation that she could be in line for a new position in Obama's administration, perhaps as head of the White House Council on Environmental Quality.
"I am not sure who is in charge of retention programs at the White House but I would have never let Heather leave the complex," said Brian Wolff, a longtime Democratic political operative now working as the senior vice president of the Edison Electric Institute, the leading trade group for the electric utility industry.
"She is far too valuable of a skilled communicator and negotiator," he said. "She has been absolutely dogged in her pursuit of gaining consensus with external stakeholders and delivering on a clean energy agenda for this administration."
The Washington Post said Monday that Obama "personally appealed to Zichal to stay," and that she had turned down an opportunity to replace CEQ Chairwoman Nancy Sutley. The White House refused to confirm that report Monday afternoon.
Former Vice President Al Gore made what appeared to be a veiled reference to Zichal in June while lamenting that Obama had yet to give climate change a high enough profile in his administration.
"He does not yet have a team in the White House to help him implement solutions to the climate crisis. He hasn't staffed up for it," Gore said at the time, adding that "he's got one person who hasn't been given that much authority."
Zichal was certainly much less of a household name than Browner, a former Gore protege who had previously served eight years as former President Bill Clinton's EPA administrator — and whose "czar" role had made her a big lightning rod for Republicans. Still, one former White House official told POLITICO that Zichal was the most effective person they worked with on energy and environmental issues at the White House, and that her close relationship with the president will be make replacing her difficult.


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Make your forage work harder for your dairy and beef herds with a harvester that cracks corn kernels while harvesting. Dion Machineries just introduced its line of 1224 Forage Harvesters with a kernel processor option.
Dion says research shows processed corn silage increases milk production between 2 to 3 lbs./day. Other research shows increased production of up to 6 lbs./day. Rate of gain for a beef herd can also increase with processed corn kernels.The Canadian manufacturer claims its kernel processor will turn silage into more fiber and energy for your dairy cows and beef cattle. The processor cracks the corn kernels, allowing the cow to utilize more of the kernel instead of passing it through in manure.
The forage harvester moves the cut corn silage between rollers to crack kernels and cobs. Due to the processing, less corn grain is found in the manure. Cows also eat more cobs, leaving few in the manger.
The unit is available with a two-row head in 28- to 36-in. row widths, and it is 87 in. wide overall. A three-row attachment comes as 30-in. rows and is 98 in. wide overall. Both use a sickle cutting system. A three-row corn silage harvester with processor attachment and metal detector retails for about $43,000.
A windrow attachment also is available for the harvester. The attach-ment is 104 in. wide with an effective pickup width of 84 in. It features four pickup bars with 26 tines/bar.
The harvester comes as a 150- to 250-hp model with a maximum volume capacity of 26,094 cu. ft./hr. at 3/8-in. cut, or a 90- to 150-hp model with a capacity of 21,501 cu. ft./hr.
For more information, contact Dion Machineries, Dept. FIN, 420 Cote Sud, Boisbriand, Quebec, Canada J7E 4H5, 800/661-3466.


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text: Online UK Live Chat Software allows sales and customer service representatives to receive instant message communications via a website interface. The Online UK Live Chat Software here is offered under the SaaS (Software as a Service) model, meaning that the software is web based, hosted on the Cloud and can be accessed when needed through a client or web browser. If you're looking for similar online software like Online UK Live Chat Software, consider our Customer Service or Customer Support Software categories.


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The United Republic of Tanzania
Government Mailing System
NOTE: If after attempting all the above options ans still GMS opens with plainly-arranged email, then DO NOT WORRY. This is a MINIMAL or BASIC window that usually opens/appears when user is trying to login to GMS while in a slow internet connection. It will open normal and with all graphical representations when the internet is stable/faster.
If the problem is caused by slow internet connectivity then;
If the file size limit is exceeded then;


text: We retain a small amount (3%) from gifts to cover our modest administration costs. The little we do keep is usually taken from the reclaimed Gift Aid, so 100% of your initial gift still goes to the charities you wish to support. For gifts where Gift Aid is not claimed, we only keep back 2%.


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Welcome to the NBA Blog Squad, a varied collection of insiders, media members and fans from around the world who will share their thoughts about the NBA, WNBA, and whatever else comes to mind on an ongoing basis in online journals - or "blogs" - right here on NBA.com.
The views expressed by the Blog Squad represent only the views of the blogger; they do not represent the views of NBA.com, the NBA or any NBA team. NBA.com does not review the blogs for accuracy or otherwise approve of, or edit, the postings of the Blog Squad.
Copyright 2003 NBA Media Ventures, LLC. All rights reserved. No portion of NBA.com may be duplicated, redistributed or manipulated in any form. By accessing any information beyond this page, you agree to abide by the NBA.com Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Employment opportunities


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Net Price Calculator
Welcome to the Net Price Calculator, hereafter referred to as the "Calculator". You've come to the right place. We are happy you are beginning to explore how to plan and pay for your college education. Using the Calculator, you can find out your eligibility for financial aid from schools to which you plan to apply and estimate your out-of-pocket expenses. Rather than shy away from applying to colleges because of the anticipated cost, results from the Calculator will show you how affordable obtaining your degree might really be.
Even if you're not going to college in this upcoming year, the Calculator will still be helpful. Younger students and their parents can use this tool to learn about college costs and receive early financial aid information. Colleges have different resources and financial aid policies, so your "net price" may vary from institution to institution.
How does it work?
The Calculator measures the financial strength of your family and uses other facts you provide to estimate the amount of grants that are likely to be available to you. Your "net price" is the difference between that amount and the cost of education at your school of choice.
The Calculator is designed to give you an early indication of how much and what types of financial aid you might qualify for if you were a first time college freshman attending school full-time. It is a tool which we hope will give you a reasonable picture of your options so that you can make more informed decisions about your college choices.
As you use the Calculator, please remember:
Completing the Calculator should take only a few minutes of your time. You will need to answer some basic questions about your family's financial situation so it might be helpful to have recent tax forms or pay stubs on hand before you begin.
The tuition and award data used in the Calculator is based figures for the 2016-2017 school year. A Calculator based on 2017-2018 figures should be available in December 2018 (date is subject to change).
The estimates produced by the Calculator do not represent a final determination, or actual award, of financial assistance or a final net price; they are only estimates based on price of attendance and financial aid provided to students in 2016-2017 who met all eligibility requirements. The price of attendance and financial aid availability changes year to year. The estimates generated by the Calculator shall not be binding on Chicago State University (CSU).
In 2016-2017 95% of first-time, full-time freshman enrolling at CSU received grant and scholarship aid. The Calculator does not take into consideration loan eligibility, nor does it place any estimate on possible part-time employment (work-study) on campus.
Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to determine their eligibility for Federal financial aid that includes Federal grant, loan, or work-study assistance, as well as to determine eligibility for certain State of Illinois assistance programs. The Calculator's estimates are based upon the assumption that a student has completed the FAFSA process. For more information please go to our Apply for Financial Aid (FAFSA) web page.
Before you begin . . .
One of the first questions presented by the Calculator relates to "Residency". You are offered two options: "Eligible for in-state tuition" and "Eligible for out-of-state tuition". By direction of the Board of Trustees of Chicago State University first time full-time freshman who reside in Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin are eligible for a reduced out-of-state tuition rate. If you reside in one of the aforementioned states please deduct $8,545 from the estimated net price". PLEASE NOTE: The Calculator will not present a reasonable estimate for international students. If you are an international student please contact the Office of International Programs (Global Engagement Office) to discuss your costs and assistance options.
The Calculator does not take scholarship eligibility into consideration. In addition to the "Estimated total grant aid" estimated by the Calculator, and taking advantage or any loan eligibility they may have, students should pursue scholarship funding opportunities. Please visit our Scholarship Information web page for more information.
Are you ready?
Access the Net Price Calculator
(Please make sure you enable pop ups on your browser to open the Net Price Calculator)
Please Note: Estimates produced by the Net Price Calculator may change. They do not represent a final determination or actual awards, nor are they binding on the U.S. Department of Education, the state of Illinois or CSU. Students must complete the FAFSA to receive an actual Title IV financial aid award. They may complete the FAFSA at www.FAFSA.gov.
We are here to help make CSU an affordable option for you and your family. For additional information relating to tuition and fees, and funding opportunities, please contact the CSU Office of Admissions and the Office of Student Financial Aid.


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Dunlop Pro (DYD) (3-Ball) Squash TUBE
Dunlop Pro (DYD) (3-Ball) Squash TUBE
- Product Details
- SG SKU: DunBallProTube
Description of the Ball
The Dunlop Squash Pro ball is designed for Professional tournaments & serious players. The official ball of the WSF (World Squash Federation) and the PSA (Professional Squash Association).
Specifications - 3 Balls - 1 Tube. Double Yellow Dot (DYD).
- Related Products


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Pools. Friday , November 03rd , 2017 - 16:10:28 PM
Quote from Building Lap Pool for the Purpose of Health and Exercises :
Do you have swimming pool in your home? Not many people have swimming pool but actually swimming pool can be one of a-must part of your home. Now, we provide you with the information related to the pool especially the one that is called as lap pool. What is that? Have you ever heard about that? If you don't, let us talk about it in more details.
Well, now let us define what lap pool is. It can be defined as the usual swimming pool that is built especially for the purpose of health or fitness. So, it will be suitable for you who love to exercise everyday in your own home. This kind of swimming should be narrow and long. The length of the pool can be more than fifty feet. How about the shape of the pool? The shape is rectangular like the other swimming pool own by most people.
Lap pool can be the best solution for shallow or even narrow residential where the owner of the home want swimming pool for their health purpose. By having your own pool of this type, you can do exercise frequently in your own privacy in your backyard. The pool is also called as fitness pool or exercise pool. Then how are the lap pool designs? Here are the answers.
Like what have been mentioned before, the existence of swimming pool including lap pool can be the functional and decorative element in the home. Besides used for the health purpose, it is also okay to have beautiful designs of the fitness pool. The first design is by having exercise pool with spa for the private house. The second design is the used of the blue tiles which can perfectly complement the floor made of wood. The floor can also be matched with the design of mosaic wall. The next idea is the used of glass material to add the modern impression to the pool.
How about the lap pool cost? Talking about the cost of the lap pool will be interesting topic. It is quite difficult to know the exact cost of the pool. Why is it so? The cost of this type of swimming pool depends of the exact dimensions of the pool. Adding the width or even the depth of the pool can really add the total cost of the pool since larger pool will need more labor, materials, and higher cost.
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Dublin today.Last Post By: crossref 16 Minutes Ago
What's coming round the corner .. https://www.world.rugby/news/432632?lang=en Anyone know what these two are ? Are they to enforce the existing Law ... Or a change ? Off feet at the ruck/players must leave the ball: creating greater contest at the ruck to speed up ball availability ...Last Post By: crossref 51 Minutes Ago
this will sound like one of those contrived law quiz questions but genuinely happened to me yesterday. Red are leading 36 - 29 when Blue score a try right on full time so 36 - 34. Blue take conversion, chargers yell out and conversion misses. So I order a retake - so far so good. Blue...Last Post By: crossref 15 Hours Ago


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- Personal Information System
- Materials Management System
- Leave Management System
- Attendance Management System
- Leave Management System
- Employee Self Services
- Workflow
- Business rules
- Custom ERP Solution
- Systems Integration
- Java
- Spring
- Hibernate
- Oracle Weblogic
- Oracle 11g
- Liferay ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Advanced Systems Laboratory is an arm of Defence Research Development Organisation responsible for design and development of the Agni and other missiles.
ASL is planning to implement a custom ERP solution for all of its core operational requirements including Personnel Information System, Material Management System, Financial Module, Administrative and Security modules. Additionally, ASL requires a Content Management System (CMS) for managing its intranet website.
Callippus is building a custom ERP solution to specifically suit ASL needs. The solution is built using modern Java technology leveraging with Spring, Hibernate, Oracle Weblogic and Oracle Database as main technology components.
The implementation covers migration of current ASL data into the new system.
Callippus has already completed development, migration and implementation of PIS System. Workflow implementation is currently in progress. Material Management and Administration modules are expected to be completed in the next quarter.
Callippus is using Liferay for implementing Content Management System at ASL for their intranet website.


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A medic unit that had rushed to the scene of the midday shooting in Belair-Edison sat idling in the street. With the dead man's body under a sheet, there was no one to transport.
Word was spreading about 49-year-old Kelvin Moyd's being shot. Relatives came running down Pelham Avenue, visibly upset and too frantic to cry. Two women burst through crime scene tape. One was bear-hugged by a male officer, who had other officers come to his aid as he struggled to keep her back.
Then a man came down the street and a group of people swarmed him before he could confront an officer. He pushed forward, staggered back, then moved toward to a fence, where he propped himself up with one hand.
"Ma, they killed him," one woman yelled into a phone. "I heard it in my [expletive] sleep. They killed him, Ma. He's dead. They killed him."
A young man wearing an Oakland Raiders hat paced while on the phone. He was crying so hard that he had difficulty making sounds. A police helicopter buzzed overhead, making circles occasionally reflected in shadows on the ground. Children walking home from school casually walked through the police tape and trudged up the steps onto their front porches.
After letting a group of concerned people linger by the crime scene, a female officer told them they had to leave or risk being transported to Central Booking in a police wagon.
"That's somebody's uncle, somebody's brother on the ground," Jazmon Goode, 29, who identified herself as a niece of Moyd's, said of the officer's ordering people to disperse. Goode had come to the scene after getting a call from Moyd's girlfriend. Goode said her mother saw his body before it had been covered.
Neighbors said they heard at least four shots. According to the official police account, Moyd and another man were standing outside in the 3100 block of Pelham Avenue when an SUV pulled up, and a gunman got out while opening fire.
Moyd was struck several times and the other man was hit in the buttock. He suffered a graze wound and was transported to a hospital.
Earlier in the day in the Waltherson neighborhood, also in the Northeastern District, a man was killed in the 4000 block of Ridgecroft Road. Police did not release his identity but said he was 24 and had been shot once in the chest about 12:50 a.m. by a man who then fled.
The killings were the eighth and ninth in the Northeastern District this year but the first two to occur east of Harford Road, which bisects the area. Police asked anyone with information to call homicide detectives at 410-396-2100.


text: 10 December 2013, Addis Ababa - Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, the United Nations Secretary General's Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA), completed a two-day trip to Ethiopia to support that country's efforts to make financial services more accessible to the rural poor.She was accompanied on the visit by senior officials from the three Rome-based UN agencies focusing on food security. Together, they underscored the role that expanding financial inclusion plays in strengthening food security, as well as how food security interventions can enhance access to affordable financial services for the poor.It is the first time the UNSGSA and the three food agencies have travelled together to focus on these issues, which are closely linked to economic growth and rural development agendas.Travelling with the Queen on the trip were UN World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director Ertharin Cousin; DeputyDirector-General Maria Helena Semedo of the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO); and, Adolfo Brizzi, Director of the Policy and Technical Advisory Division of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), on behalf of IFAD's President.The delegation met with the Prime Minister of Ethiopia and members of his cabinet, as well as key players in the financial inclusion sector to discuss its role in helping to improve food security in rural areas.Queen Máxima stressed the importance of the Government of Ethiopia's moves to strengthen the financial sector and make financial services more inclusive. She noted that greater access to affordable, timely and reliable financial services such as savings, payments, credit and insurance can help low-income households enhance their food security and resilience, in addition to benefitting small business owners, smallholder farmers and other groups in terms of overall economic and rural development. The delegation travelled to Hawassa in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region (SNNPR) to see first-hand how FAO, IFAD and WFP, all Rome-based food security agencies, are working together with the government to make financial services more available to agricultural cooperatives and the rural poor.They visited a school taking part in the "Purchase from Africans to Africa" project, which is jointly implemented by the UN agencies and the Bureau of Education to improve food security and income generation activities of smallholder farmers, by using the school's food requirements to promote local food production. They spoke with small-scale farmers about how they manage their money, and with financial service providers about how to overcome obstacles to expanding access to basic financial services in rural areas.More than 85 percent of Ethiopia's population relies on small-scale agriculture for their livelihoods, and financial inclusion enhances food security. When small-holder farmers have access to a full range of affordable financial services, including savings, loans, insurance and money transfers, they can be better prepared to withstand natural disasters or to make investments in their land to boost their productivity and income.Poverty has declined sharply in Ethiopia over the last decade, but a third of the population remains below the poverty line, mostly in rural areas.


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I'm officially 30.
Gosh. I'm old.
(I know some of you would yell at me to shut up - 30 isn't old!)
There are many things come to my life. Come and go. Good and bad. New and old. I don't take things for granted but feel fortunate to meet great people.
When I was young, 30 is old. I now am 30, and I don't feel any difference from being on late twenties yet. My friends said you will at some point. Kids come to a marriage life equation. I know it's joy and blessing to have kids. However, I don't know if I want them yet. I just feel I should. New ideas of doing and trying things still keep popping in my head. I have to tell myself to stop and think; do it one at a time.
This past few weeks have been very busy for me. We have a new employee at work that I need to train. My boss was in town, technical Problem at my blog. All committed occasions that we have to attend, birthdays (there are so many Scorpios!), traveling, and the new gig. They keep me very busy. I feel like I need a break. A glass of wine before bedtime completes my day. Since the Europe trip, I've realized a glass of wine a day isn't bad and it helps me sleep well! It may help me build up an alcohol tolerance and I won't be a "Red Lobster" at a social function again. With all that said, the lucky part is that I don't have gray hairs yet! Yippee. Hahaha.
I apologize for not being around a blogosphere much. It has been hectic for me recently and I've been so bad at getting back to people.
So, this dish I made a little while back. I didn't write a measurement down so I didn't remember how much I put but it's pretty easy that you don't need a recipe for this. You get the idea of the dish and you will get it. I'm sorry if this post sounds lousy but I don't want to give you wrong measurements!
Before anything else, I'd like to shout out some news.
First, the new piece on the IE has been up for sometime. This piece got an input from two familiar bloggers - Roxan @ Kitchen Meditation, and Lazaro @ Lazaro Cooks. Please check it out here.
Second, Nancy @ Spicie Foodie just launched her cookbook. Please check it out here.
Salt and pepper
Smoked paprika
Cayenne pepper
Balsamic Vinegar about 1/2 cup
Black Berries about 1/2 cup
Sugar about 2 tbs
Red and Yokon potatoes, cubed into small bites
Beet, peeled and cubed into small bites
Chopped sage about 1 tbs
4 tbs Butter, divided
Olive oil
- Season pork with salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper on both sides.
- Preheat the oven to 400 F.
- Heat up a skillet on medium high heat. Add butter and olive oil. Wait until butter is bubbling, sear pork on both sides. Pour hot butter-oil from the pan over the pork. Pop the skillet in the oven and bake for about 40-45 mins or to your desire of doneness, or the thermometer reaches 165.
- In a meantime, heat up another skillet and add 2 tbs butter and olive oil. Add potatoes and beets in a skillet. Season with salt, pepper, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and sage. Cover with a lid and let the stove works the magic. Stir occasionally. It will take about half hour.
- Bring a small sauce pan on a stove. Add balsamic vinegar, berries, and sugar. Bring to boil, then reduce heat to simmer. Simmer it until it's reduced by half.
- With leftover beet, cut into match sticks. Pan fried them. Set aside.
- Brush the balsamic on pork both sides. Slice the pork and drizzle the balsamic over.
- Place sliced pork and drizzle with berry balsamic. Add potato/beet on the side. Top with fried beet.


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Network television is attempting to once again defy the laws of gravity.
Next week broadcast networks ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox will test their strength as the industry kicks off its annual springtime ad sales market known as the upfront. The networks take turns unveiling their new fall schedules amid glitzy presentations in New York City's Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and other tony venues — in an effort to attract billions of dollars in advertising commitments.
But forces are working against broadcasters on multiple fronts.
Each year, prime-time audiences shrink, and the younger viewers coveted by advertisers become more difficult to attract. Cable programs such as AMC's "The Walking Dead" and HBO's "Game of Thrones" grab attention, accolades and audiences. The broadcast business also is challenged by new technologies and services — including Netflix and Aereo — which threaten to nibble away at television's financial underpinnings.
"In a world of infinite choice, the need for breakthrough programming has never been greater," 21st Century Fox Chief Operating Officer Chase Carey told analysts this week.
The big question headed into this year's advertising auction is whether the networks can buck the downward trends and maintain their edge. Complicating matters: So far this year, the TV advertising market has fallen short of expectations — leading some networks to struggle to hit their first-quarter TV revenue marks.
"The advertising market seems a little tepid," Amanda Richman, president of advertising buying firm Starcom USA, said Friday.
Still, the network executives are optimistic their new fall shows will reel in ad dollars. They are trying to make up for ground lost during the current season when only a handful of new programs got traction. Ratings are down for three of the four major networks — ABC, CBS and Fox. Only NBC was able to grow its ratings during the current season.
High-profile shows, including comedies starring Robin Williams and Michael J. Fox, failed to live up to their hype. Fox Broadcasting watched in horror as its longtime engine, "American Idol," collapsed in the ratings.
Despite the woes, network television remains the first stop for most advertisers, as television continues to have an unparalleled ability to deliver 5 million to 15 million viewers for a single program.
"Advertisers still have a need for scale," Richman said. "There will always be interest in great content, and that will continue to drive demand."
Last year, the broadcast networks sold nearly $11 billion in commercial time, including for network sports, during the upfront, according to an estimate by Pivotal Research Group. Prime-time ads alone made up more than $8.5 billion, with those running throughout the day and late at night generating the rest.
That $8.5-billion haul was about flat with levels in previous years. Cable networks gained market share and are expected to do so again this year.
"We're not expecting the upfront to be dramatically different than last year," said Linda Yaccarino, president of advertising sales for NBCUniversal. "But what will be different is a rearranging of the deck chairs. The pecking order of leadership has changed."
The NBC network, now wholly owned by Comcast Corp., is expected to finish the current season in first place in the demographic advertisers care most about: viewers ages 18 to 49. NBC is up 17% in that category.
Boosted by the Winter Olympics in February, strong ratings from its "Sunday Night Football" franchise and its new hit drama "The Blacklist," NBC has this season attracted an average 9.4 million viewers a night — a 35% increase over the previous season.
"This is the first time in 10 years that we're finishing in first place, so that's very exciting," Yaccarino said.
NBC on Monday will show advertisers its new fall schedule that includes political thriller "State of Affairs," starring "Grey's Anatomy" alumna Katherine Heigl.
CBS also is expected to make a strong showing. The network, which is on track to finish the season in first place in overall viewers, plans to return 20 shows from the current season, the highest percentage of any network.
CBS attracts an average 10.8 million viewers in prime time, but its audience for some programs skews older. It's expected to finish the season in third place, just behind Fox, in the 18- to 49-year-old demographic.
CBS is poised to do better next year after winning the rights to the NFL's new Thursday night package, giving the network eight games in prime time that should generate huge ratings.
"I believe that CBS will once again lead the marketplace in upfront pricing and volume," Chief Executive Leslie Moonves predicted Thursday during an earnings call. "The addition of the NFL in prime time will ... allow us to have more original programming throughout the year."
It could be a tougher sell for Fox and ABC, which is owned by Walt Disney Co.
ABC is on track to finish the season third in total viewers, with an average 7.5 million in prime time.
But the network will likely land in fourth place among the 18 to 49 bracket. ABC this week ordered another installment from its comic franchise, Marvel's "Agent Carter," and a new drama from Shonda Rhimes, executive producer of "Grey's Anatomy" and "Scandal."
Fox plans to return the slumping "American Idol" for at least another season, but canceled its other singing competition show, "The X-Factor," which made up nearly 25% of the network's prime-time schedule during the fourth quarter, leaving a big programming gap.