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Open All Year
Reserve: 800-562-4793
Reserve: 800-562-4793
Info: 785-862-5267
Info: 785-862-5267
1949 SW 49th
Topeka, KS 66609Get Directions
Check-in: 2:00 pm, Check-out: 12:00 pm
RV Sites, Tent Sites
Check-in: 12:00 pm, Check-out: 12:00 pm
The Capital City KOA is the largest and top rated campground in the Topeka area. All RV sites are full service with Free Cable TV and Wi-Fi internet access. We have just added a new Salt Water Pool, and completed our first few Deluxe Patio Sites. We also have redone many of our Tent sites, which now have electricity and a site light.
Our main building is a turn of the century Barn, which house's our General Store, Rec-room, Exercise room, and Group Facilities.
Other amenities include: 3 fishing ponds, playground, hiking trail, horse shoes, exercise room, Kamp K9 for the family dog, and lots of wide open space.
No RV? No problem! We have large open tent sites, and three types of rental units. Our Cabin sleeps 4 and our bunkhouse sleeps 6. Both units have a refrigerator, outside cooking area, picnic table, and cable TV. Our Deluxe Cabin sleeps 4, has all the amenities of our other cabins plus a full bath, mini kitchen, outside grill and campfire ring (an excellent choice for the non-roughing it types).
Our KOA is located near all the area attractions: State Capitol, Museums, Race Tracks, Shopping, Nightlife, Art Galleries, University of Kansas, Washburn University, and many more.
So if you're looking for a family friendly camping experience, come stay with us at Capital City KOA!
KOA's highest service award, presented to KOA owners that achieve world class service scores from their camping guests.
Awarded to KOAs that meet exceptional quality standards and are recognized by their guests for outstanding service.
This badge has been earned by this KOA Campground for compassion and support of KOA Care Camps. It is given out following our Big Weekend, and is in effect for one year.
Promotes youth Scouting programs in North America and provides special discounted group rates and free use of pavilions and other facilities.
WHEN: September 13-14, 2019
WHAT: Value Kard Rewards members stay as a paying guest on Friday, September 13 at any participating KOA campground and get Saturday, September 14 for ...More Info
Having cancer shouldn't mean giving up the joys of childhood. That's why the KOA Campground Owners Association created the Care Camps Trust - to help children who have cancer enjoy care-free time focusing on fun, friends and activities at sleep-away camp instead of on their illness.


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YAN – Angled support leg
YAN is the perfect solution for any office. Apart from its broad selection of components, which include 5 different types of divisory panels, extensions, storage units, cable management elements, free-standing panels and 4 different types of legs, YAN also offers a wide possibility of arrangement. The sliding worktops will ensure a quick and easy access to the cable management whenever is required. Furthermore, this system also offers the fastest possible assembly, with just one tool, a simple hex key, one will be able to assemble a desk in a record time, below 1 minute! YAN – Rectangular support leg.
More than 2 decades ago, MDD was born with the objective of bringing a fresh breeze to the office furniture sector.

subset: commoncrawl


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- SpecsControlCNC
- Product Overview
Name of Product Laser Subsurface Engraving Machine
Laser Nd:YAG laser
Model of Product BML Nd:YAG Green laser 3D Engraver
Engraving Speed 12000dot/min
Laser Wavelength 532nm
Pulse ≤10ns
Focus of F-θLens Φ140 mm×100mm
Laser Heads 1
Power Supply Requirement AC220V/ AC110V 50Hz/60Hz Optional or Customized
The Whole-Machine Dimension 635mmx480mmx600mm
Refrigeration Method Water Cool Chiller
Operation Interface Colorful LCD
Weight 150kg
Output power ≤5KW
Environmental Humidity 45-75%
- About Company
Beijing Boao Laser Tech Co.,Ltd. Was founded in 2006 and is located in Haidian District of Beijng .It is a high-tech Enterprise which is specialized in R&D,Manufacturing and Marketing modern large-scale laser equipments. It is approved by CAS(Chinese Academy of Sciences) as the high–tech enterprise which is the largest and most comprehensive science and high-tech research organization in China. PRODUCTS Beijing Boao Laser Tech Co.,Ltd.can provide a complete set of laser machining solution and relevant laser equipments. Our mainly products as below :Laser Marking Machine Series,Laser Weldding Machine Series,Laser Cutting Machine Series,Laser Show System and Laser Engraving Machine Series.Above 100 types laser equipments and widely applied by Printing Plate Making,Hardware Articles,Electronic Products, IC (Integrated Circuit),Instruments & Meters,Auto Spare Parts,Mobile&Communication,Precision Instruments, Package of Foods&Medicine, Jewelry,Arts&Crafts and so on 。 Scientific& Research Boao Laser has very strong research abilities based on China Academy Of Science (CAO), Tsinghua University, Peking University ,Beijing Institute Of Technology etc. Currently ,Our company have 130 employee and including 10 Doctors and Masters as well as 80% Bachelor. We have applied many items national patents and it is one of few large laser equipments enterprise in China which with Research, Production, Marketing, Service . Quality We have granted ISO9001:2000 Quality Management Certificate. Our QC engineers carefully look after all the operations in the production and supply chain, ensuring our consistent high quality. Service Based on our customer-oriented marketing strategy, we set up Marketing Management Center which including National Market Department, Oversea Market Department and Customer Service Department.All these departments have qualified technicians and engineers who provide active pre-sale, sale and after-sale services within the shortest response time. Thank your cooperation we are looking forward to make cooperation with you .


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Dems who backed DOMA laud its end
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid called Wednesday's Supreme Court ruling striking down the Defense of Marriage Act "a great, historic day for equality in America."
He went on: "The idea that allowing two loving, committed people to marry would have a negative impact on anyone else, or on our nation as a whole, has always struck me as absurd."
Story Continued Below
Pretty strong words from a guy who voted for the Defense of Marriage Act.
( PHOTOS: 21 landmark SCOTUS rulings)
But Reid isn't the only one. There was a long line of prominent Democrats Wednesday who all queued up to applaud the Supreme Court for striking down DOMA — even though they voted for it when it passed in 1996.
Even Bill Clinton — who signed the bill into law — heralded the court's decision.
"By overturning the Defense of Marriage Act, the Court recognized that discrimination towards any group holds us all back in our efforts to form a more perfect union," Clinton said in a statement also signed by Hillary Clinton.
Virtually all of the Democrats say, "move on, nothing to see here" — they dropped their support for DOMA years ago. But the Supreme Court ruling allowed them to blast their words of praise to the world without a hint of regret over DOMA — or even an acknowledgment that they had any role in making it the law of the land.
( Also on POLITICO: SCOTUS gay marriage rulings reshape landscape)
Like Sen. Chuck Schumer, who declared that "the Supreme Court did the right thing here and helps us understand that the march to equality in America is unstoppable." He voted for DOMA as a House member in 1996.
So did Sen. Dick Durbin, who said the ruling "reaffirmed a founding principle of our nation: equal justice under the law."
And what about Patrick Leahy, who was ready to put the immigration bill at risk over an amendment to let same-sex couples sponsor immigrant spouses to get their green cards — and who declared that the ruling "confirms my belief that the Constitution protects the rights of all Americans"?
He voted for DOMA in the Senate, too.
They've got plenty of company in the club. House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer cheered on the Supreme Court even though he voted for DOMA. So did Rep. Rosa DeLauro, who's rarely, if ever, accused of being a moderate Democrat. And so did Sens. Ben Cardin and Robert Menendez, both of whom were in the House when they voted for the law.
( PHOTOS: Dems who haven't endorsed gay marriage)
Their changes of heart were the latest example of how thoroughly the politics of same-sex marriage have turned around for Democrats since President Barack Obama announced his support for it in May 2012. It's not that these Democrats voted for the law themselves, of course — they had plenty of other Democrats on their side, as well as the wall-t0-wall support of the Republicans who were in Congress at the time.


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- Publish date:
- Updated on
- Year
- 1943
Robert De Niro born
On this day in 1943, Robert De Niro, considered one of the greatest actors in modern movie history, is born in New York City. De Niro's many memorable performances include the creepy loner Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver (whose signature line was "You talkin' to me?"), the boxer Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull (a role for which De Niro gained some 60 pounds) and the young Vito Corleone in The Godfather: Part II (for which he won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor).
De Niro grew up in Manhattan's Little Italy neighborhood and as a young actor during the 1960s appeared in off-Broadway productions and small films. He received critical acclaim for his performance in the 1973 movie Mean Streets, which marked his first collaboration with the director (and De Niro's fellow Little Italy native) Martin Scorsese. De Niro's film credits during the 1970s also included The Godfather: Part II (1974), in which he spoke much of his dialogue in Italian; Taxi Driver (1976), for which he received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role; and the Vietnam War-era movie The Deer Hunter (1978), which nabbed De Niro his second Best Actor Oscar nomination.
DeNiro and Scorsese reunited for 1980's Raging Bull, for which De Niro finally took home the Academy Award for Best Actor. During the 1980s, the actor also appeared in such films as The King of Comedy (1983), The Untouchables (1987)–in which he played the notorious gangster Al Capone–and Midnight Run (1988), his first hit comedy. In the 1990s, the prolific De Niro made a string of successful films, including Awakenings (1990), which earned him another Best Actor Oscar nomination for his performance as a man who comes out of a coma; Scorsese's Goodfellas (1990) and Cape Fear (1991), for which he received another Best Actor nomination for his role as a psychotic rapist; Heat (1995)and Casino (1995). In Wag the Dog (1997), Analyze This (1999), and Meet the Parents (2000) De Niro displayed impressive comedic chops. Both of the latter films produced successful sequels (2002's Analyze That and 2004's Meet the Fockers, respectively). More recently, De Niro reteamed with his Godfather II and Heat co-star Al Pacino in Righteous Kill (2008).
In addition to his acting career, De Niro has also gone behind the camera, making his directorial debut with 1993's A Bronx Tale, about a young boy torn between his bus-driver father and the local Mafia boss. After co-founding the TriBeCa Film Center in New York City in 1989, De Niro went on to establish the TriBeCa Film Festival in 2001 to spur cultural and economic growth in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.


text:
- SpecsConvert Specs to MetricChamber-W24 "Chamber-L24 "Chamber-H22 "
- About Company
L&L Special Furnace Co, Inc.designs and builds high temperature furnaces, ovens, kilns, quench tanks and heat treating systems. We specialize in batch production furnaces and ovens particularly applications requiring high uniformity and controlled atmosphere. L&L sells and services equipment worldwide. A 60+ reputation for sophisticated engineering, quality workmanship, excellent documentation, and professional service has resulted in a large and growing base of satisfied customers, many of them larger and very particular customers. Manufacturing and engineering are integrated in one 15,000 square foot facility just south of Philadelphia, PA Our sister company, L&L Kiln Mfg, Inc is one of the leading manufacturers of electric pottery and ceramic kilns.


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Complete your holiday home's dazzling display with our All that Glitters Wreath and Garland. This gold and silver Christmas wreath and garland instantly adds glitz to any room with its sparkling tinsel foliage.
The striking wreath gives doorways a touch a glamour while the versatile garland wraps style around banisters, mantels, and entryways. Live out your luxurious Christmas decorating dreams with our All that Glitters Wreath and Garland.
We pride ourselves in providing an exceptional, enduring product. For more warranty information, please visit our WARRANTY FAQS »
Eye-catching and radiant, any one of our sparkling Christmas trees is sure to make a shimmering centerpiece in your holiday home. Marvel at our bubbly Toasted Champagne Gold Tinsel Tree or our magical Silver Stardust Tinsel Tree. Choose from our wide selection of shimmering trees and make your holiday season shine.
Unless marked otherwise, all items are in stock and ready to ship. Orders received on business days by 7 am Pacific Standard Time (10 am EST) will ship the same day. We offer three domestic shipping options through Fedex to meet your needs. For more shipping information, including information about shipping to Hawaii, Alaska, and Canada, please visit our Shipping Information »
will arrive to almost all populated regions of the continental USA in four to six total days
will arrive in three total business days
will arrive in two total business days
Free ground shipping sitewide for all domestic orders in the continental US
Get fast answers from the Treetopia community


text:
888.632.2633 (888.NEC.CODE) 3604 Parkway Blvd, Ste 3, Leesburg FL 34748
"... as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" [Joshua 24:15]
[ Click Image to Enlarge ]
Subjects include the NEC rules that apply to low-voltage and limited-energy systems that most people are not aware of, definitions, the general NEC installation requirements, and specific NEC requirements for control, sound, video, CATV, CCTV, antennas, telephone, fiber optics, etc. Topics include grounding, cable installation, spacing, support, etc.
This textbook includes practice questions, quizzes, and a final exam.
Answer keys are included with all Mike Holt books.


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VIDEO: Lara Trump on school safety, tax reform and the president's reelection bid
WASHINGTON (Sinclair Broadcast Group) - Lara Trump, the daughter-in-law of President Donald Trump says she's not surprised at his early announcement to run for reelection.
"He's got a lot on his plate, a lot that he wants to accomplish," she told Sinclair Broadcast Group Tuesday. Lara is married to the president's son Eric.
One of the issues he hopes to tackle includes making schools safer.
"I think the president is willing to look at this from many different perspectives, and I give him a lot of credit for that," she said.
"Because I don't think there's one hard-and-fast answer here. I think he's open to talking to people, hearing all sides and coming to a decision."
To hear her take on arming teachers and the changes to the economy after the tax bill was passed into law, watch the video above.


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EAST ROCKAWAY, NY (CBSNewYork) — Some Long Island high school students are paying a hefty price for their end-of-year hijinks.
The school principal, assistant principal and a crossing guard were among those hit by water balloons during the annual water balloon battle outside East Rockaway High School.
Now, a group of seniors who participated have been banned from this week's graduation ceremony and the prom. Some parents think the punishment is extreme.
"Gone through four years of high school and then they made one mistake. I mean I think it's a little bit too far. I mean, these kids, they were having fun," one father said.
WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs In Nassau County
"Kids are kids. You know, to ban them from graduation, I think is ridiculous," another father said.
Both believe community service would be a more appropriate punishment.
Melissa Erul was one of a group of seniors who won't attend graduation.
"I'm just so upset. None of my family's gonna be able to see me," Erul told CBS 2's Scott Rapoport.
"I didn't even throw a water balloon and I'm being penalized," Mike Castellano said.
1010 WINS' Mona Rivera reports: Water Balloon Fight Gets Out Of Hand
Anthony Gallegro said he is one of 20 seniors paying for the actions of two students — one who doesn't attend the school — because they threw balloons at the administration officials.
"Because of two bad seeds in the bunch we're all going down for it," Gallegro told 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera.
"They're acting like it was so much worse than it was," Billy Day added.
To make matters worse, the banned balloon brawlers said they've also been barred from their prom. The students' parents are livid.
"To take them out of graduation I think is horrible," Lori De Stefani said.
The school superintendent said the students were warned ahead of time of the penalties and chose to have the water balloon fight anyway. Dr. Rosanne C. Melucci said in a statement: "The actions of these students created a disorderly and unsafe situation by obstructing vehicular and pedestrian traffic."
But for the banned students that rings hollow.
"I can't go to the prom or graduate. I think that's a little extreme," Ryan Starkman said.
Many of the kids Rapoport spoke with said the balloon fight is an annual thing that's gone on for years — and that they've never been penalized for it.
Do you think these students went too far or is the administration totally overreacting? Please offer your thoughts in the comments section below.


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Submitted by acohill on Tue, 10/05/2010 - 08:05
Researchers have discovered a massive geothermal hotspot in West Virginia that could be used to generate green electric power. A review of previous data collected from a large number of oil and gas wells found that the temperatures had not been calculated correctly. Areas as hot as 200 degrees Centigrade were identified only five kilometers deep--shallow enough to tap for energy generation.
Submitted by acohill on Fri, 03/25/2005 - 11:49
West Virginia, just a few miles away from Blacksburg, has jumped to first in the nation with respect to intelligent, pro-community thinking about broadband.
The state legislature, unlike more than a dozen other states trying to cripple the ability of communities to promote economic development and to support existing businesses, is saying, "We don't want to do that."
Not only that, the state seems ready to give communities the tools they need to chart their own future. This article [link no longer available] has the details.
Here is evidence of West Virginia's sophisticated thinking:
David Levine, director of technology and transformation with the West Virginia Development Office, said creating a cohesive fiber optic network could create a competitive advantage and could help keep technologically inclined West Virginians from leaving the state to find work. "People will be able to work where they live," he said."
The bill would explicitly give communities the right to issue bonds to pay for telecommunications infrastructure--just as communities have done safely and securely for decades for other improvements like water, sewer, and schools. It would also explicitly give communities the right to act as a service provider.
A Verizon representative expressed skepticism over the bill. What a surprise--a phone company opposes competition. It's almost funny to see Verizon on the short end of the stick. I don't think they have expressed dismay in other states when last minute bills popped up that opposed community telecom projects. This second article notes that Ireland went from 18% unemployment to 3% unemployment because of an intense focus on telecom investments to support communities and open access networks. Ireland, which is about the size of West Virginia, has constructed a fiber ring connecting 123 towns and cities. Any service provider can use the network to deliver services.
Here's another quote that shows West Virginia legislators "get it."
Committee Chairman John Unger, D-Berkeley, said he and others did consult with Verizon, Adelphia and other companies, but he made no apologies for not releasing the bill to them before it came out of his committee.
"The special interest groups think they ought to see the legislation before the legislators see it," he said. "That's where everybody's got it backwards around here. They've got it backwards, because they think that the special interest group ought to draft the legislation and then show it to the Legislature, and that's not the way it should be."
The bigger question is why are so many legislators in other states falling for the contorted and misleading information being provided by the telcos and cable companies? And if Ireland has been successful in promoting economic development by building open access networks, why are our legislators seemingly dead set against it (except in West Virginia)?
So here's a slogan for you: "Our state--almost as good as Ireland and West Virginia."
- Design Nine provides visionary broadband architecture and engineering services to our clients. We have over seventy years of staff experience with telecom and community broadband-more than any other company in the United States.
We have a full range of broadband and telecom planning, design, and project management services.
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Lafayette Pro Fiber


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Tech industry puts phish on diet
Anti-ID theft initiative
Microsoft, eBay and Visa have formed the Phish Report Network to better protect consumers against identity theft attacks.
Phishing attacks are usually based on scam emails that try to trick users into handing over their account details and passwords to bogus sites. The collected details are used for credit card fraud and identity theft. The network will collect and share information about these attacks with its members, and issue alerts when new attacks emerge, the companies said.
To report a phishing attack, an organisation must subscribe to the network as a "sender", before submitting details about their experience. The idea is that this information will build into a database, operated by WholeSecurity, that the so-called "receivers", usually ISPs, webhosts or spam blockers, can use to put better defences in place. Ultimately this will lead to better protection for consumers, according to the Phish Report Network.
The Anti-Phishing Work Group says that phishing activity is continuing to rise. It reported a 24 per cent month-on-month rise in attacks between August and December 2004, with a ten per cent increase in December alone. It said 1,700 phishing sites were reported as active at the end of last year.
The Phish Report Network press release is here. ®
Related stories
Beware the unexpected attack vector
Banking Trojan disables MS Anti-Spyware
Florida man sues bank over $90K wire fraud


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The International Sign Expo 2009 ushered in a host of new inkjet printers that raise the bar on productivity and print quality. Here you
By Tom Frecska
Tough economic conditions haven't thwarted the product-development efforts of inkjet manufacturers, and you didn't have to look farther than the International Sign Expo 2009 for proof. A score of new printer models were unveiled during the April event in Las Vegas, including models that print with UV, solvent, and sublimation inks. The descriptions that follow highlight the key features and performance attributes of these machines.
Chin.E Technologies
This newcomer to the inkjet-manufacturing business (www.chinetechnolo gies.com) sprung from the gate with a bundled system it bills as a "$100,000 Print-and-Cut System." The X-Press F512 is a 4 x 8-ft flatbed UV inkjet printer that is paired with the company's X-Press CNC router. The X-Press printer features six or eight Konica 512M printheads that deliver a 14-pl droplet size and print resolutions up to 1440 x 720 dpi. Both the six- and eight-color systems print CMYKLcLm, and the eight-color unit also is capable of printing CMYK x 2 or CMYK + white or spot colors. The eight-color printer can output up to 450 sq ft/hr in production mode. The X-Press Router comes with either a 4 x 8-ft or 5 x 10-ft table and will cut materials up to 2 in. thick. It is driven by Chin.E's UcanCAM routing software for designing and producing three-dimensional signage. Additionally, the company showed the X-Press RK512 roll-to-roll UV printer, which is available in a 62-in. model with six heads (CMYKLcLm) or a 120-in.-model with eight heads (CMYK x 2). It has a top production speed of 340 sq ft/hr.
The PS 3206D roll-fed solvent inkjet was introduced by DGI (www.dig-net.com). The six color (CMYKLcLm), 12-head system offers output speed in production mode of up to 860 sq ft/hr and provides print resolution up to 720 dpi. Suitable for media up to 130 in. wide, it also supports simultaneous printing of two separate, narrower rolls. Other features include triple heating zones (before, during, and after printing), automatic take-up system, and DGI's proprietary Drop Control Technology for precise placement of ink droplets. The system comes bundled with Wasatch SoftRIP.
Did you enjoy this article? Click here to subscribe to the magazine.


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An Interview with Charlie Toraño
- By David Savona
- | From Entourage, July/August 2009
Carlos Octavio Toraño, known to the cigar world as Charlie, was born into a family that has worked with cigar tobacco for close to 100 years. Toraños have worked in every branch of the cigar industry. First they were leaf brokers, then growers, and later became liaisons between brand owners and cigar factories. After they acquired their own factories, they made private-label cigars and ultimately created their own brands.
Today, Charlie and Carlos Alberto Toraño make up the father-son team behind the many varieties of Carlos Toraño cigars. In April, the 42-year-old Toraño visited Cigar Aficionado's New York City offices and sat down with senior editor David Savona for an interview covering the history of the Toraños, the recent sale of the company's factories and his views on the normalizing of relations with Cuba.
Savona: The Toraños have such a rich history. Can you share some of it with us?
Toraño: I'm lucky enough to be the fourth generation in the tobacco business. Our history dates back to 1916. It started when my great-grandfather, Santiago Toraño, traveled from Spain to Cuba, and the legend is that upon arrival, he fell in love with the tobacco leaf. He was originally a broker of leaf tobacco. As he learned tobacco, he learned how to grow tobacco himself. My great-grandfather was blessed, because he had three sons that ended up being as passionate as he was about the tobacco business: my grandfather Carlos Toraño, and his two brothers, Jaime and Jose. The three brothers and the father continued to expand their business growing tobacco in all the regions of Cuba.
Q: Which regions?
A: He spent most of his time in the farms in the Pinar del Río region and Vuelta Abajo, and primarily growing wrappers. When my father was growing up in Cuba, they had two homes, one was in Havana, and the other was out in the farm. My father always says that he actually saw very little of his father, because he was always out in the fields while my father was in school. So there's no doubt that my grandfather was a guy who lived, breathed and ate tobacco. That was his passion, frankly, more so than his own family. My father and I are very close. But my father was not close with his father, because there was just no time together.
Q: Where did your grandfather sell tobacco?
A: A big part of the leaf business back then was also exporting to the United States. He had a relationship at that time with General Cigar, with the Newmans, and several other companies. My grandfather's brother-in-law was Ramón Cifuentes; he was married to my grandfather's sister. So you can imagine they were selling to the Partagas Factory. And they all lived in the same block.
Q: What happened after the revolution?
A: My grandfather ends up staying in Cuba after the Revolution. Apparently his side of the family did think that Fidel and his group were going to bring back the constitution that had essentially been eradicated by Batista. My mother tells me her side of the family was very concerned from the get-go, and when Fidel starting giving his victory speeches her side of the family knew the jig was up. After it became clear that the situation was not what they had hoped, the family left. My grandfather, because of his relationship with General Cigar, he goes and he works with General in Connecticut. I think he only did that for a year or so. The Cullmans [the family that owned General Cigar at the time] tried to help my grandfather.
Q: Obviously he lost everything in Cuba.
A: Yes, he lost everything. My father remembers a conversation between Cifuentes and my grandfather on whether they should transfer [money] out. My grandfather says, "No, we'll be all right." So they lost it all. Within a year after he leaves, he goes over to the Dominican Republic and starts growing tobacco there. Meanwhile, my father didn't have much of an interest in getting involved in the tobacco business at that time. He was selling computers. He was not made a part of the business. Then when my grandfather passes away in 1970s, his brothers had this company called Toraño & Co. and they decided to grow tobacco in the Dominican. That's my father's entry into the tobacco growing business.
Q: When your father started growing tobacco, what thoughts were going through your head?
A: In the '70s and the '80s, the tobacco business was not a good business. I was far away from it—they were growing tobacco in the Dominican, and I was far away in Miami. I would hear the stories, and a lot of what I heard was the struggles. We can't imagine today having premium-grade tobacco and not being able to sell. I was going to be a lawyer.
Q: You had a love for law, didn't you?
A: That was my goal in life, to become a lawyer. I started working as a lawyer in August of 1992. In May of 1996 I had that pivotal conversation with my father while we were having dinner, I asked him if there was room for me in the company. He said that there wasn't just room for me, but a need for me if I was interested. My father never approached me to leave the legal world. He was afraid to entice me out of my practice because things were going well for me. However, I always kept my eye on his business, and the first chance I saw to help him grow the business I grabbed it. So, my first day in the cigar business was June 1, 1996. Although I have never practiced law again, I still keep my law license active.
Q: Let's talk about your cigars. What is the house style of the Carlos Toraño brands?
A: I think there are three elements to the signature that is Toraño. The first is blending. Part of our philosophy is to use a variety of different tobaccos. That comes from the comfort level that my father had, and passed on to me, being so familiar with tobacco from different countries. If you want a good, solid medium body, and the rich flavors and different flavors, that's another thing that is our signature. And the third thing, the Toraño cigar is an affordable cigar.
Q: Is there a country you're most proud of using?
A: I think there are tobaccos that we use today that have become more popular over the years. The first one is Brazilian tobacco. We were using Arapiraca when Brazil, for whatever reason, didn't have the reputation. I think another example is Colombian tobacco. We've stepped out of the box. We've done the same thing with Panama. I think there's definitely more of a trend over the last several years to blend more, but at the factory level we were at the forefront of that.
Q: There must be some tobaccos that just don't work in a cigar.
A: Sure, I remember one time that we tried a tobacco from India, and I said this isn't going to work. We also tried some wrapper quality tobacco from Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. It was reddish, it had a certain shine. We really tried hard, but we just couldn't use it.
Q: What's it like competing in this market today compared with the boom years?
A: The shelf space is very tight. I think, at least from our standpoint, you can never rest on your laurels. Any brand that takes for granted any position that they have in the market is going to lose that market share.
Q: What has changed since your sale of your cigar factories in January to the Scandinavian Tobacco Group, which now makes your cigars?
A: One of the nice things about this new phase in the Toraño history is our exclusive focus is on the Toraño brand now. My focus and my father's focus now is to spend more time with the consumer, with the retailers, promoting our brand and telling our story with the Roots Run Deep tour. We have events through November. For us to compete, there's no more effective way in our industry than putting your cigar in somebody's hand, telling them your story, and letting them smoke it. As tough as this year is, the Toraño brand is up.
Q: What precisely did you sell?
A: We had two cigar factories, one in Honduras, one in Nicaragua. These factories employed over 1,000 people, these are organizations we built over the last 12 years.
Q: And the capacity was around 15 million cigars?
A: Above 15 million.
Q: All handmade?
A: All handmade. 100 percent long filler, also. We made premium cigars for Carlos Toraño, C.A.O., Gurkha, Dunhill, La Perla Habana, bundles for J.C. Newman, etc. Scandinavian Tobacco Group, which is one of the largest machine-made companies in the world, two years ago really made their first entrance into the U.S. market vís-a-vís their acquisition of C.A.O. International. We had been making most of the premium cigars for C.A.O., so when they came into the picture, early on they expressed an interest in eventually controlling the production or having ownership in the cigar factories.
Q: Does S.T. Group own all its machine-made factories?
A: Absolutely—this is definitely a group that is used to owning the production side. From the Toraño standpoint, we thought selling would enhance the strength of the factory, because Scandinavian Tobacco Group has the resources to buy a tremendous amount of inventory of tobacco, and to compete with the biggest cigar factories in the world for limited resources of tobacco. That's only going to be positive for the Toraño brand. The Toraño family continues to own and control the Toraño brand.
Q: Some people thought you had sold the brand.
A: This isn't going to happen, but tomorrow morning I could open up my cigar factory, making Carlos Toraño brands next door. Because we own our brand, we control our production. What we sold was the private-label business, and the physical entities that manufacture the cigars. I'm still involved.
Q: You have a management contract.
A: That's right. I'm working with S.T. Our cigar factories, that were owned by the Fidel Olivas family and the Toraño family, I think we built a hell of a cigar factory. We were competing with the big guys, but you also need big-guy resources to compete in the world of tobacco. S.T. has a great philosophy; if it ain't broke we're not going to fix it, we're going to enhance. They're going to make that existing organization even better, but they're not going to change it.
Q: Did they offer to buy the Toraño brand?
A: The Toraño brand was not for sale.
Q: What about your numbers? Will they expand the factories?
A: The factory will expand, because the factory anticipates sales expanding.
Q:You refer to it as one factory, although there are two factories.
A: For me it's always one entity, we call it one entity, two campuses.
Q: What is your linchpin cigar?
A: The flagship of the Toraño brand is the Exodus 1959, and this year marks 50 years since [the Cuban] exodus. We've always been very careful to say we're commemorating, not celebrating, because what happened in Cuba was tragic then, and it's tragic today. I think this Exodus 1959 50 Years cigar is about the fact that we triumphed as an industry. I'm really excited about this blend. I think we can take pride in our Cuban roots.
Q: Speaking of Cuba, the news is all about the Obama Administration flirting with normalizing relations with Cuba. It certainly seems that this Administration has the best chance of any in memory of dropping this embargo. If this happens, what happens to the cigar industry and what will change about Toraño cigars?
A: First, I want to say it is my sincere hope, and reasonable request, that if the embargo is lifted, and we talk about "normalizing" relations with Cuba, we do so in an environment where we see significant changes in human rights, elections, and the freedom of the Cuban people to enjoy the fruits of their labor. [Also] we have to be allowed to go and open up a cigar factory, finance growers of tobacco, and compete against those brands that would be exported from Cuba to the U.S. I'm not asking to be paid back for the land that this government stole. I'm just saying that you cannot and should not allow the free flow of cigars from Cuba to the U.S. and not allow the families who had brands, who had factories, who had tobacco to go to Cuba and compete in our own market against what Cuban brands are brought in.
Q: Does it bother you? It happened to so many people in the cigar industry—the factories were taken, the fields were taken.
A: I was born in '67, and it bothers me today as if I were standing on that farm with my grandfather and it was taken from me today as it was 50 years ago. I think it would be another injustice to suddenly be in our market, after having spent 50 years recreating the cigar industry that was taken from us, and to suddenly see an influx of Cuban cigars back into the U.S., and yet [not be able to] go in there and simply compete. I'm asking for a level playing field. I'm not asking for special favors, in spite of the injustices that were done. Too many times, it seems to me, normalizing relations with Cuba is posed by asking one question: should we or should we not undo the embargo? I think it's the wrong question.
I tell some of my friends, who don't spend as much time speaking about the Cuba issue, I always give them the simple example: "I just want you to imagine I'm going to go into your house, I'm going to take all your property, take all your bank accounts, I'm going to put your mother or brother in prison, and then 50 years go by, and now it's time to go back. And the same guy, the one who took all that stuff from you, is still the same guy at the door." So it is personal. It has to be personal. And we weren't the only ones. We're just one of thousands, or hundreds of thousands. You want to undo the embargo? Undo the embargo, but don't let cigars flow freely into the U.S. unless we can go in and compete.
Q: It's complicated.
A: It's complicated, but it doesn't have to be.
Q: Do you think those in power in the United States think about this?
A: I truly believe that the people that will make the decision on the embargo are thinking in dollars and cents. The idea that decreasing the embargo is not about business, that's false. If the Obama Administration were to release the embargo, that is a business decision. It's a political decision, but with massive business consequences. I understand that, because I am a businessman.
Q: If all things worked out with a level playing field, what Toraño blends would you make?
A: We'd be into another exciting time in the cigar industry. Imagine if Toraño could come out with a cigar with the best of Cuban tobacco and Nicaraguan tobacco, or Cuban and Dominican? There are so many possibilities. I look forward to the day that we can blend legally with Cuban tobacco. I want that day to come, and I want it to come quickly—I just want it to come in a way that's fair and just. As a manufacturer, we're missing a great tobacco, Cuban tobacco. No question about it.
Q: Would you want to go back in and grow tobacco?
A: Yes. Definitely.
Q: On those same fields?
A: That would be an ideal situation, but I'm more practical than that.
Q: Do you think there's ever a situation where Benji Menendez [whose family owned the H. Upmann Factory] gets his cigar factory back, and you get your fields back? Is that even possible?
A: There is historical precedence.
Q: East Germany?
A: And Nicaragua. That was a Marxist revolution, they nationalized all the farms, all the factories, so there is precedent. But from a practical standpoint, there could be a viable argument to just start over. I don't want to see Cuba become China. I don't want to see it open economically and not politically. I don't want that for the Cuban people. I hope that however the embargo is used in the future, that it gives the motivation to see real change—and for the change to not only come from one side.


text: Tom Papworth January 24, 2011 Regulation & Industry Bye bye BA Tom Papworth January 24, 2011 Regulation & Industry 6141 bye-bye-ba It was launched on 11 February 1987 at a price of 125p and trading closed last week for the last time with shares at around 293p. So, was British Airways a good investment? Hardly! Since 1987 we have had 116 per cent inflation. This means that 125p in 1987 is the equivalent of 270p today; or, to put it another way, yesterday's share price of 293p was worth less than 136p in 1987. So a near quarter of a century would have yielded a real return on your investment of just 8.5 per cent. By comparison, had one forgotten that one had the money and left it in a current account paying a nugatory interest rate of 0.35%, one would have done just as well. Actually, that is a little unfair. It ignores the dividends that BA has paid out over 24 years. And it also ignores the fact that most people did not sit on their shares for a quarter of a century. Those who sold on 16 May 1997, when the shares hit 760p, did rather well. Had they instead hung on for another six years, they might have sold at a sorry 86p on 12 March 2003. Economic theory suggests that shares should be fairly stable in value as long as a company's profits are also stable. The share price should be based on the discounted value of projected future profits, so if a firm makes exactly the same profit every year (in proportion to the capital invested) then the share price should remain the same. BA's share price fluctuated as its profits did: the peak came after pre-tax profits reached £640m, while the trough followed the slump in profits to £135m. But the general trend of share prices defies simple economic theory. On average, share prices have trebled over the past quarter century – that is to say, the FTSE 100 has risen from around 2000 to around 6000, almost twice as fast as inflation. Had profits risen substantially over that period (relative to investment) then this would explain the change, but the rise in profits has not been enough to explain the different. Shares are assets, and assets tend to soak up expansions of the money supply more readily than consumer prices. However, not all assets are the same. British Airways has overall been a poor performer. One may speculate on the reasons – militant unions and competition from low cost airlines come to mind – but ultimately the problem is that BA has not managed to move with the times; it has been shackled by its past. One can only guess whether its merger with Iberia will liberate it from the straight jacket of the past, but considering that Iberia is the former Spanish national airline, itself only privatised in 2001, it doesn't look good.


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ADDISON COUNTY — Although none of the local girls' high school soccer teams finished above .500, all four had fine moments and benefited from outstanding individual contributions that are recognized here in the 2010 Addison Independent Girls' Soccer All-Star Team.
Coach Dwight Irish's Vergennes squad had the most success, compiling a .500 regular season and earning a home playoff game. They were sparked by, among others, high-scoring junior Kenadi Dattilio, the 2010 Addison Independent Player of the Year, and three other Commodores who are recognized here.


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BUFFALO — While Ryan Miller and the once-slumping Sabres are now riding a three-game winning streak, it's the Devils who are looking nothing like the team that opened the season 8-1-3.
Showing signs of being pushovers no longer, the Sabres got timely goals and clutch saves, and they displayed resilience in pulling out a 4-3 shootout win over the Devils yesterday.
New Jersey dropped to 0-3-1 in its past four, matching its longest skid since Feb. 24-March 1 last season. The Devils (10-6-5) are 1-4-2 in their past seven.
The Devils at least managed to salvage a point in this one.
"I think we're figuring it out again, and things are going in the right direction," said forward Ryan Carter, who had an assist in his first game back after missing four because of an upper body injury. "You take the positives and move forward."
At least the Sabres (9-12-1) could start feeling good about themselves while enjoying their longest winning streak since a five-game run from March 19-27 last season.
"It certainly feels better to win. But we've got a lot of work," Miller said. "I don't want anybody in this room or organization to get comfortable."
Miller stopped 28 shots through overtime, and denied both Devils chances in the shootout. Sabres captain Jason Pominville, who had one goal in his previous 11 games, scored twice in regulation and added another goal in the shootout. Veteran forward Jochen Hecht ended a 32-game goal drought, dating to Dec. 30, 2011.
Most importantly, the Sabres showed no hint of a letdown during the third period when both teams traded one-goal leads.
That is more like it for Ron Rolston, who improved to 3-2 since taking over for Ruff as interim coach.
"We're getting more resilient as a team now, and I think that's a good sign for us," said Rolston, who enjoyed his first home victory. "When I first got here, if we gave up the third goal, it might have been a different result."
New Jersey's offense, however, is finally rediscovering its rhythm.
Adam Henrique, Steve Bernier and Andrei Loktionov scored for a team that had been limited to nine goals in its previous six games.
On the downside, the Devils have yet to win since Martin Brodeur was sidelined by a sore back. He has missed four games, and isn't expected to play tomorrow at Toronto, when New Jersey closes its three-game road swing.
Veteran backup Johan Hedberg made 20 saves, and gave up both shots he faced in the shootout, including one to Tyler Ennis. — AP
Miller was perfect at the other end.
Ilya Kovalchuk got Miller down, but shot over the net on the Devils' first shootout chance. Then Miller got his glove up to snare Henrique's backhand.
Both teams scored in bunches, and each club had a short-handed goal.
After Pominville opened the scoring with a short-handed goal 7:17 into the second period, Bernier responded 2:17 later, tying the game when Mark Fayne's point shot banked in off him.
Henrique put the Devils up 2-1 with a short-handed goal 1:21 into the third period. The Sabres countered 1:49 later when Pominville was set up to the right of the net by Cody Hodgson's cross-ice pass.
After Hecht put the Sabres up 3-2 at 9:47, Loktionov tied it 1:35 later.
Buffalo avoided a letdown to win its second straight shootout game, following a 4-3 victory at Florida on Thursday.
"I think we're not getting down on ourselves when the other team scores. That might be the biggest thing," Ennis said. "When that happens, we're staying positive."


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Find Your Perfect Home.
Jackson Real Estate
Jackson is located in Michigan. Jackson, Michigan has a population of 33,133. Jackson is less family-centric than the surrounding county with 24.29% of the households containing married families with children. The county average for households married with children is 27.36%.
The median household income in Jackson, Michigan is $27,342. The median household income for the surrounding county is $45,452 compared to the national median of $53,482. The median age of people living in Jackson is 31.6 years.
Jackson Weather
The average high temperature in July is 82.1 degrees, with an average low temperature in January of 16.4 degrees. The average rainfall is approximately 34.6 inches per year, with inches of snow per year.
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"Jem and the Holograms," the upcoming live-action adaptation of Hasbro's 1980s animated series about a young woman who moonlights as a rock star, just got an infusion of '80s flair and rock 'n' roll edge, adding Molly Ringwald and Juliette Lewis to the cast.
Ringwald is known for starring in such beloved '80s teen films as "Pretty in Pink," "Sixteen Candles" and "The Breakfast Club," and Lewis fronted the rock band Juliette and the Licks for years before moving on to pursue solo work.
Ringwald's and Lewis' roles have yet to be revealed, but they will join "Nashville" actress Aubrey Peeples as Jem and Stefanie Scott, Aurora Perrineau and Hayley Kiyoko as her band, the Holograms. Ryan Guzman will play Jem's love interest, Rio.
Jon M. Chu ("Step Up 2," "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never") is directing from a script by Ryan Landels.
The original "Jem and the Holograms" TV series was about a young woman who masqueraded as a pop star with the help of holographic supercomputer, and the updated story revolves around an orphaned teen who becomes an online recording sensation and embarks on a journey to unlock a message left behind by her father.
When the Universal film was announced in March, producers said the movie would re-imagine Jem "for a whole new generation, with themes of being true to who you are in a multitasking, hyperlinked, social-media age."
Production is underway in Los Angeles.


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Old-Fashioned Chocolate Cake
Total TimePrep: 20 min. Bake: 25 min.
Makes9 servings
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/3 cup mashed potatoes (without added milk and butter)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons baking cocoa
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- Confectioners' sugar
- In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in mashed potatoes and vanilla. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition.
- Pour into a greased and floured 9-in. square baking pan; sprinkle with walnuts. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely. Dust with confectioner's sugar.
Nutrition Facts1 piece: 308 calories, 16g fat (3g saturated fat), 47mg cholesterol, 228mg sodium, 36g carbohydrate (23g sugars, 1g fiber), 5g protein.
Originally published as Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake in Reminisce Extra November 2011
Follow along as we show you how to make these fantastic recipes from our archive.


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Ace for sale? Six logical destinations for Lester
Jon Lester makes his next -- and possibly last -- start for the Red Sox on Wednesday night at Fenway Park, though it would surprise exactly no one if he is dealt to a contending team prior to taking the mound.
A little more than two months away from free agency, every pitch hurled from Lester's left arm is of precise and precious value. And a Boston team that has no reason to keep him -- beyond the mostly artificial constructs of continuity that could impact his offseason signing situation -- should capitalize on that value in the coming hours.View Full Game Coverage
Jon Lester makes his next -- and possibly last -- start for the Red Sox on Wednesday night at Fenway Park, though it would surprise exactly no one if he is dealt to a contending team prior to taking the mound.
A little more than two months away from free agency, every pitch hurled from Lester's left arm is of precise and precious value. And a Boston team that has no reason to keep him -- beyond the mostly artificial constructs of continuity that could impact his offseason signing situation -- should capitalize on that value in the coming hours.View Full Game Coverage
How did we get here?
Well, the Red Sox lowballed Lester with a reported four-year, $70 million offer in Spring Training, chump change at a time when a less-accomplished pitcher in Homer Bailey got the same average annual value ($17.5 million) over six years from the small-market Reds.
That said, while the actual offer to Lester was a non-starter (and, some would say, an insult), the overall stance made sense. Financial prudence with guys on the wrong side of 30 is, after all, how the Red Sox put together a World Series-caliber club in 2013, when they, quite literally, didn't overextend themselves on aging veterans.
But if reports of Boston only moderately upping that offer over the course of the year are true, it was not exactly time well spent on the part of the Sox, because Lester, with a 2.52 ERA over 21 starts in what is clearly the best season of his career, has put himself in prime position to find the market money he seeks.
So now the Red Sox really have no choice but to trade him. The potential Draft pick compensation should Lester depart in free agency is negligible for an elite organization perpetually built to win now, and trading Lester won't preclude them from engaging with Lester in offseason contract talks. If Boston can get one upper-echelon prospect -- preferably an impact outfield bat -- in exchange for its ace in this hangover season, it's worth whatever emotion is expended.
From the perspective of contending teams, as the David Price banter gets continually loaded with caveats (the Rays won again Monday night), Lester arguably becomes the market's most accessible, attractive commodity -- an elite left-handed arm with two months of contractual control and, therefore, a more palatable price tag.
Here are the six scenarios in which the price tag is well worth it:
1. Pirates. They've built not only a contending club in a market that was starved for playoff baseball for far too long, but the Bucs also own one of the deeper and more dynamic farm systems in the sport. Time to capitalize. Pittsburgh woke Tuesday with just a two-game deficit in a winnable National League Central. The Brewers are sputtering, 8-15 in July. The Cardinals haven't hit all season and are likely without Michael Wacha until early September and Yadier Molina until late September. The Reds have won just one game since the All-Star break to fall below .500.
Pittsburgh needs to pounce, and in Josh Bell, Austin Meadows and Harold Ramirez, it has outfield trade chips that are both attractive and expendable, given the long-term contractual control the Pirates hold on Andrew McCutchen, Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco. Pair Lester with Gerrit Cole, who just made a successful first rehab start in Triple-A on Monday night, and you've got a top-of-the-rotation pair capable of leading you through October.
2. Dodgers. They probably had (and still have) the best shot at landing Price, given their general lack of financial limitations and their prized prospect stash that includes three of the Top 20 Prospects from MLB.com's updated rankings.
Vying for Lester might be a satisfying alternative for the Dodgers, as they could probably get a deal done by only dealing one (not two) of the three from shortstop Corey Seager (ranked No. 17), left-hander Julio Urias (No. 18) and outfielder Joc Pederson (No. 19). Recent struggles for Dan Haren underscore the merits of such a move. Maybe the Dodgers and Red Sox could -- as they did in 2012 -- get really creative with a trade that involves Matt Kemp, but Boston's top priority is (and should be) acquiring young players with big upside, not old players with big contracts.
3. Mariners. Thirteen years removed from their last playoff appearance, the M's have to acknowledge that the American League West title is out of reach, but an AL Wild Card run is worth the effort. Even after the Kendrys Morales addition, their biggest need remains a bat. But with slim pickings in that particular marketplace, another elite arm to pair with Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma would ensure that if Seattle is able to escape the AL Wild Card Game, it would still be well-positioned for a best-of-five AL Division Series set.
The question is what specific package it would take to get it done. Even amid shoulder issues, Taijuan Walker and left-hander James Paxton are enticing trade chips. Either of them could be the centerpiece of a deal. In this particular instance, one wonders how much value the Red Sox would place on outfielders Gabriel Guerrero and Austin Wilson, who MLB.com's analyst Jim Callis deemed to be in the "high-risk/high-reward" vein.
4. Cardinals. Maybe the Cards prefer a bat over an arm at this stage, though their right-field logjam complicates things, and Kolten Wong's recent improvement probably nullifies their search for a second or third baseman. What the Cardinals can't ignore is the toll Wacha's injury has taken on the rotation's endurance and, ergo, the bullpen's workload. St. Louis has the NL's fifth-highest relief innings tally since June 18, the day after Wacha's last start.
Lester could certainly reverse that trend, though, and if I'm general manager John Mozeliak, there's no way I'd part with six years of Oscar Taveras for two months of Lester, no matter how shaky Taveras' early results have been. A preferable option might be to make one of the Cards' other on-the-cusp outfielders -- Stephen Piscotty, James Ramsey or Randal Grichuk -- available as the centerpiece of a deal for Lester. Really, the primary takeaway here is that St. Louis has both the trade options and the need for a move of this magnitude.
5. Orioles and Blue Jays. The merits of such a move are obvious for the first-place O's and second-place Jays, both of whom would benefit from another top-of-the-rotation option. But realistically, the Red Sox would have to be completely overwhelmed to deal within their division.
Of the two clubs, the Orioles probably have the better chance of putting a satisfying package together, but they haven't shown much willingness to part with their young pitching, which includes Kevin Gausman, Dylan Bundy, Hunter Harvey and Eduardo Rodriguez. As an alternative, maybe they could build something around outfielder Dariel Alvarez, first baseman Christian Walker or young lefty Tim Berry, but, again, intradivision trades of this magnitude are especially difficult to nail down.
6. Giants. Going back to June 1, San Francisco has a 4.14 starters' ERA, versus a 3.10 mark from the rival Dodgers. This is a discrepancy the Giants would love to address, but they also have a hole at second base that they'd love to address, too. San Francisco has a solid system with particular depth in pitching prospects, and that tends to go a long way in July. Three years ago, the Giants traded top pitching prospect Zack Wheeler for two months of Carlos Beltran. Would they go a similar route with 2013 first-round Draft pick Kyle Crick or '14 top pick Tyler Beede? It's a big question.
But if the Red Sox specifically target a bat, there might not be a match here, as arguably the best one San Francisco has to offer is catcher Andrew Susac, and Boston recently handed the catching keys over to highly regarded prospect Christian Vazquez.
Anthony Castrovince is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his columns and follow him on Twitter at @Castrovince.


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Modern Western
Get wild with western flair in the form of boots, fringe or a peasant top.
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Printed Perfection
Make your outfit pop with a touch of polka dots and fun prints!
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Singing the Blues
Denim and vibrant blue go with everything in your closet and is a staple this season.
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'90s Comeback
Bold styles and logo wear make this the most fun trend of the season!
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Notice of Change of Participation of NIH Institutes and Centers in PA-11-009 "Translational Scholar Career Awards in Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine (K23)"
Release Date: February 27, 2012
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
The purpose of this Notice is to inform potential applicants of changes in the participation of NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices (ICOs) in PA-11-009 "Translational Scholar Career Awards in Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine (K23)".
On December 23, 2011, the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) was dissolved and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) and the Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP) were established. As indicated in NOT-OD-12-026, all NCRR programs were transferred to other NIH ICOs. Additionally, the responsibility for all Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) in which NCRR participated is being transferred to other ICOs. Please visit the NCRR website for more information regarding the transfer of NCRR programs to other NIH ICOs.
The following sections of PA-11-009 have been revised to reflect the changes that resulted from this reorganization of NIH ICOs.
The "Components of Participating Organizations" section has been revised to remove NCRR and include NCATS:
National Cancer Institute (NCI), (http://www.nci.nih.gov)
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), (http://www.nida.nih.gov)
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), (http://www.nigms.nih.gov)
National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), (http://www.ninr.nih.gov)
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), (http://ncats.nih.gov)
The "Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number" section has been revised to reflect the updated list of participating ICOs.
The NCRR CFDA number has been removed: 93.389
The following CFDA number for NCATS has been added: 93.350
The "Agency Contacts" section has been revised to reflect the updated list of participating ICOs. All NCRR contacts have been removed, and the following contact has been added.
Scientific/Research Contact(s)
Heng Xie, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D.
Division of Clinical Innovation
6701 Democracy Blvd., Room 908
Bethesda MD 20892-4874 (Regular mail)
Bethesda MD 20817 (FedEx)
Telephone: 301-443-8063
E-mail: email@example.com
All other aspects of this FOA remain unchanged.
Please direct all inquiries to the appropriate Scientific/Research Contact listed in the FOA or in this Guide Notice.
Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices
Office of Extramural
Research (OER)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS)
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text:
Hottest Emma Watson GIFs Ever
Hermione Granger is making our wands levitate in this collection of her hottest scenes ever filmed.
We've seen Emma Watson grow up on the silver screen, and my has she filled out into quite the vixen. Screw wallflowers, we like the perkiness of something else on Emma's body.


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Proof once again that in my family, odd is relative.
Dear Adam,
Just a note to say hello.
The night you had your car stolen and I reported it to the insurance company the next day, do you know the only thing Nan was concerned about 'cause she heard me on the phone was, "How did Adam afford to put an $800 stereo in the car?!" I didn't answer, but she kept repeating it. Can you imagine! It's none of her business!
P.S. People are so odd.
Acting Workshops
3 years ago


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The SoMa EcoDistrict is partnering with multiple coffee shops in the district to offer a special Earth Day discount for guests who bring in their own coffee mug during the week of April 22nd. The goal of the campaign is to increase awareness of the tremendous amount of waste from the use of disposable coffee cups every day and to encourage new habits.
Participating retailers will offer a 50¢ discount on drink purchases (an increase from their typical 10¢ discount!) from April 22nd through the 26th.
- PSU Dining is offering a 50¢ discount on drink purchases during Earth Week at three locations on campus:
- The Meetro in the King Albert Building
- Branford's Bean in the Millar Library
- Viking Court in Smith Memorial Student Union
- Kobos Coffee, located at 200 SW Market Street, is offering a 50¢ discount on espresso drink purchases instead of the standard 10¢ discount. Prefer drip coffee? Kobos will always fill up your personal mug for just $1 (this is an ongoing offer that will continue after Earth Week!).
- Starbucks is also offering a 50¢ discount on drink purchases during Earth Week for customers who bring in a reusable mug. The two participating locations are at 1717 SW Park Ave. (9th and Park) and 603 SW Jackson (6th and Jackson).
- Seattle's Best in PSU's Urban Plaza, 1742 SW 6th Ave., is offering not only a 50¢ discount on drink purchases if you bring your own mug, but also 50% off the purchase of a reusable mug during Earth Week! This is the perfect opportunity to buy a mug if you don't already have one.
- Hye's Parkside Deli, located in the Parkside Center at 2020 SW 4th Ave., will offer a 50¢ discount on drink purchases for customers who bring in their own mugs.
Help reduce waste from disposable coffee cups and celebrate Earth Day with the SoMa EcoDistrict! For more information on the SoMa EcoDistrict or the Reduce, Reuse, Recaffeinate! campaign, visit www.twitter.com/SoMaEcoDistrict.
An EcoDistrict is a neighborhood committed to working together on sustainability initiatives that integrate building and infrastructure projects with community engagement and individual action. Portland State University makes up just over half of the SoMa EcoDistrict, with Market Street as the border to the north, SW Harbor Way Drive to the east, and I-405 to the south and west.


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On March 5, the pilot of an Alitalia flight on its final approach to Runway 31 R at New York's JFK International Airport spotted something odd in the air—a small, black flying machine with four propellers flying too close for comfort. The aircraft, likely a "quadrocopter" style drone, passed within 200 feet of the Alitalia airliner at an altitude of about 1,750 feet.
Yesterday, the FBI issued a call for help from the public, requesting anyone with information about the drone or its operators to contact the FBI's New York field office. An FBI spokesperson told Ars that there had been no new developments in the case. While investigators believed the drone was a quadrocopter, they had not officially confirmed this detail. But given the size of the drone—less than three feet across—and the pilot's report that it had four propellers, the vertical-takeoff quadrocopter design is the most likely suspect.
Commercial drones in the "microdrone" class, such as the Microdrones quadrocopter recently snatched up by an Italian university student, are expensive and not widely available to individuals. They are, however, available used on the aftermarket for about $20,000. More traditional radio-controlled commercial drones used in film and video production, such as those made by Quadrocopter, sell for slightly less.
But kit quad-rotor drones, like the ArduPirates drones built using Arduino programmable microcontrollers and ArduCopter code, can be built for around $300 and use GPS to navigate on a programmed course. The Parrot AR Drone, controllable by mobile devices based on Apple's iOS and Google's Android, is also in that price range. Though while that drone could operate at 1,750 feet, it would need modification to be controlled from the ground at that altitude.
There's been some speculation that the drone may have been flown out of Brooklyn's Floyd Bennett Field, a popular spot for model aircraft hobbyists. But given the size of the drone (under three feet across, according to the pilot who spotted it) and its type, it's more likely the device was launched somewhere east of the airport in the Five Towns area in Nassau County, a collection of affluent suburbs on Long Island's South Shore.
This drone could simply have been flying into commercial airspace by accident or malfunction. But small drones could just as easily be launched with malicious intent. While a quadrocopter drone of the size described in the March 5 incident would weigh no more than about 12 pounds (and much less if it was a hobbyist's kit drone), it could still do serious damage to an airliner during takeoff or landing.
A collision with a small drone could have an effect on a jetliner similar to a birdstrike. Birds colliding with aircraft have broken windscreens of jets and have even, in the case of US Airways Flight 1549, taken out engines. In January of 2009, just a few days before the geese took down Flight 1549, a helicopter carrying oil platform workers in Louisiana hit a red-tailed hawk and crashed, killing eight of its nine passengers.
A drone intentionally GPS-guided into an airport's approach or takeoff airspace could do more than just crash into aircraft. If a drone was built with the intent of causing damage to a plane or distracting its crew at a crucial moment, it might carry a small explosive or a camera-aimed laser pointer, for example.
Given how easily small drones can be built or obtained and how difficult it is to track them, it will require a lucky break for authorities to track down the drone and its operator. And this isn't a problem that regulation will solve—drones of this size can be assembled by someone with fairly basic technical skills. You can already download and 3D-print most of the parts for a quadrocopter drone, much like you can with firearms.


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Garner Cleveland Record
A little drama, a lot of growth at Asheboro Leadership Retreat
– Garner's high school students have been attending Camp Caraway for about four decades. In fact, Asheboro Leadership Retreat faculty leader Jill Cottengim took the reins from the retiring teacher in the role when Cottengim herself attended the retreat as a high school student.
Of course the faculty role was all but a demotion. The retreat to the camp about 80 miles west – from April 12-14 this year – puts the students in control as they work through a variety of life skills through discussions, games and other experiences that leaders say have a big impact. And leaders say this year's trip stood out largely because of the groups inclusion and unity, and in part because of a brief scare at the end.
"Most of the kids end up saying that it's a life-changing thing to do, that it really affects them a lot, and that it makes them want to do better and do more," Cottengim said.
The 72 students were chosen this year from 130 that applied for the limited spaces, and they were joined by eight teachers there mostly to be loose guides offering suggestions to the student-run experience designed to produce school leaders and new ideas. The current form of the Blue Crew spirit group, for example, got its start in Asheboro.
This year's theme was "Pieces to the Puzzle," with an 80s dance theme. Each of four subgroups called "councils" prepared skits cracking on the problems at school. The retreat also includes Olympics-style events as the councils compete against each other over the course of the weekend.
"It helped me grow as a person, made me re-think a bunch of opinions I had on different things like love and hate and trust and friendship," said senior Trevor Daeke, who like fellow event co-chair Amanda Hulmes had attended the event all four years.
Hulmes thought this particular group was unique.
"I really feel like this group, and I'm biased since I'm a chairman, but this group was better at trying to include everyone," Hulmes said.
Learning from adversity
Students even turned a sudden spot of trauma on the way home into a unifying bond. About five minutes after leaving the camp just outside Asheboro in a caravan of buses and vehicles, teacher Jon Sherwin's SUV, which was leading the buses, collided with another car at an intersection. The vehicle carrying Sherwin and fellow teacher Joanna Hetrick flipped onto its side and spun 180 degrees.
"When that happened our hearts sunk," Hulmes said. "We were all really scared, and started praying."
But Sherwin popped his head out of the window; neither he nor his passenger were seriously injured. Both went to urgent care briefly once back in the Triangle.
"First thing he said to me was 'Are you OK?' I said are you kidding me, am I OK?" Humes marveled. "That's just the kind of person he is. We all respect him a lot."
Sherwin said the emotions brought up by event drove home the bonds formed and lessons learned over the weekend.
"I'm not sure something like that doesn't tend to solidify those things," said Sherwin, who has gone on the retreat for the past nine years.
But even before the crash, he echoed Hulmes' "biased" sentiments about the group. He siad each group has its own feel, and this one felt particularly unified and engaged.
'Spirit of cooperation'
"There was a spirit of cooperation I haven't seen in all of them," Sherwin said.
For Sherwin, the camp's core purpose is two-fold. The 15 student counselors, he said, get a great opportunity to become leaders. And the rest get to create class unity while working through various life skills and issues. Cottengim listed off friedship, forgiveness, trust, self-awareness, communication and leadership.
Daeke noted as an example a student in the group who finally let go of a 10-year-old family-related grudge. Daeke said his own views on friendship have evolved; freshman year a friend was a person he enjoyed hanging out with, but now it's a person he trusts deeply and can go to with personal problems, closer to family than what he had thought of as a friend before.
Sherwin said the hope is that students would return to their various groups and become leaders, providing positive influence around the school. Daeke became senior class president among involvement in other extracirricular activity. Both he and Sherwin believe the retreat helped him get there.
Daeke admitted to being intimidated at first as a freshman and so he strived to make underclassmen to feel included. Sherwin said Hulmes was even less outgoing at first. Her older brother had loved the retreat so she got involved.
"She definitely had a servant's heart, but wouldn't go out front and do it," Sherwin said. "She is definitely a leader among her peers (now)."


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Aly Raisman Speaks Out About 'Monster' Dr. Larry Nassar On 'Today' Show
Aly Raisman appeared on Monday's "Today" show, where she opened up about the sexual abuse she allegedly suffered at the hands of Dr. Larry Nassar.
The six-time Olympic medalist revealed she was sexually abused by USA Gymnastics doctor Lawrence Nassar in a recent interview with 60 Minutes. Raisman, who was first treated by Nassar when she was 15, details his shocking abuse in her new memoir "Fierce." During her appearance on the morning show, the athlete spoke to Hoda Kotb about how Nassar molested her under the guise of medical treatment, and explained what prompted her to tell her story.
"From the moment that I realized it happened to me, I wanted to talk about it," Raisman shared. "When I found out I was going to be writing a book, I wanted to include the best moments of my life but also the worst moments of my life because they both make us into who we are. The hardest parts are really difficult to talk about, but it's made me into a stronger person and if you're going to write a book, you have to include everything."
Raisman went on to describe her "disturbing" experiences with the team's doctor. "I just thought he was weird. I really didn't know it was happening to me. He was a doctor, and he told me his treatment would heal all my injuries. Everyone said he was the best. He always seemed like he had my back. He was such a master manipulator… These monsters are so good at manipulating you. I thought he was so nice," she said.
The gymnast continued, referring to Nassar as a "monster." She said, "I think he's a monster. It's so disturbing what he did to me and so many other people. This is so much bigger than just me. It's such a horrific thing to happen. I stand here with all the other survivors who have been abused by Larry, and other people who have been abused by anyone."
And on victim shaming, Raisman said, "It's totally normal to be afraid of what people think of you. Society makes it hard for people to come forward, because you always have people who victim shame. We have to stop that because it's awful. I wanted to do the right thing." Watch the full "Today" show interview below.
Photo: AOL


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United GP is an online simulation game where YOU manage the pit crew. Optimize cars, choose the right strategy and compete with other players. More wins mean better parts in this realistic game. You'll feel like you're at the pitwall. Play United GP today!
|Freigeist Entertainment Network GmbH
|Release Date
|August 20, 2015
|Internet Connection
|Flash Version


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Photos Out of Bounds
Designing Woman, Adri, brings us this great Photoshop Tutorial that shows you how to make your photo subject jump out of the photo, and into another. It's a new handling of an age old technique in Photoshop, brought to life by this wonderful young designer. March 28, 2010


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The wild earth's nobility
Swallow Press/Ohio University Press, Jul 25, 2002 - Fiction - 237 pages
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U.S. Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission
After 15 Years Observing Sabbath, Employee Required to Work Sundays
SEATTLE – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today filed a federal lawsuit against retail giant Walmart for disciplining and threatening to fire an assistant manager at its Colville, Wash., store when he refused to violate his religious beliefs.
Richard Nichols, a devout Mormon, began working for Walmart in 1995 and started as a manager at the Colville store in 2002. As part of his religious practice, Nichols observes the Sabbath by refraining from work of any kind (including household chores or shopping) and limits his activities to church-related activities. From 1995 to 2009, Walmart accommodated his request for leave on Sundays. However, in the fall of 2009, Walmart revised its scheduling system and refused to continue accommodating Nichols.
"For the last 15 years, I have loved working for Walmart," Nichols said. "I enjoy what I do and the people I work with. But this refusal to take into account my religious needs is causing me a great amount of stress. I'm afraid I'll be fired for choosing my religion over my work; it's not a choice I want to have to make."
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to the sincere religious beliefs of employees, as long as the accommodations do not pose an undue hardship. The EEOC filed suit (EEOC v. Walmart, Inc. Case No. ____) Western District of Washington, after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement. The suit seeks back pay and other monetary losses, compensatory and punitive damages for Nichols and appropriate injunctive relief to prevent any future discrimination.
" Where there is a conflict between an employee's religious beliefs and work rules, the law mandates that employers make a sincere effort to accommodate those beliefs," said Luis Lucero, director of the EEOC's Seattle Field Office. " Walmart's refusal to explore any workable solutions with Nichols is not only illegal but short-sighted. Why would anyone treat a long-time, dedicated employee this way?"
EEOC Regional Attorney William R. Tamayo of the agency's San Francisco District Office, which has jurisdiction over Washington state, said, "Employers who simply deny requests for a religious accommodation are violating the law. An employer with the kind of resources that Walmart has can surely find the flexibility and creativity to allow a valuable employee continue to keep his Sabbath."
According to www.walmartstores.com, Walmart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) employs more than two million workers at 8,400 retail stores under 55 different banners in 15 countries and had sales of $405 billion in fiscal year 2010.
The EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Additional information about the EEOC is available on its web site at www.eeoc.gov.


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Warren gives them 'a new leash on life'
SNOW HILL � Seeing the plight of stray animals first hand has caused one Greene County resident to decide to make a difference in the lives of area animals.
Quentin Warren said he has been rescuing animals for several years.
�I feel like whenever God puts a suffering animal in my path, I should help them,� he said.
He said he takes in mostly dogs, but on occasion will help out a few cats.
Warren said his first objective to take animals out of their suffering conditions, then he gives them food and shelter before finding a new home.
He said dogs that were once strays often make good pets.
�Mixed breeds and rescue dogs are some of the best kinds of animals because they never forget that you saved their life. I like to say in doggie terms that it gives them a new leash on life,� he said.
Warren said he pays expenses out of his own pocket; in recent years, though, it has gotten harder for him to pay those costs.
�I�m not saying I�m the only one rescuing animals, but it�s getting down to crunch time,� he said.
Warren, who currently has seven dogs in his care, said people can help, either through funding or adopting a dog.
One thing that has made it harder for Warren was the recent closure of Greene County Animal Shelter.
Greene County Health Director Michael Rhodes said the shelter was shut down Sept. 19after one employee went out on disability and the other resigned their position.
He said state health regulations require the county to handle rabies and dog bite calls and he has been able to secure a part-time employee to handle that part of the workload.
�We are doing that and investigating vicious animals, but we are not picking up strays because we don�t have the manpower to do it,� he said.
Rhodes said he is actively trying to find a part-time animal control officer so the shelter can be reopened. The problem is finding someone with the right qualifications.
�They have to have some type of experience in law enforcement and be able to work with animals,� he said.
Rhodes said he wants to have the shelter up and running as soon as he can and he hopes someone with the requisite experience will be interested in the position.
�I�m ready to hire somebody today if can get somebody to apply,� he said.
Until the shelter reopens, Warren is still taking in animals that show up near his property.
He said he has received help from Happy Jack and the Lenoir County SPCA among others, in proving food and other services for the animals, but funding and adoption are still big needs.
In the end, Warren said it�s about helping animals that are in need.
�This is not about me or the dogs I have, it�s a about creating a broader awareness to the plight of homeless and suffering animals,� he said.
For more information or to help, call Warren at 252-747-2132.
Noah Clark can be reached at 252-559-1073 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow him on Twitter at @nclark763.


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Read the original article in The Oregonian here.
The calls started coming in to Oregon's public universities five years ago about a worrying trend: New grads weren't buying houses and cars.
It was a significant departure from the graduates of decades past, for whom a degree was a solid bet on their own economic progress, one that would afford them a home, an elevated standard of living and a growing retirement account.
Their wages flowed to supermarkets and restaurants, movie theaters and furniture stores. Their taxes supported Portland parks and Medford streets and Salem police. And, ultimately, the state's general fund.
The recession skewed that trajectory. From 2008 to 2010, the downturn eliminated 147,700 jobs in the state and 8.8 million nationwide, while homeowners lost billions in wealth to falling home values and foreclosure. The turmoil reshaped the economy in lasting ways, reaching across generations and redefining the way millions lived, worked and envisioned the future.
Students streamed to college campuses, some hoping to wait out the economic slump, others for a chance at a new beginning. They sparked hiring and spending, providing a much-needed boost to college towns such as Corvallis and Eugene, and helped fuel one of the state's only growth industries during the economic slump.
But it was a boon built on the backs of students, one they'll shoulder for years, if not decades, to come. Oregon's bachelor-degreed students graduate, on average, more than $25,000 in debt.
Although the benefits of a higher education are unequivocal, both for the individual and the state, many say the weight of student debt could overshadow its gains, holding back the economy over the long haul. This year, for the first time, outstanding student loans topped credit card debt, and the balance is quickly closing in on $1 trillion nationally.
That's money that isn't flowing into the U.S. economy or stretching to all corners of the state. The prospect so rattled business and political leaders that they started calling the Oregon University System to better understand what was happening.
"They want to see our students as consumers," said Bob Kieran, assistant vice chancellor of institutional research and planning. "That's the big problem."
Costs, enrollments soar
The cost of a college degree has skyrocketed.
Public universities began relying more on students two decades ago as state funding eroded. It was a consequence of Measure 5, which limited property taxes and slashed Oregon's contributions to public universities from 10.7 percent of the general fund in 1991 to 4.9 percent by 2011.
As the economy weakened, enrollment at the state's seven public universities surged, shattering pre-recession projections. More than 100,000 students were registered at Oregon's public universities in 2011, about one-quarter more than in 2006. It was as if an entire new university had opened, Kieran said.
That pace slowed in the past year, but enrollment remains at record highs. So do student costs.
Tuition and fees came to 27 percent of the university system's funding in 2009, then shot up to 38 percent in 2011.
At that rate, Kieran said, public universities could eventually become as expensive as private colleges.
"I'm not going to say the sky is falling," he said. "But obviously if we're on a downward trend, and you ask me what's going to happen in the next 10 years, it's not going to be pretty."
At the University of Oregon in Eugene, tuition and fees have jumped more than 40 percent since 2007. Last year that came to $8,790 for in-state students; out-of-state students paid three times as much.
Borrowing stats followed suit. Student debt within state universities climbed 3 1/2 times faster than enrollment from 2004 to 2009, the latest year for which data were available.
That year students and their parents signed off on $532.1 million in loans. Grant aid was less than half that.
At Eastern Oregon University in La Grande, nearly 9 in 10 students graduated in debt in 2010, carrying $17,700 in loans on average. Portland State University's class of 2010 borrowed the most, more than $26,200.
It's a dangerous trend, said Tom Potiowsky, former state economist and current chairman of the economics department at PSU.
"(Students) are one of our better economic growth engines," he said.
Statewide, 2011 graduates racked up an average of $25,500 in debt, nearly 30 percent more than their 2007 counterparts. But they also walked into 9.5 percent unemployment and a tighter job market.
Oregon's average student debt ranks 21st in the nation, and its default rate 23rd. Of the 53,200 here who began repaying federal student loans in the fiscal year ended September 2010, some 8.3 percent were in default a year later, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
The rising debt all but shuts many new grads out of the housing market, Potiowsky said, limiting them to rentals. "Think of all the other purchases people cannot do because they have all that debt."
Debt vs. opportunity
Despite the debt load, there's no denying that an advanced education pays dividends, economists say. Anyone who earned a bachelor's degree in 2011 can expect to make $2.4 million during his or her career, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, compared with $1.4 million for a person with only a high school diploma.
"The only thing worse than going into debt for your college education is not going to college for your economic opportunity," Portland economist Joe Cortright said.
In the aggregate, that makes a big impact, he said. The more educated the workforce, the easier it is to grow and attract businesses to Oregon. That means more jobs and income tax revenues, which are especially important in a state operating without a sales tax, he said.
"The business part (of colleges) is sort of a nice little bonus," Cortright said.
If there was an upside to the recession, it played out in big college towns. Universities, public and private, that received federal student aid boosted hiring more than 10 percent from 2007 to 2011, according to the Oregon Employment Department.
By 2011 the schools employed 59,000 here, 22 percent more than a decade prior. By comparison, Oregon's overall jobs base ticked up 1 percent, still reeling from the economic downturn.
The impact was obvious. In Wilsonville the Oregon Institute of Technology filled a four-story, 131,000-square-foot building vacated by InFocus Corp., which had shed hundreds of jobs.
In Benton County, where Oregon State University employs 1 in 4 people, the unemployment rate is the lowest in the state, said Patrick O'Connor, a regional labor economist for the state.
At 6.2 percent it's more than 2 percentage points lower than the state's, despite drastic downsizing by the county's biggest private employer, Hewlett-Packard Co.
"It's pretty clear what a huge stabilizer (OSU's) been to the economy," O'Connor said.
The price of for-profit
Expansion at state schools paled in comparison with their for-profit counterparts, which more than doubled their Oregon workforce, to 1,500, the past decade, data show. Yet those graduates typically owe more and earn less than their university-educated peers.
Such schools have become popular retraining options because of lower admission standards and shorter programs, which often last two years or less. Career Education Corp., which owns Sanford-Brown College and Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Portland, watched its profits double and enrollment jump 30 percent in the recession.
"They'll take students that wouldn't probably succeed in college otherwise, and they will hold their hand and get them through the program," said Jennifer Diallo, the director of Oregon's Office of Degree Authorization, which oversees for-profit schools.
Such colleges tend to attract low-income and nontraditional students, but often are more expensive, said Sandy Baum, a College Board economist. Students are much more likely to borrow large amounts and drop out than at universities, she said.
For example, a four-year graphic design degree at the Art Institute of Portland will cost $86,580, nearly three times that of UO.
The high-price, high-risk scenario has left many deep in debt, sparked class-action lawsuits and caught the attention of Congress. The federal government extends most all student loans.
Students of Le Cordon Bleu's culinary arts and chef training program, for example, posted a 23-to-1 debt-to-earnings ratio in 2011, according to federal data. Classmates in the baking and pastry program carried loan obligations that outweighed their earnings 19 times over. The associate's degrees cost more than $34,000 in tuition and fees, the school estimated.
Everest College, also in Portland, reported that five programs, including business management and medical assistance, had repayment rates below 25 percent.
Diallo said that mounting data have made it tougher for such schools to recruit. Sanford-Brown and two University of Phoenix campuses plan to close their operations in Oregon. Tightening regulations and talk of new loan standards are creating pressure on the industry.
"I really feel that the tide is turning," Diallo said.
The next step
The pressure extends to all forms of higher education.
When Gov. John Kitzhaber outlined an ambitious education plan in November 2011, he called it the "compass setting" that will guide Oregon's future. His 40-40-20 goal calls for 40 percent of Oregonians to attain a bachelor's degree and another 40 percent to earn a two-year or technical credential by 2025.
Now, though, a big hurdle stands in the way, one that will command the focus of state and business executives Monday at the Oregon Leadership Summit.
"I think our whole future as a state depends on how well we stay competitive with all education," said John von Schlegell, a venture capitalist and former member of Oregon's Higher Education Board. "It's not sustainable to continue to have the state de-invest in higher education and push the burden increasingly onto students."