text:
In an article for NBCNews.com's First Read on Monday, Domenico Montanaro eagerly proclaimed to readers: "Mitt Romney has criticized President Obama for his 'you didn't build that' line, when it came to businesses....But in 2002, during his speech at the Opening Ceremonies at the Winter Olympics....Romney made a similar argument about Olympians."
Romney simply told the Olympic athletes – many in their teens and twenties – that they achieved their individual success with help of parents, coaches, and their local communities. However, by Monday night, The Washington Post's Ezra Klein, filling in for MSNBC's Rachel Maddow, wildly misconstrued the comment to slam Romney: "Got that, Olympians? You didn't build it....It's like David Axelrod went back in time and put the precise words he needed into Mitt Romney's mouth."
An update to the First Read article added: "A Republican strategist sends over this response: 'The Obama Campaign is comparing the government to a loving parent? What happened to Julia?'" Montanaro felt compelled to clarify: "For the record, the post did not originate with the Obama campaign but an NBC archive search." Based on Klein's reaction to the Romney hit piece, is there any difference between NBC News and the Obama campaign?
Klein ranted that Romney, "knows that government has a role to play in helping businesses succeed, that other people have a role to play in helping businesses succeed. So his criticism to the contrary struck me as ridiculous and insincere." Later, he concluded: "Mitt Romney was right back then about those athletes....And he knows he's wrong right now as he tries to run against Obama's comments on American businesses."
On MSNBC's The Daily Rundown on Tuesday, host and NBC News political director Chuck Todd also seized on Romney's 2002 comments to run defense for the Obama campaign: "Well, the Romney campaign and conservatives have panned the President's, quote, 'It takes a village' argument. But the attack has its own complexities. There's that clip of Romney in 2002, reminding Olympians during a speech at the opening ceremonies that they didn't get their on their own."
Todd attempted to pile on with more recent Romney statement, but seemed to miss the point of the remark:
And there was more from Romney yesterday at a southern California fundraiser where he said, quote, "De Tocqueville looked at us and said what made us such an unusual nation, among other things, was our willingness to serve one another. The barn raisings, if you will. We need more barn raisings in America. More people who don't just look and say what can government do, but instead what things can I do to make a difference in the lives of people near me?"
Romney seemed to clearly be advocating for citizens helping each other without having to rely on government assistance.
Todd wrapped up the segment by arguing: "Look, every one of these attacks that the campaigns do to each other, you try to create clarity and then you dig in and you see there's a lot more muddiness there than you may have counted on."
Here is a transcript of Klein's July 23 rant:
EZRA KLEIN: I got to be honest, I tune out of these things sometimes, and this is one of those times. I didn't take any of it seriously when it was unfolding last week, not a word of it, because the fact of the matter is that Mitt Romney is not a stupid man. He knows better. I mean, Mitt Romney ran Bain Capital. It was a firm that went in and tried to help, different people helping other businesses become successful again. And it did so in large part with help from the government. They used government tax deductions to carry out essentially interest finance takeovers in order to bring those companies back to profitability, or barring that, to strip them bare before they turn them out into bankruptcy.
In Romney's telling, if those businesses had not had access to Romney and his team, they would have been in much worse shape. And in any telling, if Romney and his team hadn't had access to outside financing and a tax code friendly to debt, they would have been in much worse shape. Romney knows that. He knows that government has a role to play in helping businesses succeed, that other people have a role to play in helping businesses succeed. So his criticism to the contrary struck me as ridiculous and insincere.
But Republicans this week are still pushing this thing really hard. Today, the RNC held a conference call with a pair of small business owners to highlight President Obama's supposedly offensive comments. This was the backdrop today at a Mitt Romney business roundtable event in California. "We did build it," it says. I bet Romney actually didn't build that banner, but whatever my suspicions, I didn't really have any way to prove that Romney knew better. Actually, I didn't have proof until today. Today, when video came out of Mitt Romney telling Olympic athletes back in 2002, you didn't build it.
MITT ROMNEY: You guys pushed yourselves, drove yourselves, sacrificed, trained and competed time and again, winning and losing. You Olympians, however, know that you didn't get here solely on your own power. For most of you, loving parents, sisters or brothers, encouraged your hopes, coaches guided, communities built venues and organized competitions, all Olympians stand on the shoulders of those who lifted them. We've already cheered the Olympians. Let's also cheer the parents, coaches, and communities. Alright!
KLEIN: Got that, Olympians? You didn't build it. You couldn't possibly have achieved what you've achieved up to this point without the help of others. Without the help, sometimes, of even the government, which helped build the venues that you compete in. I couldn't believe that quote when I first watched it, actually. It's like David Axelrod went back in time and put the precise words he needed into Mitt Romney's mouth. I mean, Romney even praises government in there. He didn't need to do that. He didn't need to bring up venues, but he praises government.
But you know, I mean the reason he said it, is it's all true. You could make a pretty good case that, say a marathon runner, did it mostly on his own. But most athletes, like most businesses, benefit from the institutions that exist in their societies. Mitt Romney knows that. He knows that when it comes to Olympic athletes and he knows that when it comes to American businesses.
This gets to something larger that we are seeing a lot right now in American politics. The effort to take relatively modest policy differences and blow them up into gigantic yawning chasms of philosophical difference. In reality, the difference between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney in terms of the specific policy that comes from the idea you didn't build that or you did build that, is about a percentage point of GDP and taxes. Maybe a little bit more, maybe a little bit less, depending on how you score Mitt Romney's tax cut plan.
Mitt Romney doesn't think that there should be no taxes, he doesn't think there should be no public investment, and Barack Obama doesn't think that we should have a 100% tax rate and 75 times more public investment. Both men think that we should have taxes that people pay because in society we are all better off for helping one another out. And both men think we should have public investment and public goods because there are things we all need to band to together to do collectively if we are going to succeed individually. The question is simply where to put the balance between the two.
Now, Mitt Romney may want to admit this, but he doesn't really have a choice anymore, because the fact of the matter is he already admitted it. He admitted it ten years ago when he was kicking off one of the greatest spectacles to individual achievement that one can possibly imagine. And he told those athletes at that time, in effect, you didn't build it. Mitt Romney was right back then about those athletes. They were helped, even though they did much on their own. And he knows he's wrong right now as he tries to run against Obama's comments on American businesses.


text:
After a year of tours, reunions, and a national symposium on the future of the arts, Interlochen visual artists capped off the Academy's 50th anniversary festivities with an eventful trip to New York City. Visual arts students have made previous trips to New York City but this trip gave the group a rare chance to show their work to new audiences.
Academy visual artists began their journey in the gallery of the Herbert H. and Barbara C. Dow Visual Arts building, where works from selected students were shown for a week. After students, faculty and staff had a chance to view the work, it was carefully and meticulously packed for the long journey to New York.
Lena Jafery, a junior from Dubai, said that while the whole trip was eye-opening, the preparation was just as valuable. "As an artist, your work doesn't just magically appear in a gallery. It was really beneficial to learn how to pack and move art work, work as a team and get the show set up perfectly." Following an 850 mile road trip, the group unpacked and set up in the spacious Helen Mills Event Space.
The students would have had their hands full with just setting up the gallery, but they squeezed every possibly opportunity into their short stay in New York with visits to the city's top art and design schools including Pratt, Parsons, Cooper Union and the School of Visual Arts. At each school, students toured the facilities and had portfolio reviews.
For Liz Rennie, a senior visual arts major, the school visits were a valuable chance to get a complete picture of the colleges, many of which were on her list of top choices. "You don't know what a school is like until you go there," said Liz.
Since no trip to New York would be complete without seeing some museums, the students and faculty carved a little time out of their busy schedule to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art as well as Tatzu Nishi's remarkable installation in Columbus Circle.
"The whole experience was eye-opening to our students: packing up their work, traveling to New York City, visiting schools and museums, and showing their work to a new audience," said Melinda Zacher-Ronayne, the director of the visual arts program. "It makes the world a little smaller and gives the students a sense of perspective that most young artists don't possess."

subset: commoncrawl


text:
16-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Saturday, August 12, 1911: What with rubbing against fresh paint, and watching the painters I managed to have something to do, but this won't occupy me very much longer, as the house will soon be painted with its last coat.
Her middle-aged granddaughter's comments 100 years later:
Ready-mixed paints became widely available in the late 1800s. The July 26 diary entry mentioned that the barn was being painted red—and now the house was being painted.


text:
NEW YORK (AP) — Smokers younger than 21 in the nation's biggest city will soon be barred from buying cigarettes after the New York City Council voted overwhelming Wednesday to raise the tobacco-purchasing age to higher than all but a few other places in the United States.
NEW YORK (AP) — Smokers younger than 21 in the nation's biggest city will soon be barred from buying cigarettes after the New York City Council voted overwhelming Wednesday to raise the tobacco-purchasing age to higher than all but a few other places in the United States.
City lawmakers approved the bill — which raises from 18 to 21 the purchasing age for cigarettes, certain tobacco products and even electronic-vapor smokes — and another that sets a minimum $10.50-a-pack price for tobacco cigarettes and steps up law enforcement on illegal tobacco sales.
"This will literally save many, many lives," said an emotional City Councilman James Gennaro, the bill's sponsor, whose mother and father died from tobacco-related illnesses. "I've lived with it, I've seen it … but I feel good today."
Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is a strong supporter of the tough smoking restrictions, has 30 days to sign the bills into law. The minimum age bill will take effect 180 days after enactment.
"We know that tobacco dependence can begin very soon after a young person first tries smoking so it's critical that we stop young people from smoking before they ever start," Bloomberg said in a statement.
With Wednesday's vote, New York is by far the biggest city to bar cigarette sales to 19- and 20-year-olds. Similar legislation is expected to come to a vote in Hawaii this December. The tobacco-buying age is 21 in Needham, Mass., and is poised to rise to 21 in January in nearby Canton, Mass. The state of New Jersey is also considering a similar proposal.
Lawmakers who pushed for the change site city statistics that show youth smoking rates have plateaued at 8.5 percent since 2007.
"We have to do more and that's what we're doing today," said City Council Speaker Christine Quinn. "We have a real chance of leading the country and the world."
The city's current age limit is 18, a federal minimum that's standard in many places. Smoking in city parks and beaches is already prohibited as it is in restaurants.
Advocates say higher age limits help prevent, or at least delay, young people from taking up a habit that remains the leading cause of preventable deaths nationwide. And supporters point to drinking-age laws as a precedent for setting the bar at 21.
But cigarette manufacturers have suggested young adult smokers may just turn to black-market merchants. And some smokers say it's unfair and patronizing to tell people considered mature enough to vote and serve in the military that they're not old enough to decide whether to smoke.
"New York City already has the highest cigarette tax rate and the highest cigarette smuggling rate in the country," said Bryan D. Hatchell , a spokesman for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, which makes Camel and other brands. "Those go hand in hand and this new law will only make the problem worse."
A coalition of bodegas and tobacco store owners funded by tobacco-manufactures also slammed the council's vote Wednesday, particularly the bill that sets the minimum prices and bans tobacco product discounts and coupons.
Ramon Murphy, president of the Bodega Association of the U.S., said the new rules will drive people to illegal sellers who do not care about the age of their buyers.
Another anti-smoking initiative pushed by the Bloomberg administration was previously shelved ahead of Wednesday's vote.
The mayor proposed in March a bill modeled on laws in Iceland, Canada, England and Ireland to require shops to keep tobacco products in cabinets, drawers, under the counter, behind a curtain or in other concealed spots until a customer asked for them. He said the displays "invite young people to experiment with tobacco."
But a similar measure had been rescinded in suburban Haverstraw, N.Y., after cigarette manufacturers sued. They said it violated their companies' free speech rights to communicate with consumers about their products' availability and prices.
The city Health Department said in a statement that the measure was taken off the table because "with the arrival of e-cigarettes, more time is needed to determine how best to address this problem."
E-cigarette makers say their products are healthier than tobacco, and a trade association leader bristled at the city's proposal to prevent people under 21 from buying them.
"Is 21 the right number? People can join the Army at 18," said Ray Story, founder of the Atlanta-based Tobacco Vapor Electronic Cigarette Association.


text:
The Heavier rains forecast for South America, continued worries about European Debt and a stronger US Dollar weighed on the grain and soy markets right out of hole this morning.
The good news is Asia will back in full-swing this morning as the Chinese New Year celebration comes to an end. Some believe there is a strong chance we may see additional demand or possible "switchbacks" to US corn and soy because of the logistical problems taking place in South America. There is also more talk circulating in the trade that Mexico and South Korea might be panicking a little and trying to get ahead of the next wave of Chinese buying.
I am telling you now, the Mexico thing could be much larger than most wires are reporting at this time. In case you missed it, the USDA reported sales on Friday of 170,200MT of corn to Mexico. Keep in mind this is about 500,000MT in just the past week. As the drought deepens, we will want to carefully monitor this situation.
The "outside" markets are trying to get there hands around rumors that Greece may soon be making some type of orderly exit from the European Union, or putting the final touches on a "major" debit reduction program. We will also need to keep our eyes on the latest round of problems being reported out of Portugal, along with Italy's 5 and 10 year bond auction this morning.
Let's not forget European banks will be in the "headlines" this week as their earnings will start being released tomorrow morning. The first out of the gates will be "Santander," who has more than 80 million customers in 40 different countries. Not only are they one of Europe's largest banks but they have grown to become one of the five largest banks in the world by profit. The markets seem to be worried about the European banks so we need to pay close attention.
Here at home traders will be watching the Florida Primary scheduled for this Tuesday. Mitt Romney has about a 10 point lead over Newt Gingrich, but Tea-Party favorite Herman Cain is now backing Newt. Even though reports show Romney is out spending Gingrich 4:1 in Florida, this race might end up being a little closer than it is currently being reported. If Newt finds a way to win Florida, Gold will quickly move towards $1800, and the US Dollar will give up ground. Net-net the results would more than likely be a "risk-on" type rally in commodities. On the flip side, if Romney takes Florida I would have to believe the US Dollar will continue to rally and some additional risk may come off the board. Keep your eye on politics as it continues to dictate Macro direction.
The Corn "Basis" is red-hot and seems to be the topic of many discussions in the Ag world. Even though the basis has now moved to record levels in many parts of the country (for this time of year), several in the industry believe we could push even higher, possibly not peaking until late-April or early-May. One concern I am starting to hear more about is grain "quality." Vomitoxin whispers seem to be circulating in greater frequency out in the Eastern corn-belt, especially in parts of Ohio and areas of Indiana. The problem is with Illinois having a mediocre crop, the traditional movement of corn from Illinois "East" is NOT happening a smoothly as easy as it has in the past. In fact a few respected sources in the industry now thinking both Ohio and Indiana could theoretical run out of corn before the 2012 harvest. Below are a few more reason I believe the "basis" is so much stronger this year than in years past, and why I believe it may continue to strengthen for the next couple of months:
- Demand Has Been Underestimated: There is talk in the trade that the USDA has simply underestimated domestic US corn demand. Obviously the feed usage number is highly debatable and thought to be too low. Many also believe the USDA has the Eastern corn-belt demand way too low. While others believe the USDA's ethanol and DDGS production ratios are way out-of-whack. Test-weights and quality could be throwing off the grind and blend ratios causing many more bushels to be used than what the USDA has estimated.
- Supply Has Been Overestimated: We have all heard the fire and rhetoric from those who believe the USDA estimated this year's corn crop way too high. Many very good sources have the average US corn yield sub 145 bushels per acre, along with fewer acres being harvested. If this is true then the corn simply isn't there and the basis has no where to go but higher.
- South American Infrastructure & Logistical Constraints: Increases in crusher capacity in large production areas of South America may be forcing the ports to bid up for soybeans more than in the past. We are also now hearing of boats running ashore in Argentina causing even further delays and back-ups. Between politics, labor strikes and transportation issues, South America continues to struggle moving the crop outside of it's borders in a quick and efficient fashion.
- Farmers Not Selling: The argument is, with the US farmer flush with cash from high prices, and more available on-farm storage than ever before, the bushels simply aren't being given up easily. There is also a belief that the "bankers" are much more willing to work with the farmers these days because of their improved balance sheets, therefore the farmers have much deeper lines of available credit and room to more easily maneuver.
Weather continues to be highly monitored around the globe. South American weather is obviously the most important at this juncture, but as more rains and cooler temps move into the forecast the trade seems to be somewhat tiring of the story. Rains are expected again in Argentine today with average coverage and about 1 inch of rainfall. Brazil should remain dry for the next few days with rains starting back up towards the end of the week. It looks as if during the next couple of weeks rains could be plentiful in many of the drier areas of Northern Argentina and Southern Brazil. This could obviously weigh heavily on the soybean trade.
South Africa also seems to be getting some much needed rainfall, and their situation might be improving as well. Russian winter-kill stories seem to have also subsided as more snowfall in many areas looks to have reduced the potential damage to less than 5% of the winter crop. Temps will still be extremely cold at -20F to -30F in many parts of the region, therefore we can not completely say they are out of the woods just yet. On the flip side, I am hearing Europe will be turning a little colder in the central and western areas, and there may in fact be some winter-kill rumors circulating later this week in regards to Germany and France. As a whole though I would have to say the global weather situation has improved, therefore the weather bulls may be tempted to pull back the reigns a little this week and remove a small portion of the "weather" premium that has been added as of late.
US Acreage talk is also starting to heat up. There is no question corn acres are heading higher, the question is how high? With a shrinking US cattle herd, you have to believe we will see more and more pastureland rolled into corn acres. Producers understand the first year a piece of "pasture ground" is brought back into production it is generally best to plant corn. The fertility rate will be the highest and there will be fewer complications with insects and disease going with the corn. Throw in the "preventive plant" acres and higher cash rents and I see no where for corn acres to go but higher. I will throw my hat in the ring by estimating 94.9 million corn acres will be planted in 2012. Unlike many, I also believe soybean acres are heading higher as well. I realize Informa and some other top analyst are calling for a reduction in soy acres...I just don't see it. All of the producers I have been talking to have been very pleased the past couple of years with their soybean yields and don't seem too excited about reducing their acres, with this in mind I am estimating we will jump higher to 76.9 million soy acres being planted.
Change of ownership has definitely been the theme taking place in the "paper" as of late, as traders who where bearish a month ago have become somewhat bullish, and some that were bullish have now become somewhat bearish. I am definitely not afraid of change, but believe as "risk managers" we need to carefully take notice. As Winston Churchill once said, "There is nothing wrong with change, just as long as it is in the right direction..."
This morning, traders on the floor were reporting aggressive selling and buying of combos (selling puts and buying calls or doing the opposite). I am also hearing a lot of talk about traders buying and or selling the straddles. Supposedly there was a ton of interest in "buying" the July Corn $6.50 straddles at less than $1.00 on Friday. With the volatility low this might make for a nice "trade."
For those of you not familiar with this strategy, all you are doing is simply buying the July $6.50 call and buying the July $6.50 put. Since it cost you about $0.95 cents to make this play, you will be looking for the market to make an "extreme" type move in "either" direction between now and the July option expiration. If you get a big move you could stand to make some good money. Ultimately if you hold through expiration you would simply subtract the settlement price from $6.50. Any thing greater than $0.95 cents would be your profit, any thing less would be a loss. This is NOT a margined position and your total loss can NOT exceed your cost to initiate. If you think we are going to see some extreme moves the next few months you may want to run this idea by your trade advisor to see if it is right for you.
As for today, you obviously saw trading was most painful for soybeans and will cause some short-term setbacks. The "bulls" will be patiently waiting for reports of additional end-user buying (from China, Mexico, South Korea, etc...) on the breaks. If more export sales and demand aren't announced, I am afraid the break could become more significant over the next couple of days on the improved weather models and stronger US Dollar. Some good news out of Europe or stronger Chinese economic data would go a long way to stop the bleeding.
*Cattle-and-Calves report released Friday by the USDA showed the US now has fewer cattle and calves than we have had in the past half century. To be specific we now have 90.8 million head, this is 2.7 million less than last year, and the lowest January 1 inventory of all cattle and calves since 1952. This is also well below what the trade had expected. Most of the traders I had been talking to thought we would stay above 91.25 million head. The biggest loss of cattle was in Texas, where numbers fell from 13.3 million a year ago to 11.9 million on Jan. 1st mostly due to the severe drought. Below are a few more of the highlights from the USDA report:
- Beef cows, at 29.9 million, were down 3 percent from January 1, 2011.
- All heifers 500 pounds and over, 19.4 million, down 1 percent.
- Beef replacement heifers, 5.2 million, up 1 percent.
- Other heifers, 9.6 million, down 2 percent.
- Steers weighing 500 pounds and over, 16.1 million, down 2 percent.
- Bulls weighing 500 pounds and over, 2.1 million, down 5 percent.
- Calves under 500 pounds, 14.1 million, down 3 percent.
- Cattle/calves on feed for slaughter in feedlots, 14.1 million, up 1 percent.
- The combined total of calves under 500 pounds, and other heifers and steers over 500 pounds outside of feedlots was 25.7 million, down 4 percent.
- Milk cows, at 9.2 million, were up 1 percent from January 1, 2011.
- Milk replacement heifers, 4.5 million, down 1 percent.


text:
A rebooted polo shirt
The polo shirt has gone through some ups and downs, from its sporting heyday of yesteryear to its current sullied reputation as the uniform of emphatically daddish dads. We're here to say that the polo shirt has returned and caught up with the times. So instead of oversized, shapeless reams of cotton, today's versions have a slim fit. And taking cues from both dress shirts and the better T-shirts on the market, today's polo shirts are the ideal summer garment, equally appropriate for beach-based romps or dinner out on the terrace, or wherever else your summer days and nights take you.
Heading the increasingly crowded field is the Pensacola polo from talented son-of-the-South Billy Reid. His version does away with the standard cotton piqué in favor of 100 percent cotton jersey, giving it the instantly soft, comfy feel of your favorite tee. Details like twill taping on the placket and vents, and cotton sheeting under the collar, also mean that his shirts will keep their structure better, and longer, than the polos of the past. We especially like that, contrary to the old laws, the sleeves aren't banded – an oddly constrictive detail that never made much sense to us. Put a Pensacola on and you'll remember why the polo became a menswear essential in the first place. [$88; billyreid.com]
For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!Back to top


text:
As the Overseer of our souls, Jesus keeps guard over us so that we will persevere in faith and inherit all the promises He has given to us. Even though Scripture constantly reminds us to persevere in the faith, we ...Read More
Servant of the Lord II
The atonement of Christ has healed us spiritually and physically. Even though many of us suffer from various ailments, the Servant of the Lord, Jesus Christ has secured our complete health in His perfect sacrifice. As we anticipate the return ...Read More
Servant of the Lord I
We see from today's passage that we should not be surprised when people reject the Messiah. We have been told ahead of time that people will do so. But we also know that some reject Jesus at first but later ...Read More
Jesus comes into the world as the covenant prosecutor par excellence. His exposition of the Law (Matt. 5–7) makes clear the extent to which we have violated the terms of the covenant. But this Prophet not only predicted judgment, He ...Read More
Too many people today think that God is not terribly concerned with sin and does not really get angry with His creation. But the book of Romans makes it clear that God's wrath will be poured out upon unrepentant sinners. ...Read More
Eastern religions point to a god who is a nebulous force or impersonal substance. However, the Bible tells us that God is a personal God who gives meaning and purpose to all things. Pray that you would not let our ...Read More
Son of Man
Enemies of the faith say that Jesus never claimed a special heavenly status or kingship for Himself. But, as we have seen, when Jesus calls Himself "Son of Man," He is claiming to be sovereign over all things. Pray for ...Read More
The early Christians endured martyrdom before confessing, "Caesar is lord." They knew that Jesus alone was divine, and they were unwilling to allow anyone to usurp His status. Our modern culture offers many competing lords for worship. Pray that you ...Read More
The Messianic Secret
Jesus did not keep His identity hidden from everyone, but revealed it to those who would be less likely to expect a political revolutionary (for example, John 4:26). In order that you would not have false expectations about Jesus' work ...Read More
The Christ
The word christ corresponds to the Hebrew word messiah, which also means "anointed one." Although these are comon words in Scripture, they are most fully expresed in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is "the radiance of the glory of God ...Read More


text:
KITTERY, Maine — The U.S. Navy is implementing new cost-control measures that will impact Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, including a civilian hiring freeze and termination of temporary workers.
The Navy is looking to reduce "base operating support" by 10 percent in the coming year, Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, chief of naval operations, wrote in a Jan. 25 memo.
The cuts will reduce the Navy's shipyard workforce by an estimated 3,000 employees, according to a recent report from the Navy Times.
The reductions are part of a package being put in place by the Navy to address an "immediate budget shortfall" in fiscal 2013.
Lawmakers have failed to pass a new defense budget, and the Navy is continuing to receive the same funding as it did last year through a so-called "continuing resolution."
Greenert is advising top Navy officials to prepare for actions being taken immediately to reduce costs. The Navy's priority in absorbing the cuts will be to preserve "overseas and forward-deployed readiness," according to Greenert.
Civilian hiring was frozen in January, and all temporary employees will be released at the conclusion of their existing contracts, the memo states. Base operating support will be cut by 10 percent, and facilities sustainment expenditures will be cut by 50 percent.
This would result in cutting 1,121 temporary workers, according to the memo.
Modernization of all piers, runways, buildings, barracks and other facilities has been halted through September 2013. And beginning Feb. 15, all private-sector surface ship maintenance availabilities scheduled for the third and fourth quarter of the fiscal year will be canceled. Aircraft depot maintenance will also be canceled.
Temporary travel and professional training not deemed "mission essential," such as conferences and seminars, has also been curtailed.
Even steeper cuts take effect in March unless Congress reaches a compromise to avert the so-called "fiscal cliff," a series of automatic spending cuts. If the cuts are triggered, the Navy will face an additional $4 billion in spending reductions for fiscal year 2013.
The Navy's preliminary plan for responding to the cuts includes civilian furloughs of up to 22 days. Some emergency repairs would also be deferred, including the remainder of the $292 million worth of repairs slated for the USS Miami.
The Miami, a nuclear submarine, was ravaged by an arson fire last year while in dry dock at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Restoring the ship is an effort that will cost close to $450 million, according to Navy estimates.
A portion of the funding has already been allocated, but another $300 million in additional restoration work is required.
If sequestration goes into effect, the Navy would also freeze all deployments to the Caribbean and South America, limit European deployments to only those supporting ballistic missile defense missions, reduce the number of ships and aircraft deployed, reduce days at sea and flying hours across the entire force and cease stateside training, flying, steaming and other operations for the majority of ships and aircraft preparing to deploy.
At Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, immediate cost-cutting measures have already been put in place, including a "hard hiring freeze." It will remain in effect until at least March 2, according to information provided by shipyard public affairs officer Deborah White. All "non-mission essential" travel and professional training has also been halted, and overtime work has been reduced, White said in an email last week.
Temporary personnel at Navy installations across the country will likely be terminated on Feb. 15. In all, 34 temporary employees will be cut at the four naval shipyards in the US, though only one is employed locally.
"The Navy hopes these layoffs are temporary and may be reversed if Congress passes a Fiscal 2013 Defense Appropriations Bill or grants Navy permission to reprogram funds from investment accounts to operations and maintenance accounts," White wrote in an email.
If sequestration takes effect, civilian furloughs would begin at the direction of the White House. Furlough decisions would be "centrally managed" by the Department of Defense, according to White. The plan under discussion calls for civilians to be furloughed one day per week for 22 weeks, she wrote.
As Congress continues to seek a compromise on the country's spending and deficits, the livelihoods of hundreds of shipyard workers are being impacted, according to Paul O'Connor, president of the Metal Trades Council.
"There are so many landmines here — the debt ceiling, sequestration and the continuing resolution," O'Connor said last week. "Any one of those three could devastate our shipyard."
For New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Greenert's recent memo on the Navy cuts underscores the fact that sequestration would impact both the country's national security and the economy.
"We need a comprehensive plan to rein in our debt and deficits, but not in a way that puts our vital national security and economic interests at risk," Shaheen said in a written statement. "I'm disappointed that we missed an opportunity to work in this manner last year during the fiscal cliff negotiations but am hopeful that moving forward we can take steps to avoid the kinds of actions that the Navy announced last week."
In a Feb. 1 letter addressed to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Shaheen was joined by Maine Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican, in asking for a "balanced, bipartisan deficit reduction solution."
They pointed out that it's been nearly a year and a half since the U.S. Congress passed the Budget Control Act, which was designed to force comprehensive action. Instead, inaction is yielding negative consequences for "critical defense facilities" like Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, the senators wrote.
They encouraged Reid and McConnell to "stop avoiding the choices we have to make" regarding spending, including setting domestic, mandatory, and defense budgets, and tackling comprehensive tax reform.
In response to questions about impacts to the shipyard, Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte, of New Hampshire, said she plans to continue pushing for an alternative to sequestration.
"Congress needs to do its job and pass a budget and appropriations bills on time," she said in a written statement. "As I have done for over a year, I will continue to work to replace sequestration — and protect Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and New Hampshire's defense suppliers — by finding responsible spending cuts elsewhere in the budget."


text:
Just looking at my nephews, they moved into the video game era much earlier and left "toys" behind about that time too, for the most part. The one exception to that is LEGOs, they still like, ask for, and "play" with those (they are 11 and 13 years old). Action figures almost seem like an 8 and under thing these days (or 20 and over), so things have changed a lot.
They can do anything their parents wallets allow. The price is right. Its all always available. It's diverse.
Page created in 0.051 seconds with 17 queries.


text:
Charles Dharapak / AP
Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney sings "America the Beautiful" with Meat Loaf.
It's official! Meat Loaf has thrown his support behind Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney in a big way. And lest anyone think the rocker isn't passionate about his endorsement, his performance at a Thursday rally in Defiance, Ohio, sure proves otherwise.
The singer joined country music stars Randy Owens, John Rich (who knows Meat Loaf well from their "The Celebrity Apprentice" days) and Big Kenny, as well as the presidential hopeful, for a particularly rousing rendition of "America the Beautiful."
The performance started off pretty standard, with Owens and Rich serenading the crowd in the traditional, if a bit staid, patriotic style. But soon Meat Loaf, who's not exactly known for holding back, decided to show his fellow singers and Romney, how it's done.
Channeling his trademark "Bat Out of Hell" enthusiasm (though most definitely not his "Bat Out of Hell" vocal stylings), Meat Loaf shouted out "Aaah! Go ahead now brother!" to Owens, before going ahead himself.
That's when the Grammy-winner's heartfelt wails began and continued straight through to the end of the number, despite looks of surprise, amusement and possibly concern from those who shared the spotlight with him.
Related content:
- President Barack Obama to his kids: 'Just act like you're listening to me'
- David Letterman takes Donald Trump to task over his Obama offer
- Tina Fey slams Senate candidate over 'legitimate rape' remarks
- Jon Stewart slams GOP senators for voting down bill to help vets
- President Obama zings Donald Trump on 'Tonight Show' visit


text:
Five Labs has created a Facebook tool that analyzes personalities based on a person's Facebook profile, according to reports.
The Big Five personality analysis reads posts and analyzes language and measures agreeability, neuroticism, conscientiousness, extraversion and openness, according to the Muse. Although it's likely that employers will use the analysis to weed out candidates, it can be done by anyone who wants to see what Facebook seems to think people are like.
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
By logging in, a user can see one's own profile and those of friends and public figures and see how one compares. Agreeability supposedly shows how "cooperative and trusting" a person is, while neuroticism means one usually has negative or "unpleasant" emotions. Being conscientious means you're dependable, extraversion means how outgoing you seem and openness is supposed to indicate "how intellectually curious you are," according to the report. Yes, intelligence really isn't about openness except in Facebook's world where privacy equals stupidity, being uncool or tragically isolated.
While people may make judgments on personality profiles, it's also subjective. People portray themselves on Facebook perhaps in a different way than they present in real life. For now it's also only visible by friends, but it could easily be changed to let most people view personality profiles -- something that would be valuable to hiring managers or companies looking to weed out job candidates. With that in mind, try to post less incriminating posts or photos.


text:
Recently a friend of mine has asked me how to best remove all the personal files from her computer before selling it...and I realized I honestly have no idea.
My first thought was wiping the hard drive with CCleaner and a secure wiping mode, but that would mean reinstalling Windows, which would require a product key, which I don't have, and I imagine she doesn't either (since Walmart-bought computers haven't come with CDs for restoring the system in a long time...)
The second thought was going through and manually deleting all the personal files...but what if I miss something? Something vital like tax information due to an oversight?
Surely there has to be software (hopefully freeware/open source) for the job of finding non-vital files.
Anyone ever been in this situation? Any help would be greatly appreciated
Edit: I really hope I posted this in the right spot...
This post has been edited by ShaneK: 13 January 2012 - 11:42 AM


text:
Sepp Blatter is looking forward to the return of Luis Suarez, just 18 days into the Uruguay striker's global ban for biting Giorgio Chiellini.
The FIFA president spoke of his appreciation for what the 27-year-old can do on the pitch, while empathising over the severity of his punishment.
Suarez was banned from all football-related activity for four months after sinking his teeth into the shoulder of the Italy defender during their FIFA World Cup group match in Natal.
Suarez has since agreed a move from Liverpool to Barcelona and Blatter believes he will come back at a high level despite not being able to have any involvement in the game until late October.
"As a footballer I feel with him that such a punishment... it hurts, it hurts," Blatter said at his final press conference in Rio.
"But as FIFA president I have to accept the decisions that are taken by our independent committees.
"I do hope that this player will come back to football because on the pitch what he has shown so far... I have seen his capacity technically and tactically to do what he can do - his smelling of the goal...
"I do hope he will be back, He is now in one of the greatest clubs in the world."
Barcelona hope to have the Uruguay international available for selection sooner than originally thought after his case was taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.


text:
Antitrust Case Filings
Antitrust Case Filings
To filter the list of cases, select desired options from the left navigation pane.
View the list of NAICS and SIC industry codes used by the Division. To view all industry codes, visit Census.gov.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1
|Case Open Date
|Incident Date
|Case Type
|Federal Court
|Industry Code
|U.S. v. National Association of Police Equipment Distributors, Inc
|July 29, 2002
|Civil Non-Merger
|Florida, Southern District
|Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses, Police Protection


text:
Because of Thanksgiving weekend, the #HITsm chat took a break. However, it was back this week, and there were five questions, rather than the usual four. The topics came from @2healthguru, and revolved around the role of HIT in ACOs.
The first question asked was: Many accept at face value that HIT is essential for effective #ACO implementation, do you agree? Why? Why not? There weren't a lot of responses to this first question Many accept at face value that HIT is essential for effective #ACO implementation, do you agree? Why? Why not?
There weren't as many responses to this question as there sometimes are, but here are a few of the tweets that seemed most popular:
@healthstandards T1. Defintely the 'connectivity spine' but connecting what?? Cowboys or pit crews essential to ACO. #HITsm #ACO
— Gregg Masters (@2healthguru) November 30, 2012
T1: Absolutely agree. #HIT fuels more efficient collaboration, which is hugely important factor for #ACO#hitsm
— TigerText (@TigerTextApp) November 30, 2012
T1: It's like doing algebra without a calculator: it can be done, but why not use tools to make it easier? #HITsm
— Mark James (@cardiologyHIT) November 30, 2012
The next topic focused on this: Where does culture fit in the mix? Can you graft 'coordinated care' onto a cowboy (or cowgirl) referral network? This question sparked a lively discussion with a lot of good points made. It was hard to pick just a few, but here is a conversation I feel is worth noting. Another participant called out for @BangorBeacon's thoughts on this topic, because apparently it's his area of expertise. Although he didn't seem to have a lot of time during the chat today, he did have something to say. Here is one of the conversations I saw.
Even with our ACO, we are staffing up on care coordinators… warm handoffs are the most effective way to help patients #HITsm
— Bangor Beacon(@BangorBeacon) November 30, 2012
@bangorbeacon Is that more for the patients' peace of mind or for communication btw care providers of care history? #HITsm
— Chad Johnson (@OchoTex) November 30, 2012
@ochotex It's both. Through Beacon we've seen the benefit of the relationship of a care coordinator for both provider and patient #HITsm — Bangor Beacon(@BangorBeacon) November 30, 2012
@bangorbeacon @ochotex Still need a human hand to guide, comfort, and answer questions…. #HITsm — Jon Mertz (@jonmertz) November 30, 2012
The next item on the agenda was, how important is understanding culture and organizational workflows to achieve coordinated, seamless care? This was another interesting topic, with equally interesting responses. I thought this way a unique way of expressing the idea.
T3: Culture eats strategy for lunch.#HITsm — Jarrod Sandel (@JarrodSandel) November 30, 2012
I also thought this tweet went well with the topic:
We need more hospitals and clinics willing to consider new workflows that technology makes possible.Change can be good.#HITsm
— docBeatApp (@docBeatApp) November 30, 2012
Topic four was: What will it take for the #ACO and #HealthIT system to work as developed? When I saw this, I predicted there would be a lot of different answers, and I was right. Here are a few of the suggestions that stood out to me:
Examples? The patient is PART of the team. You work WITH the patient to set attainable goals. It takes a lot more 1-1 time. #HITsm
— Bangor Beacon(@BangorBeacon) November 30, 2012
T4: I think connectivity is key to any #ACO system.#HITsm
— docBeatApp (@docBeatApp) November 30, 2012
T3: Physician culture is transitioning rapidly to consumer mobile devices – #HIT must follow suit #hitsm
— TigerText (@TigerTextApp) November 30, 2012
And finally (still with me?), the extra question — which is a little more up my alley: Can social media 'detect and amplify' (preconfigure) preferred community referral interactions to grease the skids of an #ACO?
I think that most everyone had checked out by this point, but this is my favorite response:
T5: if hospitals can get it right, social media could help them gain access & trust of community & info out there #HITsm <still a bit uphill
— Melissa Cole(@MelissaColeHTR) November 30, 2012


text:
Well I decided to take the plunge. I got an oval of Kato Unitrack, a little N wheel n-switcher and an N Civil war boxcar ( 600,000 dead was not too civil) This should make a small loco, and a trailing car to hold the radio gear. I've been musing this step for a while now, simply to try to get more track into a small layout. GN15 on hold for the moment whilst G9 takes over. I gotta get some more track, a couple of turnouts and maybe a couple of more cars to butcher. Working on another paper loco body for this new N power unit. Paper rules for speed and looks "not too bad" coming from me.
Question? Can other N track mate with Unitrack?


text:
Diaper 2 Inserts box Lavender One Size
Imagine how cute your baby will look in these! Charlie Banana¨ Patented Reusable One Size Hybrid Diapers are a great alternative to disposable diapers. Cloth-diapered babies tend to experience less diaper rashes, less blowouts, better sleep, and more comfort. These diapers have a smart pocket for slipping in either washable or disposable inserts, giving you the best of both worlds. Cloth-diapered children tend to potty train earlier as they feel the wetness when they pee and establish a connection. This doesn't happen with disposable diapers. With fun bright colors and designs, Charlie Banana¨ Reusable Cloth Diapers will make every baby even more adorable. Each diaper comes with two STANDARD inserts that are highly absorbent and soft, making them great for both daily and overnight use. May also be used with deluxe or hemp OS inserts (sold separately). Eco fact: Disposable diapers take 500 years to decompose and you'll use 6,000 disposable diapers during your child's first two years. Leave a legacy for your child by contributing to a cleaner environment for their future and save a bundle.
● Easy to use ● Eco-friendly ● Healthy ● Economical ● Reusable ● Hybrid ● One size fits all ● Easy sizing adjustment system ● Superior absorbency ● Leak-proof leg casing ● Wide-back elastic ● Front flap opening ● 1 Year Warranty
|One Size Diapers Size Chart
|Approx. Age
|Newborn-30 Months
|6-35 lbs/3-16 kg
|10-24 in/25-60 cm
|4.5-14 in/11.5-35 cm
|12-16 in/30-40 cm
Materials / IngredientsShell-Face: 100% Polyester, Back: Polyurethane / Lining: 100% Polyester / Insert: 88% Biconstituent Fiber (82% Polyester 18% Nylon) 12% Polyester
InstructionsWe recommend that you stuff your Charlie Banana® Diaper with 2 inserts for longer outings, during nap time, and night time. Some children are heavier wetters than others. You can have one or two inserts in the pocket. Do not use any ointment, cream, or diaper rash cream while using Charlie Banana® One Size Diapers. This will keep your inserts' absorption to its maximum performance. If you have any questions about this product, please contact email@example.com.
Care InstructionsMachine wash cold or warm wash to a maximum of 40ÁC. Use any eco-friendly detergent, only half of the recommended amount is needed. Do not use fabric softener or bleach. Do not iron. Tumble dry low or hang dry.
CB Tip
AwardsMother & Baby Awards 2017, Eco Excellence Awards 2016, Babylist Best 2016, Eco Excellence Awards 2015, Mother and baby Bronze Awards 2010, The Kiwi Awards 2011


text:
The frangipane almond mix is lovely with many fruits. In winter, use poached pears, quinces or prunes; in summer, try cherries, peaches, raspberries or figs.
1 sheet good-quality sweet shortcrust pastry (store-bought or home-made)
1 Beurré Bosc pear, lightly poached, then cut into quarters, core removed
1/2 cup toasted slivered almonds, to serve
1/2 cup whipped fresh cream
2 egg whites, whipped with 1/4 cup caster sugar to firm, glossy peaks
1 cup mascarpone
125g unsalted butter, softened
1 cup icing sugar
1 1/4 cups ground almonds
3 eggs
1/4 cup plain flour
Serves 10
For the icing, gently fold the cream and egg white through the mascarpone.
Lightly butter and flour a fluted, loose-bottom flan tin (24cm in diameter and 2.5cm deep). Roll out the pastry until it is about 3mm thick. Cut out a circle allowing a 5cm border around the flan tin base. Roll the pastry over a rolling pin and gently ease it into the tin, pushing the sides in gently. Allow to rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
Trim excess pastry and prick the base a few times with a fork to prevent blistering and rising. Line the tart tin with foil, add raw rice and blind-bake for 20-25 minutes. Remove from the oven, lift out the foil and rice. Return the pastry case to the oven and bake for 5-10 minutes or until the base has dried out.
For the frangipane, use an electric mixer to beat the butter until light and creamy. Add the sugar and mix until well combined, then add the ground almonds and mix well. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, mixing well after each addition. Gently stir in the flour and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Place the pear pieces neatly in the pastry shell, and gently spoon in the frangipane. Bake for 35-40 minutes at 180°C. Cool until just warm, and remove from the tin. Allow to come to room temperature, top with the mascarpone mix and toasted almonds.
For the lamb marinade, you can use whatever herbs or spices you like. Remember that some, such as clove or cardamom, can be overpowering, so keep the flavours balanced. Use as much - or as little - chilli as you like.
The marinade works well with lamb leg or shoulder, chicken or pork. A sweet potato or pumpkin puree would also be delicious, instead of parsnip.
12 good-quality lamb cutlets
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tsp sea salt
2 tbsp chopped marjoram
1 tbsp chopped thyme
3 tbsp chopped flat-leaf parsley
1 tbsp cumin
1/2 tsp chilli flakes
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus extra
freshly ground pepper
lemon wedges
Parsnip puree
60g unsalted butter, diced, plus extra
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 small brown onion, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 parsnips, peeled, cored and diced
chicken stock (or water), to just cover
sea salt and freshly ground pepper
juice of 1 lemon, or to taste
Serves 4
Remove the cutlets from the refrigerator 1 hour before cooking.
For the puree, place 60g butter and 2 tbsp olive oil in a saucepan with a lid over a low-medium heat, and cook the onion and garlic slowly, without colouring, for 8 minutes or until soft and sweet. Add the parsnips and cook for a further 5 minutes, then add the stock and simmer for 30-45 minutes or until most of the liquid has evaporated. Season well, then blend to a smooth puree, adding more butter, if necessary. Add lemon juice to your liking.
Set aside and keep warm.
For the marinade, use a mortar and pestle to pound the garlic and salt to a paste. Add the herbs and pound for about 2 minutes. Add the cumin, chilli flakes and 1/4 cup olive oil and stir until completely incorporated.
Mix the cutlets with the marinade and leave for 1 hour to infuse.
Preheat a barbecue. When hot, place the cutlets on the hottest part. Cook for 2 minutes on 1 side, then turn over and cook for a further 1-2 minutes, or until done to your liking. Transfer to a plate, cover with foil and set aside to rest in a warm place.
Place 3 lamb cutlets on each plate. Mix a little extra olive oil with the juices from the resting plate, and pour over the cutlets. Give a good grind of fresh pepper. Place a spoonful of parsnip puree on each plate (or serve it in a bowl in the middle of the table). Finish with lemon wedges on the side.
The 2010 M. Chapoutier Domaine Tournon Shay's Flat Shiraz, from Victoria's Pyrenees ($30), is a result of an exciting project by French vigneron Michel Chapoutier. It shows deep black fruits, and savoury and spicy notes. A great match for the flavours of the lamb cutlets.
Source: Good Weekend For regular updates on upcoming stories and events visit the Good Weekend Facebook page.
Follow Cuisine on Twitter @Cuisine


text:
Nice exit French Cup after Lorient defeat; flying Marseille beat Toulouse
French league leaders Nice have only the title race to focus on for the rest of the season after going out of the Coupe de France on Sunday, losing 2-1 away to Lorient.
Lorient, in last place in Ligue 1, saw off Nice despite the visitors taking the lead through top scorer Alassane Plea near the end of the first half.
The hosts equalised with a fine individual goal from former Arsenal forward Jeremie Aliadiere in the 71st minute, and Algerian midfielder Walid Mesloub's winner shortly after sent...


text:
Archive for December 7th, 2012
Friday Cat Blogging
Posted by MEC on December 7, 2012
Posted in Alexander the Great, Friday Cat Blogging | 2 Comments »
Soros Gave $1 Million To Obama. Adelson Gave $10 Million (At Least) To Romney.
Posted by Phoenix Woman on December 7, 2012
Not that this news item from late September will shut up the FOX News dupes, but it must be said:
Liberal billionaire George Soros is giving $1 million to a "super" political action committee backing President Barack Obama. Soros also gave another $500,000 to two congressional super PACs, House Majority PAC and Majority PAC.
Soros gave $1 million earlier this year to the pro-Democratic super PAC American Bridge 21st Century.
Now let's compare these amounts, $2.5 million all told, with what Sheldon Adelson gave to Mitt Romney and the downticket Republicans:
New campaign finance figures for the final two weeks of the 2012 campaign show that Las Vegas casino magnate Sheldon Adelson and his wife gave $10 million to a "super" political committee supporting losing GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
Adelson, who owns casinos in Las Vegas, Singapore and the Chinese territory of Macau, has been the top donor in the 2012 race, providing more than $54 million supporting Romney and other GOP presidential candidates and an additional $18 million for other Republicans.
$72 million to $2.5 million. Hmmmm.
Sounds like Republicans are 28.8 times more indebted to Sheldon Adelson than Democrats are to George Soros. Who's puppeting who here, now?
Posted in 2012 | Comments Off on Soros Gave $1 Million To Obama. Adelson Gave $10 Million (At Least) To Romney.
We can do this: oppose Murdoch gaining more control over US media
Posted by Charles II on December 7, 2012
The FCC thinks there isn't any opposition to Murdoch taking over US media and turning it all into the cesspool FOX is.
Murdoch has asked the FCC to change its rules to permit him to take over the Chicago Trib and the LA Times.
The FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski is about to give Murdoch what he wants.
But he hasn't heard from you.
Let him know what you think here.
(via Ritholtz)
Posted in Media machine, Rupert Murdoch | 3 Comments »


text:
Michael Jackson's three children are dealing with their dad's untimely death with the help of therapy, LaToya Jackson said Tuesday as she revealed the kids spend their nights crying and grieving over their father's passing.
Prince, 12, Paris, 11 and Prince Michael, 7, also called "Blanket," are so upset over Jackson's death they can't see images of their father or speak about his passing, Jackson told London's The Mirror.
"Blanket is just a very sad, shy little boys. He cries -- he really does cry. It's so painful for him," LaToya Jackson said.
U.S. & World
Prince, too, is grieving over Jackson's death -- he "just doesn't want to speak about it," she said. "He won't even watch the DVDs -- it's too soon," she said.
"They all go to therapy and I truly hope Prince especially will be able to open up," LaToya said.
LaToya said Paris is doing the best of the three, and that she covered her room in Jackson posters to pay homage to her father. "she's doing very well, writes a lot and she wears his shirts every day," LaToya said.
The Jackson family has been divided over whether or not they'll watch the upcoming Jackson documentary "This Is It," set to be released Wednesday across the country. It hasn't been revealed whether the children's guardian, grandmother Katherine Jackson, will allow the kids to see the film.


text:
UK mineral salt brand Westlab has created what it calls a 'super-charged' range of bath salts combining mineral salts and essential oils with plant extracts.
Vitamin brand told not to repeat COVID-19 claims
May 27, 2020 Jim Manson
Vitamin brand Revival Shots has had social media ads banned by the Advertising Standards Authority for making 'misleading' COVID-19 claims.
Lockdown sparks appetite for health and wellness content, says YouGov
Magazine app Readly's new Wellness Barometer reports a shift in public reading habits during the coronavirus crisis, with health and wellness centre stage.
Income often higher on organic farms says SA report
A Soil Association report reveals that although business output is similar on organic and non-organic farms, net farm income is often higher on organic.
Viridian champions health stores with radio campaign
Viridian Nutrition has launched a new campaign to boost awareness of health food stores as 'a community resource and hub for preventative care'.
Inside insomnia
April 28, 2020 Jane Wolfe
A problem for Brits at the best of times, sleep issues are being exacerbated due to the pandemic, leaving many feeling exhausted, reports Jane Wolfe.
Deep freeze
Ever wondered how to make ice cream so smooth even the toughest connoisseur would be fooled? Yorica is here to explain (some of) its secrets to success.
Operation Healthy Lockdown
As health stores find themselves on the frontline of a national effort to keep the UK nourished, Jim Manson reports on Operation Healthy Lockdown.
After the gold rush
CBD is the fastest growing category the natural products sector has ever known. But a new phase is being ushered in, Jim Manson reports.
NaturalProducts Sponsored
Mineral-rich New Zealand volcanic mud delivers instant illumination for your skin
It may seem counter-intuitive to apply mud to your skin in order to cleanse it, but the skin-enhancing benefits of mineral-rich mud have been harnessed for beauty treatments all over the world for centuries. Antipodes® uses white volcanic mud sourced from central New Zealand's dramatic central plateau in its new Halo Skin-Brightening Facial Mud Mask […]
Garden of Life®
Your body was created to eat, process, and derive its nutrition from food—real, healthy food. Garden of life® are fanatical about food. The core ethos is that they always start with real foods and these (foods) provide the formulas, the power to be at their best. Completely free of any synthetically created, chemical breakthroughs from […]
Leading the discussion around sustainability in retail
The Sustainability in Retail Forum is the new conference designed to help senior executives within leading retailers from across the Nordic region meet the ever-evolving challenges around sustainability. Taking place 13 November 2019, at MalmöMässan, Sweden, the event is co-located with the award-winning trade exhibitions Nordic Organic Food Fair and Eco Life Scandinavia. Facing the […]
The Health Store Open Day is back!
The Health Store's ever popular Open Day makes a welcome return on Sunday 8th September. Paul Rideout, Sales & Marketing Manager at the Health Store, explains "The Open Day is back by popular demand! This will be our 8th Open Day since we launched the event back in 2009 and it is more popular than […]


text:
CHANHASSEN, MN -- Franchise Market Magazine ranked Snap Fitness No. 1 on its annual list of the top 100 new franchises in the United States in its fall 2007 issue.
The ranking is based on the number of franchise units a company has as well as a company's growth rate. Snap Fitness had a 750 percent expansion increase between September 2006 and its projected total of clubs in December 2007. The 24-hour, seven-days-a-week fitness club company had 423 clubs at the beginning of 2007 and plans to end the year with more than 1,200 units. An additional 600 Snap Fitness units are projected for next year, including expansion into Canada.
Snap Fitness, founded in 2003, is the first company to achieve a No. 1 ranking by Franchise Market Magazine, which released its inaugural Top 100 list last year by listing the companies alphabetically.
"We're honored to be ranked first among this group of innovative, fast-growth concepts," says Peter Taunton, founder and CEO of Snap Fitness. "Our top ranking is further proof that our business model works. We're now taking steps to balance growth with long-term sustainability and maximize our franchisees' investments."
A total of eight fitness-related franchisors are included in this year's Top 100 list, including club companies Anytime Fitness (No. 3), Fit Zone for Women (No. 46) and Liberty Weight Loss (No. 94). Those three club companies and Cuts Fitness made last year's Franchise Market Magazine Top 100 list.


text:
Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in that Deed to Secure Debt dated March 18, 2011, from GREG MORRIS to WALDO LOTT, recorded in Deed Book 475, page 660, in the office of the Clerk of Superior Court, Appling County, Georgia, the undersigned will sell at public outcry during the legal hours of sale before the door of the Courthouse in Appling County, Georgia, on the first Tuesday in November, 2012, to the highest bidder for cash, the following described property:
All that certain tract or parcel of land, situate lying and being in the Second Land District, Appling County, Georgia, consisting of 14.79 acres, more or less, of original land lot no.89and bound as follows: North by lands of Roger Smith; East by Tract No. 2 of the hereinafter described plat; South by a county and West by lands of Wilber and Janet Hendrix. Said tract of land being more completely described as follows: To find the point of commencement, start at the point of intersection of the North right-of-way line of a county road with the west line of original land lot now 89 and run North 85°47'52" East a distance of 244.91 feet to the point of commencement and from said point of commencement run North 11°31'57" West a distance of 1,045.2 feet; thence run North 85°47'52" East a distance of 625.75 feet; thence run South 11°06'43" East a distance of 1,043.03 feet; thence run South 85°47'52" West a distance of 617.88 feet to the point of beginning.
LESS AND EXCEPT: 8 acres conveyed to Waldo Lott by deed dated November 22, 1989, recorded deed book 243, page 835.
The debt secured by said Deed to Secure Debt is evidenced by a note dated March 14, 2011, in favor of WALDO LOTT. The debt secured by said Deed to Secure Debt and evidenced by said note has been and is hereby declared due and payable because of the Grantor's failure to comply with certain terms and conditions in said note and Deed to Secure Debt, including, among other possible events of default, non-payment of the monthly installments on said loan. The debt remaining in default, this sale will be made for the purpose of paying said indebtedness including all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, attorney fees and all expenses of said sale.
The property will be sold as the property of Greg Morris who is, to the best of the undersigned's knowledge and belief, the party in possession of said property.
Notice has been and is hereby given of intention to enforce provisions for collection of attorney's fees and foreclosure expenses in accordance with legal requirements and the terms of said note and Deed to Secure Debt.
The person that has full authority to negotiate, amend, and modify all the terms of the Deed to Secure Debt with the Debtor is WALDO LOTT, 1457 Glory Hole Road, Baxley, GA. Please understand that the secured creditor is not required by law to negotiate, mend, or modify the terms of the Deed to Secure Debt or Note.
Terms: Cash. Purchaser to pay for title, State of Georgia real estate transfer tax and all taxes that may be due on said real property. Said property will be sold subject to any and all unpaid taxes, assessments, liens, encumbrances, restrictions, covenants, and matters of record, if any.
The proceeds of said sale will be applied to said indebtedness owed to the undersigned and all expenses of said sale, including attorney fees, all as provided in said Deed to Secure Debt, and the balance, if any, will be distributed as provided by law.
4 South Lee Street
Baxley, Georgia 31513
(912) 367-2500
10-10, 10-17, 10-24 & 10-31
gpn11 NOTICE OF SALE UNDER POWER STATE OF GEORGIA, COUNTY OF APPLING
No Trackbacks
Display comments as (Linear | Threaded)


text:
Food & Drink
Give children the gift of travel
By Katia Hetter, CNN • Published 20th December 2012
If Melika Nixon has a free moment and a few extra dollars, she's planning a trip with her 7-year-old twin boys.
Even though one of her sons has serious medical issues, including a kidney transplant and feeding tube, it doesn't stop this Huntsville, Alabama, family. The trip list has included Asheville, North Carolina; Atlanta; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Chicago; Louisville, Kentucky; Nashville and the Bahamas.
"Travel is a way of life for us," says Nixon, a single mother. "It is a way for us to explore cultures, people, food and places, and to see that there is more to life than just our way of doing things. Travel is a way for me to teach my children respect (for) others and appreciation for life."
They also learn to take care of themselves in new places. "They learn that exploring is a must. They learn to ask questions. They learn how to navigate cities. First and foremost, they have to know the name of our hotel and how to get back to it if they were to ever get lost. They learn that life must be lived and not watched on TV or played on a video game."
Put something under the tree
This holiday season, as parents struggle to figure out what toys to give their children, consider giving the gift of travel. Although none of the gifts Nixon has given her sons can be found under a tree, they're likely to last longer than the latest computer gadget or hottest electronic toy.
Younger children won't really understand that a future ski trip to Colorado, swimming in Santa Monica, California, or a week at Disney World is a (pricey) present, says Eileen Gunn, founder of the family travel website
That's why it's a good idea to wrap a travel-related present to put under the tree. It can be a stuffed elephant for a trip to the San Diego Zoo or a Disney movie for Disney World or the "Anne of Green Gables" books for a trip to Prince Edward Island in Canada.
Robert Reid is giving his daughter a sleeping bag for Christmas, part of his plan to take the 3-year-old on a camping trip next year. He got the idea from building forts and tents in their home.
As he starts to plan the trip, "I'm looking at her interests," says Reid,
Lonely Planet
's U.S travel editor and contributor to the publisher's "Not For Parents" book series. "I can't wait to do more trips and plan with her. I can't wait."
Maps, landmarks and animals
Teach them geography by giving them age-appropriate atlases and travel books for the journey, and hang a large map on their bedroom wall where they can pinpoint their travels, suggests Jennifer Emmett, editorial director of
National Geographic Society
's children's books department.
Older children and teenagers will be more interested in doing research for your travels if you let them help choose activities at your destination and or even help choose the places to visit.
"We find that kids get genuinely inspired by the idea of seeing places and landmarks they think are cool," Emmett says.
Even younger children who can't read can get excited if you link their favorite animals to the places you're visiting, such as crocodiles in Florida or bears in Alaska.
"Young kids latch on to the fact that China is where pandas live, Australia is the home of kangaroos, and lions are in Africa, and on and on," Emmett says. "Linking animals to a place makes the place come alive in kids' heads."
Little children will need a bit more care and feeding on any vacation, however. Don't assume they will suddenly get more energy or need less sleep when they're on vacation.
"Younger kids need to stick to those schedules," says Lissa Poirot, editor of
. "You need to give them their snacks and nap time. You don't have to see it all in one day."
Poirot recommends finding a hotel with a good swimming pool, where children of all ages will like to relax.
'It's not the destination, it's the journey'
Dawn Wilson loves traveling and is proud her children know how to travel, whether the family of five hits the road or boards an airplane.
When they see her organizing her car, her children ages 9, 7 and 5 ask if she's going on a trip and if they can join her. When they head to the airport, the two older children know how to carry their luggage, and the youngest has stopped bolting from her parents.
When any trip is announced, "They ask, 'Are we taking the short way or the long way?' " says Wilson, a stay-at-home mom in Dallas. "Meaning: Are we driving or flying? They're used to spending a day or two in the car, and they're getting a sense of how big the country is."
Wilson makes sure the destination has something for the children to enjoy, whether it's a beach, pool or amusement park. They often took night walks on the beach during their Vero Beach, Florida, trip, looking for crabs because the 7-year-old inspired them to do so.
When they drive, she plans a nice break in the trip. They took four days to drive from Texas to California last summer, stopping for two nights at a Tucson, Arizona, resort with a pool.
"They always say it's not the destination, it's the journey," she says. "I always incorporate the journey into the trip.
"My husband and I have had opportunity to travel without them when the grandparents offered to stay with them for a week. We don't want to go without them. We love traveling with them as family."
Do you remember your first trip as a child or the first trip you took with your children? Please share your memories in the comments section below.
A year of the world's
Best Beaches
There's a perfect beach for every week of the year. Join us on a 12-month journey to see them all
Go to the best beaches


text:
Get the Details About One Direction's Rumored New Single 'One Chance to Dance'by Michelle McGahan | PopCrush
Will One Direction's new single be 'One Chance to Dance'?
According to producer Naughty Boy, who co-wrote the track with Zayn Malik, the answer is probably.
"I'm actually really excited. There's a real possibility it'll be the first single," he told the Daily Mirror. "Look at the smile on my face! Simon loves it. He even texted me about it."
While the rumor is that Zayn raps on the track — which Emile Sandi and Rumors also worked on — it is his vocals that Naughty Boy says people will be surprised by.
"I couldn't believe the way he sung on this song, and I think that's going to surprise most people," Naughty Boy said. "He glides on it."
Of course, this is not the first time that the producer hinted that the track may be the band's next single. Just last month, he revealed that the song may be the first release off of the group's upcoming album, and hinted even more at its sound:
"It sounds like them and it sounds like me," he said at the time. "…it does sound like them. But the natural 'next' them."
We can't wait to hear it!
See Zayn Malik + More Celebs Who Look Just Like '90s Nicktoon Characters


text:
Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn is in a bit of a tricky spot, getting ready to take over a job currently held by someone on the verge of getting fired. With the seemingly imminent departure of Gov. Rod Blagojevich, the 60-year-old Quinn stands poised to become Illinois' new chief executive as soon as Thursday.
Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn is in a bit of a tricky spot, getting ready to take over a job currently held by someone on the verge of getting fired.
With the seemingly imminent departure of Gov. Rod Blagojevich, the 60-year-old Quinn stands poised to become Illinois' new chief executive as soon as Thursday.
Quinn believes his educational and professional background, including an economics degree from Georgetown University and experience as state treasurer and lieutenant governor, makes him well-suited for the challenges ahead.
"I've been around state government (since) 1973," he said. "The issues are not foreign to my experience, especially the economic issues."
But in an interview Tuesday afternoon with GateHouse News Service, he also repeatedly said he doesn't want to be "presumptuous" about the possibility of replacing Blagojevich as governor.
A Quinn spokeswoman said Wednesday night that his mindset about becoming governor hasn't changed, even with the turn of events at Blagojevich's impeachment trial in the Illinois Senate. It became clear Wednesday that the Senate would decide Blagojevich's fate within a day or so.
"As lieutenant governor, he's prepared to become governor," said spokeswoman Marlena Jentz.
Since Blagojevich's Dec. 9 arrest on federal corruption charges, Quinn quietly has been preparing for his possible elevation to governor. But he's reluctant to reveal many details, such as what some of his first actions as governor would be.
"That is presumptuous in my book," he said. "Suffice it to say, the first thing will be to restore the faith of the people of Illinois in the integrity and honesty and openness of our government. You can't have a democracy unless you have the trust of the people."
Blagojevich has lost that trust, Quinn said.
"Just listening to him on his media tour the last couple of days, he sounds like he is preparing his gubernatorial epitaph," he said. "It sounds like he doesn't feel like he's going to be governor much longer."
Quinn, who is expected to be in Springfield Thursday, already has begun beefing up his staff — which as lieutenant governor consists of about three dozen people.
For instance, Jay Stewart resigned as executive director of the Better Government Association to become counsel to Quinn, BGA board member Dave Lundy said Wednesday.
Jentz confirmed Stewart's hiring and said he takes over his new duties Thursday. She wouldn't say if Quinn has made other recent hires.
In addition, Quinn said, friends and former co-workers have volunteered in recent weeks to help with his transition to the governorship.
Quinn's fellow statewide constitutional officers say it simply makes sense for him to get ready to succeed Blagojevich.
"I actually think if he didn't, it would be irresponsible to not be prepared," said Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias. "It's not easy, but it's essential."
Attorney General Lisa Madigan was more blunt.
"I believe that it is only a matter of time until Gov. Blagojevich is no longer the governor of the state of Illinois," she said. "I don't think it's awkward to be in meetings and to be preparing for a transition because that day is coming."
Indeed, Quinn and Madigan have met several times since Dec. 9 to go over what Madigan calls "legal and practical" issues, such as the mechanics of Quinn's acquisition of gubernatorial powers.
According to the Illinois Constitution and state law, a governor's conviction on impeachment creates an immediate vacancy in that office, Madigan said. Because the lieutenant governor is first in the state's line of succession, whoever holds that office would become governor.
Quinn would have to take the oath of office, administered by a judge, and sign a written version of the oath before he could assume powers as governor, Madigan said.
"That's why we've physically drafted an oath (for him to sign) and have told him to either be in Springfield when that takes place because, presumably, you'll have the chief justice there, or (that he should) have a judge on call, essentially, no matter where he is," she said.
Quinn wouldn't say whether he has a judge on standby. He did say, however, he "would sure hope" to take the governor's oath in the State Capitol.
As governor, Quinn said, he'll keep open the lines of communication with other statewide constitutional officers.
"One of the worst things I think the governor (Blagojevich) did was to cut all of us out, all five of us," he said. "We understand that the people of Illinois come first. And we will work together as a team to help us get out of this morass we find ourselves in due to the conduct of the governor."
Adriana Colindres can be reached at (217) 782-6292 or email@example.com.


text:
Parked out front of the coffee shop this afternoon I noticed not one but three Sacramento Police Department bicycles. All were different makes and models, but all were mountain bikes. The three officers had stopped for a cup of coffee. Apparently (but not surprisingly) officers on bicycles are much healthier than their car-bound brethren. There was not a doughnut in a single one of their hands – even a stereotypical one.
All of them were similiarly equipped – with lights and a siren on the handlebars.


text:
The Wall
Sign In
Main Site
Best Of...
Click here
to Find a Contractor in your area.
are the website rules, as well as some tips for using this forum.
If you've found help here, check back in to let us know how everything worked out.
It's a great way to thank those who helped you.
Need to contact us? Visit
Are you ever done with your heating system?
February 2013
I am constantly playing with my houses systems, I started with a Buderus Oil Boiler with 3 first co. hydro airs and Rinnai tankless. Then I installed a propane mod/con, GB, which I just switched to a TT 175, I installed a coal furnace into my first floor duct work with the return coming from the second floor {this works surprisingly well, you fill the hopper and it will run for 3 days, and make the house warm enough to melt candles... My outside units are Trane Xl Heatpumps.
So most of the time I use the mod con and I have it setup so the heatpumps work until it gets too cold then the mod con kicks in... I hooked in controls so when I fire the oil or coal the mod con and heatpumps are disabled, the oil hardly gets used, but sometimes I get pump outs and my slop oil which we use at my shop but when them tanks are full Ill take it home... When the tank gets near half way, I will turn the oil on for a while {this takes a while I have 2-330 ga tanks}...
In my garage I have a hanging water modine unit and a 90+ propane furnace, plus I designed a zone board so that I can use the coal and not shut down the rest of the house or force heat through it...
I have prestige thermostats but will be changing them when the new ones come out...
I have a 25KW genny {propane} and when the power goes out it runs the house like the power is still on...
My hot water system is simple, just a Rinnai ru98i hooked in, but I am going to install a new 60 ga Heatpump water heater tank to use just during the summer, why not cool the basement while making hot water... That will be my next venture....
Oh and when I just installed the new TT solo 175 I used Bumble bee circs... but other that that I left the system the same as when the gb was there.. I have to say the GB was a really nice boiler, but the TT is a couple steps ahead.... I have installed A LOT of Gb's and still install them, but now I recommend the TT too...
So does anyone else here never leave their poor heating system alone...
Share on Google+
February 2013
Has the elegance of simplicity been lost thread
Share on Google+
February 2013
edited February 2013
Thats all it is...
Gordy, I don't think it is too hard to figure out, its basically all automatic, granted a PJF tech with 5 years experience probably won't even want to touch it, but for the most part it is simple, the heatpumps work until it is too cold then the mod con kicks on, unless you run the coal or oil, if the sensor sees heat in the coal furnace or oil boiler the modcon kicks out.. If its the oil boiler running, the plate exchanger {I used a plate exchanger so the boiler water and mod con boiler dont mix} will get hot and use the mod cons circulators to circulate to the air handlers, if the coal stove kicks the mod con off, then the air handlers also shut down and the coal furnace circulates the air by itself... This is also wired into my genny circuit so the coal stove turns on instead of running the mod con and air handlers {the cola furnace uses less electricity and is less likely to be damaged by the gennys output if there was a problem}...
OK Gordy, Ill admit it, its confusing, now that I typed that, it really is confusing jeeze, my wife will have to sell that place if something happens to me, because no one is going to be able to fix this thing, lol....
I do like to use what I sell when at all possible, so when I get a new product, I throw it in my home first, but I see it a lot with Heating contractors, recently the owner of a local company installed this extravagant geo/ng back system in his home, he walked me through it and you can run A/C in one room and heat in the next, every single room has a t-stat, heated counters and toilet seats towel warmers, ect... He said he paid more for the heating system than he paid to do the foundation, framing, siding, roofing and windows combined...
My uncle was in the business for a long time, retired years ago... He built his house in the 80's. Its about 6500 sq feet, has tons of high output baseboard all over the place... And about 2 years ago he called me because his trusty oil fired Burnham and amtrol where coasting him a small fortune... So since he has NG in the house, I said get rid of the oil and throw up a mod/con...
He said definitely not!! natural gas is fine but no "plastic boilers" so I got the point and I sent my guy over to figure out the heat loss which ended up being around 140K BTU, IMO thats a good size for a mod/con, but he does have tons of zones, but its also a moot point because there was no talking him into it, Ill be honest, I just wanted to get it done, I charged him cost for parts and did the labor myself with his son {also in the business, well kind of he is a plumber}, so I knew a mod con would be fast and easy...
So I ended up installing 3- 45K Btu Weil McLain gas boilers {with a BCP-3 control} and a Smart indirect. I piped it primary secondary style' and we used his existing zone setup {it was already a work of art, I believe there was 9 circulators and he installed them all in up and down lines, had to take him 20 hours of threading and soldering}. But he has noticed considerable savings, {more than I expected}.... The BCP-3 is a good control, there are other options that do similar things, but we got a great deal on the bcp3 back then with the 3 boilers, I want to say he spent around $4500 in materials {but he had the circulators and most of the piping already there... He bought the control 3 boilers and indirect... That is still less than a mod con will cost alone...
We were recently over there for dinner and it was cold out {that cold snap after our blizzard} and the third boiler was on, he said that rarely happens, We had just opened the door 10 times in a row, opened his garage door, had 10 cold bodies enter covered in snow, and his grand daughter was in the shower.... I was glad to see it running because when I did the system I figured 2 boilers would be enough and by the time the third kicked in it would short cycle because the other 2 satisfied the load, but thats not the case, it works perfectly. It was the first time I ever seen the 3rd kick in and I watched it run for about 10 minutes, then it cycled off at the same time as the second and the primary kept chugging along for almost the entire time we were there...
But my uncle is a good example of heating guys enjoying their systems, he shows that thing to everyone, he installed touch screen honeywells all over the place with outdoor sensors {had to take him a month to run them wires, only to see the prestige released about 4 months after he finished with the wireless outdoor sensors, lol... But he likes to play and has the money to do it....
I figure a lot of the guys on this forum play with their systems as much as me but dont want to admit, although I have a few friends that are hvac contractors, that dont want to even look at their own heat at the end of the day, one of my good friends has a really nice home, and the junkiest Carlin oil fired peerless you have ever seen, tankless gasket is bad so it leaks down the face of the boiler, he got it out of a house when it was 5-10 years old and his boiler was bad at the time so in it went, 1" pecs connects it rite from the supply and return to the zone piping which is hanging by what looks like a make shift solder strap {when you cut a piece of solder and wrap it around the pipe to hold it in place lol}, he used his existing smoke pipe which was 5" with a reducer {peerless was 7" I believe} and there is more I can not picture but Im sure is wrong... He does great work everywhere else, but that thing is crazy wrong, but he says "it was free and only took 40 minutes to hook up", lol....
Share on Google+
February 2013
I never seem to have time to play with mine
cause I'm so busy working on other people's systems ;-)
All Steamed Up, Inc.
"Reducing our country's energy consumption, one system at a time"
Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
Oil & Gas Burner Service
Baltimore, MD (USA) and consulting anywhere.
Share on Google+
February 2013
Did you setup the boiler staging / sequencing so they alternate which one is priority in your Uncles house?
Sounds like its in the blood to me, and you will find a few do the same around here, but I have not seen this kind of redundancy I will say. Should be a quad fuel discount somewhere for you.
Put it this way I know you'll never be with out heat
Share on Google+
February 2013
edited February 2013
Are you familiar with that WM control, it pretty much does everything, kind of expensive I want to say they cost $600 or so, and they need to be used with your boilers aquastats.
I have used them a few times, when ever I am running a 3 boiler or 2 boiler setup, the weil mcLain CGi series boilers are great for this because they come in small sizes, so if you have a house with a 110K btu load you can run 3 cgi25's and not have to run in a chimney, run ODR and stage them for a cost of a mod con of the same size... Plus you get serious reliablity, what are the chances of all 3 boilers going down....
But with BCP control, I pipe each boiler with its own circulator, then use a circulator for each zone and one for the DHW pulling off that loop, install your Outdoor sensor outside, install the controls "system" sensor rite before the system circulator, wire your zone controls end switch to the bcp and the indirects aquastat to the bcp {low voltage}, then the control has 3 tt outputs one to each boiler and you are done...
So see the boilers aquastats still work you can just set them like high limits, they will run to there limit, but the system sensor you install is really in control, it watches that water temp and adjusts it according to the Outdoor temp, now if the first boiler doesnt catch its desired temp in the time you set in the control {there is pattern to follow to figure out your times}, it fires the second, then if the time again is past your setting the third will kick in.. Very easy to setup, and you can change all the curves and time limits second by second and degree by degree...
Everyone I have installed worked exactly as it should have and the 3 small boiler setup does save fuel.. Your first stage is firing 35K btu's only to the temp that the ODR wants, then when it doesnt make that temp it pulls in number 2 giving you 70K if in the time frame it fails to meet the temp again in comes number 3 for over 100Kbtus and if that is not enough you should have put larger boilers... lol...
As far as my system goes, I play and play, its like a hobby, when I am done with all the unistrut on my mod con {just did it a couple weeks ago, runs great} I will post some pics, but I havent had time to paint the unistrut, I primed it but no paint yet... So I have to finish the paint and screw them in, everything else is done...
I put my circulators on plug in circuits wired to their designated zone, so if I have to change one, I can simply unplug it and pull the circ, then swap the wire to the new circ and throw it back on... plus each plug has a light and switch so I can turn the zone off if I want and see when the circ has power...
Anyway as far as alternating priority boilers I couldnt do it with the control unless you manually change the lead boilers number in the settings, so we installed a switch panel that allows you to switch between number 1 and 3 so 2 is always the second stage but 1 and 2 can be swapped with the flip of a switch, and my uncle says he switches it once a year.... The boiler room is 75* in that house, it has baseboard and its own zone... I could have made a control that switched the lead boiler pretty easily but he was happy with the switch...
Share on Google+
February 2013
edited February 2013
And in my spare time I'll write my own manifesto:)
Share on Google+
February 2013
and I thought I was a big tinkerer! I'd seriously love to have a whole house with hot water heat to play with. Things are limited in the forced air side. Most of my tinkering has ended up simplifying zoning and getting the balancing just right. Always trying different t-stats. Got a Prestige upstairs, and am running a whole host of stats through the downstairs right now to test out.
Give me a home with hot water and I'm sure I'll be messing with the system as much as some of you guys! I never stop thinking about this stuff.
Oh and to answer the original question, that's obviously a resounding NO for me.
Share on Google+
February 2013
edited February 2013
I don't watch tv, lol
I don't watch tv for entertainment I listen to music, I have a high end stereo system in every room even the boiler room which on the other side is a gym.. So when I have a little time after work when most people would watch a tv show, to go down stairs listen to some music and tinker with my system.. I have been tinkering more since I swapped the GB for the TT, but before that I hadn't changed much in a little while.. {actually I havent changed much all together just added, the BB circs and tt are the biggest actual changes, but I installed the GB in a customers house, I explained it was used in my own home showed them pics and they love it so far, it has pleanty of life left in it {It may have 100 days of actual use} I had one of my techs open it up and clean the HE in and out and he said it didnt look used...
When I built the house I was going to do radiant, but was so busy at them time I hardly had time to do the sheet metal alone. I would much rather have geothermal/solar with radiant and separate a/c, but we are only going to live in this house until the last one of my sons is done with colledge then we will build are last house, 1 floor no stairs, geothermal/ radiant {maybe solar electric}, under 3000 sq ft 2 bedrooms with a guest suite. Rite now our house is too big for a 2 people, we have 3 parlors, 4 full baths, 5 bedrooms 2 offices, it is fine with the kids here but insane for just me and my wife.. I will be happy with a single level sub 3K sq ft efficient house in an area with really low taxes, maybe farm land...
Share on Google+
February 2013
edited February 2013
Wanna see craftsmanship
Scan the thread " the fun has begun" there is a mechanical room to set the bar up in actually the bar would be a back drop to the work done.
Work done by the Professor of comfort systems " at least in my eyes" of hot water heating Mark Eatherton call sign ME for short.
Share on Google+
February 2013
Very nice work
I looked that up Gordy it's good looking work. Love the diamond plate. I have used a lot of different backboard materials from aluminum to ss and of course wood but the diamond plate is a nice touch.... Back when home values were through the roof nd oil prices were medium bad. And people had money. We did a lot more of that stuff. But lately it's the normal retros and speedy swaps with the occasional Custer that is willing to spend am extra 2000 for all the little extras...
I normally use the plywood prime it with killz nd flat black it, then paint the unitsrut gloss white... And polish the copper with brassy when we are done. Nd normally try to use as few connections as possible which gets expensive. Its much cheaper to use a 1-1/4 t with a 3/4 reducer and 3/4 female adapter than a 1-1/4cX3/4fX1-1/4c fitting they are $50 each vs 18 to do it with the separate fittings...
I always say you can do the same install for about $1500 less if you use the inexpensive parts and put the minimum amount of valves. But when you use sweat flanges with integrated valves, spirovents ,delta t circs, odr aqua stat/lwco's, purge stations kits, gauges, dielectric unions, water feed bypasses, and the extra 8 ball valves a good installer will throw in to isolate serviceable parts and zones. That stuff adds up and fast, you will spend 2000$ trimming out a good sized mod con correctly with pri/sec and good circulators... The wood back boards and unit strut parts are cheap but time consuming its literally like waiting for paint to dry. I usually have my guys go deliver the equipment hang the board paint it, layout all the parts and go back the next day to do the install... It has worked thus far, but some people don't care they could careless if you install it all crooked and a jumbled up mess, if it will save them$80 ... I still do. Good job but you don't have that extra budget to pay for the labor and parts to make it what I call "magazine worthy"
Share on Google+
February 2013
BCP-3 control
Is a re-badged Heat-Timer SEQ-3, possibly with a few settings that make setup of their own boilers a bit easier. Triangle Tube sells one with their name on it as well.
Share on Google+
February 2013
Swei what is tts number
I am new to the tt line except the smart tanks. I seen a few differences between the heat timer model I have one of them I installed at a horse barn running two big uticas that feed 6 water to air modines
Share on Google+
March 2013
TT calls them Optima
Top of
shows them.
Share on Google+
This discussion has been closed.
Sign In
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Sign In
Quick Links
Recent Discussions
Best Of...
All Categories
A-C, Heat Pumps & Refrigeration
Carbon Monoxide Awareness
Domestic Hot Water
Gas Heating
Indoor-Air Quality
Oil Heating
Pipe Deterioration
Radiant Heating
Strictly Steam
Water Quality
Buy, Sell, Barter
Job Opportunities
Heating Hell
Like Us on Facebook
Follow Us on Twitter
Watch Us on YouTube