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Writing A Minimum Requirements Analysis
This course describes the minimum requirements concept and guides users through the process of writing a Minimum Requirements Analysis (MRA) using the Minimum Requirements Decision Guide (MRDG) developed by the Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center.Learn More
WPA - Parks and Public Health Issue Mitigation: A Case Study
This course is designed for park and public agency employees who are responsible for public health and safety in parks. A smoke-free playground issue will be covered.Learn More
Visitor Use Management in Wilderness: Strategies
This second course in the series provides a thorough overview of how to determine which strategies and actions to use when managing visitor use in wilderness.Learn More
The Wilderness Stewardship Planning Framework
This course is designed to assist you in understanding, developing, and selecting management alternatives for a wilderness stewardship plan.Learn More
The First World War and the United States
The causes of World War One are complex. This course explores the social and political factors that contributed to and shaped the conflict in Europe. The initial reluctance and ultimate participation of the United States is described and placed in a cultural and political context as well.Learn More
Survey Basics and Best Practices for Park and Recreation Agencies
Survey Basics and Best Practices for Park and Recreation Agencies will provide a brief overview on how to develop and distribute a survey. It reviews the reasons for surveying and how to construct, conduct, and use the survey data.Learn More
Supporting Interpreters with Effective Training
Gain valuable skills that will help you train impactful interpreters. Interpretive trainers support interpreters in connecting people to parks, museums, zoos, and other places.Learn More
Special Use Permitting for Park and Recreation Agencies
This course will help you better understand special use permits and the roles and responsibilities of event monitors.
CEU include free for a limited time!Learn More
Regular Price: $59.00
Special Price $9.00
Project Management for Capital Projects
This course introduces you to industry-standard project management practices, including the phases of project management and useful strategies that keep a project on track.Learn More
Professional Development: A Look at WPA Certification and Process
This previously recorded one-hour webcast is designed for park and public agency employees who are interested in obtaining the Certified Park Professional (CPP) or Certified International Park Professional (CIPP) credential.Learn More
Perfecting the Procurement Process
New to the procurement process? This course will help you to gain an understanding of how to obtain products and services from organizations outside your own.Learn More
Park and Recreation System Master Planning Certificate
The purpose of this certificate program is to prepare park and recreation agencies to conduct a system master plan. The components can be used in several types of planning and will ultimately prepare agencies to either 1) conduct the planning process on their own, or 2) be prepared to collaborate with a contractor to facilitate the master planning process. This certificate covers the fundamentals of a system master plan according to the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA).Learn More
Park and Recreation Facility Management Practices Certificate Program
Build a foundational understanding of facility management practices, particularly as they apply to parks and public lands agencies. The certificate program follows the Asset Management Process, an approach used by the National Park Service.Learn More
New Employee Onboarding Suite- w/Add-on *Agency Purchase*
Jump start your New Employee training with online onboarding courses! Upon completion of purchase, you will receive a code that can be redeemed for the New Employee Onboarding suite of courses.Learn More
New Employee Onboarding Suite- w/Add-on *Student Enrollment*
Jump start your training with online onboarding courses!Learn More
New Employee Onboarding Suite- Basic *Agency Purchase*
Jump start your New Employee training with online onboarding courses! Upon completion of purchase, you will receive a code that can be redeemed for the New Employee Onboarding suite of courses.Learn More$9.00
New Employee Onboarding Suite - Basic *Student Enrollment*
Jump start your training with online onboarding courses!Learn More$9.00
Natural Resource Management in Wilderness: Monitoring
Learn the importance of natural resource monitoring and what resources are appropriate to monitor in wilderness.Learn More
Natural Resource Management in Wilderness: Fish And Wildlife Inventory and MonitoringLearn the fundamentals of monitoring fish and wildlife in wilderness, and see examples of monitoring programs. Learn More
Natural Resource Management in Wilderness: Evaluating Proposals For Scientific Activity
Learn about the process of evaluating proposals to conduct scientific activity in wilderness and the decisions wilderness managers must make in order to preserve wilderness character while such activity occurs.Learn More
National Monuments and Conservation Areas Course of StudyThis course of study explores the management of national monuments and conservation areas on Bureau of Land Management-managed land. Learn More
Managing Wildlands and Wild Spaces Certificate
In this certificate you will learn the basic steps for decision making and management that are applied to federal wilderness areas, and how they can be interpreted and implemented on other, non-federal protected areas. These wildlands can benefit from the same systems and strategies the US government uses to identify the wilderness characteristics, develop plans for stewardship, manage visitor usage, and protect the natural resources.Learn More
Managing Special Provisions in Wilderness: WildlifeThe Wilderness Act of 1964 states: "Nothing in this Act shall be construed as affecting the jurisdiction or responsibilities of the several States with respect to wildlife and fish in the national forests." This course examines the meaning of this simple sentence and places it in the context of the Wilderness Act as a whole. Learn More
Managing Special Provisions in Wilderness: Insects and Disease
Learn about relevant considerations for managing insects and disease in wilderness.Learn More
Managing Special Provisions in Wilderness: FireLearn about the appropriate management of fire in wilderness, including the use of prescribed fire and fuel treatments. This course is not a replacement for fire training. Learn More
Inventory and Monitoring of Paleontological Resources in Wilderness
This course, the second course in the Paleontological Resources Management in Wilderness course of study, provides an in-depth look at the inventory and monitoring process associated with paleontological resources.Learn More
Inventory and Monitoring of Cultural Resources in Wilderness
This course is the second in a series of three courses on Cultural Resources Management in Wilderness. It provides an in-depth look at the special requirements of inventorying and monitoring cultural resources in wilderness.Learn More
Introduction to Resource Protection: RecordedExplore the universal challenges you will encounter when charged with the protection of natural and cultural resources along with providing for public use and access. Learn More
Interpretation and Coaching for ABMC Managers
The purpose of this course is to help ABMC managers further appreciate their role as supervisors, coaches, auditors, and appraisers of interpretive programs and projects. Interpretive coaching and supervision are important responsibilities of ABMC supervisors.Learn More
History of Parks: Conceptual Justification for Developing and Maintaining Parks
This recorded webcast is designed for park and public agency employees who are interested in the history of parks. The session will include historical details, drawings and photographs of the people and places who make up the story, their objectives, successes and failures.Learn More
Green Park Operations Certificate Program
Explore cost-saving sustainability best practices to implement as part of your park and public lands operations, and develop ways to reduce your organization's environment impact.Learn More
Green Park Operations 4: Programs and People
Understand how internal systems can be improved to best promote and implement green park operations within your organization and community.Learn More
Green Heritage Amenities and contributions to society: Review of scientific evidences and shared values to cultivate green spacesPlant & City is the French national center for research and experiments on green spaces and urban landscaping. Established as an association (nonprofit organization), it currently has more than 500 members (local authorities, landscaping firms, design offices, research and training establishments, etc.). Learn More
Great Meetings with Great Outcomes
This course provides a brief introduction to the benefits of facilitation in group settings.Learn More
Fundamentals of Managing Paleontological Resources in Wilderness
This is the first course in the Paleontological Resources Management in Wilderness series. It focuses on the basics of managing paleontological resources found in wilderness.Learn More
Fundamentals of Managing Cultural Resources in WildernessPart one in a series of three courses in the Cultural Resources Management in Wilderness course of study, this course provides a basic understanding of the importance of cultural resources in wilderness and examines how stewardship of those resources in wilderness is different from stewardship in areas that are not wilderness. Learn More
First-Line Supervisors: Competency-Based Supervision and Management
Gain skills in developing competencies and managing staff with competencies in mind.Learn More
First-Line Supervisors Management Certificate Program
Gain skills in developing competencies and managing staff with competencies in mind.Learn More
First-Line Supervisor Management: Team Building
Gain a comprehensive understanding of what a team is and how to develop an effective team.Learn More
First-Line Supervisor Management: Recruitment Strategies
Gain skills in hiring and preparing staff to be successful in their positions.Learn More
First-Line Supervisor Management: Quality of Service
Gain ability to ensure organizational goals and customer expectations are met.Learn More
First-Line Supervisor Management: Monitoring and Improving Productivity
Gain skills in methods for leading teams and developing staff ability to perform effectively.Learn More
First-Line Supervisor Management: Effective Communication
Gain skills in effective methods for communicating with staff, colleagues, and partners.Learn More
Facility Management 5 - Basics of Cost EstimatingLearn about cost estimating, a tool to help key personnel make informed decisions during preliminary budgetary planning. Learn More
Facility Management 4: Creating a Scope of WorkThis course focuses on the concept of a "scope of work" and explains how a good scope of work sets the rules for a project and makes an accurate cost estimate possible. Learn More
Facility Management 3: Conducting Condition AssessmentsLearn how to conduct condition assessments, the first step in addressing maintenance backlogs and more efficiently managing your facility. Learn More
Facility Management 2: Metrics and Data Driven Decision MakingA specific step in the Asset Management Process is creating an inventory of all your assets in order to determine the importance of those assets and their condition using a balanced scorecard approach. Learn More
Facility Management 1: Introduction to Facility Management PracticesAssets are the building blocks for the Facility Management industry. This course will introduce you to the concept and underlying theory of the Asset Management Process. Learn More
Evaluating Scientific Proposals for Paleontological Resources in Wilderness
This course, the final course in the Paleontological Resources in Wilderness course of study, discusses the process of evaluating proposals for conducting scientific activity in wilderness and examines the decisions wilderness managers must make in order to preserve wilderness character during such activity.Learn More
Evaluating Scientific Proposals for Cultural Resources in Wilderness
This course is the third in a series of three courses on Cultural Resources Management in Wilderness. It provides a comprehensive overview of the process used to evaluate proposals for scientific activity in wilderness.Learn More
Evaluating A Minimum Requirements Analysis
This course is designed to assist individuals charged with approving Minimum Requirements Analyses (MRAs). The stories and case studies presented in this course are based on real cases and real MRAs. Learn More
Establishing a Preventive Maintenance Plan in your Parks and Recreation Agency
This course is an introduction to the basics of preventive maintenance. In this course, you will learn about the benefits of incorporating regular preventive maintenance into a facility management program.Learn More
Developing an Outstanding Urban Green structure. A Norwegian Best Practice Example
This previously recorded one-hour webcast is designed for park and public agency employees who are interested in obtaining the Certified Park Professional (CPP) or Certified International Park Professional (CIPP) credential.Learn More
Deciding to Keep Wilderness Wild: Four Cornerstones for Wilderness Managers
Explore the four most important principles of managing wilderness: Preserve Wilderness and Natural Conditions, Protect Wilderness Benefits, Provide and Use the Minimum Necessary, and Manage Wilderness as a Whole.Learn More
Coaching for Interpretive Success
Explore the skills needed to be an effective interpretive coach. Coaching others to develop and deliver meaningful interpretation is rewarding because you multiply the opportunities for visitors to understand the relevance and significance of our resources. It gives you the chance to share your passion.Learn More
Capital Improvement Certificate
The Capital Improvement Certificate provides the learner with a foundational understanding of capital improvement projects, financing of capital improvements, site plans for capital projects, and project management.Learn More
Betty van der Smissen Lecture: Risk Management And Legal LiabilityReb Gregg and Jim Moss, two of Betty van Smissen's esteemed colleagues, debate selected legal issues in outdoor recreation in a lively, entertaining, and educational recorded webcast. Learn More
Asset Management WebcastAsset management can be a complicated subject, particularly for smaller agencies with limited budgets. This presentation will provide an overview of asset management for parks and recreation agencies of all sizes. Learn More
Aquatics 5: Maintenance And Equipment
This course will introduce you to the concepts associated with the successful operation of the technical aspects of a pool.Learn More
Aquatics 4: Aquatics ProgrammingThis course addresses the planning and management of these programs and provides details about traditional and new trend programs that facilities are utilizing across the country. Learn More
Aquatics 3: Risk ManagementThis course focuses on ways to reduce or eliminate risks in aquatic spaces. Risks inherent to aquatic spaces and various codes that regulate aquatic facilities will be reviewed. Learn More
Aquatics 2: Personnel And TrainingIn the Aquatics 2: Personnel and Training course, you will examine the aquatics team. The various positions that make up the aquatics team will be described to enable you to identify key positions that are necessary to make your aquatics facility work effectively and efficiently. Learn More
Aquatics 1: Principles Of Aquatics ManagementIn this course, learners will begin to examine aquatics and aquatics management. Learn More
An Overview of Aquatic Management (Webcast)This previously recorded webcast includes an overview of five main topics that must be considered in order to manage a safe and successful aquatic environment. Learn More


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Eco friendly custom gift foldable paper printing boxes packaging with logo
As a result of our high quality products and outstanding customer service, our products are not only popularly sold to various domestic cities, but also exported to Europe, America, South Korea, Japan, southeast Asia and other countries.
1.Are you manufactory or trade company?
We are the Manufactory specialized in blister packaging and plastic packaging box with 21 years experience.
2.What is the PVC, PET PS,PP, raw material?
PVC which it is very easy to be sealed by heat sealing machine and high frequency welding machine. and lots of clients choose.
PET has high transparency and are environmental material.Usually use in food. PS is environmental material. which is Widely used in electron ,medical ,food ,cosmetic ,hardware and toy filed. and it is easy for flocking. But it is fragile and easy to be torn off. PP is high melting point and can be microwaveable. Widely used in food packaging
3.How to place an order?
Send an inquiry with your details---give quotation---reach an agreements with the prices---make samples ---confirm the samples---start the mass production--shipping.
4. what are your company's major products ?
21 years experience in producing plastic clear boxes,printing boxes,cylider tube packages,blister tray and clamshells,etc.widely used for gifts,cosmetics,electronics,garments,toys,madicine,etc.
5.What are your products' advantage?
A:eco-friendly materialB:competitive price.we have latest and advanced machinesC:prompt delivery.,D:strict quality control in each product.F:professional design.G:21 years experience in producing and exporting.
6. How to control your quality?
Every single piece of product, every production, procedure is inspected and controlled before packing the goods into export carton. We ensure every of product shipped are of good quality. 7. Where does your factory located? How can I visit there?
Our factory is in Shenzhen City, China,near HK. There are metro stations, bus,taxi .We would like to pick you up, if you don't mind.

subset: commoncrawl


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A recent report on National Public Radio—NPR—questioned the truth of the oft-repeated phrase "American farmers feed the world."
That seemed to me like questioning whether gravity is real or the earth is round. Who else feeds the world? Apparently one pundit, Margaret Mellon, with the Union of Concerned Scientists, believes the world should feed itself by empowering women—a notion I have no dispute with—raising incomes—also no dispute from me—and improving infrastructure in developing nations to help move food from where it's grown to where it's consumed in a timely manner so that it does not spoil. I have no dispute with any of those noble goals. But I ask: What does that have to do with producing food?
Mellon also objects to modern agriculture and its reliance on pesticides and growing corn and soybeans for uses other than human food. "Growing more grain isn't the solution to hunger anyway," she said.
NPR, to its credit, brought in other voices. Christopher Barrett, Cornell University economist, said bigger harvests in the United States tend to make food more affordable and "lower prices are a good thing for poor people." He said Chinese pigs, for instance, eat cheap soybean meal grown in the United States and Brazil and make pork affordable. The upshot of that is: American farmers help feed the world.
Low prices for grain, however, may not be the best thing for balanced diets since poor people may turn to cheap cornmeal and less to fruits and vegetables, Barrett said. That's a problem in more places than developing nations and one that nutritionists, families and individuals must consider. But fruits and vegetables also must be produced—by farmers—and moved from areas where they grow readily to places where they are limited by climate. Creating ways to grow fruits and vegetable more cheaply continues to be a challenge the agriculture research industry must address.
Improving incomes, as Mellon suggests, does improve diets. But we still need to produce animal feed that's cheap enough to produce affordable protein—as is the case with the Chinese pigs. So we still need farmers to grow beans and grains to provide animal feed, flour, meal and other products that help feed people.
Other voices chip in. Charlie Arnot, CEO for the Center for Food integrity, says: "U.S. farmers have a tremendous sense of pride in the fact that they've been able to help feed the world."
A farmer, Kip Tom, says farmers make up a rapidly decreasing percentage of the population while the population continues to grow at a rapid pace. He says "it's the duty of those of us who are left in the business, us family farmers, to help feed that world."
The NPR report also noted recent surveys that show the American people are not certain U.S. agriculture should feed the world, especially if that means industrialized farming methods.
Some points of agreement: We all need to eat more fruits and vegetables; problems other than production often prevent poor people in developing nations from gaining access to adequate nutrition; the population is growing; farmer numbers are diminishing; the general public does not understand the economics and the efficiencies of a modern farm.
Also, whether it's flour or corn meal for bread, grain for livestock feed; fresh or "preserved" fruits and vegetables, some farmer somewhere is responsible for taking it from seed to plate. Grain and soybean is part of the chain. Cotton is part of the process as well, providing both fiber for clothing and seed for animal and human consumption.
I'll concede this as well: U.S. farmers don't feed the world alone. Brazil, Australia, Canada and other nations also have farmers devoted to producing crops and feeding people. But farmers do feed the world. And U.S. farmers make huge contributions to that end.
Also, the notion that individuals can take responsibility for producing their own food has been infeasible for many decades. Folks fortunate to live in the country may get by. Rooftop gardens in Manhattan can help a few; patio plants can add a bit of variety to an urban diet, perhaps. But raising a cow on a rooftop is a bit far-fetched and growing enough wheat to make a year's worth of bread in a vacant lot somewhere in downtown Dallas would be a chore.
The bottom line is: We need farmers. Maybe we need to do a better job, however, of informing the public about what they do. They feed us.


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AXIS M32 Network Cameras are cost-effective and compact fixed domes with handy features such as Power over Ethernet, varifocal lens and pixel counter.
These cameras include intelligent capabilities such as video motion detection and detection of camera tampering attempts like blocking or spray-painting. They are perfectly suited where discreet, tamper-resistant or vandal-resistant fixed domes are requested, e.g. in retail stores and schools.
Network camera model features


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This is not an offer for credit and should be used for estimation purposes only based on the information you provided. You should not base your decision on this estimate alone. Title, registration, tax and other fees, and personal circumstances such as employment status and personal credit history, were not considered in the calculations.
Transaxle - Limited slip differential
Gear selection - Key switch
Four, 12-volt deep cycle
Battery charger - 48V DC PowerWise high frequency, UL and CSA
Overall (no canopy) - 47.0 in. (119 cm) (top of steering wheel)
Overall (with canopy) - 75.0 in. (191 cm) (top of canopy)
Dry (without batteries) - 674 lb. (306 kg)
Curb - 1,002 lb. (455 kg)
66.0 in. (168 cm)
Front Track - 34.5 in. (88 cm)
Rear Track - 38.5 in. (98 cm)
Service - Electric motor
Parking - Automatic electro-magnetic
Front - Independent A-arm coil over shock
Rear - Mono-leaf springs with hydraulic shocks
Rear Axle Ratio - 16:99:1
Forest Green
Electric Blue
Flame Red
Inferno Red
Patriot Blue
Metallic Charcoal
Price, if shown and unless otherwise noted, represents the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) or dealer unit price and does not include government fees, taxes, dealer vehicle freight/preparation, dealer document preparation charges, labor, installation, or any finance charges (if applicable). MSRP and/or final sales price will vary depending on options or accessories selected; contact dealer for more details.
Images, where available, are presented as reasonable facsimiles of the offered unit and/or manufacturer stock images. Non-standard options or features may be represented. No guarantee of availability or inclusion of displayed options should be inferred; contact dealer for more details.


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Local Auto Body Shops in Your Area
1. Quality Body Shop
878 W. Bowery St., Akron, OH 44307
Fast & Reliable Vehicle Collision Repairs! Call Us Today for More Details.view details hide details
Services: Auto Body Shops, Collision Repair, Auto Aluminum Repair, Auto Fiberglass Repair, Auto Frame Repair, Auto Glass Service, Auto Painting, Auto Rustproofing, Custom Auto Work, Dent Repair, Post Repair Inspections, Pre Purchase Inspections, Suspension Service, Towing Service, RV Repair, Fleet Repair
Auto Body Shops in 44311
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AutoBodyRepairmen.com provides updated information on auto body shops in 44311, Akron, OH.
Learn more about a Akron auto body shop by clicking "view details," or enter a new zip code in the search box below to search again.


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BOSTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts filed a lawsuit Monday aiming to end the state's practice of committing drug and alcohol addicted women to a Framingham correctional facility.
"As Governor Deval Patrick has acknowledged, we are actually the only state that incarcerates people who are suffering from addiction to drugs and alcohol, who haven't been convicted of a crime. And imprisoning people because they have a disease is wrong, and it's also unconstitutional," ACLU staff attorney Jessie Rossman told the News Service.
Under a statute known as Section 35, certain authorities and family members can petition a district court to civilly commit someone whose drug or alcohol use is a danger to themselves or others. They are primarily sent to treatment facilities in Brockton and New Bedford, but if there is no room there, they are housed at correctional facilities in Bridgewater and Framingham depending on their gender.
The ACLU wants the federal court to block the state from treating the women at MCI Framingham.
"Our lawsuit is focusing on women," said Rossman, who said women who are civilly committed and wind up housed with pre-trial detainees in Framingham are confused and traumatized by the experience, which she said is "counterproductive" to kicking addiction. She said according to Department of Correction numbers, "hundreds" of women have been civilly committed over the past three years, and said the term of commitment varies, can last up to 90 days and is about two weeks now on average.
"They are treated like prisoners. They are sent to the medical unit for detox - what DOC calls detox, which essentially is just you being given a bucket. And they can get over-the-counter drugs like Tylenol and Tums," said Rossman, who said they are not given medications such as methadone, Suboxone or Vivitrol, which are often part of anti-addiction treatment.
A spokeswoman for Gov. Deval Patrick said the state budget includes additional funds to increase the number of Department of Public Health treatment beds.
"This Administration takes our responsibility to provide supports for those suffering from substance abuse in appropriate settings very seriously," spokeswoman Heather Nichols said in a statement. "That's why the Governor's FY15 budget proposal and recent proposals to address the opioid addiction epidemic in Massachusetts include additional funding to significantly increase the number of treatment beds within the Department of Public Health available for individuals who are civilly committed and others requiring substance abuse treatment."
According to the administration, there were 13 civilly committed women at MCI Framingham as of this May, and the governor's proposed funding increase will be able to accommodate the number of women currently housed at the Framingham jail.
After detox in the medical unit, civilly committed women are sent to "The Mod", a large room with bunk beds where pre-trial inmates are imprisoned, Rossman said. The civilly committed women are required to stay in the Mod "upwards of 20 hours a day" and do not have some of the freedom afforded the inmates.
"They do not have access to the library. They do not have access to the chapel. They do not have access to any of the treatments, the drug programming treatment," Rossman said. Six days a week, the women are granted two and a half hours to spend in what Rossman said is "essentially an empty gravel pit" they call "the kennel," which is surrounded by a tarp-covered chain-link fence.
"They are issued a prison uniform. They are issued a number, and then they are subject to disciplinary sanctions," said Rossman. She said, "They are treated like prisoners because they are in prison."
The state has been grappling with what many are calling an epidemic of opioid addiction, and Rossman said while lawmakers have increased funding for treatment, state law continues to provide for addicts to be sent to jail if there is no room at the treatment centers.
The plaintiff in the lawsuit has the pseudonym Jane Doe, and Rossman said the ACLU is seeking to make it a class action case, which would bar the state from ever imprisoning someone solely because they have been committed for substance abuse. She declined to provide any specifics about the experience of Jane Doe, but said it was similar to many stories of women sent to the Framingham jail for substance abuse.
"In some instances they're actually being treated worse than prisoners," said Rossman. She said, "What our lawsuit is seeking to end is the unlawful practice of incarcerating people who are suffering from addiction. It's wrong. It's unconstitutional, and it must stop."
Apart from budget investments, the House and Senate are in the advanced stages of passing legislation aimed at making drug and alcohol treatment services more readily accessible for individuals who need it.
ACLU sues over sending drug addicts to Framingham prison
BOSTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts filed a lawsuit Monday aiming to end the state's practice of committing drug and alcohol addicted women to a Framingham correctional facility.


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The Fiscal Cliff is in our Rearview Mirror
Washington is full of drama. Americans are constantly being treated to high political suspense. Whether it's the scandal ridden death of an ambassador, an outrageous gun dealing policy gone wrong on our southern border, or the spectacle of politicians scurrying frantically at the eleventh hour to raise the federal debt ceiling to keep Uncle Sam running, there is usually no shortage of political theater emanating from the nation's capital.
At present, the drama centers around the so-called "fiscal cliff" negotiations taking place between the President and congressional leaders. According to the main stream media, the big question is, can Congress and the President thwart economic catastrophe by agreeing on tax increases on the rich and some spending cuts before a January deadline would automatically terminate Bush era tax cuts and cut military spending deeply thereby causing an economic crisis.
It's no secret that the fiscal condition of the United States is apocalyptic. With $16 trillion of current debt and 10s of trillions of dollars more in future unfunded liabilities for Social Security and Medicare, there is no possible way for the United States to ever meet these obligations short of its current strategy of printing money out of thin air. And, of course, that is a financially suicidal option.
The big problem is that the federal budget is inflexible. In Fiscal Year 2011, $2.303 trillion in tax revenue was collected by the federal government. In that same year, the government spent $454.4 billion on interest payments and $2.025 trillion on mandatory spending like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Thus, money that Uncle Sam was forced to pay out exceeded all revenue collected by $176.4 billion. This doesn't include discretionary spending like defense appropriations. Mandatory spending and interest payments will only grow as more baby boomers retire and the Treasury goes deeper into debt.
Of course, many progressives believe that all we have to do is raise taxes on the rich to fix our fiscal mess. They argue that tax cuts since the 1980s which lowered marginal tax rates on the rich from 91 percent to the current 35 percent are responsible for the national debt. But this is simply not true. A Congressional Research Study found that the 91% marginal tax rate on high earners in the 1950s and 1960s produced an effective income tax rate on the top 0.01 percent of only about 45%. Consequently, high rates on the rich did not produce the windfall for the U.S. Treasury that progressives claim. In fact, whether the top rate was 91 percent or 35 percent, federal tax receipts for the last 67 years have changed little, averaging about 17 percent of GDP for the time period.
What proponents of soaking the rich like to ignore about the 1950s and 1960s is the real check on government spending which was the gold exchange standard. They ignore it because they know that if a gold standard were reinstituted in the U.S. it would put a real crimp in their plans to maintain the welfare/warfare state they have built since LBJ.
At the end of the day, the current drama over the approaching fiscal cliff in January is utter nonsense. The fact is we have already gone over the fiscal cliff. Washington is either in denial, won't admit it, or doesn't realize it because we haven't had the hard landing at the bottom of the canyon yet. That will come when interest rates begin to rise and the Fed prints even more money to meet obligations. Then the real drama will begin.
Article first published as The Fiscal Cliff is in Our Rearview Mirror on Blogcritics.
Kenn Jacobine teaches internationally and maintains a summer residence in North Carolina


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At Least 8 People Killed in Calif. Bus Crash
YUCAIPA, Calif. (AP) - The company that organized a bus trip that ended with a deadly crash in the mountains of Southern California has offered its condolences to all of those who have been affected.
InterBus Tours of Tijuana, Mexico, says in a Facebook posting Monday that the company feels deeply about the accident and is working with the local Mexican Consulate to help families.
At least eight people were killed and more than three dozen others were injured in the Sunday evening crash which involved two other vehicles on State Route 38 about 80 miles east of Los Angeles.
The tour group was returning from a trip to Big Bear Lake, a winter destination for skiing.
The National Transportation Safety Board has dispatched a team of investigators.


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St. Paul police request further review of kicking
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — St. Paul police have asked Minneapolis prosecutors to review allegations of police brutality against two officers after a videotaped arrest shows one of them kicking a man.
The YouTube video shows St. Paul police Officer Jesse Zilge kicking 30-year-old Eric Hightower once in the chest while trying to arrest Hightower last August. Another officer, Matthews Gorans, sprayed Mace into Hightower's face and right ear to help get him into a squad car.
Last year, Olmsted County prosecutor Jim Martinson reviewed the case for possible felony charges. He declined to file charges, saying there was "insufficient proof" the officers used unreasonable force.
A St. Paul police spokesman tells Minnesota Public Radio the Minneapolis city attorney will review the incident for possible misdemeanor charges.
Meanwhile, a police internal affairs investigation continues.


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City of Pearland, TXHome Menu
Calendar Month View
For events that are not City-affiliated, visit the Convention and Visitors Bureau Web site.
Fenwick Fledglings: H2Oh Yeah! - The Water Cycle - Excellent Evaporation
- Date: 06/19/2019 4:00 pm - 4:59 pm
- Location: Delores Fenwick Nature Center
Return to full list >>


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Pigs & Whiskey at Rapture
What's a pig and whiskey dinner? Well, at Rapture on the Downtown Mall it means chef Chris Humphrey will be putting his own special spin on ham hocks, smoked pork, and braised pork belly, while Smooth Ambler Spirit's Johnny Foster serves up Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky bourbon and whiskey and talks about the virtues of small-batch distilling.
The guys from the Rock Barn, an Arrington-based catering and "dining experience" company (where Rapture gets its pork), will also be on hand to talk about their commitment to using local heritage-breed pastured pigs, as well as to "whole hog" butchering– a practice that pays respect to the slaughtered animal by not letting anything go to waste.
Of course, if you're not a meat eater or whiskey fan, this dinner could be a little hard to stomach, but if you're hankering for some sweet and tender loins and the smooth, powerful taste of a good bourbon, make your reservation and mark your calendar for Wednesday, December 7, at 7pm.


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(SBA List) – There is a lot we do not yet know about the coronavirus and pregnancy. Unfortunately no long-term studies have been...
Live Action News publishes pro-life news and commentary from a pro-life perspective. Learn More
Finley's parents are grateful abortion pill reversal saved their little girl
This viral video is changing minds about abortion
10 reasons abortion is not the answer


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Today is World Population Day, a U.N. observance dedicated to raising awareness about the Earth's growing population, which experts predict will reach 9.6 billion people by 2050.
Population expansion is not inherently a bad thing. Every community and every country has the right to grow and prosper. However, we need to get smart about living within planetary boundaries and making the health of nature's systems one of our development priorities.
Adding another 2 billion people will exacerbate stresses on our already-taxed planet. We must find solutions — and some of these solutions could lie in sustaining the services that nature has provided since the dawn of humanity.
1. Pollinating crops
You've probably seen stories about dying honeybees in the news, but you might not be aware of just how much is at stake.
According to The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB), 87 out of 115 leading global food crops — including important cash crops like coffee and cocoa — depend upon pollination from bees, birds and even mammals. The UNEP estimates that the monetary value of pollination numbers in the hundreds of billions of dollars, a value which must be maintained or increased if we are to double agricultural production by 2050 to keep up with global food demand.
2. Absorbing CO2
No matter what people do to reduce the disastrous impacts of climate change, human actions have already "locked in" a certain amount of warming.
So as populations (and human needs) grow, maintaining the Earth's ability to offset the CO2 generated by increased consumption is essential.
The world's tropical forests absorb large amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere — a benefit that only lasts as long as the trees remain standing. Currently, the cutting and burning of tropical forests causes 17% of greenhouse gas emissions — a strong argument for keeping these forests intact.
And did you know that other natural systems play a less publicized, but crucial, role in absorbing CO2? Coastal ecosystems like mangroves, salt marshes and seagrasses have been estimated to store up to 50 times the amount of carbon, per acre, as tropical forests.
3. Filtering waste
Without getting graphic, more people means more waste. Wetlands and marshes treat and detoxify a variety of waste products.
This, in turn, reduces or prevents the contamination of the systems that give us our fresh water. These systems also protect ocean life, including many species that humans eat, from runoff. According to UNEP, some wetlands may reduce the concentration of nitrate — a major component of fertilizers — by more than 80%.
4. Generating renewable energy
As more of us come to require energy to power our cars, turn on our lights and heat and cool our buildings, the planet's ever-dwindling supply of nonrenewable power sources like oil and coal will not be enough. Fortunately, the Earth contains many renewable sources of energy: solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal, even algae.
And here's more good news: expanding industries could provide new sustainable economic opportunities for people in sunny, windy climes such as Mongolia and the American tribal nations on the Great Plains.
5. Preventing the spread of disease
When humans degrade ecosystems, it can spread disease — by altering the habitat of species that carry infectious diseases.
For example, cutting down forests can lead to more mosquitoes by changing the distribution of surface water where mosquitoes breed. As more people move in to the deforested area, this could increase the number of people infected with malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases.
The good news for all of us is that there are some positive signs that population growth is slowing.
But as global demands for food, water and energy continue to grow, the free services that nature provides will be crucial to ensure the well-being of current and future generations.
And nature can't keep doing these things for us if we don't protect it.
Molly Bergen is the managing editor of Human Nature.


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Solar hybrid cooking combines three elements:
- A solar thermal collector.
- A cook stove, which would preferably use a renewable fuel.
- A straw box or retained heat cooker.
The advantage of this system is that it can be used day or night under any weather conditions, and solar can make a contribution even if there is not enough insolation for direct solar cooking. In addition, food can be prepared faster, cooked more evenly, and with less effort. With the use of a straw box cooker, large quantities of food can be prepared without burning the food at the bottom of the pot. A shelter in Ukiah, California could never cook large quantities of food without burning until they tried retained heat cooking. When using a straw box cooker, the cooking requires less attention. If a pot of rice is being prepared, the brown rice will be cooked hot and ready to eat in 50 minutes, or can be left for 2 hours.
The hot water heated in the thermal collector could be used for cooking or for washing, etc. Storing this water in an insulated container will provide hot water that night or the next morning. There are other possibilities for keeping stored water warm over night. Taking a more complete system approach, I stored the hot water generated in a bag-type solar shower in a Sun Frost "Scrap Eater" composter. The composter was 140°F and the next morning the water was hot enough for a very hot shower.
Solar hybrid cooking systems could be effective in either a developed or undeveloped country. I recently used this concept in a new home. The home uses a drain- back hot water system for space heat and hot water. A separate heat exchange at the top of the storage tank skims off the hottest water. This water is dispersed through a separate faucet at the kitchen sink. On a typical summer day, 185°F was instantly available at the kitchen sink. This water could make a good cup of tea without further heating. The kitchen does not have a conventional stove. Instead of a stove, pots and frying pans with built in electrical heating elements and thermostats are used. Electricity is supplied by a grid-tied PV system. The heat in this type of pot is highly controllable and 90% of the electrical energy goes into heating the food, when making hot water or a dish like rice. Also with electrical cooking there are no combustion gasses-from propane, wood or other fuels. With the use of per heated hot water a quart of brown rice could be cooked with only 1/20 kWh of electricity on a sunny day this can be provided by a 10 watt PV panel. In other words, you could cook 40 lbs of rice with one kWh of electricity.
Baking and frying can also be easily carried out with electrical pots. We constructed a well-insulated oven and were able to cook 3 one-pound loaves of bread with 0.4 kWh of electricity. Frying can also be done in insulated pans to greatly reduce energy use. Low thermal mass pans and ovens are more efficient since no energy is wasted heating up the pan or oven.
How much energy does it take? Pushing the limitsEdit
Assuming that a person eats 5 pounds of hot food per day on the average the energy needed to heat this food from room temperature to boiling, 212 °F, would be about 700 BTU's. (Most food is actually fully cooked at 180 ° F). This is about 1/5 of a kWh or the energy contained in 1/10 of a pound of wood. This figure seems surprisingly small because most of the energy used in the cooking process is typically wasted.
If cooking a meal heats up your kitchen, the vast majority of the energy your using is not going into your food but into your kitchen or up the chimney. The 1/5 kWh/day for cooking could be daily cut in half with solar hybrid cooking. If the water were per heated to only 140° the energy needed for cooking a days worth of food could be roughly cut in half.
Solar Hybrid Cooking in Developing CountriesEdit
The solar thermal collector could be as simple as a pot in the sun. It could also be made more sophisticated so that higher temperatures could be attained. Insulating the solar heated water will make hot water available at night and the next morning. An efficient wood stove or a three-rock fire could supply the additional heat. The insulation for the straw box cooker pot could be made from local materials (e.g., straw, pumice, charcoal, etc.) To make the system truly efficient, optimum times for presoaking beans and rice should also be investigated.
In summary, solar hybrid cooking is a method of making well-cooked food conveniently at any time during the day with less energy.
See alsoEdit
Articles in the mediaEdit
- August 2010: Optimization and design of energy transport system for solar cooking application - Centre for Electronics Design and Technology, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012, India
Larry Schlussler
Sun Frost
P.O. Box 1101
Arcata, CA 95518
Tel: 707-822-9095
Fax: 707-822-6213
Email: email@example.com
Web: http://www.sunfrost.com


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Attachment bolt recommendations
In typical applications, 8.8 class hexagon head bolts in accordance with ISO 4014:2011 can be used together with washers in accordance with ISO 7089:2000 or 7090:2000. SKF housings can withstand loads resulting from tightening the attachment bolts to the torque values recommended by bolt manufacturers (→ product table). They are valid for oiled, but otherwise untreated, thread surfaces.
If the bearing arrangement is subjected to heavy radial loads, it may be necessary to use stronger, 10.9 class bolts.
SKF cannot guarantee that tightening to the recommended value will provide sufficient anchoring. Make sure that attachment bolts, dowels or stops, shoulder or guide ring can accommodate all occurring loads.


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Title: New Beginnings: Abel's Journey
Follow Up novel to No Regrets
Author: Nicky James
Word Length: 100K
Genre: Contemporary MM Romance 18+
Release: May 17, 2017
Nicky has always had two profound dreams in life; to fall back hundreds of years in time and live in a simpler world and to write novels. Since only one of those dreams was a possibility, she decided to make the other come alive on paper.
Nicky writes MM romance books in a variety of styles including contemporary, medieval, fantasy, and historical.


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"What we do during our working hours determines what we have; what we do in our leisure hours determines what we are."
"It is in his pleasure that a man really lives; it is from his leisure that he constructs the true fabric of self."
"A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between his labour and his leisure. He simply pursues his vision of excellence through whatever he is doing."


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Sierra College women's tennis team nets third straight state title match
Rocklin – When the Sierra College women's tennis team takes on Fullerton College Wednesday, April 24 in the California Community Colleges Athletic Association (CCCAA) state championship, it will be the program's third straight appearance in the title match. After finishing second in 2011 and 2012, this year's Wolverines may have what it takes to capture their second CCCAA championship since 2007.
"This is one of the strongest teams, depth-wise, we've ever had," said Sierra Head Coach Steve Dunmore. "Winning a state title is always about depth and we have no drop-off from our one to six players."
Add experience to the depth and these Wolverines are formidable. Three sophomores who played in the 2012 title match – Jessica Ho, Jamie Miller and Chloe Vicari – will lead Sierra against Fullerton at Libbey Park in Ojai.
Sierra, the North's top seed, advanced to the title match by dispatching #7 Foothill College 5-0 in north quarterfinals, #3 DeAnza 5-1 in the semis and #2 Chabot 5-0 in the NorCal finals. Fourth-seeded Fullerton upset 2012 state champion Santa Monica 5-1 in the south playoff opener and then stunned south top seed El Camino 5-0 in the semifinals. The Hornets outlasted #3 Riverside 5-3 in the SoCal final.
Dunmore is proud of his program's dominance. "We've won 12 straight conference championships and have lost, I think, only two conference matches in 10 years. And we do it with all local players."
Miller, who teams with Vicari to form the #1 doubles team in NorCal, is from Nevada Union High School. Sophomores Vicari (Argonaut) and Ho (Lincoln) are joined in the lineup by freshmen Bethany Caldwell (Bella Vista), Ali Doerr (Oakmont), Kaitlin Fischer (Lincoln), Lauren Griffen (Oakmont), and Stephanie Ramos (Elk Grove).
The 113th Ojai Tournament, the United States' oldest amateur tournament played at the same location, will host this year's CCCAA men's and women's team championships. On the men's side, defending state champion Fresno City College takes on Ventura College in a battle of #1 north and south seeds.
For more information, contact Steve Dunmore at 916-289-1828. For more information on the state tournament, visit the CCCAA website at www.cccaasports.org/tennis/women/ or by contacting CCCAA Sports Information and Communications Director, Jason Boggs, at 916-444-1600 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
*Sierra College


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Wigan goalkeeper Mike Pollitt has agreed a new 12-month contract to extend his stay at the club into a seventh year.
The 39-year-old's previous deal expired at the end of the season but the services of the Latics' longest-serving player have been secured for another campaign as back-up to new permanent signing Ali Al Habsi.
"Mike is a terrific goalkeeper first and foremost with great experience and he continues to set standards on a daily basis that the younger players can follow," said manager Roberto Martinez.
"He has been patient during his time at the club but has never been anything less than totally professional and committed to the club."
Pollitt was delighted to remain at the DW Stadium.
"It had been an on-going issue for a few weeks and now we've gladly all come to an agreement," he said.
"I'm 39 now, approaching my seventh season at the club and although I am keen to develop as a coach at some stage right now I'm focused on the playing aspect of the game because I feel I've still got plenty to offer to the team given the opportunity."
What do you think? Have your say.


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6-16-09 Progressive Field
I made another trip to Cleveland to attempt to improve upon my four ball showing from yesterday.
I got to the ballpark an hour early to ensure that I would be at the front of the line.
The ball was in a little divit, so it took about 3-5 minutes of jostling the ball around until I finally had ball #7 in my grasp. The ball had "Expect to Win," written on it.
I received my final ball, ball #8, of the day off of the bat of Mat Gamel. He hit a high fly ball to right center that I camped out underneath and made an easy catch. This particular ball had the phrase, "Best Catch Ever," written on it. It made me smile. I was thinking to myself, "Yea, that was a pretty nice catch."
I like how the Brewers write these crazy things on their baseballs. It's unique. It's different.
When the game began, I went over to the Home Run Porch in left field. The closest any ball came was a Ryan Garko foul
ball that traveled about 350 feet. I was about 25 feet away from it and lost a foot race to the spot.
I left about half way through the game.
Today's baseballs:
The sweet spots:
Game: 8 Balls (7 hit, 1 device)
Season: 188 Balls (94 hit, 67 thrown, 27 device)
Games: 36 Games (4 without BP)
Average: 5.22 Balls per Game
Career: 354 Balls
Attendance: 22,986


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Here's something you might not know: a writer generally spends as much (or more) time cutting words as writing them. And it can be heartbreaking–once you finally have your thoughts out and onto the page in clear, organized, rhythmic form, the last thing you want to do is commence a blood bath. But, assignments usually come with a word count, and editors don't take kindly to egregious over-writing. (Egregious? Gone!) What to keep? What to cut? Every piece entails countless such decisions. So, how do we decide? A lot of ways, but there's a saying among writers: Don't be afraid to kill your darlings.
(I know; it's a tad dark. But haven't you heard? Writers are morbid.)
(Note: parenthesis are a one-way ticket to the cutting room floor.)
The idea here is that, sometimes, we come up with a clever little turn of phrase, metaphor, anecdote, or some other word-heavy sentiment that's quite pleasing to our writerly soul. So pleasing that, when we're going over (and over, and over) our story, looking for unnecessary, or repetitive, or ineloquent words to get rid of, we don't even think about axing them. We adore them so much, they're not even on our radar.
So, if we love them so, what's up with the kill 'em edict? Because often, they're unnecessary. They don't offer much in the way of facts or clarification or color. Cleverly-constructed though they might be, more often than not, they're just a waste of space. And the truth of the matter is that a story is usually a lot better after passing through the hands of a ruthless editor.
Speaking of ruthless editors, the inspiration for today's post was the film "The September Issue," which I saw this weekend. In it–a documentary about the making of Vogue magazine's September 2007 issue–there is one story line that stands out. Creative Director Grace Coddington–a bonafide genius, by the way (and, by the way, any phrase that includes 'by the way' would be out without a second thought)–orchestrates one shoot in particular that becomes her undeniable darling. And with good reason; to say the 1920s-inspired images, shot by Steven Meisel, are transcendent would not be much of an exaggeration. But, there were a lot of shots. And Coddington loved every single one of them. But, after a cursory review, Anna Wintour was quick to get rid of several of Coddington's favorites, whittling the story down to a precious few pictures. Coddington was crushed.
After the fact, though, what did she have to say about it? Check this quote (and maybe take it with a grain of salt; it's from an interview for Vogue's website, about the film):
I also believe that everyone needs an editor. What [Wintour] does is edit and make my work stronger.
What does any of this have to do with anything? Well, it occurs to me that maybe, when it comes to the big life decisions, the many paths we find ourselves facing, we'd do well to wield the proverbial red pen. And, even, god forbid, to take it to some of our darlings. Maybe some of the energy we expend clinging to certain options would be better spent devoted to the few that really could work.
Maybe we've always wanted to sail around the world solo, write a novel, get our PhD–they're lovely dreams, so we refuse to let them go. Despite the fact that we've never learned to sail, have no idea how to go about crafting a work of fiction, and, though we like how those extra letters look after our names, we have zero interest in actually doing the work required to earn them. It hurts to cross them off the bucket list–and, in a way, such an idea amounts to blasphemy to anyone weaned on the idea that she can be anything she wants–but I do wonder: as with a well-edited story, might our lives be stronger if we could just let them go?
And now (in honor of me finally accepting that a slot on Vogue's masthead is not likely in the cards–and because I have no editor), some gratuitous fashion porn.


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Robotics Industry News
SCHUNK Was Awarded Qualified Supplier to DMG / MORI SEIKI
SCHUNK Inc. Posted 11/08/2010SCHUNK is pleased to announce the agreement it has reached with DMG / MORI SEIKI to be an official DMG / MORI SEIKI Qualified Products supplier (DMSQP).
The DMSQP was created by DMG / MORI SEIKI to ensure that all peripheral equipment used on their lathes and machining centers fulfill their requirements in terms of quality and performance. All products have been strictly selected and approved by DMG/ MORI SEIKI engineers in order to be a part of the DMQP.
"It is an honor to be part of the DMSQP program and for our company to be recognized for our strong technical support and our product quality and reliability. The entire SCHUNK team is looking forward in working closely with the DMG/MORI SEIKI team to bring productive, efficient, machining solutions to US manufacturing companies." said Milton Guerry, President of SCHUNK USA.
SCHUNK is the world's largest supplier and market leader in toolholding and workholding. The product variety and technical creativity allows SCHUNK to offer a wide spectrum of solutions- all from one source. SCHUNK Toolholding Technology as well as Rotational and Stationary Workholding Systems are approved under the DMSQP program.
As a supplier, SCHUNK complies with the terms of the DMG / MORI SEIKI two-year new machine warranty and offer single-source support.
About SCHUNK:
SCHUNK is a family owned operation and a global player in one. Totaling more than 60 years of experience, SCHUNK is a leading worldwide manufacturer of toolholding components, workholding systems, and automation components. With a reputation for high quality products, absolute precision, and continuous innovation, SCHUNK is a reliable partner. For more information, visit www.schunk.com.
Media Contact
Veronika Gaertner
Marketing Coordinator


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Vonoom Interview
How did you get started making music ? Do you come from a musical family ?
I began making music back in 2003 as a natural development from my interest in DJ'ing psytrance. I loved the vast possibilities of sounds that synthesis provides, so I began to experiment with programs like Propellerheads Rebirth, Fruity Loops and Reason. It took a long time, however, before I really began to grasp what was going on instead of pushing buttons until happy accidents happened. I never really had anyone to show me the ropes, so getting to where I am today was a long process. It took many years before I began to be satisfied with my sound. My family is not really musical as such, but I was introduced to psychedelic trance by my brother, DJ Akindo, who is still an active DJ.
How would you best describe the kind of music you make ?
Hmm that's a tough one. When people ask I usually say psychedelic chill-out for lack of a better label. I like to think that I have a fair amount of variation in my tracks, and I like to experiment with different ideas and atmospheres. Overall, my goal is to make positive music that puts a smile on your face while making sure that there's enough chunkiness to shake your ass to.
Did your early psytrance productions have an influence on the kind if psychill /psybient/ downtempo music you create ?
I suppose it probably did. For the first few years of my experimenting it was mostly psytrance that I was attempting to make, but my creativity was a lot stronger whenever I was working on something that wasn't psytrance. I found psytrance to be too restrictive, the bass had to be a certain way, the kick in 4x4 and so on. You can of course break with these formulas, but I found myself just repeating what I'd already done or heard before, so I felt the need to do something different. My many years of listening to trance have definitely had an influence on the way I look at melodies and track structures though, so yes, it has had an influence.


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Chief justice endured White House 'counseling him, warning him'
Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2013/06/senator-obama-pressured-roberts-to-ok-obamacare/#99xhj9CqSBZ6xwTF.99
As America waits for the final Supreme Court rulings of this session, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, is revisiting the landmark Obamacare ruling by the Supreme Court last year in which Chief Justice John Roberts upheld the individual mandate – a move he believes was the result of tremendous pressure coming from the White House and Democrats in Congress.
On June 28, 2012, Roberts joined the left of the Court in a dramatic 5-4 decision to uphold President Obama's signature legislation. The Court's four left-leaning justices – Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor – sided with Roberts, who was appointed to the court by President George W. Bush. Justices Samuel Alito, Anthony Kennedy, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas dissented.
Lee is the author of the ebook, "Why John Roberts Was Wrong About Healthcare: A Conservative Critique of the Supreme Court's Obamacare Decision," and a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He is a former assistant U.S. attorney and a former Supreme Court clerk for Justice Samuel Alito.
"I wrote it first and foremost to explain to people that what the Court did in that case was to make law, to legislate. The chief justice rewrote Obamacare in order to save it. He amended it, not just once but twice, in order to save it from an otherwise inevitable finding of unconstitutionality, and that's a problem," said Lee, referring to Chief Justice Roberts' ruling that the mandate failed several constitutional tests but survived as a tax, which is within the power of Congress. Democrats have always insisted that the fee imposed for not complying with the mandate is not a tax.
The majority opinion also altered the Medicaid provisions within the law.
"I can't think of any other instance in which a court so blatantly rewrote legislation in order to save it," he told WND. "There have been instances where a court will look the other way, where a court will pay short shrift to this or that aspect of the analysis before it. But I can't think of another case where the court has rewritten a statute not just once but twice in order to go to obviously great lengths to avoid a finding that it's unconstitutional."
Roberts defended his decision by saying a court's role is to save a statute if there is a way to plausibly claim it's constitutional. Lee said that was one of the chief justice's major mistakes.
"That's where he went wrong. It's true that when courts are reviewing a statute against a constitutional challenge, to the extent that there are ambiguities, to the extent that you can read a provision one way or the other, the court's supposed to favor any possible reading of the statute that would save it," Lee said. "The reading that he adopted was not fairly possible. It was unambiguous based on the text that what Congress did contravened the Constitution. And that's why he messed up."
Shortly after the 5-4 ruling was handed down last summer, reports surfaced that Roberts originally sided with the three conservative justices and swing vote Anthony Kennedy to find the individual mandate unconstitutional. Sometime between the oral arguments in March and the final verdict in June, Roberts flipped his vote to uphold Obamacare. Kennedy reportedly tried for one month to convince Roberts to stick with his initial instinct and rule the mandate unconstitutional.
But Roberts refused to budge.
On April 2, Obama publicly declared, "Ultimately, I'm confident that the Supreme Court will not take what would be an unprecedented, extraordinary step of overturning a law that was passed by a strong majority of a democratically elected Congress. And I'd just remind conservative commentators that for years what we've heard is, the biggest problem on the bench was judicial activism or a lack of judicial restraint – that an unelected group of people would somehow overturn a duly constituted and passed law. Well, this is a good example. And I'm pretty confident that this Court will recognize that and not take that step."
Obama has publicly attacked the Court before, condemning the justices to their faces during the 2010 State of the Union for having "reversed a century of law to open the floodgates for special interests" in the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission case and urging Congress to "pass a bill that helps to right this wrong."
CBS News reported, "It is not known why Roberts changed his view on the mandate and decided to uphold the law. At least one conservative justice tried to get him to explain it, but was unsatisfied with the response, according to a source with knowledge of the conversation."
The conservative justices then drafted a highly unusual, unsigned joint dissent. According to the report, "They deliberately ignored Roberts' decision, the sources said, as if they were no longer even willing to engage with him in debate." Several months later, Justice Scalia admitted, "I was disappointed it came out the way it did."
Speculation at the time suggested public pressure from President Obama and other supporters of the law succeeded in convincing Roberts to find a way to uphold Obamacare.
Lee believes that's largely correct. He said the construction of the minority opinion demonstrates that it was the majority opinion at one time, but Roberts ultimately succumbed to the pressure.
"This change in his vote likely occurred about the same time when I saw a big uptick in the public criticism against Chief Justice Roberts. It was sort of preemptive criticism from Democrats in the Senate and from the White House counseling him, pleading with him, warning him, insisting that it would be a form of judicial activism if he invalidated a law that was 'duly enacted by an elected Congress,'" Lee said. "So yeah, it does appear to have had that effect."
Roberts was first nominated to the Supreme Court as a replacement for retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor in the summer of 2005. When Chief Justice William Rehnquist died just weeks later, Bush shifted the nomination for Roberts to become chief justice. In almost eight years in that role, Lee said Roberts has honored his oath very well, but the one exception to that record could not have come on a more important case.
"For the most part, he has been consistent with his oath to uphold the Constitution. He has been a judicial conservative, what you would call a textualist, someone who tries to read the law based on what it says rather than what he wishes it said," Lee said. "This case was an aberration, not only in its outcome but also in the fact that I'm not sure there's ever been another case that he's decided that was as prominent and as far-reaching in its implications as this one. Nor was there any other case in which there was so much attention paid to him personally related to the outcome of the case."
Upon hearing news of Robert's decision, talk-radio host Michael Savage compared the chief justice to the traitor during the American Revolution, calling him a "turncoat" and declaring, "Justice Roberts is a sellout. Period."
Savage also suggested the use of mind-altering drugs to treat seizures could explain why Roberts upheld Obamacare along with four liberal colleagues. Roberts reportedly has a history of epileptic seizures.
Likewise, talk-radio host Mark Levin called for term limits for Supreme Court justices.
"If justices want to be political," said Levin, "then they shouldn't serve for life, because the American people deserve better than this. And that's the bottom line. … The fact of the matter is we, the American people, deserve public officials – whether they're elected or appointed to serve for life or for limited terms – who are going to uphold our institutions. And if not going to do it, there's 312 million Americans – we'll find some who can."
In 2012, WND selected Justice Roberts for its first-ever Benedict Arnold Award for single-handedly delivering the swing vote to approve Obamacare and perhaps even crush the American health system that has been the envy of the world.
"There are lots of bad guys out there who would qualify as 'Villain of the Year,' but precious few candidates for the 'Benedict Arnold Award,'" explained WND Vice President and Managing Editor David Kupelian at the time. "Benedict Arnold, after all, was a good guy; he was an American general in the Revolutionary War who fought valiantly on behalf of the Continental Army – that is, until, for reasons yet unknown, he defected to the British side and betrayed the cause he had formerly served."
Kupelian added, "That pretty much describes Justice Roberts, who gained the enthusiastic support of conservatives and other Constitution-lovers by virtue of his earlier rulings and judicial temperament, and yet betrayed that trust in a devastating way. And we still don't know why he did it."
Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2013/06/senator-obama-pressured-roberts-to-ok-obamacare/#99xhj9CqSBZ6xwTF.99


text: San Pietro is a cheese typified by a semi-hard, compact interior of pale, straw-yellow color, with evenly distributed eyes of uniform size. A maturing period of at least sixty days is required in order to obtain its soft and delicate flavor. The rind is coated in beeswax early in the production, keeping much of its natural aroma from escaping. This coverage also gives the cheese aromas and flavors of beeswax and honey, with hints of vanilla, and an unusually mellow texture for an aged cheese. The result is a persistent, round, and elegant taste.


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Today, Carolle and I met with old friends, Toby & Pam who are two of three masterminds of Propellor Design based here in Vancouver. I have a direct tie end with them when their partner Nik contacted me about an incredible idea of creating a exhibition on Vancouver's bicycle culture. I quickly contacted Hans who in turn called up Fritz. Toby and Nik had an eye-opener of a visit to see Fritz's grand bicycle collection. I heard they were happily floored by it and I'm pleased to hear that Fritz donated four bicycles to the show. Toby and I both belonged to the Velocity Cycling Club back in Edmonton during the eighties so our cycling bond is strong.
Toby mentioned that they just finished working nonstop for about nine months and will launch the show this June 4th, 2009 - September 7th, 2009. It's called, "Velo-City, Vancouver & The Bicycle Revolution."
I'm very excited and if you have a chance, ride on by to see this unique bicycle exhibition!


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Hi All!
I wanted to invite everyone to a party we'll be having on Friday, August 18th at Kickstand Coffee and Kitchen down in Hood River. The party will be a FUN(d)raiser for The Slider Project so that we can keep the only free public slider park in the world up and running. While I know many of you may never ride in the park, it's still an excuse to come out for a great night of fun, food, drinks and the chance to take home some really great products! 100% of proceeds will go towards maintaining and operating The Slider Project.
Some of the items we will be raffling or auctioning off will be:
2017 Slingshot RPM
Cabrinha CBL (thanks Big Winds!)
2017 North Kite (TBA)
And loads more...
Thanks and we hope to see you there!
(and if I posted this on the wrong page, I'm really sorry, please just let me know if I need to move it. )


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Last week, she said something about wanting to try out the new Picknik Restaurant owned by the Masterchef celebrity Nik Michael Imran (hotstuff hehehe).
So that kinda gave me an idea where to bring her bcos seriously i was blurrr.
Yeah at first we went all around trying to find the place but finally jumpe jugak!
We ordered their famous stracciatella. Its like an egg soup with bread crouton & parsley.
Caesar salad with beef bacon
My main course, Salmone Alla something something hahaha
Alia's main course, Aglio Olio spagethi with shrimp
We didnt get any dessert since i already bought a cake for birthday girl!
With her cake i got from Wondermilk. LOLA cake!
Not to be missed, a shoot with the owner, Chef Nik Michael Imran
Ok im gonna give my honest opinion here. The food i can rate 6/10. still a lot to improve. The soup is a bit cair, rasa macam sup maggi plak. The Caesar salad .was ok ok lah, the dressing not ummphh enough.
For both of our spaghetti, not really bad actually. Its just that we can safely say we have tasted better somewhere else. But so far the service was good, very friendly waiter. :)
Price wise, standard mcm DOME gitula.. spagethi sume around 25++ ke atas.
Ape pun, im proud he can finally has his owned restaurant. Hope he will improve yeahhh
Ohhh and Happy Belated Birthday me dear friend. This year will be your last as a single lad hehehe. Hope that you have a great year ahead. Love u muahhsss.
So that's it peeps.


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Customers can test their aim and strategy skills at one of 24 locations with a host of themed game zones to choose from
Customer Reviews
What You'll Get
Choose from Four Options
- £4.50 for a paintball pass for up to five players
- £10 for a paintball pass for up to ten players
- £14 for a paintball pass for up to 15 players
- £19.50 for a paintball pass for up to 20 players
For venue details, please consult the merchant's website
Click here for the You Tube video.
The Fine Print
Expires 120 days after purchase. Limit 5 per person. May buy 15 additional as gifts. Booking required by phone. please call 08442473272. Valid Mon-Sun 9.15am-4pm, subject to availability. In summer months evening games available for minimum group sizes of 20 and are subject to agreed start times. Available locations include following Nationwide Paintball branches: Snowdonia, Wrexham, Congleton, Crewe, Abrighton, Stafford, Kidderminster, Redditch, Hereford, Cardiff, Bath, Langford, Dorset, Bere Regis, Newquay, Bristol, Walsall, Cheltenham and Evesham. Venue details can be viewed online at [https://nationwidepaintball.co.uk/venues-map](https://www.nationwidepaintball.co.uk/venues-map). Not suitable for pregnant women or customers with severely impaired eyesight or restricted movement. Must be 12 or older. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. Customers are required to complete a registration form on arrival. £10 non-attendance deposit required when booking, exchanged for 100 extra paintballs. £15 cancellation and rescheduling fee. Upgrades on paintballs available. Equipment provided. Day pass typically allows for 8-12 games to be played.
About Nationwide Paintball UK
Nationwide Paintball UK does exactly what its name suggests, offering a network of gaming sites in cities and towns from Edinburgh to Bournemouth. Themes include a nuclear bunker at the London arena, a control base with satellite dish at Leeds, and a pirate boat at the Birmingham site. Equipment provided includes full face mask with goggles, jumpsuit, and semi-automatic marker, plus optional pyrotechnics at certain venues. Packages include all-day access.


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About INTERREG IIIC
The INTERREG IIIC programme was one of the three strands of the European Community Initiative INTERREG III.
The INTERREG IIIC programme was one of the three strands of the European Community Initiative INTERREG III.
INTERREG III was designed to strengthen economic and social cohesion in the European Union (EU) by promoting cross-border (strand A), trans-national (strand B) and interregional (strand C) co-operation.
With INTERREG IIIC, interregional co-operation was promoted between regional and other public authorities across the entire EU territory and neighbouring countries. It allowed regions without joint borders to work together in common projects and develop networks of co-operation.
The co-operations under INTERREG IIIC gave access to experience of other actors involved in regional development policy and created synergies between "best practice" projects and the Structural Fund\'s mainstream programmes. The overall aim was to improve the effectiveness of regional development policies and instruments through large-scale information exchange and sharing of experience (networks) in a structured way.
The INTERREG IIIC programme was financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), as part of the Structural Funds, and co-financed by national project partners. The application period was 2002-2006. All activities had to be finalised by end of 2008.
In 2007-2013 the promotion of interregional co-operation is continued in the framework of the INTERREG IVC programme.
More information:


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Engineering Manufacture: Fabrication and Welding
This information is taken from an apprenticeship framework. It sets out what qualifications the apprentice can achieve.
Warning This apprenticeship is available to new starters until 1 August 2020
Summary of this apprenticeship framework
- Level
- 2 (equivalent to GCSEs at grades A* to C)
- Typical length
- 18 months
- Current funding band
Up to £5,000 per apprentice.
More information about funding
- Entry requirements
Your chosen training provider can advise you about entry requirements for apprentices.
- Suitable roles for apprentices
Your chosen training provider can advise you about the kinds of skills apprentices will learn.
- Fitter Welder
- Maintenance Welding Operative
- Pipe Fitter
- Semi skilled sheet metal worker
- Welder (thick plate semi-skilled) / Fabricator (thick plate semi-skilled)
- Qualifications
Apprentices will achieve a practical (or 'competence') qualification:
- NVQ Diploma in Fabrication and Welding Engineering
Apprentices will also achieve a theory-based (or 'knowledge') qualification:
- Certificate in Engineering - Military
- Certificate in Engineering Technologies
- Certificate in Fabrication and Welding Practice
- Certificate in Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Principles
- Certificate in Marine Construction, Systems Engineering and Maintenance
- Certificate in Positional Welding
- Diploma in Engineering
- Diploma in Engineering Technologies
- Diploma in Engineering Technology
- Diploma in Fabrication and Welding Engineering Technology
- Diploma in Machining (Development knowledge)
- Extended Certificate in Engineering (Specialist: Manufacturing Engineering)
Your chosen training provider can advise you about the qualifications open to apprentices as they can change depending on individual and other circumstances.
- Professional registration
- None specified.


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Ladies, it's official. Zack Morris is single. Mark-Paul Gosselaar's rep confirmed the Saved by the Bell star has separated from his wife after fourteen years of marriage and two children. Raise your hand if you want to get on the Zack train!
Do you know what else is official? Well, do you? Tom Selleck has confirmed there will be a third film in the Three Men and a Baby franchise. Tom, Ted and Steve are all available, a script has been written and the film is tentatively titled Three Men and a Bride. I loved Three Men and a Baby so I'll definitely give this one a shot.
Does anyone else think it'll be weird seeing these three guys watch their daughter get married when they all still look so young?
People have been speculating about Mariah Carey's womb for over a year now. This time she may really be pregnant. A source close to Mariah leaked the story to US Weekly, and Nick Cannon apparently let it slip in conversation. She's just shy of the three month mark so an official announcement could be coming soon.
Sheryl Crow has adopted a second child. She posted the following announcement on her website.
"Wyatt has a new little brother! Levi James was born April 30th."
Denise Richards and Richie Sambora are said to be 'quietly dating'. I don't think such a thing exists in Hollywood, but whatever. The two began dating in 2006, but the romance fizzled amidst a media circus.
Gossip Girl's Chace Crawford was arrested for marijuana possession. He was in a car with a friend when he was busted with one unlit joint. Lindsay Lohan hasn't been to jail yet, but this guy gets arrested for one unlit joint? It just doesn't seem fair.
Miley Cyrus recently performed on Britain's Got Talent where she pretended to kiss a female dancer. The two didn't actually lock lips, but they got awfully close. Miley then took to her website to deny the 'almost kiss' and point the blame elsewhere.
2. Miley is NOT Britney Spears.
3. Miley shouldn't deny something that was watched by millions.
James Cameron said BP oil chiefs turned down his offer to help stop the massive slick which is threatening the Gulf Coast. The Titanic director, a deep-sea diving pioneer who has worked with robot submarines, met with experts on Tuesday to brainstorm ideas. His offer of help was graciously turned down. The man has ideas, money and Leonardo DiCaprio on his side. BP, you'll be sorry when your 'half-ass cap' doesn't contain the mess you've made.
Kristen Stewart issued an apology after comparing her fame to being raped. I only have one tiny piece of advice, Kristen. Think before you speak.
Rue McClanahan, who played Blanche Deveraux on The Golden Girls, passed away at the age of 76. Betty White said, "Rue was a close and dear friend. I treasured our relationship. It hurts more than I even thought it would, if that's even possible."
Thank you for being a friend.
The Talk of Tinseltown was brought to you today by...
The Golden Girls


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Low muscle strength, BMI in young males predict eventual ALS
In healthy, young males, low muscle strength, body mass index (BMI) and erythrocyte volume fraction predict amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) later in life, a recent study has shown.
The researchers performed a prospective cohort study on 1,819,817 young males with an average age of 18.3±0.7 years. Over the 46-year follow-up period, 526 participants were diagnosed with ALS. The median age at first diagnosis was 50.0 years.
Baseline BMI was significantly lower in those who eventually developed ALS than in those who did not (21.9±3.0 vs 21.1±2.5 kg/m2; p=0.03). Difference in baseline muscle strength also showed a trend toward significance, wherein low muscle strength was more common in those who developed ALS later in life (p=0.06 for trend).
Mean erythrocyte volume fraction was likewise significantly lower in those who developed ALS than in those who did not (46.4±2.4 percent vs 46.2±2.5 percent; p=0.05).
The same trends were observed in a multivariate logistic regression model adjusted for potential confounders. For instance, BMI (hazard ratio [HR], 0.96; 95 percent CI, 0.93–0.99) remained a significant predictor of eventual ALS. Erythrocyte volume fraction was also significantly correlated with the risk of ALS (HR, 0.96; 0.92–0.998).
Finally, relative to high muscle strength at baseline, low muscle strength was likewise significantly predictive of ALS development later in life (HR, 1.36; 1.01–1.83).
In contrast, there appears to be no correlation between the risk of eventual ALS and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, physical fitness at baseline, parental education or psychiatric disorders.


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[singlepic=1225,300,center]Print of Camp McGuire
We then had to figure out where we might build on this chunk of wilderness. While it's a nice 40 acre piece, there are really just 3 and a half acres that are "buildable" in any sense of the word, as the rest is cut off by creek and granite ridge. We decided that if we moved the existing road back away from the creek, we could open up a nice building site for our cabin so that it would overlook the creek nicely and give us a little privacy from the road (a private dirt road that sees maybe 3 cars a year). We spent about a year trying to get permission to cross about 30 feet of land owned by a timber company in order to avoid unnecessary hairpin turns in our rerouted road, but they were not very reasonable, so we thought hairpins are fun.
There was some significant delay in getting the required permits from the DEQ to lay a temporary bridge to cross the creek on the way in. (The existing bridge wouldn't take the weight of the construction vehicles.) Dan from Oberstar was really helpful in this matter. He contacted a logger he knew who had a bridge we could use, worked with an outside consultant to write the permit application (apparently it's got to be just right for the DEQ, and it isn't cheap), and consulted us on how to make it all work within our budget.
The fun part has been working with Hiawatha Log Homes out of Munising. We've been designing the cabin with them all the while we were working out the many other details. Garrett from Hiawatha has been great. He helped us take our vision and adjust in such a way that it made good building sense and became financially feasible for us. On July 23rd, they delivered the logs to our property.
Finally, this July, everything was in place and we broke ground. First the road—a bit of a challenge given the rocky terrain—and then clearing and excavation for the cabin foundation. Days later, Scott, our builder from Northland Builders had the foundation and subfloor in place with his crew stacking the walls the next day. How exciting! It's underway. We hope for the exterior cabin to complete by November.