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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is launching Greening America's Capitals to assist these cities, selected through a competitive application process, in developing a vision of distinctive, environmentally friendly neighborhoods that incorporate innovative green building and green infrastructure.
This program is a new project of the Partnership for Sustainable Communities between EPA, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).
EPA will provide design assistance to up to four cities per year to help them use sustainable designs to develop neighborhoods with multiple social, economic, and environmental benefits. With funding from the environmental agency, these design teams will assist the city staff in developing project strategies to accelerate sustainable development in priority neighborhoods and create sustainability models for other cities to follow. The projects also could be used as testing grounds for larger, city-wide actions, such as changes to local codes and regulations to better support sustainable growth and green building.
Capital cities are invited to submit letters of interest to EPA by July 9. Letters of interest will be evaluated based on how well the proposed project describes the challenge, potential impact, and political and public support. A small group of applicants will be asked to participate in a follow-up call to further evaluate how well the applicant meets the criteria. Final selection will be made by early fall 2010.


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Our first SKC trial.
Judge: Lucas
Our first SKC trial.
Judge: Lucas
Travel To Your Happiness
Discover new places while touring foodie spots
Travel Blogger turned Londoner turned Melburnian
Travel / Beauty / Style / Wellness
My Strange, Wonderful Experiences and Adventures as I Travel through the World
No frills attached.
Follow my journey and let the world be our playground!
don't just see the world, see yourself in it
Travel Couple and Digital Nomads on a World Travel
food, travel and musings of a TV presenter
Travel diaries providing inspiration for planning the perfect trip
Exploring the world
A Peek Into The Life Of Two Border Collies
Life of a fluffy adopted Shetland Sheepdog in Singapore
Helping people enjoy their dogs.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Book a Tour Now
White Lodge - International Preschool & Kindergarten in Singapore
White Lodge is one of the top international Preschools and Kindergartens in Singapore, with 7 centres and more than 25 nationalities represented.
White Lodge students will receive direct admission to Invictus International School
Contact us at +65 6255 4230 to find out more.
More Information
" ...They've had fantastic teachers, amazing art projects to share and they love learning with the programming robot. The school really puts in an effort to teach in fun and engaging ways..."Robin and Justin Hayes


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First picture is of the path that we generally take walking - love the side streets here because they are very quiet (which is good since there are not any sidewalks). Second picture is of the landlords wood out front - I think she really got a good picture here :-) Last picture was all of her subjects - can you see the crowns on some of the animals' heads??
Hello All!!
Hope all is well out there. I've been overly tired the last few days, so not too much going on here. I think I'm missing all the exercise I was getting when my mom was here - I must start getting up early to take the dog for a good walk, but the rainy mornings haven't been encouraging lately...(hope my new rain coat gets here soon...). I let Brenna control the camera for the last two days - hope you enjoy your glimpses in to the world according to Brenna. She has taken over 200 pictures in the last two days - can you tell she is my girl, lol :-)
We made corn dog muffins for dinner yesterday. Brenna just liked picking out the hot dogs the first day, but ate 2 1/2 muffins today for lunch. I was sure she would love them, but she would rather just have the hot dog... I thought they were pretty good (I think I ended up eating most of them...), but Dustin didn't like the corn in them and thought they could use some more hot dog... Oh well, you can't win them all, lol.
We had German class the last two days - there is a holiday on Thursday and then Dustin has a 4 day weekend :-) I'm starting to work on translating a book in German - hope that will help my language skills, but so far I am just finding it difficult to read.
Well, that is about it for today! Take Care!


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Merkin on how things shape up:
… Jayson Nix, who is out of options, certainly has not been knocked out of the Major League picture, especially with his ability to play the outfield and three infield positions — not to mention adding his own burst of power off the bench. He could also be part of the rotating designated-hitter spot.
While the White Sox figure to make one more major position player addition, probably to fill the leadoff spot through an outfielder, the return of Scott Podsednik still ranges from remote to inconclusive. Podsednik and his camp continue to look for a multi-year deal, an area where the White Sox are not willing to go.
"It is still early in the process and we have had several teams express interest in Scott," said Ryan Gleichowski, Podsednik's agent, in an e-mail. "Our goal is to keep the lines of communication open with the White Sox. We will continue to see how things develop."
There also figures to be at least one White Sox bullpen upgrade, although the team has five veterans currently set and holding down relief spots. There also is a group of four or five young hurlers who the South Siders can turn to in support of one of the American League's top starting rotations.
Cowley has more on the Pods situation:
The signing of Jones still doesn't solve the hole at the leadoff spot, as talks with Scott Podsednik have once again stalled with the two sides still in a staring contest.
The Sox have spoken to representation for Coco Crisp, but a source close to the situation said that Crisp would still be Plan B if things don't change with Podsednik very soon.


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Protecting the counterface surface against corrosion
The seal counterface surface should be protected from corrosion until the machine is operational. Be sure to use a rust inhibitor that will last for a year, whether or not the shaft is exposed.
The protective coating should be soluble in the medium to be retained and must not cause any chemical separation as this can impair the sealing performance.
When machines are transported, stored under unfavourable conditions, or out of service for extended periods, special rust inhibitors should be used. These rust inhibitors should form a tough, pliable waxy film that can be removed using neutral solvents that leave an oily residue.


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67 Years….and counting
Mr. Lung, if I may be so bold as to call you mister since most of your comments tends towards the prissy and sissy. However, I'll afford you the respect you so often lack in our current discourse and continue to refer to you respectfully. So, Mr. Lung, I hate to beat a dead horse but you could not be any further from the truth in your so-called "rebuttal" of my recent post regarding hitting .400 in today's game of baseball.
First of all, I don't think it's all that groundbreaking or even close to infantile to claim that managers and players today do much more homework on the teams and players they are facing than they did 60 years ago. The advent of instant video technology has allowed batters to watch individual at-bats between innings and figure out what they did wrong. Is it crazy to assume that managers and coaches are doing the same thing with their fielders?
To add on to this thought, the size of the playing field has not increased in the past 60 years but the speed and dexterity of fielders has increased at an exponential rate. There's a reason that Big Papi is a DH and Barry Bonds was usually stuck out in right field. Even if a guy is a huge offensive asset you have to put him where he'll do the least damage defensively.
My point is, the web gems you see on SportsCenter on a daily basis were the exception 60 years ago, not the rule. Willie Mays' basket catch is replicated on a daily basis by minor leaguers all over the country. So, it's not unreasonable to think that these vastly improved defensive skills and the increases in mangerial acumen have had an effect on how many balls actually make it through safely. As you yourself said, "The game of baseball…has changed very little in the last 100 years, Al. 'You have to put it into a place where a fielder is not.'" But when that fielder can be in more places than he used to, Jeff, you've got yourself a problem.
Now, the one place where we can agree is that hitting .400 would be something special. Yeah, it's a pretty meaningless statistic overall but baseball fans of all stripes would cheer for a once-in-a-lifetime event like that. But as far as batting average being integral to a person's understanding of the game of baseball, well, we have a difference of opinion there.
I was watching Chipper Jones during the Braves-Angels game the other evening as he was being interviewed about his pursuit of .400. After saying it was highly unlikely that he could do it he then explained that he thought only someone like Ichiro would even have a chance. His reasoning was that the person would have to have an inordinate number of walks (which decreases the denominator in the aforementioned ratio) and then be able to beat out throws for quite a few infield hits (which increases the numerator in the same ratio) which would allow the ratio to approach .400. Chipper's right in his reasoning although I don't think that even Ichiro has all that great of a chance.
All of this leads me to one basic point. Although I know your rebuttal comes from a love of the game, that doesn't make it any less ignorant. Mr. Lung, you are just plain wrong.


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I went into the studio on Sunday to do some work and my best friend Nicki and sister Melissa stopped by to keep me company for a while. They must of had an ulterior motive though, because they asked me to direct them to certain craft supplies and became really quiet working on the other side of the room.
In under 2 hours, together they whipped up a quirky giraffe and surprised me with it! He is made simply from 2 different size styrofoam eggs (head & body), mini styrofoam balls (knees & feet), googly eyes, yellow paint, tiny felted balls, crepe paper decoupage spots and crepe paper rolled around wire for the appendages. They brillantly crafted what I call Knobby Knees!
All my crafter coworkers were just as pleasantly surprised when they came into work this morning and caught him waddling across my desk. Who doesn't love a clumsy baby giraffe!?!


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SUNY Canton Living Writers Series Brings Award-Winning PoetThursday, March 7th, 2013
A noted poet will share his vivid memories of the complicated issues surrounding identity and race as part of SUNY Canton's Spring 2013 Living Writers Series.
Iain Haley Pollock will speak at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, at the Kingston Theater. The event is free and open to the public.
Pollock's collection of poetry, "Spit Back a Boy," won the prestigious Cave Canem Poetry Prize, which recognizes exceptional first books by African-American poets.
His childhood experiences of growing up the son of an African-American mother and white father influenced his work, and the title of his book.
Pollock's work has also appeared in the Poetry Society of America's "In Their Own Words" feature and publications, including AGNI, American Poetry Review, Boston Review, Callaloo, Drunken Boat and Indiana Review. He will discuss his personal connection to the larger world of poetry as well as read some of his own works.
SUNY Canton Assistant Professor of English Philip K. LaMarche, who created the Living Writers Series, said "Pollock's poetry nimbly weaves between the worlds of blues and jazz, love and loss, black and white, all with a stunning dexterity, sincerity and beauty."
This is the second semester of the Living Writers Series. LaMarche said he arranges guest lectures to correspond with his Living Writers Course curriculum so that students enrolled in the class can read the books by authors scheduled to visit the College.
The last installment of this semester's series will be Siobhan Fallon, author of the much-heralded book "You Know When the Men Are Gone," at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, in the Kingston Theater. The event is free and open to the public.
Media inquiries should be directed to Gregory Kie, Media Relations Coordinator, or call 315/386-7528.


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Every Monday, 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM
The Rev. Jean McCarthy is the Celebrant. The High Street Chapel is on the lower level of the cathedral. It can be accessed from the elevator directly inside the north parking lot doors, or from the High Street entrance on the south side. Come be refreshed and fed.


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Passwurdz Vs Locksmith Rap Battle [Grind Time West]
Grind Time brings you this special 3 RoundPromo Battle. Locksmith (from Frontline), who has been seen on MTV's battle series and Fight Klub makes his return back to the scene to take on Passwurdz, a grind time favorite. This took place at East Bay Sick Studios n Oakland, CA. Grind Time West Hosted By Delmon Crew
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


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Friday, March 26, 2010
Give Me a Quiche and I'll be Your Bow
Monday, March 22, 2010
Scrapbooking Fun!
Love the bright colors for August!
This quote was so sweet.
The quote on this page says, "In all things of nature, there is something of the marvelous."
Love from the Easter Bunny
This could be my favorite page!
Happy Monday (night) but still Monday!
Friday, March 19, 2010
I'm Not Dead, I Promise!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Saturday in St. Augustine
This is the fort.
And finally, here is a little tidbit from the other day. The sky and fog were AMAZING outside, so I ran out with my camera and started snapping away...LOVE this!!!
Hope you all had a WONDERFUL weekend too!!!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
March is at the Door
Lovin' having SPRING BREAK this week to catch up on some stuff that needed to get done. Yea, while other spring breakers are in Cozumel and Panama City Beach, I'm just happy to be finally catching up on work, papers, and laundry...the simple life! Also...FINALLY wash my car, yes, Dusty, if you are reading this, it has been like SIX months...mabe more...ooopppsss! By the way, have you ever wondered how it is statistically possible for the majority of bugs that get hit by your car end up on the rearview mirror??? It has the smallest surface area and yet attracts the most insects. I know, really random...just sayin'.
Happy Tuesday Everybody! Hope the weather is nice wherever you are!
Hugs to you,
P.S. : I'm going to you know where (rhymes with Snobby Robby) tomorrow...can't wait to see all the spring decor and crafting goodies!!! It stinks to live somewhere with NO craft stores! Ok, now I'm done...Bye 'till tomorrow!
Linking to:
Monday, March 8, 2010
Chocolate Chip Cookie Cheesecake...Need I Say More?
Monday, March 1, 2010
Bang Bang Shrimp...YUM...YUM
Have you ever tried bang-bang shrimp from the Bonefish Grill??? If not, you are missing out because they are AMAZING! But.... no need to go out tonight because I am giving you the recipe for these little morsels of yumminess. I always wanted to try making these but I was sure that there were a ton of weird ingredients and that it would be really hard. So glad I found the recipe!
If you don't try any other recipe of mine, please try this one! It is great as an appetizer or a main dish and it's definately a clean-plater!!!
Have a great day!
Love to you guys,
About Me
- Ramsey
- You are reading the tale of a fashion-loving law student. Who walks in heels while carrying heavy law books and wears red lipstick to class. On a teeny budget because, well, see above. At Florida State University College of Law. Being the most un-Floridian Floridian you will probably ever meet. Sometimes this tale is funny, sometimes stressed, or happy, or sad, or hungry. And it has pictures of clothes and such along the way. Because what isn't better with pictures? email@example.com
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It starts out with an all-caps pronouncement, which cognitive neuroscience has taught me means what is being said is VERY SERIOUS BUSINESS:
A REVOLUTION in cognitive neuroscience is changing the kinds of experiments that scientists conduct, the kinds of questions economists ask and, increasingly, the ways that architects, landscape architects and urban designers shape our built environment.
(EDIT: It's been pointed out to me that the all-caps beginning is a NYT style convention, however as a cognitive neuroscientist it's clear to me that the author is subverting the standard convention of all-caps to her own purpose because prefrontal cortex, evolutionary psychology, dopamine.)
The article then goes on to say that... embodied cognition tells us that our heads are in the clouds, therefore architecture is like trees and that, something... something... Avatar?
Honestly I don't get the neuroscience connection at all.
This metaphorical, embodied quality shapes how we relate to abstract concepts, emotions and human activity. Across cultures, "important" is big and "unimportant" is small, just as your caretakers were once much larger than you. Sometimes your head is "in the clouds." You approach a task "step by step."
Some architects are catching on to human cognition's embodied nature. A few are especially intrigued by metaphors that express bodily experience in the world.
Take the visual metaphor of a tree as shelter. Most people live around, use and look at trees. Children climb them. People gather under them. Nearly everyone at some point uses one to escape the sun.
That's a direct quote, from one paragraph to the next, in the appropriate order in which they appear in the article. I have not removed any words, rearranged any text, or done anything but hit ctrl-c and then ctrl-v.
The logic connecting one paragraph to the next--and one idea to the next--escapes me.
Even the author abandons the whole "cognitive neuroscience" device somewhere half-way through the article, and instead says something more likely grounded in reality:
Architects may also like tree metaphors because a tree's overall structure is regular, while its fine-grained composition, its tangles of branches, are irregular, an arrangement conducive to the kind of design experimentation offered by new digital technologies.
No need for any cognitive neuroscience here! Hell, by the end the author admits that the cognitive neuroscience angle may not even exist:
How many designers are clued in to the ongoing cognitive revolution and its potential for the built environment is unclear.
Blah. Whatever.
I'm too confused to even be annoyed enough to write a rebuttal. At least the New York Times iPhone piece that Russ Poldrack so deftly countered (and that I signed) was a coherent misapplication of neuroscience.
This latest Avatar, neuroscience, architecture piece is at least as silly as their "neuroscientists go canoeing" article. Or whatever that one was about.
Maybe they've got some pop-neuro quota to fulfill?


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The holiday season is all about family time, traditions and great food.
For our second annual Holiday Eats series, TVGuide.com has lined up some great chefs, including MasterChef's Joe Bastianich, Rachael Ray, Tom Colicchio and more, as they share cooking tips and even teach television stars like Royal Pains' Mark Feuerstein and Fran Drescher how to make their favorite dishes.
Watch below:


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Unfortunately the layout tags don't include a link to the beginning of the comments, only
date:posts.addCommentUrl which generates the link to the comment form. That link works by going to the
#comment-form anchor. As the comments always appear before the form, we can insert another anchor with the same name, before the comments and then hey presto, the link will take us to the first comment instead of the form.
To make this change you need to edit the HTML version of your template (with the widgets expanded) and find the following HTML snippet
and replace it with
 You should find that it appears twice in your template; once for threaded comments and once for unthreaded comments. Change it in both places to make sure you get the right one.
This works because the IDs of HTML elements are meant to be unique, and when they aren't the first one takes precedence. We could have made more changes to the template (change the
comments to
comment-form rather than adding the extra anchor, and remove the original
comment-form anchor) but I decided it was safer to leave as much of the template alone as possible. Anyway you should now find that clicking the comment link takes you to the comments rather than the form which, as far as I'm concerned, makes more sense.


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School chalkboard
That's it, the end of the summer holidays and time to go back to school. For a great start, here is an nice Apple Motion template. The project template comes with 4 placeholders for your photos/video and 7 placeholders for texts and logo. Just import your photos, type your texts and you'll be ready to render!
- School chalkboard is 35 seconds long animation.
- Fully Customizable Project. 100% Apple Motion 4.
- Compatible with Apple Motion 4, Apple Motion 5 and Final Cut Pro.
- No plug-in required.
- Help PDF file Included.
- Easy customization.
- Fast render time!
The music track is not included but you can buy this amazing audio track by bkfm here:
A dummy sound file have been included , replace it with the original one, and your sound will show up in Motion as in the preview.
The Pictures is not included but you can buy this amazing pictures by AndresPhotos here:
Font family: 'Chalkboard', Font style: 'Regular', 'Chalkduster', Font style: 'Regular', from here.
Best of all, the project is easy to use for beginners and pros alike—simply drop your logo and media into the Timeline, add text with a few simple clicks and render it. If you have some questions, please contact me on e-mail, through my profile page.
Rate if you like it!
See my other stuff!
Thanks for your time


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The spiders mating is different from other insects as the male spiders do not produce ready-made packages of sperm to insert in the females by their genitals. The male spiders use their pedipalps to transfer sperms into the female's epigyne (genital opening). They spin small sperm webs onto which they ejaculate and then transfer the sperm into syringe like structures on the tips of their pedipalps, which is then inject into the female's genital opening on the underside of her abdomen.
Spiders Mating Pictures
|Spiders Mating
|Spiders Mating
|Male Spider Pedipalps
|Female Spider Epigyne (Genital Opening)


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25 years young and 100,000 volunteers strong
Projects Abroad is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2017. In more than two decades, the company has helped connect over 100,000 dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers with communities around the world where they can make a difference. Over the years, volunteers have worked alongside local staff and communities in 38 countries to make a sustainable impact in fields ranging from conservation to medicine to childcare.
"If you ask me, did I ever dream we would send 10,000 people a year around the world, yes of course I did, but I had no idea that it was ever going to get so big," says Peter Slowe, founder of Projects Abroad.
How it all began
Founded in 1992 as a part-time start-up run from his home, Peter Slowe began Projects Abroad to assist a small group of students wanting to travel and teach English in Eastern Europe. Until 1997, the organization was a small family-run business based in the UK, but with a growing interest in gap years and overseas volunteering, Projects Abroad began to set up offices and projects around the world. By the turn of the century, volunteers were able to work in communities across Asia, Africa, Latin America and South America.
Fast forward to 2017 and the number of volunteers has grown to over 100,000 in just 25 years. Currently, Projects Abroad employs over 600 staff, has offices in 47 countries, and each year 10,000 volunteers join our projects to work in local communities in 30 destinations.
"Many people see problems in the world and they want to find a way to contribute, but they don't know how; we have managed to provide that link to make things real and possible for people to do so, and I think that's basically our success," says Peter.
Working locally, making a difference globally
As our volunteer network and project partnerships around the world have grown, we have been able to make an even greater impact in communities all over the globe. Building on the long-term impact and success of our Teaching and Care volunteers, we have over the years expanded to tackle wider issues that have long-term consequences for the communities where we operate. From our first Conservation Project, set up in Peru's Amazon rainforest back in 2000, to our first Micro-finance Project, established in Senegal in 2010, we're constantly looking for ways to connect volunteers with communities and address issues that will leave a lasting, positive impact.
Developing long-term partnerships has always been at the core of how Projects Abroad develops volunteer projects, but we have also been able to assist the immediate needs of people in developing countries. In 2004, following the devastating tsunami in the Indian Ocean, our first Disaster Relief Project was launched in Sri Lanka to provide essential support. This rapid response and continued support after a natural disaster was repeated when Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines in 2014, and again after the devastating earthquakes in Nepal in 2015. We continue to work in these communities to this day, providing support and development assistance long after they've stopped making headline news.
Personal impact on volunteers
None of this would have been possible without the incredible commitment and support from our volunteers. Coming from all walks of life, from high school students, to retirees to experienced professionals, each has left a lasting impact on communities across the globe. The volunteer journey often comes with unexpected and life-altering experiences.
"I spent four amazing months in Nepal on the Conservation and Environment Project, in the Annapurna Conservation Area. My time there was genuinely both life-changing and life-affirming and I can't recommend volunteering abroad enough for the incredible experiences it's bound to bring," says Projects Abroad Nepal alumnus Miriam Lord, from the United Kingdom. "Volunteering gave me a glimpse of what it is like to give without expecting anything in return, and this is something I observed everywhere in Nepali culture," she says.
Looking to the future
In August 2016, Projects Abroad appointed Greg Thomson as CEO, who took over from our founder, Peter Slowe. Greg started with Projects Abroad as a volunteer teaching English in China for six months in 1999; he began working for Projects Abroad in 2000, first based in India as a Volunteer Coordinator and then in Thailand as an Assistant Manager. He continued to grow with the organization – after joining the UK office as a Volunteer Advisor, he took on various functions in operations and marketing. Greg was Projects Abroad's Operations Director from 2009 until being appointed CEO last year.
His plan for the future is clear. He aims to grow Projects Abroad's volunteer network, which will enable us to do even more good around the world: "My vision is to recruit 20,000 volunteers each year to join Projects Abroad. With double the number of volunteers, we will be able to double the impact we have in the communities where we work."
Building on a legacy of global impact
Greg's ambitious vision is building on more than two decades of hard work and dedication from the 100,000 volunteers who have made the commitment to volunteers abroad. In recent years, Projects Abroad has been fortunate to be able to showcase the impact made by volunteers in our annual Global Impact Reports. 2017 will see the launch of our Global Impact Database, which will be pull all the data and research from our projects around the world into a single resource to track, monitor and share the amazing long-term impact that international volunteers make.
With the significant legacy of our past volunteers, the ongoing commitment from our current volunteers, staff and project partners, the future of international volunteering and the impact it can make around the world is looking bright.
Be part of our journey and our next 25 years of making a difference around the world. Find out how you can join our community of volunteers and be part of our projects in 30 destinations around the world.


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Monday, February 28, 2011
Let the creativity of people help define the future of Christchurch and the gateway to the South Island.
We must rebuild this area in an exciting and affordable manner that encourages people and business to want to be part of it.
There will be thousands of ideas out there so lets get them on paper and make a plan.
We need a vision of the future.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Olduvai Gorge
So here is a photo to go with it.
It is a very dusty but well worthwhile deviation off the road between Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti. The gully has been eroded right back to the bed rock so offers a wonderful slice of geological time and animal history, including us humans. On the last visit I was very impressed with the little museum and a local student gave us a very interesting explanation of it all.
Time for some Tory charity
Any political comments will be deleted. Especially any about the baby killer getting a "private citizen" tour.
I am incensed about disaster tourism as well but it can wait for another post.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
It may be that the shear scale of the disaster may require extreme measures but I would urge the Government to think very carefully before deciding to do a 'Gillard'.
I say that for two reasons. First, much (not all) of the ensuing expenditure is likely to be of a capital nature which has a very long pay back period. Second, taking money out of peoples pockets is likely to have an adverse impact throughout the rest of the country where economic recovery is dependent on continued spending.
But it certainly does bring into sharp focus the dilemma that Labour is facing with its me too, Johnny come lately, first $5,000 tax free election bribe. Phil Goff must spell out in specific terms where the money is coming from given the certain adverse effect the earthquake will have on the Crown accounts.
Perhaps he can turn to Mr Cullen for sage advice.
People Who Don't Think
Then Adolf had a brainwave. He remembered that fine old insurance related song which was taught him in Sunday School. Do you remember the one about the wise man who built his house upon a rock?
To make insurance easy for Labour voters they simply need to learn this song. Here is the money section:-
Oh, the rain came down
And the floods came up
The rain came down
And the floods came up
The rain came down
And the floods came up
And the house on the sand went SPLAT!
There you have it. Simple, see?
A deluge comes down.
A flood comes up.
Even Chris Faafoi might get it.
Those Hard Questions Again
He copped some semi-coherent flack for opining that Mr Goff might find some difficulty promoting his spend spend spend policies. It would seem there are some in the community who seem to think everyone must rush around like headless chooks until the final death count is confirmed. To even muse aloud about the harsh realities is deemed 'insensitive.'
Well all I can say is that at times of crisis there needs to be at least someone who can put aside the 'sensitivities' and think clearly. Some people call that leadership.
Fran O'Sullivan appears to have caught on, with a useful piece in this morning's Herald. She basically repeats Adolf's theme of three days ago.
What will New Zealanders be prepared to forgo in order to look after their mates in Christchurch? Anything? $5k tax free? Paying social welfare benefits to thousands of people who could work but will not lift their fat arses to go out and find a job?Namely, bludgers will have to give up some of their ill gotten bribes in order to help finance the cost of recovery for Christchurch. By bludgers I refer to well off families who are creaming it on so called tax credits and interest free student loans for their little darlings.
Last time I looked, the cost of this episode was pitched a $16,000,000,000.
Ms O'Sullivan lets herself down with this howler, through:-
This is the opportune time for him to review the extent of his Government's tax-cuts, which are being funded through borrowing .........Of all people she should know the tax cuts are NOT financed from borrowing. They are financed from an increase in GST. Had the tax cuts not occurred, along with the associated increase in GST we would still be borrowing exactly the same amount. No more and no less.
Friday, February 25, 2011
The future
Tragically it seems no more survivors will be found. My condolences go to all those who have lost loved ones.
But trying to take positives out of such a tragedy is not easy.
I would like to see all New Zealanders, from the Prime Minister down, use the rebuilding of Christchurch, both socially, physically and economically, as a chance to stop and think carefully.
We have an opportunity to put in place amazing change. A rebuilding that could help define us all for this century.
Let people take the opportunity to think.
And let our leaders have the courage to act with wisdom.
Instead of blindly rebuilding the past, let's see if we can start building a new New Zealand.
I guess that goes with the territory when you set up a bank targeting customers that other banks wouldn't touch with a barge pole.
Not being judgemental. Just stating a fact.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
And Now For something Different
God knows what happens when they deal with Organised Labia.
I arrived early to a sea of people all anxiously waiting at the gate. Every man woman and child had the most extraordinary stress written all over their faces. More than half the crowd openly weeping. As the Cantabs started to come through the emotion was too much for this blogger.
I cannot remember a time in my life when I have been more sad.
The stories of courage and generosity shine through. At the opposite end of the spectrum are the 'looters' whose complete disregard for the norms of human behaviour is sickening to behold. The Manning family are suffering enough without having to cope with the additional burden of lowlife scum breaking into and loopting their home.
I guess for those that are apprehended justice needs to take its course. But would I be completely out of order to suggest that, given the state of national emergency, these 'people' should be dealt with by way of immediate summary hearing without the right of appeal ... sort of a civilian Courts Martial???????
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Hard Questions
Sooner or later, the hard reality will bite and it is not at all pleasant.
- When will big shake number three occur?
- Does Christchurch have ANY future?
- Why is it that for a hundred years there was little activity and suddenly there are serious shakes EVERY DAY for four months?
- What are the political implications? (The exchange rate took an adverse tumble for Adolf yesterday. I hope it recovers before my looming settlement date.)
- How much will this add to our current deficit?
- What will New Zealanders be prepared to forgo in order to look after their mates in Christchurch? Anything? $5k tax free? Paying social welfare benefits to thousands of people who could work but will not lift their fat arses to go out and find a job?
- Will it occur to Phil Goff that now his spend spend spend pronouncements are exposed in all their cynical hypocrisy?
My Dad and Mum live in Christchurch and miraculously they have once again escaped any major damage. But we are making plans for them to come and stay with us until the true nature of the consequences of this disaster are understood.
As a structural engineer, it was very disheartening to see the CTV and PGG buildings collapse in such a manner. It is surprising that the columns failed so completely, with such tragic consequences for the people trapped inside.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Thank You
Australia, USA, Singapore, Japan, and Israel.
Edit: 0712. Apparently Taiwan and Britain can be added to the list, cheers guys.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Electile Dysfunction
Before he could get his leg over some wet knickered big knockered juvenile political reporter, along came Roy Morgan. No amount of tax payer funded Viagra can hide the plain ugly truth.
The lying old prick simply is past it.
NZ First down 2.5% (down 3.0%)
The medical profession buries its failures
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Winston Peters
Anyway, the usual poll results;
The country loves Key and does not know who Phil Goff is but they do remember the beast.
Peters apparently is polling in the low three's and when asked for comment was filmed on camera spouting the usual shite.
Namely his private polling totaling 10,000 has him on over 9%.
I do not believe him.
You know election year is on when the pie eater Garner starts talking labour with them being in touch of an impossible victory with the support of the Greens, Maori and Winston Peters. Bullshit from Garner as usual although he does look like he may have broken the habit of a lifetime and walked straight past the pie shop a couple of times this summer.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Ten Green Bottles
And if one green bottle
Should accidentally fall
There'll be nine green bottles
Hanging on the wall
Now there are only nine green bottles.
Here's the money quote:-
Last year, Professor Sackett backed a call from international scientists for urgent action on climate change.
Adolf eagerly awaits the demise of New Zealand's scientific green bottle, the fool Glugman.
Thanks Roger
So I wish him all the best and thank him for his contributions to NZ over the years.
I also see that another right wing party is in the wings.
I know that the ACT brand has taken a few hits, many of them well deserved. NZ is a small country, true right wing politics is just a part of our political spectrum. So why divide and risk failure?
I think that egos and personalities are often too much at the forefront.
We should just focus on working together to ensure our views are sounded in a reasonable manner and listened to by the people of NZ.
Our best hope for that to happen is with 8-10 seats after the next election under one banner.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Adding insult to injury
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Backdoor constitutions
$3.4m - budget agreed last week.
$1.9m - budget suggested last night
This would be more truthful
$3.4m - budget foisted on gullible ratepayers last week.
I won't hold my breath over this one
The council also voted to formally request the Government to clarify the intentions of its legislation.
That would require strong leadership from Key.
And they save the worst till last
Mike Lee, who tried to throw the matter back to the Government for clarification of the law before the budget was finalised, said what happened would influence the constitutional development of the country.
"This issue is that important."
It looks like we are heading down the track of getting a sleazy, backdoor constitution.
You are damn right Lee.
This is important but don't believe for a second that you and your mates have any mandate to foist your version of some apartheid constitution on us.
The treaty is not a partnership.
Monday, February 14, 2011
A Quiet Acheiver
Have a look at these figures from this morning's Herald. A few hard facts for Hammeroids to ponder.
And the next one to go should be the bureaucrat who told the select committee:-
Number of Health Ministry staff paid more than $90,000 a year:
* 435 at July 1, 2009.
* 440 at July 1, 2010.
Number paid less than $90,000 a year.
* 1052 at July 1, 2009.
* 897 at July 1, 2010.
The ministry said the increase in the number of actual people earning over $90,000 reflected a lower level of vacancies at the senior level.I'm still trying to figure out how that works.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Farewell MWTW
Mind the gap
Now days, it's the lefty politicians who appear to have taken up the mantle.
The gap is nothing more than an invention of their rather dull imagination.
It only exists in their feeble minds to help justify their own importance.
The rest of us see the world for what it really is - competitive.
Competition to be the best is a backbone of human nature.
When we live in a country that does not provide equal education opportunities for all, then the idiots may have something to complain about.
In the mean time, I would suggest that any one seeking to close their gap, use the time honoured means - education, imagination and hard work.
Otherwise, if you rely on politicians to do it for you, you are extremely likely to miss the train completely.
And maybe those politicians could, rather than blithering on about a figment of their imagination, actually figure out how to insert a more competitive backbone into our education system.
"sacred mountain"
The Hobbit does indeed appear cursed, first the studio nearly goes broke then del Toro pulls out then talentless talent get manipulated by an Aussie and the studio threatens to pull out then his guts explode and now to Cap it all off the central north island Maoris decide it is their turn to poofinger the movie by declaring Ngarahoe off limits due to it being "sacred".
I expect the sacredness has a price of course.
Why he does not film the whole thing in a studio and get the cgi team to paint the rest in is beyond me.
I would put in a link but the iPad cut and paste feature is more of a mystery to me than why Jackson has not quit this place.
Story on stuff.co.nz
Friday, February 11, 2011
One word
Thank goodness, at least we have some sane councillors to counter Brown's troughing appetite.
For elected representatives to act in such a cavalier manner with ratepayer's money is verging on the criminal.
Of course this is just the tip of the iceberg, as the Treaty gets its creeping revision to being a partnership.
Whatever Happened to Pam Corkery?
Thursday, February 10, 2011
When You're Hot, You're Hot
Thirty seven degrees and operating by air card.
We strongly recommend readers avoid the Auckland Airport Holiday Inn. Rated four and a half stars but definitely struggling.
Air New Zealand was excellent. A320 had oodles of leg room and superb music selections.
Four weeks in a serviced apartment and now to find a car and then a house. The housing market is much flatter than that in Auckland so Adolf should be able to drive a hard bargain, what with being cashed up.
Adolf will find some income earning activity. Maybe three or four days per week with no requirement to sing the company song or listen to the corporate horse shit at rah dee rah meetings.
It's been a long three days. Two days of packers and cleaners followed by a day of travel.
Relaxing with a bottle of Aussie Moet (Yellow Glen, The Cook's favorite) and a dash of 18 year old Glen Livet.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Give an inch, take a mile.
The only mindset that hasn't changed is that of government.
I know that John Key will talk about limiting the State, but it will only ever be talk around the edges. The fundamental problem is that when you give politicians an inch, they always take a mile. Always have, always will.
And if you think that the State are the only mile takers, just wait until we are eventually renamed - New Iwiland.
More bullshit
Will we ever see the day when bullshit is called bullshit.
I know it won't happen under Lyen Brown's regime.
Will he now be raising rates even more to fund the special lifestyle of a few.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Next best thing to an arsehole.
She isn't too far removed from an arsehole herself.
Monday, February 7, 2011
So, as an independent he can give his proxy vote to Labour where he obviously feels at home along with the other malcontents from the 'Left' of the political spectrum.
Incredibly good news for National and disastrous news for Labour. Bit like the wino ner do well, infested with fleas, who comes a calling.
So, now the choices become starker. Vote Labour you get Winston and John and Norman and Phil. Problem is that Winston hates Norman and both hate John while Phil would like to hate all three but can't (daren't) say so.
We live in interesting times.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Greytown was the first inland town to be settled in New Zealand. Another 'first' was that Arbor day originated in Greytown and you can still see that first planting as you enter the town from the south. It is a town dominated by trees; Soldiers Memorial Park and a main street that has been completely transformed encompassing boutique cafes and bars, antique shops and restaurants, and many and varied accommodation options including The White Swan Hotel where you can pamper yourself for a mere $399 per night ... but I digress.
The particular history of Greytown is such that much of the commercial area and a significant number of residential sections are owned by the Greytown Trustlands Trust which was established by Act of Parliament in 1871. Today the Trust owns property not just in Greytown but in other Wairarapa towns and in Wanganui and Napier. The aims of the Trust, set in statute, include the promotion of education and the general wellbeing of the people of the District.
Our sil has just been posted to Wellington where he will learn to drive a desk which is somewhat different from commanding HMNZS Te Mana which he did for the past three years. They sold their villa in Devonport for a tidy seven figure sum and then spent a truly frustrating couple of months searching for something in Wellington that met their needs. No luck there so they went further afield and purchased a 15 acre property in Greytown and Blair will commute to work by train - only a 70 minute trip.
But back to the point of this post. Our granddaughter had her first day at the Greytown Primary School last Wednesday and came home bubbling with excitement. The Trust funds a programme whereby every pupil in the senior department is 'given' their own laptop computer. For the first year it remains at school. Therafter they can take it home.
That single initiative is creating a bunch of incredibly IT savvy kids and giving them a huge head start in life. Well done the Greytown Trustlands Trust.
Please Explain!!!!
A Pakeha tertiary worker from Whangarei attending the service for the first time said the dawn service had been on her bucketlist.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Who cares
The sooner we have a New Zealand Day that reflects our true multicultural status the better.
Update . Looks like the celebrations are going to plan.
Update 2. From the herald poll of 23,000 people.
"Is Whinetangi Day important to you?".
77% No
Taurau insults Maori protocol; he insults me as Ngati Taumatauenga and my own Marae, Rongomaraeroa o Nga Hau e Wha, at Waiouru.
Koha is freely given by visitors as a mark of love and respect. This is not koha ... it's a charge and as such is subject to GST. And Taurau's reaction to Rankin's demand to see the books is to bare his buttocks (metaphorically speaking).
Rankin is right. The IRD should do a compulsory audit of the Marae's books. It would be interesting to see just how much of the various 'koha' gathered over the years has gone missing.
Village Idiots is a very good descriptive.
Friday, February 4, 2011
What's In Store For The Herald
The piece is short but so delightful that it is quoted in full.
An 11.1% increase in digital advertising revenue was not enough to offset the 7.2% decline in print advertising revenue year-over-year, the New York Times Company disclosed in its fourth quarter earnings report Thursday.
Overall revenue was down 2.9% to $661.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2010, compared to the same quarter last year. Overall advertising revenue dropped 3.1%, while circulation revenue declined a further 3.6%Overall profit fell a full 26% compared to the same period in 2009. The company reported a profit of $67.1 million for the quarter, compared to a profit of $90.9 million in Q4 2009.Digital advertising now makes up 26% of the company's total advertising revenues, President and CEO Janet L. Robinson said in a statement. The company generated $113.2 million in revenue from its digital ad products in the fourth quarter.As for the future, she said, "visibility remains limited."
Limited indeed. They must be sailing very close to the reef.
The Herald has all the ingredients. The NYT has Krugman, the Herald has McCarten. The NYT has Friedman, the Herald has Orsman. At least Fran O'Sullivan and John Armstrong provide a veneer of intelligent analysis and opinion.
The only difference though, is that the NYT hasn't turned itself into a tawdry tabloid.
A look at our future
Tourism will likewise be limited by our isolation, so here is NZ's future.
Large scale retirement villages catering for the world's baby boomers.
Our benign weather and scenery are unbeatable.
No State benefits, subsidies or pensions provided.
But full access to state of the art medical facilities.
You can speak whatever language you like.
Anyone convicted of criminal activity is immediately deported to country of origin.
Just bring your cash, security clearance and medical insurance.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Why I Don't Buy Newspapers
Here's the first line of the story:-
Backers of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak have opened fire on protesters, killing four.
See if you can pick the subtle nuance in the headline writer's interpretation of the story.
Well done Fairfax. Stick to analyzing the minutiae of DHB executive expense vouchers.
Ever The Diplomat
After his latest effort today there is little doubt.
His Facebook page reads: "It looks like these dickheads only have expulsion on their mind. If that's their plan, then we may need to refocus."
Harawira claims he has been fighting to stay in the Maori Party for the last two weeks, however in his comments today he seems resigned to the fact he will be expelled.
Neither the parliamentary MP team nor the party officials will have any mana left if they do not kick their dickhead into touch - permanently.
Phil Goff, no doubt, will welcome him. He will provide some improvement to the tone of Labour.
I can see it all now. Jones, Horomia, Harawiwa, Mahuta. A fantastic team.
After this murder at New Year, the Christians (10% of the population) live in a much heightened fear of persecution.
The people who protest in the streets are seeking "freedom" but I strongly suspect that they will get the opposite.
Enslavement by a minority of fanaticals, far worse than anything Mubarak condoned.
As for the 8 million Christians. I fear that these days are sealing their fate.
And probably Israel's as well.
Goff Lied, Sailors died
Thus far, two key witnesses have sheeted the blame home squarely to the Ministry of Defence and the then Minister at the time of the ship's commissioning. These are the lad's parents here and the senior naval officer here - the Deputy Inspector General for Defence, no less
Two extracts are telling and both get to the heart of the Defense Minister's incompetence.
The parents:-
"It is my contention that our son died as a result of incompetence."
Mr Solomon also said the Government-commissioned Coles Report had said the programme to commission the HMNZS Canterbury "has been managed to get the ship into service as soon as possible, and it has been characterised by shortcomings in project management and governance and collective wishful thinking".
The DIG;-
The ship was commissioned in June 2007 and the lad was killed in October of the same year.
Commander William Craig, the Deputy Inspector General for the Defence Force, who has 33 years' experience, told the inquest the Navy knew that the Canterbury was inadequate.
"Can I draw on the analogy if you buy a car it will have a warrant of fitness. It will also be built to various standards. In this case, some of those standards were lacking."
However, Commander Craig says there was significant pressure to deploy the ship, despite the fact 24 hazards had been identified.
Who was the Minister of Defence in charge of the Navy?
With what was he preoccupied in 2006 and 2007?
He was too busy helping his good friend Helen Clark work out how to steal a couple of million dollars from the taxpayer to fund their broken arsed party's election campaign. Far to busy to see to it that the troops lives are not put at unnecessary risk.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Major Rally For North Shore
If you'd like to go, here are the details. Monday evening.
To attend a Public Meeting on the Foreshore & Seabed
Speaker: ACT Deputy Leader John Boscawen
On Monday 7 February 2011, starting at 7pm
at Channel View Lounge, Mary Thomas Centre, Gibbons Road, Takapuna
Join us to hear John outline the history of the foreshore and seabed debate. He will discuss the implications – and impending consequences – of the Government's proposed Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Bill.
"The Maori Affairs Select Committee hearings on this Bill have ended. During this process Maori and non-Maori alike have made it abundantly clear that there is no mandate for this Bill. Despite this, however, the National and Maori Parties remain determined to forge ahead with this flawed and deeply divisive legislation. ACT is the only Party to have maintained a consistent view on the foreshore and seabed issue: the 2004 Act should be repealed, and the right of Maori to have their claims heard in open court should be restored."
"The foreshore and seabed is a huge issue for all New Zealanders and the Government cannot be allowed to put short-term political gain ahead of finding a long-term and just resolution."
By hell, he looks just like a younger version of Keith Holyoake!
Herald Shafts Warmists
Have a good look at the openers here:-
Cyclone Yasi is building as a storm of unprecedented ferocity - the likes of which hasn't been seen since 1918.
Well, that didn't take long. Right on cue, just for RobertGuyton:-
'Steadily warmed,' eh? Just ignore the hard evidence of pronounced global COOLING since 1999.
Scientists say there is a likely climate change link to the current La Nina through higher sea surface temperatures. The world's oceans and atmosphere have steadily warmed over recent decades and that warmth could be providing monsoons and storms with an extra kick.
A major global study in 2010, based on complex computer modeling, found that tropical cyclones will become stronger, with the intensity increasing between 2 and 11 percent by 2100.
Note the absence of serious evidence. Just unnamed 'scientists' with computer models.
Not again? Surely not?
He did that last time and what has changed with Winston First to cause him to rethink ..... nothing, nothing at all. Some might argue there is political risk in bolting the door shut. I would argue that it is a decision based on integrity.
So the battle lines become clearer still. Vote Winston First and you get Phil Goff.
Enough to frighten the most diehard Winston apologist.
Very Droll, Very Clever and Spot on
- georgebolwing (231) Says:
February 2nd, 2011 at 11:37 am
I note that Labour seem to have abandoned the strategy of trying to paint the PM as an evil, society-destroying, grandmother selling neoliberal disguising as a friendly, mildly conservative, middle-of-the-road pragmatist and now are painting him as a friendly, mildly conservative, middle-of-the-road pragmatist how doesn't do anything.
This seems odd, since he is friendly, mildly conservative, middle-of-the-road pragmatist, who has convinced the population that he only does mildly conservative, middle-of-the-road pragmatic things, in a friendly manner. Thus Labour is accusing him of not doing enough of the things that he is popular for doing.
I also note that the more people to the right of Key (including many on this blog) wail at the PM for being a friendly, mildly conservative, middle-of-the-road pragmatist, the more it reinforces the view that he is a friendly, mildly conservative, middle-of-the-road pragmatist.
To quote Barak Obama, Labour is heading for an old fashioned shellacking at the next election. I think it is now more likely than not that National will be able to govern in its own right, but Key will continue to court the Maori Party, United Future and what is left of ACT, since he will want to continue to be seen as a friendly, mildly conservative, middle-of-the-road pragmatist.
Optimist of the century
Good luck with that.
Our backbone starts to straighten
The world is finally wising up to the fact to what our forebears knew instinctively, that food commodities are true wealth.
A full stomach will beat a nice view any day. We are actually pretty lucky in NZ that we can have it both ways, but maybe the days of speculation are gone.
As long as we take a long term approach
And if we don't invest in our own dairy industry, then there are plenty of others who will.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Brave words
Brave words from an economist.
We cling to our real estate like a buoy in a storm.
Whilst we may have the sensation of floating, the water level is still changing.
I also see that Goff is planning a reshuffle amongst the troops.
Rearranging a handful of worn out socialists may also give him the same sensation.
And so it was that the Veteran spent a goodly part of Friday and Saturday 'trapped' in Moerewa by floods. I have driven all over the world. The weather bomb that hit the east coast of Northland on the Friday night produced the worst driving conditions I have ever experienced.
At about 10.00 pm I reached the little creek at the bottom of the Moerewa Hill to find it had expanded to about 70m wide with the bridge 1m under water. I guess there would have been about 20 cars trapped on the Moerewa side and an unknown number of the hill side. The rain was sheeting down and the cars on our side slowly built up until about 1.00 am when the road south from Moerewa to Kawakawa went under with a Camper Wagon and trailer swept off the road into the swamp with the occupants rescued by the Kawakawa Fire Brigade at about 3,00 am clinging to the roof of the vehicle. I kid you not. This was just like Queensland.
So there we were completely stuck (marooned) I guess about 100 cars in total. At about midnight torches appeared from the direction of the township back about .5k from the bridge. They were members of the local 'Happy Clappy' Church which was located in the old Moerewa Pub. I cannot speak too highly of them. They opened up the Church, found mattresses for those with young families; provided hot drinks and then for the whole of Saturday walked up and down the line of cars and offered food and drink to those still in their vehicles .... and this from a community on the bones of its bum.
Meanwhile back at the bridge the local dog control officer (whose house was going under) and using his Council ute worked continuously for 24 hours without a break
towing vehicles stuck in water and in the late Saturday afternoon, as the waters started to recede, towing vehicles through the water to the other side. He refused any payment ... said he was there to help.
I take my hat off to the members of that Church and to the FNDC Dog Control Officer. I saw another side of that sad town which is home to some magnificent people.
How MMP Gives You The One Party State
However, of one thing Adolf is certain. National Party people will be hoping and praying Harawira does indeed get into bed with Bradford and beget the ugliest of ugly offspring, the Ratbags Party. I can imagine the Party Chairman might be Kieth Locke and the chief strategist Matt McCarten. (He's the only one with any real brains but according to some reports he may well be dead before the campaign proper begins.)
So, what might happen at at election where the Ratbag Party pulls votes from Labour and the Greens and drives the Hammeroids scurrying back to ACT just as fast as they can go? The latter factor seems to have been ignored by pundits across the spectrum. Fear of the Ratbag Party will rejuvenate the ACT vote.
Have a look at the chart below and larrrfff your aaarse off.
Adolf assumes:-
- Harawira is defeated by Tamihere in Tai Tokerau.
- Hide retains Epsom.
- Bascowan wins Tamaki.
- Boufhead loses Ohariu.
- Maggie Barry wins Coromandel.
- Peters and the Greens both just miss five percent.
- Both Labour and National poll a little less than current opinion polls indicate.
|Party name
|Party Votes won
|Party seat entitlement
|No. of electorate seats won
|No. of list MPs
|Total MPs
|% of MPs
|Act New Zealand
| Ratbags
|Māori Party
|New Zealand Labour Party
|New Zealand National Party
That's when you can expect to see more cuts to gummint spending, more sale of state liabilities (such as Radio NZ and TVNZ), axing of at least thirty PC 'commissions;' elimination of interest free student loans; a clamp down on lifestyle beneficiaries and a wind back of the iniquitous Working For Families.


text:
(Reuters) - A heavily armed gunman opened fire inside a Connecticut elementary school on Friday, killing 26 people, including 20 children, police said, in one of the worst mass shootings in U.S. history.
The gunman - who according to a media report carried four weapons and wore a bullet-proof vest - was dead inside Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, state police Lieutenant Paul Vance told a news conference.
Vance said authorities found 18 children and seven adults, including the gunman, dead at the school, and two children were pronounced dead later at a hospital. Another adult was found dead at a related crime scene in Newtown, he said, bringing the toll to 28.
The New York Times reported that the gunman, believed to be in his 20s, walked into a classroom where his mother was a teacher, shot his mother and then 18 students in the room before shooting five other adults and killing himself.


text:
Art & Design Department
The art and design program is designed to increase understanding of art and its role in the larger society and at the same time develop skill in art making and critical analysis. Five overarching student learning outcomes shape the curriculum. A student who graduates from Fort Lewis College with a BA in Art should have acquired the following knowledge and skills:


text:
The Yankees offer a variety of ticket license plans. Each plan consists of the same great seat for all designated games and a number of other amenities.
In addition to being part of a winning tradition, Season Ticket Licensees enjoy the following benefits:
Full and Partial Season Ticket Licensees are eligible to participate in the Yankees Legacy Club Rewards Program. Licensees can earn Legacy Club Rewards points, subject to specific terms and conditions, by doing things they already do, such as attending games, donating tickets within their ticket license plan, as well as by renewing their account and connecting social networks. Licensees can redeem their points throughout the season for benefits and experiences, such as player meet and greets and promotional gift cards.
- Savings off the individual game ticket price
- Discounted season parking packages
- Yankees representative
- Flexible payment plan
- Future Game Ticket Exchange Program
- Unused Ticket Credit Program
- Yankees Homestand Newsletter
Exclusive Offers and Opportunities
- Opportunity to purchase Yankees Club Memberships
- Season pricing for additional individual game tickets
- Regular season individual game ticket presale
- Presale for select non-baseball events*
- Discount offer on regular season group tickets and party areas
- Seat relocation
Manage Your Tickets Online
- Online account management via www.yankees.com/myyankees
Additional Programs
- New York Yankees Legacy Club
- Birthday and Milestone Anniversary Card Programs
- "Season Ticket Licensee of the Month" Program
- Gift Bag Request Program
*Subject to the scheduling of a non-baseball event and the promoter's sole and absolute discretion.
Season Ticket Licensee Benefits, terms and conditions, restrictions and other Ticket information can be found online at yankees.com
Please note: The Yankees reserve the right, at any time, in their sole and absolute discretion, to modify and/or revise their Season Ticket Licensee Benefits. Other restrictions may apply and Tickets and offers are subject to availability and modification (as determined by the Yankees).


text:
As a celebrity memoirist Roger Moore trips at the first hurdle. In the foreword to My Word Is My Bond, Moore promises to deliver "a fun book with no recycled scandal, tittle-tattle or dirtdishing." This seems to me to reflect a fundamental misunderstanding on Moore's part of the genre to which he is contributing. Fortunately for us Moore is not quite as good as his word.
Most celebrities can't write, and neither can the people they pay to write for them. But there's something compelling about a good celebrity memoir just because it's so achingly predictable: the humble beginnings of the plucky, plain little waif from Nowheresville, the chance discovery, the lucky break, the pieces of a fabulously successful and lucrative career magically magnetizing together. (For a lengthier and smarter consideration of this topic see the late David Foster Wallace's "How Tracy Austin Broke My Heart," an extended review of Austin's Beyond Center Court: My Story collected in Wallace's Consider the Lobster.) And they have a funny mirrors-within-mirrors, mise-en-abyme effect: they pull back the smooth glossy surface of familiar images and show us the rough, grainy verso. Despite being outside the boundaries of anything remotely resembling literary quality, Moore's book delivers on both counts.
Moore wasn't exactly a waif. Born in 1927, he was the son of a happily married London policeman. Moore had more than his share of childhood illnesses tonsils, pneumonia but still succeeded in growing up into an almost freakishly handsome young man. His first love was drawing and animation, but one day he must have been around 17 he tagged along with some chums to pick up work as a film extra. A friendly director put him up for an audition at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. "As I stood on the stage, I knew at that moment that all I'd ever wanted to be was an actor. I'd found my true vocation." So you had, Rog.
Or had he? Moore's real talent isn't so much acting as having a good time while acting on the side. Say what you like about him, Moore is not vain, and he doesn't have exaggerated ideas about his abilities as a thespian. He cheerfully cops to having been the most lightweight of Bonds. He presents himself as a cheerfully overgrown boy blessed with astounding leading-man looks, a greater-than-average air of aplomb, the bare minimum of dramatic talent and no intellectual gifts or hidden depths to speak of. His greatest joys in life are his children, eating, drinking, getting married to diverse women and laughing at his own or other people's farts.
But he paid his dues. He kicked around various movie studios and did minor TV work Maverick, The Alaskans, Ivanhoe for years before The Saint landed in his lap. It was heaven-sent: just like that he was famous and rich, and after moving on to a one-season series, The Persuaders with Tony Curtis, he was more so. (Curtis comes across as a crusty and eccentric character whose obsession with his gloves was so great that he left them on when he washed his hands. In his own memoir, also out this month, Curtis describes himself and Moore as "the best of friends." Both actors recount an incident in which Curtis used the c-word on guest-star Joan Collins; interestingly, their stories square completely. Maybe they compared notes.)
From there Moore stepped easily into the lethal tuxedos of 007 (Read Richard Corliss' review of the new Bond film, Quantum of Solace). There are no bombshells in My Word Is My Bond, or if there are Q must have cleverly disguised them as fart jokes. But there is plenty to interest people who avidly consume, as I do, the trivia pages of the Internet Movie Database. It may interest you to know, for example, that during the filming of Live and Let Die, Moore's first outing as Bond, he had a kidney stone episode for which he took a painkiller, methylene, that both knocked him out and turned his urine blue. Waking up in the middle of the night, he mistook his closet for a bathroom and peed all over his clothes, dying them a delightful azure.
Read the Quantum of Solace Review.


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Hoops to Go: CBS Streaming March Madness to iPhone
More catnip for the convergence optimists, who dream about getting to watch anything they want on any device they choose: In addition to streaming all of its March Madness coverage on the Web, CBS is also letting iPhone and iPod touch owners watch the college basketball tournament on their devices.
Most sports/Web/mobile experiments have way too many caveats to make them really interesting–last month, when Time Warner's (TWX) Turner let iPhone users stream the NBA All Star game, for instance, it wasn't letting them watch the actual telecast of the game, just a series of alternate takes. But this is the real deal–you'll see the actual CBS telecast, for all the games, commercials and all.
Of course, there are still asterisks with this one. It only works with WiFi, not a 3G wireless connection, which means you have to be fairly close to a computer to watch this on your phone. So why not watch it on that computer? Also, it's not gratis: CBS (CBS) is selling the "NCAA March Madness on Demand" app for $4.99 on Apple's (AAPL) iTunes store.
It's an interesting inversion of the clichéd-but-true "analog dollars for digital pennies" phenomenon, whereby traditional content loses value as soon as it moves to the Web. In this case, CBS is asking you to pay money for something you could normally get for free.
But consumers, or at least early adopters who ingest content on their mobile phones, seem OK with this proposition. Presumably, that's because they're trading cash for convenience. I'm not quite sure how this will play out with college basketball, where those who really care about the games are going to get themselves in front of a big screen. But it's cool to have it available, period.


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Anyone else going to the Kent woods this Sunday 22-11-2015
Thought I would post this up as Gregg hasn't lol
Kent woodsLatest news on Frontera Owners Group events, meets, greelaning & offroad
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Kent woods
Anyone else going to the Kent woods this Sunday 22-11-2015
Thought I would post this up as Gregg hasn't lol
i hate having Dyslexia
Re: Kent woods
My 2.8 shorty - now sold, and comments here
My old dti - now sold
"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "WOW --- What a Ride!"
This vehicle runs on 100% recycled dinosaurs
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Following a complaint filed by the ACLU, school officials in Cranston, R.I. have ended gender specific activities like father-daughter dances and mother-son ballgames to comply with state gender discrimination laws. WJAR's Katie Davis reports.
The school system in Cranston, R.I., announced it is banning traditional father-daughter and mother-son activities, saying they are a violation of the state's gender discrimination law, the Providence Journal reported late Monday.
Superintendent Judith Lundsten told the newspaper the decision was in response to a complaint from the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of a single mother who said her daughter was not able to attend a father-daughter dance.
"This is 2012 and they [public schools] should not be in the business of fostering blatant gender stereotypes," Steven Brown of the Rhode Island ACLU told WPRO News.
According to the Providence Journal, Lundsten said that while federal law banning gender discrimination gives an exemption for such gender-specific events, Rhode Island law does not.
In a letter sent out in August, Lundsten says, "I acknowledge that many of these events have long traditions and for many parents, these types of gender-based events are not an issue, however, this is a public school system and under no circumstances should we be isolating any student from full participation in school activities and events based on gender," according to WPRO.
Sean Gately, a Republican state Senate candidate, brought the ban to light Monday, adding that, if elected, he would work to change the state law, the newspaper reported.
According to The Associated Press, School Committee member Janice Ruggieri said the school system can begin hosting "family dances" to accommodate all kinds of parenting situations.
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The small volcanic island off Africa's east coast is bursting with stray dogs%u2014upward of 150,000, says Reha Hutin, president of the Paris-based Fondation 30 Millions d'Amis (the Thirty Million Friends Foundation).
Hutin sent a film crew to Réunion this summer to obtain proof that live animals were being used as shark bait. The goal was to expose the practice on the animal rights group's weekly television show.
It didn't take long for the film crew to find three separate cases, she said.
A videotape and photographs show the dogs with multiple hooks sunk deep into their paws and snouts.
"From then on everyone started to take the whole story seriously and realized it was true," Hutin said.
Photographic Evidence
A veterinarian successfully treated one of the canines, a six-month-old dog with a large fishhook through its snout (see photo), at an SPA (Société Protectrice des Animaux, or Animal Protective Society) clinic in Réunion's capital, St.-Denis.
Unlike most of the hooked animals, the dog was someone's pet, according to Saliha Hadj-Djilani, a reporter for the Thirty Million Friends Foundation's TV program. The dog had apparently escaped its captors and was taken to the SPA by a concerned citizen. Fully recovered, the animal is now home with its owners.
The other two cases uncovered by Thirty Million Friends were strays. They now live in France with new owners.
The foundation plans to finance a sterilization program on the island to reduce the stray overpopulation. But the job won't be easy.
Hutin said many locals view the strays as vermin. "There's no value to the life of a dog there," she said.
Stephanie Roche of the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, another animal-welfare group in Paris, confirmed that live animals are used as bait on Réunion. But, she said, it is not a common practice.
The Bardot organization has been fighting the practice for a decade. But this is the first time Réunion politicians have reacted strongly and swiftly to stop it, Roche said
Last month, it became illegal for fishing boats to carry any live or dead dogs or cats.
The French Embassy in Washington, D.C., issued a written statement condemning the use of dogs as shark bait, emphasizing that such acts are illegal and will not be tolerated in the French territory.
The embassy maintains these are "very isolated cases and authorities on the island are closely monitoring the situation."
Earlier this month the first court case was held involving a person charged with using live dogs as bait.
Authorities had found a seven-month-old puppy on John Claude Clain's property in July with three fishing hooks in its paws and snout.
Clain, a 51-year-old bread deliveryperson, was found guilty of animal cruelty and fined 5,000 euros (U.S. $5,982), according to Clicanoo, a Réunion newspaper.
The amateur fisher said he did not use the puppy as bait. Instead, Clain said, the dog had been injured by a trap he had set to protect his hens, the paper reported.
Clain's case isn't an isolated one, said Fabienne Jouve of GRAAL (Groupement de Réflexion et d'Action pour l'Animal, or the Grouping of Reflection and Action for Animals), an animal rights organization based in Charenton-le-Pont, France.
"Lately, almost every week, one dog has been found with hooks on the island, not counting the cats found on the beaches partially eaten by the sharks," Jouve said.
Once fishers capture the animals, she said, the dogs and cats are hooked "the day before, so they can bleed sufficiently."
Some escape before being tossed into the ocean. Others aren't so lucky.
After hooks are plunged into their paws and/or snouts, the animals are attached to inflatable tubes with fishing line and dumped into the ocean, Clicanoo, the newspaper, reports.
To avoid detection fishers place their bait in the middle of the night, according to the newspaper account. In the morning the men return to see if a shark has been caught.
"Barbaric practices have no excuses, whatsoever, in the 21st century," GRAAL's Jouve said.
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in Friday Harbor, Washington State, is offering a U.S. $1,000 reward to any Réunion police officer who arrests anyone using live dogs or cats as bait for sharks.
Both the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in the United Kingdom and the Thirty Million Friends Foundation are asking animal lovers to sign a petition urging the French government to step up enforcement of laws against the use of live dogs as bait.
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Welcome to Watch List, where we identify five things on TV to watch while you stay at home and steadfastly avoid seeing "Green Lantern." LET'S GO!
FALLING SKIES – 9:00PM Sunday (TNT) TNT's big new expensive series has the backing of Steven Spielberg, who certainly knows a thing or two about fictionalized alien invasions. This time, you get the "War of the Worlds" angry aliens instead of the touchy-feely aliens of "ET" and "Close Encounters." And hopefully, this show won't have an ending as trite and stupid as "Worlds" had. The always-agreeable Noah Wyle is your headliner, as he tries to keep his sons alive as the aliens begin to take over the planet. And like AMC's "Walking Dead," this show hopes to take an overdone film premise and breathe new life into it by making it serialized. And the aliens are bad right away, which is an improvement from "V," where you spent a zillion episodes waiting for everyone to figure out the aliens were bad when you knew it all along (a fatal flaw in the show). Early reviews are solid, so strap in and get your alien on. ANTICIPATION: HIGH!
OUTCASTS – 9:00PM Saturday (BBC America) And that's not the end of the new alien shows. This BBC import is set in the year 2040 and is about a human colony on the distant planet of Carpathia. Oh sure. Human space colonies are only twenty-nine years away. Sure thing, overly optimistic producer people. ANTICIPATION: SPACEY!
RYAN & TATUM: THE O'NEALS – 10:00PM Sunday (OWN) Ryan O'Neal and his kid get their own reality show. Oh man! Oh God! Oh man! Oh God! ANTICIPATION: GOOD BAD OR POSSIBLY BAD GOOD!
MISS USA PAGEANT – 9:00PM Sunday (NBC) Hosted by Andy Cohen and Giuliana Rancic, with sideline commentary by Kelly Osbourne. Seriously? That's the best we could do for these poor girls? They have to go parading around in a swimsuit being judged and we can't even get LL Cool J to be a co-host? ANTICIPATION: SHALLOW!
THE KILLING – 10:00PM Sunday (AMC) Season finale. If they don't reveal the killer, I burn Veena Sud's house down. ANTICIPATION: NO KILLER LEAVES HIS EMAIL OPEN LIKE THAT!
Weekend Watch List: Aliens Be All Up In Yo' Grill!
Welcome to Watch List, where we identify five things on TV to watch while you stay at home and steadfastly avoid seeing "Green Lantern." LET'S GO!


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Kris Kristofferson didn't write the lyric, "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose" until the 1960s were nearly over.
But the line, even with its hippie connotations, seems appropriate when contemplating Sunday's return of "Mad Men," with the clock set at 1965. The once-conformist characters are charting new, nothing-to-lose courses amid personal and professional turbulence – and a storm blown in by times that are a-changin'.
For most of the first three seasons, the highly stylized AMC drama felt almost like an extension of the 1950s with its man's-world, gray-flannel-suit ethos. But the characters' unspoken unease and secrets simmered just below the buttoned-up exterior – the collective, nagging unrest finally boiling over with the JFK assassination near the end of last season.
Don Draper, the ad and image wizard with a buried past, could no longer control the world he created – losing his proto-Stepford Wife to her own awakening of ambition and his workplace to corporate maneuvering.
So we enter Season 4 with Draper, who started life as a dirt-kicking, emotionally stunted farm boy named Dick Whitman, having to reinvent himself yet again.
You could say the same for "Mad Men."
There's a new firm, with Draper, Roger Cooper, Peggy Olson, Pete Campbell and Joan Holloway running the show.
But what are they selling? And who's going to buy it?
One of the most brilliant moments in "Mad Men" history came with Draper's Season One-ending "Carousel" speech in which he pitches Kodak executives on an ad campaign for their revolving slide projector, painting it as an experience bathed in nostalgia. "This device isn't a spaceship – it's a time machine... it takes us to a place where we ache to go again." But nostalgia, Draper notes, "literally means pain from an old wound."
In 1965, "Mad Men" – and the country – are entering an era where nothing is black and white anymore, color is shifting toward the psychedelic and old-fashioned Kodak moments are few.
With scenes like the "Carousel" speech, "Mad Men" built the hype it somehow lived up to in Season Two. The show then managed to pull off its most compelling season last year.
That's a tribute to the vision of creator Matthew Weiner, who previously helped bring us "The Sopranos." He knows from his mob days that keeping the story moving is crucial.
New situations and characters are important elements, but the "Mad Men" arc is most closely tethered close to its setting – which Weiner, who was born in 1965, realizes is about a lot more than nostalgia.
We have a pretty good idea of what the year will bring in terms of social and cultural upheaval, but not the impact on Draper and Co.
Which is why, like Kristofferson and his Bobby McGee, we're glad to be along for the ride, wherever it might take us.
Hester is founding director of the award-winning, multi-media NY City News Service at the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism. He is the former City Editor of the New York Daily News, where he started as a reporter in 1992. Follow him on Twitter.


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When I first began this blogger, on December 30 or 31 or whatever it was, I was depressed because I had turned 40. The big 4 Oh! I was truly disturbed that I was feeling so down about a silly number. 40 really isn't old anymore. Sure it was old when my parents were 40, but hey, i am a young 40! My parents are now young 63's!
So at that time, my 40th BD, I set a few goals for the year. One goal was to run my first one hundred mile race. I chose McNaughton, and finished it, on April 17. It was awesome.
Another goal I set was to lose 22 pounds, to reach 130 pounds. I wasn't sure if I could. I had tried BFL and was just losing a few, gaining a few, building some muscle, but not getting lean. I wanted to be lean. I wanted to look in the mirror and feel good about my body. I wanted to see the muscle under the fat.
On February 9 I joined Leanness Lifestyle and the Bootcamp Intensive I. I lost 5 pounds and was pretty stoked about that, so I joined Bootcamp Intensive II and lost 8.5 more. The next Bootcamp isn't until September, but I've remained an active member of LL. I'm on Team Maintenance right now, even though I'm still in 'action mode' (losing), they invited me so I joined.
I've lost 20.5 pounds so far, I've almost reach my first weight loss goal. I did decide that I want to reach 125 and thought I would reach that goal on July 7. It may take me a few more weeks, but hey, I'm ok with that. I know I will get there.
Another goal I set was to run a 4 hour marathon. That was way out there. WAY out there. I thought maybe I could run 4:10, but didn't know if I would do the work for a 4. Then I really wanted to qualify for Boston but wasn't ready to put that down as a goal.
Well, it is now. After reaching 3:59:51 at Grandmas, I'm ready to put in the work to get a 3:50. To do that I have pulled up Hal Hidgon's training program Advanced II. I'll run more mileage of course, with the ultras I do, but the important additions for me will be hills, tempo runs and speed work. Next week I begin to add those three workouts that will get me to the finish line of TCM in fine fashion. I'll run one tempo run a week and will alternate a speed workout with hills each week.
Today it is 100F! Wow, that is one hot mama. We will be spending the day floating in our pool. I was at the gym this morning and did 60 minutes of legs. Ran a hot fast 5 miles with run club last night and am taking the day off of running today. It's too hot to get Topaz out on the trail and I really don't need to run today. Will do 20 minutes of abs. I'm doing abs every day this week, with Emily from CO!
Sunday is the anniversary of my first race ever! The Big Lake 8K was my first ever, 8 years ago. It took me one hour and five minutes to run the course. Wow, look where that first race took me. I think I can run it a bit faster this Sunday.
Oh my gosh..next Wednesday is mine and Steve's 20th wedding anniversary. Yikes!
M1: Cherry Garcia Shake
M2: tuna, pineapple, mayo, onions, spinach
M3: chicken, carrots, onions, peas, mayo
M4: banana, vanilla pudding, splenda, vanilla protein powder
M5: salmon, cabbage
M5: large, real large, green salad w/turkey


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by Tom Utescher
Breaking out of an early 2-2 tie with a 16-1 surge, visiting Mount St. Joseph Academy went on to beat the Gwynedd Mercy Monarchs 55-29 last Thursday evening, reaching a record of 4-0 overall and 2-0 within the Athletic Association of Catholic Academies.
After opening the 2010-2011 campaign by winning the Cedar Crest Tip-Off Tournament (Lebanon, PA) two weekends ago, the Mount cruised, 68-30, in last Tuesday's league opener at Merion Mercy. The Gwynedd contest two days later was the Magic's fourth consecutive road game.
Against the Monarchs, Mount St. Joe received 14 and 13 points, respectively from two senior mainstays, guard Mary Jo Horgan (eight assists, three steals), and forward Steph Smith (nine rebounds, six assists). The 6'1" Smith committed to play at Baltimore's Loyola University at the end of last summer.
Junior guards Cailin Schmeer and Bridget Higgins (three steals) added eight and six points in Thursday's victory, and the Magic also recorded five points for Kelsey Jones (three steals), four for fellow sophomore Meg Geatens, three for junior Maddie Kohler, and two for sophomore Anne Burgoyne.
Gwynedd (0-1 AACA, 2-2 overall) was led by Morgan Sheridan, with 11 points, and Caroline Shimrock, with eight. One of the Monarchs' most promising players last season, freshman forward Kiernan McCloskey, has transferred to Germantown Academy.
The Mount St. Joseph Magic have been able to hit the ground running this season due to the fact that all but one of last year's starters (forward Tara Barr) are back in action this winter. The team's top reserve players are also accustomed to playing within the system orchestrated by fifth-year MSJ coach John Miller.
The exception is Schmeer, who transferred into Mount St. Joe's this year from Hatboro Horsham High School.
"Everyone on the team was so welcoming," she said. "They didn't care if I screwed up a play in practice; they helped me through it. I think the program is just phenomenal, the intensity of the defense, the hustle everyone has every day in practice.
"Coach Miller is great," she continued. He's not a screamer; he's patient and he's definitely a teacher of the game."
She enjoys the atmosphere in the Mount classrooms, as well.
"It's definitely more challenging than my old school, but I like it," she related. "You don't have the boys being rowdy in class, and it's very academically focused."
UPDATE – In last Saturday's home opener the Magic passed their first major test of the season, defeating Philadelphia Public League power Engineering & Science High School, 64-45. The Engineers hung close through the first half, which ended with a buzzer-beater by Jones that gave the Mount a 31-24 edge. The Magic took command of the contest with a 15-1 run over the first seven minutes of the second half.
Smith shone with 23 points and nine rebounds, and Horgan had 11 points and three steals. Higgins played a fine all-around game and finished with eight points and three assists, and freshman guard Alex Louin also scored eight points for the winners. E & S guard Brittany Hrynko poured in a game-high 26 points before fouling out of the game with five minutes remaining. She will attend DePaul University along with Germantown Academy's Alexa Gallagher.