text:
Negotiators talking to Ala. captor through pipe
MIDLAND CITY, Ala. - Speaking into a 4-inch-wide ventilation pipe, hostage negotiators tried Thursday to talk a man into releasing a kindergartener and ending a standoff in an underground bunker that stretched into its third day.
The man identified by multiple neighbors and witnesses as 65-year-old retired truck driver Jimmy Lee Dykes was accused of pulling the boy from a school bus on Tuesday and killing the driver. The pair was holed up in a small room on his property that authorities compared to tornado shelters common in the area.
James Arrington, police chief of the neighboring town of Pinckard, said the shelter was about 4 feet underground, with about 6-by-8 feet of floor space and a PVC pipe that negotiators were speaking through.
There were signs that the standoff could continue for some time: A state legislator said the shelter has electricity, food and TV. The police chief said the captor has been sleeping and told negotiators that he has spent long periods in the shelter before.
"He will have to give up sooner or later because (authorities) are not leaving," Arrington said. "It's pretty small, but he's been known to stay in there eight days."
Midland City Mayor Virgil Skipper said he has been briefed by law enforcement and visited with the boy's parents.
"He's crying for his parents," he said. "They are holding up good. They are praying and asking all of us to pray with them."
The normally quiet red clay road was teeming Thursday with more than a dozen police cars and trucks, a fire truck, a helicopter, officers from multiple agencies, media and at least one ambulance near Midland City, population 2,300.
Dykes was known around the neighborhood as a menacing figure who neighbors said once beat a dog to death with a lead pipe, threatened to shoot children for setting foot on his property and patrolled his yard at night with a flashlight and a firearm.
The chief confirmed that Dykes held anti-government views, as described by multiple neighbors: "He's against the government - starting with Obama on down."
"He doesn't like law enforcement or the government telling him what to do," he said. "He's just a loner."
Authorities say the gunman boarded a stopped school bus Tuesday afternoon and demanded two boys between 6 and 8 years old. When the driver tried to block his way, the gunman shot him several times and took a 5-year-old boy off the bus.
The bus driver, Charles Albert Poland Jr., 66, was hailed by locals as a hero who gave his life to protect the 21 students aboard the bus.
No motive has been discussed by investigators, but the police chief said the FBI had evidence suggesting it could be considered a hate crime. Federal authorities have not released any details about the standoff or the investigation. The mayor said he hasn't seen anything tying together Dykes' anti-government views and the allegations against him.
Dykes had been scheduled to appear in court Wednesday to answer charges he shot at his neighbors in a dispute last month over a speed bump. Neighbor Claudia Davis said he yelled and fired shots at her, her son and her baby grandson over damage Dykes claimed their pickup truck did to a makeshift speed bump in the dirt road. No one was hurt.
The son, James Davis Jr., believes Tuesday's shooting was connected to the court date. "I believe he thought I was going to be in court and he was going to get more charges than the menacing, which he deserved, and he had a bunch of stuff to hide and that's why he did it."
Neighbors described a number of other run-ins with Dykes in the time since he moved to this small town near the Georgia and Florida borders, in a region known for peanut farming.
A neighbor directly across the street, Brock Parrish, said Dykes usually wore overalls and glasses and his posture was hunched-over. He said Dykes usually drove a run-down "creeper" van with some of the windows covered in aluminum foil.
Parrish saw him often digging in his yard, as if he was preparing a spot to lay down a driveway or a building foundation. He lived in a small camping trailer on the site. He patrolled his lawn at night, walking from corner to corner with a flashlight and an assault rifle.
Mike and Patricia Smith, who also live across the street from Dykes and whose two children were on the bus, said their youngsters had a run-in with him about 10 months ago.
"My bulldogs got loose and went over there," Patricia Smith said. "The children went to get them. He threatened to shoot them if they came back."
Another neighbor, Ronda Wilbur, said Dykes beat her 120-pound dog with a lead pipe for coming onto his side of the dirt road. The dog died a week later.
"He said his only regret was he didn't beat him to death all the way," Wilbur said. "If a man can kill a dog, and beat it with a lead pipe and brag about it, it's nothing until it's going to be people."
Court records showed Dykes was arrested in Florida in 1995 for improper exhibition of a weapon, but the misdemeanor was dismissed. The circumstances of the arrest were not detailed in his criminal record. He was also arrested for marijuana possession in 2000.
Associated Press writers Jay Reeves, Melissa Nelson-Gabriel, Bob Johnson in Montgomery and AP researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York contributed to this report.


text:
Nickname klavdia-France
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Nickname klavdia-France is registered to klavdia-france. Issuedcertificate id619291. Issue date 31.01.2012.
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
When you lock yourself out of your car and call for the lock picking services of a 24 hour locksmith, you have first-hand experience with among the job skills with the locksmith. If needing a locksmith made you late for your appointment, you probably have very mixed feelings about the assistance of a 24 hour locksmith. On one hand, there is relief when the locksmith helps to reach the vehicle, but self-condemnation for needing the lock picking services of a locksmith in the ultimate place.
Being a round-the-clock locksmith is a career when as being a locksmith you may help someone by a while of lock picking. However, there is more to being a locksmith than lock picking. Louis XVI was an amateur locksmith under the tutelage of a guru locksmith who ultimately betrayed him
Historically, a locksmith was a revered artisan and a lock was a work of art. Lock picking was another common occupation, but didn't have the public's appreciation. The locksmith created while lock picking masters challenged the the origin of the locksmith. A report of the locksmith throughout history is a fascinating peek into artistry and security. Often lock picking skills kept pace with those of the locksmith.
A 24 hour locksmith today does not make locks, but performs lock picking, lock repair, and cleaning locks. The rationale locksmith is routinely called to bring his locksmith tools to install new locks. Although a 24 hour locksmith in a small town wouldn't have adequate to do if he only did lock picking people with missing keys, the 24 hour locksmith is famous for this associated with his work.
The 24 hour locksmith will also clean and repair broken locks. A 24 hour locksmith is hired to try to do a check within the security system. The locksmith may try lock picking to test the entrances. A 24 hour locksmith is called the company replaces locks on entrance cupboard doors. The 24 hour locksmith is called when replacement or mending is needed for safes or vault locks. The locksmith is the individual who checks security systems after a burglary, fire or earthquake.
A company may call a 24 hour locksmith to recycle older locks to be certain a new code appears in largest of the older one. The locksmith then replaces original locks with renovated locks
We hold intruders responsible for lock picking, but a locksmith does exactly thing, only properly. A locksmith may be hired specifically in order to those with lock picking skills. Electronic locks and keyless security systems require that a locksmith have a brand new battery of lock picking skills.
Pro Locksmith little rock
Little Rock, AR, USA
+1 501-615-5746


text:
Tip: The Bathroom Ventilation Test
Staff Writer
Mount Shasta Herald
Hamtil Construction, a remodeling contractor in Saint Louis, shared this simple test to find out if your bathroom ventilation system is working properly: Turn your bathroom fan on. Place a sheet of paper by its vent. If the paper does not stick, then you know that the fan is not drawing air.View original post


text:
We offer customized services on a standalone and integrated basis. We apply these tools to help unlock unrecognized value through the strategic optimization of assets and operations.
Across industries and asset classes, all over the world, we provide the hard data and hands-on experience clients need to move forward through change.
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Responsible for deal underwriting and structuring, financial management, and ongoing wholesale & industrial deal operations
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Joined Gordon Brothers in 2002
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Joined Gordon Brothers in 2008 and speaks Spanish, Portuguese and English
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Over 25 years of experience in retail
Managing Director, Retail
Joined Gordon Brothers in 2005
President, Commercial & Industrial


text:
The Nokia Lumia 900 has the weight of two big names on its shoulders. It's Nokia's big re-entry into the US market; it's also the flagship Windows Phone Mango in this country. In anticipatory articles, you can hardly find the term "Lumia 900" separated from the word "premium." The phone is as important as the Samsung Galaxy Nexus was to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and as, well, every new iPhone is to iOS.
The phone was recently announced at the two-year contract price of $99, a tag usually applied to new mid-range or old high-end phones (even more recently, AT&T announced the Lumia 900 will be free online for new customers). But the implication is that the low price is meant to attract attention to an OS that has yet to win a significant chunk of the market. It's not a reflection of the handset's quality. Because of this, we largely compare the Lumia 900 to the two flagship phones of the other two major OSes, the iPhone 4S with iOS and the Galaxy Nexus with Android 4.0. The iPhone 4 also makes a brief appearance, since it has the same list price as the Lumia 900.
As our review will show, the new hardware can hold up against both of these more expensive phones, and Nokia's total package deserves to be taken seriously. Still, the OS has some maturing to do compared to the other two platforms. Power users for whom price is less of a factor will find much to admire here, but they still may not be won over when it comes to getting the best handset, period.
Hardware: girl, look at that body
The Lumia 900 has a 4.3-inch 800x480 resolution Clear Black AMOLED display embedded in a unibody polycarbonate shell, rounded on the long sides and squared off at the top and bottom. The polycarbonate body has a velvety, slightly rubbery feel to it, making it easy to hold. Due to the screen margins and casing overhang it feels bigger in hand than you might expect of a 4.3-inch-screened phone. As a point of reference, the Galaxy Nexus measures 67.9 millimeters wide to the Lumia 900's 68.5 millimeters, despite the Galaxy Nexus having a 4.65-inch screen. The Galaxy Nexus is also less than a centimeter longer, meaning the Lumia 900 is hardly any friendlier to a jeans pocket.
The Lumia 900 is not pushing the limits of thinness at 11.5 millimeters, but frankly, that's OK. The pursuit of a thin body at the expense of functionality has lately become a circus we wish manufacturers would stop participating in.
The Lumia 900 has three buttons arranged along its right hand side: a volume rocker, a sleep/power button, and a camera button. A headphone jack, microUSB port, and SIM slot are placed on the top. A single speaker is on the bottom edge, and the standard Windows Phone keys are placed below the screen (back, home, and search).
The placement of the sleep button seemed odd to us during our first hands-on at CES, but our suspicions that it would be easier to press have been confirmed; a button centered on the long edge is easier to press with your left forefinger or right thumb than one on the top edge. However, it does mean those fingers have to find somewhere else to sit while you're using the phone. The buttons have decent tactile feedback and aren't too stiff, though the halfway-press on the camera button used to focus to the lens can be difficult to feel.
The Lumia 900's single speaker is pretty quiet, even at the loudest volume setting. Many phones trade volume for distortion, which the Lumia 900 is likely avoiding by setting the volume limit low, but it can be hard to hear without the volume turned all the way up. As for the other sound components, call quality on the Lumia 900 is perfectly fine. There's no noticeable difference from the iPhone 4S.
The phone also has haptic feedback. It's used very sparingly though, mostly when the three soft keys are pressed. The feel of it is gentle and short, but solid. We looked through the settings and there doesn't seem to be a way to extend the vibrations into more usage cases, such as for the keyboard.
As for storage, the Lumia 900 comes with a flat 16GB—unexpandable, unupgradeable. As apps get bigger and photo libraries expand over the course of the next two years (the standard length of a phone contract), that size limit would start to chafe us.


text:
The Hawaii Marines Profile...
Conference: other
Want to sponsor Hawaii Marines section? Click here NOW!
Have you located a problem with the data shown? Please go to "Past History", select the appropriate decade, then year and then report it from there.
Web & Fan sites for Hawaii Marines
Hawaii Marines Conference Changes over the years...
Hawaii Marines Championships/Crucial Games won...
The 2021 Schedule
Opponent Standings for 2021 & 2020
All time records vs. other teams
other Standings for 2021 & 2020
Hawaii Marines Biography / History
Hawaii Marines Statistics / Other links...
All records are in W-L-T format. Please see the Helpful Info tab for important info on stats below.
First Game: 1921-10-14, at Hawaii (T, 0 - 0)
Overall Record: 4-3-2 (9 Games)
Record at home: 0-0-0 (0 Games)
Highest Scoring Game: at Hawaii, on 1954-11-14. Total points: 58
Biggest Victory Margin: at San Diego State, on 1957-11-09. Final Score: 25 - 0 (25 Points)
Biggest Defeat Margin: at Hawaii, on 1954-11-14. Final Score: 45 - 13 (32 Points)
Longest Consecutive Winning Streak: 2 Games
Longest Consecutive Losing Streak: 3 Games
Record in Shutout games: 2-0-1 (3 Games)
Games with data that needs clarification
No discernable issues with schedule.... yet!
Legend Icons and other helpful information...


text:
canon eos 700d
Canon EOS 700D
Canon EOS Rebel T5i
Canon EOS Kiss X7i
Canon EOS Rebel T5i
Canon EOS Kiss X7i
Canon EOS 700D setup instructions for stop motion animation or time-lapse photography with Dragonframe
Supported Versions
Dragonframe 5.1.3: YES
Dragonframe 4.3.4: YES
Dragonframe 3.7.4: YES
Dragon Stop Motion 2.3.8: NO
(Dragonframe was previously called Dragon Stop Motion)
Live View
The Canon EOS 700D provides a live view via its USB connection. The live view size is 960 x 640.
Camera Settings
Dragonframe controls the Canon EOS 700D ISO, shutter speed, aperture (with digital lens), image quality, and size.
Product Info
You can find the Canon EOS 700D manual and specifications at the Canon website.
Manual Lens to Avoid Flicker
To avoid flicker that can be caused by electronically controlled aperture lenses, please use a manual Nikon lens ('D' series). Learn More about Aperture Flicker
Setup Instructions
- Create a new scene or open an existing scene. (Dragonframe will not connect to your camera unless you have a scene open.)
- Power your camera by AC power if possible, or use a fully charged battery.
- Close any other applications that might connect to your camera.
- - For macOS, Open Image Capture, select your camera, then in pop up area in lower-left select Connection camera opens: No application. (See Picture)
- Make sure Dropbox is not a client of the camera.
- You may need to quit Google Backup and Sync, since it can interfere with the camera even if you turn off syncing.
- If you have anti-virus software, white-list Dragonframe so that it may access your camera.
- Set the Mode Dial to Manual (M).
- Set Auto Power Off to OFF.
- Set Auto rotate to OFF.
- Set Lens to Auto Focus and disable Image Stabilization.
(This step applies to digital lenses. However, we recommend you use a manual aperture lens as described above.)
- You may need to remove the CF/SD memory card.
- Set the Live View shooting/Movie shooting button to Live View Shooting.
- Set Release shutter without card to ON or Enable.
- Set Live View shooting AF mode to Quick mode or Live mode (but NOT face detection mode).
- Set Auto Lighting Optimizer to OFF.
- Set Aspect ratio to 3:2.
- Turn OFF the camera's WiFi connection, if it has one. Otherwise it can interfere with the USB connection.
- Connect your camera to the computer with an appropriate USB cable.
- Proceed to the Cinematography workspace to adjust the camera exposure settings, check focus, and take test shots.


text:
⇑Click the banner to visit January's prompt Page ⇑
Daily Prompts – Words and Images
To participate in This Daily Prompt, all you have to do is publish a post on your own blog that responds to the prompt. It can be words, images anything that you like. Put the link (listed below) in your post to create the automatic pingback. You can leave a link to your post in the comments if you wish.
Today's Word: Opportunity
Please link to this prompt in your post by using this URL link in the text of your post or at the end of your post:
Make sure to check out the comment links and pingbacks to view other posts inspired by today's prompt.
Thank you and happy blogging.


text:
This casserole was one of my post-long run inventions a few years ago when I found myself with no plan and random vegetables in my pantry. Lucky me it turned out to be a hit with both Guppy and Monsieur F, and, it's great recovery food to boot. Protein from the garbanzos, carbs from the starchy veggies and al small bit of fat from the low-fat coconut milk makes this a wonderful post-run meal. Sometimes I serve as is, others accompanied with some quinoa or rice.
There is about an hour of cooking time, but the initial preparation is minimal and there is so much you can do during that hour (besides shower and stretch). Catch up on some blogs, email your mother or even do the dishes! You'll need to give it a stir once or twice, so don't take a nap, or if you do, be sure to assign someone to stirring duty.
Try as I might, I couldn't get an aesthetic photo of this today. Yesterday's photo is much, much better. Just believe me. It's delish.
Carrot, Sweet Potato & Coconut Casserole
530 grams/18.5 ounces cooked garbanzo beans (rinsed if from a can)
1 red onion, diced
2 to 4 cloves garlic, diced
2 medium carrots, chopped
1 medium parsnip, chopped
1 medium yukon gold-type potato, chopped
1 medium sweet potato, chopped
a large handful of frozen peas, rinsed
400 ml/1 1/2 cups light coconut milk*
200 ml/3/4 cups soy milk*
curry paste to taste
1/2 tsp ground cumin (optional)
salt & pepper
Fresh chopped cilantro or parsley for garnish
First a note one the coconut milk : if you want to make this casserole virtually fat-free, go with a non-fat or low-fat coconut milk if you have that in your area. Another possibility is to use only low-fat soy milk. The results are still delicious, though we would technically have to change the name. If you do opt to skip the coconut milk entirely, just a few bouillon granules or half a bouillon cube to give your casserole a little zip.
Combine all the ingredients except the peas in a deep casserole dish. Cover and bake at 190°c/375°f for about 30 minutes, then take it out and give it a stir. Bake for another 15 minutes, then add the peas and stir again. Bake for another 10 minutes or so, then serve garnished with fresh chopped cilantro or parsley.
Now that your belly is full of yummy food, go visit sweet Kelly and check out her amazing give-away! I'm crossing my fingers and toes for this one, but really, I can't keep the hoping to myself – go leave a comment! You might win!


text: Trying to find pubs in Rydon? You've come to the right place. We've got every pub and bar in the UK listed. Whether you're looking for a pub or bar in Rydon to play darts, somewhere to play pool or just want to have a look at a menu before you go, we can help.


text:
Victoria Opitz. Age: 28. I am a true connoisseur and love the beautiful and sensual moments of life. With me you can perform as witty gentleman both stimulating conversations as well spend exciting hours ...
Little Memphis
#Daclub Instagram posts (photos and videos) - abradabra.ru
Amber Angel. Age: 29. HIGH CLASS ESCORT I love erotic not only for MONEY ... ;) I love BE YOUR GIRL:) MY PHOTOS ARE 100% REAL !!!!


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We dont' have any tide data for this spot at the selected date range.
The tidal prediction for North Chicago is just that, a well educated guess based on years of observed data. Many factors will affect the tide tables at North Chicago including local winds and pressure systems. A margin of error of at least 10 minutes is to be expected with any forecast and its this level of accuracy we aim to achieve. Data quality varies by port and country: large western commercial ports will be very accurate, small Asian fishing villages are probably going to be somewhat less accurate. If you think the tide tables at North Chicago are wildly innacurate please let us know (please tell us what source you are comparing us with).


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"Green leaves ignite, transformed by a kaleidoscope of incinerating colors—devil-red, burnt tangerine, caramelized amber, searing saffron, and smoldering crimson-purple. The air is impregnated with the aromatic perfume of orchard fruits ripening in the fleeting flush of the sun's warm light. Hazy, slanting rays gild the late season glory in the garden. Surrounded by flowers of dissipating beauty and juxtaposed against the dazzling brilliance of autumn foliage, we are urged to spend every possible moment savoring our gardens before the onset of winter."
Excerpt from my book Oh Garden of fresh Possibilities! Notes from a Gloucester Garden. Written and Illustrated by Kim Smith, David R. Godine, Publisher. To read more of this excerpt, click link: Exquisite Flora in Autumn.
Beautiful saffron yellow maple found, glowing gold in a shady knoll beneath a hardwood tree canopy, at Bradley Palmer State Park.
I believe this little tree is a Japanese maple tree, not typically found in a forest of North American native trees.


text:
Acrobats fall during Ringling Bros. circus stunt
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A platform collapsed during an aerial hair-hanging stunt at a circus performance Sunday, sending eight acrobats plummeting to the ground. Nine performers were seriously injured in the fall, including a dancer below, while an unknown number of others suffered less serious injuries.
The accident was reported about 45 minutes into the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus' 11 a.m. Legends show at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence.
Stephen Payne, a spokesman for Feld Entertainment, the parent company of Ringling Bros., said the accident happened during an act in which eight performers hang "like a human chandelier" using their hair.
All the performers have been doing "some variation of this act for some time," Payne said, though he didn't know how long. The current incarnation of the act began in January with the launch of the show, he said.
Providence Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare said officials and inspectors haven't yet determined what caused the accident. He said none of the injuries appears to be life-threatening.
Roman Garcia, general manager of the Legends show, asked people to pray for the performers.
"Everybody's doing fine, everybody's at the hospital, everybody's conscious, everybody's doing pretty well," he said at the Dunkin' Donuts Center less than two hours after the accident.
Rhode Island Hospital in Providence admitted 11 patients with varying injuries, including one in critical condition, spokeswoman Jill Reuter said.
The hair-hanging stunt is described on the circus' website as a "larger-than-life act" featuring eight female performers.
"These 'hairialists' perform a combination of choreography and cut-ups including spinning, hanging from hoops, and rolling down wrapped silks, all while being suspended 35 feet in the air by their hair alone," the website says. "In this hair-raising act, audiences will even see the weight of three girls held aloft by the locks of only one of these tangled beauties."
Video taken by audience members showed a curtain coming down, and several performers hanging around 25 feet in the air from an apparatus suspended from above. Seconds later, as they began to perform, the women fell and the metal apparatus landed on them.
"It just went crashing down," said audience member Sydney Bragg, 14, of North Kingstown. "Everyone was freaking out. We heard this huge clatter and then we just heard the girls scream."
She said spotlights were on the performers at the time, but all the lights went out after the fall.
Rosa Viveiros of Seekonk, Massachusetts, said she saw that the acrobats had fallen on top of at least one other performer on the ground, a man who stood up with his face bloodied. The acrobats remained still and did not get up, she said.
"We thought it was part of the circus," said her husband, Joe.


text:
Travel and Adventure: Winter's lure of the Matterhorn and beyond
Traveling by rail from Zurich to Zermatt deep in the Swiss Alps was worth every mountainous twist and turn as the tracks traversed up through snow-covered vineyards and forests, delivering me to within eyeshot of the Matterhorn, one of the world's most legendary peaks.
Like the young boy in his ski suit sitting across from me, I was in awe of this mountain that in 1865 put Zermatt on the tourist map following the first and tragic ascent of the 14,692-foot mass.
"Papa," he said, "how much longer?"
That striking scene set the mood for my journey to the German-speaking canton of Valais, where skiers and snowboarders enjoy the white stuff on the glacier 365 days a year and where I embraced the sports, culture and traditions of Alpine life that blend together so naturally.
At the foot of the Matterhorn - 5,300 feet above sea level - Zermatt is a classy yet unpretentious compact village of 5,800 people surrounded by the highest peaks in Switzerland, almost 15,000 feet, a paradise for mountain-climbers.
If the pioneering mountaineers could only know what trails they blazed! All I needed, however, was my Swiss Pass that allowed me unlimited train travel as I moved freely from village to village.
At Zermatt station passengers young and old shuffled off the train with skis and snowboards. Around the car-free village pedestrians strolled through stylish shops and shared the streets with horse-drawn carriages and pint-size electro-mobiles.
With my guide, Fabienne (a Zermatt native), to help me navigate the mountain we boarded the famous Gornergrat Bahn, the electric train that has been transporting Alpinists more than 10,000 feet to the Gornergrat summit since 1898.
At the top, surrounded by a staggering panorama of 29 peaks, we clicked into our skis, pointed downhill and cruised the wide-open pistes of the massive mountain, the Matterhorn a beacon in constant view. In its vastness - 218 miles of trails, including Europe's longest ski run (16 miles) - unusual and delectable detours lured us off the beaten track.
The Iglu Village, a sustainable mountain resort, is a cluster of modern-day igloos made from snow and ice each winter that melts away come spring. This cool hotel on the Alpine range has all the creature comforts - guest rooms, a cinema, a bar, a restaurant and a Jacuzzi.
At the outdoor bar we sipped steaming hot chocolate.
"We drink this a lot," Fabienne said, "because it gives us energy."
I soon learned that a little Swiss chocolate goes a long way.
Appetites build quickly on the slopes, and dozens of restaurants as celebrated as the mountain itself are a ski run away. We zipped up the Sunnegga Express funicular then skied to Adler Hitta, where diners basked on the mountain hut's sunny terrace with a close-up view of the mystical Matterhorn, whose sides face the four cardinal directions - north, south, east and west.
In the Alps lunch is an unrushed event. Ours started with the requisite Valaisan prides - exquisite Swiss wine (the Valais is the country's largest winemaking region) and the quintessential platter of air-dried beef sliced thin and soft as silk followed with penne pasta and truffles, a sumptuous excuse to load up with carbs.
The ride down the 33-year-old funicular was my last - in the original cabins, that is. These were replaced in June with new carriages offering a quieter ride and a platform for mountain bikes and luggage.
We skied back to the village to visit the state-of-the-art Matterhorn Museum before closing (admission is free with a Swiss Pass). Built underground, the fantastic re-creation of Zermatt as a 19th-century farming village and a gripping chronicle of the first ascent of the Matterhorn, including the broken rope from the fateful fall, left me mesmerized.
In late afternoon I journeyed north to the magical landscape of the Goms Valley, 4,265 feet above sea level. This little-known part of the Valais is the most forested, so it is a pristine habitat for deer, golden eagles, vultures, black grouse and the indigenous chamois and ibex. Marked trails beckon toward blissful winter hikes on foot or with snowshoes, Mother Nature's way of renewing the mind, body and soul.
The wide, sunny valley is also a utopia for langlauf, German for cross-country skiing, and I had come to take a lesson in the village of Obergesteln (population 200). The only sign of traffic here was the flow of skiers gliding effortlessly along the 62-mile circuit of groomed trails that connects the valley's 12 ancient villages.
Just minutes apart, each enchanting hamlet has a train stop, a humble white-washed church, cafes and dark sun-baked wooden houses on the mountainside, so characteristic of the Valais.
The valley was also home to Caesar Ritz (think Ritz Hotels), who was born in the village of Niederwald in 1850. An interpretive walking trail dedicated to the "hotelier to the kings" follows his lifelong career that championed elegance in hospitality around the world, a philosophy that remains the cornerstone in the Goms Valley.
Refreshed and inspired, I boarded the rails once more, this time heading west to Portes du Soleil, or Gateway to the Sun, Europe's largest ski resort created during the late 1960s.
Spread over 400 square miles, 283 trails and three nature reserves, Portes du Soleil connects a dozen village resorts between Switzerland and France. Imagine crossing international borders on skis - and never skiing the same trail twice.
I arrived in Champery, a village of 1,300 people at the foot of the jagged Dents du Midi, which is 10,686 feet above sea level. Champery is among the five Swiss villages and seven French villages that comprise this enormous piste network - more than 400 miles of trails, 10 terrain parks and an intricate lift system of cable cars, gondolas, chair and surface lifts.
My guide and I set off on a morning "ski safari" through natural unspoiled terrain, weaving our way along the Swiss side, then schussing over the seamless border to the French village of Chatel for a hearty lunch at a typical mountain cantine.
With elevations ranging from 2,700 to 7,500 feet, Portes du Soleil is a winter playground for all skill levels from gentle beginner slopes to the formidable "Swiss Wall" on the border. And the price tag for all this is a coup - a six-day adult pass covering 12 resorts costs $286.
At the end of an exhilarating day apres-ski activities such as Val d'Illiez Thermal Baths and spa center, where I soothed weary muscles in the nutrient-rich waters, await. And to be in the Alps is to partake in fabulous fondue, Switzerland's "comfort food," served at virtually all of the 90 mountainside restaurants.
The whole of Portes du Soleil is immense in size, but I hardly noticed because a down-to-earth ambience prevails throughout. Each intimate village has been around for centuries and has passed down from generation to generation Alpine traditions and authentic hospitality that are as natural as the snow that falls around them.
My nonstop flight from Los Angeles to Zurich was on Swiss: www.swiss.com.
The Swiss Pass offers unlimited travel on trains, buses, boats and free admission to museums, but it must be purchased before departing the United States.
Zermatt Tourism: www.zermatt.ch.
Aristella Boutique Hotel: www.aristella-zermatt.ch.
Goms Valley Tourism: www.obergoms.ch/tourismus.
Hotel Hubertus: www.hotel-hubertus.ch.
Caesar Ritz: www.caesar-ritz.ch/en.
Portes du Soleil Tourism: www.portesdusoleil.com.
Champery: www.champery.ch.
Hotel Suisse: www.hotel-champery.ch.
Thermal Baths Val d'Illiez: www.thermes-parc.com.


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Colourful acrylic-painted metal jingle bells for small & medium size cats, dogs, also bunnies, ferrets and raccoons. :)
• This listing is for ONE bell of your choice.
• A loop ring (silver or gold) for easy attachment to your pet's collar.
Optional -> 10mm D-ring or 15mm D-ring.
All coloured bells: 0.6'' / 15mm high (size is approximate) without a split ring.
If you have any questions about the bells, please do not hesitate to contact me.
© 2023 Crafts4Cats
*** Please note that your order will only be trackable if you choose the TRACKING option. If you opt for STANDARD delivery your order will not be possible to track. ***
1-3 business days
Buyers are responsible for any customs and import taxes that may apply. I'm not responsible for delays due to customs.
Just contact me within: 3 days of delivery
Ship items back to me within: 14 days of delivery
Buyers are responsible for return shipping costs. If the item is not returned in its original condition, the buyer is responsible for any loss in value.
Please contact me if you have any problems with your order.
We care deeply about privacy.
In order to process your order, we need to process your personal information such as the name of the recipient and address (without this we can't post your order).
In order to process your personalised items e.g. pet tags, and you agree to provide us with the information of your choice. We do not disclose this information to third parties.
Your payment is processed by Etsy, this information is not shared with Crafts4Cats. Etsy privacy policies can be found here https://www.etsy.com/legal/privacy/
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Cotton items e.g. collars, jackets can be washed at 40%
Items with iron-on lables should be only hand-washed.
Our products are custom made and we do not generally offer refunds unless the product is defective. Please ensure that you order the right product before purchasing. If you have a problem with any product from Crafts4Cats, please contact us.
Important. If you placed an order and in the meantime moved to a new address your order cannot be changed or refunded if it's been dispatched. We are not responsible for the loss of your items in this situation.
If your order has not arrived within the estimated delivery time, please contact us. Please note that no refunds can be issued after 180 days.
EU Regulations (the EU Consumer Directive) allows consumers a right of withdrawal from their purchase within 14 days of purchase. Please note this excludes shipping costs in either direction and is limited to customers with an EU delivery address.
To be eligible for a return, the item must be returned unused and in the same condition that you received it. The item must be in its original packaging.
If the item is not returned in its original condition no refund will be given.
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Please note that no refunds can be issued after 180 days from the day of dispatch.
Please take particular note that we will not refund shipping costs in either direction.
If we agree on a refund, our costs in shipping the item(s) to you originally will be deducted from your refund. This is subject to a minimum of €1.50 + any additional services e.g. tracking number or courier costs.
We do not offer refunds on items that are returned to us due to incorrect or incomplete address, or if the package was not picked up from the local post office in time resulting in it being returned. However, we do offer to resend the item at an additional shipping fee.
If of course the items were sent to the incorrect address by our error, we will re-ship your order at our cost.
Please note that our Standard Shipping is sent by 'Airmail', however, it does NOT include a tracking number. If you would like it tracked, please choose one of the options below:
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If you would like to receive your order by a certain date and to avoid disappointment we recommend courier delivery option (3-5 days).
Due to extreme delivery delays (2 - 3 months!) to Australia & Canada, we will ship your order by tracked or express. Please note that shipping fees are non-refundable, although any overcharge will be refunded.
The German Verpackungsgesetz came into force on 1 July. Crafts4Cats is pleased to inform its German customers that it now has the necessary registration and can now send orders to Germany.
Jan 20, 2023
Perfect product, fast delivery and very friendly seller!
Dec 11, 2022
Jul 1, 2022
Joli clochette bien utile pour mes chats Merci beaucoup
Jan 12, 2022
Arrived promptly and exactly as described
Sep 26, 2021
the colour matches the description,


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The crowd at Nationals Park wasn't paying too much attention during Saturday's presidents race at Nationals Park.
The race began just moments after Nats centerfielder Nyjer Morgan singlehandedly allowed an inside-the-park home run by throwing a fit instead of chasing after a ball he should have caught to end the Orioles 4th inning.
One pitch and one out later, the crowd of 30,000+ was still on its feet and buzzing about the oddity they had witnessed as the presidents race began.
Teddy Roosevelt took an early lead, but Abraham Lincoln, upset about falling to 3rd place in the presidents race standings, took a cue from Nyjer Morgan and threw a little fit of his own.
Chasing Teddy from behind, Abe dropped him to the ground, then turned to go after the other presidents.
After slamming Tom into the stands, he pranced across the finish line and climbed into the crowd to celebrate.
For the first time since Nationals Park opened, the Orioles mascot "The Bird" failed to make an appearance for the interleague race.
His Nationals counterpart Screech, who allegedly judges the presidents race, was a no show himself, failing once again to disqualify "Honest" Abe despite blatant cheating.
Nyjer Morgan photo by Cheryl Nichols/Nats News Network


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Today's Music: Lyle Lovett – Here I Am21
Days Til Spring: 21
(After you've read this, check out the great thing Zoe is doing for Merbear. If you can help out, even by just spreading the word, that would be fantastic!)
When last we left our intrepid idiot (and his much smarter wife, they had left the cold winter of Montreal for…well…the cold winter of Ottawa.
We took this trip without renting a car. We walked all over, and used public transportation when we needed it. To get from Montreal to Ottowa, we took a Greyhound. Not too expensive, free wifi, and plenty of legroom. I slept through the ride down grey bleary highways.
So how did I know we actually arrived in Ottawa when we disembarked? Because only the big city bus terminals have this in the mens room:
Having established our location, it was time to get our winter on!
Actually, it was time for that whether we wanted it or not. On the cab ride from the bus depot to the hotel, the driver flew over slush and snow filled roads at normal driving speeds. I was terrified, but he was moving normally in traffic.
Like Montreal, Ottawa also celebrates the snow with its own Winter Festival. In a park across the street from us, there was a snow carving competition. Some of the entries were simply breathtaking.
Having gotten our bearings, we wandered over to Byward Market for lunch. The Market is a huge open air mall/flea market. Vendors sell prepared food, produce, trinkets, and there are street performers everywhere. We went into a seafood restaurant.
A couple getting up as we were leaving said they were headed home to Montreal (small world!) and gave us the rest of their gift card.
Because Canadians really are that nice.
The next day bloomed bright and sunny. After a quick breakfast (without Canadian bacon – because seriously, that isn't bacon), we set out on the day's adventures.
My wife had one thing on her mind. I had one thing on my mind.
Despite them being two different things, we were lucky that we could do them both in the same place: The Rideau Canal.
The Canal cuts through Ottawa, and is used these days mostly for pleasure boats. Except in winter when it freezes.
And is opened for Ice Skating!!!
We'd heard about this on a summer trip up to Ottawa to meet Charles DeLint, and it had been on our list ever since.
And something my wife discovered that she soon introduced me to – Beaver Tails!
These delicious flat, long pastries can only be described as…well…delicious. And sticky.
Grab as many napkins as you can, it still won't be enough. But the mess will be worth it!
With that out of the way, we were off to the highlight of the trip – John Hiatt and Lyle Lovett on stage together!
The two of them have been doing this tour for years. 2 guys, 2 acoustic guitars. On several songs, they backed each other up, both singing and playing. In between songs, they told stories, explained the songs, even played with the audience a bit.
We've seen them both separately and loved them, but together was even better. There were no revelations during the show or transcendental moments, but watching two old pros slip on their songs like comfortable old bathrobes was easily worth the ticket.
This is from a show they did at the end of last year, but it gives the feel of the show.
So after a long weekend of freezing cold, lots of snow, strange food and great music, it was tie to go home. Or so we thought.
Returning to the hotel after breakfast the next day to get to the airport hours early for an international flight, it turns out the flight was cancelled.
Because of snow.
In New York.
Yes, the hotel staff laughed at us.
But they also had room for us to stay the extra night, gave us the numbers we needed to call to find a flight for the next day, and told us where to go for an excellent dinner.
And then laughed at us some more.
So we caught a 6 am flight and landed back in NYC. I was at my desk my ten am, and asleep in my chair by two pm.
My boss let me go home at 4 pm.
And I went promptly to sleep, to dream of gravy, pastry, music and sooo much snow.
Thank you Canada. I had a blast. Can't wait to see you again!


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[Two Tuesdays ago, I video taped Geila Hocherman making Fried Ice Cream. One of the perks of taping Chefs at work is that I get to taste their creations… Let me tell it was truly delicious, so I feel compelled to share and re-post the recipe from Geila's Kosher Revolution. Whether it is Chanuka or any any other holiday, whether it is winter, summer, spring or autumn, you can enjoy this treat at any time; even if… you are not kid! CS]
© 2012 Geila Hocherman. All Rights Reserved
Fried ice cream? Believe or not, there is such a thing! This is based on a Mexican treat and once you taste, you'll just want more and more whether it's Chanukah or any other time.
- Frosted flakes
- Your Choice of nuts
- Your choice of ice cream flavor (formed into balls)
- 1 egg
- sugar to taste
- oil for frying
- dunking chocolate sauce
- Crush some frosted flakes and any nuts, of your choice, in a bag. Cover the ice cream balls with the crushed flakes and nuts. Refreeze.
- Mix egg with sugar. Dunk in the ice cream balls, cover with the frosted flakes and nuts. Refreeze.
- Heat oil to 375 F. Take the covered ice cream balls from freezer. Put a chopstick in each of them and dunk in oil for 15 seconds.
- When ready, dip each ball into some chocolate sauce and… that's all there is to them!
Enjoy, gentle reader, enjoy!


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Front Runners List: Click to see list completion progress by climbers that log their climbs using Peakbagger.com.
Compare Climbers: Click to compare ascents of up to 5 climbers working on this list.
This list shows all peaks in New Mexico with an elevation of over 11,000 feet. 75 of the 85 "11ers" in the state are located in the Sange del Cristo Mountains, stretching south from the Colorado state line to near Santa Fe. The remaining ten peaks are scattered about in the Tusas, Jemez, Sacramento, and Mount Taylor ranges.
To be ranked on this list, a peak must have a clean prominence of 280 feet, which is generally equivalent to an interpolated prominence of 300 feet. This is the most commonly-used standard used in Colorado for the 14er and 13er lists in that state, and seems appropriate for New Mexico as well.
Many thanks to Phil Robinson, who asked for this list to be included on the web site, and who supplied many of the peaks on this list.
= Peak with Rank #1 on List;   = Other Peaks
This page has been served 818440 times since 2004-11-01.


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Steal my virginity in innsbruck
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Surprise! Three-fourths of recent reduction in the federal debt has been in spending cuts!
Pat Cunningham
Don't tell your Republican friends about THIS; it'll only confuse them:
When it comes to most of the major political disputes in Washington, congressional Republicans insist Democrats focus on reducing the debt Republicans built up during the Bush/Cheney era. It underpins everything from the budget fight to the debt ceiling to efforts to expand public investments.
What the debate tends to ignore is the debt reduction that's already happened. Michael Linden and Michael Ettlinger reportedyesterday that since the start of 2011 fiscal year, President Barack Obama "has signed into law approximately $2.4 trillion of deficit reduction" over the next ...


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This is another round of Geek feminism classifieds. If you're looking to hire women, find some people to participate in your study, find female speakers, or just want some like-minded folk to join your open source project, this is the thread for you!
Here's how it works:
- Geeky subjects only. We take a wide view of geekdom, but if your thing isn't related to an obviously geeky topic, you'll probably want to give a bit of background on why the readers of Geek Feminism would be interested.
- Explain what your project/event/thing is, or link to a webpage that provides clear, informative information about it. Ideally you'll also explain why geek women might find it particularly awesome.
- Explain what you're looking for. Even if it's not a job ad, think of it like one: what is the activity/role in question, and what would it involve? What is the profile of people you're looking for?
- GF has international readership, so please be sure to indicate the location if you're advertising a job position, conference, or other thing where the location matters. Remember that city acronyms aren't always known world-wide and lots of cities share names, so be as clear as possible! (That is, don't say "SF[O]" or "NYC" or "Melb", say "San Francisco, USA", "New York City, USA" or "Melbourne, Australia".) And if you can provide travel/relocation assistance, we'd love to know about it.
- Keep it legal. Most jurisdictions do not allow you to (eg.) advertise jobs for only people of a given gender. So don't do that. If you are advertising for something that falls into this category, think of this as an opportunity to boost the signal to women who might be interested.
- If you're asking for participants in a study, please note Mary's helpful guide to soliciting research participation on the 'net, especially the "bare minimum" section.
- Provide a way for people to contact you, such as your email address or a link to apply in the case of job advertisements. (The email addresses entered in the comment form here are not public, so readers won't see them.)
- Keep an eye on comments here, in case people ask for clarification or more details. (You can subscribe to comments via email or RSS.)
If you'd like some more background/tips on how to reach out to women for your project/event/whatever, take a look at Recruiting women on the Geek Feminism Wiki.)
Good luck!


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Longtime Washington Nationals fans know two universal truths about Independence Day at Nationals Park. Ryan Zimmerman will have a big day, and Thomas Jefferson will win the presidents race.
Zimmerman delivered with a homer and three RBI, making him 10 for 20 with 13 RBIs in six Independence Day games.
And for the third year in a row, founding father Thomas Jefferson, scribe of the Declaration of Independence, led the 4th inning presidents race wire to wire, carrying an American Flag all the way.
Video courtesy of YouTube member lfahome


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Home Decore : Pure Brass Metal Laughing Buddha
Home Decore : Pure Brass Metal Laughing Buddha
- Material: Pure Brass Metal
- Dimensions: 9 cm
Add this beautiful Laughing Buddha to your home decor collection. This unique and beautiful buddha statue is a source of positivity and happiness, that make your house look more beautiful.
Shipping To all India for all orders placed with shop.gkwretail.com is subject to availability and will be decided based upon the stock availability.
On maximum schedule of delivery & Shipment, you will receive your shipment within 14-21 days after successful placement of your order with us, i.e For Delhi_NCR only.
Any place other than Delhi_NCR, we will ship your product within 30 days after successful order placement with us.
Due to COVID-19, all orders are delayed for at least 15 days for each location, Please be kind, we are working very hard to meet your expectations!
For more inquires you can write to us for faster delivery, email@example.com with Subject title as Fast Delivery Regarding an Order placed with you while mentioning your order id in the email..
Refund and Cancellation Policy
Order cancellation with full refund is available only in first 24 hours of order placement only, after 24 hours, An deduction of 3.5% of the whole amount will be deducted and rest refund will be generated within 7 working days with the same method of payment you have used.
Our focus is complete customer satisfaction. In the event, if you are displeased with the services provided, we will refund back the money, provided the reasons are genuine and proved after investigation. i.e Manufacturing defects, wrong items received.
Please read the fine prints of each deal before buying it, it provides all the details about the services or the product you purchase.
Our Policy for the cancellation and refund will be as follows:
Cancellation Policy
Order can be canceled till the same is out for delivery. You would see an option to cancel within 'My Orders' section under the main menu of your App/Website/M-site then select the item or order you want to cancel.
In case of replacement, there will be no options for the full refund, only 45% of the total amount will be refunded in such scenario.
In case you are unable to cancel the order from 'My Orders' section, you can refuse it at the time of delivery and refund will be processed into the source account, if order amount was paid online. An item cannot be cancelled after delivery of the good/s. After ordering for the good/s, and upto the time of delivery, the customer can cancel the order online
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Refunds will be issued to the original source account provided at the time of purchase. After the refund has been initiated, as per the Returns Policy, the refund amount is expected to reflect in the customer account with in 45 Business Days.
We connect people with passionate designers.
GKW Retail Store is a furnishing marketplace—an easy stop to commission quality bespoke goods. At GKW Retail, we have brought together India's most vibrant interior designers, craftspeople and artisans to manufacture customized yet high quality, sustainable pieces of furniture.
We realize confusion is inevitable if it's your first house, and as in most cases, the first house of the generation. For a simplified journey, our team features a range of their own designs that can be customized to suit your specific needs. Or better, brief us around your idea and we'll make it possible
Our procedure:
Give a brief on your requirements -> Hire a Design Consultant -> Design your Idea -> Take an expert Advise -> Finalize the Design -> Get its 3D Model.
Set Of 1 Stands for 1 piece only. (Only 1 chair/stool.)
Set of 2 Stands for 2 piece only. (Only 2 chair/stool.)
Set of 4 Stands for 4 piece only. (Only 4 chair/stool.)
Set of 8 Stands for 8 piece only. (Only 8 chair/stool.) & so on...
This Set thing is for chairs, dining chairs, bar chairs, stools, bar stools etc. Please contact support before taking any kind of ground on this.
GKW Retail- Furniture Online Address: Plot No:-84/17, Mundka Industrial Area, Delhi- India, 110041
Corporate Indentification Number U36912DL2013PTC253861Customer Care Number:- +91-8929311366, Support Email:- firstname.lastname@example.com
Popular Online Furniture Categories
King Size Beds, Coffee Tables, Dining Furniture, Bar Furniture, Bar Cabinets, Book Shelves, TV Unit, Wardrobe Design, Study Table, Console Table, Metal Wall Art, Kitchen Furniture, Office Desk


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The 2012 Retirement & Politics Survey by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America has found that those the survey defines as "Transition Boomers" — people between the ages of 55 and 65 who are less than 10 years away from retirement — see rising health care costs and Social Security as having the greatest impact on their retirement outlook. According to the survey, 67 percent of all Transition Boomers listed health care expenses as their top concern. Social Security ranked second at 53 percent. The survey was conducted this past September 17-20 among a random sample more than 1,200 Baby Boomers.
These fears are not without merit. Social Security and Medicare, which provide retirement income and health insurance coverage to American seniors, account for nearly half of all federal spending. We Boomers (all of us, not just the Transition Boomers) are more than 75 million strong and the first of us turned the traditional retirement age of 65 just last year. Because there are so many of us, the ranks of the retired will continue to grow while the ranks of those supporting us – via paying for entitlements such as Medicare and Social Security – will continue to shrink. We're living longer too. In 1950, the average American lived for 68 years and more than 16 workers supported each retiree. Today, the average life expectancy is 78 and fewer than three workers support each retiree. Health care costs continue to explode higher as well.
For the vast majority of us, our retirement planning will mean little without the foundation provided by Social Security and Medicare. For low-income people, Social Security replaces up to 90 percent of covered wages. For higher income workers, those who earned the maximum Social Security wage for 35 years or so, the rate is only about 28 percent. Even so, unless Social Security and Medicare are shored up in a comprehensive and fiscally responsible manner, whatever else we Boomers do to plan for retirement will be much less significant, if not irrelevant.
Each year the Trustees of the Social Security and Medicare trust funds report on the current and projected financial status of the two programs. The most recent annual report yet again says that the finances of Medicare and Social Security are in serious trouble. The Congressional Budget Office projects that if Medicare retains its current structure, it will be bankrupt by 2022. Social Security's chief actuary calculates that a 23% cut in benefits in 2036 will be required in order to maintain solvency of the Social Security Trust Fund.
Unfortunately, as the current election season demonstrates, there is little demand for Social Security and Medicare reform and little political will to move this issue forward. Not surprisingly, we want more and better benefits but we don't want to have to pay for them. That said, a number of reform proposals have been put forward.
Proposed Social Security reforms range from relatively simple and limited adjustments (such as changing the benefit formula, tax rate and/or full retirement age) to more aggressive approaches (including means testing or even a diversion of workers' payroll taxes into individually owned and dedicated private retirement investment accounts). Despite this wide range of Social Security reform proposals, the program can be shored up reasonably well with relatively modest changes. Change has to happen but no major overhaul is required.
Medicare, on the other hand, is much worse off and requires a much more aggressive response. The $38.6 trillion in unfunded benefits Medicare is expected to pay over the next 75 years equals $328,404.43 for each of the 117,538,000 households the Census Bureau says were living in the United States in 2010. The Medicare problem is a big one.
As Forbes has reported, the American Medical Association's key policy committee, the Council on Medical Service, recently voted to endorse a Medicare reform plan that shares key traits with those proposed by the Romney campaign. Ironically, despite these similarities, the AMA Council's report states that it came to this view based upon the advice of Bill Clinton's former budget chief, Alice Rivlin. Proposed Medicare reforms offered by others include (a) adjusting the Medicare eligibility age to reflect gains in life expectancy; (b) capping out-of-pocket costs to protect recipients from bankruptcy in the event of a major illness; and (c) requiring wealthier beneficiaries to pay higher premiums.
Despite the political unpopularity of being seen as cutting benefits to seniors, serious changes are needed. But getting reform implemented is likely to be politically difficult because there is so little perceived "upside." No matter how necessary, "reforms" that result is lower benefits or more limited accessibility to benefits are not politically popular. Historically, Social Security reform has been the "third rail" of American politics. Medicare is highly popular as well.
Predictably, therefore, representatives of the primary political factions continue to blame each other for the overall problem but do nothing. It's easy to blame Congress (with good reason), but we as a nation do not demand more and better from them either.
If we continue to do nothing, things will only get worse. Right now, the ratio of those 65 and older versus those 15-64 is right around 20%. By 2035, it'll be closer to 35%, meaning that many fewer workers will be supporting many more retirees.
In 1962, about 32 cents of every federal dollar, excluding interest payments, was spent on public "investments" such as defense, infrastructure, long-term research and education. On the other hand, only 14 percent of every federal dollar was spent on entitlements like Medicare and Social Security. Today we spend less than 15 cents on such public investment but a whopping 46 cents on entitlements. By 2030, when all the Baby Boomers have started collecting Social Security, entitlements will consume fully 61 cents of every federal dollar. Whatever political priorities one might choose as appropriate investments in our children's future in this election season, without entitlement reform we will not be able to afford them.
Since the inception of Social Security and Medicare, these programs have provided benefits to all who have worked in covered employment for a sufficient period and to their dependents and beneficiaries, without regard to wealth or other income. This universality reinforces the idea of Social Security and Medicare as an earned right, and is crucial to the programs' ongoing popular support. These related concepts – earned right and universality – distinguish Social Security and Medicare from other government income-maintenance programs, such as welfare, food stamps and Medicaid, which provide benefits only to those who are deemed to need them. Not surprisingly, these latter programs have all been subject to major overhauls or benefit cutbacks in recent years.
Those approaching retirement are justly terrified about healthcare costs and the stability of Social Security. Many also fear that "reform" will effectively kill Social Security and Medicare. But the reality is that they will necessarily die on their own without some significant changes. Our retirement planning efforts are not going to mean much unless we address the ongoing issues we have with Social Security and (especially) with Medicare. The numbers don't lie.


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BRC - Official 10K Course
- Begins in:
- North Andover, MA, United States
- Creator:
Mat Demers
North Andover, MA
- This is a 6.28 mi route in North Andover, MA, United States. This map was created by demersm on 07/03/2015. View other maps that demersm has done or find similar maps in North Andover
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The winners and losers in Scott's budget plan
TALLAHASSEE — From teachers to state universities to state workers, there's something for just about everybody in Gov. Rick Scott's record $74.2 billion spending plan for next year.
In fact, if it's adopted by the Legislature — a big if — the budget would be the largest in state history, exceeding the $73.8 billion budget in 2006-07, before the state fell into the depths of the Great Recession.
There is plenty of money to spread around because the proposal represents a $4 billion-plus increase over this year's $69.9 billion budget.
The budget also is a stark contrast to Scott's first spending plan in 2011, when he used the backdrop of Eustis, a rural Central Florida enclave located some 200 miles from the state Capitol, to outline one of the most austere spending plans ever advanced by Florida's chief executive.
His initial plan slashed state spending by nearly $5 billion, eliminated 8,700 state jobs and included a $1.75 billion cut in public school funding.
It also was a reflection of Scott's political philosophy, which drew strong support in his 2010 upset victory from tea partiers.
Now facing an uphill re-election bid in 2014, Scott is backing a budget plan that boasts of "record state funding for education," including a $1.2 billion boost for public schools.
Scott said the budget contains some $200 million in savings, including the reduction of 3,600 state jobs, while also reflecting the fact that the state has more money to spend because of an improving economy.
"Our hard work to make government live within its means has put us in a position to make targeted investments in areas that will put families first by keeping our economy growing," Scott said.
Scott included plenty of cuts in his budget plan.
Aside from eliminating some 3,600 jobs, many of them in the state prison system, the governor wants to slash payments to hospitals, cut off some services now offered to Medicaid patients, and close eight driver's licenses offices, including the one on Northwest 34th Street in Gainesville. The state has mandated that county tax collector's offices manage the issuance of driver's licenses starting this month — which will lead to the closure of the office that now provides those services at 5830 NW 34th St.
Democrats reacted skeptically to Scott's new enthusiasm for spending.
Senate Democratic leader Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, said in a statement that Scott's budget "smacks of pre-election year politics."
"While I'm glad that he now appears to have seen the error of his ways, many of the groups and areas — public school teachers, state employees, higher education — for which he's suddenly developed a newfound affection are the very same ones that have borne the brunt of his deep cuts over the past two years," Smith said.
The budget is far from a reality since lawmakers will view the governor's proposal as a recommendation, while they will write the actual annual appropriations act, which should be finished by early May. The new budget would take effect July 1.
At this point, the winners far outnumber the losers in Scott's proposal:
The winners
Public schools: The K-12 system would receive a $1.2 billion increase that includes a $2,500 pay raise for teachers and a $412 increase in per-student funding. He also would give teachers up to $250 a year to buy supplies and would provide $100 million for technology improvements.
School safety: A $10.5 million increase in the school safety program, for a total of $74.9 million, although it is less than what school boards say they need.
State workers: The workers, who haven't had a general pay raise since 2006, would receive a $1,200 one-time bonus, at a cost of $167 million. Merit awards up to $5,000 would be available for workers that earn "outstanding" reviews and $2,500 for "commendable" workers. But 3,647 state jobs would be eliminated, with only 1,200 of those being vacant.
State universities: The 12 universities would receive a $393 million increase, including restoration of this year's $300 million cut. The University of Florida would get a special $15 million boost to try to achieve a top-ten public school status. The universities also would share $244 million with state colleges for building construction and projects related to increasing science and technology degrees.
University and college students: No tuition increases for the two systems and Scott has promised to push legislation to freeze tuition rates for new students, assuming they earn their degrees in four years.
Frail seniors: Some $24 million to reduce waiting lists for programs that keep people out of nursing homes. It would fund 2,400 slots.
State prisons: An $84.4 million increase for the Department of Corrections and Scott's promise that no prisons will close or be privatized, though he wants to privatize 14 work release centers. He also wants another $1,000 bonus plan for prison officers who helped reduced the state's recidivism rate over the last few years.
Environment: Scott would provide $75 million for the Florida Forever land-buying program, but $50 million would come from surplus land sales. He also would double funding for Everglades restoration to $60 million.
Businesses: Scott is backing a $115 million sales tax exemption for manufacturers who buy equipment and a $20 million proposal to expand the exemption from the corporate income tax for another 2,000 Florida businesses.
The losers
Tea Party: Scott's spending plan could be viewed as renunciation of his tea party roots. But Scott defended his plan as including government efficiencies and reductions. He also is limiting state borrowing. His aides noted that the budget is actually smaller than past budgets if measured on a per-capita basis, while factoring in inflation.
Hospitals: They face an $82 million cut in Medicaid funding for in-patient rates.
County health departments: They will have to absorb a $9 million cut.
Prison health care workers: As part of the reduction of 3,600 state jobs, the largest share comes from 2,355 workers now employed in prison health care services. A private company will take over those services, with the employees having a chance to continue their work with the contractor.
Chiropractic and podiatric services: Scott would eliminate those services from the Medicaid program, arguing that the patients could get similar services from other doctors.


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We will be holding our first board meeting of the semester. We will be recapping our first General Interest Meeting and going over our upcoming events for the month of February.
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Baruch College - Newman Vertical Campus
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New York, NY 10010
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Room: Room 2-125
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DIY Painted Rope Basket
If I haven't cautioned you about the addictive nature of sewing rope baskets, consider this your official warning. Once you start, you just can't stop. All it takes is a foot on the pedal, and a hand to guide the rope through the sewing machine, to have a simple, yet chic, bag take shape. It's a very satisfying experience which is why I have umpteen rope bags and baskets piled up in a corner of my office. So one night, as I was about to sit down to a glass of wine and an evening of Netflix, I suddenly had the urge to paint. But paint what? Baskets! An entire season of Stranger Things later, I had a trio of painted baskets with brightly hued patterns. And as expected, I can't stop . . .
- rope basket (tutorial found here)
- assorted acrylic paint
- 1/4? flat paint brush
source: honestlywtf.com by Erica


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My friend Jane Ann made this cheesy potato casserole the other day. Her department was having a special lunch at work, and this was a side dish she made for the meal. So I took some photos of it and then, of course, I had to eat it…couldn't let any of this creamy potato cheesiness go to waste! 🙂 It's a yummy blend of hash browns, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and cheddar cheese, finished off with a crunchy, buttery cornflake topping. You can definitely call this comfort food! It's very easy to make and Jane Ann found the recipe at Cooks.com. Not only is it great as a side dish for lunch or dinner, it's perfect for breakfast or brunch…so that gives you plenty of opportunities to try it out!
Cheesy Hash Brown Potatoes
CHEESY HASH BROWN POTATOES adapted from Cooks.com
Makes a 9×13″ pan of potatoes, about 10 to 12 servings
- 2 lbs. frozen hash browns, thawed
- 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, melted and divided
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup chopped onion or green onion (Jane Ann substituted dried minced onion)
- 1 (10 3/4-ounce) can cream of chicken soup (or substitute cream of celery soup)
- 1 pint (2 cups) sour cream (regular or light)
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 cups crushed corn flakes
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease or spray a 9×13″ pan or baking dish; set aside.
In a large bowl, combine thawed hash browns with 1/2 cup of the melted butter, pepper, salt, and chopped onion, blending well. Add in the soup and sour cream, then the cheddar cheese, mixing everything well. Spread mixture evenly into a 9×13″ baking dish. Mix remaining 1/4 cup melted butter and the crushed corn flakes together and sprinkle over top of casserole. Bake at 350 degrees, uncovered, for 50 to 60 minutes. Serve hot.
NOTE: Jane Ann said she would have liked a little more seasoning in this, but I liked it just the way it was…so, you may or may not want to use a little more salt and/or pepper to suit your taste.
Recipe from NancyC | nancy-c.com
If these potatoes sound good to you, you may want to try this Cheesy Cream of Onion Hash Brown Casserole…it's really yummy, too!
Sharing at Weekend Potluck, Mix it Up Monday, Wonderful Wednesday, Hearth & Soul, Inspire Me Monday, Thursday Favorite Things, Full Plate Thursday, Happiness is Homemade, Meal Plan Monday


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April 4, 2023


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Product description
Hi-tech crazy T-shirts - Gorilla - Imaginative gadget that will delight both - kids and adults too. Represents high-tech technology for the entire clothing. Hi-tech Mountain ECO-shirts with animal 3D motives originally from the USA with hand-dyed organic colors.
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Imaging polarimetry for Michelle was commissioned in December 2005/January 2006. This observation mode has been offered for science usage starting in semester 2006B. This page gives some guidelines on carrying out Michelle polarimetry observations. These guidelines may change as we get more experience with such observations. Spectral polarimetry is not yet commissioned and so is not offered at this time.
Basic characteristics of Michelle's imaging polarimetry mode
The Michelle polarimetry observations are made in single-beam polarimetry mode. The following estimates have been derived from the commissioning data and from the expected properties of the wave-plate.
- The transmission of the N-band wave-plate is about 0.3; the transmission of the Q-band wave-plate is slightly lower, about 0.25
- The N-band wave-plate has maximum efficiency, assumed to be 1, at 10.5 microns; it decreases by about 10 percent at the ends of the N-band window
- The Q-band wave-plate efficiency is near 1 for the Qa filter
- The wire grid efficiency is high, close to 100 percent
- The instrumental polarization signature is at most 0.2 to 0.3 percent
- The instrument does not introduce any measurable rotation in the polarization vectors (i.e. ANGROT as defined in the POLPACK software is zero within the uncertainties of the measurements)
The transmission values given in the first item of the above list are used in the Michelle ITC and are conservative estimates.
The Observing Process
Imaging polarimetry is carried out similarly to regular imaging, in chop-nod mode. The difference for polarimetric observations is that a half-wave plate is introduced into the optical path just after the light enters the instrument. The wave-plate is rotated to four positions (wave-plate angles of 0 degrees, 22.5 degrees, 45 degrees, and 67.5 degrees), which modulates any polarized radiation from the target object.
The observations are taken in such a way that two cycles of the wave-plate positions are observed for each nod position. The wave-plate is cycled through the positions in the following order: 0, 45, 45, 0, 22.5, 67.5, 67.5, 22.5 degrees. This order of observation has the same effect as ABBA nodding--it tends to cancel out linear drifts in the sky emission with time or position. The differences between the 0 degree and 45 degree positions and the 22.5 degree and 67.5 degree positions select two orthogonal polarization directions. Only linear polarization can be measured by Michelle.
To keep the total time per nod position short, only about 5 to 6 seconds is spent at each wave-plate position. The time required to move the waveplate introduces and extra overhead, so polarimetry is less efficient than direct imaging (see the observing overheads page for more details). The observations are taken with regular chopping, the amplitude and direction of which are chosen by the user in the OT as with regular imaging observations. As usual, the maximum chop amplitude is 15 arc-seconds so objects that are larger than this in both dimensions as seen on the sky cannot be properly imaged with Michelle.
Required Weather Conditions
Cloud Cover and Image Quality
The commissioning observations have shown that stable conditions are needed to get accurate polarimetry observations. Stability is required in both the seeing and the atmospheric transparency in the filter that is being used. Since poor seeing in the mid-infrared is usually associated with variability of the seeing, it makes no sense to carry out polarimetry observations in seeing worse than IQ=70%. The atmospheric transparency in the mid-infrared is much more difficult to judge, or to relate to the cloud cover. However it seems likely that CC=50% (i.e. clear conditions) is going to be required to obtain good quality polarimetry data. Therefore PIs should request observations in conditions of CC=50% and IQ=70% or better, and are discouraged from requesting observations in conditions worse than this.
Water Vapour
The water vapour conditions required are strongly dependent on the filter that is being used; see this Mid-IR Resources page for more details. From these considerations it is suggested that PIs request better water vapour conditions for the filters that are most sensitive to it -- Si-1, Qa, and Si-6. They need WV=50% conditions. The other filters can be used in poorer WV conditions, and the N' and Si-5 filters can be used under most WV conditions that are seen at Mauna Kea. Then the WV is very high it is likely the CC conditions will be too poor for polarimetry anyway, so WV=Any can be requested for the N' and Si-5 filters. Once we have more experience with imaging polarimetry more specific WV ranges that can be used for observations in different filters may be given.
Sky Brightness
As for most observations in the mid-infrared, the sky brightness (which refers to the lunar phase) should be set to SB=Any.
Airmass Considerations
It is probably a bad idea to attempt imaging polarimetry on targets that are at high airmass, because conditions are less stable at low elevations in most circumstances.
S/N Considerations
As well as needing stable conditions, polarimetry observations require good signal-to-noise ratio for accurate results to be obtained. The requirement is that one needs S/N of 70.5 in the reduced Stokes I image (i.e. in the total intensity image obtained by combining the images from the four wave-plate positions) to have an accuracy of +/- 1% in measured polarization. Obtaining this accuracy is made more difficult because the half-wave plates have a through-put of about 0.3, so for a given total time on-source a polarimetry observation will have a S/N value about 3 times lower than that which would be obtained in regular imaging mode with the same filter and the same total time on-source. Therefore to get the same S/N in polarimetry mode as in regular imaging mode takes of order ten times longer.
More discussion and sensitivity estimates for polarimetry are given on the Michelle Sensitivity Pages. The Michelle ITC can also be used to estimate polarimetry integration times.