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Presented by Charles I. Plosser, President and Chief Executive Officer
Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
U.S. Monetary Policy Forum, The Initiative on Global Markets
University of Chicago Booth School of Business
New York, New York
February 24, 2012
PDF version (143 KB, 8 pages)
I am pleased to participate in this important forum once again. I am particularly delighted to be a part of such a distinguished panel. This conference has rapidly become one of the premier venues for serious discussions of monetary policy and I am honored to be a part of it.
During the past year, we have witnessed the ongoing saga of governments, both in Europe and in the U.S., struggling with large deficits and soaring public debt. For the most part, these challenges are self-inflicted. They are the result of governments choosing fiscal policies that they knew would be unsustainable in the long run. Financial market participants remain skeptical about whether the political process can come to grips with the problems. So far, this skepticism appears to be wholly justified. Neither the European nor the American political process has developed credible and sustainable plans to finance public spending. Instead, politicians continue to engage in protracted debates over who will bear the burden of the substantial adjustments needed to put fiscal policies back on a sustainable path. In my view, these prolonged debates impede economic growth, in part, due to the uncertainty they impose on consumers and businesses. Moreover, the longer the delay in developing credible plans, the more costly it becomes for the respective economies.
Given the magnitude of the fiscal shortfalls, the way in which the political process restores fiscal discipline will have profound implications for years to come. Will there be higher taxes on investments by the private sector that risk reducing productive capacity and output in the future? Will there be higher taxes on labor that discourage work effort or hiring? Will there be cutbacks in government expenditures on defense or basic research that might force significant resource reallocations and affect a wide array of industry sectors? Will there be cutbacks on entitlements that could affect health care, social insurance, and other aspects of our safety net? Or will a viable fiscal plan combine various types of tax increases and spending cuts?
These are important questions that involve hard choices and trade-offs between efficiency and equity. Yet, until fiscal authorities choose a path, uncertainty encourages firms to defer hiring and investment decisions and complicates the financial planning of individuals and businesses. The longer it takes to reach a resolution on a credible, sustainable plan to reduce future deficits and limit the ratio of public debt to gross domestic product, or GDP, the more damage is done to the economy in the near term.
Some observers say cyclical factors and the magnitude of the recent global recession caused the current fiscal crisis. It is certainly true that the policy choices made by governments to deal with the financial crisis and ensuing recession have caused a significant deterioration in fiscal balances and debt levels in many countries. However, the underlying trends that are at the root of unsustainable fiscal deficits in many countries, including the U.S., have been in place and known for some time. In the U.S., for example, the major long-run drivers of the structural deficit at the federal level are entitlements such as health care and Social Security.1
Thus, even after cyclical effects play out, many countries will continue to have large structural budget deficits. In this sense, the financial crisis and recession have simply exacerbated the underlying problems and perhaps moved up the day of reckoning. In some cases, such as Greece, that day has come. In light of these realities, market participants have begun to question the solvency of governments and their ability to honor their sovereign debt obligations in the absence of deep structural reforms. In Europe, the doubts have greatly complicated the political problems as various countries debate the question of "who pays" for the anticipated bad debts of individual countries. Here, too, the protracted nature of the political debate creates uncertainty, which undermines economic growth and exacerbates the crisis. While some have argued that preventing Greek default would keep the crisis from spreading, that argument has proven false.
The fiscal challenges alone are daunting. Yet, they can also have profound implications for monetary policy and the role of central banks. Today, I want to focus my remarks on that interaction between monetary policy and fiscal policy. Of course, the appropriate relationship between the two is not a new topic. Yet, it has taken on new relevance and importance as a result of the recent crisis and the actions undertaken by policymakers. Let me elaborate.
It is widely understood that governments can finance expenditures through taxation, debt, or printing money. In this sense, monetary and fiscal policy are intertwined through the government budget constraint. Nevertheless, there are good reasons to prefer an arrangement that provides a fair degree of separation between the functions and responsibilities of central banks and those of the fiscal authorities. For example, in a world of fiat currency, central banks are generally assigned the responsibility for establishing and maintaining the value or purchasing power of the nation's monetary unit of account. Yet, that task can be undermined or completely subverted if fiscal authorities independently set their budgets in a manner that ultimately requires the central bank to finance government expenditures with significant amounts of seigniorage in lieu of tax revenues or debt.2 The ability of the central bank to maintain price stability can also be undermined when the central bank itself ventures into the realm of fiscal policy.
Imagine a situation in which public debt levels are high and rising. Now stretch your mind even more and imagine that fiscal policymakers are reluctant to make the hard choices of cutting expenditures or increasing taxes. Of course, neither of these assumptions requires much imagination. Indeed, history and our daily newspapers provide numerous examples. Unless governments are constrained institutionally or constitutionally, they often resort to the printing press to try to escape their budget problems. Yet, we all understand that this option is a recipe for creating substantial inflation.3 Indeed, history shows that it is often a path toward hyperinflation.4
Awareness of these long-term consequences of excessive money creation is the reason that over the past 60 years, country after country has moved to establish and maintain independent central banks. Without the protections afforded by independence, the temptation of governments to exploit the printing press in the absence of fiscal discipline is just too great. Thus, it is simply good governance and wise economic policy to maintain a healthy separation between those responsible for tax and spending policy and those responsible for money creation.
But it is equally important that independent central banks be constrained from using their own authority to engage in activities that enter the realm of fiscal policy or distort private markets.5
There are several ways to place limits on central banks so that the boundaries between monetary and fiscal policy remain clear:6
First, the central bank can be given a narrow mandate, such as price stability. In fact, this has been a prominent trend during the last 25 years. Many major central banks now have price stability as their sole or primary mandate.
Second, the central bank can be restricted as to the type of assets it can hold on its balance sheet. This limits its ability to engage in credit policies or resource allocations that rightfully belong under the purview of the fiscal authorities or the private marketplace.
Third, the central bank can conduct its monetary policy in a more systematic or rule-like manner, which limits the scope for discretionary actions that might violate the boundaries between monetary and fiscal policy. Milton Friedman's famous k-percent money growth rule is one example, as are Taylor-type rules. Such approaches to systematic policy can be a commitment device that limits discretionary behavior and thus helps to solve time-consistency problems.
Unfortunately, over the past few years, the combination of a financial crisis and sustained fiscal imbalances has led to a substantial breakdown in the institutional framework and the accepted barriers between monetary and fiscal policy. The pressure has come from both sides. Governments are pushing central banks to exceed their monetary boundaries and central banks are stepping into areas not previously viewed as acceptable for an independent central bank. Let me give you some examples.
I will start with what I see as a not-so-subtle undermining of the commitment to price stability. Despite the well-known benefits of maintaining stable prices, there are calls in both Europe and the U.S. to abandon this commitment and create higher inflation to devalue outstanding nominal government and private debt. Such an inflation tax would transfer wealth from those who have lent money, in good faith, to the borrowers. I am deeply skeptical of such a strategy. In my view, inflation is a blunt and inappropriate instrument for assigning winners and losers from profligate fiscal policy or excessive borrowing by private individuals and firms. Forced redistributions of this kind, if undertaken at all, should be done through the political process and by the fiscal authorities, not through the backdoor by the central bank by way of inflationist policies. As a monetary policymaker, I do not want to be complicit in such a strategy. Moreover, history has shown that once inflation is unleashed, it is not always easy to bring it back down, especially if the central bank loses the public's confidence and damages the credibility of its commitment to price stability. Thus, proposals to use inflation to fix the debt overhang problem are nothing more than a call for debt monetization to solve a problem that is fundamentally fiscal in nature.
Pressure on central banks is also showing up through other channels. In some circles, it has become fashionable to invoke "lender of last resort" arguments as a reason for central banks to engage in fiscal actions. This is a strained argument at best. The basic role of a lender of last resort is to provide liquidity to financial institutions that are solvent but facing temporary liquidity problems. Yet recently, some have used the concept to argue that the central bank should be the lender of last resort to governments. This is a perversion of one of central banking's core concepts. It is a fig leaf to conceal the process of monetizing the sovereign debt of those countries that are insolvent due to their inability to manage their fiscal affairs. Monetary policy should not be used to solve a fiscal crisis.
Unfortunately, from my perspective, breaching the boundaries is not confined to the fiscal authorities asking central banks to do their heavy lifting. The Fed and other central banks have also undertaken actions that have blurred the distinction between monetary policy, credit policy, and fiscal policy. These steps were undertaken with the sincere belief that they were absolutely necessary to address the challenges posed by the financial crisis.
For example, the Fed established credit facilities to support particular asset classes, such as commercial paper and asset-backed securities. In November 2008, the Fed announced it would begin purchasing housing agency mortgage-backed securities and agency debt to increase the availability and reduce the cost of credit in the housing sector. When the Fed engages in targeted credit programs that seek to alter the allocation of credit across markets, I believe it is engaging in fiscal policy and has breached the traditional boundaries established between the fiscal authorities and the central bank. Indeed, some of these actions have generated pointed criticisms of the Fed.
I view the breakdown of the traditional institutional arrangements as dangerous and fraught with longer-term risks. While it is popular to view such blurring of the boundaries as appropriate "cooperation" or "coordination" between the monetary and fiscal authorities, the boundaries were established for good reasons and we ignore them at our own peril.
Once a central bank ventures into fiscal policy, it is likely to find itself under increasing pressure from the private sector, financial markets, or the government to use its balance sheet to substitute for other fiscal decisions. Such actions by a central bank can create their own form of moral hazard, as markets and governments come to see central banks as instruments of fiscal policy, thus undermining incentives for fiscal discipline. This pressure can threaten the central bank's independence in conducting monetary policy and thereby undermine monetary policy's effectiveness in achieving its mandate.
I have long argued for a bright line between monetary policy and fiscal policy, for the independence of the central bank, and for the central bank to have clear and transparent objectives. I have also stressed the importance of a systematic approach to monetary policy that serves to limit discretionary actions by the central bank. At this conference three years ago, I argued for a new accord between the Treasury and the central bank that would severely limit, if not eliminate, the ability of the central bank to lend to private individuals and firms outside of the discount window mechanisms.7 I argued that decisions to grant subsidies to particular market segments should rest with the fiscal authorities — in the U.S., this means the Congress and the Treasury Department — and not with the central bank. Thus, I proposed that the new accord limit the Fed to an all-Treasuries portfolio, except for those assets held as collateral for traditional discount window operations. Should the fiscal authority ask the central bank to engage in lending outside of its normal operations, the fiscal authority should exchange government securities for the nongovernment assets that would accumulate on the central bank's balance sheet as a result. This type of swap would ensure that the full authority and responsibility for fiscal matters remained with the Treasury and Congress and the Fed's balance sheet remained essentially all Treasuries.
Congress has mandated the goals of monetary policy to promote price stability, maximum employment, and moderate long-term interest rates. Asking monetary policy to take on ever more fiscal responsibilities undermines the discipline of the fiscal authorities and the independence of the central bank. Central banks and monetary policy are not and cannot be real solutions to the unsustainable fiscal paths many countries currently face. The only real answer rests with the fiscal authorities' ability to develop credible commitments to sustainable fiscal paths. It is a difficult and painful task to be sure, but a monetary solution is a bridge to nowhere at best, and the road to perdition at worst — a world of rising and costly inflation and a weakening of fiscal discipline.
Plosser, Charles I., "Credible Commitments and Monetary Policy After the Crisis," speech presented at the Swiss National Bank Monetary Policy Conference, Zurich, Switzerland, September 24, 2010.
Plosser, Charles I., "Ensuring Sound Monetary Policy in the Aftermath of Crisis," speech presented at the U.S. Monetary Policy Forum: The Initiative on Global Markets, New York City, February 27, 2009.
Sargent, Thomas, "Where to Draw Lines: Stability versus Efficiency," New York University Working Paper (September 6, 2010).
Sargent, Thomas, and Neil Wallace, "Some Unpleasant Monetarist Arithmetic," Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Quarterly Review, 5 (Fall 1981), pp. 1—17.


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Wearable fitness devices are a dime-a-dozen. Whenever I go to the store, or read up on the latest mHealth news, I feel like I'm seeing another one. Just like I said about food diaries, the device really needs to have features that set it apart from others. Amiigo is one that's just about to be released, and it definitely is something I think people are going to be interested in.
Started by a team of Salt Lake City Entrepreneurs, Amiigo is a Bluetooth fitness device that is be worn as a bracelet and shoe clip. The team was promoting it on Indiegogo and reach their initial goal very quickly. Now, the product is available for pre-order, and in hopes of reaching their $350,000 goal, the team is hosting a contest — the top twocolors voted for on their Indiegogo page will go to production if that goal is reached. They are only about $9,000 away, so if you are interested, be sure to go check out the page.
Not sure if you are interested in voting and investing? Here's some information about this neat advice
Amiigo is sweat-proof and recognizes more than 100 exercises. The device had sensors in the bracelet that detect upper body movements, and the shoe clip detects lower body movements. It uses these sensors to determine what the users full body workout was, and sends the information to the mobile app.
Some other key features include:
- Tracking Physiological Response: It tracks things like heart rate, blood oxygen level, skin temperature, and calories burned
- Sharing With Others: Workouts can be shared on social networks like Facebook and Twitter, where friends and family can post encouragement.
- Power Saving and Comfortable: It has a battery charge of two or more days, and is adjustable so it fits comfortably on just about everyone
From what I can tell, this is going to be an awesome wearable fitness device. I like that it can automatically detect what exercise you are doing and calculate information based on that. It is also available for both Android and iOS. If I had the money, I'd definitely donate some to get this product out quicker, but if you do and this sounds like something you would like, head on over here.


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Angelina Jolie was seen shopping for art supplies with her daughters Zahara, 9, and Zahara, 8, in New York City on Friday (November 21).
Posted by Alisa on Wednesday, November 26, 2014 / Labels: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt / Comments: (0)
Sex and the City actress Sarah Jessica Parker was seen walking her two adorable daughters Tabitha, Loretta, 5, to school in West Village on Tuesday (November 25).
Posted by Alisa on Wednesday, August 27, 2014 / Comments: (0)
Tamara Ecclestone and her husband Jay Rutland were seen frolicking on he beach in Ibiza with their adorable 5-month-old daughter Sophia
Posted by Alisa on Saturday, August 23, 2014 / Comments: (0)
16-year-old actress Elle Fanning was seen entering Dove's Bodies in Hollywood, CA on Thursday (August 21).
Kim Kardashian, her mom Kris Jenner, her 1-year-old daugher North and her 2-year-old niece Penelope were seen walking around La Jolla, California on Wednesday (August 20).
Reality Television star Kim Kardashian took her adorable 4-year-old nephew Mason to Barnes and Noble in Los Angeles, CA on Tuesday (August 19).
Posted by Alisa on Wednesday, August 20, 2014 / Comments: (0)
Expectant parents Zoe Saldana and Marco Perego were seen walking their dog in Los Angeles, CA on Tuesday (August 19).
Posted by Alisa on Tuesday, August 19, 2014 / Comments: (0)
Elizabeth Banks stepped out with her husband Max Handelman and their sons Felix, 3, Magnus, 1 1/2, in Los Angeles, CA Saturday (August 16).
Posted by Alisa on Thursday, August 14, 2014 / Comments: (0)
Kim Kardashian was seen walking through an airport in New York City carrying her adorable 1-year-old daughter North on Thursday (August 14).
Posted by Alisa on Tuesday, August 12, 2014 / Labels: Model Moms / Comments: (0)
Alessandra Ambrosio, her fiance Jamie Mazur and their 5-year-old daughter Anja were seen playing on the beach in Hawaii on Monday (August 11).
Kim Kardashian was seen leaving her apartment in SoHo with her adorable 1-year-old daughter North on Tuesday (August 12).


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Started by Adam Smith Nov 20, 2011. 0 Replies 0 Likes
Ford makes its impression in the class of large crossover SUVs with the new 2012 Explorer. With excellent fuel efficiency and good exterior dynamics, Explorer had stolen the eyes of most SUV fans.…Continue
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What you don't know about the Group Cars Auto Program.
The Group Cars Auto Program puts the group first by providing value and service unparalleled in the industry. What you don't know is what happens behind the scenes to ensure these goals are consistently met. It starts before the Group Cars member ever steps foot through the dealership's door.
Before Contact
When it comes to selecting dealerships to invite into our dealer network, the Group Cars Auto Program must be diligent in the selection process to ensure the dealership's practices are in line with the Group Cars Auto Program's standards and that member value is fully supported.
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The Group Cars Auto Program contacts every member, regardless if they purchased a vehicle through the program or not, to evaluate their experience. The Member Advocacy Group is unique in the auto-buying industry; while other programs claim to offer 'customer service,' this group actually assists members after they purchase or lease. If any discrepancy should occur, this group ensures that the member receives the value and service we expect of our dealers.
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Finally, while all of these components are running smoothly, the Group Cars Auto Program continues to work behind the scenes to ensure the savings and service standards are being maintained:
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• Confirms vehicle pricing within specific markets to aid in establishing our 'prearranged' vehicle pricing with dealers
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• Conducts mystery shops of our dealerships to ensure dealer compliance with Auto Program processes
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At the Group Cars Auto Program, our goal is to provide an exceptional car buying experience through value and service. As you can see, we have an established buying process, coupled with value pricing, trained staff and experience to ensure that goal is met.
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NASA has denied covering up its first survey of airline pilots on safety, despite releasing the figures late on New Year's Eve and in pdf format rather than Excel files, making independent number-crunching more difficult.
The National Aviation Operational Monitoring Service talked to 8,000 pilots between April 2001 and December 2004. It received more than 25,000 responses to its survey.
Early indications suggested that the research found that incidents like near-misses and runway problems occur much more often than previously believed.
But NASA's decision to redact the information and to only publish it in pdf format severely limited the media's ability to interpret the data, and sparked suggestions it was burying bad news.
Whole rows and columns of data have been removed in order to maintain anonymity, rows were also reordered and individual entries were selectively edited.
NASA originally delayed releasing any of the information because of fears it would damage the aviation industry. NASA spent $11m on the research.
NASA administrator Michael Griffin said the information was not of any interest to travellers. Griffin said the agency was not intending to do any more work with the data which was collected to test different methods of gathering data rather than to prove anything about airline safety.
The space agency all but disowned its own data. A disclaimer on its website warned that neither the survey responses nor the data had been peer-reviewed. Therefore NASA warned: "No product of the NAOMS project, including the survey methodology, the survey responses, and any analysis of the responses, should be viewed or considered at this stage as having been validated."
US politicians have promised to push NASA to release more information. The survey was originally to be extended to include airline mechanics and cabin staff.
More from NASA here, and the New York Times here. ®


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Spartan Bookstore Charges
Registered students can now charge books and supplies purchased at the Spartan Bookstore to their MySJSU student account up to $900.00 per semester. The charge will be added to their student account and payment will be due by October 5th for the Fall semester. Students will be required to sign a release form indicating their consent to post the charges to their student account each time they make a purchase. This is an optional program and students who are registered for more than zero units and degree seeking are eligible to participate. Open University and transitory students, and Early Start summer only students are not eligible.
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Provide student account information to students and assist students with regards to university policy and procedures.
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Provide financial counseling and establish payment arrangements for balances owed to the university, coordinate entrance and exit interviews for Federal Perkins Student Loan and Kuhlman Student Loan borrowers, review short-term loan applications, manage third-party agreements with agencies and departments paying students fees and process stop payments on university issued checks. Coordinate with both on-campus and off-campus sponsors and vendors regarding the payment of campus debts.
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Lindsay Lohan, who was rumored to be the lead candidate to play Victoria Gotti alongside John Travolta as John Gotti in the upcoming film "Gotti: Three Generations," showed up at a "Gotti" press conference in Manhattan early this morning. Her appearance naturally lent credibility to the casting rumors.
"Lindsay is a terrific actress," said Marc Fiore, who is producing "Three Generations." "Nothing has been finalized, but we are definitely in talks."
"I know first hand that Lindsay Lohan happens to be a big fan of mine," Travolta added. "I've always thought she was gorgeous and talented and filled with a lot of depth. So, I think that whatever she would like to do would be great with me."
U.S. & World
The press conference, which is took place at the Sheraton Hotel on Seventh Avenue, also confirmed that veteran actor Joe Pesci ("Goodfellas") has been cast in the film as Gambino family member Angelo Ruggiero.
A few months ago, Travolta met with Gotti's son, "Junior" Gotti, to discuss the lead role and agreed to add it to a resume that includes roles as Vinny Barbarino, Tony Manero and Chili Palmer.
"Travolta is the guy," Fiore, an ex-con and aspiring film producer who has been working with the mafia scion told the New York Post.
"This is probably the most interesting untold story in this country, and what a character to approach and understand,"Travolta said during the press conference.
Nick Cassavetes will direct the film, and he'll be working from a script by writer/actor Leo Rossi. Cassavetes is the son of late actor and pioneering indie film director John Cassavetes.
Travolta, Gotti and a host of hangers-on and Hollywood types met at an LA restaurant to talk about the project, and Travolta reportedly agreed to bring Gotti, who died in prison in 2002, back to life. Travolta, 56, could be joined by Oscar nominee James Franco, who is under consideration to play Junior, according to Fiore.
Gotti, whose double-breasted suits and ubiquitous diamond studded watch earned him the nickname "The Dapper Don," was convicted of 13 murders and a long list of other crimes in 1992.
Junior Gotti, 46, sold the rights to his screenplay to Fiore last year. The Gambino leader's son was himself tried four times since 2005 for racketeering, with each trial ending in a hung jury. He was released from prison in December, 2009, after serving nine years in a previous racketeering case. He has said he left organized crime in 1999.
"This is not a movie; this is part of American history. We have the exclusive story for first time ever told by John Gotti Junior and his family," Fiore said. Fiore's website says the movie will have a budget of $15 million.
Last year, in a rare interview with The Associated Press, Gotti said he would be very involved with the making of the film.
"It's going to be filmed in New York, I've been working on it in New York, we can be an active player in the situation from start to finish," Gotti said. "They were willing to hear my thoughts and they assured me the script would be absolutely accurate, the script would be fair.
"This is not a mob story. That's one misconception," he continued. "This is a father-son story."
Travolta also confirmed that there will be a small role in the movie for his 11 year-old daughter Ella Bleu.
Selected Reading: PopEater, TMZ, New York Post


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When cleaning mushrooms, don't immerse them in water because they'll soak up the water like a sponge. Instead, wipe the mushrooms clean with a damp cloth or sturdy paper towel.
Heat the broiler (grill). Position the rack 4 inches from the heat source. Lightly coat a glass baking dish with cooking spray. Place the mushrooms in the dish, stemless-side (gill-side) up.
In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, brown sugar, rosemary and garlic. Pour the mixture over the mushrooms. Set aside for 5 to 10 minutes to marinate.
Broil (grill) the mushrooms, turning once, until they're tender, about 4 minutes on each side. Sprinkle grated cheese over each mushroom and continue to broil (grill) until the cheese melts. Transfer to individual plates.
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England's celebrated actress talks about her new nature documentary and returning to acting during a pandemic Read More »
Celebrated English actress talks about her new nature documentary and returning to acting during a pandemic Read More »
A Pulitzer-honored hit about the Constitution and Helen Mirren's anti-extinction documentary Read More »
Curl up with these 13 films that are lower on gore and high on quality Read More »
Movies for Grownups advocates for the 50-plus audience by fighting ageism in the entertainment industry and encouraging films that resonate with older viewers. With weekly news and reviews, nationwide screenings, and an annual awards event, AARP champions movies for grownups, by grownups. Read
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App Store named EyeDecide the best iPad / iPhone Medical app in App Store Rewind 2011 in the US
What is it about?
App Store named EyeDecide the best iPad / iPhone Medical app in App Store Rewind 2011 in the US.
App Screenshots
App Store Description
App Store named EyeDecide the best iPad / iPhone Medical app in App Store Rewind 2011 in the US.
Download EyeDecide free on the App Store now.
KidsDental uses beautiful animation to entertain your child while teaching them how to care for their teeth.
The KidsDental App is divided into four sections designed to teach young users about basic tooth care. They are "Explore," "Conditions," "Learn," and "My Teeth."
Explore takes advantage of Orca's 3D engine to enable 360-degree examination, with full zoom, of the jaw and teeth.
Conditions uses animation and interactivity to teach users about cavities, early tooth loss, abscessed teeth, broken teeth, late loss of teeth, and gum disease.
Learn leverages the touch interface of the iPad to help users to Learn to Floss, understand the impact of Healthy Foods on dental health, practice Good Habits, Learn to Brush, and finally Practice Brushing. The rich animation of KidsDental makes this entertaining and educational.
My Teeth is a customizable feature that allows children or their parents to input data about their teeth and significant events, such as losing their first tooth, into a calendar. They can also use emoticons to select "How they feel" about a given event. Additionally, users can use the iPad to take and input pictures and share this information via email.
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Visit us at www.orcahealth.com, watch for our future releases, and experience the future of healthcare with Orca Health.
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This story came from a traveling reporter who worked for The Sun in New York City. The date was September the 2nd, 1894. I have transcribed it word for word and did not attempt to correct the grammar or structure. It all is a testimony to our Ozark's History.
Religion is General, Whiskey Is Not Sold
and Populism Is Unheard Of.
Yellville, Ark., Aug. 21. - Yellville is in the very heart of the Ozark Mountains and is the center of a little world bordered on the north by Missouri and embracing the valleys of the White, Buffalo, and Little Red Rivers, and the ranges between them. Here several generations have lived and died, undisturbed by the great arteries of commerce or by the noisy hum of the mill or factory. Scores of the people now living in Marion county, who are past the age of 21, have never looked upon a train of cars.
Yellville is the county seat of Marion county, and Is reached by an stage coach,which runs from West Plains, Mo., the nearest railroad station, seventy miles to the northward. This trip is over a rough but very interesting mountain road, and the stage is drawn by four or six horses. It is the oldest town in northern Arkansans. It was in 1833 that the first cabin was built on the bunk of Clear Creek, about twelve miles from its confluence with White River. A trackless wilderness, with few habitations, then extended over the region between the Osage River and Little Rock and the St. Francis River and the Cherokee Nation.
The old Kentuckian who first settled here was a trapper and a coon hunter, whose reputation extended throughout the region. He raised a little patch of corn and tobacco before another white man ventured near him, and as the settlement was established, his cabin become a sort of trade center, and he was soon buying the skins and furs of other settlers, trading them powder, tobacco, salt, hog meat, and the very few things which went to make up their necessaries of life. He died, and his boys soon became prominent in the political affairs of the times, and established a town which they named after Gov. Yell, one of the first Governors of the State. The 700 inhabitants of Yellville are nearly all natives of Arkansas, and most of them from Marlon county. A few men have drifted in from the adjoining States on business ventures, and are likely to live and die here.
One of the first experiences which befell the correspondent of The Sun, after arriving in this town, came in a search for a barber. One was found whose shop occupied a corner in the office of the most prominent physician of Yellville, This man of science was present during the tonsorial performance, and sat on an empty cracker box sawing away at "Arkansaw Traveler" on an old fiddle with only three strings. The combination of the barber and the musician was sufficient to give a stranger the conviction that the region was the abiding place of outlaws and evil doers, and that the general moral tone of the inhabitants was low.
But with all this primitiveness the visitor will soon discover that the people in this region are honest, scrupulously so. They are also very religious, and a large proportion of the population are devout church members. The Stale laws make it a misdemeanor to do any work on Sunday. They are also very strict in regard to the sale of intoxicating liquors. Both laws are strictly enforced, and in all this country it would require a constable and a search warrant to find any anti-snake bite. It is very probable that the village druggist keep a small amount for emergencies, but it requires the sworn statement of your physician that it is necessary to save your life, and that no other medicine can be used with safety, before you can get even an eye-opener. When, a few year ago, the Methodist Episcopal Church. South, built a college here, some of the leading citizens went before the Legislature at Little Rock and passage of a law forever prohibiting the sale of liquor within six miles of the college.
These conditions have not always prevailed in this region. About twenty years ago it was a safe retreat for all kinds of outlaws. The saloons were headquarters for the bandits and horse thieves. Not a week passed without a man or two being killed. Finally a mass meeting was called, at which the citizens declared they would take the law into their own hands. Notices were served on the saloon keepers to close immediately, and on the bandits to leave. These notices were quickly compiled with, and from that day to this there has not been a place within the county where a drink of whiskey could be bought.
Marion county is thoroughly Democratic. The Democrats here know no political enemy but the Republican party; they have no knowledge of Populist " reformers;" they wonder at the Coxey craze, and when the regulars were sent to quell the Chicago Anarchist, an old gray-beard who had fought under Johnston and Hood through the Confederacy, said: "Wouldn't it be funny if the President would have to call old 'confeds' to whip Altgeld and Illinois back into the Union. "
Work Cited:
"People of the Ozarks." The Sun 62.2 (02 Sept. 1892): 10. New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundation. United States Library of Congress, Washington D.C. 15 Nov. 2009


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Two years after Trayvon Martin's death, Florida's "stand your ground" law remains a flash point in a still unsettled national debate over the limits of self-defense.
After a Jacksonville jury this month failed to decide whether Michael Dunn murdered 17-year-old Jordan Davis, the same questions about the law surfaced anew:
Is it too vague or too confusing? Is it being applied as the Legislature intended? And what role did it play in George Zimmerman's acquittal and Dunn's partially hung jury?
As lawmakers prepare to begin their springtime session, the head of a key committee has vowed not to change "one damn comma."
But others — including the law's author and Zimmerman's former attorney — have suggested it could use some tweaking.
And like Trayvon's parents before them, Jordan Davis' parents have vowed to seek changes to what they say is a flawed self-defense law in Florida.
'Traditional' self-defense?
Though Zimmerman claimed he shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in self-defense Feb. 26, 2012, his defense lawyer consistently disputed the notion he was using a "stand your ground" defense.
Attorney Mark O'Mara's contended that Zimmerman was being pummeled when he opened fire, and had no option to retreat. A debate was born: Was Zimmerman's a "stand your ground" case or one of traditional self-defense?
O'Mara says that true "stand your ground" cases — in which the shooter could retreat but doesn't — represent "an overwhelmingly small percentage" of self-defense cases: "The minuscule exception was defining the terminology."
But Zimmerman's jury instructions contained some key language: that he "had no duty to retreat and had the right to stand his ground" if he "reasonably believed" it was necessary to prevent great bodily harm or death.
The same language appeared in the instructions for Dunn's jury, which failed to reach a verdict on a first-degree-murder charge for 17-year-old Jordan Davis' killing, though Dunn was convicted on three attempted-murder charges for firing 10 shots into the teen's SUV at a gas station.
Last week, O'Mara proposed a change: Remove the "stand your ground" language from the standard self-defense instructions, and include it only in cases in which the facts fit that scenario.
O'Mara says he doesn't think the Zimmerman verdict would have been different without that language, but for those who disagree, "there is an easy fix that makes a lot of sense."
Bill Sheaffer, legal analyst for WFTV-Channel 9, agrees: "I always thought it was unnecessary language in the self-defense statute ... if anything, it may lead to confusion of the issues."
What's 'reasonable'?
The potential for confusion is a common criticism of "stand your ground" and Florida's self-defense laws generally.
For example: What is reasonable fear? Jurors are told that the danger doesn't even have to be "actual" for a defendant's use of force to be justified.
Dunn claimed he saw a gun before opening fire, but none was found. Even if there was no gun — no "actual" danger — were his actions reasonable if he believed there was one?
"The problem becomes when you have a reasonable fear, but that fear, though maybe reasonable, turns out to be inaccurate," O'Mara said. "Now what do you do?"
Critics of the law also say that black youths, such as Trayvon and Jordan, are disproportionately the victims of gunfire that their shooters later claim was justified by "reasonable" fear.
The first Dunn juror to speak publicly, a woman identified as Valerie, said race didn't play a role in the debate inside the jury room, which ended with jurors hung at 9-3 on the murder count:
"[The instructions] said if he believed that he had an imminent threat to himself or his fiancée ... he was frightened, and there was no other option for him in regards to Mr. Davis," the juror told ABC News.
The burden at trial is on the state, which forces prosecutors in these cases to prove a negative: They must establish beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant did not act in self-defense.
'A little more direction'
Despite widespread outcry and national scrutiny, efforts to repeal "stand your ground" have been dead on arrival.
House Criminal Justice Subcommittee Chairman Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, attracted national headlines when he said he doesn't want to change "one damn comma" in the law.
But legislation from Sen. Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, and Sen. David Simmons, the Altamonte Springs Republican who sponsored the original "stand your ground" law in 2005, aims to tighten the law's language to make it more difficult for aggressors to claim self-defense.
The bill is currently in the committee phase. Smith says he's optimistic it will progress.
"What we're trying to do is just give those juries a little more direction to go on," Smith said. Too many people see "stand your ground" as a justification "to escalate disagreements ... to unreasonably just resort to violence," he said.
Sheaffer said it's a mentality that harks back to an earlier time:
"What we're having is ... a rebirth of a culture that is the Wild West, where you shoot first and you ask questions later, [and] dispute resolution is reduced to use of a firearm," he said.
In another recent Florida case to gain national attention, retired Tampa policeman Curtis Reeves Jr. is accused of killing another patron at a Pasco County movie theater after being hit with popcorn during an argument over texting.
Lawmakers who support "stand your ground" often say that its language is not the issue; the law is being applied in ways that were never intended, they say.
These high-profile cases, be they "stand your ground" or "traditional" self-defense, seem increasingly to stretch the bounds of the law, Sheaffer said.
"Lawyers do what lawyers are born and bred to do," he said. "They test the elasticity of these statutes — to the point of breaking."
email@example.com or 407-420-5171


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Mobile Monday is back with a bang! Welcome to the first edition of the new Mobile Mondays. This week we saw the launch of Windows Phone 7 and nine Windows Phone 7 powered smartphones. Apart from that two amazing smartphones, Nokia N8 and BlackBerry Torch was launched in India. Angry Bird, the popular game for iPhone was released for Android and withing 24 hours, the game was downloaded 1 million times. Lets start the first edition of Mobile Mondays with some interesting news, views and related stuffs.
New Handsets:
- HTC 7 Surround
- HTC 7 Trophy
- HTC Mozart
- HTC 7 Pro
- LG Optimus 7
- LG Quantum
- Samsung Omnia 7
- Samsung Focus
- Dell Venue Pro
- Nokia C5-03
- Nokia N8 (India)
- BlackBerry Torch (India)
- Samsung Xcover B2710 (Russia)
- Videocon Zeus V7500 (India)
This week HTC launched 5 new Windows Phone 7 powered smartphone – HTC 7 Surround, HTC HD7, HTC 7 Trophy, HTC 7 Pro and HTC Mozart. The HTC Surround features a 3.8 inch WVGA display, 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 5 megapixel camera with HD video recording and more. It also has an integrated stereo speakers, Dolby Mobile, SRS Surround Sound and audience noise suppression. HTC HD7 comes with a 4.3 inch TFT touchscreen display, 1GHz Qualcomm processor, 5 megapixel camera with HD video recording and so on.
Samsung announced 2 Windows Phone 7 powered smartphones and launched 3 Bada OS powered smartphone in Russia. Samsung unveiled Windows Phone 7 powered Samsung Focus and Samsung Omnia 7. In Russia, Samsung launched Bada OS powered Samsung Wave 525, Samsung Wave 575 and Samsung Wave 533.
LG also launched 2 Windows Phone 7 powered smartphones – LG Optimus 7 and LG Quantum. Both the handset comes with a 5 megapixel cameras with autofocus and LED flash, 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 16 GB internal storage, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, A-GPS and much more. The LG Optimus 7 comes with a 3.8 inch TFT capacitive touchscreen display while the LG Quantum features a 3.5 inch TFT capacitive touchscreen with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard.
This week Nokia announced a new budget touchscreen phone, the Nokia C5-03. It features a 3.2 inch touchscreen display, Symbian S60v5 OS, 5 megapixel camera with 4X digital zoom, Wi-Fi, 3G Connectivity, music player, stereo FM radio, Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR, 40MB internal memory, 32GB expandable memory, 2GB microSD card included 4.5 hours of talktime on 3G, 25 days of stand-by time and 1000 mAH battery. Nokia also launched N8, the much awaited smartphone in India. It comes with a price tag of Rs.26,259.
Handset Of The Week – BlackBerry Torch 9800:
BlackBerry Torch is the first handset which runs on the new BlackBerry 6 operating system and the first handset to feature the combination of a full touch screen display with an iconic BlackBerry keyboard. It comes with a 3.2 inch touch screen display, slide-out QWERTY keyboard, 5 megapixel camera with 2X digital zoom, 3G Connectivity, Bluetooth v2.1 with EDR, 4 GB internal memory, 32GB expandable memory, built-in GPS with BlackBerry Maps, up to 30 hours music playback, up to 18 days Standby Time, up to 5.5 hours talk-time and 1300 mAHr lithium-ion battery.


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CFP: [Rhetoric-Composition] Rap Music and Hip Hop Culture (SW/TX PCA/ACA 11/15/07)
CFP: Rap Music and Hip Hop Culture
2008 Southwest/Texas Popular Culture/American Culture Association
Southwest/Texas Popular & American Culture Association 29th Annual Conference
February 13-16, 2008
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Hyatt Regency Albuquerque
The 2008 SW/TX PCA/ACA Conference will be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico
at the Hyatt Regency downtown. Join us this year, as a returning or
first-time participant, as we celebrate a new future on Route 66 at this
regional popular culture conference. Further details regarding the
conference (listing of all areas, hotel, registration, tours, etc.) can be
found at http://www.h-net.org/~swpca/.
Proposals for both Panels and Individual Papers are now being accepted for
the Rap Music and Hip Hop Culture Area. We had excellent representation in
this Area for 2007, and we are looking to expand in both quantity and
complexity for 2008. This year, we are particularly interested in
proposals that address the following:
- Intersections of Hip Hop and Pedagogy
- Rap Music, Hip Hop Culture, and Space/Place
- Theoretical approaches to Hip Hop (i.e., Language
Theory/Postmodernism/Social Theory)
- Rap, Hip Hop, and Academic Disciplinarity
- Rhetorical Approaches to Rap Music and Hip Hop Culture
- Rap, Hip Hop, and Film/Documentary
- Hip Hop Subjectivities/Agency
- Anthropological/Sociological approaches to Hip Hop Culture
- Economics and Hip Hop Culture
As always, papers and panels that consider the myriad ways that Rap Music
and Hip Hop culture impact and feed upon Popular and American culture are
encouraged. This Area should be construed broadly, and we seek papers that
aren't afraid to take risks. Proposals from Graduate Students are
particularly welcome, with award opportunities for best graduate papers.
Please send abstracts of 250 words with relevant audio/visual requests by
November 15, 2007, to Brian McNely at the email or physical address below.
Panel proposals should include one abstract of 200 words describing the
panel, accompanied by the underlying abstracts of 250 words of the
individual papers that comprise the panel.
Brian J. McNely
Area Chair, Rap Music and Hip Hop Culture
Rhetoric and Writing Studies Program
101 Vowell Hall
University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso TX, 79968
From the Literary Calls for Papers Mailing List
more information at
Received on Fri Sep 14 2007 - 16:24:35 EDT


text:
Yesterday, an undated memo from the chair of the Republican Party of Virginia surfaced, in which Pat Mullins announced the validation process for candidate petitions in the presidential race to qualify for the primary ballot. This led some to claim that the RPV had changed the rules at the last minute, keeping Rick Perry and Newt Gingrich from getting onto the ballot. Mullins responded to this speculation in a lengthy statement, reprinted at the Virginia blog Bearing Drift, in which Mullins states that the memo went out to all campaigns in October:
From the earliest days of the campaigns, RPV has actively told candidates that Virginia's signature requirements could be a difficult legal requirement to meet for those who were new to Virginia politics.
In October 2011, RPV formally adopted the certification procedures that were applied on December 23: any candidate who submitted over 15,000 facially-valid signatures would be presumed to be in compliance with Virginia's 10,000 signature law. …
Candidates were officially informed of the 15,000 rule in October 2011, well in advance of the Dec. 22 submission deadline. The rule was no surprise to any candidate – and indeed, no candidate or campaign offered any complaints until after the Dec. 23 validation process had concluded.
Despite this early notice and RPV's exhortations to candidates, only one candidate availed himself of the 15,000 signature threshold – Governor Mitt Romney. RPV counted Governor Romney's signatures, reviewed them for facial validity, and determined he submitted well over 15,000. Never in the party's history has a candidate who submitted more than 15,000 signatures had 33 percent invalidated. The party is confident that Governor Romney met the statutory threshold.
Rep. Ron Paul submitted just under 15,000, and was submitted to signature-by-signature scrutiny on the same basis as the other candidates who submitted fewer than 15,000 signatures. After more than 7 hours of work, RPV determined that Rep. Paul had cleared the statutory 10,000/400 signature standard with ease.
The RPV had sent out the verification requirements to all campaigns in March of this year, with the advice to collect between 15,000 and 20,000 signatures, as well as noting the requirements in state law for addresses for each signature, and so on. The only change that took place in October was the decision to accept 15,000 signatures as prima facie evidence of qualification without having to verify each signature, a change that made ballot access easier, not more difficult. All campaigns got two month's notice of this change, and only one took advantage of it — Mitt Romney's. Ron Paul's campaign just missed the cut and the RPV had to verify each signature. Otherwise, the verification standards for the signatures didn't change at all, which they couldn't, as those are set by state law in Virginia.
Other candidates can challenge this interpretation of Virginia law, but the only consequence of that challenge would be to force the RPV to individually validate Romney's signatures in order to establish equal treatment. That won't put more signatures on paper for either Gingrich or Perry.
Moreover, the idea that the Republican Party in Virginia has a stake in narrowing the field is, frankly, strange. All this does is make Virginia less relevant, not more, in the primary process, hardly the outcome that a state that fought for a Super Tuesday slot wants. None of the other candidates will bother to campaign in the Old Dominion now, which will hurt Republicans running for state offices as well as Congress as money goes elsewhere in this cycle. The incentives for the RPV are all tilted in the other direction — getting more candidates to spend more time and money in their state in order to help boost Republican fortunes in Virginia.
Mullins concludes with a little warning shot across the bow of campaigns claiming victimization in this process:
The party will discuss the specific nature of their shortfalls if necessary. But the failure of these two candidates to meet the state requirements does not call into question the accuracy of the Party's certification of the two candidates who are duly qualified to appear on the ballot.
I'm sure that the Gingrich and Perry campaigns don't want any more discussion of organizational incompetence as the primaries rapidly approach. Clearly, though, Republican campaigns had ample warning of the verification process and the option to skip it by following the RPV's advice from March to get at least 150% of the legally required signatures to ensure ballot access.
Update: On a tangent, the Virginia GOP have reinstated a "loyalty oath" for the primary, bringing it back from 2000:
Voters who want to take part in the Commonwealth's March 6 Republican primary will be asked for a November commitment.
Virginia Republicans requested the Va. State Board of Elections to allow it to ask primary voters for a loyalty oath, promising to support the Republican party's nominee for president in the general election.
"The code of Virginia allows for political parties to require individuals who wish to participate in presidential primaries to sign a pledge that he or she will support the party's candidate in the general election," said Justin Riemer, deputy secretary of the Virginia State Board of Elections. For this year's primaries, Virginia's Republican party chose to exercise that right.
According to the Times-Dispatch, "The pledge will require the voter to sign and to print his name beneath a line that says: "I, the undersigned, pledge that I intend to support the nominee of the Republican Party for president."
Maybe they should have made that a requirement of the candidates, since one of the two on the ballot won't make that same commitment. It's obviously not binding, but it might offend a few independents and Democrats, and, er … you know who that helps.


text:
University News
PAC Presentation Sept. 26
September 21, 2011
MACOMB, IL -- A public presentation of the approved schematic design for the Performing Arts Center at Western Illinois University will be held from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26 at the Tri States Public Radio Music Performance Studio, 320 W. University Drive.
Cannon Design (formerly OWP/P, which has merged with Cannon Design) and Pelli Clarke Pelli (PCP), the center's architectural design teams, along with Michael Hott, WIU architectural superintendent/capital projects, will present the approved Performing Arts Center (PAC) design and discuss the next stages of the project, which has been on hold since March 2009.
According to Hott, the presentation will detail the approved design. The construction document phase is currently underway and tentatively scheduled to be completed by November 2012. Architects will develop the technical documents that will be used to bid the project later next year, Hott added. Construction is estimated to begin in January 2013.
The Performing Arts Center, which has been designed by the architectural/design firms of Pelli Clarke Pelli and O'Donnell, Wicklund, Pigozzi, and Peterson (OWP/P), will include a 1,400-seat proscenium theatre auditorium with two balconies, a 250-seat thrust stage and a 150-seat studio theatre. There also will be dance, jazz and theatre rehearsal studios; dressing rooms adjacent to the theatres; a scenery/design workshop and a costume shop; administration offices; and a loading dock which will accommodate semis and buses for professional touring companies and orchestras.
The $67.8 million capital project is funded by the Illinois Capital Development Board (CDB).
To view architect's renderings of the Performing Arts Center, visit wiu.edu/university_planning/masterplanpac.php.
Posted By: WIU News (firstname.lastname@example.com)
Office of University Relations


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WBUR News
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Mass. Governor Hopefuls Spar On Jobs, Budget Gap
The four candidates for Massachusetts governor sparred Tuesday on everything from jobs and the legacy of the Big Dig to the best ways to close the state's estimated multi-billion budget deficit during their first televised debate.
Democratic incumbent Gov. Deval Patrick defended his first term in office from stiff critiques by his three challengers, Republican Charles Baker, independent Timothy Cahill and Green-Rainbow candidate Jill Stein, during the hourlong discussion on WBZ-TV.
Patrick said Massachusetts has begun to rebound from the recession faster than other states, although he acknowledged there is still a long way to go. The state's unemployment rate remains at about 9 percent, slightly below the national rate.
"The long-term solution is to grow this economy," Patrick said. "If we continue on this pace, we will make up at the end of this year all the jobs we lost in this recession.'
Baker charged Patrick hasn't done enough to curb spending and to reform and shrink government. He also faulted him for supporting eight tax increases, including a sales tax hike and an elimination of the sales tax exemption for alcohol sold in stores.
Baker said if Patrick had been more aggressive in overhauling state government during the past four years, Massachusetts wouldn't be facing an estimated budget deficit of more than $2 billion for the next fiscal year.
"I like and admire a lot of people who work in state government, but there's no way the current model is affordable," Baker said.
Patrick pointed to overhauls of the state pension, ethics and transportation systems and said he's cut the state work force.
Cahill, who is trailing Patrick and Baker in recent polls, said he would push for both tax cuts and budget cuts, including reductions to the state's health care system, saying that is what's needed to bring spending under control.
"I believe in tax cuts at the beginning, making our state more competitive," he said. "We've got to create a level playing field for small business."
Stein said the state has to do more to encourage "green jobs," but she also criticized what she called Beacon Hill "sweetheart deals."
"I don't think it's a good use of taxpayer dollars when we need to put our teachers, our firefighters, our librarians back to work," said Stein, a distant fourth in polls.
Some of the highlights of the night came between Baker and Patrick, who is holding a narrow lead over his GOP opponent.
Patrick went after Baker for his role in creating the financing plan for the Big Dig as former Republican Gov. William Weld's top budget chief. Patrick faulted Baker for creating a plan that failed to deal adequately with the massive project's then-soaring price tag, saying it's been a drag on the economy and the state's ability to spend money on other transportation projects.
"It's a great big albatross around the necks of the people of the commonwealth," Patrick said, adding that he's continuing to deal with "what you left on Beacon Hill."
Baker shot back, criticizing Patrick for trying to "blame all your problems on Big Dig, which happened 20 and 25 and 30 years ago."
"When you ran for governor four years ago, one of the things you said, over and over and over again, was, whoever it is that's in charge on Beacon Hill needs to man up and take responsibility for what goes on on Beacon Hill on their watch," Baker said.
One of the sharpest exchanges came about 20 minutes into the debate, after all the candidates had unleashed some of their major general election themes.
Patrick, challenged by Baker to highlight some government reforms he had made, pointed to recent changes in the state pension system.
"That was a bunt when we should still be swinging away," Baker said. "We still have a $22 billion unfunded liability."
An exasperated Patrick responded: "You call it a bunt. You've never even swung at the ball."
Cahill, trying to reinforce his independent status, decided to take a pass on the baseball metaphor.
"You know what? I think I'll let these two guys fight it out," he said.
Stein, left out of the exchange, said: "I'll just say this is the kind of bickering that we've come to expect from business-as-usual on Beacon Hill. We hear a Democrat version, we hear a Republican version. And over the years, things don't change."
This program aired on September 7, 2010. The audio for this program is not available.
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Get piggy with it
The grilled, house-made pork sausage at Matt Janke and Jill Buchanan's new
LECOSHO on the Harbor Steps downtown comes whole, resting on a bed of savory lentils. Halves of a creamy soft-boiled egg round out this tasty $7 plate. 3–6 p.m. daily; 10 p.m.–1 a.m. Sun.–Thu.; 11 p.m.–1 a.m. Fri.–Sat.
Calling the cheese buffet at ART RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE extensive doesn't do it justice. Served daily in the lounge from 4:30 to 10 p.m., it presents as many as two dozen local and international cheeses, with fruit and nut accompaniments, for $18. That may not seem like such a bargain—until you see the presentation. Happy hour 4–7 p.m. Sun.–Thu.
Norse legend
It's shocking that there aren't more trendy Scandinavian restaurants in Seattle. The COPPER GATE, tucked away in Ballard, fills the void well, anchored with tacky-chic vintage pinup pictures and a bar in the shape of a Viking ship's hull. Everything on the food and cocktails menu is $2 off during happy hour. Must-have dishes—Swedish meatballs with celeriac-potato purée and lingonberry preserve ($6) and the dilled pommes frites with curried ketchup ($4)—taste best washed down with a cucumber cocktail ($5). 5–7 p.m. daily
Urbane renewal
At downtown's swank, stylish URBANE RESTAURANT & BAR (pictured left), happy hour draws a crowd of put-together professionals who recover from a hard day at the office by noshing spears of grilled eggplant in aromatic truffle honey ($4), and chunky rabbit pâté with mustard dipping sauce ($4). 4–6 p.m. and 10 p.m.–midnight daily
Second to naan
The meat ingredient changes nightly, so it may be wise to check in advance, because the duck naanwich at POPPY ($6) is a carnivore's delight: Tender, rosy-pink slices of seared duck are folded into chef Jerry Traunfeld's airy South Asian–style flatbread, which artfully straddles the line between startling crispness and soothing chewiness. 5–7 p.m. and 9 p.m.–close Sun.–Thu., bar only
Pie whole
Nothing caps off an evening better than a crispy single-serving Neapolitan-style pizza at VIA TRIBUNALI–your choice of margherita, marinara or salame–for only $5. 4–6 p.m. and 10 p.m.–close daily (Fremont and Georgetown); 10 p.m.–close daily (Queen Anne)
Mmmmm! Bacon!
Look around the room at JOHN HOWIE STEAK in Bellevue. We'll bet that at least 50 percent of the diners have opted for the USDA Prime beef bacon cheeseburger. And can you blame them? Piled with Beecher's Flagship cheese, Kurobuta bacon and all the fixin's on a house-baked bun, this half-pound ground USDA Prime sirloin baby runs only $8. 3–6 p.m. Mon.–Sat.; 9–11 p.m. Mon.–Thu.; 9 p.m.–midnight Fri.–Sat.; 3–10 p.m. Sun.
Bivalve Bonanza
Craving succulent, juicy oysters, but reluctant to shell out your entire allowance? The progressive oyster happy hour (chef's choice, 3–6 p.m.) at ELLIOTT'S OYSTER HOUSE on the waterfront kicks off with briny bivalves priced at 50 cents apiece and increasing by 25 cents every half-hour until 5:30 (pictured
on page 84). ANCHOVIES & OLIVES on Capitol Hill hosts early and late "power hours" (5–6 p.m. and 10 p.m.–closing Sun.–Thu.) when oysters are $1 each. METROPOLITAN GRILL, one of the toniest spots downtown, serves up three oyster shooters for $3 (3–6 p.m. Mon.–Fri.).
How to Get the Best Value When Ordering Wine


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Permai Residences | Starbuy Property. Co | +65 - 9152 0345
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There are various attractions in close vicinity @ Permai Residences. Nature and green environment like Mt Faber Park/Labrador Park/Sothern Ridges for a refreshing lifestyle always. Enjoy recreation clubs like Keppel Club/Marina Bay Golf Course/Resort World Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands.A series of other attractions too, like Central Business District, Marina Bay Sands, Clarke Quay, Singapore Flyer, the Esplanade and Orchard Road is in close proximity. Other than the current excitement of 2 Integrated Resorts, the upcoming vibrant southern development like Tg Pager Waterfront city will be the next wave of recreation.
From fine dining, shopping, clubbing to sightseeing, Permai Residences comes with a realm of exhilarating, non-stop entertainment, close at hand. It is here and now that you can count numerous blessings. Reputable schools are at your doorstep. Singapore's largest retail and lifestyle destination, VivoCity is only 1 minute away.
Parents with kids that goes to school, need to worry, since the area is well surrounded by a number of elite schools, such as Canadian International School(High School), Zhangde Primary School, Henderson Secondary School, Radin Mas Primary School, CHIJ Kellock Priamry School, and Outram Secondary School.
Begin living a captivating and an inspired lifestyle like no other. Experience a life of accessibility and sophistication everyday. All of these are in Permai Residences.
Permai Residences brochure, floor plan are available for download. Permai Residences price PSF guide and Showflat appointment. Call Developer Showflat Hotline +65 - 9152 0345 or visit http://www.starbuyproperty.co/permai-residences/ to find out more.
District 4: Keppel, Mount Faber, Sentosa, Telok Blangah.
New 6 digit postal code in District 4 : 09****, 10****
New 6 digit postal code in District 4 : 09****, 10****
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German MP: Germany Wants to Conclude Asssociation With Ukraine Next Year
06 Dec, 2012, 22:11 GMT
KYIV, Ukraine, December 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
"The European way is wide open for Ukraine and Germany supports it," stated the spokesman on foreign policy for Germany's ruling Free Democratic Party (FDP) Rainer Stinner. German government wants to sign Association Agreement with Ukraine in 2013, however, there are some issues, noted the MP.
"In general, we [FDP - Ed.] are set very positively… We would like the Germany-Ukraine ties to be closer. The door is open; now Ukraine has to make important steps to near the EU and fulfill the necessary requirements," commented Rainer Stinner in his interview with Interfax.
Germany is to a certain degree critical about the judicial system, justice, and prosecution of the opposition leaders in Ukraine. "These are the issues which will be further discussed," he added. Ukraine is being offered the European future, though the EU does not want to put any pressure on the eastern European country. Therefore, Ukraine should make its own decision, reiterated Stinner.
The MP is confident that it is necessary to hold Ukraine-EU summit, which he recognizes as the most effective tool for settling impending issues. The members of Bundestag also support the liberalization of visa regime for Ukraine and other countries, demonstrating European ways. In his opinion, the ability to experience Europe will stipulate further pro-European changes in such countries.
"We receive requests from our [German] business community stating that today's visa policy of Germany and the European Union does not benefit our economic relations and human contacts. I support the simplification of the regime, which will consequently bring about visa liberalization between EU and Ukraine," expressed his confidence the politician.
In late November 2012, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule stated that the EU was likely to sign the Association Agreement with Ukraine in November 2013. "I believe that the Vilnius Summit [November 2013 - Ed.] could see the signature of the Association Agreement, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, with Ukraine," stated Fule in his speech at the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum in Stockholm, Sweden.
The strong commitment of the European Union to continue political association and economic integration with Ukraine, however, should be supported by Ukraine's government and newly elected parliament, highlighted the European Commissioner.
SOURCE Worldwide News Ukraine


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The best chefs happily reveal their sources, and when the featured food and wine is from the Hudson Valley, it's often proudly stated on the menu. Beginning just north of New York City, head up the river (and then down again) to discover their favorite organic farm markets, celebrated artisanal cheese makers, award-winning wineries and breweries, and the world's premier culinary college.
Pick and choose from these itineraries according to your taste and schedule. You might want to spend an hour or an entire day exploring some of these gems. With farm fresh foods, wines produced at local vineyards, and restaurants that feature some of the world's finest chefs, you'll definitely eat and drink well on these trips.
DAY ONE: Wallkill, Pine Bush, Gardiner and New Paltz
Starting in Wallkill at Magnanini Farm Winery & Restaurant, enjoy the first of many picturesque Hudson Valley wine tours and tastings. Make reservations if you'd like to make this your final destination on a Saturday evening. Savor an evening meal of Northern Italian cuisine while enjoying the view of the vineyards.
From May through mid-October, Pine Bush Farmers Market is open Saturdays, rain or shine. You'll find the freshest and most pleasing vegetables, fruits, eggs, breads, eggs, sweets, meats and other treats AND you'll hear homegrown music and be captivated by the works of local artists. The quaint streets of this upstate hamlet were first settled in 1740.
Just a bit north, you'll find Baldwin Vineyards, which produces an internationally acclaimed Strawberry Wine, among other award-winning wines. In Gardiner, Whitecliff Vineyard and Winery is one of the largest Hudson Valley vineyards, or if your tastes run to other spirits of the field, visit Tuthilltown Spirits. Take a tour of the Tuthilltown Gristmill, a landmark on the National Register of Historic Places now converted to a micro-distillery. Try their award-winning vodkas from local apples, plus whiskeys and other small batch distillations produced with local grains; on the third Sunday afternoons of each month, they host live music.
In New Paltz, the winery at Adair Vineyards is housed in a 200-year old barn overlooking ten acres of vines. This bustling college town boasts several great restaurants - including The Village TeaRoom, a member of the Hudson Valley chapter of Slow Food - an eclectic shopping district, and many lodging options, from B&Bs to resorts and hotels.
You'll find several charming Bed & Breakfast choices along the way, too. There's the quietly elegant Pine Bush House (featuring Old World charm - there's even a victrola and a player piano! - plus modern conveniences); the stately Montgomery's Borland House (find out why their signature three-course breakfast receives so many kudos); and Bernetta's Place, a pet-friendly lakeside inn that offers a Jacuzzi hot tub, massages and a five course gourmet breakfast, with vegan options too).
DAY TWO: Ulster Park to Kingston to Hudson
Ready to continue the vineyard and farm market theme? Travel east from New Paltz and head north on 9W, a scenic route with Hudson River views. Stop by the family-owned, all-season Apple Bin Farm Market for homemade pies and baked goods, seasonal fruits and produce, gift baskets, apple and pear cider, breakfast and lunch sandwiches, and an array of gourmet foodstuffs. Just a bit further north, the El Paso Winery beckons (April through December) with award-winning wines, tours, a gift shop and tastings in a 125-year old converted barn. Try their Chardonnay with a crisp hint of Granny Smith apples!
In the nearby Historic Rondout District of Kingston, take the waterfront promenade and stop for lunch (or dinner) at Ship to Shore, owned by a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. The chef features the freshest local ingredients in his eclectic and delicious menu. A bit outside of town, the Skytop Steakhouse's warm, candlelit dining room overlooks the mountains: if it's Thursday evening, you may enjoy listening to live jazz over dinner and drinks. At Keegan Ales, you can take a free tour of the brewery on weekend afternoons, or just stop in to sample the beers and have a delicious meal. Stay for live music or, on Tuesdays, raise your glass for Trivia Night.
You could easily spend an entire weekend in Hudson, especially if you like to stroll, shop, drink, dine out -- and then repeat! The Warren Street district is hopping, all year long, and you'll find an abundance of edible and other amusements, all along the way. To whet your appetite for a visit to this charming riverside town where you'll find Japanese fusion, Caribbean take-out, High Tea and all else you desire . . . Vasilow's Confectionary on Columbia Street specializes in small batch chocolates, nuts and confections made on the premises. At Café Le Perche, you can enjoy everything from artisanal breads to an intimate bar and elegant dining. Swoon Kitchenbar, owned by husband and wife chefs, features Meatless Mondays and Burger Thursdays, and a delicious lunch, dinner and dessert menu. Vico relies upon the bounty of Columbia County food producers with award-winning results. And, let's just say that the B&B scene in Hudson is definitely not your mama's version of cozy or chic: it reflects the town's mix of hip and modern, with a nod to carefully considered restorations and amenities.
New York has an abundance of farm markets, u-pick farms, gourmet food shops and fine restaurants. Throughout the state, farmers markets and orchard-side emporiums offer fresh fruits and veggies, baked goods and just-pressed cider. World-class wineries and craft breweries let you taste and shop at the source. Find information on harvest schedules and tours at Pride of New York, Uncork New York, and at Hudson Valley Wine Country
Related Links:
Adair Vineyards - New Paltz
Apple Bin Farm Market - Ulster Park
Baldwin Vineyards - Pine Bush
Bernetta's Place - Wallkill
Borland House Bed and Breakfast - Montgomery
Café Le Perche - Hudson
Culinary Institute of America - Hyde Park
El Paso Winery - Ulster Park
Hudson, New York
Keegan Ales - Kingston
Mexican Radio - Hudson
Magnanini Farm Winery & Restaurant - Wallkill
New Paltz lodging
Pine Bush Farmers Market
Pine Bush House Bed and Breakfast
Ship to Shore - Kingston
Skytop Steakhouse - Kingston
Swoon Kitchenbar - Hudson
The Village Tea Room - New Paltz
Tuthilltown Spirits - Gardiner
Vasilow's Confectionary - Hudson
Vico Restaurant & Bar - Hudson
Whitecliff Vineyard & Winery - Gardiner