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In the months following the HTC One (M8)'s debut, the rumor mill has claimed that HTC has mini and "Prime" versions of its new flagship in the works. Now a new report suggests that there's a third One (M8) variant kicking around in HTC's kitchens.
According to @evleaks, a device called the "HTC One Remix" will be released on Verizon. Unfortunately, those are the only two details about the device that are currently available.
We'll have to wait until HTC, Verizon or the rumor mill share more about the One Remix before we know exactly what this thing is, but that doesn't mean that we can't speculate in the mean time!
It's possible that the One Remix could be a music-centric device, as the term "remix" is often associated with reworked versions of songs. Plus, HTC has shown that it likes to release music-focused hardware, including Beats Audio support in the original One devices and launching a Harman Kardon-branded version of the One (M8) on Sprint.
What do you think that this HTC One Remix might be?
Via @evleaks


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The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) decision on Thursday to uphold the Affordable Care Act (aka the ACA or "Obamacare") has done a thorough job in elating the Act's supporters, while stirring a large resistant movement on to other side. It is obvious that interpretations of the decision differ drastically. However, what does the ruling, as it stands now, mean for the economy?
In the end, the Act was considered constitutional because of Chief Justice John Roberts' identification of the individual mandate as a tax—and thus is allowed under the Congressional power to tax. So, of course, the most immediate results are high health premiums and increased taxes. While many supporters believe that health premiums will go down because of the ACA, the reality is that millions of new Americans will be covered under the Act, and this will increase costs for all consumers. Two new Medicare surtaxes come into effect in January—0.9% for wages over $250,000 for families or $200,000 for non-families, and one 3.8% tax for investment income.
Regardless of the ACA's outcome, we can expect to see results even before November.
One of the most immediate results is a large flux in support for the Republican party. In just the 24 hours after the SCOTUS decision to uphold Obamacare, Mitt Romney announced that he raised over $4.6 million in donations. Ironically, Romney might win from losing.
Republicans are already announcing plans to repeal the ACA, with Mitt Romney stating that he would remove Obamacare almost immediately if he were to take office. If the ACA is not repealed, the most hard-hitting measures will fall into place in 2014.
While the future of Obamacare is under question, there is no doubt that SCOTUS' decision Thursday was a monumental one. The question now is its longevity.

subset: commoncrawl


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Samples In NIN Songs
From nine inch nails wiki
Nine Inch Nails has sampled numerous parts of songs, movies, and other audio into its songs. This page will attempt to catalog each usage.
Purest Feeling
"Down In It" samples:
"Maybe Just Once" samples:
Pretty Hate Machine
"Down In It" samples:
"Head Like A Hole" samples:
"Sanctified" samples:
"Something I Can Never Have" samples:
"Something I Can Never Have (Natural Born Killers Version)" samples:
"Sin" samples:
"Ringfinger" samples:
Head Like A Hole
"Head Like A Hole (Copper)" samples:
"Head Like A Hole (Opal)" samples:
Track 11 samples:
"Get Down, Make Love" samples:
"Pinion" (live) samples:
"Physical" samples:
"Help Me I Am In Hell" samples:
"Fist Fuck" samples:
The Downward Spiral
"Mr. Self Destruct" samples:
"Closer" samples:
"The Becoming" samples:
"Reptile" samples:
"The Downward Spiral" samples:
"Ruiner" samples:
"March Of The Pigs" samples:
Closer To God
"Memorabilia" samples:
Further Down the Spiral
"Self Destruction, Part Two" samples:
"Self Destruction, Final" samples:
"Piggy (Nothing Can Stop Me Now)" samples:
"The Downward Spiral (The Bottom)" samples:
"Heresy (Version)" samples:
The Perfect Drug
"The Perfect Drug" samples:
The Day The World Went Away
"Starfuckers, Inc." samples:
Things Falling Apart
"Metal" samples:
"Starfuckers, Inc. (Version) - Adrian Sherwood" samples:
With Teeth
"All The Love In The World" (The Definitive NIN - Deep Cuts version) samples:
Ghosts I-IV
"11 Ghosts II" samples:
"15 Ghosts II" samples:
"24 Ghosts III" samples:
"30 Ghosts IV" samples:
The Fragile: Deviations 1
"Feeders" samples:
Live Samples
Pretty Hate Machine Tour
various set intros sample:
"Suck" samples:
"The Great Destroyer" samples:


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The OOC thread for this Role Play can be found here. If you are new to this tale, please read the opening post of that thread first.
((OOC: My apologies in advance for the very long opening, but this role play will be a continuation of an already long prior story . . . . So the commencement of this thread consists of the last few posts of a previous thread, then the actual opening post for this thread.
The previous threads:
Redemption: The Curse Breaker's Journey
Redemption: Lord Cemandorin's Court
and a portion of the wedding of Orion and Elena . . .
What has gone on just before:
((OOC: my apologies to Jann Arden for hijacking and mauling her most wonderful song "Will You Remember Me" . . . and also for the shameless BAP . . .))
She had known Cornelius would be late. No matter, time was something she had never lacked.
She leaned her head back against the rock and let her gaze drift aimlessly over the thick, brilliant scattering of stars above her. After twelve long centuries, how had her life come to this? What had ever possessed her to pause in her wandering, to seek out the Bards Guild, to think she could ever fit in, ever safely walk the haunts of men? Why had she not simply remained apart, either on the move or undisturbed in the wastes of Rhudaur while the time leading up to the appointed meeting with Delkarnoth had passed? How had she let things get so far out of her control? Why had she not forseen this? Luinil had warned her, drilled it into her time and time again 'Care for any mortal at your peril, Scribe.' She ground her teeth in frustration. . . . stupid . . .
Her thoughts scattered, whirled away from her like fallen leaves on a winter wind, and after a time she closed her eyes and drew a deep, steadying breath.
It mattered little enough now, the unavoidable choice had been made. What could be her last road now stretched before her, the appointed time for her final confrontation with the dark elf mage drawing ever nearer. It was entirely likely that she would not return, that release from both her accursed life and this last, final dishonour would come with death. She would then be merely a name, one that would, if the gods were merciful, quickly fade from human memory. The words to a song she had heard long, long ago rose in her mind . . .
. . . will you remember me when I'm gone
will you remember me at all
I tried to be kind, I tried to be good
will you remember me . . .
the gods only know why we try and fail
is this heaven on earth or
the fires of hell?
I tried to be honest, but I had to lie
will you remember me, after I die . . .
I don't need to tell anyone I'm afraid
I'll be paying for all
the mistakes I've made.
I tried to be thoughtful,
it's hard not to be blind
will you remember me . . . after I'm gone . . .
The distant sound of a twig snapping brought her head up and her eyes fixed on the spot where the game trail opened into the clearing. Several minutes passed, then Cornelius came into the firelight, leading her horse behind him.
She rose and silently took the reins from him, then led the beast under the overhang, where she quickly unsaddled him and rubbed him down. When she was done, the tall warhorse snuffled loudly, then moved off to graze. Scribbles returned to the fireside and stood opposite where the fat monk had collapsed in a groaning heap.
"You're late."
Cornelius was too saddlesore to argue, or even to react. "Aye, and I must beg your most generous forgiveness, oh pinnacle of precious pardons. But the scent of food and the warm hominess of the fire only served to make this humble messenger hungry and thirsty after the heartstopping and backbreaking, not to mention backside punishing flight to yon 'Pot, and after a modest throat easing and lifesaving flagon, there was the matter of finding said Fool, and then came the dire necessity of food and one cannot be expected to choke down victuals in a rush without something to ease the passage into the stomach so aye, this miserable sot confesses to another modest flagon or two and well, before this wretched slave to poor weakened flesh knew it, 'twas nearly evening and both fatigue and sleep stole upon me like a thief in . . ."
"Save it Cornelius, I get the idea," she replied drily.
"It was only a short nap," he finished defensively. "And I am most gratified to know that you grasp all the most complex intricacies my sweetest, downiest of evening doves. Ai, my nether regions will never be the same," he moaned, "but I have performed my duties admirably in spite of it all. The Master of Fools has your letter, I delivered it into his keeping personally with mine own, albeit fumbling and unworthy hand. And I can tell you before you feel the necessity to interrogate my poor abused self, yes, he read it."
"Thank you," Scribbles answered simply. She looked away, turned back, looked way again and then finally fixed her eyes firmly on the fire. "How does he fare?" she asked quietly.
Cornelius was leaning over on one hip while gently rubbing the other one. At her quiet question his eyes narrowed. "Ah, this most humble lamb then oliphaunt then dog was right after all. You sent me on your horse simply so I would have to return with it and in doing so, provide you with the opportunity to grill this poor servant like a tender cut of beef, and thereby discover the welfare of the gentleman in question, eh, eh?"
She pressed her lips together in silent displeasure but could not find it in her heart to chastise the fat monk. After all, he had discharged his errand faithfully, and had not pressed her for the reason she had asked him to play the role of courier. She drew a slow breath and fixed the monk with a level, calm stare.
"Just tell me how he fares," she repeated.
"Well enough I suppose," Cornelius returned, "for a man who has just had his heart cut out and nailed to a conveniently adjacent wall."
"He told you this?!" she asked sharply.
"No," the fat monk snapped back, then sighed audibly. "He didn't have to." He shifted to a more comfortable position by the fire. "Forgive me oh star of the morning, but when a man nearly kills himself with drink, even this poor example of a brainless mortal can see that aught is amiss. And by the same thread of logic, a man rarely tries to kill himself with drink unless it is an affair of the heart. However, said Fool did not see fit to enlighten me with the reason for the illness which he barely managed to survive, though like most drunkards, I'm quite certain that for a few hours today at least, he heartily wished he had not," the monk finished with a faint, ironic smile.
Scribbles closed her eyes briefly, remembering the last look on Façade's face. When she opened her eyes, Cornelius was regarding her intently.
"I am sorry to hear that he fares so poorly," she answered, her outward expression remaining fixed, her voice flat. 'Ah Finian, please do not throw away the life that I have bought so dearly,' she thought to herself. It would be as heavy a burden on her conscience than if she had let her father's curse have him.
Cornelius frowned but said nothing. He knew something wasn't right, something had happened but he was fairly certain that the Scribe wasn't about to tell him a thing, any more than the Fool had.
"Thank you for delivering the note," Scribbles added softly, her eyes fixed once more on the flames. " 'Twill likely be the last."
"Indeed," Cornelius replied. "Though it pains me to say it oh most Silvery of Scribes, the gentleman appears to be of similar opinion. There is however, a last verbal reply, a recitation if you will . . . " he trailed off.
The icy knot in her belly tightened a little more, though she gave no outward sign. "Well?" she asked wearily. "Are you planning to recite it or will you act it out in sign language?"
Cornelius shrugged. "His exact words were . . . 'You may tell her thus: Lies are not easily forgiven. They plant forever the seed of doubt that not even time can weed.'"
She drew in a sharp, quick breath then bit her lip. 'not easily forgiven . . . forever the seed of doubt . . . not even time . . . ah, there it is then, the end of all hope,' she thought bitterly.
She had made the worst mistake possible, allowing herself to become trapped by another's wants and needs. . . . blind . . . And now she was not only cursed, but damned, her name squandered and everything she had been, destroyed. Rather than have another death on her conscience, she had chosen instead to pay for a mortal life with her honour, the one thing she had held most dear. Now, she had nothing.
Façade had missed the meaning behind her words, he would never know, never care, never understand what she had paid, nor why. She heard Lord Elrond's voice again, 'Men are weak." Perhaps. Perhaps they were merely too mortal. So many Edain never seemed to grasp the long view, perhaps their brief lives rendered them incapable of seeing beyond their own immediate desires. She had hoped Façade would prove different, somehow, but in the end, he had been measured and like all the mortal men before him, had been found wanting. She had risked it all, her name, her honour, her very soul. . . and lost. . . . wasted . . . She fought the sudden rush of bitterness and instead steeled her resolve . . . so be it. To the victor the spoils, and to the one who gambles and loses, defeat and dishonour. She had known the risk.
If there had been no place for her among mortals before this, there would certainly be none now, for she would simply be seen as faithless, self-serving and cruel, to be reviled as the worst sort of creature possible . . . a liar, an oath breaker, a betrayer of trust.
. . . never again . . .
"Forgive my most ardent and possibly unseemly curiosity, but what did you send him?" Cornelius asked softly.
She regarded him calmly over the fire. "Merely a bit of verse," she replied.
"And this humble servant gets the distinct impression that you are not about to tell me exactly what that bit of verse was, yes?"
She shrugged. "I don't see that it matters now. it was,
A lover's lie
fades not with time,
but where lies truth,
enemy mine . . . " .
Rising smoothly to her feet, she wrapped her cloak around herself. "I left you some supper. I need to walk," she said quietly, then left the shelter of the rock overhang and disappeared into the darkness.
Puzzled, Cornelius stared into the flames and sighed, suddenly wishing he was any place other than where he was.


text:
Discover for free which first names would suit you or your baby !
Meaning of name Lawrence
Etymology : Variant of LAURENCE
Saint :
Origin : English
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Gender : boy
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Who are they?
Lawrence and Denzel are tender, sensitive and idealistic souls who are particularly enamoured with balance and harmony. Inspired and emotional, they are interested in art, beauty and all that concerns the human being. They are quite reserved and require a favourable environment in order to be able to communicate effectively. Indeed, while they may be open and friendly on the outside, to the point where they seek the company of others and participation in communal activities; they nevertheless remain quite standoffish. They are different from most people, secretive and mysterious - enigmatic even, while they possess great tact and diplomacy. Their hypersensitivity is accompanied by a very sharp intuition which enables them to immediately grasp people and situations. They exude - to a significant degree - altruism and kindness, qualities that have every chance of being present, pure and genuine. Exuberance isn´t their style, and one must take the time to get to know them, because they are remarkably humane and just like still waters, their emotions run deep. As children, they are quiet, gentle and shy little boys who love their family and need plenty of love and affection. They appreciate both the cosy comfort and the sweet tranquillity of home. Sensitive, voracious and gourmet; their intuitive abilities are already finely tuned and they are extremely shrewd. You might as well be direct and straightforward with them, because they have a gift for seeing through deceit and unravelling mystery. Furthermore, they possess a profound sense of justice and any infringement of their law will inevitably irritate them.
What do they like?
As children, Lawrence and Denzel enjoy stories, legends and myths, while they appreciate music. It would therefore be advisable to encourage them to participate in artistic activities... They are capable of assuming responsibility, notably in a family context, and make protective older brothers. They prefer to wait for others to approach them rather than the contrary, and this is why it is such a good idea to favour group activities from a young age. In adulthood, this could be translated as an inclination to conciliation, collaboration, cooperation, listening and advice. They need to learn to overcome their tendency to passivity and self-abnegation. For some, the vibrations of the 11 imply high ideals, the search for truth and occasionally utopian aspirations. Material contingencies and the sometimes harsh realities of life are liable to disappoint them. In matters of the heart, they are endearing because they are sensitive and good-natured. They will need an exceptional partner who is endowed with similar values, possibly with a touch of the exotic, because they are quite choosy and don´t like mediocrity...
Get your free Personality test card now !!
What do they do?
Lawrence and Denzel are attracted to original or avant-garde occupations. If they have a birthday on the 4th, 13th, 22nd or 31st day of the month; or a 7th, 16th or 25th, they will be more interested by the technical domains (broadcasting, information technology, telematics or electronics). On the other hand, if they were born on a 2nd, 11th, 20th or 29th; or indeed on the 9th, 18th or 27th day of the month, they will be more likely to turn to the social sciences (psychology, parapsychology, sociology, ethnology, medicine, history, advertising, marketing, law...). They would equally enjoy an occupation in connection with travel and they could find satisfaction through a career in tourism or in the transportation industry. Cuisine, gastronomy or hotels and catering are also liable to attract their interest, as are the artistic occupations and those involving contact with the public.
Discover others boys first names : Laban Labhrainn Labhrás
*To note: :
It sometimes happens that two different first names have the same meaning. This has nothing surprising: both first names have the same figures of numerology. It is as in astrology: two persons belonging to the same sign present the same characteristic...
Names compatibility
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Your Name Horoscope !
Thanks to the numerology, we propose you daily a horoscope personalized for your first name. Love, money , Shape: discover what waits for you for today. In Bonus every day find your daily lucky figure .. Horoscope of the first names
Love :Couples: Harmony will once again reign between the two of you. Singles: Make the most of your own company, you are unlikely to meet "the one" today.
Money :Today is a perfect day to clarify your financial objectives.
Health:You're lacking in calcium and vitamin D Lawrence . Get enough sunshine and eat plenty of brocolli to keep your bones healthy!
Your Lucky number : 49


text:
Come Home
1. Come home, the Father calls.
Come home, my child, to me.
Come home.
The Holy Ghost will lead you to eternity.
Lest we forget our home's with God,
This lovely earth, its seas, its sky
And all things beautiful and true
of Heav'nly Father testify.
2. Come home, the Savior calls.
Come home all who'll obey.
Come home. The gospel guides
along the straight and narrow way.
3. Come home, loved voices call.
Come home where you belong.
Come home to live in joy
forever in our fam'ly throng.
Artist: Allen/Moody
Album: Music Published in the Church Magazines: Ensign
Composition Date: 2012-08-10
More Info: Ensign


text:
How to Develop Your Personal Presence on Social Media and in Real Life
Presence, a Mix of How You Look, How You Communicate and How You Behave, Influences Your Social Stature and Ability to Climb the Ranks
There is one in every office—the person who gets the attention of senior managers and interns alike at the morning meeting, who sends out witty tweets in the afternoon and who glides effortlessly through the after-work cocktail party, never at a loss for words.
What is this person's secret? It boils down to presence, a magical mix of confidence, charm and communication skills that exerts an outsize impact on one's social stature and ability to climb the ranks, experts say.
To Read the Full Story


text:
Event Information
Date and Time
Refund Policy
No Refunds
At RZSS, we obviously love spiders. But we recognise that not everyone does! Spiders are amazing creatures with incredible adaptations. They are an essential part of the ecosystem and those found in the UK are completely harmless and would rather avoid us humans.
We understand how a fear of spiders can really begin to impact on people's everyday lives. Our course is designed to help you to overcome your fear of spiders in a friendly, relaxed and supportive atmosphere.
The spider phobia workshops consist of one afternoon where you will hear from our clinical hypnotherapist Morag Torrance on phobias – how they develop, what they are and how they make us react. You will have a chance to discuss your phobia to better understand its impact on you. Then our expert keepers will tell you a bit more about spiders, showing how fascinating they can be and that there is nothing to be afraid of. We will then go into a group hypnosis session with Morag to help you to remove negative subconscious associations with spiders and reinforce positive associations.
We will not show you any spiders or images of spiders during the theory part of the course.
After the group hypnosis session, you will have the choice of whether you'd like to go with our keepers to a different room to meet some friendly spiders. At this point, you can meet some spiders in closed transparent containers and you will also have the option to practice calmly catching a British house spider.
Our team that will help you overcome your fears:
Clinical hypnotherapist Morag Torrance
Morag is an experienced clinical hypnotherapist, with 7 years' experience in a palliative care unit, working with patients with a wide range of anxieties and phobias. http://www.hypnomo.co.uk/
RZSS Keepers
Our keepers have years of experience working with arachnids and are able to talk expertly on these fascinating creatures. Some of our keepers have actually overcome animal phobias themselves and deal every day with interactions between the public and our animals.
RZSS volunteers
Our team of volunteers will be there on the day to chat to you about your phobias and the support you in overcoming your fears. They have been trained to help specifically with these workshops.
Support staff
If you have any questions about the workshop or if you'd like any more details before you take part in a course, please ring our booking team on 0131 314 0327 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
How many people will be on the workshop?
A maximum of 14 people will be on the workshop with you.
Can I visit the Zoo before the workshop starts?
Daytime Zoo entry is included in the cost of the workshop.
Can I bring someone along with me for support?
Yes, you can bring one person along with you. They will be allowed to sit at the back of the room for the theory sessions and be with you for the practical meet the spider session. They will not be permitted into the hypnotherapy session. Guests of participants will need to pay for entry if they are arriving before 1.45pm, they can do this at the Information Desk when you arrive at the Zoo for your day.
Can I cancel or reschedule my workshop?
The phobia workshops are non-refundable and non-transferrable unless due to exceptional circumstances (illness/injury, pregnancy or bereavement). This will be at Edinburgh Zoo's discretion and proof must be provided.
I'm a member, do I get a discount?
Yes, RZSS members get a 10% discount. Please seleet the member's ticket option and bring your membership card with you on the day of your workshop.
How long does the workshop last?
The workshop begins at 2pm and lasts until around 6pm.
Are there any age restrictions?
Participants should be 16 years old and over.
Do I need to bring anything on the day?
It is optional, but a cushion for the group hypnotherapy session will help you to relax.
What's included in the price of the workshop?
The price includes a four hour session with a professional hypnotherapist and our expert keepers. Refreshments (tea, coffee, juice) will be provided on arrival and during the break.
Participants also receive free car parking and a 10% discount in our Gift Shop (not eligible on books or Fairtrade Stand products).Please note that car parking spaces are limited, especially during busier times of the year.
How do I book a place on one of the workshops?
Please select your date and book online.
What should I expect to receive?
You will receive an email confirmation of your booking with further details about the day.
Terms and conditions:
Please read the full Spiders: Fight Your Phobia Workshop Terms and Conditions here before booking a place.
Date and Time
Refund Policy
No Refunds


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Nikki Haley is almost everything the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce could want in a candidate for governor: A former small business owner (she helped run her family's luxury-clothing company in Lexington, S.C.), Haley has served on the boards of two local chambers and campaigns on the traditional business gospel of lower taxes and smaller government.
As Haley was steaming toward an easy win in the Republican primary runoff last June, the South Carolina Chamber's board — 56 business leaders representing sectors ranging from banking to health care to construction — met at Clemson University to decide whether to endorse her or her general election opponent, Vincent Sheheen, a Democratic state senator. It took only 20 minutes around a U-shaped conference table for the board to make its decision: Almost 80 percent of members voted for the Democrat — even though they knew Haley was a virtual lock to become the next governor of their heavily Republican state.
The issue, as the board saw it, was Haley's extreme and inflexible approach, an ideology of confrontation that can be summed up in two words: Tea Party. Haley had allied herself with this grassroots network of self-described mad-as-hell revolutionaries, which has overrun the GOP — sending at least 14 Senate candidates, including challengers and incumbents allied with the movement, into the Nov. 2 elections — while accusing other Republicans of abandoning conservative tenets. Haley became one of Sarah Palin's "Mama Grizzlies"; the former Alaska governor and Tea Party celebrity endorsed her in May.
For business leaders who prize pragmatism and stability, it was all too much. "We worried about her ability to get along with the legislature," says Otis Rawl, chief executive officer of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce. "We wanted to bring the debate away from the Tea Party and back to the middle." Chamber members, he says, tend to be "more realistic and moderate in their thought processes. We prefer candidates who are not extreme. If you look at the Tea Party, I think most of them would say they hate Big Business."
Selling anarchy
To businesspeople concerned about the 9 percent increase in federal spending under President Barack Obama and the Democratic-controlled House and Senate, a Tea Party-led return to fiscal austerity has undeniable appeal. That's certainly what the leaders of this anarchic, decentralized movement are selling. Tea Party principles, Palin told Bloomberg Businessweek in a brief interview on Sept. 11 in Wasilla, Alaska, are "exactly what we need for free enterprise and business in America because these are commonsense solutions. It's just getting back to the basics, realizing that growing government — and reaching into our private sector by government — is not the solution. That has been proven throughout eternity."
There's no such thing as the Tea Party platform; in the absence of centralized leadership, Tea Party-backed candidates have come up with an array of positions based on the doctrine of less intrusive government. Most say they would preserve the Bush tax cuts, end the estate tax, and lower taxes on savings and dividends. They'd repeal the federal health-care reform law, abolish the Federal Reserve, and shrink or shutter a range of other federal agencies. They are not numerous or popular enough to enact all of these positions; less than three weeks before the midterm elections, the Cook Political Report rates Tea Party candidates in three Senate races — Nevada, Colorado, and Kentucky — as "toss-ups."
To measure the Tea Party's success by who wins on Nov. 2, however, is to miss the movement's full impact. Through a combination of brilliant politics, genuine discontent, and intense emotional appeals, the Tea Party has helped pull national Republican leaders such as John McCain to the right, and has defeated those — such as Lisa Murkowski in Alaska and Bob Bennett in Utah — who didn't move quickly enough. Its impact on the local level has been similarly dramatic. In May the historically moderate Maine Republican Party adopted a platform that included such Tea Party planks as eliminating the Federal Reserve, sealing the borders, and prohibiting stimulus funding.
It may sound like a corporate dream come true — as long as the corporation in question doesn't have international operations, rely on immigrant labor, see the value of national monetary policy, or find itself in need of a subsidy to boost exports or an emergency loan from the Fed to survive the worst recession in seven decades. Business leaders who favor education reform, immigration reform, or investment in infrastructure can likely say goodbye to those ideas for the short term as well; they won't be possible in the willfully gridlocked world of the coming 112th Congress.
Social Security unconstitutional
As the South Carolina Chamber realized, the Tea Party's seductive small-government principles are hitched to a train full of explosive cargo — from Alaska's U.S. Senate candidate, Joe Miller, who suggested Social Security is unconstitutional, to Delaware's U.S. Senate candidate, Christine O'Donnell, who has no relevant job experience. (She's a former sexual morality campaigner and perennial candidate who at times has had no visible means of support, and who once claimed to possess classified information that China was planning to take over the U.S.) The Tea Party's brand of political nitroglycerin, in short, is too unstable for businesses that look to government for predictability, moderation, and the creation of a stable economic environment. "A lot of the agenda is being driven by the extremes," says John Castellani, the former head of the Business Roundtable who left in July to take the helm of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). "This kind of extremism makes it much harder to plan from a business perspective." (So far this election cycle, PhRMA's political action committee has sent about three-quarters of its campaign contributions to Democrats, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.)
Even the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the biggest-spending business lobby and a vociferous opponent of the Obama Administration, has kept its distance from many Tea Party candidates. The Chamber, which has been the target of White House attacks over undisclosed campaign expenditures, says it plans to spend at least $75 million in this election cycle. So far, most of the money has gone to Republicans not closely associated with the Tea Party, such as former Hewlett-Packard Chief Executive Officer Carly Fiorina in California and former U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman in Ohio. The Chamber has endorsed Rand Paul, the Tea Party-backed U.S. Senate candidate in Kentucky, and former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio, an early Tea Party favorite who is running for the U.S. Senate in Florida and is distancing himself from his Tea Party roots. The Chamber evaluates each Tea Party candidate individually, says national political director Bill Miller, because "all of our friends have different characteristics." Miller expects that the Tea Party candidates who win will be forced to moderate some of their views. "Some of the politics of the Tea Party and legislative practicalities just don't match up," he says.
Consider three prominent Tea Party politicians: Palin, Paul, and South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint, whose endorsements and campaign contributions have made him a kingmaker on the right. All say they support lower taxes, less regulation, and smaller government. Yet they have divergent and at times inconsistent ideas about how to achieve those goals. As governor of Alaska in 2007, Palin raised taxes on oil companies to increase revenues for her state. DeMint celebrates governmental gridlock, telling Bloomberg Businessweek his business supporters call it "the best thing that could happen for business." He says he wants to deport all illegal immigrants, and he opposed the $700 billion bailout of the financial system in 2008.
Paul is among those who want to abolish the Federal Reserve and the IRS. He would have let the U.S. automakers fail last year — a position with ramifications not only for car companies and parts makers but also for agriculture, mining, and other industries dependent on government support. Paul describes Medicare as an unsustainable boondoggle, though about half his income as a Kentucky ophthalmologist comes from Medicare and Medicaid payments, according to his campaign, which says that's in line with the national average for eye doctors. Last year, Paul advocated a $2,000 deductible for Medicare patients, which would shift more of the cost burden to retirees, though he's retreated from that idea in recent days. Locked in a close race against state Attorney General Jack Conway, he has been sounding more like a conventional politician, focusing his rhetoric on Obama instead of the Tea Party. On Oct. 9 he thanked "the guy in the White House" for making "this election juggernaut possible."
The enemy of my enemy
Ask Bill Miller of the U.S. Chamber what his 98-year-old group likes best about the Tea Party, and his reply is blunt: its opposition to the White House agenda, particularly health care, climate change legislation, and phasing out tax cuts for the wealthy. "What they are for is important," he says, "but what they are against is almost more important."
That oppositional force — against Obama, against bailouts, against spending and regulation — attracted conservative political and business leaders to the Tea Party from the unlikely moment it came into being. Its date of birth is usually given as Feb. 19, 2009, a time when the Great Recession was still in its most frighteningly vertiginous phase. That morning, CNBC on-air editor Rick Santelli, who reports from the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), unleashed a rant heard 'round the world, asking why Americans should have to "subsidize the loser's mortgages" by propping up Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. A few traders around him began cheering. "We're thinking about having a Chicago tea party in July," Santelli continued. "All you capitalists that want to show up at Lake Michigan, I'm going to start organizing."
It was enough to light the fuse. As local activists began using the Internet as an organizing tool, Fox News amplified the discontent on its airwaves, with on-air personalities Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity rushing to the front of the Tea Party parade, adopting the nascent movement as their own. Other journalistic organizations took notice during the summer of 2009, when House passage of the Waxman-Markey climate and energy bill and congressional debate over health-care reform unleashed more conservative anger and activists began disrupting town hall meetings held by members of Congress.
Business leaders began trying to direct the parade as well. A libertarian nonprofit called FreedomWorks, which grew out of Citizens for a Sound Economy, a group founded in 1984 by billionaires Charles and David Koch — the brothers who control Wichita-based petroleum conglomerate Koch Industries, the second-largest privately held company in the U.S., according to Forbes — had been holding annual antitax rallies throughout the 1990s with little to show for it. Now a true grassroots movement was spreading, and FreedomWorks wanted to channel it.
Organizing the troops
The nonprofit, chaired by former House Republican leader Dick Armey, began holding training sessions for Tea Party activists, and a FreedomWorks volunteer, Bob MacGuffie, reportedly circulated a memo with tips — "You need to rock-the-boat early in the Rep's presentation" — for those who wanted to disturb town halls. With Beck and others, the organization helped shape an emerging Tea Party cosmology in which Big Government and Big Business are twin poles of an evil empire plotting to destroy free enterprise and screw the little guy.
"Big Business is sitting there on fat, pushy duffs looking for government to keep them in business," said Armey in an August interview with Bloomberg Businessweek. Only "incompetent" companies needed bailouts, he added. "People who run corporations are basically taking care of themselves. They're not very reliable people, and they're very comfortable with Big Government that greases the skids for them."
During his 18 years as a congressman from Texas, from 1985 to 2003, Armey accepted more than $900,000 in contributions from financial, insurance, and real estate companies, according to Federal Election Commission records, and almost $400,000 from energy and natural resources companies. After leaving office he joined DLA Piper, one of the largest law firms in the world, and became chairman of FreedomWorks. Armey says he left Piper last year after the rowdy demonstrations at town hall meetings brought unwanted media attention to the firm.
FreedomWorks says it plans to spend $10 million turning local Tea Party chapters into political machines. The group is steering funds into tools that help local groups organize, such as campaign flyers and signs, a phone system that lets volunteers across the country make calls for candidates from their computers, and an online mapping system to target likely voters.
Operating those tools are conservatives like Ryan Hecker, a Houston antitrust attorney who worked as a senior researcher for Rudy Giuliani's 2008 Presidential campaign. Hecker moved into grassroots organizing after the election. "I got involved in political and economic conservative causes because I wanted to be part of something greater than myself," he says. In September 2009, Hecker and other Tea Party activists organized an online effort that became the "Contract from America," a list of 10 Tea Party goals — slashing the size of government, repealing the health-care reform law, blocking a cap-and-trade system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and scrapping the IRS code and replacing it with a single-rate code no longer than 4,543 words, the length of the original U.S. Constitution. Over a period of several months in late 2009 and early 2010, he says, they gathered 1,000 ideas online and held a series of surveys and discussions to winnow the list to 21. About 500,000 Web votes were cast to arrive at the final 10 items.
Published in April 2010, the Contract from America creates what Armey calls a "seal of approval" for Tea Party candidates. There are obvious similarities between the Contract and the anti-regulatory wish list of libertarian David Koch, who is among the nation's 10 wealthiest Americans, according to Forbes, with a net worth of $21.5 billion. Yet Koch has distanced himself from the Tea Party in media statements, and a Koch Industries spokeswoman, Missy Cohlmia, says Koch's foundations don't fund FreedomWorks, though "we applaud anyone willing to advance economic freedom and opportunity in a civil and respectful manner." (The Koch brothers have supported an affiliated pro-Tea Party group, Americans for Prosperity.) "We live by the creed 'hard work beats daddy's money,' " Armey says. "We are not a corporately well-funded operation, as we are alleged to be." Hecker says FreedomWorks helped with publicity but didn't shape the Contract. "This is a grassroots document," he says. More than 300 candidates have signed it, including about 15 House incumbents. "We're looking for candidates who truly believe in the ideology," he says.
Early victories
Confirmation of the Tea Party's power came in January 2010, when Republican Scott Brown won the Massachusetts Senate seat once held by the late Edward M. Kennedy. Rand Paul's May primary win in Kentucky, over a candidate backed by the state's Republican Establishment, added to the momentum, as did primary victories by Tea Party-backed Senate candidates Sharron Angle in Nevada, Ken Buck in Colorado, and Miller in Alaska.
The movement's energy could help boost Republican turnout, but it has also forced the party to spend time and money on primary contests in which inexperienced candidates — Angle, O'Donnell — have jeopardized Republican control of Congress. Despite her call to privatize Social Security, Angle is in a virtual tie with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and has raised an astonishing $14 million in the past three months. If Republicans fail to win the congressional majorities that seemed within reach earlier this year, she and other Tea Party candidates may take the blame.
To the movement's true believers, however, winning is less important than ideological purity. "We need people up here who understand that we've got to get back to limited government, and we cannot afford to have other Republicans who don't get that message," DeMint said recently on Capitol Hill. One cornerstone of their faith — the notion that large corporations are leeches sucking the blood of the people — is sharply at odds with Republican theology that has held sway for generations. "The business community writ large is the essence of the inside-the-Beltway type," says lobbyist Rich Gold, who represents Dow Chemical, Next Era Energy, and other energy companies. "And these people are the essence of the outside-the-Beltway type."
The Tea Party's chief theologian is Beck, the cable-TV personality whose rise has mirrored the movement's. Beck's world is full of demons, but the devil that enraged the sold-out crowd in a ballroom at the Atlantic City Hilton on Aug. 5 wasn't Obama or even House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. "Give the money to the people!" Beck shouted to a packed room of around 1,500. "Give us our money back — not to Goldman Sachs!"
Beck, the 'great educator'
In 2009 a campaign by the liberal group Color of Change confronted Beck's advertisers with clips of the TV host making racially charged statements on his show. In July 2009, for instance, he called Obama a "racist" with a "deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture." According to the group, more than 100 companies joined a boycott of his show last year. Beck declined to be interviewed; Fox News has said it didn't lose revenue because advertisers shifted to other programs.
Tea Party activists describe Beck as the intellectual leader of their movement. They devour the books he mentions on his show, many of them the works of fringe political theorists such as W. Cleon Skousen, an anticommunist historian too extreme for conservative activists of the Goldwater era. In The Five Thousand Year Leap, published in 1981, Skousen argued that business, communists, and government were conspiring to push the U.S. into "a world-wide collectivist" society. After Beck authored a new foreword to the 30th anniversary edition, the book shot to the top of the Amazon.com best-seller list. "Beck is the great educator," says Representative Jason Chaffetz, a Utah Republican allied with the Tea Party. "He's empowering people with history and information."
The conspiratorial message was still fairly novel in 2009, when a group of corporate leaders led by General Electric CEO Jeffrey Immelt came out in support of the Waxman-Markey climate bill, which would cap industrial emissions that contribute to global warming. As Beck led the charge against the corporations, calling them Enron-style favor-seekers, Republican leaders in Congress found themselves attacking not only GE but also DuPont, Alcoa, Duke Energy, and other stalwarts of the U.S. economy. "Corporations should not be at the public trough," says DeMint. "We do not need corporations or their associations selling out just because they can get a little carve-out in some bill."
In June the Tea Party-affiliated National Center for Public Policy Research demanded Immelt's resignation, calling GE an "opportunistic parasite feeding on the expansion of government." Immelt's offenses included lobbying for a $450 million earmark to fund an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter engine, taking advantage of federal subsidies for clean energy, and running the conglomerate that owned liberal cable channel MSNBC.
(Msnbc.com is a joint-venture of Microsoft and NBC Universal. The latter is a division of GE.)
Walking contradiction
Americans who support the Tea Party brim with contradiction. An October Bloomberg National Poll found that while 83 percent of Tea Party supporters favor repeal of the health-care reform bill, majorities would keep key provisions of it. Fifty-seven percent would prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage to patients with preexisting conditions, 52 percent would add more prescription drug benefits for Medicare users, and 53 percent would require states to set up plans for people with major health problems. "The ideas that find nearly universal agreement among Tea Party supporters are rather vague," says pollster J. Ann Selzer, who conducted the survey. "You would think any idea that involves more government action would be anathema, and that is just not the case."
Tea Party candidates show no such ambivalence. When it comes to government, they don't want to trim fat, they want to amputate limbs. Angle says she would eliminate the Environmental Protection Agency, the IRS, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac. Buck says he would get rid of the Energy and Education Depts. And candidates across the country say they aim to eliminate the web of special tax breaks, earmarks, and subsidies that benefit industries from golf cart manufacturers to the largest automakers.
In March 2008, Representative Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), the leader of the newly formed 24-member Tea Party caucus in Congress, introduced legislation that would repeal the national phaseout of conventional lightbulbs in favor of compact fluorescent lights. Congress, she said, had no right to tell consumers what kind of bulbs to buy. Her bill was opposed by the electrical and manufacturing industries, which had already begun the transition.
Tea Party supporters want to seal the borders, depriving industries such as technology and agriculture of a major source of labor. They have turned a stringent Arizona immigration law passed in April into a cause célèbre for the movement. "We're all Arizonans now," says Palin. Buck, a former prosecutor, rose to prominence in Colorado after a series of high-profile immigration raids. Most famously, Buck's office raided a tax preparer and seized thousands of confidential documents. The search was later ruled unconstitutional by the Colorado Supreme Court.
Another Tea Party villain is the Federal Reserve. As Rand Paul travels around Kentucky, he blames the recession primarily on the central bank, which he says sent "bad signals" to the marketplace. His desire to abolish the Fed is shared by his father, libertarian Texas Representative Ron Paul, who spread banking conspiracy theories during his 2008 Presidential run. In the Senate, DeMint has also pushed for greater scrutiny of the central bank, holding up the renomination of Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke until Senate leadership agreed to a vote on his bill proposing regular congressional audits of the Fed.
On global trade issues, the Tea Party tilts toward protectionism. In polling earlier this year by the Mellman Group, a majority of Tea Party supporters said they would favor a tax on imports from countries with lower environmental standards. In June, Bachmann suggested that the U.S. should somehow withdraw from the global economy, calling the Group of 20 summit "one short step" away from "one world government."
"I don't want the U.S. to be in a global economy where our economic future is bound to that of Zimbabwe," she told a conservative radio host.
Uneasy Republicans
This set of policy prescriptions doesn't sit well with the regulars inside the clubhouse at Bowling Green (Ky.) Country Club. The wooded retreat is frequented by Rand Paul and other local business owners. Even Paul's supporters inside the modest clubhouse concede some uneasiness about their hometown candidate and his Tea Party compatriots. "If he were a mainstream Republican, this election would probably be over," says physician Bill Wade, a Republican, sitting in the clubhouse.
Paul is for the elimination of everything from farm subsidies to mine safety laws and has said private businesses should have the right to discriminate. Although Kentucky farmers, including his in-laws, collected $3 billion in farm subsidy payments from 1995 through 2009, he has questioned the wisdom of such payments. "There are a good number of Republicans that are uncomfortable with certain Paul positions," says Bill Betson, a county Republican chairman in the state.
As he argues against government, Paul often cites his experience as a small business owner. "Without the profit incentive, without meeting a payroll, they don't make good decisions," he says. "Government can't do things as efficiently as the marketplace because they don't get the right signals." Asked whether business has anything to fear from the Tea Party or his own candidacy, Paul is emphatic. "No. I think business needs to be afraid of the vision of the Democrats who believe that government should be in charge of everything," he says during a brief interview at an event in London, Ky. "We believe in term limits, a balanced-budget amendment. Read the bills. Those sound like pretty calm, mainstream ideas."
A few minutes earlier, hammering away in his stump speech, Paul had trotted out Hitler to make a point about the dangers of economic uncertainty. "When you have chaos, bad things happen in your country," he began. "In 1923 there was chaos in Germany. Out of that chaos, they elected Hitler. And what did Hitler do? He vilified certain people and said, 'These people caused your problems.' He blamed it on these people and he said, 'Give me your liberty and I'll give you security.' There is still a danger to that."
Back in the clubhouse, another waiting golfer, a Republican building supply company owner named Ferrell Price, confesses to uncertainty about Paul's libertarian views. But, he adds, "Nancy Pelosi scares me a whole lot more than Rand Paul."
Copyright © 2012 Bloomberg L.P.All rights reserved.


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Abstract and Keywords
International Relations theory has tended to overlook the role of Africa and Africans in the international system. Traditionally, the discipline's most influential theorists have focused instead on relationships between and perspectives of "major powers." A growing body of work, however, has challenged these more limited efforts to conceptualize African agency in international politics. This scholarship has emphasized the significant space available to, and carved-out by, African states in molding the agendas of international institutions, and the role of African governments and advocacy networks in influencing the trajectory of major international debates around issues such as aid, development, trade, climate change, and migration. The study of African agency in international politics continues to wrestle with two key debates: the meanings of "agency" and "African." Much of the literature focuses primarily on the role and influence of African states rather than that of African citizens and communities. This focus provides, at best, only a partial and qualified view of the ways in which African agency is secured and exercised at the global level, particularly given the significant structural constraints imposed on Africa by global economic and political inequalities. The extent to which contemporary analysis captures the breadth of African engagement with the international system is also compromised by current state-centric approaches. It is thus necessary to examine a range of approaches adopted by scholars to deepen and nuance the study of African agency in international politics, including work on agenda-setting, mesolevel dynamics and microlevel dynamics.
Keywords: international relations, agency, African states, norms, international politics, African politics
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Délicieuse année 2010 !
Commentaires1Lundi 20 Septembre 2010 à 09:47
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The Building Inspection Division is dedicated to public safety in the building industry through development and promotion of uniform codes and standards, code administration, and acceptance of innovative building products and systems. The Building Inspection Division is dedicated to building a safer community through providing complete plan review services of construction projects prior to obtaining a building permit, and performing inspections during the construction process to obtain a Certificate Of Occupancy. The Mason City Housing Code ensures that housing facilities and conditions protect and promote the health, safety and welfare of people who reside in Mason City.
Contact us to acquire permits and request inspections for building, signs, demolition, moving of buildings, plumbing, gas piping, and electrical. The following applications are available for download. Completed applications can be emailed or dropped off on the third floor of City Hall. Permits for roofing and siding may be obtained by coming into the office or applying online.
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A romantic suspense writer will visit the Waldron District Library March 28.
Christian romantic suspense author Colleen Coble will speak with readers at 1 p.m. March 28 and will be available to sign books.
Cobel has written more than 30 novels and novellas and has won awards from the American Christian Fiction Writers and the Romance Writers of America.
The Indiana resident says she "loves to see justice prevail and love begin with a happy ending."
The public is invited to the event and refreshments will be served.


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Best Inspiration: Just two weeks ago, even the most loyal of Wahoo faithful admitted to writing off the Cavalier basketball program. But UVA (13-9, 4-7) somehow manages to resurrect Charlottesville's hopes, as the Cavs return home to continue their climb out of the ACC's cellar.
Devin Smith drilled a game-winning three-pointer to complete an 11-point second-half comeback in a 56-55 triumph over the Florida State Seminoles (11-13, 3-8) Wednesday, February 9. The Hoos then earned some sweet redemption, dropping rival Virginia Tech's Hokies 65-60 at U-Hall Saturday, February 12. The key to the turnaround has been the UVA defense, which has stiffened considerably to hold opponents under an average of 60 points per game in the past three nail-biting victories.
Highest Flying Flucos: In just seven days, the Fuvanna County boys' basketball team (20-3, 11-2) wins four games to capture a Jefferson District regular season title in a dramatic photo finish. The Flying Flucos finished deadlocked with the Charlottesville Black Knights (13-8, 10-3) following the final regular season contest, Friday, February 11. But Fluvanna went on to defeat CHS for a third consecutive time this season, 43-38, in a one-game playoff at Monticello High School. The championship gains the Flucos an automatic berth in the regional playoffs. "It just means so much," Fluvanna coach Kyle Blackwell told The Daily Progress. "We worked hard for it all year."
Longest Road Ahead: Baseball in February? The early bird gets the worm in Charlottesville as the UVA baseball team opens its "spring" season by taking two of three games in a weekend series against the UNC-Wilmington Seahawks (3-2). UVA (2-1) bounced back after an opening defeat to 2-0 and 7-4 triumphs on Saturday, February 12 and Sunday, February 13.
Best Recovery: The Lady Cavaliers pass their first true "gut check" test on the road in Blacksburg against the Virginia Tech Hokies (14-9, 3-7), Saturday, February 12. Sorely needing a victory after their third consecutive setback– a 66-60 loss to the surging Miami Hurricanes (12-11, 4-5) Thursday, February 10– the Wahoos rise to the occasion with a determined effort to score a crucial 61-58 win. "I was very proud of the character they showed today," coach Debbie Ryan told the Progress.
Most Homesick Wizards: Initially, the week looked promising as the Washington Wizards upset the NBA's best team with a thrilling 95-87 win over the San Antonio Spurs at the MCI Center Wednesday, February 9. The Wiz extended their winning streak to four games, but entered a dead zone on a road trip just before the All-Star break. Washington suffered a 107-86 blowout at the hands of the defending champion Detroit Pistons, Saturday, February 12, and then dropped a bitter 98-96 decision to the lowly New Orleans Hornets (11-41) Monday, February 14.
vs. MARYLAND (15-7, 6-5)
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In a perennially great conference rivalry, the Wahoos hope to continue a possibly magical run to the NCAA tournament as the Maryland Terrapins come to town. Fans are coming out of hibernation for this one. Game is sold out.
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Saturday, February 19 @ 4pm
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No matter what the weather may bring, these games are just as important as ones played on warm summer nights. Davenport Field. $6 Adult, $4 Youth.
vs. DREXEL
Sunday, February 20 @ 1pm
Having gone from first (national champions in 2003) to worst (did not even qualify for the NCAAs in 2004) the Cavs now hope to return to glory as they open their 2005 regular season campaign at Klöckner Stadium. $6 Adult, $4 Youth
vs. (21) MARYLAND
Sunday, February 20 @ 4pm
Rivalry weekend continues in a key conference match-up on the ladies' side. Adults $6, Youth $4.


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With only four months remaining in 2012, wealth managers should make a point to talk with their affluent clients about wealth transfer plans. The current federal estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax rules are set to expire at the end of 2012, and the upcoming presidential election has done nothing to improve clarity regarding the future of these rules. The top rate today is 35%, with an exemption of $5.12 million per individual; absent legislative action before the end of the year, the top tax rate will increase to 55% and the exemption will decrease to $1 million on January 1, 2013. At this point, all we can do is act upon what we know.
The scheduled expiration of current tax rates and exemption amounts will expose many more individuals and families to estate, gift and GST tax liability. Granted, this may be exactly the plan, given the enormous deficit being carried by the federal government. Regardless of political allegiance, most agree that raising revenue through taxation will have to be some part of the solution to the country's ever-growing budget woes.
Faced with these pending changes, wealth managers should encourage their clients to take advantage of the unprecedented opportunity to transfer wealth out of their taxable estates at little or no cost. (Clients who take a wait-and-see approach may be in for an unpleasant surprise in 2013.) Because most wealth transfer strategies require time to develop and implement, however, it is of utmost importance that clients take action now.
Following are just a few key points to cover with clients to help them seize this opportunity:
- As stated above, the low top tax rate of 35% and the significant exemption amount of $5.12 million are set to expire at the end of this year; the new rules call for a top rate of 55% and an exemption amount of just $1 million.
- The current White House administration has indicated, through its proposed fiscal year 2013 budget, that it would enact provisions that limit or eliminate the effectiveness of some very popular estate planning strategies. Among these strategies are grantor-retained annuity trusts (GRAT), GST trusts, limitations on discounts applied to intra-family transfers of certain assets, and intentionally defective grantor trusts.
- The applicable federal rates (AFRs) are at historical lows. A low-AFR environment enables the structuring of low-cost intra-family loans, which allows for the leveraging of family wealth across generations without incurring gift tax.
- Another benefit of today's low interest rates is the historically low Section 7520 rate—1% as of September 2012. The 7520 rate is used to calculate present values and remainder interests, among other calculations. A low rate is ideal for implementing wealth transfer strategies like GRATs and charitable lead annuity trusts.
This window of opportunity will be closing soon. Is it possible that Congress will act to extend the current law into next year? I don't know, but I am not going to hold my breath. Because of the time required to design and implement a wealth transfer strategy, it is critical that clients get started now. Don't let them wait until the last minute—they need to act while the window is still open.
Commonwealth Financial Network® does not provide legal or tax advice.


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Conservatório Souza Lima—Brazil
This program enables students to begin their music education at Faculdade e Conservatório Souza Lima (Souza Lima) in São Paulo, Brazil, and complete undergraduate degrees as Berklee students in Boston. Once accepted to Berklee, students may receive transfer credit for certain courses taken at Souza Lima.
Visit the Souza Lima website to learn more about the credit transfer pathway to Berklee.
Souza Lima students who wish to transfer to Berklee are required to go through Berklee's official undergraduate admissions process. Students accepted to Berklee will receive transfer credit for courses taken at Souza Lima in accordance with an agreement between the two schools.
Generally, students must receive a grade of B (3.00/4.00) or higher on core music and performance courses, and a grade of C (2.00/4.00) or higher on all liberal arts or general elective courses. As part of the admissions process, transfer students will be asked to submit an official transcript showing all courses specified as completed with a satisfactory grade before transfer credit will be granted.
See more information about the Berklee core music courses.
Liberal Arts and General Electives
Students transferring to the Bachelor of Music degree program at Berklee College of Music must earn a minimum of 39 credits in liberal arts and may utilize six additional liberal arts credits (two courses) as general elective credit. Students in the professional diploma program at Berklee may utilize up to 12 liberal arts credits (four courses) as general elective credit.
See more information about liberal arts courses at Berklee.
Performance Courses
- Ensembles: Souza Lima transfer students may receive up to six transfer credits for ensembles.
- Principal Instrument: Principal instrument courses (private lessons) taken at Souza Lima will not transfer directly. Students must participate in and pass a minimum of four semesters of principal instrument instruction at Berklee. All transferring students are required to take a Berklee instrumental/vocal proficiency placement examination upon arrival and may receive advanced placement in principal instrument courses. Any credit resulting from advanced placement in the principal instrument will be awarded when all other requirements for graduation have been completed.
Potential transfer credits in ensembles: six credits


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Steven Soderbergh's Top 5 films
So you're quitting us, Steven Soderbergh. And believe me, we're not one little bit happy about the unfortunate news that "Side Effects" -- your nifty, twisty, nutty thriller -- is your grand exit from big screen moviemaking.
Still, we're taking the high road here. After all, your stylish ways did thoroughly entertain us. Rather than remind you about how stuck with you during your missteps ("The Good German" and "The Girlfriend Experiment"), we've decided to focus on the positive and offer up with a list of five of our favorite Soderbergh flicks.
1. "King of the Hill": A Depression-era boy (a pricelessly endearing Jesse Bradford) uses his fertile imagination to cope after being stuck alone in a motel after his sickly mother (Lisa Eichhorn) is hospitalized and his salesman father (Jeroen Krabbe) leaves town to peddle his wares. Based on A.E. Hotchner's memoirs, this is a sentimental, but never syrupy, journey brought to rich, nostalgic life. Watch for a young Katherine Heigl in a bit part. (1993)
2. "Out of Sight": George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez scorch up the screen in this ultracool adaptation of a classic Elmore Leonard bestseller. Lopez plays a U.S. Marshal (don't laugh, she's actually good) who is charmed by a hunky bank robber (Clooney) who kidnaps her. Everything clicks here -- the script, the leads and an especially capable supporting cast. (1998)
4. "Sex, Lies and Videotape": Talk about starting off with a big splash. Soderbergh's feature debut -- considered a landmark -- intimately zooms in on the restless, unfulfilled lives of attractive people, played with depth by Andie MacDowell, Peter Gallagher, Laura San Giacomo and James Spader. The influential drama, which is credited for ushering in the independent film movement, survives the harshest test of all for movies -- the test of time. (1989)
4. "The Informant!": Matt Damon delivers one of his best performances as a slippery whistle-blower with major issues. Soderbergh frames this jaw-dropper beautifully with a Scott Z. Burns ("Side Effects") script that doesn't cave to conventional storytelling, and makes the shifty character played by Damon the narrator. It's a fascinating, often hilarious true-life character study, and Damon plays the duplicitous role with relish. Based on the highly-praised nonfiction book, "The Informant" by Kurt Eichenwald. (2009)
5. "Traffic": Versatility is one of Soderbergh' strongest suits -- from showing us buff guys in G-strings ("Magic Mike") to doll-factory employees ("Bubble"). With "Traffic," he is in full command of what's a tough assignment for any director to pull off -- the star-laden epic. He explores the many faces and facets of the drug war, masterfully weaving together different storylines into a powerful patchwork in this moving and intense thriller. Soderbergh justly won an Oscar for best director, and he draws out terrific performances from a cast that includes Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Erika Christensen and Benicio Del Toro -- who took home a best supporting actor trophy. (2000)


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Reading. Pfft. Who has time? Who can take hours and hours to actually read a book, especially if it's not all that good? Why waste that kind of time?
You wonder that often, which is where I come in. It's my job to find the good stuff for you, and for this past calendar year, these are the books I loved best that you shouldn't miss.
At the top of my list, "Pilgrim's Wilderness" by Tom Kizzia starts out with a semi-confusing (but heart-poundingly brilliant) escape by two young women. You're not sure who they're running from, or why, but you find out soon enough that their father has sent them scurrying. You'll also find out how one man set an Alaska community on edge and what happened to him and his very large family. The ending of this book comes all too soon and it's truly every bit as stellar as its beginning. I read it more than six months ago, and I'm still in awe.
Like many people, I kind of went on a JFK-assassination streak of reading this year. There were certainly a lot of books out on the subject, but "Dallas 1963" by Bill Minutaglio and Steven L. Davis was my favorite. But that's not why this book is on this list. It's here because it answers the question, Why Dallas?, and in answering, it gives readers a good sense of the time and the country's attitudes. We're transported back 50 years in the telling of this story — politically, socially, morally and beyond. It's one of those books you could read and then turn around and read again.
It's easy to think that "Twelve Years a Slave" by Solomon Northup is a novel. It's easy to forget that you're reading words from a man who lived some 150 years ago, that he really was sold into slavery, didn't see his family for more than a decade, endured life as a wrongly held man. It's easy to think it's all fiction — until Northup's words not-so-gently remind you that this book is truth. That shook me up many times, and whether or not you've seen the movie, this is a don't-miss book.
Adding "The Rebellion of Miss Lucy Ann Lobdell" by William Klaber to this list is kind of cheating. That's because this book is fictional but is based closely on the true story of a woman who lived as a man in the 1850s. That was scandalous, to be sure, but what was even more scandalous to the pioneers that knew her was that she was able to survive a splashy court case and, later, successfully married another woman. Written as a series of diary entries, this book includes action, adventure, jaw-dropping events, history that'll blow your mind, and I loved it.
For some reason, I found "One Summer: America 1927" by Bill Bryson to be this years' most relaxing read. Maybe it's because Bryson meanders through a mere five months of one year in history. Maybe it's because there's no rush in this book, it just moves gently from one topic to another to another, telling this story and that one, page after page and, before you know it, this brick of a book (528 pages) is over.
Like any great summer, it's over too soon.
I loved the premise of "Astray" by Emma Donoghue: take an object from the past — a picture or an article of clothing — and imagine what life was like for the owner of that object. This book is a series of short stories with that in mind, all of them evoking a quiet corner of existence on the periphery of the world. Some of the stories are shocking. Some are warm. Others will make you think, but you'll like them all.
You will probably never see "Bait" by J. Kent Messum on any other list, and that's too bad. This story of a group of drug addicted castaways on a sandy island will keep you turning the pages to the end, absolutely needing to find out what happens to them and why they wake up, craving heroin, on a saltwater beach. I don't dare tell you any more. Just go read the book.
If the first chapter of "Goat Mountain" by David Vann doesn't pull you in and make you want to keep reading, then you may need to have your pulse taken. Told from the point of view of an adult who is obviously painfully grown-up, it's the story of an 11-year-old boy and his first real hunting trip with the elders in his life. Suffice it to say that things don't go so well. This is perhaps the year's most unsettling psychological thriller, and a definite don't-even-think-about-missing book.
"The Ocean at the End of the Lane" by Neil Gaiman is one of those dark, dark fairy tales of which Gaiman is so famous. It's a novel of a man who somehow gets lost on his way home from a funeral and ends up on a side road near where he grew up. He starts to remember the little neighbor girl who promised to keep him safe forever. But, of course, she couldn't.
This is a misty kind of novel with just the right amount of creeposity. I can't imagine not reading it.
I couldn't decide between "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline and "The Storyteller" by Jodi Picoult, so you get to learn about both.
"Orphan Train" is based on real events in American history, in which New York City orphans were shipped across the U.S. and Canada in search for new families. In this case, the tale is about an elderly woman who has a secret, and the juvenile delinquent girl who learns what it is.
In "The Storyteller," a loner befriends an elderly man who tells her about his past — and it's horrifying, but not nearly as horrifying as what he asks her to do.
These are two novels that will pull you in quick and keep you on your seat. They're books you'll want to share with everybody you know.
Children's books
The story inside "The Man with the Violin" by Kathy Stinson and Dusan Petricic, postscript by Joshua Bell, is nice: A little boy hears a musician on the subway, but the adults around him seem to have missed the performance. The backstory is true, but the reason for this book being on this list is because of the artwork: It's mostly black and white with swaths of vivid color to highlight what's important in the story. The beautiful illustrations are artwork you can't ignore.
"Memoirs of a Hamster" by Devin Scillian, illustrated by Tim Bowers, is another book that's partly for adults. Kids will love the cute illustrations, but the story of a hamster who wants more and more and more out of his caged life might be over their heads just a mite. That's OK — you'll totally get it.
Little library patrons won't want to be without "No Pirates Allowed! Said Library Lou" by Rhonda Gowler Greene, illustrated by Brian Ajhar. When Big Pirate Pete shows up at Seabreezy Library and demands to know where the treasure is, he's on the wrong page. Library Lou sets him straight in this adorable rhyme. Please put your pirate on when you read this book, for arrrrggghhhreat experience.
Another book for little booklovers is "The Snatchabook" by Helen Docherty and Thomas Docherty, the story of a theft. As all the little creatures in Burrow Down hunker down for the night, their books begin to disappear. Why and how makes an excellent bedtime story that will charm both you and your little one.
And finally, I was totally amazed at "The Wrap-Up List" by Steven Arntson. It's the story of a place where Death wanders around, tapping people to take. When one teen gets her notice that her time is almost up, she's told that she must tie up loose ends, that her time's almost up. She must make her Wrap-Up List, or she can try to outwit Death and avoid leaving — but it won't be easy.
This is one of those books that makes you think about what you'd do if you were told that you had a finite number of days left. And how this books ends, well, read it to find out.
There you have it: a bunch of books to fill your bag and your days for a while. Look for them, or ask your favorite bookseller or librarian for more great ideas.
Season's readings!


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Just remember even the strong pepper sprays are not always effective and range is only a few feet. Good "option" if the threat level is low.
Just remember even the strong pepper sprays are not always effective and range is only a few feet. Good "option" if the threat level is low.
True, but there's no guarantee a bullet will stop them either, in time. Living in a "gun" state where more than one husband/wife/son/daughter has been mistaken for an intruder, shot, and killed; something non-lethal might well be in order as the first line of defense. 40-some years ago I had my father draw down on ME... fortunately he was a military man and identified his target before he pulled the trigger. Not everyone is so lucky.
If the intruder is really bent on murder you probably don't have a chance anyway. HE'S wide awake, armed, and maybe hopped-up on drugs; YOU'RE still half asleep...
She's a tired old barge but she's paid for!
Non-lethal weapons are no longer an option for me. Crimes committed around here are more for the thrill of killing than for the money. There have been a lot of daytime robberies in restaurants like Denny's where the rob the cash registers and the customers and then shoot and kill a few on their way out the door. They also did it in Subway Sandwiches and believe it or not - a Dollar Store.
It also seems like home invasions have replaced burglaries somewhat. It's just a matter of time until the thrill seekers discover the water.
If the "get off my boat or you will be shot" warning don't work, then I will use deadly force to protect my wife and I.
I am not familiar with handguns and modern ammunition and so I posted this question.
Generally speaking, if I had to shoot at someone it would be 10' or less.
Houseboater at Heart
1986 Mainship 36 Dual Cabin Pointed Ended House Boat
Not to be the dissenting voice here (I am a life long gun owner, and retired Coast Guard. I have handled all kinds of firearms) but have you thought about prevention? Lots of lights with motion sensors, alarms, video cams. It's a proven fact that if you make it difficult they will go somewhere else. A gun is a last resort when all else fails. And what do you do with it when you aren't home? Guns are a number one stolen item from homes.
If you do get a gun, take a course, especially a judgemental course if you can get one. Ask your local police, they'll know where one is available. I took one back in the sixties. What a revelation. Back then it was called Shoot, no shoot. Have your wife take it too. Practice. Even with a shotgun it is possible to miss (difficult but possible). With a handgun it's almost guaranteed if you don't know what you're doing. Just read reports of how many shots cops sometimes fire before they get a hit, and they are supposed to be experts and practice regularly. In a highly tense situation it is easy to do it wrong.
Yes revolvers are pretty much fool proof but still you have to be careful. If you aren't comfortable with an auto don't get one. I prefer a 45 auto but I have years of experience with one, but I wouldn't hand it to my wife. The recoil and noise scares her spitless. She doesn't even like the look of it. She prefers a revolver.
Any way, some very good advice given in previous posts.
But the number one thing I always said to boat owners who asked if they should have a gun on board is, are you willing to kill someone? If not or even if you would hesitate, then don't buy a gun. They'll just take it away and shoot you with it.
Peter D. EIkenberry
Don't tell I can't. Tell me how I can.
Definitely agree...
She's a tired old barge but she's paid for!
ditto the 380, by far a great choice.
here's a tip, when you have those pesky jet skier's and or wave makers who are intent on making life bad for you.
top deck highly visible to the culprit, a cell phone / camera, (they wont know the difference) recording there actions speaks volume s to there syc ic (sp),
They don't know if the water patrol going to have there # and now have water patrol looking for them, lets get away from this guy...
it works used it a few times
Lots of good info on this thread. I will also ad, if you boat on a US Corps controlled in-land lake weapons are a big no-no. As in a felony, permit or no permit.
A Taurus judge shoots 410 shotgun shells or Colt 45 longs. You can get the 410 slugs and you have the equivilent of 5 38s fired at the same time. You could also get a Ruger SP101 357 and as stated use 38s in it plus a couple of 357s. Most all southern state recognize other states permitsa in the south. here is a link to what stated recognize what. Nothern states have the least recipacation. 9mill Sig would be good also. I would lean toward the judge because it is a shotgun. be sure and get the stainless as the blued one has issues of locking up. They have a lifetime warrenty.
So, how does a flare gun, fired at close range, work at deterring unwanted visitors? Legal, right? And what else you gonna do with those out-of-date cartridges?


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WHISTLER, B.C. — A day after Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili's death in a training run, Olympic and International Luge Federation officials were chin deep in damage control.
And they left a lot of people shaking their heads.
First they said it was a mistake by the 21-year-old pilot that led to the crash that took his life. They said the Whistler Sliding Centre track is fast but not too fast. And although they'd decided to lower the start gates for the men's, women's and doubles luge events and raise the height of the wall near corner 16 where the incident occurred — an apparent admission that the track played a role in this tragedy — they claimed the changes were made to protect the emotional stability of the athletes who must still compete.
The men will start from the women's start gate and the women and doubles events will start from the junior start gate.
"The bottom line is that the decisions made are to deal with the emotional components of the athletes to alleviate, as best as possible, the traumatic experience of this tragic event," Svein Romstad, the American secretary general of the FIL, said Saturday morning.
"As to lowering it because the track is too fast, I would say the primary concern we have right now is the emotional aspect of it. We have not experienced this in 35 years. In our discussions it became clear that none of our athletes had experienced this. They lost a friend yesterday. It is emotional for everyone."
Canadian coach Wolfgang Staudinger took exception to some of his logic. He agreed that Kumaritashvili's mistake caused the crash, but he's not happy about starting from the women's start and he wondered how these officials would know the emotional state of the athletes.
"Well I don't think the officials really know what the emotions of the athletes are because they don't see the athletes on a day-to-day basis," said Staudinger, a former Olympic slider and national coach with Germany who was hired three years ago to coach the Canadian national team.
"We are the coaches who deal with the athletes. If they think so, well maybe that's a good thought but maybe they should consult with us in the future and not make decisions maybe based on their emotions."
Staudinger said the crash was caused by the driver's error.
"Hundred per cent, that was not a track issue," he said. "It was a driving error. Something happened in corner 16. There must have been a huge driver error."
Staudinger said the coaches weren't consulted in the decision to move the start down the hill.
"We came this morning and we were handed a piece of paper and on that paper was written that the start was moved down to ladies'. The jury made the decision and what ever it is we have to deal with it."
As for the lower starts, Staudinger made it clear how he feels.
"It's a new situation," he said. "We have a flatter start so the advantage is not on our side any more. The advantage is with the Germans right now.
"From a sliding point, it's not really changing anything."
French slider Thomas Girod agreed with lowering the start position.
"What happened yesterday, it is very sad," he said. "But we all agree, it is better to go from the women's start. I think safety is the best thing now."
Staudinger said his guys wanted to go from the top.
"Our guys were ready to go from the top and I just spoke with the German team and they all said they would have gone from the top," Staudinger said. "I think all athletes who compete here, they were ready to go from the top. But we have to accept the jury decision."
The first two runs in the four-run men's competition started Saturday evening. Medals will be awarded after the final two runs on Sunday.
Staudinger said his guys — Calgarians Ian Cockerline, Sam Edney and Jeff Christie — will be ready.
"We spoke with them that it was a tragic event and the Games will go on," he said. "I said we have to be professionals. We have to go about our jobs as professionals. It was not an easy job for the team but we had one good night's sleep and today they're focused."
Romstad said there had been no signals that the track needed to be changed.
"This is a fast sport," continued Romstad. "Athletes do encounter problems on a regular basis. There was nothing out of the ordinary that signalled there needed to be a change."
"For us, we believe in terms of the things we did as an organizing committee, we did everything in our power and that we made sure we made that track as safe as we can," said Tim Gayda, vice president of sport for Vanoc.
"We've always wanted to assure a safe and fair field of play. We worked together (with FIL) on a design. The process of getting athletes on that track was a long one and a safe one to make sure that everyone who went down that track stepped up in each of the starts and were really familiar with that track."
Gayda said about 5,000 runs have been made on the track. Kumaritashvili had 26 of them.
"This is an unprecedented situation and something we've taken very seriously," said Gayda, who also said the lower start gates and the changes to the track are help the athletes deal emotionally with competing on the track.
"This is to ensure that the athletes who still have to get on that ice do so in a positive way," he said. "We still want an Olympic competition but we have to be respectful of those athletes that their friend died on that track. We want to make sure that they can step on that track with confidence and get down and have an Olympic competition."


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What Pets Can Teach Us About Marriage
I love it when others confirm something that I already thought to be true. In this case, it's the idea that people are often much nicer to their pets than they are to their romantic partners. PsychCentral explains how people account for their unconditional pet-love:
People often describe pets as undemanding and giving unconditional love, when the reality is that pets require a lot of time and attention, special foods and care. They throw up on rugs, pee in the house and steal food from countertops. Yet we accept their flaws because we love them so much.
The article describes 6 ways we are more emotionally generous to our pets:
1) How we greet them – in a positive, animated, affectionate way. As opposed to barely looking up from your Blackberry when he comes home.
2) Our expectations of them – minimal to reasonable. Your expectations of your boyfriend: perfection/connection/mindreading/mindblowing sex or bust.
You yell… when your dog chews your shoe and are petting him an hour later. Yet you might go to bed mad because of something stupid that your husband said…
3) How we hold grudges against them – you yell for a moment when your dog chews your shoe and are petting him an hour later. Yet you might go to bed mad because of something stupid that your husband said about your new haircut.
4) Assuming the best – you know your cat didn't have bad intentions when waking you up at 5am, but you assume that your boyfriend was trying to disrespect you when he smiled at the checkout girl. Maybe he was just being polite.
5) Acceptance – the dog licks your friend's face when she arrives, you say, "That's just the dog". Your boyfriend likes playing video games and you want to decapitate him. Actually, "that's just your boyfriend."
Few pets live with the the implication that things are just not working out. Not so with partners.
6) For Better or For Worse – People love and care for pets of every size, shape and disposition. "She's not exactly a watch dog; she's loving but easily frightened." "He insists on sleeping on the bed — we have given in." Few pets live with the the implication that things are just not working out. Not so with partners. It's hard to feel a consistent emotional connection when you always feel like you can be tossed out for the latest infraction.
It's easy to say that you treat your romantic partners worse because you have more emotionally invested in them, because they're free-thinking human beings who should know how to be more considerate, because the relationship has more of a give and take. All duly noted.
That doesn't excuse the overall picture here. You are quite likely more considerate, patient, emotionally giving, and sane with co-workers, friends and pets than you are with your romantic partners. Something about love brings out the impatient, demanding side, apparently.
As a guy who grew up with pets (I'm lobbying with my wife to get a dog bigger than a terrier), I have to say that just about the ONLY clients I've ever STRUGGLED to help were women who were more in love with animals than they were with men. Not just "crazy cat ladies". Dog women – the ones with 4 or 5 of 'em – would much rather hang with their dogs than go on a date.
Dog women – the ones with 4 or 5 of 'em – would much rather hang with their dogs than go on a date.
And it makes sense, especially when your ideal relationship consists of a furry friend who doesn't talk back, and is excited to see you every day because you're the one who provides, food, water, shelter and affection. Comparatively, men can only lose.
Then again, a dog will never pay the rent, raise your kids, drive you to the doctor, cook you a meal, give you an orgasm, or have any private jokes with you.
If you want one of those creatures in your life, you should probably learn to treat men like dogs…
You know what I mean.


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