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This short series of articles will attempt to show how Microsoft's standard .NET tools (Visual Studio and xsd.exe) can be used to investigate and use Financial products Markup Language (FpML).
This first article gives an overview of how we can use Visual Studio to examine the FpML XSDs, and use it to validate the XML examples that are provided in the FpML download.
Part 2 of the series will examine how the FpML XSDs fit together for basic trade types.
These articles assume you understand the basics of XML Schema Definition language. If you don't there are a number of good tutorials available on the internet. For example there's quite a good one at http://www.w3.org/TR/xmlschema-0/. These articles will reference the tutorial for the less obvious XSD structures.
Financial products Markup Language is intended as an industry-standard method of representing financial products using XML. Details can be found at www.fpml.org.
The XML representations of financial products are defined using XML Schema Definition (XSD). These can be downloaded from the site.
FpML is Complex
The FpML XSDs are intended to define XML for a very wide range of financial products. They are also intended to be easily extensible for any new products. To achieve this products are built up from small building blocks into a complex structure. This means the XML is very hierarchical (it has many layers of tags).
An alternative approach would be to represent financial products in as flat a structure as possible. By 'flat' we mean a simple series of name-value pairs (with associated types for the values), and no hierarchy. Even quite complex derivatives products can be represented by a flat schema (obviously such things as basket products are an exception to this). A flat structure is easier to understand, and can be easier to handle in code. It also leads to less verbose XML, and hence smaller message sizes.
However, this is not the approach FpML takes for good reasons: whilst it's easier to deal with a flat structure, it's hard to extend as you cannot easily re-use blocks of tags in a new structure.
As well as defining formats for a wide range of trade types, the FpML XSDs define message formats for standard trade events (e.g. confirmations, credit event notifications). They also define standard enumerations for such things as day count conventions.
As a result all this FpML is inevitably complex and difficult to understand. Furthermore there's little free documentation available.
Visual Studio Support for XSDs
Visual Studio (combined with C#) has good support for XML and XSD. As you may know, we can load XSDs into it and it will automatically check that they are internally consistent. We can then load XML into it and validate that XML against the XSDs on the fly at design-time.
As we shall show the .NET languages also have support for validating XML using XSDs at run-time.
In addition there is an 'XML Schema Definition Tool' called xsd.exe that ships with Visual Studio. We can use this to automatically generate classes in a .NET language of our choice based on the XSDs. We can then load the XML data into those classes (at run-time obviously). If we don't like the classes it's very easy to manually tweak them to do what we want. In fact, as we shall see, xsd.exe is far from perfect and we may well need to tweak the classes to get them to work properly.
We can even usually use xsd.exe to generate DataSets from the XSDs and populate those from the XML. Of course, DataSets give us some disadvantages (e.g. speed) over plain old classes, but they allow us to track changes, and easily bind our data into grids for display and editing.
This series of articles will take us through all of the scenarios outlined above. However, as we shall see, the complexity of the FpML schemas (and some Microsoft bugs) can make handling FpML in Visual Studio challenging.
Initially we will work with Visual Studio 2005 (and .NET 2.0). Later on we'll have a look at changes in Visual Studio 2008.
Getting Started with FpML and Visual Studio
The first thing to do if you want to learn about FpML is to download the schemas. This can be done from www.fpml.org, although you will need to register with the site. For this article I have used the FpML 4.2 Recommendation in Zip format, which you can download via the 'Specifications' tab.
Once you have downloaded and extracted this, create a console application project in Visual Studio. Add ALL of the XSDs found in the xml folder from your download to this project (using the Project/Add Existing Item… menu).
We are going to start with interest rate swaps. The details of these are defined in file fpml-ird-4-2.xsd. Right-click this file in Solution Explorer and select View Code. DON'T just 'Open' it as the default is to open with a DataSet Editor, which gives a graphical view. Note that you can change the default if you right-click/Open With. If you select the XML Editor as the default you will get the code view when you double-click in future.
You should now have the raw XSD in the document window. It's a bit daunting, so right-click in the document window, and select Outlining/Toggle All Outlining. This collapses the XSD entirely. If you now expand it once (by clicking the '+' sign) you will see that the XSD includes some other schemas, then defines some complex types, then some elements and some groups. One of the elements is called 'swap', which is encouraging. This is of type 'Swap' which we can see defined as a complex type. However it's not clear how we get from this to XML for an interest rate swap.
Note here that Visual Studio validated the schema when you displayed it. You can see this if you deliberately break the schema. Try changing the type of the swap element mentioned above to 'notSwap'. If you now look at the Warnings in the Error List (menu View/Error List) you'll see Visual Studio is telling you that 'Type 'http://www.fpml.org/2005/FpML-4-2:notSwap' is not declared.' It's also telling you the line number and the file, and you can as usual double-click the error to go to it.
Note also that Visual Studio only validates the schema when the schema file is open in the document window (try saving it and closing it with the error still in there: the warning disappears). Visual Studio will quite happily validate all of the FpML XSDs if you open them individually however.
Now we will add an XML file representing an interest rate swap to our project, and get the XSDs to validate it. Our original download contains XML examples in the subfolders of the xml folder referred to above. In particular, there is a folder called interest-rate-derivatives that contains a file called ird_ex01_vanilla_swap.xml. This XML file references the XSD files we have already examined using the schemaLocation attribute. However the schemaLocation attribute says that the schemas are in a folder at a level above the XML file.
So create a folder in your solution (right-click the solution in Solution Explorer and select Add…/New Folder). Then right-click the folder, choose Add/Existing Item…, and add the ird_ex01_vanilla_swap.xml file into this folder.
Now if you open the file in Visual Studio it should validate correctly straight away: there should be no errors or warnings in the Error List. Again you can see this is working if you manually edit the XML: try changing the partyReference element near the top to 'notpartyReference'. You will get a warning the notpartyReference is an invalid child element and 'partyReference' is expected.
Visual Studio and XML: Navigation and Outlining
We have already seen that we can use Visual Studio's outlining (collapsible regions) in the usual way with XSD files, and the same is true of XML files.
We can also use Visual Studio's standard 'Go To Definition' functionality with both XSD and XML files. Put your cursor inside partyReference in the XML and hit F12 (or right-click, Go To Definition). Visual Studio will show the place in the XSD where partyReference is defined (which is inside file fpml-doc-4-2.xsd).
This shows that partyReference is an element in complex type TradeIdentifier. It is itself of type 'PartyReference'. If you right-click 'PartyReference' and Go To Definition in the same way you can navigate within the XSD: you can see that PartyReference is an extension of base type 'Reference', and if you go to the definition of that you can see that it is an abstract complex type with one attribute called 'href' of type IDREF.
You can then navigate back through the items you've visited as usual in Visual Studio using the Navigate Backward toolbar button, or hitting Control + – (minus key).
It's worth noting that the normal toolbar Comment/Uncomment buttons work fine with XML and XSD, including commenting sensibly across several lines: you don't have to type '<!–' and '–>'. Also there's good intellisense support if you are entering XML or XSD code, including code snippets on the context menu.
Finally if you load all of your XSDs into a project as described above you can (obviously) use Visual Studio's normal Find in Files functionality (Ctrl-Shift-F) to locate items anywhere in the XSDs.
Validation in Code
We have seen how we can use Visual Studio to validate that a schema is correctly formed, and to validate an XML instance document against a schema. We can also do this validation in C# code.
Validation of a Schema in Code
To validate a schema we can load it into an XmlSchemaSet and compile it as below. Put this code in the Main method of the C# console application created above to see this working:
XmlSchemaSet xmlSchemaSet = new XmlSchemaSet(); xmlSchemaSet.Add("http://www.fpml.org/2005/FpML-4-2", @"..\..\fpml-main-4-2.xsd"); xmlSchemaSet.Compile();
If the schemas are not properly formed you will get an error when you attempt to compile them.
Validation of XML Against a Schema in Code
To validate an XML instance document against the schema we use an XmlReader in association with a ValidationEventHandler as below. The code below goes in Main:
XmlReaderSettings xmlReaderSettings = new XmlReaderSettings(); xmlReaderSettings.Schemas.Add(xmlSchemaSet); xmlReaderSettings.ValidationType = ValidationType.Schema; xmlReaderSettings.ValidationEventHandler += new ValidationEventHandler(xmlReaderSettings_ValidationEventHandler); XmlReader xmlReader = XmlReader.Create(@"..\..\XML\ird_ex01_vanilla_swap.xml", xmlReaderSettings); while (xmlReader.Read()) { }; Console.WriteLine("Validation complete"); Console.ReadLine();
Additionally we need a ValidationEventHandler method: this will be called if there are any errors:
static void xmlReaderSettings_ValidationEventHandler(object sender, ValidationEventArgs e) { if (e.Severity == XmlSeverityType.Warning) { Console.Write("WARNING: "); Console.WriteLine(e.Message); } else if (e.Severity == XmlSeverityType.Error) { Console.Write("ERROR: "); Console.WriteLine(e.Message); } }
The code for this example is available. To test these try deliberately breaking both the schemas and the XML and ensure you get appropriate error messages. Note that this code is based on Microsoft's own help examples at http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/3740e0b5(VS.80).aspx.
Note on Visual Studio 2008
The above discussion used Visual Studio 2005. Visual Studio 2008 behaves in the same way except:
- Visual Studio 2008 defaults to the XML Editor as the editor for XSD files, which is more sensible than the default DataSet Editor in Visual Studio 2005.
- Visual Studio 2008 automatically references xmlsig.xsd in Microsoft's own schemas folder (normally c:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\xml\Schemas). xmlsig.xsd is the standard XML Signature namespace. However, the FpML files are referencing their own version of this schema, which is called xmldsig-core-schema.xsd. As a result if you open fpml-main-4-2.xsd in the designer, for instance, you get warnings about types in this schema being defined twice.To fix this bring up the Properties window for the fpml-main-4-2.xsd file, and click in the Schemas property. Click the button that appears. The screen that comes up lets you select the schemas that are automatically used for the file. Find xmlsig.xsd and in the 'Use' column set it to 'Do not use this schema' (which gives it a red cross as below). This will get rid of the warnings.
This article has looked at some of Visual Studio's functionality for handling XSDs and the associated FpML. Part 2 of this series will examine how the FpML fits together for a basic trade XML document.
Licensing of FpML Specifications
The FpML Specifications of this document are subject to the FpML Public License (the "License"); you may not use the FpML Specifications except in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at http://www.FpML.org.
The FpML Specifications distributed under the License are distributed on an "AS IS" basis, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the License for the specific language governing rights and limitations under the License.
The Licensor of the FpML Specifications is the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. All Rights Reserved.


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It's time for another installment of Pot Psychology, the advice column in which everyone's problems are solved with an "herbal" remedy. (Remember, kids: Don't do drugs!) In this episode, the Mariah to my Whitney, Rich, and put together a clips reel of outtakes with some of the dumber and more offensive questions. Got a burning question? Send it to email@example.com. (Please keep them short; they're verrrry hard to read when stoned.)
P.S. We like pictures because they're easier than reading, so feel free to send some our way.

subset: commoncrawl


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Categories of Review
The type of review an application receives depends on the risks posed to potential subjects by participating in the research. RISK is defined by Office of Human Research Protections (OHRP) as "the probability of harm or injury (physical, psychological, social, or economic) occurring as a result of participation in a research study. Both the probability and magnitude of possible harm may vary from minimal to significant."
There are three categories of IRB reviews: exempt, expedited, and full board review. Only the Chair and the Expeditor may determine the category assigned to individual projects. Exempt review does not imply that the research does not need to be submitted to the IRB. It is exempt from review by the full board review.
- Exempt – Does not require review by the full board. The review period can take up to two weeks.
- Expedited – Minimal risk to human subjects. The review period can take up to two weeks.
- Full Board Review – Proposed research involving human subjects that does not qualify for exempt or expedited review must be reviewed by the IRB at a convened meeting (Full IRB Committee). The review period can take up to four weeks.
For additional information link to the specific categories. Reference to the OHRP regulations are included.
Following submission, the application is reviewed by the IRB Chair/Expediter based on the IRB guidelines. The Chair/Expediter then determines whether the IRB application is complete and appropriate for review. Proposals must be submitted using the most current forms. Incomplete or poorly prepared proposals will be returned unreviewed.
Exempt Research
45 CFR §46.104 Although called "exempt," this type of research does require IRB review. The exempt process is much less rigorous than an expedited or full board review. Reviews are completed by the IRB Chair or one reviewer designated by the Chair. To qualify, research must fall into seven (7) federally-defined exempt categories. These categories present the lowest amount of risk to potential subjects because they involve either collection of anonymous or publicly-available data, or conduct of the least potentially-harmful research experiments. Some examples of exempt research are:
- anonymous surveys or interviews
- passive observation of public behavior without collection of identifiers
- retrospective chart reviews
The following are the federally defined exempt categories:
- Normal Educational Practices
Research conducted in established or commonly accepted educational settings, involving normal educational practices such as:
- research on instructional strategies
- research on the effectiveness of or the comparison among instructional techniques,
curricula, or classroom management methods.
This does not include questionnaires distributed in an educational setting which do not relate to the points above.
- Educational Testing
Research involving the use of educational tests (cognitive, diagnostic, aptitude, achievement) if information taken from these sources is recorded in such a manner that participants cannot be identified, directly or through identifiers linked to the participants.
- Survey/Interview Procedures
Research involving survey or interview procedures with legally competent non-institutionalized adults, except where either of the following conditions exist:
- the participant's responses, if they become known outside the research, could reasonably place the participant at risk of criminal or civil liability or be damaging to the participant's reputation, financial standing or employability or
- the research deals with sensitive aspects of the participant's own behavior, such as illegal drug conduct, drug use, sexual behavior, or the use of alcohol.
All research involving survey or interview procedures is exempt, without exception,
when the respondents are elected or appointed public officials or candidates for public
Surveys and interviews conducted with children do not qualify for exempt status.
- Observation
Research involving observation (including observation by participants) of public behavior except where any of the following conditions exist:
- the observations recorded about the individual, if they become known outside the research, could reasonably place the participant at risk of criminal or civil liability or be damaging to the participant's reputation, financial standing, or employability or
- the research deals with sensitive aspects of the participant's own behavior such as illegal conduct, drug use, sexual behavior, or use of alcohol.
- the research deals with the observation of the public behavior of children where the investigator participates in the activities being observed.
- Use of Existing Records
Research involving the collecting or study of existing data, documents, records, pathological specimens, or diagnostic specimens, if these sources are publicly available or if the information is recorded in such a manner that participants cannot be identified, directly or indirectly, through identifiers linked to the participants.
- Evaluation of Federal Research and Programs
Research and demonstration projects which are conducted by or subject to the approval of the Department of Health and Human Services, and which are designed to study, evaluate, or otherwise examine:
- programs under the Social Security Act or other public benefit or service program,
- procedures for obtaining benefits or services under those programs,
- possible changes in or alternatives to those programs procedures, or
- possible changes in methods or levels of payment for benefits or services under those programs.
- Taste and Food Quality Evaluation and Consumer Acceptance Studies if
- wholesome foods without additives are consumed, or
- food ingredients are at or below the safe level as designated by the Food and Drug Administration or the Food Safety and Inspection Service.
Expedited Research
45 CFR §46.110 An expedited review procedure consists of a review of research involving human subjects by the IRB chairperson or by one or more experienced reviewers designated by the chairperson from among members of the IRB in accordance with the requirements set forth in 45 CFR §46.110.
To qualify for an expedited review, research must fall into nine (9) federally-defined expedited categories. These categories involve collection of samples and data in a manner that is not anonymous and that involves no more than minimal risk to subjects. Some examples of expedited research are:
- studies involving collection of hair, saliva or dental plaque samples,
- studies of blood samples from healthy volunteers,
- analyses of voice recordings
- studies of existing pathological specimens with patient identifiers.
Reviewers conducting an expedited review may exercise all of the authority of the IRB except that they may not disapprove a study. When a reviewer cannot approve the research under expedited review, the study is referred to the full Committee for review.
Applicability of Expedited Review:
- Research activities that (1) present no more than minimal risk to human subjects, and (2) involve only procedures listed in one or more of the following categories, may be reviewed by the IRB through the expedited review procedure authorized by 45 CFR §46.110 and 21 CFR §56.110. http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/guidance/45cfr46.html
- The activities listed should not be deemed to be of minimal risk simply because they are included on this list. Inclusion on this list merely means that the activity is eligible for review through the expedited review procedure when the specific circumstances of the proposed research involve no more than minimal risk to human subjects.
- The categories in this list apply regardless of the age of subjects, except as noted.
- The expedited review procedure may not be used where identification of the subjects and/or their responses would reasonably place them at risk of criminal or civil liability or be damaging to the subjects' financial standing, employability, insurability, reputation, or be stigmatizing, unless reasonable and appropriate protections will be implemented so that risks related to invasion of privacy and breach of confidentiality are no greater than minimal.
- The expedited review procedure may not be used for classified research involving human subjects.
- IRBs are reminded that the standard requirements for informed consent (or its waiver, alteration, or exception) apply regardless of the type of review utilized by the IRB (i.e., expedited or full committee review).
- Categories one (1) through nine (9) pertain to both initial and continuing IRB review.
The following are the federally defined expedited categories:
- Clinical studies of drugs and medical devices only when condition (a) or (b) is met.
- (a) Research on drugs for which an investigational new drug application (21 CFR Part 312) is not required. Research on medical devices for which (i) an investigational device exemption application (21 CFR Part 812) is not required; or (ii) the medical device is cleared/approved for marketing and the medical device is being used in accordance with its cleared/approved labeling.
- Collection of blood samples by finger stick, heel stick, ear stick, or venipuncture as follows:
- (a) from healthy, nonpregnant adults who weigh at least 110 pounds. For these subjects, the amounts drawn may not exceed 550 ml in an 8 week period and collection may not occur more frequently than 2 times per week; or
- from other adults and children2, considering the age, weight, and health of the subjects, the collection procedure, the amount of blood to be collected, and the frequency with which it will be collected. For these subjects, the amount drawn may not exceed the lesser of 50 ml or 3 ml per kg in an 8 week period and collection may not occur more frequently than 2 times per week.
- Prospective collection of biological specimens for research purposes by noninvasive
Examples: (a) hair and nail clippings in a nondisfiguring manner; (b) deciduous teeth at time of exfoliation or if routine patient care indicates a need for extraction; (c) permanent teeth if routine patient care indicates a need for extraction; (d) excreta and external secretions (including sweat); (e) uncannulated saliva collected either in an unstimulated fashion or stimulated by chewing gumbase or wax or by applying a dilute citric solution to the tongue; (f) mucosal and skin cells collected by buccal scraping or swab, skin swab, or mouth washings; (g) sputum collected after saline mist nebulization.
- Collection of data through noninvasive procedures (not involving general anesthesia
or sedation) routinely employed in clinical practice, excluding procedures involving
x-rays or microwaves. Where medical devices are employed, they must be cleared/approved
for marketing. (Studies intended to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the medical
device are not generally eligible for expedited review, including studies of cleared
medical devices for new indications.) Examples: (a) physical sensors that are applied
either to the surface of the body or at a distance and do not involve input of significant
amounts of energy into the subject or an invasion of the subjects privacy; (b) weighing
or testing sensory acuity; (c) magnetic resonance imaging; (d) electrocardiography,
electroencephalography, thermography, detection of naturally occurring radioactivity,
electroretinography, ultrasound, diagnostic infrared imaging, doppler blood flow,
and echocardiography; (e) moderate exercise, muscular strength testing, body composition
assessment, and flexibility testing where appropriate given the age, weight, and health
of the individual.
- Research involving materials (data, documents, records, or specimens) that have been
collected, or will be collected solely for nonresearch purposes (such as medical treatment
or diagnosis). (NOTE: Some research in this category may be exempt from the HHS regulations
for the protection of human subjects. 45 CFR §46.101(b)(4). This listing refers only to research that is not exempt.)
- Collection of data from voice, video, digital, or image recordings made for research
- Research on individual or group characteristics or behavior (including, but not limited to, research on perception, cognition, motivation, identity, language, communication, cultural beliefs or practices, and social behavior) or research employing survey, interview, oral history, focus group, program evaluation, human factors evaluation, or quality assurance methodologies. (NOTE: Some research in this category may be exempt from the HHS regulations for the protection of human subjects. 45 CFR §46.101(b)(2) and (b)(3). This listing refers only to research that is not exempt.)
- Continuing review of research previously approved by the convened IRB as follows:
- where (i) the research is permanently closed to the enrollment of new subjects; (ii) all subjects have completed all research-related interventions; and (iii) the research remains active only for long-term follow-up of subjects; or
- where no subjects have been enrolled and no additional risks have been identified; or
- where the remaining research activities are limited to data analysis.
- Continuing review of research, not conducted under an investigational new drug application or investigational device exemption where categories two (2) through eight (8) do not apply but the IRB has determined and documented at a convened meeting that the research involves no greater than minimal risk and no additional risks have been identified.
Full Board Review
Proposed human subject research which does not fall into either the exempt or expedited review categories must be submitted for full committee review. These studies have been determined to be more than minimal risk. Federal regulation define "minimal risk" as: "The probability and magnitude of harm or discomfort anticipated in the research are not greater in and of themselves than those ordinarily encountered in daily life or during the performance of routine physical or psychological examinations or tests." This is the most rigorous level of review and, accordingly, is reserved for research projects that present more than minimal risks to subjects.
Categories that require full board review include:
- More than minimal risk
- Biomedical protocols (medical research/clinical trials/experimental therapies)
- Research with vulnerable populations. Vulnerable populations are those research participants who are likely to be vulnerable to coercion or undue influence or lack decision-making capacity, including children, prisoners, pregnant women, neonates, mentally disabled persons, or economically or educationally disadvantaged persons, and those who may be vulnerable because of a physical condition, severe illness or pain, psychological or emotional condition, status relationship with a member of the research team, cultural or political factors or other circumstances
- Projects that involve deception of subjects
- Projects that plan to use procedures that are personally intrusive, stressful or potentially traumatic(stress can be physical, psychological, social, financial, or legal)
(a) Federal Regulations regarding "Children" (both 45 CFR §46 and 21 CFR §50) state, "'Children' are persons who have not attained the legal age for consent to treatments or procedures involved in the research, under the applicable law of the jurisdiction in which the research will be conducted." Thus, who qualifies as a "child" depends on local laws.
(b) Assent means a child's affirmative agreement to participate in research. Mere failure to object should not, absent affirmative agreement, be construed as assent. The goal of the assent process is to involve children in discussions and decisions about research participation.
(c) Permission means the agreement of parent(s) or guardian to the participation of their child or ward in research.
(d) Parent means a child's biological or adoptive parent. Because children cannot legally provide consent for research on their own behalf, permission by at least one parent or legal guardian is required prior to enrollment of a minor in a research study.
(e) Guardian means an individual who is authorized under applicable State or local law to consent on behalf of a child to general medical care.
For additional information on research with children refer to 45 CFR §46.404 and 21 CFR §50.51
IRB Expeditor
Kara Carline
Academic Affairs
Loretto Hall 151
470 E. Lockwood Ave
St. Louis, MO 63119
Phone: (314) 246-7476
Email: email@example.com
IRB Chair
Vicki Coopmans, Nurse Anesthesia
Email: email@example.com
- Categories of Review
- Review Process
- Consent Overview
- Informed Consent
- Minor Assent & Parental Permission
- Tips for Obtaining Consent
- International Research
- Non-Compliance
- Risk
- Guidelines for Internet Research
- IRB Membership


text:
Sponsored By
LPGA Golfer Mariah Stackhouse Weighs In On 2021 Championship Coming To AtlantaWomen's PGA Tour Professional Mariah Stackhouse discusses plans to compete in her hometown when the championship comes to Atlanta in 2021.
Rising Star: Kentucky Guard James YoungYoung scored 20 points for Kentucky last night, twice as many as the next highest-scoring Wildcat, in a 60-54 loss to Connecticut. This was Young's ninth 20-plus point game and he led Kentucky with 17 in the Final Four win over Wisconsin.
Five Things: Kentucky And UConn To Play For TitleThe wildest NCAA Tournament of the modern era culminates with an 8 seed versus a 7 seed for the championship. Kentucky, a 74-73 winner over Wisconsin on Saturday, will face Connecticut, which upset Florida 64-53.
Rising Star: Louisville Junior Luke HancockMost pundits expected Louisville to be in the national championship game, but no one expected Luke Hancock to play an important role.
Pitino Leads Class Of 7 Into Naismith Hall Of FameRick Pitino, who will coach Louisville in the NCAA championship game Monday night, is among seven people elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Five Things: Cards Find A Way And Reserves Shine For WolverinesTonight, the No. 1 overall seed takes on a team once ranked No. 1 and now playing its best basketball. On one side is Louisville, the favorite when the field was announced, trying to keep the national championship trophy in the state of Kentucky.
Chris Malloy Joined Todd Wright Tonight
Serena Williams Caps off Great Summer With Win at U.S. Open


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While some Merrill Lynch (BAC) advisors have been breaking away to go independent, the latest batch of Morgan Stanley (MS) departing advisors have chosen to keep their employee status.
This includes the team of Edward Moldaver (left), formerly of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, who joined Barclays in New York on Wednesday, as well as advisors Robert Ceccarelli and John Hursh, who left MSSB on Friday to become part of Ameriprise Financial (AMP).
Moldaver, who now reports to Mark Stevenson, managing director and regional manager for New York, moves with a team that includes Wayne Chrebet, a former New York Jets player, and James Lee.
"We are very pleased to welcome this talented team of wealth management professionals to our firm," said Mitch Cox, head of wealth management for Barclays in the Americas, in a press release.
"Our unique combination of custom wealth management, rich intellectual capital and direct access to the global resources of Barclays continues to attract top-performing advisors, as well as their clients, who seek a world-class platform."
Moldaver comes to Barclays, which now includes about 250 advisors in the United States, with about 25 years of wealth-management experience; he is now a managing director at Barclays. At Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, which he joined in 2008, he founded the Moldaver 80 Group, a team of six wealth-management professionals.
Chrebet (right) joins Barclays as an assistant vice president. He worked with Moldaver at MSSB for four years. Prior to joining the wealth management industry, Chrebet was with the National Football League and played 11 seasons for the New York Jets.
Also coming to Barclays as an assistant vice president is James Lee, who previously was with Moldaver and the MSSB team, as well as with Bear Stearns' Private Wealth Client Services Group.
Barclays says it has 13 U.S. offices and $275 billion in assets under management worldwide in the Wealth and Investment Management division.
Recruiting by Ameriprise
Ameriprise Financial said it added advisors Ceccarelli and John Hursh from MSSB on Friday.
The two advisors have formed a team with total assets of some $150 million. They each have about $475,000 in yearly fees and commissions.
They have joined Ameriprise as employee advisors and are located in New Haven, Conn.
Amerirpise had 7,492 independent/franchisee advisors as of June 30, while 2,311 reps were in the employee channel. These reps had average fees and commissions of $97,000 in the second quarter and $195,000 for the first six months of 2012, putting them on track for yearly production of about $390,000 for 2012.


text: A very rich man gathers a group of people to search for the ancient lost city of Paititi. Fame and fortune will come the adventurers' way if they find the city. But it won't be an easy task going into the deep jungles of South America to look for a myth. They might not even survive to tell the tale.


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Those of you who have watched HBO's fantasy series Game of Thrones will no doubt have taken note of Peter Dinklage, the actor who plays Tyrion Lannister, also known as the the Imp. Tyrion is a dwarf – not a Tolkien dwarf but a human one — whose role in a world that has little sympathy for those with physical differences is an interesting one, to say the least. Dinklage plays the role to the hilt, being a dwarf himself and having had a career that for many years was a struggle because he refused to accept any of the easy work often given to dwarf actors — Santa Claus elves around Christmastime, for example.
Dinklage won an Emmy last year for his work in Game of Thrones, and it is well-deserved. He also won a Golden Globe for that same work this year, and in his acceptance speech, he said that people should Google the case of Martin Henderson, a dwarf in England injured by a few people who thought it might make good sport to throw the little man around. Some thought Dinklage was dedicating his award to Henderson; he was not. He was, however, drawing attention to the fact that dwarfism is one of the few disabilities left where it is okay for people to openly ridicule.
Dinklage is an interesting person. His dwarfism defines him, but only to a point. And for as much as it is a disability, Dinklage himself does not fly that banner. And why should he? For the physical limitations that his physical structure may have imposed on him, he has succeeded despite it, and to some degree because of it. Some days he is okay with being a dwarf. Some days he is not. All days he is who he is because of it, and in the long run, it would seem to be a good thing.
I bring all of this up because it touches on something I mentioned in the cover story of April's National Underwriter Life & Health, a story called "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger." It is about, in large part, USMC Cpl Matias Ferreira, who lost his legs in an IED explosion in Afghanistan in January 2011. Not yet a full year after that, Matias was running his first half-marathon — and on two artificial legs — at the Disney half-marathon in Orlando, Florida. I urge you to read this story of mine, because I feel that people like Matias — and organizations like Achilles International and Cigna, which both went to great lengths to support Matias — are redefining what it means to be disabled.
Like Dinklage, Ferreria acknowledges that he is different because of his condition, but he refuses to employ the word "disabled." And like Dinklage, why should he? As I noted to him when writing the story, I am in the best shape of my life. I recently brown belted in mixed martial arts, and at my physical this year, my doctor said that if everybody did what I did healthwise, she would be out of a job. And yet, I cannot run a half-marathon. I am simply not conditioned for it. But Matias can. And somehow, we hang this word "disabled" on him, when he can do something most others cannot, even without the legs he was born with.
We live in an age where our political correctness drives us to look past people's differences because in the past, we let those differences be an excuse to discriminate wrongly against our fellow man. But along the way, we have tricked outselves into thinking that we do not see these things, when we clearly do. The trick is not to ignore our friends who have physical differences, but to accept that those differences are nothing to judge, and in many cases, they are, in fact, a unique pathway for one's own journey to success and excellence. Perhaps the best way we could do this would be to stop using the words "disabled" and "disability," though I confess I do not know what to replace them with. I do know that whatever word we choose, the disability insurance market will have some rebranding to do.
I leave you with two pieces of video that I found inspiring. Both are of MMA fighters. Both are what we might consider disabled. Nick Newell is missing an arm. Matt Betzold is missing a leg. And both are fierce competitors, who you will see, are victorious not in spite of their condition, but because of it. Something for us all to think about.


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Northern Michigan University is an equal opportunity institution and an equal opportunity employer.
NMU is committed to administering all employment, admission and educational policies and practices without unlawful discrimination, according to state and federal laws. These laws and policies are intended to ensure fairness in hiring, employee relations and benefits, student admissions, the provision of student services, and workplace and classroom accommodations.
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In addition, Northern is committed to increasing the diversity of its faculty, staff and students.
If you have questions, or if you believe that a violation or potential violation of state or federal non-discrimination laws has occurred, is occurring or will occur, please notify the Equal Opportunity office at 105 Cohodas, 906-227-2420, or the Dean of Students at 2001 C.B. Hedgcock, 906-227-1700. Mail to either office can be sent to 1401 Presque Isle Avenue, Marquette, MI 49855.
Please refer to the menu links for further information and helpful resources to ensure equal opportunity compliance.


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]]>Back to Smoking Center]]>
Kelly is a 52-year-old office manager for a law firm on the East coast who gave up cigarettes after 29 years of smoking. Here's how she did it and how she's been virtually smoke free for over two and a half years.
How long were you a smoker?
Kelly: I started smoking when I was 21 years old and smoked about one to one and a half packs of cigarettes a day.
Had you tried to quit smoking before?
Kelly: I tried to quit twice, many years ago, before any of the smoking cessation aids were available. Each time, I quit cold turkey, but after three months, I was smoking again. At the time, I felt young and healthy and two of my best friends were smokers, so I really wasn't motivated to give it up yet.
What made you decide to try again?
Kelly: I got sick. I came down with a bad bronchial infection and decided it was time to quit. Also, my 50th birthday was approaching.
Tell me how you quit.
Kelly: I quit by using a combination of Zyban and a nicotine patch. Zyban is an antidepressant that has been found to curb cigarette cravings. I took the Zyban for one week before my official quit date, which was the day I threw out the cigarettes and slapped on the patch. My quit day was a Monday and by Sunday, when I was smoking my last cigarette, I was already losing my taste for them. On Monday, I added the patch. The brand I was using came in three levels; I started with the highest level, which I wore for one month, then moved to the intermediate for another month, and the weakest for the last month. By the end of three months, I removed the patch, quit taking the Zyban, and turned 50-as a non smoker. That was two and a half years ago.
Did you make any other lifestyle changes?
Kelly: I started going to the gym, lifting weights and doing the ]]>stairclimber]]> , to avoid the weight gain that seems to be inevitable when quitting smoking.
And did you experience any weight gain or other effects?
Kelly: Despite exercising, I did gain about ten pounds, and it's taken me the past two and a half years to get rid of it. I don't go to the gym any more, instead I ]]>walk]]> several miles a day for exercise. I didn't have any other side effects.
What type of support did you receive from family and friends?
Kelly: I was pretty determined, so I didn't need to rely too much on other people for support. There are support groups for people using Zyban to quit, but I didn't participate in one. The RN from my doctor's office called me regularly to check on my progress. Also, my daughter gave up desserts while I was quitting, although when she first agreed to it, she thought the process was only one month not three! But she stayed away from sweets for the whole three months.
How difficult was it for you to quit?
Kelly: It was actually very easy. The Zyban really killed my taste for the cigarettes and I stayed out of situations where I would normally smoke. Although I did allow myself to cheat upon occasion, which I think was a big help. For me, knowing that I could have a cigarette if I really wanted one was sort of a psychological safety net. I don't think I could have quit if I could never again have another drag. My doctor said it was okay to have one once in a while, although not while I was on the patch.
And when you have an occasional cigarette, do you miss being a smoker?
Kelly: No. I don't enjoy smoking as I once did, and that first puff is awful on my lungs! My two best friends are still smokers, so I will occasionally have a cigarette when I'm with them, but I just don't have the desire or the taste for it anymore.
What costs were involved with quitting?
Kelly: My insurance company did not cover the Zyban, so the cost of this drug plus the nicotine patches amounted to $500. This monetary investment was another motivator for me. I also saved money from all the cigarettes I was not buying, and I put that money toward a trip to the Caribbean to celebrate my 50th birthday.
Would you recommend this method to other people trying to quit?
Kelly: Absolutely. This combination of medications worked great for me. But of course, you have to be motivated to quit for yourself, which I certainly was.
Editor's note: This method of smoking cessation may not work for everyone. Pharmaceutical aids for smoking cessation tend to work best when complimented by behavioral change strategies.


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One of the cool things about the Olympics is that you will meet people & at the time not realize how big of a deal it is till later on.
I have probably seen dozens of athletes pass me, unaware that they are something big in their country, or their sport. Funny enough, it happened to me with Canadians.
Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir won the 2010 Winter Olympics gold medals in Ice Dancing. Clearly a sport I dont follow & have no idea how its scored. But I knew by the attention the pair recieved upon arriving in Vancouver they must be special.
I watched them get interviewed & sign autographs afterwards, and these two youngsters (Virtue 20, Moir 22) were happy to sign & were pleasant in their interviews. Even with the Team Canada personnel squawking at them to get going, the pair graciously signed until nothing was left for them to sign.
When I heard they had won the Gold, I instantly thought "good for them, they deserve it". Even though I know nothing about their competition, I know they are good people. So to me, they deserve the success.
I didnt at the time think of doing a blog on them, because frankly, I didnt know much about them. But now that they have won, I felt I should at least post a few of the pics I got of them that day for you all to enjoy.
Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.
March 2010


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There's a hackneyed scientific description of what it means to touch things: your ass never actually "touches" a chair when you sit down, so it goes, but instead is repelled because of electrons that come up against each other. But is that really the case?
This episode of Minute Physics attempts to get to the—ahem—bottom of the issue. In reality, it boils down to exactly what we mean when we say "touch". Watch it and find out. [You Tube]


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To the Editor:
North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr, a self-defined fiscal conservative, has a lot of explaining to do. He recently rejected to extend unemployment benefits to millions of Americans because Democrats did not seek spending cuts to offset the $34 billion price tag. His position seemed to be logical and fair.
Burr's voting record paints a different picture. He voted for the 2001 Bush tax cuts that cost over $890 billion in lost revenue. He voted yes on another extensive tax cut in 2003. The two massive tax cuts for the wealthy have cost us over $2 trillion. He also voted for the Iraq War Resolution in 2002 that has cost over $900 billion. Burr voted yes on these measures without seeking to offset their costs with spending cuts.
A common sense fiscal conservative would tell you that you cannot cut taxes and increase spending if you want to keep the deficit under control. Burr even voted for TARP, which will end up costing us $109 billion.
His yes vote for TARP shows that he is not really a free-market conservative. He understands that the federal government has to intervene into the economy when it is necessary. I believe he made the right decision by voting for TARP, even though it was and still is extremely unpopular. Nearly every economist agrees that the bank bailout saved us from another depression. Now Congress and Burr need to address "too big to fail" to prevent another financial collapse.
Burr ended up voting against the stimulus package in 2009 in an attempt to showcase his conservative credentials and backtrack from his wayward support of TARP, but his voting record is difficult to hide.
As of July 15, Burr has $6.3 million to spend for his reelection campaign, and he might have to spend every dollar to convince North Carolinians that he is a true fiduciary. Challenger Elaine Marshall has $163,000 on hand to combat Burr this fall. It will be tough for Marshall to overcome Burr's big money, and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is somewhat responsible for this huge discrepancy since they refused to endorse her during the primaries. This is forcing her to play catch-up.
A 38 to 1 funding advantage may help Burr sleep peacefully at night, but a lot can happen before November. Elaine Marshall needs to give specific alternatives to Burr's supply-side economic policies that squandered Clinton's $230 billion budget surplus. Burr helped Bush double the deficit in eight years. Now he wants to portray himself as a fiscal conservative. We should not let him off so easily. Elaine Marshall may be far behind in fundraising, but Burr's record is her greatest weapon.
Chad Simons


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With all the tired caftans and tedious coverups floating around, it's a wonder people don't fall asleep just shopping for the beach. Real talk: Who decided that the beach has to be boring? Well, we've found at least one designer who won't bow to the dictums of sandy, narcoleptic fashion, and it should come as no surprise that it's Brooklyn-based Whitney Pozgay.
Sure, it's been a few since she punched a clock at Steven Alan (as head designer!), but we've noticed that her eponymous label Whit has stood steadily on at least one of the brand's best trade tricks: good tailoring, great clothes.
This season, Pozgay proves our makeshift motto right on several silhouettes. Set against a dreamy Coney Island backdrop, the ruched cap-sleeve dress and paneled frock pop as much as the pretty-girl basics, like the printed silk button-down and a pleated bell-mini. Luckily, Pozgay doesn't trade comfort for quality, so even the ubiquitous summer terry cloth comes with high design perks, including asymetrical hems and pockets that finish off the garments perfectly, just like they would a weekend vacay (awww!).
Scale the slideshow and get ready for a vacay!
Photo: Courtesy of Whit


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State CIO says the new law will help excite and engage citizens in developing solutions around government data.
On July 3, 2013, Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie took a step toward increasing government transparency and accountability in the state -- he signed into law House Bill (HB) 632, now Act 263, which requires Executive Branch departments to make electronic data sets publicly available. And this, says CIO Sonny Bhagowalia, takes the Aloha State to "the next level" when it comes to open data.
"This is a big initiative to increase public awareness and access to data and information created by and available from the state departments and agencies to all the citizens," he said, "so they can help enhance government accountability and transparency."
Bhagowalia says the new law also is intended to encourage public engagement and stimulate the creation of useful apps that people need in their daily lives.
"I think our policy here on open data is sort of catching Hawaii up to this new incredible wave of transformation and innovation," he added, "and it's a testament to the governor's vision of transforming government, creating a sustainable economy and developing a workforce in the state."
But prior to passing the new open data law, data sets on the portal were provided voluntarily by departments and agencies. Currently there are 200-plus data sets available on the portal, but many more are on there way, thanks to the new open data law.
"This act is going to take it to the next level of involvement," Bhagowalia said. "We now have a great forum to provide our services and really excite the public about what we want to do."
He said the open data law is another tool to help the State Office of Information Management and Technology change the way Hawaii approaches technology and business practices across the entire enterprise -- a goal that's spelled out in the office's 12-year technology transformation plan.
"These services will be online, so [citizens] will be able to look at that data, get more confident about their government, and get information they can use," he said. "All this will help data.hawaii.gov get some new energy and start to really come up with stuff that we can use."
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At first it may not sound like a big deal to organizations in the U.S. or Western Europe, but in fact the new cyber-reconnaissance malware discovered by CyberX may be a much bigger threat than it first appears.
This new malware, which researchers at CyberX call Operation BugDrop is designed to sit quietly on computers throughout an organization and record everything heard by the microphone built into or attached to a computer.
Every day the BugDrop malware sends the sound files to a Dropbox file, where it's uploaded to the hackers for further analysis. Once the BugDrop malware infects an organization, it effectively turns every computer into a bug that in some ways is far more effective than if intelligence operatives had actually planted bugs in the same offices.
The reason it's so effective is that the computer itself is the bug. Attempts to sweep an office for bugs would fail because the bug is the computer not hidden elsewhere in office.
Further reading
The software also takes other steps to avoid detection. Because it exfiltrates audio recording data it avoids detection by looking like legitimate traffic. The software encrypts the DLLs it installs as a way to avoid detection by antivirus software.
It's installed using a phishing attack followed by what appear to be legitimate Microsoft Office messages that are designed to make sure that the computer user enables macros that facilitate malware installation.
Next the malware installs a main downloader that's obfuscated to avoid detection by AV software. Then it installs a key into the computer's registry. The registry key makes sure that the software will run when the computer is restarted. The malware itself is installed using DLL injection, a technique that loads the malware as part of the process of loading legitimate software, which again hides it from anti-malware software.
BugDrop also avoids detection by using the public cloud service Dropbox to receive the surveillance data. This works because many organizations consider Dropbox traffic to be normal activity and they don't block it.
While the BugDrop malware is primarily intended to capture audio conversations, it can also search for and steal a wide variety of document types as well as steal passwords and other information from browsers. The specific activities of each malware infection can be tailored to match the targeted individual, which is known because the phishing emails that brought the malware into the computer were also specifically targeted.
When it loads the malware first checks for the existence of software that would expose it, such as some types of anti-malware software, and for activity monitors such as WireShark. The exfiltrated data is encrypted before it's sent to Dropbox.


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There are no Upcoming Shows listed for this comedian.
Tim Wilson
Tim Wilson, a Capitol recording artist. Born in Georgia, this southerner draws you in with his gentle drawl. He first emerged as a comedic talent in elementary school, when his teacher referred to him as a "natural" just when she was handing him a detention slip. After graduating high school, he took up the call of comedy and has been pursuing a career ever since. His first break came when he won a Cinemax stand up competition and a prize spot at "Catch a Rising Star" comedy club in New York.
Tim Wilson's Upcoming Shows
Tim Wilson is Known For
|Bob and Tom Show


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Fertility – Growth – New beginnings – Creation – Seeding manifestation
Experimental urges.
Desire to be free of old patterns and beliefs.
Driven by the awareness of a need for change. Take a risk. Try something new.
Plant a new seed of some intention, project, or dream.
Network. Make new contacts, reconnect with others.
Stagnation. Doing things the way you've always done them.
Being overwhelmed with possibilities.
Feelings of insecurity. "My world is fine the way it is," or "I can't do that," or "I'm just fine the way I am," or "I feel too inadequate."
Choosing to remain safe at the expense of awakening and new growth.
Waiting for someone or something else to "do it for you."


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By Lisa Desjardins, CNN
Missoula, Montana (CNN) -– As the nation wrestles over who will occupy the White House for the next four years, Montana is in the midst of a fierce battle over 100 years worth of campaign finance law. And what happens in the Treasure State could set the tone for the future of campaign funding around the country.
On Election Day, voters in Montana will decide on a ballot initiative that would direct each of their elected officials to push for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The amendment would allow states to ban corporate funding of campaigns and set sharp limits on the money individuals can donate to candidates.
It is a test of government control over campaign spending versus corporate influence over candidates.
For a century, Montana has had some of the toughest limits on campaign funding in the country. That has its origins in the 19th century when copper barons openly bought politicians and ran mining operations that left pollution and scars across the state. Outcries led to sweeping reform, including a ban on corporations funding campaigns in the state.
That ban was overturned 100 years later, in June, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Montana's law limited free speech rights of corporations, pointing to the court's earlier decision in Citizens United.
Now a group called "Stand with Montanans" fears that, without a Constitutional amendment, well-heeled mining corporations can again take over the state's government.
CB Pearson, treasurer for Stand with Montanans:
[4:24] "We're never going to be able to compete in that arena with the corporations. They have so much money, they can buy political outcomes in elections like they buy lumber or they buy other sorts of merchandise."
On the other side, an advocacy group named the American Tradition Partnership, is campaigning against the ballot initiative and has launched sweeping lawsuits against most of Montana's campaign finance laws. The group lists its mission as fighting "extreme environmentalists" and pushing for natural resource development. But it does not disclose its sponsors.
Jim Brown, attorney for American Tradition Partnership:
[5:52] "The assertion that people are trying to buy elections or buy politicians is absurd. As American citizens we retain the right to case our ballots for who we want. No corporation or third-party group can control who we vote for."
Listen to our story for more on the American Tradition Partnership and its arguments as well as the potential environmental fears of their opponents.
Ya know, folks; anyone who would vote for that sack of feces, mitt romney and paul "GILLIGAN" ryan is simply ignorant. Debate or not, I just do not see the sloth mitt romney and his Gilligan's Island, first mate, in the White House. That would be worse than george walker bush back in the White House.
A sorry, self righteous, corrupt, lying, hypocritical and bigoted republiCON will say anything, do anything and stoop to ANY LOW to get their way. The life-long dream of this den of vipers (known as the gop), is to make ONLY TWO classes of US citizens; THE VERY RICH and THE VERY POOR. Then the very rich will then make slaves out of the very poor, having them do the "dirty work' that they do not want to do. That is why republiCONS want Mexicans to come to the USA; it is because they will do jobs that American republiCONS do not want to do (like shovel feces from a barn).
These sorry lying republiCONS WILL NOT REST until they achieve this goal. They have been working on this dream since the mid 1800's when slavery was abolished. Why do you think the entire civil war rebel states are republiCON states ??? Makes you think doesn't it ???
Also, the sloth republiCON, mitt romney, is a member of the mormon CULT !!! Read about the founder of the mormon cult, the corrupt joseph smith, sometime when you have time to waste. This sorry satanic angel had a kinky sexual affair WITH A 14 YEAR OLD GIRL and made her quite pregnant, while still married to his first wife. This made him a PEDOPHILE and an ADULTERER !!! He was also SHOT IN THE HEAD, trying to escape an anti-polygamist raid on his mormon CULT compound in the late 1800's by the local law enforcement !!! This made him a POLYGAMIST !!!
The sloth mitt romney and his sorry "gilligan" first mate (all needed is the sailor's hat) are bound and determined to JOIN CHURCH AND STATE INTO UNHOLY MATRIMONY !!! They want this to enable the elimination (the kill off) of all the Gay Community and anyone else their self righteous selves want to get rid of. Just last week I read an article about the slime ball, george fuqua (arkansas republiCON government stench), who said he believed in LETHAL INJECTION FOR UNRULY CHILDREN !!! Can you believe that ??? Also, a lot of the ignorant republiCON followers, truly believe that romney will change the ABORTION LAWS....HAHAHAHAHA (I can't stop laughing)...LOLOLOL !!! The republiCONS have had a president and full majority in senate and in the house MANY TIMES and ABORTION is still the same as it was when it was made legal many years ago !!! RepubliCONS are LIARS and corrupt evil angels of SATAN HIMSELF !!! This is the kind of world the self righteous, lying, religious zealot, republiCONS want to make for us; a world where the CHURCH RULES !!!
IS THIS THE KIND OF LIFE YOU WANT TO LIVE IN AMERICA ????? I say NO to self righteous corruption like this !!!
You are a bigoted, illiterate, racist hate monger.
Just a Bunch of "SOCIALIST GARBAGE".....
You'd be much Happier living in Europe but also much poorer but then again you can join all those with their "Hands Out"...
Give Me Capitalism & Freedom any day of the week....
Please take this a step further and pass wholesale campaign finance reform please. Dissallow all campaign contributions from everyone and limit PACs as well. The whole thing has gotten out of control. If they were to keep people from conitributing to politicians' campaigns, the legislature would probably get stuff accomplished and eliminate all of the crap we hate. This would make our country stronger, where politicians were required to appease their constituents instead of playcating those who contribute the most to their campaign.
NONE of this will work unless All The UNIONS are also included in this Reform.....
But I'll betcha all those in favor of pushing this type of Campaign Finance reform want the UNIONS exempted in order for it to Favor the Democrats 'BIG TIME'...
Hopefully people will see this for what it is & won't play the "FOOL" to the Democrats again...
It's a POWER GRAB plain and simple...
I see a couple problems with this:
Will they also ban unions?
What about super pacs?
If you only allow funding through the traditional parties, how are you ever going to get a decent candidate?
Frankly, we need at the very least a threat of a 3rd party to get the Democrats and Republicans to start working for the people and not themselves.
private prisons have the AZ legislature under its thumb...heck they got them to steal half the the homeowner funds for AZ and give it to them AND eliminate the law meant to ensure what they were given was good for tax payers! Now its going to cost tax payers in AZ 10 million dollars EXTRA a year to fund these things we dont even need! Greedy corporations, the Cancer that is killing America!
LMAO for that guy to say corporations arent buying elections, makes me wonder what he smokes when he gets up in the morning.
I like do like Aaron's idea of EQUAL speech... another idea would be to have ONLY publicly financed campaigns with a prohibition of any outside money. The best way, or the easiest way to facilitate a publicly financed system would be an expansion or a modification of the current option (which is a check box on your tax return) that increases the contribution amount to say... $10 or $20, and like the current provision does NOT reduce the amount of your tax refund. Insofar as we all have a bonafide stake in our democratic society and an inferred interest in assuring same into perpetuity it would pose no burden on most anyone and give a voice to those who may not have financial resources to run for elected office.
Thank you Montana!!
I remember hearing the court ruling on this subject. It took place in the same week as Affordable Care Act and Arizona's Immigration laws were decided by the court. I thought it was a big blow to the "real" people of this country that corporations could (and do) spend unlimited amounts of money on elections. Buying up politicians, funding Super PACs, and even threatening their employees to vote this/that way "or else" is simply outrageous. It boggles my mind why "real" people would allow this in the country that they inherited, that they will pass on to the next generation.
Why would it be OK for money to equal "voice?" So if I earn $50K per year, but my neighbor earns double that, that entitles him/her to have twice as much "voice" as me? And that scenario can be swapped: another neighbor earning $25K per year has half the "voice" I have? Seniors living off of retirement and SS may earn a whopping $10K, entitling them to 1/5 of my voice. This just isn't right.
And what about this: we all had to wait to turn 18 (or 21) to vote and gain countless other rights as citizens. How old do corporations have to be in order to benefit this way? I would imagine, the same day of incorporation, right?
Montana, go get 'em!!! Inspire the rest of the country and our elected representation to hear what "real" people have to say about the subject.
Montana is a throw-away state with almost no population and therefore almost no electoral votes.
please ignore my previous comment. I based it off the headline and then realized what the article was really about..
Excuse me? I live in Montana. Lots of people live in Montana. A throw-away state? I don't consider any state a throw away state. And we a strong history of some very democratic traditions, including restricting campaign financing, because we've been there with corporations...like a hundred years ago. What an attitude you have! So is Alaska a throw away state too? Awfully big to toss if you ask me.
couldnt agree more!! No state is a throw away state, each vote counts. Even mine in Oklahoma "yes a registered democrat, we do exist in oklahoma".
I like how most on the left scream about corporations giving money but fail to say anything about Unions giving money. Just look at what has happened to California, not caused by coprate money.
I like how the right whines about unions or anything that allows individuals a chance against multi-billion dollar corporations who essentially buy government votes. Funny you mention California. There is a ballot measure called Prop 32 that says it is "Campaign Finance Reform" and disallows unions from any sort of lobbying or political commercials. It specifically does not affect SuperPACs, oil companies, Big Tobacco, banks, investment companies. Guess who is sponsoring the bill? SuperPACs, oil companies, big tobacco, etc.
Unions are the only thing that allow Joe Average a chance to be heard of the millions of dollars big companies throw at politicians. Look who the GOP has demonized this election: teachers, scientists, blue collar workers (with their pesky unions), civil servants, immigrants, veterans. These are the people that actually built America. But to the GOP they scum, lazy, losers. At the same time they want to remove laws that keep an eye on banks, Wall Street, big oil, fracking companies like Haliburton (Who needs clean drinking water? Just buy bottled.). Remember the GOP wanted to apologize to BP (for the citizens of the gulf getting all their seafood into BP's nice clean oil). They want foreign companies to be able to spend anonymously to buy elections (but unions shouldn't be allowed to put out a single tv ad). And of course this comes all from Fox News- the only 100% foreign-owned broadcaster in the U.S. So every time a "patriot" repeats some term (like "Communism") that he heard but doesn't understand, I die a little. The guy probably belongs to that astroturf Tea Party (100% invent by Fox and billionaire industrialists) without knowing he is doing the work of a Saudi Royal Prince whose only goal in life is to get the U.S. to take Saudi Arabia's oil competitor. Let's see, Iraq has been set back a decade in oil production, now their next target is Iran. Gee, ever wonder why Fox is constantly talking about going to war with Iran? Or why they still perpetuate the myth about WMDs in Iraq even after Bush admitted there were none? But, hey, you're a "patriot" right? You only do what a Saudi-owned fake news station and it's invented political party tell you to do. That sure sounds like a "free-thinking" American.
Bingo! A better explanation I have never found, Bravo.
Thanks Bob, you said it in a nutshell...
I have 5 teachers in my family and none of them are Democrats. So where does that leave them? Forced to pay union dues to support political views they don't agree with.
So how do your teacher relatives like the Republican party's constant bashing of their profession and insistence that teacher's are part-time hacks sucking the teats of big government? Completely absurd that a teacher would be a republican.
On the surface we should all agree to ban corporate money from influencing elections. The analogy that guns don;t kill people, people kill people. If people vote to have corporations be the rule of law, its because people so decided. Again, we can't purify the heart of man – it is evil from its foundation. So when we vote we tell all of who and what we desire.
"So when we vote we tell all of who and what we desire." No we don't. We only choose a candidate and they are the ones we hope will reflect 'all of who and what we desire' is reflected in their actions while in congress.
when sending this link to PA representatives and senators I expanded the suggestion as follows . . .
ALL organizations (i.e. any non individual / citizen) should be prohibited from contributing to political entity or at least limited to the same limit to be applied as follows. Individuals should have a reasonable dollar limit imposed per any donation to a political entity. (even then some will no doubt find a way to cheat in order to obtain undue influence but this is a good start)
Organizations should be able to coordinate and solicit donations from like minded citizens to provide combined support to political entities – still maintaining a reasonable dollar limit per contributing individual.
Only then can we return to a more fair representation of the people, for the people, and by the people.
Thank you Montana!
You'll note that the ruling for citizens united did not require Truth... There was a time not that many years ago about equal time on public airwaves. This equal time insured that both sides of subject were presented to voters so that they could make up their minds. This is now gone... Next corporations which cannot be drafted, do not say the pledge, cannot be tossed in Jail, are not human somehow have equal speech rights and worse that money is in fact speech. God Bless the people in Mt for attempting to correct this wrong... Won't happen, but God Bless them for trying. The republican wrecking crew will never allow this action to happen.
ALL organizations (ie any non individual citizen) should be prohibited from contributing to political entity. And individuals should have a reasonable dollar limit imposed per any political entity. Only then can we return to a fair representaion of the people, for the people, and by the people. Thank you Montana!
Very nice audio article.
I have an idea. Let us not limit free speech. But the problem that we are trying to address is facilitating EQUAL speech. The problem with corporations and super PACs is that they have the money to flood the airwaves with their speech/point-of-view, where as the party with opposing interest doesn't.
If I had the power, I would modify the legislation to say that if a corporation or any person has the money to fill the airwaves with their point of view, and if there is any other person or a group that has an opposing view and this group/person can prove that he/it doesn't have the money to promote that view, the corporation with money, has to provide the opposing party an equal amount of money to promote the opposing view as well. That way, there is EQUAL voice on both sides and the people can now decide which one they want to choose.
Here's one Monana vote for limits on campaign spending. There's enough corruption in politics already.
stand with montanna on this one. Corpoations are not people. Hope this passes and it opens the door to get rid of the super pacs. They have ruined our elections and made a mockery of democracy. Forward. Vote Obama or you will see more conservitive judges on the supereme court making laws that will take the rights away from people.
Time to sweep the unhinged GOBP tea potty out of the government that they hate so much.
Here's an Idea. Let's do to corporations what they do to us. We have to take drug tests to work there (violation of the 4th amendment) and have to sign away our lives to use a computer program these days. So lets turn that around. Corps might be people but they have no right to exist. Articles of incorporation that limit liability are not a constitutional right. So lets remove it. Let's remove the liability shield on corps so that people harmed by them can sue the CEO and the board of directors.
Now we can put the libaility clase back into a section that also says they agree not to engage in campaing financing.... so there ya go, no rights violated. THey can buy all the elections they want but they get no liabiliy shield, or they can have the liability sheild and not buy campains.
Wont solve the indivual problem like soros or the koch brothers but still it's a start.
Believe me I am no fan of big corporations and I hope that they are declared "nonpersons" eventually, preferably through a Constitutional amendment or, if not, then at least by the Supreme Court reversing itself. However, you claim that corporations violate the Fourth Amendment by requiring drug tests is false. The Constitution applies to the GOVERNMENT; it does not regulate industry or what happens in the private sector. That is done through legislation. Your Constitutional civil liberties are prohibitions against the GOVERNMENT doing certain things. The GOVERNMENT cannot conduct unreasonable searches and seizures. Your employment for a company that conducts drug testing is voluntary; you do not have to work there if you do not wish to submit to a drug test. Your employment is voluntary.
where's my gun. shoot'em while you see'em
OBAMA, BIDEN. and AXELROD, excuse their mishandling of the Libya debacle, by blaming the intelligence community for failing to provide proper and timely information ... George Bush invaded Iraq, based on improper intelligence regarding WMD's in Iraq's arsenal ... however Obama, Biden, and Axelrod never accepted that excuse ... in fact, they crucified George Bush for FOUR YEARS, ad nauseum, in response to his using that explanation.
Not that it will matter to you, I'll still point out that the Obama administration's response was judged long before anyone (including Mitt Romney) knew exactly what was going on. Bush's debacle went on for many months before any admission of error was announced. You're comparing grapes to wine. You also compare a mistake that cost us some dear American lives in Libya to one that put us at war for years and cost tens of thousands of lives, including thousands of US soldiers in Iraq. Nice try though.
Not only that but think of the number of Americans who died based on Bush's 'intelligence failing' vs. the number of folks who died in the Libyan attack. Bush deserved far more scorn for his mishandling of the Iraq invasion that Obama does for Libya,
Senator Linsey Graham and all other critics of Obama's handling of the Libya consulate matter should push Romney to release ten years of Income taxes to prove he's ot hiding anything from the tax man. No trust should be given since Romney hasn't earned it. Romney saying American citizens have a right to know about Libya goes hand in hand with American citizens have a right to know what Romny is hiding from the public by not showing ten years of tax returns as his daddy did! Hey, Romney! Hey Ryan! No details, no information, no tax returns, no trust of the people, no votes from me!
Sure.....right after obama releases his college transcripts.
Candidates are never asked to release college transscripts and most have not. It is not common at all to do. Romney hasn't released his. Bush and Gore didn't release theirs (although someone found them and released them even though whoever gave them to the press violated federal law). EVERY presidental candidate since Romney's father has released tax returns.
Try comparing apples to apples.
It figures, Obama put the Birthers to rest, so now they want something else that no other president or presidential candidate proviede.
So cheating on your taxes and possible committing crimes (an IRA with $100 Million)...and possibly having poor college grades are the same thing? Seriously? I don't even get how these things are even mentioned in the same sentence.
So, they're running a secretly funded campaign to legalize secretly funded campaigns. Next step, secret candidates! Just vote a straight ticket and the winner will be named by the winning party. After that, secret elections!
When the government fails to protect its citizens it's up to the citizens to protect themselves. All 50 states should have had such a ballot measure in 2012. The movement has begun and the people will eventually prevail.
The reality is we were supposed to have campaign reform in 1994. Rember the Contract On America and at the top of that list was campaign reform. Unfortunately the public bought it and let the gop control Congress. As soon as fig newton & the boys were in charge suddenly it was on the back burner. It woudl be too difficult and the country ahd too many pressing issues. Roll forward to SCOTUS ruling that corporations which do not live, breathe or have a pulse are now "people" who can spend as much on campaigns as possible to buy their candidate.
Romney + Karl Rove + Rush Limbaugh + Grover Norquist + super rich + $uperPACs = 1%
Corporate greed destroyed the world economy in 2008.
Republicans want it to happen again.
You got that right:
The so-called handouts that people are receiving to help with economic woes, is used increasingly to help cushion the blow of the last 10-15 years of the rising cost of living. It's going to take more time to repair the damages of two wars, far more than four years. I think we are on the right track just as we are. No need to change hands over to a gamble. All political parties are needed to help brainstorm numerous ways to alleviate the inevitable problems ahead. Why aren't they doing this? Why are voters accepting these mud-slinging dog fights? Everyone should be fed up with politics that only kiss rich ass.
When Bain took over a corporation, loaded it with debt, raided its pension fund, and laid off the workers, was it legitimate rape?
Bain generally took over corporations that were heavy in debt, some facing bankruptcy. Bain saved most of these companies and also many US jobs.
As has been stated before, I'll believe corporations are people when Texas executes one.
"People are corporations my friend" Mitt Romney 2012... If corporations are "People", where are the positions/statuses of citizens, voters, workers, etc... "Second Class" serfs of the feudal "Company Store"? Romney has a "Plantation" view of economics and considers employees as "Share Planter" renters on the "Lords" land. That' a prefect definition of a Oligarchy and it is coming our way through the R/R tax plan. More doubling down on "Trickle Down" Reaganomics and put the homeowner out on the streets.
923 Executive Orders in 40 Months During my lifetime, all Presidents have issued Executive Orders, for reasons that vary, some more than others. When a President issued as many as 30 Executive Orders during a term in Office, people thought there was something amiss. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT 923 EXECUTIVE ORDERS IN ONE PART OF ONE TERM?????? YES, THERE IS A REASON. IT IS THAT THIS PRESIDENT IS DETERMINED TO TAKE CONTROL AWAY FROM THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE AND BYPASS ANY RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY THE CONSTITUTION.
There is no truth the number 923. Try about a 140.
Sorry Howard. The reason the President must sign these Executive Orders (about 150 of them) is because he has no other choice to keep government running. Mitch McConnell in the Senate and John Boehner in the House have SWORN TO BLOCK every major initiative, about 97% of all the Bills and Federal appointments, including judges and the federal budget deadlines that have reaped havoc on our economy and hurt U.S. families and workers. You probably missed that. They also blocked the (2.5 million) Jobs Act and dozens of other measures that would have helped U.S.citizens and the ecomomy. Why? Because, as McConnell said, "Defeating Barack Obama is our number one mission". You may have missed that too. When opposing forces (Neo-Con's and Tea Bagger congressmen) obstruct the business of government, you lose your voice to negotiate better deals for your side. You also lose votes from Independents like me, who see this obstructionist manuvering as reckless, and childish behavior. Me? I'm providing transportation to the polls for nursing home bound Obama supporters. These are the Greatest Generation voters that you say shouldn't vote because they no longer have driver's lincense photo ID's. See you at the polls, sucka!
Put down the Kool-Aid, Howard and take a deep breath. Obviously, you're a tool of the Tea Party/Republicans. If you're going to post, please have the common decency to check your facts and figures before doing so.
You're entitled to your own opinion; you are NOT entitled to your own facts.
Get back on your meds, Howard.
If I live in Montana, you would have my vote for the amendment too!! You go Montanans, this is what a Democratic Republic is all about!!! It's no coincidence the opposition group conceals their funding too....
Blast Fitness centers in texas are only allowing Fx News on their televisions!!!! just like all those ceo's emailing their employees and staff to vote for repubs or else....our country is really stinking nuts when the folks with the power and $$$$$ take these extremes.
Hey Jude... Did you hear Texas is changing their state motto? It's now, "We're Ignert Facists, and Right Proud of It!" My neighbor just got it on his Lexus' vanity license plate! But if you think THAT's bad, consider poor Oklahoma where all 77 counties (100%) voted for Sarah Palin and what's-his-name in 2008! New public health statistics show that life expectancy for men in Oklahoma is actually DECLINING rather than rising, because of no affordable healthcare, or no healthcare at all. Just like a third world country! Gee, do you think there's a link here???? Plus poor Oklahoma vote's in Jim Inhofe to the Senate each year. Jim's an "Oily" who thinks the Earth is 3,000 years old, that science is Tom Foolery, that Exxon-Mobil is a person just like grandma, and that life begins with erection. Poor Oklahoma... Poor Texas... The 1% have spent alot of money to create an army of intellectually challenged bubbas to vote the way they want them to vote. What's best for the 1% is best of all, by God!
Your absolutely RIGHT Mr. Nowell...with the corporate backing of the politicians in this state, we are at the mercy of the ranchers, corporations and MAJOR contributions from hunters and trappers! As a result this state is no longer a SAFE state for the average citizen...not to mention the wildlife and lands that have been decimated by these power/money hungry entities. IT IS CRITICAL THAT MONTANA BE PROTECTED! IT IS TIME THEY LOSE CONTROL OF OUR GOVERNMENT...ALL THE WAY TO THE WHITE HOUSE!!!
The only people ruining hunting are the greedy landowners who whore out their land to the highest bidding guide and ban a grandpa trying to take his grandson out for his first deer. Oh, and of course the people that forced us to take in Canadian wolves who are decimating our elk, deer, and moose populations.
I think it is time to give the real election process back to the people of the USA.
It is time to remove the special interest groups, corporations and super PAC contributors from our process. It is they who influence our elections by the sheer enormity of the money they pump in to campaigns. It is they and their money that has turned our election process in to the laughing stock of the world.
Since the Super Pacs are not required to tell where the money comes from, It leaves me to assume the worst; China, Russia, the mobs etc.
The Supreme Court ruled in June and overturned a 100 year old law, that Montana's law limited free speech rights of corporations.
What a bunch of hogwash that is. People within a corporation have the rights of free speech but I do not believe that corporations should be in the same class. Again it seems like it is a case of large corporations buying a decision from our supreme court.
It is time to take our process back. I hope Montanans approve this bill. It could be the start for the rest of us.
Now for Term Limits!!!!
"People are corporations my friend" Mitt Romney 2012
They are correct. The way to fight big money influence is through legislation, ideally a consitutional amendment. This year its the Kochs buying a presidency. Who will it be the buyer next time? China? Saudi Arabia? Once big money is in control, there is not much we will be able to do about it.
I have a new respect for the people of Montana. They are putting it on the ballot and more should follow just that simple process. A bad decision at the federal level (SCOTUS) must always be questioned fairly. Remember it is only the people that can correct legislated errors if that is what they are while courts just affirm or object to the legislation as written and the courts must respect the legislation of the people.
Montanans would have no need for this is we didn't have a fascist majority on the Supreme Court. They SHOULD be backing Obama so that that majority doesn't get even WORSE.
Go for it Montana!
You have the right idea!
To CNN and Listners, I cant see how its fair, not to disclose who the contributors to any campaing fund, heck for all we know, China may be the contributor.Also, it may be an agenda to poision our lands, people and animals,and all life here in America, and at the same time extract our gold and all other precious metals and other resources, sending them to who knows where.I mean , really, you all at CNN require disclosure of whos sending in comments, right?In fact this subject must be so touchy, that on my com, it shows "no responses" yet on this subject. Im a simple man, with simple solutions, that in my simple mind ,I, at least govern what I think and say, by , "fairness, reasonability, honesty, integrity", these obviosly are tenets that have been grossly overlooked, and suppressed over the last 100 years, when it comes to corporate greed, governmental workings behind the backs of the people that they claim to "represent", and most dealings with foriegn entities.Mabey naive of me to say, but the damage is done to prove that the old way of doing buisness in the world isnt the right way.At the same time , our economy depends so heavily on these corporations anymore that to hammer fist them in to shutting down isnt an option either. To me, the answer is simple, "disclosure of contributors, or ban them all from contributing at all", and the enviromental destruction to all lands for resources, well, plain and simple, "force the corporations to completely restore all worked lands back to original condition",, and the resources, ,we all want these resources to benifit "WE the People, as well as create wealth for corporations and investors", lets decide to run our buisnesses in a fair way, say, 50%, to the restoration of our lands and benifits to our people, 25 % to the corporations to divide as they see fit, and the rest to the Gubment, to pay off their outrageous spending extremes that presidents like Obama, and even others have accrued. Thing is , the back room deals have to stop, and the majority can agree on this, as well as the rest.I for one dont think a communist approach to the nationalizing of natioal,natural resources, is feasible. Look at the countries that have tried, they are mostly waste lands now.Uninhabitable. Who wants that?When the rich investors finally realize that they too, will have to wear the enviromental suit, and gas mask, just to live and breathe, and that money alone dont buy them life and happiness in the long run, it will be too late.A whole economy needs to be started, that is dedicated to land restoration.But, at the same time, not completly at the expense of just the upper crust of the rich, they tend , as always to just ignore, walk away,or duck and avoid,with lawyers, the real issues and problems, all need to contribute,and join in physically the hard work that is at hand.All People.With, money, time and hands on effort.Like that cesspool in Montana, the worst of the worst. Here in Florida, we have acid lakes, created by the phosphate mines , that are so toxic, that to fall into would almost certainly mean death. I suggested that why cant we create those lakes into giant , clean batteries?Just a suggestion , of the way of thinking that we need to persue, to help, and to use what we have.Truly making lemonade out of lemons. Not charging admission to a spectale, that is a total cop out. Cant anyone see it like I do?
Well said!
-Remember folks, corporations are NOT people. They do NOT have the same rights as a citizen!
Corporation have no loyalty towards any government , or people.


text:
I'm not sure how I did it, but I think I'm mostly ready for Christmas. Not entirely, as I have a good bit of food shopping and prepping to do. But, otherwise, not doing too bad. The house is a bit upside-down in places, and we're still missing some things in boxes. But, I don't care! It's okay. I've come to see that our children are so happy and enjoying the simple things of Christmas, like making our Gingerbread Folks, playing with friends in our house, and decorating the tree all on their own... that that's what the holidays are about. Not having the house in tip-top order and decorated in some immaculate fashion as if Martha is coming for dinner. Because she ain't!
More's the pity for her, because our Christmas dinner is not just "a good thing", it's fabulous! And, those of you that have been with me for these last six years of blogging already know my traditional Christmas dinner. I've been making it since hubby and I were first married. I thought "why go to our parents for dinner when I can host and invite them for dinner?". It made sense, because being vegan we wanted to celebrate with a full vegan dinner, and our parents were getting older and making those big dinners is a helluva lot of work, and it's a good feeling to give them a break.
My menu is based on flavors and ingredients that were (somewhat) traditional from my childhood. I say somewhat because there are parts of my Newfoundland food heritage that I didn't care for and don't try to preserve (salt beef, boiled cabbage). But, the elements I loved - like dried savory in a moist breadcrumb based 'dressing' I did love. So, I have reinvented some dishes in more compassionate, healthy - and flavorful ways, plus added my own menu components. Indeed, both my mom and my parents-in-law have said that our vegan dinner is tastier than their traditional turkey dinners (and that they feel better after eating it).
Our parents are both in Newfoundland while we live in BC. It's too bad, because I always enjoyed sharing this big feast with them. But, we do share the meal with my older sister, her husband, and their (now grown) son. So, the tradition continues. Our menu includes:
Phyllo Rolls w/ Rawesome Nut DipMain Dish
First off, we don't do Tofurky. I'm not criticizing Tofurky. It's a good alternative for people that want something that resembles that main dish on Christmas. But for us, we became vegan before these alternatives were available. We didn't try to replicate meat in the beginning, and so now we don't look for those meaty replacements. Our main dish uses phyllo pastry (and you can buy whole-wheat and spelt-based versions). Either a layered phyllo casserole (which looks so pretty!) or phyllo rolls. I've played with fillings, originally I used the Spiced Mushroom Phyllo Pie recipe from TEV. More recently, I've made my Rawesome Nut Dip from ed&bv, and tucked that inside the phyllo. It is very easy to prepare, and tastes delicious inside those flaky pastry layers. This year, I'm thinking of making the filling from my Festive Chickpea Tart to layer in the phyllo. Might double the batch to make extra rolls!
"All-Dressed Squash"
I know there are regional differences whether you call it stuffing or dressing. We called it dressing growing up, and it will always be that for me. But, why stuff a bird-bum when you can stuff a gorgeous, fresh winter squash? Butternut, kabocha, red kuri... take your pick, then stuff it silly! (Plus, you can always make extra stuffing and bake in a covered dish.)
For years I made my Mushroom Gravy from TEV. Last year I used my new recipe, Rosemary Gravy, that will be LTEV. It is SO easy. Not that the mushroom gravy is difficult, just requires some chopping. But, it's still delicious, and worth making... until you get the Rosemary Gravy for next year!
Side Vegetables The side veggies might be my favorite! My secret is roasting the root veggies, not boiling. Growing up, our parents boiled the veggies. Just sucked all the flavor out and made them mush. And, you needed plenty of butter and gravy to make them taste like anything! Roasting concentrates the flavors and caramelizes the natural sugars for the best flavors in your root veggies. The pureed roasted rutabega are spectacular, with cinnamon added like my mom used to do. :) And, then we have pureed roasted sweet potatoes, roasted parsnip/fennel/carrots/shallots. And, sometimes I'll do a mashed potatoes for the girls as they love them!
Greens: I either to a fresh mixed greens salad, kept very simple with some thinly sliced red pepper, cucumber, green onions, and pomegranate seeds, and topped with a sprightly dressing (like Lemon Zinger Dressing from Vive), or some sauteed kale or collards. I tend to prefer the mixed greens for this meal, just to add some fresh, non-cooked veggeis to the menu.
Cranberry Sauce
Roasted Pureed Sweet Potatoes
Can't forget the cranberry sauce. Forget ocean spray, it takes mere minutes to make your own fresh cranberry sauce using the simplest of ingredients. My Traditional Cranberry Sauce is easy and excellent, try it!
Egg-Nog Ice Cream Pie
w/ Butter Rum Sauce
photo: gemusings.wordpress.com
Missing out with a vegan Christmas dinner? I think not! Get the recipes here. I hope you make some (or all)! and enjoy with your loved ones.
Merry Christmas everybody! xo