text:
"Chapel Hill Denham has a unique atmosphere where it is very professional and also very relaxed. We have a pretty flat structure where everyone is approachable which makes it easy to learn and also fun to work. We work on some of the most complex transactions and our hands-on approach makes the experience even more rewarding." – Muhammad, Investment Banking "The work environment at Chapel Hill Denham is very warm and friendly. This made it easy for me to learn quickly because I could approach people and ask as many questions as I wanted. I'd love to come back here in the future." – Opeyemi, Research Intern "We work on a wide range of transactions, and this creates opportunities to acquire and hone technical and creative skills. Also, the hands-on approach among Investment Officers makes us feel responsible and valued. I am happy to say that I was offered a full-time role after my internship. Chapel Hill Denham is definitely the right place to be for great career opportunities.'' – Folashade, Investment Banking "I started my career in Chapel Hill Denham 4 years ago and it has been an enriching and exhilarating experience so far. Our vast client base has given me the right amount of exposure to the international business world. It is motivating to work in a company that values my contribution and encourages and assists in my self-development and career advancement" – Ariowa, Securities Trading
"Chapel Hill Denham has a unique atmosphere where it is very professional and also very relaxed. We have a pretty flat structure where everyone is approachable which makes it easy to learn and also fun to work. We work on some of the most complex transactions and our hands-on approach makes the experience even more rewarding." – Muhammad, Investment Banking
"The work environment at Chapel Hill Denham is very warm and friendly. This made it easy for me to learn quickly because I could approach people and ask as many questions as I wanted. I'd love to come back here in the future." – Opeyemi, Research Intern
"We work on a wide range of transactions, and this creates opportunities to acquire and hone technical and creative skills. Also, the hands-on approach among Investment Officers makes us feel responsible and valued. I am happy to say that I was offered a full-time role after my internship. Chapel Hill Denham is definitely the right place to be for great career opportunities.'' – Folashade, Investment Banking
"I started my career in Chapel Hill Denham 4 years ago and it has been an enriching and exhilarating experience so far. Our vast client base has given me the right amount of exposure to the international business world. It is motivating to work in a company that values my contribution and encourages and assists in my self-development and career advancement" – Ariowa, Securities Trading
Bolaji will serve as the Fund's Chief Investment Officer. Bolaji is the Chief Executive Officer of Chapel Hill Denham and is one of the leading deal makers by volume and value of successfully completed transactions in Nigeria, over the last decade. He has over twenty-seven years' experience in financial services experience and mobile telecommunications.
After spending eleven years in investment banking and securities trading within FCMB Group from 1990 to 2001, Bolaji co-founded Econet Wireless Nigeria now Airtel Nigeria, in January 2001, which was the first major private infrastructure project in Nigeria. Bolaji led the capital raising and license auction process for Econet Wireless Nigeria's USD285million GSM license. He was also responsible for the USD740 million multi-currency financing for the mobile network rollout. Through this infrastructure financing, MIGA, a member of the World Bank Group was re-opened to Nigeria. Additionally, the European Investment Bank (EIB) under the same financing made its first commitment to Nigeria. The US$1.67 billion sale of Econet Wireless to Celtel in 2005 remains Nigeria's single largest successfully exited infrastructure investment.
Bolaji returned to Investment Banking when he founded Chapel Hill in 2005. Over the past decade, he has worked with clients on the financing of several infrastructure projects including a 90MW captive power plant, Lekki-Ikoyi link bridge, Lagos-Badagry dual carriage way, upgrade of Ozumba –Mbadiwe road, Lagos rail mass transit project (Blue Rail) and the acquisition of the assets and liabilities of the Lekki Concession Company by the Lagos State Government. He also advised on several Real Estate projects including Eko Atlantic, Persianas Limited's development of the Palms Shopping Mall, Lagos and the Polo Park Mall in Enugu, amongst several others.
Bolaji is Chairman of Lafarge Africa Plc and a Director of Trustfund Pensions Plc, one of Nigeria's largest Pension Fund Managers. He was formerly Chairman of Nahco FTZ Limited, a former Director of Nahco Aviance Plc and NASD Plc. He was appointed to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, Africa Advisory Board in September 2009 and was Chairman of the investment banking trade group, the Association of Issuing Houses of Nigeria from September 2010 to July 2014.
Bolaji, through Chapel Hill Denham is a co-sponsor in a greenfield 746MW combined cycle power plant, which has secured land, right of way approvals and approval from the Transmission Company of Nigeria to turn in and out of the 330KV double circuit Omotosho- Epe-Ajah transmission lines. He is an Economics (Honours) graduate of the London School of Economics.
Denis is an infrastructure finance expert with over three decades' experience and wide-ranging global experience in reviewing, analysing, structuring and negotiating equity and debt investments in infrastructure, across sectors including conventional & renewable power generation; utilities such as district heating, gas distribution, water and waste management; and transportation. His experience has been spread across Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia.
Until recently, Denis was the Chief Investment Officer of the International Finance Corporation ("IFC"), a position he held for almost 15 years. At IFC, he played a leadership role in teams executing some of the most challenging transactions – taking them from origination, through due diligence, credit committee and documentation. He contributed IFC perspective to the broader World Bank Group initiatives and maintained IFC relationships with leading international project sponsors such as Eon, Veolia, RWE, EdF and Wartsila.
From 1999 to 2001, Denis was manager of the World Bank's central energy group, which leads on global topics such as access to energy, global warming and tariffs. He led the teams of international specialists to present international power sector privatization experience in a number of countries. He was also member of management committee of Prototype Carbon Fund, set up to stimulate carbon trading mechanisms to ensure appropriate risk focus as he built up a substantial portfolio.
Between 1991 and 1999, as a founder member of IFC's specialist Power Group, Denis participated in or led many of the major emerging markets power project financings of the 1990s. His notable achievements included: leading the successful financing of Energy Center Kladno, the first greenfield, private power project in the former Communist world; leading the financing of Puerto Quetzal Power, sponsored by Enron, possibly Latin America's first modern IPP; closing IFC financing of a 500 MW coal-fired plant in India and structuring, negotiating and syndicating financing for fuel-oil fired plants in Central America and the Caribbean.
Philip is the co-founder of Axius Capital, where he has been involved in developing the investment frameworks for channelling institutional capital into long-term infrastructure projects in emerging & frontier markets. Philip trained and qualified as an ACA with Touche Ross (now Deloitte LLP) in London in 1993 and has spent the past over 20 years working in emerging and frontier markets with Deutsche Bank, EFG-Hermes and Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Between 1997 and 2009, Philip ran the Corporate and Investment Bank division for emerging markets at Deutsche. At Deutsche, Philip was responsible for relocating the Project Finance business to Dubai and running it. At Deutsche and Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Philip ran balance sheets of circa USD10 billion with substantial infrastructure exposure. He also chaired the loan screening committee for emerging markets during his time at Deutsche Bank.
Between 2009 and 2015, Philip was the CEO of two independent investment banks, EFG-Hermes GCC (2009-2011) and Exotix (2013-2015), a frontier market focused merchant bank, where he led the strategic growth of its business with particular focus on equity and capital markets in Africa. In the interim period, Philip was appointed President of the Middle East and North Africa region for Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Philip has significant experience managing global banks in emerging markets and has executed numerous transactions in these markets across a wide range of sectors, including infrastructure, energy and financial services. At Axius Capital, he has been responsible for repackaging infrastructure loans to sell to the institutional market, including a USD700 million infrastructure loan for Angola.
Philip has been a non-executive director of a GCC hospital company and a GCC financial services player.
Philip is a qualified UK Chartered Accountant and is a graduate of Durham University.
The Fund's Investment Team will be led by Anshul Rai, who is also a member of the Investment Committee.
Anshul has over nineteen years' experience in emerging markets infrastructure, with focus on principal investments, project finance and financial advisory. He has financed and invested in numerous projects across power, energy, utilities and transport sectors, with investment value of nearly USD50 billion.
Anshul started his career with IFCI Limited, India, where he executed a number of large debt financing transactions for infrastructure projects. He then worked at KPMG's infrastructure advisory group, focusing on financial advisory and financing transactions in power, transport and utilities sectors. Subsequently, Anshul joined Veolia Water's South Asia unit working on development and financing of PPP projects in water and utilities. In 2004, he moved to the Middle East joining Bank Muscat's infrastructure group and managed a number of senior/subordinated debt transactions as well as capital markets deals for infrastructure projects.
Between 2006 and 2011, Anshul was the founding team member and managing director of the MENA Infrastructure Fund, where he originated and executed a large number of investments and managed the fund's portfolio of USD200 million. He represented the fund on investee companies' boards and provided strategic direction on their business plans and expansion proposals.
Some of the transactions that Anshul has been closely associated with include Qurrayah power project in Saudi Arabia (USD2.8 billion), Morupule power project in Botswana (USD1.5 billion), Barka-2 power & water project in Oman (USD700 million), Delhi power sector privatization project (USD500 million), coal and gas fired IPPs in India aggregating 3,000MW (USD3 billion), Alexandria container terminal project in Egypt (USD300 million), Salalah port expansion project in Oman (USD450 million), Dhamra port financing in India (USD250 million), Hazira port financing in India (USD300 million), Madinah airport development in Saudi Arabia (USD1.5 billion), Delhi/Mumbai airport privatization project in India (USD1 billion), Delhi-Noida toll bridge in India (USD100 million), Jamshedpur water project in India (USD150 million), Disi-Amman water transmission project in Jordan (USD700 million) and multiple water, wastewater and municipal waste management supply projects across Africa, Middle East and Asia (over USD500 million).
Throughout his career, Anshul has led and managed cross-disciplinary teams on transaction structuring, due diligence, financial modelling, negotiations and documentation. In infrastructure debt, he has had extensive involvement both senior and subordinated debt transactions in different sectors, across a number of jurisdictions.
Abidemi Oni is the Head of Finance and Operations at Chapel Hill Denham. He has over 17 years of experience in financial services. He was the Group Financial Controller at Investment One Financial Services Limited before joining Chapel Hill Denham in 2014. Prior to Investment One Financial Services Limited, 'Bidemi was the Financial Controller for Intercontinental Bank Capital Market.
He holds a Bachelor's degree in Accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University and an MBA in Finance from the Lagos State University. He is also an Associate of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria.
Tajudeen Ibrahim is the Head of Research at Chapel Hill Denham. He has over 10 years of experience in asset management and investment research. Prior to joining Chapel Hill Denham, he was an equity research analyst within Standard Bank Group. He also managed the pension and gratuity funds of multinational companies within the Standard Bank Group.
Tajudeen holds an MBA from University of Lagos and an M.Sc. and a B.Sc. in Mathematics from the University of Ibadan.
Ibironke Sokefun is the Head of Alternatives at Chapel Hill Denham. She has over 11 years of experience in Asset Management, Project Finance and Investment Banking. 'Ronke worked at Chapel Hill Denham from 2006 to 2011 in Finance and Principal Investing. Prior to rejoining Chapel Hill in 2013, Ibironke was the Head of Structured Finance at Greenwich Trust Limited. Ibironke also worked at UBA Capital Limited in Project and Infrastructure Finance.
'Ronke holds a BSc in Microbiology from Ogun State University and a Masters in Computing from Cardiff University. She is an Associate of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS).
Bode Orimogunje is the Regional Head of Chapel Hill Denham in Northern Nigeria. He has over 27 years of experience in logistics and financial services. He was an Assistant Vice President and Head of Retail at CSL Stockbrokers Limited before joining Chapel Hill Denham in 2011.
Bode holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Ahmadu Bello University and a Master's Degree in Banking and Finance from Bayero University. He also holds an MSc in Finance from the University of Leicester. He qualified as an Authorised Dealing Clerk of the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 1996 and is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS).
Nii Nartei Nartey is Managing Director at Chapel Hill Denham Management (Ghana) Limited. He has over nine years of experience in financial services. Nii Nartei started his career as a Stockbroker (Authorised Dealing Officer) at EDC Stockbrokers Ltd (part of Ecobank Capital). Nii Nartei joined Chapel Hill Denham Securities (Ghana) Limited in 2011 as its first Authorised Dealing Officer. He left in 2013 to join EM Capital Partners Limited as Head of Collective Investments Schemes, where he was responsible for the structuring, sales and management of all the firm's CIS products. Subsequently, he was made the General Manager of EM Capital Partners with additional oversight responsibilities for Pensions, Private Wealth and CIS portfolios. In 2011, Nii Nartei was adjudged the Most Promising Young Investment Professional at the "2010 Ghana Investment Awards".
Nii Nartei is a graduate of Agriculture from the University Of Ghana and is currently pursuing an MBA in Finance and Risk Management from the Business School Netherlands.
Lanre Buluro is a Director and Head of Sales at Chapel Hill Denham. He has over 20 years of experience across investment banking, corporate finance, and healthcare. Prior to joining Chapel Hill Denham, Lanre was a pioneer member of the management team at Primera Africa where he had responsibilities including institutional sales, investment research, financial advisory, and securities brokerage. Prior to Primera, Lanre was an Equity Research Analyst at Bloomberg LP, covering the Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical industry. Prior to Bloomberg, Lanre worked as a corporate finance associate at Roche Pharmaceuticals working primarily on deal analysis, asset valuation, and strategic due diligence for global in-licensing opportunities and acquisitions of clinical-stage drug assets. Lanre began his professional career as a molecular biochemist at Orchid Biosciences Inc. as a member of the drug and diagnostic device development team.
Lanre is a graduate of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, and Economics from Rutgers College. He also holds an MBA from Rutgers Business School with a concentration in Finance and Pharmaceutical Management.


text:
* Falling oil price may widen this year's budget gap
* Civil unrest also an issue for investors
* But overall debt level still very low
* GCC expected to support Bahrain as needed
* Yield curve attractive versus other BBB credits
By Mala Pancholia and Rachna Uppal
DUBAI, June 21 (Reuters) - Running a state budget deficit and facing a prolonged period of civil unrest, Bahrain is not in the same league for investors as the Gulf's wealthier oil exporters. But good timing and strong demand for regional assets in general mean a planned bond issue by the tiny kingdom is likely to go well.
Bahrain is sounding out investor appetite at roadshows this week for a possible issue of an international, conventional bond. Bankers said Bahrain's first conventional debt offering since 2010 would be open to qualified investors in the United States and elsewhere, and might be as large as $1.25 billion.
Bahrain last tapped the international market in November with a $750 million, seven-year sukuk (Islamic bond), which was largely sold to investors in the Middle East. The upcoming issue will not be able to count on interest from a deep pool of Islamic investment money in the Gulf, so it will be a tougher test of market confidence in Bahrain.
Bankers said Bahrain was eyeing a seven- or 10-year issue, which should appeal to institutional investors in the West, who have been showing interest in Gulf debt as a safe haven while the financial crisis has hurt other markets around the world.
"The timing is very good for Bahrain; this issue has been rumoured for a long time now and we are seeing GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) credit markets trading at some of the tightest yields for years," said Thomas Christie, sales trader at Rasmala Investment Bank in Dubai.
"Combined with the fact that the market is very liquid currently and searching for yield, we should see any Bahrain issue do well."
With oil prices sliding, Bahrain's state finances may come under pressure. Brent crude oil fell to an 18-month low of $91 a barrel on Thursday, from above $120 early this year; the oil price which Bahrain needs to balance its budget jumped to $114 in 2011, the highest level in the Gulf, from just $80 in 2008, the International Monetary Fund said in April.
The government's budget deficit shrank to $83 million in 2011, the lowest shortfall in three years and well below a projected gap of $3.3 billion, because oil prices were higher than expected. But with oil now sliding, this year's deficit may be larger than last year's.
Another issue for investors is protests by Shi'ite majority Muslims against the Sunni-dominated government, which have continued for over a year. They have not prevented the economy from resuming growth after a brief contraction early last year, but it is not clear how the political problem may be resolved in the long term.
For now, however, the signs are that investors will happily accept these risks. One positive is that the country's absolute level of external debt is still very low, at 14 percent of gross domestic product, according to Bahrain's bond prospectus.
Perceptions that Saudi Arabia's Sunni rulers will do what is necessary to support Bahrain's government, fuelled by a Saudi proposal in recent months for a closer union of Gulf states, are also important.
The bond prospectus said that although a $20 billion fund planned by wealthy Gulf Arab states last year to aid Bahrain and Oman had not yet been capitalised, Bahrain expected to receive an allocation soon, which would come in addition to money already earmarked in its budget for priority projects.
Bahrain already relies on output from Saudi Arabia's Abu Safa oil field for some 70 percent of its budget revenue. Analysts have said Riyadh might give Manama more oil from the field if its budget runs into trouble.
These factors, along with a general tightening of Gulf bond spreads, have helped to cause an impressive drop in the cost of insuring Bahrain's debt against default over the last several months. Its seven-year credit default swaps were at 353 basis points on Thursday, compared to 394 bps at the end of last year.
Analysts said the need to attract conventional investors with the new bond, rather than Islamic investors facing a very limited supply of sukuk, meant Bahrain would have to be fairly generous in pricing the debt.
"They will have to price more competitively, given it's a conventional; a sukuk would probably be cheaper," said Raza Agha, senior economist for the Middle East at RBS in London.
The Bahraini sukuk issued last year was yielding 4.94 percent on Thursday, off a low of 4.78 percent hit on May 1, Thomson Reuters data shows.
Bahrain's 10-year, $1.25 billion conventional bond issued in 2010 was bid at 5.64 percent on Thursday; yields have compressed about 27 bps in the last two weeks.
The new issue will need to offer a spread in the low 400 bps area over midswaps for it to interest investors, Christie said. Currently, 10-year midswaps are around 1.75 percent, he added, so this would equate to a yield of at least 5.75 percent.
Christie said he hoped the new conventional bond would create a more liquid benchmark for the sovereign, since the recent Bahraini sukuk was majority-held by local Bahraini institutions.
Dubai's CDS trade at a similar level to Bahrain's, so the performance of Dubai's $650 million, 10-year sukuk since its issue in May is encouraging. The sukuk was bid at 5.74 percent on Thursday, having tightened more than 50 bps.
Bahrain is rated BBB by Standard & Poor's. It is unlikely to achieve a yield as low as most sovereigns with the same rating, because international investors demand a regional premium from the Gulf. But the comparisons still look positive for Bahrain; Russia, also rated BBB, issued a $2 billion, 10-year bond in April which was yielding 4.00 percent on Thursday.
Lithuania, rated BBB, issued a $2 billion, 10-year bond just weeks before Bahrain's last conventional issue in 2010. The Lithuanian bond, priced at 7.375 percent at the time, was yielding just over 4.50 percent on Thursday, according to Thomson Reuters data.
Bahrain's "current curve is attractive at current levels compared to other credits rated BBB," RBS's Agha said. "There is no question of any sovereign repayment difficulties given the close ties Bahrain enjoys with other GCC countries, particularly Saudi Arabia."
JP Morgan Chase, Citigroup Inc, Standard Chartered and Gulf International Bank are mandated to arrange the investor meetings, which will run until June 26.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
College tuition hikes of up to 25 percent proposed in Colorado
The Associated Press
Aspen, CO Colorado
DENVER – Colorado college and university students could face tuition hikes from 9.5 percent at the University of Colorado to 25 percent at Adams State College if state funding continues to plummet.
Responding to a Colorado Open Records Act Request, the Colorado Department of Higher Education released details of proposed tuition increases at these and other Colorado colleges Wednesday.
Department spokeswoman Dawn Taylor Owens said the Colorado School of Mines is the only eligible school that hasn't asked permission to raise tuition above the 9 percent hike allowed by state lawmakers.
She said a waiver from Mesa State College was not accepted because it did not specify a tuition increase amount. Mesa State said only that it would not increase rates if state funding remained the same.
Mesa State president Tim Foster said he will fight attempts by director Rico Munn and the Department of Higher Education to deny their waiver request.
"Is his goal to drive tuition higher? If it is, we're going to fight with him. He's saying he wants us to submit a plan that would raise tuition more than 9 percent," Foster said.
Munn told college presidents that the budget won't be set until next year and they could modify their proposals next March, but if colleges fail to submit an acceptable plan, they cannot submit a new one next year. The deadline was last week.
A 9.5 percent increase would add $667 to undergraduate tuition in CU's College of Arts and Sciences, which enrolls most students. The annual bill would rise to $7,685.
Adams State said if state funding is cut 19 percent in 2011, it would be forced to raise tuition 25 percent next year, 20 percent the following year, 12 percent in fiscal year 2013-14 and 9 percent the following two years. Under that plan, resident tuition would go from $2,952 this year to $3,690 next year, soaring to $5,892 in 2015.
Ken McConnellogue, spokesman for the CU Board of Regents, said the waiver plan was "a pre-emptive measure" in case the state is forced to cut its budget by another $1.1 billion or more next year. The budget this year is $18.2 billion.
CSU president Tony Frank said the university is preparing for the worst, which could require a 20 percent increase next year, from $5,256 to $6,307 for in-state students.
"Let's be clear, we know that any change like this means an increase in cost to the people writing tuition checks, no matter what we call the plan. Given the dire state of Colorado's budget, we can expect that tuition will rise, but all of us at CSU are well aware that a lot of our students and their families are struggling, and that's not something we take lightly," Frank said.
Start a dialogue, stay on topic and be civil.
If you don't follow the rules, your comment may be deleted.


text:
Pick a color scheme and I'll give you a daily prompt to create something. By the end of the month you'll have a finished kit! Feel free to do which ever prompts you'd like, completing a mini kit is great too!
In this thread you may post:
- Questions and comments on completing each asset.
- Finished assets and/or templates. You may of course post small thumbnail images if you are saving the finished product for something.
- I'll post a new thread each week so that things don't get too out of hand.
- Don't worry if you're behind or starting in the middle, feel free to share whatever you make.
June 2013 Kit Challenge Themes
I'm thinking papers for these, but really it's up to you and what you want to do:
Sat, June 1 - Stripes
Sun, June 2 - Polka Dots
Mon, June 3 - Geometric
Tues, June 4 - Plaid
Wed, June 5 - Fun Shape
Thur, June 6 - Floral
Fri, June 7 - Multiple Patterns


text:
From 1 September Jes Munk Hansen, 34 years, has taken over the responsibility of the Digital Dosing business area.
At the same time Digital Dosing becomes a business area equal to the three existing segments. This is to strengthen the Group's efforts and focus on this new business area.
Jes Munk Hansen is appointed Group Senior Vice President. He has, for the past two years, been responsible for the development of Grundfos' eBusiness activities.


text:
Gutters aren't the prettiest part of a home's exterior, but they are incredibly important. Without gutters, rain can pose a serious threat to your roof and foundation.
What Do Gutters Do?
Gutters act like funnels that are ready to catch the rain when it falls and redirect it away from your home. The downspout or leader is the part of the gutter system that allows the water to flow down and away from the foundation.
Without the gutter in place surrounding a roof, rainwater pours onto a home's siding and can cause damage over time, including discoloration, weakened siding, or mold. Water standing on a roof can also get under shingles and cause similar damage. If the shingles or siding become extremely deteriorated, the water damage could infiltrate the interior of a home and lead to additional, and more costly, issues.
Continuous rain pouring down from the roof can also cause the soil around a home to erode. As the soil washes away, water can begin to collect directly adjacent to the home's foundation and eventually make its way into a basement.
A gutter and downspout system mitigates these problems by collecting rainwater and making sure it is released at a safe distance from the home.
Types of Gutters, Downspouts, and Related Items
There are several different styles of gutters from which homeowners can choose.
K-style Gutters
K-style gutters, also known as Ogee or formed gutters, have a flat bottom and back. The outward-facing wall of the gutter is usually flared outward with a decorative shape that often mimics crown molding. These typically hold about twice as much water than half-round gutters and cost more as well.
Half-round Gutters
Half-round gutters, also simply called round gutters, are typically found on older homes. They are U-shaped and hold significantly less water than a K-style gutter.
Square Gutters
Square or box gutters have flat bottoms, backs, and fronts.
Round Downspouts
Round downspouts connect to round gutters.
Square Downspouts
Square downspouts connect to either square gutters or K-style gutters. They are usually rectangular in shape, with dimensions of either 2 inches by 3 inches or 3 inches by 4 inches.
Decorative Downspouts
Spiral or otherwise decorative downspouts are also available, though they are typically more expensive than round or square downspouts.
Gutter Guards
Guards are sometimes added to protect gutters from excessive wear and tear that the changing seasons may bring. Leaf guards keep leaves and debris from building up inside the gutter, while snow guards protect gutters during harsh winters.
Gutter Materials
Just as gutters come in several shapes, they can also be crafted out of various materials. Each has its pros and cons. The most common size and shape is the 6-inch K-style gutter, and the pricing information that follows refers to this combination.
The most popular material is aluminum, which is lightweight, doesn't rust, and is easy to install. They can also come in various colors and be painted to match a home's siding. About 70 percent of gutters are seamless, which means they are installed right onto the home from a long spool of aluminum shaped and cut to size.
Pricing is typically:
- $2-$3 per linear foot
- $4-$9 per linear foot for a professional installation
- $5-$11 per linear foot for seamless installation
The only gutter material less expensive than aluminum is vinyl, which comes with several downsides. Vinyl gutters don't hold up well in cold weather, the color will easily fade in the sun, and they don't support ladders leaned against them. On the plus side, they are easily installed and aren't heavy.
Pricing is typically:
- $1-$2 per linear foot
- $3-$5 per linear foot for a professional installation
Steel is strong and will resist rust for about 5 to 10 years. It can also come in a variety of colors and easily be painted to match a home. However, it is heavy and difficult to install.
Pricing is typically:
- $4-$6 per linear foot
- $8-$10 per linear foot for a professional installation
Many copper gutters are the half-round shape and found on older or historic homes. Their better qualities include their exceptional beauty compared to other gutter material options and their resistance to rust, even after many years. In time, though, the copper will develop a patina, or layer of oxidation, which many homeowners prefer. However, they require a professional installation, unlike the other metals that can be installed by an adventurous or knowledgeable homeowner. Copper is also one of the more expensive materials.
Pricing is typically:
- $12-$25 per linear foot for a professional installation
Zinc gutters will last a very long time and are typically used in historic renovations and high-end homes. There is no need to paint them, and, like copper gutters, they will develop a patina after a few years. Also like their copper cousins, zinc gutters must be installed by a professional. Zinc gutters are only available in the half-round shape and are usually 6 inches across.
Pricing is typically:
- $10-$24 per linear foot for a professional installation
Many homes built before the 1960s had wooden half-round gutters installed. Some homeowners like the traditional or natural look of wooden gutters. However, they require special maintenance. Wooden gutters should be oiled regularly to prevent drying, cracking or deterioration. They are also heavy compared to metal versions.
Pricing is typically:
- $10-$18 per linear foot for redwood gutters between 4 inches by 4 inches to 4 inches by 6 inches
- $10 per linear foot for fir gutters
- $175 for the setup
Common Gutter Problems
Just like any other important home feature, there will come a time when you will have a problem with your gutters. Luckily, there is usually a quick fix for most gutter issues.
Clogged Gutters
Most homeowners have had to address clogged gutters at some point or another. This is typically an autumn-related issue, as falling leaves land in the gutters. Cleaning them out should be an annual or semi-annual chore, depending on how many leaves and other debris commonly build up in your gutters. The chore can be tedious, time-consuming, and dirty but is easily done by anyone who isn't afraid of heights and owns a ladder. However, if this doesn't sound appealing to you, it's not hard to find a professional who will do it for between $50 and $250, depending on how large your home is.
Downspouts That Drain Too Close to the Home
The purpose of the downspout is to direct rainwater a safe distance away from a foundation to mitigate water damage. To that end, downspouts should drain at least four to five feet away from the home. If a downspout is draining too close to a foundation, an extension can easily be added, usually for the same per-linear-foot price as the material of the gutter.
Leaky Gutters
A leak or hole in a gutter system completely undermines the purpose of the gutter. It's important to get this issue fixed before the next rainstorm to prevent residual damage. If the leak is located at a joint or seam, caulking is usually a good fix and is easy to find at any hardware store for about $5. The remedy for holes elsewhere in the gutter depends on the size. Smaller holes can be addressed with gutter sealant. Bigger holes might require a patch or some metal flashing, also sold at most hardware stores.
Gutters with the Wrong Pitch
For the rainwater to be guided to the downspout and away from the home, gutters need to be slanted so the water can easily slide down toward the opening. If the gutters are too level, standing water can become heavy and cause damage. Mold can build up and, eventually, the gutters can overflow and cause water damage to your home or foundation.
The ideal pitch is angled one-quarter of an inch down for every 10 feet across. If your gutters were installed professionally and you notice standing water, call the company and request that they come address the issue. If you installed your gutters yourself, you may need to rehang the gutter.
Sagging or Pulling Gutters
Gutters that are sagging or pulling away from the house generally don't have enough support for how much they weigh. Installing a few more hangers in problem areas can usually alleviate the issue.
How to Maintain Your Gutters
While it's not unusual to experience one or more of the aforementioned problems during your time living in a home with gutters, there are some measures you can take to prevent these issues. Clogged gutters can be avoided by cleaning them before buildup becomes a problem. When doing so, be sure to pay close attention to the downspout, and see that all water can flow smoothly through the whole system.
Leaf guards could help in heavily wooded areas where leaf buildup is a common problem. Also, snow guards can help prevent snow and ice from building up during the winter, which could put undue stress on the gutters.
Wood gutters should be oiled to help them last longer and remain effective. Shingle oil is a good product that will protect against weathering and allow the wood to breathe.
Replacing Your Gutters or Downspouts
Though gutters will typically last many years, there may come a time when replacement is inevitable. If you have patched aging gutters for several years, it might be time to replace the whole system. To do this, you'll have to decide whether you want to take on the project yourself or hire a professional.
A professional is required for:
- Copper gutters
- Zinc gutters
- Seamless aluminum gutters
A professional is recommended for:
- Steel gutters
- Wood gutters
A professional will make replacement easier, but isn't always necessary for:
- Aluminum gutters
- Vinyl gutters
Choosing a Gutter Installation Company
If it's time to replace or repair your gutters, hiring a professional is often the best way to go, especially if you are inexperienced with this type of home repair. Professionals will be able to spot a small problem before it becomes a big one, and they know how to safely work with the tools required for the job.
Before hiring a professional, make sure they have workers' compensation insurance and liability insurance.
Additionally, it's important to recognize that a gutter installation or repair can affect the roof. Before you agree to any work being done on your gutters, be sure that your roof warranty won't be affected. Your roof is one of the most important features of a home, and should you run into an issue with it, you'll want your warranty to be valid.
Before hiring anyone, get as much detail about the job as possible. Ask about:
- Warranties for the gutters as well as the installation
- How much the installment or repair will cost, and get this in writing
- Whether a down payment is required, and how much it is
- How long it will take
- Whether they install gutter covers as well
Getting references before hiring a professional of any kind will give you a good idea of what their customer service is like as well as whether they do quality work. Talk to friends and family who have hired the gutter installer before making your decision. If you don't know anyone who has worked with this company before, go online to find reviews, or simply ask the company for references.


text: Our concept revolved around the notions of recycling a building, reusing natural and man-made resources, and reclaiming the ancient ideal that buildings can and should be sacred places, especially the home.The project began as a modest remodel, but turned into a full master-planning for the site; including complete interior and exterior recycle, an addition to an existing 1970's home, as well asre-organization of the garden. As the original house was poorly sited,a large motivation of the design was to reconnect the house with its site by utilizing the steep topography to capture the expansive views. One goal was to integrate the architecture with the native garden and creek at the bottom of the property. To fully enjoy the reclaimed views, the house is wrapped by exterior decks with glass railings. The inspiration is Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto, Japan, (founded 7th century A.D.) which sits above the landscape and provides panoramic views of the city. In the spirit of reclaiming value, recycled materials are employedat every possible opportunity. The front facade of the house is comprised of recycled glass blocks which were provided by the owner as a condition of the commission. The originally monolithic nature of the house is further dematerialized through the use of slats installed as rain screens. This wall assembly seems to dissolve the facade of the house, particularly at corner conditions.The project also makes extensive use of harvested rainwater stored in pools and reservoirs to re-connect the house with its site. The water system lends a sense of drama to the intervention. A series of cascading ponds serve as part of the rain water collection system on the utilitarian level. On the aesthetic level it provides a peaceful transition between the landscape and the architecture.The selection of plants in the garden are primarily plants native to the central texas region. This minimizes the usage of water, and follows principles of xeriscaping. The garden is planned around existing mature trees and shrubs with various ground covers and perennials. The intention was to preserve the characteristic of the site as much as possible and retain the essence of a landscape native to the Edwards Plateau in the Hill Country.


text:
We're here to make you look good.Choose Your Style
How It Works
Easily fits in your pocket, purse, wallet and more. You can even attach it to your phone!
As slim as two credit cards and lighter than a nickel! Read the Story
Grip technology reading glasses fit everyone
Learn more
Free replacement glasses...forever!
A shipping & Handling Replacement Charge will apply. $5-domestic, $10-international
We have the right strength for you.What's My Lens Strength?
We love our fans.
"Brilliant idea! Very useful, thoughtfully designed, high quality."
Gail Matthews
"A life saver."
T. Zee
"Wow...incredible product."
Support Healthy Vision
Glasses That Give Back
When you buy this collection, featuring designs by artist Gregory Burns, 15% is donated to Prevent Blindness' 20/20 at 40 program.Learn More
Shop Our Sets
The Gift of Sight
Customize a gift set for a loved one -- or buy one for yourself! You deserve it.Build Your Set
Always With You
Phone Cases
Our cases, designed to fit most iPhone and Samsung models, are a stylish way to ensure your glasses are always as close as your most beloved device.Choose Your Case
Functional and Fashionable
Keychains with Attitude
Your friends will marvel when your reading glasses emerge magically from a designer keychain from our curated collection.Choose Your Design


text:
horse.com > Stable Supplies > Tack Racks, Hooks & Trunks > Item # BRE11
promotional discount applied.
Cart total will reflect savings.
Sometimes, manufacturers require that products be advertised only at their suggested prices.
When we choose to sell these items for less, we display the sale price only in the cart. To see the price, click Add to Cart.
Buy 2 or more, each at $8.34 Buy 3 or more, each at $8.16 Buy 6 or more, each at $7.98
In Stock.
Usually Ships within 24 hours.
Quantity discount will reflect in cart.
One-time delivery
Save 10% with Auto Ship
Deliver Every:
2 Weeks
3 Weeks
4 Weeks
5 Weeks
6 Weeks
7 Weeks
8 Weeks
1 Month
2 Months
3 Months
6 Months
Product Summary:
Wall Mount Bridle Bracket
Now: $2.92
4 Hook Tack Rack
Starting at: $7.19
Metal Bridle Bracket
Starting at: $3.14
Headstall Holder
Starting at: $8.69
Equi Racks 5 Arm Wall Mount Blanket Pad Rack
Now: $69.59
Saddle Rack and Blanket Bar
Starting at: $26.24
Blanket Rack and Tack Hook Combo
Now: $8.69
English Wall Mount Saddle Rack
Starting at: $10.49
Plastic Whip Holder Fits 12 Whips or Crops
Product Reviews by Customers
Horse.com Resources
This item is not eligible for Canadian shipping.
Some items everyday price is so low we can't discount or we have marked down the item to a final sale price. These select items will not be included in your order total when determining if your order qualifies for a promotional event.


text:
I would ask my ancestors, Sampson Mason and Mary Butterworth, why they left their third born child, John Mason (born 1656), with the John Gornell family in Dorchester, Massachusetts, when they moved to Rehoboth, Massachusetts in 1657. Was something wrong with the child? They did not return for him or send for him. In fact, they gave permission for him to be baptized in Dorchester when he was four years old. He married and died at age 26.
The spirit of William Amsberry (Amsbary) might be a good visitor. I would ask him about his first wife. What was her name? What caused her death? Who was the unknown male child in his family?
Back to work in the real records. Perhaps those spirits will guide me in some strange way to the records I need. Then again, it may be just up to me!


text:
Responding to a question at the Brookings Institute, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton remarked,
Brazil has the highest tax-to-GDP rate in the Western Hemisphere and guess what — it's growing like crazy. And the rich are getting richer, but they're pulling people out of poverty. There is a certain formula there that used to work for us until we abandoned it, to our regret in my opinion.
Socialists are always telling us such things. At some place, at some time, water is observed flowing upstream, at least it seems that way, and — voilà! — the laws of economics are all thrown out the window.
First of all, one observation does not prove anything. Economics isn't that way. Mrs. Clinton is just revealing how ignorant she is of economic science. What is your theory, Madam Secretary, of the relationship between tax policy and economic growth, and what do all the data say? Economics isn't climatology. We don't get to hide the inconvenient data.
Second, economic theory doesn't say much about the ratio of "tax revenue" to GDP and economic growth. There are several reasons for this. I'll briefly list four reasons and then spend some time on a fifth.
- Are the revenues generated by the sale of products and services by government enterprises categorized as tax revenues? Clearly, if Brazil counts oil sales as tax revenue and Mexico does not, comparisons of the ratio of tax revenue to GDP to the rate of economic growth are meaningless.
- How much of government spending is financed by the issue of bonds, how much by the issue of fiat money, and how much by taxation? Clearly, if the United States finances half of federal government spending by issuing bonds and Brazil has a balanced budget, comparisons of the ratio of tax revenue to GDP to the rate of economic growth are meaningless.
- To what extent does mandated social insurance involve cross-subsidies? Clearly, if Chile has privatized social security, putting it onto a funded and actuarially fair basis, while the United States has a nonfunded and egalitarian system of social security, comparisons of the ratio of tax revenue to GDP to the rate of economic growth are meaningless.
- To what extent are taxes collected via low, broad-based tax rates? Clearly, if Brazil has substantially flattened its tax structure, so that it raises most of its tax revenue from low rates applied uniformly to broadly defined economic activity, and the United States exempts the lowest half of income earners from the federal income tax and applies the highest marginal income-tax rates in the world on the highest income earners, comparisons of the ratio of tax revenue to GDP to the rate of economic growth are, well, they aren't meaningless, but they are nonlinear.
Because of the above four concerns, those who developed both the Fraser Institute's index of economic freedom and Wall Street Journal/Heritage Foundation index do not use the ratio of tax revenue to GDP as part of their index. They look at a ratio of government expenditure to GDP and they look at the top marginal tax rates.
While each of the above four issues is important, the issue I want to focus on is the difference between the level of GDP and the rate of growth of GDP. The United States has long had a relatively free-market economy. As indicated by the index of economic freedom compiled by the Fraser Institute, on a scale of 1 to 10, the United States went from 7 in 1970 to 8 point something in 2000. Then, under the august leadership team of President George W. Bush, House Speaker Tom DeLay, and Senate President Pro Tempore Ted Stevens, economic freedom slipped a bit during the '00s, as we gambled US Economic Freedom on Operation Iraqi Freedom. As the numbers come to be compiled for our current leader, the Great One, they are sure to slip a bit further.
So, what would you expect would happen to economic growth in the United States during the past 30 years? You would expect strong economic growth during the 1980s and '90s, as our economy responded to the greater incentives to work, save and invest, exactly as happened. And, you would expect a slowdown during the '00s, exactly as happened. So, rather than contradicting the laws of economics, the recent track record of the United States further validates the already well-established laws of economics.
Now, let's turn to Brazil. Forty years ago, Brazil was a mixed economy, with elements of populist socialism and fascism. Not surprisingly, it was also a poor economy. Then, beginning in the late 1980s, the country began to implement economic reforms. Perhaps most importantly, it replaced its multidecade run of triple-digit inflation with a new and relatively stable currency. It also embraced the worldwide trend of privatizing state enterprises, freer international trade, deregulating the domestic economy, and lower marginal tax rates.
On the specific issue of marginal tax rates, Brazil's are lower than those of the United States (although both are given the same index number for 2007 by the Fraser Institute). In Brazil, the top corporate and individual income-tax rates are 25 and 27.5 percent, while in the United States, the comparable rates are both 35 percent. As to how Brazil can generate more revenue as a percent of GDP with a lower top marginal rate than we do in the United States, the reason is, as I said above, because the relationship is nonlinear.
From a nadir on the index of economic freedom of 3 point something in the mid 1980s, Brazil has steadily moved up, hitting 6 recently. So, what would you expect for economic growth in Brazil? Would it be that Brazil would be enjoying strong economic growth and the prospect, with continued market reforms, of further economic growth? Certainly it would! Water is not flowing upstream in Brazil. It's flowing in exactly the direction the laws of economics say it should flow.
To be sure, the index of economic freedom is still lower in Brazil than it is in the United States, and the standard of living, as measured by GDP per capita, remains lower. But, there is plenty of reason for optimism in that country. Global surveys find higher percentages favoring free trade and a market economy in Brazil than in America. It is Brazil, along with India, that continues to promote the Doha round of trade negotiations, long after the United States and the Europeans have given up on it. Brazil and the vibrant middle-income countries of the world get it. And don't even ask me about the emerging business community in the republics of Latin America and in other places in the world that have embraced market-oriented reforms of their economies.
Oh, one last thing. Brazil doesn't have the highest ratio of tax revenue to GDP in the western hemisphere. Cuba does.
Add/view comments on this post.
The Christian Science Monitor has assembled a diverse group of the best economy-related bloggers out there. Our guest bloggers are not employed or directed by the Monitor and the views expressed are the bloggers' own, as is responsibility for the content of their blogs. To contact us about a blogger, click here. To add or view a comment on a guest blog, please go to the blogger's own site by clicking on the link above.


text:
Author Notes: I learned to love mussels in college, when I spent many an evening with my beau at the Cadieux Café, located on the east side of Detroit where I grew up. The place had an amazing juke box and a stellar array of Belgian beers, and it served mussels in a multitude of ways: stuffed, steamed, on the half shell, or bathed in flavorful broths, there was a preparation for just about anyone. I love mussels to this day and indulge in them often, as they're inexpensive, sustainable, and versatile, but this is probably my favorite way to eat them. The rule of thumb for an entrée portion of mussels is one pound per person, but I never seem to be able to finish a whole pound on my own – especially when you factor in the crusty bread that is an essential accompaniment to this dish. Your mileage may vary. - lastnightsdinner —lastnightsdinner
Food52 Review: Here you have all the flavors that go so well with mussels -- fennel, saffron, thyme, tomatoes, vermouth, and of course (something we love!), Pernod. You do a little chopping, then add the ingredients a few at a time to the pot. In a few short minutes, you have a fragrant and delicious mussel stew, a dinner-for-one that underlines the importance of treating yourself well, even when alone. And you can quadruple the recipe for a party. - A&M —The Editors
Serves: 1-2
tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
tablespoon unsalted butter
cups leek, sliced into thin half-moons, white and pale green parts only
small bulb fennel, cored and chopped or thinly sliced (about 1 cup), plus a few fronds for garnish
Kosher or sea salt
pinches saffron threads
tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
(or more, if you're solo) fat cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
ounce (1 tablespoon) Pernod or other anise liqueur
ounces (1/2 cup) white vermouth or dry white wine
cup crushed tomatoes with juice
pound mussels, scrubbed and de-bearded
cup heavy cream
- Look over your mussels and discard any that have cracked or broken shells. They all should be tightly closed, but if any open mussels don't close when you squeeze them gently with your fingers, discard those as well.
- Melt the butter in the olive oil in a deep, heavy-bottomed pot with a lid over medium heat.
- Add the leek and fennel, season with a pinch or two of salt, and cook until softened.
- Clear a space in the bottom of the pot and add the saffron, crumbling it with your fingers as you do, and lightly toast it before stirring it through the vegetables. Add the garlic and thyme, stir, and cook just until you can smell the garlic.
- Add the Pernod and vermouth or white wine, stir, and let cook for 2-3 minutes before adding the tomatoes. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for 20-25 minutes.
- Add the mussels, stir, re-cover the pot, and cook for another 5-8 minutes or so, just until the mussels open (the timing will vary depending on the size of your mussels). Discard any mussels that don't open.
- Stir the cream in off the heat, taste for seasoning, then spoon the mussels, vegetables, and sauce into a big, wide bowl – two, if you're sharing. Sprinkle the fennel fronds on top, and serve with plenty of crusty bread.
- Your Best Home Alone Dinner Contest Winner!
- This recipe is a Community Pick!
More Great Recipes:
French|Fennel|Leek|Milk/Cream|Mussel|Pernod|Saffron|Thyme|Vermouth|Seafood|One-Pot Wonders|Fall


text:
President Abraham Lincoln hired a "representative recruit" who donned a uniform to serve as his substitute on Sept. 30, 1864 during the American Civil War. President Lincoln paid John S. Staples of Stroudsburg, Pa., $500 to represent him in uniform. The going rate at that time for others was $300 or less.
Lincoln's personal secretary, John G. Nicolay, drafted in 1864, employed the services of Hiram Child, a black man from North Carolina to represent him. Nicolay's substitute died in battle while Lincoln's survived the war.
Ninety days after his inaugural address, Lincoln asked for five times as many volunteers as in the Army, proclaimed a southern blockade, ignoring international law and suspended the Writ of Habeas Corpus; all in violation of the law.
It is estimated 2,776,000 men served in the Union military while about 750,000 served in the Confederate military for a total of 3,500,000 men. Of these, President Lincoln is responsible for killing over 620,000 American men, 432,000 Union soldiers and the balance, Confederate, whose casualties may be off due to incomplete records in the South.
This is more than all Americans combined, who were killed in all wars fought up through World War II.
Happy Birthday, Mr. Lincoln.


text:
Like it or not winter came a little early in western Michigan. Finally got to try out the Summit skis on my Highlander. I started out with a couple of take off and landings on the hard surface just to get the feels of it. Flew over to a close grass runway to try them out. I was a little surprised at quickly the plane decelerates. The snow was a little wet so you had to give it some power to keep it moving. Take offs were fine, the skis seem to increase the lift. Next time I'm up I'll do a series of stalls to see what effect they have.
If you live in the cold weather you've got to enjoy it!
Sorry for the bad lighting, it was getting dark by the time I got back


text:
Singer Name: Nicole New
Occupation: Manager of Popular and Special Programming at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra/Professional Jazz Singer
From: Birmingham, MI
Age: 29
Favorite Style to Perform: Jazz
Singing Experience: Local Jazz singer, gigs in metro Detroit
Favorite Artist: Elvis, Beatles, John Coltrane, James Joplin
Favorite fireworks memory: Comes every year and enjoys how big of a production it is along with the chance to watch the fireworks from both Canada and Detroit.
Favorite Place to Go: The Yoga Shelter
Favorite Detroit Landmark: Motown Museum
What unique trait do you have that got you this far: Making her own sounds and being her own individual.
Message to Competitors: I want to congratulate my fellow singers for making it as a semi-finalist!!!


text:
Home > News & Events > Wayland Press Release Archives > 2001 Press Releases > December 2001 > Sanders received honor from alma mater
Sanders received honor from alma mater
David Sanders of Plano received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Wayland Baptist University at Homecoming Chapel on Nov. 15.
A 1977 graduate of Wayland, Sanders works for Nextel Communications as a consultant for communication systems. He designed and developed a model that predicts switch capacity as switches are added to networks. He also serves as a consultant for Goldstein & Polasek LLP of Houston as an expert assisting the legal team prosecuting claims of patent infringement. Sanders spent four years in England working as a consultant for Cellnet, helping to formulate their communications infrastructure and putting it into place.
Sanders also holds a master's degree in mathematics from Lehigh University. He is married to the former Janis Mowery, a 1976 WBU graduate. He and his two brothers, both Wayland graduates, and their spouses formed an endowed scholarship last year honoring their parents, John D. and Phyllis Sanders.


text:
In Strasburg, N.D., They Remember Lawrence Welk, When he was Leader of the Hotsy Totsy Boys
Condon, Maurice. "In Strasburg, N.D., They Remember Lawrence Welk, When he was Leader of the Hotsy Totsy Boys." TV Guide, 29 April 1967, 20-23.
With Hotsy Totsy Boys' car. Group's later
name: Honolulu Fruit Gum Orchestra.
It sounds improbable but there are those who stoutly aver that the gerontologists, those physicians specializing in the health problems of the senior citizen, start the day by bowing in the direction of Strasburg, N.D.
For it was in Strasburg, on March 11, 1903, that Lawrence Welk was born, the man credited with rocketing the elderly from their rocking chairs onto the dance floors.
Strasburg is a modest huddle of houses off North Dakota State Route 83, and while no one has been sufficiently alert to identify it as the birth-place of Lawrence Welk, other evidences abound.
There is a sign-"Welk Dam." This directs the motorist to a WPA-sponsored project for water conservation, subsequently named to honor the originator of Champagne Music.
On the main street is the Lawrence Welk Swimming Pool and Picnic Park, both brought into being by a handsome donation from the bandleader, and dedicated to his neighbors.
In the Strasburg Post Office the bulletin boasts photographs of President Lyndon B. Johnson and Lawrence Welk.
Postmaster Mike Voller said, "We're all very proud of Lawrence. He get back often, was here two weeks last September. He's just as he always was, very nice, very modest."
"My predecessor here was Post-master John Klein. His son Johnny plays the drums in the Welk band."
Rev. Father Mark Renner, pastor Sts. Peter and Pal Church, is a warm and intimate friend of Lawrence Welk.
"I don't remember him as a boy," he apologized. "Our friendship is much more recent. But he has told me many things about his boyhood on his visits here, and on my visits to him in California."
"Although he is in fine health, Lawrence has had to combat all these years the enervating effects of a ruptured appendix in his youth. In that day-it was 1913, 1914-a ruptured appendix was usually fatal."
"In small Strasburg, then as now, there was no hospital. The nearest was in Bismarck, almost 80 miles away. And that's where he was taken, swathed in blankets, lying on the hard wooden floor of a horse-drawn wagon. It must have been a painful journey."
"But by the grace of God he was alive when they reached Bismarck, and he survived, although for more than a year he was a bedridden boy."
"To this day his diet is a restricted one-bland foods, pureed foods-for this childhood illness left scarified abdominal adhesions and intestinal weaknesses. Yet I am sure no one has ever heard him complain, no has he allowed it to limit his activities."
Mrs. Anna Mary Mattern, one of his sisters, widowed now and living in Strasburg, remembers that Lawrence, about to become a professional musician, was ashamed of his accordion.
Then, studying a mail-order catalog, he was entranced by the illustration of a rhinestone-studded piano key-board instrument.
"He told Pa if he would buy it, he-Lawrence-would repay the purchase price of $200 over a four-year period, out of his earnings. My father agreed, Lawrence got the accordion, and he paid it back in two years!"
At the Pin Palace, Strasburg's bowling-alley snack bar, proprietor Al Krammer was proud to report that Lawrence stops in when he's home.
"Had lunch here twice when he was in, last September. You'd never guess he's a national star in television. He's a regular person."
Al's wife, Katherine, said, "If you want to know about Lawrence when he was growing up, we're too young for that. You see Uncle Pius."
Uncle Pius?
"Everybody calls him that. He's everybody's uncle. Pius Kraft runs the store down the street, Kraft & Keller. He's been in business here since the Year One. He'll talk a leg off you but he'll tell you lots about Lawrence Welk as a boy.
"Oh-you like penny candy?"
In moderation.
"When you leave Uncle Pius, you'll have a pocketful!"
Kraft & Keller, on Strasburg's main street, is a grocery supermarket, drugstore, clothing, soft goods, shoe, hardware and confectionery store-in short, an establishment almost vanished from the rural American scene, best described as "the general store."
Merchandise is displayed-"spilled" would be the more exact word in profusion in the glass-fronted cases, on the floor, on shelves, appended to the walls, hanging from the ceiling in a splendid chaos.
In spite of the seeming confusion, when you specify your need it is met with speed and precision.
To find Uncle Pius, you as Mrs. Agatha Kraft, who calls, "Pius! Someone to see you!"
From somewhere comes a jovial, hearty voice, "I'm here."
"Here" is a remote corner of the store, reached by a labyrinthine course, where Uncle Pius has his roll-top desk, heavily burdened with letters, and old papers, a triumph of order within disorder.
Uncle Pius-does he remember the boy Lawrence Welk? There is a snort of incredulity at the question.
"I've been in business in Strasburg since 19-ought-six. Ask me about any baby born here, I can tell you.
"Before we get to Lawrence-one thing. In the magazines, they always say his parents, Ludwig and Christina Welk-came here from Alsace-Lorraine. Not so.
"His grandfather and grandmother maybe, originally. But his parents came from Odessa in the Ukraine. But they were German, all of them first from Alsace-Lorraine."
"And Lawrence's mother-the magazines said her name was Schwalm. Wrong. It was Schwahn. Here, I'll write it down. Spell it right for once."
"How did Lawrence get started on the accordion? Aha, you should have heard his father, Ludwig. Now he could play the accordion. When they came over here they had the clothes they wore, no more. Except for the accordion. It had been in the Welk family three, maybe four generations."
"Farming was hard then. Up with the sun, to bed with the sun. But when there was a wedding! In those days any respectable wedding took three days-they were real weddings! And there was Ludwig Welk with the family accordion, playing as long as there was anyone left to dance!"
"Lawrence plays the accordion very good. But then, Ludwig taught him. You know how Lawrence got his own accordion? It cost $15 and he didn't have $15. That was a lot of money then, he was just a boy. So he got the money by trapping. Muskrat, beaver, badger. He skinned them, sold the pelts, paid for the accordion."
"I tell you, Lawrence has gone a long way, for a boy who had little education. He never finished fourth grade. Went to the boarding school over there; the Ursuline nuns used to teach there. Then he got sick, for a long time, never got back to school."
"I did hear that Lawrence took a correspondence course with a music academy in Minneapolis. He got a diploma in piano tuning. It's a good thing for a man to have a trade to fall back on, but I don't suppose he's ever had to tune pianos for a living."
Did Uncle Pius know why Lawrence changed the name of his band in the early days from the "Hotsy Totsy Boys" to the "Lawrence Welk Honolulu Fruit Gum Orchestra."?
"Oh, that. After he had been playing for weddings and parties and social affairs for quite a while, he got a program on WNAX, the radio station over in Yankton [S.D.]. His sponsor was Honolulu Fruit Gum. He kept his pockets full of it and everybody he met, he gave them a stick of Honolulu Fruit Gum."
"So that's about Lawrence Welk, a fine boy from Strasburg. When he was about this high, he'd come in, with a list of things they needed at the farm. When he was leaving, he'd pause near the door, like where you are."
"He knew that Uncle Pius would reach into this barrel of penny candy here-grab a handful and stuff it into his pocket."
"Like this. Munch it on the way back home and come back soon."
Lawrence playing banjo in 1925; acting like a matador ('George T. Kelly Show', 1925). He worked two years to earn the cost of the accordion.
|Ludwig Welk and Christina (Schwahn), immigrants from Catholic German Villages today near Odessa, Ukraine, with their children outside their farm near Strasburg, North Dakota. Christina Welk is holding Lawrence.


text:
I was at ASHG this week, so I've followed reactions to the election passively. But one thing I've seen is repeated commentary on the fact that Asian Americans have swung toward the Democrats over the past generation. The thing that pisses me off is that there is a very obvious low-hanging fruit sort of explanation out there, and I'm frankly sick and tired of reading people ramble on without any awareness of this reality. We spent the past few months talking about the power of polls, and quant data vs. qual (bullshit) analysis, with some of my readers going into full on let's-see-if-Razib-is-moron-enough-to-swallow-this-crap mode.
In short, it's religion. Barry Kosmin has documented that between 1990 and 2010 Asian Americans have become far less Christian, on average. Meanwhile, the Republican party has become far more Christian in terms of its identity. Do you really require more than two sentences to infer from this what the outcome will be in terms of how Asian Americans will vote?
Below I took the data from Pew's Religious Identification Survey in terms of how all Americans lean politically based on religion, and compared it to how Asian Americans lean based on religion.
All ...


text:
Last Saturday marked the end of my nearly eight years of employment at Amoeba Music Hollywood.
Okay – right away I can hear your breathing start to quicken and your heart-rate speed, so let me say right off that I will still be contributing to the Amoeblog. I struck a deal with management that, in exchange for writing my thoroughly researched and factually accurate lies and nonsense as I have been, I will be permitted access to the Amoeba Music break-room for all the free coffee I can drink from the hours of 4:30 pm to 5:45 pm, every Tuesday. Jealous?!?
A lot of people have been asking me what I'll be doing now that I'll no longer be working retail. My answer is simple.
Anyway, I want to share some of the sounds that have been weakening my knees for a while now; specifically, harmonizing vocal groups. (To be clear, I'm going to focus on more "popular vocal" groups of yesteryear – doo wop delights like The Flamingos and modern… err… marvels such as Color Me Badd will not be included.)
To start, let's listen to one of my favorite harmonizing vocal groups of all time, The Ravens.
The Ravens
(...well, actually, it's just a picture of them on your computer)


text:
Get the Flash Playerto see this player.
|For The Girls
Short review: Ladies! It's your chance to get some nice porno act! The erotica inside of For The Girls is geared towards ladies only and features lots of love and romance!
Content Amount: Hunky dudes with big tadgers are featured inside For The Girls! Plus sensuous narrations, sexually appealing male centerfolds, arousing sexual-desire encounters, and romantic ventures! View vidz and photographs of horny couples and even read females's health and sexuality e-zines! Get some advice from their unique advice columns, or even browse for far-out sex playthings in their adult store! Finally a pornographic website that females really want to see!


text:
When most people hear the words Sail Martha's Vineyard for the first time, they think of wealth. Sailing is stereotypically a sport of the affluent and Martha's Vineyard is known as a resort community.
Sail Martha's Vineyard director Brock Callen acknowledges this fact. "The word sail means elite, inaccessible, expensive," he said. "Average people don't think we need the money."
But a new series of short films attempts to tell the real story of Sail MV, the Vineyard nonprofit known for offering free sailing lessons to Islanders, both kids and adults. The story includes a year-round curriculum with a maritime studies program at the Martha's Vineyard regional high school (one of a handful in the nation), an early morning adult rowing club and the varsity sailing team at the high school.
"The story needed to be better told," Mr. Callen said.
Last January, Mr. Callen hired a group of young filmmakers to retell Sail MV's work from the perspective of its participants.
"They speak better for what it is we do than we can," he said.
The four mini films capture the day-to-day life of Sail MV, and explain the program's commitment to the Island's maritime tradition and to children of every socioeconomic class. It is one of only a few public access sailing organizations in the country.
The films were created by Windy Films, a production company co-founded five years ago by Harvey Burrell, Will Humphrey and Tripp Clemens. Mr. Burrell grew up in Vineyard Haven.
Windy Films primarily creates films for the nonprofit sector, maintaining a focus on social responsibility and research. A Martha's Vineyard regional high school graduate, Mr. Burrell is currently a senior at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. Many of his films have a nautical bent, he said, because he and one of his business partners grew up near the sea. In fact, Mr. Burrell was raised in the house adjacent to the Sail MV headquarters on Main street in Vineyard Haven.
Over the course of four months, the filmmakers visited the Island four times to familiarize themselves with the community and setting of Sail MV. During the first two visits, they didn't even bring any equipment.
The choice to film in the off-season was deliberate. "I grew up on the Vineyard so I didn't want to skip out of the bleak reality of winter," Mr. Burrell said. "So much of the material you see about the Vineyard is the summer stuff and it kind of skips some of the real weight of the issue."
Ultimately, the crew came away with 80 to 100 hours of footage, which they had to cut back to four films lasting less than three minutes each. In most cases, they spent more than one hour with their interview subjects to tell the complete, authentic story.
"In our experience, things come across a lot more honest and a lot more sincere when people are speaking candidly," Mr. Burrell said.
The four mini films include one overview of the programs offered and three subsequent films about the adult programs, the high school marine studies program and the passionate children and teens of Sail MV.
"I was definitely nervous about it," Mr. Burrell said. "I knew at the end of the day, when the work was done, it would be seen by Islanders."
To shoot the film, Mr. Burrell and his partners used a lightweight digital single-lens reflex camera. The film series had two goals: introduce folks to Sail MV and help raise funds to support the organization.
"The Island needs programs like this desperately," Mr. Burrell said. "My hope is that some big donor or fundraiser comes out of this effort."
Sail MV's annual budget is $550,000, and the organization employs three people full time. "We have to be able to raise $10,000 a week to be able to continue to provide for the children," Mr. Callen said. "Fundraising is a huge part of what we do."
Mr. Callen said the organization, which was founded in 1992, tries to create a safe space where kids are exposed to good role models.
"It's my judgment-free zone," says high-schooler Margaret Joba-Woodruff in her interview with Windy Films. "And that's huge for me."
The films can be viewed at sailmv.com.


text:
What, you are not yet a member of the Sheltie Forums? What are you waiting for? A friendly atmosphere of knowledgeable Sheltie owners, breeders & experienced show people are await you! Now is the best time to join the fun… and it is free!
Sign up to become a member of theSheltie Forums & enter to win a chance for a copy of this beautiful and heartwarming new book!
DOGTOWN: Tales of Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Redemption. The book follows the stories of desperate dogs and their dedicated caretakers at Dogtown, the Best Friends Animal Society shelter in Utah that believes in second chances, and portrays the powerful bond between the animals and the people who help them (it is also the first companion book to the National Geographic Channel's hit show "DogTown"). The book is a compelling testament to the fact that through love and devotion, dogs can be given a second chance at life.
Misfit and traumatized dogs, puppies rescued from puppy mills and war-zone trauma cases, the books tells the stories of 15 of the most memorable and touching cases, including Georgia, a pit bull rescued from Michael Vick's illegal dog-fighting operation, and Tuffy, whose spirit never flagged after being rescued from a hoarder. The compelling tales draw on the experiences of veterinarians, trainers and volunteers and in the end, we come to see that there are no "bad dogs" and that with patience and compassion, people can help dogs heal.
The book will appeal to animal and dog lovers alike and anyone interested in inspirational stories of perseverance and hope. (It would also make for a wonderful gift this upcoming holiday season!)
The book is also available from the National Geographic website, www.nationalgeographic.com, and wherever books are sold.
Are you already a member of the Sheltie Forums? You can still enter! Just log into the site & look for the announcement at the top of the site under "Events" All you have to do to enter is post a response. Hurry, contest ends November 7th!
The link to the forum thread is here.


text:
The Conference Board of Canada conducts a wide-range of services and research in support of organizations across Canada in the governance, compliance and risk (GCR) space. Our approach focuses on understanding the structural and regulatory context for GCR with a deep understanding of the human dimensions of effectiveness in this space. We know that the roots of effective governance, strong cultures of ethics and compliance and effective risk management reside with individual actions, expectations and behaviours.
Governance for us involves the actions, decisions and behaviours of the board, but also the interactions of the board with senior executives, stakeholders and shareholders. Our focus is on supporting boards of directors to navigate the increasingly complicated set of roles and responsibilities they have to help them focus on the areas where they will have the most impact and drive successful and long-term performance.
A key support for governance lies in the organizations approach to compliance. Compliance with internal and external laws, policies, procedures and regulations is the baseline expectation for successful organizations. Today organizational leaders know they must not only comply with the rules, they must instill within their organization a culture of integrity and support this culture through the creation of avenues of disclosure and discussion so that questions are raised before ethics breaches occur.
Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) has risen in the past ten years to become one of the most pressing issues for corporations today. An organization's ability to identify, measure, manage, monitor, review and report risks has become business crucial—being able to effectively and cost-efficiently develop ERM systems and process has become a challenge for ERM professionals. The Conference Board explores ways to better predict and manage risks by leveraging people, processes, and technology so that organizations may effectively operate and remain competitive in the Canadian market.
The Conference Board of Canada fosters thought leadership in the GCR space through:
The Transformation of the Health System: The Critical Role of Boards of Directors (March 28, 2017 | 34 pages | Jenny Santos)
This briefing examines the important role that governance plays in health care transformation by researching the governance systems in three provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario) that have taken distinct approaches to health care governance.
The Directors College is a collaborative agreement between The Conference Board of Canada and the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University. The Directors College provides Canada's original university accredited directors' education program in Canada. The experience with The Directors College is unique. The programs recognize both sides of directorship—the "technical and structural" (rules-based) side and the "cultural" (principle-based and behavioural) side. This raises the bar for professional standards and the dynamic relationship between corporate governance and corporate responsibility. We recognize the importance of having prepared and insightful directors who have the courage to ask important questions and the ability to collaborate in the boardroom.
The signature program is delivered in five modules with a variety of engaging lectures, interactive working sessions, and case studies. The program is residential, maximizing your
opportunities to network and learn among peers.
This specialized program enables you to perform effectively on board audit committees. The program is taught in two sequential parts.
This specialized program is an exceptional opportunity to learn how the board's HR and
compensation committee aligns HR processes, risk, and culture to an organization's business strategy.
For more information on how you can participate in our Governance, Compliance and Risk initiatives, or to request a guest invitation to a network meeting, contact us.
Follow us on Twitter for GCR news.
Contact Us |
About Us |
Careers |
Sitemap |
Terms of Use |
Privacy Policy |
Insights. Understanding. Impact.
We are dedicated to building a better future for Canadians by making our economy and society more dynamic and competitive.
© Copyright
*Incorporated as AERIC Inc., Agreement No. 40063028


text:
Henry David Thoreau, (born July 12, 1817, Concord, Massachusetts, U.S.—died May 6, 1862, Concord), American essayist, poet, and practical philosopher, renowned for having lived the doctrines of Transcendentalism as recorded in his masterwork, Walden (1854), and for having been a vigorous advocate of civil liberties, as evidenced in the essay "Civil Disobedience" (1849).
Early life
Thoreau was born in 1817 in Concord, Massachusetts, the third child of a feckless small businessman named John Thoreau and his bustling wife, Cynthia Dunbar Thoreau. Though his family moved the following year, they returned in 1823. Even when he grew ambivalent about the village after reaching adulthood, he never grew ambivalent about its lovely setting of woodlands, streams, and meadows. In 1828 his parents sent him to Concord Academy, where he impressed his teachers and so was permitted to prepare for college. Upon graduating from the academy, he entered Harvard University in 1833. There he was a good student, but he was indifferent to the rank system and preferred to use the school library for his own purposes. Graduating in the middle ranks of the class of 1837, Thoreau searched for a teaching job and secured one at his old grammar school in Concord. He found that he was no disciplinarian and resigned after two shaky weeks, after which he worked for his father in the family pencil-making business. In June 1838 he started a small school with the help of his brother John. Despite its progressive nature, it lasted for three years, until John fell ill.
Friendship with Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson settled in Concord during Thoreau's sophomore year at Harvard, and by the autumn of 1837 they were becoming friends. Emerson sensed in Thoreau a true disciple—that is, one with so much Emersonian self-reliance that he would still be his own man. Thoreau saw in Emerson a guide, a father, and a friend.
With his magnetism Emerson attracted others to Concord. Out of their heady speculations and affirmatives came New England Transcendentalism. In retrospect, it was one of the most significant literary movements of 19th-century America, with at least two authors of world stature, Thoreau and Emerson, to its credit. Essentially, it combined romanticism with reform. It celebrated the individual rather than the masses, emotion rather than reason, nature rather than man. Transcendentalism conceded that there were two ways of knowing, through the senses and through intuition, but asserted that intuition transcended tuition. Similarly, the movement acknowledged that matter and spirit both existed. It claimed, however, that the reality of spirit transcended the reality of matter. Transcendentalism strove for reform yet insisted that reform begin with the individual, not the group or organization.
Literary career
In Emerson's company Thoreau's hope of becoming a poet looked not only proper but feasible. Late in 1837, at Emerson's suggestion, he began keeping a journal that covered thousands of pages before he scrawled the final entry two months before his death. He soon polished some of his old college essays and composed new and better ones as well. He wrote some poems—a good many, in fact—for several years. A canoe trip that he and his brother John took along the Concord and Merrimack rivers in 1839 confirmed in him the opinion that he ought not be a schoolmaster but a poet of nature.
As the 1840s began, Thoreau formally took up the profession of poet. Captained by Emerson, the Transcendentalists started a magazine, The Dial. Its inaugural issue, dated July 1840, carried Thoreau's poem "Sympathy" and his essay on the Roman poet Aulus Persius Flaccus. The Dial published more of Thoreau's poems and then, in July 1842, the first of his outdoor essays, "Natural History of Massachusetts." Though disguised as a book review, it showed that a nature writer of distinction was in the making. Then followed more lyrics, and fine ones, such as "To the Maiden in the East," and another nature essay, remarkably felicitous, "A Winter Walk." The Dial ceased publication with the April 1844 issue, having published a richer variety of Thoreau's writing than any other magazine ever would.
In 1840 Thoreau fell in love with and proposed marriage to an attractive visitor to Concord named Ellen Sewall. She accepted his proposal but then immediately broke off the engagement at the insistence of her parents. He remained a bachelor for life. During two periods, 1841–43 and 1847–48, he stayed mostly at the Emersons' house. In spite of Emerson's hospitality and friendship, however, Thoreau grew restless; his condition was accentuated by grief over the death of his brother John, who died of tetanus in January 1842 after cutting his finger. Later that year Thoreau became a tutor in the Staten Island household of Emerson's brother, William, while trying to cultivate the New York literary market. Thoreau's literary activities went indifferently, however, and the effort to conquer New York failed. Confirmed in his distaste for city life and disappointed by his lack of success, he returned to Concord in late 1843.
Move to Walden Pond
Back in Concord Thoreau rejoined his family's business, making pencils and grinding graphite. By early 1845 he felt more restless than ever, until he decided to take up an idea of a Harvard classmate who had once built a waterside hut in which one could read and contemplate. In the spring Thoreau picked a spot by Walden Pond, a small glacial lake located 3 km (2 miles) south of Concord on land Emerson owned.
Early in the spring of 1845, Thoreau, then 27 years old, began to chop down tall pines with which to build the foundations of his home on the shores of Walden Pond. From the outset the move gave him profound satisfaction. Once settled, he restricted his diet for the most part to the fruits and vegetables he found growing wild and the beans he planted. When not busy weeding his bean rows and trying to protect them from hungry groundhogs or occupied with fishing, swimming, or rowing, he spent long hours observing and recording the local flora and fauna, reading, and writing A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers (1849). He also made entries in his journals, which he later polished and included in Walden. Much time, too, was spent in meditation.
Out of such activity and thought came Walden, a series of 18 essays describing Thoreau's experiment in basic living and his effort to set his time free for leisure. Several of the essays provide his original perspective on the meaning of work and leisure and describe his experiment in living as simply and self-sufficiently as possible, while in others Thoreau described the various realities of life at Walden Pond: his intimacy with the small animals he came in contact with; the sounds, smells, and look of woods and water at various seasons; the music of wind in telegraph wires—in short, the felicities of learning how to fulfill his desire to live as simply and self-sufficiently as possible. The physical act of living day by day at Walden Pond is what gives the book authority, while Thoreau's command of a clear, straightforward, elegant style helped raise it to the level of a literary classic.
Thoreau stayed for two years at Walden Pond (1845–47). In the summer of 1847 Emerson invited him to stay with his wife and children again, while Emerson himself went to Europe. Thoreau accepted, and in September 1847 he left his cabin forever.
Midway in his Walden sojourn Thoreau had spent a night in jail. On an evening in July 1846 he encountered Sam Staples, the constable and tax gatherer. Staples asked him amiably to pay his poll tax, which Thoreau had omitted paying for several years. He declined, and Staples locked him up. The next morning a still-unidentified lady, perhaps his aunt, Maria, paid the tax. Thoreau reluctantly emerged, did an errand, and then went to collect huckleberries. A single night, he decided, was enough to make his point that he could not support a government that endorsed slavery and waged an imperialist war against Mexico. His defense of the private, individual conscience against the expediency of the majority found expression in his most famous essay, "Civil Disobedience," which was first published in May 1849 under the title "Resistance to Civil Government." The essay received little attention until the 20th century, when it found an eager audience with the American civil rights movement. To many, its message still sounds timely: there is a higher law than the civil one, and the higher law must be followed even if a penalty ensues. So does its consequence: "Under a government which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for a just man is also a prison."
Later life and works
When Thoreau left Walden, he passed the peak of his career, and his life lost much of its illumination. Slowly his Transcendentalism drained away as he became a surveyor in order to support himself. He collected botanical specimens for himself and reptilian ones for Harvard, jotting down their descriptions in his journal. He established himself in his neighbourhood as a sound man with rod and transit, and he spent more of his time in the family business; after his father's death he took it over entirely. Thoreau made excursions to the Maine woods, to Cape Cod, and to Canada, using his experiences on the trips as raw material for three series of magazine articles: "Ktaadn [sic] and the Maine Woods," in The Union Magazine (1848); "Excursion to Canada," in Putnam's Monthly (1853); and "Cape Cod," in Putnam's (1855). These works present Thoreau's zest for outdoor adventure and his appreciation of the natural environment that had for so long sustained his own spirit.
As Thoreau became less of a Transcendentalist, he became more of an activist—above all, a dedicated abolitionist. As much as anyone in Concord, he helped to speed fleeing slaves north on the Underground Railroad. He lectured and wrote against slavery; "Slavery in Massachusetts," a lecture delivered in 1854, was his hardest indictment. In the abolitionist John Brown he found a father figure beside whom Emerson paled; the fiery old fanatic became his ideal. By now Thoreau was in poor health, and, when Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry failed and he was hanged, Thoreau suffered a psychic shock that probably hastened his own death. He died, apparently of tuberculosis, in 1862.
In terms of material success, Thoreau lived a life of repeated failures. He had to pay for the printing of A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers; when it sold a mere 220 copies, the publishers dumped the remaining 700 on his doorstep. Walden (the second and last of his books published during his lifetime) fared better but still took five years to sell 2,000 copies. And yet Thoreau is regarded as both a classic American writer and a cultural hero of his country. This opinion of his greatness stems from the power of his principal ideas and the lucid, provocative writing with which he expressed them.
Thoreau's two famous symbolic actions, his two years in the cabin at Walden Pond and his night in jail for civil disobedience, represent his personal enactment of the doctrines of New England Transcendentalism as expressed by his friend and associate Emerson, among others. In his writings Thoreau was concerned primarily with the possibilities for human culture provided by the American natural environment. He adapted ideas garnered from the then-current Romantic literatures in order to extend American libertarianism and individualism beyond the political and religious spheres to those of social and personal life. "The life which men praise and regard as successful is but one kind. Why," Thoreau asked in Walden, where his example was the answer, "should we exaggerate any one kind at the expense of the others?" In a commercial, conservative, expedient society that was rapidly becoming urban and industrial, he upheld the right to self-culture, to an individual life shaped by inner principle. He demanded for all men the freedom to follow unique lifestyles, to make poems of their lives and living itself an art. In a restless, expanding society dedicated to practical action, he demonstrated the uses and values of leisure, contemplation, and a harmonious appreciation of and coexistence with nature. Thoreau established the tradition of nature writing later developed by the Americans John Burroughs and John Muir, and his pioneer study of the human uses of nature profoundly influenced such conservationists and regional planners as Benton MacKaye and Lewis Mumford. More important, Thoreau's life, so fully expressed in his writing, has had a pervasive influence because it was an example of moral heroism and an example of the continuing search for a spiritual dimension in American life.
Learn More in these related Britannica articles:
American literature: The Transcendentalists…an individual way of thinking, Henry David Thoreau, a sometime surveyor, labourer, and naturalist, was closer to the earthy and the practical than even Emerson was. He also was more of a humorist—a dry Yankee commentator with a flair for paradoxical phrases and sentences. Finally, he was a learned man,…
nonfictional prose: The descriptive mode…as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry Thoreau scrupulously described the lessons of organization, of unity, and of moral beauty to be deciphered from the vicissitudes of nature. Russian essayists vied with novelists in their minute yet rapturous descriptions of the thaw releasing the torrents of spring or the implacable force…
Mexican-American War: Spot Resolutions and Civil Disobedience: American opposition to the war…with that interpretation was author Henry David Thoreau, who was incarcerated in July 1846 when he refused to pay six years' worth of back poll taxes because he felt the U.S. government's prosecution of the war with Mexico was immoral. Although he spent only a single night in jail (his…
Walden…series of 18 essays by Henry David Thoreau, published in 1854. An important contribution to New England Transcendentalism, the book was a record of Thoreau's experiment in simple living on the northern shore of Walden Pond in eastern Massachusetts (1845–47).
Waldenis viewed not only as a philosophical treatise on…
Walden PondThe pond was immortalized by Henry David Thoreau, who retreated there (1845–47) from society prior to writing
Walden; or, Life in the Woods.In "Where I Lived, and What I Lived For," the second chapter of the book, Thoreau wrote:…
More About Henry David Thoreau7 references found in Britannica articles
Assorted References
- American literature
- opposition to Mexican-American War
- use of description
authorship of
- "Maine Woods, The"
- "Walden"
- In Walden
- Walden Pond
- In Walden Pond
- "Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers, A"


text:
Search our database of handpicked sites
Looking for a great physics site? We've tracked down the very best and checked them for accuracy. Just fill out the fields below and we'll do the rest.
You searched for "particle physics"
We found 16 results on physics.org and 783 results in our database of sites
(of which 732 are Websites, 18 are Videos, and 33 are Experiments)
Search results on physics.org
What is the Higgs Boson?
What is superposition?
All about... Particle detection
Why is there more matter than antimatter?
What does the 5 sigma mean?
What is antimatter?
Large Hadron What?
What is string theory?
Creative Physics
Recreating the Big Bang
What is proton therapy?
Particle accelerators to the rescue
Faking Mayhem
How weird is quantum?
Does anyone understand quantum mechanics?
What is radioactivity?
The Review of Particle Physics
Up to date 'data book' on all aspects of particle physics. Useful if you need detailed technical information on subatomic particles or the laws which govern them.
Particle Physics
This site gives an overview of the physics elementary particles through a series of links to relevant articles.
Particle physics
Particle physics is the study of the fundamental constituents of matter and the forces of nature. This website is for everyone who wants to know more about particle physics.
Why Particle Physics Matters
Particle physicists from the US talk about why particle physics is important.
How particle physics can save your life
A great article highlighting the way particle physics is helping saves lives in medicine.
Particle Physics Timeline
A history of our knowledge of particle physics, from Ancient Greece to the present day.
Particle Physics Picture Archive
Classic images from the world of particle physics featuring discoveries, people, experiments, with explanations and a searchable archive.
How particle physics improves your life
Read how particle physics has impacted on everyday life, from diapers to heart valves.
The Particle Adventure
A complete introduction to particle physics, from the standard model to particle accelerators like the LHC.
Particle Clicker
Particle Clicker is a game about running your own particle physics laboratory. Hire PhD student, post-docs and even Nobel winners!