text:
I am sharing some tips based on our homeschooling trial and error and past mistakes I have made in overseeing my son's use of the online math programs offered by Thinkwell.
1. Be sure to set the accounts up correctly. I am still messing this up. The account needs to be established under the parent's email as teacher then the teacher assigns the course to the student. Before you do this, investigate how to do this. Since I keep messing this up, I can't advise on the right procedures, and I can't find it explained on the site either. I wish I knew so I could save you the hassle this has caused us.
2. Use the lesson plan (located in the RESOURCES section). This is a PDF that you can save to your hard drive and can print out. New this year, Thinkwell has homeschool lesson plans, so if you are an established Thinkwell user and are confused by this, now you know why, it's new. Before you say these are silly, hear me out.
a. The lesson plans clearly map out what lesson to do and what to do in the proper order. By using these the student will NOT mess up and fail to do the worksheets you must print off on paper and correct yourself, if your course has those (see #3).
(My son was navigating his way through the course and left half the work off. I discovered this months later. Thinking of this still makes me twitch.)
Print two copies of the lesson plan.
The lesson plan has assignments for doing the practice test and the chapter test, which is great so your student does not skip them like my son did.
There are empty boxes that you can place a check mark when finished and I advise to put the date of completion there as well. The test box area can hold the score.
b. Three hold punch these sheets and place in a three ring binder for your student. They are to check off their own sheets. Monitor these daily to make sure they are actually doing the work.
c. Three hole punch the second set for your teacher records. Copy from your student's sheets to document the dates they completed the work.
3. The 2012 version of Pre-Algebra does not have "topic worksheets" but Algebra 1, 2, and Geometry do.
The online exercises are short and to truly learn and master the content these worksheets should be done. To review some general information about Thinkwell, the online work is student-paced and online-graded automatically. The "topic worksheet" is to be printed by the parent, answer keys viewed online or printed off, then graded by the parent. The graded "topic worksheet" work should be reviewed by the student before the chapter pre-test and the final chapter test are taken so they can re-learn the content they did not understand (which they thought they understood).
The "topic worksheet" is available inside the lesson itself such as Algebra 1.2.2 -- see bottom "additional materials for this topic".
4. Do not skip the "chapter practice test". The practice test is a check to see what is not being understood and should be used as a study tool to re-learn the material before the actual test is taken.
5. Review and Study.
My sons had to be taught that students should actually review and study for a math test. This was news to them. Since they'd never been in regular school, they did not know this. This is a shift from easier arithmetic lessons such as doing addition, multiplication, and division where my sons did not need to study. Algebra and geometry are completely different, more complex, and studying or reviewing material is normal, right and good.
6. Make sure your student is doing the chapter tests. Be sure they are not just watching the videos, doing the online exercises and moving on without being tested.
7. Thinkwell does not allow homeschool accounts to take the chapter test more than once. If you disagree with this as I do, send them a complaint / suggestion.
My younger son blasted through some tests and failed and I wanted him to re-learn all the material and re-take the tests, but the test scores are locked and permanent. I am trying to figure out a work-around. Our goal is true learning and I honestly want him re-tested on the material he has re-learned.
8. Use a spiral notebook for math documentation. Use a new page for each day. Date at the top, with the student name. Write the lesson number i.e. 1.2.1. Write the topic name. Write out all the math problems shown in the video.
The student can look back on this work to review content learned in that chapter without having to re-watch the video lecture in its entirety.
This provides a written record of the student's work.
This helps the student not fib to the parent about what work was actually done on that day.
9. The transcript for the video lectures is on the website. This can be read online or printed off and kept in a binder to document the scope and sequence for the course, or for study material before testing. It's optional. I just wanted you to realize it is there.
I will withhold all the errors I've made in administering this program to my kids. I trusted them far too much and supervised them too little. I had been used to a different computer based program where it was impossible for the student to skip portions or sneak or abuse the system. Thinkwell can be accidentially under-utilized as well as intentionally "neglected". You can't cheat the system, but kid can either mistakenly or intentionally skip over work or skip the tests. Only a hawk-like parent would catch this. I have not always been that type of parent, because I thought the program was fail-safe, but it is not.
As a result of the errors my children and I made, they have not done as well as I would have liked and they had to go back and re-learn concepts that they thought they learned but actually had blown through quickly and forgotten. They are doing double learning which is taking a lot more time than it ever should have.
Despite our challenges, we all like Thinkwell math. I have finally figured out the error of MY WAYS and am reteaching my old dogs new tricks, and hope this helps you not make some of the errors I've made.
Disclosure: I was not paid with money, services, or products, to blog about Thinkwell.
Monday, January 07, 2013
Tips for Using Thinkwell Math High School Programs
Posted by ChristineMM at 4:00 AM
Labels: Homeschooling, teaching math
2 comments:
- coastalmama said...
your latest post sounds like a great break through. I applaud your gritty determination and commitment to your self and family.Thanks heaps for this post so good to read so gritty,meaty information about thinkwell.
Emily(in New Zealand)
- Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 5:09:00 AM CST
- Nita said...
I'm glad for this review and tips. We are starting with Thinkwell Geometry since my daughter was really impressed with his lectures over all the others.
- Thursday, September 12, 2013 at 11:00:00 AM CDT
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
MANKATO — Funding was cut in half for underage drinking patrols during move-in weekend for college students this year, but local law enforcement officers were busy issuing more citations than last year.
A total of 134 people were cited for underage drinking or underage possession of alcohol Friday night and Saturday. There were 50 citations issued at one house party in the 800 block of North Fifth Street.
"It was a very busy weekend," said Cmdr. Deb McDermott of the Mankato Department of Public Safety. "This is our first weekend with the students back and we definitely felt their presence."
A $3,300 grant from The Minnesota Institute of Public Health provided enough funding for officers to work 56 patrol hours around the Minnesota State University campus and other areas in the city with high student populations. In addition to the underage drinking citations, 13 people were cited for violating the social host ordinance and nine people were cited for disorderly conduct or obstruction of justice. Twelve more citations were issued for violations including possession of marijuana, littering, trespassing and fleeing police on foot.
Last year, enough funding was provided for 114 hours of extra patrols during the move-in weekend. There were 105 citations issued during those patrols, so the citations were up about 50 percent even though the patrol hours were cut in half this year.
In addition to the underage drinking party on Fifth Street, another large party was busted in the 300 block of West Pleasant Street, McDermott said. Others were cited while walking between student apartment complexes in the campus area.
Five underage drinkers were taken to a detoxification center because officers believed they were too intoxicated to care for themselves.
The purpose of the grant is to provide heavy patrols during the beginning of the school year to help reduce underage drinking. There will be more saturation patrols coming, McDermott said.
"They'll see us again," she said.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
FORT MEADE, Md. — Some workers at a Marine Corps brig housing a soldier charged with sending U.S. secrets to WikiLeaks became annoyed at a demonstration on his behalf the day before a confrontation that led to tighter restrictions on him, a former guard testified Saturday.
The testimony by former Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jonathan Cline undercut government efforts to show that Pfc. Bradley Manning's tight confinement conditions were justified to prevent him from killing or hurting himself. The defense claims the nine months Manning spent in virtual isolation, sometimes without clothing, amounted to illegal pretrial punishment. Manning and his attorneys want all the charges dismissed.
Cline testified on the fifth day of a pretrial hearing at Fort Meade, near Baltimore.
He was called as a prosecution witness to talk about a Jan. 18, 2011, incident in which Manning hid behind an exercise machine and wept after he was scolded by another guard for failing to respond properly to a command. Later that day, the brig commander, Chief Warrant Officer 4 James Averhart, added "suicide risk" to Manning's maximum-custody conditions. That was after they had what Manning described as a heated argument about the incident.
Manning testified Thursday that the guards seemed angry that morning as they escorted him in leg irons and handcuffs to an exercise room. He said their attitude made him nervous, culminating in his odd behavior.
"I thought I was going to be attacked or assaulted or something like that," Manning said.
Cline testified that some brig workers were annoyed that a pro-Manning protest a day earlier had closed Quantico's main gate, forcing them to take alternate routes home. Cline said he wasn't personally affected by it. Defense attorney David Coombs has implied the guards took out their irritation on Manning by bullying him.
Cline and another former guard, Marine Lance Cpl. Joshua Tankersly, both testified that except for the Jan. 18 incident, Manning was always compliant and respectful.
Another former brig worker, Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. William Fuller, testified that Manning was often uncommunicative and withdrawn, possibly signaling a suicide risk.
For local news and more, subscribe to The Norman Transcript Smart Edition, or our print edition.


text:
The Barren County Trojans scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning Monday afternoon to pace themselves to a big 7-4 baseball victory over visiting Warren Central.
"We swung the bats pretty good. On the mound, we walked too many and hit three batters," said Barren County coach Johnny Vance.
"Our base running was awful. We had two people thrown out at the plate and one at third trying to take an extra base on a wild pitch. We really kept them in the game with five walks, three hit batters, and four errors.
"The only thing we did well today was swing the bat especially early in the game. The base running and the four errors kept them in the game.
Read more of this story in the print or digital Glasgow Daily Times.


text:
Share This Page
USS Missouri is the site where World War II formally ended; it is our primary artifact; it is the place we work and explore, it is an obligation to future generations, it is an inspiration to millions of visitors; it is quite simply America's Battleship Missouri.
Exhibits aboard the ship are limited by available space and our primary objective is to preserve the authenticity of the Missouri.
Exhibits, with special exceptions, are largely categorized as restored spaces or operational displays. These include many of the operational, engineering, navigational, administrative, food service and living spaces aboard Battleship Missouri that are restored to their "in-operation" appearance.
The Chief Petty Officers Legacy Center: Honors the proud legacy of the Navy's Chief Petty Officer.
Located on the second deck aft in the midst of CPO Country, we explore the history and the legacy of Chiefs in the U.S. Navy.
Excerpt from the World War II diary of ship's baker Harold "Buster" Campbell, describing the April 11, 1945 Kamikaze attack on USS Missouri during the Battle of Okinawa. Discover more
Our Archives & Collections Department is caretaker of an expanding resource of informational and material resources inspired by the proud legacy and service of the USS Missouri and her crews.
The Archives & Collections Department actively acquires resources related to the inspirational history of the battleship, her crews and the historic context in which they served. Our goal is to ensure responsible care and preservation of our resources while exploring opportunities for accessibility and use.
The Battleship Missouri Memorial actively collects information, archival materials and artifacts pertaining to the historical, technical and operational aspects of USS Missouri as well as information and materials that may provide greater insight and understanding of the Missouri, her crews and the historic context in which they served.
If you have information or materials that you would like to share with or contribute to our Archives and Collections, please click here. If you have any questions, please contact us at:
Email: email@example.com Phone: (808) 455-1600 ext. 235 or ext. 252 Mailing address:
Collections & Archives Battleship Missouri Memorial
63 Cowpens Street Honolulu, Hawaii 96818
USS Missouri Memorial Association, Inc. is an IRS 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization


text:
« Review Roundup: Rick Ross – 'God Forgives, I Don't'
50 Cent and Kanye West Attend Mike Tyson's Broadway Opening »
New Music: Melanie Amaro – 'Don't Fail Me Now'
Melanie Amaro was crowned the winner on the first season of the U.S. "X Factor" and scored a $5 million recording contract. Now the Florida native reflects on her journey to stardom on her debut single "Don't Fail Me Now." The uptempo record, produced by Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins and written by Livvi Franc, will appear on her upcoming Epic Records debut, due this fall.
"I've walked the longest road, so don't fail me now, feet don't fail me now," sings the 20-year-old Melanie over the pulsing bassline.
Follow her as she embarks on the next chapter of her career.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
31 Comments
Leave a Reply
©Copyright 2014 Rap-Up.com. Rap-Up® is a registered trademark. All rights reserved.
A Member of Townsquare Music | Advertise


text:
It's your opportunity to re-present your company to home show attendees after the show, as well as get in front of those who could not make it to the event. The next shoot session is October 4-6, 2013 at the Fall Atlanta Home Show at the Cobb Galleria Centre. You must be an exhibitor in the show to take advantage of this great video offer. Click here to learn more and sign up to reserve your spot today.
©2014, SEMCO Productions. All rights reserved.


text:
Well, if it isn't our favorite student...
First day? Welcome!
True or False: You're ready to achieve your higher education and career goals? That's
what we thought. And that's what we're here for. From college to career-we've got
you covered. So get going! Your future's waiting.
Refine Search by:
600 Lincoln Avenue
Charleston, IL 61920
United States
Phone: 217-581-2223
Fax: 217-581-7060


text:
Who were the best of the best in 2013? What were the highest and lowest points of the year? Read this and you're guaranteed to learn something new, no matter how big of a boxing fan you are.
Find out what you missed the past week. Countries highlighted in this review include the USA, UK, Argentina, Mexico, Japan, Germany, Russia, and Spain, kinda.
Anthony Ogogo may not be moving on to the quarterfinals after all, as it appears for now that the originally announced countback score was miscalculated. Bad Left Hook has more on the Ogogo vs...
Ukraine's Vasyl Lomachenko is in action this morning, as well as Puerto Rico's Felix Verdejo, Great Britain's Anthony Ogogo, and more in the lightweight and middleweight boxing. Bad Left Hook has...
Today's Olympic boxing action from London sees the lightweights and middleweights back in the ring, with two members of Team USA in action this afternoon, plus the world's best amateur fighter,...
We'll have a full rundown of the Olympic draw posted in a bit for every weight class, but for now, here's a look at what you'll be seeing tomorrow. We'll be here to cover it every step of the way....
We'll email you a reset link.
If you signed up using a 3rd party account like Facebook or Twitter, please login with it instead.
You must be a member of Bad Left Hook to participate.
We have our own Community Guidelines at Bad Left Hook. You should read them.
You must be a member of Bad Left Hook to participate.
We have our own Community Guidelines at Bad Left Hook. You should read them.
Choose an available username to complete sign up.
In order to provide our users with a better overall experience, we ask for more information from Facebook when using it to login so that we can learn more about our audience and provide you with the best possible experience. We do not store specific user data and the sharing of it is not required to login with Facebook.


text:
Amphoto (Clear)
Genre & SubjectGenre & Subject
Art, Architecture... (Clear)
- Amazon.com Market... (1)
- Amazon.com (1)
Amphoto (Clear)
Art, Architecture... (Clear)
Find, Compare, Read Reviews & Buy Find, Compare, Read Reviews & Buy Art, Architecture, Design & Photography Amphoto Books Online @ Yahoo Shopping Want to see your products in Yahoo Shopping? Advertise with us. Sitemap All Brands
Terms | Privacy | About Our Ads | Help


text:
Gloucester Daily Times
---- — Sox open vs. NU
The Red Sox open up preseason play tomorrow afternoon with their annual double-header against the two local college programs, Northeastern and Boston College. The Sox will play NU in the afternoon and BC at night.
There is a possibility a local could see time against the Sox tomorrow afternoon as Gloucester's Dylan Maki is a senior captain pitcher for the Huskies. Maki has split time between the starting rotation and the bullpen over the last three seasons. Early on in the 2013 season the Gloucester native has come out of the bullpen. Through three games Maki has made one appearance out of the Huskies bullpen throwing 1 2/3 innings in the team's win over the University of Houston last Friday.
Northeastern is currently 1-2 on the year.
Pairings weekend
This will be a huge weekend for Mass. high school basketball and hockey, but there probably won't be any games played. Instead, the much anticipated parings will be released Friday for boys and girls hoops and Saturday for hockey.
There are four Cape Ann teams in the tournament this winter, Manchester Essex boys and girls basketball, Gloucester girls basketball and Rockport hockey. While the latter three figure to get a lower seed and have to battle their way through the iron of their respective divisions, the Manchester Essex boys could be a top five seed in Division 4 North. All four teams have been staples in the postseason over the past five seasons and all know what to expect and how to win when the stakes are at their highest.
No timetable
Red Sox manager John Farrell told the media on Tuesday that there is no timetable for the return of both David Ortiz and Mike Napoli to game action. Farrell said Napoli, who has a hip injury, should return before Ortiz, who is still nursing an achillies tendon.
-Compiled by Nick Curcuru


text:
school resources
teacher resources
school finance & grants
Testing / Accountability
student assessment & ratings
standards, college prep & programs
data, statistics & research
News & Events
communications & calendars
Student Assessment Home | Assessment A–Z Directory | Contact Student Assessment | Printing PDFs
The State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness Modified (STAAR® Modified) modification guidelines were created to ensure consistency when modifying STAAR test items (questions) for use on STAAR Modified assessments. Modifications are made to STAAR items while preserving the construct of each item and maintaining alignment with grade-level or course content standards. Consideration has been given to the progression of complexity (word usage, sentence structure, vocabulary, and content) throughout the grades and courses.
The modification guidelines below serve as examples of how modifications are applied to STAAR test items, though not every possible modification is applied to all test items. The modification guidelines can also be used by educators as examples of instructional modifications that can be used in the classroom.
To see all available STAAR Modified Resources, visit the STAAR Modified Resources webpage.
View archived Modified Modification Guidelines no longer in use.
For additional information, contact:
Student Assessment Division 512/463-9536 firstname.lastname@example.com
Page last modified on 9/17/2013 11:19:42 AM.
Copyright Texas Education Agency (TEA) 2007-2014


text:
From staff reports
Traverse City Record-Eagle
---- — TRAVERSE CITY — Work on a controversial "campus expression" policy at Northwestern Michigan College will be shelved until spring.
NMC board member Cheryl Gore Follette proposed the delay at a Monday board meeting because Traverse City attorney Al Quick won't be available until then.
Quick recently provided the board with legal broad strokes on how to revamp its originally approved policy, which the American Civil Liberties Union characterized as "clearly and blatantly unconstitutional."
The policy was approved last spring, but put on hold until September after questions were quickly raised about its constitutionality.
The policy required that those who wanted to speak on campus apply for a permit four business days in advance, and speak only in designated "Free Speech" areas so as not to block the movement of students and campus visitors.
The board still wants to pursue an expression policy, in part, because it will make it easier to enforce trespassing violations.


text:
City (13)
Neighborhood (13)
Reviewed (3)
Breakfast (12)
Lunch (13)
Dinner (12)
Late Dinner (7)
Brunch (9)
Take-Out (12)
Delivery (3)
Outdoor Dining (6)
Catering (11)
Banquet Rooms (2)
Bar Scene (5)
Kids Welcome (10)
No Jeans (1)
Romantic (4)
American Express (13)
MasterCard (13)
Visa (13)
Carte Blanche (2)
TransMedia (1)
"A diverse menu and live entertainment with an eclectic mix of rock, blues, folk and jazz. Serving ...
(American, Breakfast, Tavern Fare)
Upscale but not uptight! Chicago/N.Y. lounge atmshphere with great food and better service. Brunch u...
(Breakfast, Seafood, Steak, Bistro)
Exceptional regional cuisine prepared with the freshest locally obtained products available. The Gri...
(American, Breakfast, Tavern Fare)
"Guy Hollerin's is a casual, sports-related restaurant with a relaxed, informal theme. Breakfast, lu...
(American, Breakfast, Seafood)
"Loon River Cafe has received critical acclaim throughout the Metro Detroit Area. Executive chef Ray...
The vitrual prototype of the friendly diner, with a cheery welcome from proprietors and staff and a ...
Homestyle cooking!
(American, Barbeque, Breakfast, Diner, Greek, Mediterranean, Seafood, Salads, Soup, Burgers)
Est. in 1975, Original Seros has been providing Metro Detroit with some of the best Greek food, brea...
Formerly known as the Blue Note Cafe in Lake Orion, The Poppyseed Deli creates made-to-order sandwic...
Innovative and unique menu at this breakast and lunch restaurant. Pleasant decor and ambiance.
(American, Breakfast, Seafood, Steak)
"The St. Clair Inn is a historic inn located along the St. Clair River, in historic St. Clair, Michi...
(American, Breakfast, Mediterranean)
"This Mediterranean Bistro is a must visit in Ypsilanti! Famous for award winning pizzas and pastas....


text:
Norma June Swadley Dawson passed away December 28, 2012 in Ocala, FL. Born near Council Hill, OK, on August 15, 1934, to Roy and Minnie Swadley, she attended Elm Grove Baptist Church, Victor School and Checotah High School and then began working for the FBI in Washington, DC. Norma married William Goff and became an "Air Force Wife" and mother of four children, relocating their family often. After her children were grown and finding herself single again, she returned to work for the FBI. On April 9, 1980, she married Robert J. Dawson, and they moved to Florida upon retirement.
She is survived by husband Robert, sons Steven Goff (Mary) of Columbus, GA and Douglas Goff, Holiday, FL, one brother David Swadley (Jackie), Enid, OK, and sisters, Carol Daugherty (Bill), Muskogee, OK, and Nina Kindred (David), Plano, TX, stepson Michael Dawson, Japan, stepdaughter Susan Brigden, England, eight grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. Preceding her in death are her parents, daughter Kelly (Goff) Sauls, son Donald Goff, brother Kent Swadley, half-brother Leroy Swadley, stepson John Dawson, stepdaughter Lee Dawson.
In honor of Norma's life, her family will host an informal memorial service at Elm Grove Baptist Church on Saturday, January 19, 2013, at 2 pm, officiated by Rev. Rick LaBounty and Rev. Jerry Qualls. Family and friends are encouraged to attend and share memories.


text:
It's no secret that more products we use and rely on every day have been made in a foreign country and imported by an American company for sale in the United States. But are these products safe? Regulatory agencies such as the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have put minimum standards in place for consumer products entering the country.
When products that don't meet these standards find their way onto U.S. shelves, lawyers often shudder at the thought of litigating against manufacturers across the globe. But lawyers can file claims against the importer in addition to the manufacturer. Although few cases have been brought against importers to hold them directly liable for their negligence in distributing defective products, these suits can be successful if you properly introduce federal standards to the jury.1
While importers have long been liable in most jurisdictions under strict liability theories for product defects because of their role in the chain of distribution, they have not traditionally been viewed as the responsible party in foreign-made product defect cases because they "merely import" and "just distribute" the part or product in question.
Importers often try to shift blame to the foreign fabricators they use, even though such arguments are in direct conflict with the obligations imposed on importers by the federal government. As we pursue justice for our clients in these changing economic times, we must evaluate the specific responsibilities of all parties.
In 1972, Congress enacted the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA)2 to protect consumers from unreasonable risk of injury. The act defines a "manufacturer" as "any person who manufactures or imports a consumer product."3 Although the definition was clear on its face in creating responsibilities for importers for the safety of such products, the CPSC issued a policy statement in 1976 unambiguously stating that "under the Act, importers are made subject to the same responsibilities as domestic manufacturers."4
This policy makes perfect sense and reflects the realities of regulating the importation of foreign-made products. The government clearly has the power and ability to take action to protect the public when a U.S.-based manufacturer makes a defective product in a facility on U.S. soil. If that same company outsources manufacturing responsibilities to foreign-based fabricators, the government must still be able to ensure products are safe before they are sold and distributed domestically. By crafting laws that define "manufacturer" to include those domestic companies that import products, the government can exercise regulatory control.
The CPSA is not the only regulatory scheme that has adopted this approach. Similar definitions are used in the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Safety Act). Under the Safety Act, as administered by NHTSA, importers of "motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment for resale" are deemed to be the "manufacturer" of the imported product.5
While these regulations do not delineate or specify the importer's duties or responsibilities, they are the foundation for building successful strict liability and common law negligence cases against irresponsible importers.
Importer responsibilities
Regardless of where a product is made, there is generally broad consensus about what reasonably prudent "manufacturers" must do to prevent unsafe and defective products from reaching the marketplace. Over the last few decades, the government6 and various industry groups, like the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) and the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), have weighed in on the issue of importer safety and have provided their own perspectives on what responsible importers should do and how they should conduct themselves to keep defective imported products out of the marketplace.
The importance of this issue to both government and industry is multi-faceted, and the U.S. government has been steadfast in its efforts to ensure that U.S. laws, and the efforts of the agencies that enforce them, are in line with consumer protection.
For example, in 2007, President George W. Bush established the Interagency Working Group on Import Safety (Working Group).7 The Working Group quickly created a strategic framework8 and within a year issued a progress report9 addressing its efforts to identify and incentivize recognized practices with respect to ensuring the importation of safe foreign-made goods.
When considered together, these industry and government resource materials provide a wealth of information about exactly what reasonable importers should be doing and considering as they make the decision to use foreign fabricators. For instance, they should create detailed contracts laying out processes to ensure product safety, conduct site visits, review and approve the manufacturing processes, set policies for quality control, perform random tests at the fabricator facility, and randomly test the product during importation.
When importers try to skirt liability by claiming blind reliance on their foreign manufacturing partners, lawyers can point to these long-standing regulations. When importers try to point the finger at foreign fabricating manufacturers for their failures, the regulations provide support to plaintiff claims that the importers bear responsibility for failing to take reasonable steps to ensure the product's safety.
The regulations also require that importers ascertain information about the imported product's design, materials specifications, manufacturing processes, quality control measures, and other details. The information is supposed to be gathered proactively before importation. These documents can be very useful, especially because most are in English.
By suing the importer, a plaintiff can access invaluable information about the foreign manufacturer's design, manufacturing, testing, and quality control records quickly and easily through discovery, while service and other foreign legal issues could delay similar discovery in cases solely against the manufacturer.
Lawsuit tactics
To most effectively pursue claims against importers, consider these practical tips that can pave the road to success.
The common wisdom that the foreign fabricator or manufacturer must be joined in a product defect suit if it is to succeed is not true. For years, defense lawyers have effectively used blame-shifting trial themes to obtain defense verdicts for their importer clients. But if you review the trials closely, it becomes evident that the federal regulatory schemes meant to protect the consumer were never brought to bear. If you weave the power of the government's safety policies into importer-based claims, you can make powerful jury arguments that the importer is independently negligent for its business practices because it failed to follow well-recognized standards of practice to protect the public from unsafe products.
It is critical that the federal laws relating to importers be presented to the jury. The most effective means to do this is a motion for judicial notice. Many states require that courts take judicial notice of "public statutory law,"10 and a motion sets the stage for introducing these laws before the jury.
It is best to identify the specific federal laws, definitions, or regulations that apply to the importer's conduct and the product in your case. The best tool for this purpose is a request for admission.11 Because the federal laws related to importers' responsibilities are beyond dispute, requests for admissions can be used to gain factual concessions that take away the defense's ability to argue against the regulations' applicability. If the definitions outlined by the CPSA, for example, are broken down into smaller, undisputable concessions like "the product in question was imported" and "the disputed product is a 'consumer product' as defined by the CPSA," then the ultimate admission of the laws becomes a simpler matter.
You must be extremely diligent in discovery in order to pin down importers as to what documents and materials they had at or before the time the product was distributed and sold, and what they may have in their possession, custody, and control at the time of discovery. Generally, the only documents and materials that are probative of the importer's conduct are those that it was aware of when or before it distributed and sold the product at issue. Often, the defense tries to use documents, testing, and expert testimony performed after the product has already been sold in this country to defend the product, but in a negligence claim targeting the importer's conduct, post hoc bootstrapping is improper. You must be cognizant of this strategy, and make sure that the importer specifies exactly what information it had in the relevant time frame and that you set up appropriate motions in limine at trial.
Additionally, you must understand that importers commonly respond to initial discovery requests that they have "no documents in their possession" or simply list "none." But as the case proceeds and the importer begins to recognize the problems involved in claiming blind reliance on its chosen foreign fabricator, the importer may "voluntarily obtain" production of all manner of materials from overseas as it changes its defense strategy. Timely production of materials obtained from the fabricator can be beneficial if it results in the production of materials that could not be obtained otherwise. On the other hand, when production is made just after the plaintiff experts have finalized their opinions and provided testimony or immediately before trial, you must be prepared to challenge such conduct directly.
If your case is in federal court, this is easier because of how Rule 26 operates. Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(a)(1)(A)(ii) " . . . a party must . . . provide to the other parties . . . a copy—or a description by category or location—of all documents, electronically store information, and tangible things that the disclosing party has in its possession, custody, or control and may be used to support its claims or defenses. . . ."12
Additionally, parties have continuing obligations to supplement or correct disclosures.13 Thus, if a defendant plans to use materials from its foreign fabricator in support of its defenses, which it can either obtain voluntarily by a simple request or pursuant to a preexisting contract, it has "control" and must provide the discovery without delay. If the defendant doesn't provide the information, you can challenge the discovery abuse and surprise tactics and move to exclude the materials. In state courts, the disclosure rules tend to be weaker, so you must plan to make repeated requests at key times.
In either federal or state jurisdiction, it is a good practice to continually request any discovery and communicate your concerns to the importers about late disclosures of the fabricator's documents, as you will often get a response that they "lack control" to obtain anything. This becomes a key piece of your sanctions motion later because it is difficult for the defense to explain how the documents were obtained after they repeatedly claimed that they couldn't obtain them.
Do not overlook the evidentiary problems the importers may face in using or admitting the fabricator's records at trial if you see selective production occurring. If you suspect that records are being selectively provided solely for the defense's benefits, you should consider filing a motion in limine challenging the records because there was no records custodian, the original untranslated source material was not provided, or other indicia of reliability are absent.
Use the corporate representative deposition to definitively lay out key elements of your importer liability case and to establish a timeline of what the importer knew and when. As a starting point, whether in federal or state court, you should set a Rule 30(b)(6) deposition, but not until after you have consulted with your importer liability expert and after the defendant has specified what documents it had in the relevant time frame.14 You can then walk the company representative through what the company knew, when it knew the product was unsafe, and whether its executives took steps to ensure the product's safety was consistent with its legal obligations and recognized standards of practice.
Breach of duties
The most effective way to develop testimony on the breach of duties in these cases is to use materials relating to importation practices from government agencies or private groups. For example, in a motor vehicle case, look to the government's manual on Recommended Best Practices for Importers of Motor Vehicles and Motor Vehicle Equipment to develop questions.15 While the manual does not mandate any specific actions importers must take, it does effectively describe what is reasonable for importers to do in light of their legal status as manufacturers. Using the Best Practices as a framework, you can explore whether the importer fully understood its legal obligations and its own product's specifications and design, properly inspected its foreign fabricator's facility and developed adequate quality control mechanisms, and developed a framework for testing and inspecting its products before they reached the marketplace.
By using these types of materials to frame your inquiries, and by being diligent in developing a clear timeline of what the importer did or did not do in the relevant time periods, you will be better able to develop an effective and compelling case story.
When questioning the company's representative, you will either develop testimony consistent with an "it was not us, it was them," defense or you will determine the extent of the company's efforts to meet its obligations. Often, the defense strategy is to claim blind reliance on a fabricator, and the defendants will openly concede what the requisite safety measures are and acknowledge that they don't know whether those steps were taken.
Alternatively, they will blame the fabricator for the failure or safety defect. In either scenario, what the representative is doing for your case is agreeing that the company had a duty to ensure product safety and handing you the breach-of-duty story for your trial: Either the importer failed to comply with its obligations under federal law by unfounded blind reliance, or it is acknowledging why the product was defective and aiding your strict liability claim against the importer.
At the end of the day, the disappointing truth is that many importers are not meeting their obligations under our federal regulatory scheme, and as a result people are being hurt by defective foreign-made products. A strong liability case can be made that dangerous defective products are entering the U.S. marketplace because importers are dodging their responsibilities. Ultimately, it is hard for importers to argue that blind reliance on foreign manufacturers is acceptable. When traditional liability arguments against foreign-made product manufacturers are bolstered by independent importer claims, the individual plaintiff and the public at large can only benefit.
Henry "Hank" N. Didier Jr. practices product safety law with the Didier Law Firm in Orlando, Fla. He can be reached at email@example.com.
- I have used federal regulations in suits against importers for alleged defects in both consumer and automotive products. One case is currently on appeal on the issue of appropriate jury instructions consistent with the federal safety regulations discussed herein. Mazzanet-Figueroa v. Scorpion Sports, Inc., No. 08- CA-20186 (Fla., Orange Co. Cir. May 20, 2011); Mazzanet-Figueroa v. Scorpion Sports, Inc., No. 5D11-3162 (Fla. 5th Dist. App. app. filed Sept. 16, 2011).
- 49 U.S.C. §30102(a)(5)(B) (1994).
- See CPSC, Handbook for Manufacturing Safer Consumer Products (July 2006) (originally published in June 1975 and revised in May 1977); see also Recommended Best Practices for Importers of Motor Vehicles and Motor Vehicle Equipment, 73 Fed. Reg. 79207 (Dec. 24, 2008).
- Exec. Or. 13439 (2007).
- Interagency Working Group on Import Safety, Protecting American Consumers Every Step of the Way: A Strategic Framework for Continual Improvement in Import Safety (Sept. 10, 2007).
- Interagency Working Group on Import Safety, Import Safety–Action Plan Update (July 2008).
- See Fla. Stat. §90.201(1); see also Fed. R. Evid. 201.
- See Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.370; see also Fed. R. Civ. P. 36.
- Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1)(A)(ii).
- Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(e)(1)(A).
- See Fed. R. Civ. P. 30(b)(6); see also Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.310(b)(6).
- See Recommended Best Practices for Importers, supra n.6.


text:
By Doug and Polly Smith
Niagara Gazette
Niagara Gazette — Dear Mainland Travelers — It's going to be a nightmare, literally, Monday for most motorists using — or trying to use — the South Bridge to and across Grand Island.
Thanks to a class-action lawsuit, traffic-snarling bridgework will be done during the daytime, but only on certain days, of which Monday will be the first.
The State Thruway Authority thought it had this repaving thing all smoothed over. Last Sunday it started closing the southbound South Bridge — the one off the Island into the Tonawandas — for repairs, but only at night.
At 8 p.m. or thereabouts, barriers are placed restricting Islanders' access to the bridge. About 6 in the morning, they're removed. Following night, up again.
Supposedly, that keeps the bridges clearest during rush-hour traffic.
But the closure was mysteriously postponed a week, then another week. The Authority blamed the first on a lack of readiness and the second on the weather, but it turns out these were just cover stories.
Actually, the Authority was trying to negotiate with activist group NITEOWL (Never Ignore The Efforts Of We Late-Shifters), which advocates equal rights for people working unconventional hours. NITEOWL has now obtained a restraining order forcing the Authority to do at least some of the work during the daytime.
NITEOWL leader Dawn Shirley Light called it a breakthrough for those who eschew the 9-to-5 lifestyle. While she said her own profession is "none of anybody's business but my clients," Doug believes he did see her in the employee's lot at Tiffany's on in Tonawanda, as he was just driving past, of course, taking shortcut to the bridge.
"The needs of late-shift workers are never considered" in highway closures, she said. "Everything's done for the convenience of those boring old nerds who work days. Why, it's been a struggle for us even to win the right to marry."
Representing NITEOWL was traffic attorney Reed Ikulous (best known for his ads: "Hurt on a Bus? Call Reed Ikulous, 999-9999"). He pleaded that in any road closures, "the constitutionally-guaranteed right to work nights is overlooked," and that late-shifters suffer "emotional pain and suffering" from being stuck in traffic at the expense of day-shifters.
Judge Brad Lee Dunn ruled in NITEOWL's favor, but only proportionately. "Inasmuch as night-shifters comprise about 15 per cent of the population, I think it's fair to open the bridge for them 15 percent of the time, which would be one day out of seven," he said.
Monday's will be the first day-shift closure, with one-way traffic on the bridge from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., much to the dismay of Dyngus Day celebrants coming to and from Stan's Polish Nook. Pleas for a "pussy-willow pass" were doused.
Other daytime closures will be announced "usually the day before," the judge ruled.
He urged travelers to check their calendars — beginning with Monday's date.
Come visit. Monday even. No foolin.'Polly and Doug E-mail firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
2007 Freightliner CST120
Pomona, CA
2010 Kenworth T2000
Gulfport, MS
2012 International 7300
Etna, OH
1995 Chevrolet 3500HD
New Hampton, IA
2006 Ford F650 XL
Renton, WA
2009 Freightliner CL120
Des Moines , IA
2006 Freightliner M2 106
Farmingdale, NY
2009 Freightliner CST12064ST-CENTURY 120
Healdsburg, CA
2009 International PROSTAR
Ocala, FL
2009 Freightliner CASCADIA
Mississauga (Toronto), ON
Description: 1000 LB RAMP, ROLLUP DOOR, TOW/HAUL MODE, CARGO AREA 16' X 91 X 76, 16 TIRES ALL GOOD, BALL HITCH, AC, AM/FM, POWER STEERING AND BRAKES, DUALLY, INT WIPERSMore Information
Description: FULLY INSULATED, CARRIER INTEGRA 30S UNIT, 9,600# GVW PACKAGE, AM/FM STEREO, HI-BACK SEATS, 105 AMP ALTERNATOR, EXTRA COOLING PACKAGE, 31 GALLON FUEL TANK, REAR STEP BUMPER, CURBSIDE DOORS, FULL SERVICE RECORDSMore Information
Didn't find what you were looking for? Click here to request availability from our dealer network.
Sean Kilcarr comments on trends affecting the many different strata of the trucking industry.. Check back often for Sean's take on the trucking industry, in his award-winning blog, Trucks at Work.


text:
We elected to use six different birdcalls in our project: the common loon wail; the common loon tremolo; the red-tailed hawk cry; the red-tailed hawk shriek; the bobwhite quail mating-call; and the ferruginous pygmy-owl hoot. The group selected these calls based upon two major criteria. Each call needed to be available from multiple sources, and each call had to be audibly different from the other calls selected.
The project group contains no bird experts, so we used only prerecorded birdcall clips as samples. Such audio clips saved us the necessity of making field recordings. Also, the clips' creators, who presumably possess more ornithological expertise than we, had already identified the birds present in each recording. For formatting reasons, we chose only audio clips saved as wav files. However, with this constraint, relatively few bird types suited our needs. Adults of each bird species have up to fourteen or fifteen call types. Of these types, frequently only one or two are available as recordings, and of recorded types, almost none exist in multiple, wav-file examples on the internet, or in libraries. This significantly reduced our pool of candidate birds.
Our second major criterion was that the chosen birdcalls be audibly and spectrographically distinctive. Although spectrographic analysis can easily reveal differences between signals in the frequency domain, human error is less likely when group members can tell the difference between time-domain calls by ear. Having a variety of birdcalls, some similar, some radically different, also produces a more interesting analysis than the use of entirely alike, or entirely dislike calls.
The application of both criteria resulted in the final selection of birds.


text:
Dawn Burleigh
The Orange Leader
ORANGE — Orange Police Department quickly responded to a call concerning a shooting 9:50 p.m. Friday at the 100 block of Green Avenue.
Officers were on the scene in two minutes and met with a 51 year old man who was suffering from a gunshot wound to his shoulder.
The man said he was shot and robbed by four males at the 400 block of 1st Street in Orange.
According to a press release from the Orange Police Department, the man said the individuals fled north on 1st Street.
The man was transported to St. Elizabeth Hospital where he is listed in stable condition.
A search for the suspects was fruitless.
The investigation is ongoing.
Acadian Ambulance an Orange Fire Department provided medical assistance.


text:
Want more like this? Try searching the Archives for webcomic.
From Jeaux Janovsky:
Los Animales, a new webcomic I'm working on, is having a release party March 8th - at the Grand Star in Chinatown/Downtown Los Angeles. That's a unique first, at least that I've heard of, for a webcomic.
Here's the Facebook event page: Los Animales Release Party at the Grand Star Jazz Club
Brief description of the webcomic:
In Los Animales, the vinyl-obsessed, dance floor-loving animals try to figure out what the heck is going on with their lives while working at the last record store in town. Check out new pages every Monday through Friday at animalsoundsrecords.com.


text:
California's high-speed rail system is on stronger ground Monday due to lower costs and a dedicated funding source from the state's climate change fund, among other improvements, rail leaders said.
Under sunny skies at a Fresno press conference, members of the California High Speed Rail Authority and local elected officials said the revised business plan, pending approval from the HSRA Board, makes the project "better, faster and cheaper."
Those three words were first issued as a command from California Governor Jerry Brown to HSRA Board members following criticism of previous plans from , , and alike. Critics insist the project will , is based on , , and has been .
HSRA Chairman Dan Richard joined supporters in saying today that those criticisms were taken to heart, and that the new plan reflects numerous changes designed to assuage those concerns.
"Drawing on hundreds of public comments as well as the expertise of our technical staff, we were able to refine our thinking and improve the plan enormously," said Richard. "The revised plan will enhance local rail service immediately and, in the long term, cut total project costs by $30 billion."
Under the new plan, construction on the first segment of the train, or Initial Operating Section, will begin this year and connect Merced to the San Fernando Valley with a 300-mile stretch. The plan also explicitly calls for bolstering existing urban rail systems, like Caltrain, in order to bring immediate benefits to riders while allowing eventual integration into the high-speed rail system.
By focusing on existing rail systems with a "blended approach," and by finding other cost savings and modifying their inflation assumptions, the Authority says it can shave $30 billion off the previous cost estimate, which was nearly $100 billion.
"In ten years, Californians will be able to travel through the Central Valley and into the Los Angeles Basin in half the time it takes to drive," said Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. "This revised plan is bold, practical and puts California out in front once again."
In addition to Caltrain, the revised business plan also calls for upgrading the San Joaquin Amtrak line between Sacramento and Bakersfield, as well as rail systems in Southern California such as Metrolink. By phasing out diesel locomotives and switching to electrified rail systems, those transit agencies would save money and quicken transit times while the rest of the statewide high-speed system gets built, leaders said.
The revised plan pushes the 520-mile system completion date out to 2028, with service beginning in 2029, and would purportedly total $68.4 billion in cost.
$6 billion has already been secured for the first segment, including $3.3 in federal funding and $2.7 billion from Proposition 1A bond funds, which voters authorized in 2008.
Rail officials said that any additional money needed to complete the first segment would be available from California's cap and trade funds, and that no operating subsidy will be required.
"The plan is realistic, credible and transparent," said Authority Board Member Mike Rossi. "This plan is responsible from a business perspective and is a solid investment for Californians. There is no need for operating subsidies and the system will attract private capital once the operating segment stabilizes ridership in 2022."
Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin said her city, and the Central Valley as a whole, has a tremendous amount to gain from the Authority's decision to build there first. The Initial Operating Segment is projected by the Authority to create 100,000 job-years of employment over five years—the equivalent to 20,000 full-time jobs annually.
"I applaud the work undertaken by the Brown Administration and the High-Speed Rail Authority to lower the cost of the project and accelerate the completion of the Initial Operating Segment," said Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin. "Fresnans will benefit tremendously from the immediate economic boost that comes with 20,000 high-paying construction jobs, as well as the long-term benefit of being able to quickly and inexpensively travel to and from the LA basin."
Rail leaders also touted the environmental benefits of the project, arguing that the system would reduce 146 million hours of time spent by drivers sitting in gridlock each year, and would pull three million tons of carbon emissions out of the air. The train would also eliminate 320 billion vehicle miles traveled over the next 40 years, according to the Authority.
The revised plan still must win approval from the HSRA Board at their April 12 meeting, which had originally been schedule for April 3, but was moved in order to give stakeholders time to review and react to the new plan.
Got Patch? Sign up for our newsletter by clicking on the "Patch Newsletter" link on the top right of our homepage.
To receive news feeds about Half Moon Bay and the unincorporated Coastside between Montara and Pescadero, visit Half Moon Bay Patch on Facebook and "like" us here. Follow us on Twitter here.
Want to blog for us? Click here.


text:
Mauritius Wedding Photographers
If you choose one of our WPJA Mauritius wedding photojournalists as your wedding photographer, please let them know you found them through the Wedding Photojournalist Association.
The WPJA at a glance: The Wedding Photojournalist Association puts the best Mauritius wedding photographers at your fingertips, by granting membership only to the most talented professional wedding photographers in the world--photographers who focus solely on using their documentary photography skills to capture 'the moments' of your wedding day.
US DollarsFotoWala: Sephi Bergerson
Jackny Parra in India
Sephi Bergerson is an award winning documentary and travel photographer with more than twenty years of experience. Working on his book which focuses on traditional weddings in modern india, Sephi has arguably witnessed and documented a larger variety of indian weddings than...Read more
EurosMoreThanWords Photodesign: Juliana Wiklund
Stockholm, Sweden
My interest for getting to experience and learn with different cultures was the beginning of a life as a photographer. From selling pictures to surfers at the beach while attending Graphic Design/Photography University to being an internationally awarded life-style wedding...Read more


text:
The wait is over! Download the BeerAdvocate app on iTunes or Google Play now.
Get 12 issues / year of BeerAdvocate magazine for only $9.99!
Caffrey's Irish Ale - Thomas Caffrey Brewing Co.
Displayed for educational use only; do not reuse.
Ratings: 112 | Reviews: 82 | Display Reviews Only:
4/5 rDev +23.8%
07-16-2014 14:32:41 | More by Limanuljaska
2.75/5 rDev -14.9%
07-10-2014 20:21:44 | More by Alex-Alkis
Ontario (Canada)
3/5 rDev -7.1%
06-20-2014 14:36:10 | More by cfalovo97
3.25/5 rDev +0.6%
03-08-2014 03:53:21 | More by szmnnl99
3.5/5 rDev +8.4%
01-03-2014 18:08:59 | More by Rumlibeers
Ontario (Canada)
4.25/5 rDev +31.6%
12-30-2013 13:35:07 | More by Hoagie
4.5/5 rDev +39.3%
12-25-2013 02:20:19 | More by aqualung23
Ontario (Canada)
3.75/5 rDev +16.1%
09-20-2013 23:16:38 | More by TheHammer
New Jersey
3.25/5 rDev +0.6%
09-03-2013 15:52:05 | More by InspectorBob
New Jersey
3.5/5 rDev +8.4%
08-10-2013 04:18:05 | More by EBeckett3
United Kingdom (England)
3/5 rDev -7.1%
07-14-2013 21:11:11 | More by Johnq1964
3/5 rDev -7.1%
06-18-2013 14:15:43 | More by harpus
Ontario (Canada)
3/5 rDev -7.1%
06-15-2013 17:04:14 | More by TheBeeraholic
2.95/5 rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Can: a big green 440mL can, and yet somehow it still comes across as a classy number. Minimalist but well designed.
Appearance: super creamy pour - very white to start but slowly changes to a clear amber colour. Medium thick white head that leaves some lace as it ever so slowly drops. Looks good!
Aroma: what aroma? Not much there at all. I know it's a mid strength, but one would expect a bit more than just a light toffee malt on the nose. Disappointing after the pour.
Taste: follows the nose, I'm afraid. It does have those trademark red ale characteristics of earthy hops, toffee-caramel malts and a touch of some barley, but it is simply far too weak for my liking.
Aftertaste: not much here either - disappears from the palate too quickly for an expensive red ale.
Mouth feel: mouth feel is light to moderate in body with a lower carbonation. Slightly smooth, but not as creamy as the full-strength versions.
Overall: the best way to describe this beer is with but one word: boring. If it was in fact a premium 5%+ beer it would probably be alright. The right flavours are there, they are just way too muted. Add to that a price tag over AU$75 for an equivalent case of 24 x 330mL, and you've gotta be joking.
Serving type: can
06-09-2013 14:37:38 | More by SmashPants
4/5 rDev +23.8%
05-24-2013 20:50:01 | More by steevbr
New York
3.25/5 rDev +0.6%
03-20-2013 22:51:52 | More by BGsWo22
British Columbia (Canada)
3.73/5 rDev +15.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Caffrey's Irish Ale @ 3.8% , served from a 440 ml nitro can purchased for $3.25
A-pour is almost milk white from the can into that cascading Guinness beer trick of changing color into a clear amber with a nice medium size head leaving a thick lace film along the pint after each sip
S-mild caramel malt
T-tart barley water tasting brew , smooth on the palate
MF-low/mild carbonation , somewhat weak body at 3.8% , has a dry finish
Ov-I'll drink a Guinness Draught or Kilkenny Irish Cream before this brew again ,
only tried because of St.Patrick's Day ,
prost LampertLand
Serving type: nitro-can
03-17-2013 06:59:29 | More by LampertLand
2.23/5 rDev -31%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Caffrey's Irish Ale, the "white Guinness" as I used to call it, used to have 4.8% ABV as well, and much like Guinness it is slowly working its way down to mid-strength. It's sad to see brewers do this to their beers and I can only see a drop in flavour is to better serve the masses of people that don't drink beer and never will regardless of the flavour whereas the avid beer drinkers (such as myself) are losing out. Anyway let's see how badly the flavour has suffered since the last time I had it it was 4.8% ABV.
Poured from a 440ml nitro-can into a nonic pint.
A: Nitro beers always look fantastic and the Caffrey's is no exception with it's deep copper body and perfect 1cm creamy white head.
S: Toasted barley malts are foremost on the nose, with a hint of brewers yeast, some light earthy hops [read: very light earthy hops] and the effervescence of spring water.
T: Boring as tap water. I know that this beer used to have a flavour profile but really now it just tastes watered down. Yes it has barley malt, yeast, hops and water, but they can at least make it interesting God-dammit. It does have a slight dry toasted barley after taste, which is just as well because you wouldn't know it was a beer otherwise.
M: Mid to light body, flat carbonation, texture of water with a small amount of beer added.
D: This is a very typical Irish ale, like Kikenny, et al... I have difficulty distinguishing between these beers after years of drinking full flavoured pale ales. Well the verdict is: this used to be a decent Irish pub beer but has suffered at the hands of corporate-greed/marketing-to-teenagers and as a result it is now tap water that contains alcohol: disappointing.
Food match: I would have previously said "Irish pub fare, stews and shepherds pie" but now (at the new flavourless 3.8% ABV version) I say plain crackers with cream cheese for dipping... also make sure that cream cheese doesn't have any added flavourings.
Serving type: nitro-can
03-15-2013 06:26:53 | More by doktorhops
Alberta (Canada)
2.96/5 rDev -8.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
440ml can poured into pint glass 27/2/13
A I'll give the nitro some credit as it dose produce a cascading foam that dose look great and has solid retention leaving lots of lace deep down the glass, reddish copper liquid with very tiny bubbles
S caramel and dry cereal with some herbal notes and leafy tea bag, fairly faint all around
T much like the nose but with a little more caramel, again its pretty faint without a whole lot going on
M much like many other nitro cans I've had it feels dead flat, has some body but no carbonation
O another fairly boring beer, not offensive while smelling and drinking but nothing exciting either, mouth feel needs some work
I suppose not many 3.8% beers really get me excited and this is no exception, there's not much going on here shes a pretty average brew
Serving type: nitro-can
02-27-2013 20:55:18 | More by wordemupg
North Carolina
3.75/5 rDev +16.1%
02-09-2013 20:09:58 | More by Shatter
Ontario (Canada)
3/5 rDev -7.1%
01-18-2013 09:27:51 | More by tbeckett
3.25/5 rDev +0.6%
01-14-2013 18:50:50 | More by BILF
1.5/5 rDev -53.6%
01-02-2013 20:25:47 | More by Beerman1977
2.5/5 rDev -22.6%
11-23-2012 02:00:04 | More by pin
Alberta (Canada)
3.33/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
32oz growler, from the very newish Wine and Beyond (read: Liquor Depot meets Costco presentation esthetic) booze superstore in deepest south Edmonton. I used to drink this stuff like water on tap back in the day after university obligations were fulfilled, at least for the day, in those natty nineties.
This beer pours a clear, medium golden amber hue, with two fingers of creamy, foamy off-white head, which leaves some sparse, broad swaths of bubbly lace around the glass as it slowly seeps away.
It smells of sweet, sugary, grainy malt, with a touch of treacle, caramel, a mild orchard fruitiness, and very, very soft leafy hops. The taste is weak grainy, bready malt, a slight toastiness, faint yeast, muddled, plain drupe fruit esters, and muffled noble hops.
The carbonation is very laid back, sleepy, and yet not flat-seeming, the body a less than solid medium weight, and of course, pretty damned smooth, in just that eerie Irish ale manner. It finishes off-dry, the lingering underwhelming bready malt really suffering nothing in the way of challenge.
Not the grandest of rip-snortingly pungent flavours going on here, I suppose, but perhaps this isn't the venue for such a thing - the Irish, and we willing tourists and diaspora, if I recall correctly, use this type of watery sideshow as a respected moderator for their Whiskey habit. I sure could go for some of the latter, as a matter of fact.
Serving type: growler
10-23-2012 03:20:34 | More by biboergosum
Caffrey's Irish Ale from Thomas Caffrey Brewing Co.
75 out of 100 based on 112 ratings.


text:
Superintendent of public instruction
- Biography
- Superintendent's Memos
Information vital to division superintendents and other public education administrators.
- Superintendent's Annual Report
- Contact the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
- Contact Virginia Department of Education Staff
- Resources for the media
Executive Assistant
Robert Almond
The executive assistant coordinates constituent services for the Superintendent of Public Instruction and responses to PK-12 correspondence for the Governor and Secretary of Education. The executive assistant coordinates complex special projects and activities for the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Special Advisor for Research & Planning
Dr. Deborah Jonas
The Special Advisor for Research and Planning provides advice and support to the Superintendent of Public Instruction and VDOE executive and leadership teams on matters of data use, research, policy and program development. The special advisor also works closely with stakeholders on matters related to PK-12 research.


text:
Now Playing : Spyder Bloodlines
Buy Online: Mini Bugs
Select a Size
Choose a Color
Online Retailers:
Click Here to search for a dealer in your area.
Buy Local: Mini Bugs
Searching for stores...
Found: 0 stores
Boys' Size Chart
Boys' / Boys (Sizes 8–20) / Accessories / Hat
- Fully lined with fleece
- Contrast bug design
- Body - 100% Acrylic
- Lining - 2 sided Brushed Micro Fleece . with Anti-Pill Finish on Face


text:
Namdrol wrote:If you are a Buddhist, then an appeal to the authority of the Buddha' teaching, as recorded in hundreds of suttas, is entirely appropriate.
Ironically, not according the the Kalama sutra!
Do not go upon what has been acquired by repeated hearing; nor upon tradition; nor upon rumor; nor upon what is in a scripture; nor upon surmise; nor upon an axiom; nor upon specious reasoning; nor upon a bias towards a notion that has been pondered over; nor upon another's seeming ability; nor upon the consideration, 'The monk is our teacher.'
Of course, ignoring the sutras, and using reason alone, it's still not appropriate to appeal to authority.
Appealing to authority is something you do as a very last resort, when you can't possibly work things out for yourself, and when you have no other choice, and if you are prepared to risk the cataclysmic failure which is the usual result. It's a risk an individual must choose to take for himself, alone, if he absolutely must, and he certainly shouldn't be encouraging others to take those same risks.


text:
Panthère ring
Yellow gold, diamonds, tsavorite, lacquer
Yellow gold, diamonds, tsavorite, lacquer
The Maison's emblematic panther, first leaped into the world of Cartier jewelry in 1914. Louis Cartier was a pioneer in taming the legendary creature and his associate Jeanne Toussaint went on to make magnificent use of the icon. The panther has since inspired a timeless and elegant collection of jewelry and timepieces that show the multiple facets of the animal that can be at times bold, regal or sensual.
18K yellow gold ring set with diamonds, one tsavorite garnet eye and black lacquer spots.
Diameter: 26.6 mm.
The easy way to find your nearest Cartier boutique.
Our ambassadors are available to answer any questions or assist in making a boutique appointment.
All of your on-line orders are made through an SSL connection to ensures the confidentiality and security of your personal details.


text:
adidas Forum X ShoesThe Forum X is a mid-top skate shoe with padded collars and tongues, leather upper materials, and grippy cupsoles. These kicks aren't just content being at the skate park though. No way, the Forum X rages it up on the streets, at freestyle battles, breakdance competitions, and hood games everywhere.
45.00% OFF!Reg Price: $67.00 Your Price: $37.00
Color: Running White/ Black/ Gum
Sizes in Stock:
Click your size to add to your cart.


text:
Related Stories
Disgruntled Redskins DT Albert Haynesworth says he plans to show up for training camp despite his ongoing unhappiness with the team.
"Despite my current differences with the Redskins, I have always planned to attend training camp and honor my contract," Haynesworth said in a statement released Wednesday through his agent.
Haynesworth has been absent from all of the team's offseason activities, including last week's mandatory minicamp, prompting several of his teammates to call him selfish. He is unhappy about the team's switch to a 3-4 defense under new head coach Mike Shanahan, which will require him to play mostly a five-technique defensive end in that scheme rather than the 4-3 tackle he is accustomed to playing.
Haynesworth is playing under a seven-year, $100 million contract he signed with the team as the 2009 offseason's premier free agent. He has stayed away from the club up to now despite having collected a $21 million bonus on April 1.
The Redskins open their training camp July 29 at Redskins Park in Ashburn, Va.
For authoritative coverage and analysis of NFL news, free agency and fantasy football, visit ProFootballWeekly.com.


text:
Carol Smaglinski
The Midwest City Chamber of Commerce leadership class is hosting the event and anticipates around 20 different restaurants to show up and offer a "taste" of what they're doing.
From obscure ethnic eats to delightful sweet treats, these new restaurants should be on your to-visit list.
If you're feeling adventurous and want a cultural experience or if you're on the go and want to grab a smoothie, the metro offers all that and everything in between.


text:
COUNCIL, Va. —
Walking in to Council Elementary School Wednesday was akin to waking up in the movie "Groundhog Day."
For the second night in a row there stood the Honaker and Twin Valley volleyball teams preparing to meet in a championship match.
Unfortunately for the Tigers Wednesday's Crooked Road Conference match followed a dramatically different script than it did in Tuesday's Black Diamond District tournament.
Less than 24 hours after being swept by Honaker in the BDD finals Twin Valley defeated the Tigers, 3-2 in a playoff for the CRC regular season crown.
It was a come-from-behind effort for the Panthers, who trailed 1-0 and 2-1 before hustling back to earn a 20-25, 25-23, 16-25, 25-21, 15-13 victory.
Twin Valley, which earned a first round bye in next week's CRC tournament and an automatic bye into the regionals, also had to overcome deficits of 12-6 and 13-10 in the fifth set.
Powerful Panther hitter Alexis Ramey aced three straight serves to give her club a 14-13 lead and Hannah O'Quinn found the floor with a strong kill to seal the emotional win.
"Coach (Rick Goodman) put some inspiration in us to fight back," said Ramsey, who got five or her eight kills in the final two sets. "We finally started getting our serves in and started hitting better and we got a few good blocks."
After struggling to cover, dig and pass in Tuesday's 3-0 loss and much of the first three sets on Wednesday, Twin Valley (17-5) kept the ball off the floor and significantly cut down on its errors near the end of the rematch.
"We made some plays tonight," said Rick Goodman, who assists his wife, Panthers head coach Melisa Goodman. "You got to make plays and you got to get your serves in.
"I thought we covered the floor and hit well, especially in the last two games. The ball never hit the floor except for a couple of good hits by (Honaker)."
Lakin Keene had 17 service points and Ramsey finished with 15 for the Panthers.
Honaker got three kills from both Laura Hess and Ashton Goodie in the first set, when a 16-3 run gave the Tigers momentum and the win. Twin Valley got back into the match in a hotly contested second set before Honaker dominated game three behind the play of Hess, Kaitlen Hubbard and Katie Caudill.
The Tigers (16-10) struggled to maintain their momentum at times, particularly in the last two sets.
"We never let them get that momentum back and make those runs on us (on Tuesday). Honaker coach Amy Davidson said. "We made a run tonight, but we let them get that run back and they made it a tight game. We had them (beat in the final set) and we let them make a run on us and that's what happens."
Twin Valley had balanced play at the net. Alexis Vance had seven kills and Kara Goodman added five. O'Quinn finished with four and added a key block in the match-ending 5-0 run.
Hess finished with 13 kills, Madison Vandyke added nine and Goodie had seven for Honaker. Goodie, meanwhile, was the only Tiger to reach double figures in service points with 13.
"We didn't have as many kills and we were missing serves, some of our better servers," Davidson added. "I told the girls every time I talk to the paper I tell them, 'you are the serving team, they think we are the serving team because you all get your serves' in but tonight they'd give us seven (missed serves) and we'd give them five right back and you can't do that and win."
Twin Valley will take on the winner of a first round matchup between Holston and Northwood in the conference semifinals. Rick Goodman, meanwhile, was relieved at winning the first Crooked Road playoff of any kind, especially after the way Honaker dominated the Panthers the night before.
"We didn't make as many unforced errors as we did (Tuesday)," he added. "(Honaker) thumped us (in the district). The scores were close, but it really wasn't really that close.
Honaker will host Council in a CRC first round match on Monday.


text:
By Robert Stoneback
The Danville News
— DANVILLE - Lower Mulberry Street restaurant Brews N Bytes will hold a charity concert at 7 p.m., May 24, featuring musician Michi Egger. Refreshments including drinks, cakes and coffee will be sold, with part of the proceeds going to charitable causes. There is no cover charge, but donations will be accepted.


text:
Los Balcones Blancos Reviews
- Info
- |
- Rates
- |
- Map & Directions
- |
- Reviews
- |
- Facilities
Reviews & Ratings Explained
The rating percentage is calculated from customers who booked within the last 12 months.
All ratings and reviews are based on the feedback and opinions of the customers who submitted them and do not express the opinions of Hostelworld.com. This way, you get an up-to-the-minute opinion of just how good a hostel really is.
Read our review guidelines »
Rooms were filthy!! Dirty marks all over the walls, bed sheets were stained. The bedroom walls were very thin so you could here 3 conversations at the same time. Floor boards were very squeaky which meant you would wake up multiple times during the night when a person in another room went to the bathroom. While its cheap its not worth sacrificing sleep and hygiene and is definitely not a place to stay if you want to catch up on sleep after a long bus ride....pay a bit more and say somewhere good
- Novice Nomad
- wh20801050
- New Zealand
- Male, 18-24
- (3 reviews)
Staff very friendly and helpful and lounge area is nice but bed and pillow especially uncomfortable and rooms are pretty sadly run down. About the cheapest thing you'll find online though.
- Novice Nomad
- Anonymous
- Couple, 25-30
- (1 review)
The neighbour was playing drum for some hours. Rooms were very small.
- Novice Nomad
- Anonymous
- Netherlands
- All Female Group, 18-24
- (7 reviews)


text:
As confirmed omnivores, my wife Rebekah and I consume a fair amount of poultry and eggs. Probably a dozen eggs a week and a chicken every two weeks I'd guess . She raised chickens for the eggs for six years in New Mexico as "magical gifts to her children." They brought in the eggs. Years before that she had to slay one for an animal science class at N.C. State but declined.
My chicken connection is not quite as close. Now instead of composting, I collect our food waste and walk down to the neighbor's to feed his birds and commune a while in their big pen. He thinks he's got about a hundred birds now but it's awfully hard to count when they're moving around so. Sometimes I'll go in the coop and harvest a few eggs for which I pay his going rate of $4 a dozen in winter or $3 a dozen when they're more plentiful in warmer weather. If none are in the nests, I harvest from the nearby farmstand refrigerator. Once I tried surreptitiously reaching under a hen to get her egg; that was a mistake.
The farmer, Spence Dickinson, keeps a motley variety now including ameraucana, araucana, australorp, Buff orpington, Polish (the ones with the poofy crests, barred rock, cochin (the ones with feathery feet). It varies according to whim, season, what's in stock at the Southern States or the feed supply in Burlington and the unwanted roosters that are dropped off. He sells eggs and figures he probably breaks even. He doesn't kill any birds after they quit laying typically after a year or two. His daughter, a vegetarian from childhood, used to slaughter them for the rest of the family to eat when she was younger but never ate them. He composts them when they die.
After learning about Spence's birds from whom we get about half our eggs, I meandered over to another neighbor to learn about his more modest flock of 15 birds. Robert Long and his wife Anne raise chickens to enjoy the eggs and also because they operate a pre-school and want small children to have that direct connection to food and animals that produce it.
Being at the woods' edge, his chickens have been subject to all manner of predation from air borne hawks and owls to the egg-sucking snakes, blood thirsty weasels, foxes, coyotes, racoons, and dogs including my late lab mix Bonnie. After several years Robert finally won the battle and his "girls" are now safe in their home made coop, under the grape arbor that Robert grew over their run and even as they roam the yard during daylight taking dust baths, sunning and gathering under the house they seem at ease.
He and Anne no longer name their birds but he is still happy to harvest the eggs from the convenient flap door he created right behind their nesting boxes. He slaughtered one once but now leaves the task to one of his daughters whom he says has no problem turning them gently upside down, putting their heads through the cone and dispatching them quickly, following up with the whole process of scalding off the feathers, cleaning and butchering them. He just enjoys the meat.
As we are outside town, animal -raising is the norm, but I was also curious about what had happened to the urban chicken raising craze that took off a few years ago particularly after the towns lifted the restrictions on backyard hen raising, due in part to the effort of Greg and Boykin Bell. So I checked in with Greg at his Chapel Hill home and he was happily in his seventh year of legal chicken rearing, With the death of Thor his dominant and "awesome" hen, he and Boykin stopped naming the birds. The early fascination that led them and friends to sit in lawn chairs with a glass wine, watching the birds is gone;the chickens are now just a routine part of life. They feed the birds, collect the fresh eggs and enjoy that symbiotic relationship.
A full local tour de coop would not be complete without a visit to a chicken house in Carrboro. The scene I found there is a bit more free- form as the 17 birds owned by Edward and his wife Leah and 4-year-old daughter Zora fan out over the neighbors' property or peck and scratch continually in their oak leaf covered yard. He reports having to feed them very little commercial feed. Over the several years of raising hens on High Street it seems that the birds have conquered the tick and chigger problems that have become ubiquitous for most of us. No more ticks on him his wife or daughter. His birds seem to know where home is. Despite their free ranging they roost each night in the coop he's crafted of salvaged lumber wrapped around the sturdy elm tree in the center of the backyard.
Edward told me he'd been a "4-H kid" raising animals from a young age. Now his own family's kitchen waste goes right on to the compost pile and the birds in their zest to get at it also reward him with a steady supply of highly nitrogenous fertilizer. Unlike some of his counterparts, Edward and his family routinely slaughter non-productive birds in early fall and enjoy the meat. While this hyperlocal brand of locavorism won't save the world it is providing healthy and tasty food while managing food waste and giving back good fertilizer, that's a fair trade any day.
Blair Pollock can be reached at email@example.com


text:
12007 Players currently online!
Man vs. Machine - good luck!
Turn-based games at any time!
Vote for the best move to win!
Do you have what it takes?
Sharpen your tactical vision!
Get advice and game insights!
Learn from top players & pros!
View millions of master games!
Your virtual chess coach!
Perfect your opening moves!
Test your skills vs. computer!
Find the right private coach!
Can you solve it each day?
Bring it all together!
Beginners, start here!
Make friends & play team games!
News from the world of chess!
Search all Chess.com members!
Find local clubs & events!
Who's the best of your friends?
Read what members are saying!
10. c6 was a weak move. Very passive.
15. f5 is stronger.
19. f5 loses immediately. c5 is the move.
YOUR IQ compared to" World Chess Champion" Garry Kasparov ..
by BlackLeopard-1 a few minutes ago
Which Chess Job Would You Enjoy the Most?
by LesuhAn a few minutes ago
Schliemann 7...Nd4
by Mainline_Novelty 3 minutes ago
Surface touchscreen does not work for Chess.com
by bmiscoski 4 minutes ago
Why is it taking so long to find an opponent now?
by notmtwain 4 minutes ago
Time Control Changes?
by Pawnm0wer 6 minutes ago
What if a girl became World Chess Champion?
by batgirl 6 minutes ago
How good do you have to be to play the Sicilian
by soothsayer8 8 minutes ago
Ruth Haring: 'Girls are bad at chess'
by Indubioproaggredi 19 minutes ago
a query about kga
by Hadron 20 minutes ago
Home |
Why Join | Chess Topics |
About |
FAQs |
Help & Support |
Site Map
Privacy Policy |
Legal |
© 2014 Chess.com
• Chess - English
We are working hard to make Chess.com available in over 70 languages. Check back over the year as we develop the technology to add more, and we will try our best to notify you when your language is ready for translating!


text:
You knew "The Hunger Games" movie and book series was popular, but just how popular was it, you ask?
Turns out, it was so popular it influenced the most popular girl's name in 2012: Katniss.
According to Nameberry.com, Katniss is a literary and botanical name. Katniss Everdeen is the name of the heroine in "The Hunger Games" series.
The Top 5 most popular girl names also include: Charlotte, Harper, Seraphina and Imogen.
The most popular boy's name in 2012 was Finn, Nameberry.com reports. Finn is of Irish origin and means white and fair.
In Irish mythology, Finn MacCool is an intrepid warrior with mystical supernatural powers, and was noted his wisdom and generosity, Nameberry.com reports. Finn Hudson is also the name of a main character in the hit TV show "Glee."
The Top 5 most popular boy names also include: Asher, Henry, Milo and Jasper.
The names Emma and Mason were popular among new parents in Ohio in 2011, according to the Social Security Administration. The most popular names for 2012 have not been released.
Emma has a German origin, according to Nameberry.com, and many parents chose it over Emily to give their child a more distinctive looking name, the site reads.
Mason is a English occupational name meaning "working in stone," Nameberry.com reported. The name got a lot of reality-show media attention after Kourtney Kardashian named her son Mason. Several other celebrities chose the name as well, and it's been used in popular TV shows such as "Vampire Diaries" and "Wizards of Waverly Place."
Do your children have any of these names? Tell us what you liked about them in the comments.


text:
You are here:
General Costumes | Ladies Costumes | Ladies Christmas Costumes | SALE! Adult Sexy Miss Santa Ladies Christmas Fancy Dress Costume Party Outfit 36989
Click on image for more detail.
Miss Santa Costume Price Includes: Miss Santa Costume with Muff, with Jacket, Skirt, Hat, Belt
This product comes in the following sizes : Small - Size 8 to 10Medium - Size 12 to 14Large - Size 16 to 18The available sizes are selectable from the drop down menu below(If the size you require is not shown please contact our sales team on 0844 800 3959 for availability)
Additional informationSALE! Adult Sexy Miss Santa Ladies Christmas Fancy Dress Costume Party Outfit
Please choose your option or size from the list below :
Please enter your desired quantity :
Accessories for your fancy dress costume can make or break the look and feel of
the costume, and you definitely wouldn't want to buy a fancy dress costume without
looking at the fantastic range of accessories that we offer to compliment your costume!
Red Santa Gloves
Santa Gloves Red With Fur
Hello there and welcome to Wonderland Party Fancy Dress, the UK's fastest growing
online fancy dress costume store, where the customer comes first, the prices are
unbeatable, and satisfaction is 100% guaranteed!
» Delivery Details
» Price Match Promise
» Wonderland Party Heroes
© Copyright 2014, Wonderland Party, part of the Sureshots group of companies


text:
This action will remove all item(s) from the cart. Please confirm.
1. Chrome Door Mirror Cover
(Retail price: $111.00)
Part#: 08R06-S9V-100
"Northwest Honda"
Price without installation: $92.40
Price with installation: $112.60
More details
2. Cargo Cover
(Retail price: $146.00)
Part#: varies by color - click 'more details'
Price without installation: $121.80
Price with installation: $131.90


text:
Raspberry Pi produces a "step function in fun"
Fun Squared
The Raspberry Pi computer has rekindled interest in tinkering with hardware and created a market for products combining the tiny computer with customized software.
Those of you who know me know that I designed electronics circuits in high school and then studied Electrical Engineering at Drexel University (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania). Unfortunately during that career I was almost electrocuted by 13,600 volts and 800 amps (twice!). Fortunately I found software as much fun and a lot safer, other than paper cuts from ripping printouts. Back in those days electronic components were very expensive (US$ 128,000 for 64KB of core memory), so I took the software route and let someone else pay for the hardware.
I continued to be interested in hardware, and I even assembled my own computer from chips and prototyped digital circuits with the use of breadboards, sometimes with wire-wrapping. Soldering tens of thousands of pins perfected my soldering technique, and you really don't want to know about the wire-wrapping.
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Visit Our Shop
Direct Download
Read full article as PDF:091-091_maddog.pdf (228.12 kB)
Tag Cloud
Password Management Services Vulnerable to Attack
Should you trust an online service to store your online passwords?
New Raspberry Pi Adds Two USB Ports
New B+ board lets you build cool things without the complication of a powered USB hub.
Microsoft Grabs No-IP.com Domains
Redmond rushes in to root out alleged malware haven.
Firefox Steps into 3D
New initiative will bring futuristic virtual reality effects to the web surfing experience.
New Trojan Targets Online Banking
Dyreza malware launches a man-in-the-middle attack that compromises SSL.
HP Rolls Out Massive Cloud Network
New cloud combines worldwide access with local attention to data security.
New Attack Targets Wireless Logins
A first cousin of the recent Heartbleed attack affects EAP-based wireless and peer-to-peer authentication.
Geeks Petition for Free Lenovo BIOS
FOSS community acts to protect freedom of choice for laptop devices.
Firefox Says Yes to DRM
Quintessential open source browser shores up its market share with a step toward the proprietary dark side.
Webcam Hijackers Busted
Authorities in 16 countries take action against users of the imfamous BlackShades malware tool.


text:
Get Exclusive Savings, Free Shiping offers, Fashion News & More
Plus, get 20% off a future purchase when you sign up to receive Lane Bryant email
Thank You
20% savings are in your future!
You?ll receive an email in just a few days, so watch your inbox for the promo code and details.
Style has no borders
Please select your country and currency to make shopping easier.
select country & currency or ship to the U.S.
Redeem Your Real Women Bonus Dollars Now
Ends Sunday, July 27 details
jackets & coats
Sort by:
Best Match |
{ entityId: 188229, entityType: 'product' }
{ widgetContext: '#_widget488844842008', productId: '188229', colorName: 'Heather Charcoal', displayColorName: 'Heather Char', browseSwatch: true , recoloredImage: 'LaneBryant/pr_188229_IQ' , swatchImage: 'LaneBryant/sw_186034_IQ' }


text:
Colima State Villa Rentals with Outdoor Grill(22)
22 Results
7 more choices from the HomeAway Network
Colima State
Recent Colima State Reviews
Our family had a wonderful time at the Palace. Jose' and the staff were accommodating in every way. Jose' and the staff especially took to the needs of our young grandchildren. There was always snacks and fruit and they made the kids special drinks every afternoon. The food was beyond excellent, and always punctual. Prior to arriving, we were asked to create a menu that we would like to have cooked. Everything was so good, by the second day we asked her to cook her favorites. Her favorites became ours. Having the Suburban and golf cart available made it easy to take excursions within the gated community and out in the surrounding area. Jose' helped line up the opportunity for the family to take advantage of massages, fishing and shopping. Having young ones swimming all day and night, it was nice to always have dry towels. Every morning our clothes were washed and folded. Anything we needed was instantly taken care of.
This property is amazingly beautiful, comfortable and in an incredible location. The cherry on top was the staff that took care of our group making our stay comfortable and carefree along with delicious home cooked meals! There is also so much to do close to the property if you want to like snorkeling, scubba diving, beach swimming, beach combing and shopping. This vacation has been one of the best and we can't wait to do it again.
From the moment we were picked up at the airport to a tearful adios to the amazing staff, our stay at Villa Casablanca was nothing short of heavenly. I found that it surpassed all of my expectations! The pictures on the website are beautiful, but really don't do it justice. It is impeccably decorated, with each bedroom/suite designed to provide a different feel. Everything super clean inside and out. However, it was the staff that made our stay so incredible. We fell in love with all of them. It felt like home from the moment that we arrived. They are there when you need them and allow you privacy when you want some down time. The food was out of this world, with fresh seafood, authentic Mexican dishes and even some custom orders which surpassed our expectations. We loved it SO much that all 5 couples decided within the first 6 hours of being there that we would book for next year. We wanted for nothing more and can't wait to go back. We are counting down the sleeps already!


text:
Related Information
2014-15 Proposed Annual Budget & 2012-13 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report
- 2014-15 Proposed Annual Budget (368 pages)
- 2014-15 Proposed Fee Schedule (141 pages)
- 2014-19 Proposed Capital Improvement Plan (187 pages)
- 2012-13 DRAFT Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (296 pages)
2013-14 Adopted Annual Budget
The City Council adopted the 2013-14 Proposed Annual Budget with the adjustments made in the June 25, 2013 staff report.
- June 25, 2013 - Council Agenda Item 16.01 (35 pages)
2013-14 Adopted Annual Budget (402 pages)
2013-14 Adopted Fee Schedule (129 pages)
- 2013-14 Adopted Capital Improvement Program (150 pages)
2013-14 Proposed Annual Budget
- 2013-14 Proposed Annual Budget (371 pages)
- 2013-14 Proposed Fee Schedule (135 pages)
- 2013-18 Proposed Capital Improvement Program (149 pages)
General Budget Information
The City of Stockton budget is comprised of separate funds. The General Fund is the primary fund for most day-to-day operations, is the largest portion of the budget and is used to account for all financial resources except those required to be accounted for in another fund.
Sources of revenue for the General Fund include:
- Business Tax
- Fees for Services
- Property Tax
- Sales Tax
- Utility User Tax
Enterprise Funds
Some City Departments charge fees for services provided. The budget for these functions is referred to as Enterprise Funds. These funds are used for operations, similar to private businesses, where the expense of operation is covered by user charges.
For example:
- Community Development Department - Building and Development
- Municipal Utilities Department - Water, Sewer and Stormwater
- Public Works Department, Solid Waste Division - Garbage and Recycling
Redevelopment Agency Funds
The Stockton City Council also acts as the Redevelopment Agency. Redevelopment funds are Agency Funds. Redevelopment funds can only be used for Redevelopment purposes. Projects, such as the redevelopment of the Downtown Waterfront, are paid for with Redevelopment Agency Funds.
Restricted Funds
Other highly specialized and restricted funds compromise a smaller portion of the City's budget and cannot be used for anything other than the specific purposes for which they were designed.
External Links
There are currently no external links.
This City of Stockton web page last reviewed on --- 5/22/2014


text:
Nubka - Unpaid Slave Laborer...
All that just to win a pet snake?!
From reading the article, we don't know if it is the bugs that killed him. Since those bugs were raised to be lizard food, I doubt it is the bugs. We'll know more when the autopsy comes out.
Darwinism at it's finest.
Does the runner-up get the python now?
The fastest thing out of New Jersey since Tricky Nicky in a Muscovian handbasket
I'm not into autopsies in general, but that one - I'd want trauma pay!
Oh god, I want to barf reading that story.
I really enjoyed the quote though: "Some of the snakes are pretty expensive. I thought if I could eat bugs to get one, it'd be a good idea." No. It is not a good idea. Go home.
There are consequences for extreme stupidity.
What is the liability for whoever thought of this?
Supposedly the contestants all signed a waiver so I would think and hope that they are not liable. No one was forced to participate.
I also don't think it could be any kind of poisoning. If it was something so severe to kill him so fast then surely other people would have at least gotten ill or died as well. I am almost tempted to think it was something coincidental like a heart attack or brain aneurism. Maybe the excitement from the contest got his blood pressure too high and it was the straw that broke the camels back?
"Michelle would never be caught with sausage grease staining her Vera Wang." - rfisher
All the contestants signed a waiver ... but of course no one though one could die from eating cockroaches.
I wouldn't necessarily call the contestants in this competition stupid. It wasn't like they picked up random roaches from people's apartments and ate them. They participated in an eating competition, and the roaches were supposedly raised in a clean environment as pet food (although all roaches are disgusting to me, regardless of where they were raised). The other contestants that ate the roaches didn't die.
I remember reading somewhere that the TV show "Fear Factor" is coming back to TV. The producers should think twice about having contestants eat disgusting things on the show.
I am totally not reading this article.
While I'm not a medical examiner or a doctor, what comes to mind as to what caused this guy's death would be something akin to either an allergic reaction of some sort (people can be allergic to roaches just like they can to other insects, fish, shellfish, and other animals) and died of anaphylaxis, or from aspirating vomit and dry-drowning.
I don't know about you, but if I was responsible for a show I certainly wouldn't want anyone to die on my watch, even if accidentally.


text:
New day. New Daily Deals. Get them before they are gone!
New Customer ? Start Here.
Can't find what you're looking for? Shop all ink and toner cartridges by brand
New day. New Daily Deals. Get them before they are gone!
Item: 818350 Model: 610039
Item:141003 Model:110215
|Classroom Decorations Grade/Age
|All Grades
|Teaching Resources
|Teaching Resources Topic
|Classroom Decor
This Web site is intended for use by US residents only. See International Sites. See our delivery policy for full details. Copyright 1998-2014, Staples, Inc., All Rights Reserved.


text:
OKG7 things to do
Gazette staff
An Affair of the Heart, one of the largest craft exhibitions in the U.S., will set up for its 28th annual show Friday through Sunday at State Fair Park, 3001 General Pershing. The craft show features more than 1,000 booths showcasing homemade arts and crafts. The exhibition runs 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $7. Call 800-755-5488 or visit aaoth.com.


text:
- By: YouPorn.com
- Rating:
- (77 ratings)
- Duration:
- 22min12sec
- Views:
- 30,565
- Date:
- January 10, 2013
- Studio:
- Visual Images
For the best viewing experience we recommend using any of the following:
Select the details below that best describe this video. We appreciate your assistance and will use this information to improve our service to you.
Are you sure you want to remove this video from your favorites?


text:
In Air. Online.
Gogo® is fast becoming everyone's favorite part of flying. By allowing travelers to get online, in air, Gogo keeps them connected to life. Using Gogo's exclusive network and services, passengers with laptops and other Wi-Fi enabled devices can get online on all domestic AirTran Airways and Virgin America flights and on select Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, United Airlines and US Airways flights – as well as on thousands of business aircraft – bringing the total to more than 6,000 Gogo equipped aircraft to date.
Back on the ground, Gogo's 400+ employees in Itasca, IL and Broomfield, CO are working to continually redefine flying as a productive, socially connected, and all-around more satisfying experience. Connect with us at gogoair.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/gogo and on Twitter at twitter.com/gogo.