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Editor's note: Letters to the editor for or against political candidates entered in the March 4 party primaries in county, state or national races will be accepted until Friday, Feb. 15 for the Sunday, Feb. 17 edition of the Democrat.
Sanctity of Human Life Week
Dear editor,
This past week, Jan. 20-27, Pro-life groups remembered the Sanctity of Human Life Week to remind Americans that 45 million babies were aborted since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion 35 years ago.
Here are some facts that we all need to know about:
1. Even though abortions have declined since 1990; there are still 800,000 abortions each year.
2. 44 percent of women who have had abortions in the U.S. have had one before.
3. 82 percent of women who had abortions in the U.S. were not married.
4. At current rates, an estimated 43 percent of American women will have one abortion by the age of 45.
5. Two thirds of all abortions are among never married women.
6. 52 percent of U.S. women having abortions are younger than 25 years old.
And 86.7 percent of abortions in the U.S. is performed between 8 to 12 weeks of gestation. Consider what happens from weeks 8 through 11:
Week 8, the baby, about l/2-inch long, has a beating heart.
Week 10, the baby has fingers and toes.
Week 11, the baby has all the major organ systems and can yawn and suck its thumb.
I have asked politicians, judges and others this question: Which holocaust is worse — The Nazi holocaust that killed 6 million Jews; the documented Chinese and Russian Communist holocaust that killed an estimated 50 million of their own countrymen, or the American Abortion Holocaust that has killed 45 million babies?
So far, no one has had the intestinal fortitude to answer that question.
Clifford E. Ball,
All truckers
aren't bad
Dear editor,
I am angry about your headline in the Monday, Jan. 21 paper. What did that headline have to do with an 18-wheeler? You have insulted every trucking company and every hard-working, honest driver.
I think you owe every trucker a public apology. You have implied that all truckers are either using meth o hauling it.
Dale Dillahunty,
County commissioners
past and present
Dear editor,
I do not know Judge Riley. I sat before him once for a short time and took an oath regarding my wife's last will and testament.
I have met Jim Webster, but I certainly do not know him. I do feel that I owe him a debt of gratitude, however, since we had all the roads in our subdivision paved well and that was the first time in some 28 years or so. I have spoken with him a couple of times and have found him to be no more reliable than other politicians with whom I have had verbal dealings. They are all quite expert at the art of being vague.
I do know Gary Plugge. He has been a friend for a good number or years. I also voted for him when he was elected and then when he was not. I also know that Gary sincerely thought and felt that what he was doing was the right and correct thing to do.
I do not know Mac Dobbs, but I feel he also sincerely thought and felt that what he was doing was the right and correct thing to do.
Perhaps, before the next commissioners meeting, we should take the precaution of arming all of its members so that they can shoot off something other than their mouths.
R. E. Driscoll Sr.,
Secure the
voting system in Parker County
Dear editor,
Voter fraud should be of great concern to voters.
Consider this: "Voters decide nothing; people who count the votes decide everything." — Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin
Your Jan. 15 article about Parker County's new elections boss, Robert Parten, was interesting. Parten's extensive background and experience could prove beneficial to voters in Parker County.
Every effort should be made to prevent voter fraud that occurred in New Hampshire's presidential primary. "Paul and Obama cheated out of third and first place by voting machines and hand count fraud," (Jan. 9 article by Paul Joseph Watson).
Lou Dobbs at CNN wrote: "Across the nation, eight out of every 10 voters will be casting their ballots this November on electronic voting machines. And these machines time and again have been demonstrated to be extremely vulnerable to tampering and error, and many of them have no voter-verified paper trail."
My recent Internet search using "vote fraud 2008" yielded a computer estimated 181,000 entries — wow!
Last year I voted in Precinct 410 using an electronic voting machine. When I pressed the button, my vote vanished into the ether — no paper trail, no recoverable record that I know of. This is not good.
When I vote I want to be confident my vote was properly counted. I trust Mr. Parten will earn his $50 per hour by devising a system that prevents voter fraud in Parker County.
Basil Garrett,
Willow Park
Vote Marjorie King
Dear editor,
On March 4, the voters of Parker County will elect the officials that will be running the county for the next four years. One office in particular is the tax assessor-collector.
The current elected official, Larry Lippincott, has a law suit filed against the county. It could eventually cost Parker County over a million dollars. His opponent, Marjorie King, had always maintained a great office, with qualified and courteous employees, and she never brought Parker County into a lawsuit.
I encourage all citizens of Parker County to get out and vote on March 4. Vote Marjorie King.
George Hester,
Get priorities right
Dear editor,
Mr. Riff Wright's letter in the Jan. 27 edition begs for a brief rebuttal. If this gentleman neither owns property nor owns or operates a business on the square, then his cheap shot at Mrs. Cotten-Scott was uncalled for.
There are other downtown property owners whose buildings could be "polished," but he only jabbed at Mrs. Scott because she is one of the few passionate enough to voice her displeasure at the mess being made of our square.
Mr. Wright, my family owned and operated the Plaza, Palace and Texan theatres on the square for various years between 1940 and 1975. While not currently downtown, we have continued to own and operate family businesses from 1983 to the present. Like Mrs. Cotten-Scott, my family, too, actually has a vested interest in this community.
The current project is mostly cosmetic and a lot of us feel that reversing the traffic flow around two quadrants is going to confuse more folks than help our stagnated congestion.
There was a petition several years ago with 500 signatures that did not want the square changed; however, typically, our elected officials at City Hall totally ignored the wishes of its citizens.
My biggest, and primary objection to the work now being done is that we are using TxDOT resources when there are other, more important traffic projects that need to be done — i.e. the South Main expansion from College Park/Bethel Road southward, the replacement of the Ft. Worth Street viaduct built in the 1930's and the pursuit of a loop, which has been tossed around for over 20 years with no action. The square's makeover could have taken last place on this list.
I only hope that the new faces at City Hall do a better job of setting priorities for what our city really needs and quit concentrating on frivolous projects.
Carla Hollingsworth-Johnson,
Get him out
Dear editor:
If Larry Lippincott did not have an opponent, I would run against him myself.
I am so proud Marjorie King is running for tax assessor-collector to bring some common courtesy to the office.
I went to the office on Santa Fe to get my car transferred sometime ago and nobody knew how to handle the transaction. I went to the back office to see Larry Lippincott. He was surly and rude. He sent me back out front and said "That is what the girls get paid for." They did not help me. I used a paper license plate on my car for six months — and they finally got the vehicle transferred for me.
We traded that vehicle in and bought a Cadillac in Arlington. When I received the notice to renew the tags I went to the Santa Fe office again. They told me they had no record of the vehicle and I would have to go to the county that sent me the
notice — that was Menard County. I had to go to Menard County to get my tags.
Vote for Marjorie King for tax assessor-collector and return courtesy to the office. Getting trained and polite employees back in this important office will be great.
Bobbi Klein,
Help the hungry
Dear editor,
Whether you are a Democrat or Republican, you can be proud of the efforts the current administration has given toward global poverty and health.
In a pleasant change of pace, members from both sides of the aisle have come together on these issues, and great strides have been made in reducing poverty for those most vulnerable in our world.
In his State of the Union Address, President Bush outlined America's leadership in this area and asked for Congress to help him do more in these last few months of his presidency. As citizens of Weatherford, and citizens of the world, we must ask our lawmakers to do all they can to fight the single most important problem our generation faces: Global Poverty.
President Bush will send his proposed budget to Congress on Feb. 4. This is our time to be heard.
America has been generous throughout her history, yet one billion people still live on less than $1 per day. Currently, one half of one percent of our federal budget is dedicated to development assistance for the poor. Keep in mind this money is not a handout to other countries; these are long-term investments like schools, agriculture and health care. An additional 1 percent of our budget would cut hunger and poverty in half and reduce the child mortality rate by two thirds. Also, you can contact your Senator and ask them to pass S.2433, the Global Poverty Act, which will improve the coordination of America's global development programs and policies.
Lastly, keep these issues in mind in the upcoming elections and vote for those who will help Weatherford speak on behalf of those who have no voice. Let's ensure that our town, state and country remain focused on compassion for years to come.
Jeremy Lane,
Check out Ron Paul
Dear editor,
Are you aware the media is missing out on perhaps one of the greatest stories in the 2008 primary season? I'm talking about the rise of Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas) who is running for president.
I'm guessing you probably don't know that Ron Paul has now placed ahead of every other Republican candidate in at least one primary contest — including two second place finishes.
Ron Paul is the champion of the Constitution. In contrast to the other candidates who only pay lip service to the ideals of limited government, low taxes, balanced budgets and personal liberty, Ron Paul has an impeccable 20-year congressional record to back him up.
Ron Paul knows that "the constitution was written to restrain government, never to restrain the people."
Are you sick of inflation, high prices, wars, jobs leaving our country, uncertainty, markets crashing and politicians pandering their way into office and once there, forgetting their sworn promise to uphold the Constitution?
This year, we finally have a solution.
I urge you to visit www.RonPaul2008.com and see for yourself. Say "No" to "We the Government" and "We the Media," and "Yes" to restoring America to "We the People."
Please vote for Ron Paul in the Republican primary on March 4, and prove that freedom is popular.
Kerri Rehmeyer,
Vote for a
positive change
Dear editor,
I would like to remind the voters of Parker County to vote Feb. 19-29 for early voting or March 4 for the Primary.
One of the offices that will be decided March 4 is the office of the tax assessor-collector.
This office needs a change for the BETTER! It is lacking the great customer service that we deserve and has lost many years of experienced clerks.
There is a $1.5 million dollar lawsuit pending against Mr. Lippincott/Parker County in Federal Court. Out of 14 positions, there are only four employees left that started working for Mr. Lippincott in 2001. For an office that seldom had an opening, there has been great turn-over since 2001.
Mrs. King had two large signs missing from Kelly Road in Aledo last week. In Lippincott's response he noted that the right-of-way disclaimer was missing from Mrs. Kings signs.
Thanks to Mr. Lippincott for pointing out the error, which now can be corrected by the manufacturer since it was their error; but I would like to know how can you read the disclaimer without being right up on the signs or having one in your sight?
During the last campaign, a banner was stolen from a heavy equipment dealership along Interstate 20, which was hung on a semi-trailer. Looks like Mr. Lippincott and/or his supporters are the ones trying to generate some controversy.
Mrs. King ran the tax assessor-collectors office for 12 years prior to Lippincott. Mrs. King has the proven performance.
Vote Mrs. King for a positive change.
Paul Smith,
Reward raised
Dear editor
The theft of signs, especially political signs, in Parker County, needs to stop.
The recent theft of two political signs belonging to Marjorie King, a republican candidate for tax assessor-collector, calls for some attention. The property owner gave her permission to place two 4x6 signs on his property. A short time later, they were stolen. According to her opponent, Larry Lippincott, the incorrect disclaimer was printed on her signs. After checking with manufacturer, they agreed they had made an error on her signs.
The disclaimer that is on each sign is in very small print and therefore went unnoticed by the manufacturer and the candidate.
The problem will be corrected in the next few days.
I am now offering a $1,000 reward to anyone that will come forward with information leading to the arrest of the person or persons, who stole the signs.
Also, Mr. Lippincott has brought the county into a one and a half million dollar lawsuit, filed by two of his former employees who had a combination of more than 18 years experience in his office. Before the suit was filed, one of the employees went into mediation with Lippincott and the county, but due to Lippincott's decision, mediation failed.
Let's get Marjorie King, a 12-year former tax assessor-collector, back in office.
Vote early, Feb. 19-29. Election Day is March 4.
Leon Tanner,
Meth menace
Dear editor,
As a retired police officer who worked the trenches of the Drug War, I know a proven strategy to eliminate every meth lab in Texas and stop the cross-border smuggling of meth from Mexico.
End the prohibition of amphetamines and allow Texas adults access to the same amphetamines the military provides to Air Force pilots who go on long bombing missions.
If a person develops a problem with amphetamines, they see a doctor or they suffer and possibly die.
When did it become the responsibility of our police to protect citizens hurting themselves in the privacy of their own home? That is a task best left to family and friends in my opinion.
Officer Howard J. Wooldridge (retired),


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GoPro HERO3+ Black Edition Camera
GoPro HERO3+ Black Edition Camera
Product Information
Capture your memorable moments with the GoPro HERO3+ Black Edition - a compact, lightweight and waterproof camera. It produces professional quality images and videos thanks to features such as SuperView for wide angle video perspectives and automatic frame rate adjustment for low light.
Flexible for your needs, the camera is able to capture crisp sound no matter how subtle and has multiple shot modes that include photo, photo burst, continuous photo, time lapse and simultaneous video and photo.
Download the GoPro App and control the camera from your iPhone or iPad. See through the lens of your camera with the live preview, go through your photos and play back videos at the touch of your Apple device screen.
The GoPro comes with speedy Wi-Fi connection so you can share your favourite images and videos on email, text or social media.
- 4K video resolution
- 12 MP photos at up to 30 frames per second
- Control your camera from your Apple device using the GoPro App
- Waterproof to 131 ft/40 m
- Includes 1 curved + 1 flat adhesive mount, plus 3-way pivot arm to capture images from every angle
- Built-in Wi-Fi connection
Did you notice?You can control your camera from the convenience of your iPhone or iPad with the GoPro App.
Apple Recommends ForUse the GoPro App to share your favourite memories on Facebook or Twitter via your Apple devices.
What's in the Box?
- HERO3+ Black Edition camera
- 131 ft/40 m waterproof housing
- Wi-Fi remote
- Higher-capacity li-ion battery
- Quick-release buckle and vertical quick-release buckle
- 1 curved + 1 flat adhesive mount, plus 3-way pivot arm
- USB charging cable
Tech Specs
- Digital Zoom: 2x
- Batteries: Rechargeable Lithium-Ion
- Height: 3.94 cm/1.55 in
- Weight: 74 g
- Length: 5.84 cm/2.30 in
Manufacturer Information
Part Number
- Mfr. Part Number: CHDHX-302
- UPC or EAN No.: 818279010817
- Note: Apple's One-Year Limited Warranty does not apply to products that are not Apple-branded, even if packaged or sold with Apple products. Non-Apple-branded products may have the benefit of a manufacturer's warranty provided by the product manufacturer — please see your product box and literature for details. Benefits under the manufacturer's warranty are in addition to rights provided by consumer law. For details, click here.
Featured App
GoPro App
Control. View. Share.
The GoPro App makes it easy to control your camera remotely with your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Get full remote control of all camera functions—take a photo, start/stop recording and conveniently adjust settings. See what your camera sees with live preview for easy shot-framing. View photos and play back videos, then share your favorites via email, text, Instagram™, Facebook® and more.* Plus, use it to wirelessly update your HERO3+ camera software on the go for the latest features and best performance.
Key Features
• NEW Use the GoPro App to wirelessly update your HERO3+ camera software
• NEW Use the GoPro App to wirelessly update your camera Wi-Fi network name and password
• NEW Preview video in near real-time with up to 4x faster** live video preview for HERO3+ cameras
• Full remote control of all camera functions
• View photos and play back videos*
• Copy photos and videos* to your device, then share via email, text, Instagram, Facebook or other app
• Browse and delete files on the camera's microSD card
• View the GoPro Photo and Video of the Day
Camera Compatibility
• HERO3 (requires camera software update, see gopro.com/update)
• HD HERO2 with Wi-Fi BacPac™ (requires camera software update, see gopro.com/update)
Questions? Contact GoPro Customer Support at gopro.com/contact. For a directory of Customer Support phone numbers by country, visit gopro.com/support/telephone-numbers.
*Compatible with videos captured in select modes only. Compatibility varies by device.
**Optimized for iPhone 5. Actual results may vary.
iPhone Screenshots
iPad Screenshots
0800 048 0408 or Chat now
iPhone models
iPhone 4
iPhone 4s
iPhone 5
iPad models
iPad 2 (2nd generation)
iPad (3rd generation)
iPad with Retina display
iPad mini
Ratings & Reviews
Questions & Answers
Answers from the community
Does it have a built in Microphone?
- Asked by John E from Winsted
- 01-Jul-2014
Does this use a memory card for recording
- Asked by Leann S from Cookeville
- 05-Feb-2014
This uses a Micro SD card to store pictures/videos. A Class 10 MicroSD card up to 64 GB is re Yes.
This uses a Micro SD card to store pictures/videos. A Class 10 MicroSD card up to 64 GB is required. …
- Answered by Alan H from Somersworth
- 09-Feb-2014
Would I be able to put this camera on my car . Is it waterproof?
- Asked by Fernando B from Manteca
- 21-Dec-2013
The camera itself is not waterproof. It does come with a waterproof housing that is good to 131'/40 The camera itself is not waterproof. It does come with a waterproof housing that is good to 131'/40M.
It includes 1 curved and 1 flat adhesive mount that you can use to attach to your vehicle. …
- Answered by Alan H from Somersworth
- 09-Feb-2014
Am I able to use the go pro to take snap short like a regular camera
- Asked by John O from Winthrop
- 29-Nov-2013
Yes, it has a number of picture/still modes, continous shooting, timelapse, coundown timer and just Yes, it has a number of picture/still modes, continous shooting, timelapse, coundown timer and just a regular one shot picture. …
- Answered by Bernhard K
- 08-Dec-2013
What is the view finder like? Is it so reflective that it is hard to see the picture you are taking?
- Asked by Ann C
- 26-Dec-2013
Best Answer:
The Hero cameras have NO view finder, however you can view the image on an iPhone with the Go Pro ap The Hero cameras have NO view finder, however you can view the image on an iPhone with the Go Pro app. …
- Answered by Jonathan W
- 28-Dec-2013

subset: commoncrawl


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Interfaith Social Services will celebrate its 65-year anniversary at its most important annual fundraiser: the Feed the Hungry Gala on Thursday, December 6 at Granite Links Golf Club in Quincy.
Since the recession, Interfaith has experienced unprecedented demands for its services. Last year, the organization's programs helped more than 25,000 local residents with emergency food assistance, homelessness prevention and mental health counseling. Supported by hundreds of community volunteers, the food pantry alone, distributed over 500,000 pounds of food last year to hungry families and individuals throughout the South Shore.
The evening will feature dinner and hors d'oeuvres, followed by a sampling of delectable desserts from South Shore eateries (a popular new theme from last year's event). The festivities will include interactive raffles, drawings, a silent and live auction featuring sports tickets, memorabilia, family fun packs, and great hotel, dining and shopping packages.
The MC and Auctioneer for the evening will be radio and TV personality Billy Costa of KISS 108 and TV Diner.
Entertainment will include Comedian Robbie Printz and DJ Jeff Fowler. There will be many special guest appearances, including the New England Patriot's Cheerleaders and Miss Massachusetts, and a deserving tribute to Interfaith's Community Hero of the year, Paula Lombardo of Lombardo's Function Facility in Randolph. Special thanks will also be offered to the event's Presenting Sponsor, Arbella Insurance Group, Charitable Foundation Inc.
Some of the exciting items available for auction at this year's event include:
- Paul Wahlberg (Alma Nove and Walburger's) will be your very own personal chef for an evening
(He will prepare a dinner for eight in your home, all food and wine included).
- A Jet Blue Vacation Package, valued at $2500
- A $500 shopping spree at the Derby Street Shops
- 50/50 raffle ($100/ticket; 100 tickets sold), with a 1/100 chance of winning $5,000!
Tickets to the event, and for the 50/50 raffle, can be purchased via Interfaith's website at www.InterfaithSocialServices.org. A single entry ticket costs $75 per person or attendees can take advantage of the Group Ticket Special price of $600 for 10 tickets.
Tickets may also be purchased by check and donations may be mailed to: Interfaith Social Services, 105 Adams Street, Quincy, MA 02169 Attn: FTH Gala. Raffle and silent auction items are still being accepted. Corporate sponsorships and advertising opportunities are also available. (All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law). The money raised by ticket sales, corporate donations and raffle tickets will help Interfaith meet the needs of the growing number of families they service.
"For many of us, the holidays are a time to buy presents for our loved ones and celebrate the things for which we should give thanks over large meals with our families," said Rick Doane, Executive Director of Interfaith Social Services. "But for others living here in our community, the holidays, and every other season, are less joyous and carefree. There are mothers who only have enough diapers to last the week, fathers who don't have clothes to interview for that job they desperately need and children facing health crises because they lack access to nutritious food."
Interfaith Social Services has revamped this important annual fundraiser in an effort to create a dynamic, interactive experience to celebrate its prestigious milestone. With breathtaking views overlooking the city of Boston, this year's "Holiday in the City" themed event will take place at the Granite Links Golf Club, 100 Quarry Hills Dr., Quincy, Mass., on Thursday, December 6, 2012 from 6:30 – 10:30 p.m.
-Interfaith Social Services


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Sixteen Atlanta-area Sam's Club locations will offer exclusive additional savings for small businesses from Feb. 11 through 17. The Business Savings Expo event includes savings of up to $2,500 on nearly 200 items and is only offered in Atlanta-area locations. Although the items are targeted to help small business owners save more, anyone with a Sam's Club membership can purchase the highlighted merchandise during the week-long Instant Savings celebration.
These exclusive savings will be instantly added to all member cards on Feb. 11. With no coupons to clip and no rebate forms to complete and mail, Sam's Club members will receive these small business offers instantly upon checkout. New members will qualify immediately for these additional savings.
"Sam's Club wants to provide local business owners with the tools and goods they need to lead each day with increased confidence and optimism," said Betty Marshall, vice president for southeast operations at Sam's Club. "Everyday our associates strive to positively impact and serve small business members, who are so important to the fabric and success of our country. We hope by offering savings atop low prices that Sam's Club can contribute to increased small business success in 2013."
Small Business Savings
Small Business Instant Savings benefit Atlanta-area members across several industries, including but not limited to items for foodservice, daycare, convenience store and office managers:
- $430 off Quickbooks Point of Sale 2013 (Limit one)
- $4 off Monster® Energy Drink (24-pack; Regular and Lo Carb; Limit three)
- 20 percent off Reversible Safety Floor Mats (8-pack; Limit four);
- $4.50 off Bakers & Chefs™ 14" Nonstick Fry Pan plus additional savings on 8", 10" and 12" Fry Pans (Limit one in each size)
- $10 off Marathon® Dispensers, including Automatic Touchless Towel, Fold Towel or Jumbo/Regular Roll Towel Dispensers (Limit one)
- $6 off HUGGIES diapers, sizes newborn to 6; 108 to 216 ct (Limit three)
Sam's Club serves an estimated 600,000 Business Members daily in 620 club locations across the U.S., providing low prices, a convenient shopping experience and easier access to capital through an SBA Loan program, credit options and merchant payment processing support. Last year, Sam's Club and the Sam's Club Giving Program provided grants and donations of more than $600,000 to national non-profit SCORE to offer supplies and training to 102 U.S. small businesses, including two Georgia-based businesses.
Atlanta-area savings only
Sixteen Atlanta-area Club locations will offer additional Instant Savings. Participating Sam's Club locations include:
- Alpharetta, 10600 Davis Dr., 30004
- Athens, 4365 Atlanta Hwy. Bogart 30622
- Atlanta (Clairmont), 2901 A Clairmont Rd., 30329
- Buford, 3383 Buford Dr., 30519
- Douglasville, 6995 Concourse Pkwy., 30134
- Duluth, 3450 Steve Reynolds Blvd., 30096
- Hiram, 4798 Jimmy Lee Smith Pkwy., 30141
- Lithonia, 2994 Turner Hill Rd., 30058
- McDonough, 1765 Jonesboro Rd., 30253
- Macon, 4701 Log Cabin Dr., 31204
- Marietta, 150 S. Cobb Pkwy. S., 30060
- Morrow, 7325 Jonesboro Rd., 30260
- Oakwood, 3839 Mundy Hill Rd, 30566
- Sharpsburg, 310 Fischer Rd., 30277
- Snellville, 1520 Scenic Hwy., 30078
- Tucker, 1940 Mountain Ind. Blvd., 30084


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If you want a computer that can perform and deliver more than just your basic computing needs, then the Gateway MT6728 Refurbished Notebook PC is your answer. And just because it's refurbished doesn't mean it's not equipped to handle even some of the most difficult, mind-numbing tasks.
With 2GB of DDR2 memory and 160GB 5400RPM SATA hard drive, see for yourself just what this Gateway can do for you.


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Clive Barker
• 'Criss Angel BeLIEve' Sneak Peek: Inspired By Clive Barker
• Lindsay Lohan Finds A Job At Cannes
• Celebrity Birthdays, October 5
• Celebrity Birthdays, October 5
Birth Name: Clive Barker
Born: 10/05/1952
Birth Place: Liverpool, England, GB
Born: 10/05/1952
Birth Place: Liverpool, England, GB
Born on Oct. 5, 1952 in Liverpool, England, Barker was raised in a blue collar home by his father, Len, a personnel director for an industrial relations firm, and his mother, Joan, a social welfare officer who spent much of her spare time as a painter. When he was 14 years old, Barker came to the realization that he wanted to scare people for a living after watching Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" (1960). While in Quarry Bank School - the same high school attended by John Lennon - Barker escaped his rather humdrum existence by writing, directing and performing in plays. He later studied literature and philosophy at Liverpool University, after which he moved to London and founded the experimen... Continue Bio >>
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HOUSTON -- Each Wednesday after practice softball and baseball players from Northbrook High head to a local baseball / softball complex to work with younger kids.
Northbrook athletes from all the school's different teams are part of this five day a week program.
The Northbrook athletes are finding that they are getting as much out of the sessions as the young kids.
The school district has one of the highest student dropout rates of anywhere in the state, but a program like this helps keep kids focused on improving their lives one pitch at a time.


text: Trick or Treat Bags - Current Catalog Shopping Cart: 0 items Sign up for exclusive email promotions Checks Address Labels Greeting Cards Holidays and Events 4th of July Wedding and Anniversary Summer Celebrations Birthday Halloween Thanksgiving Christmas Valentine's Day Irish Easter Mother's Day Father's Day Graduation Gift Ideas Personalized Gifts For Your Home Stationery Personalized Stationery Calendars Home Office Wrapping Paper Photo Gift Center Dollar Deals Sale Home > Holidays and Events Trick or Treat Bags Personalized Free! Give your child an extra friend to take trick-or-treating! Our plush Halloween friends are about 7 1/4" x 9" (without counting the 5" handle). Crafted of 100% polyester, they feature your child's name in flocked vinyl lettering. Sturdy fabric handle is easy for small hands to manage!Black CatJack-o'-Lantern Specify up to 8 characters. Product Code Product Description Qty Price 608598 Black Cat Trick or Treat Bag We regret that this item is not available at this time. Check here to add personalization. NOTE: To avoid errors, please do not refresh this page or hit the back button while we process your order. Flashing Jack-o'-Lantern Ring $4.00 Jelly Belly® Kids MixHalloween Candy $6.00 Halloween Countdown Calendar $5.99 Home|Featured Merchants|Tips|Contact Us|Privacy & Security|Site Map|1-800-848-2848|Request Free Catalog © 1998, 2014 Current USA, Inc.


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When it come to foods you might actually find on an Irish table this St. Patrick's Day, Irish Soda Bread is an easy bet. It's easy t...Read More »
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A company is Canada has come up with a post-workout beer. It's called Lean Machine "recovery ale" and it has only 77 calories and 0...Read More »


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We shifted to Thursday night for our live chat this week.
I think I'm going to trudge through the snow up to Lockport to see their game against Niagara Falls, and perhaps I'll catch St. Joe's at St. Francis since it's a 7:30 start. I also have to break down the Federation hockey schedule to see if today's the day I should stop by the Amherst Pepsi Center. We'll see where the evening takes me.
No matter what, we'll surely have a lot to talk about. Anything in the high school sports world is up for discussion.
If you won't be around tonight, feel free to ask some questions in the comments section below and we'll tackle them during the session.
Here are some previous chats: last week (Jan. 20), Jan 14, Jan. 6, Dec. 15.
---Keith McShea
taggedLive chats


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Mulberry Outlet
Mulberry Women's Alexa Leather Satchel Bag Light Coffee MCA029
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Aliens: Colonial Marines
- Platform:PS3™
- Genre: Shooter
Aliens: Colonial Marines Overview
In partnership with Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products and developed by critically acclaimed studio Gearbox Software, Aliens: Colonial Marines will bring new levels of bone-chilling suspense and adrenaline-filled action to the renowned franchise. The game pits players against the universe's ultimate alien killing machines, the Xenomorphs, in claustrophobic environments guaranteed to produce blood curdling thrills.
More Info
Check out your friends' trophy progress now! Sign in to see who's playing this game.Sign In
- Related Content
- You May Also Like
Plus Membership - $49.99.
Just under $5/month.
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Related Events
- Genre: Shooter
- Publisher: Sega of America Inc.
- Available Platform: PS3™
- Release Date: 06.11.2013
- Players: 4
- Max Online Players: 5
- 3D Compatible: No
"PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.


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Chuck and Victoria Oldham
Trade Winds Advertising
2370 W. State Route 89A, Ste 11, Box 200, Sedona, AZ 86336
Editor: Terree Duncan, 928-634-2565
Left: Gateway To Sedona Editor Terree Duncan helps members publish their articles and calendar events. She is shown here just after accepting the Readers' Choice Award for Best Website on behalf of Gateway To Sedona.
Terree has worked with Gateway To Sedona since 2005.
Back in 2002, professional product developers Chuck and Victoria Oldham (originally from suburban Philadelphia, Pa., with a previous career in the gift and collectible industry) thought that a place with the awesome beauty and unique quality of Sedona and the Verde Valley should have improved representation on the Internet, both in terms of visual appeal and reach to visitors looking on search engines. They set out to design a web site with compelling, well-organized information that would not only encourage travelers to consider visiting red rock country, but would also provide a great source of information about Sedona, Arizona.
The Oldham's began work on GatewayToSedona.com in April 2002, but it was officially announced on July 4th that same year.
Today, GatewayToSedona.com continues to deliver timely and fun-to-browse information about Sedona and the region through photo-illustrated articles and events.
Left: Chuck and Victoria Oldham, owners/founders, Gateway To Sedona.
Gateway To Sedona is a production of Trade Winds Advertising Inc.


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The holiday seasons are near and we're already hunting for answers to please our family members (boy/girl friend) asking: "What do you want for [insert_occasion_here]?"
Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, there might be a Delphi programmer on your shopping list. But how do you find a Delphi goodie that he/she is sure to enjoy? Unfortunatelly, I can't take all the guesswork out of holiday shopping, I can offer a few tips.
This article is going to point you to some places on the net where you can find neat gifts for that Delphi coder in your life - the web is a great place to shop.
What to buy?For those people wondering what gifts to give to the Delphi coder in the their life or what gifts would compliment the new release of Delphi to be be the best present under the tree this year, here's my guide to holiday gift ideas for Delphi coders:
Newest Delphi!It might show to be the best solution. The most comprehensive set of visual, high-performance, client and server development tools for creating distributed enterprise and Web-enabled applications - this is exactly what Delphi is. Why not buy the newest version of Delphi coder's most loving software.
BooksIf he/she's like most people, some of the best gifts he/she ever received are books. The best programming books last forever, can be read again and again, and help Delphi programmer in innumerable different ways as the years go by. Books are always great gifts. Before you go out and buy any Delphi book, find out what your intended recipient is interested in. Some books that I personally think would make great gifts are listed here: Delphi Books.
ComponentsYou don't need to know this, but components are essential elements of the Delphi RAD environment. Components allow Delphi programmer to quickly and easily design and create Windows as well as Web and database applications. The great thing about Delphi components is that they can be bought with source so your recipient might learn from them. Check out the Where to Find Custom Delphi Components? article for a free/shareware solution.
[Better] JobAnother thing might be interesting. Why not help your recipient to become a certified Delphi developer. Naturally that exam costs - but hey you can't do the whole work; just to pay for the Delphi Certified Developers Exam should be enough.
NewsletterFree of course. Why not subscribe for a free Delphi Programming newsletter that will keep your recipient updated on all the things around and about Delphi Programming.
Need More Ideas?I've given you some ideas above, which may or may not satisfy a person on your gift list. For some other opinions post your views, or look for guidance on the questions and issues that matter to buying a holiday present to a Delphi code guru, on the Delphi Programming Forum
Time to go shopping! Happy Holidays!


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Bruce Irons Rolls Into Oakley Week On A Tank
Bruce Irons is a one of kind individual on many different levels, so what better way to roll into Oakley Week then in the Oakley Tank. Fresh off a flight from Hawaii, Bruce jumped in the tank and took over the motorcross track by manning the gun. After taking down several employees and cameramen, Irons found his way to the front entrance of Oakley.
As the tank came to a screeching halt, Bruce did not hesitate and jumped out of his gunmen's hole atop the tank barefoot and leaped from the moving tank. Heading into the lobby he checked in with our receptionists Holly for his taping of Oakley Week.
Bruce killed it on stage sharing stories about his latest movies, travels, being a father and scoring the most recent cover of Transworld Surf. Make sure to check out Bruce's show on Oakley Week, which begins on October 5th, you definitely will not want to miss his tank entrance on FUEL TV. Check your local listings for exact times in your area.


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This story was updated June 7, 9 p.m.
The El Cerrito bicyclist involved in the , 92, as she crossed Arlington Boulevard said in an interview that he couldn't avoid the collision.
Douglas Herring, 57, told Patch this afternoon, Thursday, that he had just descended the hilly portion of the Arlington going north and was heading toward the curve where it intersects with Brewster Drive when he saw Smith beginning to walk across the street from the opposite side.
"I was coming down the hill, and I had some good speed, but I was slowing down for the curve," he said.
"I yelled, 'Wait!'" he said. "I remember yelling three times."
"I screamed basically, 'Wait! Wait!'" he said.
Smith, who was using walking sticks, hesitated at first and then continued walking and then began to run, said Herring, an environmental and planning consultant. He said she couldn't run fast due to her age but that the last-minute change in her movement prevented him from avoiding the collision.
She was wearing hearing aids that were functional at the time, according to El Cerrito police.
Herring's voice broke with emotion as he described the tragic collision, which occurred where Brewster enters Arlington, about 40 feet north of a marked crosswalk. Smith was not using the crosswalk, and Herring was in the bike lane, police said. (Brewster intersects with Arlington at two places – one near Madera Elementary School and the other near Arlington Park where the accident occurred.)
"She started running and she ran right into me," he said. "If she had continued walking, I could have cut hard right. I would have wiped out, but I wouldn't have hit her."
"I plowed right into her," he said.
El Cerrito police Sgt. Shawn Maples said Herring's bike left a skid mark about a yard long before the place of impact.
Herring said he had been trying earlier today to find out the woman's condition. He did not know that she had died until he was contacted by Patch.
"It's so terrible," he said as his voice choked up.
Herring recalled being distressed about the "man who was killed in San Francisco by a biker." Bicyclist Chris Bucchere fatally struck 71-year-old Sutchi Hui in a crosswalk at Market and Castro streets on March 29.
Smith was taken by ambulance to Cerrito Vista Park and airlifted by medical helicopter in "extremely critical" condition with severe head trauma to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek, El Cerrito Police Chief Sylvia Moir said. She was pronounced dead about 11:40 last night, according to the Contra Costa County coroner's bureau.
Herring said he landed on his back, "flooded with pain," and was helped to his feet by a passerby. He was taken by ambulance to the Kaiser Medical Center in Richmond, where he was treated and released last night. He said he remains in movement-limiting pain with a sprained back and sprained hip but no broken bones.
Smith, who lived in the neighborhood for more than 45 years, regularly took walks in the late afternoon or early evening. She was active and took care of her own home, inside and out, her daughter Cindy Scott, told KCBS. At age 90, she was rappelling in the Sierra Nevada, Scott told CBS 5.
Her mother was also known as "the friendly lady" among the youth group at her Mormon church, the daughter said.
Herring echoed a opinion shared by many in the neighborhood that the spot where the collision occurred is hazardous.
"It's a bad location," he said, adding that he keeps a careful watch for cars in both directions whenever he walks across Arlington at that spot.
Police expect to wrap up their investigation of the Arlington collision "in the next day or so," including any finding of fault, Maples said.
For email alerts to updates on this story or other police-related news, click Keep me posted below. For past stories on this accident or other police-related news, click "El Cerrito police" next to Related Topics below.


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American (18)
Barbeque (1)
Bistro (3)
Brazilian (1)
Breakfast (1)
Burgers (3)
Café (1)
Cajun-Creole (1)
Caribbean (1)
Eclectic (6)
European (2)
Filipino (2)
French (1)
German (2)
Hungarian (1)
Irish (1)
Italian (6)
Mediterranean (1)
Mexican (1)
Middle East (1)
Polish (1)
Seafood (12)
Steak (8)
Tavern Fare (3)
Vegetarian Menu (2)
City (41)
Neighborhood (41)
Breakfast (11)
Lunch (66)
Dinner (79)
Late Dinner (53)
Brunch (15)
Take-Out (50)
Delivery (7)
Outdoor Dining (34)
Catering (49)
Kids Welcome (46)
No Jeans (2)
Romantic (26)
Wheelchair Access (69)
American Express (72)
MasterCard (77)
Visa (77)
Carte Blanche (17)
Discover (50)
TransMedia (10)
If Musick has Charms to soothe a savage Breast (William Congreve, 1697), food, too, will smooth sa...
As plush a steak and seafood house as can be found in the area, this one offers top-of-the-line fare...
This sprawling establishment, which can seat 300 in its main dining areas, tavern and cozy private d...
Its understandable that the menu at Picasso of Manila would list some dishes without description. N...
If you're going to Royal Oak to eat, but you want to avoid the pricey, overcrowded Main Street res...
Offering authentic Philippine cuisine. Voted "Best Karaoke" by Metro Times readers in 1998. Big scre...
Dinner at Sindbad's is roadhouse fare, in a multilevel restaurant with a view of the Detroit ...
(American, Barbeque, Cajun-Creole)
"Art Deco decor, eclectic crowd. Menu ranges from chicken wings to homemade pastas to filet mignon. ...
(American, Breakfast, Burgers)
Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner specials. Twenty-ounce porterhouse or a full pound of crablegs for...
(American, Caribbean, Seafood)
"Tropical motif. Excellent seafood selection. The service is as friendly as the menu is varied, from...


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This summer, some of music's biggest names will be lighting up concert venues. Check out 2013's hottest summer tours.
Lil Wayne. America's Most Wanted Music Festival. Starts: July 9.
Beyonce. The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour. Happening now.
Rolling Stones. 50 & Counting Tour. Started: May 25.
Bruno Mars. Moonshine Jungle World Tour. Starts: June 22.
Justin Timberlake & Jay-Z. Legends of the Summer. Starts: July 14.
Pink. The Truth About Love Tour. Starts: May 25.
The Beach Boys. Beach Boys Tour. Started: May 1.
Taylor Swift. Red Tour. Started: March 13.
Dave Matthews Band. Summer Tour. Started: May 17.
One Direction. Take Me Home World Tour. Starts: June 13.
Kenny Chesney. No Shoes Nation Tour. Started: May 23.
The Jonas Brothers. Jonas Brothers Live Tour. Starts: June 1.
New Kids on the Block. The Package Tour (select dates with Boyz II Men and 98 Degrees). Started May 28.
Take a look at the highest-paid musicians here.


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By Matt Werner/Times Sentinel reporter
— Nearly four months after a fire caused damage to his restaurant, Patrick Mullen proudly opened his doors for an early lunch crowd.
Patrick's Kitchen and Drinks, 175 S. Main St., began serving customers shortly after 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 8, just minutes after the restaurant opened.
Zionsville residents Nicki and Mike Bradley are not only some of Patrick's most loyal customers, they were the first to come into the renovated restaurant.
"We've been waiting for it to reopen since it closed," Nicki said. "We have been checking just about every day. We like the food, the place and the people, and we are excited to be the first ones back in here."
For Mullen, the past several months have been a challenge.
"I felt that this was more stressful than opening the first time because we weren't in control of the time-line," he said. "It was taking so long for not a lot of damage; that's what was really stressful."
Mullen said being closed was tough for him but tougher for the staff.
"Our insurance paid for some of the wages, but a lot of income for them came from tips," he said. "Business-wise, it was the momentum that we feared losing. We kept hoping that we wouldn't lose our momentum."
Mullen said there are some new faces to the staff, but several workers did return such as Erika Tyring, who was hired in April as a waitress.
"(After the fire,) I got a job at Hallmark in Carmel," she said. "I told them right out of the gate that once Patrick was ready they would go on the back burner because this was really my passion."
Tyring said she was extremely excited to be back at the restaurant.
"It's kind of half nostalgic and half exciting," she said. "It's great to be back and see all the old faces, but we are getting a lot of new people, so that's exciting."
Jodi Graham was a long-time customer before becoming a waitress at Patrick's.
"I've worked at restaurants before, but I've never been a part of opening one," she said. "It's been really interesting to see all the prep work of reopening an established restaurant. I'm kind of on pins and needles thinking if everyone is coming back."
Another change for Patrick's was bringing in a new chef, Roger Duran.
"The excitement of opening a new place was what really brought me here," Duran said. "I really like the freedom and having the liberty to create new items."
Duran said some changes have been made to the menu, but the lunch menu is still the same.
"We are bringing in some multi-cultural and international flavors," Mullen said. "We will probably be changing the menus monthly, but we really want to give (Duran) a chance to show off his skills and creativity."
Mullen said opening the doors for the first time was exciting.
"We have a lot of gratitude for everyone in the community, who helped us out," he said. "It was really inspiring. I couldn't go into a business in town without someone asking 'When are you going to open?' or 'Is there anything we can do to help?' That was really inspiring."


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Michigan Advances to Championship Game
Trey Burke vs. Michael Carter-Williams and Wichita State vs. Louisville. Going to be a fun day of college hoops.
Yes, Trey Burke won four of the most prestigious awards in college basketball Thursday and Friday. But, the coolest thing that happened to him was the shout out he got from actor Hugh Jackman.
Don't lie, you're watching the games. Comment about them here.
The way Gregg Marshall assembles his starting lineup and utilizes players off the bench helps make his team unique in the Final Four. This unorthodox style is just another weapon for Wichita State...
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"Summer of Suburbia Films, Part 3"
August 7, 2014 7:30pm (doors at 7pm)
SMoCA Lounge at SMoCA (Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art)
7373 East 2nd Street (Scottsdale Civic Center), Scottsdale AZ
$7.00 admission-advance tickets available at SMoCA or call 480-874-4666
Sponsored by SMoCA, Sechler CPA PC (http://www.azcpa.com)
(Screenings were selected to complement SMoCA's summer exhibition Bill Owens: Suburbia.)
Directed by Garrett Scott. An examination of the actions of Shawn Nelson, a 35 year-old plumber who stole a tank in May 1995 and rampaged through his San Diego neighborhood.
In May 1995, Shawn Nelson, a 35 year-old plumber from Clairemont, California, emerged from an eighteen foot mine shaft he had dug beneath his backyard in search for gold. An ex-soldier and methamphetamine abuser, he stole a tank from a nearby National Guard armory and went on a rampage through the residential streets of his neighborhood, crushing cars and lampposts until the cops took him down.
CUL DE SAC goes far beyond this apparently minor news story and provides extensive political, economic and social context that ties Nelson's life to the larger story of a working class community in decline.
Newsreels of a fat, happy San Diego in the 50s and 60s, the perfect representation of middle class aspirations for economic prosperity, are juxtaposed with contemporary images of shuttered defense plants, jobless blue-collar suburbanites, drug abusers, and police on patrol. Statements from police, historians and real estate agents sketch out the rise and fall of this military-fueled boomtown, and trace the area's social ills back to World War II, the Vietnam War and recent layoffs.
"Brilliant… Each time CUL DE SAC revisits Nelson's low-speed tank chase, he seems less like a standard-issue nut-job loner and more like a military/industrial Frankenstein's monster, haunted by (and hunted for) other people's sins." —New York Press
"[A] terse, scrupulous film, the footage punctuates a bleak tale of a defense-industry town's boom and bust-once a Cold War capital of airplane and missile production, the San Diego suburb has decayed into a strip-mall wasteland…" —The Village Voice


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Event Director Eddie McGowan announced the 2nd Annual 2012 Annapolis Irish Festival will be held on Saturday, July 14, 2012 at the Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds. Gates will open at 11am. The 2011 Inaugural Irish Festival was a huge success, surpassing all expectations. Over 10,000 people from Maryland and as far away as Kansas and Scotland, enjoyed a bit of the Emerald Isle right here in Annapolis.
Responding to their success in 2011, the footprint for the 2012 Festival has been enlarged to make room for more vendors, a larger "Little Leprechaun Land" and a third stage for additional Traditional and Celtic Bands. "Our Family Pavilion was full from the time we opened until we closed at 4pm," said McGowan. "This year, we are pleased to announce that Little Leprechaun Land will be presented by Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Va. A few of the theme park's animal ambassadors will make a special appearance and visitors will have an opportunity to win a trip for four to the Williamsburg theme park. We are thrilled to have Busch Gardens on board and the centerpiece of our Family Pavilion. We will have pony rides, Kids Music Show by Irelands own Seamus Kennedy, Irish Step Dance Lessons and other entertainers, face painters, magicians, balloon artists, crafts and amusements – all under cover and free."
The 2012 Festival boasts an incredible music line-up. Three Internationally acclaimed Celtic Rock Bands join us this year; Scythian – Celtic Rock with an Edge, Albannach bringing the" Fire and Thunder of Scotland" to Annapolis and The Rogues, voted the #1 Celtic Band Worldwide. Hometown Favorite The Rovers, Barleyjuice, Ice Wagon Flu, those hot Lassies Screaming Orphans, Kilmaine Saints, Crossing Celtic, Seamus Kennedy, Brian Gaffeny and Brendans Voyage, The New Century , Chesapeake Caledonian Pipes and Drums and The Hunt and Culkins Schools of Irish Dance will all entertain from morning t'il night.
The Annapolis Irish Festival benefits the good work of Hospice of the Chesapeake, The Chesapeake Bay Trust, SPCA of Anne Arundel and the Wellness House. For more information, visit us on facebook or at www.annapolisirishfestival.com.


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Lately, several folks have taken it upon themselves to come onto this blog with axes to grind, eager to launch potshots. And (most importantly for this discussion) that is all they do: there is no attempt at sustained, back-and-forth discussion, with an attitude of open-mindedness or the slightest benefit of the doubt given to other points of view. The same people are presently engaging in entire threads on other forums designed to mock and ridicule and put me down (along with apologists, which seems to be a fashionable thing these days: at least in certain circles). I'm sure it's boring to everyone, and it does no one any good (including the people who do it).
My own position on the matter remains what it has always been. As stated in my introductory Thoughts on Amiable and Constructive Dialogue post (on the sidebar):
I would advise all participants here to simply ignore posts where a person obviously wants to primarily insult and run down others personally, or to grind axes . . . Many such people simply want to get a rise out of others and to bait and goad them. That is defeated by ignoring the bait. If they don't get what they came to get, eventually they'll disappear (because they are deprived of the thrill and charge that motivates them to act in this fashion), and the quality of the blog threads will thereby be improved. Try it; it works almost every time.So my view is based on the philosophy of largely ignoring the troll and baiter and flamer. It's rather simple psychology, really. Sometimes (as you well know) I can't resist pointing out a fact or doing some of my trademark satirical humor (which is a major way I deal with nonsense and foolishness), but by and large I will refuse to engage in what St. Paul calls a "stupid controversy" (because that is what he himself urged upon Christians). You've seen me do that with the recent spate. I no longer attempt dialogue with anti-Catholics, etc.
There are certain types of posts I am not interested in at all, and I will not reply to them, with rare exceptions. These are: . . . 3) "know-it-alls" and anyone with an axe to grind, who is uncharitable and hostile, or who has a "machismo," "bulldog" or "verbal bully" mentality, or who wants to lecture and not dialogue. That could include certain people from any belief-system, folks who fall on any and all points of the so-called "conservative" and "liberal" continuum, or people who just don't care for me or someone else personally for some reason or other.
I did put up the Top Ten Reasons post as a humorous act but at-bottom (as with all satirical / sarcastic material done properly) quite serious protest against the frequent sad descent of Internet ethics into the sewer. That's how I deal with it, personally, as I can't for the life of me figure out why the people who communicate in this fashion cannot see that it is blatantly contrary to biblical teaching. I don't think I'll ever figure that out, but obviously it is a huge problem, which is why the Bible deals so frequently with the problem of evil speaking, as just one manifestation of the larger problem of human sin, and propensity to sin (concupiscence).
Nevertheless, as this is a group venue, and I want input from my readers (especially regulars), I am willing to put this situation to a vote. A simple majority in favor of ridding this blog of these types by banning them would mean that the trollers would be promptly banned. They would have one more chance to try to engage in real discussion if they wish, but if they start in on the nonsense, they're out of here (i.e., if a majority of my readers want them to be). Or if you prefer to let these people talk, and either ignore them (my strategy) or deal with them in some other way, then your vote would be "NO".
YES = banning the trolls and flamers
NO = letting them stay
For now, the problem is relatively slight, but bad enough for me to think it is necessary to vote on it. Preferably, if you vote, put something about how long you have been coming here, etc., so we can have some idea about who you are, and that you are a legitimate regular visitor. Just a brief statement will do. You could have been here just a little while, but if you like what you see on my blog, you are most welcome to vote and participate. We want to prevent anonymous trollers coming in to influence the vote. The closer the vote is, I may ask for further information from some people I don't recognize. If it isn't close at all, that won't matter.
Please vote! I want to hear your opinion.


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By Steve Gelsi, MarketWatch
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) — Exxon Mobil and Chevron ranked among the leading gainers in the Dow Jones Industrial Average on Friday as energy stocks pushed into positive territory despite a weaker-than-expected August jobs report.
Tapping into stronger oil prices, Exxon Mobil Corp. /quotes/zigman/203975/delayed/quotes/nls/xom XOM -0.14% rose 1.1% and Chevron Corp. /quotes/zigman/289939/delayed/quotes/nls/cvx CVX -1.04% gained by 0.9%. The two oil majors are among the 30 stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Average /quotes/zigman/627449/realtime DJIA -0.42% , which rose 15 points after the U.S. economy created 96,000 jobs in the last month, lower than the 125,000 gain expected by Wall Street economists.
August unemployment slips to 8.1%
The U.S. economy added 96,000 jobs in August, fewer than expectations for 125,000 and an indication of a slack recovery. The unemployment rate fell to 8.1%.
The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund /quotes/zigman/246199/delayed/quotes/nls/xle XLE -0.81% moved up by 1.7%. The fund includes energy stocks in the S&P 500 Index /quotes/zigman/3870025/realtime SPX -0.29% . Among that group, coal producer Alpha Natural Resources /quotes/zigman/362718/delayed/quotes/nls/anr ANR -0.59% rallied 16.8% and Peabody Energy corp. /quotes/zigman/282895/delayed/quotes/nls/btu BTU -0.26% gained 10.8%. Consol Energy /quotes/zigman/190880/delayed/quotes/nls/cnx CNX +0.33% jumped 7%.
The coal producers rose after Glencore raised its bid for Xstrata and China set plans to spend a hefty $156 billion on infrastructure. See story on Glencore.
One mining analyst also said the weak U.S. jobs report is raising the prospect of a new stimulus package from the Federal Reserve -- a move seen as an indirect boost to infrastructure spending around the globe. See story on mining rally.
Checking the major benchmarks in the energy sector at the closing bell, the NYSE Arca Oil Index /quotes/zigman/6015539/realtime XX:XOI -0.69% rose 1.7%, the NYSE Arca Natural Gas Index /quotes/zigman/6015474/realtime XX:XNG -0.71% added 1.4% and the Philadelphia Oil Service Index /quotes/zigman/1470028/delayed OSX -0.33% moved up by 2.1%.
Crude oil prices provided a lift to energy stocks by rising nearly 1% to $96.08 a barrel. See Futures Movers for more on oil.
On the deal front, private equity firm Carlyle Group /quotes/zigman/9872907/delayed/quotes/nls/cg CG -1.74% said it'll pay an undisclosed sum to buy from Goldman Sachs /quotes/zigman/188479/delayed/quotes/nls/gs GS -1.52% the North American power generation assets held by Cogentrix Energy LLC.
Carlyle said equity for the investment comes from its $1.14 billion Carlyle Infrastructure Fund. The deal includes five coal and solar power projects in Florida, Virginia, Colorado and California.
"This is an attractive portfolio of power assets that we look forward to managing and growing," said Robert Dove, managing director of Carlyle. "Access to the world-class development team at Cogentrix will deepen our existing infrastructure investment capabilities, enabling us to pursue an active program of acquiring and developing conventional and renewable power projects across the U.S."
Energy stocks up for the week
Energy stocks finished out the latest week in positive territory as crude oil prices moved around the $95 range.
The NYSE Arca Oil Index /quotes/zigman/6015539/realtime XX:XOI -0.69% closed Friday at 1,260, its highest level since April and well above its week-ago ending point of 1,230.
The NYSE Arca Natural Gas Index /quotes/zigman/6015474/realtime XX:XNG -0.71% ended at 660 on Friday, up from its closing level of 638 on Aug. 31.
The Philadelphia Oil Service Index /quotes/zigman/1470028/delayed OSX -0.33% closed at 229 on Friday, up from its closing level of 224 last Friday.


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Article on Pacifism Written by Julia Grace Wales during the First World War
Julia Grace Wales wrote many articles expressing her moral and religious convictions about pacifism and war.
With the permission of the Wales family.
Library and Archives Canada
MG30-C238, vol. 5, Pacifism in Time of War, 1917
ArchiviaNet Description | Previous Page


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29 goals in 41 games and greater than a point-per-game pace gets Steven Stamkos an All-Star game selection.
It's lonely at the bottom, as teh Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes do battle at Times palace.
Vote early, vote often - the NHL opened up the voting at midnight and here's your link to get started. The Tampa Bay Lightning have three players up for consideration this year: Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis, and Steven Stamkos. Of course, there's also a write-in section where you could add Marc-Andre Bergeron as well. We'll have more on this later in the week, but for now...get voting!
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The Clinton Herald
---- — CHADWICK, Ill. — William "Beef" Daehler, 49, of Chadwick, died Wednesday at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.
A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chadwick, with Pastor Chris Schoon officiating. Burial will take place at the Chadwick Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m., prior to the service at the church.
Death date: April 17, 2013


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George W. Bush's first ranking: 36th of 42
by Beltway Dem, Sun Feb 15, 2009 at 06:23:23 AM EST
C-Span invited 65 historians and observers of the presidency to rank the presidents of the United States. Perennial greatest president of all time, Abraham Lincoln, continues to hold first place in their estimation. Franklin Roosevelt and George Washington always seem to vie for second place, and while Roosevelt held the number two spot in 2000, he has exchanged places with Washington in this year's survey: Washington now is number two.
Here are the ranking of the presidents; note the position of the Prince Jackass, whom I have placed in bold; a little more on the Moron-in-Chief's contribution after the list:
1. Abraham Lincoln
- George Washington
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Theodore Roosevelt
- Harry S. Truman
- John F. Kennedy
- Thomas Jefferson
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
- Woodrow Wilson
- Ronald Reagan
- Lyndon B. Johnson
- James K. Polk
- Andrew Jackson
- James Monroe
- Bill Clinton (Clinton and Monroe are tied in the list)
- William McKinley
- John Adams
- George H. W. Bush
- John Quincy Adams
- James Madison
- Grover Cleveland
- Gerald R. Ford
- Ulysses S. Grant
- William Howard Taft
- Jimmy Carter
- Calvin Coolidge
- Richard M. Nixon
- James A. Garfield
- Zachary Taylor
- Benjamin Harrison
- Martin Van Buren
- Chester A. Arthur
- Rutherford B. Hayes
- Herbert Hoover
- John Tyler
- George W. Bush
- Millard Fillmore
- Warren G. Harding
- William Henry Harrison
- Franklin D. Pierce
- Andrew Johnson
- James Buchanan
Note that only one president of the 20th century, Warren Harding, ranked below George W. Bush. Even Herbert Hoover outpaced the Prince Jackass. From that perspective, it is at least conceivable that a survey of historians at the beginning of the 22nd century well might rank George W. Bush as the 21st century's worst president. And of course, the magnitude of Bush's failure has yet to be measured. If we never recover from the catastrophe that engulfs us, Bush surely will rival James Buchanan for the bottom rung of the ladder.
Specific areas of Bush's incompetence in the survey included:
Public persuasion: 36th out of 42
Crisis management: 25th out of 42 (just below John Quincy Adams)
Economic management: 40th out of 42 (just one ahead of Herbert Hoover)
Moral authority: 35th out of 42 (he edges out Millard Fillmore)
International relations: 41st out of 42 (Poor William Henry Harrison, who lived just a month, is the only one below W.)
Administrative abilities: 37th out of 42 (sandwiched between Grant and Buchanan)
Congressional relations: 36th out of 42 (edges Richard Nixon)
Vision: 25th out of 42 (the luminous visionary Zachary Taylor just barely outpaces him)
Pursued equal justice for all: 24 out of 42 (tied with Grover Cleveland)
Performance within context of times: 36 out of 42 (Fillmore barely beats him)
Tags: George W. Bush (all tags)


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New to Keeper of the Home? Allow me to show you around a little!
First of all, learn a little bit about me, and the other fabulous writers who contribute here.
Read about my time blogging for Compassion International in the Philippines.
Or find some tasty whole food recipes that I've shared.
Check out my two books, both available in ebook and paperback:
Healthy Homemaking: One Step at a Time
Real Food on a Real Budget: How to Eat Healthy for Less
Read through one of our most popular posts:
- My Simple Cast Iron Care Routine
- Cutting Down on Sugar: 21 Ways to Eat Less Sugar
- A Tour of Our Family Closet (Video Blog)
- The Soy Decoy: Don't Be Deceived
- The Thoughtful Parent's Guide to Thinking Through Vaccinations
- Preserving Summer's Bounty: Recipes and Tutorials to Keep You Busy Until Thanksgiving
- Cold Kicker Remedy: A Tried and True Recipe
- Boost Your Immune System for the Coming Cold Season Using Real Foods
- Creating a Homemaking Binder
- Homemade Cough and Cold Syrup
Or a series of posts:
Traditional Foods (raw milk, old-fashioned fats, meat, fish, fermented foods– the things that have kept people healthy throughout history!)
Gardening 101 (turnings seeds into food on your plates!)
Natural Home Remedies and Illness Prevention
Real Food Family Makeovers (4 regular families share their struggles and get a real food "makeover")
Organization in the Real Food Kitchen
A Month of Routines (a collection of various routines and thoughts on bringing more order to the home– for mealtimes, when Mom's feeling worn out, in the kitchen, etc.)


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Herramientas de servicio
Selección de idiomas
Recorrido de navegación
The Seniorforce Day in Estonia took place on October 5 at the Senior Festival in Tallinn, a two-day event which this year received more than 3,400 visitors. The festival was inaugurated by the Minister of Social Affairs, Hanno Pevkur, who invited citizens to "enjoy this great venture, which is also a part of active ageing".
At the opening ceremony in the Salme Cultural Centre, Eha Topolev, from the Inkotuba NGO, handed the "Years full of brilliance and dignity" awards to outstanding ageing-related projects and elderly citizens from all over Estonia. The competition aims to highlight and recognize those activities and initiatives that have changed the lives of the elderly and make them brighter, and Ms Topolev highlighted during the awards ceremony the importance of senior volunteering in order to make many of these projects become a reality.
Many other activities took place during the weekend at the festival, all of them focused on what seniors can do on a daily basis to enhance their well-being.
The Seniorforce Day, an event promoted by the European Commission in the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations to encourage senior volunteering, was also celebrated on Friday October 5 in The Netherlands, with a series of activities in the city of Haarlem.
The Schalkweide old people's home in Haarlem hosted the first activity, which involved a meeting of 31 local senior volunteers who received a list of wishes from other elderly citizens, such as trips to the beach, visits to the theatre and music performances. The local senior volunteers will help to make these wishes come true.
The Seniorforce Day also included the visit of volunteers to the Boerhaave Verpleeghuis care centre, where there was also a cheerful piano concert for a group of old citizens who suffer from physical disabilities. A gardening session then continued with the presence of Jack Van der Hoek, Vice Mayor of Haarlem, who stressed the importance of volunteering as a way to help the elderly, but also as a way to keep them more active. The Municipality, for instance, funds the local volunteering association Buuv, which encourages locals to share their skills and knowledge with their fellow citizens.
Other activities included in the programme were a bridal fashion show involving several generations of women and a folk performance by a group of elderly. The Day concluded with a Spanish tapas lunch where all the local volunteers and organisers were thanked for their contribution towards the community


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Mom does so much for us year-round, so it's only proper she receives a top-notch gift this holiday season. As you look for holiday gift guides, below are some great gifts that are useful, fun and beautiful for busy, tech-savvy moms:
- HMDX Jam – Pump up the volume with this mini, Bluetooth speaker that's powerful enough to fill a midsize room and small enough to fit in a convenient, scented jar that will remind you of, well, jam. $49.99
- Fitbit Ultra Wireless Activity and Sleep Tracker – Give mom that extra incentive to run around all day. Small enough to wear on your everyday clothing, the Fitbit Ultra tracks your activity level – including calories burned, distance traveled and stairs climbed – and is further proof all the little things add up. $74.25
- ZAGGfolio Keyboard – Doubling as a case and external keyboard, turn your iPad into a mini computer. The ZAGGfolio comes in an array of stylish colors as well, prefect for any hip mom on the go. $79.99
- Nokia Universal 2200 mAh Backup Battery – For the mom always on the run, charge your phone on the go with Nokia's Backup Battery. Barely larger than a tube of lipstick, mom will have no trouble staying charged throughout the day. $35
- Pantech Element – The first "lifeproof" tablet on the market – great for families with small children and toddlers – the Pantech element is fast, portable and waterproof. $399
- Samsung Galaxy Camera – Enjoy the quality of a digital camera with the benefits of a smartphone. The Samsung Galaxy Camera features a killer optical zoom lens to take incredible pictures, which can be shared instantly, thanks to the apps.


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By Meena Krishnamsetty and Matt Doiron
There are a couple of different ways to use filings from hedge funds and other notable investors to earn profits in the market. First, we have developed multiple investment strategies to capitalize on 13F filings, which are made several weeks after the end of a quarter. For example, imitating the most popular small cap picks among hedge funds (as listed in our August newsletter) delivered an excess return of more than 16% between September and January (read more about our hedge fund strategies) . Second, it can be useful to see what stocks these investment managers like and treat them as suggestions — much like the results of a stock screen. Investors can take a quick look at their picks and decide whether or not they're worthy of further analysis. We have gone through recent 13D and 13G filings (which disclose large positions, or changes to large positions, relatively recently after they occur) from our database of notable investors and here is our quick take on five stocks that hedge funds have bought recently:
Billionaire Steve Cohen's SAC Capital Advisors has disclosed that it owns 6.3 million shares of Starz /quotes/zigman/13671225/delayed/quotes/nls/strza STRZA +0.24% , which represents nearly 6% of the total shares outstanding. See more of Cohen's stock picks . The company's premium subscription TV channels include Starz and Encore. Some commentators have suggested that the newly independent Starz will be an attractive acquisition target; peers HBO and Showtime are owned by Time Warner Inc /quotes/zigman/528906/delayed/quotes/nls/twx TWX +0.76% and CBS /quotes/zigman/393390/delayed/quotes/nls/cbs CBS +0.40% , respectively. The current market price represents a multiple of 9 to analyst earnings consensus for 2013. Gates Capital Management recently reported a large position in Starz as well.
Iridian Asset Management, a fund which is co-managed by David Cohen and Harold Levy, has continued adding to its position in specialty chemicals company W.R. Grace /quotes/zigman/213211/delayed/quotes/nls/gra GRA -1.77% , whose primary products are catalysts used to produce transportation fuels. The current stake of 4.5 million shares- a 67% increase from the end of September, which in turn represented significant buying in Q3- should make the stock one of Iridian's top holdings. Find more of Iridian's favorite stocks . W.R. Grace reported lower sales and net income in the third quarter of 2012 than a year earlier, and the stock currently trades at 21 times trailing earnings. We don't think that it is a good buy right now.
Iridian has also reported that it added shares of Dresser-Rand Group /quotes/zigman/378706/delayed/quotes/nls/drc DRC -1.40% , a $4.6 billion market cap manufacturer of equipment and machinery whose products are also used in the energy business. The fund now owns 4.6 million shares of that stock, or 6.1% of the company. While business has been about flat over the last year, the financial community is predicting strong growth for Dresser-Rand: the trailing P/E is 28, but the earnings multiple based on estimates for 2013 is only 17 and the five-year PEG ratio is 0.7. We would be interested in learning more about the company.
Columbus Circle Investors, an asset manager with $17 billion under management including about $1 billion in its hedge funds, owns 1.3 million shares of business software company Procera Networks /quotes/zigman/7956698/delayed/quotes/nls/pkt PKT +4.82% . Check out Columbus Circle's stock picks . Procera's market cap of about $330 million (on average, over 300,000 shares are traded per day) places it at 31 times consensus earnings for 2013, but the company has been reporting strong growth on both top and bottom lines (sales and earnings were each up about 30% in its most recent quarterly report compared with the same period in 2011) and it has over $100 million in cash on its balance sheet.
Chatham Lodging Trust /quotes/zigman/1541765/delayed/quotes/nls/cldt CLDT +0.42% , a real estate investment trust which invests in hotels and motels, had Parag Vora's HG Vora Capital Management report a 7% stake in the company (or 1.3 million shares). Chatham has a market capitalization of about $220 million, with an average of about 110,000 shares traded per day and a current market price of over $15.50; this should give it sufficient dollar volume for most investors. As an REIT it tends to pay high dividend yields, and appears to currently be making quarterly payments of 20 cents per share. That would imply a dividend yield of just over 5%. Real estate investment trusts receive favorable tax treatment conditional on distributing a large portion of their income to shareholders.
Click here to learn more about the Insider Monkey's Hedge Fund Newsletter .
Insider Monkey's small-cap strategy returned 23.9% between September 2012 and January 2013 versus 7.4% for the S&P 500 index. Try it now by clicking the link above.


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By Richard Gaines
Staff Writer
---- — Gloucester did not open — or plan to open — an emergency shelter for the weekend blizzard.
But the policy was noted in advance of the storm, and was due to three factors, Leonard Campanello, the city's police chief and emergency management director, and Mayor Carolyn Kirk said Monday.
Those were the lack of a facility with the required services — space, heat, water, and food services — the nature of the storm, and advice from the state emergency managers,
But while Kirk Monday defended the decision to not establish a shelter, two city councilors — Greg Verga and Bruce Tobey — argued that had the Fuller School been maintained it would have been a resource option of value in the blizzard.
"We ran a skeleton (Emergency Operations Center) out of Addison Gilbert Hospital," the mayor said in an email. "In our emergency planning meeting, we determined that point-to-point transportation was going to be one of the biggest challenges for this event. Fire Stations, the DPW (Department of Public Works), Police Department and hospital would remain clear no matter what. To have to maintain an additional location like Fuller was going to strain resources too far.
"Also, due to the (state) travel ban," Kirk said, "we ran with the strictest protocols for the EOC in that only authorized and trained personnel (Citizens Emergency Response Team volunteers) were given access, and under the condition that they had signed the city's waiver of liability, and that they would commit to stay for the duration of the event.
"Fuller is good for a hurricane-type event but not for a blizzard of this magnitude," the mayor added.
Rockport, which sustained heavy damage to homes and businesses on Bearskin Neck, opened an emergency shelter at Rockport High School in conjunction with the American Red Cross, and served 72 people, including about a dozen who stayed overnight Saturday to Sunday, according to the Rockport Police. But Gloucester officials indicated in their emergency preparation announcement on Friday that the city would not be opening an emergency shelter at Fuller School, which had served as a shelter in the past.
Campanello said the decision against establishing a shelter site for the blizzard was "a command decision." In a telephone interview, he said, "We have warming areas" as Kirk noted.
"We're just not set up to be a shelter," Campanello said. "Shelters have to be set up before the storm, it's good to plan out" the use of resources including staffing. It''s a pretty big operation. We just don't have a place (for a shelter at this time.)"
Campanello added that the Red Cross "is very well set up for these things."
"They had one in Newbury and Lynn (for the blizzard)," he noted, adding that the idea of planning for a shelter in Gloucester was "in discussion."
"Lynn and Newbury with the travel ban doesn't help anybody on Cape Ann," said Verga. "What is the best use for Fuller School? It has generator, it has everything It seems like a no-brainer, it's got the space, the central location, parking facilities, it's already (served as) the emergency response center.
"It's been allowed to go to seed," Verga added, "and nobody had anything to do with that but the administration.".
Tobey, the four-term former mayor and school committee member and current councilor-at-large, agreed.
"Fuller School has long served the community well as a shelter during times of emergency," said Tobey. "In my years as mayor (during the 1990s through 2001), we put it to frequent use during a range of events including 1991's Perfect Storm, numerous blizzards and other serious storm events, and fires.
"That the city's deliberate neglect of the building now renders it unfit for shelter use is yet another example of why we need to restore Fuller to full community use immediately," he added. "There should be no more talk of building a new elementary school until that occurs."
Kirk said the decision regarding a shelter at Fuller or anywhere was not reached in a vacuum.
"Sheltering was an issue we discussed at our emergency planning meeting on Thursday," the mayor said in an email. "It was agreed that our official policy is to follow state policy in this regard, and therefore for all sheltering we will rely on the Red Cross, and will provide transportation through CATA (Cape Ann Transportation Authority) in the instances where the Red Cross shelter is set up regionally."
In support of her decision, Kirk referred the Times to the Massachusetts Emergency Management System memo of last Thursday, which outlined care and shelter plans for municipalities, which said in part:
"(The American Red Cross) will not activate regional shelters prior to the storm as there is no anticipation for demand, and impact areas will not be defined until after the storm. ARC will have capability to activate regional shelters post-storm as needs and areas of impact are defined. If power outages become an issue in your community, we encourage communities to be prepared to open warming centers/personal care sites as the need arises. At this time, please identify potential locations and ensuring resources are in place.
"... If sheltering demand rises to a level of need, ARC will open regional shelters to support individuals in need of overnight accommodations. By reporting your sheltering needs, ARC can best identify a regional shelter location and capacity," MEMA's memo said.
Richard Gaines can be reached at 978-283-7000, x3464, or at email@example.com.


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Ice has been an indispensable commodity in the life of Idaho towns from their earliest days, especially in long, hot summers when it was needed most. Without ice there could have been no ice cream, and no cold beverages, even on the hottest days, and patrons of the Territory's many saloons could not have enjoyed an iced drink or a cold beer at any price.
In January 1865, a news item in the Idaho World of Idaho City tells us how a summer without ice was avoided: "Ice, Ice. Cunningham & Roberts are again filling their ice house, and will have an abundance for the ensuing season. Much obliged for past favors, and hope for a continuation of the same." (As was common at the time, editors took payment in kind rather than in cash for mentioning a product.)
An ice house was a heavily insulated building in which ice harvested from fresh water ponds in winter was packed in sawdust or straw until taken out as needed as the weather warmed. Harvesting the ice began when it was 6 to 8 inches thick and strong enough to bear the weight of men with ice saws 5 or 6 feet in length. They cut it into chunks of manageable size and pushed it around with long spiked poles, similar to those used by loggers on river drives. The blocks were then lifted out of the water and hauled to an ice house.
John Lemp, German-born Boise brewer, ran this advertisement in the Idaho Tri-weekly Statesman starting on May 20, 1869, and continuing through the summer months: "GOOD SOLID ICE, Having put up an excellent article of ice last winter, I am now ready to supply customers on short notice and reasonable terms. Orders left at the Boise Brewery Saloon opposite the Overland Hotel or at Boise Brewery, upper end of Main Street will be promptly attended to." Lemp ran a similar ad every summer thereafter for several years.
The Statesman informed its readers regularly on the state of the ice trade, as it did on July 20, 1872: "It takes three ice wagons to keep Boise City supplied with ice." Ice boxes were standard equipment in family kitchens well into the 20th century, as many readers will remember. A tray under the box collected the water as the block in the ice compartment melted. If not emptied daily, it could overflow onto the kitchen floor, doing some damage and fraying the nerves of the owner.
Before electric refrigerators replaced ice boxes, the ice man made the rounds of residential areas driving a horse-drawn wagon or a truck. Householders displayed a card in a window facing the street, its orientation telling the ice man the size of block wanted, typically 25 or 50 pounds. He then cut the desired-size piece from a larger one with an ice pick, hoisted it with big tongs to his leather-padded shoulder and delivered it to the house. Neighborhood children took this opportunity to pick up any small chips on the floor of the vehicle and pop them into their mouths.
In 1890 the amount of ice harvested by Jan. 10 was estimated to be more than 2,000 tons, and more was still being packed into the ice houses. By 1893 the demand for ice had exceeded the supply, as more of it was used to ice railroad cars carrying Boise Valley fruit to Butte, Mont., and Denver.
Arthur Hart writes this column on Idaho history for the Idaho Statesman each Sunday. Email firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Some people use a merchant cash advance instead of a business loan because they are a fast way to get their business funded. Others use them because they are having a difficult time getting a bank loan.
They may have been turned down for any number of reasons; bad credit, the type of business they own or a lack of collateral. Frankly, the banks are turning down almost everyone regardless of how good their credit is.
This refusal to lend money has put a tremendous burden on small business owners who used to rely on short-term loans on a regular basis to keep their business running smoothly. In fact; many business have been forced to close their doors forever because they no longer had access to working capital.
For those of you who trying to get a business loan with bad credit;
The bad news is that it is almost impossible to get a loan with bad credit. When I say almost impossible, I really mean it. Luckily, there is another option out there that does not involve going through a bank and does not require you to have good credit. That option is a merchant cash advance.
A merchant cash advance (or merchant loan) makes it possible for any business, regardless of their credit history to get funding. Not only that; a merchant loan is the fastest way to get money, usually taking only a fraction of the time it takes the bank.
Some businesses get turned down because they lack sufficient collateral. That is not the case with a merchant cash advance. They never require you to risk your personal assets under any circumstances.


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Product Recall: Voluntary recall of 260 cases of Velveeta Original Pasteurized Recipe Cheese Products. Click Here.
18 SKUs of Knudsen Cottage Cheese, 9 SKUs of Breakstone's Cottage Cheese, 5 SKUs of Simply Kraft Cottage Cheese and 2 SKUs of Daily Chef Cottage Cheese. Click Here.
MICROWAVE chocolate in medium microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 min. or until melted. Cool 1 min.
ADD whipped topping; stir with wire whisk until well blended.
REFRIGERATE at least 5 min. Garnish with fresh berries and mint leaves, if desired.


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Vacationers can resort to Starwood Vacation Ownership for a little rest and relaxation. The company operates about 15 time-share properties in the US, the Bahamas, and Mexico. Its resorts are located in prime vacation destination areas, such as central Florida, Colorado, and Hawaii, offering various activities for upscale travelers. Owners pay for a share of their unit with other owners and have use of the resort for certain intervals. They can also exchange their intervals for time at other resorts. Most of its properties are branded under the Sheraton and Westin brands. Starwood Vacation Ownership is a subsidiary of Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Starwood acquired the company (then known as Vistana) in 1999.
8800 Vistana Centre Dr
Orlando, FL 32821-6353
Phone: 1 (407) 239-3100


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Is Japan Now a Good Bet?
The Japanese economy is expected to rebound sharply in the second half of 2011 and 2012.
Earlier this year images from the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan captured the world's attention. The destruction caused by the tsunami badly damaged a nuclear power plant, and parts of Japan have been suffering from intermittent blackouts ever since. That damage also took its toll on economic growth. In the first quarter of 2011, the Japanese economy shrunk by 3.5 percent. Projections for the second quarter also call for further contraction, but experts are expecting a sharp pickup in growth in the second half of the year and in 2012 as the country rebuilds.
"We're forecasting a very V-shaped recovery in Japan," says Paul Sheard, global chief economist and head of economic research at Nomura Securities in New York. "It's pretty much a done deal that Japan is going to have a short to medium term strong bounce in growth. ... The longer term question is, 'Will this bounce in Japan prove to be the catalyst to put the Japanese economy on a much better growth path?'"
[In Pictures: 6 Numbers Every Investor Should Follow.]
The disaster triggered an immediate selloff in Japanese stock markets. The Tokyo Stock Price Index (TOPIX) fell almost 20 percent in the days following the tsunami. During periods of extreme uncertainty, investors generally overreact and sell—and this time was no different. "In the panic after the earthquake and the tsunami, it wasn't clear exactly who was most impacted, so investors just headed for the hills and sold pretty indiscriminately," says Martin Jansen, head of international equities at ING Investment Management in New York. "They basically dumped everything and ran for the hills."
Year-to-date, the TOPIX is still in the red, but after the initial selloff, it has actually outperformed the broader indexes in the United States and Europe. Since March 18—exactly a week after the devastating tsunami—the TOPIX is up about 1 percent. Meanwhile, the Bloomberg European 500 Index (a broad measure of European stocks) is down almost 5 percent, and the S&P 500 Index has also lost about 1 percent. That's in part due to the strength of the yen this year. It has gained 5 percent against the dollar and about 7 percent against the struggling euro in the past month as European nations remain mired in a sovereign debt crisis.
[See Is Germany the New Safe Haven?]
The appreciation of the yen has caught the attention of Japanese leaders. On Thursday and Friday, the Bank of Japan meets, and Sheard says he expects the central bank to pursue more monetary easing, similar to what the Federal Reserve has done in the United States through its two quantitative easing programs, in which it would buy up securities to help push the yen lower. "What Japan really needs is a weaker yen, not a stronger yen," Sheard says. Many of Japan's largest and most successful companies depend on exports (think Honda and Toyota), and a stronger currency makes their goods more expensive abroad, which cuts into the companies' profits.
So what's an investor to make of all this? Japanese stocks remain cheap, says Audrey Kaplan, comanager of the Federated InterContinental Fund (symbol RIMAX). Currently, Kaplan has about 15 percent of the fund's overall portfolio invested in Japanese stocks. "We went to that 15 percent weight [in Japan] right after the earthquake," Kaplan says. "Obviously it was a catastrophe, but in terms of stock markets those are usually very good buying opportunities for long-term investors. In our portfolios, we're thinking a minimum of three to five years forward, and that was a good opportunity to add weight to an attractive part of the world."
[See What a Ratings Downgrade Would Mean for Investors.]
Kaplan believes Japanese stocks are attractive compared to other parts of the world. For instance, one valuation metric she uses is the price-to-cash-flow ratio. Stocks in Japan are trading about 6 times their cash flow, and in the U.S. it's closer to 9 times. Using that measure, Japanese stocks are trading at a discount of 30 percent versus U.S. ones. One stock in particular that Kaplan likes is global auto-parts supplier Sumitomo Electric Industries. "We're particularly looking for Japanese stocks that are positioned for growth throughout the rest of Asia," she says.