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And President Roosevelt actually repealed the Estate Tax in 1902. When it was reintroduced, after he left office, the exemption level was some 3,500 times the average income and the top tax rate was no more than 25% during his lifetime. (25% was considered quite high for the time, but the demands of the Great War made it necessary.)
An online journal about visual art, the urban landscape and design. Mary Louise Schumacher, the Journal Sentinel's art and architecture critic, leads the discussion and a community of writers contribute to the dialogue.
Why we need funding for the arts
When news broke that the already tiny Wisconsin Arts Board budget would be cut by 66%, a regular reader cautioned against too much lamenting. It would be insulting to think that creativity couldn't survive without public funding, he commented.
"Funding or not, art will find a way," he wrote on my Facebook wall.
And he's absolutely right. Art will go on and artists will continue to create. In truth, I'm not all that worried about artists.
It's the rest of us I'm worried about.
Can you think of any great nation or civilization that did not support the arts in some way? Did we miss the message when we watched young men and women in Cairo link their arms and risk their lives to protect the National Museum earlier this year?
Cultural heritage matters.
Slashing away at what was already budgetary pixie dust -- no more than .013% of the overall pie -- sends the message that art is an unimportant frill in Wisconsin.
Folding the once independent arts board into the Department of Tourism, signals that the arts are something to package and promote, not something to seek out and cultivate, as the Wisconsin Arts Board has done faithfully since 1973.
Sending more than half the staff packing to create "efficiencies" with Tourism, means the loss of years of expertise, the loss of individuals who know how to support cultural attractions that in turn build local economies.
The arts board is the only agency that supports our state's cultural infrastructure -- the theater companies, after-school art programs, dance companies, museums and heritage sites that are as essential as roads when it comes to building communities. Those are the things that attract companies, talented workers and tourists.
About a decade ago, the arts board provided seed money and expertise that made the creation of the Milwaukee Artists Resource Network possible. That group is today financially self sufficient and an essential organization for the professional development of local artists. In fact, a similar group is being created now in Racine, again with the arts board's invaluable guidance.
The arts board has also provided critical funding for organizations such as Big Top Chautauqua, a music venue near Bayfield, a rural area near the tip of our state that doesn't attract a lot of corporate sponsorship. The concerts there, in turn, attract tourist dollars to that community, said George Tzougros, executive director of the arts board.
The group also funds what some might consider risky material that might not otherwise get funding, such as a production of "The Laramie Project" a play about the real-life torture and murder of a gay teen, which was staged by the "Theater in the Woods," a small North Woods theater company in Shell Lake a few years ago, Tzougros added.
Tens of thousands of dollars are specifically allocated to arts groups that provide programming for underserved children of color, such as the African American Children's Theatre, Ko Thi Dance Company and Latino Arts Inc., all in Milwaukee.
"That isn't just arts related," Tzougros said. "They are making sure these kids are doing well in school and getting to and from rehearsals...That money is gone."
A new program to place art in under utilized buildings in struggling downtowns throughout the state, to draw attention to development opportunities, will likely be eliminated, Tzougros said.
What's worse is that many of these programs attract additional private donations expressly because they had the imprimatur of the state and went through a rigorous approval process. And some communities that matched arts board funds stand to lose both state and local funding.
Gov. Scott Walker's initial proposal to cut 73% of the arts board budget, bring to an end the more than 30-year-old Percent-for-Art public art program and eliminate the board's status as an independent agency, was not about shared sacrifice. It was not about everyone taking on some measure of necessary pain given the state's fiscal woes.
The arts board itself conceded that cuts were called for, but very few programs, if any, were targeted for such deep cuts, said Anne Katz, of Arts Wisconsin, a statewide arts advocacy group. And while there was bi-partisan support for restoring some funding and maintaining the arts board's ability to hire and fire its executive director, the arts board has been fundamentally altered.
If ultimately approved by the Legislature and signed by Walker, Wisconsin stands to be 47th in the nation in per capita spending on the arts, tied with Michigan, Tzougros said. Overall funding for the arts would drop from $1.6 million to $535,000 a year.
Our state may spend as little as 14 cents a year for each one of us, depending on the level of federal funds we get. Seriously, what can you buy for 14 cents? A cough drop? Consider that our neighbor to the west, Minnesota, spends $5.69 per person on the arts.
"It's an all out attack on the arts and it says that art is somehow elitist -- and nothing could be further from the truth," said Alderman Michael Murphy, who chairs the Milwaukee Arts Board.
As state Sen. Robert Jauch said during the Joint Finance Committee hearing Thursday, the only conclusion to reach is that the vote had "nothing to do with hard times" but rather a "philosophical disdain for the value of the arts."
Postscript: Milwaukee has always been a place where individuals and small arts groups were able to make things happen on their own. Saturday night marks the first MK-Eat, a quarterly dinner, with locally sourced foods, where people gather to pool small donations and fund a promising art project. This might be a nice antidote to this week's news. If I can be there myself, I will. More details here, at bottom of post.
Tags: Wisconsin Arts Board : Arts Wisconsin; Anne Katz; George Tzougros
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citizen, Carnegie was also a fierce opponent of the income tax. Is that a part of your plan as well? (That's VERY Republican!)
And President Roosevelt actually repealed the Estate Tax in 1902. When it was reintroduced, after he left office, the exemption level was some 3,500 times the average income and the top tax rate was no more than 25% during his lifetime. (25% was considered quite high for the time, but the demands of the Great War made it necessary.)
"Today, the Repubs have shifted course. Like feudal lords, have decided the super rich should keep their wealth beyond the grave and pass it on to children who can live an idle life of luxury."
First, it's NOT YOUR MONEY. Who do you think you are to believe you're entitled to tell anyone to what or who they can leave their estate to? If you want to make those decisions, try making your own fortune. This leads to secondly, if you want your estate confiscated, hijacked and stolen by government so as to not go to your heirs, then bequeath it to the IRS in YOUR OWN WILL.
Responding to the last two comments, my chief point is that I think arts funding should be public (democratized). Connected to that was my point about the "robber barons." Some commented that arts could be funded by "Carnegie" types, to which I merely pointed out that many of the top robber barons were against the passing of wealth down to family, in the interests of both society and morally. They had a more sophisticated understanding of wealth. They were all for its creation, and totally against allowing their scions to become mere rentiers...
...on TR and the tax issue, I will let his own words speak for him: "We grudge no man a fortune in civil life if it is honorably obtained and well used..." "It is not even enough that it should have been gained without doing damage to the community. We should permit it to be gained only so long as the gaining represents benefit to the community.... The really big fortune, the swollen fortune, by the mere fact of its size, acquires qualities which differentiate it in kind as well as in degree from what is possessed by men of relatively small means. Therefore, I believe in a graduated income tax on big fortunes, and … a graduated inheritance tax on big fortunes, properly safeguarded against evasion, and increasing rapidly in amount with the size of the estate."
Commenting further on the same. What Teddy Roosevel and many robber barons (and I guess their contemporaries like Warren Buffett) understood was that big fortunes have a different character. They were typically made by organizing (buying) the state to deliver legislation granting public subsidy or monopoly rights of some sort. Indeed, a great fortune, due to true competition, would otherwise not be possible. Therefore, given the manner in which great fortunes were acquired, and the likelihood that they would not be productively employed by those inheriting them, that they should be returned to society from which they arose (labor, institutions, infrastructure, etc., which all made them possible) through either creating foundation for this purpose, e.g., Rockefeller and Carnegie Foundations and/or through inheritance taxes.
In short, the "robber barons" were both more enlightened, smarter, ethical, and sophisticated than today's shallow, greedy, ego, narcissists who often control capital today (some having "earned" it, others not)...
citizen, democratized? I'm afraid to ask what that actually means.
As for President Roosevelt, I admire much about him. Onme must face the facts about his efforts toward reforming tax legislation. He was one who talked far more than he did.
Also, it's nice of you to try to "humanize" the Robber Barons, but I just don't think the majority of them were very pleasant in the least.
"In short, the "robber barons" were both more enlightened, smarter, ethical, and sophisticated than today's shallow, greedy, ego, narcissists who often control capital today (some having "earned" it, others not)..."
Considering there was NO INCOME TAX until 1914 and the MAX rate was 6%, it was pretty easy to be "enlightened, sophisticated, and charitable". I'd be willing to bet if these same folks lived today and had to put up with all the taxes, they wouldn't be so generous....
LG, the first federal income tax was signed into law by a hero of mine, Republican President Lincoln.
@LGRepub "Considering there was NO INCOME TAX until 1914 and the MAX rate was 6%"
And, by 1917 the top rate was 67% (roughly twice today's), because unlike today's greedy Repubs, in the past the US paid for wars out of taxation as much as possible, rather than cut taxes for the rich and throwing the cost onto future generations.
I pay my taxes and you should too. Man up and pay up!
@ letstrytobe polite "Also, it's nice of you to try to "humanize" the Robber Barons, but I just don't think the majority of them were very pleasant in the least."
They were a tough unpleasant bunch, but had the virtue of being real wealth creators (rather than merely speculators and rent-seekers like many today masquerading as "investors"). They also understood the nature of real wealth creation and were honest about it.


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Re: aim bots?casperthegamer Feb 7, 2012 7:49 AM (in response to blkbumblebee17)
There are places where people can easily get these hacks. It just is tricky to get it working. The devs try to patch it up, but the advanced hacks have updates.
Re: aim bots?blkbumblebee17 Feb 7, 2012 7:55 AM (in response to casperthegamer)
thats wonderful i cant believe instead of using there hacking talents for something meaningful they decide to screw up peoples games... even worse what idiot really needs to cheat at c.o.d. and goes tru the trouble of installing software just to get ahead
Re: aim bots?Goresh14 Feb 7, 2012 8:00 AM (in response to blkbumblebee17)
I too have seen this type of targeting, luckily its not wide spread and just isolated to afew pathetic few.
Re: aim bots?iib Feb 7, 2012 8:00 AM (in response to blkbumblebee17)
samething happend to me but i got shot through a dang building , can you say wall hack ?
Re: aim bots?Kisser Feb 7, 2012 1:54 PM (in response to blkbumblebee17)
i highly doubt it was a aimbot/wall hack, I don't think those are easy things to have on ps3. I snipe ppl threw walls and the tarp fences all the time and i don't have no hacks or n e thing so im sure a lot of ppl do the same
Re: aim bots?X-Claws Feb 7, 2012 2:00 PM (in response to Kisser)
I encountered 3 of them a while back in a domination game, surprisingly I won like half the gun fights against them and my team won the game! They weren't going or flags just shooting everyone to walls and stuff.
Re: aim bots?Kisser Feb 7, 2012 2:30 PM (in response to X-Claws)
see i dont think thats a aimbot go on youtube look at the aimbot vids, u wouldn't make it n e where near them with out being caught with a head shot let alone beat one in a gun fight, i guess if u came up behind one mayb i dont really know how they work but on the vids they seem unbeatable ,im sure the dude using it would only care about a kd and im sure they wouldnt cap any flags or care about a win
Re: aim bots?davidlsofferman Feb 7, 2012 2:36 PM (in response to blkbumblebee17)
If it doesn't look like anything like this then it isn't a aimbot.
Re: aim bots?Badkat907 Feb 7, 2012 10:15 PM (in response to davidlsofferman)
Kill cam and theater replays wouldnt show the aimbot. I'm sure IW is aware of the problem. There are plenty of You Tube videos and other resources that show there are indeed Aimbots for this game on the PS3. The real question is, what are they doing about it?
There are way too many ppl using aimbots now. Please find a way to prevent these cheaters from using these hacks before this game turns into the MW2 Hack fest that it became.
We are a few months into this game, and it is already has had way too many problems.Between the uncontrolable lag, the glitches and the hackers....this game has quickly turned into an un-playable online mutiplayer game. Don't even get me started on the latest patch. There's more than enough complaints about that.
Re: aim bots?Snipingdbag Feb 8, 2012 7:42 AM (in response to blkbumblebee17)
Hackers and modded controller douches make good players look bad (as in getting called a cheater after a great wallbang interception for instance or doing good with the mk14). They ruin the series, mw2 for instance was already a retard friendly game to dc pro infinite tubes and commando, now it has gone full retard with these talentless hackers / boosters running free, how can it even be fun when you're doing next to nothing yourself. Fckin morons.
Re: aim bots?Kisser Feb 8, 2012 1:18 AM (in response to Snipingdbag)
^so right, this morning i got called a "hacker" cuz some kids thought i had a wall hack/aimbot and just looking at the lobby leader boards in tdm my kd was almost double his and im like really i have to be cheating because im better then you?
Re: aim bots?nickzombie Feb 7, 2012 10:25 PM (in response to blkbumblebee17)
Probably just aim assist locking.
Like davidsofferman posted, aimbots make you get all headshots and the player will magically spin 180 degrees with perfect aim.
Re: aim bots?Badkat907 Feb 7, 2012 11:15 PM (in response to nickzombie)
nickzombie wrote:
Probably just aim assist locking.
Like davidsofferman posted, aimbots make you get all headshots and the player will magically spin 180 degrees with perfect aim.
Its happening. It has been happening. Just needs to stop. Makes the game very un-enjoyable. Like I said, I'm sure they are aware of the problem, just hope there is a solution. Cheating players and hackers have caused this problem, not IW or Activision. I do expect IW to handle the situation though. You would hardly ever hear a complaint and gamers would keep playing if everything is handled quickly. Ignore the situation, and watch fewer and fewer players log on. Just a consumer stating my opinion.
Re: aim bots?polisboy22 Feb 7, 2012 10:36 PM (in response to blkbumblebee17)
Well in all honesty they have aim bots that make the player look like a good player, but not god. Its more or less like a heavy aim assist. BUT that video is off of pc and i do not think there are many if Any hacks on ps3 or xbox. So we will see. But i have noticed that marksman is like a wall hack lol. I have seen names through so many walls its not even funny.


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The Underestimated Costs, and Price Tag, of the Iraq War
U.S. News estimated the war's cost before it started, and missed badly.
The Iraq War, by most accounts, has not aged well. In the 10 years since the conflict began, public opinion on it has soured, and the country remains damaged and corrupt. The casualties total in the tens of thousands, and weapons of mass destruction were never found.
[RELATED: 6 Predictions From Before the Iraq War]
Aside from these facts, there are more dispassionate numbers that tell a story of Iraq: budget figures.
As U.S. News' James Pethokoukis and Matthew Benjamin document below, lawmakers vastly underestimated the conflict's price tag.
"[Congressional Budget Office] estimates a price tag of $14 billion for the war itself and $8 billion to $10 billion a month, for an unspecified period, after hostilities cease," Pethokoukis and Benjamin wrote in 2003.
The Bush administration estimated the war would cost $50 to $60 billion, including the costs of reconstruction and clean up. As of 2013, the Cost of War Project estimates the war has cost $1.7 trillion—nearly 30 times the pre-war estimate. That cost doesn't factor in future costs of veterans' care, which push the total to more than $2.1 trillion. The Veterans Administration spending related to Iraq—which totals $45 billion—is almost as much as the Bush administration's overall cost estimate.
Another number sticks out in the authors' budget-focused look at the upcoming war.
[READ: 10 Years Ago, the U.S. Invaded Iraq]
"(E)conomic conditions continue to deteriorate. The price of oil hit $37 a barrel earlier this month," they wrote.
Oil prices fluctuate and are attributable to many complex factors, but the current price of oil hovers around $92 a barrel, more than twice the 2003 price. For a war many have charged was at least partly about oil—something a former Bush speech writer even admitted Tuesday—the conflict has led to no lasting difference in U.S. oil imports from Iraq. In fact, if anything, it's a decrease now.
As Pethokoukis and Benjamin predicted, the Iraq War was indeed a "budget bog," muckier and more costly than even they feared.
The Budget Bog
By Matthew Benjamin; James M. Pethokoukis
Bush faces a second front—over the deficit
While all eyes are on the United Nations debate over whether to forcibly disarm Saddam Hussein, less noticed negotiations are taking place in Washington on an issue that may have an even larger effect on Americans than a conflict in Iraq.
It's the federal budget. To be sure, it's not a topic that excites the senses, or even one that most Americans think about daily or, indeed, ever. But the White House says its budget, now under discussion on Capitol Hill, could lift the economy out of its current funk and put hundreds of thousands back to work. Or, critics contend, it could cause irreparable damage in future decades and break the back of entitlement programs like Social Security just as waves of retiring baby boomers begin to depend on them.
Budget committees in both houses of Congress last week put forth their own blueprints that aligned closely with the Bush plan. Centered on massive tax cuts, the Bush budget, even while excluding war costs and other likely large obligations, would create $1.8 trillion in deficits over the next 10 years, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
[READ: What Happened Last Time We Had a Budget Sequester?]
Downhill. Adding extra hype to the stimulus-vs.-deficit battle, the economy has taken a turn for the worse since the Bush budget was proposed in early February. Economists point to the looming war as the main culprit. "The economy is on the verge of stalling," says Richard Berner, chief U.S. economist at Morgan Stanley. He has reduced his 2003 forecast for U.S. economic growth twice in the past month, to 2.0 percent from 2.5 percent. Additional downward revisions remain a possibility, and the words "double-dip recession" are once again on economists' lips.
Employment figures for February were downright awful, as the economy shed 308,000 jobs, the largest monthly loss since the September 2001 terrorist attacks. Confidence among consumers, whose spending has propped up the economy for the past two years, hit a nine-year low; last Friday's figures point to a further drop.
War jitters have taken their toll across the country. In Oregon City, Ore., Blue Heron Paper laid off 85 mill employees in February because of dramatically rising energy costs. Chief Executive Mike Siebers blames overreaction to the war threat. "It's time to either get the war over with or not have it," he says.
Those thrown out of work find few opportunities. "We are not hiring until we see the whites of their eyes," says Alex Oak, a CEO whose Indianapolis construction and engineering firm, Paul I. Cripe Inc., is being hurt by project delays arising from clients' own war fears. "A lot of this uncertainty is caused by the war," says Oak, "but if the war hits next week, maybe that will change."
Maybe. Until then, economic conditions continue to deteriorate. The price of oil hit $37 a barrel earlier this month (though it fell at week's end on speculation that a war would not further disrupt supplies), nearly twice its price in January 2002, the date of the president's renowned "axis of evil" speech, which some point to as the beginning of the march to Baghdad. The spike in oil prices has as much to do with war anxiety as with ordinary supply and demand, oil analysts say. High oil prices and war worries have not only slowed consumer spending—retail sales stumbled in February—but have also altered spending habits. While auto sales slumped last month, sales of smaller, fuel-efficient cars rose.
[PHOTOS: The 10th Anniversary of the Iraq War]
Surprising no one, the White House sees the recent economic malaise as reason to dig in, not back down. "After the unemployment numbers that just came out, the president is even more convinced of the need for a stimulus package," White House communications chief Dan Bartlett said recently.
To convince others of that need, the president has dispatched a fresh economic team—the old one was sacked for its lack of enthusiasm about tax cuts—to Capitol Hill. Treasury Secretary John Snow, still finding his way around Washington, last week said that his main job is to make the dividend tax cut "come alive" in the hearts and minds of skeptical members of Congress. He also took his case to the public, hitting the Today show and Good Morning America earlier this month. It's an odd assignment, given that the new team's members have in the past spoken out against either deficit spending or supply-side economics, the ideology underlying Bush's plan. Greg Mankiw, Bush's top economist, called supply-siders "cranks and charlatans" in early editions of his widely used economics textbook.
But the frail economy has also stiffened the backs of fiscal conservatives, who see deficits mounting into the many trillions over the next 10 years and beyond. Cutting taxes in time of war is an unprecedented and, to many, undesirable policy. "There are a lot of Republicans unwilling to pass a huge tax cut with troops in the field," says Robert Bixby of the antideficit Concord Coalition.
[DEBATE: 10 Years Later, Was the Iraq War Worth It?]
The cost of supporting those troops and rebuilding Iraq is anyone's guess. CBO estimates a price tag of $14 billion for the war itself and $8 billion to $10 billion a month, for an unspecified period, after hostilities cease. Those costs are not reflected in the president's budget—Snow called war costs "a one-time thing." Other, related costs are also omitted, including the cost of continuing operations in Afghanistan and compensating allies like Turkey and Israel, who are lining up with their hands out.
Nor does the budget include the revenue loss of reforming the alternative minimum tax, as much as $700 million over the next decade. "Put it all together, and you easily have $400 billion deficits until the baby boomers begin to push it up more," says Robert Reischauer, former CBO director and now president of the Urban Institute. And it doesn't help the president's cause that the stimulus plan debate is coinciding with the fight over raising the government's debt limit, which could prove embarrassing to many lawmakers.
Buddy system. Bush is probably thinking that Alan Greenspan could have been a tad more helpful, too. Last month the Federal Reserve chairman told Congress he saw no need for a stimulus, though he may have since rethought that. "Greenspan had to be sobered and shocked by the February employment numbers," says David Jones, author of Unlocking the Secrets of the Fed. Wall Street agrees, and suddenly there's buzz in the financial community about an interest rate cut when the Fed meets this week. Jones thinks Greenspan will wait to see how the war affects oil and stock prices. The Fed cut interest rates a half point in the middle of the first Gulf War, "and that's exactly what I think they'll do this time," says Jones.
Meanwhile, budget maneuvering continues on Capitol Hill. The House committee plan, which will very likely be approved by the entire House, grants the president everything he has asked for and balances itself by 2010. It accomplishes that by underestimating the future costs of many federal programs, a familiar sleight-of-hand technique. "We have a rich 20-year history of such low-balling," says Robert Greenstein of the liberal Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
The Senate will prove more difficult for Bush plan backers. There, a group of moderate Republicans may reject its budget committee's proposal and demand a smaller package of tax cuts. Two Republican senators, Olympia Snowe of Maine and George Voinovich of Ohio, signed a letter to Senate leaders saying they will vote against any tax cut larger than $350 billion, less than half the size of Bush's $726 billion plan. If the moderates prevail, that may be all that Bush gets. But even such a pared-down tax package could still result in massive future deficits and financial repercussions.
What's likely to happen? As with most other things these days, the war is the x factor. Bush's plan may prevail if an Iraq war goes well. "That would give the president a big boost in popularity and make it difficult for moderates to stand in his way," says Stan Collender, managing director of Fleishman-Hillard's federal budget consulting arm. A prolonged and messy conflict, however, "would embolden Senate moderates to kill the tax cuts altogether," Collender adds.
So it looks as if we'll have to wait until the shooting stops in Iraq to see who wins the budget battle.
More News:


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By Barbara Kollmeyer and Polya Lesova, MarketWatch
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) — U.S. stock futures turned marginally higher on Tuesday, as investors considered earnings reports, upbeat data on China's manufacturing and worries about Spain's debt troubles.
Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 7 points to 12,652 and those for the Standard & Poor's 500 index added less than a point to 1,344.2.
Nasdaq 100 futures rose 6.25 points to 2,585.5
"The market is going to take its cue from earnings and probably have a flat day ahead of the key report of the day, which is Apple," said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at Rockwell Global Capital.
Apple Inc. /quotes/zigman/68270/delayed/quotes/nls/aapl AAPL -0.65% is due to report quarterly results after the market close. Why Apple might jump after bumpy report
Spain: another European weak link
As ministers from Germany and Spain prepare to meet for crisis talks in Berlin on Tuesday, their countries' economic performances are diverging sharply. Dow Jones's Geoffrey Smith explains what to expect from the meeting.
"I think the market is going to try and catch its breath today," said Cardillo. "Yesterday was a good example of how the market seemed to bounce back and stay within a trading range, notwithstanding all the negative and daily news out of the euro zone."
The Dow Jones Industrial Average /quotes/zigman/627449/realtime DJIA -0.42% fell nearly 250 points during Monday's session, but pared its losses to finish 101.11 points, or 0.8%, lower at 12,721.46.
In economic news, U.S. manufacturing growth slowed to the lowest level in July since December 2010, according to the flash Markit manufacturing purchasing managers index released Tuesday.
Data on FHFA home prices for May are due at 10 a.m. Eastern time.
Spain's the focus
In the spotlight, Moody's Investors Service late Monday cut the outlook on Germany's triple-A rating to negative from stable.
In Spain, the IBEX 35 stock index /quotes/zigman/2759620/delayed XX:IBEX +0.20% sank 2.3% and the yield on the 10-year government bond /quotes/zigman/4869131/delayed ES:ES10YT +0.13% rose 8 basis points to 7.53%. Investors are worried that Spain may need a sovereign bailout.
Balancing the gloom, a preliminary reading of HSBC's China manufacturing purchasing managers' index for July was at its strongest level since February. China data
Ahead of the opening bell, AT&T Inc. /quotes/zigman/398198/delayed/quotes/nls/t T +2.64% posted net income of 66 cents for the second quarter and a slight rise in revenue. AT&T also said it would buy back $2.5 billion in stock.
Shares of DeVry Inc. /quotes/zigman/224420/delayed/quotes/nls/dv DV -0.55% plunged 31% in preopen trading after the provider of for-profit educational services issued a profit warning.
U.S.-listed shares of Baidu Inc. /quotes/zigman/97715/delayed/quotes/nls/bidu BIDU -2.57% rose 8% in preopen trading after the Chinese Internet-search giant reported a 70% rise in second-quarter profit, beating analyst estimates, as revenue jumped 60%.
U.S.-listed shares of Elan Corp. fell 14% in preopen trade after Pfizer Inc. /quotes/zigman/238207/delayed/quotes/nls/pfe PFE -1.23% said a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease failed in its study goals. Pfizer joined with Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy R&D LLC to develop the drug. Elan holds a 49.9% equity stake in Janssen.
In other trading, the euro /quotes/zigman/4867933/realtime/sampled EURUSD -0.0102% continued to lose ground against the dollar, dropping to $1.2084 versus $1.2133 late Monday.


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Stargazing is a commonality across the human experience, former NASA astronaut Mae Carol Jemison said to a room of skeptical Duke University science, technology, engineering and mathematics majors. The worlds first woman of color to complete a space flight was science mission specialist on the Endeavour crew.
Jemison was in Durham Oct. 25-26 for the Race in Space conference hosted by Dukes Department of African and African American Studies.
How many of you have ever thought of space exploration or being involved with space? she asked.
Incredibly, only one student affirmed that she had had a personal experience with stars or the night sky as a child: Jemison had been the subject of her third-grade science project.
One attendee, Liza Sukra, of Guianese descent, said she first learned about Jemison from her Girl Scout troop leader: I came here to meet a living legend. When Jemison told the group that the European Space Agency launched from French Guiana, the listeners were astonished.
A medical doctor who trained in chemical engineering and African and Afro-American studies at Stanford University, when few women and blacks were STEM majors, Jemison, now 57, was inspired by a fictional character, Lt. Nyota Uhura of Star Trek, played by Nichelle Nichols.
We have so many assumptions that keep us out of fields of inquiry, Jemison said, but space exploration is transdisciplinary. Her presentation chronicled the Unlikely Story of NASA and the Civil Rights Movement, two undertakings that took off starting in the late 1950s. President Lyndon Johnson saw NASA headquartered in the heart of the old Confederacy (Alabama, Florida and Texas) and the space program, which was governed by the Equal Opportunity mandate, as vehicles to transform the South.
Dukes William Darity Jr., Arts & Sciences professor of public policy and professor of African and African-American studies and economics, said the goal of the Race in Space conference was to explore the ways that race, culture and nationality might play out in the colonization of space stations, planets and star systems.
Minorities and STEM
A major concern is the persistent under-representation of people of color in the STEM disciplines. With the exception of chemistry and medicine, few African-Americans, Latinos and Native Americans are engaged in STEM fields. Three area university faculty members offered insights into the problem and discussed the efforts their institutions are making to reverse the trend.
In Americas Future Demands a Diverse and Competitive STEM Workforce, an essay published in The State of Black America 2011: Jobs Rebuild America (National Urban League), Rhonda Sharpe, director of the Global Inequality Research Initiative at Duke, noted that in 2010, fewer than 25 African-Americans nationally received doctorate degrees in the fields of aerospace, astronomy, atmospheric and physical sciences, earth sciences and oceanography combined: The factors impeding persistence at the undergraduate level are academic preparation, adequate financial aid and strong support networks in college.
While more black high school students are enrolled in rigorous math courses, an even greater proportion of white students take those classes, so significant gaps remain. Between 2000 and 2009, blacks represented 15 percent of the labor force but accounted for only 7.4 percent of the scientific workforce. Numbers for Latinos are only slightly higher, while the Native American presence in the sciences workforce falls in the 0 percent to 1 percent range.
Tarek Echekki, professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at N.C. State University, said reversing that trend will require a multi-pronged approach directed at all levels, from the formative years of elementary school and perhaps earlier to the university level, where faculty and R&D scientists run into obstacles while attempting to succeed in their fields.
Echekki likens the problem to a pipeline with many leaks diverting people of color and under-represented groups in STEM, in general from science and technologies fields. Plugging those leaks will require access to opportunities and resources for K-12, overcoming stereotypes of what STEM fields involve (and) misconceptions about the kinds of people who work in these fields, providing incentives for students to stay in STEM tracks in college and building resiliency in people who may find themselves isolated or labeled.
Outreach programs
Caesar Jackson, geophysicist and dean of the School of Graduate Studies at N.C. Central University, is on the front line in the quest to draw more people of color to the STEM fields. NCCU has launched multiple outreach programs designed to identify, motivate and excite young scientists in the making, and is the site of the NASA University Center for Aerospace Devices Research and Education.
The NASA-CADRE project was created, he said, to provide a framework for broadly based, competitive, multi-disciplinary science and engineering research.
While the production of the next class of astronauts or space scientists is not a direct goal of the collaboration, Jackson said, students and faculty across disciplines support space exploration and space research.
Darity, the Duke professor who organized the Race in Space conference, added, STEM training is necessary but not sufficient. We also have to root out discriminatory exclusion for blacks who have obtained all of the requisite training.


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CLINTON — Ron Kirchhoff of 7G Distributing LLC announced Monday that an agreement has been reached to acquire Vanguard Distributing of Davenport pending final approval of their respective suppliers.
7G Distributing LLC, is an Anheuser-Busch wholesaler based out of Cedar Rapids and Dubuque. 7G Distributing LLC will officially acquire all assets and distribution rights of Vanguard Distributing effective Jan. 1, 2014
7G Distributing LLC was formed in 2010 by the joint merger of Cedar Rapids-based Dale Lee Distributing and Dubuque-based Kirchhoff Distributing. They are wholesalers of Anheuser-Busch products along with Crown Imports, Monster Energy and more than 14 additional beverage suppliers. 7G Distributing presently services 16 counties in Eastern Iowa, with sales of more than 4 million cases annually. With the addition of the newly acquired distribution rights, 7G will distribute approximately 6 million cases in Eastern Iowa and employ more than 200.
Vanguard Distributing is owned by Bill Wallace of Davenport. That company currently represents Anheuser-Busch, Crown Imports, Monster and several other craft beers.
The proposed acquisition is effective Jan. 1.


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The Atlanta Braves reached an agreement with third baseman Chris Johnson to a three-year contract extension, the team announced Friday.
According to reports, the deal is worth $23.5 million and includes a $10 million club option in 2018.
The new deal covers Johnson's last two arbitration-eligible seasons and his first season he is eligible for free agency. He is making $4.75 million this year.
"Chris has proved over the last year to be a valuable member of our team," general manager Frank Wren said in a statement. "We are happy to reach an agreement with him on this deal."
Johnson, 29, is batting .255 with one home run and four RBIs in 26 games. In Johnson's first year with the Braves in 2013, he had the best season of his career with 12 home runs and 68 RBIs in 142 games. He also has played for the Houston Astros and the Arizona Diamondbacks.


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The Indianapolis Colts and Oakland Raiders will meet up in Week 1 of the NFL season in a matchup that features franchises trending in opposite directions. After back-to-back .500 seasons in 2010 and '11, the Raiders dropped to 4-12 last year behind a faulty defense and inconsistent quarterback play. The Colts, meanwhile, shot from basement-dwelling in 2011 to 11-5 last season.
The Raiders are hoping to steal an early win on the road, but taking down the reinvigorated Colts will be a tall order.
Meet the Colts
With Peyton Manning providing a reminder on Thursday night that he is still one of the league's elite passers, Colts fans will be even more eager for Andrew Luck to get off to a fast start in his second year as the starting quarterback. With over 4,000 yards and 23 touchdowns, Year 1 wasn't a bad start, though he'll need to rein in the 18 picks he tossed. Receiver Reggie Wayne should continue to produce at the age of 34 and T.Y. Hilton is waiting in the wings to break out. Ahmad Bradshaw was expected to play a starting role at running back after coming over from the Giants, but he's still locked in a battle with second-year man Vick Ballard.
As good as Luck and the offense were in 2012, the defense was just as abysmal. The Colts finished 21st in scoring defense and were especially porous against the run, allowing nearly 140 yards per game on the ground. It doesn't look they'll be much better this season, especially considering they parted ways with defensive end Dwight Freeney in the offseason.
Meet the Raiders
The big news out of Oakland, of course, is that Terrelle Pryor will be starting at quarterback. It's caused quite a stir both outside and inside the Raiders organization, but with a faulty offensive line up front, the decision to go with the athletic Pryor over the less-mobile Matt Flynn makes sense. The true key to the Raiders offensive success, however, lies with the durability of Darren McFadden, who has yet to play more than 13 games in any of his five NFL seasons.
After ranking 28th in scoring defense a season ago, the Raiders don't look to be much improved heading into 2013. In preseason play, they allowed points on an astounding 16 of their 18 drives, a foreboding stat for a team that allowed nearly 28 points per game last year. Defensive back Charles Woodson rejoins the club after a successful seven-year stint in Green Bay, but it's unclear how much he'll be able to contribute at the age of 36.
Local Takes: Colts
With the mobile but sometimes inaccurate Pryor taking the field, Tyler Brooke at Stampede Blue thinks the Colts defense will challenge the quarterback to beat them through the air by containing him on the ground.
The defensive line looked very solid and fluid this preseason thanks to the nice combination of veterans and young players. They were able to get a lot of penetration over the past few weeks, and the amount of depth means that fresh legs will be in there often. If the preseason was any indication, the Colts could do a good job winning the battle in the trenches on defense, and that could keep the Raiders one-dimensional for the whole game.
Keeping Pryor contained and forcing him to make plays with his arm would be the best strategy against him. While he does have a strong arm, he tends to make bad decisions and sometimes has issues with accuracy. This will be a good test for Greg Toler to see just how much of an upgrade he can be for this secondary..
Local Takes: Raiders
Raider Nation has been deeply divided over the announcement of Pryor's starting role. While Pryor may not be as talented as Flynn, Jeff Spiegel at Silver and Black Pride argues that he's still the right man for the job.
So is Pryor the better quarterback? You might be surprised to hear me say this, but I still believe the answer is no.
If we rephrase the question, to say, "Is Pryor the better quarterback for the Raiders right now?" — then my answer changes.
My reasoning is simple:
For starters, this team is a mess. The offensive line is a mess, the receivers are a mess and the defense is a mess. In a situation like that, the need for a quarterback who can run and create offense all by himself is all the more important. This team no longer needs a quarterback to limit mistakes — at the rate the defense is giving up points it won't really matter — they need a quarterback who can keep them in games.
Follow the Fun
Be sure to check out SB Nation's team blogs, Stampede Blue and Silver and Black Pride, for more analysis and highlights from the game.
Add these fine follows to your Twitter timeline:
Dear Chuck Pagano: See that Broncos offense? The one killing the Ravens despite not running the ball? Yeah, THAT is modern football, coach.— Brad Wells (BBS) (@StampedeBlue) September 6, 2013
#Raiders David Ausberry, Sebastian Janikowski still not practicing http://t.co/6GKu1pycU0— S&B Pride's Editors (@silverandblackp) September 4, 2013
@mchappell51 - Colts beat writer
#colts angerer on concussion: "I kind of thought it would go away. It didn't. ...you don't know what a conucussion is supposed to feel like.— Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) September 6, 2013
@Jerrymcd - Raiders beat writer
Menelik Watson did not practice, Dennis Allen said. Will know more tomorrow. Would need to make transaction if he can't play.— Jerry McDonald (@Jerrymcd) September 5, 2013
Peter Prisco at CBS Sports sees the Colts cruising through this one, 27-14.
The Raiders have major problems in a lot of spots. Does it really matter who starts at quarterback? They will have problems winning three games this season. This is a great way to start for Andrew Luck in his second season. The happiest guy in this one might be Robert Mathis, who will spend the day in the Raiders backfield. Colts easy.
The line opened with the Colts as seven-point favorites, but has since trended toward the ten-point range in most major sports books, according to Oddsshark.com.
Next Week
The Colts play host to the Miami Dolphins next Sunday, while the Raiders get an opponent a little more their speed in the Jacksonville Jaguars.
More from SB Nation NFL:
• Peyton's 7 touchdowns lead Broncos over Ravens
• Check out SB Nation's massive new NFL preview
• The easiest players to root for
• Elite, or elitist? Eli the art collector
• Uffsides: This week's 5 must-see games


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Traverse City Record-Eagle
---- — Downtown Traverse City has come a long way since the Traverse City Film Festival refurbished and reopened the historic State Theatre in 2007.
By attracting more than 1 million movie-goers downtown since then the theater has been the catalyst for the surge of business activity that has seen new restaurants, new shops and new buildings, plus a lot more business for existing stores, later hours and a sense that there's something going on. There's a nightlife and bustle that wasn't there before.
The film festival has now unveiled Bijou by the Bay, the transformation of the old Con Foster Museum building in Clinch Park into a 150-seat movie house that will offer first-run films and a second downtown-area screen, the first time in about a century the city will have two operating theaters inside the city limits.
And while the Bljou may not have the kind of impact on downtown that the State has had, it is a significant addition to the local entertainment and business scene that will, like the State, bring thousands of people and untold dollars to downtown. It's an ancient economic maxim that a rising tide floats all boats; getting the downtown tide to rise not once but twice is an amazing feat.
But the grand opening of the Bijou over the weekend is only the beginning of much work yet to be done. A lot of that is going to be up to the Film Festival. Festival co-founder Michael Moore has said the festival wants to upgrade the projector for the Bijou, create a vestibule so patrons can get in out of the elements, improve heating and eventually install 3-D capability.
But the less glamorous work of helping the Bijou succeed by maintaining year-round access, helping direct patrons to the right place and ensuring that it's a safe experience for everyone is going to be up to the city and a seemingly reluctant city commission.
Commissioners have already given the Bijou and the Film Festival conflicting signals. After signing an agreement that covered much of the lease details under which the Bijou is operating some commissioners balked at the idea of painting the walkway to the Bijou to resemble a yellow brick road — even though it was spelled out in the agreement. Turns out some of them never read it.
That's not acceptable. The city has signed an agreement and must live up to promises made.
The building is still owned by the city but the Film Festival has invested more than $1 million to fix the roof, the heating and electrical systems, put in new bathrooms and more. It's the first significant work on the building since 1934 and has essentially extended its life and usefulness at zero cost to taxpayers.
All that work was done on the presumption that the Bijou would be able to operate like any other business. For that to happen, the city is going to have to do the same kinds of things it does for other downtown properties - like keeping the city parking lot that leads to the tunnel under Grandview Parkway plowed and keeping the tunnel itself clear of snow and ice and safe for pedestrians.
Storms that tore through the area last weekend reportedly left 16 inches of standing water in the tunnel, effectively leaving the Bijou stranded.
That problem must be addressed, as does the issue of keeping the tunnel clear in the winter. Moore said the festival is assuming it will be responsible for maintaining access from the tunnel to the Bijou, and is prepared to do so.
But the city must be responsible for keeping the parking lot and the tunnel entrance clear. That will be a challenge on some days, but it must be done.
The city must also consider working with the festival to improve signage on the city side of the tunnel to lead patrons to the Bijou; what's there now doesn't do the job.
The Bijou is almost certainly going to become a major asset to the city and help bring in business for many downtown merchants, just as the State has done. Getting people downtown to mingle and eat and drink and spend money and pump life into the place matters, and the State and the Bijou do that. It just makes sense for the city to help make the Bijou a success, and it is obligated to keep its promises.
Taxpayers—and downtown merchants — expect that as a minimum.


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A man who faced a maximum of 45 years in prison pleaded guilty to amended sex-abuse charges Thursday in Madison Circuit Court.
Keith Allen Taylor, 48, pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree sexual abuse, and Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Jennifer Smith recommended maximum sentences of five years on each charge.
Smith also recommended the sentences all be served concurrently, meaning Taylor's maximum stay in prison would be five years.
He would not be eligible for parole until serving 85 percent of his sentence.
Taylor was arrested in July after a teenage victim under the age of 16 told police Taylor had "unwanted and improper sexual contact with her on this date (July 23) and two occasions in 2011," according to a Richmond police report.
A Madison grand jury indicted Taylor on two counts of first-degree sodomy and one count of first-degree sexual abuse.
As part of his plea deal, Taylor will be required to submit his residence information to the sex offenders registry for 20 years after he is released from prison. He also will be subjected to a five-year period of conditional release.
Taylor is scheduled for sentencing at 1:30 p.m. June 6. He currently is free on bond.
Sarah Hogsed can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com or 624-6694.


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July 31, 2014
DENVER - A gun control package pushed by Colorado Democrats has cleared the state Senate after a full day of emotional debate.
The Senate gave final approval to five bills restricting gun rights, reacting to mass shootings in a Colorado movie theater and a Connecticut elementary school.
The bills include a 15-round limit on ammunition magazines, expanded background checks, and a ban on gun ownership for people accused of domestic violence crimes.
The package cleared the Senate after Democrats abandoned two of the most divisive gun controls - a bill to ban guns on college campuses and another to make gun owners and sellers legally liable for the weapons.
Most of the bills must head to the House for further debate.
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- 11 Comments
Welcome to Ben's Bargains. Please Register, Sign in or Sign in with Facebook
Burnin' down the house...
Comes with an extra-large tube of unguent to sooth the grease burns
You definately want to imbibe in numerous adult beverages before attempting to use this. Seems to ease the oil scalding proper like!
Just make sure your Fire Dept. dues are paid up.
This would work fine as a wort boiler for a homebrew system. I might have to get one.
#5 - pot seems okay, but a bit small, you can't boil all your wort. that said, pretty good price as a set.
I grabbed the Bayou Classic SP10 from Amazon for $40 shipped (price is higher now, but will likely drop back down after Thanksgiving), and added a 60 quart pot from Costco Business ($50). The SP10 burner puts out 185,000 BTU's... brings my 4-5 Gallon wort to a boil in less than 15 minutes. Awaiting my latest IPA to finish in the primary so I can move to the secondary and dry hop with a bunch of Cascade hops...
Brewing is labor intensive, but fun, and the rewards.... yummy.
These are a lot of fun and the turkey tastes great. You have to pay attention to what you're doing. Make sure the bird is totally thawed and dry before putting it in the oil. Always use peanut oil and buy it from Smart & Final. It will cost about $27 for enough oil for a turkey, but you can use the oil 3 times. (Filter it).
#6, how does a 7.5 gallon pot not fit 4-5 gallons of wort?
I would really like to get a setup like this for my brewing but would have to buy an immersion cooler as well. Right now I'm crashing the temperature by dropping 2 gallons of sterile ice into the wort. Works very well but I couldn't do that with a full boil.
18 lb bird is not very big.
Can't you just drop the pot in ice and water? I've done it with mine in a sink without problem. Just dry the pot before pouring into the primary.
I also agree #8, 7.5 gallons should be enough. Are you throwing the turkey into the wort as well? I guess the hour long boil would have to stretch out a little more. Turkey flavored ale?
You would want room for the rolling boil. Likely to boil over in a pot only a bit bigger than the wort. But, you can still do 3+ gallons in her and add it to 2 gallons of nice cold water.
Check out learntobrew.com. they have a 25' copper chiller for $40 plus shipping. they also sell through Amazon, and can be cheaper there at times.
Oh, where do you get sterile ice?
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Hurricane Sandy spent most of Monday morning battering West Anne Arundel County with heavy, cold rain, but winds were still only moderate in strength.
Most retailers remained open but cautioned that they could close at any minute if weather conditions deteriorated.
Here's a quick rundown of what we know. Please feel free to leave a comment if you have additional information that would be helpful to the community.
- There were no reports of major road closures, BUT there was plenty of standing water in many areas, including along Patuxent Road in Odenton. Visibility is not good, and drivers are being advised to stay off the roads.
- The traffic light at Piney Orchard Parkway and Odenton Road was flashing earlier in the morning, but is now operational, according to county police spokesman Justin Mulcahy.
- The Arundel Mills mall is closed, but the Maryland Live! casino will remain open.
- Most stores at the Village at Waugh Chapel and Waugh Chapel Towne Centre were open.
- Local pizza places appeared to be open, including Romeo's, Papa Johns, Domino's, Pizza Hut and others. (Check our Patch directories for phone numbers for these businesses,as they could close at any moment.)
- There was a sizable crowd at Wegmans, and the store has plenty of pallets of water in stock, along with other essentials.
- The Food Lion in Piney Orchard had a large supply of gallon jugs of water, but was cleaned out of batteries.
- Shoppers Food Warehouse in Crofton is reportedly open and was re-stocked with many storm supplies.
- Fort Meade will be closed on both Monday at Tuesday.
- There has been no announcement regarding the status of Anne Arundel County Public Schools.
- The nearest official shelter is Annapolis High School, 2700 Riva Rd., Annapolis.
Be sure to follow our live blog for instant updates on the storm. Also sign up for breaking news alerts from Odenton-Severn Patch and Crofton Patch.


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By Joy Hampton
The Norman Transcript
NORMAN — Special appearances included in weekend store celebrations
Dick's Sporting Goods opened multiple locations simultaneously in Moore, Midwest City and Oklahoma City this week and will celebrate with a weekend of grand opening festivities, starting with a ribbon cutting today.
"It's an incredible store," Moore City Manager Steve Eddy said. "They had a soft opening Tuesday evening. We went out and toured the store.
"We are very happy to have a store of this caliber and quality in our community and to provide a sporting goods store," he said. "We haven't had that kind of store here before."
On Sunday, former Detroit Lions running back and Oklahoma State University alum Barry Sanders will meet and greet customers from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Dick's in Moore, 760 SW 19th St.
Eddy said Moore is ready for the crowd.
"We're very much convinced it will be very successful," Eddy said. "Dick's is a big deal, and it will be a regional draw from all over the south Oklahoma City metro."
Dick's is the largest U.S. based full-line sporting goods retailer, according to a press release issued this week to announce the opening of stores in Moore's Fritts Farm, Town Center Plaza in Midwest City and Quail Springs and Westgate Marketplace in Oklahoma City.
Special store hours will be in effect through the weekend for all locations from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. today and Saturday and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.
"We're pleased to be opening four new Dick's Sporting Goods store in Oklahoma City, which will enable us to better serve the needs of athletes in the community," said Lauren Hobart, Dick's Sporting Goods chief marketing officer. "With our unsurpassed customer service and the best equipment in the industry, we look forward to a strong presence in Oklahoma City."
Throughout the weekend, Dick's Sporting Goods will host a variety of activities, including appearances by the DICK'S 4,000 gallon bass tank along with bass fishing professionals and the Ultimate Shootout archery trailer. Numerous giveaways and promotions will highlight celebrations at all four stores.
On Saturday, Dick's invites fans to each location to watch the Oklahoma Sooners battle the Iowa State Cyclones on a Jumbotron television as part of Saturday tailgate events.
In addition to Sanders' appearance in Moore, Oklahoma running back Billy Sims will be at Quail Springs, 4200 N. Pennsylvania Ave. in Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City Thunder basketball player Serge Ibaka will make an in-store appearance from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Town Center Plaza, 7095 SE 29th St. in Midwest City. On Sunday, former Buffalo Bills running back and Oklahoma State University alum Thurman Thomas will be at the Westgate Marketplace, 6601 SW 3rd St. in Oklahoma City, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Autographs will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis at the store on the day of the event. Times and appearances are subject to change without notice, according to the company press release.
Joy email@example.com
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The state legislative session is moving along, and the Republican Caucus is making great progress on the bills important to you.
Earlier this year, we rolled out a Jobs and Reform Agenda, because what I hear more than anything from folks in our community is that they want a government that works, and government that gets out of the way of getting them back to work.
That means we have to have a government that does what it's supposed to do well and that works transparently. At the same time, as a business owner I know we need to make sure government isn't slowing down the pace of hiring and growing businesses.
I'm pleased to say we're well under way toward those goals.
Earlier this year, I introduced a bill that will put all of the highway building in this state under the Department of Transportation. Most folks don't know that we even have someone else building roads in the South Carolina, but we do – an agency called the State Infrastructure Bank.
The problem with the Infrastructure Bank is that all counties don't get treated equally, even with things we can measure like traffic and needed maintenance. The Infrastructure Bank builds roads based on whoever can yell the loudest or spread the most dollars around, and more often than not that ends up being the Coast. Meanwhile, we've all driven on I-85 through Cherokee County and know how bad we need maintenance here. It doesn't make sense to be paying for bells and whistles when the roads we have are falling apart.
I'm also again going to work hard this year getting a spending caps bill put in place. For too long in Columbia, the only limit on spending has been how much in taxes the government takes in. I think we need to change that, and we need to get caps in place to make sure government growth doesn't happen faster than we can pay for it on a yearly basis. Then, when times are good, we can put money away for a rainy day.
The last thing in the economic arena we have to address this year is cyber security. You've all probably gotten a letter this year from the Department of Revenue advising you about identity theft, and I know because I've gotten one too. The more we learn about what happened there the more it's becoming clear it should've never happened in the first place, and the Senate is committed to make sure it doesn't happen again. I think cyber security is important to our economy, because people doing business in South Carolina need to know they're doing so securely.
The second part of what we're focusing on this year is our reform agenda, to streamline and bring more transparency to government.
Already, the Senate has passed a Department of Administration bill, that gets rid of the state Budget and Control Board once and for all. I've said before that when everyone is in charge, no one is in charge, and the Senate is going to fix it this year.
We've also started work on making our ethics laws stronger, and we're doing that by cracking down on shady special interest groups and by making sure more information is reported about who is paying lawmakers in their "day jobs." I also support doing away with the practice of letting the House and Senate police their own Ethics violations, because it looks like a case of the foxes guarding the henhouse.
In addition, we've already passed a bill that fixes the mess that kicked hundreds of candidates off the ballot this past year. Under the old law, incumbents and challengers were treated differently, and I don't think that's right. Voters need to know that those of us serving the public are in Columbia looking out for you, not for themselves.
In closing, I would like to congratulate the town of Clover on its 125th anniversary. I will continue to update you on our progress throughout the year.
S.C. Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler represents District 14, which includes parts of Lake Wylie.


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Back to forum
rss 185 weeks ago
I have 4 shirts up for trade...
the men's xl "Going Green"
And 3 women's XL:
"Evolved from the dead"
"Scare Bear"
and Hello Lion-O
Looking to trade these for some men's or women's xl...
Possible faves would be:
Anchors Away
Poe Boys
Mr. Pancakez
Confused Chameleon
Che FC
the men's xl "Going Green"
And 3 women's XL:
"Evolved from the dead"
"Scare Bear"
and Hello Lion-O
Looking to trade these for some men's or women's xl...
Possible faves would be:
Anchors Away
Poe Boys
Mr. Pancakez
Confused Chameleon
Che FC
9Comments Post a comment
RQuinn185 weeks agoIm interested in the going green Mens XL
I got 3 to trade-
Chic magnet
Soul Enkindeled
Totem Pole
Let me know quinnmryan @ gmail.com
Mrichhh185 weeks agoI have "CheFC" in a Men's Medium, It might be close in size to a Women's XL, but I don't know for sure. Let me know if you are interested by emailing me: [email protected]
angalese185 weeks agoI have the womans XL in "Going Green" And would be interested in the Pokemon or Hello Kitty/Thundercats. But not sure if Going Green is one you would want since you are trying to get rid of its male counter part.
angalese185 weeks agoSorry ladia23 @ hotmail.com is the e-mail if you are interested by chance
HappinessBug185 weeks agoI have a 'Tusken pride' women's XL, and would happily trade for the pokemon or 'scare bear'. If you're interested it's misspeaches @ live.co.uk. Thanks :)
valiant3685184 weeks agoI have Very Strange Time in my Life in Women's XL for trade for your Hello Lion-O.
Vlad_Impaler184 weeks agoI might be interested in the Scare Bear women's XL. All I
Have to trade is Awaken Your Inner Beast men's XL.
I might be willing to buy it if your not interested in that. I'll have to find out if my wife thinks that would fit her.
Let me know though. [email protected]
AmatorAlatus184 weeks agoI would love to trade for your "Evolved From The Dead" t-shirt! I have three womens XL I could trade it for:
- http://www.teefury.com/archive/1018/16_Bit_Recession/
- http://www.teefury.com/archive/1017/P_UMA/
- Zombie Pacman (which I can't find in the gallery, but is a black tee with zombie pacman, three brains and scared ghost - very cute, but not my thing!)
I'd offer to buy the t-shirt too, if you don't like any of these ones.
If you're interested, please let me know at [email protected]
Steelfeather183 weeks agoI have a womens XL Poe Boys, I'd be interested in possibly trading for the Care Bear one. Drop me a line if you're interested!
Stellefeder @ Gmail.com
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Dick Pinney's Guide Lines: Visitor shows that he still knows his striper fishing
Dick Pinney's column appears weekly in the New Hampshire Sunday News. Email him at email@example.com.
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Veterans Day: Two Freedoms - WorshipHouseMedia
viralvisionNov 9 2012, 73 views
This Veterans Day video is a powerful way to set the tone for your Veterans Day Weekend Services. It honors those that have gone before us to give us our everyday freedoms, but also reminds us of that Greater Freedom found only in Christ.
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The scenario that played out at Charles Russell Elementary School on Tuesday morning wasn't real, but it was frighteningly plausible.
Dozens of first responders from multiple law-enforcement, fire and emergency medical services agencies participated in a full-scale exercise designed to gauge their readiness to react to a school shooting situation.
The make-believe situation involved three shooters armed with automatic weapons entering the school by force, seizing control of all entrances and exits, pouring gasoline in the cafeteria floor and then calling 911 with instructions for the police not to respond or they would burn down the school with everyone inside it. One of the perpetrators then lights the gas. (A smoke machine was used to simulate the fire.)
Beyond that, no one knew how the drill would play out. The actors playing the gunmen were instructed to challenge all police officers and to not comply with any of their verbal commands. The officers' responses were determined solely by the actions of the players.
The final death toll — again, make-believe — was seven, including two of the three shooters. The third gunmen surrendered after officers burst into a classroom where he was holding seven hostages, including a teacher's aide, with a gunshot wound to the chest.
That perpetrator — played by a FADE Task Force officer who didn't want his name published — said he gave up because he was out of ammo, and because he didn't want to endanger the lives of the hostages.
He also admitted he probably should have been "dead" long before the officers stormed the room. Holding up the protective face shield he wore during the exercise, he pointed to a blue splotch in the right eye area where Catlettsburg Assistant Police Chief Cameron Logan nailed him with a paintball while the two were exchanging gunfire down a hallway.
In addition to the seven casualties, there were 15 injuries, ranging from critical to non-life-threatening, Boyd County EMS Director Tom Adams said. Part of the exercise involved setting up triage area outside the school so the wounded could be assessed prior to being transported for medical treatment.
Those who played victims had highly realistic "injuries" applied by Gregory Priddy and Tracey Crawford, the EMS liaisons at Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital and King's Daughters Medical Center, respectively.
Kristy Bolen, coordinator of the Boyd County Medical Reserve Corps, played the role of a 7-year-old who killed in the incident. To prepare her for the part, Priddy and Crawford gave her a bullet wound near the base of her neck and dusted her face with powder to give her skin a pale appearance.
Bolen played her part convincingly, lying motionless in the hallway near the school's entrance.
Well, make that nearly motionless.
"My leg fell asleep at one point and I had to move it," she said.
Even though she knew the events were not real, Bolen said she found it "unnerving" and could feel herself tense up when the weapons started firing inside the building.
But, as the mother of a 6-year-old, she said she found it comforting emergency responders were training for a situation involving an attack on a school.
No actual weapons were allowed in the training area. Police officers had to check their duty weapons at a station set up at nearby AK Steel Sports Park, and even civilian participants were searched prior to being allowed to enter the school. Officers participating in the exercise were given AirSoft guns that shoot plastic pellets.
According to Capt. Jamie Stephens, commander of the Ashland post of Kentucky State Police, the reason for the ban on actual weapons in the "hot zone" was that every year, police officers are killed by live fire during training exercises. Requiring everyone to check their guns was a precautionary measure aimed at preventing such a tragedy, he said.
Stephens said he was pleased with the outcome of Tuesday's exercise.
"Anytime you get this many people and this many agencies working together, it has to be a success," he said. "And it showed no matter what challenge is placed on these law-enforcement officers, they're ready to take care of it."
Stephens said the lessons emergency responders learned during the exercise could be applied to other active-shooter situations in public venues such as shopping malls and movie theaters.
Ashland Independent Schools Safe Schools Coordinator Mark Swift said the district practices lockdown procedures at all its school consistently, but Tuesday's drill kicked the realism up several notches.
"It was a glimpse of reality" for school personnel who took part in the exercise," he said.
KENNETH HART can be reached at email@example.com or (606) 326-2654.


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(Berlin, Dresden)
Czech Republic
There's nothing quite as thrilling as watching something come back to life, and in Berlin and Dresden you'll experience this profound transformation firsthand as you explore two cities, once lost in suspended animation, now thriving.
Since the fall of the Berlin wall, the city has become one of the world's hippest destinations with cutting-edge architecture, varied nightlife, and avant-garde fashion. Dresden's baroque splendor and striking silhouette, with its delicate spires and soaring towers, are even more beautiful when you realize the city was destroyed overnight in 1945 in an Allied air raid. Along with these two success stories, you'll tour the fairytale kingdom of Prague and explore its meandering cobblestone streets and squares that frame a bustling cosmopolitan city centre. Unwind from the day's history lessons in luxury accommodations that offer the finest services and attention to detail.
Dive into Berlin's turbulent past on a walking tour with your private guide and visit the Berlin Wall, the site of Hitler's Bunker, Checkpoint Charlie, the Jewish Synagogue and other landmarks that paint a painful history. Switch gears and enjoy a journey through the beauty of the city as you explore the captivating architecture of Potsdam, the marvelous gardens of Sanssouci, and the famed Roman baths. Arrive in stunning Dresden and tour the Semper Opera, the Elbe-castles, and "Blue Wonder" bridge, one of the most beloved landmarks in Dresden. In Prague, wander the beautiful south Bohemian countryside with its picturesque villages and many ponds, and visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cesky Krumlov. As you take in magical views of Prague Castle from Charles Bridge, you'll come back to life as well.
Enjoy a personalized vacation that best suits your needs, developed by one of our experienced destination experts. Relax during your trip with our 24/7 support and expert local guidance.
Enjoy an airport transfer with private vehicle and driver.
For your added comfort, we will have an English speaking assistant waiting for you at the hotel lobby. Your representative will help you to check in and walk you through the welcome package documents.
A welcome package with a city map, train tickets (if relevant), and any other touristic information that we deem you may find useful will be waiting for you upon your arrival at your first hotel on your trip.
Stretch your legs today on an inside walking tour of Berlin which includes an English-speaking guide. Dig deep into Berlin's turbulent history. From the Prussian kings to the center of Hitlers 3rd Reich and its Cold War aftermath. You will see the Berlin Wall and the former Death Strip, the site of Hitler's Bunker and the new bunker Excavations, Checkpoint Charlie, the Reichstag with its glass dome, Victory Column, Brandenburg Gate, Potsdamer Platz with Sony Centre, the twin cathedrals on Gendarmenplatz, Museum Island, Palast der Republik, TV-Tower, Berliner Dom, Unter den Linden, Jewish Synagogue and many more. Entrance fees are not included and need to be paid on the spot.
On this beautiful tour of Sanssouci, you will take a stroll past the grand buildings that were once the center point of Prussia's imperial grandeur. Take in the stunning gardens of Friedrich II's legendary Sanssouci Palace, and experience a true piece of history. After meeting at Kurfürstendamm, take a short bus ride and arrive in Potsdam for a guided tour of the city. Your guide will show you all of the city's best sights, and they're sure to tell you a fascinating story or two. Stroll through the Dutch Quarter to admire its magnificent buildings and admire the Russian colony of Alexandrovka along the way. The highlight of this tour is, of course, the visit to Sanssouci Palace. A walk through its beautiful park grounds, passing by a magnificent Chinese teahouse or the New Palace, are sure to inspire. Transportation and German and English-speaking tour guide are included.
Avail of a private train station transfer with private vehicle and driver.
Enjoy a train ride from Berlin to Dresden.
Enjoy a train station transfer with a private vehicle and driver in Dresden.
Enjoy a private walking tour through Dresden with the baroque Zwinger, Semper Opera, the bright and clear Church of our Lady (with visit!) but also with the legendary art nouveau villas, the Elbe-castles, the "Blue Wonder" - bridge and the "most beautiful dairy in the world". No entrance fees are included.
Optional we can arrange a half day trip to Moritzburg, the impressive baroque hunting lodge, historically furnished - this is one of the most wonderful castles situated in a lake, with hand painted leather wall decoration, precious Meissen porcelain objects and fantastic hunting trophies.
Enjoy your 2.5 hour direct train ride today from Dresden to Prague.
A transfer between the train station and your hotel or city with a private vehicle and driver is provided. For your added comfort, your English speaking assistant will help you to check in and walk you through the welcome package documents.
Explore the 1,100 year old city centre of the Czech capital on a private walking tour. Starting at the Powder Tower you will stroll along the Royal Route to the Old Town Square, while you learn from your tour guide about Prague's history and culture. The tour will continue along Karlova Street to Charles Bridge crossing the Vltava River. From here you will have a fantastic view of the magical Prague Castle.
On this full day shared excursion you will have a chance to admire the beautiful south Bohemian countryside, with its picturesque villages and many ponds. Cesky Krumlov is a city on the UNESCO heritage list. The unique urban complex, comprising three hundred historic houses and the National Castle and Chateau, the second largest after Prague Castle, draws many visitors every year and is rightly called the "Renaissance Pearl". The tour takes around 11 hours.
A transfer between the airport and the city or your hotel with a private vehicle and driver is provided.
Rocco Forte Hotel de Rome (5*) is located on Bebelplatz, off Unter den Linden. It is a conversion of an existing building constructed in 1889, which housed the head office of Dresdner Bank until 1945. Hotel has interesting tales to tell and not only from within its own walls. The name itself goes back over more than two centuries and is part of Berlin's history. This is one of the few luxury hotels in Berlin located in an original building making use of its full architectural splendour and thereby offering guests an authentic Berlin experience. Hotel has 146 large bedrooms, including 37 suites, most of the rooms have high ceilings and classical proportions. All bathrooms have separate walk-in showers and mosaic marble detailing above double ended baths. During the summer months the roof top terrace offers a breathtaking view over the city.
The Westin Bellevue Dresden (4*), located in the heart of the city in the Bellevuegarten on the banks of the Elbe River, offers a fascinating view of the famous Old Town skyline with the Semperoper opera house and the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady). World-famous sights such as the Zwinger, the Fürstenzug (a fantastic frieze depicting a procession of many former Saxon rulers) and the Green Vault are just a cosy walk from the hotel. Selected co-ordinated materials and warm wood tones lend the 340 rooms and suites a stylish charm. All rooms feature WLAN. Dining at this hotel is an experience to savour. The Elbsegler beer garden right on the banks of the Elbe presents itself with solar sail, wooden deck and railing. The Pöppelmann coffee bar in the baroque inner courtyard combines the atmospheres of a coffee house and a bar, offering coffee, cocktails and light snacks until late at night. Indulge in the sensations of wellbeing in the wellness area with sauna, solarium and fitness room.
Kings Court Hotel (5*), located in the heart of Prague, is a business-friendly hotel and just steps from Republic Square, Municipal House Hall, and Palladium Shopping Centre. The property offers 133 guestrooms, unique conference facilities and a magnificent ballroom, modern dining opportunities and a revitalizing hotel Spa Zen Asian Wellness. Enjoy royal and leisure treatment in the most inviting district in Prague downtown at one of the leading five-star hotels in the Czech Republic.
Vanessa Oquendo ,
April 21, 2014
"Melissa Field was extremely helpful! She was courteous, professional, knowledgeable, and friendly! She kept me updated on the status of everything and provided timely correspondence. She took ownership for any problems I had and remedied them. I had the most amazing time of my life in Iceland and Paris! I would not have experienced everything without the help of Kensington Tours."
Marilynn Weaver ,
April 21, 2014
"All of our guides were beyond fabulous! Our time in Dublin was much too short, would have loved to stay there at least one more full day. Would recommend extending this package to 15 days for any future visits. The train to Edinburgh was super! Beautiful scenery and great steak pies!"
Ann Saxon ,
November 06, 2013
"Our trip was fantastic!!! I cannot say enough good things. Lianne worked with our exact dates and time frame beautifully.Our drivers were prompt and friendly. The private guides were so knowledgeable. We left with an appreciation of the history, the culture, and the beauty of Andulasia. We were very pleased and will certainly recommend your company to friends and family."
Coby Scherr ,
November 05, 2013
"Everyone involved in our Portugal trip made it terrific. Exactly as advertised. Every event on time and most pleasant. Guides were well-informed, courteous and friendly. Really made for a great journey every time. Each hotel was clean, upgraded and staffed with knowledgeable and friendly folks. Breakfasts were complete -- almost too much to eat. It will always be a wonderful memory thanks to Kensington Tours."
Couples Dellinger & Hubbell ,
November 06, 2013
"We've been raving to everyone about the food, the friendliness of the people and the amazing history and sites in Turkey. Yes, we want to go back."
John Edstrom ,
October 22, 2013
"Overall, our tour in Spain was very enjoyable, and well planned and executed. Our private tour of the Alhambra was excellent. Virginia, tour guide for royal palace ruins outside of Cordoba, was also excellent. In Seville, we went to the Flamenco Show/dinner, and the Flamenco was outstanding!"
Kevin Wilshere ,
October 19, 2013
"Great trip to Spain! Thanks again for all your help, Lianne. The destinations, hotels, guides and everything were all top notch."
Chery Westlund ,
November 07, 2013
"My husband and I took a 3 week vacation to southern Europe and North Africa and had a great time. All the guides were very knowledgeable and bent over backwards to accommodate us. The arrangements made by Kensington went off without a hitch. This is our second trip with Kensington (we went to Peru in 2009) and we will certainly book with them again."
Randy Gramlich ,
October 07, 2013
"Thank you for your follow up, we both loved our time in Croatia. It's really a beautiful place, especially the coast. Your choice of hotels was great. It was an incredible view from the Bellevue hotel in Dubrovnik and the Vestibule in Split was in the best possible location. We were able to relax in our room listening to the wonderful singers in the courtyard and its central location made it so easy to walk anywhere we wanted to see with ease. "
Jay Steffan ,
September 24, 2013
"We just returned from a 10 day trip to Paris and Normandy. We spent three nights in Paris and then enjoyed a seven night cruise on the Seine to Normandy with AMA Waterways. The time in Paris was well spent and has piqued our interest to return for a more thorough visit. Guide Wafaa Lankey was superb in our visit to Versailles. The Seine cruise was relaxing and beautiful. So many wonderful little towns and we wished we had more time in each one to explore and enjoy.
We traveled to Croatia and Slovenia using Kensington earlier this year which was a fantastic trip."
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Speech to Local Government New Zealand
The relationship between central government and local government is one of partnership. We rely on each other to make good choices for our fellow New Zealanders.Read full speech >>
Budget 2014 announcements.Read full feature >>
We want our public service to be more innovative, enterprising, driven, and focused on results. We're delivering improved frontline services, reduced costs, and better results for you and your family.Read full feature >>
The Government has announced a cross-Government package to better protect victims of family violence.Read full feature >>
Government's response to the Children's Commissioner's Expert Advisory Group on Solutions to Child PovertyRead full feature >>
The time has come to discuss New Zealand's flag formally, carefully and respectfully, allowing all New Zealanders to have their say.Read full feature >>
The Government is continuing to implement its plan to build a faster-growing economy with more jobs and rising incomes, and to support New Zealanders and their families.Read full feature >>
Kick-starting Auckland Transport ProjectsRead full feature >>
Business Growth Agenda Building Capital Markets progress report - videosRead full feature >>
Business Growth Agenda: Building Natural ResourcesRead full feature >>
Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission ReportsRead full feature >>
White Paper for Vulnerable ChildrenRead full feature >>
Improving Housing AffordabilityRead full feature >>
John Key and the National-led Government are passionate about the future of New Zealand's young people.Read full feature >>
The second term National-led Government is comprehensively reforming welfare.Read full feature >>
Briefings to incoming Ministers as published on the websites of the responsible Government Ministries and agencies.Read full feature >>
Responsibly managing the Government's finances and reducing debt are two of the Government's four key priorities for this term.Read full feature >>
Raising achievement in schoolsRead full feature >>
Special feature on Canterbury Earthquakes RecoveryRead full feature >>


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