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by German Lopez
Posted In:
at 10:25 AM |
Morning News and Stuff
Terhar compares Obama to Hitler, Cincinnati unemployment drops, Portman's deficit plan
Ohio State Board of Education President Debe Terhar posted an image of Adolf Hitler on Facebook that said, "Never forget what this tyrant said: 'To conquer a nation, first disarm its citizens.' — Adolf Hitler." But the Cincinnati Republican, who was referencing President Barack Obama's gun control proposals, now insists she was not comparing Obama to Hitler. It's pretty obvious she was, though. Cincinnati's seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate dropped to 6.7 percent in December, down from 6.9 percent in November. The drop is largely attributed to a decrease in the civilian labor force, which could imply less people are looking for work or seasonal changes are having an impact. Whatever the case, the amount of people who are employed and unemployed both dropped. Hamilton County's seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate dropped to 6.2 percent in December, down from 6.4 percent in November, but that drop was also attributed to a declining labor force or seasonal factors. Greater Cincinnati's seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate was unchanged from 6.4 percent, despite 2,600 less people working. In comparison, Ohio's seasonally unadjusted rate was 6.6 percent in December, up from 6.5 percent in November, and the U.S. rate was 7.6 percent, up from 7.4 percent. U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, an Ohio Republican, suggested the Dollar-for-Dollar Deficit Reduction Act. The plan requires debt ceiling increases to be matched by an equal amount of spending cuts. Increasing the debt ceiling is essentially Congress agreeing to pay its bills. During the budget process and while passing other legislation, Congress agrees to a certain amount of spending. Increasing the debt ceiling just makes it possible for the president to pay those bills, even if it means surpassing a set debt level. If the debt ceiling isn't raised by May 18, the United States will default on its debts, plunging the country into depression. But the threat of destroying the U.S. economy has not stopped Republicans from using the debt ceiling as a negotiation tool to get the spending cuts they so badly want. Public employees are avoiding changes to Ohio's public pension system by retiring before the changes kick in. The changes make it so any teacher who retires before July 1 will get a 2 percent cost of living increase to their pensions in 2015. Anyone who retires after July 1 will not get the increase until 2018. After that, retirees will get a pension increase every five years. Experts are also expecting a rush of retirees in 2015, when age and years-of-service requirements for full benefits are set to gradually rise. A new report found Ohio's graduation rate is still improving. The U.S. Department of Education report found the state's graduation rate was 81.4 percent in the 2009-10 school year, higher than the nation's rate of 78.2 percent, and an increase from 78.7 percent rate in the 2006-2007 school year. A study found a link between hourly workers at Hamilton County's Fernald Feed Materials Production Center and intestinal cancer. As Ohio cuts back its solar program, Canada is shutting down the rest of its coal-fired power plants by the end of 2013. The Cincinnati Reds may get to host the 2015 All-Stars Game. Scientists are rushing to build robots that save lives in disaster zones. Will John Connor please stand up?
City Desk
Report: Charter Schools Evade Closure Laws
German Lopez
0 Comments · Wednesday, January 16, 2013
When an Ohio charter school consistently fails to meet academic standards, the state automatically shuts it down. But a report from Policy Matters Ohio found some charter schools might be evading the rule altogether.
by German Lopez
Posted In:
at 12:18 PM |
Ohio Drops in Education Ranks
State maintains B-, falls to No. 12 spot
For the third year in a row, Ohio has dropped in Education Week's annual ranks. The news comes despite the state slightly bumping up its grade from 79.5 percent to 79.6 percent. The state was ranked No. 12, down from No. 11 in 2012 and No. 10 in 2011. Ohio did best in standards, assessments and accountability, where it got a 96.1 percent, or an A. It did worst in K-12 achievement, which measures student progress and equality, with a 71.2 percent, or a C-. The only major category in which Ohio performed below the U.S. average was transitions and alignment, which gauges state standards for preparing Ohio students for moving from kindergarten to elementary school to middle school to high school to college. In the category, Ohio got a 78.6 percent, or C+, while the national average is 81.1 percent. Maryland was ranked No. 1 for the fifth year in a row with an 87.5 percent, or a B. "We're pleased to be rated No. 12 in the nation … but our overall score of a B- reassures us what we already know: We can do a better job of educating Ohio's children and preparing them for future success," said John Charlton, spokesperson for the Ohio Department of Education. Charlton says the state is taking steps to make improvements, particularly in the transitions and alignment category. Ohio has already adopted the Common Core standards and is replacing the state's standardized tests with new assessments, which CityBeat covered here. Ohio colleges and universities have also adopted uniform remediation-free standards, which Charlton says will make it easier to prepare students for college. Remedial courses are classes that don't count toward college credit; they're typically required for students who are under-prepared in certain subjects, particularly English, math and science. But some have pushed back toward the Republican-supported education initiatives. The Third Grade Reading Guarantee, which forces schools to hold back third-grade students who are not proficient in reading, has faced a lot of criticism from Democrats and education experts. Research shows holding kids back hurts more than helps. After reviewing decades of research, the National Association of School Psychologists found grade retention has "deleterious long-term effects," both academically and socially. Gov. John Kasich vowed to rework Ohio's school funding formula in the 2014-2015 budget. In a previous interview, Rob Nichols, spokesperson to Kasich, said it was a big undertaking: "Many governors have tried before. Many states have been sued over their formulas. It's something we have to take our time with and get it done right."
by German Lopez
Posted In:
at 02:55 PM |
Report: Charter Schools Evade Closure Laws
Cincinnati facility closed down, reopened under new name
When an Ohio charter school consistently fails to meet academic standards, the state automatically shuts it down. It's an aspect of Ohio law that's touted as one of the toughest standards for charter schools in the nation, but a report from Policy Matters Ohio found some charter schools may be evading the rule altogether. In Cincinnati, the W.E.B. DuBois Academy was put on the Ohio Department of Education's (ODE) closure list in 2009. According to the Policy Matters report, the same school and some of the staff remain, but under a different name: Cincinnati Speech and Reading Intervention Center (CSR). Before 2009, Dubois Academy was CSR's sister school. Dubois Academy focused on grades four to eight, and CSR took up kindergarten through third grade. But when Dubois Academy was asked to shut down, CSR suddenly decided to expand to teach kindergarten through eighth grade, and it conveniently moved to the Dubois Academy building in the process. The report also found some staff remained at the former DuBois Academy facility. Out of eight teachers from Dubois Academy, three still work at CSR. Still, the school did change its sponsor from Educational Resource Consultants of Ohio to Richland Academy — a sign of some institutional changes.Before it was placed on ODE's closure list, Dubois Academy gained three straight "Academic Emergency" ratings. Between 2007 and 2010, it received more than $3.6 million in state funds. In the preliminary 2011-2012 report card, CSR gained a rating of "Continuous Improvement" after receiving an "Academic Emergency" rating in the 2010-2011 report card. The story of Dubois Academy and CSR is apparently being replicated around the state. Six other facilities reopened under new names shortly after state-mandated closure. Some schools, including the Eagle Heights Academy in Youngstown that reopened as Southside Academy, even kept the same sponsors. An eighth school in Cleveland — Hope Academy Broadway — shut down one year before the state mandate kicked in, citing an inability to find a sponsor. A year later, it reopened under a new name — Broadway Academy. In the process, the school retained 11 Hope Academy Broadway staff members. In a statement, Piet van Lier, the report's co-author, called the loophole a "systemic flaw" that undermines Ohio's education system: "Until Ohio strengthens its charter-closure law, the state will continue to fall short of the goal of improving public education for all Ohio's children." The report suggests legislators revamp charter school closure laws and strengthen ODE's oversight of charter schools. It also wants legislators to direct ODE to refuse the kind of expansions and mergers that keep closed facilities open and hold charter school companies more accountable.
Looking Ahead to a Busy Year in Local and State Politics
German Lopez
0 Comments · Wednesday, January 9, 2013
With 2012 in the past, it's time to start preparing for a brand new year of politics and policy. From what's been hinted at so far, progressives could have another big year in 2013, but only if they work for it.
by German Lopez
Posted In:
at 09:54 AM |
Morning News and Stuff
Local unemployment unchanged, schools could open enrollment, 2013 challenges schools
Facing tight budgets, Ohio schools, including Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS), are considering open enrollment. The move would open school doors to neighboring communities. It was previously considered by CPS a decade ago, but the plan didn't have enough support from the district's board. It might now.Next year could be challenging for Ohio schools. Butler County schools will begin the year by implementing a transition to the Common Core Curriculum, new evaluations for teachers and a new method of rating and grading schools. The state is also expected to change the school funding formula.Cincinnati's seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate remained relatively flat at 6.9 percent in November, according to data from the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services. The city's unemployment did not tick up or down from the 6.9 percent rate in October, but about 1,300 dropped out from the civilian labor force as it shrank from 145,600 in October to 144,300 in November. Hamilton County also remained flat at 6.3 percent as 3,500 left the labor force. Greater Cincinnati ticked up to 6.2 percent from 6.1 percent, with about 6,900 leaving the labor force between October and November. In comparison, the state had a seasonally unadjusted rate of 6.5 percent and nation had a seasonally unadjusted rate of 7.4 percent in November. Unemployment numbers are calculated through a household survey. The unemployment rate gauges the amount of unemployed people looking for work in contrast to the total civilian labor force. Since the numbers are derived from surveys, they are often revised in later months. Federal and state numbers are typically adjusted for seasonal factors.Police in Kentucky are now using playing cards to catch suspects. Trooper Michael Webb says the effort has helped crack three out of 52 cases so far. That may not seem like a lot, but Webb puts it in perspective: "Two of the cases were double homicides so that's four families that have gotten closure and have had some kind of ability to deal with the situation. The third one was a single murder and obviously that family has been able to have closure. So we've got five families that have been able to have closure as a result of this initiative."Another casualty of the fiscal cliff: milk. It turns out milk prices could soar to $7 a gallon as Congress fails to adopt a farm bill. President Barack Obama and legislators are expected to discuss a fiscal cliff deal today.As some companies shift to social media, Facebook may topple CareerBuilder for job opportunities.On Christmas Day, 17.4 million smart devices turned on for the first time. In the first 20 days of December, only 4 million Android and iOS devices were turned on.What does 2013 hold for science and technology? Popular Science takes a look. Expect more supercomputers and less solar activity!Here is the dorkiest, cutest marriage proposal ever.
by German Lopez
Posted In:
at 10:13 AM |
Morning News and Stuff
CPS helps rework school funding, cuts mean less teachers, judges against double-dipping
Cincinnati Public Schools seems to be playing a big role in reforming Ohio's school funding formula. Superintendent Mary Ronan got a call from Gov. John Kasich's office about the per-pupil funding formula CPS uses to distribute funds to its schools. It seems the state might adopt a similar method, but Ronan is cautious: "I do think it's one of the ways you could do it, a per-pupil funding, but I have to say, we were always tweaking every year ... because sometimes those formulas can be a bit off and any time we saw one school getting a lot more than another ... we tried to refine it every year over probably the 15 years we have used it." She also notes schools are getting "bare minimum" funding right now. CityBeat covered budget problems at CPS here. In general, state budget cuts have led to fewer teachers in Ohio schools. Gov. Kasich previously urged schools to focus on classroom instruction, but it seems the words aren't being followed up with proper funding. Southwestern Ohio judges are clashing over double-dipping. The practice involves government workers retiring and getting rehired so they can collect pensions and a paycheck at the same time. At a meeting, Hamilton County Judge Melba Marsh said she wants to allow Magistrate Michael Bachman to retire and then be rehired so he doesn't lose a 3-percent increase to his retirement, which is otherwise being eliminated by the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System after 2012. But the move has been met with resistance from other judges. For Cincinnati hospitals, Medicare changes mean some loss and some gain. The online campaign urging Macy's to dump Donald Trump circled a "Dump Trump" billboard around Macy's headquarters. The anti-Trump movement has gained about 680,000 signatures since it started. On Christmas Eve, some spent time with family, while Butler County Deputy David Runnells helped deliver a baby in the back of a car during an emergency call. Ohio will use $20 million out of $200 million in casino funds to train incumbent workers. Gov. Kasich says the program could help avoid layoffs. It seems Mitt Romney's presidential campaign really thought they were going to win. In campaign memos leading up to the election, campaign staff said the race was "unmistakably moving in Mitt Romney's direction," and the campaign ridiculed the possibility of losing Ohio due to the Romney campaign's "better ground game." But President Barack Obama had a much larger ground game for one-on-one interaction, which is one of the factors former Romney staff now say led to their demise. But whatever. Romney didn't want to be president, anyway, says son Tagg Romney: "He wanted to be president less than anyone I've met in my life. He had no desire to ... run." Fiscal cliff talks aren't going well. President Obama cut his vacation early to work out negotiations. If Republicans and Democrats can't work out their problems, a series of spending cuts and tax hikes dubbed the "fiscal cliff" will kick in throughout 2013. But it's looking more and more likely the nation will head off the cliff, considering U.S. Speaker John Boehner can't even pass tax hikes on people making more than $1 million a year. Ever wonder what dinosaur meat would taste like? Well, Popular Science has that covered.
by German Lopez
Posted In:
at 09:47 AM |
Morning News and Stuff
School report card reform passed, governors call for bridge tolls, casino to open March 4
School report card reform is about to head to Gov. John Kasich, who is likely to sign it. The bill, which places higher grading standards on schools, passed the Ohio Senate yesterday with some minor tweaks. The Ohio House is expected to approve the bill again, and then Kasich will need to sign it for it to become law. In an early simulation of tougher report card standards in May, Cincinnati Public Schools dropped from the second-best rating of "Effective" under the current system to a D-, with 23 schools flunking and Walnut Hills High School retaining its top mark with an A. The governors of Ohio and Kentucky agree tolls will be necessary to fund the Brent Spence Bridge project. The governors also said there will be a financing plan by next summer and construction will begin in 2014. Kasich and Ky. Gov. Steve Beshear met yesterday with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood to discuss funding for the bridge project. The Horseshoe Casino will open in Cincinnati on March 4. What can Cincinnatians expect? According to one Washington Post analysis, casinos bring jobs, but also crime, bankruptcy and even suicide. Sewer rates in Hamilton County will go up next year, but not as much as expected. Cincinnati has 1,300 properties awaiting demolition. With same-sex marriage likely coming on the ballot in 2013, a Quinnipiac University poll found Ohio voters thinly oppose its legalization 47 percent to 45 percent, but it's within the margin of error of 2.9 percent. A Washington Post poll in September found Ohioans support same-sex marriage 52 percent to 37 percent — well outside of the poll's margin of error of 4.5 percent. CityBeat recently wrote about the same-sex marriage legalization in Ohio here. The same poll found Ohio voters deadlocked on whether marijuana should be legalized with 47 percent for it and 47 percent against it. The results are slightly more conservative than the rest of the nation. Washington state recently legalized marijuana and same-sex marriage in the same day, and the world didn't end. Ohio gained approval on a coordinated Medicare-Medicaid initiative that will change funding for low-income seniors who qualify for both public health programs. With the go-ahead from the federal government, the plan will push forward in coordinating Medicare and Medicaid more efficiently to cut costs. But on the topic of a Medicaid expansion, Ohio will not make a final decision until February. As part of Obamacare, states are encouraged to expand their Medicaid plans to 133 percent of the federal poverty level. If they do it, the federal government will pick up 100 percent of the tab through 2016. After that, federal funding drops annually, eventually reaching 90 percent for 2020 and beyond. Previous studies found states that expanded Medicaid improved lives. Another study found Obamacare's Medicaid expansion saves states money in the long term by reducing the amount of uncompensated health care. Cleveland's The Plain Dealer says Gov. Kasich will not privatize the Ohio Turnpike, but he will ask for a toll hike to help finance new projects. Kasich will officially announce his plans later today. With opposition from law enforcement, a Senate committee is pushing ahead with a bill that lessens restrictions on gun-carrying laws. Redistricting reform will soon be taken up by the Ohio Senate. The measure passed committee in an 8-1 vote. Redistricting is often used by politicians to redraw district borders in politically beneficial ways. Gov. Kasich signed into law a measure that cracks down on dog breeders in Ohio. The measure has long been pushed by animal advocates, who say lax regulations for puppy mills have made the state a breeding ground for bad practices. CityBeat previously wrote about how these bad practices lead to abusive dog auctions in Ohio.Homosexuality may not be in our genes, but it may be in the molecules that regulate genes.
by German Lopez
Posted In:
Women's Health
at 09:41 AM |
Morning News and Stuff
Romney loss stops heartbeat bill, tougher report cards pass House, S&P criticizes Cincinnati
Mitt Romney's big loss is finally getting to Ohio Republicans. Ohio Senate President Tom Niehaus made procedural moves to block the heartbeat bill from a vote before the end of the lame-duck session. Niehaus, a Republican, said his decision was largely influenced by Romney's loss on Nov. 6. When the heartbeat bill was originally proposed, it was labeled the most radical anti-abortion bill in the country. It banned abortion as soon as a heartbeat was detected, which can happen six weeks into pregnancy. It made no exceptions for rape, incest or the health of the mother. CityBeat recently wrote about the GOP's renewed anti-abortion agenda, but if Republicans begin taking lessons from the most recent election, the renewed agenda will never come to light. The Ohio House of Representatives approved Cincinnati's tougher school report card standards. An early simulation of the proposed system in May showed Cincinnati Public Schools would drop from the second-best rating of "Effective" under the current system to a D-, with 23 schools flunking and Walnut Hills High School retaining its top mark with an A. The bill will also impose more regulations and oversight on charter schools. As part of the overall reform, the state is replacing its standardized tests, but some Democrats are worried the new tests and system will be too tough on schools. Standard & Poor's is not optimistic about Cincinnati. The firm gave the city's debt rating a negative outlook due to structural budget problems. City Manager Milton Dohoney Jr. says ratings firms are looking for spending cuts or revenue growth from Cincinnati to achieve structurally balanced budgets in the next two years, but Dohoney's most recent budget proposal largely balances the deficit with a one-time source from privatizing parking services. On the other hand, pursuing austerity during a weak economic recovery is a bad idea. The Cincinnati Fire Department says it doesn't have enough personnel to man fire trucks. The problem is only getting worse as retirements increase, according to Fire Chief Richard Braun. The University of Cincinnati's campus was ranked among the most dangerous in the country. Ohio has some of the lowest graduation rates in the Midwest. Low-income, black and Hispanic students are all much less likely to graduate than their wealthier and white peers. Gov. John Kasich met with college and university leaders today to discuss higher education. After the meeting, Kasich and the leaders suggested attaching state funding to graduation rates, among other reforms. It looks like Ohio's financial institutions tax bill will make it through the Ohio Senate without major changes. The bill was already passed by the Ohio House. A memo from nonprofit research organization Policy Matters Ohio recommended making changes so the bill cuts tax loopholes without cutting rates on big banks. Zach Schiller, research director from Policy Matters, said in the memo, "Big banks aren't better banks, as their role in the recent financial crisis made clear. It is questionable policy for the state to favor them with lower rates." It's official: Cincinnati is "cougar capital of Ohio." Heart-lifting story of the day: A New York City cop helped a homeless person by buying him a pair of boots. Has the modern art world lost touch with its audience?NASA confirmed the presence of ice water on Mercury.
City Desk
State to Replace Standardized Test
German Lopez
0 Comments · Wednesday, November 28, 2012
The Ohio Graduation Tests will soon be no more. The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) and Board of Regents have agreed to establish tougher tests with a focus on preparing students for college and beyond.
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text:
I have 4 left and my brain is fried! I still have work to do!!
Man!! That was TOUGH!!
Please boogie down with this cutie until I finish my siggie
Ugh.......2 more...and #2 is killing me
I still need 12 more...grrrrrrrrrrrr
Proudly Creating forKeystone Scraps, Adriana's CafeFit 2 Be Scrapped and Magical Scraps Galore
Gosh... I LOVE word games.. but those were tough! I finished though and sent my answer to GingerScraps at 4:07 PM EST. I can't believe it took me that long to unscramble those words!! Poor hubby.. he was ignored when he got home.
Now to relax and unwind after that. Hope I made the parameters!!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Wow! You've made amazing progress! You should be really proud of yourself!
I have really struggled the past month and have made 0 progress. That doesn't mean I'm giving up. My mini goal for July is to lose at least 10 lbs. and get into a consistent early morning workout routine again before school starts.
Congratulations Island!
ISLAND!!!DUDE!!!! You better be getting that tan minus the shirt at the beach!!! You look amazing! Kudos to you on your determination, perseverance, big heart and positive outlook...it's been a real pleasure following your progress and you've been an inspiration. WAY TO GOOOOOOOO:) C3, look out!! :)
Kim, hang in and don't give up!!! Persistence is the key....none of us are perfect :) You've been wanting to do this and you have been...you know you can. And you know the next month will fly by (why does that always happen in the summer months, why can't March go as fast??!!) you can do it!
And time is flying by here....8 weeks til the big day:) !!
Hi, all!
Sorry I've been MIA... work got a little hectic, which made life a little hectic, and then the husband and I both ended up getting that nasty summer cold that's been circulating. Made it difficult to do HIIT's when you're hacking up a lung =(
Anyhoo, at the end of our first challenge, I'm happy with the results... especially considering how many times our eating went to crap and all the gym days we missed. I went from 242lbs to 229 and lost about 1.5" at my waist. My other measurements really didn't budge, so I think maybe I didn't measure the same spot? The husband went down about 15lbs, so he's feeling pretty good!
We're already starting our next challenge and are pumped about it! I'll be purchasing a set of calipers on Amazon this week, as I'm tired of the body fat on our scale not budging.
IslandDude... seriously. You look amazing!!! You should be incredibly proud and thrilled with the results!!!
I hope to "see" some of you during this next challenge. This forum has been great with support and getting ideas =)
Have a happy, healthy 4th, everyone!!
Kris I am :-) I cant stop thinking about what 12 more weeks will do for me so Im taking a week AR and going again.. thanks again
Island, again congrats. I think that the exciting thing about your stats is that you lost inches inspite of the fact that you have been hitting the iron pretty hard. I would not be surprised to see you adding inches in the next challenge. Did you get a BF% calculation? I would guess it is 10-15% less. Great job! Enjoy the downtime.
@ Kim, put one step in front of the other (to quote a children's movie classic)...I wouldn't focus on the weight goal as much as the consistency. JUST KEEP SHOWING UP IN JULY. Get that routine back in place and let the numbers fall where they may. Have faith in the program and if it's 10 lbs, 5lbs or 25, you know you are going to get there
@Bride, thanks for the info. I probably will not adopt coconut water into my diet and will continue to drink POWERADE (a Coke product ;-)
As for me, I am still chugging along. Most of my exercise is from a big home project (adding a pool) which involves lots of pre-work like masonry and landscaping. I am definitely sweating to the oldies in this 90+ heat and 90+ humidity for long hours on the weekends. Glad that BFL has prepared me to have the stamina for a hard day's work.
Cheers, Y'all
Hi all!
Island dude - you look amazing and should be SO proud of yourself! :) I have the same thoughts that you do - if I can make this much progress in this 12 weeks, imagine what you can do the next 12!
Kris - Awesome job for you, too. I know it's been a bumpy ride, but you HAVe made progress - imagine how much progress you can make when you are able to put yourself into it completely.
BFL Bride2be - You are going to look amazing in your wedding dress - I just know it. Thanks so much for all of your info and motivation.
Jessica - A shout out to you as well - thank you for all of the info you've provided along the way! Your after pics are fantastic, too!
Aloha to everyone else from sunny and beautiful Maui! I'm on my vacation - and am finally wearing a 2 piece bathing suit comfortably! :) My final stats - lost 15 pounds, 11 inches combined, and 2 sizes. I would have loved to be tracking body fat, but I didnt' do it to start. I feel so much more confident in how I look. I am taking a week off (somewhat) while I am on vacation - trying to eat good for the most part, but I haven't really done any workouts since going on vacation, other than some hiking, walking, and swimming. I plan on jumping into another 12 weeks when we return. I think it was Frick that said - progress, not perfection...that has been my motto. :) Thanks everyone for all of your support and knowledge. You are all an inspiration!
Thanks tracey :-) Im looking forward to next monday already lol.. and I hope you are enjoying yourself on the rock right next door to me.. congrats on that 2 peice!
TEAM!!!!! checking in :) Wanted to see how all of you are doing and if folks are on to new challenges :) Jessica, got your request but trouble with site at moment so not able to accept, but I will!!
On my home front...So THE DRESS arrives tomorrow...I will be traveling so won't see it til Tuesday...and then the fit test :) based on measurements I should be there though which is cool. Still a bit nerve wracking between the fit question AND that my trip is for a job interview. Send some positive good luck vibes my way!!! :)
I have been doing well with the high protein, low fat, lower carb ratios. With 7 weeks to go til the big day, I'm still on my misssion to reduce as much bodyfat as possible ...without turning into a raving lunatic :) I'm working out hard and eating clean, so when it comes, it comes :)
Let's hear some updates!! :)
Hey, Bride!
Well, the husband and I just started our second challenge this morning, and it felt GREAT to be back!! We did UB this morning, and considering we haven't been to the gym in a couple of weeks, I know I'll be sore the next day or so, but it will be worth it.
Took new before pics and new measurements... really looking forward to "sticking" this challenge.
Bride - you'll have to post pics of you in the dress =)
I hope to see everyone on the forums (this thread or others)... I've already "run" into IslandDude!
Have a stupendous day, all... eat well, work hard!
© Abbott Laboratories,2013


text:
I should have said no to the stranger at the door, with his skinny throat and his black sample case that pulled him a little to the side, so that one of his jacket cuffs was higher than the other, a polite no would have done the trick, no thanks, I'm afraid not, not today, then the closing of the door and the heavy click of the latch, but I'd seen the lines of dirt in the black shoe creases, the worn-down heels, the shine on the jacket sleeves, the glint of desperation in his eyes. All the more reason, I said to myself, to send him on his way, as I stepped aside and watched him move into my living room. He looked quickly around before setting his case down on the small table next to the couch. I'd made up my mind to buy something from him, anything, a hairbrush, the Brooklyn Bridge, buy it and get him out of there, I had better things to do with my time, but there was no hurrying him as he slowly undid each clasp with his bony fingers and explained in a mournful voice that this was my lucky day. In the suddenly opened case I saw six rows of identical dark-brown glass bottles, each a bit smaller than a bottle of cough medicine. Two things struck me: the case must have been very heavy, and he must not have sold anything in a long time. The product was called Miracle Polish. It cleaned mirrors with one easy flick of the wrist. He seemed surprised, even suspicious, when I said I'd take one, as if he had wandered the earth for years with the same case filled to bursting with unsold bottles. I tried not to imagine what would drive a man to go from house to house in a neighborhood like this one, with porches and old maples and kids playing basketball in driveways, a neighborhood where Girl Scouts sold you cookies and the woman across the street asked you to contribute to the leukemia drive, but no strangers with broken-down shoes and desperate eyes came tramping from door to door lugging heavy cases full of brown bottles called Miracle Polish. The name exasperated me, a child could have done better than that, though there was something to be said for the way it sat there flaunting its fraudulence. "Don't trust me!" it shouted for all to hear. "Don't be a fool!"
When he tried to sell me a second bottle, he understood from my look that it was time to go. "You've made a wise choice," he said solemnly, glancing at me and looking abruptly away. Then he clicked his case shut and hurried out the door, as if afraid I'd change my mind. Lifting a slat of the half-closed blinds, I watched him make his way along the front walk with the sample case pulling him to one side. At the sidewalk he stopped, put down his case next to the sugar maple, wiped his jacket sleeve across his forehead, and gazed up the block as if he were the new boy in school, getting ready to cross the school yard, where faces were already turning to stare at him. For a moment he looked back at my house. When he saw me watching him, he grinned suddenly, then frowned and jerked his head away. With a sharp snap I let the blind-slat drop.
I had no interest in mirror polish. I placed the bottle in a drawer of the hutch, where I kept extra flashlight batteries, packages of light bulbs, and an unused photograph album, and gave no more thought to it.
Early one morning, a week or so later, I stepped over to the oval mirror in the upstairs hall, as I did every morning before leaving for work. As I tugged down the sides of my suit jacket and smoothed my tie, I noticed a small smudge on the glass, near my left shoulder. It had probably been there for years, ever since I'd brought the mirror down from my parents' attic, along with a faded armchair and my grandmother's couch with the threadbare arms. I tried to recall whether I had ever cleaned the oval mirror before, whether I had ever bothered to dust the old mahogany frame carved with leaves and flowers. I understood that I was having these thoughts only because of the stranger with the bony fingers and the worn-down heels, and as I went down to the hutch I felt a burst of irritation as I heard him say, "This is your lucky day."
Upstairs I pulled a tissue from the box in the bathroom and unscrewed the top of the brown bottle. On the dark glass, in white capital letters, stood the words "MIRACLE POLISH." The liquid was thick, slow, and greenish white. I applied a bit to the tissue and wiped the smudge. When I lifted my hand I was almost disappointed to see that the spot was gone. I was aware of another thing: the rest of the mirror looked dull or tarnished. Had I really never noticed it before? With another dab of polish I set to work wiping the entire surface, right up to the curves of the frame. It was done quickly; I stepped back for a look. In the light from the overhead bulb with its old glass shade, mixed with sunlight from the window on the nearby landing, I saw myself reflected clearly. But it was more than that. There was a freshness to my image, a kind of mild glow that I had never seen before. I looked at myself with interest. This in itself was striking, for I wasn't the kind of man who looked at himself in mirrors. I was the kind of man who spent as little time as possible in front of mirrors, the kind of man who had a brisk and practical relation to his reflection, with its tired eyes, its disappointed shoulders, its look of defeat. Now I was standing before a man who resembled my old reflection almost exactly but who had been changed in some manner, the way a lawn under a cloudy sky changes when the sun comes out. What I saw was a man who had something to look forward to, a man who expected things of life.


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I have been working at Electronic Arts full-time for less than a year
Pros – A lot of cool perks, gymnasium, soccer field, a lot decent of local discounts.
Depending on your team, really fun work environment.
Fun work, and challenging. Learning new things every day.
Great team building events, almost every week.
Cons – Too much management.
Lack of creative control for developers.
Too much red tape to get a major decision done fast.
Advice to Senior Management – Listen a little closer to the consumers
Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend
I worked at Electronic Arts as a contractor for more than a year
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Learn more
- View Power Systems brochure (1.6MB)
- Compare Power servers side by side
- Compare Power servers to Sun and HP
- Read more client success stories (US)
- Cloud ready - dynamic efficiency
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- Optimised for compute intensive workloads
- Delivered with a superior client experience
- Built on IBM® POWER, virtualised with PowerVM
- Enterprise systems, entry systems and systems for High Performance Computing (HPC)
- Industry solutions based on IBM AIX, IBM i, Linux®
- Broad range of IBM Systems Software.
Smarter Computing
Today, we are in the midst of a technology shift driving growth and innovation. Cloud, analytics, social business, and mobile solutions aren't simply remaking computing, they are remaking business. These new applications are driving the huge growth in data volumes and variety and the need for systems with the compute intensive performance to process it. This new era represents an opportunity for organisations to reshape the value they deliver, but cost, complexity and risk are standing in the way. So how can companies make sure their IT infrastructure is ready now for what's next?
At IBM, we believe there's an answer - we call it Smarter Computing - the IT infrastructure that enables the opportunities presented on a smarter planet. It's a strategy that leverages cloud to speed time to market and improve efficiency, that unlocks the power of big data to deliver more actionable insight and secures critical information to reduce risk and help business enhance their compliance policies.
Cloud ready - dynamic efficiency
More than 70 percent of the typical IT budget is tied up in operations and maintenance. Cloud server technologies can help improve IT operations efficiency to enable companies to invest in business innovation. Through its PowerVM virtualisation software, IBM Power Systems provides dynamic efficiency for a cloud infrastructure. PowerVM virtualisation provides intelligent, dynamic resource allocation for rapid response to workload demands, enabling consistently high service levels across hundreds of virtual workloads on a single system.
Data ready - business analytics
As businesses react to the explosive growth of data, they need to store it, secure it and most importantly, extract actionable insight from it. IBM Power Systems are designed for the compute intensive performance demands of database and business analytics workloads, enabling faster business insights to be realised from processing structured and unstructured data in real time.
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The evolution of highly networked, data-intensive workloads has introduced significant security risks to IT infrastructures. The increasing prevalence of social, mobile, virtualisation and cloud technologies present a profound security challenge. IBM Power Systems help companies enhance their security and compliance practices with policy-based PowerSC software to simplify security and lower compliance costs.
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IBM has a full range of Power Systems servers, compute nodes and blades, each of which delivers leadership compute intensive performance and scalability in its class. A totally integrated approach to the design, development and testing of each and every Power server, blade or compute node ensures the resiliency required for today's IT infrastructure.
All Power Systems server models include innovative reliability, availability and serviceability features that help avoid unplanned downtime. With Capacity on Demand (CoD), Hot-Node Add and Active Memory Expansion, Power Systems enterprise servers ensure businesses can keep their most important applications available, even as they add capacity to handle new business demands.
IBM offers a full range of IBM Power Systems software technologies that enable businesses to fully exploit Power Systems servers. Designed and optimised specifically for Power Systems, IBM's offerings include IBM PowerVM virtualisation software, IBM PowerHA software for high availability (HA), PowerSC software for security and compliance, and IBM Systems Director with IBM Active Energy Manager for platform and energy management. IBM's integrated approach to developing the systems and software together enables high system utilisation, high resiliency and simplified management. In addition, IBM Power Systems offers thousands of popular industry applications from independent software vendors (ISVs) running on a choice of AIX, IBM i and Linux operating systems.
Contact IBM
- E-mail IBM
- Find a business partner
or call IBM at
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Deliver better insights
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Improving scalability and performance with SAP applications and IBM cloud-based solutions
Siam Commercial Bank (00:04:04)
Becoming the "bank of choice" through IT and client service transformation
Client optimises SAP applications (US)
Move to POWER7 from HP - lowers costs, improves business performance. Read the Bathwick analysis


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The Dawson County High School Lady Tiger softball team is headed to the state sectionals. The Lady Tigers picked up wins over Oglethorpe County, Jefferson and Jackson County to pave their way into the playoffs.
The coach's adage: "Play through the buzzer until you hear a referees whistle" was never more evident than on Friday night at Tiger Stadium.
Dawson County High School cross country teams competed in a very large field Oct. 4 at the Runners Fit Mountain Invitational held at Unicoi State Park.
The Dawson County High School varsity softball team finished its regular season with a loss to Fannin County, 2-0 on senior night, before rebounding for a 6-4 win over Banks County last week. The Lady Tigers regular season record is 11-11-1.
When the final buzzer sounded on Friday night, something happened at Tiger Stadium that hadn't occurred since Aug. 29, 2008 when Dawson County defeated visiting Lumpkin County 26-23 in double overtime.
The junior varsity Lady Tiger softball team captured first place last Saturday at a tournament held at North Hall High School in Gainesville.
Head Coach Jimmy Pruett's Dawson County Lady Tiger softball team played some pretty tough competition last week. The Lady Tigers finished the week with a 2-2-1 record.
Head Coach Nickie Rogers' junior varsity softball team improved its record to 5-2 after picking up two wins last week.
The junior varsity boys and girls cross country teams competed at East Jackson High School in the 5K Eagle Run on Sept. 18.
The Dawson County High School football team will try to rebound this week after a difficult start to the season.
The Dawson County Lady Tiger softball team picked up two important Region 8-AA wins during the past week. On Tuesday, the Lady Tigers defeated Banks County, 7-2, at home and then on Thursday the team defeated Rabun County, 5-2.
Head Coach Jed Lacey, current head boys' soccer coach, has been named the new girls head soccer coach at Dawson County High School. Lacey has had a successful run as boys' coach at the school with two runs in the state tournament. In his second year the Tigers were in the Sweet 16.
Madalyn Walters captured first place at East Jackson High School on Sept. 18.
Turnovers played a key role in Chestatee's 55-7 win over Dawson County on Friday night.
Head coach Jimmy Pruett's Dawson County Lady Tiger softball team had a busy and eventful week. On Tuesday the team traveled to Blue Ridge for a game against Region 8-AA foe Fannin County. The Lady Tigers came out on the short end of an 8-inning, 3-2 loss to the Lady Rebels.
The Tigers picked up their fifth straight win with no losses following a come from behind 5-2 win over Gilmer County in Ellijay on March 5.
The run of Lady Tigers basketball came to a halt in Madison on Feb. 24 against a very strong Morgan County team.
The Dawson County boys' basketball season has come to an end. The Tigers ran into a very good Cedar Grove basketball team Feb. 25 in Ellenwood and fell 62-33.
The Dawson County baseball team is off to a great start. The Tigers, under first year head coach Thad Burgess, are currenlty 3-0 with wins at East Jackson Feb. 26, 13-0, and Chestatee on March 1, 10-2.
The Dawson County 12 and under all stars basketball team has done it again. The team won the GRPA District 7 Class B tournament March 1 and will compete in the GRPA State Tournament on March 7 and 9.
The No. 5 Class AAA Lady Tigers soccer team picked up two wins last week against Pickens County, 8-0, and Rabun County, 4-0.
The Dawson County varsity boys' soccer team improved its record to 3-1 with wins over Pickens County, 7-0, and Rabun County, 6-0, last week.
Dawson County High School varsity girls basketball coach Steve Sweat said at the beginning of the season that he anticipated Region 7-AAA to be one of the toughest in the state. Sweat proved to be right, as all four teams from the region advanced to the "Sweet Sixteen" round of the state tourney Feb. 21 and 22.
Region 7-AAA defeated all four teams from Region 5-AAA; East Hall defeated North Murray, 61-36, Buford won over Ringgold, 64-29, North Hall edged No. 1-seed Sonoraville, 62-53, and in the biggest game of all, Dawson County defeated a very talented Cartersville team, on ...
The Dawson County varsity boys' soccer team, ranked No. 8 in Class AAA, defeated North Forsyth in Coal Mountain, 2-0 on Feb. 21.
It was a scoreless battle in the first half, but that soon changed with a goal by Tiger Brandon Lund on an assist by Cole Edwards at the 33:33 mark of the second half.
Chants of "Sweet 16" rocked Ford E. Phillips Gymnasium on Friday night. The Dawson County Tigers punched their ticket to the next round of the state basketball playoffs with a 55-43 win over Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe.
Dawson County controlled the tempo in the first quarter and took a 6-4 lead with 3:16 remaining in the quarter on a made shot by Lucas Pain. The Tigers never surrendered that lead.
Tiger Gavin Brown was crowned champion at the State Traditional Wrestling Championships on Feb. 22. The tournament was a one-day event held at Buford High School.
Brown, who wrestles at 182 pounds, opened the tournament with a 4-1 decision over Isaiah Hale from North Hall. With the win, Brown advanced to the semi-finals.
The Dawson County High School varsity baseball team recorded several firsts for the season on opening day Feb. 19.
The team picked up its first win of the season, head coach Thad Burgess picked up his first win as coach and pitcher Logan Burt recorded his first win from the mound.
Contents of this site are © Copyright 2014 Dawsonnews, Dawsonville, GA. All rights reserved. Privacy policy and Terms of service


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Glover, Smith Each Take Gold at 2012 NACAC Championships
July 7, 2012
Follow @ISURedbirds Tweet #ISUATH
GUANAJUATO, Mexico - Illinois State junior throwers Tim Glover and Brittany Smith each won gold at the 2012 North American Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Under-23 Championships, as each competed for Team USA last evening. Smith took control in the shot put, while Glover claimed his in the javelin.
Smith got it rolling for the Redbirds, as she was the first to compete for Team USA in the hammer throw. She managed a throw just under her personal-best of 224-06, finishing second for a silver medal. Her throw of 220-01 (67.10m) is the second furthest of her career and good enough for Team USA to finish one-two atop the podium, as teammate Amanda Bingson of UNLV took first (234-02/71.39m).
Later in the evening, Smith took to the shot put ring, throwing 55-10.50 (17.03m) to capture her second medal of the championships and first gold of her career. That throw was just three feet off her personal-best and seven inches further than Team USA teammate and runner up Alyssa Hasslen (55-03.75/16.86m) of Arizona.
At the same time as Smith was throwing the shot put, Glover was on the javelin runway, redeeming himself from a disappointing sixth-place performance at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials a week ago. Glover mustered a throw of 256-10 (78.28m), beating Olympic Trials Champion Sam Humphreys (252-09/77.04m) of Texas A&M for the gold.
This is the most medals the Redbirds have accumulated at one time at an international competition, and the first golds of the competition since the origination of the NACAC Championships.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, TRC gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.


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King & Queen Crowns
Designate a student as King or Queen for the day! Designed to go with the Royal This Week poster.
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Committee on Medical Education
About the Committee
The MSS Committee on Medical Education (CME) functions as think-tank for the AMA-MSS on issues relating to medical education. We remain informed on the latest trends emerging in the field of medical education, and relay those issues to the Governing Council and the MSS Assembly. In addition to developing reports and resolutions on important medical education issues, our committee works closely with the AMA medical student representatives to various committees such as the LCME, NBME, and CME, as well as the MSS Assembly.
Committee Members
Grayson Armstrong, Chair
The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Inna Hadass, Vice Chair
University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine
Bradley Burmeister
Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Francis Deng
Washington University in Saint Louis School of Medicine
Dan Ebner
Universtity of Toledo College of Medicine
Shiv Gaglani
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Humera Hazari
University of Toledo College of Medicine
Emma Johnson
University of New Mexico School of Medicine
Caitlin Martin
Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Daniel Myers
University of South Florida Health Morsani College of Medicine
Nathanial Nolan
University of Missouri - Columbia School of Medicine
Christian Pulcini
Tufts University School of Medicine
Daniel Young
Eastern Virginia Medical School
The Committee on Medical Education has prepared a number of issue briefs to provide medical students with information about the most important issues pertaining to medical education. Please contact us with any questions or suggestions for future issue brief topics.
Get Involved
We encourage you to get involved with our committee. If you have concerns about the future of medical education, ideas for programming, need more information about a specific issue, have any questions regarding medical education issues or programming, please contact us. We look forward to providing you with the information you need about key medical education issues and hearing what you have to say those issues.


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Austin >Beauty > Michi Lafary at Luxe Apothetique Salon & Spa
11501 Century Oaks Ter, Austin, TX | Directions 7875830.402219 -97.725861
Neighborhoods: North Burnet - Gateway, North Burnet
Provided by CityGrid
Please mention this at time of service!
Michi is the best hairdresser that I have been to! I can always trust that my cut and color will look great and last until my next appointment.
I am probably THE most difficult picky client to please. And, yet, Michi makes me happy every time I leave her chair. It was by chance I met her and have been using her for almost a year a now. I have no plans on switching to anyone else either. I have thick curly unruly hair, that I get colored, highlighted, straightened, and, all in one sitting. Talk about a full order, but, she does the job perfect each and every time. She is totally attentive to what I "want" and what "safe & healthy" for my hair. I was also able to finally convince my boyfriend to go see her. He was one of those guys who got any $15 place to cut his hair and just wouldnt care how he looked. But now, he actually makes appointments monthly and loves the way he looks when he leaves! He has NEVER in his life had a "stylist" and is loving it. She is definitely skilled in all areas of the salon, and highly valued with us.
Michi works miracles every time I sit in her chair! I found her after a new style & color at another pricey salon. It was a disaster, but Michi recreated a hair style I loved and wore 2 more years. She is artistically innovative and really listens to what you want. Michi will give you all the time you need & even texts to see if all going well with your hair and if you are pleased. What more could a girl want!
Michi is simply a wonderful stylist. I have literally lived all over the country, and have never found a stylist as talented and professional as she. Not only can Michi give you any look you want (from traditional to trendy) but she goes to great lengths (no pun intended) to make sure you are happy with the results! When it comes to customer service, she is tops - as soon as you enter the salon, she greets you like an old friend, listens to whatever crazy idea you have for your new style (but keeps the integrity and health of your hair in mind) and makes it happen. Some stylists can either do a good cut, OR a good color, but Michi can do it all, and do it all to PERFECTION. If this is not enough, she is located in a very cool wine and cookie serving salon with an awesome boutique up front. If you are looking for a stylist in the Austin area, look no further.
I've been going to Michi for years and love her work. :) She's great to talk to as well!
Michi is a great hair stylist and person! I have been going to Michi for about 6 years and she has always done great for my curly hair. Michi is very professional, knowledgeable and makes sure I am happy with my hair. I whole heartily recommend Mich to anyone that wants great hair!
I have been going to Michi since 2002 on the recommendation of a friend who has been going for even longer. I am naturally a brunette but like to have red hair and I have had all shades of red/orange/purple over the last ten years. I have received so many compliments that I have kept her cards to hand out to perspective clients. Michi always has new ideas or techniques to try and I am never disappointed. One time my boss told me that my hair color was unprofessional; this was a day right after it was dyed so I had to go back and get a "milder" color. But the great thing was Michi was understanding and re-dyed my hair for free. Michi rocks!
Michi has been cutting my hair since 2004. I have followed her all over Austin to continue to get great haircuts. I consistently get compliments for those cuts -even when they grow out someone will comment that it now looks like a new style! She is easy to work with and her work - she listens to questions and concerns about what will work with my stubborn hair. The feedback is always honest and helpful.
Both my husband and I go to Michi to have our hair done. My hair is very fine and thin and challenging to work with. In addition, I am very particular about how I like my highlighting done. Michi always listens carefully to what I want, extra color in a cowlick, finely woven highlights for a more natural look and has even gone so far as to mix an extra color for me so that I can achieve the exact look I want. We are both very happy with the work she does on our hair each and every time we visit her!
Michi at Luxe Apothetique best hair salon in town!. Michi is a truly talented and professional stylist. She listens to her clients, makes suggestions and has the uncanny ability to ask just the right questions. She seems to be able to do anything, color, long cuts, short cuts you name it she can do it! Best of all, she gave me the hair cut I wanted! Exactly what I wanted too. I have very short hair and a lot of stylists would never like to go that short but she didn't mind and cut it without a problem! She is awesome ;)
Toni Edwards
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Whether you are an Orthodox Christian seeking to renew your faith or someone unfamiliar with but interested in Orthodoxy, we encourage you to visit our parish and to learn more about the rich traditions and faith of the Orthodox Church.
AnnouncementsThe Sisterhood of the Russian Orthodox Church of All Russian Saints is cooking for you
A Traditional Russian Easter Feast
Through our hard work and care your festive table is set!
- Kulich
- Easter Baskets
- PaschaFor more information on the treats and prices, please click the flyer to the left.To order, please fill out an Order Form, available at the candle kiosk or call Kate at (949)326-8239 or Sasha at (303)746-5012.
Read article - PREPARING FOR CONFESSIONNote: Confessions are heard during every Vigil service (the evening before the Liturgy).Dates listed are according to the civil calendar.
April 18 - Great Friday - 9:00 a.m. Royal Hours
- 12:30 p.m. Vespers of Epitaphion, Compline
- 5:30 p.m. Confession
- 6:30 p.m. Matins
On Great Friday we commemorate the holy and saving passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who for our sake willingly endured spitting, beating, blows, mockery, and death on the cross.
April 19 - Great Saturday
- 9:30 a.m. Liturgy of St. Basil with Vespers- 12:30 p.m. Blessing of Kulich and baskets- 10:00 p.m. Reading of the Acts of the Apostles- 11:00 p.m. Blessing of Kulich and baskets- 11:15 p.m. Midnight Service
On this day is commemorated the Lord's resting in the tomb and His descent into Hades.
April 20 – The Pascha / The Resurrection of our Lord
- 12:00 a.m. (midnight) Paschal Matins & Liturgy- 2:00 p.m. Paschal Vespers
This is the most joyous and triumphant of feasts, on which we recall the great occurrence of the arising of the Lord Jesus Christ from the tomb after three days, after His crucifixion, death on the cross, and burial. Christ arose early in the morning, after the Sabbath had passed, on the first day of the week, from which this day received our name for it, "Voskresenie" ("Resurrection"). Christians, celebrating the New Testament Pascha, exult in the deliverance through Christ of all the people from slavery to the devil and in the granting of Life and everlasting bliss. Pascha is the essence of our faith: for Christ rose from the dead, and we will rise from the dead. Therefore Pascha is the Feast of feasts and the Triumph of triumphs, and therefore the services of this Feast are exceptionally magnificent and especially triumphant. Read more...


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Washington, D.C.–based Associated Luxury Hotels International has acquired Chicago-based Hinton + Grusich, combining two long-established hotel representation companies that serve the site selection needs of meeting, incentives, convention, and exhibition planners. As of January 1, 2011, the Hinton + Grusich team became part of ALHI, expanding the sales network for the 130 four- and five-diamond properties in ALHI's membership portfolio.
"It's a big day for us," says David Gabri, president and CEO of ALHI. "Both companies started in 1986—ALHI in Washington, D.C., and H+G in Chicago—we are both 25 years old this year, and we are very excited to be together now, setting the framework for the next 25 years of serving our clients."
The primary driver of ALHI's acquisition of H+G, says Gabri, was "to bring these two salesforces together, and put us in alignment to serve the marketplace" after having been "respectful competitors" for the past 25 years. Clients who have a sales contact from ALHI and one from H+G, says Gabri, will work with the blended salesforce to determine the best "single point of contact" going forward. "Hopefully we will be saving them time and energy while maintaining the same relationships they are used to," he adds.
"The meetings, incentives, and conventions business continues to be relationship-driven rather than transaction-based," Gabri says. "Both of these companies have deep-rooted relationships."
He also notes that both ALHI and H+G were launched as dues-based organizations, with their member hotels funding the site research and booking services performed by the national sales representatives on behalf of their clients, who do not pay for those services.
As for H+G's former portfolio of more than 120 hotels, Gabri says some of them will be invited to join the ALHI portfolio. Decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis, through discussions with the directors of marketing and general managers at H+G hotels that meet the ALHI criteria for quality and a focus on meetings, conventions, and incentive travel. Some of these talks already are under way, he said.
Leadership Announcements
Kevin Hinton has been named executive vice president of ALHI; Bill Grusich, CMP, senior vice president; and Kathy Kozminske, vice president. The majority of the staff of H+G are being added to the ALHI national sales organization.
David Gabri remains president and CEO of ALHI, which will expand its Chicago office to accommodate employees in the H+G Chicago office, which is closing as of January 31. Stacy Lucherini, regional vice president for ALHI Midwest and Canada, will remain in leadership of those regions. Chris Riccardi and Ashly Balding will lead the ALHI West and Southeast regions, and ALHI's senior executive team of Don Macumber and Mike Coutu remains unchanged.
"We're very proud to be joining together with such an outstanding and respected organization as ALHI," said Kevin Hinton in a press release. "Rather than compete for the same business, we are now able to combine efforts and work together to better serve the business community and the hotel and resort members of ALHI. We are all excited."
With the addition of Hinton + Grusich, ALHI's national sales professionals staff expands to nearly 50 representatives in 16 offices, including Washington, D.C.; Atlanta; Boston; Chicago; Dallas; Denver; Kansas City, Mo.; Louisville, Ky.; New York City; North Carolina; Orange County, Calif.; Orlando; Philadelphia; Richmond, Va.; San Diego; and Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Find the sales contacts in your area at the ALHI Web site.


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Slideshow posted in Photos | Tuesday, January 03, 2012
42 of 192:
'NCIS Los Angeles' star Eric Christian Olsen, 35, wed 'House Bunny' actress Sarah Wright, 29, on Saturday, June 23, 212 at the actor's ranch near Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
The couple met in 2006 on the set of the FOX series, 'The Loop.' Olsen proposed to Wright while they were on vacation in Punta Mita, Mexico last year. This is Olsen's first marriage and Wright's second. The actress was married to A.J. Mason from 2005 until their divorce in 2006.
(Pictured: Cast member Eric Christian Olsen, right, and Sarah Wright, left, attend the premiere of 'License to Wed' Monday, June 25, 2007, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles.)
(AP Photo / Phil McCarten))


text: Danielle Peck spent her first trip to this year's Wrangler National Finals Rodeo with a video crew, capturing a behind-the-scenes look at the rodeo for Roper Apparel & Footwear. She interviewed the Ropers Elite Team, took a tour of the Roper cowboy marketplace and covered the happenings at the Roper Booth at Mandalay Bay. She [...] Read More