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US builders boost spending 1.4 percent in OctoberBy MARTIN CRUTSINGER
The Associated Press | December 04,2012AP PHOTO
Ford Smith works on a new home under construction in Chicago. U.S. builders increased their spending on construction projects in October by the largest amount in five months, led by a surge in housing.WASHINGTON U.S. builders increased their spending on construction projects in October by the largest amount in five months, led by a surge in housing.
The Commerce Department said Monday that construction spending rose 1.4 percent in October. It was the largest gain since a 1.7 percent increase in May.
The increase raised spending to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $872.1 billion. That is nearly 17 percent higher than a 12-year low hit in February 2011.
Still, even with the gain, the level of spending on construction remains only about half of whats considered healthy.
Housing construction spending jumped 3 percent in October. Nonresidential building rose 0.3 percent. The government said Superstorm Sandy, which hit in late October, had only a minimal effect on the figures.
Sales of new homes fell slightly in October, dragged lower by steep declines in the Northeast partly related to Superstorm Sandy. New-home sales were still 17 percent higher in October than the same month a year ago.
Strength in home building has been one of the bright spots for the economy this year. But overall construction is still being offset by weakness in commercial real estate and tight state and local government budgets.
The strong 3 percent increase in housing construction spending in October left the rate of annual spending 19 percent above the level of October 2011.
The housing market appears to be withstanding fears that the economy will go over a fiscal cliff next year without a budget deal to prevent tax increases and spending cuts from kicking in, said Paul Dales, senior U.S. economist at Capital Economics. Dales noted that residential spending over the past three months has jumped at a 29 percent annual rate.
The pace of spending on nonresidential construction is now 10.7 percent above its level a year ago. Spending on hotel construction and shopping centers both rose in October.
Government construction spending barely rose, to a level thats still below its rate of a year ago. Public projects have been under stress because of budget problems at all levels of government.
Federal construction spending rose 10.7 percent in October. But spending fell slightly among state and local governments.
From July through September, residential construction grew at an annual rate of 14.2 percent. Housing construction is on track to contribute to economic growth this year the first time thats happened in the five years since the housing bubble burst.
Though new homes represent only a fraction of the housing market, they have an out-size impact on the economy. Each home built creates an average of three jobs for a year and generates about $90,000 in tax revenue, according to statistics from the National Association of Home Builders.
Builders are increasingly confident that the housing recovery will endure. A measure of their confidence rose in November to the highest level in 6½ years. And builders broke ground on new homes and apartments in October at the fastest pace in more than four years.
But there are factors dragging on the housing recovery. Many Americans, particularly first-time homebuyers, are unable to qualify for a mortgage. And many cant afford larger down payments that are being required by banks.
While housing has strengthened this year, the broader economy has lagged behind. The government reported last week that overall economic growth increase to an annual rate of 2.7 percent in the July-September quarter, up from 1.3 percent in the April-June quarter.
But through the first nine months of this year, economic growth has averaged just 2 percent, far below what is needed to make a significant dent in unemployment.
Many analysts think growth is slowing in the current October-December quarter to below 2 percent. The disruptions caused by Superstorm Sandy weighed on consumer spending in October.
And many consumers and businesses may also be worried about automatic tax increases and spending cuts that are scheduled to kick in next year, if Congress and the Obama administration fail to reach a deal before then to avert them.MORE IN National / World BusinessWASHINGTON U.S. Full StoryNEW YORK Brooklyn Roasting Co. Full StoryWASHINGTON Pressure is on Congress to act in the next two weeks on several problems, from... Full Story
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Mastering Pencak Silat 5 DVD set with Herman SuwandaList Price: $115.95$99.95This five DVD series explores the art and science of this Indonesian combat method. Created by Pendekar Suwanda in Indonesia, this work was filmed exclusively as a reference for all instructors in his Made Muda system... Learn More
Village of the Keris: Art of Bun Dai Sara DVDList Price: $39.95$29.95Village of the Keris: The Art of Bun Dai Sara is a unique journey into the south of Thailand where martial arts practice has been deeply shrouded in secrecy for hundreds of years. In this woven fabric of ancient sila systems, nothing is more mysterious or revered than the distinctive dagger known as Learn More
Ultimate Martial Arts DVD with Pascal GillesList Price: $36.95$29.95This DVD presents a bare-hand and armed work approach in various disciplines (Penchak Silat, Kali, Jeet Kune Do, Dog Brothers Martial Arts & Free Fight).
Our work is mainly focused on self defense and does not have a purely sportive purpose. Learn More
Pencak Silat: To Face Any Type of Aggression DVD By Eric ChatelierList Price: $35.95$29.95More than a simple compilation of techniques, this DVD teaches you how to react according to the position or to the reactions of your adversary, and presents to you the numerous options of the Pencak Silat : strikes, locks, strangulation... Learn More
The Fighting Forms of Kuntao-Silat Book and 2 DVD set with Bob OrlandoList Price: $89.95$69.95Before you skip over it, wait: this isn't just another forms video. In fact, it's nothing like any form you've ever seen. Learn More
Pencak Silat: Defense Against Blades DVD with Syofyan NadarList Price: $39.95$29.95Syofyan Nadar, famous Pencak Silat Indonesian expert, inspired by Harimau Singgalang (Sumatra), presents in this DVD all the efficacy of his style in matter of self defense against knives. Learn More
Pencak Silat: Jungle Warrior DVD with Syofyan NadarList Price: $39.95$29.95Syofyan Nadar, a master of the Pencak Silat Indonesian Federation shows you in this DVD a wide range of formidable techniques mainly resulting from Sunua Bayang style. Learn More
Pencak Silat: 5 Experts 5 Styles DVD 1: Be a Great WarriorList Price: $39.95$29.95For the first time world-wide, discover in one DVD 5 masters derived from 5 great Pencak Silat's styles (Bayang, P.S.T.D, Panglipur, Ciung Wanara & Bakti Negara's styles). Learn More
Pencak Silat: 5 Experts 5 Styles DVD 2: Be a Great WarriorList Price: $39.95$29.95In this second volume, watch once again the 5 Great masters derived from 5 great Pencak Silat's styles (Bayang, P.S.T.D, Panglipur, Ciung Wanara & Bakti Negara's styles). They even go further in the Pencak Silat's techniques, for you to get all the knowledge to master those 5 styles and to know Learn More
Pencak Silat: Basis of Pencak Harimau DVD by 4 ExpertsList Price: $39.95$29.95Discover the Harimau's style from the West of Sumatra with 4 Indonesian masters. You will learn the basic breathings that allow you to develop the energy in each part of your body and their spectacular applications (coconut's breakage and how to hardening your body). Plus you will learn the Tiger's Jurus, extremely efficient for self-defense. Learn More

subset: commoncrawl


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It's not just New York state government that has spent itself into a deep hole filled with red ink. It seems state and local governments across the nation have been living beyond their means, according to this story in USA Today.
Even as the economy slides into recession, many state and local governments continue to spend freely and expand their workforces.
State and local spending jumped 7.4% in the third quarter compared with a year earlier, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reports. Hiring increased faster than in any sector except health care.
Total state and local revenue grew just 2.6% in the third quarter. Sales tax collections fell 0.6% as consumers cut spending.
New York's fiscal crunch - we're looking at $14 billion deficit over the balance of this budget year and next - means belt tightening not only at the state level, but in cities, towns, villages and school districts. Painful on one hand, but arguably long overdue.
State aid has enabled localities to keep spending in the style they're accustomed to. Consider this post and this post on how school districts this year used a record increase in state aid, and this post on how city government in Buffalo has intentionally made itself more and more reliant on state largess.
Without a sugar daddy in Albany, perhaps City Hall would bargain labor contracts that end the practice of employees gaming the pension system so retirement payments don't approach, and sometimes surpass, the paychecks of people when they were working. So far as I can tell, the recent settlement with the fire union that Byron Brown wants the Control Board to approve allows the abuse to continue.
taggedLocal Government | State government


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By Andrew Gans
06 Oct 2009
Python played the Ricardo Montalbán Theatre in Hollywood, CA, Sept. 23-Oct. 4. The New York engagement will continue through Oct. 10.
Eric Idle and B.T. McNicholl direct with musical direction by John Du Prez. The cast boasts Jeff B. Davis, Rick Holmes, Jane Leeves, Jim Piddock and Alan Tudyk.
The evenings celebrate 40 years of Monty Python's Flying Circus and the publication of "Monty Python Live!," a new book by the Pythons about their life on the road with the sketches they performed.
WestBeth Entertainment produces.
Town Hall is located at 123 West 43rd Street; for tickets visit www.ticketmaster.com or call (212) 307-4100.
For more information visit www.aneveningwithout.com.


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Availability: Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Tuscaloosa/Near University
Tuscaloosa hotel with a complimentary breakfast
Collect 200 points.*
Simply enter your Nectar card number on the confirmation page. Your points will be credited 30 days after your trip is complete. *Offers may apply
Situated in Tuscaloosa, this hotel is close to Coleman Coliseum, Paul W. Bryant Museum, and Alabama Museum of Natural History. Local attractions also include Denny Chimes and University of Alabama.
Hotel Features
A complimentary continental breakfast is available. Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Tuscaloosa/Near University also features complimentary wireless Internet access, a business center, and free self parking.
Room Amenities
Guestrooms have complimentary wireless Internet access, complimentary high-speed (wired) Internet access, and air conditioning; rooms also include climate control and premium bedding.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!
Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Tuscaloosa/Near University Amenities
- General
Public areas are equipped with complimentary high-speed wireless Internet access. Business-related amenities consist of a business center and small meeting rooms. A complimentary breakfast is offered each morning. This Tuscaloosa hotel also offers a fitness center, express check-in, and express check-out. Onsite self parking is complimentary.
Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Tuscaloosa/Near University is a smoke-free property.
- Business center
- Free breakfast
- Elevator/lift
- Express check-in
- Express check-out
- Fitness facilities
- Free Wi-Fi
- Meeting rooms
- Free self parking
- Smoke-free property
- Television in lobby
- Internet
Available in all rooms: Free Wi-Fi , Free wired high-speed Internet
Available in some public areas: Free Wi-Fi
- Parking
Free self parking
- Room Amenities
- Premium TV channels
- Premium bedding
- Climate control
- Air conditioning
- Free local calls
- Daily housekeeping
- Private bathroom
- Complimentary toiletries
- Hair dryer
- Shower/tub combination
- Iron/ironing board
- Desk
- Flat-panel TV
- Free Wi-Fi
- Free wired high-speed Internet
- Dining
Guests are offered a complimentary continental breakfast each morning.
- Recreation
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
- Golfing nearby
- Golf lessons available nearby
- Accessibility
To make requests for specific accessibility needs, complete the "Special or Accessibility Requests" section of "Trip Preferences" when you book your hotel.
- Accessibility equipment for the deaf
- Accessible bathroom
- Accessible path of travel
- Braille or raised signage
- Accessible parking
- In-room accessibility
Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Tuscaloosa/Near University Policies & Fees
- Check-in
Check-in time starts at 3 PM
- Check-out
Check-out time is 11 AM
- Pets
Pets allowed
- General
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on hotel policy.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card or cash deposit are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
- Fees
- The following fees and deposits are charged by the property at time of service, check-in, or check-out.
The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.
- Pet fee: USD 20 per pet, per day


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100 Students, Faculty Protest Award Given To Bush For Efforts To Fight HIV In Africa
About 100 students and faculty at the University of Denver and others protested against a decision by the university's international school to give a global service award Monday to former President George W. Bush.
Fast-Food Workers Stage Largest Protests Yet
Fast-food workers and their supporters beat drums, blew whistles and chanted slogans Thursday on picket lines in dozens of U.S. cities, marking the largest protests yet in their quest for higher wages.
Fast-Food Protests Under Way Across the U.S.
Fast-food protests are under way in cities including New York, Chicago and Detroit, with organizers expecting the biggest national walkouts yet in a demand for higher wages.
White House To Egypt: The 'World Is Watching'
The Obama administration is condemning Wednesday's violence in Egypt that has left nearly 150 people dead.
Protesters March in D.C. After Zimmerman Verdict
In the nation's capital, hundreds of people marched from Malcolm X Park to Howard University on Sunday in protest of the Zimmerman verdict.
CBS News: At Least 54 Dead In Clash Between Protesters, Security Forces
A reported 51 protesters and three members of the Egyptian police and army lost their lives in a clash with Islamist protesters following the ouster of President Mohammed Morsi – with death tolls possibly on the rise.
New Anti-Demonstration Rule at Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has come up with a new regulation banning demonstrations on its grounds.
Turkey Protests Uniting Fans Of Istanbul's 3 Rival Soccer Teams
The protests in Turkey have accomplished the seemingly impossible: uniting fans of Istanbul's three bitterly rival soccer teams.
Violence, Massive Protests Worsen In West Bank Ahead Of Secretary Kerry Peace Talks
The violence comes ahead of a visit to the region this weekend by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who hopes to find a formula for restarting peace negotiations in the coming months. President Barack Obama has decided to make a new attempt to revive talks after largely ignoring the Israel-Palestinian issue during his first term.
Tight Security, Protests Expected at Inauguration
Tea Party fervor has surged and waned in the past four years, Occupy encampments are long gone from parks in the nation's capital, and the crowd for President Barack Obama's second inauguration figures to be significantly smaller than the record-breaking turnout of 2009.


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Directions and Information to Warrenton Athletic ComplexFriday, August 26th, 2011
Warrenton Athletic Complex:
This 55-acre park is located just off of Highway 47, at the intersection of Hickory Lick Road and Jaspering Lane. City of Warrenton recreation programs take place at the Warrenton Athletic Complex. The Warrenton Athletic Complex is a great place to host a tournament.
The complex houses four lighted baseball/softball fields, in a wagon [...]


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Beach Driving - Off Road Insurance Issues and Solutions, Offroad Driving Tips and Techniques
Off Road Beach Driving, Recovery Tips and Insurance Quotes
Easy Ways To Order
Secure shopping area on this site.
Visit Our Shop
39A Neilson St Onehunga Auckland Ph 09-634-5005
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We Take Your Privacy
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for more info. Privacy Policy
Paul's Fishing Kites Copyright © 2002-09
Fish care - What to do after you catch a fish. If you catch your own fish the most important fish cleaning tool is a cooler or chilly bin with a slurry made from ice and a little water.
Saltwater ice mixed with a little seawater is best because it melts at below zero degrees and will chill fish very quickly.
Normal "Party Ice" is also very good and is available at most gas stations if you can't get salt ice.
The fillets from fish which have been chilled in an ice slurry immediately after capture will last three to four days longer than fish that have not been iced.
The results when cleaning cooking fish depends on the condition of the fish before you start. The fish above was "Iky Jime" killed (See Below), and slurried for two days before this photo was taken at the Chesters Fishing Contest - it looks
like it has just been caught! Clear full eyes, firm flesh and good color are the three main indicators of well looked after fish. Cleaning cooking fish looked after this well is a pleasure!
Commercial fisherman say every hour delay in icing fish results in one day less shelf life before it spoils.
How To Kill A Fish - Iki Jime Fish Tool
Cleaning fish tool number two is a sharp screwdriver, knife or "Iky Stick" and is used to kill the fish immediately after capture. Fish left to die or suffocate in a sack or fish bin build up a lot of lactic acid and waste products in the
The fillets from suffocated fish will have a stronger taste and be flaky or soft and mushy. To prevent this the fish is killed instantly by inserting a sharp knife or screwdriver in the spot marked X on the fish head in the fish photo below.
The blade is angled toward the brain which is in the center of the fish head at the end of the spine. The brain is in line with where the curve of the lateral line of the fish would meet a point behind the fishes eye. It is a bony structure and if the
iky tool is wriggled or inserted several times the fish will arch its back momentarily, then go completely limp - never to move again. If it moves you have not hit the spot. When done properly the color floods back into the fish within seconds.
After killing the fish put it straight into the cooler or chilly bin containing the ice slurry
How To Bleed A Fish
Not all fish should be bled and they need to be alive to succeed so don't Iki Jime them first.
Our most common panfish like snapper, gurnard, john dory, trevally, blue cod, hapuka and sea bass do not require bleeding. On the other hand I always bleed kahawai kept for cooking otherwise the taste is very strong.
The best way to bleed any fish is to lift the gill plate and insert a knife over the gill cluster and sever it completely. The fish will bleed out and die very quickly. After this rinse the blood off before putting the fish into the ice slurry in the
cooler or chilly bin.
Cleaning and Preparation of Fish >>> Fish Care >>>
Filleting A Fish Part 1 >>>Part 2 >>> Part 3 >>>
Skinning Fish >>> De Boning Fish Fillets
We are here to help.
For product info, advice or to send in fishing reports
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Funny DIY stories
Resene has gathered together some funny DIY stories from decorators for you to enjoy.
If you have a funny decorating story of your own to share we'd love to hear from you - submit your funny DIY story.
Thank you to all the adventurous DIYers who have sent tales of their exploits to us.
Painting the lounge, gnome-style?
Hot wired
Once he wanted to put our automatic door opener on the other shed door, so he went out there and cut the plug off. He was flung off the ladder and on to the concrete because "HE FORGOT TO TURN OFF THE POWER". Another time he was putting a plug in the hallway from a plug in the lounge. The wire was old and had frayed. He was thrown to the other end of the lounge and into our ranch-slider. On two other occasions while wiring the house and shed he has been thrown through the air.
My hubby needs to attempt some safer DIY projects. I want to do up our son's bedroom - what trouble can he possibly get up to painting? Worried But Loving Wife. From: Kirstin
Ladder slide
Power play
While intoxicated, the German climbed the ladder to cut some branches while my husband waited on the ground to navigate and stop branches landing on the road (the main road into Kawhia in fact!) They were on a roll until both made a mistake. They cut a branch and let it land on a powerline. The line snapped and was flashing around throwing sparks everywhere. My husband was in shock and could almost see his life flash before his eyes and the German was swearing in his native language.
Because these powerlines were the ones that ran into the Kawhia township it cut off the power into Kawhia for four hours until they were repaired. We were forced to pay the $800 fee for the call out and equipment. It was a costly lesson that it is sometimes best to call in the professionals rather than a Do It Yourself. From: Lynn
Doggy dilemma
His dog heard the ute go without him and, not wanting to miss anything, took a direct line to our place, through the swamp. As I arrived he was standing in the wet concrete. Needless to say he got a strong piece of abuse. The dog panicked and ran through the front door down to the far bedroom and I found him standing with muddy and concrete covered feet on my daughter's bed. He was cornered but no way was he going to surrender. I had to drive back and get his owner to retrieve him. Needless to say the clean up had become a major task and the concrete was going off rapidly. An hour or two later we all had a good laugh. From: Roger
Steady as she goes
Colour blind
Lunch time
Asleep on the job
Coming unstuck
Rock solid
Tile pile
White butt
Uncertain downpour
Bubble bubble toil and trouble
Fashionable before its time
Then there was the time when I came home from work to find the same mates (again on leave from the merchant navy and again a tad inebriated) had decided to help my dear husband remove a wall between a box room and a bedroom. Pity they didn't realise it was a supporting wall, as in supporting the roof! I'm glad I wasn't home for that one! By the time I saw it, most of the damage had been repaired and dear husband had resolved to never, ever again mention home improvement to his mates at the pub. It has worked, and we are still married! From: Lesley
Strip tease
On the safe side
Walk the plank
What goes up must come down
We hadn't actually left the house when the poor old ladder collapsed... then, re-equipped with a neighbour's ladder, he got started. We got out. On our return he took us in proudly to show us his job. You should have seen his face when he opened the door with a flourish only to reveal the border all in a state of coming off the wall. Some of it had already curled up on the floor. He couldn't believe his eyes! As we wiped away tears of laughter, I explained to him that, "Some wallpaper borders are pre-pasted. some are not." So much for cheap wallpapers! It seemed that the wet border went up alright, but as the water dried out so it came down! The moral of the story (and useful Bonus Tips):
Sock stealer
Sprinkler shower
On edge
Patch work
Flying paint
If that wasn't bad enough - a week later Dad decided to touch up the outside frame of the kitchen window. He was painting away and then lost his footing. This time he was determined he was not going to spill any paint. One minute Dad was visible through the kitchen window, then he disappeared from view very quickly. We went rushing outside to see if he was okay (and to check the damage!). There he was lying on the ground flat on his back holding the can of paint upright with a big smile on his face - he managed to not spill one drop!! After that he was banned from doing any more painting - until we shifted! From: Lucy
Match that door
Foot fall
Hole in one
How hard could it be, after all, to get a phone connection into our study so we could have internet access? Deciding to run a phone cable through the roof from the phone jack in the garage, in order to feed it through the ceiling of our study, Richard ventured up the manhole in the garage roof with the phone cable and crawled along the narrow space towards the dining room. As I guided him towards the study, I received a great fright as I saw his foot come flying through the ceiling in the study and plaster flying everywhere. He had not realised that he was no longer walking along the beam. Managing to correct himself and regain his composure, Richard eventually fed the phone cable through to the study and then returned slowly to the entry-hole in the garage roof.
At this stage, I reminded him that he also needed to bring the other end of the cable back with him in order to plug that into the phone jack in the garage, rather than leaving it lying in the roof. When he did return the second time with the cable, the board and plaster he perched himself on in the garage gave way, dramatically increasing the size of the entry hole to the roof.
We now have an internet connection in the study... but we also have two damaged ceilings, Richard has a badly sprained arm that took the impact of his second fall, and, best of all, we have all our other DIY adventures to look forward to! From: Meredith
Phone home
Fit to drink?
Moving target
Of course, now there was nothing for me to stand on, and my momentum sent me falling to the ground, totally out of control. I smashed "head first" into my stereo system in the corner of the room. Fortunately, I wasn't badly hurt, although when my wife saw the blood streaming from my right ear she did scream rather loudly! When I cleared some of the blood away, we could see I had ripped a piece off the top of my ear. My wife does not drive, so I had to drive us both down to Accident and Emergency, get a tetanus shot and a couple of stitches in my ear!
The DIY lesson we learnt from this is, don't fool around, and make sure you have all the right equipment before you start! From: Mark
Hitting the spot
Bowled over
Blow out
So, around $12,000 later we have run out of money, the bathroom has been successfully altered but not decorated, the bedroom is successfully altered but not completely decorated, the lounge ceiling and carpet have been removed, the fire surround stripped, the doors and frames partially stripped and the damaged walls replastered. No walls have been moved, no windowseat and bookcases built. We have used hundreds of screws trying to stop the floorboards from squeaking (unsuccessfully), but THE NEW CARPET IS STILL NOT LAID!
What started out as a simple replacement of carpet (to be done by someone else) has led from the redecoration of one room to the structural alteration and redecoration (eventually) of three rooms. It has meant months or perhaps years of no more free weekends or evenings, sore shoulders from too much sanding and a garden overrun with weeds due to neglect.
The moral of this story is NEVER BUY CARPET ON IMPULSE! You never know where it might lead. From: Nichol Family
Double time
The weekend after he left I decided to do it myself. I am not that flash a painter, but I thought I would have a go. I thought I did a pretty good job and it did seem to brighten the room up a bit. Two days before he was due back I got a phone call at work. It was my companion. He said he had come back early and had a surprise for me. When I got home he led me to the laundry, where the smell of paint hit me. The welding job had finished early. He felt bad about our disagreement, and had decided to surprise me by painting the laundry. "A bloody twit did the last job, it was really sloppy," he said. Do you think I could convince him I painted it while he was away? From: E Regan
Twinkle twinkle little star
It was supposed to be a surprise for her to see her favourite colour on the wall, but then it was ruined by white dots. I knew I had to make up an excuse and fast, so with my intelligent mind I came up with these words 'Honey remember on our first date when we sat underneath the stars, well that is what this is so we can always remember that night'. Immediately she blushed brightly and she asked me to marry her! I've always thanked Jeremy for doing what he did and he is my best man. From: G Williams
Paw paint
Behind closed door
Red handed
Paw painting
Graffiti artiste
Expect the unexpected
by two
Quick change
'Til the cows come home
The hole story
Paint makeup
Not your average gem
No point crying over spilt milk
My advice is: 1) Don't send your wife to buy paint, 2) Don't try painting with milk, and 3) You get what you pay for. From: Giles
Camera shy
Concrete muffins
Frustration took over as the effects of the time and attempts at hanging the impossible 8' length began to show on the paper. In fury I crunched the large strip of wallpaper up into a ball and threw it on the floor -not a good thing to do when I was already short on wallpaper. I sat and looked at that wall and the strip of paper that had defeated me. In good Kiwi fashion, the jack of all trades/Kiwis can do anything vein pulsated in me. I picked up the ball of mushy wallpaper and began to unravel it. I climbed the stepladder once more. Carefully and slowly I smoothed the creases against the wall working my way down the steps as I went. I stood back and looked at this final attempt. The strip of wallpaper was up in the right place. It was at this point, I learned how forgiving damp pasted wallpaper is. It was almost impossible to see the abuse that had been rendered to that strip but for two small permanent creased marks in just two small places.
I completed the room (it looked great) before venturing forth and wallpapering my son's room. Many home renovation jobs have been tackled since giving this Kiwi a sense of pride in her own DIY. From: Alyse
Cover up
We didn't get any replacement carpet however as it was too old, so we decided that this was the time to hire the floor sander and hit the rimu floors. After carefully filling the nails in the main room, we ran out of filler and bought some more from a certain warehouse. My wife spent more time filling, and waiting.... and waiting... for the potent smelling filler to set. It seemed to have set, so she began to sand, but the filler smudged everywhere across the nice rimu - any varnish over this and it would look like smears. So she had to get it out of the nail holes and replace it with the correct stuff.
There were no available professional floorsanders able to help, so my wife hired a floorsanding machine. It must have been quite a sight! If it hit the wall, then the sand belt would rip off, and it would take the next five minutes to unscrew the $5 paper, and put on a fresh one. There weren't many surplus ones to return to the hire centre, let's just put it that way!
On varnishing day, it was a stinking hot day and the one detail we had forgotten was to varnish when it's not too hot. As we mopped it on with speedbrushes, it began to set really fast, "Quick" said hubby to wife "It's setting, and quick, there's some pouring down the hole in the floor." Not knowing much about varnishing, we thought the next coat would cover up the diagonal strokes you could see in one area, however three coats later, it didn't. The rest of the job looked pretty good with the lovely varnish, but we now have a mat over the less than perfect area, and hope that in a few years we will have another go, and this time be a little wiser. From: Phil
Power cut
Clowning around
Overnight clean
Limited shelf life
Quickly I responded to seize the moment, so to speak, and said we really need a shelf behind the door in the toilet to put spare toilet rolls and smellies and so on. Now being a basic 60s house, our toilet is the size of a postage stamp and approximately 6 feet long by the width of the door itself.
My girlfriend and I left knowing the task was not too daunting and we returned some six hours later to a tiny voice calling from the toilet vicinity. He had erected the shelf, very straight, and very secure behind the toilet door... but the width of the shelf prevented him from opening the door and he was trapped. My girlfriend and I rolled about the hallway laughing. What I really meant was for him to put the shelf above the door, which is behind as you walk in.
Now we sit and look at the two holes in the door and can laugh. (Dads don't try this at home, taking a shelf down when someone is bursting is not that quick!) From: Sonia
Fall from grace
Child's play
During the marathon painting session, I decided to take a pit stop and let hubby take the reins. Not even two minutes later swearing was coming from the nursery to be. My husband attempted to walk down our hallway covered in paint. Yes you guessed it. He had knocked over the paint tray, which was perched on a ladder. The end result was one very messy t-shirt, shorts and jandals, not to mention the drop sheet! All looked very hilarious. From: Nadine
Times two
Complete knockout
Wilting flowers
I got up early the next morning to clean the lounge again thoroughly. Actually, on first sight, all looked lovely. I remember the wallpaper; it was bronze and green flowers on an off white background... (well, it WAS the 80s!!). I put a vase of fresh flowers on the table and kept my fingers crossed.
Madam Hitler arrived, stepped in the front door, and within 10 seconds, said to me "why is your wallpaper hung upside down over in that corner?" My husband had hung the paper upside down and the bronze and green flowers drooped downwards,instead of up! From: Frances
My husband and I are buying our first home and I am the only worker in the family. Anyway I knew the house badly needed a paint job, but I wanted to save a few dollars. While wandering around our local demo yard I spotted several boxes of white paint at a really good price. You would have thought I would have had the brains to ask why so much good looking paint was being sold so cheap, but no, I was having a blonde day and in my excitement at such a find, all common sense went flying out the window.
To cut a long story short, I bought six cans of white latex paint and last weekend I decided to start the painting. I conned my eldest daughter into helping me and it all went wonderfully. We were amazed, the paint dried in less than an hour and we were able to do the second coat. We thought we were just the bee's knees, instead we were just delusional. The back of the house looked great, but three days later we discovered something about our lovely paint, it did not set. Just add water and watch it run was the motto here for the day. And now we have to spend more money to get it off the house and buy good quality paint. If only I had not been such a cheapskate. Well there you go, a lesson learnt the hard way. Still at least we can laugh about it and thank goodness we did not paint the whole house! From: Sharon
Indoor rain
Garden minefield
Sublime lime
Ghosts in the darkness
Scraper rage
A quick phone call to my dad to ask for help as to how to fix the hole and he gave us the best advice anyone could have given us. Why he did not tell us this at the very beginning I have no idea. He told us to get a professional in to do the whole job. Guess what, we did and the room looked lovely when it was finished. From: Sharlene
Electric towels
Size does matter
During our DIY renovations, we have changed all our bathroom and toilet fittings to chrome, the toilet roll holder, drawer handles, taps, towel racks etc and even a new tooth brush holder. Pity our tooth brushes didn't fit! Next time I think we are going to have to check everything fits first, before we buy them! Now all we have to do is wait for all the things we sent back to come back, and then there's painting - what a fun job, and I bet I'll have to do it! From: Alix
Something fishy
Lid licker
Water sport motivation
Three and a half years later we have finished one room - only five to go. This one room was achieved after lots of pushing and complaining. After a holiday at a beach over Christmas, we have now come home and completed another room. How did I get him to do it? Easy. He wants to buy a boat. I said 'No, not until my house is finished'. He now wants to get the house finished as quick as he can. Maybe this year it will happen. From: Sandra
Weatherboard stuffer
Slippery when wet
A little goes a long way
Super saver
Last minute master
Wot a stud
Heavy blow
Roof proof
The last straw
On the side of a cold hillside the scarecrow's head and face were assembled. His hat was made of bright yellow nova flow pipe. The framing was steel welded together by the local engineer. The group of swandri-clad farmers wrapped the nova flow pipe around the metal to form the hat.
The sun broke through the crowds and a group from the community assembled down at a large old barn. They laid out 15 metres of shade cloth 5 metres wide. This was the fabric for the clothes for the scarecrow. The Resene paints had been bought and the lid of the first pail was opened to reveal bright orange. Accompanied by a cheer the group set to, with paintbrushes and pottle filled with paint. Young and old painted the scarecrow's shirt that was laid out on the grass and held down with pitchforks at the four corners. Hours later white paint was used to paint white circles to be his three shirt buttons. Black paint outlined the bowtie that was filled in with bright pink with blue circular dots. A group stood watching and making suggestions as the team painted, a farm dog pitched in, walking the orange paint on his paws across the white of the middle button.
The nose for the face was a blue plastic barrel that was attached to the sacking and it was decided to paint his eyes with bold black paint one eye open and one shut, his one open eye iris was blue. Ruby red paint for his mouth. The torso and vest for the scarecrow was near completion when the rain started. At first it was only light then very heavy. Like ants carrying a piece of bread the community got underneath the sacking lifting it above their heads and hurried the canvas into the woolshed to lie the scarecrow's shirt outstretched.
Some of the paint had run and fused with other colours so when there was a break in the weather and the sun once more poked its head back through, the workers lifted the body above their heads once more and hurried it back out onto the grass to resume painting, and fixing his figure. While some painted, others were making the scarecrow's hair and arms. His arms were made of windsocks, his hair of binder twine. It was long hair with the intention of having it flowing in the breeze with the view of hills and valleys behind.
The following Sunday at 6.30am, a helicopter lifted the bright yellow hat onto the one hundred foot high water tower that was to be the body for the scarecrow.
A group of farmers hauled the body and face of the scarecrow up the one hundred feet high tower, using ropes and pulleys on four sides. The scarecrow creaked and moaned as the farmers hauled on ropes as a fierce northerly wind pinned his body to the tower. Yet the scarecrow remained smiling down on the men as they grimaced and strained to haul this majestic sight to the top of the tower. The scarecrow stood short of the top of the tower by a few metres but the exercise was deemed triumphant. The orange ochre vested thin giant stood towering over the sheep, the native bush and the legends of the valley, his one eye open taking in a view as far away as Carterton and Masterton.
The next night his gay colours had washed away. Winds of sixty miles per hour had raced through Gladstone ripping his arms off and laying bare his body to be pressed against the slimy old tower. The tower had stood there sixty odd years against the elements of the wind but the new fella wasn't brave enough to bear it. His blue nose (a 40 gallon plastic barrel) had been torn off and had completely disappeared, while his two arms flapped in the paddock below.
Somehow he just wasn't built to last. From: Jayne
Double trouble
On another DIY occasion, we were planting shrubs on our hillside and I told him to get his footing right before attempting to dig holes. But does he listen? No, so he is left scrambling, trying to get his footing. All the dirt is falling away, and he actually looks like a cartoon character trying to hang on for dear life. I, in the meantime, am laughing. He told me not to laugh, but does a wife ever listen to her husband? From: Makere
20:20 vision
Bruise black
Paper wars
Not so mellow yellow
When I opened the front door, the most amazing wall of yellow fluorescence hit my eyes. Friends (planted conveniently so I could not damage the husband in public) suggested unconvincingly that maybe we could get used to it or it would look better in the dark. A week's worth of the strongest willpower didn't work. Thank goodness for understanding paint store assistants who have seen it all before! We are now the grateful owners of a Tuscan gold hallway and addicted to testpots. From: Kim
Runaway trailer
Behavioural modifier
Just starting?
I have now decided that it is not really a good idea to let tradespeople loose on their own house unless you are prepared to wait at least 20 years to have anything actually finished. People wonder why I start laughing when they come and visit and ask if we have started renovations! From: Nicola
Phone home
In disguise
Pool party
Rest assignment
Anyway, I was given the job of colour consultant and off we went to Resene to get some paint. I was quite excited about getting my hands amongst it all. Paint bought we went home to start room number one. Not trusted to do a good job of preparing the room (believe me woman's lib hackles were up), I was however allowed to paint one wall. Thinking I was doing a great job of it, I proudly finished and displayed it to my partner who promptly held his head on a weird angle hard up against the wall and began to critique the job. Now I ask you, how many people come into your house and press their heads hard up against your walls? Since then I have been allowed to do the middle of the walls (but not to go near any edges) and am hinted at madly about how I would be better off starting to cook dinner. Not such a bad thing as the extensive DIY project has now become Vic you sit in the sun as obnoxious perfectionist paints away madly. I say leave him to it! From: Victoria
Dive bombers
Dad scaled the ladder and made his way onto the roof. But to his horror just as he lifted his foot off the top step of the ladder there was an almighty crash as the ladder tumbled to the ground. Dad had forgotten to put the safety clip on the ladder. Dad figured that he may as well start on the chimney and Mum would have to help him get down when she got home. Little did he know that the hot New Zealand sun wasn't the only hazard he would have to deal with up there on the roof.
Waiting in the branches of a nearby tree was a pair of myna birds who had chicks in a nest somewhere in the roof. They saw my Dad as a potential threat to the safety of their chicks and decided to dive bomb him to force him off the roof. The birds took turns plummeting down towards my Dad and swerving away at the very last minute. My Dad had to keep diving for cover behind the chimney so that the birds couldn't make contact with his now very sunburnt back. Two hours, a lot of sunburn, a newly developed fear of mynas and an incredibly clean chimney went by and Mum came home.
"Love?"called Dad from the roof. Mum didn't hear his calling and proceeded with tidying up and making lunch. Dad called and called and even banged on the roof wherever he figured Mum would be. Mum had been home 20 minutes before she finally heard him and came outside. She looked up to find a very sunburnt, very shaken husband and a VERY clean chimney. Once she had got over laughing she rescued him from the roof and made him a cup of tea. Note to all readers and to my Dad: Safety catches on ladders are there for a reason. This reason is so that (a) they do not collapse when you are on them, and (b) so that the ladder is still there when you want to get down!! From: Monique
The house that jack built
Wife wins
Complete washout
Tipsy topsy
Bird rescue
Chicken feed
Mirror image
Always obstacles
Clear as mud
Scratch test
Black tie
Dad's little helper
Cover up
Freckle car
"The project"
Had a wall and coal range removed to make a bigger kitchen/dining area resulting in 2 uneven ceiling heights with mismatched batons and a large hole in between. This now means an entire new false ceiling must be made.
Taken out the old bath, only to find there was no floor underneath it and the waste drainage pipe went straight onto the dirt floor.
Fitted two new sets of French doors according to the instructions accompanying them, only for them to warp and now not shut properly.
Bought a new toilet to replace the old cracked one. The plumber had fitted the bowl and then got the cistern out of its box to find it was cracked through the middle and unusable.
We had to use a bucket for one week while they got a new one from Italy (because there were none left in stock).
Taken down the scrim in the lounge and exposed a large hole in the wall, which now constitutes free air conditioning (except we're in Dunedin and don't need it).
Started ripping up the lino in the kitchen to expose the floorboards, finding out after doing about a third of it that it is asbestos based and needs to be removed professionally (costing a fortune).
Started heat gun stripping the hallway skirting and architraves, resulting in a small fire on the carpet.
So to summarise, we have started four different rooms, none anywhere near completion and have just had to tell the builder to stop due to us running out of money. We now understand the complexities and frustrations of DIY, and have joined everybody else in the everything started, nothing finished department. Time to call in good old Dad to lend a hand I think! From: Charlotte
Bed rest
From pillar to post
Blind putty
Aim to catch redhanded
The kids came running to see what all the noise was about and upon seeing the mess quickly ran the hose and gathered up scrubbing brushes as the paint rapidly soaked into the deck. There the little gems stayed busily scrubbing away at the paint and getting rather wet in the process... a great way for them to spend a hot afternoon.
Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately for me), while all this was happening I was stuck up on the carport painting the eaves... a pretty safe place to be in respect to the steam that was rising from the deck area. From: S Elliott
In the dogbox
After waiting for a fine day I finally got out to put the roof on. The first 2 sheets went on with no problems at all. The last 2 however, required me getting up onto the roof to secure them down. After swinging off the support beams to make sure they would take my weight I hoisted myself up and got to work. With one sheet left, my partner came out with afternoon tea (good girl she is!) so I stood up to stretch. One of the support beams under me promptly gave way and sent me straight down onto one of the main beams... right between the legs!!! All the missus could do was laugh as I straddled this beam groaning in agony. I'm pleased to say that the beam held firm and after a week's R & R, the roof is now finished. From: Bruce
Spitting image
Cracking up
A shattering experience
Sid had about 20 pieces of glass on the back of his truck and Philip was armed with a glasscutter he had been given, but never used. Sid gave Philip a number of sizes he needed the glass to be cut to then Philip started to work. Philip had no idea how the glasscutter worked. It did work over time, forward and backward, backward and forward but it didn't cut. Sid began to look worried and asked him if he knew what he was doing. Philip answered "don't worry it's all under control"... then the first piece broke, the second piece broke, the third and eventually they all had broken. Sid just looked at all the broken pieces with amazement and disbelief and so did I, because I had been looking on from a short distance away laughing so hard that I had started to cry.
The best laugh came last when Philip said to Sid. "Sorry they are all broken but I did try, so do I still get the $10?" To this day Sid has never answered Philip's question! From: Mike
In the dark
John yelled for help but I was at the clothesline and didn't hear him so he sent Luke out to get me. Poor Luke just couldn't get the words out! I managed to say "Does Dad need me?" All Luke could do was nod. I went inside to a flood. I got some towels while John ran and turned the water off. Needless to say it was then a quick trip to the plumbing shop for some pipe, connectors and glue. Luke had great news for Kindy the next day. From: Meriani
Volume control
My flatmate needed a break and unbeknown to the rest of us decided to pop out and get some refreshments with the intent of annoying the landlord. She crept up below his ladder while he wasn't looking and turned his radio up to full volume, then ran away without him seeing. Instead of it having the desired effect of causing the landlord to descend muttering and cursing to turn the radio down, he just carried on seemingly unbothered. After about 5 minutes, my other flatmate, unaware of the events leading to the blaring radio, became highly frustrated and stormed out of the flat to give the painter a piece of her mind. How dare he be so loud, and inconsiderate, especially over exam time etc etc!!!! The poor landlord copped it well and truly, and the flatmate who had played the initial trick returned from the dairy to find a full on argument in progress! From: Anna
Whole hog
Getting a handle on the situation
wet wet
Paint trail
If you have a funny decorating story of your own to share we'd love to hear from you - submit your funny DIY story.
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text:
The capital of Italy has certain events that are a must: one of them is the "pictorial cuisine" at Cafè di Ripetta American Bar & Restaurant, directed by Chef Rodolfo Chieroni. The dishes he crafts are masterpieces not just of flavour and aroma, but also of colour and shape - unforgettably delicious.
Welcome to the Residenza di Ripetta, luxury hotel in Rome center.
The 69 suites and apartments reveal an intimate and welcoming atmosphere with various and large measurements, high ceilings and quiet view, making this hotel the ideal choice both for short and long stays.
All the suites and apartments of this hotel in Rome comply with the original seventeenth-century architecture with high ceilings, large spaces and powerful walls.


text:
Although I still struggle to see the draw in using LinkedIn, millions of people everyday log on to the site. If you're among them and using your BlackBerry to access the services, you'll be pleased to know a new LinkedIn is now available for BlackBerry OS smartphones. While it's just a small jump into v2.2, it's a pretty important update especially if you like to pay attention to a lot of company pages. The ability to follow those pages has finally been added and to go along with it, there is also BBM integration which will update your BBM status with your LinkedIn updates, if you do so wish. Again, this update is only for BlackBerry OS smartphones and you'll find the link below.
nuff_said Apr 30, 2013 at 9:02 pm
You're not alone....i don't get the fascination either.
Posted via CB10
djenkins6 Apr 30, 2013 at 9:08 pm
It gets me work, professional connections is what it's all about.
Posted via CB10
newportironman Apr 30, 2013 at 9:51 pm
Thank you for being the one positive supporter of linkedin on this post. Most of the business people I work with and my professional friends assiduously use linkedin.
Supa_Fly1 Apr 30, 2013 at 10:31 pm
Bingo! Like BlackBerry is synonymous with corporate & security, so to is LinkedIn with business social networking - it's tangible as well.
Posted via CB10
newportironman Apr 30, 2013 at 10:35 pm
My fiance lost her 9930 so I gave her my new Z10 and am back to my 9930 which is fine. I can wait for some more $ to come in. But, I feel like the poor relative here w/ all these CB10 posts :)
mcstravi May 1, 2013 at 9:05 am
Yep..To me it's the "new" resume....keeps your work history active and joins together your contacts (i.e. your references) from previous jobs.
These days with companies going belly up, it's sometimes difficult to track down your former co-workers and managers.
just_luc May 1, 2013 at 6:28 pm
"Although I still struggle to see the draw in using LinkedIn"
I laughed out loud when I read that.. not because I think you should be on linkedin @Bla1ze.. just the opposite in fact. If i've ever seen a better example of "not the target audience" I don't remember when..
That's like me saying I struggle to understand the need for tampons.
jafrul Apr 30, 2013 at 9:16 pm
Lol... The number of replies on this definitely shows the level of personal fascination of linkedin.
Anyways, good job linkedin.. Keep it up...
Rayed Siddiqui Apr 30, 2013 at 9:17 pm
I don't need a social website to make professional connections. Yo bla1ze, let's hit up Starbucks for a coffee.... This is how I do it. Lmao
Posted via CB10 on my Z10!
This is a social website.
Posted via CB10
Detective M Downs Apr 30, 2013 at 9:35 pm
A lot companies and recruiters use LinkedIn to find talent by posting jobs, fairs, workshops, etc. So, when Kevin fires you, create a profile, and the recruiters will seek you out......
newportironman Apr 30, 2013 at 9:37 pm
Hello LinkedIn. I don't know where the rest of the field is on this post. Blackberry and LinkedIn have always seemed like the perfect pairing and I love the linkedin Blackberry group(s). Professionals getting things done. The only purely business social connection site (with a clean interface and user friendly) and the best smartphone platform for doers. Anyway. I love the update and thanks for remembering this community. Also love using it on BB10. I've got a foot in each OS for now and it runs so well on the Playbook browser there is no need for an app there. I guarantee you there are tons of Blackberry users on your platform. Maybe they didn't have their coffee this am.
lang007 Apr 30, 2013 at 9:56 pm
I will check this one out
Posted via CB10 from my BlackBerry Z10
Mathrin Apr 30, 2013 at 10:03 pm
I like it. But I haven't found a job there yet. Still looking. BSME has to good for something.
Posted via CB10
venious Apr 30, 2013 at 10:06 pm
Just like BlackBerry Balance, separate work from personal (Facebook) .
Z10 via T-Mobile (10.0.10.85)
Zipper Apr 30, 2013 at 10:10 pm
Bla1ze, linkedin has been paramount in looking for a new career. As well as being connected in business, its bar none the cats ass.
newportironman Apr 30, 2013 at 10:23 pm
nice comment!
BCITMike Apr 30, 2013 at 10:26 pm
When trying to find a job, I subscribe to the "it's not what you know but who you know". I have and would never use Facebook (useless), but use LinkdIn to stay current on topics related to my job and industry.
Lumute Apr 30, 2013 at 10:38 pm
Totally agree, its all about business and work connections, perfect match for a blackberry, I use it much more than the dumb facebook...
Posted via CB10
yeedrew Apr 30, 2013 at 10:49 pm
LinkedIn is for business to business networking and connections bar none. Don't go there if you want to see a picture of a Las Vegas stag or a video of a dog chasing balloons.
Posted via CB10
dirt662 Apr 30, 2013 at 11:04 pm
I haven't received the update yet
Posted via CB10
dirt662 Apr 30, 2013 at 11:07 pm
Smh...never mind it says for BlackBerry Os...carry on
Posted via CB10
iwasspartacus Apr 30, 2013 at 11:25 pm
LinkedIn is used everyday on my z10 to see what's happening in the industry, connect with people I worked with, connect with people I want to work with, to access groups that are leading different sectors. It is credible social media for people interested in growing their careers.
One drawback is that the forums, although excellent, rarely have a 'first' which can be a little dull. I would be the 'first' to invite quicksilver to my professional linkedin network... he's in education though so not much to share professionally. Chuckle. I couldn't resist. I'm human.
Posted via CB10
dejongj May 1, 2013 at 2:04 am
It's great, no photos of what people are eating what more do you want. ;)
Seriously it is a great tool, I've got a lot of business out of it. As long as people only connect to people they really know and rate to work worth, your network is valuable to share. I refuse to connect with lots of requests that I get as well, one can immediately spot the normal social media tarts who connect to absolutely everyone big mistake.
Anyway I'm pleased with this update.
Posted via CB10
Grateful for the update! I first created a Linked In while in college and it has proven to be an effective professional networking tool. Much more productive than Facebook, Twitter or Instagram by far! Like some users above, I only connect with people I know, have worked with, professors, or others that are nearby and in the same field. It's a great way to get your foot in the door for job opportunities.
rthonpm May 1, 2013 at 7:21 am
LinkedIn is social networking for grown ups, not for people who want to start petitions to save TV shows, share food porn (what is this nonsense with people taking pictures of their food now?), or just blather like dithering idiots. It's helped me reconnect with several old colleagues who are in vastly different careers now, as well as to drum up a few clients for my small business.
Not only can a lot of BlackBerry users see value in LinkedIn, but judging from the stock performance compared to FaceBook so do a lot of very smart investors.
Aditya Bhimrajka May 1, 2013 at 2:07 am
But it'd not upgrading
Posted via CB10
mr_zed10 May 1, 2013 at 4:01 am
The author and other commenters here struggle to see the draw because , LinkedIn is a true business platform, ironically most Blackberry users talk about how the phone is great for business users and getting things done, well... LinkedIn is unrivaled when it comes to business.
You guys carry on tweeting and posting pictures on your side loaded Instagram lol
Have been using LinkedIn since it's infantile stages and have to say I have been contacted numerous times about employment. As far as I'm concerned I can see no harm in posting your skills on a site such as this. It helps to create bridges to new opportunities and builds relationships with those in like fields around you. With those relationships comes a great support system possibly for a problem you don't have the answer for.
Posted via CB10
IgotsThis May 1, 2013 at 7:28 am
Did anyone notice how long bla1zes'password is ? ? ? Lol!
Z10? Why yes it is.
sonicpix May 1, 2013 at 8:52 am
I'm linkedout. Why would I let s company make money off of my name?
Posted via CB10
kmonarq7 May 1, 2013 at 3:43 pm
I decrypted Bla1ze's password. It is "KevinIsMyMaster"
If people use LinkedIn properly it's an excellent business tool to have in your armoury. As long as people don't add contacts just for the sake of it and genuinely vouch for their skills it's a great way of making connections with people who are beneficial to your business or the sector you work in. I have had many introductions from people I have done work with before which has led to more business and introduced my contacts to people who required certain skills. Do not underestimate the power of LinkedIn, getting introduced by someone reputable puts you way ahead of cold callers and random emails.
Posted via CB10
Should add, if you just want to show off pictures of your new Jimmy choos and posting pictures of a night out you didn't enjoy in a vein attempt to make your life look more interesting than it actually is stick to fb. This probably isn't for you.
Posted via CB10
GOOD to see major App makers producing native BB10 Apps ;)
Rootbrian May 6, 2013 at 5:22 am
I don't use linkedin so much, but I do check it out occasionally and the app rocks. :)


text:
Early Music Concerts 2009-2010
Joh.Ulrich Steigleder: 3 variations on Vater unser
For more information, visit website: Harmonia Musicae
Early Music Concerts 2009-2010: (IT) Verso Bach: The Keyboard Music in Germany Before Bach
Saturday, October 31st 2009
Basilica di San Pietro
Borgo XX giugno, Perugia (Italy)
6 p.m.
Giuseppe Schinaia, organ and harpsichord
Free admission
A recital program of early German music for organ and harpsichord. Roman organist and harpsichordist Giuseppe Schinaia directs the baroque vocal ensemble "Harmonia Musicae", specialized in early Italian and French compositions. He also actively explores the neglected patrimony of historic organs in Rome and central Italy. His recent activities include recitals in Italy and the U.S., continuo playing with vocal and instrumental ensembles and musicological research in collaboration with the CMBV in Versailles. He is also a faculty member of the University of Rome "la Sapienza" in Italy, where he conducts research projects in applied mathematics.
Joh.Ulrich Steigleder: 3 variations on Vater unser
Christian Ritter: Allemanda in discessum Caroli XI Regis Sueciae (allemanda, courande, sarabanda, gique)
Johann Kuhnau: Ezechia morente e risanato (Biblical Sonata n.4: lamentation, confidence in God, joy upon recovery)
Joh.Casp.Ferd. Fischer: Uranie, suite no. 9 daMusicalischer Parnassus (toccata, allemande, courante, sarabande, gavotte, gigue, rigaudon I&II, menuet I&II, passacaglia)
Joh.Seb. Bach: Fantasie und Fuge a moll BWV 944
For more information, visit website: Harmonia Musicae


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Beck has lost it! Does he think that Americans are in need of his own dark vision of the economy? He paints a metaphoric concept of economic hopelessness and tells his audience that when one has a disease as he does, one has to stay away from things like cupcakes.
Glenn Beck has used his own weakened condition to explain the woes of the United States before this demonstration. Is he looking for sympathy? Either way, listening or watching Glenn Beck has become so depressing that even with cupcakes, someone feels hopeless. He needs to get control of himself and stop the doom and gloom.
His cupcake demonstration was not only infantile, but he licked the icing off his finger. He has some valid points, but his demeanor is one of a clown. Glenn Beck should stop while he is ahead, take his money, and concentrate on his health.


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HomeQuiltsQuilt EnsembleAustin Reversible Quilt Set for King Size Bed in Striped Pattern Brand Green Land
Give your bed rooms an instant make over with the Austin Quilt set. This bright and beautiful quilt has bold stripes in royal and faded denim blue, red and bronco brown against a white background. The quilt is reversible and reveals a multi colored striped pattern. The cover, fill and the backing material are made of premium, 100 percent cotton fabric. This makes the quilt soft and cuddly, offering you great comfort and plushness. The quilt also comes with a couple of standard shams with the same design. Your bed room decor will be upgraded with this simple yet classy quilt set. It comes with a following dimension:


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Bed knobs
I wouldn't call Bob Corker a huge fan of the bed tax:
This "fee" has propped up the TennCare system since 2010, producing $450 million a year. In the face of dwindling state budgets, hospitals tax themselves and get the money right back. But the accounting maneuver allows the state to draw down federal matching funds.
Corker calls it a "gimmick" that is bilking the federal government, and he's calling for the practice to be phased out. Tennessee Hospital Association president Craig Becker says the fee is less than ideal, but he disagrees with how it's being characterized.


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By GARY POPP
A Charlestown police officer reported that while he was outside of the police station, a shirtless and shoeless man passing by on a motor scooter yelled at him, "come and get me."
Dustin James Bricker, 21, Scottsburg, was driving the motor scooter without a head lamp approximately 25 mph when he challenged the officer at about 4 a.m. Aug. 29. The officer then got into his patrol car and watched as Bricker disregarded a traffic light and turned onto Ind. 3, according to the police report. Bricker ignored the pursuing officer traveling with the vehicle's lights and sirens activated for about one-half mile before reaching Oriole Drive and coming to a stop.
"At that point, before I could exit my patrol car, Bricker accelerated and sped off traveling on Oriole Drive," the officer reported.
From the intersection of Ind. 3 and Oriole Drive, Bricker began driving the scooter north in the southbound lane for nearly two blocks then drove onto a sidewalk and continued "at a high rate of speed," the officer reported, all the while disregarding the lights and sirens of the following officer. Bricker continued for nearly another one-half mile onto Ind. 160 then drove through the parking lot of JayC Food Stores and finally came to a stop on County Road 403.
The officer reported Bricker was compliant after coming to the stop.
EMS was called by police to check Bricker, but he refused medical attention.
Police then determined the black Taotao motor scooter Bricker had been driving was reported stolen out of Sellersburg. Bricker was preliminarily charged with resisting law enforcement and receiving stolen property, both class D felonies, and reckless driving, a class B misdemeanor.
Each of the preliminary charges issued by the CPD were upheld by the Office of the Clark County Prosecutor, and Bricker was later given a $10,000 court-cash bond in Clark County Circuit Court No. 3.
Along with the bond, which requires a $1,000 payment for his release, a mental-health evaluation was ordered during the court hearing.
According to jail staff, Bricker remained in the Michael L. Becher Adult Correctional Complex as of Wednesday.
Bricker has a pretrial conference scheduled Sept. 25.
He was charged in January of class D felony maintaining a common nuisance and contributing the delinquency of a minor and possession of paraphernalia, both class A misdemeanors, in Clark County Circuit No. 4.
According to court records, a jury trial is slated for Nov. 19 stemming from Bricker's January charges.


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Sign up to receive information about new books, author events, and special offers.
Daniel King is a professional chess player who has achieved the highest chess title -- International Grandmaster. He has written eleven books about chess and has done live television commentary of the World Chess Championship.
Daniel King
American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults, NYPL Books for the Teen Age


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Let's face it. Software has holes. And hackers love to exploit them. New vulnerabilities appear almost daily. If you have software - we all do - you need to keep tabs on the latest vulnerabilities.
Featured Stories
Related Topics
Articles about Security
Dutch government can use spy data gathered illegally, court rules
Data collected by the likes of the NSA in a manner that would be forbidden in the Netherlands can still be used by the country's government, according to a recent court ruling.
Sony settles PSN hack lawsuit for $15 million
The tech giant plans to offer restitution for those affected by the 2011 PSN hack in free games, subsidies and cash payouts.
Wi-Fi security boost just over the horizon
Wi-Fi, especially public Wi-Fi, is still fraught with security problems. A solution has been in the works for some time but is still not ready for most.
Homeland Security gets into software security
It sounds unlikely, but the Homeland Security Agency is now providing an online, open-source code-testing suite with the unlikely name of SWAMP.
European Central Bank suffers security breach, personal data stolen
The European Central Bank's website has been hacked and personal information has been stolen by a cybercriminal.
Create a security culture framework to protect against threats
Learn how to create a security culture within your organization for an added layer of IT protection.
from TechProResearch »
EBay served class action lawsuit over hack
EBay is facing a class action lawsuit over a security breach earlier this year which left customer data compromised.
Samsung launches wireless access points with built-in security
Samsung Electronics has launched access points (AP) for wireless LAN with built-in security that will help businesses save costs in building networks, reports ZDNet Korea's Cho Mu-hyun.
EBay's StubHub says accounts are secure after ticket heist
EBay-owned online ticketing company StubHub is moving to reassure customers that their accounts are secure, following the theft of more than US$1 million worth of tickets.
Dropbox for Business bolsters security features
Despite being accused of being "hostile to privacy", Dropbox has announced new features to Dropbox for Business that helps businesses ensure their data is safe and secure.
Hacker worms his way into WSJ computer systems
The Wall Street Journal is a fresh target in what appears to be a renewed assult against media publications online.
Catch of the Day failed to inform AFP on data breach
Catch of the Day has been caught out misleading its customers over details of the 2011 data breach, with the Australian Federal Police stating it was not informed of the breach in 2011.
Apple refers to iOS back doors as 'diagnostic capabilities'
A knowledge base article was posted to address concerns about packet sniffers discovered running on every iOS device.
Putin signs data retention law
Russian president Vladimir Putin has signed a new law requiring internet companies to retain the personal data of their Russian customers, or face being blocked from access in the country.
Samsung and Google provide more details on Knox contribution to Android L
As businesses look beyond BlackBerry for smartphone security, Samsung and Google step up to the plate. Knox integration is coming in Android L.


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Guilty Simpson calls natives of his Detroit hometown "over-worked and under-appreciated," and it's clear he's describing himself too. But keep hope! There's a positive turn toward the end of the doc when he looks back on his career, finding satisfaction through music in places besides the charts. See what he says.
Video: Guilty Simpson Stays Inspired in DetroitDecember 8, 2011 10:50AM
POSTED December 8, 2011 10:50AM IN uncapped video TAGS: detroit, Guilty Simpson, Hip-hop, J Dilla, uncapped


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Colorado Photographer Allen Birnbach's Colorado Ballet Series Honored Among ASMP's Best of 2013
Allen Birnbach's "Limelight" series of dance photos has been selected as one of the American Society of Media Photographers "ASMP Best of 2013." Created with members of Colorado Ballet, the project is intended to raise funds for the company through the sale of limited edition prints, greeting cards and posters. To see the full series and get more information, check out Allen's blog.


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By Rob Centorani Staff Writer
The Daily Star
---- — To peruse the offensive numbers produced by Mariah Ruff and Madison Miller during the 2012 girls soccer season, one might think their contributions to one of the best seasons in Oneonta High history were paltry.
In this case, the numbers are big, fat liars.
Ruff's athleticism and vision in the midfield combined with Miller's ability to make the opponent's best offensive player appear to be a late-season JV call-up provided the substance to an 18-3-1 season that was merely minutes away from the program's first state championship.
The style?
Oh, there was plenty of that provided by offensive standouts such as Cami Cleaveland, Dani Nicosia and Taryn More — all Daily Star First Team All-Star selections.
But Ruff and Miller, The Daily Star's co-Players of the Year for girls soccer, proved that goal prevention and possession hold the same importance as scoring goals.
Ruff finished with six goals and 12 assists — solid but not the stats Daily Star Player of the Year recipients normally compile. As for Miller, she finished the season with four goals and two assists. Again, nothing Earth shattering.
Yet, to watch a Yellowjackets game this past fall, one couldn't help but notice their various contributions to Oneonta's success.
"Madison matched up with high-level forwards and held them to a stalemate," said OHS coach Jerry Mackey, The Daily Star's Coach of the Year for the second straight season and third time overall. "She took away the other team's best option. Mariah, who was usually playing defensive midfielder, was always winning 50-50 balls."
Still, there's one aspect to Ruff — heading into her senior season — and Miller — who'll start her junior year in September — that goes beyond anything they accomplished on the field, and that's their ability to deflect credit.
Ask Miller the secret behind shutting down high-scoring forwards and you'll immediately hear about fellow defenders Shelby Cleaveland, Amy Hait and Jennifer Jelic, and goalie Emmalee Sloman supporting her in the back.
Talk to Ruff about initiating offense from the midfield or her long throw-ins that led to numerous scoring chances, and she'll bring up the speed of Brieanna Baker or the skill of Cami Cleaveland, More and Nicosia, and how those players made it easy for her.
"It's a team sport, so I'm more concerned with how the team is doing," Miller said. "I'm glad the team gets recognized. It's not about personal achievement."
Added Ruff: "I'm not that much of a soccer player. I felt like we ran the field well and I had tons of time (to read the defense). I had just had to find the open person."
When Ruff says she's not much of a soccer player, it's only in relation to her abilities on a basketball floor. She recently made a verbal commitment to attend Division I St. Bonaventure on a basketball scholarship.
Many of the skills she uses as a top-flight point guard during the winter are also on display during the fall.
"She has that calmness," Mackey said of Ruff. "She has trust in her ability and trust in her teammates. She plays aggressively and calmly, and that's a tough line to walk."
Ruff earned First Team all-state honors in Class B in soccer and basketball this past academic year, something Mackey said he couldn't recall another OHS player doing.
"It's hard enough to do it in one sport," Mackey said. "The thing is, she's clearly a First Team pick in both sports and it's a no-brainer — no doubt about it. That level of dominance is rare. It's a testament to her athletic ability, skill level, desire and time management. That's a lot of prep time. There are 80 minutes in a soccer game and 32 minutes in basketball. To see that kind of commitment is great for younger kids and it's still being done within the team concept."
Ruff's level of commitment reached its apex in Oneonta's 4-0 overtime victory over Seton Catholic Central as OHS won its second straight Section Four Class B title. She suffered a broken nose in the second half, but after brief break on the sidelines to get the blood stopped, she returned. Ruff played the remainder of the season with a protective mask covering her face.
Perhaps Ruff received her cue to ignore physical problems from Miller, a Second Team all-state performer. During a 2-1 overtime defeat of Elmira in a Southern Tier Athletic Conference semifinal, Ruff said Miller became ill.
"One of the funniest moments came when we were playing Elmira," Ruff said. "Madison threw up on her jersey. She said to me, 'What should I do?' I was just like, 'Keep playing.' She showed she has heart and we won the game."
The list of players Miller stymied during Oneonta's postseason run was long and distinguished.
It started with Vestal's Rachel Terry during the STAC final, a 2-0 Oneonta victory that marked the Yellowjackets' second straight conference title. Terry earned Second Team all-state honors in Class A.
In a Section Four Class B semifinal, she drew the assignment to cover Waverly's Liia Carpenter, who scored 32 goals.
Next was Seton Catholic Central's Alyssa Ricci, who'll play soccer this fall at Division II Le Moyne College.
In a shootout victory over Bronxville in a Class B state quarterfinal, Miller drew the speedy Lucy Kohlhoff.
In the state semifinals against Cold Spring Harbor, Miller covered First Team all-state selection Teressa Fazio and helped Oneonta to a 1-0 victory.
Finally, in a 3-1 overtime loss to Greece Odyssey in the state final, Miller guarded Class B Player of the Year Emily Tucker.
Those girls combined for zero goals and zero assists against Miller.
"It was a good challenge," Miller said of the postseason. "It helped me get better, too. They were different types of good players. Plus, I had Shelby, Jen and Amy helping me out with them, too."
At close to 6 feet, Miller specialized at winning balls in the air.
She also struck a seemingly perfect balance between being aggressive and playing positional defense. She had enough speed to stay with fleet-footed standouts, and enough size and strength to stop bigger forwards.
"She's technically sound, strong enough to win 50-50 balls and hold her position, and she was always on balance," Mackey said. "That's one of the reasons she won so many balls in the air. She could play physical without fouling and was quick enough contain to faster players. She doesn't go outside her comfort level and she's always in the right spot."
Under Mackey's leadership in the postseason, the Yellowjackets won one game in overtime, another in a penalty-kick shootout, another, 1-0, and held a one-goal lead late in the state final before falling to Greece Odyssey.
He stressed conditioning, as evidenced by the line sprints OHS ran following games.
"He's a great motivator," Miller said of Mackey. "He really pushes you to be your best and he genuinely cares about all of us."
Added Ruff: "Mackey is really hard on us. We ran like 15 miles a day. Some days, we wouldn't even practice. It was just running, but everybody wanted to be there. That helped us make states and helped us make history."
Rob Centorani can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com or 607-432-1000, ext. 209.


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Considered underperforming, Cartersville's is among the restaurants shuttered in a Buffets Inc. bankruptcy reorganization.
Spokesman Nathan Riggs said the , which closed last night with a bankruptcy court filing known as a lease rejection motion, employed 35 to 50 full- and part-time managers and staff.
, topping the national December rate of 8.5 percent.
A total of about 3,000 Buffets employees lost their jobs as the company closed 81 of its restaurants. While workers can apply for open positions at Buffets' nearby restaurants, a severance program is in place for those affected by the layoff.
More closings may come to fruition, but Buffets locations immediately shut down represent about 16 percent of the company's nearly 500 restaurants across the country.
Other Georgia locations closed last night include restaurants in Canton, Calhoun, Stockbridge, Macon and Warner Robins.
"The decision to close these underperforming restaurants, though difficult, resulted from a comprehensive, store-by-store analysis of financial performance, occupancy costs, market conditions and the long-term strategy of our reorganized restaurant portfolio," CEO Mike Andrews said in a press release.
Aiming to recapitalize Buffets, which employs 28,000 operating Old Country Buffet, HomeTown Buffet, Ryan's and Fire Mountain restaurants, the agreement with senior lenders will eliminate about all of the company's $245 million in outstanding debt by converting it to stock, giving those lenders controlling equity stakes.
Buffets officials said the company will then invest in its reconcepting program as well as other restaurant and profitability improvement initiatives.
"Similar to eliminating an unsustainable debt burden, reducing our total restaurant footprint by closing unsustainable restaurants will allow the company to focus on improving operations, enhancing our guest experience and making targeted investments that ensure the long-term viability of Buffets," Andrews added. "While closing these under performing restaurants is a necessary part of our restructuring and improving our business, we deeply regret the impact on our dedicated associates in those restaurants that will be closed.
"The closings in no way reflect their hard work and efforts, and we thank all of our team members for their commitment to delivering the quality, service and value that have been trademarks of our Buffets brands for many years."


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Unitarian Universalist Campus Community
Searching for truth, Supporting each other, Welcoming to all!
What Do Unitarian Universalists Believe?
This is a difficult question for many of us to answer, at least simply. In the Christian tradition--but not in many other world religions--a church is expected to have a written creed that is taught to the young and that is supposed to be taken on faith by all members.
However, Unitarian Universalism is not a form of Christianity nor do we have a simple creed. Unfortunately, this leads to suggestions that we are a church "where you can believe anything you want" or one that doesn't believe anything. That is an inaccurate charge and one that applies a very narrow understanding of what it means to be religious.
We embrace the ancient spirit of liberal religion. We believe that the quest for meaning and understanding is a lifelong process. We believe that all people are capable of this pursuit, but that no single human (or committee) is capable of divining the absolute truth in its entirety. A written creed implies that the search is over, that your mind and heart and experiences are irrelevant. Thus each Unitarian Universalist is on his or her unique path--yet we walk our paths in community. We learn from each other, not only from our ministers.
Some Unitarian Universalists find meaning in the Christian scriptures, and in the teachings and person of Jesus of Nazareth. Some Unitarian Universalists find meaning in the earth and mystery of nature. Some Unitarian Universalists find meaning in the life of the mind and critical reason. Our "scriptures" are as varied as humanity, and our individual conceptions of belief and faith are no less varied.
"How can you claim to be a church when you all believe different things?" But as paradoxical as it sounds, we do have common beliefs! We honor and respect each other's religious quests. We care for each other in community. Even if our understandings of religious questions are different, we agree that we have a right to hold them.
You cannot be taught to be a Unitarian Universalist. You can only become one through your own listening and study and observation and contemplation. Our Unitarian Universalist churches and groups offer you welcoming places in which to do so.
Paul Riedesel [adapted]


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During its regular meeting Monday, the Muskogee County Board of Commissioners:
• Approved a project agreement with Oklahoma Department of Transportation for the construction of a lake access project.
• Approved an agreement with the Cherokee Nation, which will provide funding for certain infrastructure projects.
• Signed a janitorial contract with Scott's Janitorial for Muskogee County Health Department from Sept. 17 to June 30.
• Approved a community development block grant conveying ownership of a water line to the town of Checotah, which will begin providing water services to some Muskogee County residents.


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David Bonior On Edwards's Affair
by Todd Beeton, Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 12:13:08 PM EDT
I know a lot of people are reluctant to sort of "judge" John Edwards for what they consider a private matter. I don't count myself in that camp. I agree with former congressman and John Edwards's campaign manager, David Bonior:
David Bonior, Edwards' campaign manager for his 2008 presidential bid, said Friday he was disappointed and angry after hearing about Edwards' confession.
"Thousands of friends of the senators and his supporters have put their faith and confidence in him and he's let him down," said Bonior, a former congressman from Michigan. "They've been betrayed by his action."
Asked whether the affair would damage Edwards' future aspirations in public service, Bonior replied: "You can't lie in politics and expect to have people's confidence."
Very disappointing.
Update [2008-8-8 16:18:43 by Todd Beeton]:Not to mention that it gives the right so much satisfaction. My Republican Dad might as well have been walking on air when he came in the door today, announcing the affair as though it were some right-wing triumph. Perhaps I'll bring up the fact that John McCain left his wife, in a wheelchair no less, for Cindy McCain? No doubt he'll have the same level of disgust.
Tags: David Bonior, John Edwards (all tags)


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It's not unusual for American politicians to seek divine guidance. In the matter of healing a divided Idaho Republican Party, it may take the hand of God to do the trick.
After Gov. Butch Otter's 8-percentage-point win over Meridian state Sen. Russ Fulcher, GOP Chairman Barry Peterson opened Wednesday's post-election rally by acknowledging the difficulty.
"We pray now that there might be harmony within our party - that we will be united in our efforts to promote smaller government, greater freedom, less taxes," Peterson said.
Meanwhile, the leader of the GOP's more conservative wing faults Otter for letting the disharmony continue - since 2008, when the state Republican Central Committee rejected Otter's choice for party chairman.
"I've never felt so much pettiness from a group of people," said 1st District Congressman Raul Labrador, who defied Otter and the GOP establishment in endorsing Fulcher.
Labrador pointed to the May 14 debate, where Otter complained that the GOP divide began over whether to limit the party primary election to registered Republicans.
"We were against the closed primary," Otter told Idaho Public TV's statewide audience. "And that's where the first big rift came - when they threw out my chairman. I was the only governor in the United States that didn't have my selection."
In all of the hubbub about the debate antics of fringe candidates Harley Brown and Walt Bayes, Labrador said, reporters overlooked the significance of Otter's continued beef over Chairman Kirk Sullivan's loss to Norm Semanko, a coup engineered in part by Labrador.
"That was a telling moment when he's still bringing up something from six years ago," Labrador said. "And that's why you have a party that hasn't healed yet. He never sat down with Norm Semanko, with the people that opposed him, and said, 'Hey, I lost. Let's talk and unite the party.' "
When Peterson replaced Semanko in 2012, Otter was neutral. Today, with his nomination for a third term secured, Otter doesn't sound content to step away again when the party elects a chairman at the convention June 12-14 in Moscow.
Otter said Wednesday he plans to speak with a half-dozen candidates and consult with legislative leaders. "Some of those candidates that were not successful may be interested in running the party," Otter said. "That's not unheard of."
Peterson, who wants another term, suggested to Otter they were "together" on the chairmanship. But Otter brushed him off: "I'm not endorsing anybody today."
Otter and Peterson disagree sharply on the closed primary - which the state Central Committee has the power to rescind. The pair clashed nose-to-nose at a Lincoln Day dinner in Wallace last month, when Otter confronted Peterson about a report he'd intimidated candidates for the 942 precinct committee posts that make up the core of the committee.
The day before the election, Peterson co-signed a letter with nine GOP legislators and 17 Central Committee members condemning Otter for getting Brown and Bayes invited to the Republican debate when they didn't meet criteria for participation.
"Gov. Otter's actions have led to national ridicule and embarrassment of not just the Idaho Republican Party, but all of Idaho," they wrote. "To save himself, Otter chose to make a circus out of the serious business of informing Idaho voters on differences between two viable candidates for governor - himself or Sen. Russ Fulcher."
Given Otter's public distress over not having an ally leading the party apparatus, it seems unlikely Peterson will win his support.
One high-ranking GOP elected official pointed to Monday's letter as the last straw. "It's not gonna happen," said the official.
Labrador told the Statesman Friday that Otter can't risk a continued split in the party and should strike a deal on the chairmanship as he prepares to face Democrat A.J. Balukoff in November.
"My advice to him is to work with me and work with others like me to actually have a strong, unified party," Labrador said. "If he does that, I believe he's going to win overwhelmingly. And if not, he's going to have a hard time getting the grassroots excited about his re-election."
In 2012, Otter said he could support Fulcher as party chairman, although Fulcher withdrew after being elected Senate GOP caucus chairman.
"I was OK with him (Fulcher)," Otter said Wednesday.
How about now, after a bruising campaign?
"I want to talk to all the other candidates and see where they want to lead this party," Otter replied.
On Friday, Fulcher told the Statesman that "a lot of people" have approached him about seeking the unpaid job. He added, "It is just too early to make a decision like that."
Fulcher said he wouldn't challenge Peterson. "I am motivated to help my party prevail in November, but not in a way that adds strain to an already tenuous situation," he said. "I would need to believe my involvement would be broadly embraced as a catalyst to bring all conservatives together."
Another highly regarded prospect is Premier Technology President Doug Sayer of Blackfoot, brother of Otter's Commerce Director Jeff Sayer.
The 942 precinct people elected to the Central Committee will select the party chairman and vote on the platform at the convention.
Otter tried to win enough of the slots to control the Central Committee.
Peterson won his precinct committee race against former Sen. Tim Corder in Mountain Home, 150-120. But until county central committees organize in the coming days, the picture will remain fuzzy.
Former Sen. Rod Beck, a powerful Peterson ally, lost his Boise precinct race 108-103 to Lori Rouse, the daughter of former Sen. John Andreason. Asked which faction won control, Beck said, "I'm not sure."
Debbie Field, who ran Otter's 2006 and 2010 campaigns, won her race 188-50 over Robert Scott Ramella (who spent Election Day in the Ada County Jail in lieu of $1 million bond pending trial on six felony sex charges, including sexual battery on a child).
Field said Otter allies appear to have the edge in Ada County, but couldn't gauge the statewide result.
Canyon County GOP Chairwoman Melinda Smyser declined to speculate. "I'm not going to get into what-ifs. We're going to go to the convention and come out strong. Unify and move on."
If Otter regains control, he could move to rewrite the platform that calls for repealing the direct election of U.S. senators, abolishing the Federal Reserve Bank, returning to the gold standard and nullifying federal law.
He scolded Fulcher in the debate for his wholesale support of the platform. "Leadership requires a heavy dose of reality and not to mislead people into thinking they can achieve something that they can't," he said.
Otter also aims to lift the closed primary. "Why would you take people's access to the polls away from them by closing your primary?" he asked during the debate.
Labrador warned against such a move.
"That has been decided by the party," Labrador said. "If he wants to continue to divide the party, I think he's going to have a difficult time in November."
Dan Popkey: 377-6438, Twitter: @IDS_politics


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Teachers Invited to Composting Workshop
Jul 29, 2014
Teachers of all grades and subjects are encouraged to participate in a free Composting Workshop on Monday, August 11 from 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. at Hollis Grade School, 5613 W. Tuscarora Rd, Peoria. The workshop is presented by Peoria County's Recycling and Resource Conservation Department in conjunction with Hollis Grade School staff. Teachers from the tri-county area are invited to learn why composting food waste is important, how to compost food waste produced at school, and a variety of classroom activities to encourage composting. Teachers will be provided the information necessary to begin a successful composting program in their classroom or their school.
Teachers participating in the workshop will earn Continuing Professional Development credits through the Illinois Science Teachers Association. Teachers may register for the workshop by contacting Peoria County's Recycling Educator Becca Cottrell at 681-2551 or email@example.com.
Other news
Heddington Oaks Launches Facebook Contest Jul 22, 2014
West Nile Virus Positive Bird in Peoria County Jul 17, 2014
Peoria County Earns Achievement Award Jul 11, 2014
Electronic Fingerprinting Available at Courthouse Jun 19, 2014
Emergency Expo Jun 18, 2014 (updated on Jun 18, 2014)
Peoria County Board of Health Appointments Jun 17, 2014
The Gift of Health for Father's Day Jun 12, 2014
View more news in our news archive.