text:
The Baby Business: U.S. couples adopting from abroad often think they're helping vulnerable children. The reality is more complex- and poorly regulated
June 30, 2010
When Katie and Calvin Bradshaw adopted three young sisters from Ethiopia in 2006, they believed they were saving AIDS orphans from a life of poverty or near-certain prostitution. But after learning English, the girls told their new parents that they believed the adoption agency, Christian World Adoption, had paid their birthfather for them. The girls said they had expected to return to their extended Ethiopian family, who were middle-class by local standards, as both CBS News and Australia's ABC News reported. The Bradshaws were rightly horrified. (Today, the two younger girls are still with them, while the oldest daughter lives with Katie Bradshaw's mother; in a lengthy response to the CBS News report, Christian World Adoption said it had no contact with the girls' birth family).
I've heard a string of similar tales from families in Italy, Canada, Austria, and other Western countries adopting from Ethiopia, the current hot adoption source. In the past five years, Ethiopia's adoptions to the United States alone have expanded exponentially: Americans adopted 442 Ethiopian children in 2005, and 2,277 in 2009, ranking Ethiopia right behind China as a source for our international adoptions. The combination of skyrocketing numbers and troubling stories suggests that Ethiopia has become the latest country beset by an all-too-common problem: a poor country in which unscrupulous middlemen are sometimes buying, defrauding, coercing, or even kidnapping children away from their families to be sold into international adoption.
Most nations' adoption programs are relatively clean. But during some periods, in some countries–Cambodia between 1997 and 2002, for instance, or Vietnam between 2005 and 2009–evidence from government, newspaper, and NGO investigations strongly suggests that many international adoptions involved fraud. Serious problems have also been documented in such countries as Liberia, Nepal, the Marshall Islands, Peru, Samoa, and most notably, Guatemala, whose processes were so riddled with corruption that it was finally closed to adoption in 2009, after 10 years during which Americans adopted more than 30,000 of its children, in some years bringing home an astonishing one of every 100 babies born there.
Large-hearted Westerners–eager to fill out their families while helping a child in need–have adopted tens of thousands of children from these and other poor countries. Very few are aware of this heartbreaking underside of international adoption–and many have trouble believing it when they do hear such stories. But the fact is that for decades, international adoption has been a Wild West, all but free of meaningful law, regulation, or oversight. In the past ten years, upward of 20,000 Western families each year have adopted internationally. Tens of thousands more are on waiting lists for years. Western adoption agencies, seeking to satisfy demand, have poured millions of dollars of adoption fees into underdeveloped countries. Those dollars and Euros have, too often, induced the unscrupulous to take children away from families that loved and would have raised them to adulthood. Corruption skips from one unprepared country to another–until that country gets wise, changes its laws, and corrupt adoptions shift to the next unprepared nation.
Such corruption can happen in part because American perception and policy about orphans have been distorted by a fundamental myth. Many people believe that millions of healthy babies need Western homes, lest they wither in institutions or die on the streets. This myth is perpetuated, to some extent, by UNICEF's misleading estimate that the world includes 163 million orphans. It's not so. Most of UNICEF's "orphans" are "single" orphans, having lost just one parent; others live with extended family. Most children in need of international adoption are older than five, sick, disabled, or otherwise traumatized. Many Westerners find it counterintuitive, even impossible, that the world isn't filled with healthy babies needing Western families. It's certainly true that millions of children are in desperate straits in benighted parts of the world: stacked up in brutal institutions in former Soviet bloc countries; roaming the streets in African cities; scavenging from Latin American trash heaps; enslaved in gravel pits in South Asia. Some of these children do need new homes abroad–because their families have failed, their health needs are extreme, their communities have cast them out, or because of unusual conditions like China's one-child policy or the Communist legacy of institutionalization (in which workers were encouraged to let their children be raised by the state, in what proved to be horrific institutions). Quite understandably, fewer Westerners are prepared to take in the older, ill, or more challenging children. And so they put their names down for the healthy babies they believe are available.
Ending corruption in international adoption may seem like an obscure and narrow issue, but its implications reach throughout child welfare and development efforts worldwide. What's the right way to help children after the Haitian earthquake or the Liberian civil war? How can the United States help African AIDS orphans become productive citizens instead of pirates or insurgents? What is international adoption's correct role in child welfare? The answers are linked. What the United States needs now are improved policies, practices, and regulations that simultaneously help prevent the criminal underside of the adoption trade and support child welfare and protection systems, so that impoverished families and disrupted communities can keep most of their children home. Already in place are a treaty, a law, sets of regulations, and a host of aid efforts on behalf of children. But significant gaps remain. Plugging some important holes–and heightening our investments in, and coordination of, services that help children stay with their families–would go a long way toward saving children from being wrongfully taken from their birth families, and Americans from later discovering that they unwittingly paid someone to buy them a child.
The Hague Convention On Intercountry Adoption
The international community woke up to unethical adoptions in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 1989, the United Nations enacted the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which included principles about preventing wrongful international adoptions. But the need for still more protections became clear after Nicolae Ceausescu fell in 1989, exposing Romania's brutal warehouses of orphaned or abandoned children. Thousands of well-meaning Westerners flocked to Romania to bring home orphans. Predictably, some entrepreneurial locals saw ways to make money from Westerners' good intentions. By 1991, most American adoptions from Romania were coming not from institutions but from "facilitators" who solicited children directly from birth families in hospitals, on the streets, even in individual homes, in some cases while dumbstruck Westerners stood by.
In 1993, 66 countries, including the United States, gathered at the Hague Conference on Private International Law to create the Convention on Protection of Children and Co-Operation In Respect of Intercountry Adoption. To join the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, as it is known, a nation must commit itself to cooperate "to prevent the abduction, the sale of, or traffic in children" for international adoption. The United States signed the treaty in 1994, ratified it in 2000, and implemented its requirements on April 1, 2008.
The 1993 Hague Convention's biggest gap is easy to identify: it allows signatories to continue adoptions outside the Hague system. Western signatories (including the United States, Italy, France, and Spain) can, and do, still permit adoption from the "non-Hague" countries that lack the treaty's protective systems. Of the world's 195 or so countries, only 81 have entered the Hague Convention. More than two-thirds of U.S. citizens' international adoptions come from "non-Hague" countries, including Russia, Korea, Kazakhstan, and Ethiopia. A number of countries outside the system have experienced significant adoption scandals. But according to Susan Soon-Keum Cox of Holt International Children's Services, a highly respected Oregon-based international adoption and child welfare group, who attended the conference that crafted it, the convention's "minimal standards" were as far as participants would go; pushing for more restrictions would have scuttled the treaty entirely.
The Hague Convention's overarching instruction commands signatories to take "all appropriate measures to prevent improper financial or other gain . . . and to deter all practices contrary" to the goal of ending trafficking for adoption. Toward that end, each Hague Convention country must have a "central authority"–a government body–that oversees international adoptions. The central authority's tasks differ, depending on whether that country is on the supply or demand side (let's oversimplify and call them "poor" or "wealthy" countries) of international adoption.
One Response to "The Baby Business: U.S. couples adopting from abroad often think they're helping vulnerable children. The reality is more complex- and poorly regulated"
July 6, 2010 at 3:29 AM
[...] The Baby Business: U.S. couples adopting from abroad often think … Western adoption agencies, seeking to satisfy demand, have poured millions of dollars of adoption fees into underdeveloped countries. Those dollars and Euros have, too often, induced the unscrupulous to take children away from families that … But according to Susan Soon-Keum Cox of Holt International Children's Services, a highly respected Oregon-based international adoption and child welfare group, who attended the conference that crafted it, the convention's "minimal … … Go here to read the rest: The Baby Business: U.S. couples adopting from abroad often think … [...]


text:
Comment: Re:Where were you when the Eagle landed? (Score 1) 211
My 1st grade teacher lived close to the school. She marched her entire class to her house, where we watched John Glenn on the TV in her living room.
My 1st grade teacher lived close to the school. She marched her entire class to her house, where we watched John Glenn on the TV in her living room.
This is one of those events where you remember where you were when "The Eagle has Landed" and "One Small Step..." For me, it was a gas station in Jackson Center, PA for the landing (we were driving home from our summer place.)
I've noticed a really annoying trend, where you're on a site for a 10-20 seconds reading their content, when this (presumably JavaScript) box pops in front of the content soliciting for your email address. This is really annoying, since it totally breaks the concentration on what you're reading. Since this apparently done with JavaScript provided by the hosting site, pop-up window blockers and cross-script blockers don't prevent it.
So here's a hint for web designers: THIS IS F***KING ANNOYING! STOP IT!
Thank you.
There seems to be a significant number of people here who believe if a device isn't either very complex, or doesn't require or at least allow you to tear it apart and rebuild it, it is somehow "unworthy." For a lot of the rest of us, these are tools we use to do useful things, and the utility of the tool is in part based on how easy it is to use.
If that makes us "hipsters," I guess I'll have to grow a ponytail.
There are a Heluva lot of "hipsters" in the world running iDevices, and the great majority of them are very happy doing so.
Your attitude may vary.
The renaming of its famous comic book and TV character, "Wonder Person."
Chris Hemsworth and Lynda Carter are reportedly in talks to assume the other's iconic role. No word yet if they're planning to share costumes.
As long as you understand where he's coming from, and that he's been paid as a lawyer to advocate in the past for clients, his stuff is worth reading. His arguments may be biased towards a specific perspective, but they are well-reasoned and documented in support of his position. That's a lot better than the normal bovine effluent you read from tech reporters or (other...) paid shills.
Even PJ would pick-and-choose references to support a position, that's what "making an argument" is all about.
That being said, Mueller's recent writings on Apple abandoned a lot of the balance they had in years past. I don't know if he lost patience with Apple's positions on the Samsung trials, or if his change was motivated by something less transparent.
Make sure you read his biography to get a sense of where he's coming from in this debate.
Well, that would be less of a problem if you didn't surf SlashDot using your refrigerator or crop-monitoring drone...
I have a couple problems with the implication that "short time to find/fix" is so acceptable.
1. Some amount of damage was done (and no one really knows for sure) through this bug. A fix was identified rapidly after the bug was -discovered-, but that's a long time after the bug was -introduced-.
2. For some systems, particularly those like SCADA systems where we really have deep information assurance concerns, patching software is not easy! Not everything can use "grab the patched source, rebuild and reinstall" or even "download the patch and install" repairs.
Thus the emphasis Has To Be on preventing these kinds of problems, then defending against them. Fixing them after the system is deployed is by far the weakest strategy. (Thus I salute with a full hand the initiative announced today, and discussed on a related SlashDot thread: http://news.slashdot.org/story... )
"We will hear and they will be punished!!!"
And here's my $.02: C syntax has been actively harmful in this regard. It's too easy to make a typo that compiles, or to introduce a statement/expression that has a different result than you expect (e.g. the Apple "extra break statement" bug.)
Fair enough, and that begs the question whether the passengers on the ship could ever tell the difference...
The new captain has set a new course, one that veers away from the rocks. But this ship will take a long time and a lot of leeway to make that turn.
(Of course, I thought the old captain should have been 'relieved for cause' years ago, but since personally I'm neither a customer/user nor a direct shareholder in MSFT, it really wasn't my business
My school had a one afternoon per week gifted students program. Among other things we did programmed/self paced instruction and classroom work on boolean algebra and basic number theory. This was in the late 1960s in a middle class school district in suburban Pittsburgh (Avonworth.)
The other thing worth noting is how most mathematicians make their breakthrough discoveries before age 30. (Sorry don't have the reference for this, but I've seen it widely discussed.) So that means the earlier we expose kids "with the math gene" to more complex topics, the greater the possibility that stuff will 'stick'.
Be sociable. Speak to the person next to you in the unemployment line tomorrow.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Lefrak City Community Information
Community and Library History
Lefrak City was originally a 42-acre swampy and marginal land west of Horace Harding Boulevard in Corona. Since 1916 this land was unrestricted and it was overlooked by real estate developers of the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s as a poor investment. The land was too soft and marshy for building large buildings. Earlier, it had been the scene of hundreds of Quonset huts for returning World War II veterans and their families--before many of them marched off to Long Island's suburbs. Before that, the land was a fill dump which was called Mary's Dump. In 1954, Samuel J. Lefrak, who was one of the world's major builders and one of the largest landlords in the New York City metropolitan area, went to the City Planning Commission to have it re-zoned for business and residence districts. With an initial investment of more than $6 million, Lefrak purchased the vacant property from the estate of Lord William Waldorf Astor of England. Without any aid from federal, state or city funds, he then took a risk to invest $150 million into the project from 1961 until its completion in 1966. The architect was Jack Brown; Frank Stein was the renting manager. It was billed as "The City of Tomorrow", as a city within a city to fill the acute housing shortage in New York City.
Soon after the construction a total of 5,000 apartments ranging from studios to three-bedroom units, with a new population of 25,000, were brought into the area, whose 20 18-story balconied buildings were surrounded by retail stores, supermarkets, restaurants, a public library, a bank, a post office, and two office buildings. Each apartment was built with nine-foot-high ceilings, an electric kitchen under-the-window air-conditioner sleeves, and a terrace for "total facilities for total living." Inspired by the Olympic five-ring logo, the complex includes five intersecting residential sections, each section consisting of four buildings that form an x-pattern. Very uniquely, the buildings within each section are named for countries or cities that are located in the same part of the world. For example, section one is dedicated to Europe, with its buildings named London, Copenhagen, Paris, and Rome on their regimented bricks.
Lefrak City, the towering apartment complex, runs between the Long Island Expressway and 57th Avenue and stretches from Junction Blvd. to 99th Street. It borders Elmhurst, Corona and Rego Park. The official address of Lefrak City is 97-05 Horace Harding Blvd, Corona. The population of Lefrak City has varied over the years. In the beginning, the complex drew middle-class tenants and a large number of Jewish immigrants who had first settled in the South Bronx, the Lower East Side, and Brooklyn. Some of them were United Nations staff and diplomats. Lefrak City even housed many international exhibitors during the New York World Fair in 1964 and 1965. Following allegations by the Justice Department that black applicants were discriminated against in the early 1970s, the Lefrak Organization, which owns the property, agreed to help black tenants move into the complex.
In the 1980s, an increase of crime from drugs and gang violence led to the departure of Lefrak City's white middle-class and left it teetering on the edge of collapse. It was not until the early 1990s that the coincidental arrival of Russian Jews and more African immigrants brought new life to the complex. This unlikely combination of newcomers, Jewish refugees from the former Soviet Union's Central Asia Republics of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, and Muslim immigrants from Africa, has revitalized Lefrak City and stabilized its population. Toward the turn of the 21st Century, Lefrak City and its expanded adjacent vicinities have witnessed a new wave of Hispanic and Asian immigrants, mostly from countries such as Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru as well as China, India, Philippines, Pakistan, and Korea.
Lefrak City is a short walk away from the bustling mass transportation hub that brings together eight local bus lines as well as G, R and V trains. Triboro Coach Corp. operates Manhattan-bound express buses that stop at the complex. The Long Island Expressway intersects the Grand Central Parkway to the east, and Queens Blvd. and Woodhaven Blvd. meet two blocks from the complex. In addition to its indoor shopping center, the complex is within walking distance of the Queens Center Mall and the Rego Park shopping center. With courts for tennis, basketball, and volleyball, soccer fields, ice skating rinks, playgrounds, parking spaces and public garages, picnic and barbecue areas, jogging trails, and a vegetable garden for senior citizens, Lefrak City is a haven and a home for new immigrants, mainly from Latin America, Africa, Russia and Asia.
Through the years, Lefrak City has made a myriad of non-profit cultural, social, athletic, religious, and educational activities available to all residents: including an on-premises after-school program, computer-learning center, summer day camp, and youth employment program. Each summer the housing complex sponsors a barbecue for tenants during Family Day. To serve the international flavor of its tenants Lefrak City also has a mosque, a synagogue, and a Baptist church, as well as other organizations that cultivate a strong sense of belonging. Today, Lefrak City, the largest privately financed apartment development in the United States is still attracting new residents from all over the city and the world.
With a "Please Open Before Christmas," the library at Lefrak City, the Queens Borough Public Library's fifty-fourth branch started serving its thousands of residents on Tuesday, December 13th, 1966. Mrs. Marie Bottomley was the librarian in charge of the branch. At the time, the library rented a special wing in one of the Lefrak buildings, at 98-27 Horace Harding Expressway, to house the 8,000 sq. ft. branch. It had a capacity for 35,000 volumes, seated 110 readers, and boasted a community room for library-related programs. The Bookmobile, giving weekly library service, made its last stop in the area on December 6th, 1966.
The new Lefrak City Community Library, with the state-of-the–art-facility was relocated within the Lefrak City housing complex again at 98-30 57th avenue between 99th Street and Junction Blvd. The new branch is more than two times larger than the previous building, which reopened its doors to customers on August 18, 2003 after the extensive renovations. The Borough President's Office contributed $600,000 from its 2004 capital budget for continuing renovation to the building. Richard Lefrak, Sam Lefrak's only son and the third president of the Lefrak Organization, donated $50,000 to cover work to the heating and ventilation systems, sidewalk repair and plumbing. Because of the new improvements, the library now features an enlarged children's room, a stadium-seating story time room for kids, an easy-accessible teen area, redesigned circulation desk, an elevator near the library's entrance for handicapped people, and user-friendly self-checkout machines. It also has a 120-seat auditorium which could be divided into smaller sections for programs, classes and meetings.


text:
The failure of Telesis Community Credit Union in Chatsworth provides a behind-the-scenes glimpse into controversies over business lending and multimillion-dollar executive pay at some of the member-owned financial cooperatives.
State financial regulators late Friday seized Telesis, a financially troubled institution that remains open under control of the National Credit Union Administration. The NCUA oversees a federal insurance program for credit union accounts up to $250,000.


text:
July 31, 2014
A competency hearing was held Thursday in the case of a Magoffin County man accused of shooting three people at a store earlier this year.
44-year-old Colonel Bolen was declared competent to stand trial.
He is accused of opening fire in the J & J General Store parking lot in February hitting one woman and two men.
They survived the shooting.
Bolen was indicted on six counts of attempted murder.


text:
Affiliate Login
Scrapple - The Movie DVD
Quantity in Basket:
noneCode: ScrappleDVD
Price:$20.00Shipping Weight: 1.00 units
This high-flying "Colorado cult film" (Denver Post) makes fans out of everyone who sees it! Scrapple serves up a curious slice of life in the timeless fictional ski town of Ajax, Colorado. Taking place over the course of a summer, the story is outlined by the life of Scrapple the pig.
The celebrated prize at the end of the Ski Season Pig Chase, the dharma piglet takes up residence with some local Ajaxians, who decide to raise and fatten her for a sacrificial autumn roast in honor of the snow god Ullr. Little do they realize the lasting effect this curly-tailed spirited mass will have an their lives.
Known as the dimwitted small time drug dealer, Al Dean (Geoffrey Hanson) actually has a plan. And once the much anticipated shipment of the legendary Nepalese Temple Balls comes in, Al will finally have enough money to got his brother out of the VA hospital and into the coveted house on Spruce Street. But a few things stand in his way, an ambitious but shady real estate broker, a suspicious sheriff, and most surprisingly, his best friend Tom Sullivan (Buck Simmonds), who returns to Ajax to face his haunted past--a past for which he holds Al responsible.
The stories converge on the day of the pig roast. After Scrapple sticks her snout in the wrong place, Al finds himself in over his head in the middle of a big-time drug deal. Tom, in an attempt to salvage his relationship with newfound love Both (Ryan Massey), inadvertently thwarts Al's plan as he plots to save ScrappIe from the skewer.
Scrapple is a high altitude story of drugs, love...and a pig. The first film by brothers Christopher and Geoffrey Hanson and producing partner George Plamondon contains all the ingredients for a genuine and humorous look at ski town life. Scrapple is not a ski film, but an authentic and original mountain town film. With its superb ensemble cast, breathtaking cinematography and soulful score by blues legend Taj Mahal, Scrapple is one of the most entertaining debut films of 1998.


text:
What is Grace Giving?
Filed under: Giving, Philosophy
"Grace" Is Not The Synonym
For Mindless Enthusiasm
I began a series of posts on Tithing in July 2009 that immediately attracted a lot of negative attention. Every comment came from people who reject tithing, believe it was eliminated at the cross and feel quite free to abuse anyone who thinks otherwise.
- They refer to those who teach tithing variously as false prophets, liars and thieves.
- Those who practice tithing, they say, are duped.
- Anyone who doesn't see their point immediately or questions them with rational arguments are accused of being gripped with a cultic mindset.
In other words, anyone who disagrees is either a false prophet, a dupe or psychologically damaged. That makes it easy for them. Tithers need help not answers.
Well, ever the curious antagonist, I engaged the discussion looking for two specific bits of information.
Firstly, I wanted to know if these detractors could actually prove that tithing can be understood differently to the historical traditional sense. Was it really never what we thought it was? Did Abraham and Jacob really not tithe in the traditionally understood manner? Was their tithing not the same as that incorporated in the law? Did Jesus' sparsity of comments on tithing mean it was mysteriously and without notice eliminated?
I dedicated several posts to these very questions. The responses could be described as misdirecting, smoke screening and/or dismissive. You can peruse the comments on the various posts to see what I mean.
Secondly, I wanted to know what we should do instead. If not tithing then what? That is a good question especially for people just starting out.
The answer, in most cases, was "Grace Giving" but it was never accompanied with a clear definition of what that is and how it works, so the questions remain.
What is that? What does it mean? How does it work?
I've asked all these questions and gotten very little in response. Answers are vague, definitions are thin and asking for detailed clarification doesn't help. I haven't met one anti-tither yet that will tell you up front exactly what they give or how they calculate it. The Bible says the right hand shouldn't know what the left hand is giving to charity – which is not exactly the same thing as a tithe – but one hand should definitely know what is going with the money.
But, in the course of interacting with these anti-tithers a glimmer of evidence came through. One lady, carrying unwanted debt, asked if she could use her tithe to pay off the debt and the anti-tithe spokesperson said absolutely.
The implication was, as long as she was paying off debt she didn't need to pay God anything! In another post he says exactly that, "I don't want you to give another dime until all of your unsecured credit is paid off." I can't imagine telling anyone to do that. It doesn't make sense spiritually or practically but from this we glean the first rule of grace giving.
Rule # 1: Donations Must Be Used To Pay Off Debt
You must use any money you might otherwise offer to God, tithe or not, to pay off accumulated debt.
There was no discussion on how this woman accumulated debt. Apparently it didn't matter. It was assumed that offerings are a primary cause of debt and, therefore, must be the primary line of correction.
But, it doesn't stop there. Anti-tithe then proceeded to use his parents' experience to illustrate his point. Here is the quote:
My parents paid tithing for 20 years, and i can tell you that in the end they were still in $30,000 in credit card debt. Their tithe over those years was equivalent to about $100,000. I believe a wise steward would pay 70,000 in tithes and offerings and used the other 30,000 to stay out of debt.
Here is the skinny on the illustration.
- Thirty grand over twenty years represents over budget spending of $125 a month.
- He recommends using the tithe to avoid the debt, i.e., wait till the end of the month to see what is left over before paying God anything. Don't worry if what is left is less than a tithe.
So now we have the second rule of grace giving:
Rule # 2: Pay God Last
Make your contributions to God only after everyone and everything else has been paid, even if nothing is left. In this scenario God becomes your first line of defense against over spending.
Of course, no serious minded person could think this. Jesus said seek God FIRST and in context was discussing money. But, even if we took Anti-tithes advice seriously, it still leaves us with unanswered questions.
If I get to the end of the month and I have more than a tithe left over do I give a tithe, everything left over, less than a tithe or what? What rule do I follow in calculating an amount? That is a reasonable question to which anti-tithers have no rational response.
By the way, when I suggested he was teaching people to live extravagantly before they give to God he felt compelled to share his parents' experience. His words:
We had 8 children in our family. My parents sent us to a private Christian School. My dad had a blue collar job. That is how you spend so much money. We never had a fancy car. We didn't have a nice house. I lived in the ghetto. We always had food. We never had any fancy clothes, or nice shoes. But my parents obviously struggled between the battle of providing the necessities to their children and giving 400/month in tithes.
My family didn't have the luxury of paying ourselves fully first. That was never the case. My father always paid God first, and then did what he could for his family. I look back as a parent myself, and do not know how i am here today.
I could count with both my hands the number of times my family went out to eat.
My response:
I have a lot of respect for your parents. I hope you haven't convinced them they were wrong and I think you and your siblings could help out with some of the debt.
I'm also curious about the school situation. We sent our kids to a private Christian school also and because we were tithing members we paid reduced school fees. In fact, what we paid in tithes was less than the amount by which the fees were reduced. That represents a return on the tithe before it is given.
If you are interested you can follow the whole conversation here.
Truth? Tithing never hurt anyone. It always helps and there aren't enough arguments to make it go away. But, I am still open. Anyone who can provide a complete non-tithing concept for giving that includes faithfulness, consistency and commitment and can deal honestly with legitimate arguments for tithing will have my attention.
What do you THINK!AboutIt?
In Tithing, Douglas Leblanc provides much more than a narrow discussion on a traditional issue. It isn't the same old arguments presented the same boringly technical way.
Instead, and probably because he admits to being "no theologian or exegetical writer," Douglas has found an intriguing way to cut to the real heart of the issue – compassion and concern for others. He shares the experiences of twelve different homes, all couples with the exception of one lone Monsignor, all of whom endorse tithing for a very similar reason: selflessness.
12 Comments on What is Grace Giving?
steward on
Tue, 11th Aug 2009 2:01 pm
Mark on
Tue, 11th Aug 2009 11:20 pm
EnnisP on
Wed, 12th Aug 2009 8:27 am
steward on
Wed, 12th Aug 2009 12:30 pm
Mark on
Wed, 12th Aug 2009 8:10 pm
Mark on
Wed, 12th Aug 2009 11:33 pm
EnnisP on
Thu, 13th Aug 2009 8:56 am
Mark on
Thu, 13th Aug 2009 3:08 pm
Suzie on
Sat, 15th Aug 2009 6:26 am
Gary Arnold on
Tue, 25th Aug 2009 7:22 am
EnnisP on
Tue, 25th Aug 2009 11:34 am
Tithing Countermanded By Corruption? | NowTHINK!AboutIt on
Mon, 28th Jun 2010 9:58 am
Correct, i don't want them to give. I want them to feel the full pressure of watching that plate go by without putting anything in. I don't want them to feel any consolation for their foolish spending by giving to ease their guilty conscience. Giving is the easy way out. Our religious giving can hide mounds of overall poor stewardship. No one would ever know that we are selfish, greedy, and materialistic. As long as we put that money in each week, we convince ourselves and possibly others that we are responsible people.
So, no i don't want you to give a dime while you are in debt. So the next time that you see that plate go by, remember what it feels like to rob God not just by failing to give, but by your foolish debt.
What makes you think that you are giving to God if you rob from one purse because of debt to give to another purse?
You are sincerely mislead if you believe that i am directing people to pay God last. God is first – ALWAYS! Being wise with our finances and paying off debt is just as much putting God first as putting money in a plate. You cannot be in debt, and put money in the plate and convince yourself that you are at least doing half of what you are suppose to.
Saying, 'tithing never hurt anyone' according to me is the same as saying 'forcing clean meats' upon people never hurt anyone, or 'forcing the gentiles to circumcise' never hurt anyone. Anyone can eat clean meats, and be circumcised and not be hurt. Anyone can give 10% and not be hurt, but these burdens are not requirements.
- jared
I had an extra moment and thought I'd drop by and see if you'd allowed Scripture to change your mind. Apparently not. Since I was a frequent commenter against you, I'll assume that some/most of this refers to me.
I don't think I ever called you a liar or false prophet. I'm sure you honestly believe what you're saying, even if it is untrue. Does that make you a liar? I did say you are very confused about the teachings of Scripture, especially the differences between the old and new covenants.
"Firstly, I wanted to know if these detractors could actually prove that tithing can be understood differently to the historical traditional sense. Was it really never what we thought it was? Did Abraham and Jacob really not tithe in the traditionally understood manner? Was their tithing not the same as that incorporated in the law? Did Jesus' sparsity of comments on tithing mean it was mysteriously and without notice eliminated?"
What we answered with was that nobody ever actually gave in your traditionally understood manner. Nowhere in the Bible does it record anyone actually giving a tenth of their income/increase. The closest one is Jacob's promise. And there is no command recorded in Scripture of God commanding saints in general, to give a tenth of their increase regularly. Not even one. I don't see how that is misdirecting, smokescreening, or dismissive. You have an absolute vacuum of evidence for your position. Nothing. Nada. Zilch.
"The answer, of course, is "Grace Giving." But the question remains. What is that? What does it mean? How does it work? I've asked all these questions and have gotten very little in response. Answers are vague, definitions are thin and asking for detailed clarification doesn't help. I haven't met one anti-tither yet that will tell you up front exactly what they do and how they calculate it. I'm not sure their left or right hand knows what's going on."
What you got in response was a lengthy post detailing grace giving which you admitted you had no disagreement with. You just felt it wasn't specific enough so you want to add to Scripture so you don't feel in the dark about what to give. But Scripture doesn't prescribe a percent. I don't share how much I give because it is a private matter between me and God. I don't want anyone to know how much I give, especially fellow church members, because I don't want it to influence how they think of me. I've been in a church where tithing on record was mandatory for all church officers including deacons. When there was discussion on issues in the church, guess which deacons carried more weight. We have shown as much detail as the Bible provides when it comes to giving. You're failure to recognize the sufficiency of Scripture is not our fault. And adding law to grace is something Paul took very seriously in the NT.
Also, I am a strong advocate of grace giving, but I would not ascribe to your 2 so-called rules of grace giving. You are using terrible argumentation here. You are taking the comments of one person holding this position and pretending like they are representative. And even distorting them to make them sound worse. No wonder some of your detractors are accusing you of lying. At the very least, you are being dishonest with your portrayal of the grace-giving position.
"Truth? Tithing never hurt anyone."
Really? No one? How do you know that? Do you really feel informed enough to make a universal statement of that magnitude? And is your position is not just that tithing is a good idea, or that it is beneficial or fiscally responsible. Your argument is that tithing is a command of God. I can say that hair cut over your ears never hurt anyone, but that doesn't make it a Biblical command.
"It always helps and there aren't enough arguments to make it go away. But, I am still open."
There aren't any arguments for it. No examples in the Bible and no commands from God. You act like we need to pull out some Scripture where God says, "Thou shalt not tithe" in order to defeat your position. But you are the one who wants to make a command binding on NT christians. YOU have to show that. You can't pretend that your position is the default position and make everyone provide positive proofs against it. You have to provide the positive proofs. But not a single one of your arguments is a Biblical argument, so obviously your are not open, because you are obstinate in the face of a complete vacuum of evidence.
"Anyone who can provide a complete non-tithing concept for giving that includes faithfulness, sacrifice, consistency and commitment and can deal honestly with legitimate arguments for tithing will have my attention."
Why do you get to set up the parameters of proof for the concept of giving? What if the Bible itself doesn't deal with all of those areas in detail? You are setting the standard of proof so high that the Bible itself doesn't even reach it. And, once again, let me reiterate that you have no arguments for tithing. No examples of anyone giving in your traditional, historical sense, and no commands from God for saints in general to give in that manner. How is that dishonest? We said the Bible teaches NT believers to give graciously, sacrificially, proportionately, regularly, and cheerfully. It just doesn't tell them exactly. You don't like that so you come up with what you refer to as the traditional, historical manner of giving which no one in Scripture ever did.
Hey Mark,
Take a look around the net and you will find people referring to tithers in all the ways I mentioned. You never have used the terms (thank you) but it does happen quite frequently.
And I do believe it would be great for people to know what formula could be used to determine what to give to God. You generally have been dismissive in response to that questions as if all people automatically know how to handle finances. If that were true there wouldn't be so many people in trouble.
For me the formula is ten percent. For you it is…I don't know. There are a lot of questions that "Grace" people don't but could answer:
Do I commit to an amount?
Do I give that amount even when things are tight?
If not, do I stop all giving completely or give only a part of what I committed?
If so, what part do I give and for how long?
Is faith involved and if so what are the parameters for it (don't want to be foolish).
You have said twice that giving should be "sacrificial" (we agree) yet the individual I talked about in this post says don't give anything to God if you have debt.
Which is it? How is it defined? In fact, often "Grace" giving is presented as "no pressure, don't have it, don't give it." That may not represent your personal views but the idea gets passed around.
Lastly, there is more in the Bible for tithing than there is against it. To disregard that statement especially in view of arguments presented is to be dismissive. BTW, You still haven't named the one verse of Scripture that commands a person to have only one marriage partner. Your response to that question was dismissive.
To use questions about tithing which are not easy to answer to suggest it didn't really exist is smoke screening. It was practiced and it is our job to figure it out not mystify it into non-existence.
To refer to "pagans" as the reason people gave money to God is misdirection. Can we say for certain that pagans didn't begin doing so after God's people got it going in the first place? No! Can we say it was not God's rule before the law? No!
The ten commandments were written on the Stone of Hamurabi before Moses wrote them in the law (by about 500 years). Were these laws not true before Moses wrote them? Did Hamurabi inspire the decalogue or did God manage to impress these rules generally on hum society before Moses?
By your description of society, pagans ruled before the law and God sat quietly in the corner having nothing to say.
Be careful. I suspect your answer to this will be dismissive. Either give me an argument or say nothing.
If you want to believe in "Grace" giving, define it. Everyone would appreciate it.
Grace giving is not antithetical to tithing. People can tithe and be under grace. But one cannot be a Spirit led giver without feeling the liberty to stray from their personal guidelines.
There are many verses in the New Testament that show how the early Church made plans, but the Spirit was permitted to intervene without the interference of personal goals.
Acts 16:7
1 Cor. 6:5-7
Romans 1:13
2 Cor 1:15
i would think that 'you' give offerings above the tithe, so i'm sure that you have made personal goals to give a certain percentage above the tithe. Have you ever strayed from your goal as an offering? Have you ever decided to give more or less to what you had predetermined to give? Since offerings are commanded, do you consider it foolish that many people do not follow a strict guideline for offerings? If you think it's foolish for me to be Spirit led with my giving, then it has to be foolish for anyone to be Spirit led with their offerings above the tithe as well.
When i use to separate my giving into tithes and offerings, many times my decision to give here or there would change. I would decide to take away here, and give to there. Or at times, i would keep the money for a need that came up. Sometimes there was no longer a need to where i was giving, or there was a greater need somewhere else.
The Holy Spirit indwelling and guiding us is something that Abraham, Moses, nor Israel ever had. if Israel provided offerings without the gift of the Holy Spirit, why would we all of a sudden today define offerings above the tithe -'Spirit-led'?
"And I do believe it would be great for people to know what formula could be used to determine what to give to God. You generally have been dismissive in response to that questions as if all people automatically know how to handle finances. If that were true there wouldn't be so many people in trouble."
This isn't an argument. Nobody really cares what you believe, just what you can show from Scripture. That is why we've been dismissive, because you are acting like there is some Biblical principle that requires God to spell out in minute detail exactly what we need to do. Of course, people will misuse and abuse finances. But that's not a Biblical argument for tithing. At best, its an empirical argument that you're profoundly misusing. In order for your argument to work, you would need to provide empirical evidence that people who are committed to Christ, don't believe in tithing as a command, and regularly practice grace giving are in financial trouble. Good luck with that. So we'll continue to dismiss your "God must give us minute details" principle since we don't find it in Scripture.
As far as your questions go, the answer to all of them is basically, "Give as you purpose in your heart to give in response to the grace God has abundantly given to you." No, there's no pressure there. That's why Paul says that our giving should not be out of compulsion. I know that answer drives you nuts, so you want to add law to grace. But just because you don't like it, doesn't mean you get to tell people God commands them to do something He doesn't.
"Lastly, there is more in the Bible for tithing than there is against it. To disregard that statement especially in view of arguments presented is to be dismissive. BTW, You still haven't named the one verse of Scripture that commands a person to have only one marriage partner. Your response to that question was dismissive."
You keep saying this, but we keep repeating the fact that no one in the Bible ever tithed in your "traditional, historical" manner. There is no command of God anywhere that requires believers in general to give in your "traditional, historical" manner. As far as the rest of your arguments, they are not Biblical arguments. You say things like tithing encourages solidarity and tithing helps sloppy finances. But those aren't arguments that are binding on believers as a command. There are a lot of things that would encourage solidarity or cure financial difficulties, but that doesn't mean God commands them. So, yes, we are dismissive of the arguments that are not Scriptural arguments because what we are trying to ascertain is whether or not God, through Scripture, has commanded all people to tithe in your "traditional, historical" manner. And when we look at Scripture, we find that He doesn't. And no one ever did it that way.
"To use questions about tithing which are not easy to answer to suggest it didn't really exist is smoke screening. It was practiced and it is our job to figure it out not mystify it into non-existence."
You are the one who is making assumptions that are not stated in Scripture, so we just presented challenges to your assumption. You say that it was Abraham's practice to tithe in your "traditional, historical" manner even though the Bible doesn't record it, so we asked questions like, who would he give it to? What was its purpose? What did he actually tithe on? Since you are making the assumption, you must show why we should accept your assumption. There are just too many obstacles to your assumption to really take it seriously.
"To refer to "pagans" as the reason people gave money to God is misdirection. Can we say for certain that pagans didn't begin doing so after God's people got it going in the first place? No! Can we say it was not God's rule before the law? No!"
Its hard to take you seriously when you say things like this. Do you really not understand how Biblical characters in the Ancient Near East world would use some common practices of the ANE people even though God didn't issue commands in those areas? If Abraham dressed like his ANE contemporaries does that mean that God commanded all those people to dress that way since Abraham did it? As far as your last two questions which you emphatically answer no, the Scripture is completely silent in that regard. For you to try to build an argument from silence leaves your position extremely vulnerable.
"By your description of society, pagans ruled before the law and God sat quietly in the corner having nothing to say."
Wait, what? Because the ANE people had customs that weren't commanded by God means God is sitting in a corner? Are you seriously proposing this as an argument? I'm just saying that not everything the ANE people did was as a direct result of a command from God. That's not to say that God was not active, just that there was some liberty in people's relationship to Him and to others, just like today.
"If you want to believe in "Grace" giving, define it. Everyone would appreciate it."
I did define it, you just don't like the definition because you've entered this discussion with an a priori commitment to a standard of proof that you require for a philosophy of giving. You think a philosophy of giving must answer questions in minute detail leaving no room for liberty. But that's not a Biblical standard. So when we show you what the Bible actually says about giving, you respond with, that's not enough, it needs to be more specific. You assume that it won't work and that people will be left in the dark and the church will be a mass of confusion and financial disarray. Yet I have not yet found a church that held firmly to grace giving that had a confused membership or continual financial difficulties.
You arguments carry no weight when compared to Scripture or reality. You are adding law to grace and removing the liberty that Galatians tells us to stand fast in. That is a dangerous thing to do.
The other problem you have is some of the arguments you use against grace giving work against tithing too. If God's goal is to provide clear instruction, then where is the clear instruction on the tithe?
Do i tithe off of net or gross or gross plus benefits or is it off of assets like the Israelite ranchers?
Do I tithe off of windfall? investments?
Who do I give the tithe to?
What is my tithe for?
One of the tithes in Israel was to be consumed personally. Can I take a tithe and go and have a party for me and all my brothers in Christ just like the Israelites did?
What do you mean when you say give/gave to God? I can't physically impart wealth to God Himself. Does it mean giving to the church, the brethren, the least of these? And if all three, then how much of my tithe do I need to give to each? Or should I give 3 separate tithes like the Israelites did? Is that God's command to me?
Do I still need to tithe off of my vegetable and herb gardens since Christ commended the Pharisees for doing that?
If I'm a farmer, can I give a tenth of my crops?
If i live in a third world country that still uses a bartering system in addition to money, can I give something other than money and how do I calculate a tenth?
Hey Mark,
Do you use toilet paper and if so what verse in the Bible says do so?
Does your wife use birth control and if so what verse?
Do you use banks…
All of your questions about tithing are smoke screens. They don't prove or disprove tithing which sets the basic parameter. They are moot sense the discussion here deals with whether or not tithing is a biblical principle. Once that is established some of them are legitimate and can be easily answered. Some of them are out of place.
For example: "If I'm a farmer, can I give a tenth of my crops?"
That has to be answered from two different view points. In a western economy crops are converted to cash, so no that wouldn't be the reasonable way to make an offering. In poorer environments crops can most certainly become the actual offerings. They cannot readily convert crops to cash. In both cases tithing has been done.
Grace giving provides no parameters.
And, Mark, there is nothing a priori here. Traditional, yes, but if you wish to establish a priori you've got to go back to the first instance in which it was "thought" and prove a priori there. You can't do that. No one can.
You still haven't given me your one verse commanding each person to have only one married partner. I'm sure you never will and I'm fairly certain any response will be dismissive.
You really don't get it, do you? You have asked all these specific questions about grace giving to show how the Bible doesn't really give parameters. I ask questions about tithing to show that the Bible doesn't really give specific parameters there either.
By a priori, I meant that YOU have an a priori commitment to a level of specificity that the Bible doesn't meet. You've entered the discussion saying that a philosophy of giving MUST answer these certain questions or you're not going to accept it. But your level of specificity is not mandated by Scripture. Scripture doesn't give us that level of specificity. What Scripture gives us is broad principles that essentially boil down to, "Give as you purpose in your heart, according to the abundant grace that God has given you." You keep complaining that that has no parameters. But that is not a Biblical problem. I can, by the same token, reverse your argument back to you and require a level of specificity that the principle of tithing doesn't meet. I can complain that I feel left in the dark by the tithing principle because I don't know what to do in these certain situations. You say my questions are moot, I say your questions are moot.
As far as your answer to the farming situation, the Israelites could easily convert crops to cash, the law even had conditions for it. If you converted your crops to cash, you had to give above their value. So, why can't I just give a tenth of my crops? You say its unreasonable, but where does Scripture provide the parameters for the tithing principle?
And I don't know where you're getting your idea of traditional. Traditional to you, maybe. Traditional to conservative Christianity possibly. But the Bible has no examples or commands regarding giving in your traditional manner.
As far as your silly polygamy question, I'm not going to spend the time developing a philosophy of marriage for you. That's just a red herring, which you are completely misusing. Let's follow your reasoning for the tithing principle. Abraham did it before the law. People practiced it under the law. There is no clear Scripture that explicitly removes the tithing principle in the NT. Now, let's apply that exact same logic to polygamy. Abraham practiced it before the law. People practiced it under the law. There is no clear Scripture that explicitly outlaws polygamy in the NT. By your own logic, you have proven the validity of polygamy. I'm sure your wife will be thrilled.
When you ask us for explicit statements from Scripture for silly little things, we just look at you and think, "Wait, what?" Our whole argument is that we don't need Scripture to spell things out in detail for us. We can give freely with liberty. You are the one saying God has commanded a clear, specific, precise method so we're just asking you where God laid down that clear, specific, precise method and for some examples of anyone, ANYONE, giving according to that clear, specific, precise, traditional method. (crickets chirping)
Maybe People are getting militant against forced tithing because they are tired of being manipulated lied to and scared half to death of the cursed with a curse quote that has become a favorite quote at Collection time!
Using Abraham as tithing to Melchizedek to support tithing displays a great amount of ignorance of Hebrews because later in Hebrews it totally invalidates the law by saying in Christ we now have a new and better (way) Covenant.
You can't be cursed if you are in Christ, for Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law. If you want to feel justified by your works go right ahead I would rather rest in the finished work of Christ and believe him when he said it is finished.
Sign me Happy that my debts are "paid in full" by Jesus I give under grace not to keep the law that Jesus fulfilled for me. Since the tithe promoters are teaching the tithe law where is the command to keep the other six hundred and twelve laws?
EnnisP – Let me start with tithing, and then I will go to giving.
Abraham tithed war spoils, NOT from his income or wealth. That was a one-time event recorded in over 2,000 years of Biblical history. Jacob only vowed to tithe IF God met his conditions. There is no record whether Jacob in fact tithed or not, and if he did, who he gave it to.
Hebrews 7 starts talking about Melchisedec and Abraham's tithe. That's the ONLY commandment, or law, being spoken of. Then in Hebrews7:12 we are told "For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law." Then in verse 18 we are told "For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment…" Verse 18 tells us tithing had been abolished.
Ephesians 2:15 and Colossians 2:14 plus many other verses tell us the law ended at the cross. Tithing was part of the law. Abraham's tithe was not commanded by God.
In the Old Testament, you PAID a tithe to God by taking it to the Levites. You gave God offerings by BURNING them. That was the only way to give to God. In the New Testament, it is not possible to pay a tithe to God because the Levitical priesthood ended, and God NEVER authorized the Christian Church to receive his tithe. In the New Testament, it is not possible to give offerings to God. Giving to a church is NOT giving to God.
In the New Testament we can give to the Lord by following what Jesus said in Matthew 25:42-45. Giving/helping the poor is giving to God.
I have electronically published my latest book, THE PRINCIPLES OF NEW TESTAMENT GIVING, which is available, free of charge as a download, at my newest website, http://www.NewTestamentGiving.com. I cover God's gifts to us, how God wants our giving to Him to begin with ourselves, what God wants us to do with our money, principles of giving, when and how to give, and more.
I believe that God is more concerned with how much we keep for ourselves than He is with how much we give. Some will argue that our giving should be more like the "graduated income tax" in that the more money one makes, the higher percentage he or she should give. But there is NO percentage to start with. Many should be giving 20%, 30%, or more, while others may only have a dollar to give. Each must pray and be led by the Spirit.
I consider it an honor and privilege to give to those in need. Giving need not be to a church or charity. Giving can be direct to those you know need help. However, those who attend a local church are morally obligated to "pay their share" as the bills must be paid. If you want a building to worship in, air conditioning, etc., those using it need to pay for it. Those who are able should even help pay the share of others less fortunate.
My giving is led by the Spirit. When attending a church, I decide or a "regular donation" to pay my share since a church needs to have a budget. Then I pray and let the Spirit guide me for any amount above it. Sometimes I an led to give a large amount; sometimes nothing additional.
My biggest blessings have come while being a cheerful GIVER, not while I was a tither. Paying a tithe is like paying your income taxes. There is nothing pleasurable about it. I find much pleasure and satisfaction in my giving where I know it is making a difference.
We are able to give from our earnings. The Lord's tithe was ALWAYS on the miraculous increase of God and NEVER on anything that man made or earned. It was NOT on man's increase. My book on tithing can be downloaded free of charge at http://www.tithingbook.info.
God has called me to teach the truth about His tithe as well as to teach stewardship and giving. This is now what I do. And since I am retired, I never charge or any of my services, and actually refuse to accept any donations to my ministry. God has already blessed me, and now I am giving back to Him.
Hello Gary. Thanks for your comments. Obviously, you and I have discussed tithing before and disagreed and my responses to your arguments are included in the post The Long History of Tithing. I won't repeat them here.
I do, however, acknowledge and appreciate your effort to give some guidelines to giving as you teach it and practice it. That is far better than being mysterious about it.
[...] Giving should only be done by grace. Answered here and here. [...]
Speak your mind...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!


text:
UCI launches first phase of stakeholder consultation
The International Cycling Union (UCI) today launched the first phase of its wide-ranging consultation exercise, inviting all of cycling's stakeholders for their input in order to build a bright future for cycling and tackle issues of concern in the sport.
Letters have been sent to riders, teams, race organisers, national federations, administrators, sponsors, industry representatives, anti-doping organisations and sports bodies, asking for their comments on a proposed list of topics that have been divided into four main pillars of discussion: globalisation, anti-doping, riders and sports calendar.
Stakeholders have until 10th December to send their comments and suggestions about the list of topics back to the UCI, which will then finalise and announce the format of the Stakeholder Consultation.
UCI President Pat McQuaid said he looked forward to the collaboration between all of cycling's stakeholders in the common interest of the sport: "We will work together to tackle issues of concern and build a bright future for cycling. We will look at how we can continue the process of globalising cycling, encourage wider participation and make the sport even more interesting for spectators."
The consultation, which will take place in the first quarter of 2013, is completely separate from the external Independent Commission, which is charged with looking into the issues and allegations contained in the USADA decision relating to the Armstrong affair.
UCI Communication Services


text:
From staff reports
Local superintendents said Friday that they were bracing for those cuts in state funding next year, including potential cuts in transportation funding.
Gov. Jay Nixon warned in a Thursday interview with the Associated Press that cuts could be coming to certain public school programs, and that school busing subsidies are "on the watch list" for potential cuts. The state last year halved busing aid to schools, and some officials have watched for still more cuts.
"We have had more in the past to subsidize our (transportation) costs, and we just won't have that," Phil Cook, the superintendent of the Carl Junction School District, said Friday.
Cook said Carl Junction's transportation costs are about $1.2 million per year, and this year, the district received $150,000 from the state, half of what they got last year. Next year, it is not projecting anything from the state.
In a report presented to the Joplin School Board earlier this week, school officials reported the district this year is receiving nearly $434,600 in state aid for transportation. That covers about 29.8 percent of the total cost this year compared to 69.9 percent last year and 64 percent the year before that.
The district's transportation budget totals about $1.5 million, according to Superintendent C.J. Huff.
Huff said Thursday that the district is expecting a total cut of 10 percent in state funding. The question, he said, is where those cuts will come from: Whether that will be from the basic funding formula for schools, from ""categorical" expenditures like transportation, or a combination thereof.
Other area school districts also are trying to anticipate less transportation funding and also in other areas, and how to deal with those situations.
For more of this story, pick up a copy of Saturday's Joplin Globe or register for our E-Edition here at joplinglobe.com.


text:
CCS in the United States
- Overview
- Policy environment
- Status of CCS
- Members of the Institute
- Global CCS Institute activities in the USA
The United States of America (US) has the world's third largest population (313 million), and the largest economy with a GDP of approximately US$14 trillion. In 2009, it was the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHG) at 6,575 Mt, of which 5,500 MtCO2e were energy related, accounting for roughly 18 per cent of the world's total emissions.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the US reduced its emissions by about 7.5 per cent between 2006 and 2011, which was more than any other country Under the Copenhagen Accord, the US set an emissions reduction target for 2020 in the range of 17 per cent against a 2005 baseline (conditioned on anticipated energy and climate legislation). However, the US has not yet enacted such legislation.
Figure 1: US primary energy consumption.
Source: The International Energy Agency
Figure 2: US emissions by sector.
Source: The International Energy Agency
Policy environment
Attempts to pass a climate bill were unsuccessful in 2009 and 2010. In the absence of dedicated federal climate legislation, US GHG reductions are being driven by federal regulatory initiatives to limit GHG emissions under:
- the existing Clean Air Act;
- state GHG initiatives;
- federal and state programs designed to encourage energy efficiency and conservation and promote clean energy sources;
- coal plant retirements due in large part to new environmental regulations; and
- gains in natural gas-based power due to low gas prices.
At the federal level, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Transportation issued regulations establishing GHG emission standards and corporate average fuel economy standards for light duty vehicles, and GHG emissions standards and fuel efficiency standards for medium and heavy-duty engines and vehicles.
The EPA also issued regulations establishing permitting requirements for major stationary sources of GHGs under the New Source Review Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and Title V Operating Permit programs. PSD (pre-construction) permitting involves a 5-step, top-down analysis for the Best Available Control Technology (BACT). The permitting guidance identifies CCS as an add-on pollution control technology that is 'available' for facilities emitting CO2 in large amounts and which should be listed as an option at Step 1 of the BACT process for such facilities. Listing at Step 1 does not mean CCS must be selected as BACT. Case-specific factors may warrant elimination of CCS as an option at later steps.
On 27 March 2012, EPA issued for comment a Rule proposing that new fossil fuel-fired power plants meet an output-based performance standard of 1,000 pounds of CO2 per megawatt-hour. New power plants that use CCS would have the option to use a 30 year average of CO2 emissions to meet the proposed standard, rather than meeting the annual standard each year. The proposal does not apply to existing units and transitional sources that have PSD permits by the date of the proposal and commence construction within 12 month of the proposal.
Multiple states have established GHG emission targets. California, one of the world's largest economies, enacted the comprehensive Global Warming Solutions Act in 2006 to reduce GHG emissions through a combination of regulatory and market mechanisms. Under the Act, California established a cap and trade program for major sources with enforceable compliance obligations beginning with 2013 emissions. California is also partnering with British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba in the Western Climate Initiative to develop a cap and trade program that transcends national boundaries. The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative – a cooperative effort among nine Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states to reduce GHGs through a market-based cap and trade program – completed its first three year control period in 2011. In addition to GHG specific laws and policies, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that 30 states and the District of Columbia have enforceable renewable portfolio standards or similar laws.
In EIA's 2012 Annual Energy Outlook, the Reference case projects that total energy-related emissions of CO2in the US will be more than 9 per cent below 2005 levels in 2020, and remain below 2005 levels through 2035.
Status of CCS
The United States has 19 large-scale CCS projects in operation or in various stages of development – the greatest amount for any country or region. It has also been a leader in CCS related research, development and demonstration (RD&D). Major RD&D activities include the creation and maintenance of seven Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships that have proven to be an indispensable source of CCS knowledge for North America and the world, and ongoing financial support for eight demonstration projects under the Department of Energy Programs. Nevertheless, the legal and regulatory landscape for CCS in the US remains unsettled. A federal regulatory scheme for permitting underground storage facilities is in place, but gaps remain in areas such as pore space ownership, long-term liability and long-term stewardship – some of which have been addressed by individual states. In the absence of a national program establishing a carbon price or other incentives to encourage CCS investment, the prospects for additional large-scale projects in the power and industrial sectors are uncertain. Potential revenue derived from CCUS, and in particular CO2 enhanced oil recovery, is being viewed as a possible pathway to build a business case for CCS and maintain US progress.
Members of the Institute
Government, non-profits and researchers
- The Government of the United States of America
- The Clinton Foundation
- The World Bank
- Clean Air Taskforce
- Coal Utilization Research Council
- Electric Power Research Institute
- Southern States Energy Board
- The Climate Group
- Texas Carbon Capture and Storage Association
- United States Energy Association
- US Carbon Sequestration Council
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Industy and business
- Nearly 60 US private companies are Institute Members spanning the power, industrial, legal and financial sectors.
Global CCS Institute activities in the United States
To demonstrate the Institute's support of CCS in the US, the Institute is engaged in the:
- establishment of a North American Regional Knowledge Sharing Network for the US and Canada;
- organisation and implementation of Institute-led CCS workshops and knowledge sharing meetings; and
- collaboration and participation in CCS stakeholder conferences.


text: The tragic news hit the internet a couple days ago is all too true. THQ has dissolved and Vigil is closing it's doors. My prayers are with my amazingly talented friends in Austin who are now looking for work. Please reach out to me guys if you have any leads for them or I can be a contact for you.


text:
Martial Arts lessons are instructed by Dien's Martial Arts. Classes emphasize physical fitness, recreation and competition. All classes are held at the Eureka Community Center. The ranks for both Tae Kwon Do and Judo are: Beginner (white and yellow belts), Intermediate (orange and green belts) and Advanced (blue belts, 1st, 2nd and 3rd brown belts and all degrees of black belts). If you do not currently own a uniform, they are available for $30.00 for Tae Kwon Do and $45.00 for Judo from the instructor at the first class. Visit www.diensmartialarts.com or 'like' Dien's Martial Arts on Facebook for more information.
Pricing For All Martial Arts Classes (For Each Session)
Two Days Per Week:
(Payable to City of Eureka)
$70.00 - 1st family member
$45.00 - each additional member
One Day Per Week:
(Payable to City of Eureka)
$45.00 - 1st family member
$30.00 - each additional member
Uniform Fee (New Students):
(Payable to Instructor at 1st Class)
$45.00 - Judo
$30.00 - Tae Kwon Do
Judo is a martial art that originated in Japan and translates to "the gentile way". Judo is an art and sport of protecting one's physical body, maintaining one's balance and taking the opponent's balance away.
Session #1517
1/8 - 2/28
5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Ages 5 and Up


text:
If your career has grown stale or even intolerable, consider a career change. Such a change is a tricky thing, and you will want to be sure to take the steps to ensure that this change is successful. There are things that you can do in order to make this more likely. The following are tips on how to make this change.
The first step is to do your research. You do not want to dive in head first only to find out that you are at the shallow end. This analogy highlights the fact that you will want to be very knowledgeable about the field in which you are entering before you actually make the move to switch. You should research all that the new position entails, making sure that it really is something for you. As the saying goes, the grass might seem greener on the other side, but this is certainly not always the case in reality. You want to make sure that it is really something you want to do.
You should look at the details about the jobs you are looking for. How easy is it to get a job in that field? What is the pay like in the field? Will you have to relocate? Travel? Think about how you can find jobs in that area. Plan out how you will conduct your job search.
Make sure that you have all of the necessary prerequisites for such a job. Some jobs require schooling for instance. You will want to make sure that you have this so that you do not quit your job and are suddenly stuck without being able to make the move. If you do find that you need more preparation, then you can consider doing this while still at your old job if possible. This will allow you to keep your income. There are many night schools and even online courses that allow you to further your education as a working professional. If this is not possible, plan how it will work if you decide to go back to school full time. Make sure that you have the funds to do so and will be able to get into a program.
When making the change, you might want to keep your old job as you are looking for a new position. In these difficult economic times it can be difficult to find a job. When conducting this search make sure that you have updated your resume so that it looks the best for your new endeavor. Even if it is a different career, see if you can find things that the employers will find useful in your history.
Go on your interviews. Hopefully you will soon find something and you will be happy in a new career.


text:
The Markets
Mark G. Parker's Total Pay at Nike Declines
The president and chief executive officer saw his total compensation for fiscal 2014 dip 4.8 percent to $14.7 million.
— Jul 25, 2014
Britney Spears to Launch Lingerie
The recording artist and entertainer has signed a deal with Change Lingerie to launch a line of sleepwear apparel called The Intimate Britney Spears.
— Jul 23, 2014
Dsquared2 USA Appoints Alexandra Smith
She will be public relations and events director for the United States and Canada, a new position.
— Jul 21, 2014
Rana Plaza Survivors React to Charges
Workers and survivors hurried to share the news with their colleagues about the charge sheet accusing 18 people this week.
— Jul 16, 2014
Ralph Toledano: Puig's Fashion Captain
The industry veteran and head of Puig's fashion division is charged with energizing the sector.
— Jul 11, 2014
Eileen Ford Dead at 92
The modeling agency pioneer died Wednesday.
— Jul 10, 2014
Tommy Bahama Taps Design Chief
The company named Bradley O'Brien to the newly created position of executive vice president of design and product development.
— Jul 9, 2014
Harold Leigh Davis Dead at 92
He was a former executive vice president and director of couture sales at Bill Blass.
— Jul 9, 2014
Neal Kusnetz Departs Robert Graham
The apparel brand's longtime president and founding partner has left the company, according to market sources.
— Jul 8, 2014
Bruno Sälzer to Lead Bench After Buying Stake
Escada's longtime ceo has acquired a 15 percent stake in the young fashion brand.
— Jun 30, 2014
Woolmark Prize Unveils European Judges
The Europe regional awards take place in Paris on July 8.
— Jun 29, 2014


text:
July 30, 2014
Mark Cockerton scored a career-high six goals and the Virginia Cavaliers beat VMI 18-4 Tuesday evening at Klöckner Stadium.
After VMI scored early, Virginia took over. The Cavaliers reeled off 15-straight goals, including Cockerton's six.
Nick O'Reilly and Cockerton took turns scoring the first four goals, finishing the early spurt with two apiece. Then Rob Emery and Cockerton traded goals twice to take the 8-1 advantage. After another Cockerton goal, Owen Van Arsdale scored twice to conclude the first half scoring. UVa entered the intermission with an 11-1 lead.
Virginia travels to Long Island Saturday to take on the Stony Brook Seawolves of the America East Conference.


text:
With an increasing number of people suffering from food allergies, Bayport-Blue Point alum Michelle Gillette saw an opportunity to launch a business dedicated to the preparation and sale of only gluten free goodies.
Gillette's bake shop, Ms. Michelle's Urban Gourmet, located at 572 Middle Road in Bayport, is set for a Memorial Day weekend grand opening. The lifelong local resident taught Spanish in the Center Moriches School District for three years before she left the profession to pursue gluten free baking.
Foods that are "gluten free" are made with chickpea flour or brown rice flour as a substitute for wheat (or white) flour, according to Gillette.
Gillette may be self-taught in gluten free baking, but she does have a culinary background: She holds a degree in Pastry Arts and was a culinary instructor at the Ross School (Lower) in Bridgehampton. It was through her time at Ross that Gillette discovered the need for readily available, freshly baked gluten free products.
"The kids there (at Ross) had so many wheat allergies," she said. "I made it a goal to teach myself to bake this way."
Though Gillette doesn't suffer from wheat allergies, she practices what she preaches, following a gluten free diet as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Last year, Gillette was named Healthiest Kid Chef of the Hamptons, competing with 12 other chefs for the title. From there, she sold muffins in farmers markets, and soon people were requesting pies and other goods.
The shop will feature baked goods of all kinds, such as breads, muffins, pies and tarts, as well as dry pasta, coffee, espresso and gelato. Sandwiches, on gluten free bread, will also be available.
Gillette thinks her confections are on par with similar treats made with white flour.
"In my opinion, my products taste just as good as 'regular' ones," she said.
A chef at an already established local business agrees: Bayport's own recently added Gillette's flourless (and of course, gluten free) chocolate cake to their revamped dessert menu.
The restaurant's executive chef Meredith Machemer heard about Gillette around town, and said wheat-free treats are in demand.
"People started asking for gluten free desserts, it's definitely becoming more popular," Machemer said, noting Gillette dropped off a few desserts for the tavern chefs to taste-test. "We tried a couple of things and ended up going with the flourless chocolate cake."
The gluten free goods aren't the only reason Ms. Michelle's Urban Gourmet is unique. As stated before, the shop will be located at 572 Middle Road, which is the former home of the Urban family.
There's a bit of history in the location, in case you were wondering why the Bayport shop has "urban" in the title. This great house was built by a German couple with the last name Urban, who settled on Long Island around 1820. They left their old lives in Germany to live their dream in America.
"I'm following my dream of helping people eat healthy," Gillette said, which is why the history of the home holds special meaning to her.
It states on her website:
"We could not think of a better homage to the old world desires that built our country and the new age dream of giving people fresh, homemade and healthy food."
Bayport's small town atmosphere was a draw for Gillette to plant her business here.
"It's where I grew up, and the community is so wonderful," she said, adding that in nice weather she'll have tables set up outdoors for patrons to enjoy their treats in the sunshine. "I want people to feel welcome. It's going to be a family-friendly, casual place."
In addition to her "Healthiest Kids Chef" title, Gillette has appeared alongside famous chef Bobby Flay in a commercial for Hellman's mayonnaise and was a judge on the most recent season of The Next Food Network Star, among other things.
For more information on Gillette and updates on the construction and development of Ms. Michelle's Urban Gourmet, visit her website and "like" the facebook page.
Note: Gillette said there will be a standing special for any man/woman in uniform, from crossing guards to police officers.


text:
About Us
Phone: 707-422-8810
Fax: 707-422-8896
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Vision Statement:
To stimulate a better focusing of all available local, state, private, and federal resources upon the goal of enabling low-income families and individuals of all ages in rural and urban areas to attain the skills, knowledge, and motivations to secure the opportunities needed for them to become more self-sufficient and move out of poverty.
Mission Statement:
Community Action Partnership of Solano, Inc. is a nonprofit organization working to move low-income people out of poverty and homelessness through partnerships with public and private organizations in Solano County, by administering grants and contracts, providing capacity-building, training, oversight and coordination of services, and promoting community action at local, state and national levels, resulting in stronger communities.
What is Community Action?
The community action movement is deeply rooted in our culture and has its basis in philosophies that underlie the creation of the United States of America. Beginning with the Declaration of Independence, the ideals of individual liberty and opportunity are the roots of our great nation, and the vision for Community Action.
Today, we live and work in a society rich with a range of human services and social service projects. Although Community Action has grown and changed significantly since its rise in 1964, we continue President Johnson's legacy, waging an "unconditional war on poverty in America."
Please follow the following links for a more detailed history of Community Action:
Community Action: 40 Years of History
Community Action Partnership of Solano Brochure
Click here for pdf
Community Action Partnership of Solano: Community Action Plan
Click here for the final draft of CAP Solano's 2012/2013 Program Year Community Action Plan (CAP). Once the CAP is formally approved by the State of California, the final copy will be made available.
Community Action Partnership of Solano Newsletters
To contact us:


text:
Chiffon A-line with Beaded Lace on Empire Style 9V9743
David's Bridal Woman
This item is available in stores and online.*
Beautifully detailed, fitted bodice flows into a soft and flowing chiffon skirt. Empire waist is accented with exquisite, hand-beaded lace and ruching detail.
To preserve your wedding dreams, try our Wedding Gown Preservation Kit.
Train that extends one and a third yards (about 4 feet) from the waist.
A popular neckline for brides seeking a stylish and versatile look (offering unlimited jewelry and accessory options).
A sheer, flowing fabric that drapes well on the body.
A dress with a fitted bodice that gradually flares from the waist. A-line styles are flattering for all women.
A bodice with a high waistline directly below the bust. A great look for most body types.
customers bought with this dress
Chiffon A-line with Beaded Lace on Empire Style 9V9743 340 344
Perfect Gown!! This gown is simple yet stunning! I got the optional cap sleeves and it looks so victorian and classy. It fits so beautifully and to your figure, whatever your size it. I absolutely adore this gown and it's not heavy so walking comes with ease. April 4, 2011
LOVE this dress I absolutely love this dress. My niece helped me pick it out and we both loved it when I tried it on.I was comfortable all day and it looked beautiful. I didn't want to take it off. So many people complimented us on the gorgeous dress and how I looked in it. My 25 year old daughter wants the dress so she can wear it when she gets married. It is timeless and beautiful but so easy to wear. April 4, 2011
Stunning This was the first dress I tried on and the one I walked out the door with. We had an outdoor wedding on a hot summer day. Made for a beautiful garden wedding! March 30, 2011
Love this Dress!! Well I knew which dress I wanted in the catalog, but my mother insisted that we go into David's Bridal while shopping one day for the wedding. I had it already set in my mind that we were only going to LOOK, not try on and certainly not buy. Boy was I wrong. Two hours later, I left with my dress, veil, hairpiece and a smile from ear to ear. I chose the dress that I had picked out in the catalog and that was the only dress I tried on. LOVED IT!!! March 30, 2011
197-200 of 344
*Color & Style representation may vary by monitor. Not responsible for typographical or pictorial errors. Product availability varies by store and online. Some in-store purchases require special order and markdown styles cannot be special ordered. Contact your local store for details.


text:
Advanced Search
Panduits Bundle Retainers are designed to accept groups of electrical or datacom cables up to 2 in diameter for easy routing through enclosures and closets. They are made of durable acetal for long service life and ease of use. The design includes a funnel entry that opens fully to allow previously bundled cables to be inserted effortlessly. An outer support collar keeps bundles securely retained whether the device is used vertically or horizontally. Measuring 3 1/4 W x 4 5/8 H x 2 1/4 D, the retainers are furnished with heavy-duty rubber-based adhesive foam tape for mounting. Built-in slots also accommodate 1/4 screws and are spaced according to EIA/TIA standards.
Also from Panduit are new Optical Fiber Network Saddles for use in routing fiber optic cable. These cable management accessories are designed with rounded edges to provide a smooth surface between the mount and the cable, helping prevent potential stress on cable, or damage to its insulation through snagging or abrasion. The saddles are available in both single and dual capacity versions, allowing users to select the appropriate capacity for specific fiber optic cable routing applications. Users can also choose between push-mount or adhesive-mount versions. Each single-capacity saddle can accommodate a maximum bundle size of 1.06 in diameter, while the double-capacity version may be used for routing two bundles of the same size. The saddles are constructed of a durable nylon material. Panduit Corp., Tinley Park, IL, (888) 506-5400, www.panduit.com.
This article originally appeared in the 09/01/2000 issue of THE Journal.
June 2014 Issue
Available Now
Subscribe Now
Issue Archive
Download this informative Executive Summary from an exclusive event aimed to provide educators, administrators and IT leaders with practical tools for integrating technology into the classroom.
Read more...
all white papers
If you have comments or questions about our magazine features or stories, please e-mail the editorial staff at email@example.com. If you have any comments or questions about content found on this Web site, please e-mail David Nagel at firstname.lastname@example.com. If you have any comments or questions about subscriptions, please e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com. Links to additional editorial, sales, and publishing contacts can be found here.
Contact the webmaster: [+] Site Feedback [+]
THE Journal | FETC | FETC Virtual Conference
Campus Technology | CT Summer Conference | CT Forum Conference | CT Leadership Symposium
©1994-2014 1105 Media Inc, Ed-Tech Group. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use


text:
Your Ad Here
Leslie Fay Gray Jacket
Item# FD-16379
Shop Name: Metro Retro
Circa: 1970s
Description: This feminine 70's gray jacket by Leslie Fay has a slight puff at the shoulders. The jacket has a mandarin collar and one button at the bottom to keep it closed and to create interest. A fun addition to any wardrobe.
Measurements: Bust is 34'', waist is 37'', sleeve length is 24'', hem is 38'' and length of jacket is 19''.
Condition: Excellent
E-mail this item to a friend


text:
Revive The Look of Your Kitchen With Beautiful Worktops For Kitchens
Kitchen is focal point of every house. In addition to cooking of delicious food for family, it has a lot to say about the taste of home owners and their style of living. Kitchen Worktops are perfect place where children and family members love to gather for fun and spending time. For those who wish to rediscover the look of their kitchen can try on various types of durable and fancy Kitchen Worktops and Worksurfaces these days.
These days, while looking for Worktops for Kitchen, you may come across many choices. These may come in variety of colors, sizes, and shapes to match the décor of your kitchen or house. Most of the people have started shopping for these worktops online as well. This not only saves their precious time but provides them with wide range of choices available.
If you wish to lend your kitchen a contemporary and chic look, you can choose from the wide range of Laminate Kitchen Worktops that are apt to meet your preferences. Depending on your budget, you can choose from the different varieties available. Not only they look good but they are stain, scratch, heat, and water resistant providing you with most durable solutions. They make your kitchen appealing and add a glossy touch to the interiors.
Not only do the Laminate Worktops come with wide variety to choose from, they offer an affordable solution to the needs of every kitchen. Their unique design and style are apt to meet variable demands of various kitchens. They are meant to compliment the looks of any kitchen besides offering a durable solution. You can choose from wide variety and styles including the effects of wood, marble, and granite.
In view of wide range of worktops available, Duropal Kitchen Worktops are a perfect choice for those looking to find a subtle look for their kitchen. They can come with a non-glossy finish as well and offer high level of durability. You can make the Laminate Worktops For Kitchens an essential part of your kitchen makeover coupled with addition of matching tiles and nice wallpaper. You can go for complimentary tiles and wallpapers to enhance the style statement
Kitchen is the central area of every house so it is important that it should be attractive and clean. Apart from serving the basic purpose, it should be delightful to every family member. Most of the important festivals and occasions are enjoyed helping each other in cooking in kitchen. Not only it reflects style of the homemaker, a kitchen with beautiful and stylish worktops impresses friends and visitors. You can seek help of the internet to find a suitable worktop. Going for a fancy, durable, and stylish worktop is the easiest way to lend style statement to your kitchen and home.
The list of tags is empty.


text:
Safari Books Online is a digital library providing on-demand subscription access to thousands of learning resources.
1 Chapter 1. Introduction to XML integration with DB2 for i5/OS XML represents a fundamental change in computing. It allows applications to move away from proprietary file and data formats to a world of open data interchange. XML has become ubiquitous not only because of its range of applications, but also because of its ease of use. The text-based nature of XML makes creating tools easy. Also since it is an open, license-free, cross-platform standard, anyone can create, develop, and use tools for XML. In short, XML means portable data. In this IBM Redbook, we discuss all aspects of XML integration with DB2 for i5/OS. By presenting a simple retail store scenario, we discuss a broad range of technologies that can be employed to manipulate XML documents so that they can be stored in or retrieved from DB2. We also document end-to-end implementation methodologies that were hardened in production environments. Our goal is to make this redbook a reference publication for both traditional System i developers who use CL, RPG, and native APIs and those who prefer Java and graphical user interface (GUI)-based tooling. In this chapter, we introduce you to the related XML technologies, the advantages of DB2, XML to relational data mapping, and strategies for integrating XML with DB2 for i5/OS. © Copyright IBM Corp. 2006. All rights reserved. 3


text:
Their Capitol Hill offices released a joint statement: "Fellow Virginians, Kaine and Wolf have worked closely together over the past year on issues of religious freedom around the world and look forward to the opportunity to carry on this bipartisan tradition."
Kaine tweeted about their plans: "Looking fwd to sitting w/ my friend @RepWOLFPress during the State of the Union tmrw night #SOTU"
The president's annual State of the Union address is delivered in the larger House chamber, with Democrats and Republicans traditionally sitting on opposite sides of the aisle that divides the room down the center.
In addition, Kaine announced that his guest for the speech will be Army Staff Sergeant Tammy Brown — a machinist and welder with tactical knowledge and experience in metal fabrication who has served on active duty for more than 15 years, including tours in Kosovo and Iraq, is now stationed at Fort Lee, Va.
Earlier this year, Kaine visited Fort Lee around the introduction of his first bill, the Troop Talent Act of 2013, legislation designed to help active duty military membes transition to the civilian workforce by providing them information about acquiring credentials, like those Staff Sgt. Brown has earned.
"Over Staff Sergeant Brown's many years of service to our country, she has gained vital skills that will be highly valuable to employers in the private sector," said Kaine. "Unfortunately, many employers don't understand how specialty skills obtained in the military translate to the civilian world, which has contributed in the past to a high unemployment rate among veterans."


text:
|Estimated Filing Fees:
|Filing Location:
|included in report
|included in report
Application package that includes all the forms you need to file, all in one click. No More Searching
Complete filing instructions and licensing authority's contact information
Detailed break down of estimated filing fees. No small print!
Alcohol Wholesalers offer alcohol products to retailers. This can include pourable beverages such as kegs to resale items such as six packs. Beverages can include beer, wine, spirits and malt liquor. Usually, alcohol wholesalers get their licenses and permits from their states, but in some cases must also have local licenses as well.
Other Wine Wholesaler licenses
Birmingham has long been a center of southern industry and was a major city for steel production through the 1960s. Today, Birmingham has a more diversified economy that includes vibrant banking, healthcare, insurance, communications and construction sectors.
Birmingham's business licensing is quite involved as the city has specific fees and cost formulas for each kind of business. Additionally, entrepreneurs may need Jefferson county licenses and permits and Alabama regulatory licenses to operate. Even simple businesses may find they need more than three business licenses and permits.
Businesses in Birmingham
Actual License Applications
Instructions for Filing the Applications
Licensing Authority's Contact
Fees and Timeline Information


text: Dinosaurs, ghosts, ancient mysteries and weird southwest tattoos will intrigue you as you travel the Southwest. Find out about the most mysterious and interesting sites in the Southwestern United States. If you have a yen for the obscure and a desire to delve into mysteries, you may want to plan your Southwest travel in order to stop by some of these sites.