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By MarketWatch
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Among the companies whose shares are likely to see active trading during Friday's session are Chevron, Elizabeth Arden, Cigna, and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.
Chevron Corp. /quotes/zigman/289939/delayed/quotes/nls/cvx CVX -2.48% is forecast to report earnings of $2.07 a share in the second quarter, according to analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial.
Elizabeth Arden Inc. /quotes/zigman/85234/delayed/quotes/nls/rden RDEN -2.09% is expected to post a loss of 5 cents a share in the first quarter.
CIGNA Corp. /quotes/zigman/222255/delayed/quotes/nls/ci CI -3.70% is estimated to report third-quarter earnings of 94 cents a share.
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. /quotes/zigman/250056/delayed/quotes/nls/mso MSO -1.53% is projected to report a loss of 13 cents a share in the third quarter.
Scana Corp. /quotes/zigman/254036/delayed/quotes/nls/scg SCG -2.34% is expected to post earnings of 79 cents a share in the third quarter.
International Paper Co. /quotes/zigman/230211/delayed/quotes/nls/ip IP -1.49% is forecast to post earnings of 57 cents a share in the third quarter.
Edison International /quotes/zigman/158143/delayed/quotes/nls/eix EIX -1.76% is projected to report third-quarter earnings of $1.30 a share.
NYSE Euronext is estimated to post earnings of 73 cents a share in the third quarter.
Computer Sciences Corp. /quotes/zigman/222918/delayed/quotes/nls/csc CSC -2.88% is forecast to post earnings of 70 cents a share in the second quarter.
Progressive Corp. /quotes/zigman/238942/delayed/quotes/nls/pgr PGR -1.01% is expected to report third-quarter earnings of 36 cents a share.
Duke Energy Corp. /quotes/zigman/10759260/delayed/quotes/nls/duk DUK -1.26% is projected to report earnings of 39 cents a share in the third quarter.
Penwest Pharmaceuticals Co. is estimated to post a loss of 47 cents in the third quarter.
NRG Energy Inc. /quotes/zigman/337115/delayed/quotes/nls/nrg NRG +0.45% is expected to report third-quarter earnings of 77 cents a share.
Watch list
After Thursday's closing bell, Google Inc. /quotes/zigman/30194416/delayed/quotes/nls/goog GOOG -2.69% and social networking Web site MySpace, owned by News Corp. /quotes/zigman/18008448/delayed/quotes/nls/nws NWS -0.98% , said they are teaming to launch OpenSocial, a set of tools for building social applications across the Internet. The announcement follows Microsoft Corp.'s /quotes/zigman/20493/delayed/quotes/nls/msft MSFT -0.96% recent move to acquire a stake in the networking site Facebook. "Our partnership with Google allows developers to gain massive distribution without unnecessary specialized development for every platform," said Chris DeWolfe, MySpace chief executive and co-founder, in a statement. See full story
Affiliated Computer Services reported net income of $66.1 million on revenue of $1.49 billion for the quarter ended Sept. 30, compared to a profit of $61.4 million on revenue of $1.38 billion for the same period last year. The company also reported an adjusted non-GAAP earnings per share of 77 cents. Analysts had expected the company to report earnings per share of 84 cents on revenue of $1.49 billion. See full story
Allegheny Technologies Inc. /quotes/zigman/251511/delayed/quotes/nls/ati ATI -3.09% said its board of directors approved a share repurchase program of $500 million. The board also increased the quarterly dividend by 38.5% to 18 cents from 13 cents. The dividend will be paid on Dec. 28 to stockholders of record as of Dec. 10. The metals producer said it plans to contribute $100 million to its U.S. defined benefit pension plan in the fourth quarter.
Big 5 Sporting Goods Corp.'s /quotes/zigman/88110/delayed/quotes/nls/bgfv BGFV +1.95% third-quarter net income increased to $8.38 million, or 37 cents a share, from $7.83 million, or 34 cents a share, a year earlier. The sporting-goods retailer's sales increased 3.6% to $231.3 million from $223.3 million a year earlier. Analysts had expected earnings of 30 cents a share on revenue of $231 million. Big 5 forecast fourth-quarter same-store sales growth in the low negative single-digits to the low positive single-digits and per-share earnings of 36 cents to 46 cents. The company said it expects sales to be "challenged by macro-economic issues."


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Portsmouth is wonderful for restaurants, we all know that. There are oh, about 80 or so restaurants just in the downtown walking area. But now, our smaller towns nearby are little restaurant meccas, booming with great dining destinations both casual and with finer fare, all of it delicious. One »»Read Full Post
I'm not missing peach picking season again. Here's your handy "Fruit Peaking & Picking Guide."
I always miss peach picking season. Always. I got the strawberries and the apples down, but everything else that peaks in the middle gets lost in the shuffle. Not this year. I know your season starts next week! I'm onto you, peaches! I've put together a handy little "Fruit Peaking »»Read Full Post
The 20-Something Workweek
Monday It's Monday. Arguably the toughest day of the week. Waking up is hard, and hitting the snooze button is just too easy. But, after a few (at least four) cups of coffee, that "weekend flu" is toast. Tuesday Woo! You may have been a sloth on Monday, but today, »»Read Full Post
Exeter Practice Integrates Naturopathic Techniques with Traditional Medicine for Optimum Mental Health
By Heikki (Herb) Perry Green Alliance Correspondent EXETER — While treatment of mental illness has progressed during the last few decades, patients who rely solely on traditional psychiatric care overlook the benefits that naturopathic treatment can produce. Naturopathic doctors take a different approach to treating mental illness than traditional medical »»Read Full Post
Lost in Cellular Complacency
I always find it interesting that people get accolades when they lose weight. People praise a person when they look good. They never praise a person when they look bad. This reinforcement of positive feedback is why so many people force themselves to exercise. They look good as long as »»Read Full Post
The Martian by Andy Weir Book review
The Martian by Andy Weir Book review Don't let the title fool you. Although The Martian is epic science-fiction, this is not a tale of aliens or close encounters with the third kind. The 'martian' in this novel is Mark Watney, one of the first astronauts to set foot on »»Read Full Post
The impossible made possible
If you have never been to the Master Sand Sculpting Competition in Hampton Beach, you may be missing out on some of the most extraordinary creations you will most likely ever see. What is even more amazing is that these things are entirely made out of sand and water and »»Read Full Post

subset: commoncrawl


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Park is mainly located on the main 90th Road, 5 Minutes from AUC
Campus. The Compound itself is a gated Community inside a Bigger Gated
Community which
will double the safety factor for its residents.
the heart of the project, there is a 1 km promenade, forming the spine of the
project, starting at Hyde Park and passing by the different coffee shops,
kiosks, water features, and ending at the club house "The Palace" which
includes a wide range of indoor activities and services such as kids playing
area, shops, library, business center, restaurant, swimming pools, ball room,
beauty center &spa, and gym
View offers a new concept of artificial Lakes which is the Majestic Lake with
exceptional area of 600 m offering a new definition of entertainment.
are different unit categories starting from Stand Alone Villa, Twin Houses, Townhouses,
I-villas, Apartments, and Penthouses with varying areas and prices to suit a
diversity of different needs and budgets.
project itself is built over 200 Feddens. This is mainly located at the heart
of Hyde Park project which offers 140 feddens of uninterrupted Nature. The
project is designed so that you step out of your home directly into the park to
enjoy an access to 300 feddans of lush greenery
ranging between 160 feddans of
Mountain View garden sand Hyde Park's 140 feddans.
Distinctive features
including reflecting lakes, memorials, and marvelously designed landscapes
contribute to creating inspiring natural surroundings
make Mountain View exceptional favor "live n a park not only overlook it
home nestled amidst natural landscapes, surrounded by lakes, trees and
lush green park, which is a picturesque and idyllic scene for a quiet and
relaxing lifestyle?
exactly what Mountain View Hyde Park Offers you, the dream of living within
absolute green, with all facilities conveniently within.
atop a beautiful vista, the compound is located inside a huge network of
parks and overlooking Hyde Park, one of the most prestigious
private parks in Egypt.
View Hyde Park is designed with one vital aim in mind-to give residents the
opportunity to live in an ultimately peaceful environment, surrounded by
endless green with an
extreme connection to nature.
will have an excess to the neighboring commercial area including Park Avenue
Mall, which is one of the biggest retail centers in New Cairo comprising 1700
retail outlets.
in a connected park.
Now we launched Phase 6
6 is built over 20 feddans with gardens, swimming pool, water features, and
green areas. Units in this phase adhere to the American Design with white facade and Mountain View signature unique blue rooftop tiling.
Phase 6 Located
nearby The Majestic Lake, One of the biggest highlights of Mountain View Hyde
Park is its majestic lake, a true landscaping masterpiece. This quintessential
feature of Mountain View Hyde Park is at the center of our community. Whether you've the need for tranquility or a penchant for paddling, you'll find
paddle-boats, rowing boats and canoes sharing
the water. Offering you a unique way
to experience life with your family and friends.
iValla A Garden Corner, Total area 287 sq.m, A Villa within A Villa:
Designed to accommodate a 2 piece Reception overlooking the Terrace and Garden,
a Guest Toilet, a large Dining Room, a Spacious Kitchen and a Maid's Quarter.
On Top Floor: 2 Bedrooms with a Bathroom nearby, a Living with a separate
Terrace and a Master Bedroom with its own private Dressing and Bathroom.
Payment methods
1st method
10% down payment.
90% over 4 years on equal quarterly installments.
2nd method
Or 20% down payment.
80% Over 5 Years of equal quarterly installment.
3rd Method
Or down payment 30%.
70% Over 6 Years of equal quarterly installment.


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NCAA Basketball's Big Dance Magnifies the Madness and the Magic
Basketball tournament is one-and-done, all-or-nothing, and one-of-a-kind.
On March 26, 1979, Michigan State, led by Magic Johnson, played Indiana State, led by Larry Bird, for the NCAA championship. The Spartans were the powerhouse team from the Big Ten, led by the charismatic, urban superstar. The Sycamores began the season picked to finish fourth in something called the Missouri Valley Conference. They somehow reached the game's ultimate stage with a 33-0 record and ranked No. 1 in the polls. Yet, many so-called experts wondered if they were, in the parlance of sports, "for real."
The public sensed that if these teams played 10 times, Michigan State would win seven, maybe even eight or nine. But they weren't going to play 10 times. They would play once. And in a one-game scenario, the thinking went, anything can happen, so you better watch.
You better watch.
That, boiled to its essence, is the entire point of the NCAA tournament. This is not a postseason tournament like those of the NBA, NHL, or Major League Baseball, decided by best-of-five or best-of-seven series. The NCAAs are one-and-done, with everything at stake. It's where Cinderella actually gets invited to the dance. Sometimes she even scores the hottest date.
Think about it. One of the most iconic images of the NCAAs is that of Valparaiso guard Bryce Drew hitting a miraculous buzzer beater to defeat Ole Miss, then sliding chest-first onto the floor as delirious teammates piled on. It was a first-round game! George Mason didn't win a national championship in 2006, but when the Patriots went to the Final Four, the nation was so spellbound that most people couldn't tell you who won it that year. (Florida, if you care.) This time last year, most college basketball fans had no idea who Stephen Curry was. Two weeks later, the baby-faced guard was America's Sweetheart as his little-engine-that-could Davidson Wildcats came one errant three-pointer from reaching the Final Four.
The one-and-done format gives even greater drama to all the big moments. What if Duke forward Christian Laettner's shot to beat Kentucky in the 1992 East regional had occurred in game one of a best-of-seven series eventually won by Kentucky? It would have been memorable, to be sure, but not epic. Ditto for Lorenzo Charles's last-second alleyoop that clinched the title for N.C. State in 1983, Keith Smart's late jumper for Indiana in 1987, or Kansas guard Mario Chalmers's three-pointer that sent last year's championship game into overtime, where the Jayhaws prevailed. These are the moments that make March mad, and you can only find them here.
In many ways, these moments are defined as much by the losers as the winners. When the games end, these kids have lost something that can't be bought, sold, or cashed in. Yes, this is a big business, and we all know there is a seedy side to college sports, an underworld infested by lecherous agents, illicit payments, and academic fraud. That might be the sport's underbelly, but not its soul.
If you want to see that soul, watch Gonzaga forward Adam Morrison's reaction when his Bulldogs blew a second-half lead to UCLA in the Sweet 16 in 2006. Morrison had been the face of the sport all season long, but when he fumbled away the final possession, that face was contorted and teary, with Morrison sprawled on the court, inconsolable. Duke guard Thomas Hill wore a similar expression after Laettner's shot; you will find no better illustration that agony and ecstasy are inches, not miles, apart. Then there was N.C. State coach Jim Valvano, dashing around the court after Charles's game-winner, searching in vain for someone to hug. What price can you put on something like that?
On that historic night 30 years ago, Bird's Sycamores lost 75-64 to Magic's Spartans. Bird ended his college career on the Indiana State bench, his face buried in a white towel. Larry wept, but not because he had lost any money. He knew he was going to the NBA. Rather, Larry wept for a lost opportunity, a once-in-a-lifetime chance to become a college champion. He knew the night would be memorable, but he didn't want to remember it like that.
Seth Davis of Sports Illustrated is the author of When March Went Mad: The Game That Transformed Basketball.


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Weight Loss
Is that all there is to weight loss? Fewer calories? More exercise?
If life should only be that easy!
For some it is easy
For some it is a life long journey
- Why do some of us just seem to HOLD ON to what we eat?
- Why do some of us just seem to be lean?
- Is it your metabolism? - blame it on mom & dad
- Then it must be our ancestry!
- Is it your age? - perhaps
- Do you do well on carbohydrates? starches? sugars?
- Processed foods?
- What does our body need?
- How much?
- How often?
- What is your relationship to food?
- Is it a good one? or a bad one?
- Immune Disorders?
- Disease?
- Inflammation?
- Stress?
- Allergies
- Food Intolerance
- Attitude?
- The list goes on...
How will our nutritional choices and lifestyle impact our health?
Why is it so different for so many people?
Creating your road map to life and health is a journey.
Being apart of that journey is an interesting one!
The first step is knowing that you are "A Work in Progress". Evolving to your change!
Go ahead. Jump on. Take the ride!
Kathleen Kasprzak


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A patient in a seemingly vegetative state, unable to move or speak, showed signs of attentive awareness that had not been detected before, a new study reveals. This patient could focus on words signaled by the experimenters as auditory targets as successfully as healthy individuals. If this ability can be developed consistently in certain patients who are vegetative, it could open the door to specialized devices in the future and enable them to interact with the outside world.
The research, by scientists at the Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit and the University of Cambridge, was published last week in the journal Neuroimage: Clinical.
For the study, the researchers used electroencephalography, which noninvasively measures the electrical activity over the scalp, to test 21 patients diagnosed as vegetative or minimally conscious and eight healthy volunteers. Participants heard a series of different words - one word a second over 90 seconds at a time - while being asked to alternatingly attend to either the word "yes" or the word "no," each of which appeared 15 percent of the time. (Some examples of the words used include "moss," "moth," "worm" and "toad.") This was repeated several times over a period of 30 minutes to detect whether the patients were able to attend to the correct target word.
The researchers found that one of the vegetative patients was able to filter out unimportant information and home in on relevant words they were being asked to pay attention to. Using fMRI brain imaging, the scientists also discovered that this patient could follow simple commands to imagine playing tennis. They also found that three other minimally conscious patients reacted to novel but irrelevant words but were unable to selectively pay attention to the target word.
These findings suggest that some patients in a vegetative or minimally conscious state might in fact be able to direct attention to the sounds in the world around them.
Srivas Chennu, a research associate at the University of Cambridge's department of clinical neurosciences, said: "Not only did we find the patient had the ability to pay attention, we also found independent evidence of their ability to follow commands - information which could enable the development of future technology to help patients in a vegetative state communicate with the outside world."
Community News Network
Sign of consciousness in 'vegetative state' patient
A patient in a seemingly vegetative state, unable to move or speak, showed signs of attentive awareness that had not been detected before, a new study reveals. This patient could focus on words signaled by the experimenters as auditory targets as successfully as healthy individuals. If this ability can be developed consistently in certain patients who are vegetative, it could open the door to specialized devices in the future and enable them to interact with the outside world.
- Community News Network
Survey results in legislation to battle sexual assault on campus
Missouri U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill joined a bipartisan group of senators Wednesday to announce legislation that aims to reduce the number of sexual assaults on college campuses.
An alarming threat to airlines that no one's talking about
It's been an abysmal year for the flying public. Planes have crashed in bad weather, disappeared over the Indian Ocean and tragically crossed paths with anti-aircraft missiles over Ukraine.
Obama had crush on First Lady of Rock
Linda Ronstadt remained composed as she walked up to claim her National Medal of Arts at a White House ceremony Monday afternoon.
Can black women have it all?
In a powerful new essay for the National Journal, my friend Michel Martin makes a compelling case for why we need to continue the having-it-all conversation.
Redskins not the only nickname to cause a stir
Daniel Snyder has come under fire for refusing to change the mascot of his NFL team, the Washington Redskins. The Redskins, however, are far from being the only controversial mascot in sports history. Here is a sampling of athletic teams from all areas of the sports world that were outside the norm.
'Rebel' mascot rising from the dead
Students and alumni from a Richmond, Va.-area high school are seeking to revive the school's historic mascot, a Confederate soldier known as the "Rebel Man," spurring debate about the appropriateness of public school connections to the Civil War and its icons.
Fast food comes to standstill in China
The shortage of meat is the result of China's latest food scandal, in which a Shanghai supplier allegedly tackled the problem of expired meat by putting it in new packaging and shipping it to fast-food restaurants around the country
Stranger's generosity stuns Ohio veteran
Vietnam War veteran David A. Tobias was overwhelmed recently when a fellow customer at an OfficeMax store near Ashtabula, Ohio paid for a computer he was purchasing.
VIDEO: High-dive accident caught on tape
A woman at a water park in Idaho leaped off a 22-foot high dive platform, then tried to pull herself back up with frightening results. Fortunately, she escaped with only a cut to her finger.
Where cats are more popular than dogs in the U.S.-and all over the world
We all know there are only two types of people in the world: cat people and dog people. But data from market research firm Euromonitor suggest that these differences extend beyond individual preferences and to the realm of geopolitics: it turns out there are cat countries and dog countries, too.
- More Community News Network Headlines
- Survey results in legislation to battle sexual assault on campus


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DescriptionThe best ski jumping experience for your Android!
Holmenkollen Ski Jump is an addictive ski jumping game. Easy to play, hard to master! The game is situated in Holmenkollen, the national ski arena in Oslo, Norway, and the host for the 2011 Nordic World Ski Championships.
Jump as far as possible with maximum style!
Watch the wind, use good timing and in-air adjustments for the best results.


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'Sucker Punch' all style over substance
So, "Sucker Punch."
At the very least, director Zack Snyder ("300") has a vivid imagination. A two-hour foray into the bizarrely misogynistic fantasies and fetishes buried in his fanboy mind isn't the way to share it.
And they're not buried very well, but rather under a ridiculous layer of live-action anime, gigantic robot samurai, steam-powered German zombies, and abused, scantily clad heroines with names like Baby Doll, Sweet Pea and Amber.
It's remarkable in the basest sense of the word, but Snyder's vision is that of a geeked-out teenager with millions of dollars (and professional filmmaking equipment) at his disposal. Juvenile as it might be, Snyder expertly brings his vision to the screen, but it's all style and very minimal substance.
Shot in that computer-rendered "300" style, "Sucker Punch" is visually captivating, digitally crafted with plenty of eye candy and rich, computer-generated imagery, all set to an adrenaline-pumping soundtrack of reworked classic rock. On this level it succeeds. But the basic levels - story, character, giving two damns - are structurally unsound, causing the picture to nearly cave in on itself, and leaving viewers wishing the cinema would do the same.
Emily Browning ("The Uninvited") is Baby Doll, a young pigtailed beauty whose murderous stepfather (Gerard Plunkett, TV's "Fringe") commits her to an insane asylum to keep hidden a nasty truth.
Knowing her doom is near, Baby Doll retreats into the fantastical depths of her mind, wherein she encounters the Wise Man (Scott Glenn, "W."), who tells her of the path to freedom.
To escape, she'll need to find four objects (a key, map, fire and knife), along with something secret that she'll know when the time is right. She incorporates several of her fellow patients into her thematic fantasies, including Sweet Pea (Abbie Cornish, "Limitless"), Rocket (Jena Malone, "The Messenger"), Blondie (Vanessa Hudgens, "High School Musical") and Amber (Jamie Chung, "Sorority Row") - all dressed to the scanty nines in the best Snyder's manga-riddled mind has to offer.
As Baby Doll and company gun down steam-powered World War I zombies, slay fire-breathing dragons and brutally dismantle a legion of cyborgs, they're supposedly acquiring these items in real life - sort of that dream within a dream within a dream scenario, but more like a cartoonish, nubile "Inception" meets the Cliff's Notes version of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest."
In one scene, the Wise Man advises Baby Doll, "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything," advice Snyder should have taken to heart. The fantasy scenes, which are at the film's heart, stand for nothing, their themes seeming to have been arbitrary chosen simply because they look cool.
There's no subtext whatsoever, no insight, nothing that connects viewers to these cardboard - albeit curvaceous - cutouts that barely serve as characters.
It's not necessarily the actors' faults. They perform decently, considering the material (co-written by Snyder) and their ability to keep a straight face through its laughable dialogue.
There's a point in bad cinema I like to call the "AVP: Alien vs. Predator" Threshold, which involves a scene so utterly absurd it makes me actively mourn for the time lost watching it. That threshold isn't reached very often, but "Sucker Punch" aptly lives up to its tagline: "You will be unprepared."
Let's hope Snyder's upcoming "reboot" of "Superman" doesn't boast the same thing.
"Sucker Punch," rated PG-13 for thematic material involving sexuality, violence and combat sequences, and for language, is playing at Regal Cinema 7 in Boone. For show times, see page 24 or visit http://www.mountaintimes.com/movies.


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The 2012 AdvoCare 500 at Phoenix International Raceway will go down in history as the turning point of the 2012 Chase for the Cup and one of the most memorable races of the season.
Kevin Harvick picked up his first win of 2012 while there was chaos on the track and in the garage area. Wrecking, fighting and a huge upset in the Championship will ensure that this race will be talked about for a long time.
- November 14, 2012 at 1:38 pm(1) J.D. says:
Typical nascar…cowtow and coddle and cater to hendrick….wonderboy should be parked for the final race. A chump change fine and 25 points?? Cmon…Wrecked the 15 and right in front of the points leader?? I hate everyone and anyone connected to that bunch of cheaters and criminals…Too bad 48!!! GO # 2!! Oh and congrats to the 29 and all RCR people!!
- November 14, 2012 at 3:13 pm(2) Kitty says:
I too hate Hendrick and JJ and Gordon. As usual, a slap on the wrist for Gordon. If JJ wins his 6th fake, manufactured chase championship, I'm done forever with crappy NASCAR. They need to get rid of the phony chase-it sucks! France and Helton have driven NASCAR into the ditch! I refuse to support them with my money. All I do now is watch it on TV and that will stop if JJ wins again!
- November 15, 2012 at 9:23 pm(3) danny says:
Jeff you lost another fan along with nascar. This would have been a great last race. What happened to jj could happen to Brad.and more bad luck from jj and #15could have been champ. we will never know . I would have parked Jeff for the rest of this year and next.I would have finded the boss bigtime. I don't want put him out of bessness be cause I like casey and jr.Like it or not jimmy is steal the best driver. Jeff you have got to go. D


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Immigration Reform Boosts Economic Recovery
Business leaders use economic arguments to convince GOP to get behind immigration.
As a comprehensive immigration reform bill hangs in the balance on Capitol Hill, a new Bipartisan Policy Center study shows an aggressive overhaul could boost the country's anemic economic recovery.
The report found that during the next 20 years, immigration would bolster the country's economic growth by 4.8 percent. The report shows that immigration reform would reduce the country's deficits by $1.2 trillion during this time, as young, working immigrants take jobs and pay taxes.
[READ: Business, Faith and Silicon Valley Leaders to Pepper House on Immigration]
The report pushes back against some anti-reform advocates who argue immigration reform would take jobs away from able-bodied Americans and drive wages down. Instead, the report's authors argue immigration reform would actually lead to a .5 percent real wage increase by 2033 and help some sectors like construction recover. The report found that residential housing construction would increase by $69 billion a year.
"If you want to be on the right side of the paramount issue, you want to be on the right side of immigration," said Douglas Holtz-Eakin, who spoke on a panel about the study Tuesday. Holtz-Eakin, president of the American Action Network , a center-right policy advocacy group, and the former director of the Congressional Budget Office, said immigration reform is "good policy" and therefore, "good politics" despite what some Republicans in the House of Representatives believe.
The Bipartisan Policy Center report was revealed at the Chamber of Commerce, before an audience of business leaders from more than 40 states who flew into D.C. to lobby Capitol Hill on the benefits of immigration reform. More than 600 people are expected to visit more than 150 congressional offices, many of them GOP-controlled to push for immigration reform.
Nationally, Republicans have already begun looking for ways to appeal to Latino voters. The Republican National Committee announced Monday it would begin building grass roots operations in Hispanic neighborhoods ahead of the 2014 midterm election as a way to win the presidency in 2016.
[READ: DREAMers Have a New Dream]
In the House of Representatives, however, carefully drawn congressional districts have segmented the population so much that few Republican members of Congress have a Latino population greater than 10 percent in their districts. In those districts, immigration lacks the urgency it needs to consume the focus of a member. Business leaders hope that by tying immigration reform the economy, voters in many GOP districts who are fixated on jobs will begin to pour on the pressure.
While the Senate passed its immigration bill in June, which included a path to citizenship for the country's 11 million immigrants who entered illegally, the House has been slower to pass new immigration measures. House Judiciary Chairman Rep. Bob Goodlatte, has said the House will move immigration bills one at a time rather than as one omnibus bill. And so far, the focus has been on strengthening border security and employment verification systems like E-verify, which tracks the legal status of workers applying for jobs.
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AccidentClaimsHelpline.ie Launches Mobile Optimised Website for Faster Injury Lawyer Referral Service
Ireland's leading solicitor referrals specialist announces the optimisation of its website, AccidentClaimsHelpline.ie, for mobile web users.
Cork (I-Newswire) January 21, 2013 - Regardless of how careful someone may be, accidents do happen and can result in unpleasant, painful injuries. The person who has sustained an injury usually files a claim against the offending party at fault, to compensate for damages and medical expenses. When no amicable settlement is reached, injury sufferers turn to the legal system to get what they believe they rightfully deserve.
Accident Claims Helpline (ACH) offers a trusted solicitor referral service for injury sufferers in Ireland. A 100% Irish owned and operated company, ACH is headquartered in Dublin, but maintains direct contact with solicitors throughout the country for all clients nationwide.
ACH helps injury sufferers find legal assistance in unforeseen events of misfortune such as disfigurement; occupational hearing loss; road traffic accidents; passenger injury; motorcycle accidents; pedestrian accidents; slip, trip and fall accidents; accidents at work; hand injury; dermatitis and asthma; as well as scarring and cosmetic surgery incidents.
Claims can be made for medical expenses, loss of earnings, or damages depending on the nature of the circumstance. Medical expense claims may include, but may not be limited to, hospital visits, GP expenses, medication and prescriptions. To have highly qualified solicitors make an accurate assessment of the claim, clients may call Accident Claims Helpline at 850 333 999 and speak to a case specialist.
Making the process of finding the right solicitor for injury claims easier, AccidentClaimsHelpline.ie has been optimised for mobile use. Clients can now use the "Tap to Call" Option to request a call-back. Mobile-based clients can expect a prompt reply and will receive a call from an ACH specialist advisor in their local area. The ACH team also helps clients find a qualified injury lawyer outside their locality to ensure privacy with their case.
To find out more about the services from Accident Claims Helpline, please visit http://www.accidentclaimshelpline.ie for information.
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Accident Claims Helpline Ltd
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Phone : 1850 333 999
Published in:Legal / Law > Business
Published On:January 21, 2013
Print Release:Print Release
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By Mark Fischenich
The Free Press
Democrat Clark Johnson of North Mankato won the state House 19A special election Tuesday, continuing recent DFL dominance in legislative contests in districts encompassing Mankato, North Mankato and St. Peter.
A Minnesota State University professor, Johnson won 54 percent of the vote in a three-way race. Republican Allen Quist's second-place finish ended his quest to return to the state House 24 years after he lost the seat in the early stages of the DFL's growing dominance in local elections.
Quist said Tuesday night that the race would be his last although he would stay involved in politics and public policy in a behind-the-scenes research role.
A retired farmer from rural St. Peter, Quist held the lead in the race after rural precincts and small towns were counted in the district, which is made up of all of Nicollet County, a small part of Mankato and southwestern Le Sueur County. But when results came in at the end of the night from the population centers of St. Peter and North Mankato, Johnson surged to a huge victory.
"We could see that we were holding our own," Johnson said. "And waiting for St. Peter and North Mankato to come in, I felt confident."
St. Peter voted overwhelmingly for Johnson with North Mankato following suit.
The final totals were 2,680 votes for Johnson (54 percent), 1,801 for Quist (36 percent) and 511 for Independence Party candidate Tim Gieseke (10 percent). The special election was called after Democratic Rep. Terry Morrow, a former professor at Gustavus Adolphus College, resigned the seat last month to take a job in Chicago.
Johnson's campaign was centered on ending the recurring budget shortfalls that have plagued the Capitol for a decade, even if that required tax increases. He was highly critical of the no-new-taxes stands of former Gov. Tim Pawlenty and of legislative Republicans who held the majority prior to the Nov. 6 election.
That approach led only to budget gimmicks such as borrowing from schools and shifting the burden of government to local property taxes, Johnson told voters.
"In many ways, that's a very conservative message but it's also a progressive message," Johnson said Tuesday. "I think people were just fed up with the way the budget was handled the last 10 years."
Quist, fresh off a 2012 campaign against Democratic Congressman Tim Walz of Mankato, ran a campaign that focused on opposition to gun control and a pledge to resist tax increases by the DFL-dominated state government. And he performed better in many precincts against Johnson than he did against Walz on Nov. 6.
Quist topped Johnson in 11 small towns and townships that he had lost to Walz. Seven other precincts went for Quist over Walz on Nov. 6, and they went for Quist over Johnson, as well, typically be even broader margins.
The richest veins of votes, though, were located in North Mankato and St. Peter. And voters there favored Johnson by margins that sometimes even surpassed the performance of Walz, who beat Quist in the 1st District by 15 percentage points. The massive support in those cities gave Johnson the lead Tuesday, and it grew to the final 18 percentage points.
Julie Evans of North Mankato said she was a solid Quist supporter, citing his moral values. And Evans said the Quist campaign took no chances, calling her repeatedly leading up to election day to make sure she got out to vote.
"I was going to vote for him anyway," she said.
Quist said the Republican Party's list of supporters was poorly organized, and he said the Democratic Party provided more support than the GOP.
"The Democrats ran a better campaign than we did," Quist said.
Jared Glaser of North Mankato, who voted at the Holy Rosary school shortly after Evans, said it was the message of the candidates that decided his vote. Glaser liked Johnson's focus on getting the budget balanced in a lasting way and he was concerned that Quist would be preoccupied with social issues.
"(Johnson) knows we have to get the budget under control, and that's really the priority before we start looking at other things," he said.
Quist didn't talk much -- if at all -- about abortion, gay marriage or other social issues during the campaign, but Glaser checked some of Quist's former words and actions online. He saw videos that referenced Quist's attempts in the 1980s to reduce the amount of anonymous gay sex in Minnesota and his doubts about the theory of evolution, including statements that dinosaurs and humans co-existed on earth.
"He just sounds like a lunatic," Glaser said.
Peggy Kreber of North Mankato may have traveled the longest distance to vote Tuesday.
"IÕve been in Texas for a month, but I made sure to get back," said Kreber, a longtime Democrat and union member who voted for Johnson.
"He seems fair, honest, a good orator. He knows the Constitution," said Kreber, who liked the idea of replacing a Gustavus professor with an MSU professor. "Teachers seem to do pretty well representing us, I think."
Quist was attempting to make a return to the Legislature -- and a return to any office of any kind -- 25 years after he fell to St. Peter Democrat and Gustavus Adolphus College professor Don Ostrom. Quist served three terms in the House before falling to Ostrom in 1988 and losing a rematch in 1990.
A former Bethany Lutheran College professor, Quist made two runs for governor in the 1990s and two runs for Congress in the past two election years. But he said he's done running for office and that he wasn't interested in leaving the door open to another run -- not even a crack.
'The door is closed and latched," Quist said.


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How to Plan a Family Reunion
Planning a family get-together can be overwhelming. This family reunion planning guide is full of tips that will help you plan a gathering in no time.
Timeline & Checklist
Use this family reunion planning checklist to make sure you stay on top of all the little details.
How will you pay for the gathering? Check out these ideas to help finance your event.
Tips & Heirlooms
Keep a record of this memorable event. A reunion is the perfect time to explore and preserve your family's history and traditions.


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Lets face it: Greg Heffley will never change his wimpy ways. Somebody just needs to explain that to Gregs father. You see, Frank Heffley actually thinks he can get his son to toughen up, and he enlists Greg in organized sports and other manly endeavors. Of course, Greg is able to easily sidestep his fathers efforts to change him. But when Gregs dad threatens to send him to military academy, Greg realizes he has to shape up . . . or get shipped out.
Greg and his family and friends, who make the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books a must-read for middle school readers, are back and at their best in this hilarious new installment of the series, which is sure to please current fans while attracting new ones.
"Starred Review. Kinney's spot-on humor and winning formula of deadpan text set against cartoons are back in full force." - Publishers Weekly
"His witty voice coupled with memorable characterization will have this offering flying off the shelves." - School Library Journal
"Once again, Kinney remains unerringly attuned to the tween psyche as he packs in rapid-fire experiences in words and cartoons that are bust-a-gut funny, beg-to-stay-home-from-school mortifying, and completely authentic in all their ugly truths. Grades 5-8" - Booklist
The information about Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw shown above was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's online-magazine that keeps our members abreast of notable and high-profile books publishing in the coming weeks. In most cases, the reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel that the reviews shown do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, please send us a message with the mainstream media reviews that you would like to see added.
Rated of 5
Diary of awimpy kid:The Last Straw
It is a great book! I thought I wouldn't be able to finish it in one day! But I did so that's the good thing! Its good to get it over with but its an AWESOME BOOK!
Jeff Kinney is an online game developer, designer, the creator of Poptropica.com, and the #1 New York Times best-selling author and illustrator of the wildly popular Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.
Born in Maryland in the 1970s, Jeff spent his childhood in the Washington, D.C., area and moved to New England in 1995. As a young reader, Jeff was inspired by the books of Judy Blume, Beverly Cleary, Piers Anthony, and J.R.R. Tolkien. Jeff attended the University of Maryland in the early 1990s. It was there that he ran a comic strip called "lgdoof" in the campus newspaper and knew that he wanted to be become a newspaper strip cartoonist.
Although Jeff started writing down ideas for Diary of a Wimpy Kid in 1998, it wasn't until spring of 2007 that his book was published and quickly ...
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The Angel of Losses
"Family saga, mystery, and myth intersect in Feldman's debut novel." - Booklist
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Books you'll stay up all night reading; books that will whisk you to faraway places and times, books that will expand your mind and inspire you -- the kinds of books you just can't wait to tell your friends about.


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A local man is working to help find a cure for cancer by putting his own body through some pretty rigorous challenges. By competing in triathlons, among other activities, Michael Klonsky hopes to raise $100,000 for the Mass. General Hospital Cancer Center in 2012.
"It's not going to be an easy goal to hit by any stretch, but it's a nice round number," said Klonsky, who is also the founder of Praesidium Wealth Management, which is based in Danvers.
In a phone conversation with Patch, Klonsky reported that he had recently completed the New York City triathlon, which boasts an olympic-sized course with a 1,500 meter swim, a 24.8 mile bike ride, and a 6.2 mile run. The 50-year old Lynnfield resident said that he started triathlon competition last summer. "I did one. I got the bug," said Klonsky. Later this year, he is also considering triathlons in New Hampshire and Texas.
Klonsky was a competitive swimmer during his school years and was a college track/cross country runner, but he said that he had never been a cyclist before taking up triathlon. He also noted that he is hardly alone in his enthusiasm for this sport, reporting that in New York City, some 4,000 participants took up all the available spots in about two hours. He believes that people are simply drawn to the challenge and to the enjoyable experience that a triathlon offers. "People do it because they love it, and they want to test themselves," said Klonsky, adding that many people are also realizing that they would "rather do this than go lay in the Bahamas for a week."
While Klonsky is enthusiastic about triathlons, they aren't the only means through which he hopes to meet his fundraising goal. He reports that he is also looking at assembling a team for the region's Tough Mudder competition, which is a 10-12 mile run through mud and obstacles that were designed by the British Special Forces.
A Family Connection
Klonsky is no stranger to fundraising on behalf of cancer-related causes. In an article that ran back in December, 2010, around Lake Quannapowitt in Wakefield. Shortly before the 2011 Lymphomathon, that website also at Huckleberry Hill Elementary School donating $150 of the $400 they raised selling cookies to the event.
Toni Hurton Klonsky has been battling lymphoma for four or five years now. Soon after her diagnosos, Michael ran in the Falmouth Road Race and raised $50,000 for lymphoma research in that event alone. In 2010, he was even named to Mass General's list of "The One Hundred" individuals taking leadership roles in the battle against cancer.
Michael and Toni are not involved with the Lymphomathon event at this point. Michael had great praise for the event and its organizers, and he said that it seems that the event is likely to stay in Wakefield.
For more about Klonsky's efforts or to make a donation, visit his fundraising page on the Mass. General website, which includes a two-minute video of him discussing what motivates him.


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Please contact us if you are searching for a product that you can't find or one that you would like to see us add to our inventory. We add new products and content daily including parts from A'PEXi and Volk Wheels.
If there is any part that is not listed on the site, does not mean we cannot get it. Initial Tuning has access of over 100 different manufacturers, just email us your inquiry at firstname.lastname@example.com for whatever vehicle you own and we will reply back to you in a promptly manner.
Initial Tuning is a Paypal Based shopping cart that uses the Highest Secure ordering method with 128 bit encrypted secure socket layer technology. So you will not have any worries ordering online. Other then Paypal, We can also accept Visa/MC/Discover over the phone or by via email. Money orders and Cashiers Checks can also be arranged for payment.
InitialTuning Phone (602)400-8844 Fax (877)875-8482Aim Screen Name: InitialTuning Email: email@example.com


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If the entertainment magazines are to be believed, everyone is out seeing "Twilight" this weekend. But for those of us who don't care much about the movie, we'll get out and enjoy the ever-building holiday spirit. There's a giant Christmas ornament in front of the Devon Energy Center, the lights are going up all around town and the shopping push begins soon. This weekend brings the debut of two of the metro's most popular holiday light displays. First, Midwest City opens their Holiday Lights Spectacular event at Joe B. Barnes Regional Park on Friday, beginning at 6 p.m., a daily drive-through affair featuring over 1 million lights and 85 displays. And Saturday, Yukon joins the party with Christmas in the Park (pictured), a 100-acre holiday wonderland with more than 100 light displays, Yukon Express train rides, horse-drawn carriages and more.
Elsewhere this weekend...
- The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum has the Small Works, Great Wonders Winter Art Sale on Friday, from 6-9 p.m. The fundraiser features works from Prix de West and other select artists.
- The OKC Philharmonic presents a classics concert on Saturday night. "Blazing Colors with a French Twist" spotlights Barry Douglas on piano.
- Halloween is long gone, but you can still catch a fright in El Reno... Saturday brings the Ghosts of Fort Reno Tour, a lantern-lit, paranormal experience that includes eerie tales of the historic post. See the official site for details.
- Get free admission to the Gaylord Pickens Oklahoma Heritage Museum in honor of Statehood Day on Saturday.
- Reduxion Theatre's production of "Richard III" continues. Purchase tickets on the official site.
- CityRep presents "The Normal Heart" at the Civic Center's Freede Little Theatre through Sunday. Get ticket information.
- A.R.T. Show: Art in Recycled Trash, a new exhibit at Science Museum Oklahoma, features work by 12 local artists: Jordan Dean, Jara Swong, Greg Brown, Bill Boetcher, Robert Emerson, Clair Rollins, Lisa Allswede, Joey Rodman, Christie Owen, Beatriz Mayorca, Emily McConnel and Kris Kanaly.
- In sports, the Thunder is home Sunday against Golden State, a 6 p.m. tip.
- The Barons face Milwaukee both Friday and Saturday nights.
- The Sooners are on the road in West Virgina. That game is on FOX at 6 p.m. Saturday. And the Cowboys host Texas Tech for a 2:30 Saturday game televised on FSN.
- In music, The Conservatory has Stillwater indie rockers DEERPEOPLE on Friday night.
- Visit Thunderbird Casino in Norman on Friday to see Texas singer, songwriter and guitarist Johnny Cooper.
- Rodney Parker & 50 Peso Reward perform Friday at The Blue Door.
- And enjoy acoustic sounds of Peter Mulvey Sunday at Sante Fe Depot in Norman. See pasnorman.org for more information.
- Finally among the highlights, check out the World Organization of China Painters holiday events. The Yuletide Tree Celebration is Saturday. See aqha.com for all the details.
Are you attending any of the above events, or has something else caught your eye this weekend? Let us know below. You can submit future events for publication and possible profile here on About Oklahoma City by using this form.
Photo © City of Yukon
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Philadelphia Eagles
Jason Avant - #81 - WR
|6' 0"/ 212 lbs.
|Chicago, IL
|Years played
|2006, 4th round, 12th pick by Eagles
Hobbs 'very likely' to retire
Eagles CB Ellis Hobbs is 'very likely' to retire, according to NFL.com reporter Jason La Canfora.
Eagles CB Samuel out for Sunday
The Eagles have ruled CB Asante Samuel out with a sprained MCL, and he will not make the trip to Chicago. CB Joselio Hanson will start in Samuel's place.
Eagles' McDermott responds to critics
There was speculation around midseason that defensive coordinator Sean McDermott was feeling the heat in his position, but the Eagles' improvement has quashed that talk.
Eagles CB Samuel, Bills WR Johnson pick up fines
Eagles CB Asante Samuel has been fined $40,000 for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Giants WR Derek Hagan.
Eagles-Bears matchup of the day: Tuesday
Bears OLT Frank Omiyale is serviceable and moves his feet well, but DE Trent Cole has the speed to beat him.
2011 NFC East free-agent preview
Here is our exclusive team-by-team list of NFC East players who are likely to become free agents in March, such as Giants RB Ahmad Bradshaw.
Report: Hobbs done for the year
Eagles CB Ellis Hobbs will miss the rest of the season after a scary neck injury suffered in Sunday night's win over the Giants.
Giants-Eagles Sunday-nighter gets big ratings
Last night's battle for NFC East supremacy between the Giants and Eagles earned the fourth best overnight rating in "Sunday Night Football" history.
Vick transformation has familiar look
Michael Vick's transformation is very similar to a Super Bowl-winning, Hall of Fame quarterback and has put the Eagles on a fast track in a wide-open NFC race.
McCoy, Vick lead Eagles past Giants
LeSean McCoy ran 50 yards for a go-ahead score on a fourth-and-1 late in the fourth quarter, and the Philadelphia Eagles rallied to beat the New York Giants 27-17 after blowing a 13-point lead Sunday night.
Eagles CB Hobbs injures neck on kickoff
Eagles CB Ellis Hobbs suffered a neck injury on the second half kickoff after a violent collision with Giants DE Dave Tollefson.
Eagles CB Patterson must prove himself
Eagles CB Dimitri Patterson will continue to see a lot of passes thrown in his direction until he proves he can defend the pass as well as teammate Asante Samuel, according to NFC East Whispers.
Eagles' offensive line could hold season's key
Even with QB Michael Vick playing so well, a simple point has been overlooked: The Eagles' offensive line remains a unit with something to prove.
Scout's Notebook: Eagles TE Brent Celek
Nolan Nawrocki analyzes Eagles TE Brent Celek from a scout's perspective, detailing his positives and negatives.
Sparano joins the QB flip-floppers
When Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano flip-flopped and benched QB Chad Henne in favor of Chad Pennington for their Week 10 game against the Titans, he gave the NFL its 49th starting quarterback this season. Sparano joined a group of ...
Avant is active for Sunday's game against Tampa Bay.||||||| Avant missed three straight games with a hamstring injury.
Avant had eight receptions for 110 yards and scored his first TD of the year in Sunday's 38-20 loss to the Patriots.||||||| Avant, who had just four receptions for 35 yards in his previous three games combined, may have emerged as a favorite target for Vince Young.
Avant had nine catches for 139 yards in a loss to the Bills on Sunday.||||||| Avant has 23 receptions for 310 yards. He also had a fumble Sunday.
Avant had seven catches for 93 yards and a score in a 21-16 loss to Green Bay on Sunday.||||||| Avant has been steady with 20 career postseason receptions in five games.
The Philadelphia Eagles and wide receiver Jason Avant have agreed on a five-year contract. Avant was a restricted free agent. He had a career-best 41 receptions for 587 yards and three touchdowns last season as Philadelphia's slot receiver. "Jason Avant has developed into one of our most dependable and productive players on offense," coach Andy Reid said. "He's physical, he's tough and he has the respect of all of his teammates."||||||| Selected in the fourth round in 2006, Avant has 103 catches and eight TDs in four seasons. He has a knack for making clutch catches. Avant has 37 receptions on third down, including 32 that have resulted in first downs. "Jason plays the game of football the right way, he competes on a daily basis, whether it's in the game or in practice," Reid said.


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If your kids are a bit older, show them how hip you are by suggesting a party that includes making tie-dye T-shirts (try the Francis Family Toys kit, ages 4 and up; about $22) and tapestry wrap bracelets (HearthSong, also a kit, ages 10 and up; $12.95). And what about a beach party? To transform your surroundings, professional sand sculptor Matt Long has created a terrific introductory video, How to Build the Perfect Sand Castle ( sandtools.com, ages 2 and up; $12.99), plus an indispensable sand-sculpting tool kit (ages 7 and up; $10.99). Fine-grade play sand, access to water, and a disposal plan are recommended. Put the "beach" in your driveway or backyard, or move it to a local park or school (check regulations first). To dispose of the sand, try dispersing it throughout your yard or use it for a landscaping project.
If sand isn't your thing, you might actually go for that backyard Olympics — with fun as the focus. Some parents suggest tying a doughnut on a string and hanging it from a tree limb. With hands behind their backs, kids try to eat the doughnut. Hide a strawberry in a plate of whipped cream, and watch kids howl as their friends look for it without hands or utensils.
Speaking of food, try a team cooking party for teens. When guests arrive, divide them into teams. With the hosts presiding, have each group prepare a different recipe. The conversation will be plentiful, the instant camaraderie unexpected, and the chorus of ooohs and ahhhs during dinner definitely show-stopping.
When it comes to video slumber parties, you might want to think outside the box, literally: Show movies outside. The extra jolt of magic is worth the effort. For a group of 6 to 8 kids, seeing a film outside on a screen (or on the side of a house) is fun and doable with a bit of effort.
Libraries often have great selections of classic movies and cartoons; some still have 16mm projectors for rent. Your school (or local college) might have one available. Checking with a local AV rental house, we found a 16mm projector and screen ran $50.
Don't make the theme of your child's event "Let's outdo the Joneses." Speak out for limits. Get together with your child's class parent and agree to cap costs of all parties and goody bags. The goal is an event that gratifies kids, not parents. A terrific party should exhaust your creativity, not your bank account.


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It's a match!
The Nashville predators have matched the Philadelphia contract offer to Shea Weber.
Preds minority owner Brett Wilson was on prime time sports yesterday and told Elliotte Friedman and Howard Berger that the Preds had offered Weber a similar contract already, within six million.
This tells me that Weber had wanted out of Nashville and was hoping that the Preds would not be able to match the Flyers offer which was structured differently.
What is plan B for the Flyers?
Calgary seems willing to unload Jay Bouwmeester and his $6.680 cap hit, but Bouwmeester has a no trade clause and apparently is not waiving it.
Perhaps promote from within?
The Flyers defensive depth chart looks like this
1. Pronger
2. Timmonen
3. Coburn
4. Schenn
5. Grossman
6. Meszaros
If Pronger is not able to return (and that is a distinct possibility) The defense needs improvement in the offensive and puck moving department.
Internal candidates include; Bruno Gervais, M.A. Bourdon, Erik Gustafsson, Brandon Manning, and Andreas Lilja.
perhaps the best candidate from that group is Erik Gustafsson who was called up in the playoffs and looked very impressive. He played some big minute games in the Pittsburgh series and against top guns Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Gustafsson produced a goal and an assist in his seven post season games while posting a plus-4.
In the 2010-2011 AHL season, Gustafsson nearly led Adirondack in scoring as a first year pro. He could be a fantasy hockey sleeper playing on the Flyers power play next season.
If the Flyers look towards making another offer to a RFA potential targets could be; Michael Del Zotto, John Carlson, P.K. Subban, or Dmitry Kulikov.
Injury Update
Great news out of Boston that both Adam McQuaid and Nathan Horton have passed their baseline tests and are ready to resume physical work outs and contact. Both players will be in full participation come training camp.
Horton has suffered two serious concussions in as many years and his career was potentially in question. Horton will still be more susceptible to further concussion injuries and is a major injury risk in fantasy leagues going forward.
The Nashville Predators signed Sergei Kostitsyn to a two year $6 million deal as well as forward Colin Wilson to a three year $6 million contract.
The Carolina hurricanes resigned forward Zach Boychuk to a one year, two-way deal. The former first round pick has not been able to live up to his potential and his stock is falling fast. Carolina also signed Jay Harrison to a three year $4.5 million contract. Harrison was a standout for Canada at the World Jr. Tournament but had difficulty staying in the NHL with Toronto. Last season he enjoyed a career year playing 72 games and scoring nine goals and 14 assists for 23 points, second overall in team defense scoring behind Jamie McBain. Harrison also produced impressive peripheral stats; 117 hits, 153 blocked shots, 128 shots, 60 penalty minutes while playing an average of 17:33 minutes per game. His plus/minus was a minus -10 however.
The Toronto Maple Leafs added some veterans for the AHL Toronto Marlies by signing 39 year old defenseman Adrian Aucoin, and resigning 26 year old defenseman Simon Gysbers. The Marlies have yet to resign veteran Mike Zigomanis who is a fan favorite. Hockey Writers Brett lemon looks at what the recent signings could mean for Zigomanis in his article Toronto Adds Keith Aucoin, Fellow Veteran Mike Zigomanis Remains Unsigned.
Toronto also added Steve Staios who recently retired. Staios will join the Toronto management team as an adviser of prospects and players at all levels of the organization.
Fantasy Hockey Coach Dynasty Keeper League
We still have room in the Keeper League we are starting, register and post in the forum that you are interested. Keeper League home page. Send $10 entry fee via paypal to [email protected] Space is limited!
By Peter Harling
Follow me on Twitter: @pharling


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Heavy Rains Cause Tree to Fall Through Ocala Home
Published August 23rd, 2012
Loading Video...
The recent heavy rain storms that have drenched North Central Florida caused a tree in Ocala to fall through a home.
The home is located on NE 7TH St.
Most of the damage, which is extensive, is to the home's garage.
Its unknown at this time if anyone was home or injured when this occurred.
Related Stories
- Tree Falls on Ocala Mobile Home
- Tree Falls on Gainesville Home
- Tree Falls on Home in Northwest Gainesville
- Massive Tree Falls on Home, Family Makes it out Alive
- Tropical Storm Andrea: Trees Fall On Homes & Cars
- One Woman Dead After Tree Falls on Home
- Broken Family to Relocate After Tree Falls on Home
- Still Dry Even After Heavy Rains
- Heavy Rains Push Car into Drainage Ditch
- Heavy Rains May Lead to "Mosquito Madness," this Hurricane Season


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Saturday, November 6, 2010
Purple Sweet Potato Cupcakes
Hello everyone! :) I don't have much time to write this since I have to working on my powerpoint for my language class and an outline for my geography class. :( But, I just wanted to quickly share with you guys this recipe! It's a purple sweet potato cupcake recipe! I actually had a lot of purple sweet potatoes so I wanted to go ahead and make a cupcake out of this! Hope you enjoy & I'll be back with a longer post soon! :) Have a great day!
Purple Sweet Potato Cupcakes
Adapted from Fake Food Free
1 cup brown sugar
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
½ cup pureed sweet potato
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tbsp ube flavoring
1/2 cup AP flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
½ tsp ground cinnamon
1. Bake purple sweet potatoes in an oven at 410 degrees F for 50 minutes to 1 hour. You can add slits in the sweet potatoes if you want to cook faster. You can check if they're done but poking a hole with a chopstick. If it goes through, it's done. Allow the sweet potatoes to cool and then take off the peel and mash with a fork.
2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and prep a cupcake/muffin tin with 12 paper liners.
3. In a mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar until mixed and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
4. Add in the sweet potato and continue to mix until combined. Add the eggs and the vanilla. Mix until all ingredients are combined.
5. In a separate bowl combine the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger and cinnamon. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the mixing bowl. Mix just until combined. Divide the batter among the 12 muffin cups. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes, until the cupcakes are browned and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Be careful not to over bake.
6. Remove the cupcakes from the pan and place on a cooling rack. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before topping with your favorite frosting. I used a cream cheese frosting from All Recipes.
It turned out a little green in the end but it was good. I was sad that the sweet potato flavor wasn't as prominent as I wanted, but it good nonetheless. I could taste more of the cinnamon and ube flavoring than the purple sweet potato itself. I think the cream cheese frosting was more prominent in this recipe. Next time, I'll substitute pumpkin puree for the sweet potato since it's bound to stand out more in the recipe.
11 comments:
Just my two cents- you cannot get a prominent flavor from purple potatoes or purple camote if making them into cupcakes. They are better fried, grilled, nuked, boiled, or cooked with coconut milk and sugar to really taste the flavor. They look really nice though like all your creations.
- November 6, 2010 at 5:43 PM
oops, my bad, that's my comment. i think i clicked on the wrong button and came up anon.
- November 6, 2010 at 5:45 PM
jees.... again....
- November 6, 2010 at 5:46 PM
- Michelle said...
Faye, Agreed! haha...it's so hard getting a prominent sweet potato flavor...it's just better using it as something to make cupcakes more moist~
- November 6, 2010 at 5:50 PM
actually, you could have added your ube flavor if you still have some. i think it would have been excellent :-)
- November 6, 2010 at 8:19 PM
again? what's up with me tonight? ha ha ha ha....
- November 6, 2010 at 8:20 PM
- HL said...
hm? I've never seen so darkpurple potatoe before is that some kind of taro potatoe?
I think we dont have these kind of ingredients here ~~ and you mentioned 'language class' does that mean you teach them languages?
- November 7, 2010 at 1:40 AM
- Faye said...
Michelle, another thing you can make out of your purple sweet potatoes is sprinkle brown sugar, add a little water, cover with aluminum foil and bake till fork tender then add a little butter and marshmallows. pretty much what we do with our candied yams on Thanksgiving. Actually I prefer purple sweet potatoes or the white ones over the regular yams because of the texture.
- November 7, 2010 at 7:26 AM
- Michelle said...
Faye, I'll definitely add more ube flavoring and try this again! I liked it because it had a slight cinnamon flavor and I liked the texture but I was sad the sweet potato flavor was absent :( And that's exactly how my aunt works with her sweet potatoes! Yay!!! :)
HL, hello! :) It's been such a long time! :D haha..umm, I'm not really sure about these purple sweet potatoes...some people call them Hawaiian sweet potatoes or ube. It tastes different than the average sweet potato. I have to say that it's less sweeter but it's just as good...especially if you steam them :) And I'm taking a Korean class at school so I can minor in Asian Humanities Studies :)
- November 17, 2010 at 6:21 PM
hi, can you substitute white sugar instead of brown.
- February 12, 2011 at 1:32 PM
- Michelle said...
Anonymous, Yes you can :) But, if you're looking for a cupcake with a prominent sweet potato flavor, this is not exactly what you should bake haha so just a warning :)
- February 12, 2011 at 8:21 PM


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The TSA Is Everywhere
May 11, 2012
This image has been posted with express written permission. This cartoon was originally published at Town Hall.
Latest Poll
May 11, 2012
This image has been posted with express written permission. This cartoon was originally published at Town Hall.
America, Israel and the Six Day War
May 11, 2012
The Six Day War spawned the special relationship between Israel and the United States of America. Elizabeth Stephens explores the cultural backdrop to this momentous development which resonates in the Middle East to this day.
The Six Day War that erupted on June 5th, 1967, was a profound event in Middle Eastern history that reshaped the political landscape of the region and redrew the boundaries of the state of Israel. But its consequences are far wider reaching. In its lightning victory against the Soviet-supported Arab states of Egypt and Syria, and the pro-Western kingdom of Jordan, Israel not only re-wrote the political and military geography of the Middle East, it accelerated the pace of cultural identification between Israel and America. The short conflict was of far greater significance in consolidating the 'special relationship' between Israel and the world's greatest superpower than Truman's recognition of the Jewish state in 1948. The events surrounding the war brought together the strains of a cultural identification that underpins one of the most enduring, potent and anomalous alliances of the twenty-first century.
The US was uniquely created from the desire of the Pilgrim Fathers to build a New World, free from the scourge of religious persecution and cultural decadence. The belief that God has blessed America has created the desire to shape the world in its image. It underlies Bill Clinton's impulse to extend the sphere of democracies to the undemocratic world and George W. Bush's description in his 2007 State of the Union address of the 'war on terror' as an ideological struggle. This desire is perpetuated by the country's unrivalled military might that bestows the ability to shape international relations and to remove the leaders of states that are categorized as 'rogue regimes'.
Israel's sixty years of recent history, after a hiatus of nearly 2,000 years, makes it a relative newcomer to world affairs. Yet, despite its brief existence and small scale, Israel has reshaped the political and religious contours of the Middle East and extended its reach across the globe. It has established an international significance far beyond its geographical size and economic muscle. What other country with a population of 6.5 million can claim such importance in the eyes of world leaders?
Given the uniqueness of both countries it would be expected that the interaction between the two would take on a special character as well. All interactions between states are unique, but not all relationships are 'special', which implies bonds that go beyond utility to a deeper sense of affinity, one that transcends, and may on occasion even appear to be detrimental to, the national interests of one of the parties.
Contrary to popular perceptions, Israel was not created as a bastion of American democracy or an outpost of Western imperialism in the Middle East. In the years preceding the establishment of Israel, Jewish efforts were met with hostility by the British imperial power that sought to limit Jewish immigration to Palestine. The Truman administration opposed the tough stance Britain adopted to Jewish immigration and, as early as June 1945, President Truman recommended that 100,000 European Jewish refugees be immediately admitted to Palestine.
Ultimately, US support for the partition of Palestine and the recognition of Israel was considered crucial to the international legitimacy of the Jewish state, but US policy in the run-up to these events was quite ambivalent. Truman's decision to recognize Israel was made at the last minute and was bitterly debated by his advisors in the Departments of State and Defense. In any event, the Jews acted unilaterally in declaring the existence of the state of Israel at 6pm on May 14th, 1948, with Truman extending de facto recognition to an accomplished fact. It was not until the convening of democratic elections in 1949 that the US granted de jure recognition, the arms embargo was lifted and an Israeli loans request was considered.
The United States may have been the first nation to bestow international legitimacy on the fledgling Jewish state by granting recognition but this did not translate into automatic or ongoing support. Economic and military aid from the US remained low throughout the 1950s and as late as 1967 Israel received only $13 million annually from the US. In the early years of Israel's existence the relationship was conducted at arms length. In the aftermath of the Second World War Americans were focused on rebuilding their civilian lives and enjoying their country's prosperity, while their government was focused on containing the newly perceived threat to 'freedom' emanating from the Soviet Union.
In 1948, Washington was preoccupied with establishing boundaries in the newly emerging Cold War world and shied away from becoming the protector of what was viewed as another weak, Third World, state. The desire to avoid such entanglements was reinforced by the uncertainty surrounding Israel's political orientation, with the Soviet Union anticipating that as many of Israel's Jewish inhabitants were leftwing refugees from Eastern Europe, Israel would embody the trappings of a socialist state. Immediately after its establishment, Israel looked to Moscow, not to Washington, for the arms it needed to defend itself.
Crises took place between Israel and the US in 1953 and 1956-57 over Suez, when the Eisenhower administration exerted great pressure on Israel to withdraw from the Sinai peninsula which its troops had captured from Egypt in the 1956 war. This was achieved through American recognition that the Straits of Tiran were an international waterway and no nation had the right to prevent free passage through them.
The potential association between Israel and Communism was reinforced in the late 1940s and early 1950s, by the relatively high number of Jews appearing in espionage prosecutions in the US. The ultimate public relations disasters for American Jewish organizations in the 1950s were the trials of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, Morton Sobell, Harry Gold and David Greenglass, all of whom invoked the need to defeat Nazi Germany because of its perpetration of the Holocaust as justification for their association with the Soviet Union. As Holocaust rhetoric was a staple of Communist Party policy, American Jewish organizations were determined to distance themselves from it, and by implication, from the Holocaust itself.
While the disassociation of Jews and Communists in the public mind was a powerful imperative, it was only one of a number of factors that explain the reticence of American Jews to draw attention to the Holocaust during this time or to demand that Washington extend greater support to the Jewish homeland. Involvement in the Second World War had united Americans and the post-war years were a time of optimism. American Jews shared in this ebullient mood. The postwar decades and the 'victory' over Nazism drew many Americans, particularly the sons and daughters of recent immigrants, into a shared experience of the American dream. The 1950s and 1960s saw a sharp decline in anti-Semitism in the United States, in part because Jews were increasingly seen as less 'foreign' than in the past. Generally, they were no longer the new immigrants, but third-generation Americans: by the 1950s three-quarters of American Jews were native born. They were energetically engaged in becoming integrated into American society and seizing the opportunities available to them. It was not until this process of assimilation and acceptance was complete, when Jews felt comfortable in America as Americans, and when the lustre of America itself had dimmed, that American Jews were ready to acknowledge the full extent of the Holocaust, the corollary of which was to lobby for greater US support for Israel…
In Libya, the Captors Have Become the Captive
May 11, 2012
One night last September, a prisoner named Naji Najjar was brought, blindfolded and handcuffed, to an abandoned military base on the outskirts of Tripoli. A group of young men in camouflage pushed him into a dimly lit interrogation room and forced him to his knees. The commander of the militia, a big man with disheveled hair and sleepy eyes, stood behind Najjar. "What do you want?" the commander said, clutching a length of industrial pipe.
"What do you mean?" the prisoner said.
"What do you want?" the commander repeated. He paused. "Don't you remember?"
Of course Najjar remembered. Until a few weeks earlier, he was a notorious guard at one of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi's prisons. Then Tripoli fell, and the same men he'd beaten for so long tracked him down at his sister's house and dragged him to their base. Now they were mimicking his own sadistic ritual. Every day, Najjar greeted the prisoners with the words What do you want? forcing them to beg for the pipe — known in the prison by its industrial term, PPR — or be beaten twice as badly. The militia commander now standing behind him, Jalal Ragai, had been one of his favorite victims.
"What do you want?" Jalal said for the last time. He held the very same pipe that had so often been used on him.
"PPR!" Najjar howled, and his former victim brought the rod down on his back.
I heard this story in early April from Naji Najjar himself. He was still being held captive by the militia, living with 11 other men who had killed and tortured for Qaddafi, in a large room with a single barred window and mattresses piled on the floor. The rebels had attached a white metal plate onto the door and a couple of big bolts, to make it look more like a prison. Najjar's old PPR pipe and falga, a wooden stick used to raise prisoners' legs in order to beat them on the soles of the feet, rested on a table upstairs. They had gotten some use in the first months of his confinement, when former victims and their relatives came to the base to deliver revenge beatings. One rebel laughed as he told me about a woman whose brother had his finger cut off in prison: when she found the man who did it, she beat him with a broom until it broke. Now, though, the instruments of torture were mostly museum pieces. After six months in captivity, Najjar — Naji to everyone here — had come to seem more clown than villain, and the militiamen had appointed him their cook. Slouching in an armchair among a group of rebels who smoked and chatted casually, Najjar recounted his strange journey from guard to prisoner. "One of the visitors once broke the PPR on me," he told me.
"Naji, that wasn't a PPR; it was plastic," one rebel shot back. "You could beat a pig with a PPR all day, and it wouldn't break." Besides, he said, the visitor in question had a ruptured disc from one of Naji's own beatings, so it was only fair. The men then got into a friendly argument about Naji's favorite tactics for beating and whether he had used a pipe or a hose when he gashed Jalal's forehead back in July.
The militia's deputy commander strolled into the room and gave Najjar's palm a friendly slap. "Hey, Sheik Naji," he said. "You got a letter." The commander opened it and began to read. "It's from your brother," he said, and his face lit up with a derisive smile. "It says: 'Naji is being held by an illegal entity, being tortured on a daily basis, starved and forced to sign false statements.' Oh, and look at this — the letter is copied to the army and the Higher Security Committee!" This last detail elicited a burst of laughter from the men in the room. Even Naji seemed to find it funny. "We always tell the relatives the same thing," one man added, for my benefit: "There is no legal entity for us to hand the prisoners over to."
Libya has no army. It has no government. These things exist on paper, but in practice, Libya has yet to recover from the long maelstrom of Qaddafi's rule. The country's oil is being pumped again, but there are still no lawmakers, no provincial governors, no unions and almost no police. Streetlights in Tripoli blink red and green and are universally ignored. Residents cart their garbage to Qaddafi's ruined stronghold, Bab al-Aziziya, and dump it on piles that have grown mountainous, their stench overpowering. Even such basic issues as property ownership are in a state of profound confusion. Qaddafi nationalized much of the private property in Libya starting in 1978, and now the old owners, some of them returning after decades abroad, are clamoring for the apartments and villas and factories that belonged to their grandparents. I met Libyans brandishing faded documents in Turkish and Italian, threatening to take up arms if their ancestral tracts of land were not returned…
Sable Island National Park: How to reconcile the competing interests of wilderness protection and ecotourism. Can a national park really manage both?
May 11, 2012
THREE HUNDRED kilometres southeast of Halifax, and 170 kilometres from the nearest landfall, at Canso, Nova Scotia, one of the most remote pieces of Canada stands out against the Atlantic like a thin white rune. Sable Island is the exposed tip of a massive sandbar perched on the edge of the Eastern Scotian Shelf, a spare, desertlike landscape in the middle of the sea. Its sands have shifted into an unlikely shape: a crescent some forty-two kilometres long, tapered at the extremities into curled, narrow spits, calling to mind a smile of uncertain temper. A system of tall dunes runs down the middle of the island like a spine, two parallel ridges with fields of grass and heath, and in between a smattering of ponds fed by the freshwater lens that underlies the island and sustains its life. The dunes are fuzzed with windswept marram grass, its deep, fibrous roots holding them together as they are sculpted by the powerful marine elements: gales, waves, and the duelling currents of the warm Gulf Stream running eastward off the island's southern shore, and the cold, westward-flowing Labrador Current to the north. The mixing of temperatures can cause fog as thick as chowder, which is partly why Sable is infamous for shipwrecks, some 350 of which lie buried in the shoals and sprawling sandbars that surround its coast. It's also famous for the shaggy wild horses that live among the dunes — one of the world's last free-roaming herds and, on days when the sun is shining, an almost irresistible symbol of innocence and freedom. In a country known for finding its history comparatively bland, Sable Island is an anomaly: a place that seems, with all its improbable beauty and folklore, to exist half in the realm of myth.
As such, it has a powerful allure for anyone with a passion for adventure travel. Yet even by Canadian standards, it isn't easy to get to. Only one commercial charter flies there, and only when conditions are good enough that the plane, a twin-engine Britten-Norman Islander operated out of Halifax by Maritime Air, can be sure of making it there and back by day's end. It's also not for the thrifty. The charter alone costs about $5,500, and on top of that there are ground support fees to finance the preparation of the island's "runway," a makeshift landing strip on the beach marked out by tire tracks, which is often underwater or covered by a colony of sunbathing grey seals. Maritime Air isn't licensed to sell individual seats, so you have to charter the whole plane; cost sharing is possible but difficult to coordinate. Those who manage to arrange a shared flight still risk paying for a trip to Halifax, only to discover on the morning of the scheduled charter that the weather isn't co-operating; they'll go home disappointed. The lucky few who make it will have spent at minimum a couple of thousand dollars for just a few hours on the island — not much time to try to understand the weird science and melancholy beauty of a place that is, on the surface, little more than an isolated strip of heaped sediment and buried debris. On top of that, the fragility of the local ecosystem raises ethical questions about whether tourists should be allowed there at all, making a trip to Sable Island an exercise in scrutinizing one's beliefs about responsible travel and what it means to care for the natural environment.
This is not the kind of excursion most people have in mind when contemplating a day at the park. Yet that's soon what it will be: on October 17, 2011, following lengthy negotiations by federal and provincial governments and various interest groups, Sable Island was designated as Canada's newest national park reserve, the final step before officially making it the country's forty-third national park.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN to call a place a park? A park is the playground we go to when we're young, to play on the swing set and dig in the sandbox. A park is a large urban green space, like High Park in Toronto or Stanley Park in Vancouver, a multi-use public area where city dwellers can spend time outdoors. A ballpark is a place to play; so is a skate park, but in a different way. A national park is vast, monumental nature in all of its potency — but what is it for, exactly?
This question lies at the heart of the story of Canada's national parks system. Parks Canada is the federal agency that oversees the country's forty-two national parks, as well as 167 national historic sites and four national marine conservation areas. It was founded in 1911 as the Dominion Parks Branch, the first federally managed national parks service in the world. Its first commissioner, J. B. Harkin, sometimes called "the father of Canada's national parks," embodies the struggle to define what a national park should be. He is often discussed in connection with the so-called dual mandate of Parks Canada, which ostensibly aims to balance — or combine — conservation with recreation.
Harkin was engaged with parks as a nation builder, which required him to think as both a philosopher and a businessman. His annual report of 1912 included a statement that would reverberate through the agency's history: "Of equal importance with construction and development work in the parks is the work of conservation." He saw parks as opportunities to generate tourism, and his ideas have been criticized for paving the way for resort-style parks such as Banff, or Jasper, where just this year a new controversy erupted over the construction of a privately funded tourist walkway over the Columbia Icefield. But years before environmentalism had a cultural shape, his statement tied it forever to the official raison d'être of Canada's national parks. His conundrum, how to balance protection with public access, remains very much at play in current thinking about park creation and management. Our collective, conscious desire to protect nature is stronger now than at any other time in history, but so is our ability to destroy it, and the struggle to balance protection and control in our relationship with nature is a big part of why these parks exist at all.
Canada's newest national parks tend to be either in the Far North, or in equally remote destinations like Sable Island, which makes them a hard sell to the majority of Canadians who live in cities near the American border and are more likely to support publicly funded projects closer to home. In the case of Sable Island, the problem is made more complex by a historical narrative that goes back further than the earliest incarnations of the country itself — a set of stories that connects the island to dozens of different cultures, giving it value as a heritage property, but complicating decisions about how to integrate it into the official narrative of Canada's national parks.
THE BEGINNING of human history on Sable Island has been lost in time. Mi'kmaq have long explored the waters around Nova Scotia in seafaring canoes, but their contemporary descendants are unaware of any early connection to the island. There is speculation that the Vikings may have landed there, or the Basques, or John Cabot, but none of these claims has been substantiated to the point of widespread acceptance. Most accounts name the Portuguese explorer João Alvares Fagundes as the island's discoverer and the first to claim ownership. He presumably found Sable on a voyage taken before March 1521, when King Manuel I issued a document granting him rights to parts of the New World, including "the island Santa Cruz, which lies at the foot of the bank," assumed to be a reference to Sable Island.
The island's early history, however, is filled with names from all of the colonial powers. L'Isle de Sablon. Isola del Arena. Its would-be masters variously tried to populate the island, farm it, use it as a strategic base, or claim it as a kind of midocean food depot. The first recorded shipwreck occurred in 1583, when the English explorer Sir Humphrey Gilbert went looking for Sable and ran the flagship Delight aground on its sandbar. Fifteen years later, the island became home to one of the first continuous European settlements in what would later be Canada, when the Marquis de La Roche-Mesgouez, a French nobleman charged by Henry IV with bringing Catholicism to Natives in New France, sailed a group of convicts and soldiers to the island, which had been chosen as his first landing point and a good spot for a military outpost. Bad weather forced the marquis back to France, but the misfit colony he left behind endured from 1598 to 1603 before sliding into chaos.
Over time, an increasing number of wrecks won Sable Island its dark reputation as "the graveyard of the Atlantic," and a selection of enduring ghost stories about the island became popular, increasing its folkloric reach. Among the most famous is the tale of the Pale Lady, the ghost of one Mrs. Copeland, who drowned in the wreck of the English ship Francis in 1799; she was said to wander the island in search of her missing wedding ring — and the finger that was stolen along with it. Although such fantasies made people wary of Sable Island, it was rarely uninhabited for long, and eventually the many nautical catastrophes forced Nova Scotia Lieutenant-Governor Sir John Wentworth to pursue a permanent presence…
Another Reason To Oppose Evolution
May 11, 2012
Via Boston Globe


text:
When it comes to paper, don't just recycle--reduce and reuse too--and save on paper and printing costs. Keep in mind that every time you use the printer you are not just spending money on paper but on toner and ink too. So when you save on paper, you save on printer cartridges too. And in all, you also create a more eco-friendly home office.
I know it sounds a bit simplistic, but to save on paper, print less stuff. However, it takes some discipline and rethinking to put this into practice. Try these 12 tips and spend less on paper and toner.
1. Get to know your printer.
Learn how to use your printer more effectively to save on paper. Before printing, choose "print preview" to check if one line is going to cause another whole page to print.
Don't just blindly hit OK when the print dialogue box pops up. See if you can reduce the print range to the pages you need. If you really only need to pages 2 and 3, don't print 1 and 4 too. You can also highlight only the text you need and choose "print selection." This is particularly useful when printing from websites because you can eliminated the ads.
If you have difficulty printing, clear your printer queue once you've fixed the problem. That way your printer won't spit out the six attempts you made before you figured out you were out of paper!
2. Use a tablet or e-reader.If you are printing documents because it is easier or more convenient to read them on the go, consider investing in a tablet or e-reader. You can use them to read Word documents and PDFs and even make notes in them in many cases, but when you're done there is not paper to recycle.
3. Take notes, and bookmark web pages.When viewing a website, jot down important information rather than printing a whole page just for a phone number or address. You can also copy and paste information into a Word document or other organizing software like Microsoft OneNote. Or, if it is something you want to keep for future reference, simply bookmark it. (Keep your bookmarks organized in folders so you can find it later.)
4. Proofread carefully!Be sure to check your work before you hit print. But if you do find a mistake, hit cancel quickly, so you only have one misprinted page. If the whole document prints before you find the error, only reprint the page with the error, not the whole document.
5. Send electronic invoices to clients.This will save on postage too. Don't print out a hard copy for your records either. File them electronically on your computer (but be sure to back up your records!). While you're at it, request paperless statements for your bills, and make your office as paper-free as possible.
6. Share documents online with free online office tools.Use these free online office tools to send and receive documents via the web. These can be downloaded and filed on your hard drive or left online so you and your clients or coworkers can each make changes without ever using a piece of paper.
7. Put your fax machine in storage.Send and receive documents as PDFs rather than a faxes. The quality is better, and it's a lot easier, particularly if you don't have a second line for the fax. And if you do have a second line, it's a lot cheaper because you can get rid of that monthly bill. But hang on to your fax machine, just in case
8. Use email more; print it less.Writing effective email is an important skill for a telecommuter, but a good filing system for email is almost as important. If filed and backed up on your hard drive or online, emails will very rarely require printing. Set up folders in you email client and have your email automatically sorted. You won't just save on paper; you'll save on time too.
9. Adjust your margins.Use wider margins, smaller font and closer line spacing to get more to a page. Along these same lines, one tip for saving on printer ink cartridges is to use the "draft" quality setting or gray scale when printing.
10. Enjoy family pictures in a digital photo frame.
I long ago abandoned the practice of printing family photos. I prefer to view a large volume of rotating pictures in my digital frame rather than the few that I might have chosen to put in an album. And frankly I just don't have time to put them in a photo album. This way I see my pictures pictures all the time, i.e., while I'm sitting at my desk, working on homework with the kids, cleaning up, etc., not just wne I pull out the photo album.
11. Print on both sides of the paper.
This may mean setting up for a two-sided print job (sometimes called "duplex printing"), which could be a little more time consuming but really not that difficult (especially if you've gotten to know your printer as recommended in #1).
This can also mean putting a new print job on the reverse of old paper. Fill the paper tray with old mistaken printings or the fliers that come out of the kids' folders, taking care that they are facing the right way. After it is finished printing, flip your document over to the wrong side and mark a line through it, so that in the future you won't waste time turning it over to find the right side.
While obviously you don't want to use this technique for something you'd send out to clients, it works well for internal documents or kids' projects that will be glued to a poster board.
12. Reuse old paper.Despite our household's best efforts to save on paper, we still have an awful lot of it around the house. Whenever possible, reuse paper. Not only can you print on the back side, as explained above, but you can use it for many other purposes:
- Cut it in half to make scrap paper for lists. (Cutting it keeps it from getting mixed up with current documents, but you can also just mark a line through it.)
- Staple it together to form scrap-paper notebooks.
- Give it to the kids for drawing or scratch paper for math homework.
- Shred it to make packing materials.
- If you use electronic bill pay, save the return envelopes that come in your bills and use them to send in the kids' lunch money or to organized small items.