text:
Odds and ends number 86
As I culled the vast number of possible items I had in my e-mail box down to a manageable few for this latest excursion into stuff I can handle in anything from a couple sentences to a couple paragraphs, I took a break – then promptly forgot I'd started this and let it go for several weeks. Sheesh. So, anyway…
The election season is here, and it's blatantly obvious that the Maryland Republican Party feels local Senator Jim Mathias has a vulnerable hold on his position. One recent objection was the vote to both pass and overturn Governor Hogan's veto on House Bill 1783.
If you want a cure for insomnia you could do worse than reading all 53 pages of the House bill. But what I found interesting is the vast difference between the amended House version and the Senate version that never made it past the hearing stage. The bills were intended to codify the recommendations of the 21st Century School Facilities Commission, but the House bill added two new wrinkles: eliminating the input of the Board of Public Works by upgrading the current Interagency Committee on School Construction to a commission and adding to it four new members (two appointed by the governor and two by the leaders of the General Assembly) and – more importantly for the fate of the bill – adding an appropriation to prevent it being taken to referendum. All those amendments came from the Democrat majority in the House Appropriations Committee, which meant that bill was put on greased skids and the other locked in a desk drawer.
Yet there wasn't a Democrat who objected to this, and that's why we have government as we do. It also proved once again that Senator Mathias is good at doing what the other side of the Bay wants – obviously since I have done the monoblogue Accountability Project since the term Mathias was first elected to serve in I know this isn't the first time it's happened.
But the fair question to ask is whether anyone else is listening? Results of a recent poll tended to be a little disheartening to me. According to the Maryland Public Policy Institute:
Marylanders support spending more money on school safety and career and technical education, according to a new statewide poll. But they are less enthusiastic about expanding pre-kindergarten or paying teachers more if those initiatives mean higher taxes or reductions in other services.
Broad majorities oppose paying more in income or property taxes to expand pre-K. Voters are against making cuts to roads and transportation (70% total less likely), public safety (70% total less likely), or children's health insurance (77% total less likely) to afford expansion of pre-k education.
They should be opposing universal pre-K in general. Far from the days when kindergarten was optional and getting through high school provided a complete enough education to prosper in life, we are now working on taking children as young as 4 or even late 3 years old and providing schooling at state expense for 16 to 17 years – pre-K, K through 12, and two years of community college. This would be more palatable if public schools weren't simply Common Core-based indoctrination centers, but as the quality of education declines quantity doesn't make up for it.
For example, a real public school education would teach critical thinking, exhibited in these facts about offshore drilling and steps the industry is taking to make it safer. After all, logic would dictate they would want to recover as much product they invested in extracting as possible – spills benefit no one.
Interestingly enough, my friends at the Capital Research Center have also embedded a dollop of common sense into the energy argument.
This goes with the four-part series that explains the pitfalls of so-called "renewable" energy – you know, the types that are such a smashing success that the state has to mandate their use in order to maintain a climate that, frankly, we have no idea is the optimal, normal one anyway. (For example, in the last millennium or so we've had instances where vineyards extended north into Greenland – hence, its name – and times when New England had measurable snow into June due to the natural cause of a volcano eruption.)
Solar and wind may work on a dwelling level, but they're not reliable enough for long-term use until storage capacity catches up. The series also does a good job of explaining the issues with the erratic production of solar and wind energy and the effect on the power grid.
On another front, the summer driving season is here and we were cautioned that prices would increase by the American Petroleum Institute back in April. Oddly enough, a passage in that API piece echoed something I wrote a few weeks later for The Patriot Post:
But while it isn't as much of a factor on the supply side, OPEC can still be a price driver. In this case, both Saudi Arabia and non-OPEC Russia have put aside their foreign policy differences and enforced an 18-month-long production cut between themselves – a slowdown that has eliminated the supply glut (and low prices) we enjoyed over the last few years. And since those two nations are the second- and third-largest producers of crude oil (trailing only the U.S.), their coalition significantly influences the market.
Finally, I wanted to go north of the border and talk about 2020. (No, not THAT far north – I meant Delaware.)
Since Joe Biden has nothing better to do these days and needs to keep his name in the pipeline for contributions, he's organized his own PAC called American Possibilities. (He's also doing a book tour that comes to Wilmington June 10, but that's not important for this story.)
A few weeks ago his American Possibilities PAC announced its first set of candidates, and so far they're uninspiring garden-variety Democrats. Supposedly they were suggested by AP members, but we have two incumbent Senators in vulnerable seats (Tammy Baldwin and Jon Tester both represent states that went to Donald Trump), current freshman Rep. Stephanie Murphy of Florida (another Trump state), and challengers Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania and Andy Kim and Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey.
As of this writing, all are still in contention; however, this comes with caveats. Baldwin and Tester are unopposed in their upcoming primaries for Senate seats, Houlahan and Kim are unopposed for nomination as well, and Murphy has token opposition. The one race that will test Biden's "pull" is the NJ-11 race, where Sherrill is part of a five-person race on the Democratic side to replace retiring Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, a GOP moderate. All three House challengers Biden is backing are trying for GOP seats, as a matter of fact – no insurgents here. We'll see in November if he fails.
Shifting sides on the political pendulum, here's some good political news from our friends at the Constitution Party:
We received great news this week! The Constitution Party effort to gain ballot access in North Carolina exceeded the required number of registered voter signatures to qualify for ballot access in 2018 and 2020.
To do this they needed 11,925 valid signatures in a timeframe that stretched about five months – so far they have over 16,000 total signatures and 12,537 have been declared valid (at least until the NCGOP sues to deny them access because it will be deemed to hurt their chances – see the Ohio Libertarian Party cases for examples of this.) If that development is avoided, it will be the first time the Constitution Party has had ballot access in the state.
Honestly, I believe the two "major" parties should be made to live with the same petitioning for access standards the minor parties do. If they are that popular then it shouldn't be a problem, right? Once the 2018-22 cycle gets underway, perhaps the same thing should be tried in Maryland.
Lastly is a housekeeping note: in updating my Election 2018 widget, I've decided to eliminate for the time being races that are unopposed and focus on the primary races only. So you'll notice it's a bit shorter.
After seven weeks of interim, now you know the truth: writing delayed is not writing denied.
Odds and ends number 84
After resurrecting one long-dormant series over the weekend, today we make it two. It hasn't quite been a year since I did an 'odds and ends" and there's not a year's worth of stuff, but the creative juices are flowing anyway.
Let's begin with some good news from our national pastime. If you recall, back in July the Shorebirds made headlines for playing the longest game in their 21-season history, spreading out the drama against the Lexington Legends over two days thanks to a storm that broke over the stadium after 20 innings were in the books. It took just one inning the next evening to settle Delmarva's 7-6 defeat, but the contest was the Fans' Choice for a MiLBY Award. It had (ironically enough) 21% of the vote among 10 contenders. (Alas, the actual MiLBY went to some other game.)
The other sad part about that story, besides the folks at the Minor League Baseball site misidentifying us as Frederick: it turned out that one inning of baseball would be all that was played that evening as another heavy storm blew through just at scheduled game time. (I remember it well because I was at work.)
The Shorebirds were also a MiLBY bridesmaid in the blooper department with their September "goose delay."
And while Astros-Dodgers didn't have the same cachet as the Cubs finally breaking the Curse of the Billy Goat last season, the 28 million viewers of Game 7 completed a World Series where it again kicked the NFL's ass (as it should, since football season doesn't start until the World Series is over anyway.) And with the erosion of the NFL's appeal thanks to the anthem protests and – frankly – rather boring games where fundamentals are ignored, the window of NFL dominance may be closing.
Speaking of things that are dominant, a few weeks back I detailed the effort to bring the sanity of right-to-work to Sussex County, Delaware. An update from the Daily Signal detailed some of Big Labor's reaction when it came up again. And again I respond – having the choice to join the union is better than not having the job at all.
Delaware was also the subject of one of a series of pieces that ran over the summer and fall from my friends at Energy Tomorrow. They cleverly chose a theme for each of the 50 states and the First State's July piece was on "the beach life in Delaware." Now what I found most interesting was just how little energy they produce compared to how much they consume, given they have no coal mines and little prospect of fracking or offshore drilling. And I was surprised how little tourism contributes to their state economy given the beach traffic in the summer.
Maryland's, which came out last month, is quite different, as it has a companion piece about prosthetics. It obviously made sense with Johns Hopkins in the state, but what struck me was the quote included from Governor Larry Hogan. He's the guy who betrayed the energy industry by needlessly banning fracking in the state. Unfortunately, Larry seems to suffer from the perception that energy companies are solely interested in profit when the industry knows they have to be good neighbors and environmentally responsible, too.
That's quite all right: he doesn't need those 22,729 votes in Allegany and Garrett counties when he can have a million liberals around the state say, "oh, Hogan banned fracking" and vote for Ben Jealous or Rushern Baker anyway.
Regularly I receive updates from the good folks at the Maryland Public Policy Institute, which tends to look at state politics in a conservative manner. But I can't say this particular case is totally conservative or for limited government:
If Maryland lawmakers want to get serious about combating climate change and reducing pollution, they can simply tax the emission of carbon and other pollutants, thereby encouraging lower emissions and greater efficiency. No one likes a new tax, but it is a much cheaper and more effective way to cut pollution and fight climate change than a byzantine policy like the renewables mandate. Besides, revenue from a carbon tax could be used to reduce other taxes and fund other environmental initiatives. Problem is, though a carbon tax would be good for the environment and human health, it wouldn't funnel money to politicians' friends in corporate boardrooms and on Wall Street.
Maryland's renewables standard isn't about the environment and human health; it's about money.
The last two sentences are the absolute truth, but the remainder of the excerpt is a case of "be careful what you wish for." If the state indeed enacted a carbon tax, businesses and residents would waste no time fleeing the state for greener (pun intended) pastures. You can bet your bottom dollar that a carbon tax would be enacted on top of, not in place of, all the other taxes and fees we have.
Now it's time for a pop quiz. Can you guess who said this?
Soon, our states will be redrawing their Congressional and state legislative district lines. It's called redistricting, and it will take place in 2021, after the next Census takes place. That may seem far off, but the time to get started on this issue is now.
This is our best chance to eliminate the partisan gerrymandering that has blocked progress on so many of the issues we all care about. Simply put, redistricting has the potential to be a major turning point for our democracy. But we need to be prepared.
Maybe if I give you the next line you'll have the answer.
That's where the National Democratic Redistricting Committee comes in. Led by Eric Holder, my former Attorney General, they're the strategic hub for Democratic activity leading up to redistricting. In partnership with groups like OFA, the NDRC is building the infrastructure Democrats need to ensure a fair outcome.
Our former President is now involved in this fight for a "fair" outcome – "fair" being defined as gerrymandered like Maryland is, I suppose.
To be honest, we won't ever have truly fair districts until the concept of "majority-minority" districts is eliminated and districts are drawn by a computer program that strictly pays attention to population and boundaries such as county, city, or township lines or even major highways. With the GIS mapping we have now it's possible to peg population exactly by address.
And if you figure that most people with common interests tend to gather together anyway – particularly in an economic sense – simply paying attention to geography and creating "compact and contiguous" districts should ensure fair representation. To me it's just as wrong to have an Ohio Ninth Congressional District (where I used to live) that runs like a shoestring along the southern shore of Lake Erie and was created so as to put incumbent Democratic Congressmen Dennis Kucinich and Marcy Kaptur in the same district – Kaptur won that primary – as it is to have a Maryland Third Congressional District that looks like a pterodactyl. When I was growing up, the Ninth basically covered the city of Toledo and its suburbs where we then lived but as the city lost population they had to take territory from the Fifth District that surrounded it at the time. After the 1980 census they decided to follow us and take the eastern half of Fulton County, west of Toledo – much to my chagrin, since my first election was the one Kaptur beat a one-term Republican. (She's been there that long.) Since then, the Ninth has been pulled dramatically eastward along the lakeshore to the outskirts of Cleveland, connected at one point by a bridge.
Finally, I guess I can go to what one might call the "light-hearted stack of stuff." Again from MPPI, when it came to the Washington Metro and how to pay for it, this was a tax proposal I could really get behind. I'm just shocked that it would make $200 million a year.
On that scary note we'll see how long it takes before I get to the next rendition of odds and ends.
Maryland: contrarian again
It's been awhile since I looked at the energy industry, what with legislation, riots, and other general mayhem. Fortunately for me, I have several sources in that industry to return me to speed and one is writer Marita Noon, whose piece on NetRightDaily today detailed the efforts of forward-thinking states to repeal their renewable energy mandates – some by whopping margins in their legislature. In those states, the market-bending allocations to renewable energy are coming to an end, leveling the playing field and perhaps saving their taxpayers millions of dollars.
Unfortunately, Maryland isn't one of those states rolling back its mandates; in fact, the only piece of legislation dealing with the renewable portfolio was a liberal Democrat-backed scheme to expand it some more. House Bill 377 and Senate Bill 373 both were aimed at significantly increasing the percentage of renewables up to 40% by 2025 – current law peaks renewables' share at 20% by 2022. (Both these figures are a pipe dream.) The Senate version lost in the Finance Committee by an 8-3 vote, and the House version was withdrawn before it was voted upon.
It was good that a bad bill was thwarted, but it was unfortunate that no bill was introduced to repeal these mandates. Maryland would be in far better shape energy-wise, eventually with lower utility rates, if true reform was achieved: repeal of the renewable energy portfolio, the withdrawal of the state from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, repealing the subsidy for offshore wind, and encouraging energy production from hydraulic fracturing and offshore drilling.
Over the course of the O'Malley administration, energy companies took the brunt of new regulations and changes in the market; in particular, their cost of doing business was affected by the renewable energy portfolio and the RGGI. If you assume the goal of the utility is to provide energy as cheaply as possible to make a profit – while keeping prices low enough to maintain and grow a customer base – having the dead expenses of the "alternative compliance payment" made necessary by falling short of renewable goals and the CO2 allowances auctioned off by RGGI as a sweet redistribution scheme aren't helping the cause. Meanwhile, more exploration and investment in energy infrastructure could bring Maryland closer to being at least even as opposed to a net energy importer.
I wouldn't expect any repeal of these bills to pass on the scale that they've moved through some state legislatures, but 71-70 and 24-23 are perfectly fine margins to me. It would also likely require getting around the committee process and bringing the package directly to the floor. (The portfolio repeal, RGGI withdrawal, and repeal of the offshore wind subsidy could be one bill: call it the Maryland Energy Reform Act of 2016.)
The trick is getting the right people to advocate for the changes by showing how much can be saved by consumers. That portion seems like a job for a group like the Maryland Public Policy Institute, while the lobbying on the part of the energy providers should include a pledge of reducing rates. Shaving 2 cents a kilowatt hour off the bill may not sound like much, but it translates to about $216 a year based on average residential usage of about 900 kWh a month. I don't know about you, but an extra $18 a month would be nice for me. Just think of the economic benefits we received last year when gasoline skidded to $2 a gallon – benefits being lost now as prices have edged back up over $2.50 a gallon.
To help in prosperity, Maryland needs cheap energy. As it stands now, we don't have it but I think we can get it if the political will is there.
A debate worth having
Unfortunately, I can't make the event with my work schedule but I was asked to at least spread the word.
Christopher Summers of the Maryland Public Policy Institute invited me to a Maryland Policy Forum on A Better Way to Restore the Chesapeake Bay, to be held Tuesday night (the 28th of October) at Washington College in Chestertown. (It would be a close trip for my friends and fans up Cecil County way.) The event is billed this way:
Maryland officials expect that it will cost over $14 billion in the next decade to meet EPA pollution mitigation targets for the Chesapeake Bay by 2025. Yet Maryland has pointedly ignored a single, enormous source of the pollutants—the massive amount of water-scoured sediment and trapped nitrogen and phosphorus behind the Susquehanna River's Conowingo Dam. Periodic discharges from the dam, such as the one following Tropical Storm Lee in 2011, spill enormous amounts of sediment and nutrients into the Bay, dwarfing the most optimistic cleanup targets that have been set for the watershed.
What should Maryland do to reduce Chesapeake Bay pollution, and is current policy too much or too little?
In looking at the bios of the three panelists and moderator, it looks like a good mix of opinions will be had. Of course, there are those who believe the MPPI will put its thumb on the scale for the conservative side but it's a side which isn't often listened to in this state.
Personally I believe the cleanup behind Conowingo should take precedence over the regulations which have been adopted. Ditch enforcement of these tier maps, the seven-lot subdivision limit, and septic regulations which only serve to curtail growth in rural areas of the state like the Eastern Shore until the sediment behind that dam is cleaned up and we have a year or two of testing to see the difference. Instead of picking on agriculture, figure out ways to upgrade the real problem: failing urban sanitary sewage treatment plants.
I doubt either of the two candidates for governor will be there, but I think Larry Hogan should send a surrogate to hear what the MPPI and their panelists have to say. Obviously job creation is the key issue in this election, but a different, localized approach to cleaning up Chesapeake Bay would be a good secondary issue to discuss in the waning days of the campaign.
Missing in action again
It's almost becoming a running joke now.
Larry Hogan can crow as he wishes about raising $450,000 in the initial months of his campaign (although a significant portion was his own money, as I'll document later this week) and make hay about being on both TV and radio in most parts of the state, but the reputation he's building as a guy who avoids debates and tough questions is getting harder to shake.
Let's begin with the television ads. As I speculated when I first wrote about it, it was indeed a cable buy, but now it's spread across most of the state:
Two days after his campaign reported raising more than $450,000 in its first filing period, gubernatorial candidate Larry Hogan significantly expanded his TV and radio advertising campaign. His first 30-second ad entitled "Dedicated" which began running in 11 Maryland counties on April 3 is now airing on cable networks in a total of 19 counties.
The presser mentions radio, and I can vouch that the Hogan campaign is on our local talk station since I heard the ad Thursday. It's a fairly good spot, but using the live audience feed on what Larry had to say in his stump speech was a little distracting because of the applause lines used. He also mentioned last Saturday when I spoke to him before our Lincoln Day Dinner that he had done another interview that day with WGMD-FM out of Georgetown, Delaware – a station popular in the Ocean City/Ocean Pines area. This is one area Hogan has used to advantage – one-on-one interviews where he can take his time to answer questions and steer the conversation back to his main campaign topics. When the questions depart from those areas, in at least one well-known instance Hogan's called them "crazy."
In the release, Hogan is quoted as saying:
Through our one-on-one meetings with voters in their homes, places of work and communities and now with statewide advertising, Boyd and I are bringing our message of fiscal restraint and common sense reform to Marylanders who simply can't afford another four years of single party rule and incompetence by Annapolis elites.
Yet that message can't seem to stand the scrutiny of direct questioning with other candidates present. On May 9 the Maryland Public Policy Institute is hosting a GOP gubernatorial debate and just three of the four candidates are participating. I'll give you three guesses as to who declined, first two don't count. You would think Larry can change pre-scheduled events with a month's advance notice when he had a late change to his official announcement due to a predicted snowstorm (which indeed occurred.) So the excuse that "we have a lot of scheduling conflicts" won't wash if he misses the May 31 debate scheduled for here in Salisbury.
Another candidate who developed the reputation of missing events early in the campaign has cleaned up his act to a large extent, and the party he's promoting at the upcoming state convention in Bethesda promises to be a tightly-packed gathering if the guest list is accurate. Emceed by WMAL radio's Larry O'Connor, the sponsor list includes "Ben Carson, Jr, Jimmy Kemp, Henry Marraffa, Richard Rothschild, Armstrong Williams and many others." Most readers know who Ben Carson, Sr. is but this event features his son. Similarly, Jimmy Kemp is the son of onetime GOP Vice-Presidential nominee Jack Kemp (1996) and, like his dad, a former pro football quarterback. Marraffa and Rothschild are local elected officials, but Armstrong Williams is best known as a syndicated columnist. So it's an eclectic group of conservatives who will be featured at Lollar's soiree, and perhaps Lollar will get a Carson endorsement after all.
Ceding the field
I can't really say I predicted this, since I more or less just added a quick dose of my opinion to a post the other night by stating the obvious: "rates will either have to increase, or insurers will cede the field. Neither is a good choice, but that's where we are going."
But reports yesterday stated that Aetna, a leading Maryland health insurer, is indeed pulling out as it was denied the rate increase needed to stay profitable in Maryland given the uncertainty of the state's insurance situation. While those who hold policies through Aetna may be able to continue on, a significant portion will have to shop in the newly-created state exchange at a time when rates are much more expensive – up to 83 percent, according to a release put out by gubernatorial hopeful David Craig:
Craig announced today that Marylanders can expect a dramatic increase in health care insurance premiums under Obamacare, calling it a "massive new tax." Maryland's least expensive Obamacare plan will be 83% higher than the lowest-cost plan sold in the state this year. The analysis comes from a Government Accountability Office report that compares rates this year to what the Maryland Insurance Administration announced they will be under the new state exchange scheduled to launch October 1.
The state's insurance agency locked down rates with private carriers last month and the new exchange for individuals is marketed as the "Maryland Health Connection."
"What we have here is Maryland's health disconnection," said Craig. "This entire contraption will fall apart unless untold thousands of healthy people inexplicably decide to go online and buy expensive insurance instead of making a car payment. Private insurance carriers are not participating and not enough healthy, working people will either, and this is not going to work."
Craig also commented on the Aetna situation.
It is deeply troubling that Maryland has yet again soured relations with major employers and job creators. Another company acquires one of Maryland's last remaining Fortune 500 companies and takes their business elsewhere because regulators tell them what to charge. This irony is lost only on the one-party political machine in Annapolis.
Fellow gubernatorial candidate Ron George also weighed in:
This insurance exchange is already resulting in expensive rate increases for cash-strapped Maryland families. Maryland currently has one of the lowest discretionary income rates in the country, and this exchange will take more money away from your family vacation, school funds and holidays.
Noting that the exchange, which is supposed to increase competition, is comprised of just seven companies owned by only four separate entities, George went on:
This is a classic example of the Democratic machine in Annapolis picking winners and losers based on political relationships instead of free market realities. Additionally, the higher costs to businesses will lead to less job creation. Also, many physicians are now considering earlier retirement.
Perhaps the biggest problem with the exchanges is the broad coverage they have to provide. Marc Kilmer of the Maryland Public Policy Institute illustrates this well in a recent Baltimore Sun op-ed, pointing out that:
To be fair, the lowest-cost plans for sale today are not the same as the lowest-cost plans that will be sold in the exchange. The exchange plans will be much more comprehensive. Many of the cheapest health insurance plans available for sale in the individual market today have high deductibles and may not cover as many situations as do the other plans. But that's not a bad thing — it gives Marylanders choices in prices and in how much risk they're willing to carry themselves or put on the insurer. For most Marylanders, the cheaper plans are excellent choices, but for some Marylanders they're not.
Currently, you can also buy both the cheap plans and the comprehensive plans in the individual market. But you won't have the choice to buy high-deductible, low-cost plans in the exchange. You have to buy a plan that is designed by bureaucrats and politicians in Washington and Annapolis.
These plans basically come as a one-size-fits-all, take it or leave it proposition with a limited variety of choices – remember, there are only seven approved players in the game, and just four if you consider just the separate entities. Vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and butter pecan might be great for most, but if you prefer cookie dough like I do you're out of luck.
And what happens when the exchanges only have six insurers? Or three? Unless new entries can figure out a way to make a profit, they're not going to get into the game. Perhaps they can build wind turbines on the side to gain the state's favor?
The point is our system was flawed, but the solution is equally (if not more) flawed because of the heavy hand of government. Why not come up with some true free-market solutions – for one, allowing insurance to be sold across state lines so we can buy a policy out of a state with fewer mandates – and let the market dictate its direction? Not in Martin O'Malley's and Anthony Brown's Maryland.
Odds and ends number 64
Since my e-mail box is filling up with items I've been meaning to get to and I spent part of my day today cleaning out our garage, it's in that spirit that I present to you yet another heaping helping of items I figure are worth a couple paragraphs or so.
First of all, it seems our newly elected friend up Cecil County way, County Executive Tari Moore, is just getting everyone mad at her. Cecil County GOP head Chris Zeauskas chastised the woman he called "whichever way the wind blows" Moore for appointing Winston Robinson as her finance director. Robinson was a loser in the Democratic primary for the post Moore now holds but has lengthy experience in the financial field, according to the Cecil Whig. Zeauskas also blasted Moore for not hiring either one of two people who she presumably passed up for the appointment: county treasurer Bill Feehley and budget manager Craig Whiteford. Both are Republicans.
Meanwhile, the Campaign for Liberty is raking Moore over the coals for promising to appoint a person to run economic development in Cecil County. Their point is that:
Businesses and individuals build our economy, not government officials.
The idea that we need more bureaucrats to help those in the private sector to navigate red tape is proposterous. (sic)
Why not eliminate the onerous regulations that businesses face and eliminate the "need" to hire a government employee?
In a Cecil Whig news article, Tari Moore "promised to create a business advocate position to create incentives and work with businesses to create jobs in Cecil County."
The key here is provision of incentives. Why should government have the authority to pick winners and losers in the market place?
Why should county government be giving your hard-earned tax dollars to private companies?
Every time the government uses your tax dollars to give hand outs to private businesses, it distorts and inhibits a truly free market.
It seems to me that both of these parties make valid arguments, particularly the Campaign for Liberty. However, I suspect in the Zeauskas case that if Moore hadn't changed her registration the Republican Central Committee would have invoked the Eleventh Commandment and remained silent about the Robinson pick. The Campaign for Liberty knows no such thing and will just as readily skewer a Republican as it would a Democrat.
In fact, the C4L goes a little farther, calling on Moore to defund all economic development programs because:
Taxpayers in Cecil County have been forced year after year to give millions of dollars to county run economic development programs.
Yet, over the past two decades Cecil County has had the highest unemployment rate in the region.
By returning the money spent on these programs back to taxpayers we can start to create some real economic growth in our county.
Rather than taking potshots at a decision Tari Moore made simply because the group is upset about a change in partisan affiliation, at least the C4L has a basis in fact that perhaps another direction is needed for economic development. The data doesn't mean that having an ineffective economic development department is the cause of the issue (since many of the peer counties are in other states, which have their own set of advantages) but could be a factor to consider going forward.
And at the moment the liberty movement in Maryland is feeling its oats, based on the glowing report I received from Maryland Liberty PAC head Patrick McGrady about their hospitality suite at the recent convention:
Our Maryland Liberty Caucus event had more visitors than any other event, by far. Not only were we able to rally our own troops to attend, but we met many new allies and friends who want to fight side-by-side with us in Maryland.
On the other hand, McGrady was blunt in his assessment of the political scene:
Although we met many old and new friends on Friday, we also came away with a very clear conclusion: the Political Establishment in Maryland is strong and will not go away easily. These people are addicted to power and are sell-outs to the conservative cause.
These Big Government Republicans and Democrats are destroying our liberties and burdening us with over-the-top wasteful spending.
Tell me something I hadn't figured out already, Patrick. We've been fighting that battle off and on since I joined the Central Committee in 2006. Unfortunately, we have way too many Republicans who go along to get along in Annapolis.
Another Pat, Delegate Pat McDonough, bemoans the "Radical Blue" nature of Maryland politics in a recent release:
The dynamic of the voting power in Maryland probably ensures there may never be another statewide Democrat office holder from Baltimore after O'Malley, Cardin, and Mikulski have moved on. The Baltimore area voters have become captive step-children to the massive voting power of the Washington, D.C. suburbs. Baltimore's "radical blue" Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake presides over an urban landscape beset by murder, muggings, economic stagnation and a dim future. She suffers no real opposition, except possibly from another "radical blue" political challenger. The diversity of electoral politics or public policy is non-existent in Charm City.
All doubt about this growing power was removed when the 7 questions on the ballot achieved a solid victory created by a deluge of votes from the D.C. suburbs. The problem is compounded by the fact that the two major press organs dominating Maryland, the Baltimore Sun and The Washington Post, both reflect the "radical blue" philosophy in their editorial and reporting practices. They are enablers, not objective journalists.
I would prefer that a neither a Baltimore-based Democrat nor a Democrat based in the Washington suburbs see statewide elected office again after the way both of those groups have ruined a once-fine state. The "landscape beset by…economic stagnation and a dim future" is the state of Maryland as it stands now. So why is Delegate McDonough conceding this ground?
Be that as it may, McDonough later makes the point that the wealthy in Maryland are "voting with their feet" and leaving the state. However, a recent decision by the IRS pointed out to me by Jim Pettit means these changes will be harder to track:
(T)he IRS Statistics of Income Division attributes the decision to cancel the program, which dates back to 1991, to coordination issues with the U.S. Census Bureau. There is no official word yet on why the program was cancelled.
Pettit also stated:
The IRS tax migration data is the best indicator we have of how state and local governments are doing in developing their tax base. If there is no effective way to monitor changes in the tax base in the context of macro-economic trends, then state and local governments are at a severe disadvantage in making key legislative, regulatory and fiscal policies that address the challenges of funding government budgets.
This data was a key cudgel used by the advocacy group Change Maryland to point out the multiple failures of Martin O'Malley's economic program for the state of Maryland. Now we'll be down to anecdotal evidence of people leaving Maryland and seeking states more friendly to their economic interests.
Soon the transport industry may follow, as it's all but certain the General Assembly will once again consider a gas tax when they reconvene next month and may even try to work out a mileage tax as part of their "War on Rural Maryland." But I'm putting that cart ahead of the horse a little farther than Americans for Prosperity is by setting up their opposition to a gas tax via petition. (Of course, it also builds up a healthier e-mail list.)
Let's just hope Republicans stay unified in opposition to a gas tax this time around, mmmmmmkay?
Another tax which stands a good chance of being increased yet again is the cigarette tax, but Marc Kilmer of MPPI punctures a hole in the logic of the Baltimore Sun and lobbyist Vinnie DeMarco in his usual clear, level-headed way. It's worth a read since the cigarette tax increase proposal is another of those Maryland General Assembly rites of spring.
Taxes are also on the mind of national politicians thanks to the closeness of the so-called "fiscal cliff." But a coalition of nineteen conservative groups called on Congress to "…reject tax increases, refocus negotiations on spending cuts and entitlement reform, where they belong, and send a strong signal to Americans they can count on their elected representatives to look out for them in the upcoming budget negotiations." But that would require members of Congress to exhibit some backbone, which is in short supply inside the Beltway.
I could go on but you get the idea. Despite the holiday season, politics doesn't seem to take a break and vigilance is always required.
Four bits a gallon (or more) for a state gas tax?
Governor Martin O'Malley, he of the trial balloons, may have yet another one up his sleeve.
His latest (of many) tax proposals would extend the state's 6% sales tax to purchases of gasoline, on top of the current 23.5 cents per gallon surcharge the state takes. If adopted, Maryland would join a handful of other states which use this nebulous practice of profiting off high gasoline prices.
The other states which do this are California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and New York. To see what impact this proposed tax would have on our wallets, we need to use three methods of comparison. First, here are the per-gallon gasoline taxes charged by each of these states and Maryland, ranked lowest to highest, not including sales taxes or various fees added by each state: (Source)
- Florida, 4 cents per gallon
- Georgia, 7.5 cents per gallon
- New York, 8.1 cents per gallon
- Indiana, 18 cents per gallon
- Illinois, 19 cents per gallon
- Michigan, 19 cents per gallon
- Maryland, 23.5 cents per gallon
- California, 35.7 cents per gallon
And now the sales tax rates which are (or would presumably be) applied to gasoline, also listed lowest to highest:
- California, 2.25%
- Georgia, 4%
- Maryland, 6%
- Michigan, 6%
- Illinois, 6.25%
- Indiana, 7%
- New York, 8%
- Florida, 12%
Finally, the combined bite between all taxes (federal, state, and local) impacting gasoline in the states which charge sales tax, which includes where Maryland would eventually rank. To do their calculations, API uses the average cost per gallon in each state according to AAA as of 1/1/12. For Maryland, I couldn't find the price on the specific 1/1 date but according to the latest AAA figures, the average price one month ago from today was $3.26 and that should suffice for being roughly the price on January 1st. Again, this is lowest to highest.
- Georgia, 47.8 cents per gallon
- Florida, 53.4 cents per gallon
- Illinois, 57.3 cents per gallon
- Indiana, 57.3 cents per gallon
- Michigan, 57.8 cents per gallon
- Maryland,
61.558.9 cents per gallon*
- California, 67 cents per gallon
- New York, 67.4 cents per gallon
If this is passed, Maryland would have the fifth-highest total gasoline tax in the country, trailing New York, California, Connecticut (also 67 cents per gallon) and Hawaii (65.5 cents per gallon.) Maryland drivers would be ceding a much higher bite out of their wallets than their neighbors in West Virginia (51.8 cents per gallon), Pennsylvania (50.7 cents per gallon), Washington D.C. (41.9 cents per gallon), Delaware (41.4 cents per gallon), and Virginia (38.2 cents per gallon.) Retailers in those states who are fortunate enough to be close to the Maryland line are probably licking their chops about now.
Of course, this doesn't factor in the addition of some of MOM's other trial balloons like a separate 15 cent per-gallon increase in the gasoline tax or increasing the sales tax to 7 percent. And as Todd Eberly points out at The FreeStater Blog, this could all be a feint to make a direct 15 cent additional surcharge more palatable.
As it is currently proposed, the gasoline sales tax would be phased in 2% at a time so drivers wouldn't be hit all at once. But when they're projecting $613 million in new annual revenue at a time when the state is over $1 billion in the hole, it will be a surprise if they don't rush the process. It may get passed this way for now, but wait for the new, improved bill to accelerate the increase next session when money is still tight.
We're also being told that a gas tax increase is about infrastructure jobs in fixing bridges and roads. But the Maryland Public Policy Institute does a magnificent job of not only blowing that argument out of the water but also pointing out the folly of public transportation while they're at it. Simply put, it's another component of the War on Rural Maryland as those of us who drive greater distances because we choose to live away from urban woes will be subsidizing those who ride the buses or light rail in more-developed areas. That group doesn't quite comprise the 1% but they're pretty darn close, and they don't come close to paying their own way.
Putting private transport out of reach to the average family through higher prices also fits neatly into the goals of so-called "Smart Growth" and "sustainable development", which strives to increase the usage of mass transit. Perhaps this is a line of thought more suited to the tinfoil hat crowd, but one can't deny it's much easier to control the population if their movements are controlled.
In any event, the first step in rebuilding Maryland's crumbling transportation infrastructure needs to come from locking away the Transportation Trust Fund from greedy governors who can't shake their spending addiction. And if we take back the half of transportation spending we waste on a tiny percentage of commuters and instead gave them a more appropriate share of a nickel per dollar, there are a lot of bridges, road widening projects, and traffic control measures which could be completed for the rest of us who get tired of sitting in traffic.
On the Eastern Shore, we already will bear a significant burden from the newly increased tolls on the Bay Bridge, so we should get a break when it comes to gasoline taxes. The state should quit using the knee-jerk reaction it always seems to have about raising taxes and instead consider spending the vast amounts already collected more wisely.
* I was also taxing the existing tax, not the actual price. Subtract out the 41.9 cents we currently pay in taxes and the sales tax is actually on $2.84 of the $3.26 per gallon.
Not enough to tax?
After raising the cigarette tax in 2008 and the alcohol tax last year, a public health advocate (read: lover of big government and the nanny state) wants to jack up taxes on cigars from their current 15 percent rate, according to a recent Washington Times story by David Hill. Vincent DeMarco also spearheaded the unnecessary alcohol tax increase which took effect earlier this year.
I find it interesting that the angle DeMarco uses to justify yet another sin tax is teen smoking. Apparently cigarettes are now too expensive for teens to purchase – thanks to the additional taxes – so they are embracing cigars instead. DeMarco is quoted in the Times, "Anything that is going to stop young people from smoking is a good thing." Well, sir, I have news for you – raising taxes on cigars and other tobacco products won't work for that intended purpose. But you'll certainly extract more money out of those adults who choose to smoke.


text: KPCW Stays On The Air Despite Outtages By Lynn Ware Peek • Sep 30, 2013 TweetShareGoogle+Email On Tuesday around noon the power went out in over 12,000 homes and businesses in Summit and Wasatch counties and as far away as Brighton and Mountain Dell, but KPCW stayed on the air to be the first informer, thanks to its 6,000 lb generator. Lynn Ware Peek has more. Listen Listening... / 3:55 Tags: KPCWGeneratorTweetShareGoogle+EmailView the discussion thread. Related Content KPCW Co-Founder Dan Wilcox Dies By Leslie Thatcher • Jul 29, 2013 KPCW Originally aired on April 11, 2013. One of the co-founders of KPCW, Dan Wilcox has died. KPCW's Leslie Thatcher has this tribute to one the best-loved voices of Park City public radio.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Art. 292. Revelation of industrial secrets. — The penalty of prision correccional in its minimum and medium periods and a fine not exceeding 500 pesos shall be imposed upon the person in charge, employee or workman of any manufacturing or industrial establishment who, to the prejudice of the owner thereof, shall reveal the secrets of the industry of the latter.
is this same Non disclosure of industry process?
In labor cases, which one rule to follow?


text:
Status: Closed
Know more about this business than we do? Cool! Please submit any corrections or missing details you may have.Help us make it right
Commercial Properties Equity Loans Foreclosed Properties Industrial Properties Investment Properties Land Mortgages New Construction Refinancing Loans Residential Properties Retail Properties Rural Properties Appraisal Reviews Appraisals Bankruptcies & Foreclosures Buyer Representation Certified Appraisals Commercial Properties Consultations Divorces Eminent Domain & Condemnation Estates Expert...
Be the first MassLive.com user to add photos or videos of Property Consultants
Boston's Expert Property Consultants. Call Today
Since 1998, Property Consultants has been providing Appraiser, Real Estate from Lawrence.


text: York City Council members voted down the proposed 2010-11 budget 4-3 Tuesday night in a dispute over a proposed 10 percent increase in the water rate.The proposed $6,331,006 spending plan is approximately 1 percent less than the last year's budget as City Manager Charles Helms said projected revenues are down. The plan would include a $10 increase in recreation fees as well as a 10 percent increase in the city's water rate. According to Helms in addition to the spending cuts in state programs the city of York lost town large commercial water customers over the past year, Hella Lighting and Whitesides Laundry, which delivered a substantial blow to the city's projected revenue.Cuts have been made to nearly every area of the budget, but Helms warned that further spending cuts could lead to deterioration in the services the city provides, such as scaling back overtime pay for city employees or possibly reducing garbage or leaf pickups. Other potential cuts mentioned include cutting money slated for roll-out garbage bin and commercial dumpster replacement and money intended for maintenance on the city's only claw bucket CAT loader - used for debris and leaf pickups."If people's trash isn't being picked up you'll hear about," Councilman Charles Johnson said.However council members Denise Lowry and Mark Boley led the push against the proposed budget saying there must be a way to get by without raising the water fee this year."We've all had to cut back and then cut back some more," Boley said. "I don't believe the people of York are going to find it unacceptable to see some cut in the level of service. We are all dealing with the economy."One increase in the budget that no one wanted to cut was a 3 percent raise for city employees and a bonus program offering up to $200.Helms defended the raises saying city employees are struggling with the same economic realities as residents and that most of the raise is offset by increasing insurance costs on the employees.Unable to approve the budget on second read Tuesday, the council scheduled a special meeting for 6 p.m. Monday in the Council Chamber at City Hall. State law requires the city approve a balanced budget by the end of September, but the document has to be submitted to York County no later than Wednesday, Sept. 15, according to City Attorney Bill Brice.


text:
Art camps
Half Day Art Camp and Open Workshops June 26-July 7
Open Studio Workshops June 26-July 7th . 0900-1200/1-4
Book week $199.00 / Drop in Workshops $40.00
Email firstname.lastname@example.com or call for booking 703-648-3800.
No experience necessary
Adult Just For Fun Acrylic Class April 15
Just for Fun Acrylic Art Classes Fridays in April from 330pm-6pm. April 15th painting.
All supplies, instruction included in price. No experience necessary. Beginners encouraged to come.
We are also booking Half Day Summer Art Camp. Early bird special running until end of April. For Promo use: Summer Fun


text:
The XCOM Shooter May Still Be In Development
Remember that XCOM shooter which was unveiled around two years ago and then dropped off the grid as if the developers had been abducted by aliens? Well, since then we've gotten a pretty good RTS XCOM game but that shooter is still something people would like to see given how intriguing it could have been.
A recent video playing off the Russian meteor crash seems to be teasing the XCOM shooter that was first shown to us at E3 2011. Some research done by Shack News turned up that the video's source code contained the keyword 'whathappenedin62' which is a recently registered domain by XCOM publisher 2K, the account which uploaded the video is also called "Veritas MCMLXII" which translates to "Truth 1962." It's not the most concrete of theory's, I've stood on firmer custard but there is something to suggest that XCOM is incoming.
- You'll Be Able To Play (Expensive) PS2 Games On Your PS4 Now | 2 months ago
- Jessica Jones Disempowers Its Male Characters And The Effect Is Refreshing | 2 months ago
- Hell Is 30 000 Deathclaws Tearing Through Boston And It's Glorious | 2 months ago
- Sony Santa Monica Is Teasing Something Truly Strange | 2 months ago
Around this time last year the game was said to be delayed into 2K's fiscal 2014 which stretches all the way from now until March 2014. Sounds a little more promising, right? The video could be fan-made or a nice little viral teaser intended to get people talking about the game before E3.
Above is the video in question. Penny for your thoughts?


text:
So, it was hoped. That they have slipped unnoticed. Group of scouts in the path of the projectile was promoted to the presumed location of the Imperial camp. Small Triple rover carried them to the north-west.
Looking at the disappearing behind the hills of the ship covered with camouflage netting, Kia Isimura felt something.


text:
iPhone 7 and 7 Plus are Apples newest iPhones, with significant camera improvements, a new glossy black color, better battery life, faster processors, and improved water resistance implemented through a flush home button and no headphone jack. If you living in the US and plan to buy one, below is iPhone 7 Price in US.
In the United States, iPhone 7 pricing starts at $649 for the 32GB model. The 128 and 256GB models are priced at $749 and $849, respectively. iPhone 7 Plus starts at $769 for the 32GB model. The 128GB and 256GB models are priced at $869 and $969, respectively.
Details of the iPhone 7 Price in US for All Carriers
The new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are going to be available through all four major carriers in the US including AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile. Here is what all of them offers.
AT&T will allow you to get the 32GB iPhone 7 for 24 monthly installments of $27 on its Installment plan or its Next program. The iPhone 7 Plus starts at $32/month. For more details here AT&T Official website.
Verizon's installments plan costs are $27/month for the iPhone 7 and $32/month for the 7 Plus. Nevertheless, considering the Verizon, there is also the choice to have the phones with a single upfront payment on a two-year contract that could be $199 for the base iPhone 7 and $319 for the 32GB iPhone 7 Plus. For more details here Verizon Official Website.
T-Mobile comes with an attractive trade-in offer for those who have Apple iPhone 6, Apple iPhone 6 Plus, Apple iPhone 6s or Apple iPhone 6s Plus. The noncarrier gives you trade-in your old iPhone and gets $650 in monthly bill credits for a 2-year period.
Additionally, you can get the T-Mobile ONE plan for $70/month and have the iPhone 7 (32GB) for additional $27.09/month for two years. For more details here T-Mobile Official website.
Sprint offers a trade-in an iPhone 6 or newer, or a Samsung Galaxy S7 and a Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (in working condition) and get a free 32GB iPhone 7. Other than that the pricing matches that of Verizon $199 one time payment or $27.04/month in 24 installments. For more details here Sprint Official Website.
As a reminder, the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are going to be available on September 16, with pre-orders starting on September 9, and come in five colors including silver, gold, rose gold, black, and jet black. The new jet black finish will be offered exclusively on the 128GB and 256GB models.


text:
|Log In
|Lake County Food is dedicated to providing you with the easiest, fastest, and best way to find Lake County Restaurants. If you have comments, suggestions, or questions, we would love to hear from you! If you desire a reply, just let us know how we should contact you and we will get back to you ASAP.
Find Restaurants • About Us • Contact Us
©2018. Last update 09/20/2018.


text:
"Sue My Wife, Please!"
"Sue My Wife, Please!" Can I sue my spouse for injuries sustained in a car accident? Yes. You can always sue. The more important question is – "Would it be covered by insurance?" The answer is "Probably not." Take a common scenario. You and your spouse go out to dinner. Your spouse is driving. You […]Continue reading


text:
Please read these Terms of Use before using this Site. Your access and use of this site is subject to your acceptance of the following terms and conditions.
These terms and conditions, as may be amended from time to time, apply to all our services made available online. By accessing, browsing and using our website or any of our applications through whatever platform (the "website") and/or by completing a reservation, you acknowledge and agree to have read, understood and agreed to the terms and conditions set out below.
The website is owned, operated and provided by O.F. Gollcher & Sons Ltd ("Gollcher Ferries", "us", "we" or "our"), which is a limited liability company incorporated under and registered in the Maltese Registry of Companies and bearing the registration number C-4951, with its registered address at 19, Zachary Street, Valletta, Malta and is provided for your use subject to the terms and conditions set out below.
Gollcher Ferries grants you a limited license to use this site in accordance with the terms and conditions of this User Agreement. You may only use this site to make legitimate reservations and shall not use this site for any other purposes, including but not limited, to make any speculative or fraudulent reservations, or reservations in anticipation of demand. You agree that you will not use any device or software to interfere, or attempt to interfere, with the proper functioning of this site.
You agree that you will not take any action that imposes a load on our infrastructure that Gollcher Ferries deems in its sole discretion to be disproportionate to the benefits Gollcher Ferries obtains from your use of the site.
You shall be solely liable for any damages resulting from any infringement of copyright, trademark or other proprietary right resulting from your use of this site.
We act as an intermediary between you and ferry lines and/or booking agencies or platforms selling their services on-line. The service provided by us through this Site is limitedly that of creating a link between you and the ferry lines and/or booking platforms by helping you access their online booking services.. Gollcher Ferries does not bear any responsibility for the reservations made and the services advertised and provided by the ferry lines and/or booking platforms, nor the terms and conditions attached to the services provided by the said ferry lines and/or booking platforms. You understand and acknowledge that by making a reservation through the website you enter into a direct and legally binding contractual relationship with the ferry line and/or booking platform with which you place a booking. Gollcher Ferries acts solely as an intermediary between you and the ferry line and/or booking platform, transmitting the details of your reservation to the relevant ferry line and/or booking platform. When entering a reservation for a particular service, you will be directly routed to the online services, terms and conditions and booking facility provided by the ferry line and/or booking platform providing the service and your reservation will be entered directly with the said ferry line and/or booking platform on the terms and conditions provided by such ferry line and/or booking platform.
The information relating to the particular services being offered for reservation on the website is provided and operated directly by the ferry lines and/or booking platforms. The ferry lines and/or booking platforms are fully responsible for the correctness of the information which is displayed on their website and accessed through the use of our website and for updating all rates, availability and other such information available on their website and accessed through our website. We therefore cannot guarantee that all the information is accurate, complete or correct, nor can we be held responsible for any errors, interruptions (due to whatever cause), inaccurate, misleading or untrue information or non-delivery of information. Our website does not constitute and should not be regarded as a recommendation or endorsement of any service mentioned on our website.
We are not, and do not represent ourselves to be, agents of the ferry lines and/ or booking platforms whose services you may contract through the use of this web-site.
The use of our web-site for commercial purposes, including the re-selling of services made available through it, is strictly prohibited.
3. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. Gollcher Ferries assumes no responsibility, and you hereby acknowledge that it shall not be held liable for any damages whatsoever, including damages sustained by your computer equipment, as a result of your access to, use of, or browsing in this site. In no event shall Gollcher Ferries be liable for any incidental or consequential damages of any kind (including but not limited to lost profits), which is in any way connected with the use of this site, or the failure or delay in performance by Gollcher Ferries or any third party providers.
Without prejudice to the above, neither we nor any of our officers, directors, employees, representatives, subsidiaries, affiliated companies or agents shall be responsible for any damages of whatever nature (including indirect and consequential damages) and degree that you may suffer as a result of any act or omission, whether intentional or as a result of negligence, of the ferry lines and/or booking platforms (their employees, directors, officers, agents, representatives or affiliated companies) whose services you may contract through the use of this web-site, including any (partial or full) cancellation, overbooking, strike, force majeure or any other event beyond our control.
If, notwithstanding the above, Gollcher Ferries or any third party provider is found liable for any loss or damage which arises out of the use of this website, the liability of Gollcher Ferries and the third party providers shall in no event exceed the lesser of:
- the service charge for the services rendered to the injured party by this site and as a result of which the damages arose, or
- €100
4. INDEMNITY. You shall indemnify Gollcher Ferries, third party providers and their directors and employees from any claim, including reasonable legal or other fees, brought on your behalf in excess of the liability described herein, as a result of your use of this site.
5. LINKS. This site contains links to web sites which are owned and operated by third parties. These links are provided only as a convenience to you, and are not endorsed by Gollcher Ferries. Gollcher Ferries shall not be responsible for the content of any other Web site linked to by this site, and make no warranty regarding other web sites and their contents.
6. TERMINATION. Gollcher Ferries may terminate this User Agreement, these terms and conditions and the provision of any services at any time for any reason, including any improper use of this site or your failure to comply with these terms and conditions, without prior notice. Such termination shall not affect any right to relief to which Gollcher Ferries and its third party providers may be entitled, at law or in equity. Upon termination of this User Agreement and these terms and conditions, all rights granted to you will terminate and revert to Gollcher Ferries and its third party providers.
7. CHANGE TO THESE TERMS OF USE. Gollcher Ferries may modify these terms of use at any time. Your use of this site will be conditioned on the terms of use in force at the time of your use.
8. RESERVATIONS. When you purchase services from ferry lines and/or booking platforms through the use of this intermediary site, you are agreeing to the applicable Terms and Conditions, including pertaining cancellation and amendment penalties. Your attention is drawn to the applicable Cancellation and Amendment Policy provided upon entering your reservation before continuing with your booking.
9. PRIVACY. Gollcher Ferries uses high ethical standards and respects your privacy. Save for disclosures required by law and the disclosure of your details required by the ferry lines and/or booking platforms for completing your booking with them, we will not disclose your personal information to third parties without your consent. Our affiliated companies and our trusted agents and representatives may be given access to this information by us to perform our service (including customer services and internal (audit/compliance) investigation) to, and for the benefit of, you. Read our Privacy Policy here. In addition your attention is drawn to the Privacy Policy of the ferry lines and/or booking platforms whose services you contract through the use of this site. You acknowledge that we have no control over the Privacy policy adopted by the individual ferry lines and/or booking platforms and are not responsible for the actions of the ferry lines and/or booking platforms.
10. Your attention is drawn to the general cancellation and no-show policy of each ferry line and/or booking platform. You acknowledge that we have no control over the cancellation policy adopted by the individual ferry lines and/or booking platforms and are not responsible for the actions of the ferry lines and/or booking platforms.
11. MISCELLANEOUS. These terms and conditions and the provision of our services shall be governed by and construed in accordance with Maltese law and any dispute arising out of these general terms and conditions and our services shall exclusively be submitted for arbitration in Malta to an independent arbitrator to be appointed in accordance with the rules set out in the Malta Arbitration Act (Chapter 387 of the Laws of Malta.)
The English version of these terms and conditions is the original version and shall bind the Company in case of inaccuracies between two versions of the same terms and conditions.
If any provision of these terms and conditions is or becomes invalid, unenforceable or non-binding, you shall remain bound by all other provisions hereof. In such event, the invalid provision shall nonetheless be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, and you will at least agree to accept a similar effect as the invalid, unenforceable or non-binding provision, given the contents and purpose of these terms and conditions.


text:
Dealing with Quarter Life Crisis
Dealing with Quarter Life Crisis
Hi there people. I hope you're all doing well.
So today I woke up and anxiety struck. This usually happens to me when I'm under stress. The reason for the stress? I just moved far, far away from my childhood home, and I'm about to start a new 12-hour a day job on Saturday (please pray for me to the Flying Sphagetti Monster. Ramen.) As an introvert, change is always hard for me, and new places, people and situations send my brain right to DEFCON 5 alert state for no good reason. It's irrational, it's primitive, and I can't help it. No matter how much I try to reason with myself. It takes time for me to become comfortable in my new surroundings.
On top of my usual fears, I've been having kind of a quarter-life crisis. I can't help but compare myself to other successful people and constantly wonder if I'm ever going to accomplish any of my dreams. I've always wanted to write movies and novels (I'm writing one right now, one frustrated key stroke at a time), and produce audiovisual content. I've always had a knack for that kind of thing. My previous job back at home occasionally allowed for those opportunities (although it was mostly writing), but my new job doesn't. It has nothing to do with it.
I changed jobs because from what I made from my previous one, I couldn't live on my own. I liked it (most of the time anyway), but I was growing a bit tired of it, and there was a lot of uncertainty on how long it was going to last (the institution had financial issues). I needed to be on my own, so I took a leap of faith. It's long hours, but it pays well. Well enough for me to start saving and build some sort of foundation. My parents lived paycheck to paycheck, so I'm kinda on my own financially.
However, I can't help but think I'm failing. The prospect of pursuing a career doing what I've always thought I'd do is scary. What if I fail? What if I don't make it?
The fear of failure is paralyzing.
Still I will give it a try. My plans right now, as I said, is to build a foundation and then grow from there. Have some sort of safety net because right now I don't have any. I don't want to go through life feeling like a failure.
Anyways, if you have any thoughts or feed back I'd be glad to hear it. Also, if you've read any good books about these issues that come at it from a realistic, scientific point of view (none of that self-help crap, please) feel free to suggest it.
RE: Dealing with Quarter Life Crisis
Just get in and grind on it. Pay attention to the politics of your new fellow employees, since it only takes one lying, back-stabbing mofo to ruin it. If the pay is good enough, that can be incentive to stick with it. You shouldn't compare yourself to your fellow workers, beyond gauging how well they do their jobs Vs. your performance. If you wake up with a pounding heart, make sure that you are getting enough exercise (my commute made it really difficult to do so, and my longevity will be affected by it) and a good diet. Just don't give up.
The following 2 users Like Fireball's post:2 users Like Fireball's post
jennybee (27-10-2016), Shai Hulud (27-10-2016)
RE: Dealing with Quarter Life Crisis
Congratulations on your new job and location!
Being on your own is going to build your confidence, especially if you take a little bit of time every week or so to pat yourself on the back for what you accomplished. (For example, write it in a journal: this week I paid the electric bill, figured out a shortcut to work, got 5 pages of my novel done, made a new friend at work, etc.) It's good that you understand that you respond reluctantly to change. You know it will take time for you to get comfortable, so you're going to have to experience feeling uncomfortable/ill at ease/homesick, etc., for a while. If you don't blame yourself for having uncomfortable feelings, and reassure yourself that the feelings are temporary, you'll have more energy and the feelings will pass faster (in my experience).
When I feel overwhelmed by taking on lots of new challenges--I am often over-committed, that's how I like things--I start thinking in terms of process rather than product. That is, I decide how much time I intend to work on a certain project in the next week, or in the next day, set the timer, and go.
Regarding fear of failure, a lot of insanely smart and gifted people have it. (So do people without much talent, of course--it's fairly universal) Trying as hard as you can is terrifying, especially once you find out how talented and hard-working others in your field are. It may help to reframe your pursuit as getting as close to your own best as you can--to see how deep you can go into your craft, art, etc., and all of the amazing and exciting things you'll learn along the way.
Best of luck.
The following 1 user Likes julep's post:1 user Likes julep's post
jennybee (27-10-2016)
RE: Dealing with Quarter Life Crisis
(25-10-2016 07:09 PM)julep Wrote: Congratulations on your new job and location!
Thank you both for your replies and good wishes. I hate that in most jobs you have to deal with stupid politics. I just want to do my job, get paid and go home. But no, you also have to deal with needless drama. In my previous job I managed to avoid drama 90% of the time. Hopefully I can do the same in this one.
It's a great idea to write my accomplishments in a journal of some kind. Sometimes when I feel down, it is harder for me to remember the things I've accomplished. Writing them down might help with that.
I guess my inability to believe in myself comes in part with my religious background. I was taught people are 'blessed' with certain talents, as if it was something innate that not all people have. There is dispute among experts on whether how good you are at something is determined by genetics, trying hard or both. I guess I'm scared I'll find out no matter how hard I try I'll never be 'good' at what I want to do because I just 'don't have it in me.'
RE: Dealing with Quarter Life Crisis
(27-10-2016 05:21 PM)IgniteThought Wrote:(25-10-2016 07:09 PM)julep Wrote: Congratulations on your new job and location!
RE: Dealing with Quarter Life Crisis
Congrats on your new job! And as FB has said, don't compare yourself to others--instead work hard, focus on your own talents, and work on improving those. If you do those things, chances are, you will be successful.
In terms of achieving your dreams, what does it take for you to get there? Make a plan of attack and do it. Most people who achieve their dreams keep at it. Sitting on the sidelines worrying about achieving your dreams is not going to get you there.
It's okay to fail. When you fail, you get up and try again. You don't quit. That is how you achieve your dreams. If achieving dreams was easy--everyone would be living their dreams. The failing is what makes it all worth it--the failing is what makes you better. Embrace the failing.
Good luck with everything! Keep pushing forward.
The following 1 user Likes jennybee's post:1 user Likes jennybee's post
Fireball (27-10-2016)
RE: Dealing with Quarter Life Crisis
(27-10-2016 05:21 PM)IgniteThought Wrote:(25-10-2016 07:09 PM)julep Wrote: Congratulations on your new job and location!
I'm just going to quote one little piece of your reply: "There is dispute among experts on whether how good you are at something is determined by genetics, trying hard or both. I guess I'm scared I'll find out no matter how hard I try I'll never be 'good' at what I want to do because I just 'don't have it in me.'"
My response: short version: fuck them. Slightly longer version: try not to be so focused on validation from other (not you) sources. History will provide you with a plenitude of people who were applauded by contemporaneous audiences, but not critics, and--more importantly--vice versa. Your job, as an artist, is to tackle each project with everything you have. And that's your ONLY job. Do your stuff, go on to the next thing. Don't invest any of yourself in the "enough" fucks (not good enough, smart enough, talented enough)--if they're paying you, THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH!
The following 2 users Like julep's post:2 users Like julep's post
jennybee (27-10-2016), Fireball (27-10-2016)
« Next Oldest | Next Newest »
User(s) browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)


text:
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
It's decision day in Wisconsin. It all comes down to who votes. The fewer people who vote, the better for Republicans—and that's why Republicans have made this entire process as distasteful as possible. Someone has been placing robo calls to likely anti-Walker voters and telling them they don't need to vote. Can you think of a better reason to vote? Who is making these calls? I know this—if somebody is telling you that you don't need to vote, chances are it's a Republican. Suppressing Wisconsin voters is a necessary first step to suppressing Wisconsin itself.
The state of Texas is looking to purge some 1.5 million voters from the rolls, whether they're eligible to vote or not. I believe the technical term for that is "pulling a Florida." And if you look at Florida on a map of the US, you realize you may be tempted to pull it. I can see purging the voter rolls in Florida—Florida is a swing state. But Texas? Come on! Texas is already redder than John Boehner's face two hours into happy hour.
Bill Clinton and President Obama appeared together yesterday at fundraisers in New York (video below). Clinton was president for some of the best times this country has known. Obama is president for some of the worst times this country has seen recently. In between was George Bush, who was the reason we went from best to worst.
Today the Senate is voting on a paycheck fairness bill to address pay discrepancies between men and women. If the Senate was like the rest of the country, Olympia Snowe would only be getting paid 77 percent of what Tom Coburn makes.
GOP budget vampire Paul Ryan is headlining a dinner with a "Madmen" theme. Paul Ryan kind of reminds me of Don Draper—he's living in the 1960's. OK, it's not right to compare Paul Ryan to a fictional character. Donald Draper has a lot more depth, complexity, and real humanity than Paul Ryan. Maybe Paul Ryan should ask "Madmen" creator Matt Weiner to do something to humanize his character.
Today's Homework | Discuss | Blog Archive
Must see: Bill Clinton on President Obama's accomplishments and the GOP's intransigence...
No comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
December 9, 2014
If you want to impress your doctor–show up at her office with your advance directive all filled out, signed, and witnessed.
Sometimes mistakenly called a "living will" an advance directive is the document that specifies whether you would like to be on life support if you are close to death, permanently unconscious, have advanced progressive illness, or are suffering extraordinarily. It's also the document to name a representative to make those decisions if you're not able. When family members have to make tough choices regarding your life, this form can give them a lot of comfort and relief. And it's free! Not many people know that the standard Oregon Advance Directive is free online through the Oregon Insurance Division. It's the exact same form I make sure every one of my estate planning clients has before they leave my office Here's the link.
Once you access the form, it's easy to get confused reading it. It can sound repetitive and the form can be a bit depressing to read. Part B and Part C start to sound similar, but they actually perform different functions. Part B appoints a representative and Part C gives that representative and your doctors instructions about your preferences. If you're someone who doesn't want any life support or tube feeding, you can skip to Part C number 5 and initial the item that says "I do not want my life to be prolonged by life support. I also do not want tube feeding
as life support. I want my doctors to allow me to die naturally if my doctor and another knowledgeable doctor confirm I am in any of the medical conditions listed in Items 1 to 4 above."
Make sure to sign your advance directive in front of a couple witnesses according to the form instructions and give your doctor a copy of the directive to put on file.
Congrats! You just did an important part of your estate planning.


text:
This will be a short one. I hear the objection raised by non-Christians all the time that if God existed, he wouldn't or couldn't have communicated with us. Frankly, I don't understand such arguments, which are so irrational that I just have to shake my head at the person who makes them.
Clearly, if God exists then He is responsible for everything else that exists as well. If God exists then He is responsible for all the matter in the universe, for every physical and natural law, and for life, consciousness, and rationality. To make the claim that God has the power to create everything from nothing at all, but now doesn't have the power to communicate with His creation is a sign of a mind not functioning well. And yet, I cannot count the number of times I have listened to agnostics, and even theists, make this exact claim.
I imagine that this position is taken by people because they have not experienced a personalized communication from God. After all, if He exists and wants us to believe in Him, the best way to achieve this goal would be to throw back the curtain for all to see and announce His presence to the world. Since He doesn't do this, He is either incapable of doing so or He doesn't exist.
The problem with this kind of thinking is glaring. Those who make the argument are assuming that God is just like them, something which actually goes against the teaching of scripture (Numbers 23:19). They assume that God would behave in this way if He could; because that's the way they think they would behave if they were in His place.
Christians believe that God has already communicated the bulk of what He wants or needs to communicate in a little book known as the Bible. The real issue here for most people is not whether God can speak to us, but whether He already has spoken; through the pages in the Bible. But is the Bible reliable? Many people say that it isn't that it's just full of contradictions and errors. Clearly, the Creator God, if He chose to communicate through the pages of a book would have done a better job than what we find in the Bible, or so they say.
We'll take a look at that problem over the next several posts.


text: With {fillin} fields, you can design a form letter so that you need to enter a data item (such as a name) only once—no matter how many times it appears in the letter. This feature is extremely useful for filling out invoices, contracts, proposals, or business forms in which the majority of the body copy remains unchanged. {fillin} fields are useful also when you need to insert personal phrases in mass mailings. Figure 23.22 shows a document you can create to demonstrate how {fillin} fields work. This document automatically sets the current date, then requests the customer's name. It then displays a fill-in box for each item in the table.


text:
Officers found one victim dead outside Studio 74, and several people were transported to hospitals – one of whom died from his injuries, Fort Worth police spokesman Daniel Segura said in a statement.
The disturbance began inside the studio, in the 2400 block of E. Lancaster Avenue, shortly after midnight and spilled out into the street, WFAA reports.
Well of course you're going to get shot in there. Duh.


text:
furniture. Wednesday , June 28th , 2017 - 15:30:42 PM
Call it what you will — a credenza, sideboard or buffet. It doesn't matter what room you put it in, it is a stylish addition to the room that is a handy storage spot for all sorts of items. In a dining room, a buffet can hold dinnerware, while in an office or entryway, a credenza can stash papers, books and other necessities. Whatever style of decor you favor, there are lots of great new credenzas to choose from.
Bobo's curved vintage credenza has hatch-like doors and a riveted, industrial finish. While this model sports wine racks inside, it would also be perfect for a masculine office.
The glass top is not meant to be the center of attention in the case of the Parobol table. The top is actually meant to be as simple and as transparent as possible in order to highlight the sculptural beauty of the base. The base is made from thermo-formed Corian and the glass top touches it in three small points, appearing to be floating.
About ♦ Contact ♦ Cookie Policy ♦ Privacy ♦ TOS ♦ Copyright
Copyright © 2016. tjoneswrites.com. All Rights Reserved.
Any content, trademark/s, or other material that might be found on this site that is not this site property remains the copyright of its respective owner/s. In no way does tjoneswrites.com claim ownership or responsibility for such items, and you should seek legal consent for any use of such materials from its owner.


text:
Police: Man dead in shooting
Victim shot multiple times
Police: Man dead in shooting
Victim shot multiple times
One man is dead after being shot several times in Baltimore Monday night.
The shooting occurred around 8:30 p.m. in the 600 block of E. 38th Street. Baltimore police responded to a report of a shooting arrived to find a 19-year-old man shot multiple times.
The victim was taken to an area hospital and later pronounced dead from his wounds. Police identified the man on Thursday as Eric Jerome Brown, of Baltimore.
Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call homicide detectives at 410-396-2100.


text:
The trial of Anders Behring Breivik, the man who killed 77 people last July, was temporarily suspended on Tuesday.
Breivik trial adjourned amid questions over judge's impartiality
Breivik trial adjourned amid questions over judge's impartiality
As the trial entered its second day, prosecution and defence lawyers asked for one of the four lay judges to be removed.
It emerged that the judge wrote on his Facebook account shortly after the massacres that Breivik deserves the death penalty.
Capital punishment is illegal in Norway, but lawyers said the statement could put the lay judge's impartiality in doubt.
Breivik is expected to read out a prepared statement later that will last about half an hour.
In it, he will reiterate his belief that his actions were necessary to protect Norway from multiculturalism and Islam.
He admits to be being behind the killings, but pleads not guilty to charges of terrorism and mass murder.


text:
Harrison v. Allstate Indemnity Co.
(Sup. Ct., Steuben Co., decided 3/3/2017)
At some point after the plaintiffs had moved, plaintiffs' two sons, a cousin, and a friend began staying at the insured dwelling at different times and for various amounts of time. The house was destroyed by a fire on August 30, 2012. After plaintiffs filed a claim for insurance coverage, Allstate disclaimed liability on the ground that, as plaintiffs had not resided in the home for nearly three years, the home did not meet the policy's definition of a covered "dwelling".
Plaintiffs sued Allstate and their agent and, after discovery, Allstate and plaintiffs moved for summary judgment. In denying summary judgment to both sides, Steuben County Supreme Court Justice Marianne Furfure held:
In rejecting Allstate's argument that there was a undisclosed change in occupancy to the home in breach of the policy's condition requiring notice of same, Supreme Court further held:In this case, the term "reside" is not defined in the policy and, therefore, it is possible that under the circumstances of this case, plaintiffs may be found to have resided at Pine Hill for insurance policy purposes even while they were caring for Mrs. Harrison's mother on Dodge Avenue for an extended period of time. While residency does require some temporary or physical presence, a degree of permanence and intention to remain at the property is a necessary component (Government Empls. Ins. Co. v. Paolicelli, id.; Yaniveth R. v. LTD Realty Co., Id.; Dean v. Tower Ins. Co. of NY, Id. at 708-709; Auerbach v. Otsego Mut. Fire Ins. Co., Id.). It is possible that, despite the length of time plaintiffs spent at the Dodge Avenue home, the average person might assume that regular maintenance and visits to the Pine Hill property during that time satisfied the policy's requirements (Dean v. Tower Ins. Co. of NY, Id. at 708-709). Plaintiffs' evidence that they had always intended that their absence from Pine Hill to be temporary and that they planned to return as soon as possible, coupled with the fact that they left all of their possessions at Pine Hill, continued to pay the taxes and make improvements to the property raises a question of fact whether, under these circumstances, plaintiffs have satisfied the insurance policy requirement that they reside in the insured premises. This question of fact precludes a grant of summary judgment to both parties (Dean v. Tower Ins. Co. of NY, Id.; cf. Vela v. Tower Ins. Co. of NY, 83 AD3d 1050 [2nd Dept. 2011]; New York Cent. Mut. Fire Ins. Co. v. Kowalski, 222 AD2d 859, 860 [3rd Dept. 1995]). (Bold added.)
The term "occupancy", like the term "reside", is also not defined in the contract. Under the circumstances of this case, it is fair to assume that the average insured person may reasonable believe that notification is not necessary if the insureds, while residing at the property, have friends and family stay over for an extended and indefinite time. Before an insurance company is permitted to avoid policy coverage, it must satisfy the burden which it bears of establishing that the exclusions or exemption apply in the particular case, and that they are subject to no other reasonable interpretation (Dean v. Tower Ins. Co. of NY, Id.; citing Seaboard Sur. Co. v. Gillette Co., Id.). The burden is on the insurance company to show that there is no material question of fact that the notification requirement applies in this case. Allstate has not met that burden because there is a question of fact, in the first instance, whether plaintiffs met the insurance policy requirement of residence and whether the presence of their sons, a cousin, and a family friend constitutes a change in the occupancy of the residence sufficient to trigger the notification obligation (Dean v. Tower Ins. Co. of NY, Id.). Therefore, Allstate's motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint on the grounds that plaintiffs breached the insurance contract is denied.
Finally, the court declined to grant summary judgment dismissing the agent from the action. Allstate's records indicated that normal protocol when a mailing address change was made was to "question insured about use of property and if they were aware of insured not living there or letting others live there they would have changed to [landlords package] policy or discussed second residence". In the court's opinion, this was sufficient to raise a question of fact regarding what plaintiffs advised the agent and whether there was a failure by Allstate's agent to follow company protocol or notify Allstate of the change in use, given their move to the in-laws' residence for that prolonged period of time.
Note: This is a lower court decision. I'll monitor for appellate treatment.
Note: This is a lower court decision. I'll monitor for appellate treatment.


text:
Sundays @ Four: Alexander String Quartet
Crowden Music Center presents the exceptional Alexander String Quartet on Sunday, November 5, at 4pm. Founded in 1981 and a major artistic presence in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Alexander String Quartet stands among the world's premiere ensembles. Program: * Mozart Quartet in B-flat Major, KV 458 Hunt * Shostakovich Quartet No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 110 * Brahms Quartet in C Minor, Op. 51 No. 1 Join us for a free "Meet-the-Artists" reception following the concert.Tickets
Crowden Music Center 1475 Rose St. at Sacramento St. Berkeley, CA 94709
1475 Rose St, Berkeley, CA 94702, United States


text:
Atlantic Tarpon
C028/7017 Rights Managed
530 pixels on longest edge, unwatermarked
Request/Download high-res file
Uncompressed file size: 26.6MB
Downloadable file size: 1.0MB
Please login to use the price calculator
Credit: Roger Hall/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Release details: Model release not required. Property release not required.
Keywords: art, atlantic tarpon, caribbean, drawing, elopidae, fauna, game fish, gamefish, illustration, marine biology, marine life, megalops, megalops atlanticus, ocean, ocean life, sea, sea life, silver fish, sport fish, sportfish, tarpon, tarpons, tropic, underwater
Licence fees: A licence fee will be charged for any media (low or high resolution) used in your project.


text:
While Mousehole's Christmas lights are deservedly famous throughout Cornwall (and definitely well worth seeing), there are understated, beautiful illuminations elsewhere too.
One of our favourite places to visit at any time of the year is Cadgwith, a tiny fishing village on the Lizard. Fishing boats still go out from Cadgwith every day, and you can usually buy delicious fresh fish straight off the boat if you go at the right time of day.
Wander down from the car park in the evening at this time of year (don't forget a torch!), and you'll be met with a cheerful string of coloured lights and tantalising glimpses of other lights.
As you reach the village, you'll see the lights on higher ground either side of the harbour first. Then, as you wander down the hill, there are lights on house and shop fronts, and even strung across the sea.
What's special about the lights at Cadgwith is they're a mix of seasonal – Christmas trees, angels, reindeer – and those that draw on the village's heritage and take their inspiration from the sea – think ships and sea creatures.
We also recommend the Cadgwith Cove Inn for its food, atmopshere and super-friendly staff. Perfect for a bite to eat or a warming drink before you head back.
Where are you favourite places to visit in Cornwall at Christmas? We'd love to hear any suggestions you have.


text:
PPE Accessories
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is required by employees in many workplaces. Not only does personal protective equipment reduce the risk of accidents, but it is also a requirement of health and safety legislation. Businesses lose money if either their employees are injured and forced to take time off work or if the company falls foul of HSE regulations. All employers have a duty to provide and ensure that personal protective equipment is used where their employees will be exposed to health and safety risks. Personal protective equipment may include eye protection, safety helmets, gloves, safety harnesses and high visibility clothing
Eye-catching and sturdy PPE MirrorsFrom: £35.70
At point of need mandatory PPE requirement signsFrom: £25.50
Ergodyne Arsenal heavy duty duffel bagFrom: £26.30
Working at heights is one of the most risky activities, not only to the person performing the job, but also potentially to members of the public who may be near the site of work. Safetyshop's Ergodyne Arsenal 5518 Aerial Tool Pouch has been especially designed for work at heights. It can be easily attached to a belt and enables workers to have all the tools they need to do their work within easy reach. It keeps tools secure and reduces the risk of injury, damage and lost productivity due to items being dropped. It can be used in a wide range of industries, including construction, mining and telecoms. In noisy workplaces, hearing protection for employees who need to operate noisy equipment is vital for long-term protection of the employee's hearing. PPE Storage Hook for Hearing Protection can be screw mounted using the pre-made holes and is large and recognisable for both employees and visitors


text:
So-called cures like coffee, painkillers, or "hair of the dog" may actually make you feel worse. But there are things that can really help.
This Is An Educational Website That Is Specialist In Collecting The Recent And The Most Important Trusted Information And Researches In The Nutrition Therapy And Weight Loss Field. This Is One Of The Educational Websites That Owned By S.C.T.C For Counseling And Training Program. Our Main Products In The Market Is Nutrition Therapy, Human Development, Human Resource, Management Science. One Of The Best Product We Produce Is Nutrition Therapy And Obesity Management Certified Diploma


text:
The Chatter: Bill Clinton criticizes McConnell in Iowa, both campaigns raising big money in D.C.
Former President and avid supporter of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes, Bill Clinton, used his remarks at an Iowa political event to hit Kentucky U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell on his stance on limiting campaign cash.
The former president slammed McConnell in a speech talking about McConnell's stance on campaign finance reform on Sunday when speaking at a political event in Iowa hosted by U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin.
In his remarks, Clinton referenced the recording of McConnell speaking at a conservative summit hosted by the Koch Brothers back in June where McConnell talks strategy and policy and at one point said that the passage of a landmark piece of legislation dealing with campaign finance reform was the "worst day of his political life."
Clinton, who has made multiple visits across Kentucky with Grimes, criticized the remarks by McConnell while campaigning in Iowa where he said McConnell's statement "saddened" him and noted many events that have taken place in the country over McConnell's nearly 30 year tenure in the Senate.
"If the worst thing that ever happened to me was an attempt to limit black bag campaign contributions? What about 9/11, what about the financial meltdown, what about the farm crisis in the 70s and what about the middle of the country's manufacturing base hollowing out in the 80s, and what about in his native Kentucky 70 percent of the coal miners losing their jobs before the EPA ever said a word," Clinton said in his speech. "How could you possibly say that the worst thing that ever happened to you was not being able to black bag unlimited amounts of money in politics when all of these things happened to Americans?"
This is not the first time McConnell has been criticized for the remarks. Democrats across the country, including Grimes, have pointed to the comment to say McConnell is only looking out for his donors, not the people he represents.
Outside groups such as Every Voice Action have also slammed McConnell for the remarks in their ad campaign which they launched in the state to bring attention to the issue of campaign finance reform.
Report shows significant funds from D.C. for both campaigns
While McConnell is being criticized for his stances on campaign contributions and has been hit for the amount of money he has raised outside the state, a new report shows that both McConnell and Grimes are bringing in big bucks from the nation's capital.
OpenSecrets Blog broke down the figures from both campaign to see where the majority of their out-of-state money was coming from. And while the money in politics blog found that McConnell was raising more from outside of the state, Grimes was not far behind even with less funds raised.
And of the places they are getting the campaign cash, obvious locations like New York for McConnell and Los Angeles for Grimes topped the lists but Washington, D.C. was not far behind for either candidate.
From OpenSecrets.org:
McConnell has raised $1.3 million from donors in the Washington area, second only to the $1.4 million he's raised from New York City donors. Only one Kentucky metro area figured in his top five — Louisville contributors had given $1.2 million to his re-election bid by midway through 2014.
Grimes has also raised significant cash in Washington — even before any summer fundraising or the events she attended this week; she brought in $476,000 from D.C.-area donors, making the nation's capital her fourth largest metro area in terms of contributions. Her top metro area is Los Angeles ($1 million) followed by New York City ($643,000) and Louisville ($590,000).
Below the Fold
Subscribe and get the latest political intelligence delivered to your inbox.