text:
Warren Hellman, the 1 percent exception
San Francisco lost a piece of its soul when Warren Hellman died last night. In a deeply polarized city, where Occupy's paradigm of the 99 percent versus the 1 percent resonates more than anywhere, Hellman showed how an extremely wealthy investment banker could champion the interests of all San Franciscans.
I first got to know Warren in 2007 when I did a series of in-depth interviews with him for a Guardian cover story. Before that, he had been a bit of a villain to progressives as he worked with his downtown friends, such as the late Gap founder Don Fisher, to fund political initiatives and groups that aggressively pushed a pro-business agenda, from the Committee on Jobs to the parking garage under Golden Gate Park.
Born into the family that founded Wells Fargo Bank, he became the youngest partner to join Lehman Brothers before founding one of San Francisco's largest investment banking firms, Hellman was solidly in the 1 percent. But he was a curious man with a good heart, compassionate soul, nimble mind, and strong sense of integrity.
So when the progressives he previously battled over the parking garage pushed for more car-free hours in the park – something Hellmann and his allies had pledged to support if the garage was built – he joined them and battled with his former garage allies who had abandoned that pledge, eventually forcing a compromise when it seemed the car-free crowd was headed for defeat.
That was the reason I got to know him and the focus on my "Out of downtown" story, but it was only the beginning. I came to know about how he was spending his money to help the schools and the poor, about his generous/selfish gift of the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, and about his belief that George W. Bush and other neo-conservatives – those who so shamelessly and short-sightedly helped consolidate this country's wealth in fewer and fewer hands – were sullying his Republican Party.
So we stayed in touch and had early morning breakfasts together every six months or so, talking about the issues of the day. We talked about Burning Man, an event he loved and one I was covering and writing a book about. He listened as I complained about my shrinking staff at the Guardian and how the contraction of journalism was bad for San Francisco, and we talked through some possible solutions.
It bothered Warren to see the San Francisco Chronicle being decimated by an out-of-town corporation, and he wanted to help. So he took that kernel of an idea, mulled it, and discussed it with a wide variety of people who had expertise on the topic, just as he would do with his myriad investment banking ideas.
And with that steady heat that he applied to this kernel, he popped it into The Bay Citizen, a non-profit professional newsroom that has already done a great service to San Francisco, and which owes its existence to Hellman, who subsidized it with millions of dollars of his own money and encouraged his rich friends to give millions more. That is among his many legacies, although he was probably most proud of the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, probably the country's best free concert. Warren loved that music, and he told me it was mostly because it told the stories of common people so beautifully. "The kind of music is the conscience of our country," he told me. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors last week offered a bit of appreciation for Warren's gift, renaming the main venue of Speedway Meadows as Hellman's Hollow.
I'll let the Bay Citizen and other media outlets write Warren's full obituary. What I'm choosing to think about now is the man, and he is someone who I will truly miss. San Francisco just won't be the same place without the example he set, but I hope it lives on in the hearts and minds of those in a position to help San Francisco find its heart and realize its potential.
I think you can catch Leukemia from radiation exposure. wonder how many cat scans that rich guy had in his life. Hospitals don't track total radiation exposure for a reason.
It was outrageous that Speedway Meadow was renamed after a billionaire! And, as you say, Hellman was on the right.
And that parking garage is a blight!
Almost any of us could have done a better job (in terms of benefiting the public good) with the billions he was handed.
His last years were spent investing in pathetic internet "companies."
Not a loss at all for anyone!
In your world, the rich are bad and the poor are good? Just like the Sermon on the Mount?
What a simplistic world you inhabit.
Dear Guest:
I believe that Hellman was allegedly born into the same religion as Jesus, yet he held on to his wealth.....
People are mixed, but we need higher inheritance taxes and taxes on the wealthy, along with cuts in military spending......
Please read "Out of downtown" before judging Warren Hellman. He was an unlikely ally of progressives on many issues, but an ally nonetheless and someone who provided an example for other 1 percenters to follow. I am saddened by his death and dismayed by your comment.
It's sad when someone stereotypes anyone, whether it's young black males or so-called "one-percenters". The idea that someone's value and ethics can be determined by something as simple as net worth was never tenable, and it isn't here either.
My favorite people are those who trump the stereotypes. Wealthy people who do great good are an excellent example. Or for that matter, anyone who isn't "programmed" and whose views aren't easily compartmentalized. And that includes both Hellman and Hutchins about whom Tim wrote sympathetically the other day.
The world doesn't run in straight lines.
How much of his wealth did he actually distribute?
He spent his years investing in cheesy internet companies.....
his wealth to have a huge impact. So the comparison with much poorer and less successful people isn't fair.
It's true that we sometimes acquire 'strange bedfellows', {though when I was in my prime I kinda liked a 'bit of strange'}. None of these 'billionaires, got that rich by being 'nice guys' and most of them, like Ellison, Fisher, the Kochs, should roast eternally in the fires of hell, but there are some who manage to somewhat redeem themselves and put some of their ill gotten gains to good public use. Hellman was one, along with Buffett and Gates.
It's a sad result of this divisive 1%/99% rhetoric that people stereotype others based on how successful they are. With the result that success is equated with immorality, while dismal failure somehow ipso facto makes you "pure" and "worthy".
It's patent nonsense, of course. And I would have thought one who has lived as long as you have wouldn't be hoodwinked into believing such self-serving twaddle. The simple fact is that there is little or no correlation between net worth and moral worth. It's a myth perpetuated by those besotted with envy.
are inherently bad? While being poor is the same as being virtuous? How convenient for you.
Is that something you learned growing up in hopelessly class-ridden England in the middle of the last century? And if so, didn't you move here precisely to escape that kind of precious and presumptively stereotypical class envy and warfare?
I for one am totally fine with the idea of honoring Hellman by naming a meadow in Golden Gate Park after him. Hardly Strictly is a generous gift to S.F. and hundreds of thousands appreciate it and enjoy it every year. My only question is, will people pronounce it "Hellman Holler?"
It's not about good and evil (and I believe Patrick specifically said that not all rich people are evil). But one simply doesn't "earn" a billion dollars by working for it. No one has ever earned a billion dollars -you simply can't. You make billions by inheriting it, stealing it in various ways (legal or not), exploiting others, playing games with manipulating markets, slicing and dicing derivatives, taking advantage of rules rigged in your favor in one way or another, etc.
If billionaires were people who cured diseases and took us to the moon and made great lasting works of art, it would be a different story. But they're not. Virtually to a person, billionaires are ordinary people -maybe clever ones who put their mind to concentrating society's resources for themselves -but otherwise mediocre intellects any one of whom we would have been just fine without.
And Hellman was no exception. He's not the worst of the bunch. Some (many) are downright criminal. Quite a few, like Fisher for example, we should be glad are no longer here to cause damage to the social fabric. Maybe Hellman wasn't among those. I don't know much about how he acquired his billions except that he must've been real good at concentrating society's resources for himself.
But if you're going to tell me that we should be thankful for this great benefactor's magnanimity when he throws a few scraps our way, I say no thanks.
Look at Steve Jobs. He created toys and tools that are used by billions of people and added great value in thatw ay. He also worked hard all his life. Are you telling me that he stole that wealth, exploited others or committed crimes? That's nonsense. Likewise for Bill Gates etc.
You're stating an assumption based on your personal beliefs that capitalism is somehow inherently bad and wrong. Horsecrap.
Billionaires are ordinary people, but who do extraordinary things. You may have your own personal views of who adds the most value, but those are personal and subjective. The world provides a much more objective method - financial success. You may not like it, especially if it doesn't reward you particularly. But that doesn't mean it's wrong.
And yes, the wealth often form foundations and trusts, or otherewise give a lot back to society. Both through taxes and through charity, the wealthy give far more than you or I could ever do. Hellman is just one of many examples of that.
Hating the rich because they are rich, as currently evidenced by this one percent witch hunt, is flawed thinking.
I didn't expect anyone to actually mention Gates as a counter example. Must not be a techie, because it's well known among all the computer people I've ever talked to that Microsoft produces inferior products; what Gates has really excelled at, is cornering the market and thus concentrating resources into his own hands. Most techies agree that we'd probably be better off had Gates never appeared on the scene.
As for Jobs... I expected that, since the media has been worshipping at the altar of Steve Jobs for years now, and it reached a crescendo when he finally died this year. So I knew it wouldn't be long before somebody parroted that line. Which is why I've been saving this to cut through the crap when the time came:
No, Steve Jobs is not the Dalai Lama and Da Vinci all rolled into one. He's just another billionaire CEO with a very conventional billionaire CEO's mentality. His comments to Obama proved that not only was he no visionary, but he was actually quite out of touch with ordinary reality.
And btw, if you look carefully, nothing I said implies "hating the rich because they're rich." I merely fail to lionize them because they're rich. When the worship is so pervasive, that failure to worship at the cult of the billionaire is interpreted as "hate," perhaps we need to look at how off-kilter our societal moral compass has really become.
But to say that some of these people didn't "earn" their wealth is a highly subjective personal opinion, and not one that most Americans would agree with.
You might be able to get away with saying that and not sound bitter. If you're lucky or clever.
I agree completely. Steve Jobs had a great deal to do with Apple's success and turnaround, but it was the engineers, programmers, and developers inventing these products and making them a reality (along with all the underpaid Chinese Foxconn workers who manufactured them). These Apple engineers were probably making in the range of $70,000 - $160,000 a year for their efforts compared to the $100 million a year some CEOs make. No CEO is worth 4 or 5 hundred times the salary of the "average" American worker. However creative or innovative, Apple products have always been overpriced, overmarketed, and probably worse price to performance than many competitive (or copycat) products in the marketplace. Bill Gates is a great phillanthropist, yet he is still worth $50 Billion. Same goes for Larry Ellison. Capitalism and Democracy are clearly the best systems, but the 1 percent (or even 10 percent+) have taken advantage, and made their millions or billions on the backs of the 99%; many of whom are unemployed, starving, homeless, or met some other misfortune/fate
(including death) because of the unnecessary greed that exists (and is allowed to run amok) in this country.
The one percent could do so much more. Nobody needs even $10 million to live a very luxurious lifestyle, let alone $50, $100 Million, or a $ Billion. Wealthy Americans in this country could easily afford to feed and house all the homeless in this country (many of whom are veterans) and still live a luxurious lifestyle, but there seems to be no interest or cohesive effort to attempt that undertaking. About the closest thing, is Warren Buffet's initiative to have Billionaires donate half of their wealth to charity. If you were Bill Gates, you would still have $25 Billion after donating half your wealth to charity. There is always two sides to an arguement, but I argue that there is no time like the present. What we do today, and how will live our lives, will determine the fate of many in future generations.
should keep or give away. It's their choice, not yours.
In most cases, these people have created that wealth from nothing, so it is for nobody but them to decide what to do with it.
That's not what he was saying.
Steve Jobs didn't put any more time and physical energy into his work than a single mother working two jobs to feed and house her kids.
Yet she makes tens of thousands a year while he made billions.
This isn't about envy. It is about the fact that our compensation system for our wealthiest workers like Steve Jobs is completely out of whack. The income that people like Gates, Jobs and Buffett makes is so ridiculously imaginary that the weight of such incomes is totally undermining our economy and making it impossible for the average worker to even spend money in that economy without being given ponzi scheme levels of credit which becomes more and more unrepayable as the rich simply continue to artificially inflate their compensation without end based on that very same idiotic hyper-credit infusion. The whole set up is completely crazy.
Roosevelt tried to solve this problem by passing a national income cap, and the Congress foolishly voted it down and instead instituted a top 96% income tax. This was a bad move, because it is easier politically to lower a tax which is seen as a 'take away' whereas a cap would have been seen as a rational 'limit' and would have been less easy politically to inflate.
We need to finally face the reality that if we don't do something about this imaginary inflated 'pay'-for-the-rich problem, this mess will continue to get horribly worse and the entire global economy will eventually collapse just as it did in the 30s.
We need to institute an income cap. Around $250k per year should be enough for anyone and would probably be about right as a starting point for a stable economy. This should be phased in over the next 20 years or so, so that the rich can adjust to such a profound change in the way compensation works, and the cap should then be -very- strictly kept in place.
I'd agree that many people work hard and don't make much money.
It's about how smartly and effectively and innovatively we work. That's what determines whether you make a million a year or 20K.
You can have one opinion about relative worth and I can have another. Money provides a viewpoint that is independent of such subjectivity and personal bias, however.
I think billionaires earn their billions every bit as much as you earn your 20K pa. It's all a matter of opinion.
Salary caps? Not gonna happen.
And your argument about the relative worth of someone's personal input is complete bullshit. When wealth gets up into the multiple millions and billions it doesn't come from pay for labor value, it comes almost entirely from market and financial trading for profit, which produces nothing of value whatsoever.
Whatever ostensible value someone like Steve Jobs contributes to the world can be easily rewarded by that person getting paid in the top level of the cap, where that personal will still make more than the average worker and thereby will have an incentive to continue being innovative.
Extremely high pay like that of Gates or Jobs only encourages mergers and monopolization, and out of control financial speculation for profit.
how wealth is built? The simple fact is that it is the market, and not you, who decides what anyone is worth. I'll take the collective wisdom of the marketplace over an angry left-wing activist and so would almost everyone else.
There isn't a single member of Congress on record as supporting a salary cap which, in any event, could be easily cirumvented. You're deluded.
I've discussed these very issues with Warren, so maybe his perspective could be illuminating. Much of his wealth was inherited, as is the case with most billionaires. And much of the rest came because of the opportunities he was afforded by being born into the right family and with joining Lehman Bros. at a time when greed and short-sighted speculation was making the 1 percent very rich. Warren was the first to admit that his fortune had more to do with luck and circumstances than his brilliance or hard work.
That said, he was very intelligent and savvy man, partly because he recognized and acknowledged these very things. He was good at business and admirably work to strengthen good companies with capital infusion instead of simpy profiting from their manipulation. Like Warren Buffet, Hellman believed the rich should be taxed at much higher rates and that an high inheritance tax was necessary to ensure wealth was distributed more widely than just a person's family. But what made Hellman a truly extraordinary man was his recognition that San Francisco needed good public schools, strong and independent media voices, and lively culture offerings that the common person could take part in. And he gave his time and money to creating those things.
To address earlier points, the rich aren't necessarily bad. But they also aren't necessarily better than the average person, and they shouldn't be the only ones to decide how their wealth is used. Capitalism is a rigged game that has benefited the 1 percent at the direct expense of the 99 percent, and if the winners of that game don't voluntarily begin to give some back and see to the common good, then they should become the objects of our scorn and the targets of our activism. The moment has come where the rich should be forced to declare whether they're with us, like Hellman and Buffet, or against us, like Don Fisher and the Koch Brothers.
Thus it's luck to a large degree thus high incomes should be taxed at a higher rate. When the Supreme Court says it's okay to bribe a member of congress to get him or her what you want - a huge government contract or legislation passed so environmental regulations are watered down or eliminated, that has nothing to do with labor or smarts or great ideas. Yet that's how huge fortunes are made.
The reason the billionaire Koch bros spend millions to select who will, to a large degree, be in our national congress, is that those members of congress can greatly effect the $ the Koch bros will make.
Look at how Haliburton's support of Bush and having an insider (Cheney, a former Hal CEO) paid off. Was that based on smart ideas or hard work? Nope, the hundreds of millions the top officials of HAL made was government connections - basically corruption.
So it's time the tax rates on high income be jacked up so this unfair, corrupt income is at least taxed at a high rate.
and it gets lambasted whenever it moves to raise the cap
That cap seems to work just fine, and because it is a 'limit' instead of a 'tax', it takes a lot more political hubris to raise it; whereas passing a law to cut taxes is about as easy as falling off a log.
And can you elucidate for us what my income level has to do with whether or not I have studied and understand economics?
Making off-the-wall assumptions with no basis of reference is not helping you make your case.
I have, in fact, studied and understand economics in great depth.
Your arrogant assumption that someone who has a relatively low income doesn't understand economics, is typical of knee jerk Randite ditto heads like you, who believe that the very meaning of life is to become rich.
I've got news for you.
It isn't.
that shareholders vote for executive pay scales.
So it's OK to decide to limit your own pay. It's not OK to try and limit somebody elses.
Why is it not ok?
quasi-socialist places like parts of Europe. While in the US, it's a fringe idea with no serious political support.
So yes, you're entitled to think a salary cap is "OK" but the "99%" who disagree with you have a different view.
You claimed:
"So it's OK to decide to limit your own pay. It's not OK to try and limit somebody elses."
Why not?
Answer the question.
right to cap my income if I choose to, but it's unfair on you if I try to impose that limit on you or others.
In practice, what you suggest is achieved by taxation, since high income will attract more tax. But the idea of a 100% tax above some limit is not going to motivate many to achieve more.
More generally, the American people historically do not support such ideas and policies.
Let's try one more time to see if you come actually come up with an answer, or if you are simply going to continue limply ducking the question for the rest of eternity.
You claimed:
"So it's OK to decide to limit your own pay. It's not OK to try and limit somebody elses."
Why not?
Just answer the question.
limit your own income. I don't think it's OK for you to limit the incomes of others.
Of course, it depends what you mean by "OK". But if your view was a common one then there'd be elected politicians out there singing that song. There aren't.
Ultimately voters decide what is "OK". So put some candidates on the ballot who support salary caps, and lets see how much support your idea really has.
To translate in as simpler form what you have just repeated for the third time:
"ummm.... uhhh..... er...... BECAUSE!...."
mean that I didn't respond, but only that you either didn't understand or didn't like my answer.
But it's OK if we disagree. The voters will decide who is right for us.
Let's try again.
Why isn't it ok for me and the rest of my fellow citizens, to set a cap on both our, and your, pay? If setting taxes is ok? Why not income caps?
And let me help you here. The response to the question 'why?' is not statements of belief about whether it is politically feasible, what has happened in history, or whether you -like- the idea or not.
The answer to the question, is a simple explanation of why it is not 'ok'.
Give some reason that setting a national income cap is somehow not 'ok'.
We cap prices on many things. We cap government employee pay. We just passed a ballot measure to cap public employee benefits. Why is private income somehow special compared to these other caps?
Your answer, undoubtedly will continue to be tangential ravings that have nothing to do with the question.
But by all means, go for it...
There's many reasons people become billionaires but rarely is it because they did an extraordinary thing (meaning something most people couldn't also do if in the same position). Most billionaires become billionaires because luck puts them in a position where it's very possible.
You could go down the line on some famous ones. Gates had access to computers one few his age did. His father had connections to IBM which was a big reason IBM went to him when they were looking for an OS for their new computer. If no IBM and their decision to use only Microsoft's OS , no huge sales for Microsoft, etc etc - point is there was a lot of luck for Mr. Gates rather than anything extraordinary he did to be in the position to cash in on that op.
How about the Koch bros. They inherited a chemical and oil biz from their father - thus putting themselves in a position to have growing financial resources to buy more growth-producing financial resources. If anyone, it was their father that did the extraordinary thing.
How about Warren Hellman? His family had extensive ties to Wall St and banking corporations. Gradually he was in the position to make bets that would pay off in billions if he bet correctly. Did he do anything extraordinary to get his billions? Doesn't appear so (he certainly did in spending some of his $ in creating HSBG fest).
What one finds often is billionaires become billionaires because they have the opportunity to leverage some asset - such as the labor of the 300,000 employees of the corp they are CEO of, or the connections they have with powerful people in the govt (an extremely common way fortunes were made - including the railroad founders in the 1800s in the US who made their fortunes via straight huge US government handouts in exchange for nice campaign contributions).
It's generally a big myth that billionaires have done anything extraordinary themselves to become billionaires. Common features of B's are: 1) having extreme luck (such as Gates above), 2) having opportunity to leverage some asset (usually not their own but which they will reap the gain of the leverage like the 2008 financial crisis where the risks are paid by taxpayers and the gains, if they happen, go to those making it like AIG, 3) having strong inside connections and influence with top govt officials.
Since it's basically extreme luck to get those features, they should be taxed at a very high rate because their assets give them outsized, and thus undemocratic, influence as the Koch bros demonstrate.
First you make the massive assumption that all success is down to "extreme luck". Then you make a huge leap from that dubious premise to assert that "they" should be taxed at a "very high rate".
I feel sure it is comforting for you to dismiss the successes of others as random, capricious noise. And then seek to "punish" them for their ill-gotten gains thru punitive levels of taxation.
Luckily, almost nobody shares your view.
Simple question. The polls are clear.
What's your answer...
Everyone knows that the answer you get to a polld epends on how the question is phrased.
What matters much more is how people vote. And they consistently vote for representatives that support the current market system. That's been true ever since Reagan.
Moreover, the GOP swept to power in the House just 13 months ago on a platform of lower taxes. Expalin that,
That the reason voters vote for such candidates is that they are given no choice? Since Wall Street makes sure that all viable candidates are pro unhindered 'free market' capitalism, what choice do they have.
The answer - none.
If voters were given the chance to vote for a candidate who would truly make the rich pay their fair share, they would do it in a heart beat.
That never happens.
So your behaving as if voters are 'choosing' these leaders is completely ludicrous.
Voters do not choose national level candidates any more, corporations do.
In most elections, there is a Green Party candidate who, no doubt, runs on a platform along the lines of what you suggest. They get crushed by the candidates with more appealing policies.
Or are you saying those Green Party candidates aren't supporting your ideas?
It's called unrestricted corporate campaign donations which determine all of the major players who have any real chance of winning national elections.
A reality of which I am sure you are already perfectly aware.
So why are you wasting our time with your laughable Fox News style responses...?
I've got news for you. People who actually know how to think like grown ups about this stuff read the SF Guardian.
This is not Fox News, and if your best argument is one that would only survive on Fox, don't deign to insult us.
policies sufficiently effectivelt that even a cynic like me knows broadly what those polciies are. If enough people agreed with you, then there are candidiates to vote for. But they don't.
You can blame on "big business" or "corporate money" if that makes you feel better. But the reason Greens lose is because it is a fringe viewpoint with no serious or widespread supprt.
How unfortunate for you.
Elections at the national level are freely contested by parties and candidiates with a wide diversity of views. If your ideas had any real credible commection with the voters, then the Greens would be usccessful.
They aren't. And you should be learning from that, not blaming "the system" or some "vast right-wing conspiracy".
Sad, but glad that you sad sacks are showing your true colors. You are so blinded by your own obsessions over class and perceived inequality that you cant even see a person for the good they produced in their lifetime just because they were very wealthy.
Tell me Greg, what "scraps" have you produced which have benefited hundreds of thousands of bay area people? What legacy will you have left behind when you are gone? A string of bile addled posts on a left of left wing web board?
The best part? When you're no longer here, some newbie will just take your place spouting the same doctrinaire BS - because it takes virtually no personal reflection/introspection/knowledge. Just one of any other...
unbearable as life's losers seek to find a convenient scapegoat for their failures. And what better way to rationalize away one's failures than to create a bogeyman - those who have been successful?
It's such a pernicious trend that they even pour scorn on those who give back to their society, like Hellman. To paraphrase an old gag: those who can, do; those who cannot, become class warriors.
Fortunately, most people and voters want America to continue to be the land of opportunity, where anyone can become wealthy and then give it back. Those who want to tax the wealthy into oblivion (or more likely, moving to Bermuda or Switzerland) are still thankfully a small minority.
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text:
Does a regular work out at the gym really help reduce your risk of breast cancer? A new study finds the answer is overwhelmingly "yes."
The University of Wisconsin study is based on a survey of more than 15,000 women. It found that women who exercised regularly had a reduced risk of invasive breast cancer provided they did not have a family history of the disease.
Specifically researchers say six or more hours a week of vigorous activity could reduce the risk of breast cancer by 23 percent.
5600 Avenue A
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text:
Hangover Cures and Prevention
Last night, you drank some bubbly. This morning, you're deflated. Here's how to cure the after-effects of alcohol, plus tips to avoid them next time.
After You Drink
Drink lots of water. Think of it as a cleansing rinse cycle.
Drink fruit juices. There is some evidence that fructose, the sugar in fruit, burns alcohol. According to doctors, fructose will also restore a person's blood sugar level. (Watch out, though, for a sugar rush and the ensuing crash.)
Drink Pedialyte. Like bland Gatorade for vomiting babies, it replenishes sugars and fluid-balancing electrolytes.
Forget the bloody mary. The tomato juice's vitamin C builds up resistance, and the Tabasco's capsicum acts as a pain reliever, but the additional alcohol intake only postpones the hangover a little longer.
Eat bland carbohydrates. They absorb any alcohol left in the stomach, provide sugar, and combat nausea.
Eat eggs. Eggs contain the chemical N-acetyl-cysteine, which can help clear the liver of harmful free radicals.
Eat honey. The National Headache Foundation recommends a piece of toast slathered with fructose-loaded honey.
Try activated charcoal. Doctors says this fine powder helps absorb impurities (that's why emergency rooms use it when pumping stomachs). But it also tastes like biting into a briquette.
Try Livercare. These herbal tablets have been proved to block the evil acetaldehyde, but after taking it, Real Simple's testers were still slightly hung over the next day.
Try milk thistle. Its active ingredient helps detoxify the liver, but it doesn't do anything for a headache.
Try Alka-Seltzer Morning Relief. These tablets contain caffeine and aspirin, which offer energy and headache relief. But too much aspirin can cause stomach bleeding in some drinkers.
Take a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, like Tylenol. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories provide headache relief without upsetting the stomach--just don't make them a habit, since some doctors believe they react with alcohol to damage the liver.
Drink Pepto-Bismol. The familiar pink stuff eases stomach discomfort, replenishes electrolytes, and dampens heartburn. But it won't do anything to shake that headache.


text:
So many were so close to Reed on his 5-day run and didn't know it
For five days when he was on the run last year, Indian River County Jail escapee Rondell Reed managed to stay mostly out of sight.
Still, he assaulted at least two people in other states and left his mark on several people in Indian River County without seeing them face-to-face.
"He was right here," said Richard Smidley, 56, of Winter Beach, as he sat in his front yard, adjacent to a vacant lot that once contained a disheveled vacant home where Reed spent his first night after escaping from jail Oct. 24, 2011. The house was demolished earlier this year.
"He could have hurt my (girlfriend) as she was leaving for work that morning."
Reed, 52, was being held at the jail, charged with shooting and killing auto shop owner James Malone, for whom he worked briefly before they had an argument and fought over a gun.
After he and Leviticus Taylor, 26, escaped from the jail in the early morning hours of that October day, Reed walked north along the railroad tracks. Taylor, convicted of killing Vero Beach resident Nestor Perez during a burglary, headed south.
Deputies in Martin County spotted Taylor, who did not respond to requests for an interview for this story, along U.S. 1 in Jensen Beach about 7 that evening. He's now serving life in prison for the murder conviction at the Mayo Correctional Institution in Lafayette County in northern Florida.
Reed's First Stop
Reed had a plan to steal cars and drive to see his father's girlfriend in Kentucky and his children and grandchildren in Indiana, he told detectives in a recorded interview after he was recaptured.
Sometime on the day of the escape, he broke into the empty home in the 6700 block of Old Dixie Highway.
"It was lived in until the hurricanes" from the 2004 storm season, Smidley said about Reed's safe house. "It was in terrible shape. It was termite city in there, and the second floor was rotted."
Later Monday night, Smidley returned home next door with some friends, unaware of his temporary next-door neighbor.
"We had a bonfire with about 20 people," he said. "We were sitting around here drinking and talking about the escape. We said it'd be good to catch him. We'd get the reward."
The chance to cash-in bypassed the partiers when Reed continued north on foot on Oct. 25, authorities said. Smidley didn't discover the escapee had been next-door until Oct. 26.
"I got off work and walked to the store for some beer," he said. "I looked in the bushes and saw a manila envelope. I thought 'This doesn't belong here.' I thought it might be something like money or weed. I took it back home, lit a cigarette and dropped the contents of the envelope."
He found a letter written to Reed inside.
"I woke up my girlfriend and told her the murderer was around here," he said. "Then I called 911."
Within five minutes, some deputies showed up at Smidley's door.
Five minutes later, he said, the Indian River County sheriff's helicopter began circling above Smidley's home. Some K-9 dog handlers and the U.S. Marshals arrived as well.
"One of the marshals glanced at me twice," Smidley said. "He walked up to me and asked, 'have you had any clothes stolen lately?'"
The question came up because of a pair of shorts speckled with paint on them found along the train tracks north of Winter Beach. Smidley was wearing shorts that appeared similar. He and investigators concluded that Reed stole the pants from a disabled vehicle on Smidley's property.
It was a fortuitous find for Reed because Smidley said he has a habit of leaving a few dollars in his work pants.
Authorities said Reed told them he used the money to buy some snacks at a Sebastian gas station.
After searching the abandoned Old Dixie property and not finding Reed, the authorities turned to Smidley's home.
"Rondell Reed ain't in my house," said Smidley, who did not want the authorities in his home. However, he relented and allowed them to go inside without obtaining a warrant.
"It was like TV," he said. "The SWAT team went in with their pistols out."
Meanwhile, clues being investigated in Sebastian about that same time were providing authorities with more up-to-date information on Reed's whereabouts.
Next stop: A Car
Reed found a second home to break into and stay in the 1600 block of U.S. 1. It was yet another home left empty after damage from the 2004 hurricane season.
Reed, whose criminal record includes auto thefts, searched on the morning of Oct. 26 for a car to steal. He wandered to Sebastian Auto Parts and Repair, south of County Road 512, and broke into a Cadillac and a Dodge Caravan, according to police reports.
"He came real close to hot-wiring one of them, but he popped the fuse," said Rose Butti-Monahan, co-owner of the family business. "He messed up the whole steering column in the Dodge and did quite a bit of damage."
The shop owners didn't discover the break-ins until later that afternoon because parts for the vehicles weren't delivered until then, she said.
"I called one of my customers crying about the damage, but she was a wonderful lady," Butti-Monahan said. "She told me, 'Don't worry.' "
Sebastian Auto's insurance company covered the parts to replace the damage, but did not cover the labor, Butti-Monahan said. Repairmen had both cars repaired the following day.
After failing to jump-start a car at the auto business, Reed returned to the home in Sebastian. Biding his time, he watched the parking lot of Clark Water Co. When an employee parked a pickup in front of the business in the late afternoon of Oct. 26 and left the keys inside, Reed ran to the vehicle. With a full tank of gas, Reed drove to Interstate 95 and left the state.
Pam Clark, co-owner of the business, said it wasn't unusual to leave keys in cars. The Sebastian environment is one where she and even her customers felt comfortable leaving their keys in their cars in the parking lot.
"We don't do that any longer," Clark said.
Over the Georgia line
On Oct. 27, a 77-year-old retiree walking out of a Macon, Ga., grocery store would cross paths with Reed on his fourth day on the run. The stolen pickup was nearly out of gas, and Reed was looking for a new ride.
"I had just a handful of groceries," said Guerry Brannon. "I was getting in the front seat and I felt a knife at my throat. He told me to get in the passenger seat. He said someone was after him and he needed to get to Chattanooga (Tenn.)"
The senior citizen complied with Reed, unaware that it was the authorities who were after the knife-wielding man.
"We looked at the gas tank and there wasn't enough to go to Chattanooga," Brannon said. "I told him if he would let me go, I would gas up the car and he could drive there on his own."
Reed insisted on making Brannon join him on the out-of-state trip in his Lincoln MKX, so the senior citizen improvised.
"I couldn't figure out what to do, so I told him I was having a heart attack," Brannon said. "I told him if I die, he would get the needle in Georgia."
Brannon filled up the Lincoln's gas tank, standing on a surgically repaired ankle.
"If I didn't have the problems with my ankle, I would have run," Brannon said. "I knew I wouldn't be able to get away from him."
Reed kept his end of the deal by driving Brannon to his home and allowing him to carry out his groceries. Before he sped away, Reed ordered Brannon not to call 911 for a couple hours.
Brannon agreed, but it wasn't a long-lived promise.
"Oh goodness, no," Brannon said. "I was calling the police as soon as he left."
Reed also fell short on a promise he made to Brannon. The convict said he was going to leave the Lincoln with the keys inside once he made it to Chattanooga in a place where it would easily be found.
"I thought I'd get it back," Brannon said.
But the car didn't make it to either Chattanooga or back to Macon.
Instead, Reed lost control of the Lincoln in Warren County outside of Cincinnati, Ohio, during a pursuit by police there and crashed.
"A friend of mine showed it to me on the Internet," Brannon said. "I saw my car flip over 20 times."
In an interview with authorities in Ohio, Reed described Brannon as "the nicest guy you'll ever meet."
Brannon said he was glad his demeanor satiated the felon while he was held captive.
"I didn't want to make him mad," he said. "I didn't think he was a bad person at first. I didn't know why he was running."
Brannon's insurance company sent him a check for the cost of the wrecked Lincoln and the retiree was able to get a new car.
The Aftermath
On his way north, Reed stabbed a senior citizen in Knoxville on the late afternoon of Oct. 28 and stole her purse, which had $200 cash, according to a Knoxville Police Department report.
The 71-year-old woman, who was attacked by Reed as she attempted to get into her car, recovered from the wounds, police said.
She said she did not wish to comment about her attack. The police report listed a witness to the attack, but he could not be reached.
Also as he continued north, Reed went to his father's girlfriend's home in Irvine, Ky. But the woman did not open the door and told Reed to leave, he told investigators.
One year later, Reed is housed at the Hamilton Correctional Institution Annex in Jasper in North Florida and will remain in prison the rest of his life.
"If he was arrested for stealing a chicken, I'd have hoped he would make it all the way to Argentina," said Smidley, who raises chickens on his Old Dixie property. "I'm a believer in the pirate spirit. If he hadn't been a murderer, I'd have liked to see him get away. But since he's a murderer, I'm glad he was caught."
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Titanic in 3D breaks records?!
Taking Titanic to new heights, 3D Titanic re-make breaks records.
James Cameron has shored up his position as king of the worldwide box office.
Cameron's 1997 blockbuster "Titanic" sailed beyond the $2 billion mark in lifetime ticket sales, thanks to a 3-D re-release of the film that was timed to the centennial of the ship's sinking.
Only one other movie has topped $2 billion, and it's also Cameron's. His 2009 sci-fi smash "Avatar" earned $2.8 billion worldwide.
The "Titanic" reissue took in about $100 million this weekend — $11.6 million domestically and a whopping $88.2 million in 69 overseas markets. That included a $58 million debut in China and put the re-release total worldwide at $190.8 million.
Added to the film's $1.84 billion haul in its original release, "Titanic" now stands at $2.03 billion worldwide.
Source: www.today3d.com
Have a question for the 3DGuy? Please leave a comment and we will reply to you.
Copyright ©2012 Al Caudullo All rights reserved. The content and photos within may not be distributed electronically or copied mechanically without specific written permission. The content within is based upon information provided to the editor, which is believed to be reliable. Data within is subject to change. Al Caudullo is not responsible for errors or omissions.


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Good morning, Medford. Here's five things to know today:
: It's not your imagination -- that's a parking ticket. Starting monday police patrolman have been issuing tickets to parking violators in Medford Square.
: Head to the high school at 7:30 p.m. for the premiere of the spring musical, Hairspray, presented by the drama club.
Pelosi at Tufts Tomorrow: House minority leader Nancy Pelosi will be visiting Tufts at around 2 p.m. tomorrow where she'll be featured at the Alan D. Solomont Lecture.
Another Nice Day: It's going to be mostly sunny with a high in the upper 40s, according to the National Weather Service. Tomorrow will be more of the same.
: This weekly group meets every Thursday at 12 p.m. in the Medford Family Network's space at the high school.


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Mothers and fathers of children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often experience considerable stress in their parenting roles. Raising and loving a child with ADHD can tax even the most patient of parents, as it can be very frustrating when a child is easily distracted, forgetful, disorganized, impulsive, moody, attention seeking, or in constant motion. Symptoms of ADHD often lead to chronic problems at home, yet kids with ADHD typically do not respond well to traditional methods of discipline.
As behavior problems at home persist, parents may begin to question themselves, feeling inadequate and inept in their ability to discipline and maintain control at home. These insecurities can become even more pronounced when others give "well meaning" but off the mark advice, or make judgments about what you should be doing differently.
The parent-child relationship can also suffer when non-compliance and misbehavior become everyday occurrences at home. Raising a child with ADHD can bring up all sorts of complicated emotional feelings. Frustration, anger, guilt, helplessness, and worry are just a few.
Educating yourself about ADHD, and the unique ways it impacts your child, can make a huge difference in reducing stress at home. It will also guide you toward effective parenting strategies and interventions that will help your child better manage his or her behavior, reducing behavior problems and increasing overall success and joy! Below are three things you need to know to improve your child's behavior.
1. Children With ADHD Need to Have External Structures in Place
Children with ADHD need to have external structures in place to help better manage ADHD-related deficits. All kids benefit from a structured environment with regular routines, clear expectations, and consistent consequences. Many children are able to structure things around themselves and develop good habits on their own. Children with ADHD, however, struggle with the ability to self-regulate, plan, organize, and control responses and behaviors. Though they may know what they need to do, their inattention, impulsivity, or hyperactivity often prevents them from effectively carrying out the task.
Parents, caregivers, teachers and other involved adults can help a child with ADHD be more successful by providing extra "scaffolding" and supports. A first step in building the foundation of this scaffolding is to create an environment that has well-defined, clear rules and expectations for the child's behavior and specific, consistent consequences for compliance with these rules. It is also essential that the expectations you identify are achievable and realistic for your child, so that he or she experiences success.
2. Children With ADHD Need Immediate and Frequent Feedback About Behavior
It can be frustrating for parents when a child repeats the same negative behavior again and again. Kids with ADHD often do not learn from past experiences. Instead, they tend to live in the moment rather than being able to slow down and redirect their thoughts to consider future consequences. "Now" is in the forefront of their minds. In order to teach new skills, parents must respond to their child in the moment — in the "here and now."
Children with ADHD require immediate reinforcement of good behavior, and immediate feedback and consequences for misbehavior. Any delay in feedback decreases the effectiveness of rewards and punishments. It's important for parents to understand that kids with ADHD need more supervision and monitoring as compared to children without ADHD. Not only do they need immediate feedback around their behavior, they also need more frequent feedback in order to shape appropriate behavior.
3. Children With ADHD Need Powerful, Positive Reinforcement and Incentives
Children without ADHD tend to respond well to verbal praise and social reinforcement, and these forms of positive reinforcement are often enough to encourage compliant behavior for these kids. Children with ADHD, however, need even more powerful reinforcement and incentives in order to stay motivated and on track. These incentives often include material rewards, but that's not to say they don't need praise. Certainly, they do — and they need a lot of it!
Kids with ADHD benefit when you pay positive attention and point out to them when they are displaying compliant and pro-social behaviors. In addition, they often need more significant and stimulating incentives to develop and maintain positive behaviors.
Kids with ADHD tend to misbehave more frequently than children without ADHD. Because they struggle so much to control their behaviors, it isn't uncommon for these kids to become bombarded with negative consequences. Unfortunately, once this pattern starts, it can grow into a vicious cycle: misbehavior by child, leading to punishment by parent, leading to negative feelings in child, leading to more misbehavior, leading to more punishment.
It's important for parents to use incentives and rewards before punishment — positives before negatives — because these positives teach the child the behaviors you want to see. Be sure to reinforce progress toward goals, rewarding your child as he or she makes positive steps, including approximations that are done well.
Russell A. Barkley, Ph.D., Taking Charge of ADHD: The Complete, Authoritative Guide for Parents; Guilford Press, 2005.


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Florida Man Changes Twitter and Facebook Log In and Passwords To Protect Privacy
Duncan Whitehead Florida resident, Duncan Whitehead, in direct response to a hacking threat, has today changed his log in and
Facebook Buying Messaging App WhatsApp for $16 Billion
Facebook is buying the hugely popular WhatsApp for $ 16 billion according to a filing with the SEC. The purchase, $ 4 billion in cash
Facebook Messenger for iOS Updated With Redesigned Interface, Phone Number Integration [iOS Blog]
Facebook today released an updated Facebook Messenger app that has been redesigned for iOS 7 with a simpler interface and a cleaner look for easier
Facebook for iOS Updated With Editing Features, Photo Comments [iOS Blog]
Facebook has updated its Facebook for iOS app to version 6.6, adding new options to allow users to edit published posts and comments on their
Facebook Ads 1790% More Profitable on iOS Than on Android [iOS Blog]
According to new data from ad platform and market research firm Nanigans (via VentureBeat), Facebook advertisers are seeing approximately 1790% more profit from mobile ads
Facebook Adds Hashtag Searching, OpenTable Restaurant Reservations to iOS App [iOS Blog]
Facebook is adding new integration with OpenTable and greater Hashtag support to its iOS app. The hashtag support was added to Facebook recently as part
Facebook helps cops find their lost puppy
There was a gloomy scenario in the Vanrai, Goregaon Police Station, Mumbai, as an puppy adopted by cops there in was lost and couldn't
Facebook Appears Set to Debut iPhone Competitor Built on Android on April 4
Facebook today invited members of the press to an Android-related event on April 4, and TechCrunch reports that the event will likely see the debut
Facebook Updates Newsfeed With Inspiration from Mobile Devices, Rolling Out Over Several Weeks
In a media event today, Facebook announced significant changes to the way its signature News Feed is displayed to users on desktop, smartphones and tablets.
Twitter Kills Off TweetDeck for iPhone in Favor of Web Edition, Drops Facebook Integration [iOS Blog]
Twitter has ended support for TweetDeck for iPhone, Android, and TweetDeck AIR, the company said in a blog posting today. TweetDeck first arrived on the


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A criminal traffic charge is not a simple citation or moving violation. Reckless driving in Virginia is a class I misdemeanor that carries the possibility of a suspended license, significant fines, and even jail time. Furthermore, conviction of a criminal traffic offense leads to a criminal record without provision for expungement. If you are arrested and ultimately convicted, you could have a permanent criminal record that can jeopardize future opportunities for employment and education. Even a simple traffic stop can lead to a criminal conviction. Do not take your traffic charge lightly; get skilled legal defense from a qualified Virginia reckless driving lawyer.
- What is Reckless Driving?
- Reckless Driving Penalties
- How Your Attorney Can Help
- Locations
What Is considered Reckless Driving In Virginia?
Everyone knows that a traffic violation, such as speeding, can result in a traffic ticket. Even the most law-abiding citizen can easily end up with a traffic ticket if they are unaware of the speed limit or make a simple mistake. However, in some cases, speeding or any other type of moving violation can lead to much more stringent penalties, including a criminal charge with potentially serious consequences.
Excessive speed—traveling more than 20 miles per hour above the posted speed limit or driving at more than 80 miles per hour regardless of the posted limit–is one traffic offense that can result in a criminal charge. Other examples of violations that could result in a criminal conviction include but are not limited to:
- Weaving through traffic or other aggressive driving
- Failing to yield to an emergency vehicle
- Passing a stopped school bus
- Drag racing
Simple carelessness or lack of attention can cause a number of these actions; they are not generally malicious or intentional. Still, traffic offenses that are considered dangerous to others often meet with reckless driving charges. For the accused, the prospect of jail and a criminal record seem unfathomable, especially for someone who has never run afoul of the law and whose actions were not deliberately reckless or dangerous. Your first step in protecting yourself from unjust or unnecessary consequences is calling a Virginia reckless driving attorney with the skills to handle your case.
Penalties For Reckless Driving
As a Class I misdemeanor offense, reckless driving is considered equivalent to driving under the influence (click here for more information on Virginia's new DUI laws). Legal penalties for reckless driving in Virginia include up to one year in jail, a six-month driver's license suspension, and a fine of up to $2,500.
A conviction for reckless driving also includes administrative penalties such as six demerit points against one's driver's license, which could lead to further suspension and exorbitant automobile insurance rates. If you were to accrue another reckless driving conviction and six more demerit points, you may have to complete a driving course in addition to the other punishments, and six more demerit points (for a total of 18) within a year could lead to a suspension of driving privileges. If you rely on your car to get to work each day, that could put you in a serious bind.
The personal consequences of a criminal conviction, besides the social stigma, include a permanent criminal record appearing in background checks for employment, housing, financial loans, and education.
Our reckless driving lawyers fully comprehend the seriousness of your charge. We understand that you likely did not intend to endanger others with your driving, and that you are surprised and confused that your traffic stop resulted in a criminal charge that could lead to jail time. We are experienced defense attorneys with countless hours before local judges and juries. We are committed to protecting the rights of those facing criminal charges for serious traffic violations in Virginia, and out skilled legal team stands ready to offer you sound advice and solid defense in your reckless driving case.
How A Reckless Driving Attorney Can Help You
Unlike with a typical traffic ticket, you cannot simply mail in your payment for a reckless driving summons. It is a criminal charge, and you may face conviction and additional penalties beyond the fine. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding your case, you do not have to plead guilty. You have alternatives for avoiding conviction, and a skilled attorney can help. In some cases, if you are represented by an attorney, he or she may appear in court on your behalf, saving you the time and hassle of a court appearance, which is particularly useful if you are an out-of-state driver charged with reckless driving in Virginia.
If you were just traveling through the Commonwealth of Virginia from a state that does not issue reckless driving tickets and arrests in the same manner, it may be difficult to understand or anticipate what type of charge you are facing or the penalties that you could be facing with a conviction. You will also need to face that charge in Virginia, so it is smart to hire a local Virginia reckless driving attorney who has experience dealing with this type of case and getting their clients positive results. Our team includes a former Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney, which gives us great insight into the ways that these cases are typically prosecuted.
Though the facts of every case are unique, our attorneys have a proven record of success in complicated cases, working diligently for a positive outcome that may include dismissal, acquittal, or reduction in charges or penalties.
Over the past 100 years, the population of Fairfax County has seen a consistent, strong increase. As of the census in 2010 the County was home to just over one million people. Fairfax County also contains sections of very busy commuter roads like I-95, I-66, I-395 and the Beltway. The Beltway can cause serious issues in terms of reckless driving since some violations that might result in a simple traffic ticket in the state of Maryland could be considered a criminal violation just a few miles down the road.
If you have been charged with reckless driving in Fairfax County and you rely on your driving privileges to get to work each day, you can't afford to take your defense lightly. Our attorneys have experience handling cases at the County Courthouse on Chain Bridge Road in Fairfax.
Prince William
Prince William County is experiencing incredibly rapid growth. The 2010 census reported over 402,000 citizens, which represented a 43.2 percent increase over the 2000 total of just under 281,000. With a greater population comes more traffic, and an increased likelihood that you could be involved in a car accident. With the Commonwealth and the police working hard to keep these roads safe, any act of reckless driving could result in a criminal charge.
The District Court for the County of Prince William, which also serves the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park and the towns of Dumfries and Haymarket, is located at the facility on Lee Avenue in Manassas. If your case eventually goes to trial, you will want someone by your side that has handled these cases and has been successful defending their clients. Schedule a free consultation with a Virginia reckless driving attorney to find out how we can help you.
As Northern Virginia continues to grow as a vibrant community, so does Alexandria, one of the most dense residential and commercial regions in the area. After a brief lull in the 1970's, Alexandria has experienced fairly routine growth for the last 30 years, topping out with an estimated 144,000 residents in 2011. The major roadways in Alexandria typically lead into and out of the District of Columbia, and if you are pulled over on the Virginia side, you could be potentially face steep criminal charges for reckless driving.
Reckless driving cases, along with other traffic and criminal violations, will be heard at the courthouse complex on King Street. We know what the Commonwealth's attorneys are looking for in these cases and what type of evidence they need to convict.
Arlington County has always been one of the most populated localities in the area, and it has grown by double-digit percentages in each of the last three censuses. The high amount of commuters in this area means that the roads are crowded throughout the day. When there are more cars on the road, an act that could be considered a typical traffic ticket on an empty road could be interpreted and charged as reckless driving.
Our attorneys know what it takes to win these reckless driving and speeding cases in Arlington, and we will be able to help you if your case is heard at the courthouse complex on North Courthouse Road in Arlington.
A skilled attorney can uphold justice and protect your rights by carefully analyzing your case to build the strongest possible defense. To speak with a reckless driving lawyer in Virginia, call (703) 995-6429 today. Our lawyers offer a free evaluation of your case to get you started. Do not leave your record to chance. Fight your charge with the help of a top-quality lawyer.


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(The following is a letter I'm sending to the IOC in regards to the recent decision to cut wresting from the Olympics. Stated are actions I am taking to show my displeasure and disgust. This is not a call to arms, but reminder that each of us can (and has the responsibility) to change the unjust. I'm a firm believer in conscientious consumerism and making a difference with the wallet and stand by it. Yep, the gauntlet has been thrown, IOC! Enjoy!)
Greetings IOC,
In light of your decision to drop wrestling from the Olympics, I humbly request you choose to reinstate wrestling to its distinguished and rightful position among the competitions of the hallowed Olympics.
Wresting is pure.
It requires no pool. No horse. No mountain. No gun, net, pole, or bat. No court or glove or racket. It does not even need a ball. Ancient beyond compare. Described in literature for thousands of years.
Just two competitors. Nothing more, nothing less.
Wrestling in the United States is known internationally as Folkstyle. A sport of the people. A very determined, proud, tough people. The hornet's nest has be kick here and in Turkey, Russia, Iran and all over the world and now you, the IOC, are feeling the results. Nary can I think of a more dedicated and worthy athletics community dedicated to celebrating and honoring a beloved and timeless sport. Maybe a representative from the wrestling community (FILA) should have been included in the 12 person selection committee, such as pentathlon.
In the United States, local and national leaders are coming together in favor of wrestling. I support them wholeheartedly in this endeavor. On a personal level, I intend to help motivate a reinstatement of wrestling by the IOC by informing all of the Olympic sponsors, from Coke to Proctor & Gamble, McDonald's to Visa, Dow to GE, and others that I will be boycotting their products and services because of the actions of the IOC. I will also be contacting NBC to inform them that I will NOT be viewing the Olympics due to the choice, by the IOC, to eventually remove wrestling from the Olympics.
I hope that the correct decision will be forthcoming from the IOC. You are better than this.
Thank you,
Nick Grutz


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Wednesday, January 22, 2014
They practice tree pose, paint original works of art and read books by well-known authors — and many of them haven't even started grade school.
Kids who get involved with Balance, a fresh business in the North Shore neighborhood, get the opportunity to explore the world around them through six-week yoga and art classes.
Co-owners and moms Melanie Ferguson and Denise Collins teamed up to launch their business for 3- to 12-year-olds last fall and they are gearing up for a new year of sessions.
Both are former preschool teachers with experience in and a preference for the Reggio Emilia teaching approach, which emphasizes exploration and discovery in the learning process. Ferguson focuses on the yoga aspect of the business while Collins teaches the art classes.
"Yoga is sort of enjoying who you are and exploring yourself," said Ferguson. "We do focus poses but we also incorporate fun games. It's a balance of quiet time and moving time."
Each yoga class even has a theme, she added, such as kindness and honesty.
"The art studio is a great place to give [students] the freedom to explore their materials and create their ideas," said Collins. "Because I love the Reggio Emilia approach, so much of it needs to be focused on the process of creating, not so much a beautiful product."
Collins received her bachelor's degree in art history so she incorporates relevant historical information into her art classes, as well.
Balance also offers Book Club sessions that incorporate both art and yoga as well as time to read a book or learn about an author. Featured authors have included Ezra Jack Keats, Eric Carle and Dr. Seuss.
The duo is currently in the process of signing a lease on a brick-and-mortar location for Balance, likely to be located in the North Shore community.
"This will be the first yoga studio for children in Chattanooga," Collins said.
For more information on how to sign up for a six-week session or to keep up to date with the future plans of Balance, visit thisisbalance.com. Classes are currently offered at St. Mark's United Methodist Church, located at 701 Mississippi Ave., and if parents hurry, they can sign their child up for the current session of classes.


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By Anna Marie Hartman - bio | email | Facebook
MEMPHIS, TN (WMC-TV) - Democratic state lawmakers from Memphis are criticizing Republican Gov. Bill Haslam for signing a bill to delay any merger between the city schools and the Shelby County system.State Rep. Larry Miller said the Memphis delegation did not hear from the governor before he signed the measure into law on Friday. Fellow Democratic Rep. Joe Towns said the delegation had little input into the bill's makeup, and the law amounts to a usurpation of local government power.The bill sponsored by two Republican lawmakers from Shelby County was fast-tracked through the GOP-controlled Legislature this week. It did not receive a single Democratic vote.
"Why would someone on the state level or someone from East Tennessee or someone from where ever decide what goes on in Memphis?" asked Democratic Rep. Johnnie Turner.
The law requires a two-and-a-half year waiting period while a 21-member education transition panel oversees the merger. Delegates said the structure of that panel lacks Memphis representation and overall diversity.
"Based on how this bill is written, the city doesn't have any input on this planning commission," said Miller.
Lawmakers will ask the governor to consider appointing Memphis Mayor A C Wharton to the panel.
Legislators said they offered more than a dozen amendments while the bill was being considered. All of them were rejected, but they said they will continue to fight.
"Those of us who tried to put amendments on the bill when it was being discussed yesterday, we intend to file those amendments as bills," said Democratic Rep. Jeannie Richardson.The Memphis City School Board voted in December to let city voters decide in a March 8 special election whether their city schools should merge with the system in Shelby County.
Copyright 2011 WMC-TV. All rights reserved. The AP contributed to this report.
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