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Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
10 Easy Ways to Save Energy in Your Home
Most people don't know how easy it is to make their homes run on less energy, and here at Leahy's Inspections, we want to change that. Drastic reductions in heating, cooling and electricity costs can be accomplished through very simple changes, most of which homeowners can do themselves. Of course, for homeowners who want their homes to take advantage of the most up-to-date knowledge and systems in home energy-efficiency, Home inspector energy auditors can perform in-depth testing to find the best energy solutions for your particular home.
Why make your home more energy efficient? Here are a few good reasons:
Federal, state, utility and local jurisdictions' financial incentives, such as tax breaks, are very advantageous in most parts of the U.S.
It saves money. It costs less to power a home that has been converted to be more energy-efficient.
It increases indoor comfort levels.
It reduces our impact on climate change. Many scientists now believe that excessive energy consumption contributes significantly to global warming.
It reduces pollution. Conventional power production introduces pollutants that find their way into the air, soil and water supplies.
1. Find better ways to heat and cool your house.
As much as half of the energy used in homes goes toward heating and cooling. The following are a few ways that energy bills can be reduced through adjustments to the heating and cooling systems:
Install a ceiling fan. Ceiling fans can be used in place of air conditioners, which require a large amount of energy.
Periodically replace air filters in air conditioners and heaters.
Set thermostats to an appropriate temperature. Specifically, they should be turned down at night and when no one is home. In most homes, about 2% of the heating bill will be saved for each degree that the thermostat is lowered for at least eight hours each day. Turning down the thermostat from 75° F to 70°F, for example, saves about 10% on heating costs.
Install a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat saves money by allowing heating and cooling appliances to be automatically turned down during times that no one is home and at night. Programmable thermostats contain no mercury and, in some climate zones, can save up to $150 per year in energy costs.
Install a wood stove or a pellet stove. These are more efficient sources of heat than furnaces.
At night, curtains drawn over windows will better insulate the room.
2. Install a tankless water heater.
Demand water heaters (tankless or instantaneous) provide hot water only as it is needed. They don't produce the standby energy losses associated with storage water heaters, which will save on energy costs. Demand water heaters heat water directly without the use of a storage tank. Therefore, they avoid the standby heat losses required by traditional storage water heaters. When a hot water tap is turned on, cold water travels through a pipe into the unit. Either a gas burner or an electric element heats the water. As a result, demand water heaters deliver a constant supply of hot water. You don't need to wait for a storage tank to fill up with enough hot water.
3. Replace incandescent lights.
The average household dedicates 11% of its energy budget to lighting. Traditional incandescent lights convert approximately only 10% of the energy they consume into light, while the rest becomes heat. The use of new lighting technologies, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and compact fluorescent lamps (CFL), can reduce energy use required by lighting by 50% to 75%. Advances in lighting controls offer further energy savings by reducing the amount of time lights are on but not being used. Here are some facts about CFLs and LEDs:
CFLs use 75% less energy and last about 10 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs.
LEDs last even longer than CFLs and consume less energy.
LEDs have no moving parts and, unlike CFLs, they contain no mercury.
4. Seal and insulate your home.
Sealing and insulating your home is one of the most cost-effective ways to make a home more comfortable and energy efficient -– and you can do it yourself. A tightly sealed home can improve comfort and indoor air quality while reducing utility bills. An home inspector energy auditor can be hired to assess envelope leakage and recommend fixes that will dramatically increase comfort and energy savings.
The following are some common places where leakage may occur:
electrical outlets;
mail slots;
around pipes and wires;
wall- or window-mounted air conditioners;
attic hatches;
fireplace dampers;
weatherstripping around doors;
window frames; and
switch plates.
Because hot air rises, air leaks are most likely to occur in the attic. Homeowners can perform a variety of repairs and maintenance to their attics that save them money on cooling and heating, such as:
Plug the large holes. Locations in the attic where leakage is most likely to be the greatest are where walls meet the attic floor, behind and under attic knee walls, and in dropped-ceiling areas.
Seal the small holes. You can easily do this by looking for areas where the insulation is darkened. Darkened insulation is a result of dusty interior air being filtered by insulation before leaking through small holes in the building envelope. In cold weather, you may see frosty areas in the insulation caused by warm, moist air condensing and then freezing as it hits the cold attic air. In warmer weather, you'll find water staining in these same areas. Use expanding foam or caulk to seal the openings around plumbing vent pipes and electrical wires. Cover the areas with insulation after the caulk is dry.
Seal up the attic access panel with weatherstripping. You can cut a piece of fiberglass or rigid foam board insulation the same size as the attic hatch and glue it to the back of the attic access panel. If you have pull-down attic stairs or an attic door, these should be sealed in a similar manner.
5. Install efficient shower heads and toilets.
The following systems can be installed to conserve water usage in homes:
low-flow shower heads. They are available in different flow rates, and some have a pause button which shuts off the water while the bather lathers up;
low-flow toilets. Toilets consume 30% to 40% of the total water used in homes, making them the biggest water users. Replacing an older 3.5-gallon toilet with a modern, low-flow 1.6-gallon toilet can reduce usage an average of two gallons-per-flush (GPF), saving 12,000 gallons of water per year. Low-flow toilets usually have "1.6 GPF" marked on the bowl behind the seat or inside the tank;
vacuum-assist toilets. These types of toilets have a vacuum chamber which uses a siphon action to suck air from the trap beneath the bowl, allowing it to quickly fill with water to clear waste. Vacuum toilets are relatively quiet; and
dual-flush toilets. Dual-flush toilets have been used in Europe and Australia for years, and are now gaining in popularity in the U.S. Dual-flush toilets let you choose between a 1-gallon (or less) flush for liquid waste, and a 1.6-gallon flush for solid waste. Dual-flush 1.6-GPF toilets reduce water consumption by an additional 30%.
6. Use appliances and electronics responsibly.
Appliances and electronics account for about 20% of household energy bills in a typical U.S. home. The following are tips that will reduce the required energy of electronics and appliances:
Refrigerators and freezers should not be located near the stove, dishwasher or heat vents, or exposed to direct sunlight. Exposure to warm areas will force them to use more energy to remain cool.
Computers should be shut off when not in use. If unattended computers must be left on, their monitors should be shut off. According to some studies, computers account for approximately 3% of all energy consumption in the United States.
Use efficient "Energy Star"-rated appliances and electronics. These devices, approved by the DOE and the EPA's Energy Star Program, include TVs, home theater systems, DVD players, CD players, receivers, speakers and more. According to the EPA, if just 10% of homes used energy-efficient appliances, it would reduce carbon emissions by the equivalent of 1.7 million acres of trees.
Chargers, such as those for laptops and cell phones, consume energy when they are plugged in. When they are not connected to electronics, chargers should be unplugged.
Laptop computers consume considerably less electricity than desktop computers.
7. Install daylighting as an alternative to electrical lighting.
Daylighting is the practice of using natural light to illuminate the home's interior. It can be achieved using the following approaches:
skylights. It's important that they be double-pane or they may not be cost-effective. Flashing skylights correctly is key to avoiding leaks;
lightshelves. Light shelves are passive devices designed to bounce light deep into a building. They may be interior or exterior. Light shelves can introduce light into a space up to 2½ times the distance from the floor to the top of the window, and advanced light shelves may introduce four times that amount;
clerestory windows. Clerestory windows are short, wide windows set high on the wall. Protected from the summer sun by the roof overhang, they allow winter sun to shine through for natural lighting and warmth; and
light tubes. Light tubes use a special lens designed to amplify low-level light and reduce light intensity from the midday sun. Sunlight is channeled through a tube coated with a highly reflective material, then enters the living space through a diffuser designed to distribute light evenly.
8. Insulate windows and doors.
About one-third of the home's total heat loss usually occurs through windows and doors. The following are ways to reduce energy lost through windows and doors:
Seal all window edges and cracks with rope caulk. This is the cheapest and simplest option.
Windows can be weatherstripped with a special lining that is inserted between the window and the frame. For doors, weatherstrip around the whole perimeter to ensure a tight seal when closed. Install quality door sweeps on the bottom of the doors, if they aren't already in place.
Install storm windows at windows with only single panes. A removable glass frame can be installed over an existing window.
If existing windows have rotted or damaged wood, cracked glass, missing putty, poorly fitting sashes, or locks that don't work, they should be repaired or replaced.
9. Cook smart.
An enormous amount of energy is wasted while cooking. The following recommendations and statistics illustrate less wasteful ways of cooking:
Convection ovens are more efficient that conventional ovens. They use fans to force hot air to circulate more evenly, thereby allowing food to be cooked at a lower temperature. Convection ovens use approximately 20% less electricity than conventional ovens.
Microwave ovens consume approximately 80% less energy than conventional ovens.
Pans should be placed on the correctly-sized heating element or flame.
Lids make food heat more quickly than pans that do not have lids.
Pressure cookers reduce cooking time dramatically.
When using conventional ovens, food should be placed on the top rack. The top rack is hotter and will cook food faster.
10. Change the way you wash your clothes.
Do not use the "half load" setting on your washer. Wait until you have a full load of clothes, as the "half load" setting saves less than half of the water and energy.
Avoid using high-temperature settings when clothes are not that dirty. Water that is 140 degrees uses far more energy than 103 degrees for a "warm" setting, but 140 degrees isn't that much better for washing purposes.
Clean the lint trap before you use the dryer, every time. Not only is excess lint a fire hazard, but it will prolong the amount of time required for your clothes to dry.
If possible, air-dry your clothes on lines and racks.
Spin-dry or wring clothes out before putting them into a dryer.
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Spec-D Third Brake Light LT-F15092RBCLED-CY
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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Deluxe Donatello Costume for Boys
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Whether you're a boy or girl, a teen or an adult, plus size or not; there's guaranteed to be great costumes for you here. Everyone is able to get in on celebrating the big events of the year with these new pieces that will show off your personality. Give yourself an outfit that nobody has seen before when you wear these out on Halloween or for a special occasion. There have been several hit films that have come out over the year that make for great new boys outfits such as the hit movie Iron Man 3. This metal superhero has gained in tons of popularity and gotten tons of new costumes for you to become the hero. Other looks are of Catwoman from the Batman series who became a very popular look for women to wear out.


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Here at TokBox we are preparing for the fifth WebRTC expo, taking place in San Jose next week from 18-20 November.
Since the last WebRTC expo in June, there has been a lot of action in the market;
Here at TokBox we are preparing for the fifth WebRTC expo, taking place in San Jose next week from 18-20 November.
Since the last WebRTC expo in June, there has been a lot of action in the market;
Today we are excited to announce the release of the OpenTok Android SDK 2.3.0 that include:
You can learn more about our Android SDK here. These updates will be available to developers starting today.
Next week TokBox will be attending the Gartner Catalyst Conference in San Diego, August 11-14. We're looking forward to being a part of the conversation about how technologists can leverage mobile, cloud, and big data to drive more operational effectiveness and competitive advantage. At TokBox we passionately believe that real-time communications, and WebRTC in particular, should be a core component of this conversation.
Throughout the course of the conference, the TokBox team will provide insight into the growing popularity of WebRTC within enterprise applications. The impact is beyond traditional communications systems and that is exactly what our CTO, Badri Rajasekar, will be talking about during his session:
With our fourth WebRTC Conference & Expo now a week behind us, we wanted to take some time to reflect on the event. There was never a dull moment for Team TokBox in Atlanta. We gave a keynote address, participated in several panel discussions, gave a live demo of our video driver and manned our bustling booth complete with a Bridgestone Golf B-FIT kiosk.
Hot off the heels of our OpenTok 2.0 Archiving API pricing and storage announcement we're excited to announce that our Archiving API has now gone into production.
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Nike Men's Dual Fusion Run 3 Running Shoes
$42 free shippingSHOP NOW
Posted 22 hr 20 min ago
Finish Line offers the Nike Men's Dual Fusion Run 3 Running Shoes in Black/Metallic Silver/Hyper Cobalt for $41.99 with free shipping. That's $2 under our September mention of these shoes in a different color and the lowest total price we've seen for this style. (It's also a current price low in any color by $7.) They're available in sizes 8 to 13. Deal ends December 1.


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Michael Brown's tragic death is a salient reminder that the United States is still far from being a racially just and equitable society.
New energy is transforming our cities into hotbeds of democracy and progressive innovation.
Bruce E. Levine, a practicing clinical psychologist, writes and speaks about how society, culture, politics and psychology intersect. His latest book is Get Up, Stand Up: Uniting Populists, Energizing the Defeated, and Battling the Corporate Elite.


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20.04.2012 - 17:53 | Source: PA Sports
Black Cats fined by FA
Sunderland have been handed a £30,000 fine by the Football Association after a misconduct charge was found to be proven.
The charge related to the conduct of the Sunderland players towards referee Phil Dowd during the 3-3 draw at Manchester City on March 31.
The Staffordshire official awarded a controversial penalty in the 43rd minute after adjudging Craig Gardner had fouled City striker Edin Dzeko in the area.
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NewcrestImage's Hotel to Anchor Redevelopment Project
Monday November 4th, 2013 - 11:48AM GPH
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DALLAS—NewcrestImage, based here, is developing a six-story hotel in Amarillo, TX, as part of a public-private partnership.
The hotel, to be built directly across the street from City Hall on six acres of land owned by the city, will be part of a $113 million complex scheduled to include a ballpark, a parking garage and a retail arcade with destination shopping and dining. It will also include 17,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.
Additional details of the hotel—including brand, number of rooms and timeline—are expected within the next 90 days, according to the company.
The company already has a hotel in Amarillo in its portfolio, the 107-room Courtyard by Marriott, housed in the Fisk Building, which dates back to 1927.
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Tags: NewcrestImage • Amarillo • Texas • mixed use • Hospitality • Construction/Renovation • Ownership • Openings •
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Oregon wave energy project may be delayed
Mar 28, 2013
By The Associated Press
REEDSPORT — A company planning to channel the power of the ocean off the Oregon coast into the electrical grid inland says it faces a new regulatory hurdle and needs more money for what has been billed as the nation's first commercial wave energy operation.
Ocean Power Technologies told investors this month that it's doing reports and studies for the government and is unlikely to meet a 2013 goal of installing a test buoy, one not connected to the electrical grid, the Roseburg News-Review reported Wednesday.
"This process could require significant delay of the deployment of the first PowerBuoy, as well as present additional costs for the company," CEO Chuck Dunleavy said in a conference call with investors.
The Pennington, N.J., company plans to install buoys that use wave motion to generate electricity, enough to power about 1,000 homes. Cables would take the power inland to the grid.
In August, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued the company a 35-year license to install up to 10 buoys about 2 1/2 miles off Reedsport on the south Oregon coast.
The company said it learned in February that the agency will require it to comply with all conditions of its license for 10 grid-connected buoys before putting a test buoy in the water.
"Since the first buoy was not going to be grid-connected, the company did not believe it was under the FERC jurisdiction," Chief Financial Officer Brian Posner said in an email to The News-Review.
The company in the past has relied heavily on funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and the Navy.
"We are speaking to several sources for additional funding at this time, but we would prefer not to discuss them publicly until firm commitments are established," Posner said. He would not say how much the company would need.
Besides generating electricity for onshore utility customers, the company said its buoys could have other uses, such as sonar and radar surveillance, tsunami warnings, oceanographic data collection, offshore platforms and offshore aquaculture.
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Yesterday, 12:22 amDifferent as Night and Day
November 20, 2014, 2:21 amYou know you are getting old when...
November 19, 2014, 10:40 amChronically unhappy people -- Do you fall into this category?
7 Habits of Chronically Unhappy People
I often teach about happiness and what has become exceedingly clear is this: There are seven qualities chronically unhappy people have mastered.
According to Psychology Today, University of California researcher Sonja Lyubomirsky states: "40 percent of our of our capacity for happiness is within our power to change."
If this is true and it is, there's hope for us all. There are billions of people on our planet and clearly some are truly happy. The rest of us bounce back and forth between happiness and unhappiness depending on the day.
Throughout the years, I've learned there are certain traits and habits chronically unhappy people seem to have mastered. But before diving in with you, let me preface this and say: we all have bad days, even weeks when we fall down in all seven areas.
The difference between a happy and unhappy life is how often and how long we stay there.
Here are the 7 qualities of chronically unhappy people.
1. Your default belief is that life is hard.
Happy people know life can be hard and tend to bounce through hard times with an attitude of curiosity versus victimhood. They take responsibility for how they got themselves into a mess, and focus on getting themselves out of it as soon as possible.
Perseverance towards problem versus complaining over circumstances is a symptom of a happy person. Unhappy people see themselves as victims of life and stay stuck in the "look what happened to me" attitude versus finding a way through and out the other side.
2. You believe most people can't be trusted.
I won't argue that healthy discernment is important, but most happy people are trusting of their fellow man. They believe in the good in people, versus assuming everyone is out to get them. Generally open and friendly towards people they meet, happy people foster a sense of community around themselves and meet new people with an open heart.
Unhappy people are distrustful of most people they meet and assume that strangers can't be trusted. Unfortunately this behavior slowly starts to close the door on any connection outside of an inner-circle and thwarts all chances of meeting new friends.
3. You concentrate on what's wrong in this world versus what's right.
There's plenty wrong with this world, no arguments here, yet unhappy people turn a blind eye to what's actually right in this world and instead focus on what's wrong. You can spot them a mile away, they'll be the ones complaining and responding to any positive attributes of our world with "yeah but".
Happy people are aware of global issues, but balance their concern with also seeing what's right. I like to call this keeping both eyes open. Unhappy people tend to close one eye towards anything good in this world in fear they might be distracted from what's wrong. Happy people keep it in perspective. They know our world has problems and they also keep an eye on what's right.
4. You compare yourself to others and harbor jealousy.
Unhappy people believe someone else's good fortune steals from their own. They believe there's not enough goodness to go around and constantly compare yours against theirs. This leads to jealousy and resentment.
Happy people know that your good luck and circumstance are merely signs of what they too can aspire to achieve. Happy people believe they carry a unique blueprint that can't be duplicated or stolen from -- by anyone on the planet. They believe in unlimited possibilities and don't get bogged down by thinking one person's good fortune limits their possible outcome in life.
5. You strive to control your life.
There's a difference between control and striving to achieve our goals. Happy people take steps daily to achieve their goals, but realize in the end, there's very little control over what life throws their way.
Unhappy people tend to micromanage in effort to control all outcomes and fall apart in dramatic display when life throws a wrench in their plan. Happy people can be just as focused, yet still have the ability to go with the flow and not melt down when life delivers a curve-ball.
The key here is to be goal-oriented and focused, but allow room for letting sh*t happen without falling apart when the best laid plans go awry- because they will. Going with the flow is what happy people have as plan B.
6 You consider your future with worry and fear.
There's only so much rent space between your ears. Unhappy people fill their thoughts with what could go wrong versus what might go right.
Happy people take on a healthy dose of delusion and allow themselves to daydream about what they'd like to have life unfold for them. Unhappy people fill that head space with constant worry and fear.
Happy people experience fear and worry, but make an important distinction between feeling it and living it. When fear or worry crosses a happy person's mind, they'll ask themselves if there's an action they can be taken to prevent their fear or worry from happening (there's responsibility again) and they take it. If not, they realize they're spinning in fear and they lay it down.
7. You fill your conversations with gossip and complaints.
Unhappy people like to live in the past. What's happened to them and life's hardships are their conversation of choice. When they run out of things to say, they'll turn to other people's lives and gossip.
Happy people live in the now and dream about the future. You can feel their positive vibe from across the room. They're excited about something they're working on, grateful for what they have and dreaming about the possibilities of life.
Obviously none of us are perfect. We're all going to swim in negative waters once in a while, but what matters is how long we stay there and how quickly we work to get ourselves out. Practicing positive habits daily is what sets happy people apart from unhappy people, not doing everything perfectly.
Walk, fall down, get back up again, repeat. It's in the getting back up again where all the difference resides.
November 11, 2014, 12:17 amHonoring all who served
I salute all that served in defense of this nation.
November 10, 2014, 10:25 amThe President-From a Canadian Perspective
The real problem with Americans and their disrespect for Obama—according to a Canadian
Written by William Thomas
There was a time not so long ago when Americans, regardless of their political stripes, rallied 'round their president. Once elected, the man who won the White House was no longer viewed as a Republican or Democrat, but the president of the United States. The oath of office was taken, the wagons were circled around the country's borders, and it was America versus the rest of the world, with the president of all the people at the helm.
Suddenly President Barack Obama, with the potential to become an exceptional president, has become the glaring exception to that unwritten, patriotic rule.
Four days before Obama's inauguration, before he officially took charge of the American government, Rush Limbaugh boasted publicly that he hoped the president would fail. Of course, when the president fails, the country flounders. Wishing harm upon your country in order to further your own narrow political views is selfish, sinister and a tad treasonous as well.
Subsequently, during his State of the Union address, which is pretty much a pep rally for America, an unknown congressional representative from South Carolina, later identified as Joe Wilson, stopped the show when he called the president of the United States a liar. The president showed great restraint in ignoring this unprecedented insult and carried on with his speech. Speaker Nancy Pelosi was so stunned by the slur, she forgot to jump to her feet while clapping wildly, 30 or 40 times after that.
Last spring, president Obama took his wife Michelle to see a play in New York City and Republicans attacked him over the cost of security for the excursion. The president can't take his wife out to dinner and a show without being scrutinized by the political opposition? As history has proven, a president in a theater without adequate security is a tragically bad idea. (Remember: "Apart from that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?")
At some point, the treatment of president Obama went from offensive to ugly, and then to downright dangerous.
The healthcare debate, which looked more like extreme fighting in a mud pit than a national dialogue, revealed a very vulgar side of America. Obama's face appeared on protest signs, white-faced and blood-mouthed in a satanic clown image. In other tasteless portrayals, people who disagreed with his position distorted his face to look like Hitler, complete with mustache and swastika.
Odd that burning the flag makes Americans crazy, but depicting the president as a clown and a maniacal fascist is accepted as part of the new rude America.
Maligning the image of the leader of the free world is one thing; putting the president's life in peril is quite another. More than once, men with guns were videotaped at the healthcare rallies where the president spoke. Again, history shows that letting men with guns get within range of a president has not served America well in the past.
And still the "birthers" are out there claiming Barack Obama was not born in the United States, although public documentation proves otherwise. Hawaii is definitely part of the United States, but the Panama Canal Zone where his electoral opponent Senator John McCain was born? Nobody's sure.
Last month, a 44-year-old woman in Buffalo was quite taken by president Obama when she met him in a chicken wing restaurant called Duff's. Did she say something about a pleasure and an honor to meet the man, or utter encouraging words for the difficult job he is doing? No. Quote: "You're a hottie with a smokin' little body."
Lady, that was the president of the United States you were addressing, not one of the Jonas Brothers! He's your president, for goodness sakes, not the guy driving the Zamboni at "Monster Trucks On Ice." Maybe next it'll be, "Take Your President To A Topless Bar Day."
In President Barack Obama, Americans have a charismatic leader with a good and honest heart. Unlike his predecessor, he's a very intelligent leader. And unlike that president's predecessor, he's a highly moral man.
In president Obama, Americans have the real deal, the whole package, and a leader that citizens of almost every country around the world look to with great envy. Given the opportunity, Canadians would trade our leader—hell, most of our leaders—for Obama in a heartbeat.
What America has in Obama is a head of state with vitality and insight and youth. Think about it: Barack Obama is a young Nelson Mandela. Mandela was the face of change and charity for all of Africa, but he was too old to make it happen. The great things Obama might do for America and the world could go on for decades after he's out of office.
America, you know not what you have.
The man is being challenged unfairly, characterized with vulgarity and treated with the kind of deep disrespect to which no previous president was subjected. It's like the day after electing the first black man to be president, thereby electrifying the world with hope and joy, Americans sobered up and decided the bad old days were better.
President Obama may fail but it will not be a Richard Nixon default, fraught with larceny and lies. President Obama, given a fair chance, will surely succeed, but his triumph will never come with a Bill Clinton caveat—"if only he'd got control of that zipper."
Please. Give the man a fair, fighting chance. This incivility toward the leader who won over Americans and gave hope to billions of people around the world that their lives could be enhanced by his example just has to stop.
Believe me, when Americans drive by the White House and see a sign on the lawn that reads, "No shirt. No shoes. No service," they'll realize this new national rudeness has gone way, way too far.
November 6, 2014, 12:42 amThe Prophesy
November 4, 2014, 9:26 amExercise your right and vote
November 3, 2014, 5:48 pm"Power is the enemy of new ideas"
Senate races hot on accusations, light on ideas----Everyone is talking loud and saying absolutely NOTHING!
Even with control of the Senate at stake, serious discussions about deficit spending, climate change, immigration, Social Security's long-term future and other knotty issues rarely emerged.
Republicans overwhelmingly devoted their campaigns to criticizing President Barack Obama's leadership and governing style. And Democrats, while sometimes forced to wanly defend "Obamacare," often caricatured their opponents as throwbacks eager to limit women's reproductive rights.
To be sure, superficial debates and 30-second attack ads have fueled U.S. political campaigns for years. But even by that measure, political veterans say, this fall's elections were remarkably light on policy and ideas.
"I'm struck by how not any of the significant issues that Congress has to deal with — immigration, infrastructure, a grand bargain on taxes and spending — are playing out in this election," said Steve Elmendorf, a former top Democratic congressional aide.
Some Democratic lawmakers weren't excited by a "Families First" agenda that party leaders wrote for the 1996 elections, Elmendorf said. "But we felt we had to have a policy umbrella to give to members."
"I don't think either side has done that this time," he said.
Campaign strategists say it's no surprise. From the start, Republicans centered their campaigns on tying their opponents to Obama's sinking popularity. As months passed, nothing reversed Obama's fortunes, and most Republicans saw no point in stirring things up with new proposals.
"When your opponents are destroying themselves, let them," said Texas-based Republican consultant Matt Mackowiak.
He said Republican leaders suppressed a request from some candidates for a party-wide platform or "contract" to highlight various ideas.
"When you do that, you give your opponents something to bash," Mackowiak said. "The strongest card we had to play was to run against the president."
Iowa's close Senate race was one where personal attacks and clever TV ads greatly overshadowed any discussion of how to tackle the nation's most pressing needs.
For Republicans, the breakthrough moment was a TV ad in which state Sen. Joni Ernst cheerily said she castrated hogs as a farm girl. The wink-wink reference to knowing how to "cut pork" propelled her to the GOP nomination and national attention.
For Democrat Bruce Braley, the biggest moment was a leaked video from a Texas fundraiser in which he warned lawyers that a farmer would chair the Senate Judiciary Committee if Republicans control the Senate. The apparent snub of six-term Republican Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa played badly in the farm-heavy state.
It was fitting, perhaps, that the Iowa contest's final weekend featured arguments about whether retiring Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin — whose seat is in play — made sexist comments about Ernst. That's what Republicans alleged after Harkin said many people find Ernst "really attractive, and she sounds nice."
Harkin continued, "I don't care if she's as good looking as Taylor Swift or as nice as Mr. Rogers, but if she votes like Michele Bachmann, she's wrong for the state of Iowa." Harkin apologized for the remarks Monday.
This year's issue that got the most campaign lip service was the president's 2010 health care overhaul, which Republicans call "Obamacare." Discussions, however, sometimes involved "a level of dissembling that's almost jaw-dropping," said congressional scholar Norm Ornstein.
He cited Republicans who vow to repeal the entire law while somehow restoring popular parts, such as requiring insurance companies to cover new customers who have serious health problems. Health officials say that pick-and-choose approach won't work, because it strips away revenue essential to pay for the popular features.
Democrats pressed congressional Republicans to spell out a plausible alternative to the health law. But GOP leaders, including House Speaker John Boehner, nixed the idea, leaving most Democrats to defend "Obamacare" without a competing plan to compare it to.
Ornstein said it might not matter much. America's voters are so divided, and so motivated by fear and anger, he said, "that whatever you say about issues isn't going to matter."
Some Virginia Republicans might unhappily agree. GOP Senate nominee Ed Gillespie, seen as trailing Democratic Sen. Mark Warner, was among the few Republicans nationwide to offer a comprehensive alternative to "Obamacare."
Gillespie's plan would no longer obligate people to obtain health insurance, but it would provide tax credits to help buy it. The proposal received modest attention in a contest dominated by TV ads that either accuse Warner of involvement in backroom political favoritism, or accuse Gillespie of being a profit-driven lobbyist.
John J. Pitney, Jr., a political scientist at Claremont McKenna College, says neither party is likely to produce policy proposals as long as they think the presidency or the House or Senate majority is within reach.
"Power is the enemy of new ideas," he said.
November 1, 2014, 12:35 pmEarly voting in Dekalb County was outstanding!
South DeKalb is showing up at the polls big time.
At 5:45 this evening on the last day of early voting at the Gallery at South DeKalb, the wrap around line to vote was long and thick. Reminded me of the 2008 Presidential Election when folks showed to elect Barack Obama. Sweet to see!! Now on to Tuesday. Yeah!
October 30, 2014, 4:16 pmYou can't believe everything that you read
Poll: Perdue Soars to 8-Point Lead Over Nunn in Georgia
Wednesday, 29 Oct 2014 09:36 PM
Businessman David Perdue has galloped to an 8-point lead over incumbent Georgia Democratic Sen. Michelle Nunn, a poll released Wednesday shows.
Read Latest Breaking News from Newsmax.com http://www.Newsmax.com/Politics/David-Perdue-Michelle-Nunn-Georgia-Senate/2014/10/29/id/604025/#ixzz3HdvtTwMb
This is why one can't believe everything that they read. Michelle Nunn is not an incumbent Senator nor is she a Senator. In my opinion, this was a Freudian slip. Newsmax is incompetent in their news reporting. Perdue has never had an 8-point lead. Latest polls show that they are neck and neck with Nunn having a slight edge thanks to her father's endorsement, the former Senator Sam Nunn, who is very popular in Georgia politics. He was a conservative Democrat. Yes we have them too. Surprise!
October 24, 2014, 12:00 amThe Bradley Report
Stoned Rush Limbaugh Makes Hypocritical History
By Demanding Harsh Penalties For Other Drug Users
See the link below. It speaks about Rush's hypocrisy when concerning others that was hooked on drugs.
October 23, 2014, 2:37 amDonald Trump to Mitt Romney: Don't Even Think of Running
Donald Trump to Mitt Romney: Don't Even Think of Running
In an interview Tuesday, Trump also expressed his disappointment with Romney's performance in the final four weeks of the 2012 campaign against President Barack Obama.
"No. I don't think he should run. He had his chance and he blew it," Trump told Breitbart News. "He had a great chance of winning. He should have won. That was an election that, frankly, should have been a much easier election than the probable 2016 candidate Hillary [Clinton]. That was an election that should have been won by the Republicans."
Earlier this month, speculation mounted that Romney might make another presidential bid after a visit to Iowa to campaign on behalf of GOP Senate candidate Joni Ernst.
According to The Washington Post, confidants have said they think Romney is grappling with whether he would take up the challenge should the party draft him, while multiple GOP donors have pleaded with him to throw his hat into the ring.
"I'm not running and I'm not planning on running. I've got nothing to add to that story," he told supporters earlier this month while on the campaign trail in Georgia.
In two separate interviews last week, Ann Romney also ruled out a possible run.
"Done," she told The Los Angeles Times. "Completely. Not only Mitt and I are done, but the kids are done," she said, in reference to their five sons. "Done. Done. Done."
She also made similar comments during an appearance on NBC's "Today" show.
Meanwhile, a Washington Post/ABC News poll out earlier this week found that Romney had the highest support among likely voters of any potential 2016 candidate, with 21 percent.
Specifically, 44 percent of likely Iowa voters said they would support Romney, compared to 43 percent who said they would back Clinton.
October 16, 2014, 11:58 pmWhere does most of our energy come from?
October 16, 2014, 3:23 pmSo you think you had a bad day, huh?
October 15, 2014, 11:55 pmThis says it all...
Everyone is not impressed with the repubs. Counting your CHICKENS before the eggs hatch can lead to disappointing results. Stay tuned once again.
Last Edited: October 15, 2014, 11:59 pm


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From the Runway: J. Mendel Bridal Collection
Authored by: Leah Sandhu
Is anyone else excited to see what's coming off of the Bridal Fashion runways?! If you haven't had a chance to catch up, here's a selection of some of my favourite's from the J. Mendel Collection. I've been working on our Bridal Look Book and have been dreaming about using some of these gorgeous gowns!
Photo source {J. Mendel Collection}
Who is your favourite bridal wear designer?
What dress are you dying to wear on your wedding day?
Stay tuned for more of my favourites! You can also find me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest for more inspiration.
Leah Sandhu is a Fusion Wedding Expert and Bridal Lifestyle Blogger at WeddingGirl.ca.
To have Leah's creative input and meticulous attention to detail for your Fusion celebration, make sure to Get In Touch! email@example.com


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Arizona Cardinals
Updated May 19, 2014 - 4:03 pm
Arizona Cardinals to sign fifth-round pick Ed Stinson to four-year deal
The Arizona Cardinals have reached a deal with their fifth-round pick from the 2014 NFL Draft.
Ed Stinson, the No. 160 overall selection, has agreed to four-year deal with Arizona worth $2.406 million, including an $186,740 signing bonus, according to Baltimore Ravens insider Aaron Wilson.
The 6-foot-4, 290-pound defensive end played four years at Alabama, helping the Crimson Tide win back-to-back BCS National Championships in 2011 and 2012.
He started all 14 games his junior season, and 12 of 13 contests in his senior year. He underwent surgery for a groin injury last summer, and he said it nagged him throughout his senior campaign, perhaps causing his drop to the fifth round.
Most Popular
Cardinals Audio
- Brock Huard, ESPN Seattle host - Friday November 21The Cardinals secondary will get physical with Seattle's wide receivers.
- Mark Schlereth- ESPN NFL analyst - Friday November 21ESPN NFL analyst Mark Schlereth breaks down the Cardinals' matchup with Seattle.
- Bickley Blast - Friday November 21Could Richard Sherman line up as a wide receiver against the Cardinals?
- It's Paul's Call with Paul Calvisi! - Friday November 21Paul�s Call tries to tackle the mystery that is Marshawn Lynch.
- Kurt Warner, Super Bowl-winning quarterback - Friday November 21Super Bowl winning-quarterback Kurt Warner thinks it's awesome how well the Cardinals are the playi


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When you're hungry as it is and you're aware of the absurd waste by the wealthy, you have no choice but to go after yours. And if that door between you and eating is locked, you kick it down. That's exactly what East Coast emcee Kev Decor is doing with his new promo single, BANG. Opening up with an excerpt from a Tupac interview and assembled from a team of producers that includes Victor Tavarez and LunÁtic, BANG gives listeners more than enough reason to put their money on Kev Decor in the next few years. After watching his mother work 20 years in a casino to support him and his siblings, Kev is ready to make his own deal happen by turning up the pressure on himself and his music. Somebody should tell his friends and family that their time is coming. This is Kev's third Booth feature, the last being the highly-rated Cops.
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10 Essentials
10 Essentials: Tommy Fazio
The president and fashion director of PROJECT talks about his favorite sport coat, the best jeans in the world, and how he stays inspired
7. Smythson writing folder
"My Smythson is black leather grain, and it has a notebook inside and a place for your business cards and pen. It goes everywhere with me—even if I go to dinner I bring it, because if I have an idea, I write it down. I also started last year to print out my week's calendar and put it in the folder, because sometimes I'd rather look at paper than at my phone."
- Tags
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Food + Travel
- David Chang's Kitchen: Don't Get All "Fresh" with Me
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Roundtable: Signing Week Part II
Wednesday marked the opening of the fall signing period, and now is the perfect time to visit some…
Dr. Roto watched all of Sunday's action and has compiled for you a recap of all the Fantasy comings and goings. Denver Broncos RB C.J. Anderson (pictured above) may have solidified himself as the team…Read More
The top 30 teams in college football after Week Thirteen...Read More
Finding just the right present for that special someone can be a challenge, so we've compiled a wide variety of hunting, fishing and outdoor gifts that you—or Santa—can deliver this Christmas.Read More
There have been so many great basketball players in the Atlantic Coast Conference since 2000, but which have been the very best? We break down the Player of the Century, Best Coach, Best Freshman, and…Read More
The story of the first Thanksgiving is filled with folklore and legend. But what's the real story? Here are 10 commonly believed myths about the First Thanksgiving debunked.Read More
Wednesday marked the opening of the fall signing period, and now is the perfect time to visit some…


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More Office purchase anomalies from Microsoft
Microsoft's Black Friday offer for Office 2007 may have ended but the strangeness of buying Office direct from Microsoft continues.
Microsoft's Black Friday offer for Office 2007 may have ended but the strangeness of buying Office direct from Microsoft continues. Not only does it pay to shop around – it pays to shop around different parts of Microsoft's own web site!
The options offered depend on what part of the Microsoft site you start from and both are more expensive than almost any other retailer.
The Microsoft Office site leads you to an option similar to that we talked about with the Black Friday offer – 'options' are added without request for various 'licence lock box' and DVD options.
We're obliged to some Office Watch readers who have pointed out the faint 'Remove' icon on the right of each product – indeed so faint that they are not even visible on some computer screens! The 'faint remove icon' trick isn't just Microsoft, we've noted similar complaints about the Ryanair site "I found the Remove button was hard to see and agree it is very annoying to have to deselect services you don't want rather than opting to pay for them if required.".
Not only are the Licence Lock Box options added without request, they have mysteriously increased in price. The cheapest option has more than doubled in less than a week – the $14.99 option was only $6.99 during the Black Friday offer. The most expensive choice is now $24.99 up from $16.99 while the 'Backup CD without Licence Key' choice remains at $12.99.
However if you start your purchase at the new Microsoft Store you don't get the extra, unasked charges – it's a straight purchase also for $149.95.
The Remove option is more obvious too (it's a standard text link).
Why pay for the 'Lock Box'?
It's hard to see the benefits of the 'Licence Lock Box' additional charges. If you buy from the Microsoft Store then both your product key and software download are available to you for no extra charge. According to the store info all Product Keys are kept with the order confirmation in your online account. The software download will be available until mainstream support ends for that product (say 5 years after release).
The 'Backup CD' choice is even harder to justify. If you want a product disk you can get one buying the retail box of Office which is usually available for much less than the high prices offered by Microsoft online. Even if you do buy from Microsoft at full price, all you have to do is choose the 'CD' option which is available for the same price plus $6.99 shipping – instead of extra charges ranging from $12.99 to $24.99.
Unless you absolutely, positively gotta have Office now (and your Office trial software has expired) then the Microsoft online store (whichever incarnation) is an expensive choice.
Almost any major retailer can sell you the same software for a lower price and with no extra charges for a physical DVD nor storage of your product key.
See Also
- Dell sells MS Office downloads
- Home and Student edition – Office 2007 licence terms
- Microsoft's "half-price" offer on Office 2007
- Wanna pay more for Office? Use the new Microsoft store
- Office 2008 for Mac – great saving opportunity
- Microsoft drops the price of Office in Pakistan
- Office 2007 H&S for 40% less in Africa


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David Barton's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Today has not been a good day for David Barton. First, NPR ran a devastating piece exposing his biased and shoddy scholarship and now the publisher of his book "The Jefferson Lies" has announced that it is pulling his book:
The Thomas Nelson publishing company has decided to cease publication and distribution of David Barton's controversial book, The Jefferson Lies: Exposing the Myths You've Always Believed about Thomas Jefferson, saying it has "lost confidence in the book's details." (See "The David Barton controversy," Aug. 8.)
Casey Francis Harrell, Thomas Nelson's director of corporate communications, told me the publishing house "was contacted by a number of people expressing concerns about [The Jefferson Lies]." The company began to evaluate the criticisms, Harrell said, and "in the course of our review learned that there were some historical details included in the book that were not adequately supported. Because of these deficiencies we decided that it was in the best interest of our readers to stop the publication and distribution."
Barton is currently preaching out in Hawaii, but we imagine he is not getting much rest or relaxation as he deals with this string of bad news.
Maybe he will be a little more careful about making demonstrably false statements from now on.
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Phillips River Mining Ltd Announces Extension Of End Date For Acquisition Of Afranex Gold Ltd
Phillips River Mining Ltd announced that with reference to the announcement made earlier, regarding the entry into a conditional merger implementation agreement to acquire all of the issued shares in Afranex Gold Ltd (Afranex) (Agreement). The date for the satisfaction of the various conditions in the Agreement was June 30, 2013. PRH now announced that, due to the challenging market conditions, PRH and Afranex (together with the other parties to the Agreement) have on June 28, 2013 conditionally agreed to extend the end date of the Agreement to 31 January 2014. This change has been made to enable the parties to have sufficient time in the current market to satisfy the various conditions precedent to the Agreement summarised in the announcement on March 27, 2013, most notably the requirement for PRH to raise a minimum of $4,000,000 at $0.20 per share. PRH, Afranex and the other parties to the Agreement have conditionally agreed to extend the end date for satisfaction of the conditions precedent from June 30, 2013 to January 31, 2014. PRH and Afranex have agreed, as part of this change to extend the date for the satisfaction of the due diligence condition from its original date of April 22, 2013 to January 31, 2014. The only condition to the extension is a condition subsequent that Afranex negotiate extensions of the various Project Agreements (summarised in the announced on March 27, 2013) to January 31, 2014 by July 31, 2013.
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User Profile: gompo
Member Since: July 22, 2011
January 7, 2014 at 7:45pm
This man is a stupid, stupid man and he is what is wrong with the Republican party!
He and a few others are the reason that conservatives are unwelcome in the Republican party. Just who in the hell do the talking heads want to us to vote for? They say vote "R" or "they" win…..
Any one who votes for this man, votes for tyranny and enslavement and are not CONSERVATIVES!!
This man is an embarrassment to the Republican party and if Republicans continue to support this tyrant after what he said on the News Sunday, I will no longer support them.
What kind of idiot would say that ANYONE needs to have the power the NSA has and think that it will not be abused? I guess this DUMB-WACKO BIRD does.
I honestly used to think that "If you are doing nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear" but the more data that is collected, the more laws enacted the more likely that I WILL be doing something "wrong" and I DO NOT LIKE IT!
I wonder how he would feel if I monitored his phone calls and told him "don't worry, you can trust me", If he would … TRUST ME?
This man is a tyrant, a power mad lord of the masses, every bit as disgusting as our current president and anyone that says that just because he has an "R" in front of his name, that somehow makes him better than someone with a "D" in front of theirs, is a PoC too!!
We need to WAKE up or we will never be free.
This man is a JACK WIPE and does not represent me! THANK GOD!
January 7, 2014 at 7:13pm
I guess it is better than swearing on an image of BO. It may not be too.
January 4, 2014 at 1:39am
Jesus could have tuned him out, cured him, got into the theater for free, and anything that he wanted to do. Jesus could have made him not be autistic.
I am not sure how I would have reacted. I am not sure there was a "right" way to act. I have as much right to enjoy the movie as much as the autistic child and his family did. I can not imagine spending the $ it takes to go out to a movie and not be able to enjoy it without ANYONE disrupting my experience.
There may have been a better way of handling it without name calling, but I am not sure what it would have been that would have been satisfactory for everyone involved.
November 25, 2013 at 3:43pm
Do you miss his "watchacallit"? Seems like you, either that or you might be a racist.
October 8, 2013 at 12:10pm
I admit it, I am not a Bible scholar. That being said, I am reading the Bible (several versions at the same time) and in my studies EVERYTHING says that the Bible is meant for the "common" people, yet every time I turn around I hear "context".
How is Gods message supposed to reach modern people when the last entry is almost 2,000 years old. Do I listen to others who tell us what the Bible says or do I read the Bible and allow God to talk to me? My readings have confused me if for no other reason than even different versions of the Bible do not agree. I can not understand people from 2k + years ago any more than they could understand us.
Why has God made the Bible if it is not for the masses? How do we feel when people today interpret the Constitution to us? Does the 2nd amendment only apply to muskets? Yet the constitution was written by men, do we have to defend it with "context"?
Remember what I started this with, I am not a Bible scholar. My point is, shouldn't the Bible defended by actions rather than trying to make excuses. If everyone has to become a Constitutional scholar… Oops, I meant, a Biblical scholar, in order to understand the Bible, NO ONE BENEFITS!
God either opens the Bible to you or he doesn't. For others to tell me what the Bible says, does me no good and takes Gods message and turns it into mans message.
I am sorry, but no "context" should be needed to understand "Gods Word" otherwise the Bible is as useless as our Constitutio
In reply to the story Fact Check: Does the Bible Really Condone Stoning?
Responses (2) +
October 8, 2013 at 2:30pm
Remember_Benghazi responded:
October 9, 2013 at 1:47pm
Stephencj responded:
December 28, 2012 at 12:32pm
every year for the past 15, i have put on my santa suit and gone to retirement homes, women shelters, charity events, and other types of places and events. i have never charged anything nor even expected anything other than to bring a bit of cheer to people.
i imagine the people in retirement homes know that santa is not "real" but they enjoy the thought that there are still nice people that want to spread some cheer anonymously and without thought of recognition.. they recognize the act rather than a lie.
i wonder what the kids would think of a strange man that is in no way familiar to them, looking no different than any man on the street, and may remind them of a male figure their mothers may be hiding from, comes into what they believe is a safe place to hand out candy? what is so wrong with giving them a few minutes of fantasy that there are still nice people in the world anymore?
personally, i never tell any child i am santa, i tell them i represent the spirit of what santa stands for, cheer and goodwill. that santa is in the heart and that anyone can be santa if their heart is willing to give of itself without need of compensation.
i personally do not have enough money to buy gifts for my own family, but as santa i can give a gift to anyone who believes.
i can only imagine that Touré considers Deity a lie, yet still celebrates Christmas….. i wonder who is really lying more….. santa or Touré?
In reply to the story MSNBC Co-Host Refuses to 'Lie' to His Children and Let Them Believe Santa Claus Is Real
September 23, 2012 at 12:36am
I want a grant!!! Now that I think about it, i will do it for free, I have a picture and i kinda need to go to the potty… On my way right now!!!
September 22, 2012 at 4:12pm
I have to agree with Greg on this one. i remember when Harry Reid said he had a source saying that Mitt Romney hasn't paid his taxes.Heck, I can say that I have sources that say the moon is made of cheese, it doesn't make it right. I admit….. i aint much of anyone, so what i say don't mean a darn thing. but who is to say that i aint the source close to the White House on a cell phone giving out this information? Stupid, I know….. but is it true??? LOL
In reply to the story 'The Five' Attacks TheBlaze Over Blind Sheikh Story: 'This Report Is B.S.'
September 7, 2011 at 10:15am
ok, if i were silly enough to call all union members a foul name, what does it matter? i am a nobody, just one of the unwashed masses that are constantly berated as being tied to god and guns so i do not matter.
it is strikingly different when the President of the United States of America calls for less rhetoric, yet allows the head of one of the most powerful organizations in America to call the mothers of an organization nothing less than dogs. where is the "leadership" i was not the one calling for less confrontational language, the President was. isn't he supposed to call out people who support him when they do not follow his advise?
well Mr. Hoffa, you can (and probably do) call me anything you want to, but what kind of fecal minded individual are you to bring my mother into it? say that to my face and expect me to get rather riled up enough that you better be prepared to defend yourself, otherwise keep your foul comments about me and not bring my mother into it (who was a very big fan of your daddy as well as you, but she really didn't appreciate what you called her very much, any more than i did).
In reply to the story 'No Regrets': Hoffa Defends 'Son of a Bitches' Speech Before Obama Address
September 7, 2011 at 10:10am
would anyone notice if there was communist flags in the background with leaders that are involved with the democrat party?
sure there would be…..
probably be senate investigations, ATF raids, FBI searches, and the justice department arresting everyone.
In reply to the story 'Tea Party Zombies Must Die': New Online Game Lets You Gun Down Beck, Bachmann, Palin…
September 7, 2011 at 2:33am
ok, if i were silly enough to call all union members a foul name, what does it matter? i am a nobody, just one of the unwashed masses that are constantly berated as being tied to god and guns so i do not matter.
it is strikingly different when the President of the United States of America calls for less rhetoric, yet allows the head of one of the most powerful organizations in America to call the mothers of an organization nothing less than dogs. where is the "leadership" i was not the one calling for less confrontational language, the President was. isn't he supposed to call out people who support him when they do not follow his advise?
well Mr. Hoffa, you can (and probably do) call me anything you want to, but what kind of fecal minded individual are you to bring my mother into it? say that to my face and expect me to get rather riled up enough that you better be prepared to defend yourself, otherwise keep your foul comments about me and not bring my mother into it (who was a very big fan of your daddy as well as you, but she really didn't appreciate what you called her very much, any more than i did).
August 31, 2011 at 6:47pm
At what point in a persons life do we become American? Is it one generation? Two, Three?
Personally I believe it is when you are a citizen of the United Stares. The addition of any word to American causes a false division in our culture.
Whenever i am asked what race I am, I always reply "American", not white, black, brown, yellow, etc.Why not? When is being American ever going to be considered as much a race as European, Mexican, Chinese? Is there a rule i just do not know about?
When we allow ourselves to be put in a box that is somehow considered to tell us who we are, others will always use that box to separate us into what they want us to be rather than what we want to be.
it is sad that we allow ourselves to be defined by the color of our skin (or our possible origin) rather than the content of our character….. i wonder, would the man who first said this rather be called an American or an African …..American?
In reply to PATTY HENRY's comment on the story Beck Blasts HuffPo's 'Out of Context Evil' for Story on Race Comments
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Launching a community news site is tough. You've got editorial decisions, like putting together a team of reporters and editors, plus technical hurdles like finding the right CMS and hosting service, and then there is the job of setting up and carrying out a successful business model. It's a complicated set of factors that could defeat even a sharp journalist with a good idea for a local news site. A new startup called Main Street Connect aims to make it easier for entrepreneurial journalists to get their sites off the ground, keep them going, and make money. And it aims to do so via a model familiar to anyone who's gotten the same McDonald's burger in California as in Maine: franchising.
Main Street Connect launched this year under Carll Tucker, the founder of Trader Publications, a community news company he sold to Gannett in 1999. In watching the decline of community news in the last few years, Tucker, who is passionate about hyper-local news, wondered if he could come up with a model that would translate the revenue structure he enjoyed in the 1990s-era boom times to the web today. Display advertising doesn't come close to the kind of money community newspapers once made. Ten years ago, Tucker said, he would pull in $20 to $25 per reader on advertising. If he could come close to the golden days of print in terms of revenue, he thought, he would see profits soar because the costs involved in publishing online are much less than printing news on paper. Tucker now believes he's come up with something that could make money, and he's got enough venture capital private equity investment behind him to help get 3,000 sites off the ground in the next few years to test it out.
"The idea is to provide a local entrepreneur with all the tools he or she might need to start a prosperous — that is, profitable — high-quality site or group of sites," Tucker told me in a phone conversation.
Tucker's program is essentially a franchise model. A local team assembles the journalists who will cover a community, then Main Street Connect provides the framework for everything else, including the technical setup (and ongoing support), plus an underlying business strategy. In the long run, Main Street Connect hopes the network of independent local sites across the country will reach a sizable audience in the aggregate (comprised, Tucker hopes, of suburban moms who make household spending decisions), making the sites attractive to national brands. In the short term, publishers of local sites get the infrastructure help, plus the ongoing benefit from the collective insight of many sites working side by side. Main Street Connect also publishes five sites in Connecticut, and plans to launch more, which will act as incubators to test revenue-generating strategies. In exchange for that assistance, Main Street Connect takes 17 percent off the top of whatever a site pulls in. There is no initial start-up fee.
The idea is a balance between the individual sites' needs and the MSC franchise: Local site publishers handle the nitty-gritty of cultivating connections, but they employ the Main Street Connect strategy. Tucker wants small business owners investing in sites on a weekly, monthly or yearly basis, he says, rather than based on ad impressions. He also expects to charge advertisers upwards of $700 a week, a price tag that dwarfs a typical online ad on a small news site. When we spoke, Tucker had just wrapped up a deal worth $57,000 for the year for his sites in Connecticut. He was in talks with a hospital about another deal that could be worth $100,000.
Tucker's approach takes into account the problem of fragmented media consumption. In the last few years, local businesses have had to buy more types of advertising to reach their audience (cable TV, radio, direct mail, etc.). There's no single place to reach customers in their community. That's where a Main Street Connect site comes in. If the community site can become an addictive place for heads of households, it can serve as an invaluable place for local businesses to be, as well.
And, so far, Tucker's Connecticut sites are proving there is an appetite for community news online. His first site launched, the Daily Norwalk, attracted 11,000 pageviews and an average of four clicks per visit (in a city with a population of 83,000), with more than half of all readers returning at least one more time that month. Tucker tells businesses to think of the decision to invest in the site as joining the virtual "town green" as a true community member. In return, the business gets traditional ad space, its employees featured in a "neighbors" portion of the site, and — the biggest departure from traditional ad/editorial divisions — a guaranteed number of stories written about it in the Features section of the site. (The sites are broken up into different verticals, with stories about local business sponsors running in the Feature sections of the site, not the main news vertical. Those stories will look like other features a staff writer would produce.)
"We support those who support us," Tucker explained.
It's a good deal for the business, but what about the site's responsibility to keep readers accurately informed? Tucker gave me this hypothetical. Say a local grocery store is embroiled in a tax scandal. The news section of the site will cover the scandal in the main news section, regardless of whether the store supports the site. The store would still get its feature-section piece, which would not link to the scandal coverage.
Tucker was quick to say that this model works for community news, but not necessarily regional, national or international news. Community news is about supporting your neighbors, he explained. The local site wants local businesses to succeed, and vice versa. It's a symbiotic relationship. "The old paradigm — church, state, advertising and editorial — when you get to community news…becomes much murkier."
Update: Soon after this story appeared, Main Street Connect's SEC filings revealed they'd raised a $3.97 million first round.
Photo courtesy of Copakavanagh under a Creative Commons license.
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