text:
The Objective Conservative exists to postulate views from the right reflecting conservative, sometime libertarian thought influenced by a belief that the United States of America is a country founded with a Christian/Judeo philosophy. It will express objective views of issues and candidates.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
The Arizona Law
Could it Be 1966?
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Judas Tells Us What A Great Job He Did On Health Care
On December 24, 2009, I voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), P.L. 111‑148, which passed the Senate by a vote of 60‑39. The House of Representatives passed this bill on March 21, 2010, by a vote of 219-212, and it was signed into law by the President on March 23.
I did everything in my power to significantly improve this health care reform bill. My actions prevented any government-run insurance program from being established, ensuring that the new coverage offered is built upon the private system we have today, maintained the federal Hyde Amendment, prohibiting taxpayer dollars from paying for elective abortions, and to make sure only legal residents receive coverage.
The PPACA will provide Americans with reliable and secure insurance coverage at all stages of their lives. The bill takes a market-based approach, offering tax credits for middle-class Americans to help make private health insurance more affordable. It also improves the delivery of health care for all of us and works to reduce the federal deficit.
Links to the legislation and related resources can be found on my website at:
I am truly thankful that so many Nebraskans such as yourself have shared their opinions and ideas with me on this crucial matter. Rest assured I will keep them in mind as Congress needs the input of all Americans to resolve such an important issue."
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
A Call To Action! - G.R. (Jerry) Florine
We live in a republican democracy, where the voting public is asked, at various interludes, to select their governmental representatives. The viability of the system relies initially upon the foundation of the Constitution and the legal system that it has promulgated! However, its continued success and development is dependent upon both the body politic who elects its representatives, and upon the fastidious attempt by those representatives to adhere to the Constitution and to will of their constituents, to whom they are accountable.
In this system, when the elected representatives appear to go astray, it comes incumbent upon those constituents to "rise up" , and make their concerns known, initially to their elected representatives, and then next in concerted action with like-minded peers, to lobby those representatives, and then potentially to remove them in the electoral process if they refuse to adhere to their interests. Over the next 2 ½ years, with the current Congressional elections, and the subsequent 2012 Presidential election, the political and economic future of this country will be defined to a degree that has occurred relatively infrequently in the 200+ years of its existence. It then becomes incumbent upon the "body politic" to engage in the debate that will ultimately define that future, and select those leaders, and their governing philosophy.
To this extent, I would personally prefer to hear a number of "voices" from potential leaders in the interim, who will compete for the overwhelming responsibility of representing those views to whom the majority of American voters can adhere, and will potentially provide the leadership that will ultimately help to right the ship of state. But we need that leadership all the way from President to Senator to Congressman to Governor to State Senator to City Mayor to City Council, etc., etc.! It is the responsibility of all of us to see that the "right" individuals are selected, and that they, in fact, ultimately, listen to their constituents! It is time for the American public to determine that "Potomac Fever" (generally defined as an elitist illusion that, once one ascends to the heights of government power, one somehow automatically acquires an omniscience that allows one to ignore the wishes and preferences of constituents) is a dangerous disease that really needs to be eradicated! It is time for a giant "tea party" of the American public to rise up and say "Enough, Already"! It is really OUR responsibility, each and every one, to wisely select that leadership that will help us to emerge from this morass! If that requires protests in front of elected officials offices, so be it! If that requires foregoing "Dancing With the Stars" or "American Idol" to make phone calls, put up yard signs, debate in public forums, or a meal out occasionally to contribute to a candidate or political organization, etc., so be it! It is, in the final analysis, really up to ALL of us, isn't it?
Kudos to Heineman. Heineman Tells Sebelius to Pound Sand
Good News Bad News
The Nelson 'Main Street' Dance
Monday, April 26, 2010
Are Americans Going John Galt? - Doug Patton
"We are fast approaching the stage of the ultimate inversion: the stage where the government is free to do anything it pleases, while the citizens may act only by permission; which is the stage of the darkest periods of human history, the stage of rule by brute force."
- Ayn Rand
Author and objectivist philosopher Ayn Rand was born in Russia just before the Bolshevik Revolution. She literally witnessed the slaughter and the dismantling of her country from the window of her father's pharmacy — which was subsequently seized by the Leninist state. As a young woman, she fled to the United States, where she never forgot what she saw in her native country. She developed a deep distrust of government as she became one of the most celebrated writers of the mid-20th century.
Rand was eerily prescient when she penned the crown jewel of her literary career, the 1,100-page tome she appropriately titled, Atlas Shrugged. The novel was twice as long as it needed to be, filled with long philosophical soliloquies about the evils of socialism; but it was so prophetic concerning America's future that today, in the age of Obama, Pelosi and Reid, its annual sales far outpace those of 1957, the year it became a New York Times best seller.
Deep into the story, the main protagonist, John Galt, is revealed to the reader as a brilliant young engineer who has decided to stop the engine of the world. He has invented a motor that can convert static electricity into electric power, but he refuses to share his knowledge or his invention with the world in an atmosphere of ever-intrusive government intervention into the private sector.
Slowly, methodically, Galt recruits the best and the brightest from the fields of science, mathematics, business, the judiciary, literature and the arts — in short, the greatest minds of the age — and convinces them to withdraw from a society increasingly hostile to individual achievement and merit. One by one, they form a secret community of their own in the mountains of Colorado. They work at menial jobs, refusing to contribute their talents to a society that not only refuses to appreciate them but actually lives off their productivity.
The result is a progressively decaying civilization where bureaucrats cannot understand why their welfare state is losing all of its best producers. And therein lies the frightening parallel with today. Could the most creative and productive members of society be "going John Galt"? Yes, they could.
An April 25, 2010, New York Times headline reads, "More American Expatriates Give Up Citizenship." The story opens with this statement: "Amid mounting frustration over taxation and banking problems, small but growing numbers of overseas Americans are taking the weighty step of renouncing their citizenship."
It seems that Americans living abroad are being treated like terrorists by U.S. banks, an unintended result of the USA Patriot Act. People who have had accounts in their American banks for decades have suddenly seen those accounts closed because of their foreign addresses. Increasingly, U.S. citizens are being denied banking services in American banks and, in some cases, by foreign financial institutions as well.
Then there's the fact that the United States of America is the only industrialized country in the world that taxes its citizens on income earned abroad — even when they are taxed in the country in which they are residing. One expatriate describe it as "taxation without representation." Another said that the rate of expatriation by Americans is just "the tip of the iceberg" in what we will see in the years to come.
If the misguided Obama health care scheme is allowed to stand, look for an additional exodus of people from that field, most notably physicians. Why should they subject themselves to the heavy hand of government control of their profession? And while we're at it, can small business people be far behind? As Lisa Schifferen has opined on her blog, "The Corner," at National Review Online:
"So, what happens when the heart surgeons, dentists, litigators, and people who employ 10 to 20 other people in their mid-size businesses decide that they don't want to pay for the excessive, pointless spending that the president finds so compelling?"
What, indeed. I think I saw the name "John Galt" on the blue vest of a greeter at Wal-Mart the other day.
© 2010 by Doug Patton
Doug Patton is a former speechwriter and public policy advisor who now works as a freelance writer. His weekly columns appear in newspapers across the country and on various Internet websites, including Human Events Online and GOPUSA.com, where he is a senior writer and state editor. Readers can e-mail him at email@example.com.
Words of Wisdom to the Judicial Branch
Will Suttle's Lackeys Cave On Police Union Contract?
It will be interesting to see if the the council has the intestinal fortitude to say no. We're hopeful they won't cave to the mayor who is trying to use the city's bond rating as leverage to make them pass it.
Given last week's vote, our guess would be that newly coronated Councilman Mulligan will probably vote for it as he did last week's civilian union one. In fact, we hear that he has already expressed solidarity with Aaron Hanson and the police union.
Best guess from us is the council crumbles with Gray, Gernandt, Jerram and Mulligan voting yes and council members Stothert, Thompson and Festersen voting no. We hope Mayor Suttle's four aforementioned lackeys have the gonads to say no, but then they are his lackeys.
That's the Way, Arizona.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Unions To Join Together to Fight Suttle on Healthcare?
"To all members:
The City has come out with a plan dealing with retiree health care that they intend to implement as soon as they possibly can. Your officers met with Human Resources Director Richard O'Gara and were made aware of this plan Monday 4-19-10. Unbeknownst to us a letter had also been mailed to all retirees last week that detailed the City issues with retiree health coverage and the rising costs associated with it.
At the Monday 4-19-10 meeting we were made aware of this plan and were immediately alarmed by the amount of detail put into this plan, we were also alarmed by the content of the plan, and deeply troubled by the timeline the City plans to adhere to.
The amount of information and detail put into this plan showed us that the City or its designee Blue Cross Blue Shield had been working on this for some time prior to this first meeting.
The content of the plan the City intends to move forward with in a nutshell is extreme. To sum up 12 pages of graphs and pie charts and statistics that outline the rising cost of active and retiree health care, the City's plan is to place all fire retirees under the current fire health care plan and to also charge a premium rate to those retirees. The premium varies dependant on the type of coverage the retiree needs; Family coverage, 35% or $685.55/month, Single+1, 30% or $419.72/month, and Single, 25% or$174.89/month.
The timeline the City has told they are working with was very troubling and here it is; they intend to present this proposal to the City Council today 4-20-10, they intend to present this proposal to the personnel board next week, get an affirmative vote out of the personnel board and send it back to the City Council for three readings and placement on the city books in ordinance form, for an effective date of July 1, 2010.
We were in immediate contact with AEC/CMPTEC , Local 251, and Police as this plan affects all retirees from all city unions. Principal officers of the city unions are going to meet on Friday morning to discuss a plan of action to address this radical plan of the City's.
This attempt to radically affect retiree health care is a disgraceful way to treat loyal 25-35 year
employees, and it will have long term, negative effects for all current employees and retirees. It must be addressed jointly, a copy of this letter will be e-mailed to all retiree addresses on file and a hard copy will follow to all retirees.
It is important to note that no "harm" has been caused as a result of this first meeting with the City, and until the proposal is put into ordinance form we are not harmed, therefore it is imperative for all the city unions to have unified course of action set, so if the ordinance is put into place, we can advise the affected groups how best to protect their rights. We will update all current employees and retirees as we get more information.We will be posting information on the Local 385 website as it becomes available.
Fraternally, Steve LeClair"
The Health Care Lies Beginning to Surface
April 23, 2010 Chris Hunt (402) 476-1400
WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Johanns today issued the following statement on the recent analysis of the new health care law by the actuarial experts at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services:
"Americans will be rightly alarmed to learn that the new health care law will likely increase national health expenditures by $311 billion over the next ten years according to this new analysis. It reaffirms that the higher taxes and fees are going to hit the pocketbooks of many Americans and hurt employers. I requested a similar analysis from CMS last December, and this analysis verifies that the American public was justifiably worried.
"Making matters worse, the CMS analysis also indicates that the proposed Medicare cuts in the new law are unsustainable and could prove devastating to hospitals, nursing facilities, and home health providers. Ensuring access to care is critically important as more Baby Boomers move onto Medicare. As we begin to see the true impact of this new law it will become evident that this was very poor policy."
From Yesterday's CMS Report:
· Bends federal spending curve upward "by a net total of $251 billion" over the next decade.
o Increases national health spending by $311 billion in 2010 through 2019. (page 4)
· Estimated reductions in the growth rate of health spending "may not be fully achievable" because "Medicare productivity adjustments could become unsustainable even within the next ten years, and over time the reductions in the scope of employer-sponsored health insurance could also become an issue." (Page 9)
· Medicare provider cuts based on economy-wide, non-farm productivity improvements result in Medicare payment rates to grow more slowly than the providers cost of furnishing services to beneficiaries which may cause providers to "end their participation in the program," and possibly jeopardize access to care for beneficiaries. According to the report 15% of all hospitals, nursing homes and other similar providers could be operating at a loss by 2019. (Page 9/10)
· The growth rate reductions from productivity adjustments (which are the source of a substantial portion of the Medicare savings in the new law) are unlikely to be sustained on an annual basis (page 12)
· The other Medicare savings provisions in the bill that are intended to help control future health care cost growth will have a "negligible financial impact over the next 10 years" (Page 13)
· The new fees and excise taxes will "generally be passed through to health consumers in the form of higher drug and devices prices and higher premiums" and will increase national health expenditures. (page 17)
· A little more than one-half of those estimated to become insured as a result of PPACA in 2019, 18 million people, would receive their coverage through Medicaid. For these individuals, the report notes that as a result of more physicians refusing to treat Medicaid patients, it is reasonable to expect that a significant portion of the increased demand for Medicaid could be difficult to meet. (Page 20)
· Businesses would pay $87 billion in penalties between 2014-2019.
CMS Expressed Similar Concerns In January Analysis Of The Senate Version Of The Health Care Law:
· "[W]e estimate that overall national health expenditures under this bill would increase by an estimated total of $222 billion (0.6 percent) during calendar years 2010-2019..." (Richard Foster, "Estimated Financial Effects Of The 'Patient Protection And Affordable Care,' As Passed By The Senate On December 24, 2009," Centers For Medicare And Medicaid Services, 1/8/2009)
· CMS is skeptical of the Medicare savings: The report uses terms such as "unrealistic," "doubtful," and "difficult to attain." (Richard Foster, "Estimated Financial Effects Of The 'Patient Protection And Affordable Care,' As Passed By The Senate On December 24, 2009," Centers For Medicare And Medicaid Services, 1/8/2009)
Earth Day, P.E.T.A., Hunters and Taxes, Babies in the Womb
In 1970, a Senator from Wisconsin named Gaylord Nelson raised his voice and called on every American to take action on behalf of the environment," reads President Obama's Earth Day proclamation. "In the four decades since, millions of Americans have heeded that call and joined together to protect the planet we share."
Well, I've got news for our President. Millions of Americans who had never heard of Gaylord Nelson "took action on behalf of the environment," decades before the good Senator "raised his voice." More newsworthy still, most of these belonged to those insufferable rustics who "cling to guns and bibles." To wit:
The Pittman-Robertson Act (1937) imposed an excise tax of 10 per cent on all hunting gear. Then the Dingell-Johnson act (1950) did the same for fishing gear. The Wallop-Breaux amendment (1984) extended the tax to the fuel for boats. All of this lucre goes to "protect the environment" in the form of buying and maintaining National Wildlife Refuges, along with state programs for buying and maintaining various forms of wildlife habitat.
For the last couple of decades hunters and fishermen have contributed over $1.5 billion per year towards Senator Gaylord Nelson's lofty goal. To date, hunters and fishermen have shelled out over $20 billion "on behalf of the environment." A study by the National Shooting Sports Foundation found that for every taxpayer dollar invested in wildlife conservation, hunters and fishermen contribute nine.
Going further, they don't tax kayaks and rock climbing picks and ropes – but do tax my compound bow and rifle scope. They don't tax the plastic water bottles on Mountain bikes (or the mountain bike itself, come to think of it) or the cutesy spandex shorts these yo-yos wear – but do tax my duck decoys and camo pants. They don't tax Yanni and Enya CDs – but do tax the arrows I fling at Bambi before he sizzles on my grill as Bambi-burger (lovingly draped with thick bacon slices that dribble their appetizing fat into the meat while cooking. Then a chunk of cheddar cheese melted on top.)
You talk about a "Cheeseburger in Paradise," Jimmy Buffet! Try one from Bambi!
None of these creatures (from what I hear) make a decent Gumbo or even a passable Chili. I must be crazy. But I have no choice. And this avalanche of tax dollars comes on top of those I fork over for the stacks of licenses, and permits and stamps I'm required to have before I set a foot afield or set my boat afloat. Last season these totaled $500. (But sweetie! There are huge fines for hunting and fishing without them!)
And all the above is on top of my voluntary dues and assorted donations to such as Ducks Unlimited. (But snookums! I thought you loved the duck print I brought home at 2: 45 AM from the DU Banquet/auction? And especially the picture of me with the nice Hooters girl who worked the keg in her camo bikini?) According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation these donations to such as DU, Pheasants Forever, etc. total $300,000 a year.
As mentioned, just last year, hunters and fishermen (not birdwatchers, not rock-climbers, not kayakers, not nature-hikers) "contributed" $1.5 billion "big ones" "dollarinies," "donuts" (to quote Steve Martin as The Jerk) to purchase and maintain places for greenie-weenies to frolic and nature-watch.
You'd think some thanks might be in order from these freeloaders – from the smarmy crowd not forced to buy any "Bird-Watching stamp" or "Hiking stamp," or "Kayaking stamp," or "Rock Climbing Stamp," or Yanni-Listening Stamp" or "Quartz-Crystal-Gazing-Stamp." You'd think Tofu-munchers might appreciate us hunters' funding habitat for their spotted owls, kangaroo rats, snail darters and louseworts, and bankrolling the scenery on their "nature trails" as they self-righteously plod along in their "earth-friendly" Birkenstocks and granola-flecked frocks., quartz crystals rattling in their pockets en route to a hillside Sunrise worship, crystal-gaze and Enya-listen.
We pay our way – in fact, we pay the hikers and bird-watchers way, too. But rather than going afield as passive voyeurs, rather than regarding nature as a Disney cartoon, we accept nature's diktats. We revel in our role as full-fledged participants in her cycle of fang and claw (but add bullets, buckshot, broadheads, treble hooks and gaffs to the primal drama).
You'd think the voyeurs might throw us a bone every now and then? Well, think again. Here's the Sierra Club's official position: "Wild animals should not be valued principally in terms of whether they can serve as targets. As members of the family of life, we should respect the moral right of all creatures to exist, to be free of unnecessary predation, persecution and cruel and unduly confining captivity."
Anyway, you're quite welcome, Greenies!"
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Stothert Again in Minority
Yes, we like Stothert but it's because she seems to be the only one on the council, for the most part, who is willing to speak up for the interests of Omaha tax payers and for fiscal conservatism. If that makes her our favorite, we proudly plead guilty.....
Mayor Suttle's Confusing Messages and Ineptness
Well, we agree that retirement healthcare benefits have been way too generous for way too long. Giving a 45 year-old retired police or fireman virtually free insurance is just stupid but negotiations have failed to acknowledge that for years. Sadly, dealing with this the way the inept Suttle has will probably fail a court test leaving the city holding the bag until the next contract negotiations which probably won't come about until this sad excuse for a mayor is out of office.
These healthcare costs should have been negotiated with contracts being considered now as well as those approved in the past.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Mulligan joins Democrats in voting for bankruptcy or tax increases
Republicans should, as the saying goes, be careful what they wish for. Yes, they got a Republican but they also got a councilman that apparently wants to sing kumbya while he repays his mentor and Democrat relative Don Klein for his appointment by disregarding fiscal sanity.
Not a good start for the new councilman......
Beware those Tea Party Radicals
The left conveniently forgets people like the 1960s black-power apostle H. Rap Brown, who said, "Violence is American as cherry pie." No it isn't, but peaceful protest is."
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Heineman and Nebraska Lead the Way on Sanctity of Life -- Doug Patton
Dave Heineman became governor of my home state of Nebraska in 2005 when Mike Johanns resigned that position to become George W. Bush's Secretary of Agriculture. Heineman had been in politics all his life, having served as chief of staff to a congressman, as a city councilman in his home town of Fremont, as executive director of the Nebraska Republican Party, and as Nebraska's state treasurer, before becoming Johanns' lieutenant governor.
Heineman's first big political test as governor came when legendary former Nebraska football coach and three-term congressman Tom Osborne decided to challenge him for the GOP gubernatorial nomination in 2006. Osborne had been elected with margins most politicians can only dream of — as high as 92 percent — in his sprawling Western Nebraska congressional district, which encompasses 66 of the state's 93 counties.
Amazingly, Heineman defeated Osborne by running a flawless campaign and by vetoing a bill that would have given in-state tuition rates to the children of illegal aliens. The veto was overridden by Nebraska's one-eyed legislature (my pet name for our nonpartisan Unicameral), but Heineman's point was made. Osborne, who had supported the bill, went on to lose the primary election — even in his own congressional district — primarily over that issue.
Since that time, Dave Heineman has been one of the most conservative governors in modern times. He signed tax cuts that reduced the income tax, the state's portion of the property tax, and did away with the state death tax. He called the Legislature into special session to address a budget shortfall, informing them that they had to accomplish their task through budget cuts because he would veto any tax increases.
During the battle in Congress over Obamacare, Heineman made national news by announcing that the state of Nebraska did not want Democrat Sen. Ben Nelson's backroom deal that became known as the "Cornhusker Kickback." In a public letter to Nelson, the governor informed him that Nebraskans did not want special treatment, only equal treatment, and urged him to vote against the bill (an admonition shared by 67 percent of Nebraskans, which Nelson ultimately ignored).
Earlier this year, Heineman took heat from some in the pro-life community when he refused to authorize taxpayer funded prenatal care for illegal aliens. The hue and cry was that this action would cause women to seek more abortions, but the governor's pro-life bona fides are solid, and he stood firm in opposition to the use of taxpayer money for illegals in any form.
Then, last week, Gov. Heineman signed into law two pieces of legislation that will ultimately test the constitutional validity of the infamous 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision. The first and most controversial is LB1103, called "The Abortion Pain Prevention Act." This legislation bans abortions after the 20th week of gestation based on the strong evidence that a pre-born baby's brain develops the sensory capacity for pain at around 21 weeks.
"I feel the state has a legitimate and substantial interest in protecting the life of an unborn child at 20 weeks," said the bill's sponsor, State Sen. Mike Flood, Speaker of the Legislature.
The second bill, LB594, requires a woman seeking an abortion to complete a screening process for mental health and other problems that could arise following the procedure.
"Women are suffering from avoidable physical and psychological complications that may have been prevented or minimized had they received adequate pre-abortion screening and counseling," said State Sen. Cap Dierks, who introduced the bill. "Women deserve better. LB594 will ensure that women receive the appropriate standard of care."
The state of Nebraska is leading the way on the issue of protecting the sanctity of innocent human life because Leroy Carhart, one of the most notorious abortionists in the country, practices here. After all, scripture teaches that where sin abounds, grace abounds that much more. Certainly, this nation is in need of God's grace. Thanks to the leadership of Gov. Dave Heineman and the courageous state senators who stood up for the sanctity of life, perhaps Nebraska can help lead the way.
© 2010 by Doug Patton
Doug Patton is a former speechwriter and public policy advisor who now works as a freelance writer. His weekly columns appear in newspapers across the country and on various Internet websites, including Human Events Online and GOPUSA.com, where he is a senior writer and state editor. Readers can e-mail him at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Mayor Suttle's Town Halls
Those who attended got the chance to fill out a survey form for input about city services. They were asked to pick their top four priorities for each of the following departments.
Omaha Police Department:
- Eight minute response time on emergency calls
- Regular Maintenance of police cruisers
- School resource officers
- Front desk services (accident reports, offense reports, etc.)
- Traffic control at events at Qwest Center, Memorial Park, parades, etc. (no doubt this includes tea parties).
- Horse Patrol
- Helicopter Unit
- Community resource services
- Receive follow-up contact from investigation reports within one month
- Receive follow-up contact from investigations within two weeks
Omaha Public Library:
- All twelve libraries remain open for current hours (average 60 hours per week each library)
- After school and summer programing for children and teens
- Maintain current seven days/week service at three libraries (Downtown, Millard, Abrahams)
- Maintain current materials budget for books, DVDs and audio books.
- Increase materials budget to keep up with inflation
- Provide access to on online subscription services for genealogy, Consumer Reports, Health & Well Being, etc.
- Subscriptions to popular print magazines and newspaper collections
- Maintain current level of janitorial and security services at all locations, to ensure safe and clean facilities
- Meeting room space for community groups and organizations
- Outreach to schools, senior centers, daycare facilities and the home bound
Parks, Recreation & Public Property
- Removal of dead and dangerous trees
- Keep golf course open/possible mixed use
- Keep pools open full hours
- Parks mowed weekly during the summer
- SunDawgs programs-Activities for youth in parks
- Plant and maintain flowers & trees in parks and public areas
- Maintain hours & activities at Community Centers
- Well-maintained park roads and trails
- Safe park playground equipment
- Provide & maintain sports fields (baseball, soccer, tennis, etc.)
Public Works Department:
- Residential streets plowed within 48 hours from end of snowfall
- Weekly garbage collection
- Weekly recyclables collection
- Christmas tree drop-0ff sites
- Weekly unlimited yard waste collection (April-November)
- Annual spring clean-up--disposal of bulky items
- Litter receptacles in high foot traffic areas
- Graffiti removal on private property
- Free replacement of recycle bins
- Retain free parking meters--(5 p.m. thru 8:30 a.m., M-F, and all day weekends and holidays
Omaha Fire Department:
- Safety code enforcement in homes & businesses
- Arson investigation
- Public education & fire prevention outreach in the community
- Residential smoke alarm installation/replacement
- Specialized rescue training (ice, water, rope, etc.)
- Firefighter continuing education & training.
- A fire station in my neighborhood
- Four (4) firefighters per truck to maintain current response time
- Availability of cardiac arrest equipment
- Seek grant funds for fire and emergency medical services
As we reflect upon the questions there may be some results that can justify elimination or reduction of certain services but none seem to deal with the hard realities of union contracts (save the 4 man issue with the fire department) and taxes. We'd suggest that none of the ultimate tally of priorities will deal with the major need of Omaha which is leadership at city hall from it's mayor who seems more content to tinker with the small items rather than make tough leadership choices.
Tea Party Time
Thursday, April 15, 2010
The MECCA Board; The Reason For Suttle's Appointment
So here's what we found
Lund Contributions to Suttle:
- Lund Company: Jim Suttle for Mayor, 4/27/2009 $2,500
- Lund Company: Friends for Suttle, 12/18/2007, $1,000
- Lund Company: Friends for Suttle, 8/19/2005, $250
- Lund Company: Friends for Suttle, 3/22/2005, $500
Gail Werner Robertson Contributions to Suttle:
- $.00
Enough said.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
The House May Be Yours If You Don't Screw Up
Health Care Like that in Massachusetts Coming to You Soon
By Dave Cribbin
"If I told you a story of how one of the bluest of the blue states, Massachusetts, would of its own accord institute health insurance rationing three months after electing a Republican to the Senate to stop ObamaCare, that would normally be considered satire. That is unless the story was true, then we would just call it irony!
Ironically, it is very true that Massachusetts, with what is essentially it's own ObamaCare program, has started to ration health insurance. Surely that wasn't Governor Patrick's intent when he rejected the insurance companies' request for premium increases. Like all politicians, he just wanted to get re-elected, and being tough on insurance companies is a very popular stance among Democrats these days.
Nevertheless, rationing is precisely what the outcome has been. The insurance companies did what any business does when faced with a money-losing product: they declined to sell any more of that money-losing product. As a result you can't buy health insurance in Massachusetts, even though it is against the law not to! Ain't that a catch-22?
This is always the result when politicians dictate how businesses must operate; they always do what is politically expedient instead of what makes economic sense. Politicians constantly prove that they are checkers players in the chess match of business, unable to see even one move ahead. As a result, they compound their initial mistakes with additional ones, as the unintended consequences of the laws they've just passed undo what they were supposed to have accomplished.
The governor thought that by standing up to the greedy insurance companies he could portray himself as a hero in the fight against the high cost of health insurance. This is an awfully thin argument, considering that three of the four largest insurers in Mass are non-profits, as noted by the Wall Street Journal in a recent article.
Those high costs, I might add, were imposed by the state on its residents when it mandated coverage for all, instituted community rating and eliminated the insurance companies' ability to refuse coverage to people with preexisting conditions. I'm sure it came as quite a shock to him that his savvy political skills had instead of making insurance more affordable to his constituents made it unobtainable.
After all, who could have possibly foreseen this would be the result of his actions? I'll tell you who! Any businessman worth his salt would have seen that one coming a mile away, but that's because they are in the business of making economic decisions, not political decisions. Business owners understand that they are in business to make a profit and those who don't , don't hang around all that long.
The mass insanity that is playing out now in the Bay State is what's in store for the rest of us if ObamaCare remains the law of the land. The government will mandate greater coverages for the insurance companies to provide while denying them the ability to recoup their cost through increased premiums.
When insurers are prohibited from selling their products at anything but a loss they will be forced to stop selling them. It will then be time for more regulation to fix the problems the previous laws created. On it will go until it reaches it's inevitable conclusion: the government controlling healthcare cost through the rationing of healthcare. That's when being politically connected will literally be a matter of life or death."
Dave Cribbin, President of Tailwind Capital, is a Liberty Features Syndicated writer for Americans for Limited Government.
Objective Hero of the Month Award Goes Local to City Councilwoman Jean Stothert
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
We Need a Voice In Washington -- Ted Quick
We need a voice to explain the destructive cost overruns with the necessitated treatment cut backs in the Massachusetts' universal-healthcare program; the reasons for California's and New York's bankruptcies, and how the left is jamming down our throats the very same programs that caused those failures.
Where is the voice that will speak for you and me? We don't have one. We have talk radio, but we don't have a voice in Washington. Oh, we hear occasional rumblings from there, but we need someone front and center; someone on the national stage. We need a voice that day in and day out counters the lunacy and inexhaustible reality distortions coming from Washington and which are being propagated and exaggerated by the mass media. We need an antidote to the horror being carried out before our very eyes. America needs a strong conservative leader to emerge if we have any hope of curbing our country's demise.
Perhaps I don't understand politics, but I do understand the destruction of a country. And I do understand that the need for a truthful leader has never been more critical for our country's future than it is right now. In November many will vote against Obama and his regime, but can you imagine how much more meaningful it would be if we could vote *for* someone instead of against another? Don't forget 2008 -- "voting against" someone then, might very well cost us our country forever! We in America need someone around with whom we can coalesce. We need a centerpiece, a core, an anchor. We need a leader – and we need that leader today. Our country's very survival depends upon it. And so does the future of the Republican Party.
The Census Bureau: Getting It Right
We Eat Humble Pie: City Council Chooses Mulligan
Assuming no deals were made and we have no reason to believe any were, this appointment sets up some interesting dynamics for the future. With union contracts to be approved and the city's dismal financial situation, the appointment of a Republican (who incidentally has not been involved in the local Republican community) should not please Mayor Suttle who needs council votes for upcoming tax increases and contracts. Further, this will put more pressure on the four Democrats, particularly Councilman Festersen who has been trying to avoid exposing himself to charges of voting for tax increases and the terrible union contracts negotiated by Suttle, etal.
We were impressed with Mulligan and wish him well, and we'll get back to eating our humble pie.
Monday, April 12, 2010
The Next Council Member?
Each candidate was asked a series of 'structured questions' (meaning the same one) by each council member. Then there was a series of 'lightening round' questions as Council President Gernandt referred to them. We're not sure that some of the questions had much to do with being a council person.
Essentially, Councilman Grays structured question was, "Give me a specific case in which you conformed to a policy with which you didn't agree." Jerram's structured question was, Tell us of a time when your active listening skills really paid off for you." Stothert asked, "Can you tell us the toughest challenge you've faced?" Festerson, asked one of the more relevant questions, "What are the top priorities for District 7 and for the city as a whole?" Gernandt, asked what the candidates might want to share over and above their submitted resumes.
While the lightening round questions were not structured each of the council members still asked the same question(s) of each candidate. Gray asked each candidate their opinion of the reason for youth violence and the solution to the problem and whether making tougher laws and incarcerating was the best solution. Stothert asked one of the most relevant of questions when she asked if the candidates had made any commitments to support the police or fire union contracts and if any had been endorsed by any union or organization. Festersen probed the candidates as to their sense of what the city's role was in job creation. Jerram asked why each candidate was interested in serving and asked them to answer the question in regard to their past voting record as an expression of that interest. Thompson tried to get the candidates to assess how they would balance the citizens desire for services against balancing budgets.
Here's our assessments and grades for the candidates' performances:
Summary of responses:
- KRAFT: On specifics as to examples of past decisions, he was unspecific because most of his examples came from his legal representation of folks and he obviously didn't want to risk disclosing confidences or breaching attorney/client privileges. Said the toughest challenge he had faced was death of his mother. On specific challenges, he said he "didn't know what specific challenges are," but mentioned financial, police and fire union contracts, sewer projects, making Omaha a destination city and youth crime. He told Gray he had concerns about being overly tough on crime rather than smart on crime. Said he had received no union endorsements and made no commitments. On the budget, he told Thompson that the city needs to look at efficiency first but wouldn't rule anything out including raising taxes. GRADE = C
- MULLIGAN: Very specific in response to priorities for District 7 and the city. Said, 1) Get streets back in shape, 2) Get streets in subdivisions in shape since they've suffered much deferred maintenance, and 3) consummate union agreements. On specific challenges he cited dealing with service disruptions in Louisiana after hurricane as part of his job at Union Pacific. He told Thompson that it was important to put aside party affiliations and make decisions in best interest of the community. To Gray, he cited his involvement in YMCA and other youth organizations. He told Stothert he had no endorsements and had made no commitments on union contracts. He said on budget issues the city needs to look at public works and he'd like to do a 'ride-a-long' just as is done with police. GRADE = B
- KUDYM: Told Stohtert toughest challenge was three years ago when wife was diagnosed with cancer. Told Jerram his listening skills were honed in dealing with many State Farm clients and assessing their needs. Couldn't answer Gray's question as to when he had to deal with a policy that he didn't agree with. He told Festersen the top priority for District 7 and the city was the city's financial situation has to be strengthened, so no specifics for his district. Said he had made no promises on contracts but understood the AFL-CIO was backing him. On Gray's question about crime, Kudym said the city needed grassroots efforts to resolve. He told Thompson that he hoped taxes didn't need to be raised but that may be the reality. Of all the candidates, Kudym's were the most nebulous and unspecific. GRADE = D
- REGAN: Shared her commitment to District 7, noting she had lived their most of her life. Talked about listening skills developed in her business and while serving as a teacher and answered questions with specifics for the most part. Said council member need to be open and "take the middle ground". On specifics for District 7, she said 1) condition of roads and 2) keep district growing and vibrant. Said she had made no commitments on union contracts and had received no endorsements. On taxes she told Thompson that the city needed to look at efficiency studies, i.e., for police department. She probably didn't win any friends there. Told Gray that city couldn't arrest its way out of crime and that there is a need to work with youth. She told Jerram that, "People who don't vote don't have a right to an opinion." She told Stothert that the most valuable credentials for a council person was honesty, willingness to listen and openness. GRADE = B-
- YANKE: Told Gernandt that he had a strong sense of working cooperatively and colloquially. Talked about having to deal with teaching from textbooks he didn't necessarily agree with. He told Thompson that he was offended by the efforts of the Nebraska State Republican Party to make phone calls in the district on his behalf and he disowned that effort. He told Festersen that his top priorities for District 7 were quality of life, looking at contracted service opportunities, street maintenance and how to provide efficient services. Said he would be more conservative in order to avoid tax increases. Toughest challenge was losing two parents within a week's time. He gave Ben Gray the best answer to his question about youth violence talking about how as a teacher while in west Omaha drove a child home to North Omaha (with parent's permission), got young people more involved through Junior Achievement. He said the city needed real life skills to deal with crisis level situation of violence in community. Said he had made no commitments and had no endorsements other than the uninvited one of the state GOP. On job creation, he told Festersen that city was fortunate to have David Browne at the Chamber, that the council needs to network with the chamber and that he advocated getting organizations involve to explore bringing jobs to Omaha. GRADE = B+
With the above it was clearly obvious to us that Scott Yanhke is the best candidate to fill Sigerson's council seat and that Gary Kudym is the worst. Clearly, Yanhke won't get the appointment because he is a Republican. Kudym still has the support of Terry Moore and the AFL-CIO. Gernandt is solidly behind him. There may be a realization among some that Kudym may not be the most educated appointment in which case Regan will no doubt be the most likely alternative to get the appointment tomorrow.
The Impact of the Steven's Retirement on the Fall Elections
Here's what he has to say:
'The announcement by Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens that he will retire this summer amounts to a blot-out-the-sun moment in the political world -- an event that will dominate news coverage for several months (at a minimum) and almost certainly play some role in how the two parties position themselves in advance of the November midterms.
Since the Stevens retirement is only a few hours old, the political reverberations are just starting to be felt. But, at first glance, here are a few of our thoughts about the impact of a Court fight this spring and summer.
- A base bump: No issue energizes the base of the Republican party like a Court opening. And, given that President Barack Obama is almost certain to nominate someone who the GOP base won't be particularly happy with, you can expect the right -- already riled up over health care -- to grow even more so as this process moves forward. Remember that base intensity is one of -- if not the -- most critical elements of electoral success in midterm elections, which are, traditionally, lower turnout affairs. The question is whether Democrats can use the Stevens opening to rally and motivate their own base as well. Democrats believe that health care -- despite all of the sturm und drang that surrounded it -- ultimately will benefit them at the ballot box this fall because it energized what had been a un-enthusiastic party base. Can they pull the same trick with the Court vacancy? Look to the White House to lean heavily on Organizing for America, the organization built to harness the grassroots power of Obama's campaign, to try and rally the base in support of his nominee -- and keep that energy up heading into the fall campaign.
- Wither health care: As we mentioned above, a Supreme Court vacancy draws attention like few other things in political Washington. There will be scads of "who will he pick" stories followed by thousands of "what do we know about who he picked" pieces and then, of course, the panoply of process stories about the confirmation process itself. All of that coverage means far less room for stories about the selling of the health care bill to the American public. At first glance, that's a problem for Democrats since national polling suggests that opposition to the bill is outstripping support today.
- Follow the money: Court fights traditionally feature a bevy of television ads funded by liberal and conservative groups in support/opposition to the nominee. With any number of committees being built and pointed toward the 2010 midterms -- the conservative American Crossroads being just one example -- the question is how much money is diverted to the court fight and whether there is enough in the coffers of these campaign-oriented organizations to make them not just relevant but powerful in the fall.
- Citizens United: The Court is often regarded -- even by some of the most active political actors -- as somewhat removed from the daily political debate. But, the Citizens United ruling earlier this year, which opened the door for unlimited corporate contributions to organizations that can then directly advocate for the election or defeat of candidates, has direct relevance to the fall campaign even before the Stevens opening. Stevens' retirement means that the Citizens United ruling -- an issue the President thought enough of to mention in his State of the Union speech -- will be front and center for the foreseeable future. We are always skeptical that campaign finance issues matter to the public but if ever they will impact the electorate the next few months is the time,"
Friday, April 9, 2010
Justice Stevens' Retirement
The No Deterrent Nuke Strategy
Judas Ben Nelson -- More Contradictions to his Lies
Bart Stupak Gets It - Announces His Retirement
Thursday, April 8, 2010
The End of America - Nearly Half of Americans Pay No Federal Income Taxes
- About 47 percent will pay no federal income taxes at all for 2009. Either their incomes were too low, or they qualified for enough credits, deductions and exemptions to eliminate their liability. That's according to projections by the Tax Policy Center, a Washington research organization.
- In recent years, credits for low- and middle-income families have grown so much that a family of four making as much as $50,000 will owe no federal income tax for 2009, as long as there are two children younger than 17, according to a separate analysis by the consulting firm Deloitte Tax.
- The result is a tax system that exempts almost half the country from paying for programs that benefit everyone, including national defense, public safety, infrastructure and education.
- It is a system in which the top 10 percent of earners — households making an average of $366,400 in 2006 — paid about 73 percent of the income taxes collected by the federal government.
- The bottom 40 percent, on average, make a profit from the federal income tax, meaning they get more money in tax credits than they would otherwise owe in taxes. For those people, the government sends them a payment.
- The vast majority of people who escape federal income taxes still pay other taxes, including federal payroll taxes that fund Social Security and Medicare, and excise taxes on gasoline, aviation, alcohol and cigarettes. Many also pay state or local taxes on sales, income and property.
- The number of households that don't pay federal income taxes increased substantially in 2008, when the poor economy reduced incomes and Congress cut taxes in an attempt to help recovery.
- In 2007, about 38 percent of households paid no federal income tax, a figure that jumped to 49 percent in 2008, according to estimates by the Tax Policy Center.
One can only speculate what this holds for the future of America as we have fewer and fewer folks paying federal taxes and demanding more, i.e., free health care. Obviously, the ones that will make up the difference are those who have higher incomes who take risks and create jobs. Enough said.....
You can check out the full article at: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100407/ap_on_bi_ge/us_no_taxes/print


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Demi's cooking has been a vital part of her and her family's life for as long as anyone can remember. Central to family life, cooking and the resulting feast brings people together, opens up lines of communication, and builds the foundation for better relationships. The energy and love Demi puts into the entire process of cooking, from selecting ingredients, preparation, to presentation, are all evident in the dishes she prepares.
Demi's Flavors comes from a strong Greek culinary tradition with its fresh vegetables, meats and fish, years of studying and preparing Mediterranean foods, all blended with a sense of American adventure. Though Demi's cooking is steeped in traditional cuisines brings a passion and taste purely her own but with a clear connection to her culinary heritage.
This is the catering service that is showing Greater Wilmington, Newark and Southern Chester County just how great Greek-American Cuisine can be.

subset: commoncrawl


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Slain soldiers Cirillo and Vincent named Canada's Newsmaker of the Year
Chargers stay alive in playoff race on Nick Novak's field goal in OT, beat...
Elton John has legally married his partner David Furnish, on the ninth...
My late father never drank coffee, which is why I think he was so amused...
Stories and images that capture the spirit of the season.
If you're living with Type 2 diabetes, you're certainly not alone. It is estimated about 2 million Canadians and more than 200 million people worldwide have the disease.
It can lead to serious health issues, including blindness, heart disease, kidney problems or nerve damage.
But, if you take care of yourself and your diabetes, you can prevent or delay these complications and enjoy good health.
Two years ago, Michael Okorofsky noted some dramatic changes in his health.
"I was urinating every hour and the more I urinated, the more I drank," he recalls. "My eyesight was going crazy. I went to do a blood test and it was full of sugar, when a year previous it was normal."
His family doctor diagnosed Type 2 diabetes, prescribed medication and referred him to the diabetes education program at Mackenzie Health.
There, Mr. Okorofsky met registered dietitian Sez Leung and registered nurse Marisa Cotturo, who helped him get on the road to success in managing this chronic condition.
The Diabetes Education Centre offers people with pre-diabetes, Type 1, Type 2 and gestational diabetes dietary and medication advice to help with overall disease management. Often, patients are referred to the program immediately following diagnosis; however patients with diabetes can also join the program without a physician's referral.
The program is staffed by nurses and dietitians, all of whom have passed the certified diabetes educator exam, says program coordinator Lynn Woods. Patients receive a comprehensive initial assessment and regular follow-up visits and their progress is shared with their family physician.
"Our goal is to give patients the information they need to make the best decisions around diet, activity and medications," Ms. Woods says.
The nurses review blood work, explain how medications work and go over physiology-related questions from patients.
"We provide counselling on how to incorporate medications into daily routines and how to manage the impact of those medications on blood sugar and diabetes health. We can also help patients learn how to prevent hypoglycemia associated with some medications," Ms. Woods says.
The nurses can also provide instruction on blood glucose monitoring and foot care to prevent complications caused by nerve damage, poor blood flow or changes to the shape of feet and toes.
The dietitians review patients' eating habits and provide meal plans, suggesting which foods to choose, how much to eat and when. For example, if a patient is used to a diet based on white rice and refined carbohydrates, they can suggest alternatives such as quinoa and whole-grain cereals.
"At my meetings, we go through diet history and make suggestions to balance the food groups," Ms. Leung says. "Reductions in calories can help with weight loss but overall we are looking to achieve good blood sugar levels."
Program staff work hard to ensure the program is tailored to the needs of each patient.
For example, when Mr. Okorofsky decided to enter a structured weight loss program, Ms. Leung reviewed the program to ensure it was nutritionally sound.
"We wanted to make sure the program was benefitting his diabetes, to make sure he was still getting proper amounts of carbohydrates and protein," Ms. Leung explains.
She was able to tweak the program to meet his needs—by adding cheese to boost protein, limiting foods that contain a lot of sugar and suggesting quinoa, a high-protein whole grain, as a substitute for rice.
Consultations are also available in a variety of languages.
"We have dietitians and nurses who speak Cantonese, Mandarin, Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi, Italian and French," Ms. Woods says. "They are able to speak to culturally specific issues (such as traditional diets)."
Today, Mr. Okorofsky's health has dramatically improved. By improving his diet and exercising regularly, his blood sugars have returned to the target range and he has lost an amazing 45 kilograms (99 pounds) so far. His physician has also cut his medication dose in half and is considering further reducing the dose.
While his symptoms improved quickly with the medication, Mr. Okorofsky continues to feel better as his weight decreases. With the help and encouragement of the diabetes education team, he hopes to gain even greater control over his diabetes. With continued improvements, his physician predicts he could be completely off medication in four to six months. Now, that's a diabetes success story.
Mackenzie Health's Diabetes Education Centre provides assessment and education for adults with Type 1, Type 2 and gestational diabetes and pre-diabetes. Physician referral is not required to participate. Contact the centre at (905) 832-8070 to make an appointment.
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Welcome to SEO Company Perth, one of the best search engine optimization company. We have an extraordinary team behind us who are well versed in search engine marketing and other online marketing tools. We give you the best experience and while working with us you would realize that you are dealing with masters in the industry. It is hard to understand the Google algorithms, but we manage it effortlessly due to our extensive study about optimization. Lot of time and effort is involved to excel in optimization which we have achieved over time. Our team members tune themselves to the changing rules applied by search engines.
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To help you enjoy your stay in Parry Sound, 40 Bay Street Bed & Breakfast is pleased to provide you with these links.
For additional information on events and activities in the area, please visit:
- Parry Sound Travel Guide at https://40baystreet.com/travel-guide-sign-up.html
- Parry Sound Tourism at www.parrysoundtourism.com
- Town of Parry Sound at www.townofparrysound.com
- Parry Sound Chamber of Commerce at www.parrysoundchamber.com
If you wish to find out more about starting a bed and breakfast, please see Susan's web site The B&B Coach
For other B&Bs Susan has stayed in and recommends:
- The Peace and Plenty Inn, at 6 Flagstaff Terrace, Devonport, Auckland, New Zealand
For other sites where 40 Bay Street Bed & Breakfast has listings, please see:
- Global Bed and Breakfast Links - Find direct links to Bed&Breakfast websites around the world.
- Canada Bed and Breakfast.net - this site provides information on accommodations and major attractions throughout Canada
- The Bed and Breakfast Directory - is based on of the UK, and has B&B listings from around the world
For additonal links to some must see places in Northern Ontario check out our Visiting Georgian Bay? page


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Cool Tech Gifts for the Little Genius in Your Life
These clever robots, gross-out dinosaurs, and other toys will delight the technologically inclined tike.
By Rachel Z. Arndt
Sphero /// $129
Early tech adopters will flip for Sphero, a smartphone- and tablet-controlled robot. The device doubles as a controller for tablet games. Just try prying it out of your kids handswe dare you.


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All Talk No Service - Do They Hate Kids?
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After spending over 30,000 for 17 people to go on a SmithsonianStudentTravel trip we are face with "hide the dollars" where a 6 day trip becomes the same price as an 8 day trip and the mother of all "I hate kids" act they booked a return flight from Las Vegas (Grand Canyon) to the East coast leaving at 11pm and arriving at 11 am the next day! All calls and emails are ignored or treated with scorn.
Run away from this company! Cost it out and you'll find you can do better without their "assistance" and actually provide a child friendly trip.
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Ben There on 04/17/2009:
What type of hidden costs did they hit you with and how old are the kids?
Nzapa on 04/18/2009:
the kids are 9-14 years old and the hidden costs are extra charges because we had to be added to another group, added surcharge because we asked for six days instead of the five the other group was taking and added "insurance" when specifically told we don't want it (in writing and via phone). These added costs created a final cost that was $35 different from the original 8 day LA/Grand Canyon trip.
More importantly is the return flight which astounds me.
Ben There on 04/18/2009:
So they charged you more to add an extra day of the tour? Sounds reasonable to me. Also, if you wanted an extra day at the Grand Canyon and didn't want to fork out more money for an additional night a red eye is the only way to go. Getting from the West Coast to many cities on the East Coast is often an all day event when you add on three hours time loss, a change of aircraft in another city and several thousands of miles of travel. I see lots of kids on overnight flights both in the USA and on internaional trips...
daniel7 on 06/09/2010:
We too just recently had an issue with Smithsonian Student Travel concerning a charge that we were not told about. We had to make a change in who was traveling with our son due to a family illness. Smithsonian told us when we called that they would not charge anything to make the change however the airlines would. That was fine and we paid the $85 dollar charge. A week later we received a phone call from Smithsonian saying they needed $120 dollar's more for a room upgrade. When we asked them to substantiate the charge they could not and said they would look into it further and get back with us. The next day we received a call from thm wanting to add $35 for a program fee increase since we had changed primary names on the account. After several different stories about why the $35 dollar all of a sudden increase, we paid it. Hate being lied to. Do not use these people. The charges over all seem very pricy as compared to other tours, and the customer service stinks.
thorn11 on 04/13/2011:
We have a trip coming up and it's been fee after fee after fee. They charged a late fee for both me and my son because we didn't pay on the account within 30 days, even though the entire balance (before they added some more fees) was paid well before the final due date. Then they charge almost $300 to 'upgrade' to a twin room (what?) because my son was going to stay in my room rather in a room with other kids. How does this cost them any more money? I am waiting for them to charge me a late fee, for my late fee being late....ha!
susan from Texas on 07/28/2012:
I have traveled with Smithsonian/Goahead/EF Tours all over the world and US and have found them to be reasonable and hardworking to meet my needs. They offer specific tours. If you change the tour it will cost money. If you make car payments and you are late they charge you late fees. A late flight leaving when they will SLEEP on the plane tells me you all had a full day of touring and the parents won't have to pick them up in the middle of the night leaving you at the airport until the last parent gets woken up in the middle of the night to come get their kids.
A hotel room costs a set fee. Divided by 4 sleepers equals 1/4 of the cost of the room per person: divided by 2 equals 1/2 the price per person. Do the math!
The only troubles I have ever had on a tour was due to parents who behaved badly and wanted a high end tour for a low end price. If you want a high end tour, pay for it! Like with any company, be reasonable and polite and you will get what you need that is right and fair. Be flexible on thetour and you will have a good time! They tell you THAT in advance!
I enjoy a good working relationship with this company and will continue to travel with them as long as I can. Yeah Emily!
middle school mom on 01/25/2013:
Smithsonian Student Travel just led a school trip to DC for the Inauguration. The whole point of the trip: The Inauguration. Decisions were made based on bus parking locations, streets closed, etc. to make the children LEAVE the Inauguration early. The kids heard part of the President's speech, saw none of the Poem reading, the entertainers, etc. Beautiful day, and a mile extra walk was deemed too much. Many parents are very upset. They spent the money on this trip not for their kids to bowl in DC, but for the once in a lifetime trip to an Inauguration.
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Santa Cova Funicular in Montserrat: Funicular to Santa Cova Cave Montserrat.
Page Content
The Santa Cova Funicular is one of the funicular options once you have arrived at the top of Montserrat Mountain. A funicular is a cable railway that goes up and down a mountain, with two tram vehicles counterbalancing each other. The Santa Cova Funicular is not to be confused with the other two mountain trains that are linked to Montserrat: The Cremallera is a rack railway service that will take you from the bottom of Montserrat Mountain to arrive at the Montserrat Monastery (for full details, see our Montserrat Rack Railway page). The Funicular de Sant Joan (for full details see our Funicular de Sant Joan page) is the other funicular that is available to travel on once you are already in Montserrat - it goes further up the mountain. The Funicular de Santa Cova takes you slightly back down the mountain to the starting point of a walk that will take you to the Santa Cova Cave (see below for more details).
This page will give you a complete overview specifically to the Funicular de Santa Cova service, including ticket options available, operating times, prices and disabled facilities.
What to expect from the Santa Cova Funicular
There is one main reason why people take the Santa Cova funicular railway: to visit the cave chapel known as Santa Cova. This is the cave where, according to legend, the image of Mare de Deu de Montserrat (the Virgin Mary) was seen by shepherds. For full details on the history of the cave of Santa Cova, see our Santa Cova at Montserrat page.
The cave sits about 20 minutes walk from the funicular station. You can walk directly from the Montserrat Monastery to the cave. However, some people like to take the funicular as some of the walk can be quite strenuous. For full details on the walk to Santa Cova cave, see our Guide to Walks in Montserrat page.
In the lower station of the Funicular de Santa Cova you will also find a small exhibition about the legend of Santa Cova. This is alongside a small exhibition about the funicular itself. If you are interested in how funiculars work, you can learn all about this in the exhibition. The exhibitions have the same opening times as the running times of the funicular (see below).
Santa Cova Funicular tickets
You can buy tickets for the funicular at the ticket office in the funicular stations at both the top and the bottom of the funicular. You can buy a single (you might decide that it is a good idea to walk down to Santa Cova and then avoid the uphill return journey by taking the funicular) or a return journey. For full ticket prices, see the Official Funicular de Santa Cova Website
Timetable information for the funicular to Santa Cova
Operating times for the Funicular de Santa Cova vary, depending on the time of year and whether you come during the week or at weekends.
Funicular de Santa Cova running times:
Less busy times:
Starts: 11:00
Finishes: 16:30
Busier times:
Starts: 10:00
Finishes: between 17:30 and 18:50.
For full details of the funicular timetable, check the Official Funicular de Santa Cova website and open the 'Calendar, timetables and fares' pdf document.
Disabled facilities on the Santa Cova Funicular
Unfortunately the funicular is not adapted for wheelchair users. There are only a few seats in the funicular, the rest of the train is standing room only.
The Santa Cova Funicular offers you the opportunity to visit an important religious site, visited by thousands of pilgrims each year. It has been running since 1929, allowing people to visit a place with an important history and great spiritual significance.


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Whether you're ready to take the next step or are waiting for the right time or person, here are five creative and inspirational ways to propose to your potential better half.
Read more…
Copyright © 2000-2014 eHarmony, Inc.
All Rights Reserved. Terms and Conditions of Service
eHarmony® Compatibility Matching System® Protected by U.S. Pat. No. 6,735,568


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I don't think there is one.
I am doing a translation of a text to English and I have a problem.
What is the correct abbreviation of the word "chart"?
Thank you in advanceExample:
Figure 1.1 - Fig. 1.1
Chart 1.1. - ?
I don't think there is one.
I am not a teacher.
If you do a key and explain that, for example, that "Cht" means "Chart", you could probably get away with it. However, Chicken Sandwich is right I think - I don't know of a recognised abbreviation for it.
Last edited by emsr2d2; 09-Jul-2013 at 19:28. Reason: Oops - credited wrong user!
Remember - correct capitalisation, punctuation and spacing make posts much easier to read.


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Banner advertisements, site sponsorships, home page take-overs, and custom campaigns available. More info below.
We write, shoot, produce, edit, and distribute custom video series on outdoor adventure. Recent projects include our "Off The Map" and "Fast&Light" series.
From sponsored Mount Everest Expeditions to festivals like the GoPro Games, we build and host micro-site channels.
Monopoint Media, parent of GearJunkie.com, creates and hosts multiple live events each year. See our "SmartWool Alleycat" and "Checkpoint MN" projects as recent event examples.
Engage with custom content developed Monopoint Media. Web content, photographic, video, and copywriting.
From gear giveaways to our branded Gear Junkie's "Choose-Your-Adventure" trip sweepstakes, each year we engage tens of thousands of readers in contests and promotions.
Projects include creative, authentic programs that build buzz and move readers to action. See our #OpeningDay Instagram contest as a recent example.
728x90, 300x250. Buy anywhere from 50,000 to 1 Million+ impressions per month.
1920x1200 Graphic. Huge visibility with the highest click-through rates.
300x150 Custom Graphic - Runs on every page of the site.
Own a section on GearJunkie. Our channel sponsorships let your company brand a dedicated section and all associated pages. Includes 1920x1200 "wallpaper" background for maximum visibility. (Available sections: Bike, Hike, Camp, Run, Climb, Tech/Gadgets, Holiday, OR Show, Footwear, and more.)
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Millions of active people and outdoor enthusiasts read GearJunkie each month. Content is published multiple times per day on GearJunkie.com. In addition, since 2002 a nationally-syndicated column, "The Gear Junkie," has been published weekly in newspapers around the U.S. Topic areas include industry news, reviews, feature articles, athlete profiles, videos, and more. Our editorial calendar is ever-evolving; contact our editorial staff with ideas and pitches. See below for a top level of the content areas we cover each month.
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Brand: ACDelco
Manufacturer's Part Number: GF578
Part Type: Fuel Filters
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Count on ACDelco fuel filters, mile after mile, to help keep dirt, rust, and other contaminants from getting into your engine. ACDelco fuel filters provide excellent filtration performance, flow management, compatibility, and durability to maintain clean fuel flow to your engine. Additionally, each filter is thoroughly tested to meet your expectations for form, fit, and function, and ACDelco offers a wide variety of filters to fit your vehicle.
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LotRO and DDO developer Turbine announces a recruitment event set for next week in of all places, Providence, RI.
Turbine rolls out Fornost and Moria revamps for LotRO in Update 7: Shades of the Past.
Turbine offers a peek at LOTOR's new Storm of Methedras skirmish with a batch of new Update 7 screenshots.
New details emerge for Update 7 and the Moria revamp for The Lord of the Rings Online.
Turbine serves up another batch of Eveningstar screenshots with some beta news for the upcoming DDO Menace of the Underdark expansion.
Turbine reveals more DDO Menace of the Underdark screenshots of the town of Eveningstar and the Ruins of Temple Mystra.
Turbine developers reflect on five years of The Lord of the Rings Online in a new developer diary video.
Dungeons & Dragons Online releases the first episode in a four-part series about the upcoming Menace of the Underdark expansion.
With the launch of the Menace of the Underdark expansion looming in June, DDO reveals a new event for guilds.
Turbine offers a glimpse at the enemies of Dungeons & Dragons Online's Menace of the Underdark expansion with a new batch of screenshots.
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EU providing $21 million grant to IBM and others, funding research into cloud storage
Clouds are beautiful things that fill our skies with wonderment, and as it turns out they make awfully good places to store our precious data, too. In that way European Union wants to make them even better, providing a €15.7 million (that's $ 21.4 million US) research project called Vision Cloud. It's set to tackle a number of related storage issues, including the ability to run applications within cloud storage, proper auditing and access restriction, and mobility of said data, so that it can be accessed from anywhere. IBM's Haifa, Israel think tank is going to be leading the effort, while Siemens and SAP will be playing nice too. Really, when you're getting paid to think about clouds, how would it be possible to not play nice?
EU providing $ 21 million grant to IBM and others, funding research into cloud storage originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 14 Nov 2010 06:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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text: Front Back View larger Sony Xplōd XS-GT6937A 6"x9" 3-way car speakers Item #: 158GT6937A 32 Reviews | 0 questions This item is no longer available to purchase. Original Price: $69.99 pair Shop all 6"x9" Speakers Need help? 1.888.955.6000 Email Chat Ask an expert advisor No pressure, no commission — just lots of good advice from our highly trained staff.


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What does IFQ mean in Unclassified?
This page is about the meanings of the acronym/abbreviation/shorthand IFQ in the Miscellaneous field in general and in the Unclassified terminology in particular.
Individual Fishing Quota
Find a translation for IFQ in other languages:
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"IFQ." Abbreviations.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2014. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. <http://www.abbreviations.com/term/255145>.
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text: I'm starting in June. However, I might have to change plans (summer clases at uni in order to save time) and that's why I'm not marking this as "done" yet. I believe this is more important since it has to do with my health. I've been having psychotherapy sessions for a while because of anxiety and depression. It's key that I attend at least twice a month so that's why I need the money. Therapy is not that expensive, but my parents are getting divorced and I don't want these 'extra' expense to become a burden for them. Besides, asking them for money kinda hurts my pride lol, even though I know I can't get a full time job because I'm still an undergraduate. It may sound stupid but I worked part-time for a few months before uni and I felt more secure and responsible. I miss that.


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Lack of employee engagement has become a fundamental problem for employers. Benefits communication is more complex and difficult than ever before, and healthcare reform continues to add to the complexity and confusion. Meanwhile, many employees are asked to read lengthy benefits guides and ultimately, serve themselves. Unfortunately, self-service doesn't always work for every situation.
That's why SHPS created PeopleSolve for companies just like yours. PeopleSolve is an advocacy service that is a single point-of-contact for all employee health and benefit questions. This specialized advocacy center helps your members with problem investigation and resolution; navigation and referral; and escalation and appeal. And best of all, PeopleSolve is the only advocacy product offered by a proven provider with expertise in both health improvement and benefits administration.
PeopleSolve may engage your employees across a broad range of topics, including:
PeopleSolve serves as your initial point for all HR inquiries and acts as an extension of your HR department. This advocacy service does not replace your existing benefit program vendors or HR staff; rather, it serves to improve your current program effectiveness and member satisfaction. PeopleSolve advocates help your employees make the most of their total benefits package so they can be as productive as possible and allow your company to achieve a maximum return on your benefits investment. Features include:


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The object of a new year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soulG. K. Chesterton
So far as drinking is concerned, you have my hearty approval; for wine does of a truth moisten the soul and lull our griefs to sleep....[and with small cups] we shall ...be brought by its gentle persuasion to a more sportive moodXenophon
Music and rhythm find their way into the secret places of the soulPlato
Can you really ask what reason Pythagoras had for abstaining from flesh? For my part I rather wonder both by what accident and in what state of soul or mind the first man did so, touched his mouth to gore and brought his lips to the flesh of a dead creature, he who set forth tables of dead, stale bodies and ventured to call food and nourishment the parts that had a little before bellowed and cried, moved and lived. How could his eyes endure the slaughter when throats were slit and hides flayed and limbs torn from limb? How could his nose endure the stench? How was it that the pollution did not turn away his taste, which made contact with the sores of others and sucked juices and serums from mortal wounds?Plutarch
Take a music bath once or twice a week for a few seasons, and you will find that it is to the soul what the water bath is to the body.Oliver Wendell Holmes
Poetry is the music of the soul, and, above all, of great and feeling souls.Voltaire
Last night, ah, yesternight, betwixt her lips and mine There fell thy shadow, Cynara! thy breath was shed Upon my soul between the kisses and the wine; And I was desolate and sick of an old passion, Yea, I was desolate and bowed my head: I have been faithful to thee, Cynara! in my fashion.Ernest Dowson
Let first the onion flourish there, Rose among roots, the maiden-fair, Wine-scented and poetic soul Of the capacious salad bowl.Robert Louis Stevenson
Tears are the summer showers to the soul.Alfred Austin
There is no chance, no destiny, no fate, that can circumvent or hinder or control the firm resolve of a determined soul.Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Cherish your visions and your dreams, as they are the children of your soul, the blueprints of your ultimate achievements.Napoleon Hill
The earth has grown old with its burden of care But at Christmas it always is young, The heart of the jewel burns lustrous and fair And its soul full of music breaks the air, When the song of angels is sung.Phillips Brooks
Belief consists in accepting the affirmations of the soul; unbelief, in denying them.Ralph Waldo Emerson
If my soul could get away from this so-called prison, be granted all the list of attributes generally bestowed on spirits, my first ramble on spirit-wings would not be among the volcanoes of the moon. Nor should I follow the sunbeams to their sources in the sun. I should hover about the beauty of our own good star. I should not go moping around the tombs, nor around the artificial desolation of men. I should study Nature's laws in all their crossings and unions: I should follow magnetic streams to their source and follow the shores of our magnetic oceans. I should go among the rays of the aurora, and follow them to their beginnings, and study their dealings and communions with other powers and expressions of matter. And I should go to the very center of our globe and read the whole splendid page from the beginning.John Muir�
Yoga, an ancient but perfect science, deals with the evolution of humanity. This evolution includes all aspects of one's being, from bodily health to self-realization. Yoga means union - the union of body with consciousness and consciousness with the soul. Yoga cultivates the ways of maintaining a balanced attitude in day-to-day life and endows skill in the performance of one's actions.B.K.S. Iyengar
Certain thoughts are prayers. There are moments when, whatever be the attitude of the body, the soul is on its knees.Victor Hugo
Pray often; for prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for SatanJohn Bunyan
Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one's weakness. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart.Mahatma Gandhi
Material blessings, when they pay beyond the category of need, are weirdly fruitful of headache.Philip Wylie
Peace I wish from the depths of my soul. My spiritual aim is that my people should have calmness, peace and honour in their lives.Vellupillai Pirapakaran


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Designed in close collaboration with 3M Rochford & Thompson, The 3M™ Mobile ID Reader is the perfect portable data terminal for reading and processing electronic passports and identity documents on the move.
Designed for maximum portability, ease of use and reliability, the 3M Mobile ID Reader is a rugged, versatile, hand-held unit capable of reading and processing OCR and RF chip data from passports, ID cards and other documents presented as proof of identification. In typical operation the 3M Mobile ID Reader would scan passengers' identity documents and capture their biometric data, verify these against a watch list (either stored locally or accessed via wireless link) and compile a manifest for export to a border control system. The integrated touchscreen and keyboard allows the operator to correct or manually enter data.
Battery operation enables use in any situation - airports, ships, trains, vehicles … anywhere, while on board processing capability allows real-time verification of documents, data and individuals. With a wide range of wireless interface options, integral data storage and optional biometric devices, the 3M Mobile ID Reader is the perfect fit for purpose solution for ID management on the move.
Main technical features:
Web design : Atelier de Signes - Intégration : Equation Web


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Advanced Search
Why Darden MBA
Beginning in the last term of the First Year, electives and for-credit experiential projects take the MBA program deeper into students' areas of interest.
Students choose from a diverse selection of over 100 electives, from traditional options such as "Corporate Finance," "Leading Strategic Change" and "System Dynamics," to courses focused on such increasingly important competencies as managing teams and sustainability.
The Second Year of the MBA program is divided into four quarters with one- and two-week sessions available in early January and mid-March. Second Year students also have the option of taking courses from other schools at the University of Virginia, participating in several global opportunities and putting their in-class learning into practice by doing consulting work for real companies. All students must take at least one leadership elective during the Second Year.
The average number of students per Second Year class is 37 (ranging from 5 to 120) compared to 65 for First Year sections, which allows for greater personal interaction with professors.
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Darden faculty discuss the importance of sustainability and ethics
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This phone will work with your active ATT Wireless plan. There is no contract required. Just place your existing sim card for your carrier into this phone and start using it!
Motorola Atrix 2
Motorola Atrix 2 High-End WiFi GPS Android PDA Phone ATT
Only 1 left in stock--order soon.
30 day warranty
$44.99 New Available online


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Globetrotters will have no problem finding the ideal traveling companion amid Leather World's broad assortment of luggage from Hartmann, Vera Bradley, Victorinox, and other trusted names. Standing by to help fill that handsome new roller bag, duffel, or suitcase is every accessory you might need on the road (portable game sets, ingenious money belts, etc.). Plus, the repair services are second to none.
Leather World | 30 Brattle St., Cambridge, MA | 617-661-7551 | http://shopleatherworld.com/


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Watts Working
MY "Five Steps for Planting the Seeds of an Energy-Savings Program"
Phil Adams | March 7, 2012 at 6:03 pm
What struck me about Mario Rufino's article over at Environmental Leader is how eloquently it frames the backstory of the sustainability officer: well-intentioned, under-funded, and somewhat disconnected. It highlights what we see every day in our customer work: the importance of a holistic approach to energy management particularly as it pertains to sustainability.
Here are MY "Five Steps for Planting the Seeds of an Energy-Savings Program"
Step One: Understand that your CFO is your Biggest Asset. You don't have to "operate in survival mode" or do "more with less". If you can show ROI, and better yet, a self-funding program, the CFO will give you resources.
Step Two: Understand your Total Energy Costs. Quantity used is certainly one important aspect, and taking steps to be more efficient makes a lot of sense, but don't forget about commodity price. Did you know that you can buy green power at little to no premium to conventional power if you source green power as part of an energy procurement? Are your facilities in deregulated markets on competitive supply or still with the utility? Is your buying process yielding the lowest price? If you could save money on the commodity, could you reinvest some of those savings into efficiency or sustainability measures?
Step Three: Create an Integrated Plan. What you do and when you do it matters. Trying to do more with less? What about engaging in a demand response program, and then utilizing those ISO payments to fund an efficiency project? How about tapping utility incentive programs for efficiency projects? Some utilities reimburse for up to 70% of a project's costs, think you could convince your CFO to support the other 30%?
Step Four: Let ROI Drive Focus. There are many efficiency measures you can do. Being analytical about the impact of the project and rigorous about ROI and payback periods will help determine the "batting order" of your plan, and will demonstrate financial savvy that can win points with your CFO.
Step Five: Lather, Rinse, Repeat. Your plan must be dynamic. Things change. Pennsylvania becomes competitive. Demand Response payments change in PJM. A utility offers a new incentive program. Natural gas prices are at all-time lows. Changes in the regulatory and pricing environment are happening all the time, your plan needs to be nimble enough to react to changing circumstances.
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What does every single dude that's ever starred in a romantic comedy have in common? Well, they've all been impersonated by this guy, and they've all been in a movie with Jen Aniston.
Zergnet: Simply Irresistible
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What does every single dude that's ever starred in a romantic comedy have in common? Well, they've all been impersonated by this guy, and they've all been in a movie with Jen Aniston.
Picture this: Seth Rogen, Elijah Wood, and Danny McBride as Mike D, Ad-Rock, and MCA. Yup, Beastie Boy Adam Yauch is directing a short biopic about the making of the song "(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!)." "Fight For Your Right Revisited" will premiere at the Sundance Short Film Festival. Oh-so excited to see anything having to do with the Beastie Boys. I believe this gives us all license to ill. [Sterogum] Keep reading »
Following in the footsteps of studs(?) Steve Martin, Burt Reynolds, Peter Sellers, and Jerry Seinfeld, Seth Rogan is about to become the 9th man to grace the cover of Playboy. We Frisky gals will for sure be reading the March issue of the men's mag for the articles….but we also hope sexy Seth gets his own spread. Here's are our five suggestions for how Playboy should photograph Hollywood's hottest comedian… Keep reading »
Nudity expert Mr. Skin complied a list of celebrity ladies who took it all off in the name of their art this past year. From Angelina Jolie to Mena Suvari, there were some choice bare babes, but 2008 didn't slight the men either. There was a whole lot of manhood captured for movies and even network television. Thanks to these hotties, 2008 will be remembered as the year of nude dudes! In honor of these studs, we've put together a list of guys who flash more than their smiles at the cameras. Here's looking at you, boys!
Ugly can be so cute. Case in point: Trolls! What girl can resist one of those cuties? But now that we're grown up, our tastes have gotten more sophisticated and translated from dolls to men. We've all found ourselves drooling over some piece of ass of our friends would call a "butterface." Who cares?! So to the guys who are so weirdly sexy they break all the rules of attraction, here are The Top 10 Sexy Ugly Guys We'd Love To Love…
Keep reading »
Pineapple Express, the latest comedy from writer/producer Judd Apatow (Knocked Up, 40 Year Old Virgin), opened over the weekend. While the reviews considered it a heist caper, to us, it was a bromantic comedy featuring James Franco, Seth Rogan, and Danny McBride. Foxy Franco was briefly, but satisfyingly, shirtless, and readily able to express his bro-on-bro love to his buddies. Seth Rogan, on the other hand, never stops being adorable. He spends the film in a suit and then saves the day wearing nothing but tighty-whities and striped knee socks to the knee. Fresh meat Danny McBride is the new funny man making the rounds in Hollywood. You can catch more of him in action next in Tropic Thunder, which opens this weekend. But forget the fight sequences and car chases in this flick, as these three gentlemen espoused fart jokes, we swooned. Keep reading »


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General News
: Regional News
Wisconsin Flu Cases Increase Greatly in 2012
Submitted: 11/30/2012
- Wisconsin health officials are encouraging you to get your flu shots and to tell your family and friends it's not too late to get protection.
The number of influenza cases in Wisconsin is running significantly higher than last year at this time.
So far there have been 113 lab-confirmed flu cases reported in Wisconsin this year.
That compares with just seven cases at this time last year.
Written By: The Associated Press
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