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Cole who is allegedly pregnant again gave birth to her first child- a baby boy named Daniel Hiram Gibson Jr. back on March 2, 2010 for fiance NBA Cleveland Cavaliers star Daniel Gibson.
Monthly Archives: June 2010
BET 2010 Live Performance
BET Awards 2010 Eminem, B.O.B & Keyshia Cole – Airplanes Part2/Not Afraid
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Videon BET 2010 Awards Kanye West – Power
Controversial rapper Kanye West perform his new single live at the BET 2010 Awards
Chris Brown Michael Jackson Tribute BET awards 2010
Chris Brown Amazing liver performance in tribute to the king of pop Michael Jackson, it was touching seeing Chris Brown get all emotional and crying.
BET 2010 Awards Show
Chris Brown, who fell apart during his tribute to Michael Jackson at the 10th annual BET Awards on Sunday night.
At the afterparty, hosted by the tag team of Diddy and "Hustle and Flow" actress Taraji P. Henson, everyone from a show producer to the cast of the soon-to-be-revived BET series "The Game," as well as some of the night's winners and presenters had something to say about Brown's emotional performance of "Man in the Mirror," during which the singer fell to his knees crying, genuinely unable, it seemed, to sing the song.
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Ne-Yo Is Expecting First Child With Girlfriend Monyetta Shaw
Singer Ne-Yo confirmed he is expecting his first child with girlfriend, Monyetta Shaw, at a recent photoshoot with Ebony magazine to help promote his upcoming album Libra Scale that
"I am 30 and I do have my first child on the way, and I'm very, very, very excited about that," he tells EBONY. "It's a New Year's baby and I'm just in a really good place right now."
Kelis out with Son Knight
The Dream Addresses Cheating Rumors and New Baby
The dream so arrogant in this interview, damn for a man with four kids it sure doesn't sound as if he likes kids.
How are Christina and baby Violet?
Violet is great, I just saw her last night. She's three months and one week old with a definite personality. I think she's going to be a sassy talker. Right now, she's just long, fat and looks like me. I know Christina hates it because she's looking at the baby like 'Where am I? I did all the work for nine months!'Do you help Christina out when you're home? Continue reading
Kobe Bryant and his family celebrate the L.A. Lakers win
Kobe Bryant with his wife Vanessa and their daughters Gianna, 4 and Natalia, 7 smiled and waved to fans at the victory parade for the LA Lakers in Los Angeles . Continue reading
Alicia Keys has her unborn child blessed in a traditional Zulu ceremony
Alicia Keys has had her unborn child blessed in a traditional Zulu ceremony while in South Africa for the World Cup.
The Grammy award-winning singer, who is around five months pregnant, joined hands with music producer fiance Swizz Beatz for the outdoor blessing near Durban, on the country's eastern coast.
Wearing tribal beads, Alicia and her baby were given Zulu names while standing under a fig tree known as the 'healing tree' by locals who believe it brings good fortune and health


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Go bald 2011 Spring
This is an event for Sarawak Children Cancer Society (SCCS). People go bald to help raise fund for charity.
This photo was shot on film. Taken by cutebun with an Aqua Pix waterproof camera loaded with Lomography Color Negative 800 film (available in our Online Shop) in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. These tags describe this photo: land, shots, the, spring, shopping, mall, go, bald, event, and malaysia. Date: 2011-05.Please login to get more out of this site
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Chernobyl's Radiation Seems to Be Robbing Birds of Their Sperm
New study could shed light on how nuclear disasters affect birds.
When Anders Moller stumbled across a century-old paper describing sperm-milking techniques for artificially breeding budgies, he knew he was on to something good. Although sperm harvesting--which involves gently pressing on the muscles around a male bird's cloaca, causing a contraction that triggers (nonconsensual) ejaculation--is practically an art among turkey and chicken farmers, it's not a skill taught at ornithology school.
As with any other skill, practice makes perfect, so Moller--an evolutionary biologist and research director of the French National Center for Scientific Research--began experimenting in the field with some very unhappy males. "In the early years, half of his attempts led to something other than semen being produced," says Timothy Mousseau, a biologist at the University of South Carolina and Moller's longtime collaborator. "The samples were just filled with shit."
Thousands of, er, massages later, Moller is now a pro. He recently put that skill to good use in Chernobyl, site of the world's worst nuclear accident, in 1986. There his team has built the largest avian sperm dataset ever collected in the field. Contrary to media claims that Chernobyl's wildlife is thriving, detailed scientific surveys show that birds and other wildlife in the area's most contaminated tracts have suffered from mutations and population declines, and that some species have disappeared entirely. Studies have shown that men exposed to radiation from the Chernobyl catastrophe have fewer and less mobile sperm, but this is first such investigation in multiple bird species.
Over two years, the researchers used mist nets to capture 566 male birds from 46 passerine species. They sampled eight study sites in Chernobyl and the surrounding forests, with background radiation levels ranging over three orders of magnitude, from levels lower than those that occur in Central Park to ones hot enough to cause fatal cancers. Moller would coax out a few precious drops of sperm, release the birds, and immediately analyze the samples for sperm speed, mobility, and density using a microscope at the team's impromptu field station.
The sperm's health and behavior, they report today in PLoS One, varied wildly between species. Their samples ranged from no sperm, to deformed or sluggish swimmers, to sperm that appeared perfectly normal. "Radiation clearly affected many of these birds, but in different ways," Mousseau says.
In highly contaminated sites, nearly 18 percent of samples contained no sperm, compared with just 3 percent in radiation-free zones. According to the authors' calculations, birds trapped in the contaminated areas were almost nine times more likely to fire blank shots than those found in control sites. At one particularly hot site, samples from 44 birds, or 40 percent of those tested, didn't have a single sperm.
Mathieu Giraudeau, an evolutionary ecologist at the University of Zurich, says the study is an important contribution to our understanding of radiation's effects on birds, echoing most outside experts interviewed for this story*. "The decrease of sperm quality, or even the aspermy of many birds in contaminated areas, could be a major factor explaining the decline in wild bird populations in Chernobyl," says Giraudeau, adding that more tests, conducted under controlled lab settings, are needed to verify the link.
Pierre Deviche, a professor of environmental physiology at Arizona State University, praised the paper, although he says he would have liked to have seen the authors dig into the differences between species. Do long-lived birds have more damaged sperm, for instance, or do migratory species have lower aspermy rates? "Surprisingly, the authors do not address this important issue to any significant extent," he says.
But other scientists are less convinced. One, Christelle Adam-Guillermin, head of the Laboratory of Radionuclide Ecotoxicology at IRSN in France, questions the study's methodology. Adam-Guillermin points out that the researchers based their statistics on ambient radiation levels in the environment rather than on each bird's absorbed dose, or the amount of radiation it's exposed to both internally and externally.
That's something the team has been investigating in hundreds of birds and mammals at Chernobyl and Fukushima, the site in Japan where, in 2011, a local nuclear plant's six reactors disastrously melted down. They attached miniature dosimeters the animals' bodies for external readings and measured internal doses via a portal gamma spectroscopy lab. "Overall, there is a very good relationship between measured internal dose, external dose, and ambient radiation levels," Mousseau says, adding that he plans to publish those results soon.
This latest sperm study builds on the team's previous research showing that wild Barn Swallows' sperm quality significantly decreases in contaminated areas. But the scientists' work is revealing that there's likely no single way birds respond to nuclear disasters. In a paper they published in May, for example, they reported that several species--including Tree Pipits, Black Redstarts, and European Robins--seem to be adapting to Chernobyl's radiation. Yet the team has also found that overall bird populations in contaminated areas are smaller and that some species are missing entirely; that Barn Swallows living there live comparatively short lives; and that sex ratios skew toward males.
Which organisms will adapt to what and when are complex questions that need to be teased out with further studies. Mousseau, Moller, and their colleagues are likely the ones who will continue tackling the challenge, building on their two decades of work--and 60 papers--addressing radiation's impact on creatures ranging from spiders to fungus. After all, says Mousseau, the Fukushima meltdown has shown the world that additional nuclear accidents are possible. If and when others happen, today's radiation investigations could better prepare us to deal with the fallout.
*Three experts declined to comment on the study. Some in the evolutionary ecology field see Moller as a black sheep since a 2003 scandal in which a Danish research committee discovered that one of Moller's 1998 papers contained data that didn't support the conclusions. (Moller claims it was an inadvertent mistake, others disagree.)


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Forensic motor vehicle investigation training, was once the exclusive domain of law enforcement, but is fast becoming increasingly necessary within the private sector.
One cannot hope to put meaningful incident reducing strategies into place until the actual causes are known. With training, the physical evidence can be collected and analysed, ultimately reducing corporate costs.
CTEC continues to provide training for the law enforcement professional.
Course Listings: (Click on heading for more information)
Pedestrian Involved Collision Investigation
Safety Professional (Level 1) Collision Investigation
Level 2 Collision Investigation
Level 3 Collision Investigation
Level 4 Collision Investigation
TRAINING SCHEDULE:click here for schedule


text: Hi! I had a relatively active sourdough culture for the last 2 weeks, but then 2 days ago I've modified the way I feed it and it's become extremely active. I feed it and leave it in the pantry at room temperature, and less than 2 hours later it bubbles a LOT and overflows (more than 3x the initial volume). I've captured this culture on whole-wheat bread flour, which is very heavy. Now I've modified the food mix to 1/3 whole wheat, 1/3 whole rye and 1/3 sifted organic flour. I'm wondering if this level of activity is normal, or if it can be detrimental to bread production. The smell got a bit more complex but it's pleasant. My latest attempt at sourdough bread ended with no oven spring and a loaf that's flatter than usual, altough it had a nice amount of bubbles and the taste was great.


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There were villains and victims aplenty in Pennsylvania earlier this year, and the press was on the stories when the state threw some 42,000 people with low incomes off a special program called Adult Basic that offered coverage at low prices so that people with chronic conditions could see doctors when they needed to. They were on the case when Highmark, a Blue Cross Blue Shield plan in western Pennsylvania, announced a rate increase of 9.9 percent on special policies with more limited coverage sold to those stranded when the state ended their Adult Basic plans. Headlines such as "Highmark set to raise low-income plan rates," in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; Blue Cross seeks to increase rates for low-income, elderly clients," in the Williamsport Sun-Gazette; and "Blue Cross seeks rate hike for insurance products for low-income members," in the Scranton Times Tribune showed that low income people (the victims) and Highmark (the villain) made good copy. Press coverage as well as advocacy activities undoubtedly helped Highmark change its mind and revise its rate request to only 4.9 percent. (These are policies sold to individuals that are subject to rate approval.)
The Highmark case shows the power of the press when they practice what is now called "accountability" journalism. That's the old-fashioned stuff that some of us cut our teeth on when newspapers were robust purveyors of the news. No matter what it's called, the Pennsylvania tale shows why we have to be watchdogs for the public in matters of health insurance now and in the future, and why we have to learn how to decipher arcane rate requests, no matter how complicated. If the state won't protect their interests, then the job falls to us.


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USA Ultimate training camp
Jojo Emerson
March 17, 2012
Filed under Opinion, Sports, Top Stories
Every two years, USA Ultimate hosts two sets of weekend-long tryouts, one on the west coast and one in the east, for youth ultimate players 19 and under who are interested in playing for the USA national ultimate frisbee team. These tryouts bring out the best young players in the country for a weekend of hard drilling and grueling competition. Though it sounds intense, the weekends tend to breed camaraderie among players who would normally be rivals, and these connections span through seasons to come.


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Hey, Hey, Hey
Ross Brown - 31/07/2013
Another funky(ish) dance from Nev & Julie which reminds me of Rock Da Boat. Not too sure about the last section of the dance as it feels a bit out of place. Otherwise it's quite an easy dance to pick up and the music is pretty catchy too. Watch out for the restarts as have accidentally danced straight through them a few times. Gets the thumbs up from me!


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Mission Impossible: Rio in June
Although June is a lovely time to visit Rio de Janeiro, don't think of going near the Cidade Maravilhosa this year – at least between the 13th and the 22rd.
Although June is a lovely time to visit Rio de Janeiro, don't think of going near the Cidade Maravilhosa this year – at least between the 13th and the 22rd.
For those who missed this year's Carnaval in Rio or who just plain miss Rio, the 5-minute film, "The City of Samba," will either kill your longings or inflame your Rio yearnings all the more.
Only an hour's drive north from Rio, the summer getaway of the Brazilian emperor and his family still provides a welcome refuge. Aside from imperial trappings. Petrópolis offers a cool respite, fine food, and mountain scenery.
Narrow cobblestoned alleys, grand baroque churches, turn-of-the-20th-century Parisian-inspired avenues and architecture, and the ubiquitous high-rises and urban chaos of a 21st-century megalopolis make up Rio's Centro district. Here's what to see when you're visiting Centro.
Exploring the neighborhoods west of Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon, you'll find some attractive and unspoiled beaches as well as a few museums worth your time. None of the neighborhoods are laid out with pedestrians in mind, though.
This week, everybody in Brazil – and especially in Rio de Janeiro – was talking about the "peaceful" police invasion of Rocinha, the largest – and most (in)famous – favela in the Americas.
The wealthy residents of the lush upscale neighborhood of Jardim Botânico may lack sea views, but they are handsomely rewarded by being in between the jungly slopes of Corcovado and the exotic flora of one of the world's best botanical gardens.
With a reputation as the "Marvelous City," one would expect Rio to have more of a gay scene. However, as in many other cities in Brazil, instead of a gay neighborhood, gays, lesbians, and heteros mix socially all over the city. Here are some hot spots to check out.
Journalist Michael Sommers guides travelers to the best that Brazil has to offer, from surfing, hang gliding, and enjoying the sizzling nightlife in Rio to venturing into the Amazon to witness the Meeting of the Waters, where the Rio Negro and Rio Solimões join to form the world's mightiest river: the Amazon. Sommers also includes […]
It would be a shame to come to Rio de Janeiro and not visit the utterly charming, bucolic hilltop neighborhood of Santa Teresa, one of the city's oldest residential bairros. Here are some suggestions of how to spend your time in Santa Teresa.


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Actually, there's no studio audience. It's a laughtrack and cutaway shots of a "Regis & Kathie Lee" audience from 1998. If you're not convinced, simply head to our Get Tickets section for details.
Sadly, CBS has not yet set up internet service at the LATE SHOW offices. Until this happens (hopefully by mid-'09), your best bet is to send a telegram. However, you may e-mail David Letterman, Paul Shaffer or the LATE SHOW staff with questions or comments about the show and/or this website at email@example.com.
A number of people ask this question which is testimony to how life-like the Omega 386L Cyborg "Dave" truly is. All the credit must go to the talented, hard-working scientists at HLT Labs.
While Dave may not see every single letter sent to him, all letters addressed to him at email@example.com are sent to his office for review. Each and every letter received via E-mail is read and passed along to the appropriate person(s) at the show. While some letter writers may get a personal response from a staffer, please know that due to the very large number of correspondence we receive, we cannot guarantee a response in every case.
First, you really need to determine whether it's a pet or a human that's doing the trick. However, if it actually is a trick performed by a Human Pet, legal issues prevent us from presenting it.
You may e-mail our Stupid Tricks department. If your trick is safe and fun for all participants, fits our format and hasn't already been performed on the show, we will call you back should we be interested in using your trick.
Additionally, we regularly schedule Stupid Trick auditions in various cities around the country. Check out Pants News for current cities and dates.
CBS earns revenue by selling airtime to advertisers. Good question!
The best way for a "regular" person to get on the show is to spend years becoming a fabulously successful actor, musician, athlete, or other kind of beloved celebrity.
"Human interest" guests fall basically into two categories: topical, and people with unusual hobbies, talents, or obsessions.
What we look for in a topical story varies widely. It can be anything from a lottery winner to a dog who steals his owner's truck. We have featured a nurse who saved her son's iguana by giving it mouth-to-mouth resuscitation; a 10-year-old boy who was home alone and punched out a burglar who was trying to break into his house; and the man who George Steinbrenner dubbed the "Number One Yankee Fan" because he waited on line 33 hours for play-off tickets.
What all of these stories have in common is that they are light-hearted stories with a happy ending. Hero stories are always welcome. Other human interest guests are people with unusual hobbies, talents, or acts. These are likable, outgoing individuals who do something extraordinary. Examples of this type of guest are the 105-year-old woman who wrote a horse handicapping column for the New York Post; the "Human Echo," a man who could repeat anything anyone said in 1/50th of a second; and a pool player and trick shot artist who could knock 90 balls into the pockets with one shot.
f you consider yourself to be one of these people, or if you know of someone who might make a great human interest guest, please e-mail our Human Interest Guest department. *Please do not send e-mails regarding music acts.
Paul is originally from Canada and has been with Dave since the NBC days. Before that, Paul was the bandleader on Saturday Night Live. In his free time, Paul enjoys sending anonymous questions to the LATE SHOW website.
The LATE SHOW employs full-time interns in the following departments: Research, Talent, Production, Writers, Writers' Production, and Music. All interns must be available to work Monday through Friday 10 AM - 7 PM. Interns are paid, and can receive credit from their schools, but it is not required.
Our program runs year-round in three sessions: Fall (August - December), Spring (December - May), and Summer (May - August). Each semester has application deadlines, which are as follows: Fall (June 1), Spring (October 1), Summer (March 1).
Submit your cover letter and resume to Janice Penino, Vice President, Human Resources, Late Show with David Letterman. You can send it via fax to 212-975-5546 or email firstname.lastname@example.com. Please do not send other correspondence to this fax number or email address.
Certainly. Just send us $20 and the date of the show you'd like. After months pass and no tape arrives, call us. We'll deny ever receiving your order.
Sorry, but we are unable to provide any videotape copies of previous episodes of the LATE SHOW. However, we suggest you visit the "alt.fan.letterman" Internet newsgroup and post a request for the specific show you need there. Chances are good that someone will see your message and be willing to provide you with a copy of their own tape.
This is not possible, as both Dave and Paul believe that the camera steals one's soul. Curiously, this is not the case with video cameras.
If you would like to request an autographed photo of Dave, please fax your request to: Dave Autograph Request Attn: Susan Kolenovic 212-975-4734
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Please allow several weeks for a reply.
A variety of LATE SHOW novelty items such as hydraulic jacks, insole cushions, salt licks, and vacuum cleaner bags can often be found at your local "Job Lots" or "99 Cents" store.
More highbrow merchandise from the LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN can be purchased from the official CBS Store.


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Slow Cooker Monday: Spinach Lasagna
Monday, 7 March 2011
Growing up in an Italian household, we often had lasagna for dinner and even for holidays and special occasions. My mom always made her signature sauce from scratch – a simple but delicious combination of tomato sauce and paste with crushed tomatoes and spices.
Maybe because I had Italian food so much growing up, or because I typically only cook for 1-2 people, I can't remember the last time I made lasagna. I occasionally make ravioli or pasta for an easy dinner, but never lasagna. So when I came upon slow cooker recipes for lasagna, I thought it would be a good chance to revisit my childhood. I didn't have time to make sauce so I cheated and bought a jar of organic basil marinara at Trader Joe's (which I highly recommend). I added in some old spinach that needed to be used, which could easily be omitted.
I wasn't sure how lasagna would turn out in a slow cooker, but it was delicious! The noodles were tender but not overcooked, and although some of the pieces were funny shapes, the ooey gooey cheesy layers combined with slightly sweet tomato sauce were perfect. This was a simple way to make a lasagna of any size (I used a 3.5 quart slow cooker, which made enough for 2 of us to have dinner and lunch).
What was your favorite dinner as a child?
Slow Cooker Spinach Lasagna
Note: I used a 3.5 quart slow cooker, but this recipe can be easily adjusted for a bigger or smaller one.
Makes 4-6 servings
- 13 oz. part-skim ricotta cheese
- 1/2 C low-fat milk
- No-boil lasagna noodles (I used about 1/3 of a 16 oz. box)
- 25 oz. jar of your favorite pasta sauce
- 2 C grated part-skim mozzarella cheese
- Package of baby spinach
Combine ricotta and milk in a medium bowl. Lightly coat the interior of slow cooker with non-stick spray and pour enough tomato sauce to make a thin layer along the bottom. Top with a layer of noodles (you will have to break them to get them to fit – don't worry, I put in lots of little pieces to fill in crevices and it turned out just fine). Spread a layer of the ricotta mixture over the noodles. Add a layer of spinach, followed with layers of shredded mozzerella then sauce. Top with another layer of broken noodles and repeat (noodles, ricotta, spinach, mozzerella, sauce, noodles…) until you've run out of ricotta and spinach. For the last layer, put noodles, sauce and the remaining mozzerella cheese. Cover and cook on low for around 3-4 hours, until noodles are tender.


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Currently in previews at New York's Second Stage Theater, Sanaa Lathan starring in Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, Lynn Nottage's new play, By The Way, Meet Vera Stark, as a black maid in Hollywood pursuing her dream of making it in the movies, while also grappling with racial stereotypes through...
Read More »What to make of this graphic novel-style cover (below) of the May 2011 issue of The Source. Freaky :)
Read More »May 6th is less than a month away… given all that I've seen of this film thus far, and I've seen a bit - all the clips and images the studio has released in the last month or so - I'm still just not sold on it. I'm ambivalent… something just seems off to me; but I'll see it anyway.
Read More »Here's your first look at Jamie Foxx in the all-star cast workplace murder comedy Horrible Bosses, in which he co-stars alongside Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell, Kevin Spacey and Jason Bateman, directed by Seth Gordon for Newline.
Read More »


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The National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS is an annual HIV awareness campaign that mobilizes faith communities; and highlights the contributions and impact congregations are making in areas of HIV prevention, testing, direct service, advocacy and community engagement.
Now in its 25th year, The National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS (formerly known as The Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS and The Harlem Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS) is the forerunner of all national HIV awareness campaigns in the US.
This national faith mobilization campaign continues to call men and women of faith to prayer and to take aggressive action in dismantling AIDS stigma; to model unconditional love and compassion to all persons living with and affected by HIV; to disseminate factual HIV education and to engage communities in HIV testing and treatment services.
Download This Background
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Keep It Cool Pray For The Healing Of AIDS "Right-Click" on the image to save to your phone and use as a background


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Imker's plan to balance PTC budget: pension changes, staff furloughs, sales tax
'What makes government employees so special [that] they are immune to what's going on around us whereas commercial businesses are not?'
Peachtree City Councilman Eric Imker wants to solve a looming $1.2 million budget shortfall for next year — and a potential combined $20 million shortfall over the next five years — by furloughing employees and slashing retirement costs.
Imker contends the city can avoid any property tax increase for the coming fiscal year. Simultaneously, he is asking for a new 1 percent sales tax — a new SPLOST — to be placed on the ballot for the purposes of debt reduction, which would shave some $12.5 million off the city's projected $20 million shortfall over the next five years.
In a letter to the editor on Page A4, Imker said while he appreciates the hard work of city employees, he thinks furloughs equivalent to a 1 percent pay cut are "clearly not unreasonable in this economic environment" and can be done without drastically affecting services.
Imker acknowledges that discussion of employee morale comes with any pay cuts. But he thinks employees should "consider the morale of the 1,000-plus people living in Peachtree City who are unemployed right now. Or the thousands who have taken a pay cut."
"We can ask employees to understand the economic environment everyone else is living in and ask they not be immune," Imker wrote. "We can do something about the revenue side in a major way."
Imker said the city offers two retirement plans for each employee: a defined benefits package that guarantees a certain monthly payment upon retirement and also a 401(k) investment account. He wants to eliminate the defined benefit plan for all new employees and also force current employees to choose one plan or the other.
While Imker is firmly against a property tax increase, he wants a new special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) for the purpose of paying down the city's debt. Imker says the city's debt payments will equal about $12.5 million over the next five years.
But it will take approval of the Fayette County Commission to authorize such a SPLOST referendum. Given that voters roundly dismissed the most recent SPLOST, which had a large debt repayment mechanism for the county's Justice Center complex, the likelihood of a similar debt reduction SPLOST going before voters might be slim.
Imker contends the commissioners should put such a proposal before voters anyway, without regard for their political ambitions.
Imker's suggestion of avoiding a property tax increase drew criticism from Fire Chief Ed Eiswerth several weeks ago during the annual City Council retreat. Eiswerth said the idea was tantamount to "balancing the budget on the backs of city employees," a contention that Imker denies.
While city employees had a significant increase in their medical premiums last year, Imker said he did as well.
"So did everybody else in the work force. Please tell me what makes government employees so special they are immune to what's going on around us whereas commercial businesses are not," Imker wrote.
We're getting sick and tired of you and your hatred of city employees.
Let me give you a little information about us government types before you bash us anymore.
Most people who decide to work for the government (whether it be local, state or Federal) do so for job security and retirement benefits. We have made the decision to forgo higher paying private-realm jobs for security and retirement (pension).
Our pay in local government is atrocious. A starting officer with a college education will only make around $35,000 (give or take). Whereas in the private sector, the median for people with a BS or BA is between $37k to $60k. http://www.adors.gatech.edu/assessment/adors/commencement/salary_report_...
Now you want to come in here and cut our pay, cut our benefits, and cut our pension. You leave us with nothing! Law enforcement is the State's most competitive job market. There are roughly 50-60k peace officers in the State of Georgia and if you keep on cutting, then officers will leave (which they've been doing already). You are driving out the best and brightest and they will be replaced with less experienced and less qualified officers. You know what happens to an area that sees a decrease in police effectiveness? Just look to Clayton and Fulton County. You cut law enforcement anymore and you can kiss our quality of life goodbye.
Imker and you forum rabble-rousers need to loosen up and stop your attacks on government workers. Just because we have the title "government," you shouldn't confuse us with Obama and the Democrats!!!
They let you carry a gun? I hope it's your day off and you're not sitting in your "free" car with your "free" laptop somewhere slamming the city council.
If you calm down and try not to take your anger out on the citizens of PTC, then I'm sure your job will be safe. We are in an economic crisis. We will come out of this with a stronger, more secure city government in the end.
This SPLOST idea is just like the folks who order a huge piece of cake and have a diet drink or artificially sweetened tea to wash it down. If anybody in this world knows about SPLOST and what it can do to you, I DO. All the folks who own homes along the West Fayetteville Bypass know what I'm talking about. SPLOST, IN ANY FORM, FOR WHATEVER REASON, will destroy this country. Not being able to give up a piece of cake will cause heart attacks and strokes. If we don't get rid of the glut we are going to have a gut.
The thing about SPLOST is that most people, especially those with kids in Fayette County Schools, don't trust Fayette County with our money anymore. Two years ago, we had an Education SPLOST rammed down our throats in the name of saving the school system. What did we get for that, a brand new, now empty school and a second empty building. We also had teachers furloughed and huge budget cuts. The school board has been questioned many many times about their budget and we never seem to get a straight answer. Now Mr. Imker wants us to put the City's future in the hands of the County. No way, we need to do this ourselves. If it means $250 increase over 5 years so be it. It's still way cheaper than where I grew up. And since we are picking on the Fire Chief here, let me remind everyone that his hard working staff managed to save homeowners an average of $100 a year on homeowners insurance. That would not have been possible without the current staffing levels.
I realize I should have included all the other ideas from retreat in my letter to the editor so that it didn't seem like I'm only talking about empolyee furloughs and retirement. The city employee items were just one portion of the total cuts I'm advocating. Plus on the revenue side I'm talking about the Hotel/Motel tax situation, the city's miserable income from money sitting in the bank ($50,000 on $6M) and the recreation revenue that can be ramped up.
The overall picture, that most folks don't understand, is that is it not a $27 tax increase (1/4 mil as being discussed for FY2011) to solve the budget. It's more in the nature of $250 per household per year increase that needs to be implemented to cover the next 5 years of being $20M short if we don't clear out the city's debt.
I've looked at several of the comments herein and most simply need to read the letter to the editor I wrote that gives more details to the numbers I'm talking about.
I have researched the numbers extensively and checked with the city's financial director more than once to confirm what I'm talking about.
As for SPLOST being a solution and the acknowledgement that it failed last year, significantly. Of course it failed. I advocated turning it down. Everyone knows or should know the main reason it failed was because of its continued support of the West Fayette Bypass. If that item wasn't in it, it would have been a very close call. You wouldn't have had the large financed camps opposing it as intensely as they did. Argue if you want, but I'm saying people will understand if the "pet" projects and developer pandering goes away and we stick to business, in our case, eliminating a crushing debt, we can be successful. We're not going to solve a $20M problem with additional staff cuts and furloughs. Once I'm convinced our staffing is about right (it will never be 100% efficient) I will be up front and say the only way to eliminate such a short fall is with a tax. A onetime tax. A SPLOST is a onetime tax for a special purpose, in our case eliminating our debt, with time limits. A millage increase goes forever. Only in rare instances do millage rates go down.
Mr. Imker,
For the clarification. I must disagree. The SPLOST is never one time and taxation is not the answer. Government has to make the tough decisions and get PTC off the entitlement bottle.
It's time to cut back to the bare bones and do all we can BEFORE you tax the people. $250 may not seem like much but to some its all they have. And you are asking them to pay $250 on top of the Federal Government just passing the largest tax increase EVER in our history with the healthcare bill.
NO SIR! SPLOST is not the answer. Its time to go back to the drawing board and look for creative solutions to this problem. And the city should learn to live debt free so that these problems are not an issue going forward.
I think you're a tad confused, doright.
The $250 is the millage increase tax that Imker is AGAINST. This would be a yearly tax that is very difficult to eventually get rid of.
The SPLOST is a one-time tax for a special purpose.
Seeing as how the city is millions of dollars in debt and the drawing board creative cuts (over 200 of them) Imker and citizens generated during his citizen-input/collaboration session won't be nearly enough to cover this magnitude of previous council's blunder, a one time tax to fix it is likely the best, least burdensome solution.
I'm as against taxes as anyone on the planet. I also agree with you that government needs to be accountable for it's own actions and not always surrender to a tax increase to get the job done. In this case, the 200 or so creative solutions that were generated are enough to solve 1, maybe 1.5 million worth of debt. Not the 6 million dollar problem the city now realizes they have.
The previous SPLOST failed because it was for a silly side project that was a "nice to have" and not a "need to have". I myself was also against this SPLOST.
The current SPLOST Imker is proposing is for an absolute dire, need to have.... which is fixing a broken budget. And that's the SOLE purpose. Will it pass? It's probably the best solution, but it probably won't because of the bad-name "SPLOST" currently has from the last time it was on the ballot and folks generally are always against tax increases without considering the consequences of rejecting them. I know I, myself am guilty of whimsicly rejecting tax increases without considering what's the tax is really for. Most of the taxes shouldn't be raised. In this case, I believe Imker legitimately has a point.
Creative cuts can only go so far. Imker (and citizen input) have generated those creative cuts to drastically streamline the cities expenditures, but that can only go so far in the face of a daunting monster that is this budget shortfall. ... and the longer we wait to fix it, the worse it will get. We're all in this problem together, thanks to some very poor decisions from our council in the past. But hey, we elected them.
PTClurker I think you have misread what the citizens of this county are screaming. NO SPLOST. See this is not "dire need" and secondly STOP SPENDING. Cart path bridges being built because people can't wait 60 seconds to cross. No this is not acceptable and should not be done.
The leaders have lost the trust of the people because they have irresponsibly spent the taxpayers money and then taxed them to make up the difference. GET PTC OFF THE ENTITLEMENT BOTTLE and empower them to be independent of local government programs.
When the leaders show themselves trustworthy again of the taxpayers money and are accountable for it and have done EVERYTHING under the sun to stop spending and cut to bare bones then and only then is SPLOST even an option.
After reading your article here, Mr. Imker, and the comments below, I'll admit these questions were on my mind.
Thank you for summing it up concisely and clarifying this.
Being just a might cynical today, and government stooges being one of my two pet peaves (the other being an agenda driven media) allow me to comment. We both realize that Peachtree City's fiscal dilemma is of its own making and WHEN this economy does turn, it will be the citizens of Peachtree City who stand to gain. Why would we expect others to bail us out?
OK, I'll propose raising property taxes by $250.00 per household for the next five years, if you can get the city staff to reduce its annual salary by the same amount. Assuming 10,000 structures, that would be an increase of $2.5M in revenue and with an equal amount by the city you now have raised $25M over your five year period. Half the burden borne by the citizens and half by those who brought us to where we are.
Should anyone possess the cajones, this is doable.
Thank you for the additional comments here. You are addressing this issue with the detail that is necessary to solve it. Please continue as you have been and I assure you as you continue to restate the obvious (to a few), over and over, you will eventually get more than the few to realize the severity of what we are facing.
You are so right about the millage increases. We are not to that point, and with your help and that of the rest of Council, we won't be there for a year or two from now (if ever).
My friend, please consider input from ordinary citizens not affiliated with city employment when conducting this review. I know this goes without saying, but leaving this decision in the hands of Bernie & Co would be allowing the fox to reside in the henhouse until he eats himself out of house and home.
Should you like, I could set up a panel of 'extraordinary' (no citizen of Peachtree City is ordinary) citizens to review and make suggestions. You have nothing to lose, and those I would ask to assist may possibly all blog here. What say you?
Mike, we are both details guys and it has been awhile since we sat down and talked. Too long.
We need to sit and talk on this. We are not going to get it all covered here in blogs as you well know.
You must be being sarcastic with such an improbable request!
Mayor's soon become assimilated with the city staff and are usually afraid to take independent action or express straight forward wishes.
You may also become that way someday!
Remember your military days? suggesting things contrary to policy (non-direct orders) was a no-no.
Are you really this clueless? What does the 1000 unemployeed people in Peachtree City have to do with city employee's?
Apparently you have no idea how money works. You can't be part of the solution if you are a part of the problem. Let me understand, you are struggling with adding $2.25 per household per month in a mileage increase to save our city?
Why don't you start by saving the citizens $400,000 plus dollars in taxes by fixing the money pit which is the "Kedron Aquatic Center"?
Please stop stepping over dollars to pick up pennies!
Your questions answered...
1 - Morale comparision because of the feedback on city employee morale.
2 - You may be struggling with $2.25 per month. I'm stuggling with a $20,000,000 problem that translates into $250 per household per year every year if we do nothing.
3 - We're upping the revenue in all rec dept areas. Are we to simply throw away a facility because you don't like or want it?
and the rest of the Kedron facility. Maybe this blog is just his way of getting his foot in the door again to go after the city with the magnamamous offer he made us in the past. Of course he was being completely altruistic at the time. Hah!
Thank you for your response.
first of all i believe you were against the splost that could have pretty much fixed many of your problems or am i confused.
1). i'm not struggling with $2.25 per month...i personally like the idea.
2).i would have no issue with the $250.00 per year if it increased my quality of life and increased my home value.
3). the rec department and the dollars given to the various rec entity's are very scewed. baseball is funded by the tax-payer over $14.00 per month per participate while other sports are funded less than $2.00 per month per participate. There is not an equal of equity distributions for rec sports in ptc. this should not be tolerated by the taxpayer.
4). i did not say throw away a facility...this facility is costing the tax payers over $400,000.00 per year. all i have suggested is that i will save the city hundreds of thousands of tax dollars and add a million dollar asset. to clarify i don't want it...if i had a venue costing me this much money i would have shut it down 10 years ago and you would have an additional 6 million to 8 million dollars in the bank. keep doing what your doing and in 5 years you will have wasted another 2.5 million dollars.
I think you mean well most of the time but apparently English composition is not your first language! Nor is your attempt to involve yourself into the pool!
Please let me explain:
The defeated SPLOST you mention as fixing the problems would only have encouraged our managers to spend more for employees and projects.
Your "liking" the idea of a tax of any amount flies in the face of many here who have no job or business and can't pay current bills.
Also, a few hundred bucks more of tax would not likely make your home worth more nor your quality of life as it would likely be wasted a little at a time.
Can we now talk about sentence structure and words?
rec entity's should be entities
Capital letters start sentences.
participate should be participants
your doing should be you're doing or you are doing
I think maybe the recreation money is probably spent according to how many participate--squash shouldn't get as much money as football, should it?
Now sir, as to the pool and you! You wanted to be provided the location and building on which you would add other facilities for which you would make charges to people using it and somehow split any profits with the city for the use of our property!
What I say to you is this: build your own pool, gym, etc., and run it.
What this town needs is a facility for youth where they can participate in social gatherings, gyms, swimming, library, plays, and other arts.
Build that for them if you are so rich. Even run it. The town won't run it.
I don't want the pool, you can keep the pool.
No, I don't want it either but if there are those who use it efficiently then it sounds as if all that needs to be done is see why it costs so much above income.
Now, I want to say that I was somewhat out of line in my first post to you. I was too personal as to the way you presented your information and that was not needed from me.
As an answer to the $2.25 a month to help meet the budget, I don't know if that is the correct number or not but in addition to a shortfall of over a million more dollars needed for next year, it is now being predicted that $20,000,000 more may be needed over the next five years!
As we aren't sure yet as to how long sales taxes, property taxes, and state and federal aid will continue to decline, we should prepare for the worst now.
$2.25 per month increase in taxes surely won't do it!
We gripe about aid furnished by the state and federal government causing our taxes to go up, then we can't wait to get money from them in such problems as we now have!
It would be better if we met our own local budgets as we go (by efficiency--not taxes) and then use whatever windfalls we get to further improve our situation.
A recent Mayor once offered to contribute a million dollars of his money for something he wanted for the city, (he didn't) maybe you could do the same? Pay it, not offer it. (that is a joke).
Thank you for your post. It cost so much because it is a pool. By nature a pool(s) will never pay for itself nor will you be able to justify the loss in a city owned enviroment.
A big part of Peachtree City's problem is that past mayor's and council did not do their job...if they would have increased taxes many years ago (when the economy was great), which is what I would have done, we would not have any of the problems we now face. Like the saying goes "to busy trying to keep their job, they weren't doing their job".
Many (not all)successful, well run companies, foam at the mouth in this economic times. This is the time to take advantage of all the viable situations that are available. We can move backwards with everyone else or we can move forward with the few.
In closing I may be willing to donate 1 million dollars to the city...however, I promise you that the powers to be will screw it up...for example the city will say..."we don't want it in $20.00 bills we want it in $50.00 bills". Trust me, it's nothing like I've ever seen before.
Recreation money is not spent based on how many participate. That is exactly my arguement...it should be.
Your position does not hold water. If people can't afford the additional $2.25 per month tax increase, then we can't afford the aquatic center, as that is about what it is costing the average household.
On another note, in your arguement the $2.25 will not make a difference...then let's cut taxes by $2.25 per household and see what happens.
If you don't think the $2.25 per month will not matter then you do not understand money, which is becoming more obvious by the minute.
In closing, if $2.25 per month will create an economic disaster for a household, then trust me, it is already to late.
From a liberal to a conservative. Its got to be the meds.
I told him not to take the red pill but he did it anyway.. Don't worry he will take the blue pill later and slip back into the matrix..
A standing ovation to you Bonkers!
FINALLY someone states the obvious SPLOST is an enabler for our managers to keep PTC on the entitlement track. THIS IS NOT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT!!
Time to cut spending, cut to the bare bones, give more power to the people and less to the government.
But in all fairness Bonkers, I believe since Dar is so passionate about paying taxes and they probably believe it is patriotic to pay more, Dar can have the SPLOST tax 100% and any other taxes the managers want to levy. I believe this would be fair and solve all the problems.
Congrats Dar YOU ARE A WINNER!!
One trick pony Imker is obsessed with annoying the PTC employees and somehow thinks a SPLOST will pass? Huh?
You are so out of touch it is not even close to funny. I know you won't listen, but the other 4 will - RAISE TAXES! THE $27 IS OK WITH MOST OF US. GET OFF YOUR HIGH HORSE, ERIC.
And please, Mr. Eric, I hope you understand that no one employed by the city will ever respect you. Yes, we know you don't care. Go away.
If you mean what I think you mean by Mayor Haddix "counselling" Councilman Imker, I don't think he has that prerogative. They are both elected independently. It is like Sonny trying to shame the Attorney General into doing his stupid bidding for votes, and to damage the AG's run for Governor. Dumb stuff.
How much money does riding low horses and gaining respect by protection have to do with balancing a budget?
Hello, it's me, he who couldn't get elected. Your own words a while back.
OK - Your proposal of $27 millage increase solves $500K a year. This solution doesn't even consider alternatives. The citizens expect more than just a simple millage rate increase easy solution. I've put forward a proposal to solve $20,000,000. I've ask for citizen input and got it. Where's yours? I'm waiting. firstname.lastname@example.com
How close would last year's SPLOST have been if it didn't include the bypass support, pet projects and pandering to developers? Ans- It would have been close.
Like above, to Thompson, I'd like your input, like I got from many many citizens, on your ideas to solve the $20,000,000 problem? I won't summarily reject them. I'll seriously consider them, ask others for input on your ideas and come to a synergistic conclusion.
Ok, I'll take that on. Yes, I know you got elected and I know how. Same way as Prezbo - unattainable promises and a weak opponent. Big congrats. Now it is time to do the work of the people.
As to cost savings ideas, I have said it all before, although maybe not in the same response, but here is my list. I'm sure others can add to it. Please note that revenue generation is as important as cost savings. Hint, #1 is first because it is the most important:
1. Apologize to the employees of PTC for your emotional and intemperate remarks and put it all behind you and move on. As the late mayor brown discovered, having good ideas in conjunction with an arrogant, condescending attitude does not accomplish anything. In fact, the good ideas get rejected because of the disgust everyone feels for the author. So, be a team player - apologize first.
2. The tax increase is justifiable immediately. Understand the preservation of housing value idea, embrace it and sell it hard because it happens to be correct. $250 for 2 years, $350 for 2 years, then $450.
3. Hiring freezes, employee furloughs and selective weeding out are all to be considered, but those discussions should be conducted in private, not in the press. Hint, some private businesses I consult with have had 2 or 3 5% pay cuts and not lost an employee. Everyone knows times are tough.
4. The double pension idea (first heard about that this week) is unsupportable. The defined benefit is horribly expensive. Attack this problem with a task force of 1 councilperson, 2 department heads and 2 regular employees and then adopt their reccomendation.
5. User fees for recreation including a higher fee for golf cart registration should be considered.
6. Hotel motel tax should be increased and someway to convert those funds to address something useful (rather than salaries for 3 people) should be considered.
7. Encourage corporate sponsorship of city facilities and be aggressive about it. The NCR logo on police cars, Cooper Lighting fire trucks, Home Depot Public Works on their trucks, Best Buy logo on water towers, etc.
8. Economic development is the most lucrative thing we can do on the revenue side. There is a tremendous multiplier effect when new companies locate here - even if tax breaks and other incentives are used. At a bare minimum, a full-time staffer for Fayette County (cost shared with the county and cities) responsible for economic development. Ideally, a PTC employee dedicated to economic development would produce the best results. Simplest thing is to replace the Tourism Director and give him or her an expanded job description that includes economic development. BTW, John Boothby is available. And designate 1 councilperson to be the showcase political leader on call for presentations and visits to add gravitas and speak authoritively about special incentives. Fred Brown, Rich Parlionterri, Bob Lenox and Bob Brooks all filled this role and they were very effective. The other Brown and Logsdon, not effective at all. In fact that role has not been filled since Lenox left office.
9. The SPLOST idea is stupid, drop it. You need Fayette County's support to do this and by the time they and the other cities take their unfair share (thank you mayor brown) it won't help that much. Besides, it won't pass. Neither will the school system SPLOST.
10. Now, if you must do a SPLOST, do one for economic development with a recreation subsidy rider. That would give the county 2 serious, senior economic development staffers and a support staff and an advertising budget. Balance left over goes to the cities to subsidize their recreational facilities and operations. That SPLOST would pass because visiting shoppers would be paying for our growth and the recreation (cart paths, lakes, etc,) that some from other counties sneak in and use. Perfect zen.
Ten free ideas - all yours. Run with it.
What are you talking about? Did something happen or are you just trying to be cute.
We talk, Morgan, but on the employee issue we just do not agree. We do agree on a number of other issues.
Maybe a SPLOST will pass this time. We will be discussing it with the other governments in Fayette.
The biggest problem last time was the erroneous belief there was West By-Pass money in the proposal. There absolutely was not.
The PTC SPLOST was heavily debt reduction. We will try again with that being the main goal once more.
The key is accurate knowledge on what is actually being voted on.
If we do not get it getting PTC out of our financial woes is going to be very difficult both short and long term. Not to mention fulfilling the goals many want on golf cart paths.
Simple reality is we didn't get here overnight and we will not get out overnight. As well when getting in the economy was a lot stronger and there was a lot of one time development fees, which are not coming back.
We will get there. But it is huge challenge.
What cannot be allowed again is the thinking that got us into this mess.
No Mr. Haddix Fayette Co. can't afford being taxed to death. This is not the federal government Mr. Haddix and I will help, with pleasure, to make sure SPLOST does not pass.
It's time to cut spending, it's time to stop building cart path bridges because people can't wait 60 seconds to pass. It's time to get PTC off the entitlement bottle.
The voters spoke clearly and I believe they will speak clearly again NO MORE SPLOST!
You are the ones who do not get it!
Few want a tax increase or a SPLOST---a tax increase!
We are in a recession, soon to be a depression if people like you two don't stop acting as if there is no problem
If you don't make the cuts needed now then the problem will be worse next year and even worse in following years!
And, anyone who thinks $25 tax increase on homes and empty property will solve the problem are the ones who don't know how to handle money and will probably go broke.
Even Mr. Imker is backing off due to pressure.
I suggest you make the $1.2 million cuts now and another 2 million later. The feds aren't going to bail us out again for our schools, cops, nothing.
Layoff the same percentage as the shortfall along with the expenses they carry.
We will survive that way. Cutting pensions, furloughs, etc., will do more harm than cutting the least talented and unneeded.
That is what happens every where else.
One of the key ways of thinking that continues the slide of fiscal irresponsibility is to consider governmental employees pay and positions to be sacrosanct. The largest unionized group of people in America is the government employees. The typical way of thinking is to think that taxes can always go up and it is the first thing to consider. How long until we have a national value-added tax? 12 months? maybe less
This appears like a back-away-from attitude by Mr. Imker!
Fayette County is not going to pass a SPLOST but he says do it anyway (on the ballot).
Then I suppose he could say, well I tried but it was voted down!
There is only one way right now.........cut 1.2 million worth of salaries now for next years budget.
Then if it is projected by Mr. Imker that 20 million will be needed over next five years ti fill a shortfall.....then that is four million shortfall a year each year!!!!
Now this article is poorly researched or Mr. Imker is guessing.
Don't we teach logic and math anymore---never mind economics and bookkeeping!
I can't comment on the pension cuts because I don't know the percentage the town donates to it nor the worker. I also don't know what the Town pension yields at retirement. Does anybody?
Bonkers - you disappoint me once again. Imker is saying last year's SPLOST was rejected because of the bypass in Fayette county. You obviously didn't read the letter to the editor which details what this story says. A new SPLOST without the road and for debt reduction only is what he's saying. Trying is better than not trying. Instead, I guess you would rather roll over and pay more in property tax.
Since you didn't read the editorial letter, you didn't understand that the listed "cuts" for personnel were only a small part of the two million dollars of savings Imker recommended for next year. Since you didn't read the editorial you didn't see the profile of the mounting shortfall. You say Imker has poorly researched. You've got to be kidding. He knows more about the budget than you probably do about your own finances. Imker is right. Saving bucks now will save alot more later. On the pesnion stuff. Read the editorial. It was mentioned in this article. Bonkers - when you don't know what you're talking about don't pretend.
PTC needs to get off the entitlement bottle. It is time to do all we can to stop spending, reduce government, for goodness sake quite building cart path bridges to the tune of $850,000 just because PTC can't wait 60 seconds to cross. THIS IS SHAMEFUL!!
SPLOST was defeated before and it should be defeated again. PTC has to learn to live within their means with less spending and less entitlements. PERIOD.
You assume we are all idiots! Nobody thought the last SPLOST was for a road! We just didn't want a new Fayette County tax now. The feds are providing us with more than that as it is.
Another thing, making debts such as Haddix wants to pay off with a SPLOST is a sneaky way to eventually pay off debt that shouldn't have been made in the first place...by raising taxes later.
You do know that laying of less percentage of people than the shortfall won't pay for the short fall?
How will Haddix pay off our debts with a SPLOST that comes in a little at a time?
Another thing---the "listed" cuts are insufficient.
Mentioning a pension and doing something about it means nothing! What was his plan on that?
If they cut out the fixed pension but raise the contribution to the 401k by the same dollars, what does that save?
If we had the details it would answer many questions.
As to Mr. Imker knowing more about finances and budgets than anyone else in the world...I am glad for him. Maybe Geithner can use him.
No, I do not want to pay more property tax! It is not one or the other, Simply reduce expenses the same percentage as the shortfalls!
The world nor Peachtree City will not end with less Police, Firemen, staff, and Miscellaneous spending.
We have a recession! Don't try to criticize me as dumb when you are defending the status quo. If you are "afraid" of making employees angry for necessities, then we will never get much done.
2 pensions? Are you kidding me. That went out of favor in the 1990's - in fact so did the defined benefit plans - except of course for highly pampered (and protected) government workers and union members.
How about this. Let's get some numbers worked up on what we would save by eliminating one or the other of the 2 pension plans. I suspect the defined benefit plan costs the city much more than the matching 401k contributions, but let's get some numbers worked up and then council has something specific to vote on. One thing is certain, these pension expenses continue year after year and if we are serious about future cost cutting - here is the place to start. I seriously doubt that eliminating one or the other of these plans would cause an employee to leave or cause any employee great hardship.
The pension issue is already under review. We have a tentative Workshop scheduled on the issue already.
Just understand this a more complicated issue than many think. We have to plan wisely to not just shift cost from one column to another.
Anyone who will leave or be bitter about a pension change needs to be replaced anyway.
We are in trouble and need help, not selfishness!


text:
I am going to purchase another firearm on Thursday (maybe), my first since becoming a citizen.
Will I still have the longer wait?
The first time the gun store got the go ahead about 5 hours after I paid for gun.
What has been your experience buying a firearm after becoming a citizen?
This is going to be cross posted on other boards so if you see it again, yep it's the same guy asking.


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A Bud's Life
Part social commentary, part car-culture love letter, part romantic page-turner, and part lusty, dramatic, and at times uproariously comical guy-lit, A Bud's Life is a wildly entertaining, surprisingly thought-provoking and at times emotionally gut-wrenching read about a decade in the life of a truly singular character, Dr. Bud E. Bryan.
"Me? I have been accused of being immature, narcissistic, stupid, a rake, a womanizer, a bad guy, childish. You name it, I've been called it. But you know what? I'm adopting the Popeye Defense because I am what I am. And Jolene fell in love with me for who I am. People have given me reams of shit over my "immaturity" and lecture me that I should just be happy being home and to shut up, but fuck 'em all. They don't know me; they only think they know me. Some of this stuff just falls on my head and I can't control it. But I get called out for it just the same. Other stuff, well, what can I say? I love tequila and fast cars and racing. I love music. I love football. And I love women. Especially fiery women. Always have. Always will too. I love the way they look, the way they move, the way they talk, the way they smell. I love their minds, I love their tantrums, I love the fact that they're different from men and I want it to stay that way. And I love getting lost in them, too, every damn inch of them. It makes the whole damn world go around. I have past entanglements, I admit. And Nadine is a recurring issue. But Jolene knew all of that before she hooked up with me. Hell, she nursed me back to health after Nadine shot me. But I still go home to her and I'm still with her, goddamnit. But am I going to stop loving everything about women or noticing hot women? Not likely. Just as I'm never going to tire of watching Jolene walking around our house only with a towel wrapped around her knowing we're about to get it on. It is what it is, and I'm not about to change. And my contention is that Jolene doesn't really want me to change either, because then I would be a guy she doesn't know and won't want to be with. Oh, and one more thing. I think the whole idea of counseling is crap. This whole country has gone to hell in a handbasket because of the psycho-babble bullshit that's infected every facet of society. No accountability? No one's fault? I say bullshit to that. As for me, I take full responsibility for who I am. And I'm not apologizing for nothin'." - Dr. Bud E. Bryan
Well, it has finally happened! We are pleased to announce the publication of A Bud's Life: One Man's Journey Through Life Unbridled. Dr. Bud's Kindle eBook is available now on Amazon. -WG


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Product Questions - Ask
Average Customer Reviews
The VisionMount LL22 is a low-profile wall mount for 37" – 90" flat-panel TVs. Sanus System's unique ProSet™ post-installation height and leveling adjustments ensure TVs are always perfectly positioned after hanging. Quick-release tabs allow the TV to unlock instantly from the wall plate for easy installation, while its low-profile design places the TV nearly flush to the wall for a clean appearance. The innovative ClickStand™ feature holds the TV away from wall for easy cable installation and maintenance, then snaps shut to secure the TV to the wall plate. The LL22 features an open wall plate design that provides ample room for cable routing, and ClickFit™ technology allows a surge protector to attach easily to the center of the mount, so it stays hidden yet easily accessible. The TV can also be shifted left and right on the wall plate for perfect placement, even with off-center studs. Powder-coated steel construction offers strength and durability. Universal mounting pattern fits virtually any 37" – 90" flat-panel TV up to 175 lbs.
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Easy to install
By Bob
from Naples, FL
Comments about Sanus 37" - 90" Flat Panel TV Black Wall Mount:
I liked that even though I installed it into the studs, I had the flexibility to move/slide the TV from side to side to where I wanted it.
Comment on this review
Simple Sturdy Solution
By Dan the Media Man
from Los Angeles, CA
About Me Enthusiast
Comments about Sanus 37" - 84" Flat Panel TV Black Wall Mount:
this is as low profile of mount you can find. it is easy to level and line up and TV mounts easy. Also had Earth Quake stabilizers too which we need here in LA.
Sanus Flat Panel TV Mount
By Barbara
from Houston, TX
About Me Casual User
Excellent product but we had a very hard time understanding how the product actually mounted to the back of the TV. There were no instuctions telling us we needed to remove some screws from the back of the TV for the mount to fit. We prefer a manual that has the entire instructions per language as opposed to flipping from page to page to find your language. In all fairness to Sanus, the instructions that came with the TV regarding mounting did not specify that screws needed to be removed. Their drawings were not clear either. Unfortunately, the installation video would not download from your site. This may have helped. We are extremely pleased with the mount and highly recommend it to everyone.
Service and delivery comments:
Product was delivered in a very timely manner and arrived in excellent condition.
You get what you pay for...
By Lake County Ed
from Lake County IL
I'm using this mount to hold a 64" Samsung 8000 Plasma which is 80+ lbs. I originally bought a cheap knock-off TV mount Online which wouldn't hold the TV. This mount is built like a tank and holds my plasma with confidence. The tilt out feature so you can plug in the cords is priceless. I will never buy anything but a Sanus again.
I bought this online and it was waiting when I got to the store. In and out in 5 min.
A Good Mount
By Dick
from Weymouth, MA
This is a very good mount that once attached to the wall, the TV just lifts onto the upper bar then snaps onto the lower bar. The only problem I have, is with a 70" TV the release loops are way up behind the TV. I had to make a wire hook to reach the release loops.
(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)
Great rack.
By fred20639
from Huntingtown, MD
The adjustment factor should sell this item.Installation was dead on level within 1/8 mm; then the TV was mounted and it was crocked. The mount was adjusted with the TV installed to perfection.
(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)
I like it!
By Tom in CAL
from Livermore, CA
This was easy to install and it gives easy access to the back of the TV and still mount very close to the wall.
The delivery was prompt and both the box and product were undamaged. The delivery guy helped carry it and the TV I ordered into the living room.
No Brainer!
By ACTOTT
from Allendale, NJ
This low-profile mount says it all: ease of use, flexibility of level adjustments, lightweight yet strong and the instruction is very easy and accurate even Joe Smoe can do it. I really like the open back for cable management and plenty of room for your electrical outlet. I've used different mounts over the years for my six flat panels at home and I have to say this is the best looking and slickest mounts to date. Keep up the good work Sanus Team!
(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
Sanus Wall Mount
By Irene
from Chicago, IL
Discrete and durable...definitely recommend
(5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)
Works just fine
By TJS
About Me Midrange Shopper
I installed this myself. It was easy--just need to be sure you can find the studs, and have the right drill bit. There are parts (screws, washers and nuts) for several different sizes and makes of TV's, so you just need to figure out yours. Essentially, you mount the bracket on the wall--which is the easy step. Then you attach the hanging bracket to your flat panel TV. The only challenge here was to figure out the right screws, but that didn't take more than 20 minutes.Then you just hang the TV on the bracket--like hanging a picture. Get help if you have a large set.Accessing the back (for cable connections) is possible by unhooking the bottom and gently tilting the bottom out.There is some range to move the TV on the mount, or even the mount on the studs if you are concerned about centering the TV.Good solid product. Easy to install.
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Blog | Comments |
WoW | 18 Comments |
Recent Comments:
Drama Mamas: We hate hate {WoW}
Jan 22nd 2010 3:03PM That completly sucks what happened to you and theres not much you do about it:(
Been pugging a bit today and the amount of complete prats that are out there is amazing. On two occasions while doing the Forge of souls quest chain i died at last boss of FoS and PoS (ok my fault). I asked nicely for a Res and nobody could be bothered to ressurect me. I had to run all the way back in to hand the quest in. On one occasion i was asked by the healer to "say sorreh" before being rescurrected probably a joke but i didnt think it was funny after the earlier crap i went though.
Then you have tanks just leaving with no warning and your group is in trouble as theres a lack of tanks at most times using the dungeon finder tool.
Then you have bitching and moaning about DPS meters, healers who think they are god like and threat people like crap. The amount of rude Druids(no offence) out there that ive been grouped with in the Pug System is unbelievable just because your a druid doesnt mean you can treat people like crap. Are all druids like this? Have they all got this god-complex? Incredable.
So either people are just lazy or just are plain rude. Theres no excuse for some the crap you get in Pugs and people leaving the group earlier should be punished better than a 15 min debuff. I mean a tank leaving can mean the end of the run in most cases.
Just a few of the things that pissed me off today anyway rant over have a good day.
Bobby Kotick didn't think Blizzard was worth $7 million in '96 {WoW}
Jan 22nd 2010 11:55AM This Kotick is an asshole and has destroyed Activison with the way the PC version of COD:Modern Warfare 2 was done and hell sure as hell try to do the same thing wiht Blizzard oh wait thats all ready happening.
Breakfast Topic: What are you doing to protect your account? {WoW}
Jan 18th 2010 4:05PM I had my account hacked in october and i wasnt even playing wow at the time my account was inactive as i let my subscrition run out in september. How the hell an inactive account can be hacked i dont know if anyone knows please explain. I ended up getting a virus from college which attached itself to the flash drive i was using. It was one of those viruses that targetting wow and other mmo games.
Since i never logged in in months hwo did it get my password? The only way i can think off is that it stole the password from my firefox saved password list.
Anyway Blizzard were very good to give me all my stuff back on everytoon i had which was such a relief. To log in and see everything gone is such a pain. Now ive a mobile authenticator i think it cost me €2. It was the firs thing i did when i got my stuff back and relogged into wow. Im back playing wow atm after a good year long break.
What bugs me is how my account got hacked around the same time as many other folks,the battle.net merge time. And how can Blizzard allow an inactive account to be hacked? Thats there resposability to be bloody honest.
Id consider myself computer savy i had a firewall, anti-virus (Avast which let the virus through and i dont use it anymore). If you havnt got an authenticator you should get one if you can its not worth the hassle if you do get done and for years i thought id never get hacked.
If anyone knows how an inactive account can get hacked? How Blizzard can let this happen? and then blame the user for it? id like to know.
Season 4 and PvE progression {WoW}
Jun 10th 2008 6:46AM I used to raid but i realised that it was a waste of time. Drop rate were insane and just not worth the effort.
Being tied to 4 hours of non stop raiding isnt my idea of fun anymore it used to be. Now i just do PvP maybe ill raid again more than likely i wont and i doubt i can be bothered with WOTLK. Starting from scratch again? No thanks. While you wont miss me, Blizzard will and thats all that matters tbh.
Im aware WoW is PvE based thanks for clearing that up and if there were no PvP wow would see a huge drop in players but thats another argument.
Season 4 does not begin June 17th {WoW}
Jun 10th 2008 6:29AM Well if thats the way they want it, Goodbye wow hello Real-Life and AoC.
Mass bannings strike Glider users {WoW}
Jun 10th 2008 5:33AM You cant defending botting its cheating full stop. Sure its great for you raking in the gold mats and Xp but what the rest of us who have slog it out?
If you cant be bothered to level quit the game. But Blizzard should do something about the "Gap" there.
Mass bannings strike Glider users {WoW}
Jun 10th 2008 5:30AM Like most people here ive leved a good few alts the proper way and at times i must admit having a bot would have been great but i enjoyed leveling these alts and therefore contined to level them. On some classes(paladin for ex which for the life of me i cant get into to level) it can be really boring to level.
I wish that blizzard would do something about that like you get a "Free" toon for every 2 you have at level 70 or something would be cool to not have to level all the way up again just to make a toon for Bg's and Arenas.
Season 4 and PvE progression {WoW}
Jun 10th 2008 5:23AM I also want to add that why would raiders even bother raiding now anyway? I mean WOTLK is how many months away? Why waste all that time and effort only for it to be wiped out in the expansion?
Season 4 and PvE progression {WoW}
Jun 10th 2008 5:21AM Im stunned reading this tbh, WoW atm is failing it is uttely boring if all you do is PVP or Arenas (which i do).
Im having a very hard time keeping any interest in WoW at all at the moment and SEason2 for honour is nearly the only thing thats keeping me interested and now we hear that "Raiders" are calling the shots? What the hell are Blizzard thinking? Do they want people to quit for AoC which i have purchased now since wow is no longer any fun.
Im so close to quiting wow for good and WOTLK no thanks.
15 Minutes of Fame: Inside PvP twinking {WoW}
Apr 22nd 2008 9:51PM While twinks are fun if you have one, (ive never made one seems a waste of time to me) its not much fun if your not one and are joining a BG for some fun.
Having played a few in the 30-39 bracket seeing players have mongoose on their weapon is just not fun. Some classes are easier if your not a twink to get by with i think but its all part of the game i guess.


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We're doing some remodeling and should probably replace our old carpet. Two questions: 1. I think that many years ago, wool was considered the best carpeting. Is it much more expensive than synthetic products? How does something like Smartstrand compare in terms of durability? 2. Eventually -- maybe in 8 years or so -- we'll sell the house. Is carpet an unfashionable choice for flooring these days. I personally like the comfort of it, but I may not be the typical homeowner of 2013. |
Follow-Up Postings:
"Is carpet an unfashionable choice for flooring these days?" Well there you have it! What is be fashionable today may be passe tomorrow. But why do you care? Get the flooring you are comfortable with and let the next owners put in what they want. |
1. If you are going for durability, you will be extremely hard-pressed to find a carpet as durable AND soft as SmartStrand. The Triexta fiber has the stain resistance engineered in so that it never fades or wears off. They put it inside a Rhino enclosure in a zoo and it still cleaned up amazing and retained it's structure. 2. I do agree with glennsfc, go with what feel's right for you. As long you picked a durable product that will look good in 8 years (ie SmartStrand) your home will still make the impression you want come sale time! |
I checked out the Smartstrand carpets at Lowe's, and the top of the line in a medium pile was Lucky Star at $3.82 with SS pad. He mentioned additional costs and limitations that I didn't fully absorb in a quick conversation. My next step is to check the independent carpet stores. Assuming their best SS costs more, is it also a better carpet or the same thing as Lucky Star under another name and marked up more? |
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Helaine Marie has refined her hair-coloring technique over the last two decades and now creates rich tapestries of color with her certifications in Wella and Framesi. She opened her eponymous salon in 2004, inviting expert aestheticians to grace the rooms of an intimate, fairy-lit space draped in lilac curtains. A certified Master Colorist, Marie specializes in complex corrective programs and foils, including her signature highlight treatment. The Foliage Foil evokes the glow of the woods in autumn with blends of copper, crimson, and the deep gold of slowing photosynthesis caused by winter's Midas touch, each mixed individually to warm clients? natural hues. To remain a well-rounded stylist, she earned two certifications in re-texturing and trained her shears with KMS California, mastering their cutting techniques to become a style council trainer. Helaine Marie is also certified in the Ouidad cutting technique and the Pureology system and carries both product lines in their entirety, in addition to offering the ammonia-free, oil-based Chromatics Color Line.
At Flawless MedSpa, the staff creates a nurturing environment where state-of-the-art cosmetic procedures pair with a spa-like emphasis on patient comfort. Her team includes medical director Dr. Nathalie Celestin, Lisa Allison RN, and aestheticians Carol Alessandro and Katie Casey, and together they pair their advanced knowledge of skincare concerns to clear complexions of everything from unwanted hair and unwelcome veins to wrinkles that showed up uninvited and claimed squatters rights. Injections of Botox, Juvederm, and Radiesse temporarily diminish unflattering folds, and facials?fueled by Obagi and Jan Marini skincare products?smooth complexions with formulas specifically tailored to treat rosacea, acne, and premature aging. Laser technology plays a starring role in redness-conquering photofacials, as well as the FDA-cleared i-Lipo system, which works to remove fat from the arms, legs, hips, and anywhere else that isn't responding well to diet, exercise, or the silent treatment.
The treatments at Forever-Young Skincare combine a variety of high-tech beauty technologies in the hopes of achieving a timeless goal?to fight aging. Aesthetician Nance Jack Garber deploys state-of-the-art implements that dole out ultrasonic waves, pulses of thermal light, and smoke signals of pure oxygen that work to ward off wrinkles and restore elasticity to the skin. Nance also brings more than two decades of experience as a massage therapist to her practice, complementing her modern facials with good old-fashioned deep-tissue massage and stretching.
The aestheticians at Forever Young Day Spa & Laser Center seamlessly integrate medical technology into treatments that balance both skin and body. To ensure that the journey toward hair-free limbs and winkle-free brows is safe and efficient, the team relies on FDA-cleared lasers and cosmetic injections. Meanwhile, nimble hands wield hair-fine acupuncture needles, deliver flowing effleurage strokes, and place hot stones with precision to reap both physical and mental benefits. Traditional facials deploy serums rich in botanically derived antioxidants and vitamins from skincare lines such as Credentials to empty pores and rejuvenate complexions. More advanced counterparts use low-level electrical and sonic frequencies to boost skin elasticity and rid the dermal surface of bacteria and pigmentation.
The wellness specialists at Ultimate Spa by Adela immerse clients in restorative treatments with body-, skin-, and nail-care services. The team works to target facial services for specific skin types, ensuring that each face receives proper exfoliation, hydration, and cleansing products. In addition to nourishing clients' natural masks, the team performs body treatments such as reflexology, aromatherapy, and sea-mud therapy to help boost circulation and overall wellness. Waxing and massage-therapy services are also available to help clients remove unwanted hair or gain enough flexibility to fix the leak under the sink and finally stop swimming inside the house.
Ra Garzia of Garden of Eden Healing Center focuses all her expertise on a single area: massage. Garzia, a professional member of the American Massage Therapy Association, is accomplished in modalities such as Swedish, deep-tissue, and sports massage, and also performs foot treatments and reflexology. She believes that quiet relaxation is a healthy activity in itself, and encourages clients to throw their day planners into a bonfire of soothing herbal incense.


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The space jazzes him, too. "It sounds kind of corny, but I've loved this building since I moved to Denver," he admits. "On my darkest days at Aubergine, I'd drive home some nights, and I'd just pull over and look into the darkened windows, thinking about what it would be like to call it my own."
Now he'll know.
Ch-ch-ch-changes: Funny how a top restaurant will trumpet its opening, sending out ten trees' worth of press releases heralding its good points -- and then, when the chef departs, not a whisper.
Turns out that James Mazzio has exited Triana (1039 Pearl Street, Boulder), allegedly to work on "product development" for an unknown company. The talented chef left no forwarding address behind, and the fact that his cell-phone number has been disconnected leads me to believe that he's not in this area anymore. No one at Triana would tell me where Mazzio had gone, although they did reveal that Mazzio's sous chef, Corey Smith, has taken over the kitchen. There have been a few minor menu changes, too, but Triana staffers assure me the tapas are still terrific. Put it in a press release, would ya?
Another one of my favorite haunts, albeit one much less known, has been Maruti (12200 East Cornell Avenue, Aurora), a cute little coffeehouse that did vegetarian Indian food on the side (in 1996, the combo earned Maruti a Best of Denver award). Now the place has turned into a full-fledged restaurant and changed its name to Maruti Narayan's Restaurant. Yes, that's the same Narayan who used to own the fondly remembered Narayan's Nepal Restaurant at 1124 Pearl Street in Boulder. Narayan Shrestha is the brother-in-law of Bidsya KC, who owns the eatery with her husband, Assim KC; together they've come up with a roster of traditional foods from all over India. Check out the $6.95 all-you-can-eat lunch buffet.
Restaurants will be springing up in LoDo this spring. The new building at 19th and Wynkoop streets is devoting its top floors to high-end condos; the ground floor will be home to The Keg Steakhouse & Bar, a "casual, contemporary steakhouse" out of Vancouver. Founded in 1971, the chain now has more than eighty outlets; the LoDo spot is expected to open sometime in April. With no white linens (the look is river-rock-filled lodge) and no nauseating concept, the Keg has a better chance of surviving in the fickle ballpark area than did Alice Cooper'stown, the first restaurant casualty of the new year (pieces of Alice's were auctioned off on Tuesday).
A month after the Keg starts pouring, Adega will open for business two blocks away, in the space at 1700 Wynkoop that was first Sostanza and then Señorita's Cantina. The wine-focused eatery has a Portuguese theme (the name means "aboveground wine cellar" in that language) and chef Bryan Moscatello, who wowed diners during his stint at the Little Nell in Aspen. The wine list has been assembled by master sommelier Kenneth Frederickson, formerly of Spago and Charlie Trotter's, and Denver's esteemed Semple Brown redid the space, which was already cool.
These days it's here a fireman, there a fireman, everywhere a fireman -- but who's complaining? Denver's own will be serving lunch at Rock Bottom Brewery (1001 16th Street) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. February 21 as part of a fundraiser for local firefighters. And at 6 p.m., Fire Chief Ale will make its debut, with a portion of its sales through March 11 going to a fund for families of New York firefighters.