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The free-trade issue is all the rage in the media these days, after the Clinton/Colombia campaign crackup, and both The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times front stories on the trade deal.
The WSJ focuses on the political state of free trade, specifically a pact with Colombia that the president sent to Congress yesterday, while the Times looks at the big lobbying effort undertaken by the South Americans and our own government. That effort, the paper says in its lede, includes "all-expense paid trips" for more than fifty members of Congress "featuring coffee tastings and dinner at a posh restaurant inside an old Spanish fort." But never fear, dear reader—those trips weren't paid for by a foreign government. They're fronted mostly by the Bush administration.
The Times notes that hapless Clinton campaign strategist Mark Penn isn't the only one in her loop entangled in the Colombian lobbying effort. Her chief flack Howard Wolfson is a partner (on leave) with other former (Bill) Clintonistas in a group that lobbies for Colombia.
Both Democratic presidential candidates oppose the deal, as do the labor unions, and the WSJ says the outcome of the trade vote will signal where the nation stands on the crucial issue:
"This is the ultimate test of whether the bipartisan consensus that has underlain trade policy for 70 years has collapsed," said C. Fred Bergsten, director of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, a free-trade think tank in Washington, D.C. "It has certainly been fraying, but there has been a modicum of Democratic support thus far."
Weak dollar + free trade = American-made cars
In more trade news, the Journal fronts a fascinating story that says labor deals and the weak dollar have Detroit beginning to shift overseas production of cars back to the U.S.
For years the U.S. has been one of the most expensive places in the world to make cars. But the new contracts with the United Auto Workers union signed last fall significantly improve the global competitive position of Big Three plants. The weaker dollar, which makes production in the U.S. less expensive, is also helping to turn the economics of domestic production upside down.
The WSJ says foreign owners of U.S. car plants—who don't use organized labor—are looking for new ways to cut costs. Our Paraphrase/Quote of the Day positively compares the U.S. to a third-world country:
The UAW contract signed last fall added assurance that exporting from U.S. plants could be viable, said Michael Robinet, an analyst at Northville, Mich., consulting firm CSM Worldwide. The combined effects from a falling dollar and the new UAW labor contract "make the U.S. a low-cost country" like China and Brazil, he said.The new UAW contracts create a new generation of U.S. auto workers with wages and benefits more in line with what Toyota pays its U.S. workers, with wages for new hires at $14 an hour instead of the previous $26. It also offloads billions of dollars in retiree health-care liabilities hobbling the Big Three to outside trust funds.
To stay competitive, Toyota has stopped pegging its wages to UAW rates when it builds new plants, company executives said.
This is evidence of what's probably happening writ large throughout the American economy as the tumbling dollar makes it cheaper to export U.S. goods and more expensive to import foreign goods. That has eased the growth of the still-huge trade deficit.
Maybe we can get labor costs down enough that we can shift stuff like textiles back onshore. Sweatshops, anyone?
The U.S. banana republic
Speaking of sewing, thread the above stories together with this one from the front page of the NYT reporting on how rising inflation with America's low-paying trade partners is beginning to show up in the prices of the goods they export:
The free ride for American consumers is ending. For two generations, Americans have imported goods produced ever more cheaply from a succession of low-wage countries—first Japan and Korea, then China, and now increasingly places like Vietnam and India.But mounting inflation in the developing world, especially Asia, is threatening that arrangement, and not just in China, where rising energy and labor costs have already made exports to the United States more expensive, but in the lower-cost alternatives to China, too
It is also a threat to Western consumers because Asian exporters, even in very poor countries, are passing their rising costs on to customers.
That means not only do American consumers get hit with inflation themselves, because as the dollar falls it makes foreign goods proportionally more expensive, they're also about to see the prices in the foreign currencies themselves go up.


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The famous polish brand is bringing the cute and fuzzy muppet characters to life with their holiday 2011 collection just in time for 'The Muppets' movie to come out in theaters.
Jason Segel, Amy Adams and more will mingle with Kermit, Miss Piggy and the rest of the Muppet crew in the upcoming film. Inspired by the movie, OPI will debut an entire line of polishes in November with Muppet themes. Check out all the polishes and learn their adorable names. I am partial to "Divine Swine" and "Warm & Fozzie" but tell me which one is YOUR favorite!
Here's a full list of all the polish names. Click through to see them all!
Animal-istic: Bright red
Meep-Meep-Meep: Fuchsia
Wocka Wocka!: Berry
Pepe's Purple Passion: Deep purple
Designer, de Better!: Metallic bronze
Warm & Fozzie: Metallic copper.
Rainbow Connection: Rainbow glitter
Excuse Moi!: Pink glitter
Gone Gonzo!: Aqua-blue glitter
Fresh Frog of Bel Air: Green glitter
Divine Swine: Magenta glitter
Gettin' Miss Piggy With It!: Red glitter
–Eden Univer
Which shade do you like best, HollywoodLifers?
View Comment
Posted at 10:06 AM on August 24, 2011
Check out all the polishes and learn their adorable names. I am partial to "Divine Swine" and "Warm & Fozzie" but tell me which one is YOUR favorite!I am a 28 years old doctor, mature and beautiful.and now I am seeking a good man who can give me real love , so i got a username Lindasunny2002 on–a'ge'l'es's'da'te.c óm–.it is the first and best club for y'ounger women and old'er men, or older women and y'ounger men,to int'eract with each other. Maybe you wanna ch'eck 'it out or tell your friends!

subset: commoncrawl


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Client/Server Comm Lib for Visual Basic 6.0
Features include:
Can be used to create both clients and servers.
Supports "one time" passwords for improved security. Data and files can be encrypted and decrypted.
Supports secure and private messaging.
Create chat server and clients.
Create client / server file transfer.
Create client programs to talk to TCP servers (POP3, IMAP, HTTP, FTP, SMTP, DNS, etc,).
Create SMTP proxy programs extracting a copy of all recipient addresses.
Create POP3 proxy programs that filter incoming email for Spam.
Create HTTP proxy used to filter content.
Send and receive data buffers or entire files.
Servers can handle multiple connections concurrently.
Allows multiple servers and clients to run simultaneously.
Specify the maximum number of connections that the server will accept when listening on any one port.
Supports both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows.
Supports both UDP and TCP protocols.
Includes 43 functions and multiple examples to create client server applications.
Free technical support and updates for one year. Royalty free distribution with your compiled application.
Makes calls to Windows API functions only. Can also be used with Delphi, C/C++, .NET, PowerBASIC, Visual FoxPro, Visual dBase, Xbase++, and COBOL. License covers all programming languages.
Purchase with or without C source code for the DLLs. Programmer's, Reference, and User's Manuals are provided. Documentation is also online.
Supports all versions of Microsoft Visual Basic including Visual Basic .NET and Visual Studio. Supports Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/2003/XP/Vista/x64.
Fully functional evaluation version can be downloaded from http://www.marshallsoft.com/csc4vb.htm


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Celebrate the beginning of autumn in the Chattahoochee Valley. Come to the Greater Columbus Fair for food, rides, games and more! Entertainment on the main stage and exhibitions in the Exhibit Hall located inside the Columbus Civic Center.
Puppetone Rockers – This nationally known show brings a wholesome message of positive re-enforcement like no other show. It's Priceless! This non-stop action show features outrageous performing characters, screaming back audience participation, a huge driving performance piano, and endless skits make this a must see show.
The Torres Family Circus – This one ring circus is fun for the entire family and features aerial acts, juggling and balancing acts, circus clowns, a living carousel and the motorcycle Globe of Death.
The Tiger Encounter – This animal production is an inspirational and educational program featuring the incredible Bengal Tiger. The show explains the plight of the tigers in captivity, and in the wild while entertaining them with a series of natural behaviors with positive reinforcement, as well as showing the bond between tiger and trainer, including Felicia Frisco, who at just 19 years old is the youngest female tiger trainer in the world.
MISS GREATER COLUMBUS FAIR PAGEANT - Sunday, October 20th at 3:00PM on the Exhibit Hall Stage. Click here to register and for more information.
Tuesday - Thursday, October 15 - 17, 2013 6:00PM - 11:00PM
Friday, October 18, 2013, 6:00PM - 1:00AM
Saturday, October 19, 2013, 11:00AM - 1:00AM
Sunday, October 20, 2013, 2:00PM - Midnight
Admission prices:
Two Dollar Tuesday - Admission for everyone is just $2.00 (kids 2 and under free)
$5.00 – adults
$2.00 – seniors and children (ages 3 to 9)
Free – age 2 and under
Thursday – "Kids Night"
$6.00 – adults
Kids 12 & under FREE
$7.00 – adults
$2.00 – seniors and children (ages 3 to 9)
Free – age 2 and under
$7.00 – adults
$2.00 – seniors and children (ages 3 to 9)
Free – age 2 and under
Bring the front page of the Sunday Columbus Ledger-Enquirer for Buy one adult admission, get one adult admission FREE.
Value Pass -
Good for unlimited rides and free admission any one day you choose. This offer is available October 1st – October 15th @ 5pm. Purchase Value Pass at the Columbus Civic Center Box Office, Ticketmaster Outlets, charge by phone at 800-745-3000, or online at Ticketmaster.com. (No additional service fees will be charged.)


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In the world of motion-tracked dancing games, there's been something of an arms race lately. Both Dance Central and Just Dance camps have been adding to their extensive list downloadable songs to shake your rump to with new and classic tunes.
One addition that fans from both camps have been clamoring for is the South Korean pop hit "Gangnam Style" by Psy, a song with almost 500 million views on YouTube that recently broke out into the mainstream here in the States. With its ridiculous moves and infectious music, it only makes sense to add it and today, Ubisoft announced that Just Dance 4 has won the virtual dance equivalent to the space race.
"We're dedicated to bringing Just Dance fans access to the music and musicians they love," Geoffroy Sardin, chief marketing & sales officer for Ubisoft EMEA said. "Our fans were really vocal about wanting Gangnam Style in Just Dance 4 and we listened. This marks the first of many hot upcoming DLC tracks for Just Dance 4."
The track is expected to be available next month, Ubisoft has not set an exact date or price point, though it's expected to fall in line with previous DLC releases in the series.
Just Dance 4 is out now on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii. The Wii U version is expected to release when the system does on Nov. 18.


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The University Police Department encourages all Students, Staff and Faculty to participate in the ICE program by programming their mobile telephone address book with an emergency contact under the name "ICE." This would allow emergency responders such as Police, Firefighters and Paramedics an efficient method for contacting the next of kin to obtain vital medical information, lists of allergies or current medications being taken and to notify them of any emergency information.
Although we hope that no one will ever find themselves in a situation where they would be unable to provide us with that information themselves, we do occasionally have incidents where an individual is found unconscious, has fainted or has been in a motor-vehicle accident and the information that could be provided by an emergency contact is vital to providing them with the best services possible. Multiple emergency contacts can be included in the address book under the titles "ICE1″, "ICE2″, etc. Suggested ICE contacts might include: Parents, Spouses and or Partners.


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Advert Description : We have a stunning Bassalier puppy avail now to perment loving home only, Puppy is 9wks old . wormed Mum is the Cavalier King Charles, Dad is the Basset. Puppy has been reared in our family home and already being handled by our children. 1 girl avail due to cancellation. this puppy is bassett look alikes but without the stubborn strike or howling, Easier to manage and smaller in size, you could say the best off both worlds, used to usual busy house hold noise, children and cats. 395
Could you afford it if your pet becomes ill or is involved in an accident? The average cost of a visit to the vet is over £280 with some more complex treatments, such as treating a spinal injury, costing over £3000.
From as little as £4.00 per month, you can insure your pet and any vet bills would be payed direct by your insurer. We have searched through lots of pet insurance policies to bring you the best deals available on the Internet. To retrieve a free online quote click the link below.
Please read the following advice before buying a new pet, you should also read our article on avoiding scams :
Puppies and Kittens bred commercially, indiscriminately and carelessly are likely to…
Buying a puppy or kitten in good health is vital for its own well-being as well as your bank balance.
Please read our Pet Advice section for further information before buying a dog. Here are a few very useful articles you should read before visiting any dogs or puppies :
1) Ten pitfalls to avoid when buying a pedigree puppy
2) What paperwork should you have
3) Important Questions to ask the Breeder
4) Picking a healthy puppy
5) Choosing a pedigree puppy
6) Health testing for dogs


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Event Name
- OR - Select an option belowIt's neither a sports bar nor a funky chitterlings joint, but a handsome soul food restaurant with warm mahogany accents and fresh flowers on white linen tablecloths. Resist eating too much of the irresistible corn bread, in order to save room for crisp and crackly fried chicken with waffles - or substitute sides of collard greens and macaroni and cheese (a good, old-fashioned, Velveeta-like affair). There are also some Caribbean dishes, including jerk chicken wings and conch fritters, and some low-country specialties such as shrimp, sausage, and Asiago cheese grits bathed in Creole gravy. You might also want to make note of Friday and Saturday evenings from 9 p.m. to midnight, when live jazz has this place really jumping. The waitstaff is very friendly but slow. Still, the Mahogany Grille delights because of a certain intangible but crucial something so many places lack. It's got soul.


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Current Time
user posts + reviews
user review | Eating
Jangada, Buenos Aires
A Nice Break from the Parillas
Posted on: August 3, 2010 at 10:22PM
This restaurant is a perfect slice of authentic, true to the protein entrees. As advised, go for a full fish (we got the dorado) which is packed with flavor and the grilled vegetables are perfect alongside. There's a small wine menu, but they seem reasonably priced. Although we were too full and busy for dessert, everything that passed our table looked promising. Try to make a reservation because by ten every table was full and we were the only extranjeros in the place.
See All Member Reviews see more information, plus our editorial review ›


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decor8 Reader Discounts – Recap!
[Just to keep everyone organized I thought I'd post this, especially helpful since many are no longer showing here on the main page but in the archives now.]
Here's a recap of the decor8 reader discounts I've posted so far this week. Click any of the links below for complete details, including the secret spy passcodes that you'll need to enter upon checkout to cha-ching your way into a rainbow of savings.
Binth: save 15% off (prints only) until 12.15.06
Design Public: save 15% until 12.12.06
Henry Road: save 15% until 12.17.06
Marilyn Patrizio: free note pad with $20+ purchase until 12.12.06
Michelle Smith: save 20% until 12.31.06
MirrorMirror: save 10% until 12.13.06
Not Neutral: save 20% until 12.13.06
Pillows + Throws: save 20% on these pillows until 01.05.07
Rock Scissor Paper: save 25% until 12.24.06
Satinbox: save 20% until 12.24.06
Trunkt: save 15% until 12.14.06
Twinkle Living: save 25% until 12.13.06
Have fun shopping! I'll return either Sunday or Monday to post like a bandit all over again – with more reader discounts!


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Super funds' bank pushed to restructure
PUBLISHED: 10 Apr 2012 00:45:29 | UPDATED: 10 Apr 2012 04:34:12PUBLISHED: 10 Apr 2012 PRINT EDITION: 10 Apr 2012Duncan Hughes
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority has pressured union-affiliated ME Bank into restructuring because of fears its complex cross-ownership structure posed major risks for shareholders and clients.
ME Bank, a mid-tier bank owned by 32 industry superannuation funds, grew out of a home lending business with links to the union movement. In 2001 it received a banking licence which allowed it to sell a wider range of financial products.
APRA was concerned that the complicated structure of which it was part meant the bank could encounter serious problems if an affiliated business got into difficulties.
As a result, ME Bank and ME Portfolio Management, a 100 per cent owned subsidiary, have been separated from Industry Super Holdings (ISH).
ISH controls Industry Funds Management, an investment group with $29 billion under management, and Industry Fund Services, a financial advisory group to industry superannuation funds and union members.
ME Bank chief financial officer Nick Vambakas said APRA warned that after the global financial crisis it did not want the bank to be part of a holding company.
There are increasing concerns about governance standards in the $1.3 trillion super industry as compulsory super contributions rise from 9 per cent to 12 per cent of wages.
Mr Vambakas said the regulator feared the bank, which had merged with ISH in 2007, could be dragged into an "American Insurance Group scenario, where a small division's problems are responsible for bringing down the group".
A rogue AIG subsidiary that wrote about $450 billion insurance in the form of credit default swaps and sold insurance on esoteric asset-backed security pools nearly brought down the blue chip giant, dramatically worsening global financial instability at the height of the 2008 crisis.
According to its latest accounts, ME Bank's home lending to June 30 last year was flat at about 1.5 per cent when average growth across all banks was about 7 per cent. This means its market share has slipped to about 1.3 per cent, compared with the benchmark 2 per cent before the GFC.
No public announcement was made about the restructuring, which was finalised in July last year, until it was found by The Australian Financial Review in recent accounts filed with the regulator.
A spokesman for the bank said its shareholders had been alerted.
To retain ISH's former structure, APRA would have insisted the bank's capital reserves be expanded to also cover a collapse of the funds management and financial services group. The bank board decided improved capital and liquidity justified a split. It will not affect the bank's customers.
It comes at a critical time of change for ME Bank and industry funds, which are grappling with major changes transforming banking after the GFC and the federal government's Future of Financial Advice reforms.
There are growing internal pressures on the industry funds sector which has evolved over 30 years from a cottage industry into a financial giant.
Many of ME Bank's 32 shareholders, such as AustralianSuper, the nation's largest superannuation fund with more than $46 billion under management, have reached a size where they can negotiate favourable deals for members in the open market and do their own lobbying, playing down the need for affiliated service providers.
There are also rumblings from the government, competitors and within the organisation about the need for improved disclosure of pay and conditions for senior executives in the unlisted company sector, particularly highly paid fund managers and superannuation executives.
ME Group received a $637 million redistribution of capital formerly held by ISH as part of the restructure with the 32 industry funds members' stakes remaining the same. ME also retains the former board, which is chaired by former Reserve Bank of Australia governor Bernie Fraser
Financial Services Minister Bill Shorten, a former AustralianSuper director, and leading bankers, including ANZ Banking Group Australia chief executive Phil Chronican, are among those pushing for greater transparency for trustees and executives.
ME Bank and Industry Funds Management, both private companies with complicated mazes of cross-ownership and salaries buried in annual statements lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, are among likely targets for better governance.
ISH Group's annual report refers to a committee's role for overseeing remuneration but makes no specific reference to individual, or total, salaries. ISH sources said there "has been at times" debate about the level of transparency, particularly for fund managers, because "it would give some impetus and credibility about what we are doing".
ME Bank chief Jamie McPhee, IFM chief Brett Himbury, and Industry Fund Services chief Kay Thawley last year shared a package of about $3 million, with Mr McPhee and Mr Himbury likely to have received the biggest shares, according to accounts lodged with the regulator. The six board members shared $600,000.
Mr McPhee believes "transparency is a good thing".
"Our shareholders have total transparency," he said of the industry funds that own the bank. "They have the right to ask for whatever they like."
The Australian Financial Review
Read more
People | Bernie Fraser, Bill Shorten, Philip Chronican, Brett Himbury |
Topics | Personal Investment /Superannuation , Financial Services Industry /Banking & Finance |


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Alexandre Gauthier
Simon Lapointe
International Affairs, Trade and Finance Division
Parliamentary Information and Research Service
Library of Parliament
15 November 2010
PDF (160 Kb, 7 pages)
Full images and text descriptions are available on a separate page.
The European Union (EU), taken as a whole, is Canada's second most important trading partner in the world. In 2009, Canada's bilateral merchandise trade with the 27 current members of the EU totalled $75.0 billion, consisting of $29.8 billion in Canadian exports to, and $45.2 billion in imports from, the EU. (Fifteen countries belonged to the EU prior to 2004. Since then, another 12 countries have joined, for a total of 27.)
The EU is growing in importance as a trading partner for Canada, especially as an export destination. From 2004 to 2009, exports to the EU grew at an average rate of 5.3% per year, while Canada's total exports worldwide declined by 2.7% per year over that period.
The global financial and economic crisis contributed to a decline in Canada–EU trade from 2008 to 2009. The 17% decrease in imports from the EU from 2008 to 2009 was comparable to Canada's overall decline in imports. The 18% decline in exports to the EU from 2008 to 2009, however, was less than the 26% decrease in Canada's overall exports.
The majority of Canada's exports to the EU originate in the country's six easternmost provinces, which together accounted for nearly 84% of Canada's total exports to the EU in 2009. Ontario and Quebec are Canada's leading exporting provinces to the EU, with total exports in 2009 valued at $13.1 billion and $8.5 billion respectively.
Full images and text descriptions are available on a separate page.
Canada's exports to the EU are significant. Led by strong growth in exports of gold, uranium and iron ores, resource-based goods make up an increasing share of Canada's exports to the EU, rising from 52% of total exports in 2004 to 56% in 2009. Exports of resources also included diamonds and oil products. Manufactured goods comprise the remaining 44% of Canadian exports to EU countries in 2009, with aircraft and parts, and medications among the major product categories.
Canadian imports from the EU are comprised largely of manufactured goods, which made up 73% of total imports in 2009. That share remains essentially unchanged since 2004. Major Canadian imports from the EU include medications and blood fractions, crude oil and refined petroleum, motor vehicles, aircrafts and parts, and wines.
In 2009, Canada was a net importer from the EU in most product categories. Only in metals, mines and energy products, and in forest products, did Canada have a small positive trade balance with the EU.
Full images and text descriptions are available on a separate page.
The United Kingdom (UK) is Canada's largest export destination in the EU. Total exports to the UK were valued at $12.1 billion in 2009 and accounted for 41% of Canada's total exports to the EU. Exports to the UK have increased considerably since 2004, in part due to growth in gold exports. In 2009, Germany, the Netherlands and France were Canada's next largest export destinations in the EU.
Canada's imports from the EU also originated in large part from a small number of member countries. Germany and the UK were Canada's largest sources of EU imports in 2009. In that year, imports from those two countries were valued at $10.7 billion and $9.4 billion respectively, and accounted for 44% of Canada's imports from the EU. France and Italy were the next largest sources of imports in 2009.
EU expansion has not had a major effect on Canada–EU trade. The 12 countries that have joined the EU since 2004 account for a small proportion of Canada's trade with the EU. In 2009, only about 3.5% of Canada's exports to the EU were to the 12 newest EU members, while about 4.7% of imports from the EU came from its 12 newest members.
However, Canada's trade with the newest EU members is expanding more rapidly than its trade with the 15 countries that were EU members pre-2004. Of note is Hungary – growth in exports to, and imports from, that country have been particularly strong since 2004.
Full images and text descriptions are available on a separate page.
The EU is Canada's second most important trading partner in services in the world. Services exports to the EU in 2008, the most recent year for which data are available, totalled $12.6 billion, accounting for 18% of Canada's total services exports worldwide. Services imports from the EU countries were valued at $15.7 billion in that year, representing 17% of Canada's total services imports from around the world. The share of Canada's overall services trade that takes place with the EU has remained largely unchanged since the early 1990s.
Canada was a net exporter of commercial services to the EU in 2008, and a net importer of travel services as well as transportation and government services.
Within the EU, the UK is Canada's largest trading partner in services. In 2007, the UK accounted for 37% of Canada's services exports to the EU and 30% of its services imports.
Canada's fastest-growing services export destinations in the EU from 2002 to 2007 included Denmark, Finland and Greece. Canada experienced relatively rapid growth in services imports from the Netherlands, France, Finland and Greece over that period.
Full images and text descriptions are available on a separate page.
Taken as a whole, the EU is Canada's second largest source of, and destination for, foreign direct investment (FDI). Canadian direct investment in the EU was $148.9 billion in 2009, accounting for 25% of Canada's total stock of direct investment abroad in that year.
The total value of EU investment in Canada was somewhat higher in 2009 at $163.7 billion. The EU is the source of about 30% of FDI in Canada.
As with trade in goods and services, the UK is Canada's most important direct investment partner in the EU. In 2009, the UK was the destination for 44% of Canada's total investment presence in the EU. It was also the source of 39% of all FDI from the EU in that year.
Canada's fastest-growing investment destinations in the EU from 2004 to 2009 were Luxembourg, the Czech Republic, Denmark and Poland. The fastest-growing sources of FDI in Canada from the EU over that period included Austria, Luxembourg, the UK and the Netherlands.
The EU was a net investor in Canada in the energy and mining industry in 2008, the most recent year for which data are available. This was due in part to a relatively strong European presence in Alberta's oil sands. Canada, meanwhile, was a net investor in the EU in the finance and insurance industry in that year.
All figures were prepared by the author using Statistics Canada annual figures as of spring 2010. The merchandise trade data are customs-based; the services trade and foreign direct investment data are balance of payments-based. [ Return to text ]


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Worldview & Culture
Postmodern Times: A Christian Guide to Contemporary Thought and Culture
Book by Gene Edward Veith
The modern era is over. Assumptions that shaped twentieth-century thought and culture, the bridges we crossed to this present moment, have blown up. The postmodern age has begun. Just what is postmodernism? The average person would be shocked by its … Learn More
Principles of Conduct: Aspects of Biblical Ethics
Book by John Murray
Now back in print with a new foreword by J. I. Packer, this classic study clearly shows the organic unity and continuity of the biblical ethic. Murray addresses ethical questions relating to such topics as marriage, labor, capital punishment, truthfulness, … Learn More
Reformation Heroes
Book by Various Authors
The Reformation did not happen instantaneously; it was something God patiently arranged over a number of years. As you read this book, you will learn how the Lord used some people to plant the seeds of church reform long before … Learn More
Singing and Making Music
Book by Paul Jones
Singing and Making Music is a collection of thirty-two essays by theologian, musician, and church music director Paul Jones, who contends that scriptural principles should inform a church's music ministry, that music can provide many of the same kinds of … Learn More
Life's Ultimate Questions
Book by Ronald Nash
Looking for a unique synthesis of the topical, historical and worldview/conceptual systems in philosophy? Look no further. Longtime student and teacher of philosophy Ronald Nash offers us Life's Ultimate Questions, an eminently readable and well-organized introduction to philosophy. Designed primarily for … Learn More
Lifeviews: Make a Christian Impact on Culture and Society
Book by R.C. Sproul
As a Christian, you are called to be a witness of Christ's Gospel, to be "the salt of the earth and the light of the world." How can you make that kind of impact in a society filled with darkness … Learn More
MP3 Teaching Series
Teaching Series by R.C. Sproul
Buy the complete collection of MP3 teaching series by Dr. Sproul on MP3 DVD-ROM discs for a special discounted price. This special collection includes five different categories filled with all the MP3 series available on that topic. See individual collection … Learn More
God's Undertaker: Has Science Buried God?
Book by John Lennox
Some commentators claim that science has finally killed the concept of God by virtue of its own all-encompassing explanations of reality. Atheism, they say, is the only intellectually tenable position, and any attempt to reintroduce God is likely to impede … Learn More
Making Tough Moral Decisions
Teaching Series by R.C. Sproul
All true Christians want to live lives that are pleasing to God. Sometimes, however, it can be difficult to know how to apply the Bible to situations that arise in everyday life. In this series, Dr. R.C. Sproul gives a … Learn More
Also available in one other format -
Tearing Down Strongholds
Teaching Series by R.C. Sproul Jr.
Dr. R.C. Sproul Jr. has equipped Christians with the ammunition needed to counter the non-Christian philosophies that have made the greatest gains in our era. He also counters the primary criticisms lobbed against the biblical world-view. "My hope is to … Learn More
Also available in two other formats -
Teaching Series by R.C. Sproul
Dr. Sproul focuses on the importance of truth in our thinking, speech and arguments, and adds that the Hebrew concept also includes integrity in living. He notes the widespread aversion to the truth presented in Christian doctrines, and points out … Learn More
Also available in one other format -
God in Space and Time
Teaching Series by R.C. Sproul
Is Christanity just another mythological religion among others? Critics have long charged Christianity with being a mythological religion, and the effects of their propaganda have trickled down through some of the most notable seminaries. Magazine racks are full during the … Learn More
Also available in one other format -
Building a Christian Conscience
Teaching Series by R.C. Sproul
Six 23-Minute Messages. Is your conscience held captive by the Word of God, or is it subject to the whims of your culture? The world seeks to suppress your conscience and conform it into the image of the lawless one. … Learn More
Also available in three other formats


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Neon Striped Sunwashed Tee
Neon Striped Sunwashed Tee
$19 .99
 Sunwashed to highlight unique high and low shades throughout (resulting in an incredibly soft and light style), we detailed this must-have cotton tee with neon stripes for summery splash. V-neck. Short sleeves. Banded neckline.
Style #298525
51.1% Rayon, 47.3% Polyester, 1.6% Cotton
Machine Washable


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SAVE UP TO 50% ON SELECT ITEMS Additional markdowns taken. New styles added.
Clearance items cannot be cancelled, returned, exchanged, or refunded. Quantities are limited and items are subject to prior sale. No price adjustments on prior sales.
The Details
Aged Stone Tabletop Finial
Dimensions: 4.50" w x 20" h x 4.50" d
Item#: 438482A
Personal style is all in the details. Add a bit of classic, artifact-inspired design to your living space with finial sculptures in three different silhouettes. In an Old World aged stone finish with strong attention to detail on each.


text: GALLERIES Mia Wasikowska Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Bo Benton Bo Benton 15th Annual SAG Awards 15th Annual SAG Awards Sarah McDowd Sarah McDowd Coming Next OR 0 3 Back to Top ▲ Mia Wasikowska Mia Wasikowska Mia Wasikowska Pics AskMen Editors Share on Facebook Share on Twitter 0 Shares Young Australian-born actress Mia Wasikowska has appeared on the acclaimed HBO drama In Treatment, and she will play the title character in the upcoming Tim Burton-Johnny Depp collaboration Alice in Wonderland. Continue reading Mia Wasikowska's profile. Next Page gallery anne hathaway Comments Show Comments More Like This Promoted Around the Web Special Features


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Singer-songwriter, musician, record producer, composer
Marvin Gaye (ɡeɪ; born Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984) was an American singer-songwriter and musician. Wikipedia
Age: 44 (age at death)
Born: 2nd April, 1939, Washington, DC
Died: 1st April, 1984, Los Angeles, California
Height: 6' 1" (185 cm)
Nationality: American
Claim to Fame: I Heard It Through the Grapevine
Who can be romantically linked to Marvin Gaye...and how closely?
A Tribute To The Great Nat King Cole (1965)
A Tribute to the Great Nat "King" Cole is a tribute album released by Marvin Gaye on the Tamla (Motown) label on November 1, 1965, dedicated to his idol, late jazz/R&B performer Nat "King" Cole.
Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume One, 1981-1985, pages 311-313. New York: Charles Scribner`s Sons, 1998.
Was slated to record a duet album with Dionne Warwick, but changed his mind.
Marriage is miserable unless you find the right person that is your soulmate and that takes a lot of looking.
Detroit turned out to be heaven, but it also turned out to be hell.
Chrome and Hot Leather (1971)
Don't muck around with a Green Beret's Mama! He'll take his chopper and ram it down your throat!
A Green Beret returns home from the Vietnam war to find that a gang of murderous bikers has killed his fiancee. He calls on several of his Green Beret buddies to come and help him take revenge on the gang.
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Medford, Ore. — If you're new to gardening you might easily spend hundreds of dollars on a complete set of tools. Alternatively, by choosing the bare essentials, you can buy just what you need for relatively little money. For more information on how to choose your tools wisely, watch this 'In the Garden' segment. You … Continue reading »
In the Garden: Storing Tools
MEDFORD, Ore. — The fall has really moved in and that means to be one step ahead, it's time to start thinking about winter and putting our gardening tools away. In the video above, OSU Master Gardener Janet Rodkey shares tips on care, cleaning & sharpening of tools before storing them for winter. The OSU … Continue reading »


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GM. Will someone please explain to me why I woke up at 5:30 this morning?
Maybe it's because you have lots on your mind, Cobble? Is today a work day?
Yes, the hamster wheel in my head was going full-speed! Nope, no work today. It changes week to week, which is ok, I just wish there was more of it!
I have to say that I was pretty wound up watching the tennis last night!
GM everyone
GM, DIBS. How's your post-vacation re-entry?
Grouchy, Cobble.
Left my Metrocard home.
Great match last night, Nadal is a true gentlemen. As for Serena, she should know she's in trouble if the only person defending you is Pam Shriver, who was the female McEnroe in her day.
Cobble, sorry to hear you overslept this morning.
I get up at 4:30am everyday, myself.
delepp, Did you hear McEnroe getting into it again last night? He could NOT let it go! LOL!
DCB, YAWN! Yes, slacker that I am...I usually sleep until 6:45 or 7am!
I usually got the volume down low when mac is yakking. He's too distracting and his ego is too big for the job of annoucing.
Mornin' folks! I truly overslept this a.m. but still need more snooze. Damn rowdy cats!
I used to go to the US open with an old friend during McEnroe's glory days. I couldn't take his act. My friend liked him since he was a great player. I think he was a real outlier at the time. People wore white and behaved.
"People wore white and behaved."
Oh dear...I would never have fit in at that time! I'm in the camp of the uncouth tennis fans...screaming, shouting, grunting, cursing - shameful really! DonaT, I take it you wouldn't want to join Cobble and I and the Open next year? I promise we'll try to be good :-)
Trying to imagine Snappy and Cobble watching tennis at The Harvard Club. Likely both of them would end up with their heads on the wall.
Indeed, Biffy. Indeed!
seems like only Federer can beat Novak now. Nadal needs a ton of changes to his game to be in position to beat him
Nadal just had an off nite. Next time they meet, he'll likely whoop his ass.
Snappy, even Nadal openly admits that he can't beat him right now and am trying hard to find ways to beat him.
snappy, sounds like you be more at home at a UFC match!
How do you handcuff a one-armed man?
While not my desired demographic, I have to admit that Novak's girlfriend is rather attractive. It's good to be #1.
Biff, to the belt and belt loop. or to the angle
LOL DeLepp! I certainly act like a UFC fan when watching tennis :-)
M4L, I guess I just have more faith in Nadal's game than he does!
when it comes to tennis player with the most Jeter-like production ladies-wise, it's verdasco. no one is even close. by far the reigning #1 in that perspective. singers, models, actresses, hot reg chicks, etc - been there, done that, etc
snappy, I would watch tennis with you as you would drown out McEnroe yammering.
Meanwhile, Serena tends to date the oddest looking men alive. Remeber her ex Bret something or other. That short stumpy dude. That was a head scratcher.
big UFC fight in another 2 wks
Snappy, then she recovered via dating Common
Verdasco is hot. Seems to fall apart though at wrong times, I would be there to console him though.
DeLepp, best not to be too near me when watching tennis...I tend to throw things! And you wouldn't even hear McEnroe if I turned the volume all the way up on the tv. I am LOUD! Thankfully I technically have no neighbors so no one to tell me to be quiet :-)
It said in the WSJ Djokovic has beaten Nadal 6 times now. A friend who is a former tennis pro was telling me, tennis is boring to watch since no one comes to net and every stroke they hit it as hard as possible.
Very true, M4L. Even I think Common is hot!
"when it comes to tennis player with the most Jeter-like production ladies-wise, it's verdasco."
OMFG, you're right! I just Googled "verdasco girlfriend" and it turns out he dated my current #1 hottie Jarah Mariano
several years back Federer and Nadal did some promo down below my office window on e54th street. there was a tennis shop on street leeel....they set up a tennis court on street and played a bit. just before the us open.
Of course, names meant nothng to me....then I asked my brother - who has played tennis since a kid if he knew who they were.
Snappy, you should root for Serena to date more weird/wrong choices as that improves your hookup odds with her - ie the more she dates those dudes, the more viable alternatives ladies will become in her eyes
"Remeber her ex Bret something or other. That short stumpy dude. That was a head scratcher."
That's film director Brett Ratner. One time while in a restaurant in Montreal, a waitress was convinced I was him. Sounds like not much of a compliment based on the description above! :-)
Biff, you do know that Jarah is your buddy CGar's #1 right?
Nah, I don't date the switcheroo women. I'd rather simply admire her from afar.
"Trying to imagine Snappy and Cobble watching tennis at The Harvard Club. Likely both of them would end up with their heads on the wall."
Snort! Most uncouth tennis commentators ever! : P
OMG, Biff, you look nothing like that guy. Seriously. Google him and you'll see what I mean. I hope you didn't tip that waitress!
Living Social (groupon-like) deal--spend $10 for $20 worth of stuff at Whole Foods:
"Biff, you do know that Jarah is your buddy CGar's #1 right?"
Um, for the record, CGar didn't even know she existed until I posted a pic of her...
rf, I purchased that deal this morning.
Snappy, wasn't telling you to date her but rather just have sex with her.
Biff, the genesis of how she became #1 to him is irrelevant. Once he plants his flag claiming her, he views it as his.
Snappy, it was really different. If people were pissed off, they would make makethese whistling sounds. I thought what the hell is that? They only wore white. Grunting not too nice. On the other hand, I am a baseball fan and I am an extreme yeller. I SCREAM. I advise from the stands LOUDLY. I cheer. I sing at the 7th inning stretch, so I understand.
"Once he plants his flag claiming her, he views it as his."
What if she rejects his flagpole?
LOL DonaT! Sounds like we both go nuts, just for different sports!
M4L, I actually wouldn't have sex with her. Rather keep it as a fantasy.
What is a Financial Bail-Out?
It is a slow day in a damp little Irish town. The rain is beating down harshly, and all the streets are deserted. Times are tough, everybody is in debt and everybody lives on credit.
...On this particular day a rich German tourist is driving through the town, stops at the local hotel and lays a €100 note on the desk, telling the hotel owner he wants to inspect the rooms upstairs in order to pick one to spend the night.
The owner gives him some room-keys and, as soon as the visitor has walked upstairs, the hotelier grabs the €100 note and runs next door to pay his debt to the butcher.
The butcher takes the €100 note and rushes down the street to repay his debt to the pig farmer. The pig farmer takes the €100 note and heads off to pay his bill at the supplier of animal feed and fuel. The guy at the Farmers' Co-op takes the €100 note and runs to pay his drinks bill at the friendly neighbourhood pub. The pub owner slips the money along to the local prostitute drinking at the bar - who, in spite of facing hard times, has always gladly offered him her 'services' on credit.
The hooker then rushes over to the hotel and pays off her room bill to the hotel owner with the €100 note.
The hotel proprietor quietly replaces the €100 note back on the counter, so that the rich traveller will not suspect anything.
At that moment the traveller comes down the stairs, states that none of the rooms are satisfactory, picks up the €100 note, pockets it and leaves town.
...No one has produced anything. No one has earned anything. However, the whole town is now out of debt and looking to the future with a lot more optimism.
And that, dear ladies and gentlemen, is how a basic financial bailout package works!
I like tennis, but I am not a lunatic fan. I used to go with this work friend of mine (the REAL tennis fan) and I would analyze the players' looks and outfits, style, emotions. This was the era of Billy Jean King, Martina, Tracy Austin, Pam Shriver, Connors, McEnroe, Bjorg, etc. I liked the whole scene but could take it or leave it.
Snappy, if do decide to kick Serena out of bed, give her my address.
Tennis is the only sport that really gets me going. I used to be that way about basketball, but lost interest after my junior year in college. Not sure what happened.
LOL M4L! I'll let her know you are waiting on her...but your wife may kill you first!
"Um, for the record, CGar didn't even know she existed until I posted a pic of her..."
Um, for the record, Biff didn't even know her name until I was assigned to figure it out...
"What if she rejects his flagpole?"
The bigger issue (sts) is when the flagpole won't stand upright.
CGar, 1 of the core principles of being a prolific horndog is "Don't worry about her disappointment and just selfishly focus on your enjoyment"
"Um, for the record, Biff didn't even know her name until I was assigned to figure it out..."
What's in a name? If her name was Brunhilde, she would be just as hot!
scheduled a vet appointment for tonight... looking thru his old vet files it appears he's like 11 or 12 :-/ way older than i thought.
"Don't worry about her disappointment"
I see you've met my last date, m4l.
what nationality is Jarah?
WOW...I've been away and hadn't seen that the republican is leading in the race for Weiner's seat.
"If her name was Brunhilde, she would be just as hot!"
As it happens, Biff, I know an Asian MILF named Brunhilde.
I think Jarah is Hawaiian, m4l. And I have a soft spot (sts) for Hawaiian women.
I know an extremely hot Asian named Hermann which is the male eqiuvalent of Brunhilde I'd say
I had a Hawaiian in P-Town named Keoke.
I thought Goring was German, dave???
shes from the city of "kamaniwannalayah"
It's spelled Goering, CGar.
I know, dave, but it's Goring in German, but I couldn't type an umlaut.
I guess the Nazi talk was a bummer.
good job guys.
You could always add something yourself, dh.
nazis are bad!!
how do i clear a browser cache on ie?
wiener thing more proof that people are idiots, reactionary vs policy voting. unsurprised.
whenever i want to empty out my cash on the internet, I go to ebay.
bfar, ya nutball!
hah snappy - trying to read brownstoner? i think the comments are just busted.
comments work for me, but the comment count doesn't update and the last thing i see posted there was 2 hours ago. page refuses to update by listing new threads.
techinical problems over there? shocker!!
i've been peeking there recently to see if DIBS' house makes HOTD. it's soooooo boring!!
how do i clear the cache???
But Dave's OH isn't until October. Doubt it would be a good HOTD because of that.
Yeah the brownstoner "site rebuild" that took place last night seems to have made things worse than ever.
HOTD and open house listings are never correlated, Snappy. One has nothing to do with the other
so, is anyone gonna tell me how to clear the cache??? please???
dave, maybe not, but why fawn over it now if there's no chance to see it for a whole month?
DIBS - you should really make a listing on Streeteasy for your crib. is brownstoner the only place you have it listed?
Snappy, any prospective buyer can call for an appointment. That would be standard practice.
makes sense dave...now about the cache....please!!!
DIBS, did you find out how much was the incremental fee to upgrade to HOTD?
Illinois State legislature raise taxes on Chicago Mercantile Exchange from 4.8% to 7%, ala 50 million dollars per year. CME is now in active talks with state of Texas and Florida for moving major operations. (NYMEX, CBOT to stay in place). This would be a MAJOR loss for Chicago and ILL.
this is how I do it.
go to "tools"
click on "clear recent history"
when the list of things appear check "cache" and
specify "clear everything"
Snappy, if you're looking to remove browsing history, it's under Tools \ internet options \ browsing history
dh...it'll be on both the NYT and Streeteasy in the next day or so
DIBS -- Who was the architect that did your place?
Boerum, please clarify further else you run risk of DIBS interpretting question to be who are the architects he did at his place
Jarah Mariano is incredibly hot!
Hands off, Gomez!
DCB, indeed! Do a Google search. The pic I posted wasn't even her best but it's all I could do sitting on a trading floor and not having the luxury to surf all of her pics in private.
"not having the luxury to surf all of her pics in private."
No wonder you were in a depressed mood yesterday.
I think John Prine should have the last word on this morning's discussion:
Well, I packed my bags and bought myself a ticket
For the land of the tall palm tree.
Aloha ol' Milwaukee,
Hello Waikiki
I just stepped down from the airplane
When I heard her say.
"Wacka Wacka, nuka, licka
Wacka Wacka nuka licka
Would you like a ……Lay
Hey, Let's talk dirty in Hawaiian
Whisper in my ear
Kicka puka maka waawaa heenee
Are the words I long to hear
Lay your coconut on my tickie
Whata hecka mooka mooka dear.
Let's talk dirty in Hawaiian
Say the words I long to hear.
It's a ukulele Honolulu sunset
Listen to the grass skirts sway
Drinking rum from the pineapple
Out on Honolulu Bay
The steel guitars are playin'
While she's talking with her hands
Gimme gimme oaka doaka
Make a wish and wanta poka
Words I understand.
[CHorus : Let's talk dirty in Hawaiian etc.]
Well, I bought a lota junka with my moola
And I sent it to the folks back home
I never had a chance to dance the hula
Well, I guess I should have known
When you start talkin'
To the sweet wahenie
Walkin' in the pale moonlight
Oaka Noaka what I said
Naaka Waaka Siscum baakas
Hope I said it right.
[Apologies to any Hawaiian PLUSAs or lurkers.]
Great, Slopey! I'd totally forgotten about John Prine!
I'm not naming names, but I have great disdain for avatar-less PLUSAs.
That would be intertesting as well, althought probably less useful to someone who is thinking about buying a house.
And I'm not naming names, but some tease sent me a pic this morning and ordered me to "get naked".
time for a nap. I did load of laundry, changed sheets on bed, swam a mile at Y, moved car for alt. side parking, voted in primary and had lunch.
Pete, you over did it. you should've skipped lunch
Boerum, DIBS' place was largely mint move-in condition when he bought it. think previous owner was architect. He did put in his ensuite bath, the iron patio & steps, the landscaped garden,...
5.99 for naked that size, wow!!!!!!!!!!! that tease shops at an expensive hood
"5.99 for naked that size, wow!!!!!!!!!!!"
It's larger than it appears in the picture.
Wow, it's thick but it taste great
Cobble, Pete got the one before me. I'll take mine with some brownies on the side please
I guess the remaining question is whether you did get naked, CG.
When will you learn! Thread killers do not get brownies! : P
**crickets chirping**
You think it's quiet here. I spent some time on Brownstoner and it's like this...
My current obsession is Olivia Munn. Half white and half chinese. Holy smokin' hotness.
How do you post a picture without saving it on your desktop or that's not possible?
Cobble, TKOTD is at the end of the day an AWARD and in this country, we REWARD AWARD winners. I'll settle for cookies
Kens, would that be better than dating both a Chinese AND a white HOTTIE?
Puma!!! I want you. I need you. Please check your email.
Answer this for me. Why the hell don't LL's consider the hallway and the stairs when renting apts. If the hallway and stairs look like CRAP, how is this a good introduction to the apt.? I'm not saying it needs to be pristine, I'm talking basic, clean and safe feeling. So you're not imagining being murdered on the steps or falling through one of the treads. OY!
thanks. that's still a nice amount of work he did.
cobble: courage!
we seem to have lost Snaps, last seen trying to delete her cache.
Thanks Scott.
M4L, I'll just take Olivia over any 2 other hotties. The only person that possibly can replace her is Emmanuelle Chrique. (My gf is fine with being number 3 after those 2 - Her list includes Paul Walker and Bradley Cooper).
seen any apts with bath in hallways? i remeber in late 70's viewing some like that in cargar.
"we seem to have lost Snaps, last seen trying to delete her cache."
She's spent all this time doing nothing but that?
Sounds like she's become a cache potato.
dirty hallways is a good indicator that landlord is either absentee or doesn't care about bldg.
Biffers, nice to see you're back in the playground.
I think you're upset lately cause Hockey season hasn't started. Hopefully I can get my hands on some suite seats this year so we can pick up that mood of yours and see some ass whipping.
"seen any apts with bath in hallways?"
Isn't that a tripping hazard to passersby?
DH, I heard the Jets/Cowboys game was good :o(.
I am at work still sick as a dog but had no choice but to come in. Ehhhhh. Drove in though. Gonna try to split by 4 or so.
Kens, that sounds great. Seems Rangers have made all the right moves this off-season from signing Richards, to making Callahan captain, etc. Should be a fun year.
"i remeber in late 70's viewing some like that in cargar"
I NEVER had bathrooms in my hallway, Old Man!
yeah kens a real nailbiter - feel better!
Given the Devils have financial issues, maybe someone can buy them and move them to the Barclays. I would settle for the Islanders at Barclays but BK Devils would be killaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Cobble, that was a place in Cobble??? that sounds more like a pad in some non-primo hood
boerumresident...architect???? No architect used.
Yeah Biff. Let's hope Callahan will do good and we'll actually do better this year. Team is definitely set up for victory but they seem to choke every year :o(.
Kens, I wouldn't say they choke but definitely UNDERperform given the recent talent level
Thanks. I thought I remembered you recommending one on the old BS forum, but it was probably another PLUSA.
didn't mean bath was in hallway -- but door to bathroom was off common haallway - not in the apt itself.
maybe cgar should buy dibs place and rent to cobble. he was always pretending to be looking. or m4l.
Pete -- I knew people with that set up this decade (in Carroll Gardens). It was the top floor, though, so it wasn't really a big deal for them.
someone should just buy an apt bldg with ground floor retail somewhere and turn it into a plusa halfway/club house.
Kens, remember, I grew up watching the Leafs post-1967. My expectations around local hockey teams are so low that just making the playoffs is considered a great season.
"someone should just buy an apt bldg with ground floor retail somewhere and turn it into a plusa halfway/club house."
Could we hang stuffed animal heads on the wall and play backgammon all day?
"Could we hang stuffed animal heads on the wall and play backgammon all day?"
sounds like the greek version of Freeman's
(is backgammon the game greeks always play?)
"(is backgammon the game greeks always play?)"
You're thinking of back-hammin'
Don't knock it 'till you've tried it.
Beware of strong stimulants, Batman
Asian superheros.....
LMAO, dave!
And from there it's just a quick step to gay anime.....
And then there was this.....
snappy, get a lil free utility called cc cleaner (formerly known as Crap Cleaner). It takes care of the cache, temp files, and all kinds of crap!
In backgammon, is one allowed to beaver just before one's about to bear off?
Biff, don't butt in on this discussion. You're always such a dick in that regard
Pete, I'm the one who's been trying to buy your place and let you stay at rent stabilized rates but you somehow couldn't see the big value in that transaction
And I've noticed you falling behind in the quality of your puns
What would be the point of that Biffers?
It's just another blot on his escutcheon, dibs.
Cobble, a TKOTD and cookies for my buddy DIBS here
I think he's tried to polish up his escutcheon when he waxes his knob.
That's crossing the bar.
M4L, One was CH, the other was the far end of CG. Ridiculous. For the rent they want, the hallways should be pristine. They should not make you feel like you could be living in semi-deserted building. Likewise, what's with the fluorescent lights in kitchens and bathrooms? I find them seriously depressing.
In other news, we just witnessed a HS kid rip off a young woman's tablet on the G train at Clinton-Washington. The kid grabbed it out of her hands (yes, the idiot woman had it out and was using it, on a train full of teenagers) and jumped off the train. There was a cop on the platform not 20 feet away. The woman went running after him, and so did some other people. I hope they got him.
Have you had any of that shitty coffee yet?????
man, i don't understand peeps who use their ipads on the train.
I don't either, DH. It's just plain idiocy. Not that I think people deserve to get ripped off, but have SOME street smarts and put the damn thing away!
Why the hell shouldn't people use them on the train???? If the trains aren't safe we need the return of Bernie Goetz!!! These stupid little fuckers need to learn a lesson
I had 2 of my girlfriends get their tablets taken right out of their hands in recent months on the B/Q train line. They don't seem to target men (except one guy who tried to chase the kid but the kid had a weapon) as they are afraid of reproductions. Not stupid teenagers.
I'm starting to question using my ipod on the train. I listen to audiobooks and play solitaire on it while I'm being read to. Maybe not such a good idea anymore. I remember when Ipods first came out and everyone was stealing those. Back then, the 'trick' was to switch out the obvious white earphones (which were craptastic anyway) for those of another color/style so it wouldn't be obvious you had an ipod in your pocket as opposed to a regular walkman.
They're afraid of repercussions, Kens - we're afraid of their reproductions.
the G on the back end exiting onto clinton ave is way way better than the front end exiting onto washington ave. all the shit I hear happens on the washington side.
Snappy, ipods are not that expensive and hardly worth it so I wouldn't worry too much. Those kids are not dumb. They go for either an ipad or iphone which can get them at least 300 on the street. Your ipod will get them 100-150 tops.
dibs - Haven't had it yet. Rotten morning w/a dead modem & high drama w/ Verizon - didn't want to try it while I was in a tizzy.
If the hallways look bad, it's a red flag. LL doesn't give a shit. Or is absentee. In a smaller building, I think it is good to have owner occupied since they have a vested interest in proper heat, maintenance, and good bldg vibes.
lmao arkady. didn't realize I mispelled it but thanks for correction :o)
I remember back in the day I was on a subway train in Toronto and a group of teens started eying my Walkman. I was terrified they were going to take it, with my Wham! mega-mix cassette inside.
I'd be surprised if my ipod got them $80 Kens! It's the 80GB Classic. I don't think anyone wants that!
But, thieves are thieves...
We were on the Washington end, M4L. We walk to the front so that we can get out at the Warren Street exit of the Bergen Station. There must have been 40-50 HS school kids in that car.
this is why commuting by L train is great. everyone has an igadget on the train and i'm usually one of the most imposing people in my car - so i don't have to worry too much!
The only knee-jerk Republican friend I had before the OT was of the same opinion as dibs: she used to get really pissed off when women were advised to wear gold chains inside their coats/shirts so as not to tempt criminals.
At the time I come and go from work, there are no kids on the train, save for maybe a couple who are being taken to day care!
still don't understand why phone companies are not forced to make it possible for stolen data devices to be totally disabled after theft. i know it's possible!!
Arkady picked up on the spelling error vs I picked up on the mad playa representation - ie 2 [as in one two] girlfriends. somehow, I believe the "2" is NOT the total but rather 2 of xxxx
Not only is using $$$$$ electronics in public a major temptation to little crooks, these devices put people into a kind of auto-trance....the universe is just me and my iwhatever. WAKE UP and look around. People are dangerously spaced out and not looking at the world around them. It's amazing.
Arkady, be sure not to wear suggestive clothing as well!!!!!!!
WTF?!?! Imposing?! Not quite the last word I'd use to describe you but getting near the tail end, for sure.
I tend to agree with Dave on that. I love stories where the robee knocks the would be robber the eff out. Remember that old man who happened to be an ex marine? Some thugs tried to rob him and he went all semper fi upside their heads. They learned the hard way, as should others, that you just can't eff with everyone 'cause you just may get your ass beat.
One of the buildings was owner occupied, dona. I was shocked.
Tra la la, we're just counting all of this crap as burning off some kind of apt. karma so that the right place will come to us. We're being proactive. We've seen two today, and one more to come this evening.
dibs - A girl can only hope...
I don't wear much jewelry anyway, but I don't like seeing women wear fancy stuff on the subway. It's just dumb. Reality is reality, no matter what you wish or think it should be.
The first freeze is hitting the upper midwest tonight!!!!!!
Snappy: Some thugs tried to rob him and he went all semper fi upside their heads.
LOL snappy.
Arkady, when standing amidst a herd / sea of skinny pant hipsters, DH is quite imposing
I think it's true that women are more often targets than men.
Nobody on the subway ever seems to pay attention to me when I'm using my first generation tablet on the subway.
"The first freeze is hitting the upper midwest tonight!!!!!!"
Not surprised. It hit my bedroom last night.
Biff, I'm usually looking for Morningwood when I'm on the subway!!!!!
No one seems to be interested in my phone, either, Biff! : P
"Biff, I'm usually looking for Morningwood when I'm on the subway!!!!!"
And you're usually "Underwood" by lunch time.
Re jewelry, I have my Mr. T. starter set (multiple gold chains purchased in the 90s when gold was 250 oz). I wear it. I wear all my gold bangles if I feel like it. But this icrime stuff is happening because 1) there are little crooks running around 2) people are TOO SPACED OUT. It is ridiculous allowing yourself to slip into a cyber-coma in public.
Cobble, I was telling DH not too long ago about a few 2 bed 2 bath listings on Washington Ave (btwn willoughby & greene blks) asking $2600 or so. pretty prime CH locations, aptmt looks to be in good shape, etc. those are rented now. point is rents in CH, if you like the hood, is mad reasonable compared to other hoods
I suppose the good thing about having an out-of-date device is that if someone steals it, you can replace it for less than what you initially paid for it.
Cobble, can you download this game onto your phone?
"if someone steals it, you can replace it for less than what you initially paid for it."
But enough about my wife...
so biff, you catch up on your documents on the subway coming home. Do you use carbon paper?
Cobble, by the time you get your new place, you will be able to price any apartment in greater Brooklyn.
I'm pretty old school too with many of my devices...
Donatella, I believe Biff would be eying the micro films via a monocle
when gold chain snatching was big --- the perp would stand inside door of train and when door would be about to close - grab the chain off the neck person sitting next to door - and voila --- doors close - he is outside car and train takes off with the victim.
saw it happen several times.
Pete, that was still happening in the early 2000s at the Prospect Ave R station. Tons of reports of that for a few years there.
snatching 14k gold chains can leave some deep marks on victim - ie better for perp to snatch 24k chains (higher payout and lower risk of victim seriously hurt)
It's easy to forget all that crime in NYC, Pete. In 1985 I was held up at gunpoint on the Promenade.
$2600 for a 2 bedroom? who can afford to buy those ipods, itouches, androids with rents like that.
And still have enuf for a good cocktail and $10 ice cream cone.
I had knife pulled on me (looked big at time but hindsight was probably a penknife) at Clinton/Wash station -- c circa 1978
Cripes DonaT!!!
hm, Pete. Thems fighting words for *rob* but he isn't here today.
Grasshopper, snatch the pebble from my hand...
Or was it "...pebble the snatch from my hand"?
Pete, I had a knife pulled on me in my own apartment. Of course it was Mrs. C who did it, but that's beside the point...
This just in from over there. Stabbing at Fulton & Smith.
"Police are at 374 Fulton Street, near Smith Street, where a person has reportedly been stabbed. A suspect is in custody, and units are searching the storm drains for a possible weapon. No word on the victim's condition."
Biff, what was Mrs C intending to cut, chop, etc with that knife?
M4L, this should answer your question...
Re: robbery...the following week I was to move to Japan. I was so busy. I never saw the gun, but my friend did. We had to go to the Police Precinct and hang out there all night, waiting for an ADA. I was so pissed to be wasting so much time. My friend still is in awe of my powers of denial. Two teenagers. Young ones.
That area of Fulton Mall is really a hell hole still
Actually, more like...
I still find it hard to believe that there were 3 murders in Brooklyn Heights last year.
That looks like a diseased thumb...ick!
had to be a fight not a holdup. that intersection is packed with people --- subway exit/waiting for buses, etc.
arkady - comparatively (L train, remember)
I still find it hard to believe that I wasn't one of the 3 people murdered in Brooklyn Heights last year.
I find it hard to believe that there were three people physically capable of murdering in Brooklyn heights last year.
Arkady, don't be fooled by the fact we all know DH as a sensitive-bike-riding-fancy-cocktail-sipping metrosexual. He's a big guy who definitely wouldn't be the first one to be messed with on a subway.
The worst violence most Brooklyn Heighters have seen is Shecky Green killing at the Catskills circa 1963.
Wait...you consider DH to be metrosexual? I don't see that! He takes care of him self and has good taste, but I don't think he quite fits the term metrosexual. Is it just me? Somebody else weigh in!
Snappy, he gets his hair cut by a stylist and needs advance appointmt. I rest my case
dh is not a metrosexual. He doesn't wear skinny jeans, pork pie hat or get pedicures/manicures. Well adjusted plusa(relative speaking...)
Metrosexual is also largely about attitude/the way you carry yourself. DH is simply not bougeis like that. He's just a well-bred dude.
Jinx DeLepp!
Snappy, you're probably right. He's more metrosexual in the sense he's a foodie who knows his restaurants and high end booze. But he doesn't dress like a metrosexual, which is meant as a compliment to him.
"I find it hard to believe that there were three people physically capable of murdering in Brooklyn heights last year."
Here you go, dave:
I think he escapes the category via dress and attitude.
And why are we talking about him like he's not here?
Is this metrosexual? I'm not even sure what a metrosexual looks like...
cgar, that is really very funny.
you are brilliant at times.
elderberry wine anyone?
Biff, that's more likely flaming!
"The worst violence most Brooklyn Heighters have seen is Shecky Green killing at the Catskills circa 1963."
Worse than the last time you sang karaoke, Biff?
[Ducks for cover]
I believe DH's metro gear is currently in storage along with his fancy furniture. wait till he moves into new pad and gets stuff out of storage. blazers, pointy shoes, fancy leather work bag,....
I believe these were the earliest version of the tablet. They came as a set.
Biff, that dude looks like one of DIBS' rent boys / nooners
edward everett horton, another closet homo from the golden age!
Minard, even back then Moses knew better than to ride in the chariot with those in plain view. Damn thieves have been around for centuries :-)
Robert Moses rode around the City in a chariot???
Ya know, when DH comes back and reads this, he'll be kickin' all your asses!
haha - remember when the "metro" look was in?
Yes, while he drew up plans for which buildings to demolish for a new chariot dirt path. City had hideous traffic back then...a horse doodie could close down a road for a few hours at a stretch! (damn union workers took too long to show up and remove it)
The tablets wouldn't have been stolen if "Thou Shalt Not Steal" was written in English and not Aramaic!
Snappy, if he kicks our asses, we'll be looking for you as you instigated it all
No, Biff was the instigator!
"Robert Moses rode around the City in a chariot???"
Yes, with Benson pulling him (nh)
Yes, dona, I'm getting pretty good at reading the ads already.
M4L, We don't actually believe we will end up finding a place here in CH, it's beyond ridiculous, but we're looking here anyway. We're heading over to Kensington/Ditmas this weekend. Seems more in the range of what we're looking for. We squished ourselves into this apt. because of CGar's deck. It was too nice and perfectly located to pass up. We can get double the space over in Kensington/Ditmas for what we want to pay.
That is not Robert Moses, that's the other Moses.
The one who lead his people for forty years through the desert to finally end up in the one part of the middle east without oil.
I'm outta here folks. Nite!
Kensington/Ditmas is less expensive than Crown Heights? I'm not overly familiar with either area, but this seems surprising to me. Is it the Montrose Morris premium that accounts for this?
I kinda doubt we'd find a place in Clinton Hill either. But we both like/know it well, so we're looking. We're also considering Prospect Heights, but I'm less enthused than BH. But I haven't crossed it off the list yet. A great place could pop up at anytime. $2600 is more than we want to pay, but it's not ruled out if the place is exactly perfectly what we want.
Biff, it was the DCB factor. once he moved in, the gentrification meter just powered up a few notches
Hmm, prolly not less expensive than Crown Heights, Biff. But I haven't compared them, really.
"that's the other Moses. The one who lead his people for forty years through the desert to finally end up in the one part of the middle east without oil."
Then how did we end up in Eastern Europe??
cobble, that was just a reference pt as you don't need a big 2 bd 2 bath. nice big 1 bdrm units can be had for around 1700-1800.
nite all
crown heights is "cool" now - and now apparently franklin ave is the cutoff for prospect heights. so it's pretty pricey over there.
"We squished ourselves into this apt. because of CGar's deck"
And I'm very particular about where I raise my tent pole.
Then how did we end up in Eastern Europe??
I believe that was Amzi Hill Moses, who was actually looking for Crown Heights.
M4L, A BIG one bedroom would suit us fine. Or a 1 bedroom + den type thing. Washington, Willoughby/Greene would be great for us.
also, one bedroom dumps in greenpoint now command btw 1900 - 2300
We have friends on Bergen near Franklin. They like it, we'd have neighbors that we know/like!
We're not even looking in Williamsburg/Greenpoint or Bushwick. They're all off our list.
You don't need to spend that much for a dump. A whole box of Dulcolax is less than $10 at CVS.
evidently bushwick is safer than brooklyn heights. who knew?
We haven't ruled out much except what I just mentioned above. I've been looking at ads for all over. And we're going on little walking trips to see how it feels, and what suits us. We're doing a LOT of walking!
An apt in my building just sold for almost the same price I paid: it was unrenovated and on a lower floor. So M4L may be correct.
Where are you, roughly, DCB?
In my opinion, dh looks like a gentleman. The term 'imposing' bespoke, in the context, a thug which he certainly isn't.
Possibly "imposing" because of his build, he's tall and broad shouldered.
I think DH looks like a metrosexual thug.
Plus, it's all his fault that rents in Williamsburg skyrocketed.
n.m. wish me luck at the vet
Good luck, *rob*. Please let us know how it goes with your dog.
CH is very confusing!
Cobble Hill?
Clinton Hill?
Crown Heights?
I think Cobblehiller's first messages, complaining about disgusting halls, was in COBBLE HILL and Carroll Gardens.
Yes, I was talking about COBBLE HILL/ CARROLL GARDENS! Terrible, just terrible hallways!
Cobble, I am on Eastern Pkwy, around Classon.
I love the hood, but there is still a rough edge.
Getting better all the time, though.
Great transportation with the 4 and 5, and the 2 and 3.
Unless you meant, where am I now. Still at work, Damn it!!!
funny sexual church signs... rob, there's a couple for you.
My rent boys NEVER look like that, m4l. More like this.....
I agree with perry's mandatory vaccination of both girls and boys for HPV. The science is sound and that's the ideal age for this vaccination. We vaccinate kids for other things and all of those should be mandatory as well. It's not about "big government," it's about saving lives.


text:
Carol Smith Rising, Division Director
NM Statute 8-8-10Purpose
The Legal Division provides legal counsel to all divisions of the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission. More specifically, the division provides competent and professional representation for Staff in all matters before the Commission or Insurance Superintendent. The Legal Division is also responsible for providing legal counsel to the Commission and Insurance Superintendent in matters not involving advice on contested proceedings.
The Legal Division protects the public interest by providing a guarantee of agency integrity on two general fronts:
• The Division advises and vigorously advocates on behalf of Staff, ensuring that all issues are explored, cases are fully developed and fairly heard, and a substantial record is established to serve as the basis for Commission and Insurance Superintendent decisions.
• The Division acts as a conscience for the agency by assuring that the due process rights of the public and all parties are respected, and that agency positions, policies and practices are compliant with all legal requirements.
The Legal Division employs 11 lawyers (including the Director) and four legal support workers. The Division is informally divided into two bureaus: (1) Utilities and Telecommunications; and (2) Corporations, Insurance and Transportation.
Lawyers in the first bureau develop competence and experience in cases involving electric, gas, water, wastewater and telecommunications entities. Two legal support workers are assigned to this bureau. The second bureau works on corporations, transportation, pipeline safety and insurance matters and represents the Fire Marshal's Office. Two legal support workers are assigned to this Bureau.
Every lawyer has a special expertise in a particular area of practice. However, the Division employs interdisciplinary training and case assignment, within and across both bureaus, so that each lawyer has the opportunity to develop competence and experience in various subject matter areas. As needed, individuals also assist the agency in legislative and administrative matters.
The strength of the Legal Division is best measured by the depth and degree of its accumulated wisdom. Staff attorneys average 17 years of government/regulatory experience, and 23 years in the overall practice of law. This is especially important, as the Division must litigate against large, multistate corporations and outside law firms.
Staff attorneys have taken the lead in developing working relationships with other state agencies to coordinate activities and ensure best practices. These agencies include the Departments of Public Safety, Environment, Energy and Minerals and the State Engineer's Office.
Future Direction
Our participation in those processes as well as in strategic planning has had positive results in the areas of responsiveness and relationship, both internal to the agency and external to lawmakers, other agencies, interested parties and regulated entities. In consideration of concerns raised, we have identified the need for increased resources in the areas of case management and more expeditious forms of dispute resolution. Particularly, we intend to assist in the transformation of "COMPLAINT" into "COMPLIANT."
We expect to play a leading role in the process of reviewing and revising procedural rules for the agency as a whole, as well as those specific to the separate Divisions. Already we have begun to file cases on behalf of technical Staff to bring before the Commission those issues of interpretation that have significant policy implications. Our goal is to establish coherent principles and consistent practices for every major legal function we perform. Toward this end, we fashion our continuing education in recognition of the necessity for national knowledge and networking.


text:
35 And Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and said unto them, These are the words which the Lord hath commanded, that ye should do them.
2 Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the Lord: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death.
3 Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day.
Orthodox Jews have some interesting ideas about Exodus 35:3. A "fire" can be anything that sparks. Changing the thermostat or lighting a gas burner is prohibited, they say. I remember when Benjamin Netanyahu visited the UN one year to attend a late day meeting on Friday. I don't recall the exact time of year it was, but it was during the time of year when sunset comes early to New York. He could not drive back from the meeting because, according to Orthodox Judaism, the spark plug in the car creates a "fire" by sparking. However, it was perfectly acceptable for his Gentile driver to drive him to his hotel.
There really is a lot packed into that scenario. It is sort of a lose-lose type of position, if you ask me. It's one thing to be so strict and restrictive as to take all joy out of what should be a blessing, yet that is what makes it doubly hypocritical to expect others to do what you yourself would not do.
While that is an example of one person with cognitive dissonance, don't both of these extremes exist, albeit in different people, in the COG? Something I posted on Facebook recently, which comes in part from my experiences while blogging after a time:
Truth is rarely, if ever, one extreme or the other. That's why speaking the truth makes enemies on both sides of the issue.
I think it is time to get back to the Bible. Pamphlets, booklets, blogs, videos and even sermons can expound upon and help explain Scripture, but none of them, either singly or in aggregate, can replace Scripture.
Rule #1 is: The plain things are the main things, and the main things are the plain things.
Rule #2 is: Let the Bible interpret the Bible. If something seems to differ, then there must be an explanation for it, and looking at other Scriptures using similar words can explain the unexplainable about 90% of the time.
To not do so is to invite severe brokenness!
13 But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
To Kindle on the Sabbath
So, what about fires, anyhow? What is God trying to tell us?
I kept PDF copies of the UCG Bible Reading Program, fortunately. In the May 2002 issue, they wrote:
No Fire on the Sabbath? (Exodus 35) May 2
Chapter 35 begins with instruction about the weekly Sabbath. God said, "You shall kindle no fire throughout your dwellings on the Sabbath day" (verse 3). A long-held Jewish interpretation is that it is wrong to start any fire on the Sabbath, such as a fire in a fireplace or just lighting a match. On the basis of this verse, some even argue that it is not permissible on the Sabbath to light a stove, turn on an oven or use any electrical device with a heating element, such as a hairdryer. Others go so far as to say that we can't start a car or even turn on a light switch on God's weekly Holy Day.
Yet the context here is important. There certainly may be a need to limit personal fire usage—as major fire maintenance can certainly become a violation of the Sabbath if a great deal of obvious work is involved (for example, moving logs and chopping them up or a major gathering of sticks, such as that in Numbers 15:32). However, this passage, occurring at the beginning of Moses' relaying of the instructions for building the tabernacle, is most likely referring to tabernacle construction. God, it appears, was telling them to not kindle industrial fires on the Sabbath—to melt silver or gold or forge other metals for the construction of the tabernacle. No doubt some minor smelting was done in individual homes, which was also forbidden by this proscription. Instead, all industry was to cease, even the special work of building the tabernacle, so people could give full attention to resting and worshiping God on the Sabbath as He commanded.
God has always wanted His weekly Sabbath day to be a blessing and a delight to us (Isaiah 58:13-14), not an intolerable burden as some would later make it out to be through their focus on overly restrictive rules. However, there are certainly general rules we should follow. For instance, as a general rule we must not be conducting our regular business on the Sabbath or using the Sabbath as a time to plan our regular work. Moreover, the Sabbath is not a time for sports and personal hobbies. Instead, the Sabbath is a time to focus on our relationship with God.
To be honest, from the context I think it is difficult to be so sure that the lighting of fires is really related to the Tabernacle. Since verses and chapter breaks did not exist in the original text, there could be a weaker case made for it being attached instead to the previous chapter after Moses came down from the mountain. Perhaps both the Sabbath instructions and the instructions for the Tabernacle were given right after he descended, and that is likely.
However, even if correct, I cannot help but think that there is more to this than meets the modern eye. Without a complete understanding, we can come up with all sorts of fanciful ideas about what working for the Tabernacle entails and what should and should not be done on the Sabbath. More importantly: What exactly is the prohibition, and what is the principle to be derived from it?
I agree completely that we are to avoid "regular work" on the Sabbath. As we have already covered, "work" primarily means service that takes place as a consequence of one's occupation or creative efforts. Certainly, a fire that is stoked in order to melt silver, gold and such would be work, as it would support a creative effort.
Still, why specifically a fire? What about sewing badgers skins together? Why is that not specifically pointed out? After all, that is actual creative work and not just in support of it. Perhaps there is something more, and perhaps speculation can best be resolved by letting the Bible interpret the Bible.
It turns out that there are various words that could mean "burn" in Hebrew, just like in English. Notice how the KJV chooses "kindle" instead of "burn" for the Hebrew word ba'ar, Strong's H1197. That is why it is OK for a Jew to sit in front of a fire that was started before Shabbat, but he is not allowed to strike a match to start one. According to their interpretation, it is the act of starting the fire that is wrong.
However, in Hebrew and in some of its sister languages, it can mean "glean", "collect or gather" or even "graze". Notice how in Exodus 3:3, Moses ponders why the bush is not "burnt" as in "burnt up" or cleared out by burning. It also can mean "eaten up" as in:
5 If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten [ba'ar], and shall put in his beast, and shall feed [ba'ar] in another man's field; of the best of his own field, and of the best of his own vineyard, shall he make restitution.
~ Ex 22:5
Not only that, but it can mean "put away", as in:
7 The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put [ba'ar] the evil away [ba'ar] from among you.
~ Dt 17:7
Same expression "put away" is used in Dt 17:12; 19:13, 19; Dt 21:9, et al.
The cattle that grazes and the fire both consume. When the cattle consume produce in another's field, restitution is to be made. Likewise, when a fire consumes another man's produce, restitution is to be made.
6 If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, be consumed therewith; he that kindled [ba'ar] the fire shall surely make restitution.
~ Ex 22:6
In every case, the item to be consumed is sought out, gathered together, looked for, sought and ultimately consumed. An animal seeks out the grass or corn and eats it. A fire seeks out fuel and consumes it. We are to seek out evil and remove it.
Gathering Sticks on the Sabbath
A fire in one's home requires gathering fuel in order for the fire to consume it. To kindle a fire requires the collecting of fuel in one spot in order to feed the fire.
32 And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day.
33 And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation.
34 And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.
35 And the Lord said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.
When you understand what the prohibition against the "kindling" of a fire really means, the above makes more sense. Yes, the prohibition against kindling a fire was stressed in regards to the Tabernacle, but to limit the prohibition to only the context of the Tabernacle is to overlook a larger principle.
Now, there are two questions one should ask about the above passage of Numbers 15 because it is a favorite of many critics.
- Could the man have avoided this work on the Sabbath by preparing properly ahead of time? If so, does he have a valid excuse for working on the Sabbath?
- Was he gathering "sticks" as city folk think of "sticks", or what does "sticks" really mean? Notice how the same Hebrew word is translated "tree" in Ge 1:11!
These questions reveal how some skeptics will latch onto any strawman in order to "prove" the Bible is either invalid or the God of the Bible is anything but kind and loving.
Gathering, Preparing or Cooking on the Sabbath?
Now that we have the groundwork in place, let's examine a particular passage of Scripture and ask ourselves the appropriate questions.
22 On the sixth day they gathered twice as much food, four quarts[a] apiece, and all the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses. 23 He told them, "This is what the LORD has said: 'Tomorrow is a day of complete rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. Bake what you want to bake, and boil what you want to boil, and set aside everything left over to be kept until morning.'"
Unfortunately, there are those who quit reading at that point, hang up their brains and automatically come to the conclusion that any and all cooking is wrong on the Sabbath. Let's back up a couple of verses, OK?
18 When they measured it by quarts,[c] the person who gathered a lot had no surplus, and the person who gathered a little had no shortage. Each gathered as much as he needed to eat. 19 Moses said to them, "No one is to let any of it remain until morning." 20 But they didn't listen to Moses; some people left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and smelled. Therefore Moses was angry with them.
21 They gathered it every morning. Each gathered as much as he needed to eat, but when the sun grew hot, it melted.
- What did Moses tell the people?
- Did the people listen to Moses?
- What happened when they disobeyed?
- What happened to the ungathered manna?
Now, let's read exactly when and how they disobeyed the second time:
26 For six days you may gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will be none."
27 Yet on the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, but they did not find any.28 Then the Lord said to Moses, "How long will you[a] refuse to keep My commands and instructions?
- Did the people obey this time?
- What exactly did the people do?
- What exactly were the people who disobeyed chided for?
- Were they cooking?
- Were they starting fires?
- Were they gathering?
It would seem that ungathered manna would melt in the hot sun, yet somehow it survived baking and boiling. I'm not going to pretend to understand the science behind that, and since it is a miracle it could well be beyond our understanding. However, it also appears that manna in any form that was left the following day tended to breed worms. I think it is reasonable to conclude that manna was not a staple that could easily be left around, let along left around in raw form.
I believe the people were instructed to gather twice as much manna on the sixth day and to prepare and cook it all on that day. Why? Because something about the manna caused it to "melt" in the hot sun but survive cooking, which means that cooking somehow temporarily preserves it. Something about the preparation involved in eating manna required not just the usual gathering and cleaning, but it required cooking.
What Was the Real Sin?
At any rate, we have no record of anyone being chastised for cooking manna on the Sabbath. You would think that as stubborn and rebellious as Israel was that someone would have tried that, just as there were some that tried leaving it overnight on days other than the Sabbath. Yet, we have no record of anyone being chastised for cooking on the Sabbath, warming up manna cakes on the Sabbath, reheating manna cereal to eat with goat's milk on Sabbath morning, etc.
No, but we have a clear record of people going out to gather manna on the Sabbath. We have a clear record of a man going out to gather firewood on the Sabbath. We have clear commands in the Law to not harvest on the Sabbath (which is what the Pharisees were accusing Jesus' disciples of doing by plucking ears of grain and eating them). We have a command to not "kindle", or more likely to gather firewood for a fire to consume, on the Sabbath. These items are real work.
Striking a match to light a fire is not work. Of course, Israel did not have matches, but it is very likely they could have borrowed a light from their neighbors. Again, how much "work" is really involved in that, especially considering everyone was packed into what was essentially "tent city"?
Likewise, warming up food properly prepared ahead of time or even cooking a fresh dish in which the ingredients were properly prepared hardly is "work". However, picking grain in a field, slaughtering an animal, soaking and washing vegetables, etc., is all pretty hard work. What they have in common is the gathering aspect of preparing food. In fact, it sort of lends itself to the difference between "preparing food" and "cooking food". While there is some overlap, in general, food can be "prepared" ahead of time but "cooked" fresh.
Some dishes, like chili and spaghetti sauce, are better when actually cooked well in advance and the ingredients are allowed to grow in intensity through subsequent heatings and coolings. However, dishes like egg rolls can be prepared well in advance but pretty much require being cooked fresh in order to taste right. How much "work" is frying an egg roll? A lot less than cooking the ingredients, mixing the ingredients, rolling and pasting the shells!
I feel compelled to go on with this series, although it pains me quite a bit. It pains me because, like so many issues in the COG, it has become overloaded with a lot of emotional mud instead of clear and consistent thought. To my mind, God is nothing if not consistent. Even when He "repents" (actually, "relent" is a better translation, IMO), it is because His character and attributes are consistently stacked in favor of forgiveness, mercy and, most of all, patience. He changes not, and His Son is the same yesterday, today and forever.
We are supposed to become like Christ!
We in the Churches of God need to become much more clear and consistent in our own thinking!


text:
Non-exempt Timesheet Schedule
**Fiscal year ends June 30, 2015. Two separate timesheets will be due prior to the July 31st payday, to facilitate payment from the correct budget and year.
Exempt employees pay dates are the same as non-exempt paydates.
Please mark your calendar and bring your timesheet to the payroll office on the Monday it is due. Do not put it in campus mail. If you are sick or on vacation on a timesheet due date, have someone else turn in your timesheet. If signatures cannot be obtained, please bring a photocopy to payroll and submit the signed original later. If you are not currently receiving "timesheet due" reminder emails and would like to be added to the mailing list, please contact the Payroll Office at x2533.
If payroll falls on a weekend we pay on the Friday before, except for the July 1 and January 1 paydays; these two are paid on the next business day.


text:
Key Insights On Platelet-Rich Plasma For Soft Tissue Repair
While platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has emerged as a potential adjunctive modality for some lower extremity injuries, there is a lack of conclusive evidence in this regard. Accordingly, this author reviews the available literature and offers insights from his experience in using PRP for Achilles tendinosis and chronic plantar fascial pain.
While oral maxillofacial surgeons have been utilizing platelet rich plasma (PRP) for over a decade, PRP has become an increasingly hot topic in the realm of musculoskeletal pathology in recent years.1
Technicians would obtain PRP by obtaining a small amount of blood via IV puncture and separating the whole blood components from the platelets typically through the use of a centrifuge. The PRP contains numerous growth factors, including insulin-like growth factors (ILGF) 1 and 2, transforming growth factor-b (TGF-b), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor and hepatocyte growth factor, to name a few. The type and amount of growth factor are patient dependent.
The basic science behind PRP is fairly simple. Platelet rich plasma is simply defined as a sample of autologous blood with concentrations of platelets that are typically five times greater than baseline levels. The science of PRP basically involves the alpha-granules found within the platelets. Alpha-granules contain growth factors that affect all aspects of the healing cascade to facilitate healing of all types of tissue. The growth factors are proteins that are secreted and bind to a receptor on a membrane to exert a response from the cell, which leads to the healing response. Examples of these target cells are osteoblasts, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, epidermal cells and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). There is a high amount of interest in the use of PRP for soft tissue injuries but high quality literature is lacking.
There are several companies that have the capability of producing the PRP. The concentration typically consists of a separation of red blood cells, platelet concentration and platelet-poor plasma. The amount of blood that is needed to produce the PRP differs among the companies. Activation may occur with or without adding an activating agent. One may add thrombin and/or calcium chloride to begin platelet activation, formation of the clot and release of the growth factors. Some studies have shown the use of thrombin can inhibit bone formation with the use of demineralized bone matrix.2
The other option is not to use the activating agent. Reports by Mishra, Fufa and their respective colleagues have shown that the exposure of PRP to tendon derived collagen factor alone can cause a slow and sustained activation.3,4
Tendon and ligament injuries are both subdivided into acute and chronic injuries. Acute injuries involve tearing of collagen fibers; hematoma formation and subsequent healing through inflammation; cellular proliferation, regeneration and repair; and remodeling processes.5 On the other hand, chronic injuries are often associated with overuse and lead to a degenerative process. Tendinopathy involves collagen fiber disruption, mucoid degeneration, neovascularization and the absence of inflammation.6
What The Literature Reveals About Treating Acute Injuries With PRP
Animal studies by Batten and co-workers have shown that specific growth factors such as PDGF improve healing and mechanical strength in early ligament healing with the greatest response occurring within the first 24 hours.7 In another animal study, Murray and colleagues found the application of PRP facilitated early improvement in load to failure, maximum load and stiffness of porcine anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) suture repairs. However, they noted no improvement in laxity, maximum tensile load or linear stiffness with longer follow-up.8