text:
September 25, 2014 — By Daniel Stid
How can foundations help grantees measure and improve their performance? This is a tough question for philanthropy, and we have wrestled with it in the Madison Initiative. While foundations routinely express their determination to drive outcomes and impact, too often their interactions with grantees on issues of performance measurement are counter-productive. The more insistent foundations are on accountability for results from those they fund, the greater the temptation grantees face to show how well they are doing and how much impact they are having—imperatives that tend to undermine the sustained patterns of measurement, reflection, and learning that are needed for ongoing improvement in outcomes. I have taken to calling this dynamic the performance measurement trap.
With the advice of our developmental evaluators at the Center for Evaluation Innovation, we recently refined our grant application forms in an effort to break out of this trap. The rest of this post is a verbatim excerpt of what we are now asking of prospective grantees with respect to performance measurement. We'd welcome your feedback so we can continue to fine tune our approach:
One of our most important goals in supporting your organization is to help you measure, reflect on, and learn from your results so that you can continue to focus and improve your impact. Insofar as our grantees are able to do this, so can we. But this requires a different approach to measurement and reporting than is typical for foundations and grantees. In this alternative approach, the primary constituency is your organization, not ours. The primary purpose is supporting your improvement in the future, not reporting to us on your performance in the past. The primary disposition is a spirit of inquiry and openness, not of advocating for your organization and trying to put your best foot forward.
We appreciate grantees that approach their work with the understanding that things don't always work out as planned, and that their grasp on the circumstances they are trying to change in the world is inevitably imperfect and in need of adjustment. Conversely, we will be inclined toward skepticism with grantees whose worldview and strategy holds up year after year, for whom everything is materializing as they had intended, and who only have success stories to share.
To help establish the right learning dynamics, we would like you to situate what you will be measuring and how you will be measuring it in the context of the hypotheses your work is in effect testing. Whatever your strategies or plans, you are no doubt working on one or more hypotheses through which you are seeking to bring about positive change(s) in the world. You are essentially saying, 'if we do XX, then YY will happen.'
One of our most important goals in supporting your organization is to help you measure, reflect on, and learn from your results so that you can continue to focus and improve your impact. Insofar as our grantees are able to do this, so can we. But this requires a different approach to measurement and reporting than is typical for foundations and grantees. In this alternative approach, the primary constituency is your organization, not ours. The primary purpose is supporting your improvement in the future, not reporting to us on your performance in the past. The primary disposition is a spirit of inquiry and openness, not of advocating for your organization and trying to put your best foot forward.
We appreciate grantees that approach their work with the understanding that things don't always work out as planned, and that their grasp on the circumstances they are trying to change in the world is inevitably imperfect and in need of adjustment. Conversely, we will be inclined toward skepticism with grantees whose worldview and strategy holds up year after year, for whom everything is materializing as they had intended, and who only have success stories to share.
To help establish the right learning dynamics, we would like you to situate what you will be measuring and how you will be measuring it in the context of the hypotheses your work is in effect testing. Whatever your strategies or plans, you are no doubt working on one or more hypotheses through which you are seeking to bring about positive change(s) in the world. You are essentially saying, 'if we do XX, then YY will happen.'
Read More and Discuss »
September 17, 2014 — By Daniel Stid
Two friends of the Madison Initiative have just written books that defend the importance of spirited partisanship for a healthy democracy, cutting against the grain of conventional wisdom. Let me give you a sampling of their arguments in the hope that it will convince you to read these timely contributions in their entirety.
Russ Muirhead is a political theorist at Dartmouth College and the author of The Promise of Party in a Polarized Age. In his preface, Muirhead argues that, "Rather than expect that partisanship can be overcome, or transcended, or simply turned off in those places where its presence would be corrupting, it is better—more true to the real possibilities for democratic politics—to differentiate between more elevated and more base expressions of party spirit…what politics needs is not less partisanship, but better partisanship." In the rest of the book Muirhead defends "a kind of party spirit that is worn lightly, one that is open to facts and revision, and tolerant of—even appreciative of—opponents."
Muirhead acknowledges that his fellow democratic theorists have not as a rule looked favorably on partisanship, viewing it as a partial conception or distortion of the common good. But he highlights two vital roles that parties play in democratic politics.
First, the ideal of equality underpinning democracy presumes the essential morality of majority rule. Political parties are what enable such majorities to be established; they thereby give democratic politics its legitimacy. Muirhead notes that partisans have to balance what they will stand for with who it will lead them to stand with (and vice versa) in their quest for a majority. This is a morally fraught but unavoidable judgment for those seeking to form democratically legitimate majorities.
Second, Muirhead, invoking John Stuart Mill, argues that, given human psychology and the limits of reason, democratic politics needs the clarifying contest of opposing truths, of "standing antagonisms" between those who emphasize tradition or progress, freedom or equality. Parties are the institutions that form around and defend their versions of these truths, and per Mill, "No whole truth is possible but by combining the points of view of all the fractional truths."
Jason Grumet, President of the Bipartisan Policy Center, underscores this point in City of Rivals: Restoring the Glorious Mess of American Democracy. "Ideologically driven institutions serve an essential role in the political process. Our democracy depends on the collision between different interests and political parties." Grumet goes on to observe, however, that "in a divided nation, 'all or nothing' politics have an all but certain outcome—and rarely is it 'all.'" The better alternative is what Grumet terms "constructive partisanship," which rests on personal relationships among partisans prepared to practice "the dark art of principled compromise."
It is tempting to think that in our current age the political debate has finally raged out of control (mea culpa), but Grumet rightly points out that American history has long been characterized by extreme conflict. "What has changed of late is that the essential tension between partisanship and familiarity has fallen out of balance. The challenge for us, moving forward, is to rediscover that equilibrium."
The way forward, Grumet argues, is decidedly not the reformers' well-trodden path of more transparency, campaign finance reform, new ethics laws, etc., which he argues convincingly have produced much of the dysfunction we are trying now to unravel.
Grumet's alternative solution is almost homely in its simplicity. Leaders need to take the risk, not insubstantial in the current environment, of investing in and restoring the mutual understanding and personal connections that used to enable the policy-making process to more or less function. It is easy to scoff at this, but harder to disagree with the basic truth that "whether a condominium board, a university, or a national legislature, human relationships form the core of our institutions."
The Madison Initiative is investing in a number of organizations and programs that seek to put into practice the principles for constructive partisanship espoused by Muirhead and Grumet. These grantees include the Bipartisan Policy Center, No Labels, the National Institute for Civil Discourse, the Millennial Action Project, the Partnership for a Secure America, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, and the Aspen Institute's Rodel Fellowship. While advancing different missions and using different approaches, all of these grantees make a point of bringing partisans together across the aisle to foster mutual understanding, relationships, and trust.
We have heard plenty of criticism of this particular line of our grant-making from those who argue that it reflects a quaint and even naïve view of partisan politics. We aren't suggesting that the cultivation of cross-party relationships and dialog will be sufficient to address the pathologies of polarization, but we do regard it as a necessary part of the equation.
Discuss »
September 11, 2014 — By Daniel Stid
It's safe to say that we can all remember where we happened to be on this day 13 years ago. For my part, I was in a non-descript hotel room in a non-descript corporate park in Thousand Oaks, California. I had flown to LAX the day before to meet with a client in the bio-tech industry. I got up very early that morning to do a conference call with two merchant energy traders based in Atlanta. I was hoping they would become my next clients. About halfway through the call, the trading floor they had dialed in from was taken over, first by pagers going off, then frantic shouts. They just said, "The floor is going nuts, we gotta go," and hung up. Not quite sure what had happened, I clicked on the TV to find out, and so I saw the scenes that horrified and transfixed us all that September morning.
The violence of that day pushed my normal preoccupations with client work and commercial prospects into the background. I experienced, along with many others, unprecedented feelings of solidarity with my fellow citizens and a corresponding sense of patriotism. I received the kindness of strangers and sought in turn to share it with others. For all of the death and loss that 9/11 rained down, it felt like we were living in a different country, one that had painfully rediscovered some misplaced but vital truths.
The surge of connection and affiliation that we felt in the wake of 9/11 was mirrored in a sudden and dramatic increase in approval of Congress. As this Gallup chart shows, from 1974 through 1997, approval ratings for Congress fluctuated, but consistently stayed in the 20-40% range. Beginning in 1998, approval ratings had begun edging up and were oscillating between the low forties and high fifties. A poll conducted by Gallup days before the attack found that 42% of Americans approved of "the way Congress is doing its job." One month after 9/11, Gallup found that Congress's approval rating had doubled, to 84%.
In many respects this upsurge is not surprising. Americans were rallying around their government and its institutions in the aftermath of the attack by Al Qaeda. A Gallup survey tracking public trust in government also showed a sudden increase, peaking at 60% in October 2011.
Perhaps the sharp spike in the public's approval of Congress was due in part to the fact that the divisiveness, partisanship, and frustration that tend to emanate from the institution faded into the background for a time, enabling many of us to appreciate anew the ideas and values that the institution was meant to embody. These ideas and values were suddenly under assault—literally so with the subsequent discovery of Anthrax-laden letters in the congressional mailroom. It was natural to approve of and thus affirm what Congress stood for in that moment.
But the chart also shows that, just as our newly felt social solidarity faded as the months stretched on after the attacks, so did congressional approval ratings. Within a year they had returned to pre-9/11 levels, and—with the exception of a brief uptick in the early days of the first Obama Administration—they have declined steadily ever since. For the last three years, less than one in five Americans have approved of Congress. At the height of last year's government shut down, not even one in ten did.
The secular downward slope to the recent nadir raises questions about what will happen when future attacks or emergencies hit the country—as they surely will—in ways that put the resilience of representative democracy to the test. Will we be able to rally around our system of government in general and Congress in particular from such a low baseline of support? Will we be able to respond effectively as a nation if we cannot? Will Congress be able to act, and if it does will its actions have sufficient legitimacy? These are questions we should consider on this day, and in the days that lie ahead.
September 4, 2014 — By Daniel Stid
Five years ago my friends and Bridgespan Group colleagues Ann Goggins-Gregory and Don Howard coined a memorable phrase and plumbed a troublesome phenomenon in their essay, "The Nonprofit Starvation Cycle." It laid bare the challenge of supporting the organizational infrastructure that nonprofits need to function effectively. Yes, Goggins-Gregory and Howard were talking without shame about the "o" word, as in overhead. They noted that that the starvation cycle "starts with funders' unrealistic expectations about how much running a nonprofit costs, and results in nonprofits misrepresenting their costs while skimping on vital systems—acts that feed funders skewed beliefs." They went on to note that if the cycle is ever going to be broken, "funders must take the lead."
My brief time as a grantmaker has only served to validate the extent of this problem and the reinforcing dynamics of the starvation cycle. I have been struck by the number of peers at other foundations who have told me without batting an eye that they don't fund overhead, or that they only do so using (arbitrary and undoubtedly low) cut-off points, like five or ten percent. Ironically, it is often the foundations endowed by very successful business people (who presumably should know better) that are most insistent on paying no or low overhead. If you sense some frustration on my part, it is because these funders are in effect free-riding on those of us prepared to underwrite our mutual grantees' essential infrastructure.
But I have also been struck by how otherwise thoughtful and bold grantee leaders are inclined to dissemble on the issue of overhead. When I asked one recently what his overhead rate was—truly wanting to know so we could budget accordingly—he replied "In my experience our overhead rate is whatever a funder tells us it is." Time and again I have seen low-balled and suspiciously round overhead rates of ten percent that, after further probing, turn out to be more like eighteen or twenty-three percent.
Thus both grantees and funders are implicated in the starvation cycle. If I were to take any issue with the argument Goggins-Gregory and Howard made in their highly original assessment, it is that both parties—not just funders—need to take the initiative to break the cycle.
At the Madison Initiative we are trying to do our part by providing general support whenever possible so that our grantees can incur costs and allocate resources to cover them as they best see fit. Two-thirds of the $11 million we have granted so far this year has been for general support. When circumstances require a more focused project grant geared to specific outcomes, we encourage our grantees to identify their actual overhead costs, not those that they speculate we would be willing to support.
To end this cycle, we will need our grantees to do their part. They should start by identifying their true costs. It is always surprising and a little disheartening to learn how many organizations don't know these essential numbers. As a nonprofit CFO once told me in a lament that was at once sad and funny, "in this organization, the past is more uncertain than the future!" (Bridgespan, by the way, has a very helpful and freely accessible online tool kit to help you sort all this cost data out.)
Once nonprofit leaders have assessed their cost structure, what they really need to do is to be candid with funders in their moment of truth. Tell us what your costs to deliver really are, and ask us to fund them fully. If, as is often the case, your funder has a fixed amount to devote to a project grant, revisit your investment in the deliverables and work products with them to see if you can identify an alternative plan in which there is enough left over to amply support your infrastructure.
I'm not suggesting that such candor is easy to muster. But effective leaders need to be willing to take the risk of saying something that a funder might not want to hear when their organization's long run effectiveness is at stake. If they are not, then shame on them. Funders, for our part, should fund the full cost of the work we are asking our grantees to undertake in a way that leaves their overall organization and its finances whole; if we don't, then shame on us!
August 28, 2014 — By Daniel Stid
The recently completed World Cup reminded us again that soccer, played at the highest level, really is a beautiful game. However, those of us gearing up to coach our children in youth leagues this fall appreciate that the beautiful game can get ugly very quickly. No matter how many times during practice that you tell Ava she will be playing left striker or Isabelle that she is right middie, once the game starts on Saturday all bets are off. You quickly have a mob of pig-tailed, eye-blacked fourth graders clumped up and flailing away at the beleaguered ball like it was the devil himself. Then some poor girl takes a cleat on the ankle and starts howling, at which point the ref blows her whistle, gets both sides sorted out, and the madness starts all over again. I try not to over-coach during games, so I bite my tongue when all this is playing out, but in my head I'm shouting to myself: "FOR GOD'S SAKE LADIES, SPREAD OUT! PLAY YOUR ROLES LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT IN PRACTICE!! STAY IN YOUR LANES!!!"
I have come to appreciate that the role confusion and cluster-kicking that is part and parcel of pee wee soccer can be an apt metaphor for a set of temptations facing philanthropic foundations. The growing norm of actively collaborating with other funders in order to achieve "collective impact"– and perhaps the desire not to go out on a limb by ourselves – can leave us feeling compelled to fund whatever grantees and issue areas our foundation partners are supporting, and for them to do likewise with us. Our commitment to supporting grantees can lead us to gloss over the complications of the power relationship that inevitably exists between funders and recipients. In the name of being helpful, we help ourselves to a seat at a grantee's table, and we then proceed to get into their business at a level of detail at which we have no business doing. Our determination to bring about systems changes or advance justice as we happen to define it can find us plotting campaign strategies almost as if we were working in a political party's war room instead of funding tax-exempt, charitable activities.
What is lost if we succumb to these variants of the pee wee soccer phenomenon are the unique contributions that philanthropy and individual foundations can and should be making in a free society – e.g., supporting the development of ideas and approaches that may not have wide adherence at present (and indeed may even be unpopular); equipping promising leaders and their charitable organizations with the resources and degrees of freedom they need to bring their work to fruition; and cultivating vantage points that may enable society to see issues that currently vex and divide us in a better light. In philanthropy, as in soccer, things work better when we remember our roles and stay in our lanes.
August 21, 2014 — By Daniel Stid
In the run up to next week's annual American Political Science Association meeting in Washington, we have several conversations teed up with our academic partners about the current state of affairs and what, if anything, the Madison Initiative can do to help improve it. To prime the pump for these discussions, we have shared three big—and in our minds truly open—questions with colleagues who will be in attendance. I thought it would be a good idea to share these same questions with readers of this blog, in what I will confess is a shameless request for help in the form of extended comments and / or guest posts with your answers to them. So here goes:
First, our modern parties—well-sorted, ideologically coherent, and politically divergent—seem increasingly at odds with the core constitutional features of our system of government (separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism). Those features presume the need for compromise and appeared to be much better adapted to the pragmatic, catch-all parties of yore. Where do we go from here if the goal is to support government that can actually solve problems? We aren't presuming we can revert back to the golden age of the mid-20th Century (if in fact it was that golden). But what are the alternative models for how our system of government could function reasonably effectively? Are there any relevant lessons from comparative politics or American history that would suggest a path forward?
Second, we have also been struck by the growing body of literature that is reconceiving parties as networks anchored in, and animated by, elites and well-organized interests acting as "long coalitions" of "intense policy demanders." We appreciate that, insofar as it reflects the evolving reality, this conception of parties calls into question a number of assumptions, about the electorate's role in our political system, the accountability of parties, and the ability of the system to force recalcitrant partisans back to the center. What should we make of this alternative view of party politics? If it holds up, what does it imply for our goal of alleviating the impact of polarization?
Finally, are there any structural reforms to our electoral system and processes (e.g., primaries, redistricting, campaign finance, voter registration and election administration, etc.) that you believe should be a central focus of our grantmaking? We went into this work expecting that these types of reforms would be very important, but the more we sift the evidence about their potential impact and consider the challenges and opportunities for making them happen on a state-by-state basis, there don't appear to be any "slam dunks" in this area. Are we missing anything?
Thanks in advance for any guidance you have on one or more of these questions! Again, please feel free to comment below or propose a longer form guest blog in response.
August 14, 2014 — By Daniel Stid
What are the patterns of civic engagement that we need for a healthy representative democracy? What is required of the citizens represented—individually and collectively—for it to be successful? What, if anything, can philanthropy do to help cultivate this kind of citizenship, when by its nature it is diffuse and subject to myriad social factors that encourage or work to undermine it?
We have been wrestling with these questions from the outset of the Madison Initiative. Last week they were again brought to my attention as I read Marc Dunkelman's compelling new book, The Vanishing Neighbor: The Transformation of American Community.
I won't be able do justice here to the full sweep of Dunkelman's creative synthesis, in which he brings together many varied strands of wisdom— from Robert Putnam's Bowling Alone and Theda Skocpol's Diminished Democracy to Bill Bishop's The Big Sort and Eli Pariser's The Filter Bubble, to sample just a few. All the while Dunkelman is weaving in his own powerful insights.
At the heart of Dunkelman's argument is the importance of what he terms "middle ring" relationships. These can be defined in part by what they are not —neither the "inner ring" relationships of one's nuclear family and close friends, nor the "outer ring" relationships that are "passing to transactional," a result of "a single shared interest or experience." By this he means professional acquaintances, but also social media connections with far flung people who happen to share your passion for, say, Patsy Cline, the Detroit Tigers, Friedrich Hayek, or unstinting environmentalism.
Middle ring relationships, in contrast, are "familiar but not intimate, friendly but not close." Think here of the talkative neighbors who always buttonhole you when you are walking your dog, fellow members of the Kiwanis Club, the parents of your children's classmates with whom you arrange the weekly carpool, the "regulars" you have lunch with in the cafeteria at work, the other members in your National Guard unit, and the guys who play in your standing Tuesday night pickup basketball game, etc.
If you're having trouble identifying with these examples, you may be seeing Dunkelman's point by now. Our middle ring relationships are atrophying, and the social consequences are profound. "Today, if you don't know your neighbors—if you've transferred social capital away from the middle rings—your political frame of reference is limited both to the people you love most and the legions who, through outer-ring networks, share your point of view."
The problem is that middle ring relationships have, from the era of Alexis de Tocqueville's townships to that of Jane Jacob's front stoops, formed the basis for our political community. Middle ring relationships are where we are most likely to rub elbows with people who may not always agree with us yet we cannot avoid, where we come to appreciate that at times you need to go along to get along, where we learn informally to lead—and to follow. These relationships are primary school for citizenship, and we've become truants.
Dunkelman connects the dots between the demise of the middle ring and the mounting problems of our nation's politics. "Absent the fundamental ability to understand those on the other side of a cultural or political divide, it's almost impossible to stomach the possibility that "our" representative in Washington might be the one collaborating with people who represent a different flavor of constituent." The art of compromise—as essential to governing in the halls of Congress as it is in city halls in Paducah or Poughkeepsie —has thus become a dirty word. "The institutions that frame American society no longer line up with the routines of our daily lives."
To his credit, Dunkelman doesn't leave us with pat answers or solutions to this dilemma. He doesn't suggest that we can somehow go back to the patterns of citizenship that Tocqueville or Jacobs observed and celebrated. Rather, he challenges us to adapt our institutions to the social changes that have been disrupting them, and to explore ways in which we can put our evolving networks and relationships in harness so that we can better govern ourselves. Friends, neighbors, citizens: We've got our work cut out for us!
August 7, 2014 — By Daniel Stid
The last couple of weeks have been less than auspicious for the first branch of government. Whatever your partisan views, you are likely to have been dismayed by the congressional response (or really, the lack thereof) on the child migrant issue in the run-up to the August recess. House GOP leaders, after suing President Obama for selectively enforcing provisions of the Affordable Care Act (provisions they had themselves opposed), effectively punted on the crisis on our southern border, arguing that the President could and should take unilateral action to address it.
In another telling commentary on inter-branch power dynamics, we also had confirmation the CIA has been spying on the Senate committee responsible for overseeing it—this despite the flat denials CIA Director John Brennan had previously offered. Yet Brennan has neither resigned nor been fired—indeed, President Obama has since declared that his CIA director has his full confidence.
Things have descended to the point where the New York Times felt obliged to run a multi-media feature, Measuring the 113th Congress's Futility, that intermixes telling quotes from feuding partisans with "worst ever" data points on declining legislative productivity, worsening polarization, and plummeting public confidence.
However damning, the trend lines cited by the Times overlook perhaps the most damaging effects of hyper-partisanship and the congressional dysfunction it produces: the inadvertent but nonetheless steady ceding of power and authority from Congress to the executive. When Congress is so sharply and evenly divided, it cannot act effectively—whether it be to develop a needed legislative response to a pressing issue, to oversee the executive branch, or—not least—to ward off encroachments against its constitutional powers. All the while, and in stark contrast, the unitary executive has both the means and the motivation to press on.
Thus President Obama, who just last fall had forsworn unilateral action on the child migrant issue on the grounds that we are a nation of laws, is now preparing to take it. Progressives gleeful at the prospect of a President Obama having a free hand to selectively enforce and reset the nation's immigration laws might ask themselves whether they would as pleased with the prospect of a different president, perhaps one with the last name of Romney or for that matter Cruz, having the same license. Dismissing this thought experiment as an unlikely hypothetical is to whistle past the constitutional graveyard. As Ross Douthat and the Washington Post have pointed out, we are fast approaching a dangerous crossroads. Careening through it in the way that seems likely to occur may yield short term political advantage to the President and his party, but at the expense of the long run health of the Constitution.
These developments brought to mind remarks I was privileged to hear three weeks ago from former Representative Lee Hamilton as he accepted a distinguished service award from the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress. Acknowledging the current sorry state of the institution to which he had dedicated his career, Hamilton began by noting that "Congress needs help." He went on to observe that "over the past several decades, the balance of power in our system is shifting decisively to the executive branch. One has to ask how far down that path we can go, and still have representative democracy." In Hamilton's view, "we should not give up on the separation of powers." The goal should be "not to weaken the presidency, but to strengthen the Congress—and to get a better balance of government power. Our system functions best when we have a strong President and a strong Congress."
The most striking part of Hamilton's speech was his peroration, in which he argued that friends of representative democracy need to come to the defense of Congress. The president, the public, and the media certainly aren't going to do it; nor are the members themselves, who notoriously have incentives to run against the body in which they serve. "We have to step up, to make clear the importance of the role of the Congress in a representative democracy…Our political leaders confront a terribly difficult political environment. The country is both deeply and evenly divided along partisan and ideological lines. Making this huge, diverse, complicated country work, resolving our differences, building a consensus behind a solution is tough going. Representative democracy is one of the greatest achievements in the history of mankind. But no one ever said it was going to be easy."
Indeed, it is inevitably messy, difficult, and at times maddening. But friends of representative democracy need to keep pointing out that, however inconvenient it may be in the short term, in the long run it beats the alternative. We also need to redouble our efforts to find ways in which Congress can carry out the central functions our system of government assigns to it. Congress needs our help.
July 30, 2014 — By Daniel Stid
In recent weeks Jonathan Rauch of the Brookings Institution has been sending me quotes from James Q. Wilson's 1962 book, The Amateur Democrat: Club Politics in Three Cities. And I in turn have been sending these missives on, like precious snippets of political science samizdat, to other friends and colleagues, noting that, when it comes to diagnosing the root causes of our current political quandaries, we are all struggling to climb the mountain, only to arrive at the peak and find a sign indicating that Wilson was here more than 50 years ago. Rather than keep circulating Wilson's wisdom on the QT, I thought I'd share some telling pieces of it in this post so that we could all wrestle with its implications.
Wilson's book looked at the contest between what he termed "amateur" Democratic Party reformers in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles and their rivals—the political professionals in the party machines from whom they were seeking to wrest power. What distinguished amateurs from professionals was not their relative seriousness or dedication but rather a reliance on what Wilson termed purposive incentives instead of the material interests that had long fueled American politics in the form of patronage jobs for the party faithful, pork barrel spending, and the perquisites of office.
"The amateur believes that political parties ought to be programmatic, internally democratic, and largely free of reliance on material incentives such as patronage. A programmatic party would offer a real policy alternative to the opposition party. A vote for the party would be as much, or more, a deliberate vote for a clear and specific set of proposals, linked by a common point of view or philosophy of government, as it would be a vote for a set of leaders. The programmatic basis of one party would, to some extent, compel an expression of purpose by the opposing party and thus lead to the realignment of both parties nationally, with liberals in one and conservatives in the other."
While Wilson was writing in 1962 about amateur reformers in the Democratic Party, he was really writing about a new mode of politics cutting across parties. Indeed, as he acknowledged in his preface to subsequent editions of the book, the Goldwater campaign of 1964, with Ronald Reagan and William F. Buckley in the vanguard, marked "the greatest victory of the amateur spirit in recent American politics."
The problem with the amateur spirit is that, for all of its moral clarity (if not superiority) relative to a world governed by cigar-chomping political bosses, its pervasive spread in the ensuing decades has created new and more intractable problems of governance in the United States. As Wilson prophesied all too well, with these developments "the need to employ issues as incentives and to distinguish one's party from the opposition along policy lines will be intensified, social cleavages will be exaggerated, party leaders will tend to be men skilled in the rhetorical arts, and the party's ability to produce agreement by trading issue-free resources will be reduced."
The amateur spirit, and the disdain it has for compromise and trade-offs, is not a suitable approach for governance in a continental republic that intentionally encompasses a tremendous diversity of interests and whose core constitutional arrangements are designed to separate, check, balance, and decentralize power. But, for better or worse, we are all amateurs now; we certainly are governed by them. The question is, given where we are, what we can do about it? Sadly we don't have James Q. Wilson with us today to help us sort this out. We all will need to figure this one out ourselves. We welcome your ideas!
July 17, 2014 — By Daniel Stid
Last week we announced the formal launch of the Hewlett Foundation's Madison Initiative, our effort to help support and improve the health of representative democracy in the United States. You might be wondering: why Madison? Let me walk you through how we arrived at this name and why we feel it is especially fitting.
When we started planning this work a year ago, we referred to it as the Democracy Initiative, only to learn that several progressive organizations were already using that name to describe their collaboration on democracy reform. So we started calling it the Democratic Process Initiative. To this, some of our conservative friends pointed out that the phrasing could inadvertently suggest that our work was somehow aligned with the Democratic Party. As we prepared for our formal launch, it was clear that we needed to put some more thought into what we would call the effort.
All the while we were continuing to sharpen the focus of our plans, zeroing in on Congress and the central role it is called upon to play in our system of government: representing, aggregating, weighing, and reconciling different and often sharply opposed beliefs, ideas, and agendas. But as our former Communications Director Eric Brown pointed out, a name like "the Representative Government Initiative" doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, much less leave people wanting to hear more.
In our brainstorming sessions, as we talked about the ideas, values, and dynamics we wanted to shore up, we kept invoking James Madison's name. He famously spoke to the inevitability of faction and partisanship in a free society and the corresponding imperative to rein in their excesses; to the importance of a system of representation that would "refine and enlarge the public views, by passing them through the medium of a chosen body of citizens;" and to the need to rely on ambition to check ambition, thereby "supplying, by opposite and rival interests, the defect of better motives."
Most importantly, the extended sphere and institutional complexity of Madison's system of government were meant to foster precisely the kind of deliberation, negotiation, and compromise that we believe are in increasingly short supply. As Jonathan Rauch observed recently in "Rescuing Compromise," his must-read essay in National Affairs, "Madison understood something that many political commentators forget: Politicians, like other people, compromise because they have to, not because they want to. So he modeled a system that would compel them to bargain."
We also observed how Madison's own leadership exemplified this ethic of compromise. He entered the Constitutional Convention seeking to realize the Virginia Plan that he had worked out in advance. However, during the ensuing negotiations, he came to accept the need for a design that departed from it in ways he had profoundly opposed, a compromise solution for which he nevertheless became the leading advocate. Likewise, after initially arguing against the call for a separate bill of rights, Madison recognized that it would be required to secure the ratification of the Constitution and subsequently worked to shepherd the necessary amendments through the first Congress.
The more we talked about it, the more we collectively converged on the Madison Initiative as the name that, in a nutshell, best captured what we are trying to do. Having aimed high with our branding, we now have our work cut out for us to make good on it. Onward!


text:
Flipsyde Song and Mixtape Downloads
All songs and mixtapes are offered for download with the permission of the artist or a representative. If you have any questions or concerns please see our DMCA section.
Buzzmaking trio Flipsyde (made up of emcee Piper, vocalist/guitarist Steve Knight and lead guitarist Dave Lopez) has joined forces with The DJBooth to bring listeners their latest street release, the IGNITE Mixtape. The... More
Posted 3 years ago
Artist: Flipsyde
Song: It's Goin' Down
If you know anything about Flipsyde, you know that the Oakland trio aren't shy about their musical attempts to uplift the people and spark some real revolution. So imagine my surprise when they... More
Posted 3 years ago
Sample Text - Sample Link

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The Year in Review: 2012 Highlights from the Moorhead Library
2012 was a busy year at the Moorhead Library. See what we've been up to below.
We've also had many Minnesota artists, authors, musicians, and historians visit the library thanks to legacy funding as part of our Sugarbeet Series and The Beat Goes On Series!
Leave a Reply
Related Posts
Recent Posts
- Adult Book Club: The Invention of Wings
- Adult Book Club: The Lowland
- Adult Book Club: I Am Malala
- Poetry Jazz Trio
- The Beat Goes on with Amanda Standalone and the Pastryshop Girls!
- Join us for Beginning Genealogy on April 9th!
- Make It Yourself: Button Jewelry
- Yarn Circle
- Peace Corps Series: Ukraine
- Adult Book Club: Life of Pi


text:
#UNIQUETREATS Starts Today- 30% Off All TIGI* For 1 Day Only. No Code RequiredTerms
Offer ends midnight BST Wednesday 1st April 2015.
*Excludes TIGI Tween Duo Sets.
No code required, prices reduced onsite.
Quality item for fraction of a price
Meant to be non irritating but I found it to irritate and not soothing as stated. Wouldn't buy again
I love it
Similar as lotion.
Excellent.My eyes are already beginning to look less tired and wrinkly.Great product and great price.
Its nice but i do not know if it is really that moisturising. My eyes feel quite dry in corners.
Always excellent!
Competitive prices and fast delivery.
Love this
Always deliver swiftly
Its ok, bit to early to tell, when putting it on it feels like a drier version of vasaline,in fact when I ran out of my eye cream before I bought this,I used vasaline and it did the same job as the palmers eye cream. I don't put this on during the day as my primer doesn't like it. I am getting botox for my birthday so until then ,it will do.
Excellent service
I had some small milk spots under my eyes and I saw this has retinol in it. My milk spots aren't as noticeable anymore! Will definitely repurchase this!
So far, so good. I my be imagining that my eyes look better already, but they certainly feel better.
I use this every morning without fail. Leaves my skin soft and refreshed and really evens out wrinkles around my eyes.
Very drying.
First time use, so far so good
brilliant service, always really quick. The only issue I would raise is that some products that I wanted were not available for the UK which was annoying.
I like to use products for a couple of weeks before deciding but so far I love it. Im not a huge fan of the smell but it soon goes away but it feels nice on the eyes.
Ratings Guide Read about our product rating system


text:
Did you know about the boot 'easter egg'?Basically, when booting, touch the logo, and it will give you the % booted.Speaking of which, how is the boot time on this device?
1 recommendation
70 seconds?why so long??...the iPhone5 takes 20 seconds to reboot.
Seriously, did you have to troll that comment?70 seconds is WAY better than the old days. I remember my 9800 took ten minutes to boot once.
i wasn't trolling, 70 seconds seems awfully long compared to other devices.
It would appear the mapping application is shite, based on OSM, and is fairly basic.
Are boot times really an issue anymore? My phone's on 24/7 and I go months between reboots (usually for OS updates) of my iPhone. I would expect the same for any modern smartphone. The occasional 70 second reboot shouldn't be a concern.
Because the BlackBerry is a secure device, while the iPhone isn't.How long before 6.1 could be jailbroken? Was it 2 days?
I have to do a simulated battery pull every night on my 9800, and then sometimes I still have to take the case apart and do a real one. What a joke.
Oh, was going to ask, were the PlayBook apps compatible with you new phone? As in, are all your purchases there?
our "on call" phone is a BB device...not sure of the model number, but it was new about 8 months ago...it's garbage...it doesn't have any apps loaded, and it needs to get a battery pull several times a week as it freezes/crashes fairly often...so much so, when one of the techs has it, he forwards the calls to his iPhone so it doesn't miss calls or freeze/crash on him when he is helping a customer.as well, one of the guys bought a new Z10 and has already returned it twice for issues...he is giving it a 3rd try, but his patience is wearing thin.


text:
- What We Do
- Agriculture and Food Security
- Democracy, Human Rights and Governance
- Economic Growth and Trade
- Education
- Ending Extreme Poverty
- Environment and Global Climate Change
- Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment
- Global Health
- Water and Sanitation
- Working in Crises and Conflict
- Disaster Assistance
- Political Transition Initiatives
- Conflict Mitigation and Prevention
- Disaster Risk Reduction
- Peacebuilding and Reconciliation
- Providing Safe & Secure Environments for Development
- Recovering From Crisis
- Resilience
- Tech Challenge for Atrocity Prevention
- U.S. Global Development Lab
Latest Kenya Fact Sheet
Kenya Food Insecurity Fact Sheet #1 - 09-30-2014 (pdf - 248k)
Key Developments
Unfavorable 2013 October-to-December short rains and 2014 March-to-May long rains have resulted in deteriorating food security in parts of northern Kenya—including Mandera, Marsabit, Turkana, and Wajir counties—and in Nairobi, with more than 1.5 million Kenyans needing emergency food assistance as of September. By July, approximately 352,500 children were experiencing acute malnutrition, an increase of nearly 90,000 children since April 2013, according to the Nutrition Technical Forum—the coordinating body for nutrition activities in Kenya, comprising the Government of Kenya, relief agencies, and the U.N.
On August 21, U.S. Ambassador Godec declared a disaster in Kenya due to increased food insecurity and declining nutritional conditions in Kenya's arid and semi-arid lands. In response, USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance is supporting the implementation of nutrition and emergency food assistance activities for food-insecure populations. In addition, USAID's Office of Food for Peace provided more than $116 million in emergency food assistance in FY 2014, while the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration provided nearly $67 million to support refugee populations in Kenya.
Total USAID and State Assistance to Kenya
*These figures are current as of September 30, 2014
Although cyclical drought has affected Kenya for years, droughts are becoming increasingly frequent. Following unfavorable rainfall in late 2010 and early 2011, severe drought conditions resulted in sharply deteriorating food security conditions among pastoralists in northern Kenya and populations in rain-dependent marginal agricultural areas. Affected populations experienced loss of livelihoods, lack of food and agricultural resources, and limited access to safe drinking water.
Vulnerable populations across Kenya continue to confront several other challenges—including seasonal flooding, localized inter-communal conflict, above-average food prices, disease outbreaks, and limited access to health and WASH services—that contribute to sustained humanitarian needs in Kenya.
Last updated: December 23, 2014
#Maysak in the Pacific upgraded to a #typhoon. Our disaster experts in the region & DC continue to monitor the storm t.co/bVNO8PqCDxRT @USAID: Our partners in #Liberia are helping #Ebola survivors reintegrate into their communities: t.co/xMdC9kA26R @theOFDAIn #Guinea US is supporting 3 ETUs, helping to train health care workers, & working w/ partners to tell communities about #Ebola
- Who We Are
- What We Do
- What We Do
- Agriculture and Food Security
- Democracy, Human Rights and Governance
- Economic Growth and Trade
- Education
- Ending Extreme Poverty
- Environment and Global Climate Change
- Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment
- Global Health
- Water and Sanitation
- Working in Crises and Conflict
- U.S. Global Development Lab
- Where We Work
- Results & Data
- News & Information
- Work with USAID


text:
In case you are seeking one thing to add to your ride, Kia Sorento running boards are convenient add-ons that supply both flair and usefulness. These particular running boards are the slim steps that aid passengers anytime they get into or exit the car or truck while providing another aesthetic aspect to your Kia Sorento.
Without a doubt, your Kia Sorento's running boards are going to last for an extended time because they are manufactured from durable materials fit for rugged applications. All the running boards you are going to find out there have been designed superb fit and easy setup, which means that all you will need to do is to seek out the one that best matches your vehicle type. Running boards for Kia Sorento vehicles include a variety of styles so you will by no means end up with a lack of choices for your preferences. Through the products' design supplementing your own ride's shape, you can absolutely depend upon enhanced overall look on your Kia Sorento.
Hardly any other online auto parts shop can give you dependable items while also letting you get big savings. Parts Train has got a price-match promotion ready so you're assured of the finest discounts anytime you shop here. Westin, Dee Zee, Accra Form-we have Kia Sorento running boards in our catalog by way of such dependable makers. You will be able to benefit from the brand-new boards without delay because we are going to make sure to deliver your parts to your home promptly!
Market Price :$148.34
Discount Price :$116.20
Total Savings :$32.14
Market Price :$29.67
Discount Price :$26.43
Total Savings :$3.24
Market Price :$331.20
Discount Price :$331.20
Total Savings :$0.00
Market Price :$33.15
Discount Price :$33.15
Total Savings :$0.00
Market Price :$5.95
Discount Price :$5.95
Total Savings :$0.00
Use our Part Fit Checker to view parts compatible with your vehicle.


text:
Problem with Bamboo
Lower section.
Ants have made a home in top hole.
This post was edited by sunshine_qld on Mon, Apr 21, 14 at 7:26
Wow, Any idea what made the notch like openings? How high from the ground is this? Looks like at least eye level or higher. Are there ant mounds in the grove? I may have no business concerning myself with this because I am on a different continent. But, this beats my squirrel damage problem!
PS. Just got some answers from your more recent thread.
This post was edited by pontyrogof on Mon, Apr 21, 14 at 9:13
I will try to post back. I had some mites on my bamboo last year. I had a few of my thin walled chungii have the same problem. I will try to find the exact mite that causes that. What happens is before the boo branches out, the mite lives under the branch sheeth and eats away at the bamboo. When the branches come out, it leaves a dead spot, and on mine, a few months later, rotted through, just like what you have. Ill post back with the exact mite name.
The ants are not the problem, they moved in afterwards. The problem was bamboo mite. They feed on the bamboos juices while the leaf sheath is on and weaken the clum wall. If the infestation is bad enough, you will end up with what you have. if you do not mind chemical treatments, look at Imidacloprid for treatment.
When you have new shoots coming up, peal back a sheath and see if you have a cotton like substance with pink bugs.


text:
change location
Weddings are a beautiful event that is always a special day. Curtis Wallis Photography brings 15 years experience to capturing that...
View Profile »
Locations in Schaumburg, Lisle, Chicago & now holding consultations in Orland Park! ** Receive up to $400.00 off our photography...
Unlike other wedding media companies, we are dedicated to excellence and serving your needs. We truly are dedicated to giving you...
Envyphotography is a Kentucky based group of photographers, that will travel just about any where to shoot your special day!! We have economy friendly (more)
Create Account
Add Listing
Plan, book and shop for your wedding with inspiration as your guide. Plus, save photos to your favorites!


text:
Fashion cover: cotton rose coat (HK$37,650) from Prada, Alexandra House, Central.Sunday, 17 June, 2012, 12:00am
Sapphire Wang and Steven Birt met a few years ago at a networking event called Beauty and the Banker. Although Steven was not a banker, he did find his beauty. And she was only there because her colleagues insisted she accompany them.16 Jun 2012 - 12:00am
Nature in its most beautiful form is captured in Boucheron's latest horological creations, whether it is the swan or the elephant.4 May 2012 - 12:00am
Cartier - Rotonde de Cartier watch in white gold with bear motif30 Dec 2011 - 12:00am
The animal kingdom is an endless source of inspiration for jewellery design. Not only does it spur designers to use interesting and colourful materials but it also presents technical challenges that can lead to innovations in the field.21 Nov 2011 - 12:00am
Dior's Christal Mysterieuse was a hit last year with its artsy dial and electromechanical movement. This year, the brand has released smaller versions of the mysterious watch.
The new 38mm models come in a standard version, with a black alligator strap, and a jewelled version, with a bracelet, limited to 200 pieces each.7 May 2010 - 12:00am
Who started it? American-born jewellery designer Matthew Campbell Laurenza was inspired by his family's collection of art and antiques, and started producing sculptures and other artworks at a young age, often selling them to local shops and galleries.18 Oct 2009 - 12:00am
Earrings and necklaces dripping with colourful gems will give you a sparkling start to the New Year.
Camelia Paraiba brooch from Chanel enquiries 2810 0978
Bague Attrape-moi by Chaumet HK$79,000
Necklace by Piaget HK$3.44 million
Lily brooch by Tiffany & Co enquiries 2845 98532 Jan 2009 - 12:00am
Who created it? Desire by Mandy Lau was started by the eponymous local designer in 1989. Having created unique jewellery pieces for more than 20 years, Lau finds inspiration during extensive travels around Asia, Europe and the United States. Although a self-taught designer, she credits the artisans she has met around the world for helping her fine-tune her craft.19 Oct 2008 - 12:00am
1 Brighten up your summer look with a pair of aviator sunglasses (HK$2,300) from Celine's latest collection. They come in vivid hues such as red, orange, yellow and turquoise. Available at The Landmark, Central, tel: 2525 1281.13 Jul 2008 - 12:00am
Cartier's love bracelet has been a timeless classic since it was launched in the 1970s. It gets a facelift this year with a yellow gold version (HK$47,600) that comes studded with different coloured stones, instead of the signature screws, such as blue, yellow and pink sapphires, tsavorite garnets, mandarin garnets and amethysts.7 Jul 2008 - 12:00am
Pianegonda The creative brains behind the Italian jewellers, Franco Pianegonda is renowned for blending Italian flair with classic goldsmith techniques. His latest collection, inspired by the haute couture of the ?50s, is the Luce collection, a luxury line focusing on the colour and shine of precious stones.5 May 2008 - 12:00am
Karim Rashid designed the bottle, Baccarat cut the crystal into the shape of a giant gemstone and Garrard set the sapphires and diamonds into its stopper. The big names explain the US$200,000 price tag for each of five Bombay Sapphire bottles that are being exhibited at international airports in London, New York, Dubai, Singapore and Sydney.20 Apr 2008 - 12:00am
The beauty and mystery of sapphires were fully explored by Cartier this year when it launched its new exciting creation - the Ballon bleu de Cartier.
A closer look at the collection produces many surprises. The mechanism of each watch is decorated with a sapphire cabochon, around which the dial orbits, and is more imposing than ever due to a precious metal protective arch.25 May 2007 - 12:00am
To match this season's neutrals, jewellery should be elegant yet simple. For the perfect beach look, opt for a coral necklace (right; $4,800) in shades of white and blush from Italian jeweller Loffredo. The Horn collection (left; $500 to $3,000) features a range of horn pendants, which in Italy are believed to ward off evil.11 Jun 2006 - 12:00am


text:
Landi, Timor
Bajoran bookkeeper from Rakantha Province. A father of two, Timor was charged with attempting to assassinate Gul Dukat on Terok Nor in 2367. Odo's perfunctory detective work did not hinder Timor's wrongful execution. Odo's guilt over that incident would later haunt him
Deep Space 9 Terok Nor T-shirt
$24.95Buy Now
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Season 7 DVD
$69.98 $57.99Buy Now


text:
Kukla's Korner Hockey
The Most Interesting Man In The Universe
by Paul on 06/01/09 at 11:02 AM ET
Comments (0)
from Steve Schrader of the Detroit Free Press,
Wearing a pink coat, Cherry arrived at the Joe flanked by two young ladies aboard a boat on the Detroit River and made his way through the fans outside the arena. Inside he got a hug and a kiss from "my songbird," Karen Newman.
Budd Lynch, meanwhile, has been doing a taped voice-over: "His reputation is expanding faster than the galaxy. ... His blood smells like cologne. ... He often has awkward moments just because he likes them. ... He's the most interesting man in the universe."
continued and watch the video below…
Filed in: NHL Media, Hockey Broadcasting, CBC HNIC, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: don+cherry
Be the first to comment.
Add a Comment
Please limit embedded image or media size to 575 pixels wide.
Add your own avatar by joining Kukla's Korner, or logging in and uploading one in your member control panel.
Captchas bug you? Join KK or log in and you won't have to bother.
Most Recent Blog Posts
KK- How To Help Kukla's Korner
They Wouldn't Do That, Or Would They?
The New York Rangers May Have Martin St. Louis Back On Thursday
$50 To The Winner Of The BoltDraft/KK Free Fantasy Game On Tuesday
Video- Jon Cooper On His Tampa Bay Lightning Team
About Kukla's Korner Hockey
Paul Kukla founded Kukla's Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the 'net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.
From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.
Email Paul anytime at email@example.com


text:
Apple Store
Rundle Place
Rundle Place CentreAdelaide SA 5000
(08) 7088 5300Driving directions and map
|Store hours:
|Mon - Thu:
|9:00 am - 6:00 pm
|9:00 am - 9:00 pm
|9:00 am - 5:00 pm
|11:00 am - 5:00 pm
|Special store hours:
|3 April:
|6 April:
|11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Apple Store
Rundle Place
Rundle Place CentreAdelaide SA 5000
(08) 7088 5300
How to get here:Back
The Apple Store is located at the entrance of Rundle Place at 77-90 Rundle Mall, Adelaide. If driving, follow the signs to the Adelaide CBD and the closest parking is in the Rundle Place multi-story car park on Grenfell Street. On public transport, multiple Adelaide Metro bus lines stop on Grenfell Street, or take the red tram line and stop at Rundle Mall station.
Apple Watch is coming.
Pre-order starting 10 April.Learn more
iPhone 6 is here.
Now available at the Apple Retail Store on a first-come, first-served basis.Learn more
Field Trip to the Apple Store.
Take your students or peers on a Field Trip to the Apple Store for an unforgettable learning experience.Learn more
iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3
Order online today and get free shipping. Or buy at the Apple Retail Store.Buy now
View All
Filter by


text:
We have created this Guestbook to allow our website visitors to ask questions and express their opinions. These comments are a valuable source of information about platelet disorders. We may respond to some of the inquiries when it is appropriate, but we will not respond to most questions or comments. The Guestbook cannot be a source for medical advice; patients must get their medical advice from their doctor.
Sign The Guestbook
Recent Entries
|Post 71 - By: Nicole Bova - Post Date: 2/23/2011
|I am a 29 yr old mother of two boys I was dx with TTP for the first time in January 2006 at the age of 26, treated with plasmapheresis and was in remission until July of that same year. I was treated with plasmapheresis and rituximab. I then relapsed again in January 2009. I have been in remission ever since with care of my wonderful hemotologist. I see him every three months and he draws a CBC and also an ADAMTS13. My ADAMTS13 was in normal range in Nov. 10 but I recently had it tested again and found my CBC is normal but my ADAMTS13 level has fallen from 82% to 47%.....my dr is now going to test my Adamts 13 again and possibly treat with rituximab to prevent a relapse. Fingers crossed.
|Post 72 - By: Pam Twardzik, MT(ASCP) - Post Date: 2/18/2011
|I work in a hospital lab where we have begun to see a much larger incidence of platelet clumping on peripheral smears that does not appear to be related to any medical condition or reduction of platelet counts. Outside of blood collection techniques, do you have any other thoughts as to why this phenomena is on the increase?
|Post 73 - By: Teague Gearhart - Post Date: 2/17/2011
|Thanks for hosting this wonderful site. Podiatric Western University students are learning new things everyday from this website in our blood and lymph class.
|Post 74 - By: cindy - Post Date: 1/20/2011
|hey everyone , i have a ttp in 16 august and i did a reclapsse in may 25 and im still sick but its not my plaquette , 318 and my hg its 145 ... the plasmapherese work , so far im good . my hemotolagist said that was my pregeness who give me my fist and second reclase ....im working and i have a normal lives .....
|Post 75 - By: rose ellis - Post Date: 1/19/2011
|my red blood cells stick together why is that
|Prev Page
|Next Page
|pagelist: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45
The information included in this website is for educational purposes only. The designers and operators of this site take no responsibility for the things you may do with this information. For advice on your unique medical condition, please consult your health care professional. By going further into this website you acknowledge that you have read and understood this disclaimer.


text:
Learn how to configure "Language and Regional" setting on your PC, add handwriting input method to your computer and practice composing words and sentences in Chinese characters simply by using your mouse using MS Word.
We will also learn how to use the handwriting input method to search information thru the web.
First come first served. No pre-registration required.
Come join us and have fun learning!
Upcoming Events
- BiblioCommons: The Library's New Catalog
- Wednesday, April 1, 2015North Beach, North Beach Meeting Room
- Computer Help for Adults/Seniors
- Friday, April 3, 2015Parkside, Parkside Teen's Area
- Digital Device Drop-In
- Friday, April 3, 2015Main Library, Computer Training Ctr. 5th Floor
Upcoming Classes
- Basic Computer Skills and Internet Help Drop-In
- Tuesday, March 31, 2015Main Library, Computer Training Ctr. 5th Floor
- Basic Computer Skills for Adult
- Tuesday, March 31, 2015Bayview, Bayview Meeting Room
- Tablets 101
- Tuesday, March 31, 2015North Beach, North Beach Meeting Room


text:
No conditional pricing is available for this item.
No graded pricing is available for this item.
There is no box for this item.
|Set: 2011 Panini Copa America Stickers
|Player: Vela, Carlos
|Sport: Soccer
|Manufacturer: Panini Group
This item is not currently in stock on the Beckett Marketplace. Please check back again soon!


text:
(RSCC semester starting January 20, 2015 - May 4, 2015)
100% through Jan 19
75% Jan 20 - Feb 2
25% Feb 3 – Feb 17
Please reference the Academic Calendar for additional term refund periods.
Refund dates for regular session classes are listed in the Academic Calendar. Refund dates for students receiving Title IV Financial Aid and for special session courses may differ. Contact the Business Office at 882-4515 for additional information, or view the refund guidelines.
There are several options for receiving financial aid or tuition refunds. If you do not choose an option, then the default will be a paper check.
Roane State Community College is a TBR and AA/EEO employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs and activities. View full non-discrimination policy.


text:
Enter your Email Address and click 'Continue' Example: email@example.com Submit Cancel Forgot Password Close /GarnetHill/US/Global/Popups/forgot_password Enter your email address:
Bedding & Bath
false pdp {"scheme":"product1_cr"}
false pdp {"scheme":"product2_cr"}
Chambray Percale Cases 2 2
Simply Wonderful I purchased the linen colored duvet and pillowcases to go with my 100% linen sheets. I absolutely love this bedding! The cotton is buttery soft and such a generous size; covers my king down comforter effortlessly and looks very classy. I originally purchased this to hold me over until I splurged on a linen duvet, but the look, fit and quality has surpassed my expectations so much that I'm in no rush to do so. I've washed and dried this bedding 3 times with no issues(no shrinking, no wrinkling, no stains) I am very happy with my purchase and highly recommend. January 28, 2015
great purchase product covers my down comforter and includes inside corner ties to keep the comforter secure. I ordered one and was so pleased i ordered another for my husband. His comforter was releasing feathers, but it this duvet the feathers stay inside! December 7, 2014
1-2 of 2
(2 Questions : 2 Answers)
Product Q&A
Ask your questions. Share your answers.
« Back
Age: Over 65
Gender: Female
3 months, 3 weeks ago
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Answer:The cases are offered in standard size, 20 x 30, and king size, 20 x 40. The standard shams are 20 x 26.
3 months, 3 weeks ago
Franconia, NH
1 answer
Does the duvet cover have any finishing detail on the outside edges (knife edge, stitching, etc)?
1 month, 1 week ago
Answer:The duvet cover does not have any finishing detail on the outside edges.
1 month, 1 week ago
1 of 1
1 of 1
Product:31635-Chambray Percale Bedding


text:
Register Online Now!
Rec Sports Youth Camp Opens at 9:00am on Monday, March 16th
Look and feel great with a membership at the Ramsey Student Center! We are currently open over 100 hours per week, and with our convenient, on-campus location you can easily incorporate exercise into your busy life!
Department of Recreational Sports
Division of Student Affairs at The University of Georgia
201 Ramsey Student Center for Physical Activities
330 River Road
Athens, GA 30602-6502
phone : 706.542.5060
fax : 706.542.5590
Copyright 2015 The University of Georgia. All rights reserved.
This website last updated Mar 27, 2015, 06:52pm


text:
Veg Out in Haiku is something of a fast food vegetarian restaurant. Location: Obscure strip mall. Ambiance: Utilitarian. Prices: Wallet-friendly. Food: Depends.
Hotel executives say the award will allow them to present a $5,000 scholarship annually to a Maui Culinary Academy student as part of the hotel's Tylun Pang Aspiring Chef Scholarship.
The Kāʻanapali Kitchen Stadium Under the Maui Moon gala dinner featured chefs from Maui and the US Mainland, who presented a six course meal highlighting Maui-grown products.
This Saturday August 30, the Makena Beach & Golf Resort offers their monthly Food and Wine Education Series Dinner, featuring Chablis, Beaujolais and Bordeaux.
This Friday, August 29, Maui Brewing Company is donating 50% of the profits from all house beers sold from 6 to 10 p.m. to the Monk Seal Foundation.
Kick off the start of the Ka'anapali Fresh and Hawaii Food and Wine Festivals with a special beer dinner featuring Japengo Restaurant and Maui Brewing Co.
Family friendly, easy-on-the-budget dining options on Maui are rare. Penne Pasta Cafe in Lahaina fills that niche, although the food itself often underwhelms.
Next Sunday, August 31 is Ka'anapali Kitchen Stadium: Under a Maui Moon, a Hawaii Food and Wine Festival Gala Dinner featuring local and national celebrity chefs.
Tomorrow night in Paia you can check out a variety of never-before-seen fancy schmancy-named cocktails brewed up by the fine folks at Dazoo and Pau Vodka.
Whoever said "the best things in life are free" clearly never dined at Ka'ana Kitchen at the Andaz. Granted, it ain't cheap, but the quality justifies the price.
Maui News
Arts & Entertainment
Real Estate
Public Notices
Movie Listings
Copyright © 2015 . All Rights Reserved
Contact Us


text:
- Home
- Blogs
- Community
- Big Game Hunting
- Regional
- Firearms
- Archery
- Muzzleloader
- Gear Bag
Powerbelt Muzzleloading Bullets Review
Modern muzzleloading offers an array of propellants and projectile choices. One popular choice of projectile is the conical bullet and in states where sabots are illegal during muzzleloader season, conical can be the best choice. Powerbelt Bullets of Nampa, Idaho offers a variety of solid lead and copper plated conical bullets for today's muzzleloader. For this review we decided to take a look at some of their bullet offerings.
Powerbelt Bullets in Copper series (left), Platinum series (middle) and Aerolite (right).
Powerbelt bullets have been around for some time and offer a diverse lineup of projectiles for 45 cal, 50 cal, and 54 cal muzzleloaders. For this review we are focusing mostly on the Aerotip bullets in the copper series, platinum series, and the new Aerolite series. All of these bullets use a ballistic (aero) tip that improves their ballistic coefficient over similar blunt nose or hollow point projectiles. Improved ballistic coefficient translates into less bullet drop for a given muzzle velocity and can make longer shots easier by taking some of the guess work out of hold over.
Currently the copper series Aerotips weights for 45 cal are 175gr, 195r, 225gr, and 275gr. For 50 cal Aerotips are available in 405gr, 223gr, 245gr, 295gr, and 348gr. Finally for 54 cal offerings are in 295gr, 405gr, and 348gr. The copper series aerotip bullets are similar to the pure lead bullets but they are copper plated and topped with a ballistic tip and a straight walled plastic gas check.
Copper series Powerbelt Aerotip 50 cal in 245gr.
Platinum series Aerotip Powerbelts are offered in 223gr and 300gr for 45 cal and 270gr, 300gr, or 338gr for 50 cal. Currently there are no 54 caliber platinum Powerbelts. The platinum Powerbelts are similar to the copper series Aerotip except they have a slimmer ogive and a fluted gas check which improves the ballistic coefficient over the copper series. The plating is also a silver color giving them the "platinum" name.
Platinum series Powerbelt 50 cal 300gr.
Aerolite series bullets are currently only offered in 50 caliber in 250gr and 300gr weights. Overall the Aerolites have a similar profile to the platinum series with the same fluted gas check. The big difference is the black plating color and the much larger polycarbonate red tip. The red tip is fitted into a larger hollow point, so while the overall bullet has a similar profile to a Platinum series (although they are longer), the lighter weight allows the Aerolites to be driven at a higher velocity than Platinums, given the same powder charge.
Aerolite series Powerbelt 50 cal 300gr.
In general all Powerbelt bullets are easy to load. The plastic gas check helps get the rifling started and the bullets are easily pressed into the bore. Surprisingly Powerbelts are easy to load even with a significantly fouled barrel and it's not unusual to shoot 15-20 repeated shots without barrel cleaning using Pyrodex 777.
The only real issue with loading is pressing the bullet in without deforming the tip which will degrade accuracy. Some traditional bullet starters may deform the Aerotip and the Powerbelt company sells a universal bullet starter that has a variety of detachable tips that can be made to fit many different conical shapes without deforming the tip. If you plan to shoot a lot of Powerbelts it may be worthwhile to pick up this bullet starter or similar.
Generally accuracy with the Powerbelt Aerotips is very good especially if one is willing to experiment with powder charge, powder type, and bullet weight. If a particular bullet is not grouping satisfactorily, moving the charge weight down (or up if you're not already at max load for your rifle) in 10 grain increments can make a noticeable difference.
The best overall ballistic performance (higher retained velocities and greater distances) goes to the Platinum and Aerolite series because of their better ballistic coefficients and lighter weights. However keep in mind that when dealing with a muzzleloader, ballistic performance is not the only goal. With the slower velocities of muzzleloaders it's important to get the bullet mass up and as high as reasonably possible. For deer, especially mule deer, hunters should be shooting for a bullet mass greater than 300 grains or better and on elk 338 grains or better. The heavier the bullet weight the better weight retention will be after impact.
In states where sabots are illegal during hunting season, Powerbelts are an excellent choice. In regions where sabots are allowed, Powerbelts still offer easy loading and heavier bullet weights, although generally cannot compete with the highest velocities offered by sabots.
For more information visit www.powerbeltbullets.com.
- Gear Review's blog
- Login or register to post comments
for me powerbelts work great
Submitted by JRucker30 on Sun, 2012-02-26 16:09.
for several years I hunted with a traditions buckhunter inline 50 caliber I shot hornady speed loads with a 250 grain spier point sabots on top of 2 50 grain pyrodex pellets and it worked great with open sights had no problem hitting a 3 in dot at 100 yards, I got a new cva wolf for christmas its great the more compact carbine size makes it easier to carry and the quick release breach plug and easy disasembly make it easy to do a thorough cleaning also the break action style makes for a sealed breech which is nice on wet days, since I had to sight it in as was an going to use it hog hunting as well as deer I decided to try a different bullet somthing heavier an decided to try the powerbelt copper series aero tip 348 grain, I was a little apprehensive at first looking at the design and reading some reviews about them being soft lead but also know that for 30 years my dad has used a hawkens rifle with a patch and round ball with no problems and that old timers used pure lead conicals (which powerbelts are a modernized version of) to consistantly kill buffalo, most animals shot and lost are lost due to poor shot placement not poor ammo, I just got back from sighting my wolf in and am impressed they load easy but not so easy that I'm worried about them coming unseated I could not detect any blowby matter of fact the gun seemed to kick harder with them and the accureacy was outstanding sighted dead on at fifty yards I then backed up to 100 yards and was still dead on there was not even any drop as I expected with a heavier bullet and I was still only using 2 50 grain pyrodex pellets as before, I don't know what experiences other people might have had with these bullets out of other guns but I think from now on the 50 caliber 348 grain copper series aero tip powerbelt is what ill be using in my gun
aero tip bullets
Submitted by jimbo on Tue, 2012-01-03 15:54.
I use the copper aero tip bullets,295 gr. with100 grains of white hot pellets in my CVA optima and get very good results with this set up. I have had no problem killing deer with these bullets.
Submitted by L.C. on Wed, 2011-11-16 18:32.
I have used one package of .50 cal. 245 grain powerbelts and was disappointed in their performance in my Knight Disc rifle. Four of the rounds produced squib loads in which the two 50 grain American Pioneer pellets flew further than the bullets. It seemed to me that the easy to load PBs. didn't offer enough resistance for the powder to fully ignite. I prefer Sabots. The variety of bullet weights, construction, design and caliber far exceed what is available with Powerbelts. Maybe the heavier weight PBs. perform better? I was at the butchers a few days ago and noticed a box containing various projectiles recovered from deer that were brought in. It was easy to pick out the PBs. by the little nub in the back of the bullets. Yes, the PBs. got the job done, but they were completely flattened out, like little pancakes. I prefer a tougher bullet that will have a good chance of a complete pass through for blood trailing. I have read of PBs, moving off the powder charge if a gun is bumped or tilted foward for periods of time, which is why it is recommended that bullet seating be checked from time to time. I can't picture this happening with a sabot that is a real chore to get down the barrel.
I won't waste powerbelts in MY muzzle loader!
Submitted by groovy mike on Thu, 2011-09-01 12:17.
I have never used PowerBelt projectiles in my muzzle loaders (yet). I might do so, since I have acquired a fair number of them in some transaction involving a box lot of muzzle loading supplies but I am not yet sure about that. I'll tell you why. They work too darn good in my cartridge rifle to "waste" in my muzzle loader! I recently acquired an 1890s era double rifle with parts made in England and either shipped through or assembled in India. This was undoubtedly put together for tiger hunting or just possibly for use on Himalayan bear or Indian elephant but most likely for tiger. The side by side hammerless rifle is chambered in three inch 500 express. This is the bridge cartridge between the older 500 black powder express and the modern 500 nitro express. The brass cartridge case and the projectiles used are interchangeable. But pressure limits apply. Now I could but 500 nitro express factory loaded ammunition – IF I was willing to pay five dollars per cartridge and up, but I am not so instead I invested eighty dollars in a set of reloading dies and began to look around for 50 caliber projectiles. I bought a mold to cast lead projectiles for plinking and sighting in – that sort of thing, but when I began to look for jacketed projectiles my eye fell on the box of muzzle loading supplies and I wondered if a 50 caliber power belt bullet with its expanding base just might fit the bill. I worked up a load with IMR3031 powder and took her to the test range. With seventy grains of IMR3031 a copper clad power belt projectile from the right barrel hits the target a foot high at 25 yards and the same load from the left barrel delivers a 50 caliber hole in the paper touching it. Granted – 25 yards is not much distance, but it proved to me that the potential of those old barrels and iron sites when paired with the power belt bullet was plenty accurate enough to deliver accuracy and knock down for white tail deer at moderate ranges this fall. I haven't yet perfected the load and site adjustments for 100 yards, but I will be working on that very soon and I'll be using my fast dwindling supply of powerbelt bullets to do that!


text:
Follow Us:
Performance fell short of the substantially met or met ratings at the same address of the page cheap Nolvadex usa here were strictly policed.
Do you know someone who would make a good Wabash Man? Recommend a prospective student to
the Wabash College Admissions Office and we will take care of the rest.


text:
Bay Area Bites Guide To 5 Movie Theaters Serving Food and Alcoholic Beverages
Date night just got easier with this list of five local theaters that serve more than just popcorn and Junior Mints.
A young couple got hooked on durians after one life-changing bite in 2009. And after two years of tracking the stinky sweet fruit through Southeast Asia, they've become experts on durian tourism.
Chances are you live a stone's throw away from a Thai restaurant in your neighborhood, and you've got a go-to local favorite for pad thai. These days I often find myself traveling north of Berkeley, where there's quite a few wonderful Thai eateries clustered in Albany, El Cerrito and San Pablo locales.
A report from the International Labor Organization details "deceptive and coercive" labor practices — and even forced labor within the industry. The allegations aren't new, but increase pressure on the Thai government to better regulate the $7 billion industry.
After 30 years of running the Thai restaurant Old Weang Ping, a locals' favorite in East Oakland, owners Pat and Jook Sawanwatana are finally retiring. Does this mean the end of Old Weang Ping Village as we know it? Certainly not.
These last two weekends in the Bay Area have shown that there are indeed thousands of people willing to stand in long lines in the full heat of summer to try any tasty treat served from a bicycle or cart, tent or renovated taco truck.


text:
Get your free email accountLog in
Seven sections of a contentious law the government says will help Kenya curb a wave of extremist attacks are unconstitutional, a Kenyan court said ...
A masked gunman shot and killed a Kenyan lawmaker early Saturday on a street in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, a senior police official said.
Kenyan police Monday tear-gassed schoolchildren demonstrating against the removal of their school's playground, which has been allegedly grabbed by ...
Raila Odinga news and stories
Copyright 2015 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Copyright © 2015 1&1 Mail & Media Inc. All rights reserved.


text:
'Leave It to Beaver' Star Frank Bank Dies at 71
Frank Bank, best known for his role as Clarence "Lumpy" Rutherford on the classic TV series Leave It to Beaver, has died. He was 71.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Bank died Saturday, but the location and cause of death were not revealed.
His former Beaver co-star Jerry Mathers, who played the title character on the 1958-63 comedy, told the Times that he had been hospitalized recently in Rancho Mirage and had been suffering from illnesses.
"Lumpy was the ultimate bully, but Frank was a very, very kind and gentle person and a very good actor to play it so well," Mathers said. "The show was about all the people you knew growing up and throughout your life, and Frank brought that perspective to the show."
PHOTOS: Hollywood's Notable Deaths of 2013
But Bank was unable to distance himself from the role after the show ended. He later reprised the character in the 1980s series The New Leave It to Beaver as well as in a 1983 TV movie, Still the Beaver. He also had a cameo as "Frank" in the 1997 movie Leave It to Beaver.
But he gave up acting for a while, becoming a stock-and-bond broker in the 1970s, with clients including Mathers and former co-star Barbara Billingsley.
Born April 12, 1942, in Los Angeles, Bank got his start with an uncredited part in the 1950 movie Cargo to Capetown and other small TV roles before landing Beaver.
His memoir, Call Me Lumpy, was published in 1997. In the book, he detailed his "perpetual sexfest" of the 1960s and revealed that he "slept with over 1,000 women."
Bank is survived by his wife, Rebecca; four daughters; and five grandchildren.
Never miss a story. Stay up-to-date with THR's Daily Headlines.
Recommended Stories
Must Reads
Bombshell Scientology Film Revealed: Alex Gibney on Cruise, Travolta and 'the Prison of Belief'
L.A.'s Soho House Turns 5: Membership Rejections, Success Secrets Revealed in Oral History
Gavin Polone on TV's Dirty Secret: Your Agent Gets Money for Nothing (Guest Column)
'Game of Thrones' Star Emilia Clarke on Playing Sarah Connor, Turning Down 'Fifty Shades' and Moving on From Nudity
Reality Power: The Declining Clout of the Broadcast Unscripted Chief
Why More 'Star Wars' Actors Haven't Become Stars
From Christian Bale to Benedict Cumberbatch: Why British Actors Nab So Many American Roles
The Uncensored, Epic, Never-Told Story Behind 'Mad Men'