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Sharath S. Srivatsa
Number of tourists has fallen by 70 per cent in first seven months of 2008
BANGALORE: Tourist inflow into Karnataka has plummeted during 2008, leaving the industry in dire straits. The number of tourists visiting Karnataka has fallen by 70 per cent during the first seven months of the year, compared to last year. About 64 lakh tourists visited the State between January and July 2008 as against 2.1 crore during the corresponding period in 2007.
A little over 73,500 foreign tourists visited the State between January and July 2008. Over 2.41 lakh foreigners visited the State during the same period in 2007, according to figures compiled by the Tourism Department.
"The global slowdown has affected the inflow of tourists to Karnataka, and we are planning new programmes to attract tourists," Tourism Director K. Vishwanatha Reddy told The Hindu.
Karnataka received over 3.82 crore tourists in 2007 of which about 5.34 lakh were foreign nationals. In 2006, there were 3.66 crore tourists, including about 5.05 lakh foreign visitors. In 2005, there were 3.04 crore tourists, of whom 5.45 lakh were foreigners.
The State is among the top five tourist destinations in India and the sector employs over half a million people directly and indirectly.
Though tourist arrivals in the second half of the year are usually high, on account of the Dasara festivities in Mysore and the Hampi Utsav, overall inflows this year are likely to be substantially lower than in previous years, a department official said. "We anticipate tourist inflows to come down by about 20 per cent," the official said.
In January 2008, Karnataka received 12.84 lakh tourists, compared to 44.97 lakh in the corresponding month of 2007.
There were 7.93 lakh tourist arrivals in February 2008, compared to 22.95 lakh in February 2007. June and July were particularly bad for the industry. Only 7.58 lakh and 7.61 lakh tourists visited the State in June and July 2008, respectively, compared to 30 lakh and 32 lakh tourists during the corresponding months of 2007.
The slump has resulted in lower occupancy levels, causing concern in the hospitality sector. "Occupancy levels in hotels across all categories have dropped, and foreign arrivals have declined by about 40 per cent. Business during September and October, which are usually busy months, was also not great," said Vyshak Anand, director of Mysore-based Vivek Hotels.
He said, "The impact is more pronounced on budget hotels since people have generally been affected by the price rise in the recent months. Corporate demand has also slowed down."
The exorbitant entry tax levied in Karnataka on tourist vehicles is a major deterrent for mass tourism, especially from the neighbouring States of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, said Mr. Vyshak.
"We get a large number of tourists travelling in tourist buses from neighbouring States, and the high entry tax has affected this segment," he added.


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Fiscal Services Managers in the United States are often veterans in their line of work, with nearly three-fifths bringing more than 10 years of experience to the table. Salaries slide in at $53K annually on average but can range from $32K to $83K per year. Work is enjoyable for Fiscal Services Managers, who typically claim high levels of job satisfaction. Nearly all enjoy medical while more than half get dental coverage. Vision coverage is also available to about one-half. Women account for the majority of Fiscal Services Managers who took the survey — 86 percent to be exact.
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Fiscal Services Managers report a narrow range of specific skills. Most notably, skills in Financial Reporting, Accounting, Budget Management, and Grant Management are correlated to pay that is above average. Those listing Grant Management and Budget Management as skills, on the other hand, should be prepared for drastically lower pay. Those with knowledge of Accounting tend to be skilled in Budget Management as well.
Median of all compensation (including tips, bonus, and overtime) by years of experience.
The average inexperienced worker's salary is approximately $45K, and people with five to 10 years of experience bring in more at around $49K on average. Fiscal Services Managers see a median salary of $55K after reaching one to two decades on the job. Folks with more than two decades of experience actually report lower incomes overall; their average comes out to a mere $54K.
|Extremely satisfied
Rated 5 out of 5
based on 37 votes.
86 %
14 %
|Medical: 92%
|Dental: 64%
|Vision: 49%
|None: 8%

subset: commoncrawl


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The Blog
The Culture of Amazon.com
12:00 AM, Aug 16, 1999 • By TRACY LEE SIMMONS
You might suppose that this liberation from the exclusions of the "media elite" would encourage flights of free-thinking. But the average reviewer ends up trying to sound like the media elite. John Grisham has a ready-made fan club for his latest legal-mystery best-seller, The Testament. One reader gushes that this is "not his usual New Orleans based novel, but wow!!! What a great book. . . . I finished the book in three days, I couldn't put it down. You can't go wrong with this book." Another chimes in: "The story itself is just great: Money, hatred, love, religion, . . . everything is involved. A great book worth reading, John Grisham has done it again!!!!!!!" (F. Scott Fitzgerald once said that using exclamation marks is like laughing at your own jokes -- which, come to think of it, most of us do these days.) Although not professionals, the Amazon readers strain to compose professional-sounding blurbs: "Highly recommended." "I can't recommend it highly enough." "One of Grisham's Best." They could be written in neon.
And then there's another category of comment where we get freethinking with a vengeance: the niggling grouch. One example will do -- you know this guy; you sat next to him in high school. Pronouncing Grisham's latest "boring," he explains that the book was "written for a reader with below-average intelligence or reading skills, the characters . . . are flat and boring, it's WAY too long." He continues: "If I'm reading a book I really like, I'll finish it in a few days. But this book took me almost a month, not because it's hard, but because it almost felt like a chore . . . Don't waste your time."
It's true that, along with all the slim or clumsily malicious reviews, you can occasionally find sensible voices on Amazon. Responding to complaints that Michael Ondaatje's historical novel The English Patient isn't historical enough, one reader balked:
I am amazed by the amateur "critics." . . . Did they fail to see the lyric language and full, beautiful characters? If every novel was written with immaculate historical content, it would be non-fiction; perhaps people should review the definitions of fiction and literature so that they might appreciate this book (and the author!) for the beauty and brilliance they capture.
You might disagree with this particular reader's critical assessment (as I do), but at least this is the stuff of discussion. Such equitable voices are not so scarce among the Amazon reviews, but their presence beside the more careless, not to say imbecilic, ones does create a dissonance that will leave the thoughtful book buyer unwilling to wade into the swamp.
Authors can leave messages on Amazon's cosmic bulletin board as well; in fact, they're strongly encouraged to, with a special clickable option on every book's page reading "I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book." There's a competition that's emerged in the publishing circles of New York and Washington that involves comparing the "Amazon.com Sales Rank" that the Web site cruelly provides for each book it sells. Does Wendy Shalit's attack on the modern condition of women, A Return to Modesty, currently have an "Amazon.com Sales Rank" of 7,352? Well, Danielle Crittenden's What Our Mothers Didn't Tell Us is at 3,292. (The game ceases to be much fun when you reach the sales level of books like Grisham's The Testament, now at 31.)
But though they may sign on to get their latest sales rank, authors seem for the most part to have resisted the temptation to post messages about their books. It's like writing to a magazine to complain about a review of your book: There's almost no way to do it without sounding ridiculous. Click on Amazon's entry for The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Fantasy -- where you'll find an author's message that begins, "In reply to the reader from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, who complained that my book couldn't be much good" -- and you can only cringe.
And then there's this nugget from the author of a new edition of Dante: "In 1957 C. S. Lewis read my thesis about him and congratulated me, . . . 'I hope we shall have some really useful critical works from your hand.' With [my latest translation], Lewis's hope seems to be fulfilled." Her own book, she concludes, is "the clearest, most accurate, and most readable edition" of Dante "ever published in English."


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- You must have either the GD or iMagick extension loaded to use this library
Problem detected on file: /var/www/osborneink/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/limbaugh.jpg
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Category Archives: Corporate Agriculture
Death Panels for Pigs?
Wild hogs are no joke; a boar doesn't have to be Hogzilla-sized to do enormous damage to the local ecology. Which is why Michigan's Department of Natural Resources and Environment declared feral pigs an invasive species last year: Feral pigs … Continue reading
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Press release from Marketwire
Videotron Customers to Get Samsung Galaxy S III(TM)
Monday, May 07, 2012
Videotron Customers to Get Samsung Galaxy S III(TM)12:06 EDT Monday, May 07, 2012MONTRÉAL, QUÉBEC--(Marketwire - May 7, 2012) - Videotron is pleased to announce that the eagerly anticipated Samsung Galaxy S III™ handset will soon be available to its customers. With innovative design and heightened intelligence, the device, which will be arriving on Videotron's 4G network in time for the summer, makes everyday life easier by introducing a new concept in mobile usability. "Videotron is thrilled to be releasing this exceptional handset for its customers, enhancing its device selection with the addition of a superior-quality phone," said Marie Ginette Lepage, Vice President, Product Development. The Samsung Galaxy S III™ sets a new standard for gesture-based communication, allowing Videotron customers to communicate and share their experiences naturally and instantly. It is a smarter, more customizable, more intuitive and more powerful device that delivers a compelling user experience. The state-of-the-art handset's specifications, pricing and availability will be announced in the coming weeks. For more information on Videotron's products and services, visit videotron.com/mobileVideotron (www.videotron.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of Quebecor Media Inc., is an integrated communications company engaged in cable television, interactive multimedia development, and Internet access, cable telephone and mobile telephone services. Videotron is a leader in new technologies with its interactive Digital TV service and its broadband network, which supports high-speed cable Internet access, analog and digital cable television, and other services. As of December 31, 2011, Videotron was serving 1,861,500 cable television customers, including 1,400,800 subscribers to its digital service. Videotron is also the Québec leader in high-speed Internet access, with 1,332,500 subscribers to its cable service as of December 31, 2011. As of the same date, Videotron had 290,600 subscriber connections to its mobile telephone service and was providing cable telephone service to 1,205,300 Québec households and organizations. For the seventh consecutive year, Videotron was named Québec's most respected telecommunications company by Les Affaires magazine, based on a Léger Marketing survey. Follow us on the Web: facebook.com/videotronFollow us on Twitter: twitter.com/videotronAbout Samsung Electronics Canada Inc.Samsung Electronics Canada delivers unrivalled consumer experiences. Samsung enables Canadians to pursue their passions by offering a broad range of award-winning digital consumer electronics, IT, telecommunications and home appliance products. The Canadian arm upholds Samsung's global mission to provide consumers with innovative digital convergence products that possess exceptional technology, quality, features, performance and value. As a result of its commitment to innovation and unique design, Samsung has become one of the most decorated brands in the electronics industry. The company was ranked #17 in BusinessWeek/Interbrand "100 Best Global Brands" and was named as one of Fast Company's "50 Most Innovative Companies of 2011." FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Specialist, Media and AnalystsElodie Girardin-LajoieCorporate Communications514 380-7772Mobile: 514 516-7772


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Re "U.S. should be wary of Iraq quagmire" (Editorial, June 14): Why publish an editorial or letter about the Iraq quagmire without even mentioning oil?
Of course the U.S. is involved in the Middle East and has been since the 1920s. There is no question that we have to be deeply involved. The question for President Obama, and every president, is how.
The U.S. couldn't depend on a despot like Saddam to assure access to the oil. President Bush's biggest error was disbanding the Iraqi army rather than just restructuring it and leaving it in power. In retrospect, trying to guide Iraq, or any Middle Eastern country, into democracy was probably doomed to failure.
Regardless, I hope President Obama and his advisers come up with an effective strategy for dealing with the current Middle East problem. Failure to ensure access to Middle Eastern oil can simply not happen.
-- Rich McKone, Lincoln


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Sean Kingston & Justin Bieber - Eenie Meenie
Artist: Sean Kingston
Featuring: Justin Bieber
Producer: Benny Blanco
Album: TBD
Avg Rating: 3.4 ( 106 votes )
As a kid, I always found the "Eenie Meenie minie mo." method of decision-making incredibly frustrating. I mean, it's about as far from truly random as you can get, and if you make a miscalculation and get a result you don't like, you can continue on with "My mother told me…" as if that was what you'd been planning to do all along! Now that I've gotten that piece of childhood baggage off my chest, I'm ready to talk about Sean Kingston's latest single, which finds the artist admonishing a girl who just can't seem to make up her mind. Over Benny Blanco's uptempo synth boardwork, the perpetually lovelorn singer lets the female in question know exactly what he thinks of her wishy-washy ways. 16-year-old Canadian pop sensation Justin Bieber (who, full disclosure, I assumed to be a chick at first listen) hops on board to commiserate during the track's middle portion. The record's crown jewel, of course, is the chorus, which will worm its way into your head whether you like it or not – don't say I didn't warn you. Set to hit iTunes March 23, Eenie Meenie is currently just a promo single, but that may well change. Keep it locked for the latest!
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Big Eye India Pale Ale was part of the Street Scene Microbrew Fest in East Village.
Photo by Chris Morrow
Posted September 22, 2008
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Visit Venice by Marco Secchi
100 - 500 downloadsAdd this app to your listsTweets por @Appszoom
Let an Italian, English speaking, professional photographer walk you through the city of Venice in an unforgettable Photo Walk, capturing real candid moments of Venice in beautiful pictures. Enjoy a relaxed vacation, bring home remarkable pictures of your visit and improve your photography skills. I am an editorial and commercial photographer, regularly published and awards winner and I work for two of the major photo agencies in the world.
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"There's frustration over Congress not being able to reach compromise and work together," she said. "They keep saying: 'What's wrong with you guys?' I get that. It's frustrating to be there."
McCaskill dropped by the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce to speak to local leaders and get feedback. Not everything she heard was bad.
"As I've moved around the state, people are more optimistic now than they were several years ago," McCaskill said. "Clearly we're doing better."
McCaskill warned that there are more problems on the horizon if republicans and democrats don't agree on a budget, especially if it comes to another sequester.
"The next one will be harder and the one after that will be even harder," said McCaskill. "It doesn't separate the wheat from the chaff. It doesn't decide if this is a smart use of taxpayer money or if this is a stupid use of taxpayer money."
Later in the day, the senator appeared at the yearly Democratic Club barbecue. Local democrats agreed a sequester would hurt us locally.
"A sequester would not be good for anyone in the country," said Buchanan County Public Administrator Bill McMurray. "We have a lot to lose in this area if the game playing in Washington doesn't stop, starting with our tremendous air guard base and all they do for our economy.
"They live here and they are citizen-soldiers," said St. Joseph City Councilman Byron Myers. "They actually have an investment in this community that you don't see in the normal military circumstance."
McCaskill understands St. Joseph would be especially hit hard by a sequester.
"That's why our cuts need to be strategic and not like the sequestration that cuts everything across the board without rhyme or reason as to whether or not it's worth taxpayer money," she said.
In addition to military spending, McCaskill says she's concerned with future expansion of Medicaid.
She says if Missouri chooses not to participate, it will lose out on millions of dollars of reimbursements that will instead go to other states.


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FACT CHECK: Spinning the new health care law
With the U.S. population getting older, and medical science pushing the technological envelope, there's very little reason to think premiums will go down. The best Obama can hope for is to slow the pace of increases.
You will be forced to pay for other people's abortions.
Only if you join a health insurance plan that covers abortion. In that case, the costs of paying for abortions would be spread over all the enrollees in the plan - no differently from how other medical procedures are handled, except a policyholder would have to write a separate check for it.
Timothy Jost, a law professor at Washington and Lee University, said people who don't want to pay for abortion could simply pick a plan that doesn't offer it.
There would definitely be a demand for such plans, and not just from people with moral objections. Single men and older women would have no reason to pay an extra premium for abortion coverage.
The Democratic bill will lead to government health care rationing.
The legislation sets up a research center to compare the effectiveness of medical treatments, and critics fear that bureaucrats will start issuing justifications for denying patients access to the latest medical technology.
Republicans as well as Democrats had previously called for a major investment in such research to help make sense of which kinds of treatments, medications and technologies are worth the cost.
The legislation specifies that the research findings cannot be used to impose mandates, guidelines or recommendations for payment, coverage, or treatment - or used to deny coverage.
Acceptance of the research is likely to be slow in coming, and the medical community - not government and insurance companies - will probably take the lead in vetting it.
The American people have already rejected Obamacare.
Although some polls show a majority oppose the bill, most surveys find the public about evenly divided. Blendon, the public opinion expert, believes it's premature to say that the public has rejected it. Curiously, many individual components - doing away with insurance denials for pre-existing conditions, tax credits to help pay premiums, insurance purchasing pools - are widely popular.
Obama reads those findings to mean that Democrats have a chance to turn around public opinion, and he's embarking on a campaign to sell the bill.
The legislation will save Medicare from bankruptcy.
Democrats say the bill - even as it cuts Medicare to pay for expanded coverage for working families - will add at least nine years of solvency to the program's giant hospital insurance trust fund, now projected to be exhausted in 2017.
Technically that's true - but only on paper.
Savings from the Medicare cuts will be invested in government IOUs, like any other trust fund surplus. The special Treasury securities count as an asset on Medicare's books - making the program's precarious financial situation seem more reassuring. But the government will spend the actual money. And when time comes for Medicare to redeem the IOUs, lawmakers will have to scramble to come up with the cash.
The key point is that the Medicare savings will be received by the government only once, the Congressional Budget Office said, "so they cannot be set aside to pay for future Medicare spending and, at the same time, pay for current spending ... on other programs."
The Associated Press


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Originally written on Fox Sports | Last updated 11/16/14
Dale Earnhardt Jr. was leading the Quicken Loans 400 on Sunday when he started losing power with his car on Lap 128 of the NASCAR Sprint Cup race. It appears that a sour engine became the kryptonite for the No. 88 Man of Steel Chevrolet. "You put together a real nice race," crew chief Steve Letarte said. "Sorry it didn't make it all the way." Said Earnhardt: "The last run, good lord, that thing was fast. I had to get off the racetrack. Man, I was trying not to wreck." Earnhardt, the defending winner of the race, started 12th. He led four times for a total of 34 laps. The No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports team entered the race fourth in the point standings. However, his second engine failure in the past four races could be a setback for the team. "We were disappointed," Earnhardt said. "We had such an awesome race car. We improved the car on the last stop, and I thought we were going to be able to give Jimmie (Johnson) a run. He was probably the best car out there. It's frustrating, b...
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- More from News & Features
New Colorado Oscuro From La Flor Dominicana Coming Soon
Gregory Mottola
Posted: November 29, 2011
A new strain of Habano seed wrapper grown in Nicaragua was the inspiration for La Flor Dominicana's Colorado Oscuro brand, a limited-edition cigar that will be released twice a year—once in July and once in December.
"It's very different from my Ligero and Double Ligero lines," said brand owner Litto Gomez. "The cigar is very smooth, but has a surprisingly full body. This is the nature of this particular brand."
Underneath the dark, oily two-year-old Nicaraguan wrapper is an all-Dominican blend of tobacco from Gomez's La Canela farm. Made in the Dominican Republic at Tabacalera La Flor S.A., the cigars are packaged in wooden crates of 50, and come in four sizes: No. 2, 4 1/4 inches by 48 ring gauge; No. 3, 5 by 50; No. 4, 5 1/4 by 54; and No. 5, 5 3/4 by 60. The line retails in the $6.50 to $7.90 range and although the cigars are thick, none of them are very long.
La Flor Dominicana first shipped around 500 boxes of each size this summer, and the Colorado Oscuro has been slowly finding its way to tobacconists. La Flor will ship an additional 500 boxes come December and that will be all until the summer of 2012.
For more on this story, check out the November 22 issue of Cigar Insider.
Comments 1 comment(s)
C — November 30, 2011 1:58am ET
Saw this in the latest issue of Cigar Insider and was intrigued. That is a dark oily wrapper for sure. Litto is not afraid to experiment. Keep the info coming!
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Latest Islamic Republic of Iran Stories
LONDON, October 5, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- - Market Leader Dedicates its Unparalleled Resources to Help its 4,500+ Clients Meet Their New Requirements World-Check today announced the launch of its Iran Economic Interest (IEI) solution following a raft of new international legislation including the U.S.
BERLIN, Sept. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC praised the German steel conglomerate Thyssen Krupp for announcing that it will prohibit all new business with Iran. A company spokesman said it is acting in support of German, EU and U.S.
Computer security experts say a computer virus that has infected industrial control systems worldwide appears to have been aimed primarily at nuclear facilities in Iran.
LOS ANGELES, Sept.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being released by Iran Policy Committee: WHEN: 10:00a, Thursday, 9 September 2010 WHERE: Holeman Lounge, National Press Club, 529 14th St.
NEW YORK, Sept.
NEW YORK, Sept.
NEW YORK, Aug.
In the news release, An Open Letter to Washington Post Co.'s CEO Phillip Graham From Mattie Fein on Harman Intl Bid to Acquire Newsweek, issued 02-Aug-2010 by Mattie Fein for Congress over PR Newswire, we are advised by the company that the headline and first sentence, should read "Donald Graham" rather than "Phillip Graham" as originally issued inadvertently.
Jane Harman and Jon Meacham Still Silent on Harman Editorial Influence and Business Ties to Iran TORRANCE, Calif., Aug.
Latest Islamic Republic of Iran Reference Libraries
Symbol: IRAN Group: Dicot Family: Amaranthaceae Duration: Perennial Growth Habit: Forb/herb Subshrub Native Status: PR N VI N Synonyms: IREL2 Iresine elatior A. Rich. ex Willd. IRPA8 Iresine paniculata Poir. Distribution: IresineangustifoliaEuph. distribution:USA+(PR, VI) Classification: Kingdom Plantae – Plants Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants Superdivision ...
The Syrian brown bear (Ursus arctos syriacus) is a native species to Eurasia. It is a slightly small species of brown bear. Its range includes Northern Armenia, Kopet Dag, Abkhazia, Azerbaijan Talysh, Turkey, Iran, and Iraq. Its range also includes the former Soviet Union. This bear is extinct in Israel, Lebanon, Egypt, and in more recent years it has become extinct in Syria. Due to habitat loss and poaching, the Syrian brown bear population is declining. The bear is also hunted for its bile,...
The Sindh Sparrow (Passer pyrrhonotus), is a sparrow found in Iran, Pakistan and the Kathiawar peninsula. Its habitat is usually tall grass and scrub. Photo Copyright and Credit
The Spotted Sandgrouse (Pterocles senegallus), is a species of bird in the Pteroclididae family of birds. It is found in Afghanistan, Algeria, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Western Sahara.
The Caucasian Squirrel or Persian Squirrel (Sciurus anomalus), is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family. It is found throughout Armenia,Azerbaijan, Georgia, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey. It is naturally found to thrive in temperate forests.
- To say in too many words; to express verbosely.
- To express in too many words: sometimes used reflexively.
- The leading idea or a repeated phrase, as of a song or ballad; the refrain; burden.


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Get Instant Pricing with Edmunds Price Promise℠
1Look for "Special Offers" on a specific car
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(1.9L 4-cyl. Turbo 4-speed Automatic)
Its a Mitsubishi and it shows? I have a 1990 Eclipse GSX and its been a good car.
At 120K no major problems. Always starts and runs fine. It may not be as good as a Honda or Toy but still a pretty good car overall. Of course if you bought your car used or abused then its going to break sooner rather than later.
But I have no complaints about mine. As long as I keep on top of maintenance..its keeps going and going...like the Energizer bunny.
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Jason Mraz is building a foundation
Grammy-wining Oceanside troubadour a charitable soul
"I've been working with most of these organizations for years," Mraz said. "And I just couldn't find it in me to turn my back on any of them. These are organizations I really do believe in...
"I feel, in the coming years, there will be a more specific channel (for the foundation). I don't know if it will be supporting a school more closely, or starting a school in San Diego or in Virginia, where I was raised. I do feel education is the through-line for all of these organizations I support."
The roots of Mraz's charitable leanings can be traced to his years singing in the high school choir in his hometown in Virginia.
"We'd sing in senior citizens' homes and children's hospitals, and that always stuck with me," he recalled. "I was like: 'Wow, this is wild, what music can do to uplift people.' Especially in senior citizens' homes, there was a real gratitude that existed there there -- and a sense of life that we brought there."
Mraz's foundation is so new that it doesn't have its own home base yet. For now, he said, it is operating out of the Los Angeles offices of his manager, Silva, who discovered Mraz more than a decade ago and has carefully nurtured his career ever since.
What, exactly, will Mraz's day-to-day role be for the foundation named after him?
"That's yet to be determined," he replied. "There are so many charities that fall under our roof that I'm not sure. We'll appoint people inside the foundation who will help monitor incoming funds and outgoing. I'm not sure what my role will be. We'll take the foundation with us on the road, so if people at (my) concerts don't want to purchase merchandise, they'll sign up to be volunteers for the foundation or to host fundraising events."
Mraz describes himself as "a reluctant rock star" who "has battled with my own self-worth since the beginning" of his career. But he realizes that the fame he has achieved provides a unique opportunity to help others. He also maintains that he'd be lending a helping hand -- albeit on a much smaller level -- even if hadn't become a pop star.
"It makes me feel good to be able to help," Mraz said. "I'd do what I'm doing anyway, even if I wasn't famous. Instead of (world tours), I'd be performing (in San Diego) at Jitters or Java Joe's or Lestat's, or at any place that would have us, and Toca and I would be touring in my car. Because we've been given such acclaim, it makes me feel better to work with people and organizations I like."
Last December, he performed — unannounced — at a La Jolla benefit concert for San Diego's Feeding The Soul Foundation, a nonprofit organization that promotes "local artists, foundations and businesses that make a positive difference." Mraz has since performed several more times on behalf of the 22-month-old Feeding The Soul, whose Jitters Coffee Pub in Oceanside he frequents (and sometimes informally performs at).


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I have completed one build, a 9-1/2 ft S&G pram, that is now used on our local river, and local small lakes. I am 6' 2" and 190 lbs, so I max out this little boat, but it is a lot of fun. It rows well and the little 30 # thrust ETM pushes it right along. I motor up the river and casually drift back down.
My second build is about 75%. It is a 14 ft outboard skiff that is based on Spira International's Seneca. It is screw and glue plywood on lumber yard pine frames. It is a "big" 14 footer (about 250 pounds) and should be great for two big men fishing. This will be my primary fishing boat. I am building it open with lots of room for fishing.
In my part of the country everyone has a pontoon boat for just cruising around and having a good time with friends and enjoying the weather and beauty of the water. I would rather build a wooden boat than buy a pontoon boat. I want something I can build myself from wood, that will hold 4 adults, and will just motor around on little fuel and not much noise. Because I go to the Lake Michigan Eastern shoreline I want a boat that can motor out from the connected lakes and rivers into the big lake when the weather is reasonable. My boat should be able to take up to 4 foot swells and winds to 25 knots, while I hurry back to shore. This is one of the reasons I like the idea of a motoring sailboat; I know they can handle the weather better than a broad stern powerboat; plus I like the looks better. Most of the weather is from the West, so getting off the big lake means a following sea.
Just like most of you who build your own boats, I am not even through with this one and I am already thinking of the next bigger one.
The Glen-L 19 is another boat I am interested in. It is a little longer, displaces about 150 pounds more than the Tango, with the same beam and hull weight (according to the specs, anyway).
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Richard T followed 14 users
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I'm primarily a runner but I cycle too and I have just completed my first duathlon. I used to play squash but too many injuries have put paid to that.
I'm not particularly fast so I prefer marathons and ultras.I've run some double marathons and 2013 I will be running 4 X 100 Ultras.
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Richard T Starting to ramp up the training now for the GUCR in May. 145 mile continuous foot race within a 45 hour cut-off.
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Richard T I'm in training now for this years GUCR 145 mile race in May. Working in the Czech Republic makes it more of a challenge with all the travel.
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Richard T Winter 100 Mile completed last month. Looking forward to the GUCR 145 mile race in May. Plenty of training to get in.
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Our economists engage in scholarly research and policy-oriented analysis on a wide range of important issues.
The Outreach and Education function engages, empowers and educates the Second District communities that the Bank serves, especially civic leaders, students, educators, small business owners, policymakers and the general public. It furthers the Bank's commitment to the region by listening to the communities we serve and leveraging our unique attributes to positively impact school and university programs, as well as analysis and research.
Staff Reports
Monetary Regime Change and Business Cycles
|July 2007 Number 294
Revised July 2010
|JEL classification: C1, C5, E5, F4
Authors: Vasco Cúrdia and Daria Finocchiaro
This paper analyzes to what extent changes in monetary policy regimes influence the business cycle in a small open economy and investigates the impact of policy breaks on the estimation procedure. We estimate a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model on Swedish data, explicitly taking into account the monetary regime change in 1993, from exchange rate targeting to inflation targeting. The results suggest that monetary policy reacted strongly to exchange rate movements in the former, and mostly to inflation in the latter. The external sector plays an important role in the economy, and the international transmission mechanism is significantly affected by the choice of exchange rate regime. A counterfactual experiment that applies the inflation targeting policy rule on the disturbances from the exchange rate targeting period suggests that such a policy would have led to higher output and employment, but also to a depreciated currency, higher inflation, and a more volatile economy. We also present evidence that ignoring the break in the estimation leads to spurious results for both the parameters associated with monetary policy as well as those that are policy-independent.


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Report NEP-RMG-2009-10-03This is the archive for NEP-RMG, a report on new working papers in the area of Risk Management. Stan Miles issued this report. It is usually issued weekly.
Subscribe to this report: email, RSS or Twitter.
Other reports in NEP-RMG
The following items were announced in this report:
- Cremers, Heinz & Walzner, Jens, 2009. "Modellierung des Kreditrisikos im Portfoliofall," Frankfurt School - Working Paper Series 127, Frankfurt School of Finance and Management.
- Bannier, Christina E. & Hirsch, Christian, 2009. "The economic function of credit rating agencies: what does the watchlist tell us?," Frankfurt School - Working Paper Series 124, Frankfurt School of Finance and Management.
- Simon van Norden, 2009. "When You've Seen One Financial Crisis," CIRANO Working Papers 2009s-42, CIRANO.
- Item repec:acb:camaaa:2009-25 is not listed on IDEAS anymore
- Julien Chevallier & Yannick Le Pen & Benoît Sévi, 2009. "Options introduction and volatility in the EU ETS," EconomiX Working Papers 2009-33, University of Paris West - Nanterre la Défense, EconomiX.


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Alpine releases iLX-007 CarPlay-ready head unit
By Dave LeClair
October 27, 2014
Apple's CarPlay is a feature designed to bring many of the best aspects of iOS directly to the dashboard of a user's car. Up to this point, not many head units have actually been released outside of Volvo including it in the XC90 and Pioneer's new system. Now, Alpine is jumping into the CarPlay market with the introduction of its iLX-007 head unit. Read More
Keyboard players, digital drummers and DJs have been dipping into synthesized sonic magic for a long time, but until quite recently, electric guitarists have been left a little wanting. A good example of the progress being made is Fishman's TriplePlay wireless MIDI system. Rather than rely on an externally-mounted hexaphonic pickup of the kind found in TriplePlay, though, Ireland's Rob O'Reilly uses smart fretboard scanning technology for his Expressiv MIDI Guitar System. As well as promising zero latency when in MIDI mode, the instrument also sports "normal" pickups so players can chop and change between analog and digital sounds at the flick of a switch. Read More
Virtual pianos and synths in mobile device apps are great fun but nothing really gets your creative juices flowing like a real keyboard. If you want to marry the virtual and real worlds and find devices like Ion Audio's Piano Apprentice just a little too traditional, the similarly-priced K-Board from Keith McMillen Instruments might just tick your boxes. The portable 13-inch USB MIDI keyboard is reported compatible with all USB tablets and laptops, as well as leading music creation software like GarageBand, Ableton Live, NI Komplete and Animoog, and has been built to survive life on the road. Read More
Bigger is always better when it comes to audio. It usually means improved sound quality, and greater volume. The problem is, though, not every room – or apartment for that matter – is built for a full-scale sound system. Soundfreaq has recognized this issue, and squeezed some serious power into the new Bluetooth-enabled Double Spot, which is only 11" on its longest side. Right now, it also has a 25% discount. Read More
A Little Thunder rocks beyond your guitar's bottom end
October 9, 2014
For the last few years, guitarist Andy Alt has been chipping away at a new kind of electric guitar pickup that allows a player to add a separate low end signal to the two lowest strings. A Little Thunder has been designed as a humbucker replacement and is reported to take only 5 minutes to install, without harming your precious guitar in the process. At the press of a button, git-fiddlers can bring a touch of funky bottom to a solo picking performance, making it a good fit for dark metal gods with hands too small for a 7 or 8 string shred machine or sonic scientists on the lookout for a new six-string laboratory for wacky riff-offs with the band's bass player. Read More
If you're looking to tap into the versatility and portability of a full featured electronic drum set, you can probably expect to be left with a sizable hole in your savings. California-based e-drum maker Simmons has released a new 5-piece kit that could put the smile back on your bank manager's face. For under half the list price of Yamaha's TD-4KP V-Drums Portable, the SD500's rugged steel frame offers a snare, three toms, a kick drum, two cymbals, hi-hat and pedal and a brand new trigger module with hundreds of available drum sounds. Read More
A few years back, mathematician and musician Jules Hotrique combined two passions to develop a new arrangement of musical notes called the dualo principle. After creating a number of keyboard instrument prototypes based on this patented geometric model, he joined forces with his computer engineer and musician friend Bruno Verbrugghe to form the Dualo Company in 2011. Last year, the startup sold 40 pre-production twin keyboard prototypes, and now the first market-ready du-touch controller (for computer-based or MIDI instruments), synthesizer, multitrack looper/sequencer and follow me song learning devices have started shipping. Read More
Band plays "world's first" gig with 3D-printed instruments
By Stu Robarts
September 26, 2014
Though musicians could probably point to numerous exquisite examples of custom instruments with relative ease, we'd wager that few would compare to those produced by Olaf Diegel. Now the Lund University professor has taken his creations to the stage for what he claims is the world's first gig using 3D-printed instruments. Read More
iRig Pads portable MIDI controller now shipping
September 25, 2014
Earlier this year, IK Multimedia shared its product roadmap for 2014 with Gizmag, which included a brief overview of a 16 pad groove controller called the iRig Pads. We got a quick look at the portable digital beat maker and MIDI controller for the electronic musician on the move at IFA 2014, but the company wasn't quite ready to release final specs. IK Multimedia has today announced that the device is now available for shipping. Read More
ToneWoodAmp pushes digital effects through an acoustic guitar's body
September 24, 2014
Acoustic players looking to augment the natural sound of their guitars with live effects may well have to succumb to a world of cables, amps and stomps to do so. Ofer and Helene Webman out of Phoenix, AZ, have developed a smartphone-sized box called the ToneWoodAmp – or Twamp for short – that brings the kind of effects enjoyed by electric guitarists to acoustic pickers without needing to route the instrument through a big power amp. Read More


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Many people with asthma are allergic to dust mites. Dust mites are tiny bugs that live in warm, damp places. They are too small to see, but they live in mattresses, pillows, and house dust. Dust mite allergy can cause asthma flare-ups. If you have this allergy, there are many steps you can take to control dust mites at home.
Take these steps to control dust mites in your bed and bedroom:
Keep all clothing in a closet, with the door shut.
Make sure the room is not too humid (below 50 percent humidity).
Choose wood, leather, orl furniture instead of upholstery or fabric for furniture.
Wash all bedding, pillows, and stuffed toys in hot water (130°F) every week. Remove those items that can't be washed.
Use special allergy-protecting covers on pillows, mattresses, and boxsprings.
If you can, replace carpeting with tile or hardwood flooring. Use washable throw rugs (or do not use).
Dust furniture with a damp cloth at least once every week.
Use an air conditioner or a dehumidifier to reduce humidity.
Use pull-down shades or vertical window blinds that can be easily cleaned, instead of curtains or drapes.
Use filters over heater vents.
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Women's rowing earns its third consecutive team academic excellence award, as volleyball continues to pile up academic honors.
Aug. 7, 2013
WASHINGTON - The Georgetown University women's volleyball team and women's rowing squad were among the 24 teams to be recognized with 2012-13 BIG EAST Team Academic Excellence Awards, for having the highest collective grade-point averages in their respective conference sport.
This is the third consecutive season the women's rowing squad has earned the Team Academic Excellence Award, with a program-high 41 student-athletes earning individual BIG EAST All-Academic Team recognition. Earlier this summer, 14 members of the women's rowing program earned 2013 Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association Scholar-Athletes.
For the women's volleyball program, the BIG EAST Team Academic Excellence Award comes as one of many to celebrate the squad's success in the classroom. This week, Head Coach Arlisa Williams' team earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award. Senior captain Lindsay Wise, was also named the 2012-13 BIG EAST Institutional Female Scholar-Athlete in addition to being named Capital One Academic All-District First Team. The team also had 11 student-athletes named to the BIG EAST All-Academic Team.
Georgetown was one of 10 conference schools to earn a BIG EAST Team Academic Excellence Award and one of eight to earn more than one award.
The winners were chosen based on the 2012-13 grade-point average of each student-athlete who appeared on an institution's roster as of the last contest of the championship segment in each conference-sponsored sport.
2012-13 BIG EAST Team Excellence Award Winners
Sport School
Baseball St. John's
Men's Basketball Louisville
Women's Basketball DePaul
Men's Cross Country Seton Hall
Women's Cross Country Marquette
Field Hockey Rutgers
Football Rutgers
Men's Golf DePaul
Women's Golf Louisville
Men's Lacrosse St. John's
Women's Lacrosse Cincinnati
Women's Rowing Georgetown
Men's Soccer DePaul
Women's Soccer DePaul
Softball Rutgers
Men's Swimming & Diving Villanova
Women's Swimming & Diving Villanova
Men's Tennis DePaul
Women's Tennis DePaul
Men's Indoor Track & Field Notre Dame
Women's Indoor Track & Field DePaul, Marquette
Men's Outdoor Track & Field Notre Dame
Women's Outdoor Track & Field DePaul, Marquette
Women's Volleyball Georgetown
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Georgetown Volleyball Fights Hard but Falls 3-0...
Despite a match-high 16 kills from Alex Johnson and a team hitting percentage of .270, the...
Volleyball Closes 2014 Season with a Pair of...
For the first time in 26 days, the Georgetown volleyball team will finally have the opportunity...
Providence Sweeps Georgetown Volleyball
The Georgetown volleyball team closed out its 2014 road slate on Saturday, falling in straight...
Georgetown Falls to St. John's in Four Sets
The Georgetown volleyball team started a comeback, winning the third set against St. John's on...
Hoyas Wrap Up Road Slate at St. John's,...
BIG EAST contests at St. John's and Providence this weekend wrap up a five-match road trip for...
For Brauneis, European Global Challenge...
Many people travel overseas during the summer months, usually for work or vacation, but few have ...
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Despite the first-career double-double by Terese Cannon, the Georgetown volleyball team fell 3-0 ...
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Ohlins Sale
View Single Post
Dan Kyle
Gnarly Adventurer
Joined: Sep 2007
Oddometer: 473
Originally Posted by
what is the recommendation for a 2005 R1200GS. 90% of the riding for this particular bike is with pillion and luggage. Combined weight of the two humans is roughly 290 pounds. The standard height is a bit tall and i would really like it to be a bit lower.
What does the installion usually run?
Why chose this over Wilburs?
Sorry about the basic questions but i am not mechanically gifted.
Ohlins has a number of shocks for the R1200GS.
In a short shock, which will be about the same or a little lower than your stocker Ohlins Offers the BM508 and BM509.
I am not sure what the installation will run, as it will depend on what accessaries you have on the bike and what the shop hourly rate is.
Please check with whoever you plan to use to install them on that.
I believe Ohlins does these things better than any Motorcycle shock manufacture:
Resell Value
Ride Quality
Bike control
Build Quality
Ohlins has a number of advantages over all the other aftermarket shocks.
The first is support, Ohlins USA is the Distributor of Ohlins shocks in the USA and are owned by Ohlins Sweden.
This requires them to keep a large support staff and a very large inventory of spare parts.
So as the years go by there will always be parts and people who can service Ohlins shocks.
Ohlins has a number of shops like ours that can also do service and in our case warranty repairs if needed.
I work on maybe 1 or 2 Warranty problems a year. I sell more than 2000 Ohlins products a year.
The Warranty is 5 years on DEFECTS of parts or labor. This does not cover normal maintenance.
Ohlins is the largest producer of Aftermarket Motorcycle shocks.
Ohlins shocks are used all over the world at every level, including racing at the highest level.
This gives the 80 Ohlins Engineers first hand experiance in designing a reliable shock.
It means shocks are not just designed on a shock dyno, they are installed on bikes and tested by Ohlins Riders that include former racers.
Ohlins has an internet site called the Ohlins World Site, it lists all Ohlins Products made over the last 30 plus years.
I can look at spec sheets, Installation manuals, spare parts lists drawings, for everything Ohlins has ever made, this is a huge assist when Customers have Questions.
Dan Kyle
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From SNL to Seinfeld, Veep's Julia Louis-Dreyfus Shares Her Secret to Success
By TV Guide News - email
July 16th, 2014
July 16th, 2014
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
July marks the 25th anniversary of one of television's most iconic series: Seinfeld. And for one cast member, her career is anything but cursed.
After the Emmy-winning comedy signed off in 1998, Julia Louis-Dreyfus added a second Emmy to her collection for The New Adventures of Old Christine in 2006. Now, the 53-year-old is aiming for an Emmy three-peat next month for her hilarious turn on the HBO comedy Veep.
Learn more about Louis-Dreyfus' legendary career, starting with her days on Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons. Plus: See what she says her secret to success is:


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40 years ago (1970), a 3-0 win at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
Bobby Tolan cf
Tommy Helms 2b
Pete Rose rf
Tony Perez 3b
Johnny Bench 1b
Bernie Carbo lf
Pat Corrales c
Dave Concepcion ss
Wayne Simpson p
Los Angeles
Maury Wills ss
Bill Buckner lf
Willie Davis cf
Willie Crawford rf
Wes Parker 1b
Steve Garvey 3b
Tom Haller c
Ted Sizemore 2b
Don Sutton p
WP: Wayne Simpson (1-0)
LP: Don Sutton (0-1)
HR: CIN - Johnny Bench (1).
Wayne Simpson retired the first 16 batters he faced, and pitched a two-hit shutout to get the win for the Reds in his major-league debut. The only hits for the Dodgers were a one-out single by Ted Sizemore in the sixth inning, and a two-out single by Willie Crawford in the seventh.


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VSI Training
VSI Training will be held Tuesday March 17th at the Best Western Kelly Inn at 108th and L. Start time is 8:00 a.m. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m.
Cost is $165.00 per person Class will be held from 8:00 - 3:00 p.m. The test will follow lunch. If you have any questions feel free to contact the office. (402)-344-3300.


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Show your support for the and the this year with the Nike Golf Tour Flat Bill 2013. Rain or shine, this DarkGray hat will keep you in style all year long. Stay comfortable and cool with this structured hat, featuring a normal bill and medium crown. Imported and made of woven spandex, woven cotton, and woven nylon, this product requires easy spot clean product care. Represent your favorite team and sport all year long with Hats from Lids.com.
- Style: 20516083
- Color: DarkGray
- Made of 73% Nylon, Woven, 14% Cotton, Woven, 10% Polyester, Woven, 3% Spandex, Woven
- Stretch Fitted
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Affluent Lifestyle Guide
You might like Best Runway Models >
"Down Under? has come to Ditmars. The Thirsty Koala, Astoria?s first Australian restaurant, held a soft opening just before Christmas. The restaurant serves an array of modern Australian dishes ? from familiar lamb lollipops, to the more unusual traditional Aussie burger topped with eggs, bacon and pineapple.


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This NPC can be found in Arathi Highlands (8).
Quotes (1)
- Syndicate Magus says: Things are going as planned, Lord Falconcrest. I assure you, it is only a matter of time.
GainsAfter killing this NPC you will gain:
- -25 reputation with Syndicate
- 5 reputation with Ravenholdt (stops at Revered)


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Update to fatal crash post
View Single Post
Joined: Mar 2004
Location: Seattle (Berkeley with rain)
Oddometer: 10,403
Definition of accident:
ac·ci·dent [ak-si-duhnt] Show IPA
an undesirable or unfortunate happening that
occurs unintentionally
and usually results in harm, injury, damage, or loss; casualty; mishap: automobile accidents.
Law. such a happening resulting in injury that is in no way the fault of the injured person for which compensation or indemnity is legally sought.
any event that happens unexpectedly, without a deliberate plan or cause.
chance; fortune; luck: I was there by accident.
a fortuitous circumstance, quality, or characteristic: an accident of birth.
Looking at definitions 1 and 3, I disagree that the term accident doesn't apply. The first definition even includes auto accidents, another type of vehicle to vehicle collision, as an example.
Your analogy to DUI is flawed because that is an act where someone knowingly takes an action that impairs their ability to drive and knows the risks to others involved when getting behind the wheel intoxicated.
It's applicable to some extent when somebody is texting, putting on make-up or whatever but many of these SMIDSYs are caused by people who fail to see a motorcycle due to how human physiology (vision processing in particular) works - or doesn't. (See above linked article.)
People also get killed in car accidents daily as well. Do you think somebody should start up MACA? (Mothers Against Car Accidents) Do you think legislators would respond and impose mandatory penalties for people who kill/maim others in auto accidents? Do you think prosecuting attorneys would decide to pursue it every time somebody killed somebody else in a car accident? I don't think either is a realistic expectation.
Riders are a relatively small minority in this country so the chances of legislators taking action with respect to motorcycle accidents are even less. Then throw in the fact that we, as riders, CHOOSE to ride a vehicle which leaves us very exposed.
Being a rider, I sure as heck don't want someone to take me (or any other rider) out in a SMIDSY but I recognize that it's a risk I choose to take every time I throw a leg over. Not saying that any rider deserves to get taken out in a SMIDSY or that the person who kills a rider isn't at fault, just acknowledging reality.
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ClassicsOnline Home » CHRIS CODY COALITION: Oasis
Saturday Star, USA
"An Australian sextet led by much travelled pianist Cody absorbs rhythms from Africa, Europe and the Americas as well as classical and exotic formats - thus aiding original music sound as accessible and mysterious at the same time."
Swing Journal, Japan
"Cody has absorbed the Jazz and classical music of both Europe and America. That's why this is now an international combo. His works have an original 4-beat influenced by East-European, modal and Monk-like taste, and it is versatile music too. We can enjoy the combination."
The Australian Financial Review
"There is an almost Ellingtonian spirit in Cody's spare piano playing and his dedication to an overall band sound...instead of technical displays, which Cody resists as an end in themselves, there is the gentle construction of moods and narrativesKcarefully constructed and played with charm and finesse"
Musicians will always be travellers. They need new audiences as much as audiences need a variety of musicians. This century, as fast as the world has been# shrinking through the inroads of air travel, telecommunications and the internet, musical horizons have been expanding. Absorbing the musical culture of Morocco, Malaysia or Mexico has become as easy as absorbing that of Mozart or Duke Ellington.
Cross pollination has bred fresh musical momentum, especially in jazz. Take Chris Cody. Australian born, he started out as a classical pianist. Having been seduced by jazz, he left sunny Sydney in search of broader musical experience. Eventually he settled in Paris, soaking up the rich diversity of that European cultural mecca with its highly visible * and audible * African population.
So it is inevitable that a variety of influences jostle for prominence in Cody's music. There is jazz * not just American, but also European and Australian * as well as European classical music and a broad spectrum of African styles. The musicians he uses take it all in# their stride as readily as he does himself. These players come from the cream of a Sydney jazz scene which is as strong as you would expect from such a cosmopolitan, dynamic metropolis.
Both bassist Lloyd Swanton and trombonist and trumpeter James Greening are band-leaders in their own right. They have toured extensively through Europe and North America, as has percussionist Fabian Hevia, who originally hails from Chile. Drummer John Bartram has spent much of his career in Europe, and also happens to be a trained psychologist * a handy extra-curricular skill to bring to a creative hotbed! Finally there is Swaziland-born Jon Pease, who epitomises the modern guitarist: equally at home whether playing jazz, rock or world music, on either the acoustic or electric instrument.
Together, the music they make is masterful. El Bahdja, the more poetical way of referring to Algiers in Arabic, was written by Cody out of concern for the civil war in that country. It begins like a walk down a deserted street which seems to open suddenly on to a teeming Algerian market square, with bustling lines for piano, cries from pocket trumpet and arresting percussive punctuations - these could be heard to contain more sinister implications.
Oasis may keep us in the same part of the world, but now the mood is lighter * exuberant even * as it draws on the African journey-song tradition. James Greening rattles off a tall story on the trombone, before Cody offers a more pensive response, without losing the prevailing lightness.
After the Storm, inspired, Cody says, by the African thumb-piano, is like a sigh of relief after prior tu#rmoil. Impersonating the thumb-piano, the bass sounds like a creature scuttling out of hiding to sniff the post-storm air. Some flourishes lead to the sort of groove which immediately suggests an extended voyage is in store. The trumpet delivers the melody as soothingly as a neck massage, and the ensuing solo finishes the job. Drums and percussion work together beautifully here: Bartram leaves space for Hevia's rain-stick, bells and chimes to melt across the rhythm. When Cody enters, something darker * harking back to the 'Storm* of the title * slowly builds. Bartram's contributions become more dramatic, softened by the plaintive clarity of the piano's upper register.
Flooze Blooze explodes into raucous, swinging jazz. It is brilliantly underpinned by Swanton, while Bartram cajoles first Cody, then the trombone of Greening into letting their hair do#wn * not that I think they needed much encouraging on such an inherently fun-filled excursion.
Thelonious Monk's Monk's Mood, the one piece not penned by Cody, gets the sort of suitably irreverent treatment of which I think the master himself would have approved. To paraphrase Tom Waits, the trombone sounds as though it has been drinking * not James!
The piano then beckons you into the softer, more sensuous world of Green's Peace, the lyrical melody instantly memorable, yet carrying a mystery to ensure the longevity of its appeal. It was written for a friend of Cody's, the Sydney-based classical pianist Elizabeth Green.
The mood then swings again to Gare De L'Est, named for one of Paris's four great stations. This is tumultuous, vibrant music, which carries an upbeat affection for urban life. Greening's trombone steams over #the rocking pulse, giving way to a churning, angular, good-humoured foray from Cody.
The evocatively titled Shadows Across the Land is an ideal vehicle for Cody to unleash his most impassioned work at the piano, and draws out a darker, forlorn side of Greening's trombone-playing.
Then, to leave you on a high, Pease's sweet-sounding guitar leads the full sextet which kicks up its heels on a lively celebration called African Dance. This is such happy music, you can 'hear* the smiles on the faces of the musicians. And I'll bet you will find one twitching at the corners of your own mouth, too * while you're dancing.
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CHRIS CODY COALITION: Oasis


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Will Benneteau ever win a Singles Title?
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 286
More likely no, he needed almost whole season to get to another final - after his early Nieminen loss in January, now he had maybe biggest chance ever at indoor court vs clay-courter- the surface was slow, but still Julien should have done better i think.
He is injured and there are just few 250s left in 2012 - honestly he is not getting title at higher than 250 level. So i think this year definitely not.
2013 he will be again older - he wil have chance maybe in January at those events in Australia again, but if not than it will be harder and harder - Europe indoors - there will be a lot of guys , his chances are basically Australia, or ASia - where not so many guys travel - 250s events i am speaking. It will be shame if guy like him ends up with 0 titles, but at this point i will say yes he will end up with 0 tittles.
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How important is a diet for someone in Grade 9 (15). I can eat what I please, and as much of it without gaining much weight at all. The weight factor is no problem for me. But are their other reasons I should go on a diet?
How important is a diet for someone in Grade 9 (15). I can eat what I please, and as much of it without gaining much weight at all. The weight factor is no problem for me. But are their other reasons I should go on a diet?
Last edited by Shnoop; 04-06-2004 at 04:24 PM.
By eating the right foods, you would have a better health. You won't be depriving your body out of nutrients and YOU will feel better. Your body would have enough energy to perform at any sport ( depending on what diet you are in) and it will help you grow healthier. I play sports (soccer) and in order to perform at my best for the 1:30 hour at the game I must eat enough healthy foods to give my body the energy it needs to last till the end. By eating the right foods it will help me to recover at a faster rate and if I have any injury it will cure faster. For me, by following a clean diet helps me to play better. YOU WILL HAVE A BETTER HEALTH.
Well im hoping to become a pro wrestler, so I guess my diet even at this age is important. Aight, thanks for your help buddy . Anybody else?
Last edited by Shnoop; 04-06-2004 at 05:17 PM.
you want to BULK...
do a search here for that
Im guessing what you mean is, if I want bulk I need to eat right. I got ya
If you want to bulk you gotta eat right and EAATTTTTTTTTTT. Do a search on this forum u will find lots of info.Originally Posted by Shnoop
F* eating right, your 15 and you wanna bulk- eat whatever you can in terms of calories- eating clean may be best, but if your gonna eat 2000 cals of clean vs. 4000 of junk (not all candy obviously) by all means go ahead an eat fast food.
6'0 - 176lb
~14% bf
Originally Posted by bodyOriginally Posted by kevinstarke
I cant eat fast foods, I have a small case of acne. I eat little to no processed meats and I eat no fried foods. I currently do eat pretty healthy, lots of fruits and veggies, lots of meats, and little junk. Its just that when your 15, their is so much junk (cookies, coke, etc.) thats right infront of you. Anyways, thanks everyone for the help. Anymore?
dude.. ur 15.. and you want to be a pro wrestler.. forget about being fat.. forget about acne.. you're at the perfect age to start... start pounding down double whoppers.. you'll put on size like non other at ur school...
Jake Sullivan
6' - 280lbs - 29yrs old - Professional Highland Games Athlete
curently off-season
HG training log = road to pro
youtube channel = www.youtube.com/xtra0t
That stuff doesnt make you have acne- i'm 15 too man, im in the same situation except im on the antibiotic right now- go to a doctor an tell then u have acne flareups- i would get acne intensely if ONE night went by where i didnt wash my face with benzoyl peroxide, and then put BP lotion on it- now, i can just use stridex's and put lotion on it and its great!
It's a myth that those foods cause acne- ask anyone, its all in your mind. Acne is caused by hormones which cause more oils to be secreted in your pores which catch bacteria and start multiplying like crazy.. not by Mickey D's
6'0 - 176lb
~14% bf
Originally Posted by bodyOriginally Posted by kevinstarke
Tyrell man, thanks for that advice. I had been going off and on these "oil" diers for awhile because I wasnt sure if it caused it or not. If you have AIM or MSN, is it cool if I ask you some questions?
Hell, I eat clean. I'm 23 and I break out pretty regularly. Sucks too cus it goes into clear mode, then all of a sudden a really bad break out.
"I tried so hard and got so far, but in the end, it doesn't even matter." - Linkin Park
Agreed, diet does not have an effect on acne. There have been some good threads on acne treatment, check out the general health forum.
Personally I would say take advantage of your raging hormones and metabolism and just eat watever you want. The key however is to eat a LOT.


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Well done to Alenia Aermacchi, for rolling out its first of 30 M-346 advanced jet trainers for Israel on 20 March.
As shown in this company-sourced image, the Israeli air force has gone for a nice grey and black colour scheme for its aircraft – for which it has revived the name "Lavi".
As our correspondent Luca Peruzzi reported from the roll-out event, the Israeli air force should be taking delivery of its first nine of the new type this calendar year, with its entire fleet to be in use by 2016. It will follow Italy and Singapore in fielding the type, while Poland also recently ordered eight.
The big question though is whether Alenia and its partner General Dynamics could in time also secure victory in the US Air Force's T-X trainer battle? Their T-100 offering will face tough competition from the BAE Systems/Northrop Grumman Hawk, Korea Aerospace Industries/Lockheed Martin T-50 and a clean-sheet offering from Boeing/Saab for the potentially 350-unit deal.


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Kirk Hammett
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text:
United Sports Club shook off the diffidence arising from a pre-season crisis of funds by posting a winning start to its I-League campaign. Having conscripted a team volunteering to play without taking a contract advance, United SC rode on the spirit of this rare camaraderie to down debutant Rangdajied United FC of Shillong 2-0 in a first-round match here at the Salt Lake Stadium on Sunday.
The Nigeria-Liberia combination of Ranti Martins and Eric Brown in the United SC attack came good as the two strikers shared the goals in the second session.
United SC almost took the lead in the 21st minute, but for a spectacular save by Rangdajied custodian Surajy Kumar Paryar, who blocked successive efforts from Martins and C.K. Vineeth.
The visitor showed the right intent despite being on the backfoot and put pressure on the home side with some fine counterattacks.
Upfront, Sandesh Gadkari and Brazilian Edmar Figueira remained wasteful in front of goal, both having a chance each in the first half.
Riding on a strategic realignment by Dutch coach Eelco Schattorie, United SC showed more purpose after the break. Martins and Brown stepped up their forays into the Rangdajied box and succeeded in breaking the resolve of the opposing defence.
The host earned the break off a set-piece in the 64th minute, with Brown floating a measured free-kick inside the box and Martins finishing expertly.
Encouraged by the lead, United SC doubled its efforts for the insurance goal, which came 11 minutes later off a brilliant finish from Brown.
The Liberian striker shielded his marker and essayed an angular left-footer.
The ball made its way home with Paryar standing motionless, apparently stupefied by the perfection of the shot.
The results:
United SC 2 (Ranti Martins 64, Eric Brown 75) bt Rangdajied United 0.
At Mapusa: Shillong Lajong (Cornell Glen 30 & 67, Boithang Haokip 38) bt Dempo 0.
Keywords: I-League, United SC, Rangdajied


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When David K. Rehbein was elected national commander of The American Legion in August 2008, he said "pride and purpose" would be his motto. Looking back on his year as leader of the nation's largest veterans service organization, Rehbein easily finds a number of reasons Legionnaires can be proud of the purposes they carried out.
It was a year in which The American Legion stood up against a VA proposal to start bill insurance companies of service-disabled veterans for care they're supposed to receive at no personal cost. As national media cast a spotlight on the Legion's opposition to the idea, Rehbein became a regular guest on national television news programs, and the White House withdrew the plan.
It was also a year in which the Legion took exception to a baseless Department of Homeland Security report that associated the homecomings of U.S. war veterans with a risk for domestic terrorism and right-wing extremism. A swift reaction by Rehbein and the Legion led to an apology from DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano and a better working relationship between the Legion and DHS.
From active involvement with the new Post-9/11 GI Bill to a record fundraising year for the Legacy Run, it was a year to proud of, Rehbein said.
"We made sure we upheld the honor of the young men and women serving this country," he told thousands of Legionnaires in Louisville, Ky., at the 91st National Convention of The American Legion Aug. 21-27. "We stood up this year. We were counted this year. We showed, I believe, the people of this country that The American Legion has remained true to its principles. That The American Legion, when the time comes, will stand up and say, 'Sir, that's a bad idea.' We need to keep showing them that lesson. This organization, 91 years later, still has thatstrength to stand up and be counted, still has that strength to influence the debate in this country on veterans issues. And I believe, because of who you are, that this organization will still be that way 40 years from now."
Rehbein cited examples of how the Legion fortified each of its four pillars during the year: Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation, National Security, Americanism, and Children and Youth – and how that can help future membership efforts. "I think the pillars are strong," Rehbein said. "I think the organization ... is strong enough to keep those pillars upright – strong enough to make those pillars support a lot of the foundation of this country."
Rehbein praised Legionnaires for their generosity, noting that during the convention alone, more than $570,000 was raised for The American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund, $92,000 for the National Emergency Fund, $30,000 for the Child Welfare Foundation and $16,000 for Operation Comfort Warriors. And during the convention's final day, a visibly moved Rehbein thanked Legionnaires for the opportunity to lead the organization. "You gave me this job, and I did the best I could," he said. "Now it's our responsibility – all of us – to make next year better. Every year needs to be better than the one before."
Big Names, Big Words. National security and veterans issues dominated the convention. Speaking on the subjects were some of the biggest names in government. Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that trust and a partnership borne of understanding – not simply military might – is needed to quell conflicts and establish rules of law in the Middle East.
"Despite all that's been done to bring stability to that region, really since the end of World War I, we are still learning about the various cultures that shape the region's landscape," Mullen said. "Because understanding takes time and without consistent engagement – a willingness to see things from another's perspective – there will always be a trust deficit. And where trust is lacking, partnerships falter.
"In Iraq, Prime Minister (Nouri) al-Maliki and the political and military leadership are working on solving their own problems, Iraqis solving Iraqi problems – or in Prime Minister al-Maliki's own words, 'building a state on the ruins of dictatorship.' I myself have made it clear to the Iraqi leaders we're leaving. Now is the time to establish the long-term relationships we both need, to be able to continue to help foster a secure Iraq. But the solutions are now largely political and wholly Iraqi."
The same rules apply in Operation Enduring Freedom, Mullen said.
"The Pakistanis likewise are waging their own war against extremists, for Pakistanis in Pakistan," Mullen added. "And in Afghanistan, the war being waged, to defeat al-Qaeda and its extremist allies, is led by an international security force, with Afghans, for Afghans, in Afghanistan. We've got to help them. That's why I ordered the establishment of a Pakistan-Afghanistan coordination cell, inside my own staff, to work exclusively on the issues of that region, to stay engaged ... We must do whatever we can, so that today's investment produces stability and security and ultimately engenders trust. And I'm talking about more than a military solution. The military piece is really a small part of the equation. What the people of Afghanistan need is rule of law, not the law of armed conflict. We need to help them get to the point where they have a government that delivers at every level."
Mullen also talked about public opinion regarding the war. "I've seen a lot of discussion these days about whether this is a war of choice or a war of necessity," he said. "I've seen public opinion polls saying that a majority of Americans don't support the effort at all. And I say, 'Good. Let's have that debate. Let's have that discussion. Let's take a good, hard look at this fight we're in, what we're doing and why we're doing it.'
"I'd rather see us as a nation argue about the war, struggling to get it right, than ignore it. Because each time I go to Dover (Air Force Base) to see the return of someone's father, brother, mother or sister, I want to know that collectively we've done all we can to make sure that sacrifice isn't in vain."
Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of U.S. Central Command, received The American Legion's highest award, the Distinguished Service Medal. Rehbein quoted critics who had questioned Petraeus' strategies. "Yet, Gen. David Petraeus, the chief advocate of the military troop surge and commander of Multi-National Forces Iraq, refused to share this pessimism," Rehbein said. "He never lost faith in America's fighting men and women. He would be the first to tell you that the credit for the success in Iraq belongs to those who served and are still serving over there."
Petraeus said it was an award he couldn't accept solely on his own, saying he would accept it only "on behalf of the 235,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coast gGuardsmen deployed in the Central Command area of responsibility. "Day after day, on the ground, in the air, and at sea, these courageous and committed troopers perform difficult missions against tough enemies under the most challenging conditions, for our country – and, as those in this room know – for each other."Petraeus also gave an overview on U.S. military efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, noting that the number of insurgent attacks in Iraq dropped from 160 per day in June 2007 to below 20 per day in recent months. The planned reduction of U.S. forces in Iraq will go forward, Petraeus said.
"Innumerable challenges remain," Patraeus explained. "Resilient Sunni and Shia extremists, approaching national elections, lingering ethno-sectarian mistrust, increasing budget pressures, improving but still inadequate levels of basic services, the release of thousands of detainees, the ongoing return of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis displaced by the sectarian violence, and unresolved internal boundary disputes ... Iraq has a tough road ahead. But again, the progress over the past two years has been significant. Needless to say, our troopers are working hard to support our Iraqi partners as they confront their country's many challenges."
Complicated challenges also remain in Afghanistan, Petraeus said. "The security trend there in recent years has been a downward spiral in many areas of the country, with levels of violence at record highs in recent weeks in particular. The Taliban and the other elements of the so-called extremist syndicate have, without question, expanded their strength and influence. Our fundamental objective in Afghanistan remains very clear: to ensure that transnational extremists like al-Qaeda are not able to re-establish the sanctuaries that they enjoyed there prior to the 9/11 attacks.
Accomplishing our mission in Afghanistan, though, requires more than just killing or capturing terrorists and extremists; it requires a robust, comprehensive counter-insurgency campaign. And that is exactly what our troopers, along with their Afghan, NATO, and other international partners, are intent on executing.
"Despite important achievements in various areas, given the deterioration in the security situation, an enormous amount of hard work and tough fighting lie ahead in Afghanistan. And reversing the downward trend in security, in particular, will require sustained, substantial commitment from all involved."
VA Secretary Eric Shinseki gave what he termed a seven-month report of VA and promised to end homelessness among veterans within the next five years. "No one who has served this nation should ever find themselves living without care – and without hope," he said. "I know that there are never any absolutes in life, but unless we set an ambitious target, we would not be giving this our very best efforts. To do this well, we will have to attack the entire downward spiral that ends in homelessness. We must offer education, jobs, treat depression, fight substance abuse, and offer safe housing. We have to do it all: education, jobs, mental health, substance abuse, housing."
VA's backlog of disability claims, which Shinseki says is approximately 400,000, is a high and challenging priority. "In July, we closed out 85,000 claims and received another 89,000 new ones," he said. "Regardless of how we parse the numbers, there is a backlog, it is too big, and veterans are waiting too long for their checks.
"In April, President Obama charged Defense Secretary (Robert) Gates and me to build a fully interoperable electronic records system that will provide each member of our armed forces a virtual lifetime electronic record that will track them from the day they put on the uniform, through their time as veterans, until the day they are laid to rest ... For VA, it will revolutionize our claims process – faster processing, higher quality decisions, no lost records, fewer errors. I am personally committed to reducing the processing times of disability claims. We have work to do here."
Shinseki also pledged to target the more than 15 million veterans who are not enrolled the VA health-care system. "VA will continue reaching out to them to explain our benefits, services, and the quality of our health-care system," he said. "A major initiative which will expand access is the president's decision to welcome back some 500,000 Priority Group 8 veterans who lost their entitlements in 2003. We began registering them in July, and we expect 266,000 enrollments this first year, through 2010.
"Five years from now, we intend to be the provider of choice for more of that larger population of 23.4 million veterans – in insurance, in health care, in education, in home loans, in counseling, and in employment."
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told Legionnaires that her department intends to be identified as a resource for preparedness rather than a purveyor of fear. With its disaster-preparedness education programs already in place, "the Legion is in a unique position to help," she said. Napolitano appealed for the Legion's assistance in meeting not just threats posed by terrorists, but by weather and disease, such as the expected outbreak of H1N1, or swine flu, this fall. "The Legion and its Auxiliary (have) been supporters (of our efforts) in the past, and I am asking you to re-energize that participation and that partnership with us," she saidNapolitano also committed to employing 50,000 veterans at DHS by 2012. Her department hired some 3,000 veterans through the first eight months of 2009 and now employs more than 46,000 – including 2,100 service-disabled veterans. "The men and women of the armed services work tirelessly every day to ensure the safety and security of the American people," she said. "We are honored by the thousands of veterans working at DHS whose unique experience and extraordinary dedication strengthen the department's efforts to protect our nation from threats and prepare for disasters."
Karen Gordon Mills, administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, said her agency is available to help veteran-owned small businesses. As part of the Recovery Act, SBA was able to make billions of dollars in loans with reduced or eliminated fees and federal backing.
"I'm very proud to say that in the first six months of the stimulus, more than 2,500 of these SBA loans have gone to America's veterans," she said. "It's $588 million – well over half a billion dollars – in lending support to veteran entrepreneurs and small business owners. We're particularly proud of the SBA's Patriot Express Loan pilot initiative. It is only for the military community – and it has our lowest interest rates.
Under the stimulus, we've issued more than 1,200 Patriot Express loans totaling $90 million. And it's called "Express" for a good reason. After a bank approves a loan, the SBA can often approve the application within 24 hours. This gets you the capital you need ... when you need it."
Mills said outreach efforts would continue to target veteran entrepreneurs. "Over the next 90 days, our procurement partners will be part of outreach events around the country. They'll be matchmaking, helping to put contracts in the hands of small businesses and those owned by veterans, women, and minorities," she said. "We will encourage veteran-owned businesses to actively market their products and services to those agencies. With both lending and contracting in the Recovery Act ... we will get there. We will put the brakes on this recession ... and we will do it arm in arm with veteran-owned small businesses." Congressmen at Convention. Legion delegates also heard from two members of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs – chairman Bob Filner, D-Calif., and Tim Walz, D-Minn. – as well as Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Texas, chairman of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee.
Filner drew applause when he said the VA health-care system should not be a part of any national health-care reform program. "They're going to have to pry the VA health-care system from our cold, dead hands before anything happens ... with health-care reform."Filner and Edwards called on VA to work to reduce its backlog of benefits claims, while Walz, also a strong veterans advocate, expressed optimism about progress toward a seamless transition for servicemember leaving the military and enteringthe VA health-care system.
"I am optimistic because we've got Congress on board, we've got the administration on board, and we've got two secretaries, Secretary Gates and Secretary Shinseki, on board and who seem committed to working together in an unprecedented way," Walz said. "We need your help to tell us what our newest veterans need, and to tell us how to do it right. The Legion speaks with the voice of experience and has the vision to propel this to initiative to completion in the very near future."
Walz, a Legionnaire and retired National Guard sergeant major, said veterans deserve America's very best effort. "We understand we may never reach perfection," he said. "But when it comes to taking care of our veterans, it must be our goal."
The New Leadership. Florida Legionnaire Clarence Hill was elected 2009-2010 commander of The American Legion. Sworn in by Past National Commander Past National Commander John "Jake" Comer, Hill vowed to take on the fight to increase membership in the organization.
"I've only been working membership since I retired from the Navy in 1996, and there have only been two years of growth in that time," Hill said. "Every other year, we've lost members. We cannot keep getting smaller and be effective at serving our veterans, nor be successful lobbying Congress. We've got to turn this around and put programs in effect that will result in long-term growth for the organization, programs that our successors can build on and make better."
Reaching out to America's younger veterans requires forward thinking, Hill said. "We need to ... be more creative in what we offer in our posts and think of some non-traditional uses for them: day care, after-school programs, setting up computer work stations as an Internet café or wiring our posts for wi-fi. Consider hosting adventure activities in which they're interested," he said. "Their experiences growing up were far different than what we experienced, and we need to take that into account when dealing with and trying to recruit the youth."
[1] http://www.legion.org/print/2773