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flying with infants - questions!
posted at 2/23/2011 8:10 AM ESThi all - i'm planning a trip to visit my parents with the babies and have some questions!
first - i am assuming you can buy a seat for your baby and put the carseat in the seat - has anyone done this? i know it's more $ obviously but with 2 babies i think i'm going to have to do this. any thoughts/tips?
second - has anyone rented car seats and/or bases with a rental car? do i need to call the rental car company to see if i can do this? i'd like to bring my own car seats but rent bases. but then again can't i just strap the car seats into the rental car w/o the bases? help!
third - i'll be bringing formula on board. is this a problem going through security? i will look on the airport websites - but any input would be appreciated.
Re: flying with infants - questions!
posted at 2/23/2011 8:22 AM ESTTSA info on flying with formula:
Re: flying with infants - questions!
posted at 2/23/2011 8:41 AM ESTStefani - we flew with DD over Thanksgiving when she was 4 months. We did buy her a seat and brought her car seat on the plane. It was nice to have the seat for her and the extra room in general. It is more money, but it worked well for us. She slept most of the plane ride in her car seat.
I did also bring some formula and breast milk onto the plane. Noone even questioned me. For the formula, I brought the powder.
We didn't bring the car seat base. We just strapped the car seat into the car without the base. It is not quite as safe to do it that way I don't think, but it worked out ok. DH made sure to pull the seat belt strap really tight.
Re: flying with infants - questions!
posted at 2/23/2011 8:42 AM EST
I have flown many times with my baby and if you are traveling with other people, I would not buy a seat for your baby (babies) if you don't have to. I assume you know that you do not need to buy a seat for babies under 2. Why spend extra money if you don't have to especially if you are not traveling alone.
Also, the babies do not need to be in their carseats in the plane. My recommendation is to bring the infant seats with you on the plane and they will check it underneath the plane when you get on board. I do this with the carriage too. They will put a tag on your baby gear and it will be waiting for you as soon as you get off the plane. The baby bjorn is great for travel especially going through security because the carseats and strollers need to get scanned.
And yes you can just strap the infant carseat into a car without the base. You use the seatbelt. Its easy and safe just make sure the seatbelt is tight and locks.
Finally, formula is not a problem going through security. Just make sure you take it out of your bag and put it on the belt so they can see it as it goes through. I generally keep all that stuff in a plastic bag and take it out of my carry-on bag while it is being scanned. Some airports, like in Orlando, have a separate security lines for people travel with kids and liquids...which is really nice.
Traveling with infants can be stressful because they need so much stuff but most people understand and are helpful. Good luck and let me know if you have any other questions.
Re: flying with infants - questions!
posted at 2/23/2011 8:57 AM ESTWe are flying in May with DD, so I haven't taken the trip yet, but did some research before purchasing tickets. We ended up not buying her a seat and we're probably going to bring our carseat on the plane and then check it when we board. We will probably put the base in my husband's big duffel bag that we check. I never even realized that you could use the carseat without the base.
As for buying seats, I know that one adult may only have one lap infant that flies for free. Makes sense because as you said, it would be pretty difficult to hold two babies anyways. I'm not sure if you are traveling alone, but if you are, I think you will have to buy at least one seat for the babies. Also, these rules apply for domestic travel only. I think for international travel, you have to buy a ticket for a baby regardless of their age. This info was all provided on the Delta website when I was buying our tickets, but I assume that it would be similar for most airlines.
Hope that helps! I think no matter what, traveling with a baby or babies will be a production! Gone are the days when I could just throw some things in a bag and walk right up to security!
Re: flying with infants - questions!
posted at 2/23/2011 9:17 AM ESTAre you traveling alone with them? If so, that's VERY brave.
Don't bother with renting car seats or bases from the car rental cos. You don't know anything about the history of the seat and whether it's been in an accident, etc. You can strap the seats in the car with a seatbelt quite easily. It's not as convenient as the bases, but it can be done. Alternatively, you could look into checking only the bases with your regular luggage. On Southwest, and quite possibly other airlines, car seats and certain other "gear" for babies (strollers come to mind) do not count toward your checked luggage (and therefore, you shouldn't have to pay/pay extra to check them). We recently traveled with our twins and checked their convertible seats. Initially the check-in agent told us the seats counted toward our checked luggage (he was very nice, just misinformed). I responded (nicely), "no they don't" and opened my travel folder to a printout from Southwest's website that specifically says they don't count. He quickly said "oh, you're right, sorry, I forgot" before I even got the paper out of the folder and that was that.
We've brought formula, milk in sippy cups, and water in sippy cups through security. Each time I've shown it to the TSA agent as we're loading things onto the belt and asked them if they want me to dump it and they just tell me not to worry about and put it through the scanner. In only one instance have they wanted to "test" it on the other side. I had to open one of the cups for them, they held a little stick (kind of looks like a test strip in a doctor's office) over the top of it (never touched the cup or its contents), sprayed something on it (away from the cup as I was closing it up) and we were on our way.
Also, TSA gets bashed a lot and often for good reason, but...we've found them to be nothing but helpful as we try to get our carry ons, the double stroller, the kids' shoes (and jackets), our shoes and jackets and everything else that needs to go on the belt. They can't outright come over and help us do all of that, but they've been very patient with us and always very friendly. Even when they needed to test the milk, the agent just told me to take my time and get the kids settled and get our shoes on etc., and to come over when I was done.
You can buy a seat for one or both kids and put the carseat on the seat. Now...here's the thing if you're traveling with twins: if you're traveling with car seats, the car seats HAVE TO go next to the window. If you're buying seats for both and traveling alone with them, you may want to call the airline to make sure you'll be allowed to put the second car seat in the middle. If you're traveling with DH, both seats will need to go next to windows and you and DH will need to sit one in front of each other or across the aisle. If both of you are going to have to sit in a middle seat, front/back is easier for passing things back and forth. We've only traveled with our kids as lap infants and it doesn't sound like you're planning to go that route, but just for future reference in case you ever decide to (Our kids were 13 months the first time and 20 months when we traveled again just a couple weeks ago.) There are only 4 oxygen masks per set of 3 seats. Because of this, if you have two adults + two lap infants + another adult in the 3rd seat, that's too many people for the number of masks available and therefore you need to split up. I know many people, for this reason, who buy a seat for one baby (thereby taking up the 3rd seat) and take the other as a lap infant. I don't think any airline allows one adult to travel with two lap infants, so if you're traveling alone, you will have to buy at least one seat besides yours.
MAKE SURE you bring the kids' birth certificates. I always bring certified ones just so there is no question about them.
Good luck!
Re: flying with infants - questions!
posted at 2/23/2011 9:17 AM ESTI have done the same as above-held DS on the plane- the one time doing it by myself (with 1 kid) was a bit more challenging with the assembly of the car seat/stroller etc that was gate checked- but both passengers and flight crew were very helpful.
I gate checked the seat. Because I was paranoid about it pouring rain or having the cover ripped off I bought a $20 bag from BRU to put the car seat in. worked great and has a handle.
as long as you let security know, you are allowed to fly with milk for the trip. if you need more- it is supposed to be frozen/secured in your checked bags. That said, I haven't been stopped yet (and have flown with more than I really needed). I am not sure that most TSA 20somethings know how much a baby consumes in a few hours.
bring extra clothes for you and the baby. if you have a carrier, bring that- you can't take off/land with a baby in it, but it makes everything else so much easier.
and as for renting a car seat, my brother has done it a few times- says that the quality is variable. he stopped doing it- we flew with the infant seat alone and used the seatbelt.
Re: flying with infants - questions!
posted at 2/23/2011 10:06 AM ESTI've never flown with DD, but we've taken the train between Boston & New York. We've brought the base but it was just heavy and cumbersome so the second time we left it home. Strapping the carseat directly in wasn't a big deal...it's easy and is still safe. We also do this if we take cabs, and those are some crazy drivers :) We have always felt she was perfectly safe!
Good luck!
Re: flying with infants - questions!
posted at 2/23/2011 11:33 AM ESTthanks all! daisy, you reminded me of one other question - so for the babies' identification, i need their birth certificates? or can i bring social security cards? those are the only 2 things i have - that's enough right??? i mean what other form of identification would i have?! tia!
Re: flying with infants - questions!
posted at 2/23/2011 11:56 AM ESTThe birth certificates are for proving that they're under 2 if they're flying as lap infants or on a reduced fare b/c of their age. And, in a pinch, they help with proving they're actually your children (don't know when or why that would come up, but who knows with TSA and parental kidnapping issues these days). Technically, I don't think you need ID for children (i.e. for getting through security), but it can't hurt to have them with you just in case. Social Security cards don't have any info about birthdates on them, so I don't think those would be acceptable.
Re: flying with infants - questions!
posted at 2/23/2011 12:00 PM ESTI was told to bring a birth certificate- but was never asked about it. my understanding is that they request them at times to ensure it is legally your child.
Re: flying with infants - questions!
posted at 2/23/2011 12:07 PM ESTI would NOT travel with a lap infant. I would get seats for both of them. (and I've flown with DD several times, from about 4 months of age to 18 months of age (and planning another flight for April/May.))
Several reasons come to mind for buying a seat:
1) Safety. If you encounter strong turbulence, holding on to a baby can be difficult, and your baby can be flung into the seats or aisle. If you purchase seats, bring the carseats on the plane, and use them - just like you should keep your seatbelt on, the kids should too.
2) Convenience. Any place you are flying it is at least an hour on the plane, most likely longer, so you have to hold a squirmy child. You can't put the tray down, get anything from your bag, use the toilet etc. without figuring out where to put your baby.
3) Extra allowance for bags, and if you get stranded, any food vouchers. The bags is a big one, especially if you have to pay for checked bags, because the first bag is always cheaper, so if you have 4 bags and 4 seats, its less than 4 bags and 2 seats. And you don't mention if you will have to change planes, but if you do, and you miss the connection due to a problem on the airlines side (not necessarily weather, unfortunately) you will get one voucher per ticket - if all they give you is $10, having more means you might actually get a satisfying amount of food at airport prices. I know this because we got stuck in Chicago when our flight was delayed due to mechanical issues, and they were only going to give us 2 vouchers, but when they saw we had purchased a seat for DD, we got 3.
4) Maintaining a space that is familiar. If your kids are calm and happy and nap in their carseats in the car, they will probably do it on a plane as well.
I would not worry about the bases, you can safely attach the buckets to a car using the belts without the base, just bring or review the owners manual to make sure you know how to do it. Consumer Reports tests car seats both with and without the bases, and makes a big stink if a seat fails either test.
I WOULD bring the snap and go, or some other stroller that the seats snap into for getting through the airport, just gate check the stroller. We have had to hike through miles of corridors to get from one gate to another on connecting flights, sometimes at a dead run, like for the flight we missed :-(
And if at all possible, plan how you will get through security, etc. (it might be hard to do the first time) but my DH and I decide who will take DD and who will deal with all the stuff, because EVERYTHING has to go through the conveyor - carseats, stroller, bags, and any formula/BM has to be declared ahead of time and put out in one of those gray trays. To top it off, at Logan they made me take off DD shoes. When she wasn't even walking yet. And they were Robeez. But they had to go through the X-ray. But all that can go through the metal detector is you (shoeless) carrying a shoeless child.
I hope this long post doesn't scare you off of traveling - It is a pain, and I'm sure it is even more so with twins, but I have enjoyed all the trips we have taken as a family (even when we got stuck, the good outweighs the bad) and every time it gets a little easier.
Re: flying with infants - questions!
posted at 2/23/2011 12:23 PM ESTCTMum - That might also be a rule of the airline, not a general rule - I have flown with the infant bucket and they wanted DD strapped in for takeoff/landing and the strap was across her bucket. My issue was getting her to stop undoing it once she figured it out. (If a preverbal infant can figure out how to lift the metal flap to release the buckle, do you really think we still need to have the flight attendants explain it?
Re: flying with infants - questions!
posted at 2/23/2011 12:52 PM ESTI think whether to buy a seat or take a lap infant is really a personal decision based on the temperament of the parents and the child/children and the particular family.
We flew with our twins at 13 months and 20 months as lap infants and we couldn't have imagined a better experience on the planes. We scheduled flights that corresponded with naptimes, on weekdays, and mid-day-ish so there wouldn't be a lot of business travelers and the chances of the planes not being completely full were higher. We also arrived at the airport 3 hours before our flights so that we would could take our time checking in and getting through security, get something to eat before the flight, change diapers before the flight, and let the kids run around for a bit to wear themselves out. We bought a few new books and little "quiet" toys that they had never seen before and would likely hold their attention longer. We had plenty of snacks, too. Both kids slept on the plane in both directions for both trips (the first to Chicago, the second to Phoenix, both nonstop) for a couple of hours in our arms. On our trip to Phoenix (6 hours there; 5 hours back), we brought new, never-before-seen, Mr. Potato Heads with enough accesories to keep them occupied and Ernie and Cookie Monster K'nex toys to put together. DS LOVED LOVED LOVED Mr. Potato Head. He was completely absorbed in it for almost 2 hours on the way there after his nap, and played with it for at least an hour on the way back. DD LOVED putting together the Ernie and Cookie Monster. She loves blocks anyway, but I didn't expect her to be as interested as she was. And we had a few new "Thomas" books for them which they were interested in and spent a fair amount of time looking at after we had read them to them. I don't remember what we brought to Chicago, but it was a shorter flight, and they were younger, so it wasn't as elaborate as what we brought on the Phoenix flights.
So...we had REALLY GOOD LUCK with our kids. DS has a tendency to be a bit intense and he isn't crazy about changes to his routine, so we were most-worried about him, but the intensity ended up working for us when he started playing with the Mr. Potato Head. They could have just as easily had total meltdowns, but taking the kids as lap infants couldn't have gone more smoothly for us. I know it's just out of the question for some families for any number of reasons, and I know it really won't work with some kids, but flying with kids on your lap doesn't have to be disastrous. There are definitely benefits to paying for seats for your kids before they're two as Amy-Lynn listed above, so if you can afford it and feel like that's the best scenario for your particular family, have at it :) But if you think your kid will probably be fine and you're ok with the prospect of holding them on your lap for a few hours, then you might be right. You won't know until you try it ;)
We're planning to fly again in early May a couple weeks before the kids turn two and they will definitely be on our laps again.
FWIW, Southwest allows 2 free checked bags (up to 50 lbs. each) per paid passenger. Jet Blue, I think, allows one free checked bag per paid passenger. I don't know about any of the others.
Re: flying with infants - questions!
posted at 2/23/2011 1:27 PM ESTI'm with Daisy - I flew solo with DD @ 4mths and @ 22mths as a lap-kid with no problems. Obviously @22 mths it was a little more challenging, but talking it up ahead of time (she came to see me off on a business trip as prep) not being rushed, traveling mid week, having a stash of formerly unseen toys were all key - I actually got her a toy airplane :) I used an umbrella stroller this time and a backpack for a carry-on/diaper bag - it was ugly, but easy to carry!
When she was 4mths, the snap and go and car seat could not be beat - definitely leave the base at home, and gatecheck both pieces.
Re: flying with infants - questions!
posted at 2/27/2011 10:02 PM ESTStefani,
Are you going to be flying alone? If so, I'm not sure you could do it with 1 lap baby and 1 baby having his own seat - that is, where would you put Baby A while you took Baby B out of the carseat to be soothed, fed, switched with Baby A, changed, etc.? I just can't envision it. Now, if you have 2 adults you could DEFINITELY do this, as other adult would hold Baby A while you did Baby B in/out of carseat, or then switched and let Baby B be out of carseat while you put Baby A in carseat.
How old will the twins be when you fly?
And if you ARE traveling alone then you are so much braver than I! YOU MUST (I'd imagine) have your double snap and go with you to maneuver in the airport. You simply cannot hold 2 babies and go throughs security, blah blah. Wait! Do you use an ergo or bjorn with them? You could bring one snap and go with the carseat and carry the other in the ergo. I know a single mother of twins who nearly never used a double stroller, just prefered to use a single stroller and use her ergo for 2nd baby. The double was just so unwieldy, she found.
But if you use the ergo/single stroller combo for airport, how would you get a 2nd carseat dealt with? You won't have enough hands.
Please tell me your husband is going with you! Because If you have a double stroller how will you pull a suitcase filled with clothes? Doubles aren't really one-hand maneuverable, right?
However, everything can be managed if you plan enough in advance, bring 1-2 extra shirts for you in case a baby spits up (everything looks better in clean clothing) and get to the airport at least 3 hours in advance.
Re: flying with infants - questions!
posted at 3/28/2011 9:23 AM EDTGlad I found this discussion!
I have a few additional questions that weren't covered.
1. For those of you that had the infant on your lap, did you gate check the infant seat? Did the airline provide a bag for it, or did you have to get one? I checked out BRU yesterday and they only seem to have bags for the larger seats. Thoughts?
2. How did you bring formula? Premixed? Just powder in a can? We will be on a 7+ hour fight to London so I'd rather not bring it pre-mixed (i'd worry about it spoiling), but I also don't want the powder confiscated!!! I was thinking of pre-measuring the powder into bottles and buying the water at the airport.
3. Anybody bring the Boppy? How did that work out if so? I pray that we will be on a flight where we might be able to snag an empty seat for DD, but these days the airlines are flying so full :( we tried to get off-peak though. The flights have gotten so expensive too <sigh /> I don't know how we'll ever be able to travel as a family of 4 once #2 is born and they get older.
Re: flying with infants - questions!
posted at 3/28/2011 9:46 AM EDTI've been on flights with extreme (think "we could crash") turbulance. It doesn't happen often, but given my experience with that I'd not trust I could hang on to a baby in super rough skies.
Re: flying with infants - questions!
posted at 3/28/2011 11:29 AM EDT
trouble - we leave formula out overnight for our babies (so it's at room temp in the am) and have never had a problem - so i wouldn't worry about it spoiling if i were you. if you're comfortable with that...
don't know about your other questions. we leave for our trip next week but we bought seats for the babies. and we're not bringing the boppies b/c they aren't "essential" for us these days - but i'm considering packing our door-hanging jumper, go figure! ;)
Re: flying with infants - questions!
posted at 3/28/2011 3:05 PM EDTWe've flown w/DD to London 3 times (at 3, 10 and 16 months). You can gate check strollers / car seats. They don't give you a bag. We brought formula singles (sleeves, that make 4 oz) so we wouldn't have powder everywhere. (we were using similac - I'd guess that other brands have singles too)
No issues going through security in the US. On the way back, in London, if you have a bottle going, they ask for your child to take a sip. With jarred baby food, DH had to open up 1 jar and eat some. Yum.
If DD is under 10kg, BA and VA have skycots available in the bulkhead seats. At 3 months - DD was OK to spend a little while in it. At 10 months - not so much (and she was right at the weight limit then)
I didn't bring a boppy - so I can't help on that one.
Re: flying with infants - questions!
posted at 3/28/2011 4:03 PM EDTI have brought the powdered formula either premeasured dry in a bottle or in a little tupperware type container that I dumped into the bottle, not a whole can on the plane. I declared it upfront in the security line, and it was fine. I then bought bottled water to mix it with. I think I brought the boppy as a carryon once - but managed to squeeze it into the suitcase on other trips. I found it was too bulky to deal with on the plane, and while it was a lifesaver once we were at our destination, it was a pain on the plane.
Re: flying with infants - questions!
posted at 3/29/2011 7:52 AM EDTI held DS on a cross country flight (not overseas), and brought my baby bjorn- he sat in it most of the flight which worked fine at the age he was (now he is a little big for it). it was a life saver for trudging through the airport too. are you thinking to have the boppy on your lap during flight? I know that they insist that you hold your baby during take off and landing. when he slept, i just put him on my shoulder and tried not to move a lot. I just bought a new carrier, a Beco baby carrier (similar to the ergo, but more space for chubby/tall babies) and it has a fabulous feature that allows for you to transfer the carrier (there is a front and a back to the part the child sits in, so you can move it to your own back or another person. maybe that would work?
as for the car seat, they do not give you bags. I was paranoid about rain/snow soaking the seat, or getting there without a fabric cover (i don't know where I thought it would go...), but I saw many others gate check carseats without a bag. I bought the big bag from BRU, figuring I would want to be able to use it more than once- it was fine (it has handles) so the smaller seat just made it easier to handle. I had a snap and go- I bought a luggage strap to hold it closed, because I didn't trust the tiny plastic part.
i am breastfeeding, so I don't have any advice about formula- but you are allowed a "usual" amount for the amount of food for the time of the flight- and none of the 20 something guys who work for TSA know how much that is. I flew with extra breastmilk. What about those premixed bottles? I know that they are more expensive, not sure what brands they come in, but my day care recommended them for long lasting back ups.
Re: flying with infants - questions!
posted at 3/29/2011 10:12 AM EDTFWIW, I've brought sippy cups full of water and milk through security w/o any issues. I've made sure to tell the TSA person about it beforehand (asking if I could bring it through or if I needed to dump it). They've just told me to put it through the machine, and of the 4 times we've gone through security with the kids, only once did they check it. Checking it just involved me opening the cup, the TSA agent held a strip of paper over it (didn't touch any part of the milk or cup), told me to close it up, and sprayed something on the strip--away from me/the cup I was closing up--and that was it. She was very nice about the whole thing and only tested one of the two cups we had. To their credit, I've found TSA to be very patient and helpful while we've tried to get everything in bins/on the belt, get the kids' shoes off, etc.
Also, if you check the car seat at the check-in counter, they will provide a large plastic bag to put over the seat. If you gate check anything, it goes in bagless unless you put your own bag on it. So far we haven't had any damage to anything we've checked or gate-checked.
Re: flying with infants - questions!
posted at 3/29/2011 10:53 AM EDTThanks for the info all! We leave tomorrow so this is all very last minute and I am stressing! DD is 11 months now, under 10kg, but unfortunately the plane we are traveling on (Smaller AA plane) does not have the bassinet. Such a bummer. So I am still praying that we'll be able to snag an empty seat and take her infant seat on board.
I think I have enough breastmilk left to make her 2 BM bottles and one formula bottle so we'll be able to take that all aboard without a problem and I'll feel better about the spoilage issue. I'll ask TSA (or whatever they have in the UK) when we're there about powder for the way back. All I was able to find on the US website was info about liquid formula rather than powder.
Oh my gosh, flying with a baby is so stressful! But I do think I'll feel better after the first time. I'll know better what to expect. Thanks again!
Re: flying with infants - questions!
posted at 3/29/2011 11:18 AM EDT
My DS (now 22 months) has flown on 36 flights since about 3.5 months; everything from 45 min in the air to 8 hours, including two trips to Madrid.
Number one thing for a good flight: have something for them to suck on for ascent and landing (this is where breast feeding is ideal, or next best a bottle, but a cup of water, thumb, finger, or wet napkin can work in an emergency). This allows ears to pop... if they don't then you have a kid in pain, and NOONE will be happy.
Number two: get a Zoobie stuffed animal- our monkey converts from a bolster-like stuffed animal to a ~1ft square pillow to a fleece blanket... you can use it for a nursing/feeding rest, as a place for a little napping head, or to block out light/warm up, or as a tummy-time location while waiting at the gate
You can't do a lap child internationally (and yes, you have to get them a passport, no matter what the age), but so far we've always taken DS on our laps for Domestic flights... if you have Infant in Arms on your ticket and - most importantly- are NICE to them the airline staff will do everything they can to help you end up next to an empty seat.


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Texas Politics
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As first big test of budget deal looms, questions arise
The Texas House is readying for a vote on a proposed constitutional amendment to create a water infrastructure fund that's part of the budget deal struck Friday by legislative negotiators. Senate Joint Resolution 1 is the first test of the deal, so it's watched with interest. But questions are lingering over another part of the […] [Read More]

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Theresa A. Gerber, 83, of 315 Mill Street, Daguscahonda, died Friday, June 15, 2011 at Elk Regional Health Center following a brief illness.
She was born May 18, 1928, in Daguscahonda, daughter of the late Frank and Ellen Ribeck Supon. On September 4, 1948, in the St. Benedict's Church in Daguscahonda, she married Robert J. Gerber, who preceded her in death on July 28, 1986.
She was a lifelong resident of the area and was a graduate of Ridgway High School. She was a former employee of Quality Components and the Sears store in St. Marys.


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Debunking Five Myths About This Bracket
1. Defense wins championships
Balance does. But a powerful offense is a more telling indicator of a title team. Eight of the past 10 national champs had a top-five offensive efficiency rating, according to Ken Pomeroy. Five of 10 had a top-five defensive efficiency rating. Florida, Gonzaga, Indiana, Louisville and, surprisingly, Pittsburgh have the best offensive-defense balance this season.


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Posted at: 02/06/2013 1:30 PM
Authorities believe several recent robberies in northwestern Wisconsin are linked, according to the Bayfield County Sheriff's Office.
The robberies and an attempted robbery occurred at gas stations in Solon Springs, Cable, and Washburn County. On Monday night, female suspects age 17 and 18 and a 16-year-old male suspect were arrested in Sawyer County. Authorities said the male engaged officers in a short standoff.
Besides the robberies, authorities believe the three also ate at a Hawthorne restaurant and left without paying shortly before the robbery of JT's One Stop in Solon Springs on Saturday night.
Sheriff's offices in four counties are working on the investigation.


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text: Most of the computer users will own a printer or they will just have access to anyone. Speaking of which, have you guys noticed just how much classy they can get? I mean, I know that the built-up cost of inks are high, I don't think that people can actually bear that expensive prices in the market for long especially when market is down and most people are jobless. But just like any other product in the market, there are some companies out there which understand how expensive printer ink cartridges are discouraging printer users to buy replacement and how everyone wanted to look for cheap ink cartridges.There are several printer manufactures who sell cheap ink cartridges.You can purchase it and use it in your printer to save more money.The competition is really getting tough and the economics is teaching us that these are driving the ink cartridge prices to the lowest possible price for the consumers. I bought a few cartridges online and I can say that I am a happy camper. What about you? When was the last time you saved on your printer ink cartridges?


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Best Used For:
Use Torrefazione Italia Perugia Blend, whole-bean coffee for full-flavored espressos with a smooth finish. Perugia Blend's full-bodied quality also makes it ideal for a host of espresso-based drinks and to enjoy with desserts after dinner or rich breakfast pastries such as danishes, muffins or chocolate croissants.
- Medium roast typical of the Perugia region in Italy
- Full-bodied and smooth taste experience
- Whole beans for the freshest brew
- Six-month shelf life is ideal for the occasional coffee drinker
- Caffeinated blend gets you moving in the morning


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Interested in being a part of our Town Square? If you'd like to ask questions about the exhibit hall in our Town Square and how to make the most of it, use our contact form and select the "exhibitors" category.
In addition to our Sponsors (many of whom will have a presence in our Town Square) we would like to thank our many exhibitors who are part of providing a great experience for our attendees.
4000 Years for Choice is an artistic campaign that celebrates the reproductive roots of abortion and contraception practiced around the world for thousands of years. Artist and founder, Heather Ault, creates thought-provoking visual culture, innovative social media campaigns, and apparel designs that aim to reduce stigma and increase conversations about challenging topics. Her work has been exhibited throughout the country at collage campuses, reproductive health clinics, gallery spaces, and national conferences. The project's goal is to inspire a more holistic and compassionate view of reproductive freedom using visual art, as well as connect the stories of the past with the voices of today.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State is a nonpartisan, non-profit, educational organization dedicated to preserving the constitutional principle of church-state separation as the only way to ensure religious freedom for all Americans. Based in Washington, D.C., the organization was founded in 1947. Americans United works in the courts, in Congress and state legislatures, at the White House and in the arena of public opinion. We address an array of issues including faith-based initiatives, taxpayer funded school vouchers, religion in public schools and religious prayer at government-sponsored events. We also work on marriage equality and reproductive justices issues where they intersect with church-state separation. Americans United is led by Executive Director Barry W. Lynn, who regularly appears on major cable news outlets. For more information on AU visit www.au.org.
The Arizona Dream Act Coalition Is An Immigrant Youth-led Organization Focusing On The Fight For Higher Education And Immigrant Rights.
BorderLinks facilitates educational immersion trips in the U.S. Mexico borderlands, exposing groups to a variety of experiences and perspectives, and inviting participants to deepen their own understanding of border, sustainability, human rights and immigration issues. Groups meet with people who are directly affected by current economic and immigration policies, For example: We meet with humanitarian aid organizations, government officials, and immigrant rights advocates. BorderLinks provides groups with tools and resources to work for justice in their own communities. Immersion trips include, Chiapas, Copper Canyon, Mata Ortiz and various cities in the U.S. We offer a variety of dynamic educational workshops for schools, churches and community groups. Participants come from all over the U.S., from Mexico, Canada, Latino America, Asia and Europe. Most of our groups are from universities, colleges, seminaries, high schools, churches and civic groups. Our Goals: Understand the reality of border though direct experience. Build connections about solutions to the root causes of migration. Take action for positive social change through solidarity in your home community.
The Campaign for Youth Justice (CFYJ) is a national initiative focused entirely on ending the practice of prosecuting, sentencing, and incarcerating youth under the age of 18 in the adult criminal justice system. The strategic goals of CFYJ are to reduce the total number of youth prosecuted in the adult criminal justice system and to decrease the harmful impact of trying youth in adult court. The campaign utilizes both federal and state-level strategies for youth justice reform. We strongly believe that any movement must involve those who are most impacted by the laws and policies.
With over 25 million members, Care2.com is the largest and fastest-growing online social action network for "do-gooders" – adults with a passion for supporting nonprofits and causes, including Human Rights, Health, Animals, the Environment and many others. More than 700 leading nonprofit organizations rely on Care2's fast, cost-effective campaigns to recruit millions of targeted donors, members, supporters, and Facebook fans. Nonprofits typically find that Care2 is more cost-effective than traditional recruitment through direct mail or telemarketing. Care2 also helps nonprofits win advocacy victories by mobilizing its "e-activists" to generate thousands of letters, faxes and phone calls to decision makers on a wide range of issues. Our clients are featured across 200+ Care2 media partner websites and blogs which extend the reach and visibility of their campaigns to 170 million additional people. Contact Eric Rardin at 703.473.2825 or firstname.lastname@example.com
CarryaBigSticker sells left-leaning bumper stickers, bumper magnets, T-shirts and other merchandise. Our most popular merchandise includes our Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton stickers and magnets. We also have many variations of the ever-popular Coexist stickers and magnets. In addition to a range of political products, we have products related to the environment, gay-rights, atheism and more. Please visit our booth or our online store at www.CarryaBigSticker.com.
Founded in 1996, the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) is the leading national non-profit working to protect families from disease-causing chemicals. We use a unique four-pronged system of carrots and sticks to reach into the inner workings of our capitalist system and make positive change. This involves public policy, corporate engagement, public pressure, and litigation. Informing this approach every step of the way is a solid layer of rigorous scientific inquiry.
The Center for Media and Democracy is a non-profit watchdog organization that conducts powerful investigations and publishes news that transforms the national conversation. CMD's niche is investigating the undue influence of corporations, CEOs, and front groups on environmental and economic policies, including exposing PR campaigns, lobbying, and electioneering. With the cuts to newsrooms and investigative journalism across the country, CMD's original and in-depth investigations are more important than ever. CMD publishes PRWatch.org, ALECexposed.org, SourceWatch.org, KOCHexposed.org, and co-publishes StinkTanks.org and ALECclimatechangedenial.org.
The Center for New Community is a national civil rights organization working to build a society that values the inherent dignity of all people. CNC tracks organized bigotry and equips grassroots movements to mobilize a powerful force for justice, fairness, and opportunity. Founded in 1995, CNC continues to investigate, expose, and challenge the ways racist and nativist groups sway public policy and discourse. Imagine 2050, the official blog of the Center for New Community, features original news and analysis about organized bigotry in the United States and is committed to igniting candid conversations about race, immigration, environment and identity.
The Colibrí Center for Human Rights is a nonprofit, nongovernmental, family advocacy center based in Tucson, Arizona. Colibrí works with families of missing migrants last seen crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. Colibrí supports families' search for missing loved ones; utilizes forensic science to find answers; raises consciousness about injustice experienced by immigrants; and advances policies that protect families. Colibrí has developed the first database for managing data on missing and unidentified persons for the border. Regardless of citizenship or nationality, families have the right to know the fate of a missing loved one. At Colibrí, we fight for a future where the protection of human life is at the center of border policies.
Countable takes Congress from Capitol Hill, and puts it in the palm of your hand! This sleek and easy-to-navigate app provides gives everyone the ability to quickly read objective summaries of legislation and urge their lawmaker to vote yes or no, with just one click. In minutes, users can track issues, vote on bills they care about, hold politicians accountable, and share their opinions – all from an iOS or Android device, or the web.
Design Action provides graphic design and visual communications for progressive, non-profit and social change organizations. By providing these high-quality services, we contribute to building a broad and effective progressive movement and participate in the struggle for social justice. We are a majority women and people of color, worker-owned cooperative, union shop located in Oakland, CA. Design Action was founded in 2003 and we continue to grow our team to meet the changing needs of the social justice movement.
We are musicians, DJ's, producers and performers who specialize in "Rap Activism" by using music, videos and live performances to spread a progressive message. Our music comes with a political edge and covers a wide variety of issues that are important to progressives, like the influence of money on politics, poverty, women's rights, police brutality and more. We have also made jingles and theme songs for many different talk shows and podcasts, including Stephanie Miller Show, The Young Turks and Turn up the Night, where one of our artists, Macarone, is a contributor.
Earlham School of Religion is a Christian graduate theological school in the Quaker tradition. Throughout their history, Quakers have taken a leading role in speaking truth to power, exposing social and economic concerns, and ministering to those among us who are most in need. If you resonate with these values you can be a part of this continuing work regardless of your religious background. ESR offers Master of Divinity and Master of Arts degrees as well as Certificate programs and occasional classes both residentially and through our Access distance program. Go to: esr.earlham.edu to learn more.
Equality Arizona is the leading statewide LGBTQ advocacy organization for the State of Arizona. We work collaboratively to establish a comprehensive network of individuals and organizations to secure, protect, and defend the equal civil rights and welfare of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people in Arizona. Our vision is to make Arizona a state where LGBTQ persons are valued as full and equal members of society whose sexual orientation, gender identity or expression are viewed with legal and moral neutrality, and sexual and gender diversity are seen as something to celebrate.
Founded in 1987 and located in the heart of Washington, DC, GW's Graduate School of Political Management is the first and foremost school of applied politics and advocacy offering master's degrees in the following disciplines: Advocacy in the Global Environment, Legislative Affairs, Political Management, and Strategic Public Relations. We provide a hands-on education, not a theoretical exploration. Our students know what they want to do to change the world; we teach them how to use the strategies and tactics needed to do it. Our faculty are recognized industry leaders and bring the best practices of the field into the classroom.
The Guttmacher Institute is a leading research and policy organization committed to advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights in the U.S. and globally. The Institute conducts research and informs public debate in order to promote effective, evidence-driven policies and programs.
HeadCount promotes participation in democracy through the power of music, and through technologies that break down the barriers between people and politics. HeadCount increases the level of individual involvement in our government through in-person and online voter registration, issue education, and voter mobilization.
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest and most effective animal protection organization. We and our affiliates provide hands-on care and services to more than 100,000 animals each year, and we professionalize the field through education and training for local organizations. We are the leading animal advocacy organization, seeking a humane world for people and animals alike. We are driving transformational change in the U.S. and around the world by combating large-scale cruelties such as puppy mills, animal fighting, factory farming, seal slaughter, horse cruelty, captive hunts and the wildlife trade.
iCitizen is a civic engagement platform that makes involvement in democracy easier through a mobile platform that informs and engages, connecting Congress directly with constituents' opinions.
JSA Financial Group specializes in sustainable, responsible, impact investing (SRI), allowing one to align their investment philosophy with personal core values on considerations such as the environment, corporate governance and ethics, the workplace, product safety and impact, international operations and human rights, indigenous peoples' rights, and community relations. As an independent, objective financial planning firm offering comprehensive wealth management services, JSA Financial Group serves individuals, retirement plans, endowments and donor advised funds. Located in the Hudson Valley of New York, our multi-generational clients span the nation and many benefit from convenient, virtual relationships. Securities & advisory services thru Commonwealth Financial Network, member www.finra.org/www.sipc.org. For residents of AR, CA, CO, CT, FL, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MT, NC, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VA, VT.www.JSAFinancial.com
Our public schools are daily experiments in the American Dream. K12NewsNetwork.com provides you with news and advocacy tools for authentic participation in your local neighborhood school. A free, excellent, and universal public education is the investment the current generation makes to improve the next. Through a rich curriculum, local values that reflect regional flavor, transparency in budget and open self-governance, and with support from public funding accountable to all taxpayers, we enable schools and families to together cultivate the abilities of the community's young people. Join K12NN to amplify the voices of parents, educators, and students in public school communities.
L2 is the country's leading provider of high quality enhanced voter data, customized data processing and data technology. For over 40 years L2 has served a broad spectrum of clients including candidates, consultants, polling firms, PACs, associations and public relations specialists. L2 is also a partner with scores of local, state and federal officials helping them communicate effectively with constituents. Most recently L2 has become industry leader in data technology with our award winning VoterMapping platform.
LeftWing-Bling.com is a new site with original, edgy, clever, fun, in-your-face jewelry for liberals and progressives. It's a great way to make a political statement without saying a word.
Order great LeftWing-Bling jewelry directly from us for yourself or as a gift, or if you're an eligible progressive 501(c)3 or 501(c)4 organization, sell our jewelry to raise funds for your organization! Avoid the up-front cost and hassle of logistics by earning commission from sales referred to our site with our Fundraising Program. We will even custom-design a piece just for your organization if you wish! Stop by our booth at NN2015 or visit LeftWing-Bling.com to learn more about our jewelry and our Fundraising Program.
Life Long Learning, LLC is a Research and Development Company that fosters adult learning. Currently, we highlight the Transatlantic Slave Trade (1444-1888), an event neither fully understood nor completely conceptualized. The book, Through the Lens of the Transatlantic Slave Trade (Honoring the Heart Publishing, 2013), explains what happened and extends it beyond traditional slavery. The focus is the economic institutions and practices, many started and matured then, that exist today. The CEO, Dr. Vinita Moch Ricks, has traveled, researched and explored the ramifications of this event on six continents. The blog: www.honoringtheheart.com and FaceBook (Honoring.hearts) manages the conversation.
Marijuana Policy Project, the nation's largest marijuana policy organization, has been responsible for changing most state-level marijuana laws since 2000. MPP's mission is to change federal law to allow states to determine their own marijuana policies without federal interference, as well as to regulate marijuana like alcohol in all 50 states, D.C., and the five territories. We envision a nation where marijuana is legally regulated similarly to alcohol, marijuana education is honest and realistic, and treatment for problem marijuana users is non-coercive and geared toward reducing harm.
The Metaphor Project (metaphorproject.org) teaches progressive activists how to mainstream their messages by framing them as part of the best "American story." Using broadly accessible American phases, images and metaphors, we help people evoke the most powerful American story elements for their messages.
Mobile Commons is the platform behind today's most effective mobile campaigns. We empower brands to increase sales and consumer engagement, and enable organizations to achieve unprecedented results in fundraising, social action and behavior change. With Mobile Commons technology, it's easy to reach everyone, everywhere – and inspire them to take action. The immediacy of mobile prompts amazing response rates and a strong sense of audience engagement. With our tools, everyone you reach feels like part of the conversation.
The Morning Star Leadership Foundation works together with Native professionals to create opportunities for the Morning Star Leaders Youth Council, developing personal and civic leadership in today's Native youth. We connect young people (Senior Youth (24-18 yo, High School (17-14 yo), and the Jr. Youth (13 – 10 yo)) to local urban tribes, educational communities, learning institutions, and non-profits with a goal to develop stronger generations of leaders to serve all of Indian Country.
The National Writers Union (United Auto Workers Local 1981, AFL-CIO) is a national labor union and advocacy organization for freelance and contract writers in all genres, media, and formats. The NWU works to defend the rights and improve the economic and working conditions of all writers. The NWU's members include journalists, book authors, business and technical writers, web site, print and email newsletter content providers, bloggers, academic writers, editors, poets, playwrights, screen writers and other writers.
No One Left Behind assists Afghan and Iraqi combat interpreters who have received Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) with resettlement in the United States. We seek to successfully shepherd and fully support this at risk community through their difficult journey to the United States by providing them with three months of housing/rental payments, fully furnished homes, employment placement assistance, and one car. We also help US military veterans reconnect with their translators upon arrival in the United States.
The Opportunity Agenda is a social justice communication lab dedicated to the idea that our nation can and should be a place where everyone enjoys full and equal opportunity. We collaborate with social justice leaders to move hearts and minds, driving lasting policy and culture change. We amplify the inspirational voices of opportunity through a combination of communication expertise and creative engagement. We engage with artists, creatives, and culture makers as powerful storytellers to shift the public discourse. And we share compelling narratives, messages and research, while building the communication capacity of social justice leaders through training and resources.
Organizer is changing the way people contact voters. With 4 million doors knocked last year, Organizer's real-time mobile canvassing system has been battle-tested by some of the largest progressive campaigns, unions, and companies in the U.S. and across the world. At #NN15 we plan on releasing a major feature to create the first truly real-time integrated mobile field solution.
Pax World is a leader in sustainable investing, the full integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into investment analysis, security selection, portfolio construction and risk management. Pax World combines rigorous ESG analysis with equally rigorous financial analysis in seeking to identify better-managed, industry leading companies that meet positive corporate responsibility standards, have a clear vision for managing risk, and are focused on delivering long-term value to shareholders. Pax World launched the first socially responsible mutual fund in 1971 and today offers a family of mutual funds including ESG Managers® Portfolios, multimanager asset allocation portfolios powered by Morningstar Associates.
PollMakers has helped deliver over 1.5 billion calls and automated polls around the world. We make it easy for you to succeed! You can create your dialing campaigns and polls through our easy online system or we'll happily create them for you (at no additional cost). You have online controls and real-time web-reporting so you can see your results instantly and can react. At PollMakers, we understand that special needs can arise anytime, so you have our cell numbers (don't be afraid to call). When you need a last minute change, a new list or a new idea, we're here.
Progressive Contacts is a voter contact consulting firm that helps organizations and political candidates connect with their voters. We specialize in live voter ID calls, telephone town halls, paid canvasses and 1.5 cent autocalls. We have direct organizing experience working to elect a range of candidates anywhere from a local school board race up to the White House. To learn more about how we can help your campaign, visit our website at theprogressivecontacts.com
Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) was founded in 2004 to bring the Democratic Party back to its populist, progressive principles by working inside the party as well as outside with peace and justice organizations. PDA helps elect progressive candidates to Congress to advance a comprehensive agenda for peace, healthcare, economic and social justice, fair and open elections, and protecting the environment. PDA convenes "People's Conventions" and "Progressive Central" conferences, "Round Table" meetings on Capitol Hill, Educate Congress letter drops, issue team conference calls, rallies, protests, and other actions. For more information, please see: http://www.pdamerica.org
The Progressive Voices Network is creating a progressive media-messaging platform for the Digital Century. Not content with the status quo of vicious rightwing hate-talk and lies on AM radio, The Progressive Voices Institute, a nonprofit 501(c)(3), streams national progressive talk shows like Mike Malloy, Ed Schultz, Thom Hartmann, Stephanie Miller and Ring of Fire, to computers, smartphones, tablets and connected cars 24/7. We've freed progressive talk and messaging from the clutches of the conservative broadcast oligopolies, and returned them to the people. And rather than run the 17 local commercial minutes every hour, we run original, timely commentary, interviews and political satire.
Corporations have their lobbyists in Washington, D.C.; the people need advocates too. That's where Public Citizen (citizen.org) comes in. We serve as the people's voice in the halls of power, championing citizen interests before Congress, the executive branch agencies and the courts. We work for reduced corporate influence over government; clean, safe and sustainable energy; a strong regulatory system; safe drugs and affordable health care; citizen access to the courts; and a trade agenda that can benefit Americans rather than multinational corporations. We take no government or corporate money, which enables us to remain fierce and independent advocates for the people.
As a progressive firm, we understand and support our clients' goals, so when you hire PPP, you know you have a partner that is fully invested in your organization. Every poll we conduct is handled from start to finish by highly qualified pollsters with years of experience in public opinion research. Our business model is both economical and efficient so we can deliver the highest quality product to our clients at the lowest possible price. According to reviews and analysis by the WSJ, Politico and YouGov, PPP is one of the most accurate pollsters in the country.
Puente is a grassroots migrant justice organization based in Phoenix, Arizona, fighting against criminalization, detention, and deportation. We develop, educate, and empower migrant communities to protect and defend our families and ourselves in order to enhance the quality of life of our community members.
Race Forward advances racial justice through research, media, and practice. Founded in 1981, Race Forward brings systematic analysis and an innovative approach to complex race issues to help people take effective action toward racial equity. Race Forward publishes the daily news site Colorlines and presents Facing Race, the country's largest multiracial conference on racial justice.
Salsa Labs (Salsa) helps nonprofits and political campaigns ignite action and fuel change around the world by growing and engaging a base of support online. With Salsa, groups of all sizes can easily organize their supporters and chapters, fundraise, advocate, communicate through email and social media, host events and measure results. Salsa offers strategic best practices, training, highly rated support and a strong online community, so its clients can focus their energy on their mission. The company currently empowers more than 2,000 organizations' and their more than 92 million donors, members, activists and fans across the globe. Visit Salsa online at www.salsalabs.com.
The Secular Student Alliance is a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit. We organize and empower nonreligious students around the country, primarily by fostering successful grassroots campus groups which provide a welcoming community for secular students to discuss and promote their secular values. The SSA offers students resources including leadership training and support, guest speakers, project grants, and other resources. The SSA recently launched the "Secular Safe Zone," a program for training allies to create safe spaces for non-theists and encourage acceptance, understanding, and tolerance. Allies are also trained to recognize and respond to issues of discrimination, harassment, and bullying of non-theists.
Skyly expands your donor universe by finding voters with the desire and capacity to contribute to Democrats and progressives. It's an automated prospecting system that blends social media, voter data, wealth indicators, and other public information to create actionable dossiers for finance directors and other development professionals. Fundraisers are at their best engaging with prospects, rather than hunting for them, and Skyly saves you time by identifying voters who are demonstrably progressive. Search, filter, and sort, and then transfer Skyly prospects into NGP with a single click. Beta pricing available through November 2015. Visit Skyly at: www.skyly.co
Social Democrats, USA is the direct successor of the Socialist Party, USA, the Party of Eugene V Debs, Norman Thomas & A. Philip Randolph. Today, with a new leadership and political direction, SD members engage in political action rooted in the following principles: a revived strong and democratic labor movement, strong voting rights, public campaign finance, fair trade, creating jobs and a full employment economy, ending poverty, universal healthcare, reversing climate change, and a final resolution toward a two state solution of Israel living in peace and harmony with a united sovereign state of Palestine.
The Tax Foundation is a non-partisan, non-profit think tank that encourages informed debate on tax and budget policy by providing data, research, and analysis on tax policy issues and the size of the tax burden at all levels of government. Our analysis is driven by the principles of economically sound tax policy: simplicity, neutrality, transparency, and stability. Our annual Facts & Figures booklet (produced since 1941) and our website of data and interactive tools provides policymakers and the general public with the tools to evaluate tax policy ideas. Visit us at booth 535 or at www.TaxFoundation.org.
Team Rural was founded in 2009 to engage rural folk as a way to role model our core rural values. Team Rural Radio is helping change hearts and minds about what it means to live in rural America. Rural America, and by extension Team Rural, is more progressive than people think, and we will have a hand in this difficult political conversation, for we, rural progressives, are not alone any more. We are a grassroots organization determined to fight to change oppressive systems that threaten human dignity via economic inequality, we will fight for racial and social justice via free public education, and we will fight to rebuild community via immigration reform and by embracing our diversity as a nation. Rural cares about our environment, yes, for many still live off the land; on other issues Rural is not who you have been told we are, so join us at our booth, #428, and let's start talking the difficult conversations about who and what Rural truly is and where we want to go.
Transform Network mobilizes progressive Christian activists and missional church practitioners for positive social transformation.
United for a Fair Economy inspires and supports action to challenge inequality. Our core programs work to "connect the dots" between the various issue-movements, challenge the prevailing cultural narratives about wealth creation and the root causes of economic inequality, and build a shared analysis that unites people of various class and race backgrounds to combat inequality broadly.
Young Invincibles (YI) is a Millennial research and advocacy group, working to advance economic opportunity for young adults age 18 to 34. Through policy research and grassroots mobilizing, the national non-profit works to drive solutions to major economic challenges, from student loan debt to unemployment to access to health care. YI was born as Congress debated the Affordable Care Act five years ago when a group of law students realized Millennial voices were being left out of national dialogue on health care and today has offices across the country, including in California, Texas and New York.


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The right's right
Regarding Patricia Houghtalen's Sept. 5 letter to the editor, in which she criticized op-ed page columnist Rich Lowry's "inane defense of the radical right," Lowry doesn't need to defend anything. He knows what the vast majority of Americans hold as values that are right for this country. Patricia will soon see our country returning to that path.
Contrary to the left's patented statements, the GOP has no war against women. There is good health care out there and we all can find the program that works best for us. Our health care is not now, nor has it ever been, the government's job to provide.
Social Security has proven to be unsustainable and will fail all by itself. Medicare will go broke in the coming decade. President Obama took care of that.
James W. Coakley
New Port Richey
Now it's your turn
All students deserve the chance to earn a quality higher education. That is why we applaud the Florida Legislature, which recently allocated an additional $1 million in funding to Take Stock in Children due to its solid history of awarding scholarships to more than 18,000 deserving low-income students, more than 80 percent of whom are the first in their family to have the opportunity to attend college.
To achieve our goal, we need individuals and businesses to follow the lead of the Florida Legislature and rally behind our organization. Volunteering, mentoring or providing resources to purchase scholarships are great ways to help us in "Keeping the Promise." With Take Stock in Children's unique public and private model of funding, any contribution made is matched dollar for dollar by the state. For more information, visit www.takestockinchildren.org/donate/keepingthepromise.
Emilio Alonso-Mendoza
The writer is president and CEO of Take Stock in Children.
Sick of 'Slick'
I can't believe that President Barack Obama would permit former President Bill "Slick Willy" Clinton to talk for him at the Democratic National Convention.
Everyone knows he is a pathological liar, a draft-dodger and a pervert. He loathes the military and should have been impeached for treason.
I still get sick just hearing his name.
Joseph Karl
New Port Richey


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American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2003 The Army's 82nd Airborne Division and attached units, known collectively as "Task Force All American," is enjoying increased cooperation with the Iraqi people as the task force continues security operations to improve safety within the Anbar Province, according to U.S. Central Command officials.
During the past 24 hours, the task force conducted 25 tactical checkpoints and eight cordon-and-search operations, Central Command reported. Units also performed 169 patrols, including 13 joint patrols with the Iraqi Border Guard and Iraqi police. These operations resulted in the killing of three and capture of 16 enemy personnel. One U.S. soldier died as well.
Paratroopers from the 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division began Operation Panther Backroads, designed to interdict anti-coalition and smuggling activities and to deny enemy forces freedom of movement.
Central Command officials reported that units throughout the task force established 25 tactical checkpoints and executed eight cordon-and-search operations. The brigade searched 1,351 vehicles and confiscated 15 AK-47 assault rifles, two Enfield rifles and other weapons and ammunition. The task force also captured 13 enemy personnel.
Paratroopers killed two enemy personnel and wounded two others when they returned fire while on a patrol, Central Command officials said. Although one of the wounded enemy personnel evaded capture, officials said the patrol captured the other wounded individual and confiscated four AK-47 rifles. No coalition forces were injured during the engagement.
A reconnaissance element engaged four armed enemy personnel northeast of Fallujah, Iraq, with small-arms fire, killing one, officials reported. The remaining enemy personnel fled into a nearby house that was later searched by U.S. forces. During the search, the soldiers captured four Iraqi men and confiscated two AK-47s, seven bolt-action rifles, and various kinds of ammunition.
In 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division's area of responsibility, Central Command officials said a patrol was ambushed with rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire near Ramadi. The unit returned fire, killing one attacker, and recovered an RPG launcher.


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Police: Sex offender failed to complyJuly 30,2013Police: Sex offender failed to comply
BRATTLEBORO — A Newfane man was arrested for failing to comply with the Vermont Sex Offender Registry, police said.
Christopher Mattson, 49, was supposed to be arraigned last week in criminal court in Brattleboro. Judge John Wesley issued a warrant for Mattson's arrest and he was arrested Friday on Main Street at his place of employment.
Police said Mattson was handcuffed and taken to Brattleboro barracks for processing and then transferred to Springfield prison. Police did not say when Mattson's next court appearance will take place.MORE IN This Just InThe family of a Connecticut man who was killed in a car accident on Route 4 last Friday night is... Full StoryAssociated Press Full StoryIt seems like I just started to warm up from last winter and I see back-to-school displays. Full Story
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- RICHARD'S POOR ALMANACK: On this day in 1472, Orkney, Shetland islands put up as collateral by Norway to Scotland in lieu of dowry for MARGARET OF DENMARK on her marriage with JAMES III, king of Scotland; 1962, JOHN GLENN first American to orbit Earth.
- TOMORROW'S HEADLINES TODAY: City mayoral candidates debate campaign issues; Hartford, Conn., woman still missing; Neal Goswami reports attempts to legislate suicide; local woman loses 100 pounds through TOPS program.
- RICHARD'S POOR ALMANACK: On this day in 1878, JOHN TUNSTALL murdered near Lincoln, New Mexico, by the outlaw JESSE EVANS; in 1930, ELM FARM OLLIE first cow to fly in aircraft, first to be milked airborne; 1955, nuke test WASP; '79, snow in Sahara.
- TOMORROW'S HEADLINES TODAY: Rutland Herald News Editor Alan J. Keays and staff writer Gordon Dritschilo discuss stories planned for the February 18, 2015, edition of the newspaper: Winter budgets maxed, legal marijuana, Springfield bank job, USPS slowdown
- RICHARD'S POOR ALMANACK: On this day in 1249 AD, ANDRE of LONGJUMEAU is dispatched by LOUIS IX of France to meet the KHAGAN, ruler of the Mongol Empire; in 1804, during 1st Barbary War, STEPHEN DECATUR scuttles the pirate-held USS Philadelphia in Tripoli.


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Agree with that. Quick was looking weak in the overtime, and the Devils didn't capitalize. Too many Devils were tired and couldn't hack it in the third and in the overtime.
You've got to finish your chances.
Rutgers allows anyone into their residence halls. This could be a Rutgers story, instead of the "peeping tom" story that we have now.
There's a Devils game Friday night. If anyone checked on whether the Rock had an event already, they would not have printed the original story.
It would be nice if they set up an auditorium or movie theater to show at least some of the funeral to fans though.
But they said they were tracking a doe they hit, so you don't know where the actual hunting took place.
Some people are diabetic or have other medical conditions, and need to eat more often than others. Let alone kids who might want to eat on the subway when going to school.
Let's just enforce current littering laws instead, make a mess and pay the fine. Otherwise, leave people alone, riding the subway is bad enough.
Board = money, these kids are getting paid. Recruiting is one thing, but charging $300/month for an apartment that isn't almost condemned is ludicrous. It sounds like both sides - the coach and parent, are at fault. School should be held liable for coach shenanigans.
All public school teachers should be subject to background tests as well as random drug testing. Any drug testing that students must have, teachers must have too.
Who you know instead of what you know in the US, how can that happen?
Good luck to her. Sad that in youth and college sports, the athletes always lose for the crimes of the coaches and administrators.
Your freedom ends where someone else's begins.
McCarty dove, it's clear from the replays no matter what Messing says.
"if" is the refuge of the incompetent.
They were lucky to get the tie, forget about it and work harder next game. It's not like they were without the top scorer in the league, oh wait...
It doesn't help to be overweight.
"Precise" isn't the exact word that comes to mind when I watch the RBNY defense.
You already can do that, it's called a cell phone.
I have not seen much in him that I haven't seen in top youth players in NJ (bicycle kick scores, volley scores). Problem is that most people do not have the support system he had, and the willingness to let their child travel around the state to play soccer.
And a point of reference, I thought he was with NJSA04 at one time, and also in NJ ODP (and Pasco has one "s").
Good luck, they'll need it. The only chance I see is if they play on Long Island or in Westchester, where they have enough money and room.
How do these percentages compare to the percentages across the US?
Notice that they said "non-union", and the unions wonder why they are bashed.
I don't know why it matters that she was an honors student.
He went at the right time, but the amount of pressure and his expectations were too much.
I'm sure he'll always have a place in MLS if he needs it, the European experience will help him get back in at a drop of the hat.


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Don't forget to check your spam folder if you cannot find the email. For further assistance please contact us at email@example.com .Okay
William Stafford
A fine-art giclée reproduction of a watercolor by Maxine Boll-Hughes. The contemporary-style gesso-and-wood frame was handcrafted using traditional 17th-century Florentine techniques and hand-painted in off-white.


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Scott Wilson describes himself as a "sideliner" in the beekeeping world. He is a Certified Beekeeper through the Vermont Beekeepers Association, a member of the VBA board of directors, and life member of the Eastern Apiculture Society.
He and his wife Valarie own Heavenly Honey Apiary in Monkton.
dearth haiku
dearth, nectar is void
bees robbing from neighbors stores
goldenrod come soon
by Scott Wilson


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1)The Apostle Peter says that, "one day … is as a thousand years".
Peter seems to be quoting Moses in the book of Psalms.
2)In Genesis 2:17, it says: "In the day you eat of the fruit of this tree you shall surely die." It is no coincidence that those who lived before the Flood died just short of a 1000 years of age. Thus figuratively speaking, Adam, and all his offspring before the flood, died within a "day"---that is, within a thousand years.
For more on bible numbers, see www.360calendar.com


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If there's one place to see fresh faced young talent it's the annual Teen Choice Awards. Always filled with fun surprises and performances, this year the five cutest moments, which was pretty hard to narrow down, and the worst dressed celebs who get an A for effort, were some of the highlights. But on the red carpet is where the special magic happened when we chatted with Carly Rae Jepsen and Big Sean about their picks for VH1's Song of the Summer.
Big Sean surprised us with his pick beside "Mercy," which would be the obvious choice since it's his collaborative song with Kanye West, Pusha T and 2 Chainz. Really fast he spit out "Call Me Maybe" as his final answer. Looks like CRJ has some hip-hop fans. On why "Mercy" should be the SOS Big Sean had a lot to say. "It's unique, it's fun, it's G.O.O.D. Music crew at its finest," said the Detroit rapper. "We make music you can live to, party to, vibe to, dream to, have sex to, smoke to, ride to, and do what human beings do." That's a mouthful, but we agree that "Mercy" is a great summer anthem, which is why it's a contender for SOS.


text: Loudon, N.H. (September 21, 2012) – Greg Biffle made his way around the 1.058-mile New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 28.499 seconds earning a 13th-place starting position for Sunday's Sylvania 300, while Jeff Gordon claimed the pole position. There are two more practice sessions on Saturday to finalize a race setup for Sunday. Be sure to tune in to ESPN Sunday, September 23rd at 1:00 PM ET to see all the racing action from New Hampshire.


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Yeah this account isn't dead. I just have to update the chapters of my fiction and then possibly post something else.
I'm sorry this account gets neglected but I promise I'll update soon :I
Amissus puer ('Lost Boy') Chapter 10Amissus puer ('Lost Boy') Chapter 10 by Sterling-Kato
Connor took notice of this soon after and although he was still hungry he stopped eating and sat back against the chair to watch her.
"Are you alright, M'lady?" he asked, his head tilted in honest concern. Elena had seemed so upbeat only moments before and now there she sat her face somber, eyes glazed over with tears, playing with the food she'd spent so much time on instead of eating it.
For a moment Connor felt guilty, and he didn't know why. To see such a drastic change in mood was strange which made him conclude it as his fault, for some reason, even if it wasn't.
"The soup is very good." He tried to lift her spirits with a compliment which in reality was honesty; the soup was very good, but all that came in reply was a small smile and a little nod of thanks before her eyes averted back down and the frown reappeared on her lips.
It was then that Connor was reminded as to why he didn't have a girlfriend. Not because he hated women, or thought them weak or stupid, but it was
Amissus puer ('Lost Boy') Chapter 9Amissus puer ('Lost Boy') Chapter 9 by Sterling-Kato
Lady Elena didn't have much family since her father passed away. She'd never known her mother and although she'd once had a brother, he died from scarlet fever at age five.
When he died Mr. St. James left the whole estate to his daughter; his only heiress, in hopes that she would carry on the family business of wheat crops and cotton. However, when the war began the land was overrun with soldiers of both factions and soon the fields where golden wheatgrass and fluffy balls of cotton once flourish grew barren and arid, seemingly never to grow anything again. The St. James homestead lost value and although it pained her to have to do it, Lady Elena sold the plot of land for pennies to a British 'prospector' who planned to make it into a courthouse for 'local affairs'. In other words 'war efforts and meetings'. It killed her to know her family home was either destroyed to build a new British stronghold or kept intact and made into one, but there was no way she could keep up with it in
Amissus puer ('Lost Boy') Chapter 8Amissus puer ('Lost Boy') Chapter 8 by Sterling-Kato
Leaning back with the book of painted pictures in his hands, Connor studied the painting of the small river before him before he turned the page and there it was, in all its glory, St. James manor. Well, a painting of it anyway. He recognized the large columns of pearly white, its fancy exterior decor, and even the small front porch where he'd seen Lady Elena sit on while reading.
"I miss it sometimes, m'home. Tis a cryin' shame it's been reduced to nothin' but a memory now. You'd o'loved t'see it again. M'father fixed it up real nice, nothin' too fancy but t'was loveleh!"
Connor couldn't stop the grin from crossing his mouth or the chuckle from escaping his lips, and Elena looked at him in confusion.
"What ar'ya laughin' at?" She asked, her tone slightly offended as if it was her.
"Nothing." Connor replied flatly, the grin and chuckle instantly vanished the moment she spoke.
"Y'lyin! Com'on now, it's the first time y'laughed since y'got here, and I intend to find out what 'tis y'laugh
Amissus puer ('Lost Boy') Chapter 7Amissus puer ('Lost Boy') Chapter 7 by Sterling-Kato
Ratonhnhaké:ton would wander onto the St. James' lands, idly walking around. He knew it was dangerous and against the set rules of his tribe-- more specifically his mother, but he did it anyway. Although admittedly there were days where he'd have to lie to himself for a reason as to why he was on St. James land, telling himself it was because hunting there was easy. Due to their growing various crops that many animals fed upon, hunting rabbit, squirrel, and even deer was much easier than normal.
However, no matter how much he told himself the same lies to convince himself it was ok, in the back of his mind Ratonhnhaké:ton knew full well it wasn't.
The real reason as to why he'd risk such a thing was far simple; a girl. Although he knew there was no way he'd be able to court her, he still couldn't help trying to catch a glimpse of her through a window or, if he was lucky, while she was sitting on the front porch of the St. James' estate. Ratonhnhaké:ton had seen many white women on h
This is going to be the account I will post most of my writing (fan fictions, official story edits, poems, etc)
My art account is ninjakato.deviantart.com/


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If you are fortunate to have a blank slate in your room, why not start with the rug, and build the decor around it? This is a great way to start with a bold color, such as orange, yellow, or red and then bring in pops of color in home decor accessories around the room. Consider using neutrals on the walls in whites, beiges, grays, or coffee tans to make the dominant color sing throughout your space. The wonderful point about starting with the floor is it gives you a chance to build a home piece by piece, rather than getting overwhelmed with the rug, furniture, walls, and window treatments all at once!
Decorate Your Room Around the Rug
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Jan Kath – Contemporary Rug Art
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Jan Kath Contemporary Rug Art is at the forefront of modern carpet design. His work links age-old carpet tradition with the 21st century and combines excellent craftsmanship and top quality hand processed materials including the best Tibetan Highland wool, silk, nettle & hemp fibres, with the visual impact of his designs.
Global Warming Rug
Posted by rugzine.com in Contemporary Rugs
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Our schedule for the rest of the week:
- Elizabeth Harper as Faience, the troll shaman, and Robin Torres as Robinemia, the undead mage: Thursday, 11 p.m. to midnight EDT
- Michael Gray as Grayfields, the tauren hunter, will be making appearances as he can this week.
- Amy Schley as Patent, the troll rogue: Thursday, 10-11 p.m. EDT
- Matthew Rossi as Andrenorton, his new troll mage: Saturday, 3-4 p.m. EDT
- Adam Holisky as Adammentat, the tauren druid, will be making appearances as he can.
Amy Schley as Patent, the troll rogue
Greetings from da Patent troll. Dis week's adventure ... well, dis week's adventure started out nice enough. A whole group of us went down to da goblin town of Ratchet to meet up, and we had a huge dance party in da inn. Dose brudda trolls really know how to dance mon! Afta' dat, we headed south and killed some pirates for da bossmon goblin as a great big mob. Lotsa fun!
Oy boy, doh, afta' dat, we had some big trouble mon. We decide dat being loyal membas of da Horde, we oughta go defend our sawmill in dis battleground. Me and da bossladies Faience and Robinemia try to do our part in defendin' our flag. Dis not work out too well, doh, wit' dis nasty gnome lock and evil druid constantly killin' me. Not fun mon! And den of course da battleground leader was all mad at us for not knowin' what ta do or how ta do it.
I gotsta admit, I never done dis stuff before mon. And I'm still not too good doin' my rogue voodoo. I don't come from a rogue fam'ly by de way. All my brodders and sistas eit'er kill t'ings from a long ways away or do deir fightin' wit' a great big sword and shield and wit' metal on. Me? All I gots is dese two little daggas and some animal skins between me and da spirit world. I been seein' da spirit world a lot.
Mon, I be gettin' down on my knees ta say dis. For da love of da Luas, for all da voodoo, for da love of Bwonsamdi himself, please don't make me do dis again! I be a good troll -- I will kill every hoofless zevhra in da Barrens, find da wife of poor Mankrik blindfolded, do ya' any embassage to da gnomes rat'er dan go into a battleground again!
Matthew Rossi as Andrenorton, the troll mage
I also spent a lot of time running around trees with angry forest lynxes very slowly chasing me. Frostbolt became my go-to spell because without it, things very quickly caught up to me and stabbed me right through my nice red dress. (Attached is a picture of my nice red dress, before it got lots and lots of assumed tears from lynx claws.) I then was tasked with wiping out some Wretched, but by then, I was fairly tired.
Being a mage is very odd. I'm hoping to run around trees less next week.
Michael Gray as Grayfields, the tauren hunter
I was going to write this in character. But, as the votes decided I would PvP tonight, I hit Warsong Gulch with a fury hereto unseen. How'd I do? 100+ honorable kills, Warsong Perfection, Grim Reaper, Not In My House and a few others. The experience of Warsong Gulch on a hunter -- even one relatively low level -- is like poetry in motion. Sure, sure, I had the same angst everyone else did (damn shaman!), but I got lucky and the teams I played with worked together, was helpful, and all was well.
Robin Torres as Robinemia, the undead mage
Death and orange. Orange and death. Going to Warsong Gulch at the earliest possible time in one's development is not something I encourage any mage to do. I imagine that healers do much better, because at least they can heal the flag carrier, but my Frostbolts were ineffective on the more experienced Alliance that were my opponents. I attempted to protect the flag with Patent and Faeince, and I died. When back in the Barrens, there was more orange, but less death. And pirates! We slaughtered pirates for the goblins in Ratchet. We also slaughtered cats for their claws and raptors for their heads.
The Ratchet goblins sent us to fight a group of people called The Venture Company. I need clarification as to why The Venture Company is bad, but the Steamwheedle Cartel is good. They seem to do much of the same things. I do tend to have issues with this bad/good distinction in general, however, since I am technically not alive. It is hard to value life when I no longer have it. Regardless, Faience and I took care of some bad goblins, ogres and their colleagues, as the good goblins requested.
More polls will go up on Friday. In the meantime, we have more pictures, some which have been taken from our fellow <It came from the Blog> guildies:
If you want to join in on the fun of Choose My Adventure, please join us on US Zangarmarsh-H in <It came from the Blog>. Ask Robiness, Robinemia or any member online for an invite. Guild ranks of Lurker or above have the ability to invite. You are all welcome as long as you play by our simple rules, that can be summed up with "Don't be a Funsucker!" Also, please see the guild FAQ for the most common questions.


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Easter Egg Decorating Workshop Seton Hall > News & Events
Friday, February 15, 2013 by: Anna Kuchta
March 14, 2013, 5:30 - 10 p.m., the Slavic Club will be holding its Annual Easter Egg Decorating Workshop in the Walsh Library Beck Rooms (ABC), with
instructors, Natalia and Nick Hlushko, in order to teach its members and
guests the ancient Slavic tradition of decorating eggs, called "Pysanky" (in Ukrainian) and "PISANKI" (in Polish), with melted bee wax
and an instrument called "kistka".
In Slavic cultures, the egg has represented the original source of
creation. Pre-Christian Slavs used decorated eggs to welcome the sun
during the spring.
The symbolism of pysanka is a blend of ancient rituals and Christian
traditions. Spring is a time for release from confines of winter and
Easter celebrates the Resurrection of Christ, and the spiritual rebirth
of man. With the acceptance of Christianity in 988 A.D., the pysanka
became part of tradition and ritual of Easter in Russia, Ukraine and
later in other Slavic countries. The pysanka took on the symbolism of
rebirth. The egg symbol was likened to the tomb from which Christ has
risen. The decorated eggs became treasured as religious mementos.
Come and learn the ancient Slavic art of decorating your own Easter eggs!
Cost of equipment: $7 person per person, to be pre-paid by March 12For more information please contact Prof. Anna Kuchta, email@example.com
Everyone is welcome!
Slavic refreshments will be served!
For more information please contact: Anna Kuchta (973) 275-5875 email@example.com


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Our crew has the entire four day weekend off (we're back at work Monday). It took some teamwork (the sewing crew finished the bags, Q&A made sure they were 100% perfect, and our shipping team shipped out all backorders) and we worked together to make sure that Brain Bags and Aeronaut Packing Cubes in-stock for the big weekend.
In stock:
Brain Bag, all colors: Black, Steel, Universal Camouflage, Navy, Plum, Olive, and Indigo
Aeronaut Packing Cubes, all sizes
Aeronaut Packing Cube, Small
Brain Bag in Steel


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Afghan officials want to direct more foreign aid
KABUL (AP) - Tired of their back-seat role, Afghan government officials are increasingly standing up to Washington and other foreign capitals - displaying a new streak of independence also seen in President Hamid Karzai's push-back against what he considers foreign interference.
The Obama administration is trying to dampen the storm generated this month when Karzai alleged the U.N. and foreign organizations interfered in last year's fraud-tainted presidential elections. Saying that too much international pressure only gave legitimacy to the insurgency, Karzai said he might join the Taliban - a comment denied by his spokesman but widely reported by parliament members who said they heard him say it.
In more measured tones, however, members of Karzai's Cabinet have become increasingly vocal about how foreign capitals call the shots - especially the billions of dollars in aid flowing into a nation as the West tries to build it up.
Some of Afghanistan's technocrat ministers are gaining confidence in their ability to define the country's future. While Western officials say they welcome the ministers' newfound assertiveness, some were surprised to witness it at a two-day meeting in the Afghan capital last weekend.
The long-planned meeting on ways to improve coordination of the war effort was attended by hundreds of senior U.S. officials, leaders from 11 Afghan ministries, NATO military and civilian representatives along with diplomats from 11 embassies, the European Union and the United Nations.
When U.S. officials talked at the conference about setting up agricultural credit banks, Agriculture Minister Muhammad Asif Rahimi shot down the idea. Rahimi said the money would be better spent on something else besides the credit banks, which he said were too complicated and often failed, according to a U.S. official who was there. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the gathering.
Richard Holbrooke, a U.S. envoy to Afghanistan attending the meeting, acknowledged too much U.S. aid has been lost through bloated contracts - often to American companies. He said the United States was committed to channeling more aid money through the Afghan government - at least to projects on the priority list drafted by Afghans and not the donor countries.
"When we started our work 14 months ago, we found that the United States and its assistance programs were simply not consulting the government of the country we were trying to help," Holbrooke told reporters after the conference.
"We were dribbling money away that never reached the people, and the people weren't being consulted," Holbrooke said. "An enormous amount of the money was dissipated through the contracts and the double-contracts that were in place."
Donor nations have wanted to hold the purse strings on development aid themselves, saying that Karzai's government was corrupt and didn't have the capacity to handle the projects. Afghan officials say privately that the international community continues to fund projects that Afghans don't think are important. A lot of the money goes to security to protect foreign contractors.
Economy Minister Abdul Hadi Arghandiwal said the foreign nations don't always spend their money on projects the Afghans want, such as energy, improving governance, mining, agriculture and small industries related to farming.
"The government is not going to waste the money," Arghandiwal said. "There is corruption in some areas, but there is accountability with that money and the money is not being lost."
Since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion that toppled the Taliban, 77 percent of the $29 billion in international aid spent in Afghanistan has been disbursed on projects with little or no input from Afghan government officials, according to the Afghan Ministry of Finance.
"The perception out there is that the money that is given to the government of Afghanistan gets stolen because it's corrupt," Finance Minister Omar Zakhilwal said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. "The taxpayers in the U.S. or somewhere else say 'Don't give it to the Afghan government because they'll steal it.'"
Zakhilwal, who is backed by the West, acknowledged that there was graft and corruption in the Afghan government, especially in the delivery of government services. But he stressed that there are few, if any, examples of mismanagement of donors' money by the Afghan government - which has little control of the funds anyway.
In January, at an international conference in London, donor nations agreed to increase the amount of development aid delivered through the Afghan government to 50 percent in two years - but only if the Afghans strengthened their public financial management system and reduced corruption. That leaves an escape hatch for any foreign capital choosing to continue its go-it-alone approach.
USAID administrator Rajiv Shah said that a year ago, 8.8 percent of U.S. Agency for International Development's multibillion-dollar assistance package to Afghanistan actually flowed through the Afghan ministries. The percentage is 13.5 percent today and is expected to rise to 20 percent by the end of the year, he said.
Zakhilwal said 50 percent was the minimum amount he wanted to see channeled through the government. He acknowledged the threshold might not be reached in two years.
"We know that the promise has been made before," he said, sipping tea in his office. "We are, of course, concerned that they will not do it. But we will be vocal on this."
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Together with their parents, Bethany Clodfelter and Lucas Moore are excited to announce their engagement and upcoming marriage.
Bethany is the daughter of Ed and Carolyn Clodfelter of Parkersburg, Illinois. She is the granddaughter of the late Raymond & Verity Clodfelter and the late Lowell & Norma Henderson. After graduating from Edwards County High School in 2009, she attended Wabash Valley Junior College and obtained an Associate Degree in 2010. Bethany earned her Bachelor's Degree in 2012, majoring in Elementary Education. Presently, she substitutes in the Edwards County Schools and is a part-time employee for Citizens National Bank of Albion.
Lucas is the son of Russell and Dena Moore of Ellery, Illinois. He is the grandson of Leroy & Betty Moore and the late Leroy & Dorothy Pope. Lucas was also a 2009 graduate from Edwards County High School then attended Wabash Valley Junior College. He earned an Associate Degree in Advanced Manufacturing in 2011. Currently, he is an employee of Racster Commercial Mowing and Landscaping in Mt. Carmel, Illinois.
A July 6, 2013 wedding is planned. Formal invitations have been sent.
Photo by: Mark Stevens Photography


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Ambig Micah Slub Knit Crew $15.00
The Ambig Micah Slub Knit Crew T-Shirt is a really nice, quality style tee. Faded and fitted, it features a pocket at left chest. Ambig logo stud at pocket and label at side. A 100% cotton knit crew t-shirt. Available in colorways as seen below. Men's sizes: SM (34-36), MD (38-40), LG (42-44), XL (46-48) unless otherwise noted. Skate Warehouse shows all colors of the tees that we have in stock. In rare cases the logo or the color pictured may be slightly different than what is shipped. Model wears a medium.